The Count Down

Well we are starting the countdown for Xmas. So we are in mad scramble mode trying to get things done so those items we need to ship we can get them off in the mail. Mom and I actually went out on "Black Friday"... *shudders* Not sure why we put ourselves thru that torture. This is the time of the year that I miss my family the most, I so much enjoyed having 27 people at the ranch for xmas. Oh well some day maybe we as a family will all be able to get together for the holidays or maybe the 4th of July (when its warmer and hopefully somewhere where its not so humid!!). Its hard to believe that the year is almost gone, I am still trying to figure out where it went! Let me know if you find it ok? TTYL

We Survived!!!

Yes! We did survive the TG weekend...woot! It was a close run thing though, what with preparing TWO different TG dinners lol. Also survived the crash of my mantle (of course when it held my mini Xmas village). So spent most of Sunday glueing things back together as much as possible =( very sad day... sigh. Cousin Kirk came out and spent the weekend with us, we also got to visit with Cousin Rob and his wife Anna. Kirk helped me pickup a load of wood and was wonderful enough to stack it for me as well! Now we can all look forward to Christmas! Happy Holidays Everyone!

Rain!!

Now I know full well that we need the rain, and we did get a ton last night (as well as lost power) but I am really ticked that now they are forcasting severe weather for our Thanksgiving weekend..... there goes our softball game! Oh well we will have to find something else to do to start a tradition I guess, maybe a domino's (Mexican Train) tournament? Any suggestions?

This coming weekend is the final race for the Nextel Cup! Jeff is behind Jimmy Johnson by 86 points!!! grrrr!!! So he needs to not only lead the most laps this next weekend but he needs to win the race to win the cup! And sorry Jimmy but you need to blow and engine or something hehe.... I know that's bad, but he won last year!

I will be doing my TG shopping tomorrow night after work, it should be a zoo! I look at all the sales sheets and decide what I am buying at each store and start at one end of town and drive to the other. (Of course town is only like 3 miles long so it doesn't take long)

I had started my book, then made the mistake of allowing someone to read the first chapter (big mistake since they said it was too busy and I needed to ree-write it). So I ended up getting discouraged and quit (I need to grow a tougher skin and be prepared for criticism I guess but jeez!). I need to take another look at it since that stupid thing is screaming to get out of me. One of these days I guess I need to make time between working 110-115 hour pay periods and trying to organize and work on the house.

Thanksgiving!!

Yes, Thanksgiving is here already and Christmas is just around the corner. Can you believe it? Nicole just turned 16!! We all went bowling for the November birthdays, Nicole, Tisha and Tisha's boyfriend all have November birthdays. My baby is growing up on me, how dare she? Looks like we will have a crowd here in Alabama for Turkey Day, my cousin Kirk is in town on a job, as well as our cousin Rob Fuller and his wife. My bro's Bill and John will both be home for the holiday as well, so we have decided to start a new tradition (since its going to be in the 70's here) and have a family softball game the day after Thanksgiving. This will not only allow us to get together and have fun as a family, but work off some of the tons of food we will eat the day before...hehe. We wish that we could have more of our family around us, but understand how tight things are for all of us this year. It has just gotten too expensive to travel much. We look forward to having our nieces out next month for Christmas for 2 weeks, I know that Nana especially misses her grandkids and great-grandkids! She is doing so much better, she is back to work part-time until we can get the house in Pell City sold, then she is going to retire for good. So everyone be prepared, her and her new puppy will travel to visit ya'll. I told her that since the puppy cries whenever mom even leaves the room that she has to take it with her when she travels lol. Well better go for now, will write again later!

What a Summer

Well summer is finally over, Nicole is back in school again. Mom had a 4-way by-pass in August and is slowly getting back on her feet. The new puppy that Sis got her is keeping her on her toes! Along with the rest of us.

On a sadder note, my "pretty bird" Jade passed away last night in my hands, I do not know why, she was fine earlier in the day. By the time I found her she was almost gone and died a few minutes later. I think I am going to hold off on any more pets for a while now. I still have my Aussie Maddie and we have our little black Pom Smokey and that is enough animals for now.

I am getting ready to install a pellet stove insert (wood burning) at the house, it will cut way down on heating bills over the winter. I also made my first pot of beanless chili (venison & turkey) the other day, it was wonderful!!! Thank you so much to my friend Danny for both the recipe and the venison! Well enough for now, talk to ya'll later!

Summer time / Busy Time

Sigh* again I have neglected to post for a while. Mom got back from California on July 7th, we have missed her! She had a great time staying for a longer period with my sister Susie and her family. I have been doing the desk shovel since I got back to work, but had a nasty bout with Bronchitis which laid me low for about 5 days (inc. weekend...grrr) so it had started to pile up again. Got my copy of Harry Potter yesterday in the mail, but was in the middle of setting up wireless internet in my office on Nicole and my computers so could not sit down right away and read it... how frustrating was that!

Ok now for the review: I was very very disappointed in the book. It dragged, and dragged and dragged. It could have been half as long and been alot better! Since I read a page at a time, I found myself almost just glancing at a page to see if I even wanted to take the time to "read" it. It was sad to see some of the characters that she killed off, but I would have like to have her expand the "after" part more, instead of just "wrapping" it up. Oh well, hopefully the new Eclipse book out in August will be better. I read the first chapter that Stephanie has out on her website and it looks like its going to be a good one!

Well I am off to make strawberry jelly lol, will post again later!

Been awhile again!

Well I can see I have been neglecting my blog spot terribly! I have been so very busy, the past month. I worked 12 hour days 6-7 days a week up until we left for vacation on June 13th so I could finish all my project audits before I left (guess what I didn't finish) so some will be on my desk to welcome me back on the 25th. We had a wonderful time in California seeing all our family that live there. I had a niece graduate from High School, what a wonderful time of her life to look forward to the future (and worry some I am sure). We will be going back again next year I am sure for two more girls to graduate. We got to visit friends and Nicole and I did the tour at Shasta Dam again, it was wonderful. As soon as I get our 7 rolls of film developed I will try and scan and post some. I miss the mountains of Northern California so very much! And the trip up the coast was perfect, we could not have asked for better weather. We got to visit with Uncle Red, and he took us for drives in his antique cars, both convertables! What fun! Have family down now for the next week or so, and of course that means that I will probably neglect my blog again hehe...

Being Lazy!

Well I have not posted anything in a while, I say its because I am being lazy, but in truth its because I have been so busy! We pretty much have the garden in finally, and my grass is finally coming up and is so pretty! Now I can't wait until I have tomato's, onions, artichokes and cilantro on the vine and ripe so I can make my salsa! We had a quiet Mother's Day, my bro John and his family came over and joined the three of us for BBQ'd Ribs and Chicken YUM! I cannot believe that I am going to be 49 years old this month, I feel like such a kid (and yes I act like one too!) There is just so much in life to enjoy and see, that I don't want to miss anything hehe. Nicole is doing really well in photography this year, I will post some of her pictures, they are so great! This is one she took of one of Bill and Terri's boys Brandon. It is something she is very interested in pursueing and I have been encouraging it.

We Survived!

We made it.... yep we made it thru another race weekend! And JEFF GORDON WON!!! See me doing the happy dance hehe ! Worked on my garden this weekend, got my squash and zucchini in the ground, only have artichokes and cilantro left to plant. I am going to attempt to can some of my salsa this year to see how it turns out, wish me luck! We put up a gazebo over the weekend and I have started the demolition on the back room =) Nicole was a big help there! All in all a very productive weekend.

Its one of those two "DREADED" Weekends!

Well its that time again, the spring Talladega race! On the one hand we enjoy seeing all the drivers big trucks coming thru with the cars on them, but it sure messes us up for being able to get out and about from our house! So tonight and tomorrow we will make sure that all errands are ran, the cars have the gas tanks filled up in Birmingham (local stations raise their prices up by 10-20 cents per gallon on these weekends!) and we will hunker down at home for the weekend madness. Thank goodness it is only 2 times a year! But we are all rooting for Jeff Gordon to win =) !!!

What a weekend!

So Yay! My buddy Jeff won his race on Saturday, I was yellin' so loud! Grabbed a bunch of boxes out of storage on Saturday and went thru them, threw a ton way, sent alot to the thrift store and to our booth to sell! Way past time to clean that unit out! Then went home and ran the tiller down the rest of the area where I am putting in the garden. It looks so kewl! I am going to attempt to can some of my "patented" salsa this year to see how it does being canned. I hope it turns out ok, but will let ya know!

My first girl!

This is my oldest! She can crack me up! Can't ya just see those horns holding up her halo?...

My Official Office Pic

Ok this is my official office picture, I no longer have the bangs as I am growing them out, my hair goes down past my waist now... time to cut it??

I have also lost a little weight since this pic Yay! I am trying for another 30 lbs so wish me luck.

My Fav Race Car Driver... Yummy!

This is Jeff Gordon he is just so cute!

This is my baby!

This is my youngest, she is now 15 years old! And stands 5'9"... omg!

A special thought for my friends and family

Lights of My Soul





As I walk thru the darkness of my mind,

I look for small points of light to see by,

Most of the lights are members of my family,

But some are friends.


Without the support of my family and friends,

I would live in darkness forever.

So I will continue to make as many friends,

Where ever I go so that eventually,
I will walk in the sun.

My First Blog Post....

Ok I have never ever posted or blogged so am totally new to this! I hope you all have patience while I learn...

Trisha