Catching Up for November

AMELIA

 Our oldest dog, Amelia has gotten to where she can't get up into the shed anymore so we decided that it was time to build her a Grand new dog house all her own. I looked up "how to build a doghouse?" on Pinterest and I found this house. It took us two weekends at the house in Cayce to get it completely built. Now it just needs to be painted. We also bought her a nice big pillow bed to lay on. At first she just kept trying to pull the bed out of the house but she has taken it on as her new house. She gets so happy when we work on it for her.

I made this card for a swap I signed up for in a group on Facebook. The group is called KoalaTCrafts and we do a lot of fun swaps and there is a weekly challenge that you can join in on for fun.

 Last Tuesday Scott went to the Doctor as he wasn't feeling well at all and it turned out he had a sinus infection and Vertigo. I had to drive him to the Doctor that day and to work and back the next day. But on Tuesday after he was through at the Doctor we drove up to Pumpkintown, SC and had lunch at  the Pumpkintown  Mountain Opry. We had two wonderful sandwiches and will definitely go back again in the future. The whole place was so neat with hand carving all over the inside and so many handmade jams, jellies, honey and canned vegetables. They also serve handcrafted ice creams that I would love to try one day.

Scott standing along side their GIANT pumpkin that sits out front. We think it was made with foam insulation; quite unique and interesting.

Macaroni and Cheese that I made as my contribution to the Thanksgiving Dinner at Scott's Moms' house. Everything on the table was DELICIOUS!

A recipe that I tried... a Chicken and Broccoli/Cauliflower Alfredo with no noodles or real alfredo sauce. It was all right but I'm not sure I will make it again.

One time when we were in Cayce we went to check on the lower end of the Riverwalk but it is still closed from the flooding we had last year. So much damage; the boardwalks were all washed away and I guess it's just going to cost way too much to repair. So sad. It's one thing we miss dearly.

Scott and his toys. He was looking for a specific tube which he found as he was sorting and organizing his "stash" of tubes.

One day Scott and I stopped and took pictures at this old mill site here in the Upstate of South Carolina. It is located just off Saluda Dam Road toward Easley, SC. It's really something to see and it's sad that the buildings are falling down.

 I have created some adorable snowmen out of some plastic ornaments that I bought at the Dollar Tree. I just love how they turned out and these will be some gifts.

I think they are some gorgeous decor pieces.

This is the one that I am keeping for us. I have decided that I need to start keeping some of the things that I make.

LIFE

 Here it is November 20, 2016 all ready. We here in the US have had our Election and much to my chagrin Donald Trump is to be our next President. My only hope is the Democrats and clear thinking Republicans will keep him in check over the next 4 years and that in 4 years the Democrats will pull a proper candidate out of their hats.

Now onto some better news from our multiple home bases. A few weeks back I tried a recipe that was on the back of the frozen shrimp package for Shrimp Diablo. I made it minus the Diablo (aka jalapenos); I used just regular bell peppers instead as I am trying to cut back on the hot/spicey foods and caffeine to ward off some of the Hot Flashes that I am plagued with these days. It was delicious so the following week I made it again. It was super easy and oh so yummy!

Scott has been doing some work on the cottage for Adele as the Insurance company was not happy that it was open under the porch. He had installed the lattice work you see below and on the last open section he has installed a pair of doors so we still have access to under the porch. If I can remember to do it I will take another picture to share in a future post.

The Fall colors are hanging around longer this year but aren't quite as vibrant as in years past as it has been nearly 3 1/2 months since we last had rain. And now there are forest fires to worry about in both North and South Carolina. The smoke has filled the air all over both states for several weeks now. Scott had a horrible time with his breathing the week of the Election because the smoke was so thick. We desperately need some rain!

I just loved the contrast on this leaf so I laid it on a section of concrete to take it's picture. I thought it would be fun to play around in GIMP editing it.

 The trees around the cottage have been so pretty and we have enjoyed watching the colors bloom and fade. Yesterday we had some pretty high winds so I am sure when we get back up to the cottage later today most of the leaves will be on the ground.

 We will need to clear the gutters on the cottage as they are full of leaves. That is going to be tricky on the back side of the cottage as it is quite aways up... CRINGE! I always worry about Scott getting up that high or even me getting up that high on a ladder.

 The Geranium my parents gave us is still trying to bloom in the hanging basket. I am thinking I will hang it in the basement soon for winter and see if I can keep it going to pull out again in  the Spring.

I've done a bit of Thrift shopping this month and once Scott and I went together as well. We love Thrift shopping. You just never know what you will find.

I love the leaf dishes and am looking forward to decorating our new home each Season once again since I am once again a fulltime Homemaker. I plan to have a tub for each Season and will have certain tables and such that will change with each new season.  I am so hoping we can get a new home before another year passes.

The old Vinyl Record album holders make GREAT paper stoarge racks in my Hobby Space and I found some awesome rubber stamping and card making magazines for 4 for $1. I loved  the black and white chevron skirt and it was less than $5. The coats were both under $10.    

Scott found a pair of sneakers - BRAND new at the Goodill in Clemson, SC for a very resonable price and I found a few crating tressures... all for under $5.

Madeline - "Maddy"

 One day I went over to my Moms to take her the childrens coats that I found at Thrift stores and to visit a bit and this little Princess Witch was there sweeping the floor. She had put her older sisters skirt on and I tied the ties over her shoulders to hold it up for her. She was so funny.

Kilz applied and ready for paint.

 The week of the Election I stayed down in Cayce to work on the Master Bathroom. I scrubbed  the walls and ceiling down with Clorox Clean-Up and once it was dry I painted  the whole thing with Kilz2 to block any stains and to cover the old brownish paint color. I did not worry too much around the window as we will be replacing the window and I will paint it's trim and the wall around it once that is complete. Once the Kilz had dried over night I painted the ceiling with  Ceiling White  and the walls with the Elephant grey we had left over from the shed phiasco.

I love how the Elepahnt grey looks with the green and white. Now I can hardly wait to get a replacement window in there and it's trim painted a crisp white. 

I am also thinking a new medicine cabinet and light fixture would be nice too.

Piper was not happy with the Election results either and possed with her expressions of disppleasure... see she even stuck her tung out. She has really grown into one beautiful cat.

I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving and enjoys time with their families. Take care!

Becky and Scott

Nearly All Hallows Eve!

We made it through the Hurricane with just some trash in the yard... thank fully. And life has gone on with lots of small little advances on the house in Cayce and growing closer to these 3 little beasts in Greenville.

Callie, Howie and Tippy L to R

All three kittens asleep in the rocker on the porch - Howie, Callie and Tippy

Howie playing in the water

Howie has decided he really likes to come in to play here at the little cottage. He has his first Vet appointment on Monday.

I've started back to doing a bit of quilting - these were blocks for a swap but they turned out too small as I am out of practice and my seem allowances were off.

Fall colors everywhere now

These trees are by Scott's work and we pass them when we walk together there after I go have lunch with him sometimes.

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I created this "Dotee Doll" for a swap online and will be sending her off to her new home on Friday. She was a lot of fun to make 

Last weekend we were finally able to get the rest of the shutters back up on the house and we think they looks awesome.

 The furnace at the Cayce House was not turning on last weekend so I have someone coming out there tomorrow to get it working again. I hope it is an easy and quick fix as I also have to take Greg to the Dentist later in the afternoon. He is having gas to have a tooth repaired as he hates feeling anything. 

I deep cleaned this little house today and I am flat wore out so I am off to bed now... good night!

Bracing for Hurricane Matthew

I came down to our house in Cayce yesterday so that I could clear the yard of anything that could potentially become airborne if Matthew comes this far Inland. I also had to come down to get meds for the critters here - flea killer and heart worm tablets. It's not looking like we will see much from it as of this moment but as with all Hurricanes things can change overnight or within just a few hours. I will be staying down here until early Sunday morning. Scott is staying in Greenville and replacing the thermostat on  the furnace.

Of course Piper kitty is thrilled that I am down here and is eating up all the extra "Grandma" attention. She even brought me her favorite toy so that I would repair it's belly where she had torn it open.

Cottage Weekend

Scott and I stayed at the Cottage this weekend and worked on a few projects. I rescreened storm windows and with Scott's help got most of the ones I had rescreened rehung so that we can now open windows and enjoy the cool Fall fresh air. One window we could not re-install as we do not have a ladder tall enough to reach the window and it would be too dangerous to even try. Of course I cleaned them all inside and out as well so now all this beautiful light comes inside to brighten our time indoors. It got me to thinking that anyone that battles winter blues would benefit tremendously by adding window cleaning to their winter prep routine.

A Dump Load

Scott worked at cleaning out some more of the garage and he has started installing some shop lights to make the lighting better and to update the wiring so it is not a fire hazard anymore. He has the lights in stalled and just needs to run the wire now. At each light he is also installing an outlet - ONE - to plug the shop light into and TWO - to give him safe outlets to use while he is running new wire along the wall to instal new outlets there. He will tear out the old nasty and dangerous wire as he goes along. Scott will make a trip to the dump tomorrow on his way home from work.

 Friday I did a little Retail Therapy with a trip to Kohl's. I bought myself 3 nighties, a t-shirt and a cardigan and I bought Scott 3 nice dress shirts that he can wear to work. The nighties were only $6.40 each and I love that kind... no sleeves and cheap.

Howard AKA "HOWIE"

"Callie"

 Two of the 3 Cottage Kittens that the Mother cat left with us. Callie and Howie are getting more friendly and Howie will actually let me pet him in the mornings and at bedtime. But the third kitten - "Tippy" just comes for the free food and runs if I try to pet him. I will try to get a picture of Tippy for the next post. I am hoping to catch them soon and get them shots, spayed and neutered.

Two large dinner salads with Feta cheese and some Wild Berry Zinger unsweetened Ice Tea was last Wednesday nights dinner p so delicious!