Season's Greetings!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I was hoping to drop by blogger on Christmas but didn't make it. We headed over to the in-laws yesterday and will go back to my parents sometime today. My brother Shawn and his family are headed this way today, also my brother in Atlanta is bringing his little girl to visit for a week.

Wishing you all the best the rest of this Holiday season and have a Happy New Year!

Take care,
Sheila

It looks like Christmas...

I did make it out last weekend with Hubby and picked up a couple of wreaths for the windows on the porch and something for the mailbox. We ate dinner at Longhorn when we were done. I had the prime rib and it was really good, Hubby had New York strip. We had an appetizer of white cheddar stuffed mushrooms, liked them also. I may have to try something similar sometime.

 We have a pre-lit tree but I add extra strands of lights to it. That last couple of years I've added a strand of steady on ones and twinkling ones.  Well this year, I had two sets of twinkling lights and neither one would work. Then I plugged in the steady burning ones and they wouldn't work either. I did buy another set of steady ones but couldn't find any multi-colored twinkling ones. Jarin stopped by Big L0ts and found a set, so we do have some twinkling ones this year too...Here are a few pictures of the decorations...

Our Christmas tree

(wish you could see the twinkling)

A closer view

The fireplace

 (that's a present on the  left)

The front porch
(you can see the inside tree through the side window at the door)

other side of the garage

close up of wreath

( a little blurry)

Hubby had a good time today. One of their contract companies, chartered a bus and took them to the Carolina Panthers game today. Of course, Hubby was rooting for the Atlant@ Falcons because Julio Jones from Alabama plays for them and they won...Yay Julio! I got to catch up on some things on the DVR while he was gone...yay me...ha.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sheila

Christmas time's a'coming....

 

(from the net)

Spent Friday buying some Christmas gifts. I ordered one and had it sent to Mom's early Thanksgiving morning. Friday I ordered the girls big gift and had it sent to Mom's, also two for the grandsons. I picked up the other two gifts for the grandsons at Wally world and one for a niece. Picked up a couple of movies on sale too. I was going to look at Christmas wreaths for our two windows on the porch and something for the mailbox but I forgot...ha. We put the lights up outside today and brought in the Christmas tree and decorations. I'll put them up tomorrow and maybe run out and check on the wreaths. I may put some fresh boughs on the mantle to decorate it. I enjoy a real tree but one year in Mobile, Hubby had been burning some stuff and the flames were almost gone so he placed the tree on top and just a little flicker of flame burned that tree in seconds...scary...Maybe one day we'll get one in a pot and use it...ha

Take care and stay warm,

Sheila

A stuffed Thanksgiving...

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We enjoyed ours and the leftovers. Hubby and Cori went out shopping on Black Friday and came back with a car...she is a happy girl. Sunday, he picked me up a quilt rack. I put one of his grandmother's quilts on one side and a Christmas throw on the other.

2012 Kia Soul

We have had a couple of rainy days, now we'll have some colder temps for a little while. Shirl I hope you are snow dancing, I think it is time to start...ha. Nothing much else going on this week, just the usual errands. I rode with Cori yesterday to take some paperwork back to the dealer and she wanted to eat at IH0P when we got back. Hubby was on his way home so he stopped in too.

Take care,

Sheila

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!

It's a little chilly here....

Little Rylie enjoying a snooze last Saturday night under my old Alabama blanket. It was dark so I had to lighten them a little. She was lying on a throw with the blanket on top.

Her shirt says 'what up dawg'

It's that time of year...my first carton of eggnog. 

We have been rainy and cold and windy this week, with a couple of warmer days. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Take care,

Sheila

Happy Veteran's Day!!!

Thank you to all the Veteran's
and their families!

My Daddy

U.S. Army

My Hubby

U.S. Army

Holes Part 2...

The rest of the story...

Another week later, Thurs. Oct. 20th, called again to check on them...Again, 'someone will call you back'...the next day (Fri. Oct. 21), they came out and hand dug the holes you seen in the last post. Down to all the cables, lines and water line that were in the area they needed to dig. (at first they said they needed to get somebody out to re-mark the lines, I asked, 'how long will it take to get that done again and for them to get back out here? They just marked it last Thurs.') Oh okay, Thursday huh...it will take all day to fix, about 10 hours or so. It's to late to start today...yada, yada, yada...(sounded like they didn't want to do it)...but at least they did dig some holes...Said they'd be back Monday (Oct. 24th) around 9 am...Not...
They told us to collect water in our tubs to use to flush the toilets when the water was cut off on Monday...no problem in our bathroom, we have separate shower and tub. The upstairs had to be let out everyday so the girls could take a bath. After a couple of times letting it out, I told them not to fill it up, they can wait when they come back, until we fill it back up.  I called on Monday about 10:30 am to see what happened to them. They had a water main break somewhere they had to repair then they would be out...called back Wed. the 26th... 'it shows they will be out Nov. 2nd,' she said. That's all fine and dandy but Halloween is the 31st and we have 3 holes in the front yard (didn't want any ghosts and goblins to fall in). They came out the next day (27th)...(do you see a pattern? When I call they come out the next day, should of called sooner I guess). They dug bigger holes, unhooked water, fashioned a sewer trough to the main, said they needed to get t!me w@rner to come move their cable so they could get the pipe in place...(T!me W@rner...the ones who put the cable through the pipe in the first place). With my past experience with cable companies I thought 'good luck with that.' Hubby wondered too if they would have better luck than we do...ha. They did put a couple of metal covers over the holes, like the ones they put in the road when they have to dig a hole. Also put the cones and tape back up, but the tape was blown around a bit with the wind the next day.

Halloween came and went...

They came back Nov 1st.....couldn't even get the cable company to contact them back...dug even bigger holes on both sides of the pipe to free the cable enough they could fix the pipe. Told me they are surprised we didn't have more problems because when the cable went through it, it crumbled the pipe at that end. (right where it connects with the main). Thank God we didn't! I can't imagine what kind of nightmare that might have been. They filled everything back in, put down grass seed, threw out what little straw they had, said they'd be back in the morning to fertilize and throw out a little more straw. To my happy surprise they did come back the next morning and finish...

It rained Thursday night and Friday so we didn't have to use any more water to wet the grass seed.
So we're all good, everything is flowing well now....knock on wood.

Now on to other things. Hubby picked up some clear LED lights Saturday to put around the top of the screened in porch. We had rope lights around our deck in Mobile, but you can't change the bulb in those when they go out.

Take care,
Sheila

Holes Part 1...

We had about 15 or 16 trick or treaters come this way. Lucy I haven't snow danced yet, so that snow you got isn't my fault...ha. Jack, our boogie man got loose, heard he was hitchhiking to Florida, said it was too cold here when you don't have any meat on your bones...Shirl just let me know when you are ready to dance, I'll be ready and waiting.
I ordered me a new vacuum (hoover) end of last week and got it Wednesday...so far I love it! So much easier to handle. Also ordered me a woodwick candle, supposed to sound like a crackling fire, I got it today.

Okay, now to explain the holes...

Wed. Oct. 5th...at night...the daughters decided to take a shower at the same time, different showers. Next thing we knew the toilets downstairs wouldn't flush. Some back up in our tub and shower...called the plumber who put in the plumbing here...he came out, checked around, said the problem was on the city's side...I got the number and he called them...they came out a little later. They cleared it somewhat and showed me what the camera was showing...a cable line going through the pipe. This is several feet into the ground, no reason for a cable to be that far down. They said someone would be out to replace the line...if I didn't hear from anyone in a week to call them. He also gave me his supervisor's name and number.
One week later...Wed. Oct. 12th...called them...three different times...First one (a guy) said it had been taken care of...uh, no, there has been no digging in the yard... I'm pretty sure you can't take out a pipe and put another in without some dirt getting displaced. Then I called the supervisor, voice mail...lastly, I called the first number again, different person, she said order still open, someone would call to let me know when they'd be coming back out. They came out the next day, Thurs. Oct. 13th, and marked up the roads and grass with paint...


to be continued....

Take care,
Sheila

Happy Halloween!!!

 Our inside cat in a pumpkin

can't make out the cat too well...ha.

 skeleton head and black cat

 pumpkins, witch and  (inside cat showing through

window beside door)

 Pumpkins on steps

 Our boogie man

Our boogie man with strobe lights on...

strobe lights make scary sounds too.

Shots, shots and shovels...

Took Rylie in week before last and got her shots. Actually I took her in then for rabies, distemper and a flea pill and this week for kennel cough. She's so little they don't like to give them all at one time. She doesn't have to have another rabies shot for 3 years. Her parvo shot isn't until April. I will take her tomorrow for her grooming. They had a cute little collar with snowmen on it but they didn't have one small enough for Rylie. They told me they would call and see if they could get some more, but the lady called me later and said she had found one. They keep extras behind the counters. I went by today and picked it up.

Also went today and got my flu shot. Trying to get Hubby to get one. I remembered him saying when we first came up here that they had someone at work (I assume a nurse) who could draw blood for blood work and such. He was thinking he could let them do it and send the results to the doctor, but I thought the doctor would rather do his on blood work. Anywho, I thought of that today and called him to ask if he could get a flu shot there. He said he would check and see.

Do you think we went too far in decorating for

Halloween?

There are three deep holes dug there... more on this later....

Take care,

Sheila

Tires, inspections and trees...and Halloween....and Cori

Hello all,

We had a busy weekend. Hubby had new tires put on his truck Saturday and had the inspection done on it for the tag renewal. Check engine light is fixed. Paula I told him about John's quick fix method...ha. For readers who may not know, in NC and Texas (only two places I've lived that do it), you have to have your vehicle inspected every year before you renew your tag. In Texas your stickers were placed on the windshield. Here in NC they put it into a computer that I guess they can pull up at the DMV. I think they used to have stickers on the windshield. Jack or Shirl would know more about that. We didn't have to do it last year since we were new here.

 I put out a few more things for Halloween. Hubby bought some new plants to put out and some pine straw. Also bought me some lettuces, mustard and leeks to try in our planters on the deck. We moved a crepe myrtle that was beside the porch to the backyard and put a dwarf alberta spruce in its place and another on the other side of the house. Then we moved the maple in the front yard and replaced it with a foster holly tree, we also put another one on the other side of the driveway.  He bought two rhododendrons for the backyard by the screened porch. We had rhodies in Washington state. Let me tell you that was some tough digging... hard ground and rocks to shovel through. I shoveled a little when he took a break, didn't take long to wear you out. But we got it done. I watered the freshly planted stuff while he put some pine straw out. We still have some pine straw to put out this weekend but it won't take long.

 Our little light up pumpkins

Witch and black cat have orange lights that glow

Skull has fiber optics lights, pumpkin lights up

 

 big scary spider-he has suction feet but he kept

coming loose in Mobile so I just put him on the straw here.

 Our tombstones and bat - pitiful graveyard...I know.

 The alberta spruce - another one on the right side

The foster holly - another on the right side

of driveway.

It was cool this morning. I opened some windows in the bedroom and one in the living room. It got too cold for me so I closed the one in the living room, now I am in sweatpants and jacket...ha. Oh and I have heard a train in the distance twice today, once this morning and now as I write this. It's been a long time since I've lived close enough to hear a train whistle...not to loud, just right...there might have been trains in Kansas, but I remember the B-1 bombers flying over more. Texas we had planes flying over too, but not nearly as loud. Washington we could see the planes but not hear them.

One last thing, I am putting Cori's etsy page on my side bar. She is starting to make some things people are requesting.

Take care,

Sheila

PS. we love crepe myrtles, just didn't want one so close to the house this time. We had one in front of the last house and it grew BIG.

Time got away from me....

Cori needed some art supplies from 'Mich@els' a week or so ago and I found me a few fall decorations for the sofa table. She is making clay charms from 'Team Fortress 2', a video game, and selling them on Etsy. Also sent a goody package to the grandsons, the youngest recently turned five. Mama had a birthday too, but she'll have to reveal her age, I'm not getting in trouble...ha.

Last weekend I helped Hubby unpack the boxes in the shed. He found the top to our chiminea packed in one. Thank goodness it didn't get broken.

Poor Rylie had to go get her shots last Friday. She got the 3 year rabies shot this time so she'll be good until 2014.

We had the yard aerated, reseeded and fertilized on the 5th. Hubby watered most of it over the weekend, but luckily we got rain a few days so that should help a lot. His check engine light in his truck has been on for awhile, nothing major, he finally got it fixed. I think he is getting new tires this weekend. It will be time soon for tag renewal and we have to have a car inspection here.

Take care,
Sheila

A week in review...

I eventually made it to W@lm@rt on Friday to buy the 'Bridesmaids' movie. I think I was there for about 3 hours, just leisurely walking around and looking. I bought a couple of throws for the grandsons, a spiderman and a sports one. I stocked up on some necessities like shampoo, toothpaste, body wash, etc...

Hubby went Saturday and picked up a couple of mums, 2 bales of hay and some pumpkins for the front porch. He also bought a witch and a black cat but we haven't put them out yet. He stopped by L0wes Monday after work to pick up 4 black rocking chairs for the front porch.

I found some scuppernongs at the grocery store this week. They were in smaller containers than usual but hopefully they'll get larger ones in soon. Love my scup'lins...ha.

Hubby and I took Rylie for a walk through the neighborhood last night, then rocked for a little while on the porch. Today is haircut day for me, I need to go get a little trim. 

Rest in Peace Pam...we grew up together, she played piano and we spent a lot of time singing gospel songs. They also had a little porch that was high enough that it made a nice 'stage' for our concerts and a non-working car in the back that we 'drove on road trips', usually to the beach. Please keep her family in your prayers.

Hope everyone is having a nice week,

Take care,

Sheila

Wet Wednesday...

Yesterday was an errand day, I went by the dry cleaner, then the post office for stamps and then the grocery store. Jarin wanted to go see "The Lion King" 3-D movie so we went to the 4:25 show. I bought a bucket of popcorn once before when we went so I can get it refilled for $2.50. I also had it refilled before we left, so I have leftovers...ha. It was cute in 3-D and it's been long enough since I've seen it that there were things I had forgotten. Jarin said there were things she understood now that she didn't when she was little...and yes it still makes her cry...may have to go see 'Shark night' 3-D next time. Need to remember to go pick up that 'Bridesmaid' movie that just came out.

We got our new cell phones yesterday too. I charged them up so we could get them activated before we went to the movies.

We had a steady rain most of the day today and I think it is in the forecast for the next couple of days.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I saw our first snake yesterday. I had to move my car so Jarin could go to class and I looked toward the road as she was starting to leave, and there trying to come over from the neighbors was a black snake. I went to the garage to see if I could find something to shoo it away but the hoe and such are in the storage shed. So I told Jarin to run over him (or her?). But she missed and it turned around and went back the other way. I've got my eyes out for it though, I hope he/she don't come back...ha.

Hubby's storage shed

Take care,

Sheila

Good weekend...

We made it through the weekend. We went to eat at the Mexican restaurant Friday night. One of the main reasons we went was so Jarin could get a margarita (you know, turning 21 and all), well she forgot her ID so no margaritas...ha. She's not used to taking her ID unless she is driving. Picked up her cake before we went, but we waited until Saturday to eat some because we were full.

 Yes, that is Spiderman

Hubby fixed goulash for supper Saturday night and Sunday was b-b-q pork chops and b-b-q chicken with rice and baked beans. Tonight will be leftovers...ha.

We bought a couple of new desk chairs this weekend for Jarin and me. Also a media storage bookcase for our DVDs and a cube style bookcase for the landing upstairs for our knick knacks and such.

Lastly, I ordered new phones with @t&t for me and the girls. V3riz0n just didn't have any phones we liked and I'm just not ready for a smartphone. We transferred our old numbers which are Mobile area numbers but they said we could so we did. We can always change them later if we decide too.

Take care,
Sheila

Hello again!

As most of you know we have been moving into our new home. We hired help the weekend of Aug 6th, to move all the stuff in storage and the big stuff from the apartment. Then we spent the rest of the month of August moving over the rest of the stuff and getting the apartment ready to turn over the keys. Now we are trying to get the house in order and everything (or most everything) out of boxes.

The cable was supposed to be set up at the house on August 10th. I waited there for several hours then gave them a call. They weren't coming until the 16th, oh no that is not right. They did turn off the cable at the apartment on the 10th. After a few phone calls, and finally someone admitting they don't cut off cable at one place until it is set up at the other, they came out the next day (11th) and turned it on. The phone was transferred on the 16th, and just like in Mobile they ran it to a box on the other side of the empty lot beside us because our box wasn't working. I have been calling them to get our box fixed because when they started building on the lot beside us in Mobile they cut our line several times. They are supposed to fix it by today.......nothing so far and they have started clearing the lot next door...oh well guess we will see what happens.

On a happier note...ha, we have cooked steaks twice on hubby's new charcoal grill. He likes to throw on some mesquite wood chunks. So good after over a year not having one grilled at home. (couldn't have grills at the apartment).

After checking out several companies, we had our security system installed on Sept. 6th and we started our quarterly pest service this week. Ordered new popcorn for my popcorn machine and fixed some Sunday night, oh how I missed it....ha.

I was sick with fever for the first time in a long time on Labor day, but I have recovered.

Then my laptop started acting up. It finally got where it wouldn't come on, so after trying everything I knew I had to re-install windows...oh what fun, so the past three days I have been re-installing drivers and programs I needed and of course all the windows updates. That's what takes the longest all those updates. I will install my other programs as I need them. I just hope it isn't my hard drive getting ready to crap out. I have an old desktop I think I am going to set up...just in case...

And last but definitely not least, Jarin turned 21 on Sept. 14th. I fixed chocolate chip cookies that night and hubby grilled the steaks. We are going out to eat at the Mexican restaurant tonight  and I will pick up her birthday cake later today. We stretch out the celebration...ha.

Oh and we are a lot cooler today, about 57 now. I had the windows open until I started to get cold...ha.
Almost time to start snow dancing Shirl...
Shirl and I have been trying to rain dance Paula some rain in Texas but no luck so far  :(

Sorry it has been so long since a post,
Take care,
Sheila

We're back!!!

We did make it back from Bama and we had a great time. We got home around 11:30 pm on July 17th. Thanks for the sweet comments about our home in Mobile. We have found a home here and we have been busy. We close tomorrow the 29th. Had to find someone to put in a mailbox. Bought a freezer to be delivered Saturday and two rocker recliners for the living room. We found a patio set (for the screened-in deck) but since they wouldn't let us buy it and hold it there until this weekend, we'll just have to hope they still have one this weekend. Blinds were installed yesterday and a storage building will be set up Friday afternoon. Also bought new bedroom furniture and mattresses for the girls. So all that searching and shopping wore me out...ha. Did have a night out at the steakhouse during that time, with a margarita...yum.

I finally have a home with a front porch...did have a small porch in Texas that held two Cr@cker B@rrel rockers. Hubby has his screened-in deck and regular deck. 

 Took these last two today when we did the final walk through.

We still have a month left on the apartment lease, so we don't have to rush to move everything in a weekend. 

Have a great Friday!!

Sheila

Finally a good rain...

Thanks for all the sweet comments. The header picture is Shawn's daughter and son, they went down to the beach for the day. The top picture on the side is them too, when they were a little younger. The other two are our grandsons.

We sold our house in Alabama...Yay!  Gave the new owners the keys on July 6th.

Went to lunch with an old classmate and his wife on Wednesday. Same one who took the boys golfing. Enjoyed it, saw a couple of my teachers from high school too.

We had a good rain yesterday evening, started out with thunder boomers and lightning, but continued as a steady rain. A friend of mine and her little boy came by and her, Mom and I sat outside and talked and watched it rain. The only drawback, it was a little muggier outside this morning.

Oh yeah, Rylie (dog) turned three yesterday.

Have a great day!
Take care,
Sheila

The 4th and Family...

We had a wonderful 4th of July. My brother Carl and his family were here over the weekend. My youngest brother Shawn and his family got here early Sunday morning and left Friday evening. A friend I graduated with set the boys up with a golf game at the country club on Sunday afternoon (yes, the little town I'm from has a country club believe it or not...ha).

Shawn (in golf cart in green) Hubby in yellow,

striped shirt is my Uncle John, Red shirt is Carl.

The girls went for a pedicure in Enterprise while the boys played golf. We had a lot of company during the week. We ate good too...ha. Grilled hamburgers, brats, sausage and chicken, Grilled fajitas another night, a night out at the Mexican restaurant and of course a steak night.

Iliana, Mom and Shawn

Now all that's left are me and the girls. We'll head home on Saturday. Jarin is heading down to Mobile to see her friends today. Cori went down and stayed with friends the first week we were here. I have been reading and catching up with my blogs. Jack I need to find the owner of that 'Alabama RV' so I can buy it...ha.

Have a great day and try to stay cool in this heat!
Take care,
Sheila

Greetings from Alabama, wish you were here...

It is time to catch you up a little. The girls and I headed down to Alabama last Saturday. It was a good trip and the weather was nice. Saw a pretty sunset, then later on a cloud full of lightning, but it stayed in the cloud. It was kind of neat. From the previous post, we survived graduation, then on June 16th and 17th Cori and I had to attend ‘SOAR’ at UNC Greensboro. I am still recovering from that…ha. We were both ‘sore’ from that experience, lots of walking. But she is registered for classes in the fall and we have a good supply of pens and such from the expo on the last day. Met another Mother who is a Fannie Flagg fan (Fried Green Tomatoes Author).

We had a thunderstorm and rain Tuesday; electricity went out for about an hour.
My brothers and their families from Atlanta and San Antonio should be here this weekend and Hubby too. All the animals have become re-acquainted…ha. I ate my broasted chicken tonight, forgot to get some at Christmas. There will be a fireworks show at the lake on July 4th.

Okay I’ve caught you up for now. Hope everyone has a great 4th of July weekend.

Take care,
Sheila

Congratulations to our 2011 Graduate....

Congratulations to our daughter Cori!!!

June 11, 2011

12:00 pm

Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Going for the diploma

(center behind red-headed guy)

After the ceremony...didn't waste time shedding the gown

Well our youngest has graduated high school.  We ordered a DVD of the graduation and they will have some photos available for purchase also. We tried to find R3d L0bst3r afterward but the GPS took us to S@ms Club...Hubby said "I guess we can go in S@ms and buy some shrimp"...ha.  So we went to her second choice....IH0P...

We will celebrate with family and friends when we head to Alabama soon. 

Hubby also celebrated a birthday on the 5th. He says he's not counting them anymore. 

We are 'enjoying' hot temps, followed by mild stormy weather with a little rain, that cools things off a little. 

Take care,

Sheila