Warm as Toast!

Today Lowes is coming with our winter supply of wood pellets.  I am sooo excited.  I have this strange desire to be warm as toast during the winter.  We live in this big old house (2300 sq. ft.) that is over 180 years old.  We have three, yes, THREE pellet stoves.  Sometimes the wind blows so hard around here it feels like we're living in Siberia.  During the summer, we die from the heat.... during the winter we freeze from the cold.... oh wait... is that just because we live in NY? 

This is the first summer in a long time that I really feel as if I have accomplished something.  My goal has been to declutter & I've done just that.  I know I have a long way to go, but it's really noticeable - at least to me.  I think to others too though (at least one of the 'adopted daughters' noticed when she came over.... friends too).  I can't wait to finish up.  I have until the 26th.... that's when we're having our yard sale.  I have LOVED this summer.  It hasn't seem to go too fast or too slow.  It does seem like it's speeding up as we head towards the beginning of the school year though.

Then comes fall.... I have to say, I think fall is my favorite season.  I love the colors, the smells, the crisp nights, fires in the fire pit, the lack of corn pollen.  I love that 'settling in' feeling, that hunkering down for winter.  The soups & baking that occur more often.

I'm ready this year, thanks to our supply of wood pellets, I'll be warm as toast.

What's your favorite season?  Why?

Bye!  Love you!  Have a good day, Dear!

It's a Date!

I have a lunch date!!!  Naw.... not with King Turd of Poop Mountain.... although that would be nice... nope, it's with my friend Dawn.  I'm so excited!  I love getting together with her.  We're planning on meeting at a local pizza joint (her favorite spot to eat).

I know that we'll spend time talking about our dogs.  She has a black lab mix named, Remington.... yeah, after the gun... Dawn shoots skeet.... Me?  I'm lucky that I can just shoot the bull with someone...  She hunts too... And she makes her own cards - she stamps, I scrapbook - we're dying to go through each others stash.  She drinks hard liquor, I drink wine (Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Red Cat).  She's an only child, I have 2 brothers & 3 step-brothers.

You would think that Dawn & I don't have much in common.  She's NOT a girly-girl.  She doesn't like pink & bright colors like I do, she likes colors - just not bright (and definitely NOT pink or purple).  She likes guns, & antique bubble gum & cigarette cards.  She drives a pickup, I drive a Mommy Mobile.  I have 3 kids, she has none.  I've been married twice & she's never been married.  Her teaching degree is in Biology!  Stuff that blows my mind... that no way can I figure out.... But then again, I teach AIS Math & that boggles some other people.

Anyhow, I didn't think I was going to like this girl when I first met her about 6 years ago.  She was quiet & didn't socialize much.  When she spoke, she seemed sharp.  The kids at school didn't care for her much because at that time she was the Internal Studies (aka Internal Suspension) Teacher.  So I had these preconceived notions in my head when I got stuck with her at a conference thing... and you know what I found out?  I DO like her - very much! She's VERY shy, she wears her heart on her sleeve, she's an only child, and she doesn't beat around the bush when she talks to you (which I like in a person - alot).  She is snarky (LOVE that trait too), she is one of the sweetest people you would ever want to meet.  And once you have her for a friend - you have a friend for life.

I'm glad I have had the experiences in my life that I've had.  Just so that I can be open to really SEE other people for who they really are.  I'm glad that I was wrong.  I can't wait to say 'Hi!' 

Bye! Love you!  Have a good day, Dear!

No Tattling Allowed

There is absolutely NO TATTLING ALLOWED around here... especially about me.... especially to my mother (You know, Nana-next-door)!

Back in March we adopted a rescue dog we named, Jill, from Silver Linings for Pit Bulls, through them we met one of her foster moms, Aimee, down in North Carolina.  So Aimee likes to keep up on her 'babies' and see how they are doing.  This girl, is amazing!  She fosters TONS of animals - she has a whole herd of critters in her little 1000 sq. ft house!!

So anyhoot, Aimee sends me these pics of cute little 'pocket dogs' - little Chihuahuas (pronounced Chi - hoo-a-hoo-a..... at least around here... lol).  Me, being the all knowing mom that I am, knows that The Lego King would flip for a little 'pocket dog', and I tell her so.  I also stated that King Turd of Poop Mountain would KILL me if I brought one dog, let alone two into our house (KTPM: "If you bring one more animal into this house, someone has to LEAVE!").... Aimee, being the smarty-pants that she is, tells me that she's fostering a mama Chi & her three babies... then THAT. GIRL. SENDS. ME. A. VIDEO.!!

Awwwww, they are so CUTE!  I love 'em!  She has one black baby & two tan babies.  So in this one video, Tito (the black baby) is attacking this rug.  He's about as 'big as a minute'.  It was so cute, so I showed King Turd and he says.... get this.... 'Tell her we want him!'..... What?  What did he just say?...

Oh my goodness..... we're in the process, hopefully... of adopting, Tito..... My mother is going to pitch a fit.... 'cause she's that type of mother....So, IMA ask you all for a favor m'kay?.... don't tell her... DON'T tattle on me....  You know that saying?  "It's better to ask forgiveness, than to ask permission."?  Yeah, well that's my motto....

I know, I know!!!  I know I'm almost 50 years old (SHUT UP!!! I mean it!!  Stop snickering!)... but she's MY MOTHER!!!  And she, you know, lives next door!  It truly wasn't bad until she retired....

Don't be a tattle-tale!!

Bye!  Love you!  Have a good day, Dear!

Shhhh, It's a Secret!!

Shhhh, don't tell anyone.... but, I don't have anywhere to go today!  I know!!  Can you believe it?  Shh, shhh, shhh!!

There are a few things that I want to work on since I'm still in that ol' declutter mood.  And I've got shitloads piles of stuff to get rid of. 

I did find my mojo yesterday & I did work upstairs in my craft room for an hour or two.  I did pick up downstairs here before I did that.  Vacuumed, swept, switched over a load of clothes & started a load of towels.

Today I think I'm going to work in my bedroom.  You know, the room you throw everything in because you're having company come?  Yeah, that room.  I figure if I get it cleaned out.  I can use it as a staging room for the big pieces of crap furniture that have to come downstairs.  In The Lego King's room alone there are 7 pieces of furniture alone!!  One metal closet type unit, a small triangular closet, 1 video rack (that he was using for his stuffed animals), 2 bookshelves (one is a Little Tykes & the other is black metal) and a video-rocker (you sit in it to play video games) and ... a tree.... It's this tree that you put together like a puzzle & the leaves (cut to resemble big green clouds) are the shelves.  We thought we'd use that for his stuffed animals. 

Have you gotten the pattern here?  About the stuffed animals?  The other day I found a mesh pouched shoe rack thing you hang on your door for $6 at VOA, we're going to hang it over the door to the storage closet in his room.  It has a gazillion pockets for his gazillion stuffed animals.  I'm thinking that within the next few years (since he'll be in middle school) that they'll be going... but for now, it breaks his heart to part with them.

Well... I'd best get busy... before someone finds out... you know, about the secret.... shhhh!  I'm expecting you to keep mum!!

Bye!  Love you!  Have a good day, Dear!