tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83549066652324070912024-03-05T23:23:35.896-06:00JoyintheburbsJoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-58242033473135447262020-04-14T10:00:00.000-05:002020-04-14T21:36:25.966-05:00Real Estate Investing - It's been a long time since I posted in my Joy in the Burbs Blog. I decided to add these post into this blog. So let's catch up. In 2018 we sold the house that we had been in for 14 years. We took the equity and started investing. I will do separate post for each home we renovate.
We turn these homes into rental properties.
So let's start with house #1:
Boy oh Boy we picked a doozie!
This 3 bedroom 2 bath home is in a well established neighborhood that gives you access to a major interstate in 5 minutes.
Location Location Location is what it has going for it. This house has an atrium in it and there was a huge tree in the middle that we ultimately decided to remove due to the risk it posed to the house. The house was built in 1974 and has a 70's contemporary vibe going on that I loved. The previous owner owned it for 10 years. The house was not habitable in my opinion although he had a mattress on the floor and no running water.
Let's look at some before pictures:
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb7ZAEtfyN7lTX28SeAwRD8WqTno0p5yxydqTMgpVrdso9nZb7Y6rOWWpAgpoMvL0NqzbD3sUiG_UADPFc1ZCBvDOpurnFDpVTZbNkjODrIIxypW689xQqr1O-QUTrHlr6vsJg1uRNLXI/s320/44141318_1964725000492339_402312146416828416_n.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjTy_K9GfPwLnbgkuqrzfm3ukr7GM2KNPFgnxfFlG3YMA5Qgg0FGZsCFki9n3B4hSTP-YtrB3wKjNkPtlFk8yNhNxe8B36_cgkvWm8WLHY4D55kkyDS1j9btHhWHXrrgsIijLKytQ4uZf/s1600/44167141_281049219403335_5413574855180156928_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjTy_K9GfPwLnbgkuqrzfm3ukr7GM2KNPFgnxfFlG3YMA5Qgg0FGZsCFki9n3B4hSTP-YtrB3wKjNkPtlFk8yNhNxe8B36_cgkvWm8WLHY4D55kkyDS1j9btHhWHXrrgsIijLKytQ4uZf/s320/44167141_281049219403335_5413574855180156928_n.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdv7hIeTFR3SdM3NSq4hQ0W1DLZcSps7mjsc_SnSiSj72bzI60vlBg2QCTTLPz4H57FDXc1X4Lublzcxna1M6Wv2Y9xWFA7b-nn_KfexTTUXsYJJXM2Mhb1zN16STaNQtBZKGRx0RFCpk/s320/44313027_252107752314965_5599609276252291072_n.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQrwtb6NIvRi-myEEzghZuX8Ne7EHDKiH_F4qMuTp7BzDVS133SNMgeWJmILOY9wEOJQhqy2ONvOMDkwInYmgerzEfHnfTVCxYhyghjBWemPhZDCYt81HTOsW__ww7Lba5WShvKuwiNEj/s1600/44366908_2092254774166886_1722302656157843456_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQrwtb6NIvRi-myEEzghZuX8Ne7EHDKiH_F4qMuTp7BzDVS133SNMgeWJmILOY9wEOJQhqy2ONvOMDkwInYmgerzEfHnfTVCxYhyghjBWemPhZDCYt81HTOsW__ww7Lba5WShvKuwiNEj/s320/44366908_2092254774166886_1722302656157843456_n.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85706/joyintheburbs/340aee03b0e669e92d8eaae40b6490a5.png" border="0"></a>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRMXGnE9Eu-3Yfst-NKAEXdfZOSeylFypnSoZ-NKjiKeOkZrUP02bT8x-JVWItzXSSBNdtuvvMGkD_PbjoHS33Mum29nBq7597ckioftwSZO1BmIZtZYdwfbgY9A_zpyt0biTwARGDP8q/s1600/56383933982__E1A44FD8-D9FE-4D69-A274-137A3FF6E520+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRMXGnE9Eu-3Yfst-NKAEXdfZOSeylFypnSoZ-NKjiKeOkZrUP02bT8x-JVWItzXSSBNdtuvvMGkD_PbjoHS33Mum29nBq7597ckioftwSZO1BmIZtZYdwfbgY9A_zpyt0biTwARGDP8q/s320/56383933982__E1A44FD8-D9FE-4D69-A274-137A3FF6E520+2.JPG" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>
So this gives you an idea of what we were dealing with. There were vines growing through the walls. Both bathrooms had to be gutted. The kitchen cabinets were actually in good condition. They were solid wood. We removed the double ovens (they were NASTeeeee) and created a pantry where that was. We opened the wall between the kitchen and dining room. All the floors were removed in the house and replaced with luxury vinyl plank. The demo part of this house was huge.
Here are pictures of some of the demo. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJcbW61cmNuABnNpR1eN6z9NIzQxazcGp8AXVf9kAvAS4sKQUHxJsa4XuzOdGa5cJLjuSRzI3VpEA9taESPzBwP0wen7dCfBlc6QYjAhm2BNpuxjwzWW57rRiHVJa1iT60hH1UOn0wQlT/s1600/56460702542__C2A55C37-43ED-4A85-B7E9-CC7901C72AD3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJcbW61cmNuABnNpR1eN6z9NIzQxazcGp8AXVf9kAvAS4sKQUHxJsa4XuzOdGa5cJLjuSRzI3VpEA9taESPzBwP0wen7dCfBlc6QYjAhm2BNpuxjwzWW57rRiHVJa1iT60hH1UOn0wQlT/s320/56460702542__C2A55C37-43ED-4A85-B7E9-CC7901C72AD3.JPG" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gqxlTcOP1TAGqVzTZb5Ytvln_Iy0mBbZ-r8WEfJawtt4r2X00uXTexQwCss-RYrXzCzEIo_trDEnXisYi5BSedWS6Tg0yJ2fvzi-cyQiDFtiEOfF_GiN4I7gZtBxe64bikjR75LUtfIk/s1600/IMG_6691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gqxlTcOP1TAGqVzTZb5Ytvln_Iy0mBbZ-r8WEfJawtt4r2X00uXTexQwCss-RYrXzCzEIo_trDEnXisYi5BSedWS6Tg0yJ2fvzi-cyQiDFtiEOfF_GiN4I7gZtBxe64bikjR75LUtfIk/s320/IMG_6691.JPG" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIczjMP5F1zpQhAjAbnB0B7G9e1qUGUvTx8pVWNfdKBI5e7b8_6O97KekOxrc1lSF8WJrmLKA-VHeb6Wu6mCLUDSqCoy7O3wi-FHSWC6llIfhr16XqEXzHD4-vgdkO-dQdgRJmRbKNjLJQ/s1600/IMG_6764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIczjMP5F1zpQhAjAbnB0B7G9e1qUGUvTx8pVWNfdKBI5e7b8_6O97KekOxrc1lSF8WJrmLKA-VHeb6Wu6mCLUDSqCoy7O3wi-FHSWC6llIfhr16XqEXzHD4-vgdkO-dQdgRJmRbKNjLJQ/s320/IMG_6764.JPG" width="180" height="320" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhXHklf_n0oW0nWDsMCRAmlnmgZIvRz6eApZXBwnkWpercRoQX1ngRIqh4JijLCNHAWMHEwj6FzIoLT7r1ranX2q7o3wZcWHSomZHkJ1WILMQGEx8-apxwcXM_yiq1BIficEUzNrRCjCK/s1600/IMG_6876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhXHklf_n0oW0nWDsMCRAmlnmgZIvRz6eApZXBwnkWpercRoQX1ngRIqh4JijLCNHAWMHEwj6FzIoLT7r1ranX2q7o3wZcWHSomZHkJ1WILMQGEx8-apxwcXM_yiq1BIficEUzNrRCjCK/s320/IMG_6876.JPG" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>
Now let's take a tour of how this house turned out. I am so happy with it.
We painted the kitchen white and added granite countertops. The interior was painted Agreeable Grey by Sherwin Williams. The main exterior paint is Snowbound and the front door and garage doors are painted Jogging Path.
Paint does wonders!
Master Bath:
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We decided to paint the brick on the house and do away with that pinky green brick.
aQjNrqI60Cs/XpW9yY78GHI/AAAAAAAAbIA/neuooyy79PIZWXUISTx8WMV_FAobqwehQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/42_Artesia_D_Hi-RES.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
The fireplace got a coat of paint and trimmed out as well. It's a shade darker on the same swatch on the Agreeable Grey swatch. New lighting in the living room.
oEy2VyBQFVw/XpW9vL3HO_I/AAAAAAAAbH0/0JjqAJIbSrUTnFwdVVCPfbmwuu4waOQ-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/42_Artesia_Hi-RES-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
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I hope you enjoyed the tour of our first investment home. We had multiple applications to rent it. Stay tuned for house #2
Let me know what you think.
Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-44139612151314839352011-02-17T09:59:00.001-06:002011-02-17T09:59:52.579-06:00Making Better Bacon<p>So it’s been a while since I’ve posted and all I’ve got to talk about it bacon.  What is wrong with this picture.  Anyway,  we’ve had some sickees around our house this past week.  Keith has been really sick and Leah has a confirmed case of the flu.  Paige and I are praying we don’t get it.</p> <p>Anyway, back to bacon.  Last year I made a decision to remove pork from my diet.  I love bacon so I started buying turkey bacon, but its just….lacking.  You know what I mean.  I recently saw this idea either on a TV cooking show or online somewhere and tried it and now the turkey bacon is palatable.   Here’s the recipe:</p> <p>Package of turkey bacon</p> <p>light brown sugar </p> <p>cracked black pepper (I use a pepper grinder, but you could probably use regular pepper)</p> <p>Lay your turkey bacon on a baking sheet and sprinkle the light brown sugar and then grind black pepper over the top.  Put in the oven and bake  until done.   I think I usually leave it in around 15 minutes.</p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TV1F5UnP5qI/AAAAAAAABI8/IzASLqXVyiI/s1600-h/DSC02565%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC02565" border="0" alt="DSC02565" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TV1F6F5IdXI/AAAAAAAABJA/P7uaPdhe7oQ/DSC02565_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="413" height="318" /></a> <p>You end up with much better flavor.  It really, really helps.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TV1F9PGVUCI/AAAAAAAABJE/GpI-lns_Un0/s1600-h/DSC02566%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC02566" border="0" alt="DSC02566" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TV1F91gHDMI/AAAAAAAABJI/JpxJTNAhTls/DSC02566_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="311" /></a></p> <p>Enjoy,</p> <p><font color="#00ff00" size="4">♥ Joy</font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:81188509-41fe-41d8-8d8e-bae8837a9c91" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">LiveJournal Tags: <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=recipes" rel="tag">recipes</a></div> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-13715626108964310332011-01-14T10:38:00.001-06:002011-01-14T10:38:28.158-06:00My Reality Show<p>Right now Reality TV shows are all the rage.  Whether you are a </p> <p>Kardashian</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB73FdFoBI/AAAAAAAABIA/zS6lpx1rc2M/s1600-h/kardashian4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="khloe kardashian pure 270609" border="0" alt="khloe kardashian pure 270609" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB73vxKzEI/AAAAAAAABIE/vYrC1f9Ip0w/kardashian_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="272" /></a> </p> <p>or a Duggar,</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB737FPSxI/AAAAAAAABII/M_QlsYclfdI/s1600-h/Michelle-Duggars-family-i-0013.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Michelle-Duggars-family-i-001" border="0" alt="Michelle-Duggars-family-i-001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB74cWwm9I/AAAAAAAABIM/MWwIoCSNGgc/Michelle-Duggars-family-i-001_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="242" /></a></p> <p>it doesn’t matter.   People are  putting their life out there for others to see,  and a lot of people seem to be watching.   Soooo, I don’t have a film crew to follow me around all day, but I thought I would give you an idea of how I grew up.   It wasn’t Duggar style or Kardashian style, but it was a happy childhood.</p> <p>I grew up in Central Florida.   Palmetto bushes and Pine trees filled the landscape and Spanish moss waved from the oak trees.   My parents purchased a tropical fish farm when I was little.  [I know some of you may not have any idea of what that is.  I’m trying to get some pictures of it and I will show you in another post.]   Anyway, they worked hard together running a successful business off that 25 acre farm.  We also had a horse named Candy and a bunch of cows.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB75eatVOI/AAAAAAAABIQ/xL2tVyl0_RM/s1600-h/1168.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="116" border="0" alt="116" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB755KrmCI/AAAAAAAABIU/j_H_LqSP8HA/116_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="354" /></a></p> <p>Below is a picture of my second birthday.  Parents, Grandparents and Great Grandmother are all pictured.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB765qhY6I/AAAAAAAABIY/Cz2RbW7t4oU/s1600-h/1278.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mala Joy Clements" border="0" alt="Mala Joy Clements" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB77QcpAJI/AAAAAAAABIc/UDzgy6x2Rh0/127_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Here is my dad.  My cousin and I are on the horse.  The fish farm is in the background.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB78txryQI/AAAAAAAABIg/h4C5-YWZOCY/s1600-h/1576.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mac Mala Joy Keith Sumner on Candy" border="0" alt="Mac Mala Joy Keith Sumner on Candy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB79eWZZ_I/AAAAAAAABIk/2O1LuaIbnqw/157_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="414" /></a></p> <p>Some of my cousins lived just across the street (I’m the one on the end):</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB7-YFV3UI/AAAAAAAABIo/VuGTbb-g3ps/s1600-h/2092.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mala Joy Clements" border="0" alt="Mala Joy Clements" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB7-2nF-LI/AAAAAAAABIs/FQIuUi_gNIY/209_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="316" /></a></p> <p>I’m the oldest in my family.  I have one sister.  Here we are posing for a picture before church one Sunday.  My mom made most of our clothes.  She was a great seamstress.    This was probably Mother’s Day.  My mom always had us wear a corsage on Mother’s Day.   She also loved to give me perms for some reason.  Those curls are not natural on my little head.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB7_3MOC8I/AAAAAAAABIw/jtBR422dFRE/s1600-h/1507.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="150" border="0" alt="150" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TTB8AoEZ6CI/AAAAAAAABI0/UH24ZVTZTXQ/150_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="434" height="434" /></a></p> <p>Just a little glimpse into my little life.  </p> <p><font color="#00ff00" size="4">♥ Joy</font></p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-48713970176594216672011-01-03T10:51:00.001-06:002011-01-06T19:18:20.210-06:00Hi My name is Joy<p>I feel like I need to introduce myself.  Where have I been?  I really don’t know.  I blinked and it was Christmas..now a new year and I haven’t written a blog post since September.  I’ll do a brief catch-up:</p> <p>October was pretty uneventful except for Halloween.  My neighbors had a costume party and I dressed up as Beth Chapman.  She is Dog the Bounty Hunter’s wife.  They have a “riveting” reality TV show here in the U.S.  Riveting might not be the right word, but it is quite a cast of characters.  Trust me I do not do her justice.   It was a fun night:</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSZppYvj79I/AAAAAAAABGg/QLPq4_4y8zk/s1600-h/DSC02261%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC02261" border="0" alt="DSC02261" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-WTf6W5I/AAAAAAAABGk/yJ9ZBsW34pg/DSC02261_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="264" height="356" /></a>  </p> <p>In November we celebrated Paige’s 15th birthday.  She is truly growing into an amazing young woman.   I can’t believe she’s 15 and takes me back to the phrase of blinking…There is a country music song called “Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney. It is so true and makes me cry when I hear it.  When Paige was little she called country music  ~crunchy~ music.  Love that.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-X9EqsaI/AAAAAAAABGs/tNsT0lMKXaI/s1600-h/DSC02291%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC02291" border="0" alt="DSC02291" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-Yakj7bI/AAAAAAAABGw/usZCM9nmfLA/DSC02291_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="435" /></a></p> <p>At the end of November was Thanksgiving and we decided to do something different this year.  We drove 10 hours to Destin, Florida and rented a beautiful condominium on the beach.</p> <p>My parents and nephew joined us there and my in-laws and Keith’s cousins stayed nearby.  We all spent Thanksgiving together and it was wonderful.  Who knows, maybe we’ll make it a tradition.  Here is one picture at the Thanksgiving table.  This condo was great. It had a huge dining table and a perfect kitchen for all the cooks.   We had turkey, dressing and collard greens, sweet potato casserole and some cranberry stuff (which I never eat) and much more.    What do you think  of our fine china?  Ha. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-bZWC08I/AAAAAAAABG8/fxegOAg_CzQ/s1600-h/IMG_1157%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1157" border="0" alt="IMG_1157" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-cGlbSEI/AAAAAAAABHA/4OZQ8BK9A5M/IMG_1157_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="481" height="330" /></a></p> <p>We woke up  Thanksgiving morning and some talented folks down the beach had created this beautiful sand art.  Pretty cool.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiilLal2duFgUEedeWYbA9h28ic_bBTlfTzv10vw3TDUumI-wzwtigVLW9cMiwc_09_QS1g6TO8YOL_1q-o3DiBdYhc4w9ZLjGJ0SrStUpTeB-_LR8JSGfHh8jSE-MzCPrUf1OKvXWaWa/s1600-h/IMG_1162%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1162" border="0" alt="IMG_1162" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-ek4gFrI/AAAAAAAABHQ/ITVwppqX7pQ/IMG_1162_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="473" height="324" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-gCwuAOI/AAAAAAAABHc/Y981aejw924/s1600-h/IMG_1163%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1163" border="0" alt="IMG_1163" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-gyZq9PI/AAAAAAAABHk/xOpUDeS6Ywc/IMG_1163_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="487" height="334" /></a></p> <p>The water was a little too chilly for me, but when you are 10 and 11 years old I guess you don’t feel the cold.   Here is Leah and my nephew:</p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-jUxbcLI/AAAAAAAABHo/hCfvgIxfykg/s1600-h/IMG_1150%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1150" border="0" alt="IMG_1150" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TSH-kZ2nE3I/AAAAAAAABHs/BPBrwJOVDW8/IMG_1150_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="503" height="345" /></a> <p>Well, that catches me up thru November.  I’ll stop here and not make this post any longer than it already is.  </p> <p>Happy New Year.  Hope you are living and loving the life God gave you and giving the ones you love a squeeze along the way.  </p> <p><font color="#00ff00" size="5">♥ Joy</font></p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-89067481012419388352010-09-27T21:10:00.001-05:002010-09-27T21:10:02.629-05:00September Serve<p>Each year the Missions Pastor at our church organizes September Serve.   Everyone is encouraged to find a mission or service type project to work on in our community during the month (and hopefully continue through the year).</p> <p>On Saturday the 24th over 25 teams from our church spread out all over the Houston area working together on various projects.  Some hosted a camp for 125 inner city youth.  Others painted a Habitat for Humanity  house and our family signed up for this project:</p> <p>We helped paint, clean and do maintenance projects at Harper United Methodist Church in Monaville, Texas.    This church was founded in 1881.  It is tucked back down a country road and is home to  a small, mostly elderly congregation.   I’m not sure how far back this  building dates, but it was probably built in the early 1900’s.</p> <p>We painted the front porch, scraped and cleaned the windows.  Worked on ceiling fans and light fixtures, and other miscellaneous items on the ‘to-do’ list.</p> <p>It was a blessing to work together as a family and with others on this beautiful church.  This historic church needs much more TLC, and hopefully we can go again and help to scrape the wood and re-paint the rest of the church.  </p> <p>Here we are working away:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TKFOV1pbOjI/AAAAAAAABEw/VwfA2hn7L5w/s1600-h/DSC02093%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC02093" border="0" alt="DSC02093" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TKFOWX-KJoI/AAAAAAAABE0/T9_Apf2wKr0/DSC02093_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnXpaXsahxdTUQK832-gTekR2LW_jOITz9F1zpImXFCVAvQTirEcRvcvt9jLw4cXwM7p4mN2khV1e0RDHugaj4nRowgTXhhyphenhyphennIgJHUfiHNJrSbNG8XYdPdmZrXB_9uOtrMM1ESZZqYkMA/s1600-h/DSC02094%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC02094" border="0" alt="DSC02094" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TKFOX0s98hI/AAAAAAAABE8/gS796aDSGj0/DSC02094_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TKFOYRpvOWI/AAAAAAAABFA/BxbQevjelC0/s1600-h/DSC02133%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC02133" border="0" alt="DSC02133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1FHucZAlH6CP-Ya8ny98PemO8D_fdWRyScfBJmsEizfcZLw-Q60k1xxdwN9oAjru0FvVueUTkN-0mMov5MZumloshEZYmzuBo44ENiCEzowc3k-IW3MPqADUemmkeGdAcHTmktLnrJxA/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TKFOZHwG2uI/AAAAAAAABFI/2Y_sR4PHVqc/s1600-h/DSC02112%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC02112" border="0" alt="DSC02112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgK_GJJdP_jGzd14YCTcA-SBID2omJGPkb8meZB-xIRi6rouDrnmm7BgnomRHjssqqj6UGDxBkfOjfJkCx21XZCbLA_D3x3fono2zqOcq6zTWL1R6MUuUtinIlU-5d7GIDOqaaffp1Z-W/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtXo98mrYaESG8Xi80u1tdxqVPo0phH8fgrigJpBgCIAC2tzHC_XrN-ZZ8qBCuJqInyJ3CUbtD2whgk85Ryj7MFm5diRO-mPBNNnwJ4fQJ6_DGGPgQywiSBdWf2PvSm6MdaQbXe3S06ZJ/s1600-h/DSC02134%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC02134" border="0" alt="DSC02134" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TKFOaq8GUTI/AAAAAAAABFU/5_kv6B8UMR4/DSC02134_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>The group hard at work on the porch:</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TKFOcJyXGSI/AAAAAAAABFY/va_5d7ZH6Fg/s1600-h/DSC02128%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC02128" border="0" alt="DSC02128" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TKFOczAx0II/AAAAAAAABFc/xC6layCpCgY/DSC02128_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TKFOdlvp3wI/AAAAAAAABFg/FtT4_7_A9mg/s1600-h/DSC02136%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC02136" border="0" alt="DSC02136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__t7SxQ3bWUihUz33uJEhLKUU7KNpRT0LRSHoDS-FQ21lGlwJeuFfL2L4K6ObwPrC8r8PwEGJuGvYb8-jZSQFmQrOIW0i6jFVq60r9Tp_9fxV0wVSbAqZ9z3jEJfQL4AfBIhshnJYa-LN/?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>I just noticed on their sign it says “Catch the Spirit of Love”  There was definitely a spirit of love on that day in Monaville.</p> <p><em><font color="#00ff00" size="4">♥    Joy</font></em></p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-12143746159455786912010-09-22T13:26:00.002-05:002010-09-22T13:32:28.723-05:00Aprons<p>Do you wear an apron when you are in the kitchen?</p> <p>If you read around the blog world or check your local stores, you will see that aprons are definitely making a comeback.  They are cuter than ever and as much of a fashion statement as they are useful.</p> <p>I wear one everyday when I’m cooking.   Here is my collection hanging in the laundry room.   I made the blue one on the left and won the cute one that has the pink pocket and polka dots.  The others I purchased.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TJpKN8f0G9I/AAAAAAAABEY/D8ZiQs0_IPc/s1600-h/DSC020924.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC02092" border="0" alt="DSC02092" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSg_CsjYqYJYNuDuOdT5dZHESncfpKvsB8joc8z-xLjfNisuMir57UPHRlrdX2kxQoxZtG-BfZwkBN6mEItnpATgYLh7BJO3-WwtbyssRGmwoDObjSrpYPr1uNhZAdyKzjCtZp9fpkyg1w/?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>Here is a close up of the adorable apron that <a href="http://apronsenorita.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#800080" size="5">Yoli</font></a> made.   I won it from a blog contest she had a while back.  She is an awesome seamstress and so creative.   Check out her Etsy shop and sidebar for her creations.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TJpKPncbT2I/AAAAAAAABEg/TBBm36Q_bPM/s1600-h/DSC020744.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC02074" border="0" alt="DSC02074" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TJpKQg8vHVI/AAAAAAAABEk/P9OL1o2YW4k/DSC02074_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>No signs of Fall here in my part of the world except for the fact the temperature is 89 F today.    Anything below 90 degrees F may have to qualify as Fall.</p> <p><em><font size="3">Tanner Update:</font></em></p> <p>The new little four legged furry man in my life is doing just fine.  He has me wrapped around his little paw already.  It is fun learning his personality.  He loves to move items he finds on the floor around the house.  So if he can fit it in his mouth and you leave it on the floor,  it most certainly won’t be there when you check next time.   (including my bloomers that I have found next to the backdoor hehe) He doesn’t chew on things, just moves them.</p> <p>Here’s another close up of his adorable face.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9TnZLZeRxf9usEysA87TJND1vauvc5SZfvPJfB8V0DhFokPOJj5rtfHkxJu85Dc4ugBQsaeSm8c6Udb4VBMQeFdYUf-6zEmJAXO-_TmlPEfVAG3MKZSRrdalvMg44Bv2WUCxxDwb2zKV/s1600-h/DSC02090%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC02090" border="0" alt="DSC02090" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TJpKRlcHiPI/AAAAAAAABEs/I5__1qUnfS0/DSC02090_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>I had a dog trainer come over and do a consultation on Saturday.  Of course, Tanner does what he is suppose to when the trainer is here, but with me…..not so much.    Surely this little 12 pound ball of cuteness and fur won’t be the pack leader in our house...    </p> <p><font color="#00ff00" size="5"><em>♥ Joy</em></font></p>Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-80848458068361021532010-09-06T09:34:00.002-05:002010-09-07T15:20:36.744-05:00Meet Tanner<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HNvvuA3COBvnbHo_vU_R2BgWZA_QZmcbfQKQMZMfjGjTFBl24pCbAm5txUhsYtkDcEqrwgqHtHHF9BAf2SOinlp8IA7rzRA_q_D005os_BR_y6CdP7pnXHGjPYQzhHo-qcdbH71D_PTG/s1600-h/bosco%20and%20his%20new%20family%202%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="bosco and his new family 2" border="0" alt="bosco and his new family 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TIT8BhlxmRI/AAAAAAAABEU/r6HujGnoYck/bosco%20and%20his%20new%20family%202_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>On Saturday our family went to look at a couple of dogs at a local rescue and this little guy stole our hearts.  He is approximately one year old and was found wandering the streets.  He was very matted, dirty and covered in fleas.   The rescue cleaned him up and groomed him as best they could.</p> <p>He is a Miniature Schnauzer.  We named him Tanner because he is brown and tan.  Brown coloring is pretty rare in Schnauzers.  I’ve never seen one anyway.  He is adjusting wonderfully.   He is so sweet.  He has some healing to do from all the flea bites and I’m sure he wishes I would leave him alone.   I believe he thinks that  all I do is bathe, brush and check him.   I’ve been walking him around the neighborhood and he’s meeting his new dog and people friends.  The first night he slept all night without a peep in his crate.  He loves to be near us, but doesn’t understand toys.  This is our first experience with a male dog, so we’re getting use to that.</p> <p>Just had to introduce you to our new little guy. I’ll get more pictures up of him soon.  </p> <p><font color="#00ff00" size="4">♥  <em>Joy</em></font></p>Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-13326753957782861262010-08-16T23:13:00.001-05:002010-08-16T23:14:11.910-05:00Leah’s Day<p>We’re back from our vacation and boy was it wonderful.  I will do a post soon because, more important things are happening at our house:</p> <p>I can’t believe I’m doing another birthday post.  Seems like they come faster and faster don’t they;  especially when it is your baby that is having them.</p> <p>Leah’s birthday is this week and there is so much about her to celebrate. She fills our home with laughter and has such a quick wit about her. </p> <p>Here are some pictures of Leah in the past year and our recent vacation:</p> <p>Leah portrayed Grace Kelly at her Wax Museum at school<font size="1">:</font></p> <p><font size="1">(she was loving the make-up)</font></p> <p>  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rBqOqej2yF6tNWMfUCHh7i4uqX5o0XxgBoYSDUz_rGqkOb8VJSkq9WPyweJ2ob3xs0PDK2-Xzi1r10WgQLMCYQPmnCLtnjzPpCmsKvmBBW3ACatgtzLO4-0LnBAV5ztfakYJIiDWfvFu/s1600-h/IMG_107911.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1079" border="0" alt="IMG_1079" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2t7F9Ov-a9aqSwKeN6Nk1YOElnwSxZOSog0eIh1SeqshmTyEJedUNJXX3LTULnz1Jlbo0zq7xHq31rYoU7DdSHmj5fUxhYUAj7gmWJNYOBqwYmuiOZsnT3JmlqKTGCeLJayspvLzxg2hZ/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a></p> <p>On the ice in the middle of summer!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMPvIqlSI/AAAAAAAABDg/4FelY8saPUg/s1600-h/Breckenridge1220104.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Breckenridge 12 2010" border="0" alt="Breckenridge 12 2010" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMQarD5qI/AAAAAAAABDk/w9gQhP6K6Ns/Breckenridge122010_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>High Fiving in Breckenridge:<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMQ_uDOaI/AAAAAAAABDo/TuS-1SAs-wU/s1600-h/Breckenridge7%202010%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Breckenridge7 2010" border="0" alt="Breckenridge7 2010" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMRr4u0kI/AAAAAAAABDs/HAZNhMmtvqw/Breckenridge7%202010_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p>Kicking back in the gondola in Breckenridge:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMSs8KbFI/AAAAAAAABDw/utUXbtHVWcg/s1600-h/DSC020004.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC02000" border="0" alt="DSC02000" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMTW0b4QI/AAAAAAAABD0/074Y35_I258/DSC02000_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a>  Leah at Garden of the Gods in Colorado:</p> <p>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMUKBj8KI/AAAAAAAABD4/1oHGb9PsCRo/s1600-h/DSC019514.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC01951" border="0" alt="DSC01951" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMUnT-8cI/AAAAAAAABD8/iZBGQ6wKDwM/DSC01951_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p>Celebrating an early birthday in Florida:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMVcgECUI/AAAAAAAABEA/EJ3C-E_l-XM/s1600-h/DSC017684.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC01768" border="0" alt="DSC01768" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TGoMWP2JIoI/AAAAAAAABEE/lyvJoqhgp_M/DSC01768_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Leah loves people, pigs and going places.   </p> <p>She is such a blessing to our family.</p> <p>Love you Leah!</p> <p>Happy Birthday! </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f3af6037-691a-4af4-98e9-0c13c2822b08" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">LiveJournal Tags: <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=My+Chickadees" rel="tag">My Chickadees</a></div> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-53697000893528567262010-07-31T16:56:00.001-05:002010-07-31T16:56:41.645-05:00Libby<p>I know it has been five plus weeks since my last post.   When I returned home from Florida, we picked up Libby our Miniature Schnauzer.  She wasn’t acting herself and had lost weight and her eyes were runny.  I took her to the vet the next day thinking she had an eye infection.   Unfortunately, I was given the news that she had Lymphoma.  The prognosis was not good, but I did expect to have a couple more months with her.   She had perked up some and was eating good and seeming not to know she was sick.</p> <p>But things changed in the last few days.  She started going downhill quickly and we had to do the best thing for our sweet Libby.</p> <p>Libby came to live with us back in September 2004.  She was a rescue dog.   We never really knew how old she was and knew nothing of her background.     She is the first dog I ever really had that was mine.   Libby really took me by surprise as I never consider myself a “dog” person but she loved me and taught me so much about unconditional love.  She made herself right at home in our house and in our hearts.   Our time with her was shorter than we thought it would be.  But I’m so glad she was ours for that time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TFScF4hf02I/AAAAAAAABDQ/bP9UX9WkPQs/s1600-h/DSC01784%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01784" border="0" alt="DSC01784" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TFScGLTEkuI/AAAAAAAABDU/dIVa3olsmrQ/DSC01784_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  </p> <p>I’m sorry this is a sad post.  I know some of you already know thru Facebook about Libby.   I will get back into the blogging groove eventually.  I just wanted to let you know what has happened.</p> <p>Thank you all for your support.</p> <p><font color="#00ff00" size="5"><em>Joy</em></font></p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-9671333667448951752010-06-22T20:54:00.001-05:002010-06-22T20:54:07.637-05:00Old Florida<p>In my last post I ended with a note about the cowhide chair that  now sits on my fireplace hearth.    It has been in my family for 125 years and I feel honored to be the caretaker of  this beautiful historic piece.  In the second pictures you can see there is a little patch that still has hair on it.  I’m so amazed that has lasted on there all these years.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TCFpJsQiXLI/AAAAAAAABCw/2gWx3eGohQ0/s1600-h/IMG_10701.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1070" border="0" alt="IMG_1070" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TCFpKsaBCJI/AAAAAAAABC0/Do1ZrzY3U3o/IMG_1070_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="516" height="772" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1G0X3U-ltOLp6sLHRkcWBPBaaKLAIJeRCb07aGi-CZGM5mK22RFfu6T2xgTtSzv2qt6Lh_u-bEYlDFOUzoj-MXw83CU6YV-CKDyTK8OejalC5Rq131BTKVzFcFx39dY9tqribn6B4csN/s1600-h/IMG_10691.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1069" border="0" alt="IMG_1069" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TCFpL4RCPmI/AAAAAAAABC8/_HnNgUCCf3w/IMG_1069_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>Here are some family pictures that I have recently come across.   The internet is truly amazing.   A cousin of mine was doing family research  online and came across some pictures of  our family posted by a lady in Texas.  We contact her and come to find out she is married to a distant cousin of mine and loves genealogy.   I have never met this cousins.   We now are comparing notes, sharing pictures and stories catching up via facebook and e-mail.  We hope to meet soon.  Who knew we both  grew up in Florida now live about an hour and a half apart in Texas.   They shared some of these wonderful old family pictures with me.</p> <p>This is a picture of my great-great-great grandparents (seated).   See the chairs lined up across the porch.   One of these could possibly be the chair I have today.    This is truly old Florida living.   Yes, my family tree has deep roots in Central Florida and those are orange trees you see.  Notice the well pump on the right side of the porch.  On the left you will see a separate building that housed the kitchen.  The kitchen was built separate from the main house so if there was a fire hopefully the main house would not burn.   This picture was taken around 1910.  Clayborn Taylor (seated) was born in 1842 and his wife Sally was born in 1850.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TCFpMxfUMBI/AAAAAAAABDA/trbJcTxJC1g/s1600-h/sweat%20family3.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="sweat family3" border="0" alt="sweat family3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TCFpOFlAxVI/AAAAAAAABDE/bWxiJD3CiYM/sweat%20family3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="605" height="447" /></a> </p> <p>In the picture below my great-great grandparents are photographed along with four of their eventual eight children.  The wife is the daughter of the older couple in the picture above.  The little boy on the left next to his daddy is my great-grandfather Malcolm.  I love his short pants and dirty bare feet.  Once again, you see similar chairs on the porch.  This picture taken around 1900.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TCFpPB3P3bI/AAAAAAAABDI/qnn5qB5xEPc/s1600-h/Sweat%20family%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sweat family" border="0" alt="Sweat family" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADzwyUEF5xXVtMntiuERABmGtBd6bGdh5tUNff-nTbGdXN6JF9AdRudDkhLVHbml7uGq6ak2py2nkCh1-IHiWyWRMHcht8uTy7ZirlhtkKAgzDDxXrOdH2I2FPwtaE15rIWqS4y3RjNPu/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="331" /></a></p> <p>I will be leaving this week for a long road trip in the car to Florida.  It will be just me and the girls as Buster has to work.  Since I’m driving we (I) can take as many bathroom breaks as I want. ;0</p> <p>I will check in on all your blogs now and then while I’m gone, but probably won’t post until I get back.    </p> <p><em><font color="#00ff00" size="5">Joy</font></em></p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-21534544019548552592010-06-11T15:37:00.001-05:002010-06-11T15:37:06.155-05:00Warms My Heart<p> </p> <p>We moved into this house five years and I was never crazy about the fireplace in our den.    So this spring we made a change…out with the old and in with the new look we chose for our fire place.</p> <p>BEFORE:  The black hole…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TBKeW2x4FFI/AAAAAAAABCQ/os_-vnShAWM/s1600-h/DSC016564.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC01656" border="0" alt="DSC01656" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLMpJ6sx60ATOLpw83lN_UqwAl5ViZ5uGo6m4jqCh2jJQuboHwhpUQyQqPT0WAKNr30OgpS_Uc_30akqkRu0_bqOUv_Ay7aM66ydEaXH3WJspEzTTm5TEAQkI9qs4G5QuZ16ydpM_6Bpm/?imgmax=800" width="385" height="507" /></a> </p> <p>AFTER:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TBKeYXw5wAI/AAAAAAAABCY/fwGP3YekJE0/s1600-h/DSC017297.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC01729" border="0" alt="DSC01729" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TBKeYz2aUDI/AAAAAAAABCc/ooZw1nRT4sw/DSC01729_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="440" /></a> </p> <p>We chose stacked stone for the fireplace and fieldstone for the hearth.  I’m so happy with the new look.  It seems to brighten up the room.    We also painted the walls  Sherwin Williams Latte.   The mantle is a solid piece of cypress.  I kept it. I sanded it smooth, distressed it and stained it a warmer brown.</p> <p>The picture above the fireplace is very special to us.  The frame was handmade and designed by Keith’s dad.  He used old barn wood to construct the frame.   His dad passed away over a decade ago, so it is very meaningful to have this.</p> <p>The art work in the frame is a pheasant painted by Artist Lynn Ash.  Lynn is my mother-in-law’s cousin.    Lynn is a lifelong resident of Tampa, Florida.  He was employed by Busch Garden’s in Tampa as an artist for years and is now retired.  He has painted so many beautiful wildlife pictures as well as the mural below.  The Tampa Bay area is my hometown, but  I haven’t lived there in nearly 20 years.    I have a small copy of the mural below by Lynn.  I just wanted you to see other work he has done.</p> <p><em>In 2003, the City of Tampa's Public Art Program commissioned artist Lynn Ash to create a large painting that would weave together many of the notable aspects of Tampa's unique character and identity.</em>  (from <a href="http://www.tampagov.net/dept_art_programs/information_resources/Story_of_Tampa/index.asp" target="_blank">Tampagov</a> website)</p> <p>This is the 4’ x 8’ mural that Lynn painted and is in the lobby of the Tampa Municipal Office Building.  To read more detail about this mural you can visit the website above.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fXkJbgSrUxzMEevRyVK3R0aT_OtZwJNqHnrKFEjm9ZaT_V5JyuhR0diVcxqkJuPawNzPyVhSFgzRWamC7Pe78HFtDPmpnwqyof0ZDoyTuPbsgLvNnjA8Lh0Lu8HJ_rpdbqP6YLStk7GH/s1600-h/story_of_tampa3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="story_of_tampa" border="0" alt="story_of_tampa" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLeNFB1Q0joOY5PyZiNjZs7LxUr-vxApM6KqoFAtC44l15GhMWQc6p-ZjKfw0Y-O56VUhFIzQ3IPXXtu78MnNghcUUQfgeiceEJFd1PUJuCvB9ydKfnlDsBMbzDiO4Eyc2tk9YvzOthIv/?imgmax=800" width="612" height="323" /></a>  </p> <p>You will also notice on the fireplace hearth a chair that is near and dear to my heart.  This chair was handmade approximately 125 years ago and has been in my family all these years.  The seat is made of cowhide.  In a future post I will share pictures of my family dating back to the late 1800 – early 1900s and you will see what possibly is this chair on the front porch of their home.  </p> <p>Here is a little closer view of the chair.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TBKebzALyWI/AAAAAAAABCo/8ee8iJIHGes/s1600-h/IMG_10698.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1069" border="0" alt="IMG_1069" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TBKecbQiO7I/AAAAAAAABCs/OwAL6LHWv0o/IMG_1069_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="389" /></a> </p> <p>So the fireplace in our home is now a focal point of family history and treasured items.  Just the look I was going for. </p> <p><font color="#008040" size="6"><em>  Joy</em></font></p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-13567711150803113132010-06-07T14:26:00.001-05:002010-06-07T14:29:00.683-05:00I’m Mature Now<p>A few weeks ago I pulled a box down from the storage area of our garage. I was looking for old family pictures.   I found my diary from my when I was a little girl.  It spanned several years.   Buster and the girls had many laughs thanks to my diary entries.</p> <p>This particular entry was pretty funny from 1977.  I’m sharing it with you all…don’t laugh cause I don’t know if I’m mature enough to handle it.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IJm5JnK_YTv8sB8bwxEimlE-3_-GAJkf4K7OMguH2be6URwLkWnGll6dXv3DZGdWFg05B10x2kFQgcW8x7yMrNqNzgOm50P8nf2pQx6RXG-baIOrpUpNZnewseC4PQEGAhyphenhyphenH4Qkgj4Fy/s1600-h/Joy's%20Diary%2077%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Joy's Diary 77" border="0" alt="Joy's Diary 77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDGYUkG-l8UgCS2DThRB4DfixVOB48SH9OWL-oOAM3yh4psV7jItRVo8jEETAQo_Bf3WvL6OL3paPoYIswOe6NJ4AAw5ATAV6cxKLSTyJCY2uZNFh4P4j6n-23ERvlyNaiQpneFUpyWAo/?imgmax=800" width="628" height="477" /></a> </p> <p>If you can’t read my handwriting it reads…</p> <p><font size="4"><em>Dear Kitty ‘77'</em>  (yes, my diary had a name actually two: Kitty and Sarah)</font></p> <p><em><font size="4">today I’m in the 7th grade.  I’m mature now and I got a locker today.</font></em></p> <p><em><font size="4">I met some deaf girls  I don’t know there names.  They  can’t here nothing but silence.  I don’t know sign language but I’ll try to learn some</font></em></p> <p><em><font size="4">Dear Kitty</font></em></p> <p><em><font size="4">I am almost through with my Laura Ingalls Books.  I wish I had more I love them.</font></em></p> <p>Who knew getting a locker and being in 7th grade made one mature.  Apparently, it did in my little pea brain back then.  After going back and reading some of the entries, I  was also very boy crazy.  I will spare you those details.  I think I should have quit chasing boys and worked on my grammar and spelling.</p> <p>The school I attended started a deaf school around this time.  I think it was my first time being around deaf kids - thus my insight into their world.  Astounding huh.</p> <p>In other news,,,, speaking of maturity…which I still wonder if I will ever achieve some times, Buster and I celebrated twenty-two years of marriage this weekend.  We had a nice dinner out.   Leah sat on the coffee table and took this picture of us before we left for dinner.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iWhd5CgNourNlTADUKU4WH4zuruS8aJmscplOqhSwuwmxNVhQumubzXcPtw3E6luwm5jDpdqoKlAnPiVWR-IDXZYt23VDP0K-6S9mDgET5YnJUIcoDDEYoIiIVyO5tX121TbMKtZk7cy/s1600-h/DSC01726%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01726" border="0" alt="DSC01726" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/TA1F8hFuZKI/AAAAAAAABCA/aH3brkxMCFs/DSC01726_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="368" /></a></p> <p>So….at what point in life did you start feeling mature or are you still waiting on that moment?  </p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-32216107285647597312010-05-20T17:41:00.001-05:002010-05-20T17:41:06.996-05:00Cars<p>Joanna over at <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2010/05/unfortuante.html" target="_blank">Fifty Factor</a> wrote a post the other day that was so fun.  She recounted how she got her first car and what kind it was.   I loved reading it.  It made me think back to my first car.  She named her cars, but I never have really.  Although Buster was driving Little Blue Thunder when I met him.  He names his cars sometimes. </p> <p>I can not find a picture of my very first car, but here is what it looked like except for the wide green stripe. </p> <p>  I found this picture on the internet of an original advertisement: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S_W6c6xuGWI/AAAAAAAABBI/wDT8OBRYcn0/s1600-h/77datsun200sx%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="77datsun200sx" border="0" alt="77datsun200sx" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S_W6eWgJG-I/AAAAAAAABBM/Q7BMHYcG0Ic/77datsun200sx_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>My first car was a 1977 Datsun 200sx.  My dad and I bought this car in 1984 during my sophomore year of college.  So it wasn’t new, but it was a great car and I loved it.  It was sporty and fun.   I remember the top of the back cloth seat was so faded and sun damaged.  You could poke your finger right thru the fabric.  But I didn’t care.   It got me thru the years of college that I attended and then  I rolled into Atlanta at the ripe old age of 19 ready to start working and a new life.</p> <p>One morning on my way to work, I was in the middle lane of I-285  that loops the perimeter of Atlanta, GA and my car just quit.  It was 7:30 a.m. in rush hour -  bumper to bumper  morning traffic.  I was petrified.  I had no idea what to do.  This was before cell phones of course.  I could not even get to the shoulder of the  road.  I got out of my car and put the hood up and got back in and started crying.  </p> <p>I remember all I could think of  while I was sitting there in my broken down car was the traffic report on the radio.   I just knew I  would be the one they were talking about.  I would be the one that was making a half million people late for work in Atlanta, Georgia that morning.   TEARS!</p> <p>Anyway, this wonderful trucker (God Bless him)  came to my rescue.  He stopped his big rig right behind my car and got out and looked at the engine.   He immediately spied the problem.  One of the battery cables had popped off the battery.  He put it back on and tightened best he could by hand and my car cranked. I was so relieved and off and rolling again.  I looked under there too but I guess thru the tears I couldn’t see the dangling battery cable. ha.  I’m such a girl…I’m sorry.</p> <p>Not too long after that the clutch went out.   I know it was normal wear and tear, but I started thinking I needed a newer car that wouldn’t break down on me.</p> <p>So in 1986 I  headed out to the Nissan dealership by myself and found the car I wanted.  I fell in love with it. The headlights rolled up at the turn of a switch.  I felt so cool.   It was  a 1985 barely used 200SX, but now it was called Nissan and not Datsun.   I negotiated with a saleslady as I recall.  She was as new to selling cars as I was to purchasing them.   As we finished the negotiation I had the dealership call my dad in Florida and tell him everything they were telling me so I wouldn’t be making any huge mistakes. He felt like they were making me a fair deal so I drove off the lot in the first car I purchased on my own.  With the help of 48 month financing….  </p> <p>Here I am the proud owner of my first picked out and purchased myself car:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S_W6fXImRAI/AAAAAAAABBQ/z3mLBmxulLQ/s1600-h/Joy%27s%20first%20car%201986%20%282%29%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Joy's first car 1986 (2)" border="0" alt="Joy's first car 1986 (2)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S_W6gX7vnnI/AAAAAAAABBY/ImTwBveszRI/Joy%27s%20first%20car%201986%20%282%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="329" /></a> </p> <p> I wrecked this car (my one and only wreck so far) back in 1987 just  before Buster and I got engaged.</p> <p>I was fine and it was repaired, but it was never really the same.    We continued to drive it for about a year after we got married and then traded for another car in 1989.  </p> <p>So there you have it.  The story of my first car(s).</p> <p>How about you.  I’d love to know about your first car.</p> <p><font color="#00ff00" size="5"><em>Joy</em></font></p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-82543768778546537662010-05-13T22:38:00.002-05:002010-05-27T09:15:42.797-05:00It’s what I wanted….Really<p>Every year as Mother’s Day approaches, Buster and the girls start asking me over and over what I want for Mother’s Day.  </p> <p>This year I told them I wanted a wheelbarrow.   I usually borrow my Neighbor Steves.   Neighbor Steve may be moving to Connecticut so I needed my own.</p> <p>This was not their idea of a Mother’s Day gift,  but they went along with it and I am so happy to have it.  It is perfect to move my compost from my compost pile to the flower beds and garden beds.  So I’m thrilled. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S_MxbvrvpVI/AAAAAAAABAs/CAZjDFCNljA/s1600-h/DSC01711.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01711" border="0" alt="DSC01711" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUQwhebHoNoVCqj4zRKLuMMSaqDsYIbHwrk8itc5XXe8_e3efBh_3I-Z9v3ClsTLHYmar6r1azXUXYBfKuU2Nu42s4Gv3L1KolWVzsja8uQIKCeGodgt9Lm1lcXnlKaTumnkNhFLv9V6F/?imgmax=800" width="564" height="429" /></a> </p> <p>I’m so thankful for these two girls.  I love them more than they will ever know.</p> <p>They are so big now I can’t carry them in my arms so….</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S-zFvqG2wxI/AAAAAAAABA4/q3p_ezwWkgU/s1600-h/DSC01716%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01716" border="0" alt="DSC01716" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S-zFwpzK1QI/AAAAAAAABA8/_l3uaVgm9Wk/DSC01716_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="575" height="437" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p><font color="#008000" size="5"><em>Joy</em></font></p> <p> </p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:de883f05-0ba4-446a-8146-5b1af0288eb5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/My+Chickadees" rel="tag">My Chickadees</a></div>Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-81066199534805262512010-05-06T16:32:00.002-05:002010-05-27T09:16:17.441-05:00Because Nice Matters<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S-M1Q3oYI4I/AAAAAAAABAE/BFi0u73BHV8/s1600-h/DSC01692%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01692" border="0" alt="DSC01692" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8OaRzW_slXZckitJ-Bp46ACosBnaRtn3JruxzgLg9kO9colid8MoywjrV3LlIZV35GA39J0TSA1-m25KeShR9_xZMPLApOty4EJTgqwlz1ZZKw8hQXdw_WdroGPvnTrtpZ4AodPRBEjS/?imgmax=800" width="589" height="447" /></a>  </p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S-M1S5b1IFI/AAAAAAAABAM/CMmPvhLg_bA/s1600-h/Girls%20%40%20Table%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Girls @ Table" border="0" alt="Girls @ Table" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S-M1TzVqNqI/AAAAAAAABAQ/eJc5c4foOZ0/Girls%20%40%20Table_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="498" height="378" /></a> </p> <p align="center">(Virginia with the girls) </p> <p>A few months ago my neighbor and I enlisted the expertise of Virginia Johnson to teach an etiquette class entitled Polish Plus to our daughters and their friends.  Polish Plus has been a  wonderful experience for each of the girls.  They have learned so much from Virginia regarding etiquette and what to do in social situations.  I know it will give them so much confidence as they make their way in the world.  One of the things I love about Virginia is she teaches them above all to be kind. </p> <p>These pictures are from the formal tea the girls set up and hosted directed by Virginia.   Virginia knew if they were the ones to organize the food, set the table and then serve each other they would learn so much more. They loved it.  I wish I had taken a picture when the table when they first set it. It was so pretty.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S-M1U9LPcZI/AAAAAAAABAU/DQ9pnC0DhaU/s1600-h/formal%20tea%20-%20paige%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="formal tea - paige" border="0" alt="formal tea - paige" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S-M1Vm3tECI/AAAAAAAABAY/ITg8jLAi4GE/formal%20tea%20-%20paige_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="311" height="237" /></a></p> <p>Virginia has a blog that features manners and etiquette not just for young people but for all ages.</p> <p>You can find it at</p> <p><a title="http://www.nicedoesmatter.blogspot.com/" href="http://www.nicedoesmatter.blogspot.com/">http://www.nicedoesmatter.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p>If you have a etiquette question she will be glad to answer it.  </p> <p>Go say hello to Virginia on her blog as Virginia says …. because nice matters.</p> <p><font color="#00ff00" size="5"><em>Joy</em></font></p>Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-24522251807838237212010-05-03T13:59:00.001-05:002010-05-03T13:59:27.752-05:00The Sun is Snowing<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S98dCax6ueI/AAAAAAAAA_8/rBKbPPPfeL0/s1600-h/sunissnowing3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="9781449072131_cover.indd" border="0" alt="9781449072131_cover.indd" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S98dDjDWlDI/AAAAAAAABAA/UFjxVl9F61I/sunissnowing_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="407" /></a> </p> <p>Do you remember when you first started blogging?   I know I do and I certainly realize now I had no idea where in the world it would lead and to whom it would lead me to.   I’ve been touched by so many of you who share and write from your heart.</p> <p>One beautiful favorite of mine is C. Joybell C.  I started reading her blog not too long after I  found out there was a world of blogs out there.  I really can’t recall how I came across her blog, but when I found it I knew she had a way with words and the ability to combine words on a page that does not come naturally to most… especially me.    As we communicated through our blogs we realized we  had some things in common so I felt a true connection with her even though we live on opposite sides of the globe.</p> <p>God has opened the door for her to publish her first book of poetry and prose recently.  Her beautiful book arrived on my doorstep on Friday.   I’m so happy and excited to have it in my hands.   I’m thrilled for you Girl!</p> <p>Here is a link to the website if you would like to own your very own copy of </p> <p align="center"><em><font size="4">The Sun is Snowing</font></em>.</p> <p><a title="http://www.thesunissnowing.com/" href="http://www.thesunissnowing.com/">http://www.thesunissnowing.com/</a></p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-75619617429384573542010-04-15T12:08:00.001-05:002010-04-15T12:13:21.672-05:00Master Bath Remodel<p>Nearly five years ago when we moved into our current home we had no intention of re-doing the master bathroom.   Really..it LOOKED fine.   I know you are probably  looking at the Before pictures and thinking why would they ever rip all that out of there.   Well, here’s the story:  The jets in the Jacuzzi tub were not working and to repair them we were going to have to rip out those front tiles.  The builder left no access to the motor for some reason.   The previous owner left one box of extra tile, but we weren’t crazy about it to begin with.   So we lived with it a few months and also realized the shower wasn’t going to work for us either.    We were spoiled with a larger shower in our previous home.  Final decision:  MAJOR RENOVATION – We gutted it.</p> <p><font size="5">Before</font>:  The small shower and enormous tub:</p> <p>   <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dHr9LivNI/AAAAAAAAA9U/lp6ssgYlA7g/s1600-h/mast%20bath%20before%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="mast bath before" border="0" alt="mast bath before" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUXgZkbG31YEjzWLPmAUuM1WOSWhj6mK7WV3bSHxwO3Ziz30KL4hQm6IuGobo_ekjWNXMvov8Zw1x6EDlp1_qSrtLn7mVH53OJOD2u6Wd07q4zc3HHB2ammY-M6MxI9WqkmO4aE4Zw0Tt/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="307" /></a></p> <p><font size="5">Before</font>:  The floors were pinkish marble (hard to see in this picture).  Not really our taste and they were slick to walk on if your feet were wet.</p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2YbNYlGrP27G1f1bXgpxhD9-p1hISCAfNMkNSgmm8nFr0PIAqB1XbXIl7v6JqZXTwZ41uOzJmsSJ9OAbe0VPIiPrb2Uz7QuGVTBOHMUOLB7lHYI3Ceoj4QD_FBIh5Yfw8me433n3hVus/s1600-h/mast%20bath%20before%20floor%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="mast bath before floor" border="0" alt="mast bath before floor" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dHuCVufCI/AAAAAAAAA9o/TeqiKQY9jJU/mast%20bath%20before%20floor_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="285" height="375" /></a></p> <p><font size="5">Before</font>:  The cabinets were white and the countertops were white.</p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFfnU_782N2gSkw0N3DgbXq87PNMmaHqf8_VzffyP6Dmvp0gYZVmaGg1o6JEJ4YWKTiS5O0oIVO9hq6C2uuiqk5uzRAVVpdZkIWdXOpbFMse5hmS9MtcomzBN4hBMzM9yofjswOJGFQRe/s1600-h/mast%20bath%20beforekeith%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="mast bath beforekeith" border="0" alt="mast bath beforekeith" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dHvRJw6oI/AAAAAAAAA98/u486XXv2k4k/mast%20bath%20beforekeith_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" height="291" /></a></p> <p><font size="5">After</font>:</p> <p>This is the tile we selected.  More natural-earthy color with a little texture so it is not as slick.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dHwDx099I/AAAAAAAAA-A/uqo9Hi0mLhU/s1600-h/mast%20bath%20after%20floor%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="mast bath after floor" border="0" alt="mast bath after floor" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dHw_2KSqI/AAAAAAAAA-I/Q2U6-Z_RPWs/mast%20bath%20after%20floor_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="283" height="372" /></a></p> <p>We changed out the counter tops to granite and put in limestone sinks and new fixtures.  We did keep the  cabinets.  I had a painter come in and antique them down.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHFKZzHrVFsK7UCbYBEDbdzlt_hNKalQKhAWiLzcy9h4YCioZah_tQLy4oBgAynpZ-CI1QHKg0lcvRCy4mF8p9hgA2_kyYzSMZkXpWCvdez1ODB-8HJ8aHLn_rYBHf8TqJyXdxQLFhoIk/s1600-h/mast%20bath%20cabinet%20after%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="mast bath cabinet after" border="0" alt="mast bath cabinet after" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dHyecxSVI/AAAAAAAAA-c/WaWjGPYp3fM/mast%20bath%20cabinet%20after_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="307" /></a></p> <p>Also got new mirrors and light fixtures:</p> <p>This is my side of the bathroom.  I had a plumber come in and move the sink from the left side of the vanity to the middle. Then a carpenter had to come in and re-work the cabinets and drawers.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dHzEef5-I/AAAAAAAAA-g/NdJQxGD7vRM/s1600-h/IMG_0148%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0148" border="0" alt="IMG_0148" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dH0L79_GI/AAAAAAAAA-s/m189GG8vy0Y/IMG_0148_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="508" /></a></p> <p>Our new walk-in shower.  We love it.  The tub was completely removed from the room.  So bath people probably won’t like our house if we have to sell it in the future.  There are still bathtubs upstairs though.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dH0xS1bSI/AAAAAAAAA8s/NDFs4bfisVE/s1600-h/mastbathafter3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="mast bath after" border="0" alt="mast bath after" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dH1keHCaI/AAAAAAAAA8w/lWbKdtQngyg/mastbathafter_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="298" height="392" /></a></p> <p>Keith’s sink side:</p> <p>The wall are painted in an older Sherwin Williams color Dhurrie Beige, but they mixed it up for me even though it isn’t on their current color chart.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGU2KlRbefqxXWPctLyZ13ylbOBbasdmRANZZ6ohYcrSjM9KdXzH0_GQTYmiHI9ptDE-fns-Zc0m2Ig7qSiaCWDcYvFCTFFWOxvWhi_hgRo7VaHIcnEAS_DFEJBqnlHJxUSA2_pEoJfQR9/s1600-h/IMG_0149%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0149" border="0" alt="IMG_0149" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dH3JK4GxI/AAAAAAAAA-8/9Rbgke47hd4/IMG_0149_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="414" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dH4Pf1viI/AAAAAAAAA_A/TgoItyIsjJo/s1600-h/IMG_1074%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1074" border="0" alt="IMG_1074" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dH4vJ-ipI/AAAAAAAAA_M/hN_ueNwHa-4/IMG_1074_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="464" /></a></p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dH5Q6hjfI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Z0myjzYT23c/s1600-h/IMG_1071%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1071" border="0" alt="IMG_1071" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dH6CKTG3I/AAAAAAAAA_U/-FJ8UJ4D0-4/IMG_1071_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC3pHNveMAJSkzV6rKLEyRYwi7dX-sjIguWUajabVkEt6TaECca68beZI3nfL0i0YjEptYmluejoX3358tjdGnfSyM2Wtn0EGKWwbYXGhu6NgOtVjGY_MiJRJn3Tn4P2nshiL0N5wChuI/s1600-h/IMG_1072%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1072" border="0" alt="IMG_1072" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S8dH7_pFLcI/AAAAAAAAA_g/HVTYokdDh_o/IMG_1072_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>Over all it was quite an ordeal.  As I mentioned a few post ago we discovered the shower pan was improperly installed.  So all that tile you see in the shower from the waist down was re-done about 2 months ago.  Thankfully, the tile store still had our tile in stock.  Hopefully all is good now.</p> <p>Buster and I are not DIY’ers, as much as I would love for us to be. We just aren’t.   We have to leave it to those that we hope are professionals and know what they are doing.   So here is my newly renovated – renovated master bath.</p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-38283288267407466552010-04-04T19:31:00.001-05:002010-04-04T21:50:56.073-05:00It’s that Time Again…<p>The Annual Noble Bend Crawfish Boil and egg hunt was this weekend.  Kids, dogs, neighbors and crawfish were everywhere.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C0TVeH8iKq7zlvGPKROsVCV_Q0bL5W2tUcxLRhPCOCZ8VpzcG5w2roLczLGE2drvZh-0HsRX3W32iivW4S2Nds3JLefIvWAZTiU8KsS9yuPrjxuvle8dNoAf03qTq8x4ydQqtkEmxbGs/s1600-h/Leah%20Crawfishboil%202010.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Leah Crawfishboil 2010" border="0" alt="Leah Crawfishboil 2010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S7kvVJtGvNI/AAAAAAAAA6E/JZhemQZhEW4/Leah%20Crawfishboil%202010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="524" height="356" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI72-syIONaraKXlQjWPEq0_NHONqnMtJt3luffwZUS6ii5GYKNhQn4fBWRmDCLSfAYYBlKx2f1cfB-VGuQ3newEKh2Os5TDcXq5tAxur_Dq-QF_j808J31RFdngJV7jwzA9R_x1OYX_8O/s1600-h/crawfish%20boil%201%202010.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="crawfish boil 1 2010" border="0" alt="crawfish boil 1 2010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhWTS3HRAxDUbL4rBZRkJBojnHZa47FdOALayRrHPr6j9qO0nSu3NRQ4FOFXrrL7zBC77NFPrsMTnfFgxFUEkV_KT1fvDJOtMgRRVWpUq0gYxYCIaWPujic55A0hvA-QE6_xTRvowVWyp/?imgmax=800" width="574" height="390" /></a></p> <p>Neighbor Steve getting ready for the crawfish boil with a little help from his friends:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S7kvYDFuP1I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/CnZQp2vKG5A/s1600-h/Crawfishboil%202010.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Crawfishboil 2010" border="0" alt="Crawfishboil 2010" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S7kvYwRhshI/AAAAAAAAA6c/Mx7jexSmhbI/Crawfishboil%202010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="543" height="372" /></a></p> <p>There were lots of good deserts and a grill going for those of us who do not particularly like mudbugs.  Our neighbor Caroline did a great job with this cookie cake.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S7kvZ9kRyOI/AAAAAAAAA6g/9ccW0OKEA5w/s1600-h/DSC01702%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01702" border="0" alt="DSC01702" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S7kvat1ntgI/AAAAAAAAA6k/u4EN4X2zfOI/DSC01702_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="459" height="352" /></a> </p> <p>Neighbor Steve prepping the tables:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S7kva_a4e4I/AAAAAAAAA6o/1BGosjr7GkU/s1600-h/crawfish%20boil%202%202010.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="crawfish boil 2 2010" border="0" alt="crawfish boil 2 2010" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S7kvbuQj5kI/AAAAAAAAA6s/yc6ZkJ_yANo/crawfish%20boil%202%202010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="349" /></a>  </p> <p>This is what the table looked like afterwards:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZbpBEtxpJ0vuHuYWoweB_Sd6uC505vcCYsbmqwka90XpLydqNImKvFz7mWD9fDs4Sxy9gKwqr9nqYyB0v-Lyo_uC76No5Cvq1pwxk4DRvYTfKtIrxEgx3vAf-IAHNm7dMQ8xW5vatLZS/s1600-h/DSC01705%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01705" border="0" alt="DSC01705" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S7kvd77W8NI/AAAAAAAAA60/xuWImBlGfCM/DSC01705_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="395" height="520" /></a> </p> <p>We had a great time together and enjoyed beautiful weather.</p> <p>Easter Morning:   Leah served as an Acolyte in one of the Easter services at our church:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S7kveh2uaqI/AAAAAAAAA64/zX16CLLUCV0/s1600-h/DSC01708%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01708" border="0" alt="DSC01708" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5i96UfALednzC6sT6wN6LeTaKicz7L-3kYfYzR2wgoHuqa9ZHhUufuSxrkkyyUrkATnDj0fYnT2y-iqNffevA8i57pqnFMYM6BgGI79arWXKl63008JIJ7kTfT8zIq_8gSq_QQ8KAV4V/?imgmax=800" width="477" height="363" /></a></p> <p>Hope you all had a Blessed Easter focusing on our Risen Savior and surrounded by those you love.</p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-8669548945763046102010-03-24T22:22:00.001-05:002010-03-24T22:22:08.418-05:00Boiled Peanuts<p>I was walking through the grocery store last week and there they were….  </p> <p align="center"><font size="4">.Peanuts.  </font> </p> <p>In the southeastern part of the United States, you can drive down back roads and  will probably spot a hand painted sign  pointing you in the right direction for <em><font size="3">Hot Boiled Peanuts</font></em>.   My grandparents lived in south Georgia and grew peanuts in their garden.   My sister and I would spend a 2-3 weeks with them each summer. We would pick the peanuts straight from the garden and bring them in to be boiled.  mmm mmm life doesn’t get any better.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S6rWzv_feVI/AAAAAAAAA4w/mN5wsmYkqbQ/s1600-h/hotboiledpeanutssign3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="hot boiled peanuts sign" border="0" alt="hot boiled peanuts sign" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S6rW0cfeKtI/AAAAAAAAA40/05tSfs_Jy8k/hotboiledpeanutssign_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="475" height="328" /></a> </p> <p><font size="1">                                                        (picture from the internet)</font></p> <p>I don’t come across boiled peanut stands in Texas.  So I make my own.</p> <p>I start out with a 20 oz. bag of raw peanuts in their hull.   Place the peanuts in a large pot and add water to cover.  Bring to a boil.  Add  a cup or so of salt.  I know, I know that sounds like a lot, but it has to penetrate that shell and get to the peanut inside.</p> <p>You will boil and boil and boil some more to get the inside of the peanut soft.  Approximately 2-3 hours.    Keep adding water as needed.</p> <p>After all that boiling you get these beauties.  </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3U0Yb4zVKpe8ut8n_bhNj5yeZ5HKo97DmF2Hhyhsz1es5Zk6_WlAoWzCcdVkSxZhQzm5qncMSfTfEsy9UA6QjZAszDKDrkbkXlURo8lHrlLG8ri2ouHtdakz1AZETqf-yiXUJ1Osn_Bw/s1600-h/DSC01694%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01694" border="0" alt="DSC01694" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S6rW2UegD4I/AAAAAAAAA48/TtwnNEnvC0U/DSC01694_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="437" height="332" /></a></p> <p>Just break them open and enjoy. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S6rW3GKIadI/AAAAAAAAA5A/YMoi3HX0mk4/s1600-h/DSC01693%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC01693" border="0" alt="DSC01693" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0c4CUWz3g1BgmP4Ohri3fxaPePycIAPCxrz4qtRnvht4lqLyGOGy7lbHrQuqrlxXehjMb407m7BQaW2ENJH_l3o6OCjRIKRqgQdiFHg1Aiz9JsKb07OJRUrq7uBmH2IvRmylPDJr4FmAd/?imgmax=800" width="470" height="357" /></a>    </p> <p>Keep them in the shell until you are ready to eat them.  Place the uneaten peanuts in the refrigerator.  They are good cold or hot.</p> <p>Let me know if you try them.   </p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-47893919155015080372010-03-08T14:17:00.001-06:002010-03-08T22:17:09.275-06:00Paint the Path Pink and other paint jobs<p>As you can tell from the dates on my post, I’ve taken a little blogging break.  I’ve had lots of projects around my home to manage and am still waiting for some to be finished.  So I have been a tad distracted.</p> <p>This past  Saturday Leah’s school had a <em>Paint the Path Pink 5K Walk/Run</em> Breast Cancer fundraiser.   Paige, Leah and I went and walked.  There were 650 people registered.  It was a beautiful Spring day for walking and over $25,000 was raised for Breast Cancer Research.  The second picture is kids and dogs.   Leah is on the bottom row about 5 down.   </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S5VbFa0sPyI/AAAAAAAAA4A/vu8icBpzcA0/s1600-h/074%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="074" border="0" alt="074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSU0yIVs1WxVdSY4RXkG6VG5CJaBLh9yWqAohFvpej3Z89px-M9BPvl2xrGi4mkZzMMlsWftGSshCYCZKPQocjnxK6LCwt81g7i-a0_CQ4DPSBDUAtFnngPFVSVxvcu617-i0irHTNoVIX/?imgmax=800" width="254" height="334" /></a></p> <p><font size="1">Paige will be mad that I posted this picture with her eyes closed.  Sorry Paige, but it was the only one we got that day.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S5VbHi6j5LI/AAAAAAAAA4I/2Nan4EdJt-A/s1600-h/076%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="076" border="0" alt="076" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S5VbIcLUM5I/AAAAAAAAA4M/oUuVlSpvQGY/076_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="313" /></a> </p> <p>Here is some other painting news from the home front.</p> <p>Finally – all the faux painting is gone and replaced with  Sherwin Williams Latte for the walls and Ralph Lauren Metallic Summer Gold for the ceiling.  I’m so happy with the colors.  I have yet to hang the artwork back up in the room.  I just have issues with nailing into newly painted walls.  I’ll work up the courage soon I hope.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S5VbJXGO5KI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/MljBEPDacsk/s1600-h/IMG_1042%5B13%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1042" border="0" alt="IMG_1042" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S5VbKHQUY9I/AAAAAAAAA4U/OMTb53-uzcs/IMG_1042_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S5VbLs-birI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/WE49H46PLgM/s1600-h/IMG_1041%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1041" border="0" alt="IMG_1041" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S5VbMWFbfEI/AAAAAAAAA4c/VSIfHTlidjI/IMG_1041_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="481" height="327" /></a> <p></p> <p>The kitchen and family room also were painted.  The family room is Latte now and the kitchen is Nomadic Desert.  I’m waiting for my fireplace stone to come in.  When I get that done, I’ll post a picture of the fireplace and paint.  </p> <p>My other gynormous project I had to deal with was the shower in my master bath.   We had the master bathroom renovated right after we moved into this house nearly 5 years ago.   We loved the look of it, but after time went on we realized something was not right.  After much deliberation between tile people, plumbers and me in the middle we decided the  tile should be removed and the shower pan checked out.  YUCK! – rotted wood and mold….. This was worst than we thought it would be.</p> <p>So I now know the repercussions of an improperly installed shower pan.</p> <p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53rYz_sPZIyj9Z1CaGsS4Py-FveTzUsYBpfGA5RgKP8u6-AojUw_wa3NPfsrqeafn2t_dfU8ye9fT8H3XNJ02CezFpJJlChIyAhOC10RN07t1WHYiJkv2ReuWlzpZx7qB4-I5lzwhuHxC/s1600-h/DSC01668%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC01668" border="0" alt="DSC01668" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAFuBEg5PihHGaBCHMBTB_NK6b-FqCWl7XLSbiC39ydM3sAhtShGDvntQePuGKL_reSl291ffgAp2pEBntpeLJEuBv5He0MBuEm2u8QdxaI2piGMLWsOocdDgCHyTlCcrFXHvmDNKbFUG/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S5VbPNCj5nI/AAAAAAAAA4o/IzDKjlKdmQs/s1600-h/DSC01669%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC01669" border="0" alt="DSC01669" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S5VbPofix-I/AAAAAAAAA4s/04SlbrpIE-Q/DSC01669_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>I kept thinking of a spiritual analogy in this scenario.  You know like sometimes everything looks good on the outside but boy it can be rotten on the inside.  Better get it checked out and fixed or it will fall apart.</p> <p>I’ll post pictures of the newly re-done shower soon.  This post has run long enough.</p> <p>Hope you are  starting to see a little Spring where you are.</p> <p>♥ Joy</p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-56031958231957962692010-02-15T10:08:00.000-06:002010-02-15T10:08:00.485-06:00Praying in Color<p>A number of years ago I came across a book entitled <em>Praying in <font color="#008000">C</font><font color="#400080">o</font><font color="#ff8000">l</font><font color="#0080ff">o</font><font color="#ff0000">r</font> </em>by Sybil MacBeth.<em>  </em>It caught my attention as I am always interested in reading books on prayer.   </p> <p>This book was different.  It was not a “how-to” book on prayer on what to say and do during ones prayer time.</p> <p>The idea behind <em>Praying in Color</em> is when you are burdened about someone or something to get out your markers or colored pencils and a clean sheet of paper and basically start doodling.    You ever notice when you are praying how your mind tends to wander.  Every new idea/thought/worry can pop into your mind and distract you.   Having a marker or pencil in hand helps to keep you focused on your prayer time.  Praying in color usually does not involve spoken words.  It’s a time of quiet before God when words fail us.  You pour out your heart on paper.</p> <p>I encourage you to visit the<font color="#ff0000"> </font><a href="http://www.prayingincolor.com/praying.html" target="_blank"><font color="#ff0000">Praying in Color Website</font></a><font color="#ff0000"> </font>and learn more about this prayer concept and see illustrations of others prayers.    You do not have to be an artist to Pray in Color. </p> <p>After the earthquake in Haiti, I had many concerns weighing on my heart that I wanted to pray for the people in Haiti and the relief workers going into Haiti.  I finally decided to sit down and Pray in Color. As you can see I am no artist, but it helped to put my burdens down on paper and offer them as prayer to God.</p> <p>I drew with colored pencils so it didn’t scan very well, but it gives you the idea of one of this prayer concept.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S3V9dRkGVfI/AAAAAAAAA30/UqvtKhc_oms/s1600-h/haiti%20praying%20in%20color%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="praying in color" border="0" alt="praying in color" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S3V9eJS_uXI/AAAAAAAAA34/eM_cFvsnKgU/haiti%20praying%20in%20color_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="611" height="479" /></a></p> <p>So check out the website to see more prayer samples and maybe pick up the book and start <em>Drawing a New Path to God</em> as Sybil MacBeth says.</p> <p>P.S.  This is also a great way to pray with your kids.   She has a children’s edition of the book also.</p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-66845309533403452472010-02-06T22:50:00.000-06:002010-02-06T22:51:45.913-06:00Madonna of the Rabbit<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S25G23iuGqI/AAAAAAAAA3o/v-oSEYfkzAk/s1600-h/madonna-with-a-rabbit--3808-mid%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="madonna-with-a-rabbit--3808-mid" border="0" alt="madonna-with-a-rabbit--3808-mid" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S25G4DoL7GI/AAAAAAAAA3w/cMVE5Oq0_-w/madonna-with-a-rabbit--3808-mid_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="619" height="502" /></a> </p> <p><font size="4">Are you familiar with this painting?   It is entitled<em> Madonna of the Rabbit</em>.  </font></p> <p><font size="4">Isn’t it beautiful.   Paige recently found this picture on The Louvre’s website.  </font></p> <p><font size="4">At first she liked it for the beauty of it and the rabbit in it.   </font><font size="4">Then she started researching and learning about the symbolism in the picture.   Here are some of the things she learned and passed along to me.    Now I enjoy the painting so much more.</font></p> <p><font size="4">The basket has two types of fruit in it ~ apple and grapes.  The apple represents the original sin;  the grapes represent Jesus’ blood shed for us.</font></p> <p><font size="4">During the time of this painting it was believed that the female rabbit could reproduce without a male rabbit’s contribution.   So it was a virgin rabbit and symbolized the Virgin Mary and the fact that it is white symbolized purity.</font></p> <p><font size="4">The painting is set in the Venetian countryside, the part of Italy where the artist Titian is from.</font></p> <p><font size="4">The Virgin is dressed in red and blue, the colors have come to signify the Virgin.</font></p> <p><font size="4">The other woman is a servant of sorts. She is kneeling in a servants posture but is dressed as a married woman from that era. The hint of marriage is intentional because the woman is actually Saint Catherine of Alexandria. During her life she had a vision of being married to the infant Jesus. The thing she is kneeling on is meant to be a wheel on which Saint Catherine was to be executed.  She had been attempting to show an Emperor of Rome that persecuting Christians was wrong. Everyone who was sent to her in the prison to persuade her to change her mind (including the Empress) was converted to Christianity. The Emperor was furious and demanded she be put to death on the wheel however, when she touched it, it broke into pieces. She was later beheaded and has sometimes been called the Great Martyr Saint Catherine.  </font></p> <p><font size="4">The wild strawberries in the bottom corner signify paradise.</font></p> <p><font size="4">The shepherd in the background is in sharp contrast with the main figures. He is supposed to represent the age of pagan gods that Christianity replaced.</font></p> <p><font size="4">Jesus is being held in a white linen. Sacred items are always to be held in this manner.   </font></p> <p><font size="4">This painting is a <em>sacra conversazione</em>,  or holy conversation. This type of painting portrayed the virgin with a saint. The Madonna is always in the center to signify her as an intercessor before God. </font></p> <p><font size="4">Some may not see this as a  painting of the Virgin and Child, but in the time period in Italy it always brought to mind the Virgin when a woman was portrayed with a child.</font></p> <p><font size="4">So there you have it.   A little Art Appreciation courtesy of Paige.  Hope you enjoyed it and we didn’t bore you.  We would love to see the original of this painting one day.   </font></p> <p> <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85706/joyintheburbs/340aee03b0e669e92d8eaae40b6490a5.png" /></a></p> Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-67383911786842853102010-01-28T10:30:00.001-06:002010-02-06T22:42:21.451-06:00Cooking Under Pressure and changes around here<p align="justify"><font size="3">I’m making a few changes around here.  As you can see I’ve changed my blog layout and will try this for a while to see if I like it.  </font></p> <p><font size="3">I’m also trying Windows Live Writer to write my post.  So if this post up really weird, I’ll keep working on it.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I’m also making some changes around my house.  We have lived in this house for 4.5 years and I haven’t changed the previous owners paint in the dining room, kitchen or family room.  I have in other parts of the house though.  This is the current color in the dining room.  It’s faux painted and from a distance it is nice, but Buster never really liked it and I don’t like it with our furniture.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5fHM5FNjpkdVSndx6eu_ZQigmp9Cpq3PiE0EqYkJMjkUx22whLWGDHvxG_8BYOlxdLsivHedGkCe0cV2L0tnAB3nz39Q2iUXF7vmyhuFvE5gGcA3DgUwXy-9dmWAGAwuV4dG8YL60P2y/s1600-h/DSC01658%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" size="3"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC01658" border="0" alt="DSC01658" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S2G8a35kryI/AAAAAAAAA3c/6GwD0rf9e_c/DSC01658_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="324" /></font></a><font size="3"> </font></p> <p><font size="3">You can see I have it taped with painters tape. I went to work and primed the entire room and am in the process of deciding on colors.  So hard to choose!</font></p> <p><font size="3">The other thing I wanted to show you is this:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S2G8bnEajPI/AAAAAAAAA3g/fmSJ43r67m8/s1600-h/DSC01659%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333" size="3"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC01659" border="0" alt="DSC01659" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xhpi8TRor9w/S2G8b8u8VhI/AAAAAAAAA3k/-fG1tdvGOVk/DSC01659_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="264" /></font></a><font size="3"> </font></p> <p><font size="3">I received this as a gift at a bridal shower 22 years ago. It is a pressure cooker.  I have NEVER USED IT!.  It really intimidates me and I’m not sure how to use it.  One of my grandmothers used one quite often and I remember the noise and the spitting and sputtering that came from the kitchen, but that is about all.  She isn’t here to ask anymore.  Soooo, do you use a pressure cooker ever and if you do what do you make.  I want to give it a try assuming the seal is still good and it works.</font></p> <p><font size="3">When I get some new paint on the wall I’ll show you my new colors.  I’m also resurfacing our fireplace so I’m off to the stone yard today. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I like change, but decisions are really  hard. <br /></font></p>Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-17377848862241276992010-01-14T16:27:00.003-06:002010-01-14T16:36:06.554-06:00Remember This...Remember when I raised my hand like this:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx1eFkH6tf4zim9c5Mlh6Z5mIZDHAf_cDzMI2rrkbSA_QIFZoiVOct5b9RZpYbPzL1M99cJMtCSDo3urzy1OrYpiJTfTWKknMv_hGtMWEUobTMM6wZfWnz1OYu9tJ3L22PpIiM-pecM_d/s1600-h/DSC02470.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426721180365460786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx1eFkH6tf4zim9c5Mlh6Z5mIZDHAf_cDzMI2rrkbSA_QIFZoiVOct5b9RZpYbPzL1M99cJMtCSDo3urzy1OrYpiJTfTWKknMv_hGtMWEUobTMM6wZfWnz1OYu9tJ3L22PpIiM-pecM_d/s400/DSC02470.JPG" /></a> </p><p>And ended up with this in my garage:<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW9oazMhx2joWW2aBMIyl8drnwxb9hjMTuA489AX-y5sE0zl4LB4RDJp0pHbgST7sbxrsbNk-aE36XfTLGCr7pLqiTP5inPZvy8rHSo9t4Yi2oYGzJ9GlKHaasTawArVmkrlabXUOQkk-/s1600-h/DSC02466.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426721184739203746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW9oazMhx2joWW2aBMIyl8drnwxb9hjMTuA489AX-y5sE0zl4LB4RDJp0pHbgST7sbxrsbNk-aE36XfTLGCr7pLqiTP5inPZvy8rHSo9t4Yi2oYGzJ9GlKHaasTawArVmkrlabXUOQkk-/s400/DSC02466.JPG" /></a> </p><p>Well, we turned it in to this:</p><p>A few months back I volunteered to help with a fundraiser at my daughter's school. We had some of the students paint tiles and then we turned them into different projects. </p><p>This is the top of one of the table tops. I learned that grouting is not my calling in life. I don't know what is, but I know grouting isn't it. </p><p>Paige painted the bird in the bottom left corner.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cFPmlCzhWMcv5Ge41LykxQsvlXWZu83EmYwWMGGo8VHI-rHnyqrmUP-3K6X-Sj8FM21hL-WMOqjTiWc-FsUOkT6gChQNj9g68GvfPZo0wohr6EzhydnuCmERTgmaGwSSOfa1Yu4jjI9q/s1600-h/DSC01595.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426721194188883282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cFPmlCzhWMcv5Ge41LykxQsvlXWZu83EmYwWMGGo8VHI-rHnyqrmUP-3K6X-Sj8FM21hL-WMOqjTiWc-FsUOkT6gChQNj9g68GvfPZo0wohr6EzhydnuCmERTgmaGwSSOfa1Yu4jjI9q/s400/DSC01595.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDYbqnwZyE35VBXItjllMCC0Bq3lm7kR8FEWmvOrk9ZPy4iyrDr5Q_LFFmwf327T4WgvHRISrk0nUoGt9DZeIY7X5Yuj9Tof_HS7GcvawB4JMdBULhu1C_3_r84SlY5IbIPKySjvCsEUM/s1600-h/DSC02474.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426721170272725298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDYbqnwZyE35VBXItjllMCC0Bq3lm7kR8FEWmvOrk9ZPy4iyrDr5Q_LFFmwf327T4WgvHRISrk0nUoGt9DZeIY7X5Yuj9Tof_HS7GcvawB4JMdBULhu1C_3_r84SlY5IbIPKySjvCsEUM/s400/DSC02474.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EF8Qd7mkrpNa-tcAttITJsaFu61if0aTGENg9PmUA75dnxgU2lGnjTf_tYumoLhimGnIMd4bRD64kTjY0vv3SBQ6L49UzaaTJyNwByScgaasMOV1IYnz-6qkSL81-5TG8sxY590KjKB9/s1600-h/DSC01589.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426721164335427282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EF8Qd7mkrpNa-tcAttITJsaFu61if0aTGENg9PmUA75dnxgU2lGnjTf_tYumoLhimGnIMd4bRD64kTjY0vv3SBQ6L49UzaaTJyNwByScgaasMOV1IYnz-6qkSL81-5TG8sxY590KjKB9/s400/DSC01589.JPG" /></a><br />I was really proud of how they turned out. The kid's artwork and creativity really made each project special. There were a few more, but I didn't get pictures of everything. Parents bid on these at the school dinner/auction so they all went to a good home. It really was fun and I enjoyed working with other moms on the project, but it will be a while before I raise my hand in any meetings especially if grouting is involved.<br /><div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85706/joyintheburbs/340aee03b0e669e92d8eaae40b6490a5.png" /></a>Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8354906665232407091.post-31334727180740709982010-01-07T15:06:00.006-06:002010-01-23T22:11:08.450-06:00Fun in FloridaLast post I mentioned our historic driving trip to Florida during the Christmas Holiday. It was historic because my husband does not enjoy driving long distances. He's an airplane kind of man. He knows the ins and the outs of the airport, where to park for which gate, which line to get in. The man can zip thru an airport in no time to get to his plane in just the nick of time. Stick him in a car for a 2100 mile trip with me and my bladder and two kids. Not his idea of a holiday. But we made it. I looked back at Leah riding in the car and laughed. She looked like a hostage. She felt like one too. The child takes after her daddy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqSCvHdVVrneCOb_c355NGdyVubA2hYrnCocM_YfggQ6bUYtMAYS1gYjdvgHaGLtmkF1D9PB3g5mTyJ6D1GNVqbTdTndxfa5VN71uRTZWzPXgikMTOpVaqJK8VCkq_TX2Hw69-Z_TxKc9/s1600-h/DSC01648.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 379px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423741487287584338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqSCvHdVVrneCOb_c355NGdyVubA2hYrnCocM_YfggQ6bUYtMAYS1gYjdvgHaGLtmkF1D9PB3g5mTyJ6D1GNVqbTdTndxfa5VN71uRTZWzPXgikMTOpVaqJK8VCkq_TX2Hw69-Z_TxKc9/s400/DSC01648.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />But once we made to Florida there was lots of fun to be had at both grandparent's houses. We even learned about a game called Ladderball from Uncle Dave. Some call it Hillbilly Golf. It's a big hit in the RV Parks from what I understand. Shuffleboard is so old school. Ladderball rules now. We went straight to Wallyworld and bought our own.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Paige, Leah and cousin Mickey at my parents.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xa6XNLaZVCxerJgcZx8Uu-SBxanuXVXSWdtvDLEuqXp7EKG8BnZ0j3nzehKUjAx5ZiwIOOE99S3_7Mb7B7sDOD9kyCfhR9rRF8dKVddK__miNIurBgLQ47wOeiWS5Hwuo-w23V1UvEFn/s1600-h/DSC01642.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423739965723708306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xa6XNLaZVCxerJgcZx8Uu-SBxanuXVXSWdtvDLEuqXp7EKG8BnZ0j3nzehKUjAx5ZiwIOOE99S3_7Mb7B7sDOD9kyCfhR9rRF8dKVddK__miNIurBgLQ47wOeiWS5Hwuo-w23V1UvEFn/s400/DSC01642.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Paige brought along a gingerbread tree decorating kit. So the cousins got busy putting it together. It made a nice centerpiece while we were there.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_vxGnZucfeC-nftjoXN6W5sdrMiQyHmuOFyYPrrHTccQAUQ4Tm_-miVjxRY-fqrffZ-_9rG7dhnYsUm2uWKEoQCeOMBmSa9zsSYKT3qu3tFXi9w3IcpHwXEZjxOigcK1zRx5WBpdYN-8/s1600-h/DSC01609.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423739962605682786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_vxGnZucfeC-nftjoXN6W5sdrMiQyHmuOFyYPrrHTccQAUQ4Tm_-miVjxRY-fqrffZ-_9rG7dhnYsUm2uWKEoQCeOMBmSa9zsSYKT3qu3tFXi9w3IcpHwXEZjxOigcK1zRx5WBpdYN-8/s400/DSC01609.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center">You should have heard the singing. Mr. Scotty has a karaoke machine. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423746262803779378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts-XhqFVLyahyphenhyphenIrN7pdSEpgi9MQwR3q5mLptj1a95Aw3y6i5UWtThdKGVxIPdBr1LMzKyufQtuIjRAcs9EG58ClFMXiiRNk_Bbw0o1Q5QlCt0_ksugJEueofbU_XzjnYltG98OHrvxOjS/s400/DSC01610.JPG" /><br /><div align="center"><br />We had a wonderful Christmas with our family.</div><div align="center">There are so many pictures I could download.</div><br />The other highlight of the trip was meeting up with one of my favorite bloggers <a href="http://tracypnothomeyet.blogspot.com/">Tracy P</a>. Tracy lives in Minnesota and I live in Texas, but we managed to meet at a park in central Florida. Can you believe it. She and her family were there visiting her dad.<br /><br />We decided to get the families together and the best place would be a park. Thanks to Google one was located. The kids and the husbands could keep busy while we chatted.<br /><br />Here are Paige, Leah & Mickey playing at the park. It was great place to meet.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJ3wfgdHGYSc47P5U1oCWWAs90zbnIUCtunKByZhFzUcqAr8tBNY-gzUnS9B51kD8nX4zfXnd7AYZBHCtI8-yrK39AUQFls2fpAJBwfAlLHNmxynCWaNciRhN6Oh47N4VJR8dcMkez3Wg/s1600-h/DSC01635.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423739952191971506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJ3wfgdHGYSc47P5U1oCWWAs90zbnIUCtunKByZhFzUcqAr8tBNY-gzUnS9B51kD8nX4zfXnd7AYZBHCtI8-yrK39AUQFls2fpAJBwfAlLHNmxynCWaNciRhN6Oh47N4VJR8dcMkez3Wg/s400/DSC01635.JPG" /></a><br />The wind really picked up and the kids and husbands had played basketball and were thirsty so we moved the party to a local restaurant. It was nice to just sit across the table from Tracy and hear her voice and get to know her better. Tracy and I both pray with Moms in Touch groups. There was so much I wanted to talk about, but didn't want to bore the husbands with an all blogging and MITI conversation. She is as wonderful in person as she is on her blog.<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Here we are: Windblown but happy to get together:<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEdt1HSyFNP0TbFxoSZFbFpOsZS1_8c5C41C5W-u3_q54-eeRwRh6KMLgKwAX5tZY9FXkro5ZiEIW_JuCGN2vXteufCg_MJrtJiUGEcfM3H57-UY9pXVB7K34AOs4zkGl6sQXO4jPNQGq/s1600-h/DSC01639.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423739944227866722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEdt1HSyFNP0TbFxoSZFbFpOsZS1_8c5C41C5W-u3_q54-eeRwRh6KMLgKwAX5tZY9FXkro5ZiEIW_JuCGN2vXteufCg_MJrtJiUGEcfM3H57-UY9pXVB7K34AOs4zkGl6sQXO4jPNQGq/s400/DSC01639.JPG" /></a><br />Here are the kiddos: Tracy's two and my two plus my nephew. The kids had their own table at the restaurant. (Learned that trick a few years ago. ha)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvnrAbZtAQV1qQsAnPIafU8kSFPCKTFvW5_yLAKQC4xmF0HxUBVnaUV4t_3n3o1Thg6Vadr6cVkhmb7KynYX-4ZwyukGewBSwKIjoZpu_50dD0lfqs5KBdYe8mnoK-1rzEb9lMf52nb-y/s1600-h/bbpl.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423739941564030834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvnrAbZtAQV1qQsAnPIafU8kSFPCKTFvW5_yLAKQC4xmF0HxUBVnaUV4t_3n3o1Thg6Vadr6cVkhmb7KynYX-4ZwyukGewBSwKIjoZpu_50dD0lfqs5KBdYe8mnoK-1rzEb9lMf52nb-y/s400/bbpl.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJ3wfgdHGYSc47P5U1oCWWAs90zbnIUCtunKByZhFzUcqAr8tBNY-gzUnS9B51kD8nX4zfXnd7AYZBHCtI8-yrK39AUQFls2fpAJBwfAlLHNmxynCWaNciRhN6Oh47N4VJR8dcMkez3Wg/s1600-h/DSC01635.JPG"></a><div align="center"><br />It was a long trip, but totally worth it in my book. I even got a smile out of Buster.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5u0uyvjSt3ibQgSapuEUknE4uztYR3Cl5G4vxAiiftKNzoBMTdpx46Sr0zlQ7kpRvZ4RPTZ_xxFStMlOjCAW8cigbMdPkWIn62psPMs07gVp24nVJFRLyBwyYGlO1C0NrV8fzuRtunQ6/s1600-h/DSC01637.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423746255665541858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5u0uyvjSt3ibQgSapuEUknE4uztYR3Cl5G4vxAiiftKNzoBMTdpx46Sr0zlQ7kpRvZ4RPTZ_xxFStMlOjCAW8cigbMdPkWIn62psPMs07gVp24nVJFRLyBwyYGlO1C0NrV8fzuRtunQ6/s400/DSC01637.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85706/joyintheburbs/340aee03b0e669e92d8eaae40b6490a5.png" /></a></div></div>Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11198238631600746173noreply@blogger.com21