Mid Carolina Steel

Yesterday Scott and I went to get some pieces of metal for a saw project he's got going in the garage. He is so talented at creating things from raw materials. I am indeed fortunate to have him as my hubby. This palm tree is actually a fountain that they have installed in front of their building. I enjoyed watching and listening to it while Scott searched the "yard" for just the "right pieces " of metal.

Mirror Shine toes!

Just silly OLD me playing around with some nail polish I bought from Avon YEARS ago! And yes they are a bit messes but will clean up and look better for tomorrow. Not sure why but my hands seem to shake when doing anything detailed away from my face.

Rain Glorius RAIN!

It's been a steady drizzle all night long. I won't need to water the baby tomatoes today. So far we haven't lost any so I will need to go ahead and plant the rest of the plants anywhere I can and then tie them up someway as I'm out of cages.

Scott received a letter yesterday that his photograph was chosen as a winner in the City wide photo contest. We will be attending the City Council meeting on the 5th to be part of the awards ceremony. I'll have to get some pictures. I am so glad that I read about the contest and told him to enter that photo.

Well today is house cleaning and laundry day. I'm not going to go too crazy in the den and kitchen as we will just wreck it all sanding drywall tomorrow. Scott is taking the next 5 days off from work so that we can tackle that job.

Peace and Happiness

Thats what I believe everyone is striving for; it's so easy to mistake collecting "stuff" as happiness. With us looking to downsize to less than 800 square feet we are really looking at what we own and deciding what to keep and what to sell or donate. Basically we have one year from now to get everything down to a manageable amount. What ever doesn't sell between now and then we will call to have someone pick it up right before we put the house on the market.

Baby tomatoes and garlic blooms

I spent about 2 hours out in the garden. I cleaned up and added composted manure and some leaf/grass compost to 3 beds and started planting tomatoes that I started from seed on the porch. I kept going until I ran out of cages for the tomatoes. I have 9 plants left in my tray of which the majority are cherry tomatoes. We will hold these until we are sure all the ones that I planted make it; then if we don't need them to replace any that die or get whacked by cut worms we will go ahead and plant them in the garden with plans of just tying them up on sticks as we are out of cages; unless Scott's Mom has any extra she'd let us use. I'll have to check into that she just let me gather up black nursery pots to put plants in that I plan to relocate to our 10 acres.

Out to the garden!

I'm heading out to reclaim our vegetable garden. It has been pretty much ignored for the entire time I was working... nearly 4 years. But we will need it to produce some vegetables for us this summer so I'm going to do my best to get it back in shape. It needs organic matter badly! But even that we have let slide and have not kept a composter going constantly with grass clippings and vegetable trimmings. We can't afford to run the water bill up so we will need to mulch heavily. Time to relearn some old skills that my Grandma taught to me.

Motivation... WHERE?!

Not one of our kitties but it sure describes me these days.

MUD MAN

Scott has been adding another skim coat to the walls today; we will most likely get them sanded next weekend. I made some chocolate chip cookies for him as he said he was craving something sweet.

Day 2 of the Memorial Weekend

We are working on the den project this weekend. We had to go to Lowes for another bucket of "mud" to do the final application... one more sanding and we can start priming the walls for paint. We are going to paint all the walls in the house an off white in preparation for selling this place next Spring/Summer. I'm only hoping that we can walk away from all our debt with the sale of this house - could be just wishful thinking on my part. Lots to do!

Angel Biscuits

I made these delicious biscuits years ago and have been thinking about them a lot the last 2 days. The title of this post should be a link to a copy of the recipe on the Taste Of Home website. The biscuits just melt in you mouth and if made small can be used as hor'derv filled with ham or a meat salad at weddings or parties.

Why I left my job

Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or anxious. What is stressful to one person is not necessarily stressful to another.

Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear. The source of this uneasiness is not always known or recognized, which can add to the distress you feel.

It was horrible driving into the parking lot and having dread hanging over my head. My chest would tighten up and near panic would follow me throughout my day. This is NOT me! I feel like my body and my emotions are changing and my coping skills have vanished completely. Now with applying for a new job I'm feeling anxiety again... perhaps I'm not ready to return to work.

Radio BLAH BLAH BLAH

This morning "Rush" L. was going on and on about how our founding fathers would be so upset with us for taking a step back and reviewing our drive for "success" and "prosperity" and reassessing values. I'm one of those that is struggling with this constant drive for more more more... more production, increasing sales, consuming goods... I'd be happy to be debt free and living a quiet existence doing things that I find pleasurable and not fueling the American Engine of Excess. I feel like I'm stepping out of a dream some days wondering how I ever got pulled into the Consumer life. Like right now I'm sitting here with windows open listening to the birds outside starting their day of existence. Such a calming soothing sound... had a quiet breakfast talk with Scott over a meal we prepared together before he left for work. Oh to not owe money! So he and I could work on projects together.

Finger's Crossed

Had a phone interview today! Not going to say whom with though as I don't want to jinx it.

Free Hippy Postcards

She has some BEAUTIFUL cards!

Blooms and Growth All around

The orange and yellow is lantana, then there are the fresh young little tomato plants that I have growing on our porch; mini-red day lillies, chestnut blooms on the chestnut tree, a hydrangea with smaller than normal blooms, a magnolia bloom up in our tree.

Tightening the belt

We had really gotten spoiled with me working I'm afraid and we will need to really buckle down if we are to make it on a single income again. I've begun cooking daily and that saves a good bit on eating out; plus we have delicious left overs for the following days lunches. We will need to start REALLY thinking about purchases instead of just making them as their isn't any "play money" available now. It really sucks but thats how it is... so we will have to adjust.

Sheetrock Dust

I started working on the sanding part of the sheet rock installation in our den today. I will do a little section each day as I don't want to kill myself doing it. What a mess! I'll clean some as I go but I can see it staying pretty dusty until it's completely done.

No calls from anyone I applied with but tomorrow I will send off some more resumes/applications and see how they go.

I've started applying

And yes... it's management positions. I sent off 4 applications/resumes and plan to send off 2 or 3 more today and then continue to send off 4 to 6 a day until I find employment. I hope that it won't take too long as we will NEED me employed by next month.

Awake at 3 AM

I just awoke with an extremely dry throat and sweating like crazy. Lost my pj's and put on a light weight robe to go to the kitchen for some cold OJ. Figured while I was up I'd check my email and post on here. Not sure if I've got another bug or just a continuation of the one that started weeks ago. I think I let my jobs take over too much and I've let my health fall too far to the side lines. I get to feeling like I have a mountain of energy back some days and then it's like my body screams for more sleep. I should have never let things get this far off track. I think I will try to lay back down for awhile.

COUCH POTATO ATTACK

UGH! Turned on the nonsense machine and lost the day! Tomorrow I will stay completely away from the TV so I can get my room back together.

A new week!

Here it is Monday again all ready; time is going by so quickly. Scott has left for work and all the animals have been fed. Yesterday Amelia dug out and was in the front yard when we came back home and then she wouldn't come back to us. Scott just opened the back gate and we waited for her to come back in and then closed it. We filled in her hole and blocked it with some chunks of wood and some rocks. Not sure why she started this as she has not done this sort of thing since she was a puppy. I just hope that it will not continue.

I've begun reorganizing my hobby room and have plans to work on it all day today while doing laundry. I'd like to have it all back together before Scott comes home this evening.

8 AM wake up phone call

My phone rang at 8 AM this morning; it was Greg wanting into the house. He went to the beach about 8 last night with a friend and she had said she had reserved a room but then when they got there there was no room so they drove back apparently LATE last night or early this morning. I think he wanted some day light time at the beach but it didn't happen. OH well... maybe I can figure out a way to take him to the beach for a day before he leaves for the Navy.

Gervais Street Bridge

Us as Raccoons

Here we are acting silly at the Riverwalk. We went down to listen to the free concert but then decided to walk down the path aways. We saw a River Otter, a mouse, squirrels, 4 blue herons and some catfish. Scott got some pictures of the Gervais Street bridge as well.

Allentown sewing

I received the fabrics that I ordered from Allentown Sewing Machine Center and they are GREAT! I love the mottled green and brown fabric best. I am thinking how lovely that would be in a bag. And the kitty fabric is just to full fill my addiction for cat prints.

Blackberries!

I have nearly a full bowl of blackberries that I picked in our yard. Would have had even more if it weren't for our dog. You can hear her smack smack smacking away on the berries the whole time you are picking them. I plan to make a blackberry pie with these this afternoon.

Quiet House

Greg has gone to the plasma donation center so the house is quiet except for the occasional purr from Tesla in Scott's recliner. I have the dishwasher cycled around and ready for more dirty dishes and the laundry is going. I picked nearly enough blackberries for a pie from the briar mess in our back yard. Amelia dog helped pick too... she LOVES blackberries. I have NEVER seen another dog do that. I kept shooing her away and then I'd see her farther up the bed eating more. I'm going to trim some lower limbs on trees and bushes in that corner so that I can get farther into the flower bed to pick more. I should have enough for a pie or cobbler for tomorrow's dinner; provided Amelia doesn't get to the berries first.

Nice visit

I had a nice visit with my family yesterday. Greg went along with me and seemed to enjoy talking with Uncle Lenny about all the old trucks and vehicles around the place. On the way home he went to sleep on me but that was all right as I was ready for a little quiet time.

I'm working on laundry and will be putting together a trip to the grocery store next. Got to watch the ads for sale items more closely now.

Fat Quarter Shop

A site that I have ordered some beautiful fabrics from is having a tremendous give away; if you are a quilter you should check it out!

Sanity Returning

I feel like I'm finding myself once more and my thoughts are clearly much more toward happiness. I can't believe I stayed so miserable for so long. I'm sleeping better and have more energy than I have had in years. Tomorrow I will visit my family in Spartanburg and am so looking forward to that.

Greg gave me some seeds and gardening gloves yesterday as a late Mother's Day present. Once Greg is up and about I will get him to move his car and make a trip to Lowes for some manure and peat moss to boost up a couple beds in the garden so that I can plant the seeds. I have to be careful of how much time I'm in the sun because of some of the medication I am taking. So early mornings would be best before the sun is fully up. I now realize what my Grandma meant about "the best part of the day"; she always used to tell me that I was sleeping the best part of the day away when I was a teenager. I'd still be asleep at 8 AM and she would have been out in her garden by 5:30-6:00 AM.

Library findings

These are the books that made their way home with us today. Greg got Building Street Rods- all you need to know and Build your own Motocaravan. And I got Keep Your Cat Healthy the Natural Way and Before you build - 100 home-building pitfalls to avoid. We may yet turn our son into a full blown Hippy.

All I have left to do on my own list for today is vacuum and make our bed back up. Oh and cook dinner. I didn't get to post pictures of last nights meal as Greg dove in as soon as the broccoli casserole was pulled from the oven. Needless to say I think both of my fellas are glad to have me home cooking again. I do still want to get into my sewing room some today so I better get moving.

Our unkept front yard

This is what I will be focusing a lot of my time on the next couple weeks. Our front lawn... lots of trimming and raking to do out there.

WOW! It's 11 AM

I guess they Benadryl kicked in ... I took that at about 5:30. Made breakfast for Scott and then climb back in bed and just now got back up. I feel a bit better too.

I want to go by the library and the post office this morning. I've all ready put dishes and clothes over in the machines so they can run while I'm out. I think I will make a chicken dish for dinner tonight.

Just made plans to go up and visit Mom and family on Thursday. I'll take her Mother's Day and the items I have for the girls for their Summer fun bags up then. Postage would be cheaper but I'm missing my family real bad so will make the drive up to see them.

Scott is in Commodity Meetings all this week so he is pretty much unreachable through the day unless he can catch a minute to call me.

Well time to head over to the library.

Wicked headache

I went to bed with a slight head ache last night and this morning it's turned worse. I took a pain reliever and a Benadryl hoping that would help as I believe that it is allergies. Today I will change our sheets and vacuum the whole house really well.

Once I get those tasks behind me I'm going to do some organizing and re-arranging in my craft room. I need to have it workable space.

Mince Meat Pie

Scott will finally get a slice of mince meat pie tonight. We've had the mince meat for some time - still good according to the use by date code; so I made a pie with it as a surprise for Scott tonight. I hope he will enjoy it.

Greg's internal body clock is so messed up... he just went to bed at about 2:30 and will most likely sleep until midnight or 1 AM. Poor kid has always been on a second or third shift schedule.

My return home

Well my first week back at home has started with laundry and cleaning; as well as thinking up a good dinner for tonight. I'm adding a bit of beef back to our diet after a long time with none. We will have cubed steaks and gravy tonight. And I'm thinking some roasted vegetables would be nice as well. And I may go ahead and bake some pies or a batch of cookies or pumpkin bread. Everything will be from scratch and YUMMY! Perhaps I will post some pictures of our dinner later tonight.

Now that I have a bit of free time to call my own I need to start working on Christmas gifts. Never too early to start with a family as large as mine. OH... and I need to make something for Gwen as she graduates from high school next month... MAN! that happened FAST! Seems she was just that 3 hour old baby that I got to hold the day before my birthday.

HAPPY ANNINVERSARY BABY!

It's 23 years for Scott and I! WOW! We made it... nearly to 25 years! We will have to do something special for our 25th in 2 years... lots of time to plan for it.

Ah FREEDOM!

Scott and I are going up to the property that Steve and Jane are buying from Michael. They need us to set up a perk test for them. They close on the property this next week. YEAH! We will have relatives close by us out in the country. We will stop at our own property while up there and drop off some of the rocks. We've decided to take the rock collection with us as we will value it more than anyone else that would buy this house. I have pulled some up around one of the flower beds that has reverted back to mostly grass. I have a few iris in that bed that I plan to move up to the property as well. Then we will just revert that area back to grass. Most people like a mono-culture in their yards anyway so we will move the diversity with us to the country; or at least as much as possible.

Finding my yard...

and my peace of mind!

The Dr hooked me up with a prescription for Celexa which should help me find a balance once more. I hope it works as I hate those tremendous ups and downs and the dreaded anxiety!

Off to the yard work!

Bunch of hot wind!

Yesterday I was talked into returning to my job and then today I was convinced I had made the right decision after all. So I am definitely UNEMPLOYED! At least for a period of time - not yet determined! I'm going in to see my Dr tomorrow in the hopes we can find a medication to help me over the rough patches. Like it or not I think I've entered Pre-menopause.

Back to work!

I'm back at the job... going to "try" a little while longer. They believe in me more than I believe in myself. I've made an appointment with my Dr to see about getting on some medication to help with the rough spots. I am unsure about this return but will give my best effort as always.

What makes your heart sing?!

There must be a million things in each of our lives and experiences that makes our hearts sing; like.....

Beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the sound of birds in the early Spring mornings or the sounds from a spring pond... frogs, crickets, etc... The quiet spots in the woods that seem to magically have the perfect spot for you to sit and rest and reflect. Finding your spouse gazing upon you anytime during the day making you remember just how much you love him. The sounds of laughter of a family gathered together. Textures and colors in life and small seemingly meaningless moments with a stranger where they share a smile or a well wish for the day.

Finding myself again!

Ok; I've left my job and have returned home at least for a little while. When it comes time to re-enter the work force it will be in a more creative position with less hours where I can develop good friendships and not be over anyone! I have absolutely no interest in being a manager again. I want more time to develop me into what I enjoy not a position.

Today I am going to run a few errands and then come back here and work some on cleaning house and may even do some work out in the yard.

I walked away from my job today!

For better or worse I've left my job. I will try to find something closer and out of management. The dynamics of the business I was in were too complex to find a balance within. It will be a struggle but we will find a way.

Leap of faith

I'm making a HUGE one tomorrow~!

Extreme Sore throat

I went to bed at about 11:30 last night and at 2:30 I was up with intense sore throat pain I got up and took a pain reliever and slept a bit in the recliner and am now up for the day. My throat is still slightly sore but I will manage for the next 4 days. I'm taking Friday and Saturday off to be with Scott for our 23rd wedding anniversary. Sunday is our actual anniversary but I will need to work that day as it is also Mother's Day and the store will be quite busy.

I'm hoping a hot shower will help me get rolling as all I want to do right now is crawl back in bed and sleep.

EXPLOSION of primroses!

An absolute sea of primroses in our little garden. We need to pick peas again; the first batch I picked was put into a macaroni salad. Greg has determined that nothing tastes as good as fresh peas from the garden.

Crud!

UGH! I feel yucky.... but a bit better. I've got to put on a sales meeting tonight so I'm hoping things don't go down hill with this bug. I'll take some Robitussin before I leave and the bottle with me for a mid-shift dosage. And to top all that off my monthly enemy has arrived this morning... I'm hoping and praying last month does not repeat itself. I'll take extra clothes just in case.

All I did yesterday was veg in front of the TV; well thats not entirely true as Scott and I did a short grocery run and we took Amelia for a short walk last evening. Even those two things exhausted me so I'm wondering how I will do working noon to 9 PM today.I'll muddle through!

It all started yesterday!

Yesterday morning I had a slight sore throat and it has snow balled into a horrendous bug. I worked 6 to 6 yesterday; Was going to leave at 5 but my night person called off 10 minutes before she was due in and I had to call someone else to come in and close. If I hadn't been able to reach her I would have probably ended up staying until closing.... 11 last night. UGH! Time for some re-evaluations on employees. I'm just hoping that I recover enough by tomorrow to lead the training session tomorrow night. Thankfully I am off today and can rest.

Last night Lenora called to let my know that she had her baby girl yesterday at 2:30. I wish I had been feeling better to talk with her longer but I was exhausted and my throat hurt so bad to talk.

I'm going to get something to drink and sit in the den for awhile now... just too tired to stay online any longer.