Rainy - yay!!!

As much as I hate rainy days, I tried really, really hard not to be depressed today.  We needed the rain very badly, so it was a great day!  Basically, it started raining last night about 9:00 and rained all day today.  It has quit now.

Dave was home today - the rain kept him from working.  He was in the garage most of the day, servicing the lawn mower...changing the oil, transmission fluid, blades, etc.  It was nice having him nearby at least!  He went to the Canteen and brought us home sandwiches and a piece of coconut pie to split!  Nice surprise!!

I paid bills, got my Stampin' Up order ready to distribute, worked on some card ideas, and got my desk and craft rooms back in shape.  I also took a picture of one of the graduation cards opened up (before I mailed it!)

I stuck the check in the bottom part of the hat, and wrote a good luck message on the back.  The graduates getting this card this year are boys, so they may not appreciate it as much as girls...but I still made and sent out SU cards!!

I think my "cold"/strep throat/sinus infection/allergies/whatever is about to get me down.  Today I'm much more congested than I was last week!  Tomorrow if I'm still like this, I'm taking an allergy pill to see if that will help!

More later...

Perfection!!

This was just about the most perfect day ever!  It was in the low 70's and plentiful sunshine - my kind of day!!  I had it planned that I would "play" making cards most of the day, but that didn't work quite the way I wanted it to.  Before I'd even had my shower this morning, my brother called and wanted to know if we'd picked up the flowers from the cemetery.  Since we were going to do it tonight, he said that we should go get them this morning.  I had to scramble to be ready in less than 30 minutes!!  We got back home around 10:30 or so - there went the largest part of the morning!!

I fixed my lunch and finished my graduation cards!!  Yay!  Now to get them in the mail.  I actually found some envelopes that worked just fine, so they'll go out in tomorrow's mail...IF I have any stamps.  Uh oh, no stamps - another delay!

This is the card that I made.  The top of the graduation cap pivots on the red brad on the left (above the congratulations) to reveal a place for money or a gift card or a check - whatever!  It's a pretty cool card.  Obviously everything I used except for the tassel is from Stampin' Up.  The tassel is just a scrap of yarn.  I should have taken a picture of the card open - sorry, didn't get that done.  Pretty cool card - and easy too!

Tonight Bob, Ann, and I went to Washington to watch Allison's Y team play softball.  Allison pitched the first two innings - faced 7 batters and struck out 6!!  She also had a couple of good hits...unfortunately they were right at one of the other team's players so she was put out.  Allison's team won 10-0!  Finally - a team that wins!!

More later...

A/C Off Again!!

Yahoo!  I got to turn off the air conditioner and open the windows and doors again!  After three days of hot and humid, today we had beautiful and mild!  Tomorrow's supposed to be a little cooler than today, so I suppose when I get up Dave will have closed up all the windows!  He's always cold and I'm usually overly warm!!  Oh well, since I'll be home all day by myself, I'll just open the windows after he leaves!

I've been working on some graduation cards, but I can't seem to finish them.  I've got them about done, but now I see that they won't fit in my A4 envelopes.  Maybe I'll just have to make my own envelopes!!  I didn't even think about that until right this minute!!  I guess I've definitely got a goal for tomorrow!!  Good thing, too, since graduation was Sunday!

Between Dave's work and a church meeting tonight, I got to see him all of 23 minutes today.  He just got home a little bit ago, so I've got to get off of here before he falls asleep in his chair!

More later...

Happy Memorial Day!

What a beautiful day for the unofficial start of summer!  It was a little warm, but summer's supposed to be...right?  I started the day with our Bible Reading Time at church.  We finally got through Mark 14!!!  We've only got 15 and 16 left and 16 is a short chapter!  We had wonderful discussions today because we're ast the trial of Jesus by the Sanhedrin.  Next is his civil trial and then you know the rest of the story. 

When I got home from church, Dave was outside digging out sod from around the peonies.  He then put down wet newspaper and mulch...plus he planted my new ones and replanted some of ours that weren't growing.  I think they were too deep in the soil.  We'll see if they flourish now.

We've been watch the Hatfields & McCoys on the History Channel tonight.  This was quite an interesting feud.  They had lots of things to start the feud!!  It seems as if someone is killing someone from the other side constantly.  I really like Kevin Costner, but I'm not thrilled about his character in this series. 

More later...

Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing!  Tonight Dave taught me how to ride his moped.  I'm not sure I think it was fun...I was a little tense the whole time I was riding.  Plus, I was only riding in the big field next to us - not out on the streets!!  Dave says I should ride it every evening until I'm comfortable on it.  I'm not sure we have enough evenings!!! 

Sunny Sunday!

Here it is - it's already Sunday night.  I thought this long weekend just started and here it is almost over!  I still don't have my full voice back, so I didn't get to sing in the choir today.  In fact, I didn't get to sing at all!  Mark & Mary lead the congregation in praise songs today, one of which was "I Saw The Light."  I love this song and all I could do was clap!!  Later in the service, Mark sang a Michael W. Smith song, "Friends".  I had tears running down my face.  It was beautiful and so appropriate for high school friends who are graduating today.  My tears were caused because I got to thinking about the "Girls of '66" and realized how important our friendship is to all of us.  Pretty cool!

Right now I'm watching the race - 3 laps to go and the Hendrick guys are having a good run.  Woohoo - Kasey won, Dale was 6th, Jeff was 7th and Jimmie was something like 11th or so!  All four of them in the top 15!  That's been a long time coming!!  Good job, guys!  So now Mr. H has his 201st victory...heading for 250!!

More later...

THAT was fun!!!

One of my neighbors from when I lived up by Ames just called me.  We haven't talked for a long time and it was sooooo good to hear her voice.  She sounded good - she has scleroderma and hasn't been very well for a long, long time.  She filled me in on everything in her life, including about her Dave and her son, Bryan.  Don't you think it's ironic that I married a Dave and have a son, Bryan, too.  And, even more ironic, her Bryan lives near our Bryan!  It's such a small world!!

This morning, my brother and I went to the cemeteries to decorate the graves.  Man, it's summer out there today!   Hot and humid - kind of like July!!  I'm still sneezing and having allergy issues.  Being out at the cemetery on a gravel road sure didn't help!  When we got done decorating the graves, we stopped at Aunt Mae's house and dug up some peonies and some iris.  Tomorrow we'll be planting ours in my perennial garden.  Once Dave got home from working at Habitat, we went out and planted the annuals that I bought 2 weeks ago.  You know, sometimes I think I need to hire a handyman for work around OUR house!  Dave always has time to help others and for that I'm proud of him!  I'm just saying that we've got some things that need attention here.

More later...

A little rain!!

Today was sure a pretty day.  I actually got out and pulled some clover from around my peonies and watered my plants.  I also filled the bird bath and my fountain.  My little feathered friends love the bird bath, and it was almost bone dry!  Dave worked all day today and I stayed home and blew my nose!  I think that in addition to a sore throat, now I'm having allergy problems today!!  Great combination, huh?!  I know that the roof of my mouth, my ears and my eyes itch and I'm sneezing like crazy!  My throat feels better, but I'm still pretty hoarse!

Tomorrow Bob & I will go to decorate the graves of our family.  Then I'm coming home and hibernating!  It's supposed to be around 90 both tomorrow and Sunday.  Welcome, Summer!!!  I hope we get some rain this weekend sometime...what we got today settled the dust, but that's about all.

I made a really cool card today.  This is the card that I'm going to demo when we have our PMS meeting next month now.  I may even do it for our card class on June 16th.

More later...

Speedy Peg

I didn't know I could move so fast!  This morning, at 8:10, I called my doctor's office to see if I could get in sometime today.  I could see a PA at 9:00 - yay!!  Oh, wait, I haven't showered yet!  I'm pretty sure I can make it pretty close to 9:00 and I don't want to turn down that appointment.  So I jump in the shower, put some mousse in my hair, brush my teeth, put on my clothes, pick up my phone and purse and I'm out the door. I've got a 30 minute drive to the doctor's office and I was there with 5 minutes to spare!!  When I got in to see the PA, I had a fever and a very sore throat.  He said he wouldn't waste my money by doing a throat culture; we would just assume I had strep!  I was out of his office, paid my deductible, and was back in my car by 9:15 AM!!  I took my first antibiotic at noon.  Now I've had two and I already feel better!!  I'm still running a fever, but my throat isn't as sore and I am not as hoarse as I was!  Hooray for meds!!

We finally broke down and turned on the air this evening.  It was so dusty out, that we both thought we'd feel better by having the air on.  Maybe I'll sleep better tonight.

More later...

I'm Pondering...

I want to know how in the heck my desk gets so messed up, seemingly overnight!!  I really don't think I'm a messy person, but my desk sure proves that theory wrong!  I'm glad my mess is confined to the desk...and maybe my studio....hmmmm.  Those are the two places I spend the most time....hmmmmm.

Today I just took it easy.  I awoke with a very sore throat and sinus drainage.  I was not a happy camper.  I did, however, feel better as the day wore on.  Now I'm tired, though.  I wonder if I have mono?  I'm tired, my glands hurt, hmmm.

I was able to get some things done today AND I got to watch my birds.  I love those little hummers.  Today I actually had 2 of them on the feeder at once - for about 20 seconds.  Then the chase was on!!  They're so funny!!  I could watch them and the orioles all day long.  Yesterday I watched a mating dance of the purple finch - that was pretty cool.  That little guy was really strutting and singing for his girlfriend!  I wish I'd had my camera - it would have made the cutest video!

Tomorrow the cleaning lady comes, so I've got to do some picking up and putting away!  More later...

Not so good day

I've got laryngitis and a slight fever...so I don't feel so well.  When I lie down, all I do is cough, so I'm sitting in my recliner, hoping to go to sleep sometime in the near future!  At least I don't have a bad day tomorrow, so I should be okay if  I don't get to sleep soon.

I had a training meeting at the courthouse this afternoon.  We are going to be able to scan in drivers licenses of voters this year...more fun!  Unfortunately, no one is running opposed for the primary, so we'll have a minimum number of voters.  But it'll be a good thing for the general election in November! 

I watched DWTS finale tonight.  This season has just been spectacular!  I'm so glad Donald Driver won...he was my favorite from the getgo.  Of course, I always like whomever Derek dances with, too.  It's funny how many football players have won on this show.  Just goes to show that footwork is important!! 

More later...

What a day!

I am completely exhausted!  Tonight was our stamping night and we had 13 people.  Of course, 2 of them were under the age of 8!!!!  So we were really, really busy.  It's easier to do when you have about 5-6 people, but we make it work with larger groups.  We made some really cool cards.  Maybe tomorrow I'll get some pictures of them - but not tonight!

I started the morning cutting out supplies for cards.  We had reservations for 15 people and we'd originally planned for only 12.  Then I took time out to go to Bible Reading Time.  Love that time!  Wouldn't trade it for anything.  We still didn't get clear through Mark 14!  Maybe next week!

That's it for tonight...more later...

Beautiful, But Busy!

It was another beautiful day in the neighborhood, but it sure was a busy one!  We had choir practice at 8:45, then church.  Church was wonderful - great music by 2 bell choirs, Chancel choir, PraiSing, and children's choir, the organist, the piano accompanist, plus a wonderful sermon based on Micah 6:6-8.  Then we had a congregational meeting, which I skipped out on.  Dave had to be there and I needed to be home making a dish for our 3:00 choir party.  So, I came home!

At 2:00 we went to an open house for one of our pre-school teachers, who has been in that position for 12 years.  She will be missed...the kids just love her.  Then also at 2:00 there was a reception at my cousin's house for his daughter who just graduated from optometry school.  It's fun to have a doctor in the family!  She starts her practice the first of July here in O-town!  After that, we went to the choir party.  That was really fun, too.  I took ranch corn salad, a recipe I tried off of Pinterest.  I thought it was really good!  It's definitely a keeper!

We finally got home about 7:00 or so.  I worked on tomorrow night's card party and now I'm going to bed!  More later...

Great Day

It was a beautiful day again today and a great day for softball.  It's too bad that Allison's team isn't any good this year.  All you need to be successful is to be able to catch the ball, throw the ball, hit the ball, with someone who can pitch!  This team plays like a bunch of girls!  You would think that after a year or two of softball under their belts, they would play better...NOT!  They are pretty bad and the competition today was so much better than they were it was really bad!  Oh well...it was a nice day to sit out and enjoy the sun!  Unfortunately we left at 8 AM and didn't get home until dark!  We played 3 games and got clobbered 3 games!!  Allison played pretty well all day.

More later...

Another Gorgeous Day

I know you probably get really tired of me saying that it's a gorgeous day, but it was!!  I love days like today, although it was a bit more humid today than I really, really like!  I didn't really even open up the house until later this evening.  That way I was able to keep the house cool and pretty much humidity free!

I had a PEO luncheon today.  The committee did a wonderful job, as usual.  We almost always have our spring luncheon at JoAnn's house because it was built for entertaining.  She has no problem seating 25-30 people.  Unfortunately today we only had 21, so there were unused seats.  We had a chicken dish, a little cup of fresh fruit, and a crescent roll.  Then for dessert there were chocolates!  You just can't beat that!  Good job, ladies!

I came home and read.  Dave came home early and he was reading, too.  Then I fell asleep, so I took a nice nap.  When I woke up Dave had taken a shower and was dressed to go to dinner at the Club.  That was a nice change of pace!  I've got to remember when I go there to take a sweater or a jacket or something - it's always freezing in there, and tonight was no exception!

Tomorrow I'm leaving here at 8:00 AM.  Bob, Ann, and I are going to Iowa City to watch Allison play ball.  She has 3 games tomorrow and then she also plays Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week.  So, we're off to ballgames!  My tan should come back now!!

More later...

New Catalog is Here!!

Our new Stampin' Up catalogs are here.  They are much more compact and, I think, better organized.  Plus they are really, really attractive.  You can get one for $5.00 - just contact me.  I also got my order today, so now I really have to get busy...I've got all kinds of new things to play with!  I got all of the new in colors and I really like them.  I didn't think they were so good when I saw them online, but in person they're really pretty!

I had a hard time functioning today.  I don't know what it is, but I was so tired today.  I just didn't want to do anything.  When I rode the stationary bike, it was all I could do to keep going.  I think I'll go to bed early - maybe it's just a lack of sleep since I've been getting up so darn early!!  This morning I actually slept in...I slept until 6:50!!  That's a whole 40 minutes later than I've been getting up!!

More later...

Gorgeous Day

This was another absolutely gorgeous day!  REW/Affinity/KeyOn (whatever our internet company was) came out today and took down our little dish and officially deleted us from their system!  So now I'm officially on Mediacom solely!  So far I like it - it's tons faster than KeyOn!!  Even Dave's old laptop is faster!  Now we can actually watch a video like youtube without it stopping every 3 seconds to buffer.  It's fun to watch a youtube video now!

I went to Fairfield after Cliff left, to have lunch with Sudi and Howard.  It was good to see them again!  We went to George's for "breakfast" at lunch!  It was so cold in there, I about froze to death!!  Sudi had a denim jacket on and shared it with me - thank goodness!!  On the way home from Fairfield, after I got warm again, I got so sleepy I was sure I was going to take a nap as soon as I got home.  I'm glad I didn't though...my old boss stopped by.  I haven't seen him for a long time.  He left IHCC on Feb. 1st and didn't say goodbye since I was in Florida at the time.  We talked for about 2.5 hours!!  I will miss him!  He is living in California but came back to sell his house.  His wife is coming in on Monday to decide what to sell and what to keep.  I'll get to keep in touch by Facebook at least!

Tonight was our last choir practice - yay!  Sunday is Worship through Music Sunday and we're singing some cool songs!  Then we sing one song next Sunday and we're done for the summer.  Yay again!!

More later...

Oh, I forgot to tell you that this morning I had 3 male Baltimore Orioles at my feeder.  They were eating grape jelly like crazy!!

Beautiful Tuesday

I'm tired and ready for bed!  I had a massage this afternoon, which makes me just want to curl up afterwards and veg out!  Unfortunately about an hour later, I left for a sorority meeting and I just got home just a few minutes ago....grrrrrr!  I didn't want to go at all!  Then I remembered that I was officiating at a ritual at the meeting, so I felt that I HAD to go!!

Another reason I didn't want to go to sorority is that tonight was the semifinal results show for Dancing with the Stars.  I wanted to see who got sent home.  I am so glad I didn't see it - I'd have been mad!  I can't believe that  Maria & Derek got voted off...they had perfect dances last night and they've been close to perfect every other night.  Now I'm going to cheer for Donald Driver, the Green Bay Packer.  He's really good, too!

More later...

Spring has sprung!

We are having the most gorgeous weather - I believe that spring has truly sprung!  For my bird report today, I have to tell you that we had an Indigo Bunting at the feeder!  He was the prettiest blue all over - no red breast like the Bluebirds that are here.  I don't believe I've ever seen one before!  Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera nearby, so I couldn't get a picture!  We also had a beautiful Baltimore Oriole male this evening - even Dave got to see him eating on the grape jelly we put out.  Earlier this morning a female oriole landed on the hummingbird feeder outside my window and squawked at me!  So tonight we got the oriole feeder out, filled it with nectar, added some jelly and a half an orange and hung it in the tree outside my window.  It'll be fun to see if she comes back.  She even took a bath in the bird bath, but flew away as soon as I stood up to take a picture.  No picture of the orioles either!  Sorry!

I had Bible Reading Time this morning.  We had another lively discussion about Passover and about Judus.  I learn so much every Monday morning.  I just love it!  At lunch, I went to Bridge View for the Cyclone Tailgate Tour complete with several coaches, the AD, and various support personnel.  It's always fun to see all of them. I've got a couple of pictures, but the coaches had their backs to the big window and we were facing the window, so it didn't make for the best picture-taking venue.  I'll hopefully get them uploaded tomorrow.

This evening I had an Evangelism meeting and then DWTS.  Wow, what a show it was!  I will be sad to see any of these last 4 go home.  They are all fantastic!!

More later...

Happy Mother's Day

What a beautiful day today was.  As far as I'm concerned, it was just about perfect.  Beautiful with abundant sunshine and low humidity - definitely my kind of day!

Both kids called me to wish me Happy Mother's Day...plus, I got to talk to my grandson, too.  He's 4, but when he got on the phone, he said, "Happy Mother's Day!" without any prompting from Jami!  He's a pretty cool little guy!!

At church today, we sang a song that was fantastic - and we did a good job singing it!!  It was "There's a Sunday Coming Soon" or something like that.  Next week is Worship in Music Sunday - should be good!  We'd love to have you come worship with us - 9:30 at First Presbyterian in Ottumwa!

I have some pictures I want to share tonight!  Here's one of my little hummers - isn't she cute?

I went out yesterday to try to find the baby woodpecker that fell out of the tree while I was mowing and this is what I saw.  Do you suppose this is from deer antlers?  That's all I can figure it might be.  The little bit of white in it is all I could find of the baby woodpecker - ha!!

Here is a close up of one of my iris.  The iris and the peonies have just been gorgeous this year!!

I don't think I've shown you this beautiful hibiscus before.  If I have, chalk it up to TMOA (too much old age).  We saw this hibiscus at Bubba Gump's in St. Pete one evening when we had gone to Hooters for dinner.  I can't believe the color in it.  I've never seen one like it before!

More later...

Great Day

Dave scouted fields all day, so I was left on my own...again.  I had a great day, though.  I heard an oriole outside, so I rushed to the window and watched a female oriole eating the orange I'd put out.  She was beautiful, too.  I think that might be the first female oriole I've ever seen.  My hummingbirds were just buzzing around like bumblebees, too!  While I was outside, there was an Eastern Bluebird sitting on our lamppost.  Lots of bird watching today!  Dave calls our birds pigs because they eat up all the food so fast - they're little gluttons.

I forgot to tell you this.  Yesterday when I was mowing, a baby woodpecker fell out of the tree right beside me.  It was big enough to be out of the nest, but it's wings weren't working quite right yet.  I slowed down to make sure I didn't mow over it.  He hopped back to the tree trunk and scurried up it.  Next time I came around, he fell out again...same thing, back up the trunk he went.  This happened a third time before he figured out that I wasn't going to hurt him!  It was really cute watching him walk up that tree trunk!

Right now I'm watching NASCAR.  Jimmie Johnson is probably going to win.  He's ahead with 2 laps to go, but he doesn't have but minimum fuel.  Sure hope he doesn't run out.  Mr. Hendrick will win his 200th career Sprint Cup!  Jimmie did win.  I really am not a Jimmie Johnson fan.  I'd rather Jeff Gordon would win, but he had 3 flat left tires in a row...so he was in 35th or something like that.  Oh well, there's always another race!

Tomorrow's another Sunday.  We're going to church and then to lunch.  We're hoping to get the 56 Chevy out in the afternoon and take a little cruise over to Albia for a hot fudge sundae!  Mmmmm - can't wait.  More later...

Beautiful Friday

What a glorious day today was!  I thoroughly enjoyed myself!!  I had all the windows and doors open and while I was looking out my window, I was visited by an oriole, a cardinal who entertained me while he was chewing on a seed, and numerous hummingbirds!  The little hummers are chasing each other around - they're a hoot to watch!

I got to go to lunch with Sudi today.  It was good to see her.  Haven't seen much of her since we've been back in Iowa.  We had a good lunch and a great chat!  This afternoon I went to Walmart - yuck!  I should have gone to Target - it's closer and I like it better!  I ended up buying a wireless router, but not a Belkin.  I bought a Netgear N150.  I talked to a young man (who looked like a computer geek) and he recommended this one.  He said they've had numerous Belkins returned!  He's had a netgear for several years and no problems!!

This evening I had to go to a visitation.  One of my sorority sisters lost her mother this week.  Her dad died just about 8 months ago, so she's had a bad year.  Her mom had Alzheimers.  After I got home, Dave started mowing.  Once he got the outside edges done, I went out and mowed the rest of it.  It was a great evening for mowing!  I put my mower on cruise and mowed away!!

More later...

Another "Blood" Day

I got up early this morning so I could be at the hospital by 8:00 AM for my mammogram and my Dexascan.  I'm glad those are over!  Nothing to the Dexascan except you have to lie flat on your back on a hard surface for at least 6 minutes...not good for someone whose back tends to spasm!  Anyway those are done for another year, hopefully!

After that I stopped at 1st Comm. CU to do the paperwork so I can be on our PEO account.  Forty-five minutes later, I was out of the branch manager's office and at the teller's window to deposit three checks.  That even took 10 minutes - I'm glad I wasn't in a hurry!  I finally got that done though!

While I was gone, I had gotten a phone call from my Dr's office saying my potassium levels were slightly elevated.  They wanted me to have more blood tests...so back to the hospital I went!  This time they at least stuck me in the other arm!  My "normal" arm (that they use) is getting poked a bunch!  So, that's three days in a row that they've taken blood out of me!  Hopefully I won't have to do more "blood letting" tomorrow.  I'm beginning to feel like a pin cushion!!

The Mediacom guy came early and got me hooked up for internet, but for some reason now our internet won't work if the wireless is plugged in.  It's a DLink wireless, so tomorrow I'm hoping to get a Belkin and set it up like I did in Florida.  With DLink we had to call in and have them walk us through the set-up.  After he left, I went to McGregors and bought myself a new recliner that massages and heats my back!  Dave and I went to pick it up as soon as he got home.  We even got it carried into the house and plugged in!!  It's wonderful!

More later...

Oh No!

My chair died tonight!  I'm going to have to go shopping for a new chair!  I have a big recliner that has both heat and massage in it.  I use it almost daily and tonight it died!  I'm so sad because I really sleep well in that chair - especially with the heat and the massage both going.  I guess I'll run to McGregors tomorrow morning.

Speaking of tomorrow morning, I have to get up early!  I have a mammogram scheduled at 8:00 AM, followed by a Dexascan (for bone density).  Today I had my doctor's appointment for my yearly physical.  He pronounced me healthy, but I left a little more blood in his office!  Yesterday I gave blood and today they drew 3 vials more out of me.  No wonder I'm really tired tonight!

I even got outside this afternoon - I got some more weeds pulled.  We really need to rake out all of our mulch, pull up the black paper and replace it, and then start all over again.  That's about the only way we'll get all of the grass out of my perennial beds.

Oh, by the way, tomorrow I'll have a new email.  We are having to switch internet providers.  I'll let you know what it is.  If I were you, I'd use ourgtx@gmail.com - it seems to work the best anyway!!  I know our new email will end in mchsi.com, but that's all I know.  Hopefully I can keep it simple, like frushour@mchsi.com - we'll have to wait and see, though.\

More later...

Cool Day

I about froze my tush off today...there was a brisk NW wind that must have been bringing air down from Canada!!  I should have worn a long-sleeved shirt!  At least the sun was shining.  I have windows open upstairs, but I promptly closed them downstairs - shortly after I opened them!!!

Juliene and I met today to decide what we were going to do at our next card get-together.  I think we finally have a plan!  We have an abundance of ideas.  The hard part is trying to decide what colors and stamps to use.  Our new catalog is out for us demonstrators so we want to use some of those products, but we've got to get them first!!

I also gave blood today for the first time since last fall.  I was having issues today.  I broke the computer - anyway it quit working on the question about whether or not I've ever been pregnant!  Then they couldn't get my answers to print out.  They finally had to fill out the questions manually.  I got into the chair ready for them to stick me, and I started coughing.  Then the tech started sneezing!!  It was kind of funny!!  It was almost as if I wasn't supposed to give blood today!  After I got home, they called from the blood center and I needed to sign something which I hadn't done, so I had to go back out!  It's a good thing I had gone early because I barely got home when I had to go back out for a church meeting!

DWTS was a sad one tonight.  I hate it when Max and his partner get sent home...I know they should have been booted, but he's so darn fun to watch that I hate it!  I feel that the semifinalists are the right ones to be there.  This has been an exceptional season.

More later...

Really, really nice day!

It sure was a nice day today!  A front came through during the night and dropped almost an inch and a half of rain at our house.  Others not far from us had over 2".  Then the sun came out and the day was truly beautiful...not hot and we got rid of that pesky humidity that curls my hair!  I loved it!

Evidently the birds loved the day too.  I had a Baltimore Oriole this morning.  Unfortunately I hadn't put an orange out for him, or any grape jelly.  I hope he comes back because they're both out there now.  I had numerous visits from both male and female hummingbirds who were VERY thirsty!!  They just drank and drank and drank!  I wish I could tell them apart, then I'd know how many were here.  I also had cardinals and finches - it was just a wonderful day!!

After my church meeting, I worked some more in my office.  In between appointments tomorrow, I should get clear finished in there - yay!  I'm ready for that!  It's so nice to see the tops of things!!

More later...

Another gorgeous day!

We've been pretty lucky the last few days.  They've predicted rain, but we haven't gotten any.  I think we probably will tonight, though, because it's supposed to cool off for the next week or so.  I hope it doesn't rain too much.  When I mowed yesterday, I sometimes was mowing through puddles!

We went to church today where Pastor David is continuing his series on the book of Esther.  This is an extremely interesting story.  One would wonder why this book was even included in the Bible since the word God (or Lord, or Jesus, etc.) is not used even once.  You see God's hand in the stories, but nothing is directly mentioned.  I'm sure this fact is why scholars have debated for years whether or not to include Esther in the Bible.  I'm sure glad they did...it's a great story.  Read it sometime!!  I even stayed for Sunday School.  We're discussing the sermon each week - very interesting.  We had 20 people today!!

Habitat for Humanity dedicated their 12th house today, so Dave was gone most of the afternoon.  It was good - I got a bunch done!  I DID, however, keep one eye on the race.  Poor Jeff Gordon - he's having the worst luck this year.  There was a huge wreck - he went to the bottom of the track and missed all of the crashes, but one of the cars careened off the wall right into him.  Damage was so bad, he had to leave the track.  He said in his interview that it's almost comical now (the way his season is going).

More later...

Great Saturday

Dave and his crew, plus some kids from IHCC, worked at the Habitat House all day today...and it's ready for tomorrow's dedication, where they'll turn the keys over to the new owner!!  They've already got another house on Lillian that they're going to rehab, so it's not like they're going to be taking any time off!

I had plans for my day.  I was going to spend most of the day working on cards and finishing up in the office.  Didn't happen!  Dave asked me about noon if I'd mow the yard.  No problem - I like mowing and I was able to get some sun!!  Unfortunately it wore me out!  My shoulder hurt and my hands hurt.  I'm just not used to physical labor!!  I didn't get done until almost 3:00 and Dave came home shortly after I was done with my part of the mowing...he still had to trim and do the front incline where I won't go.  Then it was time for supper and now it's almost bedtime!  Where did my day go???

More later...

Yay!!!

The hummingbirds are back and I'm so excited!  I thought I saw one this afternoon, but I wasn't sure.  But this evening was another matter entirely.  I had one on the feeder most of the evening.  You forget how little they are when they first come back.  Now spring has really arrived!!

I got a bunch done again today, but not as much as I wanted.  I did get the file cabinet cleaned out and another shredder full of shredded paper.  Plus, I've got at least another full shredder left to shred.  (That's kind of like trying to say "Peter Piper")!!  I should be able to get the shredding done and another surface cleaned off.  I got rid of the PEO book...she finally came to get it, so that's another thing to cross off my list.  Tomorrow while Dave is working at Habitat, I'm going to work on some cards.  I've got a couple of ideas for our next stamp class.

More later...

Hmmmmm...

I wonder why my post didn't publish last night?  When I just now opened it, the post was still on the screen.  I did it last night...sorry, don't know what happened.  So now for tonight's post...I made another list today...and I got almost the entire list done!  I filed for most of the day because not only did I have 5 months worth of filing, but I also pulled out all of my old papers and shredded them.  Then I started cleaning out files of booklets (like you get when you buy appliances, etc.)  Obviously we didn't have some of the merchandise any more, but we still had the books, by George.  I asked Dave to go through all of those and throw away what we didn't need any more.  That was a huge load!!  I also went through my cookbooks and culled out ones I'm not emotionally attached to...those will go in our garage sale.

I cancelled an appointment for tomorrow which I didn't need and I got all of our check copies filed in numerical order!  Whew!!  I'm also about half done fixing up the order forms for the SU orders I turned in on Monday.  These are much neater than my scribbles that I wrote when I got phone calls for the orders.  Now my customers can actually read them!!  I should be able to finish those tomorrow AND finish up cleaning out the rest of the files in the file cabinet.

After the rain, I took some pictures.  Mr. Cardinal was making lots of clicking noises, so I assumed he wanted his picture taken.  I wish they weren't so shy.  They are beautiful birds, but they just don't want to be around people...or other birds for that matter.  Notice the raindrops on the grass?  This picture is taken through my window screen, so it's not as clear as I'd like.

This is a picture of one of my irises.  I got this one from my mom's garden when she moved.  Bob & Ann had it at their house, so I got a start off of theirs.  I've also got a 2-toned dark purple one that I need to get a picture of.

This little fellow (or one just like him) has been flitting around for a  few days now.  He finally landed on the kitchen window, so I ran to get the camera.  He had left, so I put the camera down...back he came.  When I went outside, he closed his wings, so I had to practice some patience to get him.  I love the little knobs on the end of his antennae!!  I don't know what kind he is; I'll have to look him up.

That's all for now.  More later...

Goals help

I guess it pays to set goals for myself!  I actually got a bunch of stuff done today AND even got to play some games, too!  I got my bank accounts reconciled - woohoo!!!  The first time through, I was off about $2200...this time I was off $25...and the bank made a mistake!!  They actually ran one check thru twice!!  They are crediting my account with the $25 and I balance!!  I don't know if you realize it, but I reconcile my accounts every month normally.  However, since we were in Florida for so long, I hadn't done it since November so that was a chore and a half for someone who doesn't like working with numbers!!

I also got the PEO book completely ready.  I even printed it out to make sure that it would print correctly!!  Now if it doesn't get printed and distributed on time, it's not because I held it up!

Tomorrow I've got 4 goals set for myself...hopefully I'll get all of them done.  One of them is filing - ugh!  I have to do this because right now I can't even get my drawer closed there's so much to file!  Yuck!!

More later...

ADHD

I'm pretty sure I am certifiably (if there's such a word) as ADHD.  I start doing something and about 2 minutes later, I'm tired of that and off to something else.  This cycle continues most of the day...I start something, but it may not get finished for days!  No wonder my desk is still a mess and nothing is finished yet.  I guess I'll have to prioritize things and make a goal of finishing each project until I get them all done!  Unfortunately some of them involve math skills and most of you know how I feel about that subject - did I hear someone say procrastinate??

On DWTS, we had to say goodbye to Jaleel tonight.  I don't think he was the right one to go home yet, but then I didn't vote, so I don't really have a say.  I came home early from sorority just so I could see the end of the show.

It finally started warming up this afternoon.  I actually opened up the house about 3:00.  Fantastic!  Tomorrow's supposed to be warm...I can hardly wait!!

More later...