2005

Wow, can it really be the last day of 2005? It seems just like yesterday I was getting used to writing 2005 instead of 2004!

This has been a good year over-all. Getting more done at the new house. DS6 finishing kindergarten and starting 1st grade. My mom and sister moving to San Antonio, and me half-wishing to move there also. :-) On the not-so-good side.....DsD18 decides to move out on her 18th birthday, and she didn't do it in a very nice nor grown-up way. MIL has decided that we are to blame for Dsd18 moving out. We didn't "provide a happy environment" here! (That is a joke!) But because of that, she is not speaking to us! As far as I am concerned, she is cutting off her own nose to spite her face! I am just sorry that DH is having to deal with this. DsD20 decides to total her car and now has to use her fathers...and bristles when he needs it.

On the brightest note....today is our anniversary! YEAH! We are going out to dinner and then to a the National Theatre to see "Les Mis"...... Wonderful.

I hope to write more in 2006....especially when we start preparing to get chickens. LOL

I hope everyone has a great year!

End of the week 12-17-05

Not ALOT going on this week.

DsD18 came on Monday and picked up her things. I think she was surprised that her father had packed up everything for her. :-) That might have been mean, but I still get miffed when I think of the pain she put everyone, especially her father through.

We have had snow and ice this week. Kids have missed two days of school this week. I really think they should have gone in late on Friday, but that is not my decision.

I am so glad this time of the year is almost over. I do not celbrate christmas, but DH does in a modified way. I am just always glad when the hoopla is over and a new year starts.

Well, I need to get off this computer and start doing some work around the house, I kinda let some things slide while the kiddos were out of school.

Have a great weekend everyone!

You know you're from...

You Know You're From Virginia When...

Speed limits are just suggestions You have at least two friends who have no idea what their relatives do...because its "top secret" government work Most of your senior class wend to Mason, JMU, Tech, VCU or UVA When people ask where you're from, you tell them DC because its easier to explain You've never told someone you're from Virginia without putting "northern," "central," or "southern" in front of it (See above.) It's not actually tailgating unless your bumper is touching the car in front of you. You know yellow light means at least 5 more cars can get through. (Yeah, man...at least. Probably also happens everywhere else.) A red light means 2 more can. You actually know what the black boxes at stoplights are for. Despite the fact that Virginia fought for the south in the Civil War, you are not, under any circumstances, a "southerner" You are amused by visiting relatives who are actually excited to see Washington, DC You took a field trip to Williamsburg as a kid You are amazed when you go out of town and the people at McDonalds speak English You or someone in your family has a Smart Tag An inch of snow and you miss 3 days of school All the potholes just add a little excitement to your driving experience Crown Victoria = undercover cop Subway is a fast food place. The transportation system is known as Metro, and only Metro. They just tore down the old farm house across the street and put 12 new McMansions in its place For the cost of your house, you could own a small town in Iowa If you stay on the same road long enough, it will eventually have three new names. You have to dial the area code to call your neighbor "Vacation" means spending a day at King's Dominion or Busch Gardens. "Going to the River" means any stream with water. You have never been served tea without the waitress asking "sweet or unsweetened?" Your favorite past time is telling West Virginia jokes. Anyone who can't trace his or her ancestry back to at least four generations in Virginia is an outsider. "Going to the beach" means anywhere from Ocean City to Virginia Beach to Myrtle Beach. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Virginia.

Get'>http://www.blogthings.com/wherefrom.html">Get Your Own "You Know You're From" Meme Here

More cool things for your blog at Blogthings

God give me strength..

The last 24 hours have not been fun here!

J decided that since she turned 18 on Saturday, that she didn't have to live here anymore. Now, yes she is 18 and technically an adult (yes, there was sarcasm there)....but instead of being an adult and telling us, she snuck-off. We had NO idea where she was!!!!!!!

Finally after calling all over town and dropping hints about getting the Sheriff's department involved to her friends.....she calls! Of course, she *67 the call so the number is blocked, but we are pretty sure we know where she is.

She said she didn't know if she was coming back or not. DH told her that she was 18 and he couldn't make her come home, but the door is always open to her. Of course, he also told her that house rules remain the same. Now, we just wait and see what she does.

My theory is that she thinks she can clean out her savings account now that she is 18, but she can not. It is set up that DH has to still sign for any withdrawals to the account. He is also going to call in the morning and make sure there is a freeze put on the account, just to make sure. We are not trying to be mean or to "steal" her money. We just don't want her to blow it on "whatever". It is supposed to be for her move to California after graduation.

I just wish she would talk to us.....if she truly wants out, then work with us to get her out to California (where her mom lives). If she is not going to finish school here, she can not graduate out there also. But at least we would know she was with family.

Enough for now. This wasn't what I originally planned to write about this weekend, but things change.

I am getting Chickens!!

Okay, well not until spring.....but YEAH!

Mr. Frugal said "sure". So now we get to figure out the "where" and "how big" the coop needs to be.

We plan on having some for meat and some for laying. I am reading all I can so that I am not totally "green" when spring comes.

I have found such wonderful resources online...along with the wonderful people at Prairie Homemaker.

Just wanted to share my news!

Link for the quiz

My keyboard is acting up...here is the link to the quiz: http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/yankeetest.html

How Southern Am I?

Okay, now I spent most of my life in Virginia. I spent a few years here and there in the midwest and northern states. I was born in Texas....so here are the results of the quiz: 71% (Dixie). Your neck must be at least pink!

What happened to being honest?

Okay,

It started Sunday when this guy delivered what was supposed to be a cord of wood to us. Everything seemed fine, my DH was working our H's car, but stopped while the guy dumped the wood in our driveway. I wrote the man a check and he was on his way.

Fast forward about 4 hours.....DH had finished the car, eaten lunch and went out to stack the wood. Guess what, it was not a full cord. It was a third of a cord short! DH called the guy and left a message for him to call. He called back ranting and raving. Saying that we did not order a cord (um, yes, I did. I asked twice to make sure that is what I was ordering)...then he said that we didn't know what a cord was....um, yes we do. He said he was coming to get his wood and give us our check back. Not using the best of language.

Monday morning, DH called him to ask when he was coming, he said "whenever I feel like it". To which DH told him "No, you need to give me a date and time." The wood guy did not like this, saying that he would come whenever HE wanted and that there was NOTHING we could do about it. Well.... DH had already contacted WEights and Measures about this guy and had them call him (wood guy). The wood guy then called DH back saying he would come get his wood at 6:30 tuesday. Between all this, my wonderful DH talked with the local Sheriff's office. Just to let them know what was going on, because he had a feeling we would be needing them.

Fast forward to this morning.... LOUD banging on our front door at about 6:20 a.m. DH goes out to move his work car, I go to the basement door with the phone and a camera. (I wanted to make sure I covered any basis that were needed LOL) Wood guy was cussing and throwing the wood into his truck....told DH "This is over, don't think that it is". DH asked for our check and the guy said no, not until the wood was in his truck. DH said no, you give me the check or you can leave...the guy keep throwing wood in the truck. DH signaled to me to call the sheriff, which I did. About ten minutes the Sheriff is there and WOW what a change in the wood guy. He went from insulting us and calling us "scum" to being quiet. It also helped that this was the same Sheriff that DH talked with yesterday....so he already knew what was going on and said so. The sheriff made the wood guy give him the check and he held it until the wood was loading. DH told the sheriff how the wood guy had threatened that this wasn't over. Sheriff had a talk with the wood guy and then wrote out a notice of trespassing to the guy..... he wadded it up in front of the sheriff. Then tried to say that we stole some of the wood and that he should get to look in our house and see if it is there. LOLOLOL Sheriff said, "no, there is no way to tell where any wood would have come from, and that he would have to go through civil court if he had an issue.

Anyway, the guy left, we talked some more with the Sheriff, really nice guy by they way, he told me to call 911 if the guy even tried to pull into our yard and they would be out here fast. I said "thank you", DH said "thank you and sorry you had to come out for this" and then Mr. Sheriff went on his way.

Talk about a fun morning. I just hope the guy doesn't try anything. I don't think so, he seemed all talk. We will have to see

This is a cute quiz...

You scored as Hermione Granger. You're one intelligent witch, but you have a hard time believing it and require constant reassurance. You are a very supportive friend who would do anything and everything to help her friends out. Hermione Granger 80% Remus Lupin 75% Albus Dumbledore 70% Harry Potter 70% Ron Weasley 65% Severus Snape 60% Sirius Black 50% Draco Malfoy 45% Ginny Weasley 40% Lord Voldemort 5% Your Harry Potter Alter Ego Is...? created with QuizFarm.com

Another quiz

YOU ARE CHAMOMILE

What herb are you?
brought to you by

That was the problem.

Okay, I took the link out of my posts from a couple of weeks past and now my profile is where it should be. :-)

Nothing new today..so just thought I would check in.

That is weird

When I bring up my blog, it has my profile down on the bottom of the right hand side.

It used to be up top. Hmmmm, I wonder if it is something with Blogger.com. Time will tell.

Have a great Sunday people.

What did I just do?????

Okay, I think I just might have finally lost it.

I just created my own message board! It is just now started, so there is only one forum with only one post (mine)......but it is there and I am the owner. <>

I say this because I am not sure if this is something I should have done or not. I mean, I have no problems telling people whether they can post or not. And I have no problem being a bad guy...I am a Mom, so that is not new. I am just not sure if this is something I have the time for. Of course, I can always delete it or lock it to new posts if need be....I guess I am just surprised I actually did it. I had been thinking about it for awhile...so... oh well. Time will tell.

It has been hectic here lately, but what is new. I seem to be either taking some one here or picking up some one there. Tis life!

I am thinking of getting some chickens next year. I am reading what I can about it. Of course, this will also depend on whether Mr. Frugal will go for it or not also. I can probably talk him into it, if I really want to do it.

I will just need to read as much as I can and see if the benefits will out-weigh the costs involved. Do I just want to raise some broilers or do I want some layers....or what...

Hey, at least I am past my goat idea..... (well, not really, but we just don't have the land for that right now. :-) LOL)

That's it for now.

Online quizes

Either you love them or you hate them. LOL

This one I liked! On the site, it had a picture of Jamie on the side.


Who's Your Celebrity Chef Match?
Molly, your celebrity chef match is The Naked Chef

No cause for alarm! Your cooking counterpart doesn't sauté, simmer, or season in his birthday suit. It's just his take on food prep that's naked. Like Jamie Oliver, you've probably got a low-key, no-frills approach to cuisine — and maybe to life, too!Whether you're cooking for company or for yourself, you're keen on creating succulent flavors that make your taste buds do summersaults — without spending the whole day slaving over a hot stove. After all, you've got other things to do and places to be. And your knack for keeping up with culinary trends and stripping cooking down to the basics will make your cooking a winning welcome at any meal.

Sickie, sickie, sickie...

Well, yesterday the doctor confirmed that ds6 has a stomach virus. I "knew" that was all it was, but after getting a notice last week that a child in his class was diagnosed (sp?) with Bacterial Menegitis....even a seasoned mother can have her worries. The poor thing had been sick since Friday night....so DH and I decided to take him in for a visit. Our doctor is wonderful! They checked him out real good and even ran a CBC to make sure nothing was going on in his blood that we should know about! Just told me to take him home and make sure he drank plenty of gatorade. So far, so good!

This morning has been good. He has really gotten his appetite back! (Thank you!) and seems very restless! I know, it is hard for a 6 year old to stay seated when he has been sick for several days. I told him he can use his energy tomorrow at school! LOL

It has been COLD here lately! My DS16 asked me last night when we were going to turn the heat on...I told him when his father and I decided we needed to! I also gave him that "go put some more clothes on" look! He was standing there in a t-shirt and shorts!!!!!!!

Next time I will tell him, "fine I will turn the heat on, but he will get the next oil bill"...that usually will quiet him up. I love him...but sometimes....LOL

Where have I been?

Goodness...I am such a bad blogger. LOL I really thought, when I started this that I would just be typing every day with all sorts of witty comments, enlightening conversation and insights! Then REALITY set in!!!

I have 7 people (including myself, of course), 2 cats, 1 dog and an aquarium of fish here to deal with on a daily basis. I thought I would have time to not only type, but to think of things to type about.

There is something on my mind. I am just sick and disgusted over that woman who threw her beautiful little boys into the freezing water to their deaths!

Every time I think of this...or other stories like this (and unfortunately, there are others) only one scripture comes to mind:

2 Timothy 3:1-5: 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. (NWT)

"Having no natural affection" that is all I can think of concerning these women. Yes, I know there are some out there that are genuinely sick, but then you would HAVE to be sick to kill anyone, lest of all your own children. I don't buy that as an excuse or a reason for them to not be put into jail for the rest of their natural lives! (Part of me wants the death penalty, but I am trying to show mercy)

On another...positive note..... I have a family that I love, a home that I am content with and my needs are taken care of....I AM THANKFUL for all that I have. I am also trying to view things FROM a thankful heart.

That is all for now....I hope to type more later and more often.

Correction to previous post

The link did not take, so here it is:

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindoffoodareyouquiz/

Should I be offended??? LOL

You Are French Food

Snobby yet ubiquitous.People act like they understand you more than they actually do.

What Kind of Food Are You?

The loss of farm land

I am so sad.... the large farm across the street from my house has been put on the market! I am not 100 percent sure, but I'm positive that it has been rezoned for a sub-division. Can you imagine how many houses they can put on 240 acres!!

Besides that, everything has been pretty quiet here.

Time flys by......

Nothing real exciting has gone on here lately.

DSD 19 has finally gotten her car legal and on the road. Fighting us on the job issue, but we will not back down. She needs a real job, but that is DH's area. Gotta keep in the boundaries of a step-parent. Sometimes it can be really hard to see that "line".

Having to remove a rather large tree in our yard. We have had several quotes, and all I can say is "oh my"! DH is going to try and take it down himself with the help of our neighbor. I told him to please be careful, I would rather find the money somewhere than to have him risk his life!

Going to the renaissance festival this weekend. I am almost finished with the costume. I have the skirt to do and that should be easy compared to everything else. I will take pictures! I hope that weather stays as predicted! Cool and dry.

Have a great night!

Cell phones

Well, I did something scary last night. I changed my individual cell-phone plan into a family plan! Yes, now my three step-kids have cell phones. The older two girls already had pre-paid ones, but they were just wasting money! My 15 year-old boy as been biting at the bit for a phone....so I bit the bullet.

They are responsible for paying their portion, plus any extras they put on there. I am confident they will following through...actually on the middle one worries me, but she could only abuse the phone one month and her father will be on her case like nothing else!

I was against them all having phones for awhile, but now that we live out in the country, it really has become a need. At least for a safety issue. With the plan we got they will each get about 300 minutes, with unlimited nights and weekends. Also, if they call anyone else with the same company, it is unlimited... All this for about $25 a month. Compared to what the girls were paying for the pre-paids, this is cheap.

They have all been really good about not having them before, expecially when all their friends seemed to have had them for years. I guess I am just having a hard time with them growing up! LOL

Have a great day!

Thoughts....

Okay first off....Prayers beign said for all those affected by Katrina. My hearts bleeds for those that have died and also those left behind.

Opinionated people really irritate me! LOL

Okay, everyone is entitled to have one.....I have many. I get irritated by the ones that believe that their is the ONLY one that matters.

Example.....someone that has a newborn, her first child, is telling other mothers how to deal with their children. That they need to put themselves and their spouses first! That the child/ren need to learn that they need to wait their turn. Okay...you can laugh now if you like. She will soon learn the errors of her ways!

I am sorry, I knew before I had my children that I would have to put some things on the back burner for awhile. DH also knows that he is my husband and he will be with me until I die......our children won't. They are supposed to grow up and move on. So if he can not have my attention whenever he wants for a year or two....he can adjust! LOL

Yes, I know there are come mothers out there that completely shut out their DH's when it comes to the children, but I am not one of them. They do so at their OWN risk!

Okay...enough ranting tonight.

I hope everyone has a great evening......talk to you soon

Updating......

Okay...been somewhat busy lately.

Also been a sad time here in our home. I finally had to make the decision to have my beloved kitty put to sleep. She was almost 12 years old. Her poor little body just started to shut down on her...I didn't want her to be in pain.

Getting the garden ready for winter....next year I am going to be more conservative with what I plant. This year the garden got away from me....and I couldn't get it back. :-(

I did can some salsa, and hopefully I will get enough tomatoes to can some more before it is all over.

Costume for the fair is coming along....finally found the fabric for the bodice....for only $7 a yard! YES! The others I was looking at were $25 a yard. Big savings.

Mom and little sis were up this past week. One last visit before heading south to Texas. I am coping. Once they are down there, it will sink in completely. I just hope the great airline prices stay they way they are now ($99 round trip from San An to BWI).

That's all for now...will hopefully have more time once school starts.

First entry into the Fauquier County Fair

I made a very pretty apron and decided to enter it into the fair.....well, I got second place! YEA me!

Okay, so I am now hooked! LOL I am already thinking of what I can enter in next year. Once I get a picture made of the apron, I will post it.

I am currently working on a renaissance costume for the fair later this year....maybe I will enter it in the fair next year. At least, I will if it turns out good.

On the FRUGAL side, making a costume is ALOT more cost effective than to purchase one! I almost fainted when I saw the prices for items last year! Even with fabric on the expensive side....I will be saving hundreds!

I plan on putting more frugal ideas and tips on here...now that I know things are publishing correctly. :-)

Okay...showing up now.

Of course I have to go online via another internet provider to see them, so it must be something with AOL. (Not real surprised there :( )

I was not posting much because I did not see them coming up and figured, "what good would it do"

Are my post showing up at all???

OKay... I post a new entry and I do not see it posting to the web. Or it take a week before it shows up. I refresh my link and I clear out my cache (sp?), and still nothing.

I am trying to get this to clear up, but if some one out there in cyber-land reads this, please email me and let me know that it is just on my end. LOL

Adventures in Camping

Well.....just got back frm camping. Besides the bugs (I was eaten alive!) and the thunder storms......it was fun.

Ian and Ainsley had a great time. This was their first time. I also learn some things also. I will post more later....just wanted to pop in for a minute.

Yard Sale adventures

Okay, so I started the day picking up some old patterns that a very nice lady posted on the local freecycle group, then headed for some yard sales.

First let me state that it has been over two years since I have gone yard-saling. With our move last year and the preparing of the old house for saling the previous summer, I just didn't have the time. So, I figured..."why not?" I have been looking for a pressure canner, and I just can not bring myself to purchase one new, although I might save up for next year, since I have having NO luck finding one this summer. :-(

After almost three hours and $13.00 later, I called it a day. Although I didn't find much, my children loved their new toys.

DS (6) got a toy motorcycle, an out-doors set (bats and balls) and a nice t-shirt. DD (4) got a Dragon Tales game, a bubbles set and a very nice Fisher-Price learning set. The type with a chalk board and templates to write letters and words. She has been playing with that almost non-stop.

DSD (17) got two nice shelves to put up in her room, and I got some books and a wall decoration for my kitchen.

Not bad entertainment for a saturday morning.....maybe next time I will find a pressure canner.

Unexpected bargains and school's out

We had one of the best meals last night. YUMM!

I went to the store on Wednesday morning, and I just happened to go by the fish department. They had salmon filets on sale for $4.99 lb.......and there were some packages that were getting close to "sale by" dates, so there were coupons for $2.00 off those packages. Each package ranged from just over $3.00 to $2.50 BEFORE the coupon! Needless to say, I bought eight packages. Merinaded them in Teriyaki sauce and then smoked them on the grill! I just LOVE finding bargains like that, because I do not get salmon often because of the price.

We are only half-way through the first day out of school and goodness!!!!! I have already had to deal with full-out fit from my five-year old and had to referre (sp?) an argument between my 17 and 19 year-old. Sooooooo..... how long until the end of August???? LOL

Random Thoughts

Okay....I used to think up all sorts of things that I could write about...... Until, of course, I set up a Blog. :-(

Now, I can never think of anything to post. Either that, or I am just not interesting anymore. LOL

What has been on my mind lately? My mother is moving away! :'-( (Does that look like crying?)

Instead of her being only 3 hours away.....she will be about 24 hours away!

Now, this really shouldn't be a big deal....I am actually all for her moving. It is the best thing for her...not only financially, but for her general health also.

I wish she could move closer, but right now, that is just not possible. Maybe once some of my older kids move out, there will be room, but that is not an option now.

My sister is also moving with her. I am so glad that she is, but that just means another family member moving away!

Okay....to look on the brighter side! :-) She will have things a little better financially. She will have less demands on her time from my brother and his family. She will also be able to visit more often...even though she will be living farther away. (she will have more money for travel). Also, this will give me an excuse to go back to Texas to visit. Something I haven't done in oh.....over 20 years! (Goodness, when did I get old enough to say a thing like that!!!)

We have until the first of the year to get used to the idea....I will be spending ALOT of time visiting this summer.

Well, it is late and I need to be calling it a night. Talk to you soon.

Molly

A mother's work is never done.....

Well.... it is after 11 pm and I am still getting things ready for our trip to the amusement park tomorrow. :-)

I still have a load of clothes to fold and another to dry. :-( I am still working on the food for tomorrow also. Everyone else in the house has gone to bed. Although I am tired, it is all worth it.

But then again, that is my job. MOM

I hope everyone out there in cyberland had a great weekend.

Son is sick again....

Sigh!!!

Well, my five year old is sick again. He does not get sick alot, it is just when he does......it is usually several things one right after the other. :-(

Last week he had pink-eye. Okay, he is in Kindergarten...not the worst thing he could bring home....Today, he wakes with a slight fever. Not a biggie, he just gets to stay home and watch t.v.

Well....around 1:00...I notice a rash! ALL over his stomach and back. Off to the doctor we go.... Diagnosis....Strep that has gone into his blood stream. No noticable fever until this morning, and it was under 100. No fever at the doctor's office....so now we have a prescription for penicillian and I get to notify the school so they can send a note home to all the other Kindergarteners.... WHEEEEEEE!

Yes, I am tired! CALGON take me away!

Laundry

Why does is seem that if you have a chance to catch up on laundry.....the pile seems to get bigger even though you are getting things washed!!!!!

I sometimes feel like all I ever do is laundry!

Sorry, not feeling so good today. :-(

First time for everything!

I am now an official Blogger! LOL

I am not sure just what I will be writing about, yet. Knowing me, it will be alittle bit of everything and anything!

The main thing will be finding time to write.

I need to go clean, my mom is on her way here and I want to have the house semi-neat!

Good-bye for now.