Hey, just checking in......we've just eaten and had anniversary cake to celebrate my cousin and his wife's 25th anniversary.......and I think that my aunts are all in the kitchen getting ready to mix up home made ice cream!!! This is definitely NOT the week for trying to diet!!!

Rick and Lynette's house is just beautiful and they have a swimming pool that is just calling my name!! I'm hoping that later this evening that we can go swimming.....we'll just have to see how long everyone sticks around.

Glen's still at home working. He had grain that he had to haul in and get loaded and was still working on it this morning. He'll either get here tonight or sometime tomorrow.

Talk to ya'll later!!! Hugs!!!!

It sounds like so much fun Diana! Enjoy that swim! I hope Glen has a safe trip down, and that all have a great visit!

Betsi, I am so sorry about Jack. It is so good that you are getting Kirby right now.
He may help fill that void in your hearts.

I can't wait to see pictures of the little guy! Have fun visiting with Tink too!

Yay! Our rain gutters are finally up permanently! YAY! Our sil, Bryan, came over today to return some borrowed tools and he went out there and had the permanent screws in place in about 30 minutes. I'm so glad because I was worried about the energy it would take Gary to stand on the ladder and put the screws in with the drill.

Now, we just have to caulk, which won't be too bad, heck, I think I can do that. We also have to install the down spouts, but they just have to be attached to the side of the house, so no big deal.

You're doing great Gayle! Wow....I have some things that need done here if you're interested...lolol

Wow, everyone is so busy! I am so sorry about Jack, Betsi :(

I have been working a lot of overtime and now have over 2 weeks' extra holiday time from all the time I've banked. That will come in handy one of these days lol!

In my spare time I've managed to get all the trim and baseboards on the main floor painted white. Now you can really tell the ceilings aren't totally white, so we're considering maybe painting the ceilings too before the walls. They haven't been painted in 13 years so they may be due for it anyway. I painted the condo in one week with a lot of stress, so this time I just want painting done at least a month before Christmas :) I'll give myself some extra time!

My parents are coming out this weekend and we're going to all go golfing at the course across from our house on Saturday. Scott and I are also going to a concert Friday night (Black Eyed Peas) and hopefully we'll have some time to check out "Cruise Weekend", where downtown is blocked off and filled with classic cars.

Oh yeah, and I am so proud of myself with my first ever garden of my very own! Last night I noticed we have TONS of cucumbers, a few peas are ready, and I pulled some carrots but they're still pretty small. We've already eaten a couple of strawberries too, and the onions are huge so we can eat those anytime! My few tomatoes are still small and green, and I'm still waiting for my bell peppers to do something! But I think it was a pretty good first crack at gardening this year :D

It does sound like you did great at gardening this year! Oh and your bell peppers need some turkey poop compost. I don't know if you can find it up there, but that is what the garden store told me last year and it worked! My bells just wouldn't set on any peppers and after I put the turkey compost around them, they did! Jalapeno peppers are actually easier to grow than bell peppers. We don't eat many jalapeno peppers, we mostly give them away. :D

In your dreams! LOL!!!!

Well!!! LOL

There are quite a few things around here needing fixed so I guess I ought to be making a list...otherwise they will never get done. Some I need help with.

The garden sounds good Linds! My daughter began one this year too, and her stuff is delicious! It is so good to eat from your own garden (or those of relatives, like me).

Your garden sounds like it's doing very well, Lindsey. There's nothing like eating something that you've grown yourself!!

Ah! All weekend company gone. Had a nice time with the family, but it is always good to have a quiet house once again.

My school starts on Wednesday. I'm ready though, I love the beginning of a new semester. It seems odd though, it always seems to go by so fast, yet here it is 101 degrees today and it will be cold by the time the semester is over in December! I'm looking forward to a little cooler weather (or maybe A LOT cooler).

Sorry that I didn't post about our trip to Texas earlier.......We had a great time!!! It was so good to see my cousin, Steve, and his wife, Belinda!!! I hadn't seen them for almost 20 years!! Steve still has his wonderful sense of humor and soon had us all laughing!!! They had a very nice 25th anniversary party that included aunts, uncles, and cousins. My aunt, Joyce, had really gone all out with the cake and everything!!

I went down on Friday with my Mom, Step-dad, and my brother. It was a quiet trip for the most part. My Mom read a book and my brother slept while Art drove. It probably was a good thing because I found out that my brother had been arrested for beating up a guy that was in his ex (?) wife's bed......it's a long story.....well, it's just another in a long line of bad decidions. His life is so full of drama.

I stayed with Rick and Lynette, my cousin and his wife. They are such wonderful people.....Glen and I get along with them so well!!! They've just completed a lot of work on their home and yard.....it was all so beautiful!!! They had a wonderful swimming pool and I was so excited about it but the water was so hot!! The weather was terribly hot and just warmed the water up too much. I did swim but it was not as refreshing as I thought that it would be.

An aunt and uncle who lost everything in Katrina now live in this community and we've never really had too much to do with them because they lived too far away.....had us over for a shrimp supper. It was really good!!

Another day Lynette, Carol (another aunt), and I went to Gladewater and shopped the antique stores. We didn't near make it to all of them!!! I found a Chatty Cathy doll in her original clothes!!! I was pretty excited because I've always wanted one!!!

Glen and I headed home on Wednesday and decided to not go on the Indian Nation Turnpike so we could see the country.......we found out that it takes a looooong time to drive through the southern part of Oklahoma!!!!! So I called my Aunt Marva and we spent the night at her house in Muskogee. The next morning we left and hit some flea markets on the way home!!!

I was so ready to get home and see my Baby Dean!!! Rick and Lynette had a new little granddaughter, Milie Jo, that was 7 months old and soooo cute.......and Marva's little great-granddaughter, Addy, was at Marva's house and also cute.......I told Glen that I had ooo'd and awwww'd over everyone else's baby that I needed to see my own!!!

It was a great trip and so relaxing!! Being down there with my Aunt Carol and her husband, Richard, and Rick and Lynette is like being with mom and dad and a brother and sister. They're very close family to us.

Sounds like wonderful family time Diana. So much to do and people to catch up with.

I am going to go get the bus either Wednesday or Thursday and make sure it's already for the route. School starts Tuesday the 31st. Starting later because of a school construction project. I'm beginning to get anxious...I do miss some of the kids. Registration is the 24th & 25th so after that I'll know how many new kids I'll have. It takes so much time making the easiest and most fuel efficient route and then calling all the kids letting them know what time to expect me. Parents want to talk and talk and it takes soooo much time. I'm usually able to cut the call short in a nice way and then on to the next.

I hope things go well this year. A couple drivers have quit and new ones hired. Some that have been there awhile are only there for the gossip and it's so maddening. I'll probably just stick to my bus instead of with the gossipers....I usually don't agree with their thinking so it's best I just stick to the bus.

Still haven't heard from any place but a few where I put in an application. If this keeps up...I'll be stuck here forever.

Sounds like you had a nice trip Diana!

Janet, I hope things work out for you. I can't believe school is starting again. A couple of weeks ago we heard the pools in the city were getting ready to shut down and I couldn't believe it. But school is right around the corner!

Gayle, I have never heard of turkey poop compost lol! The plants have doubled in size over the past few weeks but no flowers or anything yet. Oh well, I gave it a try. We got frost last week already and I had to cover the plants. In the next month or so everything will have to be out of the garden. Next year I'm planting earlier!

I had such a busy weekend! On Friday after work, Scott and I headed to my grandma's for some lasagne (delicious!) and then went with my brother and his girlfriend to the Black Eyed Peas concert! It was a really good show!

We got home around midnight, went to sleep, got up early, and had the whole family out for a day of golf. The course in our town is SO nice! But it's long, and half is uphill, so I'll definitely get a cart next time! At the end of the 9th hole, there's a clear short path to our house so my mom and I just walked home instead of alllll the way back to the parking lot with Scott :D

Everyone hung out at our house for the afternoon and played some bocce ball in the yard. My grandma and mom and I went to check out the antique store in town and everything was soooo beautiful. I want to go back and buy some things!

We had a big barbeque later with steaks, potatoes and beans from my parents' garden, salads, and nanaimo bars for dessert. It was so good! After everyone left we packed our bags, showered, and went into the city for the night. We planned to play cards but after a few games I was so tuckered out I went to bed.

We did tons of shopping yesterday which was good because we stocked up our storage room and our freezer. A grocery store had a 10 for $10 sale on a bunch of items so we took big advantage of that :D 10 coconut cream pies for $10? Don't mind if I do! :D :D :D

When we got home last night, we had JUST put groceries away when the power went out. Usually it's 10 or 20 minutes before power is restored, but it wasn't coming back on. We called the provider and there was a recording saying there was a substation down, all surrounding towns were out of power, and there was no estimated time for it to be fixed :( It ended up being 2.5 hours without power! I was just going to bed when it came back on.

Now I'm counting down to next weekend when I get to do NOTHING!

Sounds like everyone is having a nice end of summer. We took a two week vacation. Left the first of August and got home on the 14th. Went to Lake Charles, New Orleans, Williamsburg, VA, Washington, DC, Anapolis, MD, Baltimore, MD, Philadelphia, PA, Gettysburg, PA, down the Blue Ridge Parkway to Grandfather Mountain in SC, over to Nashville, TN, Memphis, TN and back home. It was very much an American History tour, but had a wonderful time. Melissa, Garrett and Karen were able to go with us. It was the first time our little family took a long driving vacation in the US. We have always flown everywhere due to lack of vacation time. I burned my entire vacation on this trip, but it was well worth it.

It's a little hard to get back in the swing of things, but we're working on it. Would love to spend a few weeks in Greenville, SC. I've been there on business, and we stopped and ate there on this trip, and Rex agreed with me that it is beautiful and he would like to spend some time there, too. We'll have to park the RV there for a few weeks when we retire, if we ever do....

Everyone has just been so busy!!! I guess that's because summer is about to come to an end.

Janet, I know that you're excited about seeing your little kids!! Enjoy your late start!! Our school started last Wednesday. It felt like we hardly got to see Feyn's kids....even though they just live down the road from us. They were so involved with different camps and activities all summer.

Lindsey, it sounds like you had a very full weekend!! How nice that everyone was able to come and enjoy being at your home. I bet that you have so much room now for everyone when they come!!! It sounds like you're in a really good location too....being next to the golf course!!!........I'd like to know how your parents grow steaks in their garden!!!!........I just couldn't resist saying that!!!! LOL

Marilyn, it sounds like you had a wonderful trip and saw so many things!!!! I would love to be able to get Glen to go on a trip like that!!! He's not interested in history so I doubt that he'd ever go.......may have to just plan on it without him!!!! I'm sure that you really enjoyed having your family with you....but missed having Karen's husband. I'm sure that it will be a trip that will always be remembered!!!

It's good to hear from everyone. I hope you guys up north are enjoying some cooler weather. We had a cool front this week and instead of 103, it is 97. But it does feel better.

Our school started Wednesday. It has been crazy around there this week. But then it always is the first week or two of school.

We got all our gutters up and the downspouts positioned over our rain barrels, now if it will ever rain, we might catch some! :D

Gary's family has decided to go to Eureka Springs Arkansas (actually Beaver Lake) the second weekend in October. I'm really excited because I hardly ever get to see the fall color change. Now watch, the leaves won't be changing by the time we are there! I'll keep my fingers crossed though, that the leaves WILL be changing!

Hi everybody! Wow, y'all wear me out being so busy, lol!! I have been trying to rest up from our trip to get Kirby. We were gone for 8 days, so we had a nice vacation along the way. I've never seen so much corn and soybeans:p The fields were really pretty through Iowa.

It was so nice to meet Tink, and of course get Kirby. He is growing fast! Now if he would sleep all night it would be nice. I'm such a light sleeper, every little sound he makes wakes me up... but he's really being good.

Gayle, you're right....we do have cooler temperatures now.....in fact it's in the 70's in the morning. With it getting that cool at night I'm probably done swimming in the pond because it cools off pretty quickly when the temps change. The day temps have been wonderful!!

Betsi, I'm glad to hear that you had a good trip!! You got to see quite a bit of different country!! When I went to Chicago we went through Iowa and you're right....the fields were just beautiful there. The ground just rolls up and down there and made it so pretty!!!

I'm sure that Kirby is growing!!! How old does he have to be to start with his training? Or can you start right away? I bet that you'll really enjoy doing that!! We have a therapy dog that wanders around our middle school. She's a golden retriever and her name is Bliss. The kids all love her!!

I start Puppy Kindergarten with Kirby next Thursday at Petsmart. It is once a week for 8 weeks. When I get the basics done, we'll start training at the Therapet facility. That's where he'll learn to be around hospital equipment, elevators, etc., and all of the commands that go along with that. I'm really looking forward to it:D

I'm sorry it's too cool to swim Diana:o Our weather have been a bit cooler, with less humidity...probably much like Gayles weather.

Hi everybody!! I am finally home once again lol. Dad is still in the hospital and I have been in Lexington since Tuesday. Glad to hear that all of you are having a nice end of summer. I love reading about everyone's adventures.
I'm looking forward to fall but certainly not looking forward to winter.

The last few days the temps have been so wonderful here and with a light breeze too. I've noticed some leaves on the ground. Today I went to an auction in town. Saw a few people I know and haven't seen for awhile so it was good catching up a bit. I didn't buy anything....wanted to, but also wanted to hang on to my money. Don't really know why I even went. Everything was going so cheap I couldn't believe it. There was a Summer's End Festival near by and most people were there instead of the auction. One of the lowest turn outs I've ever been to.

I didn't make it to the festival. It is usually a pretty nice one, but again...didn't want to spend any money...lol. If I would have thought about it, I would have left my billfold home and just went and looked...lolol.

My younger brother's wife was there, but we didn't speak. Such a strange woman :)

Mom found out my other SIL wasn't driving her to Florida, so she said she was driving herself....yeah...we'll see about that.

Not sure how many of you have Kat's email address, but here it is if you would like to drop her a line and let her know you're thinking of her: katcarasella@yahoo.com

Now, THAT SIL has brains! LOL! I sure hope your mom doesn't try to drive herself, although she probably will. Oh LORDY!!!

I would have loved to go to the auction with you! I also love festivals and the like. I can (usually) go without spending any money. It's kinda therapeutic for me. I also love prowling in antique stores, and don't have to spend a dime to feel like I've had a great time!

I wish I had your cooler weather - but then in the dead of winter, I'll be glad I live in Texas. LOL! Our weather has cooled off a bit, so it is not so stiffling hot. But we are supposed to have increase humidity this week, along with a tiny chance of rain. The humidity won't feel good at all, but a little rain would be nice!

Going to my daughters this evening for pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and fried okra (from the garden). MMMMMMMMMM!

Sounds yummy Gayle!!

Today is our first day of school. Oh dear...lol. I don't think I forgot anyone. It really was good to see the kids and I can't believe how much some have grown and changed. Didn't have any problems (thank you God) getting the kids to school and I didn't have any of them cry because they were afraid. I don't think the bus is going to be quite as full this year.

It sure is hot and humid today and suppose to be the same tomorrow. Those big yellow bananas don't have air conditioning so it gets quite hot and dusty. This weekend though it's suppose to cool down nicely into the 70's....I sure hope so.

Not much else going on right now.

I'm glad that your first day went so well. It will probably be nice to not have as many kids. That will make it shorter to pick up and to take home.


I tried to go swimming again yesterday. I was afraid that the water had cooled down because our nights have been getting cooler. I was right.......after one lap I got out......it was just too cold. I'm going to miss swimming!!

Are you glad to be back in the bus routine Janet?

Diana, it has gotten so cold here in the past few days! Last Thursday it was so hot, we had Scott's dad out for supper and ate outside at 8:30. And now I'm wearing sweaters constantly and we turned on the furnace this morning after I woke up shivering! I think summer is gone for this year!

I have worked so much OT in the past month or so. I will probably be working all night tonight, and tomorrow we will submit the project. As I think I mentioned before, we have a bunch of designers working here with me from Arizona and Mexico. Tomorrow night they are going to have a big Mexican feast here, and our boss is supplying drinks, and we are inviting the client out as well for a celebration. Yay we're done! Lol. I am taking next week off work, because frankly, I'm burning out.

This weekend, Scott and I are heading halfway to my home to go to our friends' wedding. We'll stay overnight in a hotel (with a pool and two waterslides so we can have waterslide races LOL! We're dorks) and then going to visit my parents for Sunday and Monday. They're going to take Layla for us while we're at the wedding. I'm so lucky to have them around for that!

LOLOL....Lindsey...I guess I'm glad to be back in a routine, not sure about the bus part.... :D

The afternoon route went very well also. I did have one boy cry a little bit, but I had him talk to another little girl and then he was fine. His dad did ride the bus with us this morning because he has anxiety issues....mostly for just new and different things. Once he gets use to something then he's okay.

I don't have quite as many kids at this time, but I have to travel more distance so it's a longer route. Oh well... What else have I do to...lol

It got up to 91 today and tomorrow heading toward 94 with high humidity. Man.....that bus is gonna be hot. Let's see.... one day down....179 to go.

I'm looking forward to the Labor Day weekend. Not sure why....we never do anything...and there really isn't much to do. I'm getting that couped up feeling can ya tell? I need to get out of this house for awhile.

I have been keeping up with reading all of your posts about vacations, new puppies and work beginning. It sounds like all is well, thank goodness! The various vacations sound wonderful, and Kirby and Marilyn's new pups do also.

I haven't had a chance to sit down and type. It's not that I have been so busy...it's more that I've been too lazy! This week has been hot, and we are all enjoying just sitting at the pool together. I have become very close with my summer friends, and have enjoyed this summer so much! They are leaving next week, and I will be sad. I will also miss the easy going activities of summer, which I love. The pool, grilling dinner, hanging out, and so on, have been so great, as well as having friends right here. I probably would have been very happy if I had retired to Florida, but I have my family here, and it is an amazing place to live.

It is just hard work to get together, especially in the winter! I have been taking my writing courses, and start a new one on Sept. 13th. Pottery has been lots of fun, and is pretty much ongoing. I am on the Board of 2 organizations, so have those meetings and get togethers. I'm also running for the Board here at my development. There are 3 candidates, and 2 slots though. The other two have had condo Board experience, so I don't know what will happen. I think I should win though!

My cousins are coming up today, just for the day. I am glad that I will see them, but it's going to be in the 90's and hate to give up a pool day! My cousin Lynn cannot sit in the sun. Oh well! At least they aren't staying over. Today and tomorrow may be our last warm days for this summer.

Everything else is fine. Jessie isn't feeling great, but she has been doing too much, which will end soon. She is directing "Annie," which will go on on 9/18.
The kids are fine, growing up so fast!

Love:heart::heart::heart: you all

Judy, you have been busy!! I know how you feel about giving up your pool days. We've cooled off and I tried to swim but the water was just too cold for me. It's been such good exercise and so refreshing.

You're running for an office!!! Yay!! I hope you win......I'd vote for you!!!

I'm sure that you're going to miss your friends when they leave for the winter. At least you'll still have your writing class and your pottery class to stay busy with!!

I'm sure that Jessie is run down since she's so busy with this play. Once she gets this done she'll have time to rest especially since the kids are in school. She really needs to take care of herself. But I expect that she's really enjoying the play and working with all of the kids!!

I read everyone's post almost every day and everyone is so busy it seem's. We are like Janet and don't really go any place because of the dog's, although we do go to the festivals in the fall and the 1st one is this coming weekend. I am not sure i will be able to go because Sadie just had a litter of pup's on Tuesday, they were a little early but all are good weights and doing good, I was not expecting them till this weekend, I had to switch my vac from next week to this week.

Everything else is going good, mom is doing wonderful, my youngest daughter goes to court for hopefully the final divorce and custody the 1st week of Oct. and tonight i will be going to my oldest g-son's b-day party (just cake & ice cream) he is 17 today OMG i can't believe how the years have flown by since i watched him come into this world.

I hope everyone enjoy's their Labor Day weekend, won't be long now and the snow will be flying and we will be complaining about how cold it is and wishing it were summer again, don't know why it can't just be spring or fall all year long.

I posted some pic's of Sadie & the babies, this is the largest litter she has had, there a 3 boys and 1 girl, hopeing they all look like Serena since this was a repeat breeding.

Lynne....the puppies are just so adorable!!! You can tell from the pictures how soft they are!!!

Yes, it seems like our grandchildren grow so fast!!! I can't believe that you have one that will be 17!!! Time sure does fly!!!

I didn't know that your daughter was getting a divorce. Hopefully things will be better for her now. I know that we really worry over our children when they leave home and we hope they make the right decisions.

It would be nice if the seasons lasted longer but we'd still complain when they changed!!!

Take care of yourself, Lynne!!! Keep us posted on how everyone's doing and how your puppies are growing!!! Hugs!!!!

I had a busy morning. After the route I had to get my list of bus students and all their information (parents, address and phone #) into the computer, print it out and turn it in today. Sounds easy, but can be very confusing. I also worked out a seating chart for the elementary kids. The enthusiasm just isn't here....so I know it's time to look even harder for something else to do.

Tomorrow I get to go with Lynne to have the puppy's tails and dew claws done. Can't wait to see those little babies....and Lynne too. :)

Not sure what I'll do over this Labor Day Holiday, but I know I want to do something. Don't want another 3 days to go by and me just hanging around this house. I'll figure out something.

I really love this thread, so easy to keep up! LOL

Is there a town celebration? I just came from ours and it was just nice to see everybody and eat too much. I went by myself and had a lovely day. I hope you find something to do!

Our town doesn't do anything that I know of..lol Today I groomed and bathed all the the dogs. It had been 3 weeks and they needed it so bad. I then got the house all swept. I'm got my nails done now and so for the next two days......it's whatever comes along.

I went to my granddaughters volleyball game on Thursday!! I have all three of them playing on one team so I don't have to sit through a lot of games to watch them! I took some pictures and I'll get them on soon.

I had Karlie and Dean on Friday and Dean is traveling EVERYWHERE!!! He's not crawling yet but is doing the "get up on hands and knees then lunge forward" thing!! It's so cute!!

Then on Saturday I went to a house that Dae Lynn and Damon are going to rent (closer to us) and we started painting it. They are renting from a friend and she's given them permission to go ahead and start painting even though they aren't quite moved out and still have some repair work to do. We filled all the holes and bad cracks with joint compound and we really made the wall we painted look so good!!! I was so proud of what we'd done!! The house is really cute but has been remodeled by people who really aren't carpenters........but I hope when she gets her furniture in it won't be so noticeable. We're going to paint the whole house so it's going to be quite a project for the next couple of weeks and made even harder with us watching both of the kids!!!

Oh Diana...that much painting is going to be a job. I've sworn that I will never paint again. At least not until I'm thinner and much more agile...lol. You know we need pictures of everything right? I'm not sure why....but I've been wanting to look at pictures like crazy. Guess I should get out and take some too huh?

Had a great afternoon with Lynne as always. She's painting her kitchen and it's looking great! It will be so beautiful when she's done and so much brighter. Her Serena and my Brenna played and then decided it was nap time...lol. Sadie's puppies are so cute....I love the babies. Makes me wish I was gonna breed some more but when I think of all the work and where I want to be in the future....it's not a good idea. I know Lynne will be happy to share...lol

Hard work ahead Diana! But they will be living closer, which is always nice!

Lynne, the puppies are precious!

Mackenzie was on the local radio yesterday! She sang 5 songs, and she and Jessie talked about the upcoming show, "Annie." I'll post pix, and if I can get a tape I'll put it up. I was so proud!

She is sad though because none of her friends have ever commented on her fb page about her being in the shows she is in, the newspaper, or now on the radio.
Jess tells her they are jealous. Young teenage girls! She was thrilled though that she was on the radio!

I saw where you had posted on FB about Mackenzie singing on the radio!!! I thought how sad it was that I couldn't hear it but that would be so cool to put it on where we could hear it!! She has so much talent!!! I'm sure that the other girls are jealous.

Lynne should put some pictures of her kitchen up too!! We'd all love to see it. I"ll take some pictures when I go tomorrow to paint. We're a little bit worried about getting the painting all done and then having the family decided that they really don't want to move. It's a really odd situation with them moving anyway.

The girl, Traci, is one that Dae Lynn was best friends with in college. They had some big problems living together in college but have just gotten together again and things are so much different now......definitely for the better. Traci's not real good at decorating and has said that. I know that she wishes that the home she's living in now were different so I think that maybe......Dae Lynn and I may go over and paint some in her home when we have time and help to spruce it up. We'll see. I know that Traci would just love it if we did that. First we have to finish what we have planned!!!!!

Oh.....and I have a couple of auctions going on e-bay!!! I have some more stuff that I need to put on as well. Anyway....here they are!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/CHILDRENS-TOY-GL...item43a1609c5e

http://cgi.ebay.com/CHILDRENS-TOY-GL...item43a1608cad