Wow, things can change in a heartbeat. Russ left his job the later part of May and didn't have another job lined up. So to say the least things have been very stressful for me. I'm happy to report that as of next Monday he will be starting a new job. I am so in hopes that this one works out. He needs to find a job where he can stay and be relatively happy.
I put my folks' motorhome on Craigslist -- since we were 'holding' it up at the farm. We just sold it yesterday--Happy Father's Day Dad!! Mom and Dad took less than what they wanted, but they got cash and we are done with that process. People wanted a new motorhome for the low price that was being asked. Very frustrating. So I got to where when people called, I didn't disuade them, but reminded them that it was 31 years old. The people that ended up with it are perfect. He and his father are fixer uppers. The wife is tickled to have something that is old and the grandkids don't have to fear for their life if they track in a little dirt or something. We hope that they get many years of enjoyment out of it.
Summer has hit us full force today..it's in the 90's with a heat index of over 100 degrees! I don't like it when we don't get a nice easy transition into summer. But mother nature rarely checks with me before she does what she wants to do...darn it.
I am planning on going on a short road trip with some Perry girlfriends in September. I think we're heading to eastern Iowa and over into Nauvoo Illinois. Some place we've never been before. This should be a laid back kind of trip. Just enjoy the sights and don't work off a planned schedule of events. My kind of vacation.
So wish Russ luck on his new job. One of these days he'll find one he can stick with..but next time I hope he has that lined up before he quits!!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Just a quick update
Not much to report. Russ surprised me by being home this past weekend. I had gone to Perry on Friday night to go to the dance recital and stayed at the folks' house. Then on Saturday I met up with some friends in Madrid to do the city wide garage sales. Found a few things I couldn't live without! When I got close to home I could see a big red truck (semi) in the driveway and Russ was out on my rider mowing. He had already finished up his part and was doing my part, bless his heart. He had actually gotten home on Friday afternoon, but knew that I was busy so didn't bug me. He just got busy doing lots of stuff around the farm.
I had stopped by Earl May on my way home to get him some tomato plants and hopefully get me a sensation lilac. Well, got the tomatoes but they didn't have a sensation lilac that wasn't $50, so decided to go without for now.
Russ and I worked in the garden and got the pole beans, tomatoes and onions planted. Preened really well around them hoping to help cut down on weeds. We also planted them in a way that he can get the tiller down the rows easily also.
He also helped me in the front flower bed. It hadn't had a lot done to it once I saw that HUGE snake last year out by that flower bed. The snake took a trip, but you just never know who else might be hanging around! So I wanted Russ' help in case 'the big one' showed up. We got the flower bed under control without mishap. I forgot how nice it can look. I still need to get out there and do a little more to it. I have an old bathtub (not clawfoot) in that flower bed. I think I'm just going to plaster it with marigold seed tonight and see how that goes. Once I get the rest of the bed under control, I can also preen it to help with the weeds. I also have a a white lace plant that got winter killed a couple of winters ago that I need to get out of there. I think I may try to put a clematis in its place. I just love clematis plants.
We met my folks in Boone at Godfathers for pizza buffet on Mother's Day. It was nice that Russ was home for this as well. Mother's got to eat for $1.99...so I was a mother yesterday. I didn't feel well, so didn't even eat the $1.99 worth.
I have cut wayyyy back on my caffeine and I think that's the cause of my headaches. That and the fact that I snore and grind my teeth at night. I bought a mouth guard that I have worn off and on, but I think that actually makes my jaw not aligned so that gives me pains in the morning too. I tell you what, getting old really sucks.
Last year I had several goldfinch hanging around our feeder and when it got cold we had another kind of bird hanging out, so I bought song bird food and used that all winter and we had birds at our feeder throughout the whole winter. Now this spring we have enjoyed 3 different kinds of woodpeckers, 2 male goldfinch, 1 female goldfinch, a male and female cardinal and some chipping sparrows. There is one more breed but I can't think of the name right now. The female cardinal has a nest in our forsythia bush right under my bedroom window and it has 3 eggs in it. I'm anxious for the little ones to hatch and hope that they live and hang around as well.
I have really enjoyed the feeder. Just have to keep up on the water in the bird bath, because I noticed when I don't keep it full for them, they tend to leave for a day or two and I don't want them to find a better place to hang out. Now I'm just anxious to see if we get any orioles this year. We had a few last year..so hope we have a few this year. They are so striking in color. I guess it doesn't take much to entertain me, does it?
I had stopped by Earl May on my way home to get him some tomato plants and hopefully get me a sensation lilac. Well, got the tomatoes but they didn't have a sensation lilac that wasn't $50, so decided to go without for now.
Russ and I worked in the garden and got the pole beans, tomatoes and onions planted. Preened really well around them hoping to help cut down on weeds. We also planted them in a way that he can get the tiller down the rows easily also.
He also helped me in the front flower bed. It hadn't had a lot done to it once I saw that HUGE snake last year out by that flower bed. The snake took a trip, but you just never know who else might be hanging around! So I wanted Russ' help in case 'the big one' showed up. We got the flower bed under control without mishap. I forgot how nice it can look. I still need to get out there and do a little more to it. I have an old bathtub (not clawfoot) in that flower bed. I think I'm just going to plaster it with marigold seed tonight and see how that goes. Once I get the rest of the bed under control, I can also preen it to help with the weeds. I also have a a white lace plant that got winter killed a couple of winters ago that I need to get out of there. I think I may try to put a clematis in its place. I just love clematis plants.
We met my folks in Boone at Godfathers for pizza buffet on Mother's Day. It was nice that Russ was home for this as well. Mother's got to eat for $1.99...so I was a mother yesterday. I didn't feel well, so didn't even eat the $1.99 worth.
I have cut wayyyy back on my caffeine and I think that's the cause of my headaches. That and the fact that I snore and grind my teeth at night. I bought a mouth guard that I have worn off and on, but I think that actually makes my jaw not aligned so that gives me pains in the morning too. I tell you what, getting old really sucks.
Last year I had several goldfinch hanging around our feeder and when it got cold we had another kind of bird hanging out, so I bought song bird food and used that all winter and we had birds at our feeder throughout the whole winter. Now this spring we have enjoyed 3 different kinds of woodpeckers, 2 male goldfinch, 1 female goldfinch, a male and female cardinal and some chipping sparrows. There is one more breed but I can't think of the name right now. The female cardinal has a nest in our forsythia bush right under my bedroom window and it has 3 eggs in it. I'm anxious for the little ones to hatch and hope that they live and hang around as well.
I have really enjoyed the feeder. Just have to keep up on the water in the bird bath, because I noticed when I don't keep it full for them, they tend to leave for a day or two and I don't want them to find a better place to hang out. Now I'm just anxious to see if we get any orioles this year. We had a few last year..so hope we have a few this year. They are so striking in color. I guess it doesn't take much to entertain me, does it?
Friday, May 1, 2009
Back from our trip
We had a really good time on our trip to Louisiana. We left on Tuesday, April 21 around 1. We made it to Carthage MO before we decided to stop for the night. My dad doesn't like us to drive after dark, so we stopped well before then. Grabbed a quick bite to eat and then to the hotel room.
The Econo Lodge where we stayed had a great breakfast bar for us to indulge in before we left on Wednesday morning. We were on the road by 7. Made it down to Dan's at 2:30. It was 91 degrees there!! When we stopped for a bite of lunch I asked to use their restroom so I could take my sweatpants off and put shorts on! I was hot...but it felt good to have warm sunshine on us.
Dan lives right on Lake D'Arbonne in Farmerville LA. He has such a nice little place. He has done a lot to fix it up. He says it was kind of a dump when he first bought it, but has really done a great job of fixing it up. He had lots of help from Ramona with this project as well.
Dan, Dad and I took a boat ride one morning before the winds picked up and put white caps on the water. We also took lots of car rides with Dan being the escort. He took us to Farmerville, Downsville and Monroe to see the 'sights'. Dad grew up down there, but things have changed so much, he didn't remember much.
We went to the Albritton Reunion on Saturday. There were about 60 there. Dad had 12 other brothers and sisters. Two of those died as infants. There are 6 still livng. Five of those were at the reunion. The one that didn't come lives in Florida and is going to Louisiana for her class reunion later this summer, and didn't want to make the trip twice.
Lots and Lots and Lots of cousins there. I never did know very many of them. We used to go down to Louisiana every other year for Christmas but we decided on the way home that we must have stopped doing that in early jr high days because we don't remember some of the kids as they were growing up. The ones we remember most are the ones that are closer to our age. There was SO much food at this reunion. Someone even brought gator. I kept to things I knew, like fried chicken and ham balls that Mom took.
We left on Monday morning to head home via Smithville MO where Christy, my god daughter lives. I wanted to see Trevor and baby Addison. We got there around 5:30 and met up with them for a Chinese supper at 6. Addison has her fussy spells each evening..and we were witness to it. I dropped Mom and Dad off at the hotel and then I went over to Christy's for a bit. Then back to the hotel. Wanted to get an early start to get HOME.
Up and on the road on Tuesday by shortly after 7. So got folks home around 11 and then I got home around 12:30. We really had a great time. I hope we can do it again before dad gets the point where he won't travel.
The Econo Lodge where we stayed had a great breakfast bar for us to indulge in before we left on Wednesday morning. We were on the road by 7. Made it down to Dan's at 2:30. It was 91 degrees there!! When we stopped for a bite of lunch I asked to use their restroom so I could take my sweatpants off and put shorts on! I was hot...but it felt good to have warm sunshine on us.
Dan lives right on Lake D'Arbonne in Farmerville LA. He has such a nice little place. He has done a lot to fix it up. He says it was kind of a dump when he first bought it, but has really done a great job of fixing it up. He had lots of help from Ramona with this project as well.
Dan, Dad and I took a boat ride one morning before the winds picked up and put white caps on the water. We also took lots of car rides with Dan being the escort. He took us to Farmerville, Downsville and Monroe to see the 'sights'. Dad grew up down there, but things have changed so much, he didn't remember much.
We went to the Albritton Reunion on Saturday. There were about 60 there. Dad had 12 other brothers and sisters. Two of those died as infants. There are 6 still livng. Five of those were at the reunion. The one that didn't come lives in Florida and is going to Louisiana for her class reunion later this summer, and didn't want to make the trip twice.
Lots and Lots and Lots of cousins there. I never did know very many of them. We used to go down to Louisiana every other year for Christmas but we decided on the way home that we must have stopped doing that in early jr high days because we don't remember some of the kids as they were growing up. The ones we remember most are the ones that are closer to our age. There was SO much food at this reunion. Someone even brought gator. I kept to things I knew, like fried chicken and ham balls that Mom took.
We left on Monday morning to head home via Smithville MO where Christy, my god daughter lives. I wanted to see Trevor and baby Addison. We got there around 5:30 and met up with them for a Chinese supper at 6. Addison has her fussy spells each evening..and we were witness to it. I dropped Mom and Dad off at the hotel and then I went over to Christy's for a bit. Then back to the hotel. Wanted to get an early start to get HOME.
Up and on the road on Tuesday by shortly after 7. So got folks home around 11 and then I got home around 12:30. We really had a great time. I hope we can do it again before dad gets the point where he won't travel.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Scrapbooking accomplishment
I finally have my Hawaii album about 99% done. I hope to finish it up this coming weekend. I have the front page to do and then mat the journaling pages that I have..then I'M DONE.
This coming weekend we are scrapbooking all day at a friend's church in Des Moines. I am hoping to finish up the HI album and work on some other layouts.
Soon I will need to start my Las Vegas album. That will be a fun one to work on as well. Haven't even gone through the pics yet to see what all I want to scrapbook.
But right now I have other projects that need to be scrapbooked. I could also be making some cards. You can never have too many home made cards on hand, can you?
Some day I'll take some snapshots of some of the Hawaii pages and post a few here. I'm just not real good at getting those kind of snapshots to turn out very good. But I'll give it a try and post a few.
This coming weekend we are scrapbooking all day at a friend's church in Des Moines. I am hoping to finish up the HI album and work on some other layouts.
Soon I will need to start my Las Vegas album. That will be a fun one to work on as well. Haven't even gone through the pics yet to see what all I want to scrapbook.
But right now I have other projects that need to be scrapbooked. I could also be making some cards. You can never have too many home made cards on hand, can you?
Some day I'll take some snapshots of some of the Hawaii pages and post a few here. I'm just not real good at getting those kind of snapshots to turn out very good. But I'll give it a try and post a few.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Just checking in...
It's been awhile since I posted. Not much going on. My face is 99.9% better now. Still have a pink spot on my cheek that is very tender. It feels like a burn that is healing. Kind of hard to explain..but I'm sure it will heal in time. Just have to remember when washing my face to not scrub too hard in that area or it hurts like HE**.
Getting geared up to take my folks down to Louisiana to visit my brother and attend the Albritton (maiden name) Family Reunion. My dad was one of 13 kids. There are only about 7-8 of them left living. But there are a slew of Albritton's down there.
My brother moved down there in 2007 and loves it. He lives on a lake front. We will be staying with him. I'm really looking forward to mom and dad seeing where he lives. The last time we came home from TX through LA I went over there, but Mom and Dad were busy and didn't make it over there.
So this time we will stay with him. Just going to spend a few days down there. Two days to drive it, a few days there and two days to drive home. I am so in hopes that the weather down there is better than the weather we are having here in Iowa.
Getting geared up to take my folks down to Louisiana to visit my brother and attend the Albritton (maiden name) Family Reunion. My dad was one of 13 kids. There are only about 7-8 of them left living. But there are a slew of Albritton's down there.
My brother moved down there in 2007 and loves it. He lives on a lake front. We will be staying with him. I'm really looking forward to mom and dad seeing where he lives. The last time we came home from TX through LA I went over there, but Mom and Dad were busy and didn't make it over there.
So this time we will stay with him. Just going to spend a few days down there. Two days to drive it, a few days there and two days to drive home. I am so in hopes that the weather down there is better than the weather we are having here in Iowa.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ugly Face!!
Not sure what happened to my cheek while we were out in Las Vegas..but I ended up looking like I had been hit with an ugly stick!!
On Tuesday night while out there, my right cheek had a wierd sensation going on. I would rub, then scratch, then put ice on it and nothing I did seemed to help. But Wednesday morning I had some sort of blister thing going on.
Russ took me to a pharmacist and he wasn't sure what it was, but recommended putting Neosporin with pain relief on it and taking 3 advil every 6 hours. So that's what I did for the duration of our time out there.
Each day it got progressively worse. I called the Dr in Nevada IA on our way home from the airport to see if I could get in. They got me in that afternoon. He wasn't real sure what it was but gave me a prescription for antibiotics to take. But by that night my eye was pretty much swollen shut and my face just kept swelling, so Russ took me over to Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames to the Emergency Room. That was around 10pm. We got home around 4am!! That Dr didn't know what it was either but took a culture to see if that would show what it was. He prescribed a different antiobiotic and a virile med just in case it was something virile. He recommended that I go to see a Dermatologist on Monday if I wasn't showing significant signs of improvement.
Well Monday came around and I didn't look any better, so the Dermatologist got me in that morning. He thought it was staph or strep infection...but did another culture. He said to keep taking the meds and let him know if I didn't see improvement by the time the meds were done. Each day it got a tad bit better and after 10-14 days, it looked a lot better.
Now after 2 weeks all I have left is a small scab on my cheek about the size of a pencil eraser. I think that is the spot where it all started. So I'm letting it take its time in healing and the scab coming off. I sleep with vaseline on it each night. The culture came back with no signs of strep or staph...so it's a big mystery what got me in Las Vegas. But the saying that 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas'...did not apply to me. What ever happened to me in Vegas followed me home in a big way!
We still had a great time. Other than me looking like someone that should be a star in a freak show, it didn't slow me down or keep me from doing anything. We went up to the strip on our last night to go up the Eiffel Tower and they took a 'professional' picture of the 4 of us. I leaned into Russ so my face would be hidden on that side. Not something you want a 'keepsake' picture of.
But again, all in all we had a fabulous time with Mark and Deb along. What great friends. We laughed and laughed and laughed. We all have such fun together.
On Tuesday night while out there, my right cheek had a wierd sensation going on. I would rub, then scratch, then put ice on it and nothing I did seemed to help. But Wednesday morning I had some sort of blister thing going on.
Russ took me to a pharmacist and he wasn't sure what it was, but recommended putting Neosporin with pain relief on it and taking 3 advil every 6 hours. So that's what I did for the duration of our time out there.
Each day it got progressively worse. I called the Dr in Nevada IA on our way home from the airport to see if I could get in. They got me in that afternoon. He wasn't real sure what it was but gave me a prescription for antibiotics to take. But by that night my eye was pretty much swollen shut and my face just kept swelling, so Russ took me over to Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames to the Emergency Room. That was around 10pm. We got home around 4am!! That Dr didn't know what it was either but took a culture to see if that would show what it was. He prescribed a different antiobiotic and a virile med just in case it was something virile. He recommended that I go to see a Dermatologist on Monday if I wasn't showing significant signs of improvement.
Well Monday came around and I didn't look any better, so the Dermatologist got me in that morning. He thought it was staph or strep infection...but did another culture. He said to keep taking the meds and let him know if I didn't see improvement by the time the meds were done. Each day it got a tad bit better and after 10-14 days, it looked a lot better.
Now after 2 weeks all I have left is a small scab on my cheek about the size of a pencil eraser. I think that is the spot where it all started. So I'm letting it take its time in healing and the scab coming off. I sleep with vaseline on it each night. The culture came back with no signs of strep or staph...so it's a big mystery what got me in Las Vegas. But the saying that 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas'...did not apply to me. What ever happened to me in Vegas followed me home in a big way!
We still had a great time. Other than me looking like someone that should be a star in a freak show, it didn't slow me down or keep me from doing anything. We went up to the strip on our last night to go up the Eiffel Tower and they took a 'professional' picture of the 4 of us. I leaned into Russ so my face would be hidden on that side. Not something you want a 'keepsake' picture of.
But again, all in all we had a fabulous time with Mark and Deb along. What great friends. We laughed and laughed and laughed. We all have such fun together.
NASCAR in Las Vegas
Here are a couple of pictures from the track in Vegas. The one with the race car was actually taken on Friday during Sprint Cup Qualifying. The other one was on Friday night at the Speed stage while they were doing their live show. That was a long day but the weather was nice and we had a great time. Got out there early afternoon and watched the qualifying, then shopped the driver's trailers and then headed over to the Speed Stage for the show. It was wierd seeing these guys live and not on TV. We had to keep working our way up but we ended up not too far from the front of the stage. We were on the TV show. I TiVo'd it at home and can see us really well. Deb and I both had lime green jackets on so that helped to find us easliy in the crowd.The race was on Sunday and it was a sunny day. We all got a bit sunburnt but nothing that a little lotion didn't soothe. We used headphones during the race so we could here some of the drivers or listen to MRN radio. We bounced back and forth. Heard a few f bombs on the driver's channels...OOPS. Our seats were between turn 3 and turn 4...could have been better but we still had a great time. Lots of walking for sure but again the weather was great so we didn't mind the walking. Just took our time.
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