tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86311269491644432032024-03-19T05:24:05.801-05:00Autumn Asks Whyautumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.comBlogger694125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-90991865158724027592014-10-04T02:02:00.004-05:002014-10-04T02:18:22.046-05:00Will We Ever Adjust?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Looks like I've disappeared for months again! I swear I just cannot get used to our new living schedule. In about the time it takes to develop a routine, it has to change again. Pair that with trying to do as much possible together in the short time hubs is home..... Life is rather unpredictable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Once again I shall attempt to get back to the writing here. At least while daddy is gone. Half the time I can't remember what I have or have not told him about the events here at home. The blogging makes it easier. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">For a quick catch-up of my missing months...... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The garden: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">About 3 days after I posted the pictures of my lush garden, it all started to die. The squash bugs took out some and the deer and other critters helped. Then came the hot weather. And it was SO MUCH work as it drug on. By the end of July I was just tired of it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;">But we did have a good harvest of cucumbers, zucchini for awhile and spaghetti squash. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica;">Jalapenos</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"> and tomatoes did well until everything started to die. Green peppers and corn not so great. Beans a total bust. We really need to fence it off next year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A surprise trip to Houston:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hubs next rotation included a week long school in Houston. That's only about three hours away. I decided to surprise him with an overnight visit. Something I have always wanted to do but never been close enough or able to leave the kids. This time it all worked out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately I decided it would also be a good time to cover up my skunk stripe in my bangs. This was a hilarious adventure that resulted in clown orange hair that had to be fixed all on a tight time schedule. In the end I toned it down but still ended up rather bright in order to fix it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The trip was fun. It was a big surprise and before leaving for home the next day I was able to meet up with my cuz that I haven't seen in forever. (And the hair color is back to normal now.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Fun with My Friends: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Although I wouldn't say this summer was as good as last, it was still full of fun with friends. There were many days at the poolside of The Silent Laugher. Totally the best. Between her family and The Princesses family and the Nacho Ronnies, Mouse and I were well loved and included on what would have been very lonely holidays. There are no words for how much this means. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We spent <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1263746736" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4th of July</span></span> on a houseboat with those families. Mouse loves this. This summer she learned to swim in the lake instead of a pool. It's a rather different experience. And Mr. T took her out in the ski boat lots of times. A big shout out to him and Mr. C for looking out after her like they did their own. These guys are the real deal, super duper dads. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our weekend girl trip turned into a weekend in town trip as we welcomed a new baby into our friendship circle. Little JoJo is beautiful of course. And we wouldn't go away without his amazing mother. Nope. Sadly, three of us got sick and I ended up going home early. Anyone heard of getting food poisoning from coconut cream? It's the only connection with the three. But I fully admit I got sick because everything we made had wheat. And I ate it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The dog pack:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Both dogs are getting porky as after a year in the house we still don't have a fence up so they are on lines when outside. And on a sad note, Bogart began having seizures. After a few episodes he was put on meds. It's under control now but if we forget the meds it happens again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span>And Cinder is still the beast that keeps us safe and keeps strangers away from our house. And not so strangers. And UPS guys. And worst of all Fed Ex guys. She has a real hate-on for Fed Ex.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">San Antonio</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">On Hubs last rotation, we took a trip to San Antonio. Mouse wanted to see the Alamo since they had learned all about it in history. We were walking all over downtown that day so we got extremely hot and sweaty on the way there. So bad that there was no way we were taking pictures of ourselves. So here is our family picture at the Alamo:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We decided to take her down to the Riverwalk also. So we stayed downtown for the night and the next day we moved to a resort with a waterpark. As a redhead I have learned the value of renting the cabana so I can stay out all day with my sun lovers. And the tv and personal attendant doesn't suck either. Just sayin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We ate lots of great Mexican food, had a drink or two and visited family. The next day we moved to San Marcus and spent the final day shopping the outlets for back to school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Transportation</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Durango is dying a terrible death. When Songbird wrecked it something was messed up to where the brake line keeps getting gashed. It is on borrowed time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And now that we are down to one kid, when the dealership wanted our van.....I couldn't turn it in fast enough. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing more functional for a large family that travels as much and as far as we do. Space plus gas mileage can't be beat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But I don't like them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">So the reign of the minivan is over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And that's most of the highlights. I'm leaving out so much but this is long enough already. But I will leave you with a picture of my latest close call. I should have measured it.... I'm guessing 10 inches. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span>Don't Mess with Texas.</div>
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-25065658941819090112014-07-11T13:14:00.000-05:002014-07-11T13:14:00.624-05:00For the Love of Visitors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I cannot express with words just how wonderful it is to finally live in a home that is large enough to host family and friends comfortably. I have always been uncomfortable with the thought of hosting holidays and family events because we have always been in such small housing. And even though its the people that make it important, knowing you can't provide space and comfort is not fun.<br />
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We have been lucky enough to have people come visit us here. Each time it happens I love this house that much more. We not only have the room to host one family, I think we could easily host two inside and a third with the travel trailer since we had the shop wired to run electricity to it.<br />
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And the yard/property just begs to be enjoyed. There are several different areas for seating and private conversations, etc.<br />
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Spring break this year brought my sister and her kids down for a visit. It has been forever since we have hosted for them. It was a fantastic visit and we enjoyed them immensely. To wrap up the visit we headed to Six Flags and wore the kids out with some amusement park fun.<br />
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I have also been able to host my friends here in town for a birthday celebration. There are 11 of us so we do need a little room. LOL. And again, with the set-up of the house, we can all be together or there are plenty of places for several little groups to be visiting together. Love that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HkyDXzce65_EtvSOT4SjSQpFZE0GbIwZCevrqvZ3Zgxk6Od-FNwEQs00gI33W3SUDh4INPYvDkjeifZCSsePOFU-U8LGT77vu8AIJL-qQb7sRJmCxgXUVDm7nqqabwfoRTzVKUMBIbE/s1600/girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HkyDXzce65_EtvSOT4SjSQpFZE0GbIwZCevrqvZ3Zgxk6Od-FNwEQs00gI33W3SUDh4INPYvDkjeifZCSsePOFU-U8LGT77vu8AIJL-qQb7sRJmCxgXUVDm7nqqabwfoRTzVKUMBIbE/s1600/girls.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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This summer we had one of our best family visits ever. Hubs brother and family got to come visit us for the first time ever. Mouse's cousin is the same age so they were in heaven. And we hosted a family dinner and had another brother and his family come up to see them also. My son came. My nephew and his wonderful wife came. It was a great big wonderful house full of family from Hubs side that we have never had in our home before. And it feels good not to be the ones that have to do the traveling all the time anymore!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdQPBjyLIRcQcyzYSKq4sViYruMZsHBBwmuoIh4SBizlhovaZ5n9jO5KE0ESiIlGtHMphpiM_Q297vxNo19PZgjOTC8et4AO7VRLwrmKH3wEMuJrClByACgMoH4J2cibZAoavny3ETRU/s1600/boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdQPBjyLIRcQcyzYSKq4sViYruMZsHBBwmuoIh4SBizlhovaZ5n9jO5KE0ESiIlGtHMphpiM_Q297vxNo19PZgjOTC8et4AO7VRLwrmKH3wEMuJrClByACgMoH4J2cibZAoavny3ETRU/s1600/boys.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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These four look so much alike--hubs and his brother and our son and his. </div>
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And these two? Thick as thieves and they got along so well. You never really know with girls how it will go from one visit to the next. These guys did great!</div>
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Loved, loved, loved this visit. Can't wait to do it again.</div>
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So now friends, you know I have the room. When you coming??</div>
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-91672542920470606202014-07-09T01:54:00.000-05:002014-07-09T01:54:00.086-05:00Restless and Wild<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfj6bFFUPKib6qf1XH5cA1MPKdqnFoccuTDLF_VLEYuOyCCQNjfv5Laif08alYf14zbInjcFzthvyJM8crsEfLQgz9IR1tzTZIDJnzmaRJu7vHfaPKzbYz1j6O6rYmu9FzJXut8I7sio/s1600/jo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfj6bFFUPKib6qf1XH5cA1MPKdqnFoccuTDLF_VLEYuOyCCQNjfv5Laif08alYf14zbInjcFzthvyJM8crsEfLQgz9IR1tzTZIDJnzmaRJu7vHfaPKzbYz1j6O6rYmu9FzJXut8I7sio/s1600/jo3.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
Quilt number 42 is a baby gift for one of my all time favorite moms. She is also the only person on the face of the earth that has no less than 5 quilts made just for her and her kids.<br />
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As former missionary's to Africa and and African theme to the other three kids quilts, we kept this one in the same theme. I found a picture that was similar on Google and adapted it to the fabrics I had. The picture blocks and backing material are new, but many of the other fabrics are scraps from making his brothers quilts.<br />
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I would have had this one done in time. But the Bus Driver had to go and have her baby early.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtooQixXh_Rrb3OyySgZY4RC-oY3f6DP98B36KsyjL_W3uMbhO29HhwDOFGsCTFCtwM1LTjTE7HhI7utk1LUC7cZz4DFqhP8TWH-p1TI2nnvWZ1EVeQdExGAPbBSRsWxztjGuG0lJAIk/s1600/jo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtooQixXh_Rrb3OyySgZY4RC-oY3f6DP98B36KsyjL_W3uMbhO29HhwDOFGsCTFCtwM1LTjTE7HhI7utk1LUC7cZz4DFqhP8TWH-p1TI2nnvWZ1EVeQdExGAPbBSRsWxztjGuG0lJAIk/s1600/jo1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I actually found this backing material first and was going to build the quilt around it. But then I found the animal squares and this became the backing instead.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tcILXYKQUY4RUGkRGQeZrh26BtpB7aDg5dkjQU7LY8a6mGzR5RPzZWvQKMSZNMuM-oLe5B672_oSWf_WRvOks85q7EqqWVkQbX0ID9MQHluVCD1lMhyphenhyphenBCrHW-o15STgN5kEhojprv1c/s1600/jo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tcILXYKQUY4RUGkRGQeZrh26BtpB7aDg5dkjQU7LY8a6mGzR5RPzZWvQKMSZNMuM-oLe5B672_oSWf_WRvOks85q7EqqWVkQbX0ID9MQHluVCD1lMhyphenhyphenBCrHW-o15STgN5kEhojprv1c/s1600/jo2.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I had a hard time deciding what to use as a binding. In the end I used a different animal print than the borders and I like that. It frames the black nicely.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nWGM51M3gsXBZ5GjmcLZMEhI1bA9cKW8qucAGr2LrImcL1INkaMUM72euePXG23PFMTDFvaTejMBQgG5AVJnNjvQcHvAWRbZ49xzeCZNVlL9xsJ_g2iG3u7PV6_NPICvuupUfBVGE94/s1600/jo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nWGM51M3gsXBZ5GjmcLZMEhI1bA9cKW8qucAGr2LrImcL1INkaMUM72euePXG23PFMTDFvaTejMBQgG5AVJnNjvQcHvAWRbZ49xzeCZNVlL9xsJ_g2iG3u7PV6_NPICvuupUfBVGE94/s1600/jo5.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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For the quilting I stuck with straight line walking foot stitch in the ditch again. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFQN-B7XxvN3t4WDwWlkjd2Gwt84p5doXCYhgtAil5jTE8x9bLize_PZxjVk2GDzCYzkAWlU7A4WtGHZLxGoTyaEyij8Qfei3gHNdhzfTT9OwZPXMfJV4RL68ZQk-GLVN5M99fEqlulc/s1600/jo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFQN-B7XxvN3t4WDwWlkjd2Gwt84p5doXCYhgtAil5jTE8x9bLize_PZxjVk2GDzCYzkAWlU7A4WtGHZLxGoTyaEyij8Qfei3gHNdhzfTT9OwZPXMfJV4RL68ZQk-GLVN5M99fEqlulc/s1600/jo4.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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With the busy patterns I thought the simple would be best.</div>
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Mom and baby are at home recovering and settling in. I managed to deliver the quilt on the day he was SUPPOSED to be born. LOL. </div>
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Maybe I can stay caught up with the next quilts now!</div>
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-76484886959701397462014-07-07T01:44:00.000-05:002014-07-07T01:44:00.022-05:00Hypnotic Windows<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TABgHRKo3KdnAyRkTctknDemsmIpR2ABONwIJ6afngnI_WJRY-ZmDRJmImyfiwrWJqtvUyJsMJ5oeUJE6Nedu6zz8vRmds_X9xX4qOLP-0hYZPc7uCySFy_ZQJtQjmhEr1NGbmPAJDs/s1600/kl7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TABgHRKo3KdnAyRkTctknDemsmIpR2ABONwIJ6afngnI_WJRY-ZmDRJmImyfiwrWJqtvUyJsMJ5oeUJE6Nedu6zz8vRmds_X9xX4qOLP-0hYZPc7uCySFy_ZQJtQjmhEr1NGbmPAJDs/s1600/kl7.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
I really should try to take better pictures...but I get lazy.<br />
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Quilt number 41 is a graduation present of a amazing lady I am honored to call friend. And her daughter is the spitting image of her. Can't wait to see where this kid goes. Its so fun to watch a kid start out on their adult life.<br />
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This quilt top was made of all scraps I had from other quilts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjSq-imLBrSlZoma9J1Of__urAirLZ4iUjCq9qdsR40fK8uxZlUGMPImRGA_SPAXqTBin80ODM7h-NAFY1b1mh7kx4k8V8M9kdGC38gCb7j1KWTHhK8IlCzay_QKVIoxTi5b4Jhuhs_g/s1600/kl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjSq-imLBrSlZoma9J1Of__urAirLZ4iUjCq9qdsR40fK8uxZlUGMPImRGA_SPAXqTBin80ODM7h-NAFY1b1mh7kx4k8V8M9kdGC38gCb7j1KWTHhK8IlCzay_QKVIoxTi5b4Jhuhs_g/s1600/kl1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
The back I did pick up the pillow panel of the state of Texas for. Also the long multicolored piece, which I got with another piece for the back then changed my mind. The rest is more scraps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmjQFlNCj05uculz0sX8-BZTa2SHKUKOtA4d4RXu9of03AMBn4TuubFsBCQDFjAK3wmAMOwP7ZxgzJw5dfkNgBgh65pKfgbcDHEzjyTP-Fvt-pJCCNcMxKaO3IPm7zWvizBAhQtg21Ew/s1600/kl5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmjQFlNCj05uculz0sX8-BZTa2SHKUKOtA4d4RXu9of03AMBn4TuubFsBCQDFjAK3wmAMOwP7ZxgzJw5dfkNgBgh65pKfgbcDHEzjyTP-Fvt-pJCCNcMxKaO3IPm7zWvizBAhQtg21Ew/s1600/kl5.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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The binding is actually a piece I had picked up for the next quilt I was making...but I liked the way the colors went with this quilt so I used it here instead.</div>
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KL will be going to college in another state so I wanted to send her with a little bit of home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0irZGyDyQpNaNBVLv9mvSKb6Osonst_CsEVIhLCod6MvaiKC_KT9-PwdzPEnH_02TrJjHpXIpGcGU7eL-TSHmlxCJQTbk9zMhLxn6To5FBYsyhMlwG5EicXU9Okzpxnj-kgFecgpOos/s1600/kl6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0irZGyDyQpNaNBVLv9mvSKb6Osonst_CsEVIhLCod6MvaiKC_KT9-PwdzPEnH_02TrJjHpXIpGcGU7eL-TSHmlxCJQTbk9zMhLxn6To5FBYsyhMlwG5EicXU9Okzpxnj-kgFecgpOos/s1600/kl6.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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For the actual quilting I took the easy way out and stitched in the ditch each rectangle and then echoed that shape in the green spaces. Simple but it makes the colored pieces pop nicely. </div>
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I did not get a signature block done on this one as I was 3 weeks behind on it. I did free motion my name into a border. </div>
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This one had not been delivered to its new owner yet as they are out of town. Can't believe I let myself get so behind on it!</div>
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-13766640092941135462014-07-05T01:25:00.000-05:002014-07-05T01:25:00.018-05:00Close Call Number Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Want to hear a crazy fact about Autumn?<br />
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I have this crazy knack for walking away from encounters with poisonous snakes...without being bitten.<br />
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To date anyways.<br />
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I lived in Arizona as a kid for about 7 years. We were taught to be careful and aware outside. There was everything from poisonous snakes to scorpions to tarantula's. I don't remember ever seeing a scorpion but we did get tarantula's on the patio where I rode my trike. I remember screaming for my daddy once because one was out there with me. He told me to step on it. It was bigger than my foot. What I didn't know at that age was that my dad hates spiders. He didn't want to step on it any more than my 5 year old self did.<br />
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My craziest memory and encounter was not with a spider. It was with a sidewinder rattlesnake. In our back yard. I had just entered the back yard with my sister and one of her little friends following me. I heard a rustle and turned around to find myself face to face with this rather large snake. <br />
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I screamed.<br />
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I ran.<br />
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It hid.<br />
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We ran in the house to tell mom and then we all went to the wall of windows in the back of the house. We couldn't see it anywhere. But the rug to wipe your feet had been kicked up to make a tunnel. I knew it was in there. It had to be. So I got down on the floor and looked through the glass door into that dark space. And there is was.<br />
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That gave me nightmare for years. And to this day I get chills even at the zoo looking at snakes in their glass aquariums. <br />
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Mom called someone on the base and they sent out a guy to catch the snake. We got to watch the whole thing from the back window wall. And the funny thing was we lived in a military duplex and our side was fenced with chain link. The not-so-bright guy kept having to go in and out as the snake went from one yard to the next thru the fence. Finally he got smart enough to call in back-up and they caught the ugly thing.<br />
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Flash forward to my mid 20's, living in Florida with my incredibly hot husband. (Just sayin.....) We were in military housing again, with a carport instead of a garage. There was a door into the kitchen from the carport. By that door was the recycling bins that made perfect little caves. (Hindsight)<br />
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One evening I was hurrying from the back yard to the front to wash out Bone's hermit crab aquarium when I sort of noticed a hose stretched out from under the car to the recycle bins. Hmm. That should have caught my attention, but I was losing all daylight and in a hurry. So without thinking too much about it I continued my power walk and stepped on that hose. <br />
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And felt its ribs break. <br />
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And kept walking and did not look back. I knew I had just stepped on a snake. We had also had a very funnny (to the adults) and frightening (to Bones) incident with our son running into a hog-nose on this same carport. I didn't really have time to go check it out at that point.<br />
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Hubs opened that kitchen door just afterwards and I heard him yell for me and tell me there was a snake. I said I know, I just stepped on it. At that point I came around the side of the house to see it.<br />
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To see my husband with his face down close to see what it was.<br />
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And it was a rattlesnake.<br />
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Of course.<br />
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I do believe I let loose a blue word or two and yelled rattlesnake. Hubs moved away and found a shovel and finished it off. It was not a large snake thank goodness. Maybe that is why it did not get me when I stepped on it.<br />
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So here we are back in Texas. <br />
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One evening recently I finished a Netflix movie about 10 at night and wanted to get it in the mailbox so I didn't forget in the morning. So I shoved my feet into flip-flops, snapped the light on as I opened the door and walked out to the mailbox. There was a weird shadow movement in my peripheral vision but we have so many bugs and geckos that I didn't even slow down. (This has served me well over the years....don't stop.)<br />
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After putting the movie into the mailbox I started back to the front door.<br />
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And there was that movement by the door. And that was a snake.<br />
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So here we have a copperhead on the front step. He had just caught a gecko and I watched in fascination as he swallowed that sucker. And I was feeling rather thankful for that gecko at that moment as I stepped about 4 inched from that sucker. I had my phone in my pocket so I grabbed it to snap a picture. I was shaking so bad at that point that I had to take like 12 shots to even get this half way clear one.<br />
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But now I'm standing outside with the mosquito's wondering how I'm going to get back into the house. I have all the other doors locked up tight. Its too late to knock on a neighbors door. I am also in flip-flops so trying to kill it doesn't appeal to me -- I have this weird thing about having my feet safe. What can I say...I'm mental.<br />
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And my biggest fear is that Alia is about to go to bed and come looking for me...see the front light on and open that front door. So I did what all crazy people do and texted my husband a picture. LOL. He told me to call Mouse's ipod and see if she would unlock another door. Luckily she was still up and had the ipod near her. So I was saved.<br />
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When Hubs got home he began watching for the snake. And one evening he called me outside. Not to the front where I knew the snake hangs out as I had seen its tail about 4 times last year but thought it was a Rat Snake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzqa7mQHEvuJGAJ5P_xL0FYAeU9mZtsWkAHPw3e6ZKm3gM6yvP0JnL3UZXDc0u09PH4QE6eNf1ur7p68TJcifixp8KXp78SGRNIP9nvImHl4Y_N7NbTyTgKq6ksN5zd8SHRdhAiA4Lvk/s1600/garden7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzqa7mQHEvuJGAJ5P_xL0FYAeU9mZtsWkAHPw3e6ZKm3gM6yvP0JnL3UZXDc0u09PH4QE6eNf1ur7p68TJcifixp8KXp78SGRNIP9nvImHl4Y_N7NbTyTgKq6ksN5zd8SHRdhAiA4Lvk/s1600/garden7.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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No. Hubs ran across and killed this guy where we have the dogs.</div>
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And that is not the snake I had a run-in with on the front step.</div>
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It's too small. </div>
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So, I have now three snake stories I can tell. And my real fear is three strikes and you are out. My luck has to be up by now.</div>
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And its 25 minutes to a hospital.</div>
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In other news</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzw8-UgfZVyj9lmkYheFVZNRJKeJKdt4vfe2l4ccEMehXiXWjMDQNTFcRB-eCrSHzIfBAapqWZd9PBj_hlkSHvu1_j54iJ1PzKDhpoyL1LC_erWjLx_uwkXg9WJUB4NcB_zlanJpIIpU/s1600/garden8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzw8-UgfZVyj9lmkYheFVZNRJKeJKdt4vfe2l4ccEMehXiXWjMDQNTFcRB-eCrSHzIfBAapqWZd9PBj_hlkSHvu1_j54iJ1PzKDhpoyL1LC_erWjLx_uwkXg9WJUB4NcB_zlanJpIIpU/s1600/garden8.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
...these guys started making an appearance also.<br />
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And the garden is looking rather sinister now....<br />
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-53833013908583079252014-07-03T00:46:00.001-05:002014-07-03T00:46:17.967-05:00Gardening Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't know where time goes lately. I have a bunch of posts that I will try and get done today and set to post every other day to catch up. I wish I could get some kind of routine down with this new lifestyle...but it evades me. The time Hubs is gone drags like a nightmare and the time he is home flys way to fast. Gotta love it.<br />
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Anyways.<br />
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The garden has gone insane.<br />
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Two weeks ago:<br />
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The garden was growing great. We have had a rain consistently and hard. The plants took off.<br />
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See my flattened and squished tomato cage there in the front? Its from the middle of the tomato patch. I found it like that one morning. No other evidence of a visitor. Crazy. I am thinking deer? Maybe with some antlers that the cage caught? And then it runs out and falls on the cage? It does look like it has been sat on. Its a garden mystery.<br />
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I did get a few zucchini. I don't think I will have many more as the squash bugs are killing them off fast. So far it is only the zucchini they have attacked...the yellow egg squash and spaghetti squash remain untouched to date.<br />
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The corn isn't coming up all that great. This was a container hybrid. They are doing okay in the containers but I probably wont use it again. The container gardening is proving to be rather stingy and sad.<br />
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The beans are coming in but I don't see anything other than leaves at this point. I wonder if I am missing a vital mineral in the soil for them.<br />
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The Asian yellow egg squash is doing really well. And they are so pretty. So far the bugs have not bothered them.</div>
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The container corn is not growing as tall as what was planted in the garden. But all of it came up, which I can't say for the stuff in the ground.</div>
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The container cucs start but then die. I have several large ones in the garden. We have had enough of those that I have given some away already.</div>
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This was our first pick of the season. I have already pickled some jalapeno's, frozen chopped green peppers and made stuffed zucchini. So far we have only had about 4 tomatoes. There are a billion out there but they are all still green. Since I grow them for hubs watch them all start turning now that he is gone again. I see some salsa canning in my future.</div>
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Almost two weeks later the garden is a jungle. I have to keep pulling leaves off to make pathways. The spaghetti squash plant is taking over the whole back side. <br />
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-6263277683575687102014-06-05T18:47:00.002-05:002014-06-05T18:47:57.354-05:00The Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I actually started this post about a month ago....<br />
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So now I will need to do an update on the growth almost immediately. <br />
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Anyways....<br />
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We had the landscape guys till the back garden for us. We had to clear out all the overgrowth first - that was a job. <br />
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I started with just a few things but it just kept growing. Hubs would come home with more tomato ants because they were on clearance. <br />
And such. <br />
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Outside the mushroom door is a bucket of herbs. The previous owners were growing something in it on the other side of the house. It now has dill, cilantro, and curry plants.<br />
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There are also some planters with chives, lettuce, basil and parsley<br />
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On the spa room patio there are more containers. This is what I am used to using so I couldn't see letting all my pots sit empty. Mud I had seed for container plants. <br />
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Here we have 2 tomatoes, two bush cucumbers, a jalap and 4 container corn that I was curious about. <br />
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In the back we ended up with like 18 tomato plants of many varieties. We like yellow best but had a time finding them.<br />
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I planted the rest of the corn and pole beans along the long edge. <br />
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There are five different pepper plants of different kinds. Also in the back cucumbers and squash.<br />
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3 1/2 weeks later it looks rather different. <br />
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I was nervous as I've never had a true garden before. Curious to see how it all turns out. <br />
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Update soon. <br />
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-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone</div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-80101934429855274722014-05-30T20:18:00.000-05:002014-05-30T20:18:16.206-05:00Pinterest Project 26<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm probably the only one left on the face of the earth that didn't do this already.<br />
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We reuse plastic bags like most people. They line the small trash cans in the bathrooms, offices, bedrooms. I use them for scraps and kitchen trash when preparing food. They are used to pick up and dispose of pet waste from the yard. And on and on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEhZE0zQD1S6R3xr4Zr5qN4N9VK52cehZVkuHACI8npFbzK-lPeWFbSkY1rIiIk1AQ-XREuv3TrVVglyDsDsBae2PoXrlHwdnJgfWqsf1TSuuEaXQos_GChCQ7XbRef8of-YC4mR4yAw/s1600/bags1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEhZE0zQD1S6R3xr4Zr5qN4N9VK52cehZVkuHACI8npFbzK-lPeWFbSkY1rIiIk1AQ-XREuv3TrVVglyDsDsBae2PoXrlHwdnJgfWqsf1TSuuEaXQos_GChCQ7XbRef8of-YC4mR4yAw/s1600/bags1.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
For the winter I had been storing these in my picnic bucket. It wasn't being used and I hadn't figured out how I wanted to contain them. But summer is back and we are using the bucket again to go to friends and bring lunch or other affairs where we bring food. It was time to figure it out.<br />
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I also didn't want them taking up as much space as they had been. So I knew I had "pinned" a link on Pinterest for folding the bags small so they don't take up much room.<br />
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There are all kinds of links, several with video instructions. I used one of those but honestly its so easy you don't have to have a video.<br />
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I lost a total of 4 bags with holes, otherwise this is the new pile. I found an old popcorn tin in the attic that fits in the space they were before. Much more manageable. Why did I wait so long to tame this beast? Its so easy!</div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-86425055021965190432014-05-28T11:21:00.003-05:002014-05-28T11:21:39.200-05:00Kickoff to Summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, the summer did start with a bang. That makes me so happy!<br />
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I want to take a minute to say that there is nothing more heart warming and soul satisfying as knowing people that will take you in and make you a part of their family -- especially during holidays. When Mouse and I are alone, a long holiday weekend is a quiet and lonely event. I don't look forward to them.<br />
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This Memorial Day Mouse and I were invited to a friends house for Saturday and Sunday. So were a few of our other friends and their kids. It ended up being a two day celebrations of friends, kids and food. And it was glorious.<br />
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Saturday was burgers and goodies and lots of pool time.<br />
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<br /></div>
I believe we had 15 kids total that day between 6 families.<br />
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We had scattered rain storms both days but they had a couple of easy-ups that we could hide under if nothing else.<br />
<br />
Sunday was a Crayfish Boil. I elected to bring hot dogs for mouse and I. What can I say. I'm not very adventurous with my meats. But I did try them (a first) and I did help peel for the kids....which helped me get over it.<br />
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What makes it hard is when I was growing up I loved it when my dad would take us to the creek late at night to catch crawdads. See, where I grew up it was bait...not dinner. LOL<br />
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The spices were amazing. LOVED the corn and potatoes! Spicy good!<br />
<br />
So it was a wonderful weekend. Not too hot. Lots of laughs. The kids wore themselves out -- and you know it doesn't get any better than that. And it was with some of my favorite people in the whole world.<br />
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A perfect holiday weekend. (At least as perfect as it can be without Hubs with us.)<br />
<br />
We all needed Monday as a recovery day!<br />
<br />
Hoping all my friends and family were able to spend time with people they love!</div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-65249637280927122052014-05-23T12:00:00.000-05:002014-05-23T12:00:02.691-05:00What Does Summer Bring<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Summer<br />
is a stone's throw away<br />
Its out there<br />
Just beyond reach<br />
<br />
What does summer bring<br />
the year after<br />
the greatest summer<br />
you can remember?<br />
<br />
On the days we want<br />
to hide from life<br />
We can daydream<br />
<br />
Maybe its days<br />
besides a pool<br />
filled with friends<br />
and children<br />
<br />
laughter<br />
snacks<br />
misbehaving monsters<br />
and ice cream bribes<br />
<br />
Maybe its an escape<br />
to a place<br />
a car ride away<br />
A weekend of laughter<br />
good food<br />
lots of liquids<br />
and maybe even cigars<br />
<br />
I can close my eyes<br />
and see the sand<br />
smell the sea<br />
feel the ocean breeze<br />
<br />
Maybe its a girls weekend<br />
by a lake<br />
with crowded rooms<br />
and shared kitchen duty<br />
Catching every ray of sun<br />
It cares to cast down<br />
<br />
Maybe its dinners<br />
or coffee nights<br />
or houseboats<br />
<br />
But hopefully it is more than these things<br />
As they have already been done<br />
And as wonderful as they are<br />
The true adventure<br />
Is in the new<br />
<br />
Whatever it is<br />
Its time with friends<br />
That see you<br />
and hear you<br />
<br />
and don't make you feel invisible</div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-18890655208058944092014-05-22T21:18:00.001-05:002014-05-22T21:18:44.305-05:00Its Dark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Its dark again<br />
Another night<br />
of trying to sleep<br />
<br />
by myself<br />
alone<br />
<br />
There are shadows<br />
but shadows are good<br />
They hide the empty spaces<br />
the empty side<br />
the cold side<br />
<br />
I reach a hand over<br />
I can almost pretend<br />
to feel the depression<br />
where you should lay<br />
<br />
The spot that should be warm<br />
The skin I should be able to touch<br />
and smell<br />
and taste<br />
<br />
I can almost pretend<br />
that your dogs breathing<br />
is really yours<br />
but not really<br />
although you do both snore<br />
<br />
but the room is empty<br />
of the presence<br />
that should be there<br />
night after night<br />
<br />
new couples anticipate<br />
the nights together<br />
falling asleep in each others arms<br />
feeling the breath of the one they love<br />
on the back of their neck.<br />
<br />
The satisfaction that is soul deep<br />
that touches something so deep inside<br />
it cant be explained<br />
it can only be felt<br />
<br />
It leaves you empty<br />
when its missing<br />
<br />
And they don't even have to be gone.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-83954944268638120972014-05-12T11:34:00.001-05:002014-05-12T11:34:30.608-05:00More Than Mac N Cheese<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=14/05/12/394.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/14/05/12/s_394.jpg' border='0' width='209' height='280' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-75858971864433937982014-05-11T14:34:00.000-05:002014-05-11T14:34:26.508-05:00Where Are You Today?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If I could meet you.<br />
If I could see you face to face<br />
What would I say?<br />
<br />
Because you live with us daily.<br />
In her eyes<br />
In her smile<br />
In the genetic surprises that surface<br />
<br />
Mouse has lavished me with love today.<br />
Her momma<br />
She made me little gifts<br />
She wants to take me out<br />
She is excited to celebrate me.<br />
<br />
I wonder if she is thinking of you also?<br />
She doesn't say<br />
I could ask<br />
But I let her lead these conversations<br />
<br />
I am thinking of you.<br />
So many questions<br />
So many feelings<br />
Where are you today?<br />
<br />
Over the years I have wanted to ask so many things<br />
And each year its different<br />
Some years I am angry with you<br />
Some years I am sorry for you<br />
<br />
Do you think of her?<br />
Do you wonder where she ended up?<br />
Did you watch from the shadows as she was found?<br />
Or did you run away?<br />
<br />
Do you wonder what she looks like?<br />
If she is a good student?<br />
If she is healthy?<br />
If she has siblings?<br />
<br />
I wonder.<br />
<br />
I wonder why.<br />
I wonder how you deal with the loss daily.<br />
I wonder if you would take it back if you could.<br />
I wonder if she was the only one you abandoned.<br />
Were there more?<br />
<br />
We talk about you sometimes.<br />
I expected more grief<br />
More questions<br />
More anger<br />
<br />
I am astounded at her need for me<br />
The fierceness of her love for me<br />
The way she panics at the thought of not having me<br />
And her complete faith in me.<br />
<br />
She is amazing<br />
She is funny<br />
She is spunky<br />
She is loving<br />
She is beautiful<br />
She is picky<br />
She is spoiled<br />
She swings high<br />
She laughs at inappropriate things<br />
She likes mischief<br />
<br />
<br />
Some of this is from you<br />
And some of this is from me.<br />
<br />
And even though we will never meet<br />
We make a beautiful team.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-74834572588397360142014-04-29T06:30:00.000-05:002014-04-29T06:30:00.785-05:00Autumn Asks: Have You Ever Been A Member of a CSA?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<img alt="We absolutely love checking the fields first thing in the morning and seeing growth. Get ready, more Home Grown Goodness coming your way very soon!" src="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/0785fa12f91a11e28c8022000ae912e8_7.jpg" height="400" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have tried to join CSA's all over the states over the last decade or so. CSA stands for Community Sponsored Agriculture. Basically its a local farm that you buy direct from -- like a membership. Most of them raise organic crops so you can eat healthier than the stuff from the grocery store. Many CSA's have a waiting list as they can only support so many people depending on the size of the farm.<br />
<br />
I was delighted when we came back to Texas and found that not only was there a CSA available (actually I think there are two), but they had openings.<br />
<br />
The Home Grown Farm is a family owned business. Most of your interfacing is with the two brothers. They are also unique in that they have a website that you go to for your order that next week. You can pick growers choice, or you can customize what you get. Most CSA's just give you a box of what they harvested that week with no choices. This is far better than having things your family won't eat. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately I do have to drive into Waco to pick up my box. There are many locations you can choose from, but none of them is close to me. This is hard as pickup is on a school night during dinner time. I do have a three hours window to work with, but it does get old driving that far every week. <br />
<br />
And that is my only complaint. <br />
<br />
You get more than enough food. You can even choose to skip a week if you want. I haven't done that, I've been putting up the extra instead. Extra doesn't usually happen when Hubs is home, but when he is gone there are many nights that I don't cook from scratch.<br />
<br />
<center>
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<br />
Extra cabbage has become sauerkraut. Pinterest instructions of course. I did use one jar in a kielbasa crockpot recipe. It was good and it was on the first day you could use it so the rest should get a little stronger. This first jar was really mild. Also one of the jars did not seal well. I cannot describe to you the horrible odor. LOL.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKbDmUHv_kSbL3f2quFw8-76U6VzGz49K74liV5aoPERRCcThad8bvplxAIyd-GEYWs8zeENiVQOOUXxQO8iZ4DFLRP4vXHP_OmOsAQqhGz06-R_3FJKRWSTFpxWf9OVs3vyynGLxQs0/s1600/mushdehydrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKbDmUHv_kSbL3f2quFw8-76U6VzGz49K74liV5aoPERRCcThad8bvplxAIyd-GEYWs8zeENiVQOOUXxQO8iZ4DFLRP4vXHP_OmOsAQqhGz06-R_3FJKRWSTFpxWf9OVs3vyynGLxQs0/s1600/mushdehydrate.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
I dehydrated some of the extra mushrooms for later use- another Pinterest tutorial. This was my first try with this dehydrator which we picked up at a Goodwill for $5. It doesn't have a temperature control for different settings but it works just great. We have used it for jerky a few times.<br />
<br />
I have also frozen mushrooms, onions, peppers, turnips, beets and carrots for cooking. With extra potatoes I made up frozen hash browns.<br />
<br />
So I have been working on canning, dehydrating and freezing. I also have a foodsaver that has a jar attachment for sealing and uses the ziplock bags that you can pull the air out of. LOVE IT.<br />
<br />
Although a CSA is more expensive that grocery store veggies, I do recommend them if you can afford it. Its organic. You can visit the farm and get to know the farmers. Its supporting your own community.<br />
<br />
Anyone else a member of a CSA in your area?</div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-50821803516629808282014-04-28T06:30:00.000-05:002014-04-28T06:30:01.741-05:00Asparagus Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3K4-kanxZq6hX-2W9wZAYui8v76xxzzyanXCxEBcL1-wAYh-o3IS2gYxrxUX0HbXB82u51N8_2Ze8dyBQmGq3TX5i94Kj2cBUrRhJVLFa_tlikeSa7RUSfgPAooFDJs42HMjHwRtjSo/s1600/asppatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3K4-kanxZq6hX-2W9wZAYui8v76xxzzyanXCxEBcL1-wAYh-o3IS2gYxrxUX0HbXB82u51N8_2Ze8dyBQmGq3TX5i94Kj2cBUrRhJVLFa_tlikeSa7RUSfgPAooFDJs42HMjHwRtjSo/s1600/asppatch.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the really neat things about our place is this fully mature asparagus bed in the side yard. I'm glad the last owner told me what it was because I would have been clueless.<br />
<br />
I love asparagus.<br />
<br />
This spring has been a real learning experience because I had no idea what to do or how to care for it or anything. Luckily it seems to be pretty fool proof since it is an established bed.<br />
<br />
I did some reading in books and on the internet. Looks like I have a good amount of new roots spreading so I have stuff that I was cutting at first that really should have been left alone to grow this year. They are very small stalks. I caught on after a few weeks and now leave those to grow so they will be bigger next year.<br />
<br />
For 4 weeks now I have been cutting asparagus daily. Its awesome. But I am getting a little tired of eating it so I am now trying other things.<br />
<br />
<img alt="recipe for canning spicy pickled asparagus!" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d8/68/bd/d868bda8c487a55f59b1e9411c0ec31c.jpg" /><br />
This is a Pinterest pin for Spicy pickled asparagus which can be found<a href="http://sustainablepantry.com/2010/05/21/can-jam-may-spicy-pickled-asparagus/"> here</a>.<br />
<br />
I made a jar but I have not tried them yet. Like I said...I'm a little tired....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS6IBApf3K1fE2WyClmmpH4HZpAx1EdpGZGHsSxX0NW2kOq6hp5fIIUZ-M3pbABFqMj2rGMT3Q7naeJhHgxNCA-KAl7yVCOKLAkpv3X9avD4HH-KV0uq8sywNuaTBseHlJxdh9YWkc-A/s1600/picled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS6IBApf3K1fE2WyClmmpH4HZpAx1EdpGZGHsSxX0NW2kOq6hp5fIIUZ-M3pbABFqMj2rGMT3Q7naeJhHgxNCA-KAl7yVCOKLAkpv3X9avD4HH-KV0uq8sywNuaTBseHlJxdh9YWkc-A/s1600/picled.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Mine do not look anywhere near as pretty. My stalks are much thinner than the ones on Pinterest. I will have to let you know how they taste when I try them.<br />
<br />
Right now sitting on the counter are:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHgEeJY6CDUISmI1omL8oyc67MNAKPu1aOOlExa2jiFTXAmEADKS6xcbuUQosm11g_hQx7FOUjaqo5otgA2DMwoWgiNr-6J7hYJ7HlroXGYUSkNnboLBM73C6Wt_tIfdowrpxgFC6ZRc/s1600/asp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHgEeJY6CDUISmI1omL8oyc67MNAKPu1aOOlExa2jiFTXAmEADKS6xcbuUQosm11g_hQx7FOUjaqo5otgA2DMwoWgiNr-6J7hYJ7HlroXGYUSkNnboLBM73C6Wt_tIfdowrpxgFC6ZRc/s1600/asp.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
3 glasses. I read somewhere to put them in a glass with some water in the bottom and cover with a plastic bag for humidity and they will store in the refrigerator for 4 days. I was losing them in a day before I found this information. This set I am going to freeze - instructions compliments of Pinterest of course.<br />
<br />
I have two bare spots in the bed so I am thinking of getting two new root sets to plant in them. I know you cant eat them the first year (like my little sprouts) but I have plenty I can eat. I'm not sure how long the plants produce for (as in years) so I think it might be a good idea to add more. Anyone know?<br />
<br />
Unfortunately the artichoke plants did not survive the winter so no new learning on that front. Not sure if I will buy more plants or not. Not this year anyways.<br />
<br />
So do you have a favorite asparagus recipe? I could use some new ones. Please share!</div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-70705372195557285062014-04-25T06:00:00.000-05:002014-04-25T06:00:10.478-05:00Pinterest Project #25<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of my friends here celebrated a birthday in the last few months. We all got together to do a dinner to celebrate her. I think this is probably my favorite thing we do (after the road trips) together -- make a meal and enjoy each other.<br />
<br />
So we all bring something to share. Right up to the night before I did not know what to make. So, to Pinterest I went. Seems like a good time to try out something I pinned to try some day.<br />
<br />
I picked the Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips recipe. <a href="http://what2cook.net/2014/01/28/fruit-salsa-with-cinnamon-crisps/">You can find the recipe here</a>.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/fruit-salsa-with-cinnamon-crisps.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Oh. My. Goodness.<br />
<br />
This stuff was fantastic. And we ate almost the whole thing. Everyone wanted to know what was in it and several wanted the recipe.<br />
<br />
I made it again when I had company a month later.<br />
<br />
I will say that the first time I used raspberries, but the second time I couldn't find any and had to use blueberries. The raspberries were far superior in taste. I also used a raspberry fruit spread and cut the sugar.<br />
<br />
After the first batch I also ended up buying a type of cutter to help cut the fruit up like this. The first time I did it I spent over an hour just cutting the fruit in little squares. Too much work.<br />
<img height="213" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61mOsXcJ7oL._SL1500_.jpg" width="320" /><br />
This guy made it so much easier the second time around. Plus I've used it for some other things now also.<br />
<br />
So if you are looking for a fruit recipe to try I would recommend this one.<br />
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-24174324595341759712014-04-24T06:30:00.000-05:002014-04-24T06:30:00.170-05:00Work on the Bathrooms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We pretty much finished the bathrooms finally. Not that we did a whole lot, but with four to handle it seems like we did.<br />
<br />
The master bath will not be done until we do the next flooring upgrade in 3-4 years. We will need to tear the carpet out, change out the bathtub and the counter tops. Low priority. Although we did put in a towel bar and hand towel rings. There weren't any -- just hooks in the closets. The hooks don't allow for good circulation and the towels don't dry well. I guess the last owners just didn't like to see towels out.<br />
<br />
Mouses bathroom we reused the same towel bars and stuff. The light fixture was painted but not replaced. She was the only one that got an upgrade on the counter tops this time around.<br />
<br />
The guest bath did get all new fixtures. The old ones were nice, but with a gold base. I changed to silver/pewter tones. I found the new stuff on ebay after checking around town and not finding anything I liked. We don't have the greatest selection on things in a city this size. The lights were also upgraded.<br />
<br />
This room and bathroom ended up with a sea or coastal theme. The neat thing about that is we had plenty of stuff to use with having lived in Florida and vacationed there so many times. I had things that we didn't use anymore but I still held onto because of the significance or memories attached. I'm glad I did.<br />
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Jar of shells we picked up on Tyndall Beach over the years we lived there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeR88EOG4ZLSaKrFSno5HV28eSZASHrzKfffVgXHeaJFFDf4TFgEaMfwVOCJUPX2hJ1r1IN6BZOSehciQBI4G9ez4bZKThQRkoBXodQ4LryU1AeXiKWJo0tWFcGiUVaYq3FTmF4JY0WkE/s1600/jelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeR88EOG4ZLSaKrFSno5HV28eSZASHrzKfffVgXHeaJFFDf4TFgEaMfwVOCJUPX2hJ1r1IN6BZOSehciQBI4G9ez4bZKThQRkoBXodQ4LryU1AeXiKWJo0tWFcGiUVaYq3FTmF4JY0WkE/s1600/jelly.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Jellyfish paper weight picked up on Galveston trip.<br />
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Mermaid picture picked up on Mexico Beach Trip. I did have to buy the frame for this one.</div>
<br />
The bath off the den didn't need much other than the wallpaper removed. It is a big space with no storage though. And it is right next to the hot tub room so I wanted to be able to store the towels in there. I don't really liked many of the over the toilet storage shelves and also did not want to put shelves on the wall.<br />
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I ended up using furniture in the bathroom.<br />
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There wasn't anywhere to put the soap for people to wash their hands, or for lotion or anything else. A day spent hitting the local antique shops found a painted and distressed lingerie chest. And it was priced so low I had the cash in my wallet. Storage and a place for the soap and lotion.<br />
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I also pulled the heavy long curtains out of the window and just left the valance. Since I put the privacy stuff on the windows there was no need for all that extra fabric to hand around and get dusty.<br />
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I found an old brass tray to sit on top of the chest to catch any water or soap drips. This was next to nothing on ebay as it was very tarnished. I used my new paste on it and it polished up nicely. The fixtures in this bathroom are brass so I thought it tied in nice. I had a round tray on it first but that just didn't look right.<br />
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For the hot tub towels I put and old bookcase in the room and just rolled them up. This bookcase was one of the first pieces of furniture we bough as newlyweds. It was a $19 Kmart press board disposable buy. It also has survived every move we ever made and 27 years later is still going strong. Unbelievable.<br />
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Now I just need a nice plant in there.<br />
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They might be the smallest rooms in the house, but it sure was nice to have something finished. Well, finished with what we have. I'm sure there will be some changes over time, but for now we used stuff laying around and a few purchases to flesh it all out.<br />
<br />
Done!<br />
<br />
(for now)<br />
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-78967046737154760792014-04-22T06:30:00.000-05:002014-04-22T06:30:02.400-05:00Jeeves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One disadvantage to buying a place with a large house and a large yard is obviously clean-up.<br />
<br />
Since we are really on three lots, Hubs knew he needed a lawn tractor/riding mower for the yard. Of course he does. Who in the world would want to push mow that much grass in Texas 110 degree heat? I think we are a little too old for that at this point.<br />
<br />
After a few months I also began wishing there was such a thing as a house tractor. There is an impressive amount of vacuuming that has to go one in this house. After thinking about it a bit I decided to call my sister and ask her about her iRobot. They have a large house and a dog and two kids also. They are also dueling master degrees that research everything before they buy....so it seemed like the perfect place to get a real opinion.<br />
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What I learned from her is yes, the automatic vacuums do work as long as you don't buy bottom of the line. You want a more expensive one for it to be worth the time. This is not an item you skimp on. <br />
<br />
Well, I really didn't want to spend a large amount of money so I put it off.<br />
<br />
The grass that was coming in from the dogs and people was maddening so I did some searching online. Much to my dismay, the vacuums I was interested in are not something you can shop around and find better deals on. Seems like the price stays within a couple of dollars no matter who carries it. Darn it. I went ahead and asked Hubs about getting one. Of course he wanted to know what ELSE it did besides vacuum for that price. Hah! Even though it doesn't do anything else, he did go ahead and give me the green light.<br />
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I couldn't do it. It costs alot. For a vacuum.<br />
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And I held out for another two months before I caved and ordered one.<br />
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Meet Jeeves. I love him. Yes. I really, really love him.<br />
<br />
I ended up with the newest model as all the improvements had to do with hair pick up and not tangling up the system. With two dogs and my massive shedding on a daily basis, this seemed like something to go ahead and pay the extra money for.<br />
<br />
Jeeves is amazing. He goes from carpet to tile to brick to wood with no problem. With so many different types of flooring, I was concerned about how well it would work out. No problem whatsoever. He is also programmable so I can set him to run whenever I want.<br />
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He does not do my whole house on one charge. Since he is rather thorough in each room this is not surprising. I have him run on program in the den so I can do the rest of the house on the day I clean.<br />
<br />
So, for anyone interested in a robot vacuum, I would highly recommend the iRobot. Its not for everyone obviously due to the high price. Also, if you have a real small house I don't see how it would be a big help. If you have a larger home, the income to make it feasible, and a busy schedule or work hours...then do it. You will not be sorry.<br />
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I am not being paid for this opinion -- I just had to share because I love him so much.<br />
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Best house purchase since we moved in. </div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-27838623928452355212014-04-21T13:25:00.000-05:002014-04-21T13:25:17.256-05:00Has It Really Been That Long?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<br />
Wow. Seems like I'm making a habit of falling off the face of the earth.<br />
<br />
Really its because life is just so.....ordinary. I spend more time at home than anywhere else, which limits the stories that I get to turn into sarcastic funnies.<br />
<br />
Hubs is gone more than home. Last trip we lost a week to him volunteering to cover for a man that wanted to be home for the birth of his baby. Kinda hard to be upset over something like that. And this time there is a week long school he is attending. When all is said and done at the end of the year I bet his time home doesn't add up to a full 5 months. Makes for a lonely life.<br />
<br />
I hired a landscaping company to do an extreme amount of work around the place. They are putting sprinklers in the garden beds and around the house. Not the yard at this point. We might add that later. Not this year. Lots of clean up work and pulling some stuff out and replacing with easier care plants.<br />
<br />
My sister and the kids came for a visit. It was awesome. And we ended it with a trip to Six Flags. This was the first time Mouse could ride everything. She rode her first roller coasters. It was funny. She was all hunched down in her lap with her head on her knees, screaming. In those photos they take it looks like I'm in the car alone. But she kept going on the next one and the next one.<br />
<br />
Mouse is bringing her grades up now in school. She needed time to settle in I guess. It was a little scary at first as she was doing so poorly. But she turned it around and is doing well now.<br />
<br />
I'd say the house is pretty much together now. We haven't finished the shop, but most of the house is set up.<br />
<br />
As you can see, this is all pretty tame and lame stuff. I'm going to try and write more simply because I like to get it out of my head...which I accomplish by writing. But I'm just not finding my voice right now so it will probably be pretty boring until I find it again. Sorry friends!<br />
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-87382666820508591572014-03-15T14:54:00.002-05:002014-03-15T14:54:43.774-05:00Pinterest Project #24<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
I pinned this on Pinterest a couple of years ago.<br />
<br />
I thought it looked cool. I tried to follow thru and see how much it cost but it was a catalog link from overseas and was outdated.<br />
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Dead end.<br />
<br />
Yet, the bases actually remind me of the brass Alter Candle-holders my mother has. I remember my dad bringing them to her from Thailand when I was 5. And I've watched my mother drag them all over the world, polishing them every year around Christmas.<br />
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My mother had a lot of brass. She did a lot of polishing.I thought she was crazy. I was never gonna have a bunch of stuff around that took that much work. No silver. No brass. <br />
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And for 26 years I meant it.<br />
<br />
Until I saw these. So I start thinking to myself if I can find some of those alter candle-holders, I could leave one as is with a large candle, and take a portion of the other out so its shorter and slap a brass tray on the top and fill it with candles.<br />
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Our new house has a great spot for that. And brass on that dark red brick floor....<br />
<br />
So I began searching for a pair of them. Not such an easy task. They are over 40 years old. And a search on EB and a few other sites was a shocker. Over $100 to get my hands on them. Plus shipping.<br />
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Hmm. Maybe I will keep looking.<br />
<br />
One day I was wandering through an antique place in Central Texas looking for I don't remember what.... and out on the patio I find a pair of them!<br />
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In seriously bad shape. As in they have been sitting out in the rain. If you didn't know what they were you might not guess, because they were brown.<br />
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They were also $15 for the pair. Of course I bought them. I knew it was going to take some serious work to get them looking like they are supposed to. But I knew their potential.<br />
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I could do this. <br />
<br />
I also talked to the owners of this mall about brass cleaning products people use when they sell antiques. The lady was telling me all about a product she likes and has seen many people use. The guy leaned over and said follow me, I will show you the finished product. We went to a booth and he showed me an old spittoon. He pointed out how the polished look was kinda scratchy looking. I didn't like it - and neither does he, which is why he showed me.<br />
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He pulled this stuff out of the back and showed me. Said it was the best in his opinion and that I would have to find it online. They didn't even carry it. So I snapped a picture and hit Amazon when I got home. Score! he also said it was expensive, but I disagree with that. The first clean up I used more than I normally would, sure, but otherwise I think its really close to Brasso. Not as bad as I was expecting at all.<br />
<br />
I love this stuff. One of the best things about it is that since its not a liquid like Brasso, it doesn't leave the white build up in the etchings. You can get it all off. The build up is one of the things I didn't like about brass. It just doesn't look right.<br />
<br />
Four months of work. That's what it took - off and on - to get the candlesticks cleaned up. I went to bed with some cramped up hands and forearms more than one night.<br />
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It was worth it. <br />
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Even Hubs noticed right away when he came home and said he liked that.<br />
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Of course I had to have the large candle special made. You can find some alter candles that will fit it in Catholic supply shops, but they are like $80 each. And only come in white. No thanks. I found someone on the interwebs that made me the size I needed. Much cheaper...although shipping about doubles the price.<br />
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And so begins my new love affair with brass.<br />
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Never would have seen that one coming.</div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-58207597485969070342014-03-07T22:14:00.004-06:002014-03-07T22:14:59.925-06:00Whose Doll Is It Anyways??<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I know, I know...so much for getting back to writing. I am happy to say that I finally am over being sick. But Hubs was home for a short rotation so it was fast and furious getting things done around here. And now he's gone again.<br />
<br />
So this story is actually from two rotations ago.<br />
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For Christmas, Mouses big brother gave her an American Girl Store Gift Certificate. Since there is a store in Dallas, which is only about two hours away, and we have family there, Hubs decided he needed to take her so she could spend it. She was foaming at the mouth and had a list ready.....that she had compiled while perusing the online store.<br />
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I can promise you that neither Hubs nor I was thrilled about this. Especially with the child that can spend an hour (not kidding) in Claire's. I have already had the privilege of going to this massively overcrowded and stupidly expensive store, and Hubs has zero interests in dolls.<br />
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But off we went.<br />
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First, Mouse wanted her new American Girl Doll to have her ears pierced. Wait...what? Get a dolls ears pierced? And pay money for it??? Both parents are horrified at the thought....but it wasn't our money so we marched upstairs to get in line.<br />
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And I do mean line. Like we stood in it for 20 minutes just to get to the front to tell them what we wanted. See, it was done in the beauty salon. Not a people beauty salon you understand..... a DOLL beauty salon. And the sign informed us that the wait (after you get to the front of the line) was currently at two hours. <br />
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No. Way. We were going to have to wait two hours for this???? Thankfully we found out that all we had to do was make it to the front of the line and they would do ear piercing immediately. No wait beyond that.<br />
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There is a God.<br />
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As we stand in line for foreverrrrrrrrrrr, we start people watching. Not like there is anything else to do. While waiting to get a DOLL'S ears pierced. There were 5 ladies behind the counter working away. I had to wonder what it was like for this to be your employment. "So, what do you do?" Not that I'm saying there is anything wrong with this, beats fast food for sure.<br />
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There are posters up all over with the prices of the hairstyles. Different dolls had different choices depending on the hair type they have.The ladies clean the hair, trim it back into shape and then style the do you payed for. And do they pay. This starts at about $20. I don't pay $20 for Mouses haircuts, so this was a shock to Hubs and my system. Are you kidding me???<br />
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Standing in line.<br />
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After 10 minutes Hubs began to squirm. You could see that dazed look enter his eye. The trapped animal panic. <br />
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So you can imagine the kids around us started doing the same thing. Kids and guys....about the same patience level, right?<br />
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A couple of people up we noticed a very nicely dressed mom and her beautiful daughter. The girl looked to be about 4. Mom was pushing a stroller with all her shopping bags hanging off it (and we were at the Dallas Galleria folks) and it looked like the girl was her only child with her. I wondered if the child still used the stroller...she was kinda too old for that....or whether mom just still used it as a shopping cart. It is handy like that if you are a power shopper and haven't given the stroller away yet. Or maybe there is a younger sibling somewhere.<br />
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Anyway- mom gets to the poster, holding TWO dolls and asks the daughter which hair-do's she wants.<br />
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And the child? Not the least bit interested. She had the trapped animal, bored out of my skull look that Hubs was wearing. She was being very well behaved about the whole thing while she stood there, but there was no interest. She wouldn't even give mom an answer....just a lazy shrug of the shoulders. <br />
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Mom looked a little distressed. So she turned around and decided what to get. And I'm watching this whole thing play out and realize they really aren't there for the child. They are there cause mom is going to spend $40-50 to fix these dolls hair. And its not like the hair was very bad off to begin with. <br />
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That really puzzles me. Why does a grown woman want to spend that kind of money to fix doll hair. Why is it important enough to stand in a line for 20 minutes to deposit the dolls, and then wait another two hours for them to be done? Even supposing she has more money than she knows what to do with. Is she just a crazy adult doll lover? Is it somehow a status thing? Something the moms compare at play dates? I would have liked to know because I find most people have REASONS for what they do, even when it looks crazy to us.<br />
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Hubs is really getting antsy now. He starts asking if we are done after this. Nope. Mouse has a list and we already found out what she wanted was out of stock so she was going to have to shop. She admits that there is something else but she doesn't have enough money. Dad volunteers to help her out.<br />
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Hah! Note to kids: take dad and make him stand in a line for a long time. Its financially beneficial.<br />
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About that time the couple in front of us had issues. Here we have a family that looks middle class. Dad is in work coveralls that look like a construction worker. Mom is rather over weight and so is daughter. Daughter looks to be 10-11ish. This family is obviously here for the daughter. Mom shows her the poster when we are close and asks which style the girl wants. She proceeds to pick out a style that does not go with her dolls hair type. Mom points out which section to chose from. The child starts throwing a two year old fit. It was ugly. And they get her settled down in a bit. Not a single word of warning or reprimand.<br />
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You have got to be kidding. We would have removed our kid from line and left. Who rewards over the top ugliness in a child that age???? Just wow.<br />
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Finally we make it to the head of the line and the ears are pierced in about 2 minutes and we move down stairs to finish up the gift card. Dad is past his limit at this point and just pushing to find something so we can leave. And to make a long story short -- Mouse ends up with about $50 in extra merchandise just so dad can escape!<br />
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Hysterical.<br />
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And brilliant.<br />
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-55206882802030047412014-02-05T15:18:00.001-06:002014-02-05T15:18:46.223-06:00Stunned By Joy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In my favorite group of friends here in Texas, I am the old woman.<br />
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Its a little strange since for years and years I was always the youngest in any group.<br />
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But whatever. I earned every year.<br />
Ha<br />
Still, it was with great joy that I learned on of my friends sons was getting married. Not only because he was getting married...also because I was not going to be the first mother-in-law of the group.<br />
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Its the little things...<br />
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This also gave me the push needed to finish setting up my quilting room. I love saying that. I never thought I would have a dedicated space all my own to quilt and make a mess in. Because quilting is very messy.<br />
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After putting it all together, I was able to start on a quilt for a wedding gift. Timing was bad for going out and buying a bunch of material (Oh how I miss The Fabric Shop in Ohio) so I dug through my material bins and pattern notebook and came up with a scrap quilt \to use as a couch throw. And I had everything I needed, including the batting to get it done. Of course I pushed it all the way to the last minute, but I did get it completed.<br />
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Sorry about the hazy shot...I didn't check the photos before wrapping it up so I don't have good shots of this quilt. Not smart.<br />
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This is called a Plus Quilt and is a free pattern I found on the internet by Jeni Baker at incolororder.blogspot.com <br />
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The back is made up of scraps from the 11 Pony quilts I did. I swear I will never use up all the purple leftovers. I normally wouldn't have used purples on a wedding quilt like this but plum was one of the wedding colors. I took advantage.<br />
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My bestie Rena did the signature block for me. She has the ultra cool embroidering machines.<br />
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The binding is left over pieces of binding from other quilts. I don't throw much away. Material is too expensive to waste. This was cool because it was already cut and ironed in half, etc and I just had to join the pieces.<br />
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Not a good shot but you can't really see it from the front. The actual quilting I just stitched in the ditch around each plus sign. I would usually do more quilting than that but I was running short on time.<br />
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And that was also quilt number 40. Wow.<br />
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Now its time to get back to my list of other quilts I am making. No idea how long it will take me to get through my list. Still have lots of friends I want to send one to because I love them!</div>
autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-29795080530242680972014-01-27T11:35:00.001-06:002014-01-27T11:35:38.218-06:00Squirrel!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My favorite part of the movie UP is how the dogs are always getting distracted by the possibility of squirrels. But its not as funny when it feels like your everyday life is like that. All day. Every day. I swear I can't complete a task without picking up four more right in the middle of it. And sometimes I finish something and lots of times I don't. Is this getting old? It feels more like loosing my mind.<br />
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On top of that Mouse and I have been rather sick. Of course its while Hubs is gone which makes it twice as bad. The day Mouse got sick I was relieved. I wasn't sure I could drive her to school. But we are on the mend. I think. Every time I say that it seems we suffer a relapse.<br />
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Hubs has come and gone. He did get the rest of the boxes gone through if not unpacked -- and our claim has been turned in. Waiting for that first insulting offer. We turned in about $4500 in damages. I say the first offer is $500.<br />
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Hubs had his ulnar nerve surgery and is recovering. He has a lot of pain but has a little feeling returning to his hand. It can take up to a year before he knows how well the surgery actually worked.<br />
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Lots going on. House is mostly unpacked but we are working on rooms and all the little changes, etc. It feels like there are still a million things to work on. Because there are. Sometimes it leaves me feeling paralyzed. I try to remind myself how much we've already done. And it would help if I could complete a task without getting distracted by another.<br />
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But there is progress.<br />
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In Mouses bathroom they still had the builders grade brassy looking light fixture. I abhor this look. Now wasn't the time to spend the money on it though as we upgraded in Songbirds bathroom. So I grabbed a can of spray paint that matches the colors in there and painted it. I've never been real big on spray painting things but there is no way I could hate it more so I did it.<br />
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Its like a tan that picks up the tan in the new sink top and the throne. One of the glass globes broke so we had to replace those also. Its okay. Not great. But better than the gold.<br />
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The fixtures in Songbirds room are antique. They have these cool looking tassels (can't believe I said that). But the metal was not exactly rusting but discolored and oxidizing or something. Some of the pieces are cracked. So, we were sad to have to replace them -- especially since the wall scones in the window seat match them. I figured we could see what a coat of paint would do for them also -- we didn't have anything to lose.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNoj_65nXoPnVD2x78VwlxDXx0lot9N-ygjxTbJ644NUyNHf7zeqIAifEihwokmT989sDtc40fnIXJdHC9laMEd9LNRXN3tlIS4xgUvmsZF0zXQDnE4aesKBNv7E5Atag-0IKTTyfwzE/s1600/wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNoj_65nXoPnVD2x78VwlxDXx0lot9N-ygjxTbJ644NUyNHf7zeqIAifEihwokmT989sDtc40fnIXJdHC9laMEd9LNRXN3tlIS4xgUvmsZF0zXQDnE4aesKBNv7E5Atag-0IKTTyfwzE/s1600/wall.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Of course the ancient Bakelite holder in the ceiling came out and now that has to be fixed before we can rehang it. Just requires crawling around in the attic, which is not a priority with the other lights in the room. Its on the list.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaHMuUbwdEgsh0YpOWrG8RjDX0eAQzypTMmgTQ_7LqOEgQD4lkw4_M5lSrLbBD5vXeWKkB3pEii8zftnAjw6PYXAHelDzqGWvrumSvQghE_L5N52TJwEmxSH34prQuxTZJVAGtl_rpA8/s1600/blinds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaHMuUbwdEgsh0YpOWrG8RjDX0eAQzypTMmgTQ_7LqOEgQD4lkw4_M5lSrLbBD5vXeWKkB3pEii8zftnAjw6PYXAHelDzqGWvrumSvQghE_L5N52TJwEmxSH34prQuxTZJVAGtl_rpA8/s1600/blinds.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Hubs one big request was to put up curtains in the living room. Well, that doesn't work with picture windows. And I hate curtains. Really. I do. So we talked to a decorating place and it was going to cost over $1000 for the cordless pleated shades that can be put all the way up. My mother and my sister have both used selectblinds.com and they recommend them. So I went online and found blackout shades in a mocha color that matches the trim exactly. When they are all the way up you don't even notice them. So Hubs is happy he can pull them down at night so people can't see in, and I am happy because you don't notice them when they are open and it doesn't spoil the wall of windows. Plus...all four of these plus two shades in Mouses room came out to just over $400 - good quality stuff. I highly recommend this company guys! One of the living room blinds had an internal defect and I got it replaced no problem. Plus they even have videos on how to measure to give them the measurements they need. It was simple.<br />
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Speaking of windows. There are full sized ones in all the bathrooms. This one is in Mouses room and made me to uncomfortable. So, Amazon to the rescue.<br />
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I bought that window cling stuff that makes it so you can't see in well but it lets all the light in. I did three of the four bathrooms. Songbird didn't want it in her bathroom, but I decided to go ahead and order some for it anyhow. It just makes me feel better. Don't know why.<br />
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The laundry room has been painted. It was a muddy tannish brown with raspberry trim. Not working for me. It is now a good grey color that Hubs picked out. Love it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRtr3D5AuT7C3-cgGQ7C_0pu7IbtmATHEIHtdrkY75_PkA87436m1hu0JNwWI6P3MDtTdJZvXJ3PKzy8LP_oSFJCLYv5KhvsnkW82j5feAVdGTbQhp4IkON7OPKnVTNE3c-YqLQFDEu4/s1600/k7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRtr3D5AuT7C3-cgGQ7C_0pu7IbtmATHEIHtdrkY75_PkA87436m1hu0JNwWI6P3MDtTdJZvXJ3PKzy8LP_oSFJCLYv5KhvsnkW82j5feAVdGTbQhp4IkON7OPKnVTNE3c-YqLQFDEu4/s1600/k7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
And did I mention the stove-top tragedy? We had the spices stored over the stove....and one fell and broke it. Horrified. The replacement cost for the glass top was in the $300 from the company, $500's at Sears and $250 with free shipping on Ebay. Shop around people. Anyhow, it came in and the electrician came by and installed it for me. The spices are no longer over the stove. Turns out that is the most common reason for breakage of the glass stove tops.<br />
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Mouses room used to be a ladybug theme. Everything was pretty much black, red and white. Here she picked a blue and white. This weekend was exceptionally nice so it was time to turn all that red and black stuff to white or blue. </div>
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Two frames, two shelves and the stuffed animal basket all got the spray paint treatment. I have a white hand that Mouse says looks like mold. LOL. Now I need to change out the mats on a couple of her paintings so I can get everything hung in her room. Its still only half done.</div>
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I also did some carpet cleaning thanks to a puking dog (more socks) and cleaned the rug from Mouses room. The rug slips awful on the wood floor and I have tried several things without success. Yesterday I applied some safety backing to it. I need another tub. I'm hoping this works. </div>
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And lastly...</div>
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We did some planting...or re-potting. I only had one plant in the house so Mouse and I went and picked out a few for some of the rooms. She loved the succulents so I got her two for her bathroom. Plus I wanted a couple of hanging plants for the spa room...it already had two ceiling hooks just begging for some ferns. </div>
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I think that's more than enough sharing for one day. I know its long....but I had a whole month to make up for. I'm going to try and be better but no promises. Half the time I turn on the computer to sit down and do this and I get distracted and forget. No, not half the time...all the time.</div>
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Wish me luck.</div>
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-10185725203355663282013-12-09T23:24:00.002-06:002013-12-09T23:24:39.965-06:00The Nightmare <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our moves never go smoothly. Its a rule.<br />
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But nothing, in over 40 years of my life...military moves with daddy, civilian moves with my parents, military moves with Hubs...NOTHING has ever been this bad.<br />
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Thanks to some new changes with the military contracts, you now can have several different companies handle your belongings.<br />
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In our case it was 3.<br />
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One to pack us up.<br />
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One that stored our stuff for a year.<br />
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One to deliver and unload.<br />
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Sounds like a recipe for disaster right? Well it gets better. You see, the last company to touch it gets to pay for the damages.<br />
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To begin with I did not want my stuff now. I wanted to finish painting before our stuff arrived. So the whole thing already started with a strike against it. And I told the company if they couldn't deliver before my husband left again I didn't want it. So they declined. I was happy. Then they called back and said they would do it.<br />
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And they actually tried to be very accommodating. The guy showed up at the warehouse to get our stuff on a Monday a week out from when Hubs leaves. But they said they couldn't get to our stuff -- come back Wednesday. He returned Wednesday and they had piled it in a big pile in a room with no lights and had no workers to help load. Come back Friday. So he shows up Friday and there is still no help. So the driver decided he would load it himself. And they said go ahead. But then he wanted inventory to check it off as he was seeing broken items already and wanted to note that. They said no, just put it on. He refused. And stood in front of them and called me to let me know he was trying to pick up my belongings but the warehouse was making problems and he could already see many broken items.<br />
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So they left him to figure it out himself. And it took him 12 hours to get it all loaded and inventoried. And there were lots of phone calls flying. And in the end the warehouse people would not sign the inventory because they said they didn't break anything. So the driver said to call him when they were ready to sign and he would come move his truck. LOL. So they signed.<br />
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And our belongings showed up the day before Hubs left. Exactly what we did not want. But hey, it wasn't the fault of the guy delivering.<br />
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It gets better. Once the poor guy gets here and makes the calls to have unpackers meet him at our house he finds no one has any workers. In November. The slowest month for moves. Right. So the guy had to call a day labor company and hire two guys that had never done this before to come move my belongings. I did warn the driver that my walls and floors were new and I would file for any damages. Him and his son did all the furniture and heavy stuff to ensure there was no damage. And I must say they were the best I've ever had for that. More points for this guy.<br />
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What should have been done by noon took until 8 pm. Day labor cut off at 4:45. Not that they were much help to begin with.<br />
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The inventory sheets were a complete mess. Usually you might have two different colored sticker sets - one for large items and one for boxed. No. Not this time. Three different colors. And they started and stopped at odd places. So I'm trying to mark off three different sheets as things are being unloaded. It was a major pain and slowed things down.<br />
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Almost every antique furniture piece has been destroyed. The china cabinet -- the fold down desk has collapsed inside. The corner china cabinet they busted out the glass and the frame and broke the woodwork. A dresser is pulled apart. The drawers are all collapsing and you can see daylight. A super solid brass floor lamp looks like a pretzel. No really...like they tried to tie it in a knot. Broken things. Destroyed art. Missing boxes...and one missing support bar for Mouses bed...so the whole thing is worthless.<br />
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(Chinese Folk Art watercolor painting brought back from China for Mouse)<br />
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Each box must be gone through slowly and the damage cataloged. I think I'm up to the 6th damage sheet now. And I'm not even doing Hubs stuff.<br />
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Slowest unpacking job I've ever done.<br />
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Please God let it be the last.<br />
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So that's how I'm spending my days. A box at a time. New damaged items every day.<br />
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And I know it will actually get worse. When they offer me next to nothing for what we turn in.<br />
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I actually think we might have to get an attorney on this one.<br />
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What a way to say goodbye to the military.<br />
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autumnesfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04519475352289814754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631126949164443203.post-21614399701543180972013-11-29T18:06:00.001-06:002013-11-29T18:06:55.492-06:00Work Crew Number Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After debate back and forth over exactly what to pay for on the walls, we finally got a crew in to tear down the paper from 4 bathrooms, 2 halls, kitchen and a bedroom. Then to repair the walls, texture/finish the walls and then paint. We threw in painting the living and dining rooms also. Big money, but it still leaves half the house to be painted.<br />
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They began in the back side of the house. Remember Mouses bathroom?<br />
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It had two layers of wallpaper and two holes behind the mirror. Even though it was the smallest room it held us up a day with the sheet rock repair. A guy spent three days in here.<br />
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Mouse picked a color called Spa. Its really nice and soothing...kind of beachy. Now all the yellow trim in the room stands out like crazy though. I didn't pay for the trim to be done so that is on me. But after painting her room to match, I was done. Not sure if I fractured a finger or just messed up the joint, but painting was excruciating. Plus every time I tried somebody else decided they had better use for my time.<br />
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Remember Songbirds room?<br />
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The crazy wallpaper that made me call it quits and hire a crew. Even the light switch covers and outlet covers had this stuff on it. And it did not want to come off.<br />
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They came in and finished stripping the paper and had it textured in no time. For days I would just go in there to look and see what real walls looked like. I think all the unfinished drywall scarred me. LOL.<br />
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She picked a color called Seacap for the room and parsnip (a shade lighter) for the bathroom. Its a very very light seafoam green. Now the off white trim in the room looks pink next to it. Not good.<br />
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Next was the very yellow living/dining area. This only required paint.<br />
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Yellow is one of my least favorite colors. And this was really yellow. See those paint splotches on the wall? Some of you know that story. The rest can make something up.<br />
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The new paint looks yellow when I shoot it. That is pretty funny. Its actually more of a sand color.<br />
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We used that color pretty much in the rest of the house that they did for me. Its called toasted pinenut. With all that big wallpaper down the kitchen looks bigger.<br />
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I really got cussed for my bathroom. It was that foil paper. They ended up just cutting it off with utility knives in many places and then just fixing the walls. All four of the guys were in here for a full day. I don't have an after shot. I just had them paint this room a white to match the bedroom as I havent decided what I'm doing back there and it will be the last rooms I do.<br />
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This stuff was only real bad on the border. They put it up with an adhesive of some kind -- not the wall kind. The border had to be cut off the wall. Unbelievable.<br />
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The toasted pinenut looks really good with all the wood and brass in here. It was a very nice surprise.<br />
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Believe it or not, this was the worst room in the house. It had a wallpaper that really didn't bother me and I was going to leave it, but then I got to thinking that if I ever did want to change it I would have to go through this same thing with the unfinished drywall. Forget it. I decided to do this mess ONCE. When they tried pulling down this paper, it was plastered on. As in, put on with plaster. Total mystery as to why anyone would do that. They had to chip this paper off.<br />
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Again, this hall looks great now as it has all the same wood as the bathroom. Its much lighter than before also. I didn't realize how dark the area was before.<br />
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It took 8 working days to complete all the work. We did find some pock marks in the wall of the small bathroom which is old termite damage. The house had been treated per the paperwork and now I know where. That was all fixed. The drywall holes in the same bathroom were fixed. Otherwise no new surprises on this job.<br />
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Glad its all done. Sorry I didn't get the painting done I needed to before the movers came. Now forget it. I'm not painting around all our stuff. It can stay a mess until I can afford to pay someone else to do it.<br />
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There is fine white powder all over the place from having all the texturing done. Most of it was cleaned up before our stuff arrived...but I still find it when the heater has run at night.<br />
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Oh - and just like most things we try to do here...these guys were the THIRD company I called. The first two were off of Angie's List. Neither called back. Angie's list is a waste of money. The phone book got the job done.<br />
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