A Big Can of White Paint

Isn't it amazing what a white paint will do to a brown shelf and a flower pot?  This went in my guest room.  The picture is three generations of dynamic women.  Mama, me and daughter when we were about 18, 38 and 58.  My sister Patricia took this photo and it will always be cherished!

The Poopie Truck

The Poopie Truck arrived and sucked out the overflowing septic system.  Ahhhhh, life in the country.  We also found out that our well water is not drinkable even with multiple filters so on to the next adventure.  It has been so hot here we got in the car yesterday and drove just to stay cool.  We always spend too much money when we do that.  Thank God it rained yestrday and cooled thigs off.  I still am so greatful to be living here.  Life is GOOD!

My GW Pasta Machine

This is my first attempt at making egg noodles.  Ingredients:  4 large eggs, 3 1/2 C. sifted flour and 1 T water.  That's it!  The noodles are drying and I will seal them in quart jars unless we eat them first.

More Freezing Today!

We ordered a freezer which will be here the end of this month or before.  I the meantime, I am filling the freezer that I have.

I'm Happily Tired!

Who Builds a skylight right over the bed in a Master Bedroom?  Our builder did!  So...here is my solution!  Three tension rods and a length of soft green sheer fabric from GW and Voila! 

Mama and John

My Mama and My Big Brother John

The Math

Okay, here's the math.  Out of the $50 worth of produce I got:
12 qt shredded zucchini
6 qt Cinnamon applesauce
28 Jelly jars of preserves
6 qt frozen peaches
1 peck of apples to cook with or eat
1 doz peaches to eat. 

I spent $18 on jelly jars so I think the work was worth it.

Memories from Childhood

The last few days has been a whirlwind.  Jim and I decided to take a road less traveled and ended up at an Amish produce auction.  I have never bid at an auction before in my life.  They gave me a number and my hand just kept going up.  I knew that I remembered how to can and freeze so I went for it.  Little did I know that a "lot" meant each pint or quart.  I when I figured that out, I stopped and found that I had spent $50.00. 

I bought zucchini, peaches, apples, and plums.  When I was about 12 years old, I made a recipe for preserves for 4-H.  It turned out well and everyone loved it so, I decided that I would do that again. 

Oh Ye of little Faith!  I did it!  May be it's because I am not afraid to fail or because I believe that I won't, but I'll try anything.  If it didn't Jell, I'll pour it over ice cream.  It's a little runny but great on my morning toast.  The rest of the produce, I froze.  I still have a peck of apples left so I think I will just cut them in pieces and freeze.  The other peck I made cinnamon apple sauce and froze.  I think it's time to buy a freezer for the basement. I had so much fun!

Hot But Peaceful Morning

Last night we spent some time with our neighbors and had a good time.  I was just saying to Jim that I miss being with other couples.  We walked over to the neighbors and they were very gracious to spend time with us.  They just got home from vacation and I'm sure were very tired.  I hope we didn't stay too long.  We were just having a good time.  Today I am going to work on the Thrift Store coffee table.  After pics to follow.

Oh, The Things I am Learning

After living in the desert for two years with no rain, it has rained almost continuously for the past week.  When it's not raining, the mosquitos are fierce!  After trying everything in the medicine cabinet for itching, I discovered that a paste of baking soda and water works the best!  We also discovered last night that we may have fleas!  The dogs are on Frontline but we may have brought them into the house with the bargain carpets.  I read online that if you brush Borax into the carpet and vacuum it out several times it will kill the fleas.  Will give it a try before I call Terminex!  My final tip is that you can get rid of those fingerprints on Stainless Steel appliances with Liquid Gold.  Rub it on and buff it off.  Voila!  No fingerprints.  I was cleaning the cupboards with in and I read the can!  I guess I'm learning how to live in the country. 

Arts and Crafts

I forgot how much I love to do crafting!  I found the small oak stool at the thrift store and painted it with Milk Paint.  Then, it begged for a sunflower.  Then I painted the doggie steps to match and Jim carpeted it for me.  The wool rug, I hooked several years ago and finally have a home for it.  Michele and Ronnie are at the races so I crafted. 

There is No Such Thing As a Coincidence, Sunshine!

When Jim and I were first married, we went to an event on New Years Eve.  We seperately worked on Treasure Maps of the things we wanted in our lives.  We cut pics from magazines and pasted them on a large piece of cardboard.  Both of us had pics of a house with skylights.  Now we live in Ohio in a house with two skylights.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.  The first gift Jim ever gave me was a music box that played, "You Are My Sunshine".  Yesterday, when they pulled out the stove, they found a slate plaque that said, "You Are My Sunshine"!  I will leave that up to you to figure out.  Oh, by the way, when I was a child, my mother called me "Sunshine"!

Floors, Poaring Rain and Painting with Pat

This has been a mixed bag of a day.  The workmen came to lay vinyl on the kitchen, master bath, guest bath, and foyer floors.  While they were tearing up my pretty little house, my sister Pat and I painted on the screened porch.  It was hot but we stayed cool under a ceiling fan and painted.  While we were doing this, I had to contain 3 dogs and try to keep them away from the workmen.  This was a bit hectic but it went okay until the storm hit.  We gathered up our supplies and ran into the house, fast!  We tried to sit on the covered porch out front but the rain was so fierce that we were forced inside.  Pat painted a pretty vase of flowers and I worked on a barn painting.  I thought it was a lost but with Pat's direction, I improved it a bit.  I did learn a few things today.  I need to stop trying to paint a painting and start doing exercises again.  I painted a poppy on a scrape piece of paper and it was better than the barn. 

As soon as the floors are done, I can start getting ready for my 4th of July party which is on July 3rd.  I guess I should call it an Independence Day party!  It will be all about family, food and fun!  My life is finally getting back in order and I can focus on those things and people that are the most important to me. 

The main floor unpacking is almost done and it's starting to feel like home. I kept some of my country decor items when we moved to Las Vegas and I'm glad I did. After sitting in boxes for two years, I get to open the boxes and it's like Christmas. I would never part with the quilts I have made so now I can use them and hang them. Most of my decor is "recycled chic".

Charlie Had to Go to Doggie Hospital

Charlie is home and doing well.  He had to be sedated because he has separation anxiety.  Charlie had a stomach virus and had to get a fluid IV and an antibiotic but he seems to be doing well now.  He ate his rice and boiled chicken this morning and is back asleep.  We sure do love our furry babies.

Wildlife

My wildlife experience has been limited but Michele saw two deer and Jim saw one deer while 4 wheeling in our back 40 ft. I have seen a BlueJay, a Cardinal, several hummingbirds and lots of Robins in the trees around our porch. We are finally getting the bird feeders out. Oh, lots of mosquitos, spiders and flies. ..and a woodpecker that did not have a red head.  Oh and fish in the pond and lots of frogs.

Our new carpet is down and we ordered vinyl flooring yesterday.  We found a box of flooring squares in the basement and Jim "floored" the area under our kitchen sink. It was pretty bad with spills and now it is cleanable. There is always a project to do on our little homestead. Jim finished putting up lattace on the inside of our screened porch. The three dogs kept breaking through the screen to get at the cat! It looks really cute. He also put in the doggie door. Because we are raise a bit on the outside he has to build a ramp. We got a indoor/outdoor piece of carpet to carpet the ramp. Green to match the out of doors. Pics to follow.

Hidden Treasures

In my wanderings, I found a pristine pond with a deck.  Michele and I went 4 wheeling and I found so many photo opts that I have to go back again and again.  It was the best Mother-Daughter time I have had EVER!  Well, maybe the day she was born beats it.  There is a tree farm right behind our property and the pond sits in the middle of that farm.  So Beautiful. Now I have two ponds to love. 

Yes, Life is good

My son John came to visit last night and had to go back to Columbus this morning.  Jim and John road the ATV through the woods and had a great time.  They decided to name the ATV "Little Red Riding Hood".  Tee Hee  Then it was hot tub time!  I hope he found a bit of relaxation while he was here. 

Michele arrives this morning and I can't wait to see her.  She can stay until tomorrow.  It poured rain last light so I hope the sun shines a bit today.  My tomatoes look puny!  I planted my geraniums but I need more.  I saw my first Cardinal.  I painted this last year.

She's Painting Again!!

I went to a meeting of a group of artists last night and had a great time! I met some of the nicest women. I hear that there are two men in the group but they didn't come this time. We had oil painters, mixed media artist and watercolor artist. One lady brought a gorgeous quilt she had made. Now I am really inspired! Monday night I will go to the Watercolor guild meeting at the art center in Wooster. I got lost going and coming back to my little country home. I took my GPS, my Mapquest printout and written instructions but still got lost. Obviously, I made it back home.  Yesterday I painted and this is my first version of my white iris.  I have an updated version with more color added to the background.  Thanks Gina!

Christmas in June

Yes, I know.  It is not Christmas time.  But, I just had to share my thift store find.  Pat and I found this Rubbermaid box that was marked $1.50 and when we opened it up, it contained 8 of these wonderful little nutcrackers.  We asked if the $1.50 was for the container and the contents and we were told "yes".  We split them and Pat got 4 and I got 4 and the box.  What a bargain!  Aren't they fun? 

Thrift Store Hoppin'

What a day!  Pat and I went Thrift Store hoppin' and found great finds.  I'm not sure if we left anything for the other shoppers but most of it was mine.  We found a wool area carpet for my living room.  It's about a 9'X12' and very plush!  They wanted $50.00 but my sister had a 25% off coupon which she generously shared with me and so we got it for $35.00 and tax.  The next find was a set of Haviland China.  Some pieces are missing but I found them easily on Ebay.  $8.00!!!  My dry erase board was from Pat Catan's Art Supply and I hung it on the end kitchen cabinet.  This morning, look what I found!!  Mexican food for lunch and we were off again.  Sooo much fun and a needed break.

Home Sweet Home

We are home and Lovin' It!  To my artist friends, please feel free , as always, to use my photos.  To my new friend Amanda, Thanks for the frog!  We grow em big in Ohio!

We Have Arrived at our Destination!!

We are home!  The moving van has not arrived yet but we are home.  We are sleeping on the blow up mattress but we are home.  Last night Jim put new chains on the porch swing.  My dear brother John found it in the rafters and power washed the birdie dodo off.  When we have a drill we will hang it. 

So far I have discovered peonies, irises, all kinds of trees, pachysandra, periwinkle, cherry tree, an unknown fruit tree, hosta, lily-of-the-valley, and other misc. plants.  I have a raised bed for my veggie garden and a compost pile that has been started.  Yes, we are home.

On The Road Again

We are in Flagstaff AZ at a beautiful LaQuinta and heading for Amarillo TX.  We slept well last night and got up at 5 am with dogs.  They are sleeping in the Car for the most part.  Today is about 10 hours of driving with us taking turns.  Since we are on the same highway (rt 40) until St Louis, I don't have to worry about getting lost.  We are weary travelers but we have a mission!  I love WiFi!

The Avoidence of Pain

I know.  I am being philosophical this morning.  We are waiting for the packers to come and I have to set aside all that I don't want them to pack.  They will pack your wastebaskets full of trash if they are there.  So, as I putting stuff aside (that will go in the car) I'm thinking.  What if I get a headache? (Aleve).  What if I get a tummy ache? Prilosec.  What if my back goes out? (Ice Pack).  What if none of those things happen and I fill up my car with things I didn't need to take in the car all the way across the USA?  Ok, I'll take my art and my camera.

In my life I have been really stuck in places that I knew I should not be.  All to avoid the pain.  Often, when I get off dead center, there is little pain or none at all.  Walking away from someone or something that makes me unhappy is the tough one.  I have a family who loves me, a few good friends and a kind loving husband.  My blessings far outweigh my difficulty. 

Oh No! My o is broken!

Ok, so I'm typing along and my o works when it wants to.  I have to hit it harder than the rest to type.  OK, That's one of those small things that I'm not supposed to sweat.

We signed the papers on the sale of the house last night and we sold my big desk to a realtor who saw it when she was showing the house.  This morning the consignment company is coming for the couch and chair.  We plan to buy new living room furniture in Ohio.  Well, not new, but new to us.  I love to make slipcovers and I love the country look of slipcovers so......I want to find furniture that has good bones and is confortable and I will slipcover it.  I started to make my chair pads yesterday for my dining room chairs.  I am doing toothbrush rag rugs in the round for the chairs.  When it starts to look like something, I will post them.

Today is Friday.  Tomorrow is Jim's Birthday.  Happy Birthday Jim!  We will go out to dinner to celebrate.  We agreed that he would order his own present and he did.  As the years go by, it gets harder and harder to buy for each other.  This is our solution.

Sunday the moving company will be here to pack us and Monday the moving Van arrives.  Now remember, our moving man's name is Moses.  He will take us out of the desert!  We plan to sleep here Monday night and leave early Tuesday morning.  Am I repeating myself?  Well, it's because I have one last nerve and this move is on it!  Now that I told you that my o is broken, it's working.  Oh My!

It's Wednesday and We are out of Fruit and other Random Thoughts

The days are going slower.  Jim is still really sick.  He went to the doctor yesterday and had a fever and chest/ear infection.  Now he is on meds and hopefully getting better.  Yesterday a big box arrived from Overstock.  I wish I had had my camera close by.  I looked over to see Jim holding his pocketknife over the box that read "Do Not Open With Sharp Instrument"!!  I had ordered a new Mattress pad for our King sized bed.  It survived the pocket knife.  Ok, we are out of fruit.  I have been trying to plan enough to get down to near nothing in the fridge by the time we move on Monday.  We are starting to eat really weird.  But, I must run to the store this morning because we are out of fruit.  At our age, we cannot run out of fruit.

I have a Boo Boo

Everytime I move I hurt myself!  yesterday I cut my finger on a knife.  Not a bad cut..just inconvenient.  I have what Barbara calls good/bad stress.  yep, that describes it.  Today I plan to shampoo a dog.  One dog a day should get them ready to travel close quarters in the car for 4 days.  Today I am thinking about fresh eggs, free range chickens, and beef that is not pumped full of drugs.  I am anxious to plant my veggie and herb garden.  I realize that it has been many years sice I have grown a garden and my body got older.  I will just have to pace myself or get help.  I am part of the Back to the Land movement and I love it.  We leave in seven days.  That's how long it took God to create the world and I plan to create my new world starting now.

The last week in Las Vegas

Ahhh, It's Monday.  Jim is still really sick with this flu thing.  Our realtor is coming over today with the papers for the sale of this house.  If the bank doesn't go for the short sale we go to mediation.  Maybe it's close to being over.  I'm starting to pull everything out of closets and sorting to trash, donate or move.  Since we just moved two years ago, there is not much to do.  Sunday, the people will come to pack us and monday the moving van arrives.  We are shipping Jim's car and driving mine.  I drive a Dodge Caravan and there is more room in mine to transport three dogs.  On Sunday and Monday the doggies are going to doggie day care and home at night.  There is no way we could get packed and move with three little furbabies running around.  We are planning to arrive in Ohio on May 27th.  At this point, we don't know when the moving van will arrive.  I can finally breath!

Is it Over Yet?

Now both Jim and I have a cold!  We had to leave twice today to show the house and have one showing tomorrow so far.  Both of us just want to rest!  I finally colored my hair and did my nails.  I feel more human but still have a cold.  I just want to arrive in Ohio looking not so far from death's door!  I will be fine once we close the door on one chapter and open the door on the next.  I swear that this is my last move because I don't think I have another one in me.

15 days until we leave Las Vegas

I slept 12 hours last night and feel so much better.  Between two Dr visits, Benedryl, Mucinex and sleep, I am better.  Bless all of you that have this .....whatever this is.  Is does get better.  Now on the moving day. 

I have created a notebook with pictures of our new home, and lists...lists...lists.  I have budgets, calendars, and treasure maps.  Having been a long time believer in "The Secret", I know that we have to know what we want in order to get what we want.  This experience of the last two years has narrowed down for me what is important.  I want love in all things I experience.  I want to love, better, my God, my husband, my children, my grandchildren, my family of origin, my friends and my earth.  I want to understand before being understood.  I want to let go of "things" easily.  I feel like I am entering a new phase of my life and I am grateful for it.

Oh My!

Our Air conditioner broke 16 days before we move out!  My allergies are terrible!  We vacated yesterday to show the house twice and we were stood up both times!  Ok, That's my rant.  Now the good stuff.  I have a big cup of joe in a big red cup and that makes me happy.  I have started a list of the things I want to take in the car for our trip across the USA.  Me, Jim, Mollie, Maggie and Charlie.  Benydryle, not for me, for Charlie.  Plastic bags, water and food bowls and paper towels.  That's it so far.

Today is Mothers Day and I wish all mothers a happy day.  My own mother turned 90 this year and now I will be closer to her.  Mom is an accountant and is still working.  She lives in her own home alone and is still kicking butts and taking names.  I hope I have her longevity!  Sometimes she is difficult and sometimes she is very sweet.  I just never know which mom I will encounter.  I got my strength and tenacity from her and I think my creative side came from her.  I remember when she used to sew our clothes, needlepoint, knit and crochet.  Out of the necessity to raise 6 children on her own, she had to rely on her left brain and went into accounting.  Happy Mothers Day Mom.

On Mothers Day, I think of my own children, Michele and John.  They have both brought me great joy in their own ways.  My Grandchildren, Lina, Alexis and Aaron are perfect of course.  They all live in Ohio and I am so ready to be there and be with them. 

This is a picture of two Ohio kids.

It's a She!

OK, I now know the name of the shop cat.  It's name is Shop Cat, "Shoppie" for short!  I kid you not!  Maybe we could change her name to something prettier like "Sophie".  I have received word from Christine (our landlady) that she keeps down the mole population  (the cat) but sometimes will bring a bird to the back door.  Oh my! I have had cats before that deposit little "presents" at my feet and I know what to do.  Call for Jim to remove it! 

I have been dreaming of "country" things.  Quilts (yes, I quilt), hand-hooked rugs (yes, I rug hook with my own hand dyed wool),  Canning and baking bread . I know I could have done all of that in Las Vegas but what's the point?  I am a country girl who has been out of her element. 

We will be living in Amish Country so we will have to slow down.  I took this pic not far from our new home.  I'm thinking free range chickens, Amish baked goods and Hand woven baskets.  What an ideal place to take photographs.  The Amish do not want their picture taken so I will be obscure.  Do you think he knew I took his picture?

A Really Good Mouser!

I have just inherited a barn cat. I have agreed to keep the kittie that was born at my new house and has lived there it's whole life. I still don't know if it is a him, a her, or an it. I also don't know it's name. I hope it's an it! I also hope that it is a really good mouser! I have lived in the country before and I know that I need a really good mouser! Mice and snakes have a place in this world but not in my home.

So, let's recoup. I have three dogs, a cat and a husband. Maybe more livestock is in my future. ..or is it are in my future??? I do want a veggie garden and a herb garden. Should I start wearing red gingham check? Maybe bib overalls for DH?

Jim and Norena's Excellent Adventure

In about 3 1/2 weeks, Jim and I are packing up and leaving Las Vegas for Ohio.  I was born in Easton, Ohio and grew up in Madisonburg.  We are moving to the country and looking forward to it. 

 

Spring in Ohio