The Thursday Three

Well, I’ve just been blown away this evening. I have been honored with my first blogging award. The ever sweet Kate over at Southern Belle Simple

has awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award. Right back at ya, Kate. You’re great!

It seems that this distinction comes with a stipulation, though. In order to receive it I must list 7 things about myself. I think I might be able to do that if I wrack my brain hard enough. You remember, it hasn’t been long since I filled you guys in on 100 things about me. Surely I can come up with 7 more.

I actually had another post ready for tonight until I found out about the award. Therefore, today’s Thursday Three will need to become the Thursday Seven. And in honor of my honor I think I’ll list 7 great things I’ve won over the years.

1. $50
Once when I was about 13 my family visited Cave City, Ky (okay, stop laughing. It was only about an hour’s drive from my home and we decided to go for a couple days... every other year. I guess you can start laughing again). Anyway, at this little souvenir shop that sold a lot of things made out of cedar and corn cobs, I registered in a drawing to win $50 cash. Of course, I never thought I’d win but a few weeks later a $50 bill arrived at my house in the mail. Talk about some honest shopkeepers.
2. Most Thoughtful Girl
This honor was bestowed upon me at the tender age of nine by my 4th grade teacher as part of an end-of-the-year classroom awards day. There are some who have doubted the legitimacy of this award over the years.
3. Most Talkative
Sophomore year band awards. This award was never in doubt.

Now that's a high-quality certificate

4. Miss Southern Belle 2nd Runner-up
This was a hometown pageant to celebrate Tennessee’s bicentennial in 1986, and my first experience with an up-do.
A really UP up-do

5. 2nd place in Poetry Recitation
I recited a poem about a rose at Union University Spanish competitions held in Jackson, Tn. during my junior (?) year of high school. Versos Sencillos por Jose Marti. That means “Simple Verses by Jose Marti” and it is the only part that I can still recite today.

6. Versatile Blogger Award
Given to me by the ever fabulous Kate.

7. My husbandIt did take some wooing, especially after the french fries caper. Refer back to my May 4th post to refresh your memory about this incident.
Any guess as to the decade in which my senior prom occurred?

Thanks again. It seems only right that I now pass the award on to others. But who? I’ll have to to give that some thought and get back with you. Stay tuned.

Wordless Wednesday

A future Ferris?



" Danke Schoen, Darling Danke Schoen..."

Teacher: Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Girl in class: Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.

Nightlights

One of my favorite sights in the whole wide world on a warm summer night is a field full of fireflies, or as we Southerners call them, lightning bugs. Of course, I suppose it’s possible that people in other parts of the country call them that too. Do they? Am I regionally profiling by thinking of “lightning bugs” as a Southern word? If so, my apologies. Well, unfortunately, whatever the name, it has been a bad year for them around here.

As we live on a farm there is no shortage of tall grass in which they could exist. Last year, it seemed we were treated to a light show each and every evening we turned in the drive after dark. The fields surrounding our house were full of them. Sometimes there were so many you just knew Disney was behind the production. You know, like nature's rendition of Fantasmic.

Sadly, we have been without many of our little friends for much of this summer. I wonder if the weather has had something to do with it. It has been sooo very hot this year. I guess the little things figure we don’t need any more heat generated and so their fannies remain off.

When Ren was a baby I was given a cassette of sweet little bedtime lullabies. Each song was precious but one about some little lightning bugs became my favorite right away and was the one I always sang to her. Over the years I have thought about that little song many times, trying, in vain, to remember its exact lyrics. When John-Heath was a baby I was disappointed that I could not sing it to him as I had done for Renny.

I had searched off and on the past few years for this lullaby about fireflies. I only knew a few of the words, and as it turns out I had remembered them wrong. So I was searching for non-existent lyrics. Luckily, one night not long ago I finally stumbled upon it. I quickly downloaded it and intend on ordering the CD as soon as possible.

So for the time being, in lieu of rocking babies or watching light shows, I’ll just have to listen here to a little song saved on my computer and think of one baby girl and thousands of tiny nightlights.

Look at their lights flashing off an on

Hovering over the backyard lawn.

Playing the games little fireflies play.

I wonder where they've been hiding all day.

Little nightlights - merrily making their night flights.

Shining like diamonds outside your window.

Where do they go in the sunshine?

Little nightlights.

Baby, you shine like a diamond too.

Nobody lights up my world like you.

There on your pillow your little face glows.

Do you know that you remind me of those?

Little nightlights - merrily making their night flights.

Shining like diamonds outside your window.

Where do they go in the sunshine?

Little nightlights.

By the way, a firefly's light is cold, not hot. Therefore, my theory on their disappearance needs some work.

Kindergarten, Here He Comes

All smiles - and in need of a haircut.

Greeted by smiling teachers Ms. Debbie and Ms. Kelly.

My sweet baby boy,

Today you started kindergarten. You wore a pair of blue plaid shorts and a white t-shirt with an American flag on it and you were the cutest little boy in all of Tennessee.

One of these days I wonder if you will remember the story I read you last night as you snuggled under your covers, all nice and clean from a bath. In case you don't, it was The Kissing Hand. I bought it for you in honor of this newest milestone in your young life. You listened quietly while I read and enjoyed the story, but you were more excited to finish watching your Shrek DVD.

One of these days I wonder if you will remember how I took your picture in the foyer just like I did last year on your first day of pre-school. You were wearing the same backpack - but it looked a little smaller this year for some reason.

One of these days I wonder if you will remember how we went to daddy's and my school for a few minutes this morning waiting for your day to officially begin. You went to Daddy's classroom, saw inside the nurse's office, and prowled inside Ms. Angie's closet (where you found legos!) before trying on one of her 7th grade desks for size. You still have a few years to go before it fits.

One of these days I wonder if you will remember how you and I sat at one of my library tables where you wrote your name (JohnH) and drew a person and some shapes. You drew the most beautiful oball I have ever seen.

One of these days I wonder if you will remember how you and I drove to your new school and you pointed out just how close our two schools are to each other. And I told you to remember The Kissing Hand if you got nervous or scared (not that I thought for one moment you might).

One of these days I wonder if you will remember how I picked you up at then end of your phase-in session and you proclaimed that you were "so good today".

And will you remember how Pa Gene and Ma-Ma were waiting for us at the middle school after your school day was over and how they took you home, fed you lunch, let you take a nap and then watched you play with your legos the rest of the day?

Today you started kindergarten. You wore a pair of blue plaid shorts and a white t-shirt with an American flag, chocolate milk, pizza, and green beans on it and you were still the cutest little boy in all of Tennessee.

(a.k.a Mommy)

P.S. This post is linking up as a participant in Kevin and Layla's Favorite Blog Posts of 2010 Party over at the Lettered Cottage. It's one of my three most favorite posts I wrote in my first year to blog.

The Thursday Three - A Few Good Reads

In honor of the start of another school year ...

The Thursday Three

My Favorite Kate DiCamillo Books.

1. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the story of a mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread - If the title doesn’t entice you, then let me just beg. Please, please, please read this story. I know you’ll love it. And if you’ve not read the book but have seen the animated film based on it, consider yourself ripped off. What a tragedy!

The fact that the book is comprised of more than 50 short chapters makes it a great one to read aloud at night to children.

I read this to several classes one year when I was librarian at the elementary school, including Ren’s class. She loved it so very much that I bought her her own copy for a Valentine’s Day gift that year.

Oh, and Despereaux was the 2004 Newbery Medal winner. That means it was the best in children’s literature for that year. Now you know you just HAVE to read it!



2. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Edward is a very proud china rabbit who is deeply loved by the little girl who owns him. Sadly, he is too vain to even appreciate this love - until he is lost. This book chronicles the change Edward goes through during his time apart from Abilene. A bonus for us Tennesseans, the book starts out set in Memphis.

I remember trying to get Ren to read this one night when she was all attitude and not wanting to read. So I said I would read it aloud to her. I told her she HAD to listen to me read the first two chapters and after that she could leave and go to her bedroom. Upon finishing chapter two she said, “Keep reading.” Ahhhh!

3. The Magician’s Elephant - Orphan Peter Augustus Duchene has just one question he wants answered...Is his sister still alive? So, when he sees a fortuneteller’s tent set up in the market square he knows what he must do. The answer he receives sets off an impossible chain of events.

I just read this one this past school year. Another great story by Kate.

Happy Reading!

Wordless Wednesday - Window With a View

A hot, stormy day

A stormy evening.

Mini-Moment...John-Heath is really getting into Shark Week. He thinks the sharks (especially those Great White ones) are awesome. But he's somewhat conflicted, too. He feels for the seals. In fact tonight, while I had gone to pick up Ren from football, he told John they needed to pray for the seals. When John failed to produce an appropriate prayer the boss took over. This was his entreaty.

Dear Lord,

Please protect the seals.

Don't let the sharks eat the seals.

Please love the seals.

Amen.

Zzzzzzzz

This is how I hope to be within the hour. Of course, I won't be this cute.

So it was my first day back to work and I am exhausted. And it was just an administrative day. And mine is not a high-stress job. And I even got into bed an hour before midnight last night. And at this rate I'll probably just kill over the first day I actually have students. And I'm really not sure why I'm beginning these sentences with so many ands.

Well, I have a rather expensive, yet remarkably uncomfortable mattress that seems to be calling my name. Tonight, I may honestly make up for some of the sleep I lost to many a long summer night.

Nighty-night!

And the Winner Is...

Good morning, everyone. It’s the moment you’ve all been eagerly awaiting - announcing the winner of our first little contest. I can only imagine the pins and needles on which you’ve been these past four days. I truly hope it hasn’t been too painful for you. For me, it’s been a lot of fun - makes me want to find another reason to celebrate so we can have another giveaway. I’m working on that as we speak.

Before broadcasting the good news I would like to thank each of you for entering. I very much enjoyed reading your comments. I hope you’ll stop by to visit with me again soon. And if you just stopped by to visit and didn’t enter? Well, I want to thank you too. Come back anytime.

Now, drum roll please...

Congratulations, Kate (Southern-Belle-Simple)! I'll be in touch shortly and your gift card will be on its way. Thanks for the comment and for following.

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 26 Result: 7 Powered by RANDOM.ORG
Each of your entries was assigned a #. Kate had entries 6,7,8.

Well, this is my last day off before heading back to begin another school year. We teachers start tomorrow and the students show up Friday for their first full day.

If you have school-age children I hope your year is wonderful and as stress-free as possible. I have one child who we be in high school and one in kindergarten. Pray for me.

Ren and I are going to “do lunch” today. I have wanted to try out the Chocolate Covered Strawberry all summer long.



P.S. In honor of our contest question, here's what kept me up late last night...I was searching online for a little cassette of lullabies we used with Ren when she was a baby. Our copy of the tape is now lost. It had a sweet little song on it about fireflies that she loved to hear. I have been desperate to remember all the words to this lullaby for some time and have searched for it on different occasions. Finally, at 2:42 this morning, a breakthrough. I think I may have found the song and its writer. Now I just need to do a lyric search to verify.

Last Day to Enter

Good morning, everyone. Before I start getting ready for church I want to remind you that today is the last day to enter to win the $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble Booksellers.

The simplest way to do so is by leaving a comment on Thursday's post. Go there to read more about it.

Well, it's off to the closet to pick out something to wear. I don't know about you but this is a task I loathe.

Our 100th Post and Our 1st Giveaway

My Dearest Weblog,

What a good friend, late night companion, and vessel for my venting you have become! It seems like only yesterday that I gave in to the urge to set up an account and exploit my family, friends, and self for all the world to see. And here we are now, 100 posts later. I wouldn’t change a thing, except maybe for the amount of sleep you siphon from me as I succumb to your gentle call in the middle of the night more than I even did for my children when they were still on the bottle.

To celebrate your entrance into my life I feel we must share the joy with those who stop by to browse our reflective wares (i.e. read our family gossip) and have a giveaway. And what is it we are giving away? A $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble Booksellers to one lucky visitor. I figure people who blog and/or read blogs like to read books too and a card to B&N could come in handy.

So I will ask the readers of this, our 100th post, to leave a comment and tell us something that keeps you up at night. In addition to blogs, a good book is also something that siphons my sleep.

Your comment = 1 entry.

A mention of this contest on your own blog with a link back to this post = 3 entries (Be sure to link to the post in which you mention the contest in your comment)

A post to your wall on Facebook mentioning this contest and including a link back to this post = 1 entry (Again, link to your fb page in your comment)

Become a follower of our little blog = 2 entries

Never fear if you don’t blog or Facebook. You can still enter by leaving a comment to the post. If you sign in under the anonymous option just make sure you add your first name/last initial in the comment.

This contest will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 1. A winner will be announced Monday. Good luck!


P.S. The Thursday Three will have to be posted tomorrow (I guess it could be a Friday Four if someone is really anal about that kind of thing). Ren tells me I write more about John-Heath than her and she is jealous. Therefore, I will try to incorporate her into the TT3 to keep peace in my home.

Wordless Wednesday

Morning

Up and at 'em.

Football (water girl duties) 7 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Volleyball 9 - 11

football, again (more high-quality H2O) 5 - 8

Evening

All tuckered out!

June, July, and August

Summer vacation in our neck of the woods is quickly coming to a close. By this time next week teachers will be officially back and students will be preparing to attend registration day. In our county the teachers return one day, registration is the next day, followed by another teacher day, and then, finally, the first full day of the school year.

I remember when I was in college working on my bachelor’s degree a professor once asked each of us in an education class why we wanted to be teachers. Well, I had kinda had enough of all the usual “I want to be a beacon unto the children of the world” answers and thought we needed a breath of fresh air in the room. Things were getting laid on pretty thick, if you get my drift. Anyway, I was even more of a wild card then than now so when it came my turn to answer I simply said, “June, July and August”. Well, as you can imagine, that wasn’t the desired answer.

Now, I don’t think I was publicly reprimanded for such a foul thing to say. I wasn’t tarred and feathered or anything. I do remember seeing a lot of the white part of the professor’s eye balls, though and I’m pretty sure several jaws hit the floor. Apparently, many a teacher candidate in the early 90s deposited his or her sense of humor at the classroom door each day. That day was not the first or last time my mouth got me into trouble. Do not fret, dear readers. That professor and I became good buddies, I learned a lot from him, and left his class with an A+. Thank you, H. Foreman.

When I made that comment I was, of course, just joking. Everyone knows that we don’t get three months off in the summer, just two (insert rim shot here :>)!Seriously, having that time off is one of the big perks of the job. It is especially wonderful for those of us with young children. However, (and I learned this one after actually becoming a teacher) a summer break is also very vital to the act of teaching itself.

Several years ago there was an article posted on the Coke machine in our faculty lounge by a man who was advocating summer vacations at a time when calls for year-round school and far fewer days off between school years were first starting to get noticed . He did this by comparing the job of teaching school for a year to the production of a Broadway play. It was an awesome editorial on the subject and I wish I had kept it. I have looked for it on-line much of the day with no luck. So I guess I’ll just have to summarize it here as best I can.

Teaching is unlike many other jobs in that it takes a certain energy to do it well. No, I’m not talking about the kind of energy needed just to crawl out of bed in the morning. It requires creative energy, a certain kind of mental steam and vigor which allows the teacher to be at the top of his or her game.

Imagine that Broadway play. It can only run for so long before the level of workmanship of those involved in the project begins to slip or the audience gets bored with it and begins to dwindle. At some point the play will either close or a new crew and cast will be brought in to take over.

A school year is one big production in itself. Good teachers (I say good teachers because we all know there are enough of the other kind out there that, as well) will spend August-May putting on a grand performance for the benefit of their audience, the students. They will play teacher, mentor, counselor, advisor, nurse, proofreader, coach, cheerleader, tour guide, accountant, salesman, statistician, and in many cases, surrogate moms and dads. At the end of this year a break is needed. Both teacher and student must recharge.

And that’s where June and July come in handy.

To be continued....



1ooth post GIVE AWAY coming soon!

Decoration (plus a recipe)

New Hope Cemetery - the 1969 on the arch refers, I think, to when the gate was built. The cemetery itself was around long before then. The white table-like structure just inside the gate is the pulpit from which some outdoor sermons have been preached. Don't you just love the oak tree?

My grandparents.

Yesterday was decoration at the cemetery in which my mother’s father and his wife - Pa Vernon and Mama Beatrice - are buried. In case you are not from the south, “decoration“ is the day set aside each year at a particular cemetery when family members of folks buried there come out to adorn the graves with fresh flowers and spend time visiting with others who have come out to do the same. And usually on these days there is a meal.

Now some decorations include dinner on the ground, in which there is a potluck meal served on the grounds of the cemetery. This is not to say that the food is actually placed on the ground. Usually there are folding tables and chairs. My brother-n-law thinks this is waayyy too creepy and refuses to participate in such meals held at cemeteries. He’s a New Yorker by birth, so we'll forgive him this stubborness.

My mother’s family traditionally gets together at someone’s house for just such a meal after church. These past several years it has been held at my Aunt Carol’s. She recently remodeled and has a very nice garage and sun room in which to set up tables. In fact, her garage seems nicer than some of the rooms in my house.

Everyone brings a little something to contribute to the meal. But most of the cooking (the good cooking, at least) is done by the ladies from the more, umm how should I say this, mature generation. Someone remarked yesterday that when these ladies are gone our meal will most likely consist of Kentucky Fried Chicken and side dishes from some deli. And, it’s sad to say, this is probably true. Does anyone from my generation cook like my mom’s generation? I know I don’t.

It was a yummy meal and I know I was not the only one who was stuffed to the point of being miserable. We had turkey and dressing, ham, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, pinto beans, green beans, corn, deviled eggs, and about 13 different casseroles. Then to top it all off there was chocolate pie, coconut cake, banana pudding, fudge pie, pecan pie, and ice cream. We were taking bets on who would fall into a diabetic shock afterwards.

I think I might try to start compiling some of my mom’s, sister’s, and aunts’ recipes one here. I guess I should start with what I took to yesterday’s lunch. This is a little recipe that my sister gave me a long time ago. It’s super easy and is a nice dessert alternative for those who want something a little less rich than chocolate pies or oooey gooey caramel brownies.

Easy Fruit Salad

You will need:

2 29 oz. cans light fruit cocktail
1 15 oz. can mandarin oranges
Apples (red and green)
Bananas
Fresh grapes, if desired
Instant vanilla pudding
Chopped walnuts, if desired


Cut up apples (leaving the skins on). Peel and slice the bananas. Dip the apples and bananas in lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

In a large bowl, mix the fruit cocktail with the DRAINED can of mandarin oranges. Sprinkle on as much of the instant vanilla pudding as you need to make it the consistency you prefer (If you want it really thick and “puddiny” you will want to add a lot. My family doesn’t like it that way so I add just a light coating of the pudding mix). Stir.

Add the desired amount of apples and bananas to the mix.

Chill.

Just before serving sprinkle on a few chopped walnuts.

From this...

...to this in less than 15 minutes.

P.S. Don't forget...we'll be having a little giveaway on our 100th post. Be sure to stop back by. Just so you'll know today's post is #97.

John-Heath's New Friends

Okay - this is kinda creepy but I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

Ren is in volleyball camp this week, with yesterday being the first of three days we will spend at Cumberland University. I will post some pictures from this once it ends (This isn't the creepy part, unless you have some unnatural, Adrian-Monk-type fear of team sports).

Now, to a young lad of five, high school volleyball can be quite the bore. So, in an effort to keep John-Heath entertained and stave off any rebellion for having to sit hours on end in a gym, John took him on a tour of the campus.

Well, the visit to Memorial Hall was such a hit with my son that he just had to take me on my very own tour.

Caution: If you are a member of PETA you will probably be offended, and possibly rightfully so, but my little boy thought this was a pretty cool site to see.

This is an exhibit donated many years ago to the school by a family. John-Heath was in awe of all the animals. I am in awe of people who have this much money and the things on which they spend it.


The grand staircase.

John explaining about some of the animals.




John-Heath was not on board with the idea of having his picture made with this lion until his dad offered to hold him.

As a sidenote - Cumberland is the university where my husband's grandfather and his brothers received their law degrees in the early part of the last century, each attending in turn and then helping a younger brother follow after him. John has always been proud of this story.

P.S. Now on to something more pleasant...I want to introduce you to a fabulous blog of which I've become fond. And if you act fast you can get in on its fabulous perfume and bracelet giveaway. So check out http://www.pinkpreppylillylover.blogspot.com/.

The Thursday Three

I thought it would be neat if every once in a while I pass along to you, my friends, some of my infinite wisdom in the form of tips, facts, or just random information. I do this because I was almost beginning to hear soft whimpers liken to “Oh, my. Another picture of her children.” Fear not, good people. I have an empty SD card so they shant be gone for long.

Now, back to those random bits of information. I will need to do this slowly, so as to not overpower you. Or is it because I don’t have an infinite amount of wisdom and it will take time to compile things that I pretend to know in which to pass along? I can never be sure.

I tried to think of some super clever title for this segment but the best I could do was The Thursday Three, or T3. Brilliant, huh? Anyway, every so often on a Thursday (see how it’s going to work?) I will pass along three morsels of information.

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for...(insert drum roll here)...The inaugural issue of


The Thursday Three



A different use for 3 common household supplies.


1. Shaving cream - This tip was given to me by the man who installed the hardwood floors in our new home. We all know it makes our man’s face soft to touch but did you know that it is great at removing hairspray residue from surfaces. I use it on the vanity tops in my bathrooms. Oh, and I buy the cheapest brands I can find. Spray and rub a little on and wipe off with a wet cloth. Kenny, our floor guy, said his wife had even used it on their hardwoods sparingly. I’m a little too afraid to try that but I can vouch that it does the trick safely on tile floors and Corian countertops.

2. Vinegar and newspaper - I learned this one from a janitor one day as I was leaving school. Use plain white vinegar and newspapers to clean windows. For a streak-free shine just add a couple tablespoons of vinegar to a gallon of water, spray on, then wipe off with newspaper. Not only is it easy on your wallet, it’s easy on our planet.

3. Coffee filters - If you have a problem with dirt seeping through the holes in the bottom of your flower pots just add a coffee filter or two before you add the potting soil and geraniums. The water will still be able to flow through but the dirt will remain.

Tyla (Sorry. My signature just up and vanished)

P.S. We're inching ever closer to our 100th post. If you are a lover of Barnes and Noble Booksellers, as I am, you'll want to be sure to tune in for a little give away.

Wordless Wednesdays

So I have noticed the concept of Wordless Wednesdays being used on many of my favorite blogs and thought I would join in the fun - Wordless Wednesdays: being where a simple picture or two convey a story without the use of any/many words. Yeah, I'm sure you have already observed that this post isn't playing by the rules. I guess a more correct name for this one should be something like "The One In Which I Explain Wordless Wednesdays". Sounds like the title to a Friends episode, doesn't it?

Here goes. Enjoy!

Morning

Evening

My Bucket List

I noticed on the internet last night that Bill Clinton has created his bucket list so I thought I might just get started on one too - not that I am anywhere near the age of our former president, or Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson either for that matter.

Clinton mentioned that he would like to live to enjoy having grandkids. This is something I would also like one day - one day in the farrrr off future. Ren is only 14 so I best not be called granny anytime soon.

Well, here goes with the first three things that would make my life feel a little more complete.

1.) Get healthier (so that I can really enjoy the other items on the list)
2.) Visit all 50 of the states in our country. I have 21 left to see.
3.) Spend an entire summer abroad.

Just curious...what would be at the top of your list?


P.S. Pool is growing on me - a little.

Venting Is Good for Your Blood Pressure, Or So I've Been Told

So, we went swimming in our new pool for the first time yesterday. I was not impressed. There were some good things about it. 1.) It’s a pool. 2.) It has a pretty, dark liner that makes the water look very blue. 3) It’s a pool. Other than that my whole experience was ruined by what I felt beneath my feet. Wrinkles. Yes, wrinkleS, as in plural. There were three along the edges, one of which was quite large. At this point I would have rated the installation job as a C. Then I felt a dip, as in left by a worker’s footprint. C-. Then, as if my temper (It’s true. I can get the tiniest bit mad at times) needed a booster shot, a rock. A stinkin’, freakin’ ROCK!!!!!!!!!! UNDERNEATH THE LINER IN ALMOST THE CENTER OF THE POOL!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say the current grade is a big ol' fat F. And if I just float and don’t actually touch the bottom it might pass with a
D-.

I know this is just an above ground and a few years down the road, when the kids are grown and gone, it will be removed. But it sickens me when you pay money to have something done and it’s not done right, be it something big or small. What has happened to quality workmanship anymore? Did the professionals not see the wrinkles in the pool when they first started adding the water? I noticed them the minute I peeked over the edge. Of course, that was after the crew had already gone. Anywhoo, I noticed and pointed it out to John. His response was, “Oh, they’ll all flatten out when it’s full of water.” Well, I got a news flash for ya, babe. It’s full of water and, yet, it still feels like the surface of a prune. A prune with a big zit, aka the ROCK!!!!!!!!

My apologies for such an “uplifting” post, but sometimes you just gotta let it out. Tune in tomorrow for a discussion on the drywall job in parts of my house.

Be on the Lookout!

Happy Friday, everyone!

This has really been one do nothing day and I am bored. Ren had football this morning. She is loving the whole water girl experience. Though I don't think she loved the whole help-clean-out-the-locker-room bit today.

At this very moment she is at a road block with her volleyball team trying to raise funds for new uniforms. Hey, I think I may leave and go snap a quick picture of her. Hold on..............................................................Okay. I'm back. Seriously, I really did just leave and go take a picture.

Doesn't she look cute in her little caution vest? By the looks of her milk jug I'm guessing the uniforms won't get ordered tonight.

Tomorrow the football team has a play day at another school and she and John will be making that trip. John is so not looking forward to sitting in the hot sun all day.

Tomorrow night we are attending the wedding of our friends' son. I think some of the wedding and/or reception will be outdoors. I hope the weather cooperates. It is thundering in the distance here now.

Have a great weekend! See you back here Monday.


P.S. I noticed where I am fast approaching my 100th post. I am thinking that I would like to do something to celebrate the fact that I have actually been somewhat consistent in keeping up with this little online experiment of mine. I'm not sure just yet how I will do that, but I know I want the faithful few of you that stop by from time to time to be a part of it. I'm thinking some sort of GIVE AWAY. More details to come, so check back in the next few days. Unless you check in every day - that's waaaay better.

What a Boy Wants

You wanna know what makes a boy (in the age range of, oh, let's say 4 - 8) happy?

THIS!

A GINORMOUS PILE OF DIRT!

A little boy and his piece of Heaven on Earth.

Like most little boys, John-Heath has always thought it to be a pretty cool thing to have a big dirt pile in which to play. So I told John it would be nice if we could get him one of his very own.

Now, of course, it only made sense to take advantage of such a big hole in the yard . Hmmm. What to do? I knooow. A pool.

The water in our newly erected pool. Feels soooo good. Well, at least it feels good to our hands. That's all we've had in it so far.

I am SO GLAD I have a little boy! Just think...if John-Heath had been another little girl there would not have been a need for a big pile of dirt. And, thus, no pool. :>)

"I'm the king of the world!!!"

At least until dad has all the dirt removed from the yard.

P.S. Guess what? After an exhaustive search I finally found my dear, sweet battery charger. Guess where I found it? In the kitchen cabinet drawer with all the mixing spoons. How it got there? Your guess is as good as mine. I suppose if we ate at home more it would have been found a little earlier.