Happy Tuesday...everyone :)

I am working up to a blog on my new cleaning system...just not ready to blog about it today...so i was looking for a blog topic...one word i said to my daughter michelle...she threw out the word respect....something i think a person has to earn...and once you lose it for someone...it is next to impossible to ever gain it back again...

i have always been a mom that so respects her children...children have so much to offer and i so respect their honesty...if we could just keep that honesty with us through our lives...but we do not...as parents i think respect must be earned as well...but i do believe that our kids are very influenced by their friends...and sometimes that is hard to handle...

my friends...i have several friends that i think the world of...would miss not hearing from them...even if it is only on facebook...they are true friends to me...but i have two best friends one here in kansas and one back in pr. anne...i never really thought much about how much they really meant to me until i really hit my lowest 2 years...1 month...17 days ago....i realized then it was my respect for them that allowed our friendships to be real and honest...respect....you want your children to respect their teachers...but that too must be earned...on both sides...i guess i really believe that respect is something that we all want but it MUST be earned...and never put into question...because once it is lost ...you may never get it back :) enjoy your night...sounds like storms are a coming in south central kansas...till tomorrow :)

It's Monday and I am Back...sort of....

i really do not know what to tell you i am back from... but i am back...just feeling so tired not like me at all...this flu kicked the shit right out of me...i guess...just tired and it has left my right ear plugged up ...how i do not know...guess from all the puking...lol...i am deaf in the one ear...it is driving me nuts...

i have been working on a lot of things around here...michelle and i got the yard all cleaned up in two days ...saturday and sunday...which is really quick...it usually takes the whole week of spring break...so we are really ahead for now...we always end up with a lot of leaves from fall and branches...it looks good...just got to get warmer to plant...and i still say winter will kick us in the ass in march...we have had just a mild winter...not kansas like at all...the temps have been so mild...we have been so lucky...

i have also come up with a new cleaning plan for this house...doing it all in one day is a killer...i will explain in a blog later in the week...also have gotten back into weekly meal planning...more on that later...

my mind last week has been on some family events that occurred over the last couple of weeks back home...i hate being so far from home sometimes ...yes a job moved us here...and our kids loved it here...there are so many educational benefits for children here...i just can not explain it...not maybe that the education is better... that is all in what teachers you have...but there is a push here to help children achieve their educational goals...that is just not the case back home...most students in our county can get at least an associates degree...this is in the form of scholarships that are not financially based...they are probably the two main reasons we stayed here...but there were others as well...

hard to admit but...i have always had an open door and any of our family that wanted to come visit were more than welcome...a few took us up on it...it was much easier for them to come here...than us to go home...with 4 kids in school...college and all the activities they were in...but i took some hits over the last couple of weeks ...while i was sick...that just got to me...how quick people forget all that you have done for them over the years before the move out here...you can treat me like crap i really do not care...BUT DO NOT CRAP ON MY DAUGHTER...cause you do not know her...you are too busy in your own life to give a damn...not once did you offer to be by her bed side as she fought for her life or come help me when i needed someone...your choice in your lifestyle i do not understand and will never ...you wonder why i distance myself sometimes...cause you are so willing to help in your church but at the time you failed to see my need for help...you just...enough i will go on...over it ...and i am thinking hit the delete...but this blog is about me ...all about me...the everyday events in a 52 year old woman's life... whose children were her whole life...the reason for being...and one by one they leave and you go on...a grandmom.. a role of over 3 years to an awesome little girl...

a crazy old lady...that just realized why she has not blogged in a week...i knew i would go to a place i did not want to go...and i will end on this note...DO NOT VOTE FOR MITT ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT....just saying...and if no one else will say it i will...not a religion we need governing our country...yes i know...i know this...it is not all about family...this blog is over for tonight...back tomorrow with a better attitude...my new cleaning plan...have a good night :)

Windy...Stormy ...Monday :)

what a windy day we had here today...i only had journey for half of the day today as her dada was off for presidents day...

i had really hoped to get some yard work started here over the weekend...but it just felt too chilly for me to work out...i just have not gotten my energy back from last week and having the flu...oh how i hate not having energy...

sounds like it will be warming up here all week and maybe the yard work can begin...we shall see...

michelle has kept busy all day and i have done nothing...i even took a nap this afternoon...i never do that...maxi and i curled up and slept for about two hours...i never do that...must have been real tired...alan made meatballs for tonight and had them simmer all day in the crock pot and michelle did the salads...lord they have been good to me this past week...

i think tonight i am going to look trough some gardening books i have and try and figure out some landscaping for my back yard...i have been trying to figure this out for the last 7 years we have lived here...nothing ever lives or takes hold back there...it is a money pit...it is all shade...and in the middle of it there is a very old and huge oak tree...so a pool is out...just do not know what to do other than cement the whole yard...lol...enjoy your evening...off to the gardening books for me :)

Super Saturday :)

I have had a really quiet saturday...did not leave the house...i love those days...alan got several little projects taken care of around here today...as always...he loves to stay busy...he took an old wooden shelf we had laying around here and turned it into a shelf with slots to hold all of our hair gadgets...

wow...has his life changed after a house of mostly males...he now lives in a house made up of all females...except our 27 year old male cat...that is 6 females under his roof and our little princess granddaughter that is here during the week days...what a change from when our three sons lived at home...and michelle and i were the under dogs...interesting though...

he then burned some wood scraps that had piled up from his many wood working projects...then he did a pit beef for dinner...he is always busy doing something...

it was kind of damp...cloudy and cool here all day..tomorrow is going to be a much better day 55 and SUNNY...i got lots of little things done today...and kind of caught up on somethings that were let go last week as i had the flu...still not totally over it ...but feeling much better...just trying not to push myself...

michelle helped me make up 5 gallons of laundry detergent...that was fun...only took us about 20 min. and that will last us about 4-6 weeks...yes i am always doing laundry...i enjoy it...

i am really hoping tomorrow will be warm...would like to clean up the yard and get a head start on some spring plans that i have...we shall see how that goes...more about that later :)i hope you are having a really great weekend as well...it is a three day weekend here as presidents day is monday and alan is off ...see you back here tomorrow :)

It is tuesday...Valentines Day...and where have i been ???

My last post was on friday...planned to post some pictures of some decoration changes we are making at our home...but...i got up saturday morning...fixed breakfast and even ate some myself...had coffee...mark, kayla and journey stopped by...had a great visit..they left...mark called michelle to get her to run over and help him move a radiator...she was gone maybe 15 min. around noon...to return and find me puking my guts out...from noon on saturday...i was as sick as i have ever been...i ached and could not move...

i have had 4 children...3 c-sections...never really stopped for anything...i have been sick before ...but never the i am going to die feeling...or dying might be better than this...thank god for michelle...she took care of everything...the house...the dogs...the cats...alan and me...i do not know what we would have done without her...

as many of you know i keep my granddaughter journey ...while her mom teaches...this is my 4th year of being her caregiver...i take pride that even though i have not always been completely well..i have never not been able to watch her...i have taken 0 sick days...just like when my kids were little...but sunday i realized i could not watch her...broke my heart that her parents would have to take a sick day to watch her...kayla said no problem...but i was sad it was to be a ginny day...but then we live in kansas and anything can happen and it did...had a freak snow storm 6 inches...and kayla had a snow day...i still have a perfect score...no sick ginny days...i know michelle could have watched her but i really did not want journey around me...and well between the dogs...cats ...house...alan and ME...michelle was very busy....she came to me yesterday afternoon and said mom ...i never want to have to be you again :)...she did an awesome job...

alan even cooked last night...i ate a little of his spanish rice....it was really good...just not hungry ...still not real hungry...very thirsty today though...i took a shower tonight...but still am very tired...and achy...but i am starting to think i may get better ...for awhile i really was not sure...i feel i have not been dressed for days...

i did have journey today...we made it work...it was valentines day and a ginny day...i do not like to let that little girl down...just like i never like to let my children down...it is a mom thing :) no time to be sick...michelle thank you for your constant care...i hope you never have to be me again either ...

everyone have a great valentines day evening...i am off to bed with my shih tzu...hoping for a better tomorrow...

Chilly...wintry ...friday in Kansas :)

i knew that winter would soon come...we had a pretty heavy dusting of snow last night..and a pretty chilly day today...and tomorrow it is not to get above 30 degrees...

we have really been spoiled this year with a very mild winter...last year was a tough winter here with a lot of ice ...snow and very cold temps and wind...so this winter has been awesome...but i think we are about to get our winter...we will see... but it was a very busy week here..looked at houses and talked a lot...we have such a wonderful home...just not sure if we want to sell or just let our kids pull us out of here when we are too old for such a large house...just not sure...and we are in no hurry...

had a great day today...my shih tzu maxi...is just about 6 months...time for her first grooming...i have searched high and low for a good groomer...cause i know just how i want her to look...not a puppy cut...the one i wanted to do it...well lets just say it did not work out...so i ended up making an appt with a groomer that comes to my vets office on fridays...it is right on alans way to work and he can pick her up at lunch time...since he only works a 1/2 day on fridays...to make it easy on him ...i sent him off with a picture of what i wanted and i made a list of what i wanted and did not want...and a warning...she had better come home as per my instructions...and he knew i meant business...do not screw around with my kids or my animals...he explained all of this to the groomer...i know she probably thought i was a bitch...okay i am...but this is my baby...and ok alan loves her too....

first thing out of the groomers mouth was this is a scissor cut and it would be 20.00 more...the right thing came out of his mouth...i do not care...just do what you have to do...just let me say she turned out so good...it is just what i had hoped it would be...it will be so easy to take care of...i was brushing her 2 times a day for about 30 min. each time...i did not mind but...sometimes i think that she did not like it..and it had to hurt some...and it just felt like every time i was sitting with her i pulled out a brush...she just seems happier..i love it...

you know i have always wanted a shih tuz...and you know how you will plan how they will look...and when you are lucky enough to own one and they turn out better than you ever expected...it is a very good thing...

this afternoon my dil kayla asked me to go to her dr. appt with her and journey...well it was cancelled...journey and i were both sad... but it was rescheduled for wed. and i am looking so forward to that...

going to tackle a few inside projects with michelle tomorrow...will try and post pictures on those projects the first of the week...see you back here tomorrow...night all ...i posted some pictures of maxi's new do for you all to see...night all:) off to watch a movie with the sweetest daughter ever :)

Sunny Sunday :)

i do not know why but i woke up just feeling bitchy...i really slept ok...till about 4 this morning...but i just felt evil...and of course i held it in ...until the first one in this house said the slightest thing ...i did not like...so i cut loose...of course it was alan that caught my venting...he probably did not deserve all he got ...but...i am sure there was a time i did not vent and i should have...i do not know about him but in the end i felt so much better...enough said...

michelle and i then went to the grocery store and then we stopped by my son mark's house...to see the light fixture he made for his dinning room that he and kayla have just finished re-doing...it is the neatest fixture...i was afraid when he showed me the plans ...it would be too country...since that is not their style or the style of their home...but seeing it finished it is just perfect for the room and their home...he is just so talented ...very artsy...always was...even before the 4 years of college and that art degree...i just love anything he does...course i love him...such a special little boy... a cuddler...would give you the shirt off his back...wears his heart on the outside...no one could ever have a more awesome son...and brother...he was just such a help to me with michelle...he was young...8 when she was born...he was like her dad and i ...we just would not accept all the doctors telling us what she might not ever do...he helped her sit...walk...talk...he was there for it all...right by her side...then they had the run together a few years ago...i hope he will always be by her side...i am going to post a picture of the lighting fixture he made and i will also post a picture of my beautiful granddaughter :) have a great night

the light fixture...



journey... :)

Rather Tiring Saturday :)

I planned yesterday...not to leave the house today...i got up put sweats on and a sloppy old sweatshirt...something i would never wear out in public...and was just going to straighten up the house a little...but oh no not me...we did a full on cleaning up and down...using all green cleaners...i had been using them here and there ...but today the were used through out the house...oh it smells soo clean...and the toilets are shining...

next weekend we are going to shampoo carpets ...probably right before we go to bed on friday night...as saturday maxi is going to get her hair groomed for the first time...at dirty dogs in newkirk ok.....i am so excited...she has just been an awesome puppy...we all love her so much....mark made a lamp fixture for his dining room ...saw in on facebook today...it is just the coolest thing ever...he is so talented...got that from his mom...NOT...planned to go over there and see it but...never got dressed and the day was gone before i knew it...but i do have a very clean green house...and i will go over there in the morning before journey goes down for a nap...

ok off to finish the laundry up...and do not think it was todays laundry...it is tomorrows laundry...we all have had our showers...so you know me...i had to get it done tonight...love doing laundry and to go to bed and know there is not a dirty piece of laundry in my house...now that is a very good thing...night all :)

Just a Beautiful Wednesday :)

it is just beautiful here today...65 i think and sunny...all is quiet here all of my girls are napping...journey, mimi (michelle) and all of the four legged ones as well...so quiet here you could hear a pin drop....michelle had a long morning with some very serious dental work ...just so glad we were able to get a dentist to do it...and he is wonderful...she made out great and goes for the next round on friday at 8 am...really hope all goes well again...the spot on my carpet came completely out with the baking soda and white vinegar...left a little soda in the carpet...need to figure if maybe there was a little to much soda in the paste..but it worked great on the stain...we shall see and i will keep you posted on it...just a quick post today...i will be back tomorrow...have a wonderful afternoon :)