Anyone Out There?

Well, evidently I’ve taken a summer break from blogging.

There’s been a lot going on around here, for sure.  Lots of gardening of course, work has been busy, and we even managed to get away for a little trip to the beach.  That was our first vacation in awhile, and believe me, it was needed, and enjoyed.

 

We’ve had a great garden this year, I guess the weather has been just right.  I’m contemplating putting in a Fall garden, which we’ve not done before, we’ll see.

I guess the biggest news is that I’m going to be a grandmother at the end of the year.  Courtney is excited to become a mom for the first time, and I’ll have to say, we’re all a bit excited too. 

She’ll find out this coming Thursday if it’s a boy or a girl…we can’t wait!

This and That, and Some More

I’ve been absent for awhile, again, due in part to so MUCH going on that I’m overwhelmed. I’ve needed time to sit and think and absorb. And then do it some more.

This has been quite a year so far.

I dealt with a health scare. It turned out ok, but I had thyroid nodules that took many weeks of testing, biopsies, etc. before I got a ‘clear’ from the Dr.

We’re having a budget crisis at work, and have been dealing with layoff possibilities for several months. We finally issued notices to some folks 2 weeks ago. Hubby and I feel very fortunate to not be on the list. This isn’t the end of it, we still have the 2012 fiscal budget reviews going on, there will likely be more. NASA is at a place it’s never been before.

One bright spot in the midst of a bunch of challenges was Easter.  We attended a wonderful Sonrise service then regular Easter service at church, then had the whole family out for the day. Lots of fun, food and easter egg hunting.

Come out, and you WILL get wet. Big kid never should have started it.

Little Ozzie got a tear in his cornea Easter weekend. So, since two days after that, hubby and I have been putting drops in his eye every 4 hours around the clock. That means coming home at lunch, getting up in the middle of the night, etc. Two weeks ago the vet determined that it wasn’t healing, so he had surgery. We’ve continued the drops, did I mention it’s EVERY FOUR HOURS AROUND THE CLOCK? Of course we would do nothing less. But a checkup this week determined he’s on the mend, has to still have drops a couple of times a day, and in about a month we’ll have him checked again. He doesn’t love the collar.

Ozzie on drugs

So next were the April 27 tornados that ripped through Alabama.  We will be in recovery mode for years.  We lived without power for 6 days, and feel very blessed that that is all we suffered.  Our family was spared any damage, but there are neighborhoods near us that are demolished.  I certainly hope this is something we’ll never see here in our lifetime again.  I can’t describe the devastation, or the feelings, so I won’t even try.  But we feel blessed beyond measure.

On a positive note, we got a garden planted, we’re excited about that.  Now the waiting.  We’re getting rain today for the first time in awhile, so me and the garden are very happy.

 

And there’s more.  But I’ll catch up more next week.  I will likely try a Weekend in Review update each Monday, at the least.

 

Have a great week!

 

Still Here

It’s been a slow beginning to Spring, not a lot going on.

Hubby and I did take a fun trip to Nashville for the weekend for a belated anniversary a week ago. We live so close to Nashville (actually we both lived in Nashville in the past, separately), but neither of us had ever been to the Grand Ole Opry, so we decided to go. It was so fun. We went on Friday night when they are doing the live radio show. The highlight of the night was Trace Adkins performing with the West Point Glee Club, that was awesome.

The pictures aren’t great, I left my camera at the hotel, and had to use my phone…not good. But believe me, the performances were great.

Trace Adkins

Saturday morning we headed downtown to Broadway, the strip lined with real live honky-tonks with real live entertainers waiting to be discovered, as well as shops, restaurants, and a new Margaritaville.

World famous Tootsie's Orchid lounge, where many a star has been discovered, and many a deal been made.

Other than that, we wandered around a bit, shopped here and there, and enjoyed good food, of course.

This past weekend, we worked in the field that is our yard for FOR HOURS. Got everything all trimmed up and tidy for next weekend. We’ll have Easter dinner (lunch) at our house after church, and have pretty much anyone over that can come. Always fun.

Son Adam came by to help out…probably saved hubby from cardiac arrest. He mowed around all the trees with the push mower (probaby 40-50 trees, on a slope), as well as a ditch that is slanted up and sideways.

There was frisbee throwing, fried chicken eating, and sipping tea on the back porch. A wonderful Sunday afternoon in the country.

This week there will hopefully be garden planting, a little more work outside. I LOVE Springtime!

It’s Monday All Over the Place

At least the weekend was nice.  Beautiful weather down here, got some yardwork done, got some sunshine.  Enjoyed lounging on the back porch drinking iced tea, visiting with dad on Saturday.  And today the severe weather comes in.

Weekend in Review and Other Stuff

What a fun, gorgeous weekend!

The weekend started off Friday evening with a visit from my BFF Lori, who hasn’t been out to visit for 100 years.   We used to get together often, but circumstances for both of us have gotten in the way the past several months.  She came out and spent the night, and we had fun, fun, fun, just relaxing, hanging in the hot tub, and laughing a lot.  Pure medicine for the soul.  And not one picture.  Next time.

Then on Saturday a few visitors in and out (I love that) like dad and my brother. Then we headed to dad’s in the evening to figure out a remote control problem and get dinner.

Sunday was a beautiful beginning to Spring, with a great church service, friends coming by in the afternoon, and just chillin’ on the back porch drinking iced tea.

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Other Stuff:

I am losing no weight.  Still stuck at a 5 lb loss since Jan 14. I guess I’ll start exercising this week.  Bleh.

My grocery  bill was just over $73 this week, and that included a few things we wouldn’t have normally gotten (meaning hubby shopped with me), so I’m pleased.

We got my little herb garden turned up and tilled this weekend, so I’m about ready to plant.  Hubby also started turning up the garden, so it won’t be long now. 

I can’t think of a better weekend.

Hope yours was great too.

Weekend in Review

What a beautiful weekend in the South!  We had temps in the upper sixties and sunshine, wonderful outdoor weather.

My beautiful daughter turned 26 years old on Sunday, so on Saturday we did what any Southern family does for any kind of a celebration…we had a big cookout, invited everyone over and ate and ate.

Courtney’s friend Brunno is from Brazil.  Brunno has been here since 2003, going to college on tennis and soccer scholarships, and working for the past couple of years.  Sadly for all of us, he can’t get a work visa to continue to stay here, so next week he is headed home to Brazil.  So of course we had to have a big good-bye party, so the cookout served both purposes.

There was grilling, playing with the dogs, eating, lots of fun.  Courtney decided she wanted Creme Brulee Cheesecake for her birthday cake, so I made two.  The picture isn’t great, but it was good, if  I say so myself.

We probably took 50 pictures, and I guess it was because Court was taking most of them, and Brunno is leaving…they were mostly of Court and Brunno and big dog (he belonged to them at one point, before we ‘adopted’ him).

                                                                                                     

Birthday girl and her mom

There were many more people here…not so many pictures of them!

A fun day.  I can’t believe she’s 26.  And I can’t believe Brunno is leaving, we love that kid.  He really has been like a part of our family for almost 8 years.  We wish him much luck back home in Rio.

Hope your weekend was wonderful as well.

Monday’s Last Weekly Market Report

Well month two of my challenge to reduce the grocery bill is finished and we came in at:
Costo: $98
Weekly market – average $77.84.

Not bad. I’m going to continue aiming for $75 weekly and less than $100 monthly at Costco until the garden comes in, then we’ll target $50 or less weekly.

But, until then, I’m going to post only once a month on the success (or not) … you are welcome .

I’ll be going back to ‘Weekend in Review’ on Mondays. Hopefully Spring is in the air and there will be things going on to post about.

This little cherry tree thinks Spring is on the way.