Sniffles, Cricks, Food & Fun

Yesterday The Hubby and I took a long drive to Ft. Smith, Arkansas to see a lady about some tin.  It was a rainy day but a very pleasant drive over there. 

The Hubby found her at the flea market several weeks ago and what she does he thought would be great for some architectural interest in our new bathroom.  These are some of her work.  They are mostly old ceiling tiles that she paints and then seals.  Beautiful stuff.

This is what we bought.  I love it and it does show something besides just painted walls here.  I have got to see about some photos or painting something for the walls too.   

Friday afternoon I looked out the window of our "old" laundry room and this is what I saw.  Isn't that maple just stunning red.  I love it. 

That night we grilled a steak and I fried up some of Daddy's green tomatoes from his three plants in his yard. 

Amazing that he was not home all summer long but his dear buddy Jay planted those three plants in Daddy's backyard and they were absolutely neglected.  No water, no fertilizer, yet they were the most beautiful plants I have ever seen, and we had a drought!  They didn't put many red tomatoes on but the darn things were loaded with enough green tomatoes...YUMMY!

Poor The Hubby has been battling a head cold for the past few days and this morning my nose is giving me fits.  I hope to goodness I do NOT get his cold.  I do NOT have time to get sick.  I was up a bit before five to feed little Clayton and spent some time looking around the blog world when I got up for another cup of coffee.  I stretched and WHAM!, my neck and shoulder blades spasmed and I had a crick.  B has been battling one all week long and here I go.  It happens to me when the cold weather hits and it was cold this morning.  I've been back to bed with a good dose of Aleve and will probably lay down here again to hopefully let it release.  ARGHHHH!

Thrillbillies

I thought I had seen everything but I was wrong.  The Hubby has found something else to catch his attention for a bit, Thrillbillies! 

Trailer from YouTube...YIKES

Vomit II

Here we go again vomiting on the page.  I am trying to figure out why I don't feel like writing at all lately, not even in my handwritten journal.  It's like I can't gather my thoughts and put them down in any kind of form.  I also have felt like I've had a gag on my mind and that is not good.  I haven't even wanted to take pictures to post here.  My camera, my new camera has stayed snug in the backpack, untouched since our vacation last month.  Really, don't know what is going on with me lately.  So vomit I go again!

Yesterday was a nice Thanksgiving day with a mixture of family, The Hubby's middle brother, their enchanting mother, my Daddy, Sis and her Hubs and their youngest HB.  The night before I wasn't feeling well at all and was concerned that pulling off the turkey day was not going to happen.  The Hubby came down with a nasty head cold too so we were a pair.  Thankfully, I awoke feeling much better and readied the 20 pound Tom Turkey to roast in the oven.  I brined it this year, the first time and it paid off.  The turkey was so moist and tasty!  I was a bit apprehensive about Sis coming as I had only seen her twice since June and we live in the same area but as I have mentioned she has been a bit on the strange side towards me, and Daddy for that matter.  It's very hard to love someone who is so difficult to love but I do love her, I may not like her right now, but I do love her.  When they arrived I went straight to her and hugged her neck tightly to let her know I still love her.  It was a restrained dinner, she was not as jovial or should I say "vocal" as usual.  We had a nice dinner, pleasantries were exchanged and after about 2 hours they were on their merry way.  Very difficult but manageable.

We are now to the countdown of Christmas and I put it out to the family that I wanted to do Christmas Eve again.  For many, many years our house was the go to place for the Eve thing but when the nephews started their families and had the young ones they wanted to have it and I was very happy to let them.  I miss it though and a couple of years ago we were to host again until the snowstorm hit.  We were left with tons of food and Christmas Eve alone.  So this year I will try again.  I mainly wanted to host because my mind was threatening to not even put up a tree and I didn't want to give in to it.  I think it would depress me. 

Okay this has thought process has taken me somewhere else...

Yesterday I asked thirteen year old HB if he had his school pictures yet.  He hem-hawed and Sis piped up to say, "Oh, we didn't buy them."  Okay, well.  Last year they didn't buy BB's senior pictures or even do graduation announcements either, waste of money.  (How can you not be proud that your child FINALLY is to graduate from high school and move on with her life!)  We were chatting about setting up for Christmas and Sis added to the conversation that they don't put up trees anymore and haven't for several years.  She has a thirteen year old CHILD!  Really!  Oh and HB's birthday was the first of the month and I put his card in the mail on a Monday with money in it and by Saturday apparently it had not arrived.  Sis called me to ask where his birthday card was because he was looking for his money!  Really.  Well, I told them that if it didn't come by T-Day I would GIVE him some money.  (It is not a gift anymore.)  She has NEVER given my girls a card or heaven forbid money but I am expected to give it to her kids and she told our father that she expects me to give her children money, because I can afford it.  Wow, I'm ranting!  I think I've bottled this up too long for sure. 

I know, I know everyone will blame it on her meds and things going on with her but I've lived with her "health" issues all my life and frankly she is good and just because The Hubby and I have done well with our lives we should not be expected to supplement her children's finances and I will not fund BB's passion lately for tattoos.  But you know if they could not come up with the money to buy the kids school pictures I would have.  I would put up a tree for HB.  (They both have great jobs and a nice house, no excuse!)

Another worry is her animals.  I've blogged about her strange way with pet responsibility (dumping) and she has a cat and three dogs left.  Her husband hates them all.  Yesterday she was talking about one of her dogs nipping and biting some workmen at their house and it even brought blood.  It has a problem with men and snaps at their heals.  They've had it since it was a puppy and she can't figure out why it goes after men.  I can tell you why, her hubs hates it and kicks at it so it goes after a "MAN".  I'm very afraid that she will dump again or even worse foist one of the dogs on my Daddy.  It would not be the first time, trust me. 

Oh My Gosh...I am ranting.  Is that what it takes to get me off this block thing.  Maybe I need to get political too!  Maybe not a good thing there.  What do you think.  Am I being a bitch, an unloving sister, unrealistic, uncaring, blah, blah, blah!  I don't think so.

I'm Thankful

Decided to to a list today. 

I'm thankful for:

I'm thankful for my Daddy's health and that he is still here and that I'm so enjoying his company.

I'm thankful that 2011 is nearly over and we can move on to 2012.

I'm thankful for a fabulous husband and our wonderful beautiful girls.

I am thankful for my friends, my wonderful and loyal friends.

I'm thankful for my life.  Who would have known I would follow this path my life has taken and how awesome it has been.  I was a small town girl with very small dreams but no way to make them happen.  I've been given a life that was even beyond where any dream I had could have taken me. 

I am thankful! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ONE AN ALL! 

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Angry

I am so angry right now and my Twitter was on fire with my anger until I could blog.  Yesterday I took little Clayton to the vet to have his teeth cleaned like the vet advised.  His breath has been YUCK so I was on board.  It was an all day thing where they knock him out and they were to call if there were problems.  No phone call and so I went to pick him up at 4 and took him home.  He ate his dinner but I knew he was not feeling good.  Last night while sleeping he woke me up crying and making a strange breathing sound.  I got up and I took him outside and gave him a treat because I knew he missed one of his meals and thought he was just hungry.  This afternoon while he was in my lap I wanted to look at his teeth and see how good they looked.  Imagine my horrified surprise when I saw that one of his front teeth was MISSING!  I got on the phone immediately and called the vet and ripped them.  Why in heavens name did I not get a call or even when I picked him up that they did not tell me.  No wonder he was in PAIN last night.  My heart is just broken for the little guy.  They said that sometimes there is so much disease that there is nothing left when they get the tartar off.  Granted the little guy had horrible breath which was probably infection but my concern is they DID NOT CALL ME or TELL ME!  I am taking him back to south Tulsa, to my old vet when we lived out there to someone I TRUST!  Poor, poor little guy. 

Five Things I Love

My sweet friend Kay at Musings wrote about five things she loves and I thought I would try my hand at that too.  Here goes!

Our sweet Clayton.  Since he has come into our lives I can't imagine our life without him but I know that someday...sniff.  He is our little joy.

 My paints!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my paints.  I love mixing and creating.  It has given a new meaning to my life to experience this love of art. 

My books!  Books are so special to me and I shed tears when we were first married when The Hubby wanted me to scale down and GET RID OF THEM!  It was as if I was stabbed in the heart.  I especially love this set of Children's Hour books that were our childhood books.  My mother read to us from these books and I cherish them completely, especially the one of Best Loved Poems!

Now, these are my journals and calenders.  They are me.  My secret thoughts and feelings and along with Clayton and our pictures would be the thing I would grab in case of a fire.

Last of all is my backpack.  I bought this several years ago before we went to Paris and Normandy and along with Paris and Normandy has traveled to England, Ireland and our latest trip to New England.  I carry it often and it still looks brand new.  Love leather! 

There you go, 5 things I love.  How about you.  Can we keep this going and be sure to go back to Kay at Musings and let her know! 

Ribbons

Last night was the TCC Alpha Rho Tau art show.  I had three entries, the max, one photography and two oil on canvas.  I arrived and was pleasantly surprised to receive three ribbons: 1st place, 2nd place and honorable mention!  WOO HOO!!!!!

1st place

2nd place

honorable mention

Trinity

Sadly my sweet Trinity passed away this morning.  She was such a confused canary.  Male canaries sing, yet Trinity was a singer.  She laid eggs constantly, to the point that she lost most of her feathers and I didn't know how to stop her.  I enjoyed her company for over 3 years and will miss her.  Now I'm left with four (2 boys and 2 girls) zebra finches.  Anyone want some finches.  They are not my favorite but I will take care of them.  I want another parakeet and canary but not until I find homes for the other guys. 

Smile

This past weekend we had it all planned to take Daddy to the cabin for the weekend.  He's doing so much better and I knew that he would love the fall air and beauty of Oklahoma that surrounds our cabin, oh and the fishing.  We began the preparation of a big brisket dinner on Saturday night to celebrate his being there and what we ended up with was a lot of smiling.  Actually, on Friday night Harri had a crowd over to their cabin for an impromptu of pizza, wine and cigars (for the guys).  Daddy bundled up and made his way next door (with the help of The Hubby) his walker, and I had his glass of sangria wine.  Daddy had a hard time hearing but he was all smiles and laughing.  He ate pizza and enjoyed several glasses of his wine and the next thing I saw he was enjoying a cigar!  Wow, haven't seen that in a long time.  We eventually ended up around a huge fire pit and his fear of being cold and wanting to go home early was quickly gone. 

The next day he was up at 4 (doesn't sleep much) and we slept till about 7.  I made him fried eggs and bacon and he wolfed down his chow.  It was a beautiful day, crisp and sun shining.  The Hubby asked Daddy if he wanted to go with him to get some shad (The Hubby catches it himself) for fishing and then cast a line or two.  Well, let me tell you Daddy was moving fast with his walker heading for the door with his coat and hat ready to go.  They fished and Daddy caught the one and only fish.  Look at that smile!  That is what it is all about isn't it.

Saturday B came to spend the night too and enjoy the brisket dinner.  We had a houseful of people, good food, music and lots more smiling for Daddy.  The unexpected surprise was that we had an earthquake.  The Hubby was dozing on one of the couches, Daddy and I were sitting on the other one when it began to audibly rumble and shake, rattle and roll!  B was standing with the granddog, Mondo and he kind of splayed out his legs and the eyes were huge.  Daddy and I sat on the edge of the couch raising our voices, "IT'S AN EARTHQUAKE!"  Our high pitch scared voices woke The Hubby who probably would not have felt or heard it.  In mid rumble the phone started ringing and I thought it might be Harri but it was B2 in Tulsa and he was a rock-n-rolling there too.  WOW, that was a first for me and I think all of us except B who experienced one in Mexico.

The earthquake will be the talk for a long time for sure.  Sunday morning Daddy got up at what he thought was 5 but was in reality only 3 am!  We let him drink his coffee and tend the dogs for a bit while catching a bit more shut eye.  Sadly, once up and around we all started to load up to head home.  I told him if he wanted to come back for the community turkey dinner in a couple of weeks he could.  I'm not sure if he will because we wore him out or because it will be a bit colder and he was not on board for that.  A good time he had for sure and the smile continued all weekend long. 

I love this of B and Daddy!

Little Clayton was exhausted too.  B brought Mondo and those two were a going constantly.  Clayton made Daddy's lap his usual place all weekend.  Daddy really enjoyed having a dog to pet. 

Vomiting on the Page

Not sure where I'm going with this today but decided to just start typing, "vomit" on the page, as one writing instructor told me. 

It's Wednesday morning and from the view from my window right now, quite beautiful, windy.  I got the day started with Wade and an excellent training day then home to find The Hubby grousing about the new audio system.  He was trying to get it on to workout at home in the new home gym and it would not come on, the music part.  He was ticked off, as was I because we spent a LOT of money on the darn thing and can't get it to work.  In fact, we couldn't even get it to turn off once it was on.  Never got the music to actually play, but the system was on saying it was playing!  Frustrating.  On the way back from my trainer I decided to spend time on the new bike but with The Hubby huffing and puffing around on his equipment and angry I was afraid it was not going to happen.  Finally, I just ignored him and hopped on to begin the pedaling.  About 35 minutes later and I was DONE!  Adding this more and more to my workout should help me start really losing, I hope! 

Yesterday in art class I was happy to finish yet another painting.  It's of our nephew and his beautiful little girl, our great niece.  I snagged the pic from her mommas Facebook page and just had to paint it.  I love her little hand on her daddy's back, it spoke to me.  I'm giving it to them.

Today is of course dance day so doing the bike thing was probably not good as I will be pooped tonight, but that may work out as sleeping has been tough.  Last night I slept pretty well if you don't count the nasty dream about a HUGE snake!  Then I wake up to the news and pictures of a huge python that swallowed an entire deer.  ICK!  Really don't mind snakes too much but spiders....EEK!!! 

Well, that worked fairly well, vomiting on the page.  At least I have some words to share.  Later gator's!