A Day in the Life

Got it Fixed

2012-01-08T11:40:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is, my new look. I am one of those bloggers that doesn't like looking at the same thing all the time. Got the computer fixed, but now my printer isn't working. One thing after another, eh?
The New Year came and went with no drama, then it all hit the fan.
Heather's wedding invitations are going out in the mail tomorrow since she finished them last night. We got the news last Tuesday that Marshall will not have a job as of the 23rd. His store is closing and there is no other store here that needs an assistant manager, so out he goes. That stinks, seeing as everyone's birthdays are coming up in the next few months. His back is getting worse too, which is going to make it even harder for him to get another job. At least we have enough food to last for a while.
Well, that's about it for now. Maybe I can post again later this week.

My computer is fried

2011-12-14T10:34:00.000-05:00

I am going to have to take my computer to be wiped and reloaded because I got a virus, so I won't be updating here for a while until it gets fixed.

Time Sure Flies

2011-11-09T19:54:00.001-05:00

I can't believe it has been almost 2 months since I wrote here. So many things get in the way that blogging takes last place a lot of the time. I don't even know where to start, to be honest. First, my oldest daughter and her husband are split up, he has a new girlfriend and she is living with friends. Heather is getting married in June to her boyfriend Sean. Marshall is working 6 day weeks now, so we don't get to see him a lot and when we do, he is usually so tired that he just stays in bed. My son Sean is talking about quitting Orchestra and going into theater. He's been playing the violin since 6th grade and I guess he is getting bored with it or something. Being a true teenager, he isn't talking to us about why he wants to quit, just that he does.

I am still at home, taking care of things here. Most days I wonder where my life has gone. I guess with all the kids either out of the house or sleeping (Ian) I have too much time on my hands and I think too much. I was thinking of getting a part-time job, but with Bryan's health problems and having to be on-call to get him from school so often, I can't do that. 

Well, hopefully things even out and maybe I will actually get around to blogging more often.

I have to get better

2011-09-20T10:26:00.000-04:00

about writing here. I have been so busy with the start of school and getting the routines back on schedule that I haven't had time enough it seems. So for yet another of my month updates:

Jess and Jason have split up, she is living with a friend and he and the kids are back at his parents' house. Heather is still in school as are Sean and Bryan. Ian is still trying to find where he needs to be. Marshall has been working tons of hours and is exhausted. 

We have started setting up for Halloween. Heather and I have been getting decorations and getting all of it ready to go. At least we aren't having to work around renovations. Those are done for the time being., thank goodness. We do have a little bit left to do and some grout to replace, but other than that we are good.

Yesterday I fell and hit the side of my jaw on the back of the couch (don't ask, I am still trying to figure out how I managed that), so I am walking around looking like a chipmunk. I twisted my back too, and my neck, so I have a new friend in Advil. 

I made my first batch of Berry Brew from BulkHerbStore.com last Saturday, but I think I did something wrong, because it says at the end of the first week of it setting you have to mix it then let it ferment for 3 more weeks. Yesterday I went to mix it and it was covered in what looks like mold! Ew! I emailed them and asked if that is normal, but haven't heard back from them yet. I hope it isn't, because I don't want to be drinking mold. 

This week I will also be making a batch of elderberry tincture for the upcoming flu season. I know that won't mold. The base is 80 proof vodka. It takes about a week to make, but it is the best flu fighter I know of.

I finally replaced the front loaders! Now I have a washer that actually gets the clothes clean! I am so happy :)

Well, that's about it for now. Hopefully I will have more time to keep this updated. Have a great day everyone!

Happy Day!

2011-08-09T23:31:00.001-04:00

My sons are home from Florida! They were stuck in Tampa for a while because of the weather, and the airline put their luggage on another plane, but they are home safe and sound and that is all that matters. I have missed them very much. Call me selfish, but I don't like it when my family is split up, even for a short time. When they all move out I am going to be a basket case, I can tell.

I spent the morning weeding my garden. I only lasted an hour before the heat got to me and I had to go inside. It is really hot here and I just don't do well in it now. It sure didn't feel this hot when I was a kid and spent so much time playing outside...

Tomorrow I want to get the month's grocery shopping done, finish the weeding, get the garden ready for fall planting, and do laundry.

I took 3 of the dogs to be dipped today so now they are all pretty smelling and flea-free!

What a month it has been!

2011-07-24T20:23:00.000-04:00

Whew! We finally got the bathroom and the floors finished! Here are the photos of how the bathroom turned out:

I am one happy woman. Marshall and Jason did a wonderful job and I love having the jacuzzi tub to soak in.
My garden is pretty much gone for now. We did get some rain two days ago, but not in enough time to save it. I did find one lone sunflower growing under my outside sink though.

Heather cut it and gave it to my mother in law.
We had a good visit while they were here and now Ian and Sean are in Florida with their father for a two week visit. Things here are really quiet without them here. Usually there is the sound of video games somewhere in the house, but with them gone Bryan is spending more time out with his friend Michael and working for the little old ladies in the neighborhood than he does at home. So Heather and I are alone a lot. The grandkids are gone too, until next weekend, and Jess and Jason are usually out somewhere with friends. I can't say I am complaining about the silence. It is nice to have it when I can get it.
Meet the newest member of our house. This is Zoey. She is a 6-7 year-old Australian Shepherd/Husky mix. She used to belong to my mother in law, but now she lives with us. The first picture is what she looks like now without all the hair. The second one is one with all her hair.

See why we shaved her? It is too hot down here for that kind of hair.
Well, I better get going. I have dishes to wash that have been calling me. Have a great one everybody!

Almost a month later....

2011-07-02T12:27:00.000-04:00

We have been working on getting new tile installed in the hall, dining room, kitchen and master bathroom. We have also replaced the tub in the master bath, tiled the shower enclosure and are getting ready to re-do the walls. Talk about a mess! I never realized how dusty it can get when there is tiling going on. Hopefully I will have my bathroom finished by Monday. We are down to one bathroom for 10 people and it is getting pretty nerve-wracking. I want my bathroom back!

On the garden front, all of the veggies gave in to the heat and have died. My herbs are thriving. Funny thing.. I guess I know where my strengths lie in Texas gardening.

My mother in law and father in law will be coming for a visit on the 12th. They will be staying with us for a week. Jess and company will be going to a hotel that week.

Marshall told me the other day that when his mom gets here we are having a dinner party, to include the 12 of our family plus 5 other people. I have no idea how I am going to pull it off, but I will try. I haven't got the room for that many people to eat unless we stick most of them in the living room. Oh well..

Ian is staying! He decided to move back at the end of the summer! I am really happy. I have missed him so much and now he will be back for good. Yay!

Heather has moved to phase 2 of her school. That means she is actually working on live people. I am really proud of her. She is doing really well.

Well, that's about it for now. Talk to y'all soon!

At The End of the Week

2011-06-04T11:08:00.000-04:00

Summer has started. The heat level around here is near or a little over 100 most days. My garden is suffering since the city has enacted stage 2 water restrictions and it looks like only the herbs will survive. 

The drama level here is still high and folks are getting on eachother's nerves every day. I blame the heat. The poor A/C is working overtime and still the house sits at around 80.

My granddaughter Carol got into Heather's nail polish sometime in the middle of the night last night and is now silver. Her mom was not pleased. Neither was Heather.

I'm doing laundry today. I have been a little lazy lately and have gotten behind, so today is laundry day.

Tomorrow is Marshall's only day off this week. He is exhausted, but that is part of being in management and he knows it. Right now he is lying in the bed watching TV and resting before he goes in at 3:30. 

I am still working with Max. He is really bad about biting. He got Marshall on the leg last night. He also likes the kids' toys. He is slowly learning the word "No" but it is taking time.

At the start of the week...

2011-05-31T21:16:00.000-04:00

Things here have settled down since the flooding, though we are still waiting for the insurance adjuster's estimates. 

Max is getting HUGE! He weighs over 15 pounds now. We are working on getting him to stop biting pants legs and the grandkids. He gets really excited when he sees someone walking and tries to grab their leg as they go by and ends up being dragged as he hangs on the pants leg. That has to stop. He has some really sharp puppy teeth.

Ian will be home on the 6th! I have really missed him, having not seen him since Spring Break. He will be here for a little over 6 weeks this time. YAY!

Well, not a lot else going on here, so I will say goodnight :) Have a great week everyone!

And so the week ends

2011-05-27T20:06:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we went out in the garage to find 3 inches of water filling it. Apparently, sometime during the night the supply line for the water heater burst, spraying water into the closet and eventually out into the garage. We lost all the flooring we were getting ready to install in the house, my son in law lost a MIG welder and bunch of stuff. All in all, it wasn't bad, but it was enough to make us take stock in how we keep things in there. Luckily most of our things were in 30 gallon plastic totes. Otherwise I would have lost all my mom's things that I have been keeping in there. 

On a higher note, my son Sean was inducted into the Junior National Honor Society last night. I am really proud of him. He is a great kid.

Marshall was off today, having hurt his back clearing out the garage yesterday. He is also sunburnt. Poor man. He has to stand at work for 8 hours tomorrow and his legs are cramping and he is miserable. He won't even get a good night's sleep tonight because we are taking Sean to a lock-in tonight at 10 and picking him up at 1am. Oh yeah. 

Heather spent the day with her boyfriend and his family for his birthday today. So far he seems to be ok. Time will tell.

Well, gotta go get dinner out of the oven. Have a good day tomorrow everyone!

Time Flies

2011-05-25T20:59:00.000-04:00

Wow does time fly. I can't believe it has been almost a month since I have written here. Lots going on since it's the end of the school year for Sean and Bryan. Field trips, end of year parties, all kinds of fun. Not a lot of learning in these last couple of weeks though. Bryan will be going to summer school this year to work on his reading, and Sean is taking a class for high school during a special camp just for the kids in DATA. Bryan has changed schools and loves the new one. I am so glad to not have to fight him every morning to get him out the door. Lucky for us, the school he is in now goes all the way to 12th grade. YAY! 

Heather is getting ready to go to Phase 2 next month in her cosmetology school. She is doing really well, but is tired of all the drama. 

Speaking of drama, we have a lot going on here with Jess and Jason. I think they are around each other too much and they are wearing on each others' nerves. That happens to me and Marshall if we don't get time away too. Well, 6AM comes early, so I am going to get ready for bed soon. 'night all!

Cleaning Day

2011-05-01T13:40:00.000-04:00

Today is cleaning day around here. Hubby is also doing haircuts for the boys. We have a new puppy here named Max, who is currently hiding from the grandkids. They are too little to understand that he is too little to be rough with.

My garden is flourishing. We harvested three red bell peppers yesterday and a handful each of mint and thai basil. The winds we have been having here for the last two weeks have blown my corn patch a little and the stalks are leaning. I wonder if they will right themselves.

Jess and Jason and the kids have moved back in again. That makes 9 in the house now. To say the least, it is a little cramped and very strained financially.

Well, gotta get back to the dishes. Have a great day everyone!

Plain Pam's Blog: Last Respects...

2011-04-10T19:52:00.000-04:00

While reading my daily blogroll I came upon this:

Plain Pam's Blog: Last Respects...: "One day the members of a large church were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: 'The person who has been hindering your wal..."

Something to think about, eh?

Finally it's Friday

2011-04-08T14:51:00.000-04:00

This has been one long week. Last night my daughter and her husband brought my grandbabies over. They are staying for a few days. JJ is almost 2 and Carol is almost 3. Talk about energy! I get tired just watching them run all over the house after their "Auntie Boo" (Heather). She is their favorite person in the world and they cling to her like glue. Grandma comes in a straight second. Oh well. What can I say? Heather is going to make a wonderful mama. Kids just love her.
We have a skunk in our neighborhood that has been spraying all over the place. It concerns me because we only smell it during the daytime. Skunks aren't supposed to be out during daylight, which tells me it could be sick- even rabid. That would not be good if it got one of the dogs or worse, one of the neighborhood kids. I hope it doesn't show up in my yard.

Mount Washmore is taking over!

2011-04-06T07:55:00.000-04:00

I will admit it. There are days I just do not want to get out of bed because I know what I am facing that day. Today is one of those days. My alarm went off at 5:50 and I was sorely tempted to not get up. Today is laundry day. I got several loads of hubby's clothes washed yesterday, but today is a totally different thing. It is the day for kids' clothes and towels. Here in this house that means I will be at the washer all day. I am really thinking I need a laundry set-up like the Dugger's have. It would be nice to have 4 washers and 4 dryers, all super-sized. I would also like to have a clothesline, but there is no way that is going to happen with the dogs in the back area, so I will live without one.
My oldest son may be coming back to live here soon. I am really excited. I have missed him so much since he moved to Florida with his father last August. I think he is starting to realize it isn't what he thought it would be.
Today I will also be working in my garden. I spoke to a friend, Maggie, last night and she gave me some pointers that I will be implementing soon. I also need to plant more corn, as apparently it won't pollinate with as few plants as I have now. Long day today folks.
Everyone have a great day!

Scrubbing and Washing Today

2011-04-05T14:11:00.000-04:00

Don't you just hate it when your cookie sheets have all that baked-on black stuff on them? I finally got some steel wool and took it upon myself to see silver cookie sheets again. Talk about tired. My arms ache, but there is a certain sense of pleasure there, seeing the silver shining again. Now if I can just get my kids to learn to not leave the sheets in the oven like that...
The other part of today has been spent working on chopping down the laundry pile. I am still working on that one. Lucky for me, dinner is in the crockpot and we have fresh bread in the bread machine so at least I can concentrate on getting the clothes washed and not worry about dinner.

Catching Up

2011-04-03T21:44:00.000-04:00

Today was catch-up day. We worked on chores and got a lot done, but there still is more. Tomorrow Sean is testifying in a court case, so we will be out for most of the morning. Heather has school too. Hopefully we won't be in court all day and I can get more done here.
Since getting the garden in I have decided that I planned it poorly and I need to uproot the herbs and move them to pots so I have more room for food items.

2011-04-02T07:47:00.000-04:00

I have decided to start this blog over. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with this unlike last time. I got too wrapped up with life.