Tuesday Talk

I should be wrapping the rest of my Christmas things. I should be making the rest of the Christmas stockings that are on my list. I should be doing a lot of things but I have instead been perusing some of your blogs and enjoying myself immensely. Do you ever go over to Ree's at
thepioneerwoman.com and click on her recipe section? She has some of the yummiest recipes around and the cookie one today was chuck full of chopped pecans, cran raisins, quick oats, apricots, brown sugar etc. She also takes pictures all the way through the process which helps. These are not your fat free, calorie free, taste free recipes but eating them in limited quantities is fine. Or in huge quantities.......

I have found another house that I want to flip if the numbers are right. It's our first house that we bought when we were first married. We had been renting for about six months and decided to look for something to own and found this little ranch on a quiet street within walking distance of a nice little school.

We were scared to death to take on a mortgage as our rent was only $70.00 a month including utilities but wanted our own place to start building some equity. The house was $21,000.00 and that seemed like a million to us but we took the step and bought it. I don't think we slept much that night thinking that we would now have a house payment of $130.00!

We stayed in that house for ten years. Our son was born while we lived there and went to the little school down the street. It was a great neighborhood but when it was time to move on I was ready to go.

So I am anxious to see what it looks like now. From the outside it looks pretty tired and worn from lack of TLC but we shall see. Flipping houses is not for the faint at heart. You take a chance on every property you buy and so far in my somewhat limited career I have done okay. I have done tons of construction projects but flipping is a whole different ball game. Huge difference. With new construction you know what you are dealing with, not so with flips. There are surprises that you would just rather not have but you just have to do your best to be selective which is why I haven't done that many plus the fact that the real estate market is a bit depressed right now.

Thanks to my computer guy my scanner is now working. Actually it's a new scanner, the other one was a lemon and they took it back and gave me a new one and he installed it. This picture is me at about 11 years old. I had on my favorite poodle skirt and look at the pointed toe shoes! I think I thought I was a real babe! lol!

A few years back we had another visiting bear on our back deck. This one was a bit friendlier and let us get some pictures. He was young and looking for a free meal so was after the suet I had out for the birds. He came back a couple of times but then we didn't see him again.

I have been going down memory lane going through lots of old pictures looking for something for the 'ole blog that I can scan. This was our first 'family' picture and Son was only three months old. I had a waist back then........sigh.........

We're supposed to get some snow tonight. I hope it's all cleared out by the time we go to the vet with Buddy and his friend Bucky tomorrow. I don't do any hauling when it's slippery. This is just for a check up and x-rays to check on his feet and Bucky needs blood work. He is my friend Ann's horse who is one year older then Buddy at 27! We call them the grumpy old men! :o)

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!

As you can see I am still fiddling around with this new graphics program. It has some adorable stuff for all occasions and holidays and my nice computer guy is patiently trying to teach me the difference between jpeg and tif and all the other ABC's of graphic usage. I admit I am a slow learner but he is taking it slow thankfully. I think we are going to have to do this weeks lesson again next week as I am still muddled about layering. I hope he doesn't give me a test!!! Yikes! I will think I am back in boarding school!!!!

It's snowing again this afternoon. We got several inches last night on top of the foot on Monday and another storm is predicted for Tuesday. Son was out on his snowmobile this morning packing down some trails for us to use later on when there is more snow. Right now it would be a bit bumpy and you have to watch out for stumps and rocks.

I went to K's hockey game this morning with his Mimi, Bampie and Mom. K is T's and D's older cousin but we consider him our third grandchild. To say it was cold in the ice arena would be an understatement. I am going to disgrace myself and Mimi and post a picture of what we looked like at the game. With all the layers and blankets on we were STILL cold! It was worth it though, they played a great game and won 5-3. No one would admit knowing us though.....sigh....

It's beautiful outside and when the lights come on I will go out and take a picture of our horse and sleigh decoration. I want to wrap some boxes with foil paper and put them in it but I just haven't gotten to it yet, maybe tonight.

MONDAY

Why can't I finish a post in one sitting these days? Guess like everyone else I have too many irons in the fire with all the Christmas things going on. We went to our Sunday School Christmas program last evening. The children were adorable all dressed in their holiday finery and did such a good job. Why is there always a little girl pulling her dress up over her head though?? lol! I don't think I have ever been to a children's program without that or one of the boys picking his nose! Gaaaaaagggggg!

Yesterday after church we were invited to a friends home with some other couples for seafood chowder and yeast rolls. To say it was totally delicious would be a major understatement! I wish I had taken a picture of her table, it was just set so beautifully in blue.

They live in the country and we enjoyed the drive out and I took a few pictures. This first one is our little ski place where you go if you don't want to travel to the big ski areas further away. The second one is hay out in the field. I don't used rolled bales but a lot of the cow farmers do, leaving them right out in the pasture for the cows to munch on at will.

Here's a shot of our new pony decoration! Isn't he cute? He's pulling a little sleigh and I am going to wrap a few boxes with foil paper and put them in the sleigh.( I think I already said that) Guess I'll have to put a brick in them to keep them from blowing away.

I got my tree in the living room decorated Saturday night while watching the country music station as you can see on the tv. Can't think of his name but it's Hannah Montana's Dad. T loves Hannah Montana.

We got up Saturday morning with two birdseed bandits having breakfast in our back yard. These were taken through the window so are a bit gray.

Guess that's it for today. Still lots to do to get ready for Christmas. More decorating, sewing and cooking but there's still plenty of time. Funsize got most of my wrapping done and that is a HUGE help. Only a couple more things to pick up at the mall but will do that tomorrow when I am right near there at my chiropractor's.

Thursday Thoughts

This has been a productive day. It's not too often that I can say that. My clothes dryer has been on the fritz, my computer has been down since the storm and my new horse decoration that lights up has been sitting in the box since it's arrival last week. Now all is well, even the fake horse with the lights on it is here in the den nodding it's head up and down as I type.


The dryer man came about noon time and fixed my dryer. He replaced the light in it and it started working fine. I guess it's the kind of dryer that needs it's light on before it can dry anything. I have been using my mother's dryer in her apartment so it hasn't been bad. Kind of nice having two of everything at close hand.I actually got my computer back up and running with tech support which is amazing for me. When I called early this morning they had a recording that due to heavy traffic they suggested I call back later. I figured that was it for today but this afternoon when I tried again I got right on. As I suspected it was due to the storm that my computer had shut down so it was just a matter of unplugging the modem and router for 5 minutes and it was going again. I had always just unplugged it for about 10 seconds but I guess that doesn't work any more. Any way I am soooooooo glad to have my computer back!!! (Big grin and happy dance!)A few weeks before my parents went back to Florida my Dad walked in the Veteran's Parade here in town. Low and behold the next day he was on the front page of the paper! He is on the left hand side edge with the green coat, hat, about half way back. He served in WW 2 for several years in the Infantry Division. He did not see my sister until she was about 18 months old when he came home after the war. He doesn't like to talk about it much, saw too many things that he would probably rather forget but he served his country well with my mother back here waiting for him. I'm proud of you Dad!

Yesterday I took the day and went with Hubby to Portland where we have a branch office. I dropped him off and then I headed to the mall which is much bigger then the one we have here in town. Mainly I wanted to go to the Dis*ney Store to pick up a few more things for the grands. I walked in and guess what was hanging on the rack in abundance???????? One guess.........the Giselle dresses!!!! Every size!!!! Now I was told in no uncertain terms that they weren't going to be getting any more so I was very surprised. Of course I had already ordered one off EBay which hasn't come yet so I didn't know what to do. I hemmed and hawed a bit then decided to buy one and then if the EBay one didn't come for some reason I would have a back up and I can always take the Dis*ney store one back if I want to. (I asked to make sure) They didn't have the shoes but they did have the crown so I grabbed that. Now my quest is to find the shoes but I'm not holding my breath on that one. The dress is adorable, if I had had one like that when I was a little girl I would have been in 7th heaven. They also had a new supply of things for D as he likes hoodies and sweatshirts and I found a costume for him that is one of the characters that he likes! Yippee!I shopped around the mall a while and then decided to hit TJ Maxx. Pay dirt again! I got a nice pair of dress pants with a cammie and matching jacket which retailed for $379.00 for $59.00!!! Be still my beating heart! Next I found a nice Liz winter wool jacket for $59.00 that fits like a glove and then some winter snow boots, not dressy type but out in the snow playing with the grand kids type boots. Next I spied a table with adorable snowmen of all shapes, sizes and descriptions very reasonably priced so I grabbed some of them for upcoming Christmas parties where I need Yankee swap gifts. I was exhausted from the exhilaration! :o)

They had an adorable Christmas house in the mall. I was standing there taking pictures when a couple came up to me and said cameras weren't allowed in the mall. Hummmmm...I'd never heard of that before so I kept on snapping away with visions of the amazing pictures in my blog. lol!

Funsize was here tonight and when she left she called me on her cell phone and said I should take a picture of my tree on the front lawn that is all decorated with lights and snow. The picture doesn't do it justice but it is just gorgeous with the snow from the big storm on it.

Till next time!

I started this on Saturday!

Now let's play good boys! Stop that fighting or you will have to go in a time out!!!!



Now what do you suppose he is hollering about????? Should have a name that picture contest!!

One of my sisters E and her husband lives right beside a farm and the animals can come right up to her back yard as you can see in the pictures. They even sneak under the fence occasionally and eat her flowers. The lama's name is Corky and he isn't particularly friendly unless you have a bucket of feed and then he will eat out of your hand. The two rams just don't seem to get along and they bother Corky to the point that he spits on them and they are all green from the regurgitated grass that he lets fly! Needless to say it's quite a bit of entertainment right from ones back porch!

E's birthday was yesterday and she turned....ahem....cough....throat clearing.........60......... She doesn't look it or act it, especially act it! :o) She finds humor in the craziest things in life and I love it. Happy Birthday E!!!!! xoxoxox Love you!

Funsize and I went to the stable this morning to see the guys and get them out for some exercise. It's way too cold and windy for them to go out in the pasture today so we let them out in the inside arena to run around a bit. It is bitterly cold today with a biting wind. We had on many layers of clothes to keep warm. The boys are fine and Buddy was doing a bit of showing off and bucking as he ran around the arena. Some different then this summer when he was hobbling around on his pads. Did my heart good to see him having some fun! :o)


They are predicting a snow storm on Monday. My snowmobile is in the shop for a general check up so I guess I'd better go get it except my snowmobile trailer isn't registered...........now how did I forget to do that??????? Guess it will have to wait till Monday when I can get to the town office. If we get a foot of snow you will hear me crying all the way to the west coast if I don't have my snowmobile!!!!!!

MONDAY

Well here it is Monday and I haven't finished this yet. We are getting hit with a big snowstorm and it has been beautiful all day. I haven't left the house but my two grand kids came over first thing as there wasn't any school today. We played in the snow a bit, with D eating it as fast as he could.

Hubby just came in and told me it's supposed to keep snowing tomorrow too so we may get a good amount. I didn't see the turkeys all day today, they must be holed up in some big pine tree out back. Saturday they were everywhere here, eating up a storm, probably knew there was snow coming in.

Hubby got home a bit early tonight as he closed his office early so that the staff could get home and out of the storm. I told him to go sit with Noodles until I finished getting dinner ready. They looked so comfy out in the sun room by the fire.

Guess that's it for another day in the life of a Maine gal. Never know what a day is going to bring so we try to enjoy each one as they come. Don't know why lately my Midlife Mom has been waaaaayyyyyy down so that you have to scroll down to get to the comments??? Hummmmmmm.... a good question for my computer guy on Friday!! In the meantime, 'let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!! :o)

Friday Happenings

It's Friday morning and I just finished my three hour computer class. I have a wonderful young man that comes to the house and teaches and it is so much better then going to a regular class at the community college as it's one on one and we just work on things that I need to work on. This is our third week and I need to go call and make my appointment for next week. My head is swimming a bit but I have gone through things on my own since he left and I think I got it right.

Later.

Well I didn't get far with that and had to leave to go do some more decorating at the church. I think one more afternoon and we should have it finished. Other then a glue gun burn on one finger it was an uneventful afternoon. I think I will invest in one of the cool glue guns. Anyone out there have one? Pros and cons???? I'm wondering if they stick as well. I tried to get some good pictures of our beautiful stained glass windows but it was the wrong time of day. This one isn't too bad but when the sun is streaming in through them they are gorgeous.

Got a SUPER surprise in the mail yesterday from my stocking swap buddy Sunny Chick at Bustin' at the seams! It was a fun funky stocking FILLED with goodies including chocolate, ornaments, snowman pin to wear on my jacket, Colorado goodies, a key chain, a horse shoe shaped chocolate, chocolate covered peppermint sticks, horse fabric and did I say chocolate?!! This girl knows the way to my heart! Or should I say stomach!! :o) Thank you soooooooooooo much Sunny Chick!!! I LOVE the stocking and everything in it! You spoiled me rotten and I love it! Your stocking is going out tomorrow morning (Saturday) express mail!!! These swaps are so much fun, if you didn't participate this year plan on next year to get in on the excitement!!!

Well my new scanner is a lemon. My computer guy worked on it here at the house and tried it on different computers at the shop and it just doesn't work. Guess it will be going back to Sta*ples tomorrow despite the fact that the box accidentally got put out with the trash. I'm so anxious to have one and be using it here on the 'ole blog but I guess I have a while to wait. Munchie misses it too and is anxious for another one to sleep on while I type.

I did some more Christmas shopping yesterday. The stores were fairly quiet which I enjoy so in the hour and a half I had before an appointment I got quite a bit done. Funsize is coming over on Sunday after church to help me do some wrapping. Bobby got my other tree put up in the living room and all the bins of decorations brought down for me so now I just need to put on a good Christmas movie and have at it!

We are expecting snow on Monday! Yippee! Good thing Mom and Dad went back to Florida yesterday and will miss it all. They didn't get to their place in Florida until about 11 last night. They had a long layover in Atlanta and were late getting out of Maine. Buffy, their cat made out just fine, she is a seasoned traveler in her carrier and goes under the seat right in the main cabin. She doesn't howl all the way to Florida like Noodles did coming home from Florida last year! :o(

Well I bit the bullet and went on E*bay and bought the Giselle dress. I was afraid if I waited much longer the price would go up even more or I wouldn't be able to get it at all. Now T isn't begging and pleading for this dress, we haven't even seen the movie yet, but I being her grandmother want her to have it as I know how much she loves to play dress up with her friends. She has quite a few costumes but she is growing all the time and needs some bigger ones and I LOVE buying them if the truth be known........ahem......... Anyway it should be on it's way as Pay*Pal has notified me so I watch for the mailman every day!

Tomorrow Funsize, my friend Ann and I are going to brave the cold and go riding in the morning. It's supposed to be frigid but thankfully there is an indoor arena that we can use. I don't especially like riding when it's that cold but the horses need the exercise particularly Buddy whose legs tend to stock up (swell) a bit due to his age. After moving around for 2o minutes or so they slim right down again. Wish that worked for me too!! :o)