SO MANY CHANGES

It's been over a month since we unloaded the big U-Haul with our furniture in it.   We bought this house and one of the benefits was a BEAUTIFUL big maple tree in the front yard.

When Ted pulled the truck in to unload he bent a couple of the branches of this tree.   We thought the tree was included in the price of the house but apparently the neighborhood association has some rights to it too as he was reported for bending the branches.   They did not break, however, so he is off the hook.

We really like where we live.   Kim can come visit and has, I have been over there and will be going back soon.

We are close to an AMTRAK station.   This is new for us and we leave this week for the state of Washington to visit Ted's brother and his wife.

I've had many changes where my church attendance is concerned.    I was very happy to see a rather large United Methodist Church about 3 miles from us when we arrived.   But...after my first (and last) visit to this church I received a letter from the minister with a gift card for $5 to the local Dairy Queen.   Not what I want a church I attend to be doing with their money.

The next church I attended was so friendly.   They were just so glad to have another body there and the minister was a very nice young man but his sermon that day was on "Getting New Members" and showed us a couple of video's telling us how to go about this.   He also had some jokes he shared and there were 9 of us at the early service.  Just a little smaller than I had hoped.

So yesterday I ventured out of the circle of Methodist Churches and visited a Christian Church.   I grew up attending a Christian church in Vermont.   I was baptized in a Christian church and was married in the same church.    We started attending a Methodist church when we moved to Tennessee.  

Anyway...yesterday I felt like I had gone home.   It was wonderful.   The people were friendly, some of the members knew a "Tingley" here or there and I will be placing my membership there.   It felt good to have a church again. 

I found a Dr. this week.   A lady Dr. and liked her immediately.    And she told me she was from Nashville and graduated from Vanderbilt University.

Maybe the biggest changes of moving are past and if so I am going to love living up here.

Settling In

The furniture is all unloaded.   The beds have been made.   Groceries purchased and even a couple of curtains hung.

We had company 3 days after moving in and it was so much fun.   Never dreamed it would be this wonderful living in Illinois.   Now when the first snow hits I may cry another tune.

Kim and family were here and we were talking about bird feeders.   I had decided not to put a Hummingbird feeder up because it was so late.   She reminded me the migrators would be arriving soon and need to be fed.    So...we got our one and only feeder and filled it and this is what happened within the hour.

 

If you look real close you can see Georgia.   She was all alone for awhile but now we are seeing George and of course the battles began.

 

SO glad Kim reminded us to do this.   We can see the feeder from our kitchen table and love watching these little birds.

Final Stretch

Sunday we drove to Tennessee for the final load of furniture.  Truck was picked up Tuesday morning bright and early.  Driven to the storage office and two men we had hired to come unload the pod and load the truck arrived.

I ran errands and met Ted with the large truck at 1:30 just inside the Kentucky boarder for lunch.  This was a long day for both of us but we traveled well and about 8 p.m. found a friendly little motel that only wanted $80 for a nights rest.  :)

Then the short  2 hour drive on in to Macomb and preparing the truck to be unloaded.   Yesterday about 8 a.m. Ted's nephew, Kermit, arrived with another man to help and suddenly we had several people bringing furniture and boxes into the house.   Most of these people I had never seen before.

In a quick 2 hours the truck was empty, everyone left but Brady and we started the fun job of really unpacking.  I could not believe the "stuff" we had here.   Our move from the other house did not seem like so much.  

We both worked hard and made a big dent in that mountain of boxes.   No, we did not finish but I realized the bathrooms had no storage and Ted soon realized he needed a shed.  

Beds were finally made and we began to wind down.  So far only one antique table was found damaged.  This was disappointing to me but even though we insured the furniture for the trip I doubt anyone will pay to have it fixed.

SO...our long summer that began on May 7 has finally come to an end.  We love living this close to family and friends.  No more lonely nights and maybe not much sewing will get done but we love where we are and feel this was the right move.  

We're Almost Home

It's been a long summer.   But we found this house two weeks ago, made an offer and it was accepted.

We are SO ready to have our own space again.   We have had wonderful friends and family that gave us space to live while in transition but there is nothing like your own home.   

Our new house is bigger than any house we have owned for over 20 years.   We did not plan on that happening but the price was right and the house will suit our needs very well.

This tree is in our front yard.   It has a couple of limbs perfect for swings.  

We have four bedrooms - a first for us and we are thrilled.    Getting our furniture to Illinois from Tennessee is more of a problem than we had expected. 

A week from tomorrow we will be closing on this house and start the job of making it our home. 

Summer of 2013 -Part 1

 The summer started in early May as we moved from the house we built almost 10 years ago.  The first week we were in our camper was spent at Henry Horton State Park.  This was a nice break.   It was quiet and very peaceful.  We listened to owls and many other birds too.

Once the final papers were signed and our check deposited in the bank for the house we moved the camper to Ridgetop Country Club.

Benjamin was waiting for us and it was good to be close to family at that time.   The first day I held a chair down by the pool most of the day.   After packing, packing and more packing, then being talked to like a traitor from our buyer I needed to just do NOTHING, which is exactly what I did.    Jim cooked and I sat.

Memorial Day all our kids came to help us celebrate and it was wonderful to have our 4 together again.   It had been a couple of years since that happened and we love when they are all together.  They worked holding a few chairs down around the pool too. 

 

I even got a picture of our first born and our last born together.   

 

When the Illinois car pulled out Monday morning there was an extra boy at the Country Club and we had just a great week with him.    We never get him to come visit so this was a rare occasion and we had the best time.     One of the most fun things we did was play Putt Putt Golf.   Jeremiah is a great television announcer and entertained Benjamin and I and I have a feeling the old couple that ran the course too. 

 

But like all good things the week ended soon and we told Benjamin good-bye on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning bright and early the blue Cruze took off for the Land of Lincoln.

 

We visited the week in Illinois.   First with Kim and family, then took a day and went down memory lane on our way to see a good friend of mine from years gone by.   

 

One of our first stops was at the house where we lived when my dad died.   It doesn't look near as big as it did when I was 9 years old.    Then we drove by the building where I went to school for 4 years.  It's not a school anymore and has been changed a lot.   Then on to a little town where my aunt and uncle lived.   They kept my horse that I rode before my dad died until she departed for horse heaven.   Her name was "Old Pet" and I loved that horse like she was million dollar winner.

 

Uncle Glen also kept my horse, Tony, after our house burned and we sold the land in Vermont.   He was just the best horse and knew more of my life's secrets than anyone.    My mother was a smart lady to buy that horse for me.

 

Then we stopped at a little Antique Mall in Cuba.   It was such a neat little place with some really nice things.    The lady there knew some of the people I used to know and we had a good visit.

 

Then on to Donna's house for a couple of days and a visit with her two sisters in the nursing home.   Getting old isn't ALL fun.   Sad to see these two ladies like this.

 

The last stop was our wild nephew, Kermit, and his better half, Beverly, that makes him look good.  We just kind of go in there and make ourselves at home like we do at Kim's.    It was a good week but alas we were ready to head back south to our new home.  

 

                                                                                                to be continued 

HOMELESS

I think we are about to be Homeless.   It will seem strange not to come HOME to this house.   BUT...we need to move on.   It's been a good home and we've had some fun times here.  

Here is where we stand at this point.   I had a problem with the only T.V. not packed the other night so called Dish.   Got into a Pissing contest with them and told them just about where I thought they could go.   SO...NO T.V.

We packed all the stereo's and radio's so now we either have to talk to each other or watch the neighbors.  

I packed all the lamp shades yesterday so we have just a few VERY BRIGHT LIGHTS in the house. 

We are having supper here one last time tonight, then pack what we will need in the camper and move it to Henry Horton State Park tomorrow night.  

We have ordered the lights and water changed to the new owner on Friday and will disconnect the phone and internet that day too.   Saturday we officially move to Ridgetop Country Club and leave River Glen for good.   I don't know if the Country Club gives senior rates or not but hope so.

We've had neighbor men on both sides of us that did not speak.   One of them never did, one got upset over a BOUNDRY line and quit.    His wife half- hartedly spoke but it has never been a close relationship to say the least.    Last week I gave her our old picnic table.   The chairs were all gone but the table was in pretty good shape.   From the looks of their yard the cash flow over there is small.    She was thrilled and it did my heart good.  

There are some things we will miss here but all in all I'm ready for a change.   We really do not know where we will land.   Right now we just need to vacate this house, get our money and sit back a few weeks.  

I doubt we will be homeless long but then we might like living in our fancy, dancy camper.  

MOVING SALE TURNED A REAL NEIGHBORHOOD SALE

Moving sale was advertised to start today.   BUT...yesterday we had a man come and buy the shed in the back yard.   Number one gone.   Then Ted put the signs up and I just happened to go to the garage to take something else out.   There was a woman going through the tables and she bought some stuff.  This is how the rest of the afternoon went.

Book case   -    Sold to neighbor  She wanted to corner cupboard so bad but no room

Towels, grill, perfume -  Sold to another neighbor     She got a free bottle of wine

CD and a LOT of free stuff - Sold to unknown man

Old lawn chair -  Sold to unknown lady

Then after supper another neighbor came wanting to see inside new camper.   Was it for sale?   Well, NO, we just bought it.    Well, why?    Well, we don't have a home.    WOW, it's really nice.  

They had had a little to drink and bought all the wine glasses I had out, the old mower that doesn't mow anymore, the rain barrel, some folding tables, the freezer, and will pick all of it up today but paid cash.

While they were here another  neighbor came and bought the corner cupboard.

I was exhausted.   Then who should show up but the buyers.   They didn't want my porch swing so now it's for sale too.  

SO...almost everything BIG sold to a neighbor and we have only 3 pieces of large furniture we would like to sell and the sale hasn't even started yet.    :)

This is a TRUE NEIGHBORHOOD SALE

SILENTLY WE CRY

I turned the television on to watch a game show and sew bit yesterday.   Then they broke in with the news - A bomb in Boston at the end of the Boston Marathon.  I sat in silence and watched people fall, being helped to what they hoped was safety.  The look on people's faces told the story.   Uncertainty of what was going on. 

We've seen this before.  Why here?   Why now?    Why do people hate us so?  

This morning I woke early and my heart sank as I realized that it had not been a dream.  So many people have posts on Facebook.   I just sit silently and let tears roll. 

A Little Nostalgia

We have done a lot of traveling since Ted retired but one of our greatest trips we took the year BEFORE he retired.  We DROVE THE ALCAN.  

Here is the book our friend, Elaine, got for us.  I hate to part with it, but it's time.

 

As you can see the name of this wonderful book is "THE MILEPOST".   You really need one of these to drive to Alaska.   Elaine had marked several great places to stop and things to see along the way.

One of our favorite places was Laird Hot Springs.    It was inside a Provincial Park.  The men that built the Alcan discovered this hot springs but now it has a nice wood walkway all around it and a place to change into your swim suit.   We spent a couple of days there and it is one of our favorite memories of the trip.   

 

The Milepost helps you find gas stations, restaurants, and places to sleep.   We, however, pulled our trusty Pop-Up camper and did fine till we discovered one night that the lock to the camper had fallen down inside.   The roads up there were different - to say the least.   We were gone for 5 1/2 weeks and only stayed in a Motel 3 nights.   We also stayed at a cousins house two nights.

 

We would be driving and see a sign for a water fall a mile off the road.   We'd park the camper and take off.   It took us a long time to get TO Alaska but not quite as long to come home.   We have two video's of this trip and quite a bit written out.  

 

SO...we will bid THE MILEPOST a fond farewell when we have our garage sale in a couple of weeks.   If it doesn't sell I'll probably see if the library would like to have one.   I'm sure it means more to Ted and I than anyone else.   What memories we have of that trip.   So glad we did it when we were young enough to enjoy it.    

Moving Stressful???

Dam Strait it is!!!!    Man, if this couple end up not buying this house you can forget thinking that I EVER stepped inside a church.

We've let them measure our house from top to bottom at least twice.   They have a buyer for their house now and it should be just a matter of us going ahead and buying the house we want.   BUT...no, we have been warned that we should wait to be sure their deal goes through.  I feel like we are being pulled from every side and then pulled once again. 

If we were risk takers we'd just forget all the warning signs and go ahead and buy the house we both love.   If someone in the neighborhood had a key maybe we could go get it and just move in.   I heard about a couple that did that one time.   They were a nice young couple that just wanted to buy a house.   

I'm packing and can tell you NO ONE will want to be within ear shot of me if I have to unpack all these boxes and put things away.   I might just go over the edge and throw it all away and go buy new stuff.    HMMM?????

SO...we wait for the other guy to get his job done, then hope we can get the place we want.    Somehow this just doesn't seem right but I guess if I were the other guy I wouldn't see anything wrong with it.    Stay tuned.   It might be an interesting blog next time. 

MOSAIC

Life is an interesting journey.   I've watched all our kids go after something in life.   It wasn't always what I would of chosen for them but they seemed to know what they wanted.   All have changed their vocations at least once.

Sometimes it's not a career change that impresses me the most.   All have an artist eye and I do not so that really intrigues me.

Recently Kim started working with Mosaic.   She has made some really beautiful pieces.  Last Fall she gave me a ball she made and now I have two smaller ones to match.  

Another piece she did and I had seen on her blog but figured she had already given it away came home with me too.    I have it in the kitchen and really think I need to line my backsplash with this type of decoration.

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN - JIGGITY JOG

At 6:01 a.m. last Friday morning we pulled out of our garage, headed to Normal, Illinois and a fun week-end with daughter number one and her family.

First we took a little side trip to see some friends that have had a few bumps in their road.   We have known this couple for 56 years and last year Larry developed a few health problems - quite a few.   They are both of strong faith and handled everything the Doctors threw at them without flinching until a couple of months ago Larry started loosing sight in one eye.   They are treating this now and hopefully what they are doing will help.

After a good visit and a wonderful lunch we once again got into our trusty little Chevrolet and headed north.

Everyone was home by the time we arrived.   It's always fun to GET THERE - no matter where you are going.    We don't get to see these kids very often and have a lot of catching up to do.

Kim was really tired Friday night and of course we were too so an early evening was called and everyone went to bed early, well ALMOST everyone.    If Jeremiah stayed up his grandmother did not hear him.

Saturday morning we all got to see Sierra play basketball.   A few years ago we all agreed if she ever got over being afraid of the ball she would be a good player.  Our forecast came true.   She is NOT afraid of the ball and she IS a good player now.   Oh that I may live long enough to see what she decides to do with her life.

After the pictures were taken I noticed Jeremiah had on a fancy, dancy sweatshirt.   Here he is strutting his stuff.   Benjamin wears a "BAMA" shirt and Jeremiah came up with "KENTUCKY"   No ISU or U of I?

The week-end went by way too fast.   We always have a good time when we go visit these two wildies.  We wish they lived closer to us.  

It was a fun week-end but when we left this morning we were glad to be going SOUTH and having the promise of warmer temperatures.

Tomorrow I'll write about my new decorations for our house that came home with us.

Her Name Is Ruth

Ted and I decided this week we wanted to sponsor a second child in Uganda.   This time we asked for a little girl.

I emailed David and he said he would be in touch. 

Last night I was at a meeting and David came up to me after the meeting and was so excited.   He said he had a little girl for us and her name was Ruth.   She has been sponsored but the lady that was sponsoring her decided to go back to school and could not afford it anymore.

This little girl has a LOT of siblings and lives with her grandparents.   David tells me that the picture here is NOT all her family.  

He told me last night she was one cute little girl and when I look into this face and the sparkle in those beautiful eyes I see what he's talking about.   I looked at this picture for a long time and wish I could see her in person and speak to her.   I'd like to know what she likes to do and what some of her feelings are.

I'm excited about this and hope someone will be able to go see her for us when the group from church go to Uganda this summer.   Oh how I wish I could go.

This is a picture of the family or part of them anyway.   Ruth is the little girl in front with the floppy shoes on.  I have another one of her later that I cannot seem to download.   Maybe later. 

ANYWAY...I think Good Will and I will be seeing a lot of each other from the looks of her siblings.   Oh, yes, did I tell you her name is RUTH?

Not Once But Twice

This week I went to Walmart to buy birdfood.   I try not to go into Walmart if I don't have to but they have the cheapest price on birdfood and I feel just a little guilty feeding them.

ANYWAY...the lady ahead of me and I started talking about birds; how pretty they are and how fat they look because of the cold weather.   I told her I could see them from my sewing room window and how much I enjoyed that.

The clerk had just about finished ringing up her groceries and she asked where she could get a gift card.  The clerk told her, she got one and held it up for us to see saying, "Isn't this pretty?"    When she finished paying for her things she took that gift card, put it in my hand and said, "Here, this is for your birds" and was gone.   I tried to argue with her but she just would have no part of it and left.

I was shocked, pleased, and a little ashamed.   I didn't need her to do that.  Then I felt really good about people and how there really are nice people left in this world.   We hear only about the bad on the news and it wears on us.

SO...I shared all this on FB and people just went crazy with it.

Then yesterday I stopped at Walmart again to buy a paper and some peanuts and a couple of other things on my way to set up for the Women's Retreat today.   I had my money in my hand and was just about to give it to the clerk when the lady behind me said, "Just keep that ticket running - I want to buy her groceries"    I asked her not to do that as someone had already done that once this week but she was not to be stopped.  

I have to tell you I was in shock.   I asked them if I looked poor.   I really had to wonder to myself what the heck was going on.

Now I think God is having a good chuckle over my UNBELIEF.  

Last night I shared this with Connie and we had a good laugh and when we finished she asked me when I wanted to go shopping.

CROW

I'm sitting here waiting for the new counter top to be delivered.  Man, I'm so excited and everything is ready. 

SO...while I wait I turned on the T.V. to a re-run of Andy Griffith Show.   He is old fashioned, I know.   I love the lesson he usually has for us.

Today is a show I've seen many times but I always shed a tear at the end.

Opie is saving his money to buy his girl friend a gift and the school is having a fund drive to help poor people.   Andy serves on a committee and of course he's the Sheriff of MAYBERRY.   When word gets back to him that Opie only gave them 2 cents for the poor Andy goes into a hissie fit.   I've been know to have a couple of those myself so I relate to how he feels.

He ends up just ranting and raving at Opie about how cheap he is and Andy sends Opie to his room without supper.

Finally Aunt Bee comes in and really gives Andy "whatfor".   She finally gets Andy to call Opie down for supper and Andy says they'll just forget about what they talked about and if Opie wants to get his little girlfriend a toy then O.K.

Opie looks at him and says he's not going to buy her a toy, he's going to buy her a coat because her mother doesn't have enough money to get her a new one and the one she wears is worn out.

Then Opie asks Andy what's for supper.   Andy tells him that Aunt Bee and Opie are having fried chicken but he's having CROW.    I've had to eat a little crow over the years myself and can tell you it kind of sticks in your throat.

GUN REGULATIONS

I should title this blog "I'm Pissed" because that is what I really am feeling.

I don't understand people.   All the President said is that you cannot buy a gun without a background check.  What's the big deal if you have nothing to hide?

He also said the magazines should be limited to 10.  I think it should be less but I'll take 10.   I know this is probably not worded right but you know what I mean.

On tonight's news all but two of our state representatives received an A from the NRA.   Yes, the two that got lower grades (one got a C and one got an F and by the way I'll be voting for them next election) were Democrats.   The one's getting the "A'S" are Republican.  WAY to go, Tennessee.

One of the women said she wasn't about to let this Administration take her second amendment away from her.   

I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND PEOPLE!!!!!   WAKE UP AMERICA.   WE didn't elect the NRA to lead our country - OR DID WE?

I wonder if the one's afraid that they will loose their "RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS" have had any contact with the parents of the children that were killed in Connecticut.   Even one of the mother's of a boy killed said that people should feel better about these new laws because there would be fewer with these high powered guns. 

BUT...the one's afraid they won't be able to buy all this power now are out at Walmart and other stores buying all they can.   They want to be sure they are able to protect the 2nd Amendment.

BULL SHIT

Off to Buy Tape

Well, the plan today was that I would run to Spring Hill early and get tape so I could protect the wood cabinets in the kitchen when I painted.

I got things done here, laundry underway, bathrooms cleaned, and took off.   I did have a couple of other quick stops but only planned to be gone an hour or two.

I did get home about 11:30 and unloaded the purchases.   BUT...where was the tape?   Not in the back seat and didn't appear to be in the trunk.

Oh well, Home Depot assured me they would see I got my tape if  I came back.   AND...I really did need a haircut.

So after lunch I got in my beautiful blue car and went back to Home Depot.   One clerk assured me we'd find it at the check out lane I had been at but no, that clerk said she had put it in a bag and remembered handing it to me.    I assured her I was unable to find it and the tape was quickly replaced.

So...home I go one more time.    I decided to check the car one more time and discovered it had been hidden in the trunk.   Not only did I feel like a thief but I had wasted a big part of the day running around buying tape and  the gal that cuts my hair was on lunch break and I didn't want to wait around for that.  

The tape is ready to be returned to Home Depot with an apology and the kitchen is painted ready for the new counter top.   First we have to get the cabinet maker here to measure for them.   Hope he is better organized than I have been today.

My mother NEVER told me there would be days like this and I probably wouldn't of believed her if she had.