Visitors

Our long awaited visitors finally made it down here to good ol' NC. Auntie Liz and the all boys came for the week and we had a blast! With all the going here and there's we managed to squeeze in another trip to Duke Gardens and the Museum of Life and Science (since the boys hadn't been).

(there's a dragonfly on that there flower)

Lots o' lily pads....

....giant ones too...

...I love them, think they are so pretty.

Jack and Kathy taking a break on the bench...it was a hottt day!

Dru...following the rest of 'em that zipped up ahead.

Another bridge...somehow I missed this one the three previous times I've been there?

Kathy and Beepa

They painted the white bridge red to go more with the oriental gardens surrounding it.

Can't get enough of that bamboo ☺

Traditional Japanese house....

....nakey feet please☺

The boys on yet another bridge.

Beepa taking full advantage of what little breeze we had while strolling into the pergola.

Step Gardens...

...peekin' in on the poison dart frogs again...

...love these lil' guys....and more butterflies...

While they visited we also painted gourdes...mine took a lil' longer but I finished! I painted one for myself this time...just needs a sealant and it's good to go....

...all three sides ☺

Had SO much fun! Can't wait 'til they visit again!

Friday Fill-Ins 24

Friday Fill-In time, once again ☺

1. Life is all about changes.

2. Sometimes you just need a push to keep going.

3. My last text message (or IM) ended in these three words: ...set against it.

4. Having mexican lasagna is what I'm thinking about for dinner sometime soon.

5. On the 1st day of August it's three days til my birthday.

6. My dog, Toby, is very lively and energetic.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to laundry, I wouldn't exactly say I am lookin' forward to that, tomorrow my plans include more job searching (ugh), some cleaning, and opening birtday gifts and Sunday, I want to Welcome our fabulous guests!! Auntie Liz, Dru and Jack, yippee!

Summer So Far

Wow, have I been a slacker or what? Been busy and just have gotten lazy with trying to blog. Here's the highlights...

I have a wonderful family and they decided that it was time for me to finally visit NH. I can't thank my Grandparents and my cousin enough! I was so excited I could barely contain myself. But the thought of flying alone, sure calmed me down a bit. Those of you that know me, my anxiety tries to rule my life. Flying alone would of been completely out of the question a couple years ago. But I bit the bullet and went for it. The flights up to NH out of NC were great...besides a slight headache, I loved it...flying home was another story...after a canceled flight and sitting in the airport 11 hours (thank you thunderstorms), myself and one other passenger were able to squeeze onto a late standby flight, otherwise it would of meant a night at the airport for a morning flight...sooo glad that didn't happen. I had a WONDERFUL time up there though, so

much fun! I also got to see my first movie at a drive-in, twice even!☺

Oh, and despite making sure I had lots of batteries and room on my camera for pictures...and I quote "I suck" because I hardly look any pictures...unfortunately all the great memories in my head can't transfer into photos...but here are the few I managed to take...

(Waiting for my first flight, lil' nervous but super excited!)

******

(At Auntie Liz and Uncle Scott's for the Fourth of July Party!)

(Auntie Liz, Uncle Scott, Grampa)


(I finally met Kane)


(It's Vicki!)

...Some of my festive 4th of July (temporary) tattoos...


******

Got a chance to go to the beach and put my feet in the sand...

******

Where I grew up! Gardens look more grown, pretty much looked the same...

Beepa's ol' house looked just the same.

******

Just before I left NH, Vicki put the final touches on the beautiful quilt she made me...I love it!

*** ****** ***

Back home for my birthday...I turned 29...last year in my 20's, how did that happen?

Got beautiful flowers delivered for my birthday ☺

*** ****** ***

Going through this divorce has had its ups and downs. One thing I didn't like was my finger felt naked. After years of wearing rings on it every day, it didn't feel right. So as an early birthday present/starting my new life gift, I was able to get a ring while up in NH (which made it just all that more precious to me). I love it down here, but I still miss it up there. I can't wait until I can visit NH again. ☺

Southern Funny 15

Q. What's the difference between a northern fairytale and a southern fairy tale??

A. A northern fairytale begins, "Once upon a time…" and a southern fairytale begins, "Y'all ain't gonna believe this sh*t!"

Sears Catalog Order

Two rednecks were looking at a Sears catalog and admiring
the models. One says to the other, 'Have you seen the
beautiful girls in this here catalog?'

The second one replies, 'Yep, they are very beautiful,
and look at the price, ooowweee!!

The first one says, with wide eyes, 'Wow, they aren't
very expensive. At this price, I'm buying one.'

The second one smiles and pats him on the back. 'Good idea
Jed'. Order one and if she's as beautiful as she is in
the catalog, I'll get one too.'

Three weeks later, the youngest redneck asks his friend,
'Did you ever receive the girl you ordered from the Sears
catalog?'

The second redneck replies, 'No, but she shouldn't be long
now, cuz she mailed me all her underwear yesterday.'

Friday Fill-Ins 23

Well I haven't done one of these in forever, and what an ironic theme this week, since I fly to NH for vaca soon!! ☺ Friday Fill-In:



1. On vacation, I like have fun and do things I normally wouldn't get a chance to do.
2. Hoping when I'm up in NH I get to go cool my feet in the ocean.
3. One of my favorite vacation spots isn't super exciting, it's getting to go back 'home'.
4. Now I think of 'Twilight' whenever I see a full moon.
5. Up, up and away, I get to fly alone, eek.
6. Bananas are better dried, mmm banana chips.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading more of my Dan Brown novel, tomorrow my plans include lil shoppin' for travel stuff and Sunday, I want to vegg!

Even More Painting

Well I think we are finally running low on projects. At least I hope so, 'cuz I sure am sick of paintin' ☺ but we did get the ol' mailbox covers (covered bridges) lookin' like new. After we took off the roofing..this is what I had to work with...

(before)

Oh, and we found another reason to use the nail guns! More reroofing...

(after)

(before)


(after)

I painted each one to match the houses they belong to. Now they are all perty and look spankin' new...they are ready to head on out to the road and get 'em some mail ☺

Hurray for paint! ☺

More Painting

Well yet another project done. We got projects all over the place ☺ One major one was sanding down and painting all the outdoor furniture we have around the outdoor fire pit. Toby helped...mostly by staying out of the way...

(Before)

...I got all the furniture sanded down with help from the orbital sander, thank you Mr. Dewalt...my arm still aches from that thing! ☺
Then it was lots and lots of painting, got it done in two days, which is good, because the forecast calls for rain tomorrow.
(During)
(Beepa, the local painting pro.)
(After)

In all it was 9 pieces...its a light mint green color...they look so much better! Now we can veg. around the fire lookin' perty ☺

Us Girls Can Handle It

"It's cedar shakes, and I helped!" ☺

I helped put new roofing on the mini-covered bridge that our family has had for what seems like forever. Got our first chance to use the nail gun, loved it! Now we wanna find more projects so we can use it again!

Tada!
The kitties love it ☺

Southern Funny 14

Maw Wants Paw To Fix Outhouse

Maw is outside hangin' up the laundry, when she hears Paw in the kitchen. Maw walks in and says, "Paw, get out there and fix that there outhouse."

Paw says, "All right, Maw." Paw walks out to the outhouse, looks at it and says, "Maw, there ain't nothin' wrong with this here outhouse!"

Maw says, "Yes, there is. Put your head down in the hole."

Paw says, "I ain't puttin' my head in that there hole!"

Maw says, "Well you're gonna have to if'n you're gonna fix the problem!"

So Paw puts his head down in the hole (just a little bit, mind ya) and then hollers, "Maw, there ain't nothin' wrong with this here outhouse!"

Maw hollers, "Now pull your head out of the hole."

Paw goes to lift up his head and he says, "Oww! Ouch! Maw! MAW, my beard's stuck in the wood cracks in the seat!"

Maw says, "Aggravatin', ain't it?"

hehehe ☺

Another Project Done

Well, I've been trying to keep busy and keep my spirits up while I am home. Other then cookin' for everyone most nights. I spent a couple days repainting the house numbers that hang out near the street. Before they were both a hideous green with worn off gold accent color. Now they are painted to match each house's colors ☺

And there is my bench from my house. I had an awesome porch bench that came with me when I moved and it found a new home ☻ Soon I will be givin' it some tlc and then all the outdoor adirondack chairs are gonna get some fresh coats of paint. Which they desperately need. Getting alot done before that summer heat sets in...

Keepin' Busy

Beepa and I spent the last week painting the shabby ol' shed, the weather cooperated for the most part.

This is it before:

During:

And after:
Much better, it's so cute now ☺

Guilty Conscience?

♥ Toby stole a dryer sheet...and looked so guilt ridden when he was caught with it...I couldn't help but laugh...

"If I don't look at you, then you can't see me and then you won't take it away from me...right?"

hmm...wonder if he knows where all the missing socks that the dryer keeps "eating" are? ☺

Happy Easter

Hope everyone has a Happy Easter!!

(cresent rolls, made from scratch for easter)