Senior Reminded Me....

Senior lovingly commented to me last night that he would read my blog, but I have failed to post anything in  a week.  "ohhhh" I said.  Lately it seems I havent had that much to say. Monday my doctor put me on some new meds, and frankly it kicks my butt for a few hours. I must adjust and start taking it in the evening--it makes me considerably drowsy. Today I took it, and it was all I could do not to drive off the road, I came home and did something I never do..and that is nap during the day.
But on a good note....I signed up and got a free week at ANYTIME FITNESS....I am trying it out, and considering joining. the past two mornings I have dropped the kids off at school, and proceeded to meet my new BFF: Ms. LifeFitness Treadmill, for our morning walk...she has really been kicking the crap out of me... 

This week also had our older son at the doctor, mystery bumps showed up on his chest.."Molluscum Contagiosum"..a viral skin infection that is a member of the pox family. His little belly is covered with small white bumps..he most likely got it from the community swimming pool over the summer..
Unfortantly for him. he will survive and can still go to school.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I watched lots of the RNC--I have a more positive outlook after hearing Romneys acceptance speech. For fun, I would switch over to the "CURRENT" Chanel and listen to the liberal point of view..the best panel they could come up with was Al Gore and Joy Behar...how funny is that?  It was what I thought it would be and that was a Republican bash fest. I did get some inciteful information about the CEO of Costco--he is a huge Obama donor and is a guest speaker next week at the DNC. He also, helped to unionize Costco.And that is not even the worse part..He is buddies with Al Gore!  Our membership ran out this month. There is only one store in my area and it is quite the drive, not sure if we want to renew and make that trip knowing all that I know now....I am kind of bummed.

As good as Romney was, Clint Eastwood was hilarious the whole talking to the empty chair thing had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.But, my new favorite person is Susana Martinez, the Govenor of New Mexico...
Will I watch any of the DNC? no I am going to try not too, curiosty may get the best of me though. I love that the kickoff of the NFL comes the night Bill Clinton is suppose to speak. ..they are on the search for minorities, and 28 out of the 61 speakers are women--and you know what the central message will be : "Romney hates women"

Speaking of liberals, my neighbor "bob the liberal" slapped up Obama window stickers on his house. Do you have any idea how "Trailer park" that looks? and Lord I don't want to offend anyone living in a trailer park...but good lord! Window stickers on a quarter of a million dollar home that is now worth about 100,000 looks gawdy. I guess he was afraid of people trying to steal his yard signs, so far he is the only one I have seen around here in support of the President.  I can almost guarentee that he and his family are on welfare.

Okay, my babble has gone on long enough--kids want to play Xbox--I promise not to be gone for so long again...   : )

If I find your Ipad...Atleast say "Thank You"

We checked in to the ultra fancy DoubleTree in Charlotte's South Park Area--very high dollar there. The boys went nuts over the pool with a waterfall, and the fact we got a two room suite...Thank Goodness for online shopping --all that luxury for a great rate.

Senior stepped out of the room and the boys and I proceeded to check the place out, I opened a night stand drawer, and there it was a perfectly good Ipad. "What the"-- I thought.  Okay, I know DoubleTree caters to the business professional, but offering Ipads? Oh C'mon! --That would be way over the top!..  : )

My cats curiosity got the best of me. The oldest child was watching with excitement, immediately he wanted me to download games for them to play....oh what to do?  I call the front desk, and no they do not offer Ipads to its guests. Obviously the last person who stayed here left it. They were sending some one up to retrieve it. "darn it!  but I could have had a free Ipad"... "no" - I tell myself not to think that way, Stealing is stealing, no matter the shape or form...the thing did not belong to me.

While waiting I turned it on and  browsed the owners contacts list, I found her phone number..I called, left a very polite message. Told her not to worry, her Ipad had been found. If it had been me- I would have been freaking over losing such an expensive item. And yes, I would have wanted whomever found it to return it.

That was last Friday, it is now Wednesday--and still no "Thank You"  return phone call from the owner.  I think: how rude, had anyone else found it they would have kept it. Then I think, that this person is obviously absent minded,  and she didn't remember leaving her valuable Ipad, seems it had been in that room since the 13th. of August, and it seemed she had no clue as to its whereabouts "What a airhead" !

I have her name, and I have her number, when We got home I decided to research her--seems she is a upscale designer in the Charlotte area. Young, so-so pretty, but not very bright. Most likely "Book Smart" as opposed to "Street Smart"
Yes, I could have kept it, But then I also had two little boys watching, and listening. And I know I need to live by example.Even though to this day I have yet to receive a Thank You--I know I did do the right thing...

So, I decided to pray for her, that she will find the fortitude to offer that little Thank You---yea pray it always works right?  and I know the perfect prayer:

"I pray your tire blows out at 110.
I pray you pass out drunk with your best friend and wake up with
his and her tattoos.
I pray your brakes go out running down a hill.
I pray a flowerpot falls from a window sill and knocks you in the
head like I'd like to.
I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls
I pray you're flying high when your engine stalls
I pray all your dreams never come true
Just know wherever you are, near or far, in your house or in your
car,
wherever you are honey, I pray for you"
-Jaron and the Long Road

Our Mini-Vacation..

It was kind of short notice, but senior and I took the kids out of school for two days and set off for the mountains, and we also wanted to visit his dad for his 81st Birthday. There is just something about being in the mountains and hill country that I love. Driving along twisty roads, you never know what will be around the next corner. As much as I love the ocean, I also love the country and the simpilicty of it all.
We stayed a night up in Hickory, NC then the next morning headed over to the town of Hiddenite and spent some time at the Emerald Mine, sluicing for treasures. And what treasures we found! Lots of minerals, semi-precious and precious stones as well.

 The boys loved it! they were shouting with excitement every time they found or thought they found something new. But when the buckets ran out, the boredom set in. And frankly, a person can only sit on those benches for so long.
So what happens with buckets of red clay, a water trough, and 2 boys...a Red Clay Mess! 

My dad has a rock tumbler he is going to lend me,(hopefully it works), But I hope to be able to clean up and polish the bags of stones we found.
Below is just a few of the nicer stones. I have four zip lock bags full.

Senior found a nice dark emerald and the sweet man let me give it to the lapidary and they are cutting me a Emerald solitare sterling silver ring.. It will be here in about 10 weeks. Just in time for our anniversary..what a nice Senior he is ! : )



The Fence Test

Occasionally my Dad will email me something that I think is worthwhile enough to share with you good folks that read my blog . This is one of them. This is by Jeff Foxworthy and he is a comedian, But with todays political landscape it rings true. Read it yourself and find out which fence you sit on.

If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a Republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a Democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A Democrat wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a Republican doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Democrats demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A Democrat demands that the rest of us pay for his.

My Newest Canning Jar

Last year, when Senior and I were visiting his dad in South Carolina, we found a large lot of canning jars for sale. We paid 60.00 for the entire lot. Once home, and upon cleaning, I noted some where no longer in production. This find started my antique canning jar collection.

Saturday we ventured down state to a large flea market. I happened upon a young man selling old jars for 8.00 a piece. I wanted one to add to my collection.

The one I chose is clear glass, and has MASON’S Patent Nov 30 1858. Someone had painted over the lettering.  Senior looked at me funny, but I was excited. We got home and I did some research. I found that my newest jar was probably made around 1915, because there are seams up the sides.

 I then soaked it in hot water and began to scrub the paint off the letters. As I worked I started thinking about this jar. Where has it been? I thought about all the history surrounding this one particular jar.

 And then it talked to me, it told me about all the good things it had once held: Green beans, peaches, corn, and potatoes and other things fresh from the garden. It told me that countless times a little elderly lady used it for her homemade jellies, her recipe had even won first place once at the county fair. And then it was given to the lady’s grand daughter so she could catch lightening bugs during the evenings, and then it was used to hold the girls "Jacks"

After the little girl grew up, she became a beautiful bride and used the jar as a vase on her kitchen window. A few years later her husband suddenly passed away, the bride packed the jar away in her attic, she could not bare the reminder of the flowers it once held that were always from her husband. And there the jar sat, packed among other odds and ends.

 Until one day it was discovered in a box, and given to a boy who liked to build models, it became the perfect paint brush holder. He thought so much of the jar, he painted over the words. As the boy grew in to an older man, it was used in his garage to store nuts and bolts then sold in a yard sell. It was then taken along with other collectibles to the flea market, where I found it, bought it, and liberated it.

It said  all these things to me while I scrubbed and cleaned it, Inspecting my jar I learned to appreciate the rich history it holds. Now it sits atop my kitchen cabinets, the focal point of my jar collection. Where others who visit can look and learn to appreciate the rich history associated with canning.

WELCOME!

A Big WELCOME to the Clothesline goes out to : Amymorgan1970, Jatico, Angga Bohca and Haley.
Thanks for stopping by and hitting my follower button. Please visit often and comment as you wish. I promise to respond as best as I can in a timely manner.

Breakfast With Jack the Cat

My dad always said there was only one thing a cat was good for and that "Grilled kitty on the barbie"... I know hes a mean ole man!.

This big boy is "Jack the Pirate Cat"....the boys named him, because they wanted a Pirate name. And I know, he looks totally P'oed in this pic! ... He came with a twin brother but we had to get rid of him, he was too "Alpha Male" and doing things around our house he shouldn't have been.
So, now its just Jack and Ruger. Jack likes to jump on the table in the mornings next to me and the computer and see what I am doing.

As I create this post, he is here now being inquisitive.Curiosity has not killed him yet. He is a spry little 1 1/2 year old with Siamese Markings, he is also  getting to be quite chubby. We have had several cats over the years. We had two beautiful little girls, named "Ductchess" she was grey with white markings, and a solid black Persian mix named "Tootie Sue" they both lived in to their teens, and left us for the great kitty heaven.

Senior and I do miss our girls, they were with us before we had kids. Tootie used to sleep on the pillow next to me at night, and like Jack, would sit and watch me work at my desk. Duchess was our first and therefore she ruled the cat world in this house. She was Seniors cat, and she knew who her daddy was.

I guess this post is sort of for Kymber, she just got a new baby who looks a lot like Jack, and I had promised her a pic of him so she could compare. Jack is funny  because his eye sockets are close together and most times that he looks at you, it seems like his eyes are crossed. I tried to get a picture of him that way, but it seems today he did not want to cooperate with me.  And where can you all guess his most favorite sleeping spot is? Not the his fancy kitty tree. Jack loves to sleep on top of our black range bag. A white cat and black bag does not make a good mix...so I keep a towel over the bag.  He has not told us his reasons for sleeping on it, but we figure it  must be because its extremely comfy.
Jack like most cats, is entertained by my fish tank, I have a large 65 gallon one in my kitchen full of African Cichlids, and he knows when it is feeding time, as he will sit on his little perch next to the tank and watch me feed them. He is not a lap cat at all., and wants us on his terms.  Senior loves to give him exercise  by pulling out a laser pen, and lets Jack chase the little red light.  The boys and I do feel Jack needs a lady friend in the house, but Senior has not caved. All though he does seems interested in the Maine Coons. I guess I just hate that he is here alone when we go out of town..But to Jack, its probably party time. 

So now, its off here for me. I am cooking garlic butter shrimp, cheese grits, and looking for a recipe for Cheese and Garlic biscuits for dinner tonight...yes my family will love me, and Jack too for that matter since I will be cleaning shrimp later..  Have a good Friday Y'all!

Parental Notes: Something to make you laugh

Those of us with boys, will get a good laugh out of these notes that were actually written by mothers and fathers... :

Add caption

Back to School...

First day of school for our county today. Has it really been only two months ago that they got out? Our district is re-vamping our school year and the kids get out in May vice June.
Our boys popped out of bed this morning , one had toaster strudel the other a cinnamon waffle, both drank down their little glass of chocolate milk.

We left early because I knew there would be a crowd. The commandant Principle is making parents sign in, we are no longer free to walk our children to class  the first week.If she had her way about it every kid would ride the school bus, and parents would not be allowed on school grounds.  I love every thing about the school , except her--she really does need to go!.

ND has NWs first grade teacher from last year, she is an awesome right wing conservative, her husband proudly serves in our Coast Guard. During a field trip last year, she sat next to me on the bus, and we had a really good conversation about the country and its education system. She knows it is going to crap, and tries her best to be one of those teachers who actually does care about a childs education and increasing their brain functions, some of the techniques she uses to get kids to think is amazing to me.

I have only met NWs second grade teacher briefly, she is older and southern...from Arkansas. I have been told by the boys previous kindergarten teacher that she is very firm, and believes in advancing the kids who are excelling in her classroom. She is a huge Razorbacks fan, so Senior is getting NW a Carolina Gamecocks Tshirt to wear in her class...   : )

As always for another year, I drive our kids. I do not like school busses. I have no problem getting up and taking them and picking them up in the afternoons..even though the bus stop is right in front of the house. The other parents who stand outside waiting, look at me like I am a space alien. Besides, its a real thorn in the side of the Commandant for parents to drive their kids, so it is in my pleasure to do that.  : )

I treasure that last moment with our boys in the morning, when they unbuckle to get out, they kiss mommy bye, the last thing we say is our "I love yous, and have a good day". I try my best to watch them walk down the corriders to their little class rooms. And then I am there waiting in the afternoons, to hear about the school day and with a little snack for them. We get home almost an hour before the bus even drops off.

So now the house is quiet, I look at the clock and wonder what they are doing, but  I must clean this place up. I have not had time for anything over the summer. Then I am going to do some baking..double chocolate chip cookies, and surprise our little men with a afterschool treat.  : )

Usain Bolt Stops Interview

Senior and I never really watch Track and Field events, until the Olympics came on. I usually just keep up with the swimming and the gymnastics. But when we saw that Sonya Richards-Ross was running, I wanted to see her, She is the wife of a NFL football player and his team allowed him to leave training camp to travel to London to watch his wife run in her event. She won the gold in the women's 400 meter race.

If you do not know who he is, Usain Bolt is a Jamaican runner, he is the worlds fastest man. Senior both thought of him as arrogant..until I saw this display of sportsmanship and respect for his fellow athlete and another countries anthem. 

Happy Birthday !!!!

Another birthday in our house today. Our little man ND turns 6. Today he gets the best present ever, we are letting him go to his school and meet his new teacher!  Isn't that what every kid wants to do on their birthday?

On birthdays in our house, the birthday person gets to pick the menu for the day. For his special day he has chosen: Chocolate Chip pancakes for breakfast, a lunchable for his little lunch, then NY style pizza for our supper. And oh yes..cake!  He chose a chocolate Transformers Cake...  This will be his second Transformers cake in a row. I have told him that next year, please pick out something else.

He loves his little transformers, and gave me a long list of the new Mini ones he is wishing for...His favorite thing to play with his transformers is crushing the evil democrats. I have blogged about those infamous battles in the past. I am 100%  sure that when he opens his little presents tonight, he will not be disappointed, and more battles in the living room will rage.

So now its off to start breakfast and give our little man a happy birthday ....   : )

Carolina Summers Pt. 4 : The not so Slinky, Slinky...

My grandmother believed in two things: The Lord Jesus, and Oral Roberts. Whatever Oral said was law. If Oral was preaching from the pulpit about his desperate need for money, Nanason would accept the challenge and send in her dollars.

In return for her generosity she would get some small trinket as a token of Orals appreciation. After we watched Oral every Sunday morning, we would head to church…
 
That previous Easter, the bunny had given me a slinky. I loved my slinky. I took it everywhere. It even took the journey to Easley that summer. It was the rare occasion that both my parents dropped us off, my mother was with us, the next day they were leaving to go back to Florida.
 
We were dressed in our best, as we walked through the sacred doors of the Easley Wesleyan Methodist Church.  I remember the church quiet well, it was red brick and sat on the opposing hill across from Arial mill hill. You felt instant holiness the second you walked through the doors.

Nanason introduced us to all her friends,she proudly showed off her oldest son and his family. She told them all that we kids would be spending the summer and I was invited to the vacation bible school the church was offering.

I held my white wicker purse, and inside I had strategically hidden slinky. We said our prayers, and sang the songs, then all settled in to the pews to hear a fire and brimstone message from the pulpit.

 

When I saw Papa start to nod off, and my sister drawing, I took out slinky. First I was quiet; I bounced it up and down, and held it in my little hand. But then slinky got a mind of its own, and stretched itself out, I accidently let go and the darn slinky lunged in to the back of the little ole blue haired lady sitting in front me.  My mother was mortified, her eyes got big and she pursed her lips. Then she shook her head- “Oh lord”! I thought-not the head shaking! Fortunately she was not seated next to me.  

My sister and Nanason started to giggle, my dad had to reach out and untangle slinky from Blue haired lady’s head. He whispered his deepest apologies. My cousin Terri sat there and with teeth gritted said “I told her not to bring it”.  My mother stretched out her hand, and dad gave her my slinky. I sat there the rest of the sermon with hands in my lap, thinking about slinky; I feared I would be forever doomed for disrupting the service. But, Nanason in her way made things better-she gave me gum.

 I did manage to get slinky back from my mother, and I sat on the big porch the rest of that day playing with slinky not realizing that my slinky episode would again like so many of my childhood adventures, become family folklore... 

---To be Continued

The Blackout Project # 1

Today was another gun show. Senior and I meet up with Stephen and his SW, Rebel and Pirate Jim. Hanging out with Sweet Wife is always fun, she is a good friend and all around beautiful person. We held out our hands to our husbands for money, they obliged us with a smile. The men went to the right, and us ladies went to the left. It was time we had some "gurlie time" at the gun show.

 I like this one actually more then the one a couple of weeks ago. One thing I have noticed is husband and wife booths, on one end is the husband selling firearm accessories, and the other end is the wife selling home made items..today we found a nice Italian lady who made Beeswax candles, her husband was next to her selling Ammo cans.

Senior was on a mission, he is building a "300 AAC Blackout" he is tired of the traditional 5.56 and .308 calibers. So, now he is building a .308 caliber in a lightweight short AR style platform that provides hard hitting .30 caliber. 

Today he built the lower, all he needs now is the upper and it will be done.

The Perfect Beach Day

Today was the most picture perfect beach day. Sunny, not too terribly hot. Today is the last Friday before school goes back. Senior wanted to surprise his boys, and take them fishing. It is hard to believe that just 2 short months ago I was blogging about the last day, after this weekend I will be blogging about the first day.

There is a State Park near here and  we have been wanting to go. You have to wait until the tide is out, and you must drive a 4x4-anything else and you will get stuck.
You could wade through tidal pools and stand on a sand bar, the water was clear and had a greenish tint.  No hotels, no houses and restaurants cluttering the beach-scape. The most enjoyable part was it was not crowded, we only counted a small handful of beach goers..  Just a empty unspoiled perfect beach......

.

I have never found perfect Conch Shells on our local beaches, but I did at this beach. They were in the shallow water in abundance. It is now my most favorite place.

And then there is the local wildlife, we saw several Turtles this size sunning themselves in the dunes

Justice

*** BREAKING UPDATE ***
A short while ago Adam’s employer Vante released this statement.

Adam Smith was fired.

The following is a statement from Vante:
Vante regrets the unfortunate events that transpired yesterday in Tucson between our former CFO/Treasurer Adam Smith and an employee at Chick-fil-A. Effective immediately, Mr. Smith is no longer an employee of our company.
The actions of Mr. Smith do not reflect our corporate values in any manner. Vante is an equal opportunity company with a diverse workforce, which holds diverse opinions. We respect the right of our employees and all Americans to hold and express their personal opinions, however, we also expect our company officers to behave in a manner commensurate with their position and in a respectful fashion that conveys these values of civility with others.
We hope that the general population does not hold Mr. Smith’s actions against Vante and its employees.

After abusing a Chick-fil-A employee – telling her to quit her job, Adam is fired.
There is some justice in this world after all.
Congratulations to everyone who spoke out against this goon.

Carolina Summers Pt. 3: Red Clay and White Keds

The day had started off hot and promised to get even hotter. That morning, Nanason  as always had a large spread out for breakfast. After the dishes and table were cleaned off, she got up to get dressed so we could “Go to town” and shop

She always  dressed up anywhere we went, pearls, makeup, stockings, heels, and a dress. I never saw her wear long pants.

I had begged Nanason for a pair of green overalls; I think I wanted to be like Mr. Green Jeans from Captain Kangaroo. In addition to the overalls, she also bought me a new pair of White Keds Tennis Shoes.

I ran in to Stacey and Trey Ravenell, they lived on the right side of my grandparents, I think of them with much fondness, as they were probably two of the best friends I ever had at that age. There wasn’t much that I did not do around the mill hill that did not involve Stacey and Trey. Their mother lived in the old house with their grandmother Mildred,(aka Millie) I always saw her in the same dress, hair un-kept and missing some of her front teeth. She was married to a man named Ralph but with her missing teeth it came out sounding like “Ras” hearing her call him that always gave us kids a giggle.  Stacey and Treys mother was a beautiful blond; and it behooved us kids how Mildred and Ralph could have created something as beautiful as their daughter.

Across the street was the vacant school yard; around the old school was red clay with little gulley’s that had been cut out by rain storms. It was the intention of Trey to make the water run again through the gullies. He was trying to make a creek. We began carrying buckets of water from our outside faucet to across the street, as the clay absorb the water, it became a red mud pile. Not at all the creek Trey had hoped for. I was wearing the white Keds. My feet sank in, and I got stuck. I couldn’t move. Stacey grabbed my hands and pulled with all her might and I fell face forward in to the mess. Fortunately I was free. I did lose one of the shoes, but had to dig around and found it.

I was a red clay nightmare, arms, legs, face and hair; all covered in clay. My white Keds, were no longer white, but orange. What was I going to do? Nanason just bought them that morning for me. She would be furious. Being the good friends that they were, Stacey and Trey high tailed it back home leaving me alone to deal with my grandmother.

I stood on the back porch, Terri shaking her head; my sister stared with her mouth hung open and my brother laughing. Nanason took my ungodly sight in with ease, If she was mad, she never showed it. She made me hose off and, I had to wear those Keds the rest of the summer as a sort of punishment. The Story has become folklore in my family ranks, its been told over and over through the years. And it always gives everyone a good laugh. I hear now Converse has a color of Tennis Shoes actually called "Red Clay"....hmm imagine that!

---To be continued

T-Bones

Senior and Pirate Jim made the trip out to the country butcher. We went in together and a had a pig processed in to freezer packs.

Senior wanted another good T-bone steak tonight for dinner: