We are back!

One week ago, we flew to Clearwater to look at our new place.  We got in early afternoon and went to Sandy and Rich's to get our key.  When we got to our place, Sandy and Rich had been there, delivered our two boxes, and also set us up with a rotisserie chicken, a loaf of bread, a bowl of grapes, and a bottle of champagne and a case of water, along with a Congrats balloon!  That was so nice!  We were able to eat 3 meals off of that and just finished the grapes today.  We haven't had the champagne yet!  We loved our new place.  The only problems were that it was pretty dated - it had never been painted inside...still had the 1982 light blonde paneling and it was dirty.  Terri had been ill for a while so wasn't able to clean it like she would have wanted.

Sunday night we went with 10 others from the park to The Wise Guy Cooks (or something like that), a dinner theater starring a guy from our park, Vinny.  The cost was $45 each, but Vinny gave us a deal - $45 per couple.  It was a 4 course Italian meal - salad, pasta, meatballs & Italian sausage, and dessert.  After the main course, the play started.  Vinny was the wise guy who had his own tv show, about cooking Italian foods.  He made 4 recipes which were wonderful, he sang beautifully, and there was lots of comedy!  After the show was over and cannolis were being served, he came to our table to tell us his mom had died that afternoon and he would be leaving immediately to go to her home to make arrangements.  We all had a fun evening!

Monday and Tuesday mornings, we got busy pulling out carpet and removing knickknacks that we didn't want, as well as furniture that wasn't our style.  We had a garage sale Wednesday.  Anything that was left was taken to the shed for the Chinese Auction we have in either January or February.  We moved everything out of the two bedrooms and bathrooms so that the bedrooms could be painted first.  Laurie told us she'd love to paint for us and would do so for $10/hour.  She also said she was fast.  We couldn't turn that down.  So now everything is in the living room, including our bed.  Everything is off the walls and out of the closets.  On Thursday, we picked out paint for each room and organized it so Laurie wouldn't have any problems deciding which paint goes where.  Laurie will also paint all the ceilings too.  When Dave takes furniture down in September, he'll move everything out of the living room, back into the 2nd bedroom, leaving the master bedroom empty so we can lay laminate in there first.  We worked hard, but we were able to get lots done and even get to have some fun!  I played cards 2 nights and we went to the water to eat 2 times!  It was really hot and humid there, so the a/c was on the whole time!  One day it was 102!!

We were happy to get home safely today and even went to church to make up our last 101 class.  201 won't start until Sept. 21st.

More later...

Friday

We had a fun morning at PMS.  We made two cards and then played with an Inkadinkado system that allows you to make kaleidoscope images on paper.  Unfortunately, they're mostly for scrapbookers because they're too big for the cards we make.  She gave us each one of the systems and I'm going to give mine to the kids...I think they'll really have fun with them.  Hopefully I can get them interested in something quiet to do instead of running around like little banshees!!  I think that since they're 12, 10, and 6 now the two older ones should be calming down, reading, coloring, doing puzzles, etc.  So that will be my goal while I'm in Ft Lauderdale this fall.

Dave worked at church this morning doing odd jobs and helping unload canned goods for the Food Pantry.  We met up at lunch and after lunch we had naps.  Mine was a 3 hour one!  I sure hope I can sleep tonight because I've got to be in Washington for a ballgame at 8:00 AM!  I still feel tired!  I'm driving myself so I can come home in the afternoon if I get too hot.  Allison's games are at 8, 9:30 and then 3:30.

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Thursday

Since it's getting closer to the time when we're heading to Florida for a short vacation, the weather here is beginning to feel like Florida...just to acclimate us I think!  It was supposed to be 93 today.  I don't think it got that warm, but it was pretty warm!  Tonight as I sit here, I'm hearing something that sounds a lot like locusts outside...must just be some other kind of bug.  I don't think the fall locusts are here yet.  They don't usually show up until sometime in mid-September.

Today, 5 friends came over to play 7s from Hell.  We had a good time and were able to teach another person how to play.  We've got several people here in O-town who know how to play, so maybe they can get together and play over the winter.  I sure plan on playing over the winter...heehee!

I was so excited.  I got one of my cards for Sept. 10th done today and I even packed up all of the supplies - way ahead of the game, right?  Wrong!  While I was typing the supply list, I had to look up the name of one of the stamps and found it was discontinued.  I'm so bummed because I really, really, really like the card that I did.  So now I'm trying to figure out another card that can use all of the same supplies, except substituting a current stamp for the one that is discontinued.  Wouldn't you know I can't find anything.  The main stamp of the card I did was a maple leaf and I don't have any other leaves that look good in its place.  Grrr...

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Wet day!

We had a wet and soggy day today, but that was all right with me!  We went to Amana and took our pastor and his wife with us.  We only got sprinkled on, so it wasn't bad at all.  We actually all of us had umbrellas, but didn't have to use them.  David & Liz had never been there and just loved it.  As usual we ate at the Ox Yoke Inn...which was wonderful!  They've changed their menu and prices, and their way of doing things.  Now you can either order a meal plated or order it family style.  I know they used to do that on some items, but now it's on most every item except the sandwiches and salads.  They also now have shrimp, catfish, and walleye, which I don't remember them ever having before.  I had my usual, Kasselar Rippchen, but they've changed it drastically.  It's even better now because instead of two very thin pork chops, you get a small Iowa chop covered in a cinnamon sauce with apple slices in it.  Very, very good!  We also took in the Woolen Mill, the Furniture Factory, the Smoke House, the broom and basket store, the General Store, the Bakery, the Kitchen Sink (which is closing because the owner is retiring), and several others.  Unfortunately we didn't go to either the fabric store or Fern Hill...:(!

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Monday

I called my dentist's office first thing this morning and I can't get in until 10:30 tomorrow.  Sure hope my tooth continues not to hurt!  So tomorrow I go to the dentist, get numbed up and have a new filling, and then I'm off to my sorority's beginning day luncheon.  Hopefully I'll make it in time.

Today was BRT where we got through Revelation 17 and started on 18.  My, my - the symbolism is something else.  I will miss BRT next week and then we won't have it on Labor Day.  Bummer.

Dave worked unloading Food Pantry trucks this morning and worked at the Habitat house this afternoon.  I uploaded some pictures that I'd taken and paid bills.

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Sunday

We had a great church service today.  Wonderful music by Mary & Mark and then a great song by Mark.  Thank you both!  Pastor David's sermon was a wrap up of the last few weeks of Mathew 13:1-23.  We've been talking about cultivating, planting, and harvesting...and I'm not meaning seeds.  We're here to spread God's Word to all.  The second class of 101 was after church.  It was very well attended and was very thought provoking.  I'm hating that we're going to miss the next two weeks...the last session  of 101 and the first session of 201.

While we were at church, I felt a little dry mouthed so I put a Memento in my mouth.  When I bit down on it, there was something hard in it.  I lost a filling!  So guess what I get to do now!

Tonight we went to Pastor David & Liz's house for a surprise birthday party for him.  There were about 30 of us - he was very surprised!!  Fun evening!

More later...

Saturday on Sunday

I missed blogging last  night and it's all Dave's fault!  He said he was turning into a pumpkin and was going to bed.  Unfortunately I hadn't blogged yet when he asked if I was coming too.  So I went upstairs around 9:30.  Sorry.  It's funny though.  He goes to sleep immediately and I'm still awake until about 11:30.  Then he wakes me up at 7:30 in the morning and calls ME a sleepyhead!  What's that about?  I'm still awake two hours after he is...it's not my fault he gets up with the chickens!  I keep telling him he needs to stay up until at least 10!!  When we get to Florida, he'll still go to bed at 9:30 or 10, which is only 8:30 or 9 here!  I have a terrible time keeping with his sleep schedule - lol!!

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Adventure Today

I went to PEO this morning - what a fun meeting!  Our program was first and it was about chair yoga!  It was fun, fun, fun.  We did stretches while sitting and then we did some traditional yoga positions, Warrior, Warrior 2, and Warrior 3 while standing.  I would really like to get into a yoga class, but I'm not here long enough now to get started.  I think I'll look into a DVD or something like that.  I'd like to be a little more balanced and flexible.

After PEO, I came home and Dave and I went on an adventure.  We were heading to Cantril for the Dutchman's Store, but decided to go some back roads.  We filled the car with gas at Denny's at the Eldon Y and then went through Floris to Drakesville.  We saw a whole flock of wild turkeys in a field between Eldon & Floris!  There were bunches of them!!  I wish I had taken my camera.  We also saw babies at the Yutzy Horse Farm.  Of course, it was a drizzly day, so the baby colts were wet and feeling their oats!  At Drakesville, we headed over to the Dutch Country General Store just because we'd not been there before.  It's almost like the Dutchman's but not as nice and not nearly as many choices.  They had sweet corn for $1.00 a dozen and big Georgia peaches, and a free ice cream cone too!  So we got out "stuff" there instead of going all the way to Cantril today.  It was okay, but didn't have the ambiance that the Dutchman's has so next time we'll go to Cantril.

Dave left this evening for Pella to deliver the snowblower to a guy from Des Moines.  They decided to meet halfway.  Tomorrow some people are coming to pick up the couch we have that was Aunt Helen's and a couple of chairs.  Little by little, we're getting rid of superfluous stuff!

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Thursday

Wow!  I got to sleep in today.  Dave came up to wake me up at 8:40.  I wonder just how long I would have slept if he hadn't wakened me.  I like doing that, except lunch comes pretty quickly when you don't get up until late!

I got a lot done today.  I cleaned the house, cleaned off my desk, cleaned up  my studio, and finished the Holiday Ranch newsletter!  I feel pretty good about my day!  I still have things I need to do at my desk, but maybe I can get them done tomorrow after PEO.

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Wednesday

Dave and I went on an adventure today!  We went to the State Fair!  We didn't stay long, but we had fun nonetheless.  Dave ran into 2-3 people he knew from years ago so got to catch up with them.  We saw Allison's projects in the 4-H barn (she got blue ribbons on both of her projects!!)  I called her to congratulate her and they were just about a block away from us - they'd come up to the Fair today also!  So I got to see Allison, Vicki, Marilyn, and Don's grandson!  We even went into the horse arena and watched some gaited horses practicing.  One of them was really spooked so I asked if he was young and the lady said that he was just green, which was why he was so scared of everything!  When we left the fairgrounds we went to Encore Pizza, which is owned by Dennis Gibson, one of my "boys" from ISU.  That was fun because he sat down and had lunch with us!

We got a call from our realtor today, though, that wasn't fun.  Our buyer couldn't get his financing, so our house is not sold!  So we're back to having to clean house everyday!  You just never know about financing.  I figured since the buyer was career military about to retire, the VA would give him financing right away.  Shows you what I know!

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Tuesday

August is almost half over already...oh, my!  Today I had a massage and boy did she work on my lower back and hips.  Tonight I'm really sore, but hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.  We're going to the State Fair tomorrow, so I'd like it if I can walk around without a lot of pain!  We're really looking forward to going to the State Fair.  We plan to be there around 9:00.  Then we can get the things seen that we want to see before it gets too hot.

Dave worked with his cronies again today.  Today they were re-coating the boards on the walking bridge.  Dave took the lawn tractor and cart so they didn't have to hand carry all of the gallons of stain/waterproofing stuff that they put on.  I'm sure that saved their backs because it's quite a ways from their trucks to the bridge.  The city then paid for their lunch again today!  Meanwhile I had to scrounge around for something to eat!!

This afternoon/evening, I had a Personnel meeting at church and Dave worked on his garage lighting.

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Monday

Whew!  Another busy day!!  I had BRT this morning and Dave was off helping set up a playground with some of his cronies!  At BRT we got through Revelation 15 - it was quite a story with the wrath of God being poured out on non-believers.  This book of the Bible is so full of imagery.  Sometime if you don't have anything else to do, you might just look up some of the images that artists have done depicting the book of Revelation.  It's really wild!

This afternoon we looked at an apartment.  It's south of us on Elm.  It's a nice apartment with a garage and a basement, so I think it'll work for us as a home base.  As soon as we get confirmation of our buyers' financing later this week, we'll have an address.

Tonight Juliene and I did cards.  We only had 8 in attendance, but I think they all liked the cards we did.

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Sunday

We had a very busy day at church today.  First of all, our worship service consisted of not only a sermon but also communion.  After church, we had about 10 minutes of fellowship time and then we were called to go to our classroom for the first session of Church 101.  These classes are based on Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Church".  The instructor  that I had has done this with 7 other churches including his own. We're hoping that it will bring us closer in our membership and help make all of us leaders in the church.  Should be a good class.  Today's class was mainly about the history of the Presbyterian Church as we now know it.

Following class, we went to Court Side for lunch along with 15 others from church.  Several people came today who don't usually attend.  We had a good time conversing back and forth...plus I was able to keep an eye on the race and the NY Giants football game.  At least the Giants won.  Poor Jeff (in the race) lost all power to his car - that was weird.

Speaking of races and race car drivers, what a horrible thing happened last night at the sprint car races back east.  Tony Stewart hit a guy who had gotten out of his car to yell at Tony, and the guy died.  He was only 20.  I pray for him and his family, as well as for Tony.  He didn't race his stock car today because of the accident last night.  Bad situation.

Dave went and got boxes today...you know what that means, don't you?  I also worked on my cards for tomorrow night.  Hopefully I'm ready for that.

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My head hurts!

Now that we've got a sale pending on our home, the next step is to find somewhere to live.  We've got a line on a couple of apartments that we'll go see the first part of next week.  Until we see how much room we're going to have to work with, we can't make a decision on furniture to keep.  I feel that same way about Florida too.  As soon as I see the true size of the rooms, I won't be able to decide if I want any of our furniture down there either.  So many decisions have to be made...MY HEAD IS HURTING!!

Part of my head hurting is this weather.  We haven't had any sunshine all week, I don't think.  If this low pressure would just move, my head wouldn't hurt so bad!

Dave and I both were pretty slow to wake up this morning...our cleaning lady arrived at 7:55 AM and I was still asleep.  Dave had only been up about 10 minutes, so he hurried upstairs to wake me up.  When I came downstairs, he took me out to breakfast!  Then he went to church to work on some things and I went shopping!  I needed a couple of things that were appropriate for an evening wedding tomorrow night.  Now I'm all set.

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Sale Pending!

Lots has happened today.  Liz called and wanted to show our house today at 3:00.  She came by about 5:00 and said that they loved it and wanted to see it again this evening, AND they wanted her to bring the offer to buy papers with her.  We got an offer and countered.  They accepted our counter!  Within minutes we got another offer from another party, but we'd already accepted the first party's offer AND we had someone else who wanted to see the house at 2:00 tomorrow!  When it rains it pours!.  So, our house is sold pending their getting their financing and our house passing inspections!  WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT THE BEDSPREAD ON THE BED TOMORROW!  Hooray!  Closing is set for Oct 10th, so now we've got some things to do!!

Dave and I both worked at our Food Pantry today.  We had a ton of people again.  These people are so appreciative.  One lady said she'd had to borrow food from her neighbor for the last week because she had no money for food.  Bless her heart!

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Wednesday

I was supposed to have a massage this morning, but that didn't happen!  I got there on time, but Gerrii was studying for her OT test on Monday.  She and I got to talking and the next thing you know, it was 2 hours later and we hadn't done my massage yet!  So I rescheduled for next week.  We were going over test questions and possible scenarios that could be on her test.  It was kind of fun, because I answered most of the questions correctly and I've not had any medical schooling.  She'll do just fine but it won't hurt to pray for her!

After that I came home, got us a bite to eat and helped Dave sort some paint cans out, marking the current paint colors and deciding if we'd like to use some of the paint in Florida in our new home.  Most of it will depend on what color the furniture is down there, so it's kind of hard to decide until we've at least seen it.  That'll be soon, though!

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Happy 24th!

I can hardly believe it myself, but 24 years ago, Dave and I got married in Davenport, with just a handful of family and friends in attendance.  It's been a wonderful 24 years and we're going for at least 24 more.  Let's see, that would make me 90 - that's doable!

For our anniversary, we both got haircuts and I gave blood!  Then this evening we went to Appanoose Rapids for dinner.  We both had salads, which were really good but the croutons were so salty, they made our salads salty.  Next time we'll ask for them to hold the croutons!  After dinner, we went to see "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" because we needed to be gone for a showing of our house at 7:00.  I told Dave he really owed me after that movie...it's not one I would have chosen, but it had a good story line.  I just didn't like all the noise!!  Makeup in that movie is fantastic - they should win an Academy Award.  I had a hard time believing that the apes were actors.  I guess I thought the apes were really talking and shooting guns and riding horses - ha!!

As for the house showing, the potential buyers were no shows.  They stood up our realtor!  Maybe the next ones will be the buyers!

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Sad Day

I cried today.  We sold my '56 Chevy and it really made me sad.  I couldn't even watch the guy drive it out of the driveway.  It is staying right here in O-town, so unfortunately I'm going to see it around town.  I was hoping that whoever bought it lived in Tennessee or Texas or someplace far, far away.  We had so much fun in that car and I'm really going to miss it!

After I went to the chiropractor, Bible reading was great - we did Revelation 14 today.  There's some very vivid reminders in Revelation of why you want to be in God's Book of Life!  The alternative is not good.  I pray daily for forgiveness for some of the things that I've done.

Dave worked in the yard today moving some plants in anticipation of digging up the yard for the outside shut off (or something) for the sewer.  That way the basement floor will never have to be dug up again.  They'll be able to get to any clogged pipes from outside the house.  Yay!

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Sunday

We had a very interesting day at church today.  Our entire worship service was an hour of prayer!  We walked in to the sanctuary in silence, sat down to quiet ourselves into a prayer mentality.  Pastor had the ushers take up the offering, then said a few words about the importance of prayer in our lives and then turned us loose to pray.  He had written up some guidelines based on Bill Bright's ACTS....Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.  I was pleasantly surprised that only one person left the church early (that I heard anyway) and I was surprised at how fast the hour went.  It was definitely a peaceful feeling.

The rest of the day, we watched the race and cleaned out underneath sinks and in drawers in the bathroom and bedroom.  We got a bag of clothes ready for Goodwill and threw out stuff that had been under the sink for years and years!   Tomorrow we need to sweep and mop floors before someone else comes to look at our house and finds it dirty!

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Saturday

Four of us left at 7:30 for Des Moines for a Stampin' Up meeting with our upline.  It was a good day!  Bev and Jamie showed us tons of swap cards that they'd picked up at convention and I did a demo on making the new Blendabilities look neon!  Jamie shared a make and take card and Bev shared a make and take box (which I failed!).  Good job in putting it together, ladies!

After our meeting, we made a quick stop at Hobby Lobby but none of us bought anything.  Then we went looking for a restaurant.  First we went to the Northside Diner in Johnston - they were boarded up!  So then we went a little farther north in Johnston to Encore Pizza - it didn't open until 4:30 on Saturday.  So we finally decided to head back to Pleasant Hill and go to the 5 & Diner.  It was open and we had good meals!  The ride home was very entertaining and quick.  When 4 ladies get together and gab, the miles just fly by!

Dave got home from Habitat shortly after I got home.  Now he's doing his stretching and I'm about ready to crash.  I'm tired!

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Friday

I had PEO today and we had 26 sisters in attendance!  It was a good meeting and it was fun to see some of the ladies we don't always see at meetings.  Our program today was about the Founders of PEO and the events/history of 1869.  Good meeting and good program!  Plus, I think I made it a whole meeting without my name being in the minutes for next time!!  That's a real challenge for me.

Side note - right now there are 3 male cardinals and one female in our feeders!  That's pretty odd because most of the males are pretty territorial and won't let another male near...of course, they are all in different feeders!  Dave filled them today so they're concentrating on the fresh seeds!

Tomorrow I go to Des Moines for a Stampin' Up meeting.  There are to be 10 of us demonstrators at the meeting - 4 from Ottumwa!  Two of us are presenting, too.   I think Dave is going to work at Habitat tomorrow.  He's kind of laid off of that for a while, but since I'm gone anyway he may as well go there and work.

More later...