Month: September 2008

  • A Better Day - for me

    What a
    difference a long night of sleep makes!

    I slept almost the whole night.  At 4:30am I was awakened by Jesse searching
    through the medicine bins in his closet.   He REALLY felt bad. 
    He said, last night, he wasn't feeling well . . . I should have known.  If he
    says anything like that (at all), the truth is: he feels rotten.  He hadn't taken
    anything after midnight, so I gave him an Actifed (for a stuffy & drippy nose), 2
    aspirins, some throat spray, Hall's cough drops, and a bottle of Vicks
    Rub.  He had been sleeping on the formal sofa because it offers more
    support than our bed.   He's still asleep.

    I'm glad I slept well.  I drove home from yesterday's  doctor appointment squinting, because it was hard to focus on the road.  I felt like sleep was what I needed
    most.  My eyes were burning and everything in my body ached.  I felt tense, had an achy head without it being a headache, and was sleep deprived.  I feel so much better today. 

    Jesse doesn't.   I encouraged him to stay home while I took the girls for their hearing tests and he listened to me.  Or . . . he felt rotten enough to not want to get out of bed.  More likely the latter than the former!  I'm making chicken soup for dinner tonight.  A money saver AND, hopefully, something that will appeal to Jesse.

    I talked to Tangi this morning and she is still sick from what she thought was strep throat last week.  She was going back to the doctor today.  It's really rare for her to go to the doctor - just like Jesse; and, rare for either one of them to get sick at all.  They think hers is the flu (it came on suddenly, like with Jesse) and I fear he may also have the flu.  I guess Luci's doctor told me the truth yesterday about the flu being active in our city.  I had rather imagined he had exaggerated things to get me to allow the flu shot be given to my girls.   If Jesse DOES have the flu, a lot of good those flu shots will do us.  I think it takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to build your immune system; but, let's not go there!

    I watched, in horror, as the early evening news began its reports of the
    President's $700 billion bail-out bill not being passed and the NY Stock Market finishing at a record loss of $1.something trillion.  I have no
    money invested like that, but grew up in a family that did/does and my
    grandfather (mother's dad) is the person who most likely made me seriously
    become interested in economics.  I'm a novice, for sure!  But, I
    watched last night (and again this morning) and they were making the same comments made by my mother (born in 1929) a few days ago, when we spoke on the phone.  I have one other friend, 8 years older than
    my mother, I want to talk with.  Both remember the Great Depression and
    the living conditions. 

    I refreshed my memory and read up (on the Internet) about the Great
    Depression and the lifestyle people lived leading up to that point. 
    (sucking my breath in sharply here . . . ) - a duplicate of our lifestyles
    today.  Maybe not yours and mine, but how most of the world is living and how life today significantly parallels the '20s; a time when "keeping up with the Joneses" and acting like "saving for the future was of no concern" were the popular beliefs.  Now we have credit cards for what we can't afford to buy.  Boy-oh-boy!

    It's scary to contemplate what COULD happen.  But, I intend to call my other friend (born in 1921) and then speak with our bankers about what they feel is the most prudent thing for our own family's situation, financially.  It's different for each person's family; but, I must say, Suze Orman has gotten my attention by being strikingly honest and forthcoming with good financial advice.  This may not be the best time for Jesse to be starting a new business.

    Anyway, hearing tests behind us, STILL nothing heard about a home study, the country pointing fingers at "WHO" is to blame for the economy and no one having good solutions . . . I'm taking a break, between lunch and teaching the girls social studies, science and all those other neat subjects, to write here about my rambling thoughts and lack of opinions!

    For anyone who expected to find more interesting babble or cute pictures here today, I'm sorry.  I'm just glad to be back up on my feet! LOL

  • Monday's Meager Writings

    EDIT from this morning's post: 

    The doctor's appointment for Luci took longer than it usually does.  We brought homeschool work to keep us occupied and  to do something useful with our time.  After Luci's exam, he mentioned we should all get the flu shot, as there had already been some cases of flu reported in the city.  BIG SIGH!  I'm not a huge fan of vaccinations, especially ones that are voluntary.  PLUS . . . I've only had the flu once in my life - in 1989.  Granted it was no fun, but . . .

    I debated while he finished up with the nurse and his instructions to her about us, and I watched Luci recoil into a corner of the exam room whimpering about not wanting ANY shot.  Was I really up for this today?  I decided "yes" and made the decision to get one myself.  Last year was the first flu shot I'd ever had in my entire life.  Of course, a different strain of flu came to the U.S. and none of us had the right vaccination . . . 

    I am more concerned about me needing a vaccination to prevent pneumonia.  That's one thing I never, EVER want to catch again!  When Jesse's brother was here with us, he said he always gets a pneumonia shot, so many years apart and recommended that I ask about it.  Today, I asked the cost and how long they lasted.  They "thought" they are good for 5 - 10 years, they weren't quite sure.  The cost was $50.  I thought they were $150.  So, I had a flu and pneumonia vaccination this morning.  I figured, if the pneumonia vaccine was good for 5 years minimum, that was only $10 a year to not risk my getting pneumonia again.  This is so different for me, accepting vaccines, and I hope (as bad as I'm still feeling today - really, REALLY spacey) that I don't have a reaction to these shots.  I'm at the point (um, age?) where I have to consider what's best for my family and not think only of myself.  My being *well* is absolutely "the best" thing for my family.  Anyway, the shot totals should have come to $75 plus a $5/per syringe fee.  The lady in the business office, who doesn't like me (the one that hit me with the big "back bill" this time last year) charged $80 - 10.60 = $69.40 total.  I've tried to figure what she did (discount-wise) and gave up.  It doesn't really matter whether I know how much or why - the fact is:  it was a lot cheaper than I had anticipated.

    The 3 girls have one hour long hearing tests scheduled an hour apart tomorrow, starting at 10am and ending at 1pm.  Their ears haven't been tested since they were very young.  I think the lack of hearing around here is due to "selective hearing" and not an actual ear problem!  But, it won't cost us anything (insurance pays 100% for it to be done once a year) and it's something that *should* be done.  I didn't want them scheduled on separate days because the doctor's office is too far to drive 3 extra times, besides our regular Friday trip we make there.  And, NO, they don't do hearing tests on Fridays!

    After that set of appointments, I have no where to go until their therapy appointment on Friday.  Hopefully, these shots won't be a problem and I'll eventually get over this dropsy feeling!

    Despite the carpet needing to be vacuumed, I'm going to take it easy the rest of the day.  I don't like this "out of body experience" I'm experiencing - not one bit!

    Okay, well . . . the dog just ate Stormy's cat food (who ate Chirper's cat food) and he has just finished throwing up cat kibble at my feet.  I shooed him outside and got some Kleenex to scoop up his pile and flushed it down the toilet. 

    I am NOT vacuuming today.  I'm tired and I think I may be, a wee bit grouchy.

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    This will be very uninteresting. 

    I haven't felt well the past few days and ended up with one of my monthly migraines 2 days in a row.  Jesse insisted on me taking a shot yesterday morning.  I must have looked horrible.  I gave it to myself in the arm, but it took me forever to fill the syringe and then actually focus on my upper arm.  I guess I WAS in pretty bad shape. 
    I didn't sleep much Saturday night.  My head was hurting.  Even when I DID sleep, I was dreaming my head was hurting.  I had one of my famous epic dreams - the kind that you keep dreaming after falling back asleep each time.  We had bought a house, it seemed good at first . . . then the more I walked around the house the more I realized it was much larger than I had thought, at first.  It kept getting bigger each time I checked it out.  AND, I began to notice virtually everything needed to be replaced - carpeting, cabinets, etc.  I think I finally saw 6 bedrooms, a "ballroom" done in Texas "cowboy" style (sooo not us), and a kitchen that was as big as half of our house is now - but laid out very poorly.  I found they owners had just left things (especially in the kitchen cabinets) behind, because they no longer wanted them.  Not only did I have to move my own stuff IN, but get rid of their old stuff first.  Obviously, the furniture we, now, possess was not enough to fill this huge house.  It still looked vacant.  The dream went on and on in great horrifying detail.  In the end, Jesse suggested the daughter of the seller stay in the large bedroom on the first floor.  She was sick and dying and had always dreamed of dying in the house.  She would pay us rent and I told him that was a great idea to help with the mortgage payment, which was sure to be huge.  Then, without asking me, he rented an upstairs room (next to Annamarie's new room) to a single father with a son.  I didn't think that was such a safe thing to do and worried about Annamarie's safety . . .   Anyway, in the end, we realized we'd bought a house that was 7,000+ square feet with a mortgage payment of $7000 a month!  No wonder I had a headache while I was dreaming!!!  Most of the night I was freezing because we couldn't afford to heat the new house.  Yes *ME* freezing!!!  Eventually I woke at 4:30am and only dozed until I got up a 7:30am, no longer wanting to go back to the nightmarish dream about that house.  It was so intricately detailed.  Trust me, I have skipped over most of the dream's details!

    I watched "TV Church" (Charles Stanley), Jesse woke up around 8:30am and took one look at me and decided I didn't need to go to church.  At 9am, I was sent back to bed.  That's when the migraine peaked and that's when he said I "was" taking a shot and either he would give me one or I could do it myself.  THE END ~  I acquiesced.

    Imitrex doesn't make me fall asleep like it does most people.  And it usually takes longer to make the pain subside.  Before it helped me, I began to feel like I was going to throw up.  I sat on the side of my bed with my feet dangling for a half hour until I was sure my banana was going to stay down.  Annamarie came in and laid her sweet hand on my forehead and stroked my brow.  It was every bit "as good as momma" and was a huge comfort.  Jesse placed a cold wet cloth over my eyes and turned the thermostat down and put a fan at the end of the bed.  The coldness felt great.  Annamarie took me in her arms and began to pray (silently) for me.  SOOOO SWEET!  She has an incredibly comforting presence about her. 

    Jesse took the girls so I could rest in quiet.  I never did fall asleep.  Eventually, Stormy came back to the bed and slept beside me all afternoon.  That same "death watch" as my pets did last year when I was sick!!! LOL

    The pain in my head finally subsided but the ache from my neck to tail bone continued.  It's still with me this morning.  I'm guessing (because my stomach was really upset Saturday night) that I am fighting a bug.  Especially since I was chilled in my sleep, Saturday night.

    Luci has a medical doctor appointment late this morning.  I HAVE to take her and will do the minimal amount necessary to make myself presentable in public.

    I found some pictures on my camera I had forgotten about.

    Stephanie came to pick up JanaLyn Saturday afternoon and fell asleep.  She was joined by JanaLyn and Chirper!

    This is so typical of all of us, but we're usually back on our king size bed.  Us, our children, and all the pets except for the bird, who probably WOULD if should could open her cage, all piled up next to each other.  We look like a pack of pups!  I had to laugh when I found my oldest with her child and our cat cuddled together!

    Remember how I said I was so cold Saturday night?  This is what I found in our bathroom on Sunday morning.

    That's not empty bedding.  Sampson is INSIDE his bedding.  Maybe it WAS colder than usual in the house!

    I'm sorry I've really only successfully complained about my aches and pains.  I stayed in bed all day reading and Jesse made leftovers for dinner last night.

    He'd had a rotten day.  Besides missing church and having charge over the 3 little missies, he stopped by his mother's with some Chinese food (he bought especially for her) and with a prescription he had picked up for her.  She said she had no food in her house, he checked things out, and confirmed she was telling the truth.   So, to the grocery store he went with the 3 little missies and bought basics for his mother until her food stamp card is renewed on the first.  NINETY DOLLARS LATER he took things back to her.   He couldn't believe the small amount had come to so much.  (he was suddenly thrust into MY world!!!!!)

    He had planned to finish mowing a commercial piece of property after church, so I was the FIRST to change his plans.  Then his mother was SECOND.

    He took the girls to CiCi's Pizza for lunch (he and I dislike their food, but it's cheap) and then began to drive home.  Someone on the highway flagged him over to tell him one of the tires was flat (my Suburban).  As bad as I felt for him, I was glad I wasn't driving!  We have AAA but he called a friend who brought some "fix a flat" (or whatever it's called) and brought our children home for him.  Jesse drove to the tire place and they fixed the valve which was leaking at its base.  So that event became strike number THREE.  At least the tire repair was free!

    I'm sure he's happy to be back at work and his regular routine this morning.  The painter, Don, didn't show up yesterday, but is back this morning finishing things up.  I'm not sure why.  I thought he started his new job at an apartment complex today?????  I'm just glad to have him here and the final touches being made.  Maybe he WILL get to our bathroom!

    I need to say good-bye, as I'm moving slowly this morning and have to leave for Luci's appointment in an hour.

  • The Past 24 Hours

    Some of you who read my blog have commented about what an interesting life I lead.  I don't know if it's a particularly interesting life, or if it's the way I view (and then write about) my everyday happenings.

    Finally figuring out my digital camera (and USING it) has given me the ability to add pictures to my stories.  I think we all enjoy books with pictures.  We liked books with pictures as a child; and, I know *I* liking reading stories with occasionally sketches or photos thrown in, even as an adult.

    I remembered taking pictures of the house yesterday and picked up my camera this morning to see if I had forgotten other pictures.  Sure enough, I had!  This camera is serving as my brain lately, as is my appointment book.  Without those, I wouldn't remember the recent past, nor would I remember what I'm supposed to do tomorrow!!!

    Here's the past 24 hours written one way:

    Yesterday, we went to the grocery store and bank.  When we returned, I gave Don the wood putty I had bought so he could fill the door frame's nail holes and paint them.  I baked a frozen pumpkin pie and stuck 2 chickens in a roasting pan for dinner.  Last minute, I cut potatoes into wedges (with their skins on) and boiled them.  I made frozen corn in the microwave.  Stephanie dropped by to leave JanaLyn.  I babysit her (now) Saturday mornings and it's easier for her to spend the night.  Stephanie lives and works in a different part of town and has to be at work at 8:30am.  We fed the pets after dinner and Stephanie and I talked a while before sending the children to bed.  Jesse was already asleep.  I woke up this morning, groggy, went to get a cup of coffee and said good bye to Jesse, who was on his way out the door.  It was good to have JanaLyn here this morning.

    Now, I will tell the SAME story with pictures.  Also, I will tell it how *I* see life through my eyes and spirit.

    After running to the bank to make a deposit (yay! money!), we went to Wal-Mart.  It was near lunch time so we grabbed some chicken tenders and cottage fries from the deli and nibbled on those while we shopped.  I almost bought a pumpkin pie scented candle, but resisted the temptation.  We are really trying to cut back financially.  The grocery bill was less than $200.00 - a monumental LOW grocery bill.   We got home and I gave Don the wood putty I had bought for him to fill the nail holes in our door frames so he can paint them.  I stuck a frozen  pumpkin pie in the oven and then two chickens in a roasting pan for dinner.  Ta!  Dah!  How easy was that?!!  Later I boiled chunks of potatoes with their skins on and made sweet corn in the microwave. 

    Backtracking a bit here - After coming back from the store, I really wanted to cool off and kind of relax.  Laundry was still being done, Annamarie's laundry, but that's a daily routine - poor washing machine!  While at my desk, I heard the sound of plastic knocking the wall in the hallway and the jingle of Chirper's bell on his collar.  Soon, he came around the corner with Stormy chasing him!  Get a load of THIS!!!!

    Chirper pulling the girls jump rope and Stormy trying to catch the tail end!

    Where did Chirper go?

    Aha!  To the kitchen!  Lots of clattering now on our tile floor!  Stormy quickly followed my camera and me.
    That's Annamarie's laundry sorted on the floor.

    Chriper had that jump rope all knotted and wrapped around our chair legs under the bar.  I let him struggle.  Too CUTE!
    Yes!  My floor is filthy.  And, YES!  I know one chair is broken.  Wood glue hasn't fixed the problem.

    Eventually he disentangled the jump rope and drug it back out to the carpet.  Stormy had lost interest; but, for a while, it reminded me of "the dog taking the dog for a walk"!!!!!!

    Chirper continued to entertain himself by attacking the jump rope, getting caught in it, and then freeing himself.

    I really had a good laugh and enjoyed watching him play hard.  Silly cat!

    The girls and I watched a great movie I bought called, "Saving Sarah Cain" based on a Janette Oke book.  It's quite different from the book, but still has the same theme - Amish children at their mother's funeral (dad already dead) and their mother's modern, city-raised sister taking care of them.  Her ways are totally different from what the Amish children are used to.  In the movie, Sarah takes them to her modern city to live and go to school.  In the book, she just stays in their Amish house but still does things in a "modern" way.  This was my second time to see it and the girls seventh, I think!  I was able to explain to my girls how sad the children were when their mother died and the state child welfare worker came to take them and put them in foster homes.  I choked up as I told them how the foster children would feel, being yanked from their homes and put in another strange home (even though the new home was a good place).  I also told them in the movie they were well-behaved children, and our foster children might not be as nice as the Amish children in the movie.  I think they grasped the horror of someone coming to your door and taking you away from your family to be raised by a stranger - the "stranger" being US.

    The roast chicken dinner was a total hit with the
    family!  I haven't roasted chickens in a long time because of it being
    so hot and the oven needing to be on for hours.    The cats circled our table like sharks while we ate.  Guess the smell of chicken was too tastey smelling!  We DID give in when we were finished and each pet got a small bowl of chiken!  While we were eating dinner, Stephanie came by with JanaLyn.  She surprised Jesse and I with gift bags and baggies of candy for the girls.  She wanted to thank Jesse and me for all we have done for her and let us know how much she appreciated everything.  She said she knew she had inconvenienced us many, many times, but thanked us for not making her feel horrible for needing us.  She gave both of us REALLY sweet (and sincere, hand written notes) cards.  Jesse got some pistachio nuts (he loves 'em) and bath gel from Bath & Body Works - a bath gel he loves but would never spend the money to buy for himself.

    Here's my card:

    She gave me this in a beautiful gift bag.
    An inspirational book of short stories (some funny, and some that just warm your heart) with Bible verses.  A small packet of flavored coffee - yum!  Room spray - apple and pumpkin spice.  A ceramic pumpkin spice scented candle.  Good thing I didn't buy that one at Wal-Mart.  This one is from Bath & Body Works and smells much better than the Wal-Mart version, which smells pretty good in itself!  I also got a small baggie of candy - lots of chocolates!!!  She definitely knows how to buy gifts I truly enjoy!

    Jesse went to bed early and then Stephanie and I put the girls to bed and talked until 10pm in the den.  I bet she'll be tired this morning.  I know it was hard for me to get out of bed this morning!

    Speaking of this morning . . .   Here's what we woke up to in our front yard!


    I don't think it's because I'm so popular at the local high school.  I think some teenagers picked a wrong address!!!!

    Despite how it looks . . . I *did* help Jesse clean this up!
    I laughed when I saw it and told him, "I'm 55 years old and finally have had my house TP'd!"  He wasn't as amused!

    While I was out there, I took another picture of the painting process.  Our window and door have freshly painted bright white trim.

    No more peeling or cracking door frame!  We actually look like we take care of our property!!!!

    Also, this is who I found in my kitchen this morning, already busy with her art work!!!!!
    This is such a treat!

    The painter and his girlfriend are outside finishing the final trim work around the windows and, I think, the paint that is on the bottom boards near the cement.  I don't know if he'll end up having time to paint our bathroom.  He's supposed to start working for an apartment complex on Monday.  Maybe he can come back on a week-end to paint.  I sure am NOT looking forward to painting the bathroom myself!

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    So, there you have the dull version of what has happened in the past 24 hours and you have the "Cherylyn version" of my life in the same 24 hour period.  The same stuff happened in both versions, but my second version is how I see things most times - through "happy glasses" I guess!

    I need to call my Mom.  I told her I'd call her Saturday morning since she wasn't able to talk Thursday.  Today is my parent's anniversary.

    HAPPY 52nd ANNIVERSARY, MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!!!

  • Broken Glass, Random Painting, & Fall Tablecloth

    I slept like a rock last night!  Had to force myself (and Chirper!) out of bed this morning.

    I also read quite a bit in my new book last night.  I am about halfway through it.  I don't think anyone would be interested in reading it unless you are 1) German (I am 99.9%), 2) live in Indiana (where the family migrated), or 3) just enjoy stories about family trees.  Chapters are written and entitled with each person's name on the family tree, starting with the author's great, great, great, great (you get the picture) grandparents back in the 1700's.  IF you stick with it, you begin to see each of her family members come back to life.  Now that I'm halfway through the book, the names have become more familiar to me.  Reading is a little less confusing.

    Today is errand day, but no therapy appointment.  She's out of the office this afternoon and canceled all appointments.  I chose not to schedule the girls for another day this week.  She is talking with all three girls about what to expect when the foster children arrive and how *they* might feel and how the foster children might feel. 

    Speaking of foster care, our caseworker called yesterday and said someone had definitely been assigned to do our home study and would call us Friday, or Monday (at the latest), to set up an appointment.  He told me to call him Monday afternoon if we STILL hadn't received a call.  He also said he stamped, "PLEASE EXPEDITE" all over the file and envelope.

    Rissy broke a piece of glass used to cover the top of my grandparent's mahogany nightstand.  Fortunately it is a nightstand and not a dresser.  Replacing the smaller piece of glass will be cheaper.  I had been outside talking to Don, the painter, and when I came inside, she burst into tears but assured me it was "only a little broken" - like that still made the glass useful!  She and Luci had been playing in the hallway - tug of war - with Annamarie's belt to her bathrobe.  Luci let go and Rissy flew into the room, tripped over the teddy bear on the floor, and hit the nightstand, knocking it and the lamp to the floor.  The piece of glass broke on one corner  - probably where it hit the floor.

    I guess the GLASS shop will be added to my list of grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions at CVS.  (sigh, rolling eyes!)

    After Don left, yesterday, I took pictures of the random painting I had talked about yesterday.

    This is our back door, to the right of the dining room window on the left.

    And, this is a close up of that half painted strip of wall next to the back door!!!  ?????

    This is the full shot of the middle of the dining room windows.  LOL!!!

    That's "ME" in the window!!!

    And, finally, this is the wall to the left of the dining room.  The formal living room is the far left window.
    I always search for reasons (which drives Jesse nuts every *single* time!!!) for why people do/say what they do/say.  Rather than drive myself crazy with WHY one part is painted and another not . . . I'm going to "let go" of this one and just call it "RANDOM PAINTING" and tell myself it's painted this way "just because."

    Jesse came home earlier than usual last night and we were happy he joined us at the table for dinner.  I don't like eating without him, our family doesn't feel complete.  And, I feel guilty eating while he is still hard at work.  I took some pictures after dinner and he enjoyed the laughter.  Nice to have him home at dinner - REALLY nice!

    Last week-end I told the girls fall would begin on Monday and asked if they knew what that meant.  All of them got excited and answered (almost in unison), "We get to put a new tablecloth on the kitchen table!"  Is that SAD, or what???!!!!  Sometimes I think we should get out more!

    Last night, AFTER we finished eating, we were sitting around the table (dressed in it's NEW tablecloth) and Chirper jumped up onto Luci's chair, worked his was to her lap, and then ended up here.

    At one point he had his two little paw feet on the table, but I think I spooked him (I'm the disciplinarian) and he removed them when I came back into the kitchen with my camera.  So I didn't get a picture.  Anyway, here is our fall table cloth and Chirper Elzabad in Luci's arms.
    Yes, Luci was smooshing his neck so he'd turn to the camera!

    I also took another picture of the eggplant mums.  They still don't look eggplant, more like rust, but at least they aren't light pink!
    P.S.  I straightened my lampshade yesterday!!!

    I'm off to read mail, grab a bite to eat, and take a shower before leaving to go to (YAY!!!!) Wal-Mart. 

    Byeeeeeeeeee!

  • 2nd Thursday Post

    Since some are interested, I thought I'd post a few pictures of how the house is coming along.

    First of all, those missed spots (where the blue showed through) were covered up yesterday.

    He must be doing the easy parts first, and will then finish under the eaves and the very bottom of the house.  "Odd" things are unpainted.  Like our chimney!  Here is the remnants of our blue house - i.e. the blue chimney!!!

    Although the white trim on our front porch hasn't been repainted yet, this will give you an idea of the new WWII army tank color I have chosen!  See that one blue board on the porch???????? 

    I know I'm joking about the color, even though my description is very close to accurate!!!!  But, I like the way it sets a backdrop for our plants.  That large bush will remain green, as will the front yard's pine tree, during the winter.

    Also, he tied back our bushes to paint as much of the house as he could without us having to cut our fluffy evergreen bush.

    Speaking of seasons . . .

    I decided it was time to put away the purple irises in my foyer

    and replace them with purple mums.
    For some reason the flowers photographed as a pink color, but they are almost an eggplant purple.  Probably the photographer's fault and not the camera's.  It never IS the camera's fault!!!!

    Hummmmm . . . I see my lamp shade is crooked.  I should take more pictures of my house to see what else is out of kilter!  The more you live with a mess, the more time you have to get used to it, until you no longer see it!

    That's all for now. Off to eat lunch and do some school work.

  • Thursday Thirteen #35

    Thirteen Things
    I HAVE LEARNED THIS WEEK

    1.  SOMETIMES, if you wait, the price of gas WILL go down!  Of course, it WILL go back up, again . . . but there IS that small window of opportunity!  Since we both own huge vehicles, waiting for that window has become a game in our house.

    2.  I'm not sure I like Gain laundry detergent compared to Tide, even though it's 1/3 of the price of Tide.  I think it probably cleans as well, but the clothes don't smell clean.  They have NO scent.

    3.  I can beat the electric company without getting on a payment plan OR having my electricity turned off.  It's all about paying portions of a bill at the right time.  (re:  we had a $500 and then a $430 bill, 2 months in a row)  I paid part of the first bill.  Then, when the second bill was ready to come out, I paid the past due amount of the first bill.  After receiving the next month's bill, I paid part of it late, before I got a cut off notice.  Then paid the remainder after the cut off notice was received.  Now I'm up to date and my third summer bill is more reasonable (under $250).  Well, I guess that's not exactly "REASONABLE" . . . but it's MUCH better than $500.00!!!!

    4.  We don't like cheaper brands of bologna.  We like Oscar Mayer Beef Bologna, not an off brand, turkey bologna, or a cheaper brand.  AND, we don't even like bologna much at all.  But, in trying to cut back on the grocery bill . . .  well, you do what you hafta do!

    5.  Homeschooling for five and a half hours to catch up is too much school in one day.  Even though we took a lunch break, teacher and students had a "glazed over" look when we got to the last subject.  Homeschooling is so much more intense than public school - five hours of it in one day is not going to happen in this house again . . . not until my children are much older; which, I will be too, sooooooooo . . .

    6.  Cats can have 1/4 of a tablet of human's brand Imodium.

    7.  Having a headache that fringes around the edge of being called a "migraine" has become something I can expect monthly.  (I'm going to stop taking the birth control pill this month and I'll see how things go: better or worse)

    8.  Clipping Chirper's claws saves many things around our house from being "marked" including my arms.

    9.  Eva Perone (The play "Evita" and, in particular, the song, "Don't Cry For Me Argentina") prompted me to look her up on the Internet.  I had no idea she had been Vice President of Argentina, had had such a short life (died at 32yo from cervical cancer) and had implemented many organizations and places to help women and children.  She died the year before I was born.  But, I don't remember hearing about her in history books.  Then again, I didn't pay attention much in Jr. High or High School.

    10.  I DO have an eye for color and how the finished product will look.  Also, I am  VERY easily spooked by dramatic changes and need to learn to trust my eye and not be alarmed as the color is changed!

    11.  I'm weirded out by germs.  Not when caring for sick people (where I should be MOST concerned), but after shopping at the Thrift Store (and other such places).  I get back in the car and pass the hand sanitizer around AND give the steering wheel a wipe down!

    12.  The reason Wal-Mart's strawberries are so cheap, right now, is because they are over ripe.  If you don't use them up within 2 days of purchase, they begin to shrivel and rot in the refrigerator.  Another waste of precious grocery store money.

    13.  I should not take one of my sleeping pills (prescribed by the doctor) and get into bed with a book expecting to read.  I never get very far and then . . . zzzzzzzzzzz happens!

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  • Color Change/Exercise in Faith

    Admittedly, I was scared when I looked into the 5 gallon can of dark paint.  I was surprised to see how much more "green" than "brown" the color was that I had chosen.  It looked more like a WWII tank color than a house color!!!

    Gulp!  Too much money later and too late to change colors now, I felt apprehensive!  I have tried to keep remembering and relying on that little square paint sample I had held up to the house. 

    BUT IN THE CAN . . .  the reality of the color . . .  And those doubtful thoughts, "Jesse is going to kill me!!!" began to creep in.  Despite the fact he and I have very different opinions and personalities, I HATE to displease my husband.

    The color I had committed to looked waaaaaaaaaaay different! 

    But, instead, I "chose" to stay focused on that little paper square, remembering it looked really nice against the bricks with the white trim and window accents.                                    
                                

    The Bible talks about faith, "If ye only believe."  This has been a visible test of faith for me.  God asked us to believe that His Son came and died for us, and we are to exercise "faith" when we believe He is who He said He is.  Why is that so hard?

    My doubting the paint sample and my choice of color really made me ponder where we direct our train of thought when problems arise.  AND, how God wants us to see things in the light of faith - faith in Him.   IT'S ALL UNDER CONTROL.  *HIS* CONTROL!!!

    But, doubt creeps in and taints the situation and we begin to NOT rely on God.  "I promise I will never leave you or forsake you."  Does that mean ALWAYS, or just most of the time?????

    Against the old color, the new color was kind of neat, but dramatic and shocking at the same time.  Do I cling to the belief of what I saw in that paint sample, or begin to fear and doubt something has gone awry.     
                                   

    Our old way of thinking is so different, compared to our knew Christian faith and the way God asks us to think.  Thinking in a faith-based way can be unnerving at first, until you get used to letting God lead.  It's unnerving until your faith is built by personally having experienced His leading.  At first, you are given a glimpse of His power, but in times of need you fall back into doubt and disbelief.

    That's where I was when I saw how dark the new color was against the old (outdated) light country blue.  It definitely was time for a change, but was I headed in the wrong direction?

    Plus, I no longer recognized the wall as the same (like we don't recognize our new Christian self) and it seemed strange.  Dramatically different. 

    Not bad - just different.

    Questions full of doubt flooded me. 

    Would I drive right by my house when I came home, because it was totally changed and I no longer saw the old blue?
     
    Is it possible that I might even think I was on the wrong street???

    I closed my panicked eyes for a moment, as I stood in front of the partially painted house. 

    This is what I had chosen for the new color and it was based on a glimpse of something new and smaller - a paint chip  that I had thought was "BETTER."  I told myself to quit doubting and look at the new color with new eyes.  Eyes that trusted, not eyes that saw NOTHING good, and with a brain that registered alarming thoughts like, "This is all wrong!"

    When I reopened my eyes, I saw a new color that beautifully drew the dark bricks out of the (mainly orange-ish) brick walls.  A color that set a gorgeous background for our evergreen bush and tree.  A color that was actually different from what I had anticipated, but a VERY GOOD and different change . . . almost perfect.

    I can't take a picture of the front porch, Don is working out there right now.  But, with the white door, windows, etc. it is a strikingly GOOD change and my choice wasn't wrong, after all.  All I had was a little glimpse of what could be (the paint sample) and so I placed my trust in the that very small thing.  Everything else has fallen into place.

    Don has a helper today, and they will catch the underside of the boards where the blue was missed and continue onward with the new color.  The have the under side of the eaves and the bottom of the walls where they meet the foundation.

    When God shows Himself in small ways (I call those miracles, because they are unexpected arrivals), we need to remember He knows our needs and what is best for us.  When you see a small piece of perfection, why not rely on our God who does everything perfectly? 

    Hold on to that glimpse of Him and step boldly into cadence with His steps.  He won't lead us down a wrong path!

  • Renewed Energy

    Well (of course!!!), despite my new scheduling book for homeschool, and the list I made of "to do's" for Monday, nothing turned out the way I had planned.  Very little turns out the way I plan, so the fact Monday was "different than expected" was really NO surprise, I guess!

    The man (Don) showed up to start painting yesterday morning.  He's starting with the white trim work.  I guess working from the top down.  The garage doors and some of the front of the house trim is painted a fresh white.  I didn't even know you could paint aluminum garage doors.  Learn something every day!

    While he was painting, I took Stormy and Chirper to the vet.  Many people were there before us and when we finally DID get to an exam room, I was ready to go home and wondering if all this was necessary.  I try not to go on Monday's because it IS one of their busiest days.  He checked Chirper quickly (he's gained another 2-3 ounces) and clipped his nails.  He said when he saw our card, he assumed Chirper had a problem and mentioned to me (more than once), "Gosh, he looks great!"  PRAISE GOD!!!! 

    Stormy, on the other hand had a 104+ degree temperature.  I usually know when my pets are "sick" or just not "feeling well" and I was glad I brought her in and waited so long to *get* in.  Everything she eats runs through her (literally) and she's lost a few ounces of weight.  It's been going on for around 2 weeks.  Sunday and Monday she was hunched over and her fur was standing on end.  I figured she either had stomach cramps or was chilled.  Poor thing, it was probably both.  The inside of her ears felt warm to me but I had no idea she had that much of a fever.  He gave her some pro-biotics to help restore her digestive system, an antibiotic injection mixed with vitamin B, and sent me home with the pro-biotics and an antibiotic.  He said she should be remarkably improved by Wednesday.  Of course, she hid last night and I couldn't give her her antibiotic!  She ate better this morning and I was glad.

    He also said I could give them 1/4 tablet of Imodium to stop the runs AND, if neither cat is lactose intolerant, they could eat Activa yogurt to help maintain good bacteria in their intestines.  More info I didn't know about!

    The painter still hasn't arrived.  He said he'd be here at 7:30am and I forced myself out of bed at 7am  It's almost 9:30am, so no telling where he is.  At least he isn't paid by the hour!

    My goal is to paint SOME of the guest room today: mainly, so I can say I painted today!!!  And, we need to catch up our schooling.  I'll probably hit all subjects instead of doing it by alternating subjects daily.

    I sent an email to our caseworker Sunday, telling him we'd finished classes.  He called back yesterday morning (before we went to the vet) and said someone would definitely be calling us.  (rolling eyes)   Still haven't hear from anyone.  He explained something about someone WAS lined up for us and this, that, or the other thing changed.  Anyway, still no home study, and that may be why I lack motivation for painting the guest room.

    I'd like to finish most of our home school books by the end of October so I can order the next grade up.  We zip through some stuff and take longer on spelling and math.  That means I'll have to be more serious about scheduling time for school over this next month.  Too many things keep happening to side track me.  I'm going to have to make school more o a priority.

    I'm making a double batch of spaghetti tonight and taking the leftovers to our pastor friend tomorrow.  His wife is still having some physical problems being on her feet.  I think it might be helpful to have a nice dinner to warm up after Wednesday night's service (we don't attend) and, if not, it will be there for them on Thursday.

    I stayed up too late last night.  Rissy and I were singing, "Don't Cry for me Argentina" right before she went to bed.  My curiosity was piqued about why this song was written and its meaning.   So, I looked up Eva Peron and spent the next hour (+) reading about her short life.  Wow!  I had no idea how she had been such a strong political figure and had helped so many women and children.  I must live with my head buried in the sand!

    Fortunately, I fell asleep before 11:30pm and don't feel sleep deprived today.

    I must go, hungry girls want breakfast and I need to get the school work done so I can paint this afternoon.  Not going anywhere today, so the shower can be done AFTER I paint.  I may try coating my exposed skin with Vaseline before I paint.  Maybe it will roll off of me in the shower instead of my having to scratch the paint off - leaving me in pain!

  • A New Day - A New Color

    I guess I'll paint 'til I drop, or at least as long as I can hold out, in order to save us money.  Don is on his way over to start the exterior paint job.  I have to take the cats to the vet (Stormy still doesn't feel well and Chirper need a nail trim and "weigh-in") and then I will try to start on the guest room's new cream color.

    Someone asked about me painting the guest room "white on purpose" and I replied it is neutral because I don't know if foster children will be girls, boys, or a mix.  Also, it's the room you see through the hallway when you step in from the front door and foyer area.  It needs to be less dramatic.

    That said, let me assure you, I AM NOT AFRAID OF USING DRAMATIC COLORS!!! 

    Pictures below will show my love of drama and making a statement with accent walls, etc.

    The least color dramatic room is our bedroom.  It has toasted pecan accent walls (on walls that form an L-shape for the dresser with mirror and our bed.  The ceiling is different heights, but all white on the bottoms, with the drop being a pastel sage green and the other walls the same sage. 

    I'm not sure what that
    smudge is on the "Jesus" wall, the one that is pastel sage green.  Didn't see it until I saw this photo. 
    Amazing what trash you find when you take pictures of a room.  Stuff
    you live with everyday but never see!!!

    What makes the master bedroom dramatic is all the black in there.  Floral black bedspread, black sheers in the windows, with a floral black valance (currently not hung), and a dark gold love seat (part of the den furniture's set) at the end of our bed - with all dark mahogany furniture.  Thus the lighter colors to off set the heavy, dark furniture and fabrics.

    Then there is my screaming red den!  It's called chili pepper red, but it's not really red red, more like barn red.

    The den's entry from the formal dining room doorway.  Cream walls, white ceiling, red accent walls.

    The walls opposite each other are red. 
    The right wall that looks into the backyard.                        The left wall is angled and red & looks into the kitchen.

    The kitchen is a soft yellow with bright, white cabinets.  The accents are in black and red to tie in with the den.  The cooking area also has a few cobalt blue things mixed in.  I found perfect fabric about 3 years ago (no snickers, please!) to make a valance for those windows.  It's a black background, with reds, some blue, and creamy flowers.  It would tie in with the den and cooking area perfectly, but I've never taken the time to make them, and they are the easiest things in the whole world to sew.  Just two straight runs on the machine per drape.  Talk about a procrastinator!!!

    Then, still not shying away from the dramatic color flair, I have an eggplant wall in my dining room.  All other walls are kind of a peachy or creamy pastel.

    It looks much softer and "lighter" when the cream sheers and drapes aren't cat-proofed and tucked up into the rods!!!!
     
    When I first painted this (September 4 years ago, before we moved in) no one but me could visualize the finished product.  Even the carpenter commented that the alcove looked like a black hole!!!!  The wall opposite holds the china cabinet with mirrored back and that reflects light from the windows or chandelier back into the "black hole" room!

    The formal living room and foyer are around the corner on angles (it's an open floor plan) and I picked up the eggplant color, again, one room over and on an opposing wall, plus the edge of the little wall the divides the front door from the rest of the foyer. I hung a purple velvet valance on the foyer's window to tie the colors together.

    I took this picture standing against the eggplant window wall in the dining room.  (see china cabinet on right?)
    See the hallway door to the left of the eggplant wall and my desk?  That looks directly into the room I'm painting cream.  Anyone standing in the foyer can see directly into that guest room and that's the one that needs to be neutral.

    The girls bathroom will be a light taupe and I will let this painter paint it because of all the things you have to paint around - a mirror, the door frame, the cabinet, the tile and window over the tub area . . . .

    It's decorated with creams and taupes right now and the paint will be the lighter background color in the large picture on the wall.  It might be slightly darker, but VERY close to the light taupe you see.

    And here we are with the BEFORE pictures of the exterior of our house.

    This is a full view of our walkway.  White door and white window trim . . . and bricks.

    This is to the right of the entryway.  To the left is the 3 car (white) garage door he will repaint white to freshen it up.


    This will be changed from country, slate blue to the new darker color.  See the few bricks that are dark?

    As will the wall opposite it.

    The reason I showed you the red den and the eggplant purple dining room and desk area was to show that this porch and entry walkway won't necessarily look like a black hole when I'm done with it!!!!  LOL

    There are enough white windows, doors, porch light, year round greenery that should offset the darkness of the color.

    Our back yard has very little brick and will be dark looking with the white trimmed windows, but I'm not back there often enough to care! LOL!!!  Plus, Jesse found a fantastic pool deal (4' x 16"diameter)  with metal frame at Sam's on sale for $150 (pump, ladder, ground cover, and top cover included).  It's normally $500 and they wanted to get rid of it.   The light from the water will reflect off the darker color and help things seem lighter.  Plus, the sun shines all day back there, so it won't be terribly dismal!!!

    In 1990, when I bought my first house, I so wanted it to be country blue.  That was VERY popular back then.  Instead my first house was pale yellow, the second one was cream, and then this house (built in 1990) was the blue I had always wanted.  I imagine this is the original paint job.  And now I'm going to change it!!!!  Some people are never happy!!!!  LOL

    Time for a face lift "blue house"!!!!

    Also, Jesse went to buy the paint and it was on sale.  He called and said he was 30 dollars short of reaching the $300 mark to qualify for 6 months financing with no interest.  He added a few things and the bill's total came to $331.89 and we have six months to pay it off with no interest or finance charges!   Waaaay better than $500 to pay off. Yaaaaay!

  • Color Choosin' Sunday

    Oh dear friends, where did you go?  I feel so abandoned and now must make that house color decision without all of my Xanga friend's input and opinions!!!  LOL

    Jesse detested (no . . . vehemently HATED) the forest green.  Maybe most of you did too, and that's why no one gave much feedback after I said I liked it!!!!

    So, we drove around neighborhoods in our area and looked at houses.  We even looked at new houses in a new subdivision - a waste of time.  It looked like they got a bargain price on a million gallons of "gold sand" colored paint and every single house in the new neighborhood was painted identically.

    Jesse and I threw around the idea of a light charcoal.  Jesse pointed out that he liked the darker taupe.  It's not a dark brown, despite the paint sample, but has a bit of olive in it.  We have that color in an occasionally brick, here and there, that's an almost identical match.  It will warm up the house from the country blue (the current color) and hopefully, with the white trim, will be striking and not so blah.  You DO know "blah" is a color, right? LOL

    So here is our final answer:

    Behr Paint's "Shadow Ridge"  - the darker color.  In the first picture you can see one of those dark bricks that is almost a perfect match.  Most of our bricks have an orange-ish cast to them, rather than red.

    My next step:  I'm getting off of here and headed to Home Depot to buy the paint.  Two 5 gallon buckets of exterior paint, which runs about $150 per bucket.  Then, 1 bucket of white @ $150.  That puts the paint investment at $450 plus tax.  We will be able to take advantage of their 6 months interest free financing on their credit card.  Six months to pay out $500 is doable - I guess.  Everything is so expensive right now, but to have our entire house's exterior painted for just under $1000 is too good of a deal to pass up.  So . . . we'll make it work.

    Off of here to Home Depot.  The paint guy should be here tomorrow to get started.

    I feel a competitive spirit rising in me to finish the guest room before he finishes the entire exterior of our house AND the girls' bathroom!!!