Sundays, Coffee and Boxers.....

If that face doesn't wake you up on a cold and windy Sunday morning I don't know what will...  That is our little angel "Liberty Bell"  aka Libby, aka Mrs. Wigglesworth. Oh the nicknames we have for her are endless. Having her around does make life fun.....

 

Well it has turned off clear and cold here, winds yesterday and today have been annoying though. We have been trying to get out and take care of leaves but its pointless with all the high winds. Fall color is late, but truly vibrant this year. Autumn is one reason why I am happy we made the move to the estate. By far my most favorite season.

Thanksgiving is this week, and I have to be honest and say I am not at all mentally ready for the holidays, it will be the first without dad and basically mom too. The past few days have been a bit emotional for me, as I recall all the past holidays when they got on my last nerve and wish so much to have those times back...never take your family for granted, no matter how many times they annoy you.

My sister visited mom on Friday, her weight-loss continues to get worse, she did get on the phone with me for a few seconds. I was pleased to hear her reading my name and phone number off the caller ID of my sisters phone. She told me she loved me, which made my day. I have missed talking to her and our almost daily phone calls. hearing her voice perked me up.

Now time to vent a bit...I don't mean to sound like a broken record in reference to my brother, but I need to let it out...so here goes. A couple of weeks ago, my sister who has access to my parents banking info was trying to log on to their account, well the password had been changed.  knowing she did not do that she immediately went to the bank and had everything redone. She could not figure out how it got changed since she never did it. A few days later she was packing some computer things up of my dads to send back to AT&T, as she went to get his computer modem she realized that the tower for dads desk top computer was missing...  My brother had been there and taken it! Which now explains the online banking info being changed.
My sister never curses...but let me tell you she did that day to me on the phone....  Thankfully no money was transferred out of the parents account, and now everything has since been changed and more security measures added so my brother can't get in to it.

And in addition to the computer he also took two collage picture frames of one of kind pictures of my mother when she was a little girl and of my dads family. Instead of offering to make copies for my sister and I , he didn't. We will never see those pictures again...  Which is very heartbreaking to me, because my sister and I would have liked a set.

I absolutely can not wait for the new guardianship to take over....   We are preparing ourselves for a new onslaught of his nastiness- the attorney did the paperwork we need to sign and it says "That  my sister and I chose an outside guardian because we believe our brother to be incapable of taking proper care of our mother".... Holy crap when he sees that, my brother is going to throw a real fit!
 We still think he is in Franklin, NC ...but honestly with all the smoke and fires going on its hard to believe he is still living in the campground.

Okay enough venting, and chores are calling, the chickens are going to feed themselves....Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!

-JUGM

The Weekend..

Friday the kids were out of school. We ran errands and did some housework. Once done NW opened the linen closet door and found Jack the Cat hiding. You just got to love the big boy.

Saturday had us busy with Senior umpiring the first little league game, and then our game followed. .. We had it won in the 4th inning, but certain kids (not mine) decided to give up. And then there was the poor officiating. I hate this league, because they make the coaches of the other teams umpire..most have no clue. 
Last night, we decided to burn the remaining wood we had in the pit...the evening was nice, and the full moon was rising. Made for a very relaxing time.

This morning is bright and sunny, but windy. Rain is in the forecast later tonight and all day tomorrow. A real soaker. My Kitchen is a mess-one child wanted french toast, the other was happy with a bowl of cereal. It is funny how brothers can be so much alike, but also so very different.

My radishes are growing. But nothing from my carrots. It has been over a month and only two or three have sprouted. So, I think I am going to get some tomato plants or bush cucumbers.  Not sure which yet. ND loves tomatoes, but so does the mockingbirds.. And then there is Libby, who thinks the little round things growing on the plant is a  tennis ball. *SIGH*

Friday I picked up a slab of ribs, and last night smothered them in olive oil and seasonings...soon Senior will have the smoker going, and the glorious smell of hickory wood and pork will consume the back yard and neighborhood.
I am off here now, to possibly head out the door for some cheap cat food and veggie plants, we are having a stray cat problem and setting a trap tonight.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a very blessed Sunday....

-JUGM

Sunday Wake Up

The dogs woke me up whining to go out. I stumbled out of bed, checked on the sleeping children. let Libby out of her kennel, and went to the back door..  Opened it..

I forgot  to disarm the home alarm system.
All Heck broke out on this quiet Sunday morning...
I ran back to the keypad to turn it off.
Saw Senior standing there shaking his head, hands on hips.
Kids slept through it.
Alarm company called to verify....

Later this morning while I was cleaning up the breakfast dishes Senior said : " You just had to set the alarm off at 7am"

ME:  "yup! It was a test"
Senior: "a test ? "
ME: " Yup ! You know crime never sleeps, need to make sure the family is prepared"
Senior: " OMG, But did you have to do it at 7am" ?
ME: " Yup! that bad guys aren't in bed! "
Senior: " OMG"

Kids last ball game for this season is today.. yay!  Happy Sunday!

-JUGM

A Chance to Take a Breath

Is it just me or did the past week just fly by? I got so busy with things around the house. Now it is Sunday early afternoon, just finished the last cup of coffee for the day, and we will soon be off to a make up baseball practice for NW. It was rained out last week. Being a Sunday afternoon, I wonder how many kids will actually show up. Due to his age, ND is back on a little Tee-Ball team again. The other tee-ball parents make me drop my mouth, they make me sigh and shake my head and that is all I have to say about them right now.

Yes, fall baseball is in full swing for us, I am happy to have kids who love to play outside and not sit inside on a game console all day. While our boys do have kindles,  I really limit the usage.
Some times  they get upset with me because they want to take them to school.
"But all our friends do".  I remind them, that school is for learning, and not playing on games all day-and they are not their friends nor I the friends parents.
 And all so, it was their uncle who purchased the expensive item for them, and if anything happened to it, it will be he to whom they answer to.

I love listening to them chat about their baseball future, right now they really do love the game, and have high aspirations.. One tells me he promises to be in the major leagues and buy mommy and daddy a big house on stilts overlooking a river. The other tells me he will make a One hundred thousand million dollars, and have the fastest pitch ever.
ND also asked what the world will be like when he is a man,and I just don't have the heart to answer him...
I smile, and tell them that with hard work, they can one day become that professional player they are dreaming about... 

-JUGM

Sunday, Sunday

It turned cold here...really cold. So cold that when Senior ran the sprinklers over night ice formed on every thing. This cold spell is suppose to last for the next couple of days. Fortunately tomorrow is a holiday and we can sleep in. YAY!

I did my drawing on Friday, and I have only heard from one winner. If I don't hear from the other 2, by Tuesday I will do a Re-Draw.

I emailed Mosins new owner and he sent pictures. The big boy is doing really well in his new home.
I am still on my search for a new little female boxer-but every thing I see is either mixed with a pitbull or they want an exuberant amount for the purebred puppy.

It does make me sad looking over some of these ads, you want to be able to bring them all home. but you can't. And I am learning at just how bad pitbulls are over bred in this country.. I don't want one. When I worked at the army vet. facility, I was lunged at by a male pitbull, then when I was 7mos. pregnant with ND I was bit by one in the leg..  All though I do understand that as far as the AKC is concerned there actually is no such thing as a pitbull..Its a name given to a mix of the AmStaff and Bull Terriors...

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We are now after 16 years having to shop for a new washing machine. It is making me sad that my old reliable Kenmore has finally bit the bullet. I use to have 2 things I hated to shop for : Swimsuits and Cars..now add appliances to that list. Everything is just so expensive, and I worry about the quality of things made these days. Currently we are looking at a Samsung, it has a 5 star rating, and a 10 year warranty on the motor etc..  Plus the price is in our range. I like it because while its a top loader, it does not have an agitator in the middle. 

ND is calling for breakfast, I told him I would make an omelet, but he cringed his little nose.. oh well. I am not a restaurant.
Enjoy your Sunday, I will enjoy appliance shopping... ( sarcasm)

-JUGM

Sunday...

The coffee is strong this morning. The sun is breaking through a fine layer of fog. It feels like April but the calendar say January. My roses think its spring time and sprouting new buds. Even the trees are starting with fresh blooms.

It is supposed to continue here for the next week. And by next Friday be more seasonable..what ever seasonable actually means anymore.

Mosin is growing. He seems a bit taller. My patience with him has been tried and tested this past week. But I have to keep reminding myself that he is just a baby and learning.

He likes to nip at Ruger. Mosin, being a Dobie has a much different attitude then Ruger, who is a Boxer. Ruger is  a big baby. If a bad guy came in the house, he would probably lick him to death.  Mosin likes to jump at and try to bite him in the neck. Finally Ruger has  started to fight back...

I like this picture because it looks like Ruger is reminding Mosin who is the oldest and just who is the Alpha Male in the house:



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Our Sunday is up and running. Dinner with neighbors later. I am making my famous Mac and Cheese and  Brownies..there are chores to do around the house. I hope you all have a blessed Sunday.

-JUGM

Sunday Morning and "The Talk"

It is a cool Sunday morning here. God has bless. blessed us with yet another beautiful fall day. My coffee is hot, sausage is defrosting. It is sausage gravy biscuits for breakfast today.,
Then later, Senior is cranking up the smoker yet again for Ribs. Of course my Mac n Cheese, and a home made peach cobbler...Good lord I must love my family !  : )


I can't stop thinking about a conversation Friday night with our oldest NW. He is the ripe old age of 7 and all ready wise beyond his years.
Halloween week at the boys school is "spirit week" each day is a theme. Tuesday is "Sock it to drugs"-they get to wear crazy socks.
Well, while ND was playing in his bath, and Senior outside by the fire pit. NW asked me "What are drugs".  I had to then go in to detail about the difference between prescriptions we get for being sick, and ones people take for fun. It was difficult explaining the differences. I told him even kids his age might try to offer him the "fun" drugs, or they may go in to mommy and daddy's medicines and bring some to school. I asked: "what would he do if a little friend offered him something" ?
His answer was To tell his teacher. I smiled and told him that is correct. But he elaborated further and said that he would then tell the friend, that he is a not sick and has no reason to take any medicines..
"Good Answer" I told him.  I hope that sentiment continues as he grows.

As good as the conversation went, it left me sad and worried for his and his little brothers future. I am sad because I shouldn't have to be having this conversation with a 7 year old. What has society done to our children?  They shouldn't have to worry about such things in life.
 I still see them both as my little babies, and I know that while they are my babies, they are also growing up into little men. I guess that is the "mother" part of me, wanting to keep them as innocent as I can, for as long as I can. I want them to be allowed to be kids and enjoy all aspects of what being a kid means.

I just hope, like any parent does that Senior and I are preparing them well for the challenges they face as they get older.  And no matter the good job we do, ultimately it will be up to them and the decisions they make. As a wise person once told me:  "we are the ones in charge of our own destiny"

The conversation ended, but I am still left with worry. I talked to Senior about it, who has also promised to talk with both boys on the subject. I am so very thankful for my Senior. No matter what obstacles we have faced during our marriage, the good, the bad and the ugly. We have always kept it together. I am happy that our boys can see their parents showing emotions with each other, hugging and kissing etc. My mother in law ( god rest her soul) once told me the importance of that , she told me so many couples don't, and that its positive for the children to see the love between their moms and dads.  I now think that comment is the root of it all for our society..it all comes down to the family and what kind of family the children have at home.  Family is what shapes our children in to the adults they will turn out to be.

Sunday Morning Funnies

A few things to make you giggle on a Sunday Morning...Enjoy your day!

 

And I saved the best for last :