ISN'T HE/SHE CUTE

NOW I KNOW WHY THIS TREE WAS PICKED. SEE THE BERRIES.

SO CUTE

SO FAR HE/SHE IS STAYING OUT OF THE YARD. NO MISADVENTURES YET.

So far we have not had any problems with the raccoon.  He just hangs out in the tree sometimes and looks at us.  We also have a family of kittens that have moved into the old house.  They are probably feral since they run when they see you.  This new neighbor has given the dogs a lot to bark about though.  It makes their day to spot a kitty. 

Hugs and chocolate kisses….

I have been back home for 3 weeks.  It was…well, it just was.  Twisted Sister turned on the air to get it cool before I got home.  Quit working.  The day I got home I had to go buy a new air conditioner.  Yay me.  My garden was full of weeds.  I was gone for two months.  A lot can happen in a garden in two months. 

I decided to make some changes in my life.  I am trying to quit smoking.  So far….just cut it in half not stopped.  I started taking my vitamins every morning.  I kind of got out of that habit.  I started walking a couple of days ago.  I didn’t walk today because my shins were bothering me a bit and I knew I would be standing a lot today.  But I didn’t.  I was trying to spray the yard for fleas but stopped because it REALLY looked like it was going to rain this time.  If it doesn’t I will be p’d. 

So I am feeling better physically and mentally.  Oh I forgot to mention that I haven’t had a menstrual cycle since April 11.  Now I know it probably isn’t the best subject for a blog that gets posted to my facebook but…I REALLY wanted to shout from the roof tops.  I am so thrilled. 

I had a couple of days where I felt more emotional than normal.  Then I started experiencing mild hot flashes.  I barely broke into a sweat.  It happened on and off all day for a couple of days.  It got a little bit irritating.  After hearing of other peoples experiences I am super lucky.  Hopefully it will stay that way.

So I am trying to be a more positive person.  Even though there are a lot of negative things going on in my life.  No job.  No money. No shopping. No job. No money.  You get the point.  There are other changes I have made in my life.  Other people just don’t know about it yet and it is too personal to talk about just yet.  What?  Yeah.  I know.  How much more personal can I get talking about menopause?  Well it involves other people so that is how personal it is. 

I joined an Art Association and have committed to selling my jewelry and other items at a local market on July 10.  This puts me on a timeline and forces me to get busy.  Hopefully I will sell some things there. If not Etsy here I come or…I will send it to my daughter for a jewelry party.  She has a TON of girlfriends.  And they like to shop.  So cocktails and jewelry….a real plan.

I am also sending out my resume.  So far that has not worked for me.  It feels very odd to me because I have never ever had a problem finding work.   On the 12th I plan to start marketing as well.  If anyone is in need of a PEO let me know.

So those are a few changes in my life.  Hopefully I will have more interesting things to talk about in the future.  And more often. 

Hugs and chocolate kisses

The dogs have been ridiculously funny lately.  Yesterday Kelly, my oldest, yelled for me to come outside.  I looked through the back door but couldn’t see what she was talking about.  I stepped out and saw why she wanted me to look.

PANDORA - QUEEN OF MUD

It has been raining here almost every day.  There are some spots where there isn’t grass and the dogs have decided this is where they are going to dig to China.  I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw her and had to grab my camera. 

LEO - MUD WORSHIPPER

She wasn’t the only one getting into the whole mud bath thing.  Leo’s paws and legs were covered and his big old sweet head.  Oliver has long hair so he is like a little rag mop.  His under side was covered. 

OLIVER - MUD BUG

Kelly and I cleaned the patio for over an hour.  There was mud on the walls, door, windows, table & chairs.  Loads of fun I tell you.  Earlier yesterday morning it was raining hard.  Leo decided that he wanted to play in the rain.  I was okay with that.  Until he decided to stand next to me and do the dog shimmy shimmy shake shake.  Mud and muddy slobber went all over me.  Fortunately my cup of coffee was out of range.  Got to love the dogs…..they do make me laugh quite often. 

LEO & PANDORA ACTING INNOCENT

Please visit my previous post to read about a friend in need.  Or go to my sidebar and donate to Kathy.  We all have rough times, some of us more than others.  A little help from you can make a big difference to this family. 

Love and chocolate kisses…..

The smallest gestures can make a huge difference in someones life.  I am hoping that all my cyber friends can make that small gesture to help someone in need.  I know that it is hard out there for everyone.  All gifts, no matter how small, are appreciated. Your donation to this family in need will make a huge difference in their lives.  To make a donation to Kathy and her husband please click on the link to the right in the sidebar. 

Some of you may know Kathy from her blogs Happy At Home and The Eat Food Not Money Cookbook.

Thank you for your generous donations. Please ask your friends to help as well.

KELLY & JON W/ JUDGE LUMPKIN

MR & MRS MCBRIDE

THE VERY HAPPY COUPLE

IN THE FUN HATS WE GOT THEM

MR AIDEN

COURTNEY & JENNIFER AKA THE PEANUT GALLERY

COURTNEY - THE MUSTACHE IS HERS

I feel really bad.  I didn’t get any good pictures of Kristopher, my daughters oldest son.

KRISTOPHER

JENNIFER AKA BABY GIRL

I was going to take more photos when we got home.  I wanted to take pictures in front of their new home and him carrying her over the threshold.  That didn’t happen.  The back door wasn’t shut all the way and the dogs came in and had a party while we were gone.  The next hour was spent cleaning poo and pee and torn up pullups and other assorted messes.  Oliver was surely involved too but these two below probably did most of the damage.  Especially the little one.

PANDORA & LEO

Pandora (Pan) thinks that Leo is hers.  Notice how she makes herself comfortable on top of him?  She chews up anything and everything. 

I am so happy for my Big Girl Kelly.  Jon is a really good guy and I can tell her loves her very much.  Best wishes for a wonderful life.

SUGAR "MOM" & HONEY, COOKIE AND COCO

They also have two big Boxers.  They are the sweetest dogs ever.  They even tolerate Oliver humping their legs.  It isn’t like he would ever reach that territory.  And one is a male.  They lay on my feet and come up to me to be petted.  The only things I don’t like about them is stepping on my feet, I wear flip flops a lot, and that slobber….ewwww.  The other night a violent storm came up and I was swamped suddenly by all the dogs.  You should have seen it before the three puppies were gone.  I wish Baby Girl had taken a picture.  I was sleeping on the sofa and they were all on me.  Except the Boxers.  They were beside the sofa. 

CUTEST LITTLE PUPPIES IN THE WORLD

MEET OSCAR

OSCAR & PUPPIES - SO CUTE

NOTICE THE TONGUE

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE HE LOOKS?

I DO BLAHHHHH HE IS JUST SLEEPY THOUGH

RAIDER - PUPPIES DAD HE NEEDS A TRIM

And the way Sugar has been laying around the last few days she may be pregnant.  Which means more puppies.  Which means I probably won’t be able to resist.

I could see the Gateway to the West Arch for several miles going into Missouri.  I tried taking pictures while driving.  Yes I did.  They didn’t come out at all.  Thanks to a traffic jam I was stuck on the bridge and was able to get a few good shots of the Arch.

GATEWAY TO THE WEST ARCH ST LOUIS MISSOURRI

The next day after arriving in Kansas I ended up with a migraine.  I had one about two months ago and had to drive myself to the hospital.  This is not common for me.  My daughter has them regularly and had  meds on hand.  I stayed zonked out or in a daze for three days with the migraine. 

And I haven’t done much of anything other than being a slug since I have been here.  I still haven’t unloaded my vehicle.  I have to get out of this hole.  I do have something to be motivated about though.  A former client, now friend, is having a festival the day before my birthday in August.  I am getting a booth there and selling my jewelry.  At least I hope I do.  We shall see.

Right now I am eating chocolate covered espresso beans…..

THE DINING ROOM

THE KITCHEN

THE KITCHEN 2

ONE SIDE OF THE PANTRY

There are two pantries.  One on each side of the hallway from the kitchen to the dining room.  She is going to kill me that I showed you the messy pantry.  She can’t keep this straight because of 6 kids.  You can imagine.

OTHER SIDE OF SAME PANTRY

BREAKFAST ROOM - FAMILY EATING AREA

FRONT ENTRANCE - MAIN HALLWAY

I think the main hallway has more square footage than my entire house.  The same amount of space is upstairs and serves as various sitting areas, video gaming areas for the kids. 

MAINT ENTRANCE - FRONT HALLWAY STAIRS

HALLWAY TO THE RIGHT THAT LEADS TO THE MASTER BEDROOM, NURSERY, BILLIARS ROOM AND ANOTHER BEDROOM

BILLIARDS ROOM

NURSERY

NURSERY 2

NURSERY 3

NURSERY 4 - DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THESE ROUND BEDS

NURSERY 5

NURSERY 6

OTHER STAIRS LOOKING TOWARD MAIN HALLWAY

MASTER BEDROOM

MASTER BEDROOM 2

MASTER BEDROOM 3

MAINT SITTING ROOM - FAMILY ROOM

MAINT SITTING ROOM - FAMILY ROOM 2

I decided not to show pictures of the other downstairs bedroom.  It belongs to the twin girls and I am certian Dawn would kill me if I showed it to you.  I hope you enjoyed the little tour.  Maybe on my return trip I can get a few shots upstairs and some of my bff Dawnie.  We just always get so busy we forget about things.  I may stay more than two night this time.  I have to be back home by June so Twisted Sister can ride her new motorcycle from Galveston to Denver….I think that is what she said.  Someone has to take care of the scruppies. 

TWISTED SISTER'S NEW TOY IT IS A BEAUT

I gotta run.  I need chocolate….DARK chocolate.  None of the milk chocolate for me.  Nope.

Joan, my Mom that I stole from Dawn, came in time for lunch.  As usual Dawn out did herself.  She made a salad with strawberries, toasted pecans, springs greens and Gorgonzola.  It was EXCELLENT. 

BEST SALAD I EVER HAD

The next morning Joan and I sat out on the back porch drinking coffee.  It was a little nippy out.  We sat for an hour trying to figure out what we were seeing in the back field.  At first I thought it was a dog.  I wondered how it kept slipping behind the bushes because it got big then really small.  It just didn’t make any sense.  We finally determined that it was wild turkeys.  I got my camera and walked as close as possible without disturbing them. 

JOAN W/ ANGEL BABY

WILD TURKEY WITH THEIR FEATHERS UP

LOOK AT HOW BIG THEY ARE

I took pictures of the bottom floor of the house which I will show you in another post.  I also took pictures of the front and back of the house.  Dawn wanted me to poll everyone and let her know if they liked the front better or the back.  The front has the brick painted and she thinks it looks industrial. 

BACK OF HOUSE AND GARAGE

FRONT OF THE HOUSE

FOUNTAIN IN FRONT

Visit tomorrow.  I will show pictures of the bottom floor.  I didn’t get any upstairs.  I didn’t want to invade the childrens privacy.  You are going to love the nursery.