Refrigerator Gone Black

Lovely huh?  LOL

See how the paint on the handles would wear off?

 

Pulled it out so you could see sides ... this did not show.

Back 10 years ago (OMG I cannot believe its been that long ago) when we were getting ready to build the house we are in now, I had all white appliances.  Well we knew we were leaving most of the appliances in that home when we sold it BUT because our main refrigerator (we have almost always had 2 ... one in the kitchen and one in the garage ... I don't know how anyone lives with only ONE fridge) ... anyway, we planned to take it with us since it was only 4 years old my hubby wouldn't let me have a new one.  Nevermind the fact that we had chosen all stainless steel/black appliances for the new house ... oh no ... we would take the almost new side by side to the new house.  I was NOT happy about that!!! 

There was no way I was putting a stark white side by side fridge in my new kitchen ... in my new house .... along side all the stainless steel and black soooooo ... I decided to paint it.  "Yep they make appliance paint now" I thought so dangit I was gonna have me a black refrigerator.  At the time the only appliance paint available in home improvement stores was the spray paint kind ... NOW (of course) there is all kinds including paint on with a brush kind!!!!

"Hmmmm" I thought "how am I gonna paint it when it is full of refrigerator and freezer stuff?" Well I couldn't see moving it out of the kitchen and into the garage just to paint it ... way too much trouble.  So what did I do?

While Scott's away on a business trip I run to the home improvement store (Home Depot, of course) and buy black appliance spray paint, blue painters tape and heavy duty plastic sheeting.  Doggone it ... I would paint it right there in my kitchen!!!

I carefully tape up the plastic sheeting all around the fridge leaving an opening to get in and out, of course, well duh!!!  I even taped it up to the ceiling cause duh I knew the spray paint would float up there ... didn't want a black ceiling ya'll. And then I carefully placed painters tape all over the parts of the fridge that couldn't be painted (the tiny stainless steel name plate "Amana" and the ice/water dispenser buttons on the door) ... I was careful ... I had it all planned out perfectly!!!   Ya'll can see where this is going right?

I get on my old painting clothes and remain barefoot ... I like painting barefoot ... don't ask me why LOL and climb up underneath the plastic sheeting and begin painting my stark white side by side fridge ... "oh this is gonna be so pretty" ... I was so proud of myself taking on this project!!!

Well guess what I forgot?  The aspirator thingy ... I forgot I had to breathe while spray painting underneath all that plastic sheeting ... I did, however, poke my head out once in a while to breathe.  BUT heck I didn't even have on a face mask .... STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!!  So halfway through, I take a quick bathroom break, check myself out in the mirror and OMG my face is black, my hair is black and I have black paint all up my nose (thank goodness for nose hair or else my brain would have been painted black as well) ... even my feet were black and blackest yet on the bottom (remember, I'm barefoot)!!!

Well ya'll that was the least of my worries!  As I finish up with all the paint, realizing I need more, I decide to stop for the day, clean up and make a run to Home Depot.  I come out from underneath all that plastic sheeting and find .... OMG the freaking linoleum floor, which used to be white, is now BLACK ... my white countertops ... BLACK  ... thankfully its just the horizontal surfaces ... but hell ... they are supposed to be WHITE. 

Lord ya'll I'm thinking "OMG what am I gonna do ... Scott is gonna kill me".  You see we were getting the house ready to go on the market and we really didn't want to put more money into it ... we'd already finished the basement and found out finishing a basement does not add value to your home ... just incentive for a prospective buyer to buy ... so no more money needed to go into this home!!!

About this time, Alayna gets home from school and finds me in complete meltdown mode ... tears tears tears!!!!  She's like "oh Mom we can clean this up ... I'll help" so we proceed to try wiping up the floor and counter tops ... nothing is working ...nothing ya'll!!!  The whole time I'm crying saying to Alayna "Dad is gonna kill me we gotta get this up before he gets home".  Finally I try Soft Scrub with Bleach ... and oh yes it works ... along with a Scotch Brite sponge (the rough side) and I'm down on my hands and knees scrubbing and scrubbing with Alayna at my side scrubbing and scrubbing ... YES ... we manage to get it all cleaned up ... floors and counter tops are all white again ... can't even tell I'd had a disaster!!!!  Thank goodness!!!!

Okay so back to my project ... even though I didn't have enough paint to finish painting the sides ... I did have the doors and top completely covered so I take down the plastic sheeting to get a good look at my work.  You know the rubber thingys on the doors that make the refrigerator stay completely air tight while closed ... you know, those accordion looking thingys?  Well those I couldn't paint those so they had been covered with painter's tape so I pull it off along with the painter's tape from the ice/water dispenser ... it looks ridiculous ....like a stark white side by side that's been painted black by an ametuer!!!!  Hideous!!!  What have I done????  Oh and the handles ... well they're plastic and they didn't take the paint well ... by the next day, when I thought it was safe to touch the damn thing again ... just touching the handles caused paint to come off onto your hands!  Oh yes!  I have a HUGE mess on my hands ... literally!!!!

I'm thinking "maybe hubby will get us a new fridge since I ruined this one" ... yeah right!  When he got home and found what I had done he was like ... "you still ain't getting a new one this is only 4 years old"!!!!! 

So long story short (I know it was a long read) I've had to live with this refrigerator and Scott and the kids all telling the story of my painting project gone wrong for a long time now ... its been the ONLY project of mine that EVERYONE seems to want to talk about ... the one that went way wrong!!!!

Yes we are still using that ugly assed refrigerator in our beautiful stainless steel appliance, granite counter top, mahogany finished custom cabinets and hardwood floors chef's kitchen!!!!  Yea we still have partially white handles on it BUT on the bright side ... we have discovered that black Sharpies do a great job of covering up the black chipped off paint spots LOL ... much better than the black refrigerator touch up paint ... heck I even noticed on a recent trip to Home Depot that Sharpie actually makes a fat touch up marker for just such projects LOL ... seriously!!!!

Ya'll I've been hoping for years and years ... that the dangum thing would just DIE!!!  No such luck ...

BUT ... 10 years later ... ya'll guess what I got for Christmas ... and I am tickled to death ... yep, over a fridge!!!!  

Empty Nesters ~ A Reality

Photo of beautiful ‘Empty Nest’ painting courtesy of marygregorystudio.blogspot.com

Growing up and then raising my own three children I always wanted it to be like it is in the show “Parenthood” … kids are grown but all living nearby raising their own families, entire family gathering once a week and always on holidays, siblings supporting each other during good times and difficult times, the entire family showing up during a crisis or celebrations … just always there for each other.  Heck that’s even why we bought this big ole house when our kids were just about grown … plenty of room to have them all here visiting at the same time … course we were assuming they would ALL be able to visit at the same time and maybe even a few times a year AT THE SAME TIME.  It’s been almost 4 years since we’ve had them all here AT THE SAME TIME.  Heck, we have even tried planning a ONCE a year family vacation, all paid for by us, and that hasn’t worked out either.  The term ‘Empty Nesters’ is just that, for us, our nest is empty and its never ever gonna be full again … not even briefly.

My hubby and I have recently come to accept that our three kids and their families will never all live close to us … we will never be like “Parenthood” and even have found the bright side to that … hey it doesn’t matter WHERE we live as HOME to our kids is wherever we happen to live so we can pretty much live wherever we want, right?  What a wonderful bright side, huh?  NOT!  When HOME is never ever full of the entire family … well it just ain’t really a HOME.

Now that the holidays are soon upon us and once again we will be alone for Thanksgiving and possibly Christmas too … I’m very very sad.  The last couple years I had a hard time with “should I or shouldn’t I drag out all the Thanksgiving décor and then the Christmas décor and decorate” but I did.  This year … I just ain’t doing it.  Hubby and I will still give thanks on Thanksgiving whether or not there are Pilgrims and Indians and fall décor on our table … there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.  AND we will still celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ whether or not there are wreaths on our windows and doors, a tree decorated in the hall and family room or my Santa collection displayed or even the Manger Scene set up to remind us of what Christmas is all about … we will remember and Christmas will still come and we will still celebrate … décor or not!!!

This is our reality now … WE ARE EMPTY NESTERS!!!

Spring Robins

Spring Robins

I love birds … I really do … I love to sit on my front porch and listen to them chirp and sing and watch them fly from tree to tree … lots of trees around here.  Oh and I always keep my Hummingbird feeder full.  My favorite though is the Red Bird, as my Mama called them, you know them as Cardinals.  I think I love them mostly because she loved them.  As a little girl she made them seem magical because when we would see one she would say “quick make a wish” so I thought they were a magical bird that could somehow make wishes come true!!! 

BUT … I do not like when a bird comes a knocking, or pecking I should say, on my window and will not go away.  I’ve had a Robin doing just that on my library window sidelight for going on 2 weeks now!  At first I thought it was a little crazy and just didn’t realize there was a window there and kept flying into it but no … it was just standing there tapping it.  I managed to get one video of it after many tries but haven’t been successful at photographing it … the elusive Robin it is.

Anyway … it has decided that my porch is the perfect spot for a nest … just above the sidelight window on the window trim ledge.  That would be fine and dandy if it didn’t leave its poop EVERYWHERE … all over my porch decking, all over my wicker furniture, all over the cast iron railings … EVERYWHERE!!!  I came home after being away for 4 days and OMG at the poop everywhere … it was pretty disgusting.

Well I’ve washed down the porch and all the furniture 3 times now and I’ve tried scaring the Robin off by clapping my hands, but that is only a temporary fix as she’s right back to work once I turn my back.  I’ve even knocked down her nest 3 times.  Don’t worry … she hasn’t laid her eggs yet … thank goodness!!!  If she had I would have to just deal with all the poop until the babies were born and learned to fly.  I AM NOT THAT CRUEL!!!

I did a little research online looking for a natural way to get rid of unwanted birds nesting and found that mixing Apple Cider Vinegar and Red Pepper Flakes and spraying the area works.  So I’ve tried it this morning … I will let you know if it works.

Afternoon: Well ya'll the spray of Apple Cider Vinegar and Red Pepper Flakes DOES NOT work ... there is an almost perfectly constructed nest back up on the ledge ... looks like I'm outta time to try anything else as they (yes they ... I did research and both the male and female Robins work on constructing the nest ... this explains my seeing two ... I'm not crazy LOL) have a nest almost completed and its time next to lay those eggs so I'll just have to put up with the poop for a few weeks longer until those babies fly the coop.  

When a Loved One Dies

When a Loved One Dies

(and You’re Appointed Executor of the Estate)

First off let me state and make this perfectly clear … I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY so you cannot take this as legal advice … this is something I have gone through myself and therefore know something about.  Please contact an attorney if you need legal advice.  That being said … most of this information is available on the internet; however, I found it all through various websites NOT all in one place … so I felt I needed to share my knowledge to make it a little easier for anyone reading this.  If you’ve not recently lost a loved one … reading this may help you better organize your Estate for your loved ones in the event of your death.

Just an FYI ~ I DID contact and consult an attorney, in order to get the Estate probated, otherwise, I couldn’t have gotten much of anything done without a document proving I was the Executor BUT he did not give me a list of things to do NOR did he advise me verbally of any of these things listed below … the Estate paid a lot of money for what?  A legal document (the Will alone is NOT enough) to prove I was the Executor of the Estate.  That’s it!!!  BUT let me be clear again … you CANNOT do a lot of these things WITHOUT that document!!!!  Document is called Letters Testamentary in Georgia.

My Mama died suddenly in January 2011 so the shock of it has been hard and difficult but since I was named the Executor and went through so much in settling her Estate, I felt I needed to put something on my blog about HOW to handle an Estate and handle it properly.  There is so much to deal with on a legal level … it’s not easy when you are dealing with your grief.

Now just so ya’ll know … I am a certified (well I was, I haven’t kept it active since I left the work force) Paralegal and had a basic knowledge of Estate Planning from a legal aspect so I kinda knew what I was doing but not really, if you know what I mean … emotions running high and all.  When it happens to you … you are not in the right frame of mind that you would be for someone else.  That being said … I still had to ‘learn’ what to do so that the Estate was handled properly.  It was very important to me, and should be to anyone who is appointed the Executor, to distribute the Estate just as my Mama intended it to be.  I had to have an heir added to the Will because the Will did not include this person and I KNEW my Mama wanted the person added … she had told me this verbally many many times but never got around to changing her Will so I did what I KNEW she wanted … I legally had an heir added to her Will as part of the Probate process.

If you are appointed the Executor of a loved ones Estate here is a basic list of things to do.  Most things are common sense; however, during your grieving process you will not be thinking clearly.  A sort of ‘check list’ as this sure would have made it a lot easier in my situation.  PLEASE NOTE: The first item is the most important of all … all other items are NOT necessarily listed in order of importance:

KEYS:  As Executor you have the legal right to hold in your possession ALL keys to the loved ones home(s) and car(s).  Make sure you have ALL keys in your possession immediately!!!  This way, no one can enter the property(s) without your knowledge or drive off with a vehicle.  As Executor you have the legal duty to make sure all possessions are distributed fairly and in accordance with the loved ones wishes … this cannot be done with other people going in and out of the property at their discretion.  Believe me … it will happen IF you do not control the keys!

DOCUMENTS: It sounds heartless but before you do anything, even planning the funeral or memorial service … gather ALL important documents (those listed below) because waiting til later … with others going through the possessions, things might get misplaced or worse yet … lost!  Some things, like Social Security Numbers, are needed while planning funeral service.  AND this can be very confusing IF for example, in my case, my Mama was drawing my Dad’s SS under his SS number and NOT her’s … so the funeral home messed up the Death Certificate by placing my Daddy’s SS number on it INSTEAD of hers!!!  Another unnecessary thing I had to deal with.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT: Find the original or a copy right away and contact an attorney as soon as possible regarding probating  (probating the Will is not necessary in the case of a lost spouse).  Unless beneficiaries are on everything OR the accounts are joint accounts in your name and the name of your loved one (bank accounts, investments, automobiles, home, etc.) you will need the verification document from the Probate Court (Letters Testamentary in Georgia) in order to handle selling or disbursing assets (or even paying bills or discontinuing services such as cell phone, electric, cable, etc.).  NOTE: Beneficiary designation(s) on accounts override anything stated in the Will and CANNOT be changed!!!

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD: Locate and secure.  Make sure the correct Social Security Number is given to Funeral Home … that of the deceased and NOT their spouse (see paragraph DOCUMENTS above).

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES: Gather up the MOST current:

*        Bills (electric, cable, cell phone, gas, water, mortgage, etc)

*        Checkbook(s)

*        Bank Statements (both Checking and Savings)

*        Charge Cards

*        Membership Cards

*        Investment Statements

*        Car Titles

*        Stock Certificates

*        Savings Bonds

*        Deeds

*        Tax Returns

*        And any and all other documentation of Assets and Liabilities. 

All of these things will need to be dealt with. 

BILLS: Continue to pay any bills that come in and all regular monthly bills.  Close any accounts that are not needed (i.e. cell phone, internet service, cable, etc.)

CHECKING/SAVINGS ACCOUNTS (registers): If you are not on the checking and savings account (either as a signer or beneficiary) then you must take care of this ASAP in order to pay any bills.  Otherwise, until it is dealt with you will have to pay from your own funds.  Thankfully, my Mama had put both me and my sister on her checking account.

BANK ACCOUNT STATEMENTS: Come in handy when trying to determine a balance in accounts, account numbers, etc.  NOTE: Remember a checkbook register doesn’t usually list account numbers and/or balances.  And also, you might not be aware of HOW many bank accounts there actually are unless you collect ALL the bank statements.

CHARGE CARDS: Continue to pay any balances due; however, check to see if the charge card carries any insurance that will pay off the balance upon owner’s death.  This will normally be listed on a previous statement.  Cancel all charge cards that have no balance … you will need a copy of the Death Certificate and the Letters Testamentary (document verifying you are the Executor of Estate). 

MAIL: File a Change of Address with the United States Postal Service as soon as possible, unless, of course, someone will be able to pick up mail EVERY day.

CREDIT (VERY IMPORTANT … to prevent identity theft): As soon as possible after receiving copies of the Death Certificate, notify all three Credit Bureaus (Transunion, Equifax and Experian) of death via letter enclosing copy of Death Certificate.  I sent them overnight mail!  Request credit files be noted ‘deceased’ so that no new credit can be obtained.  Once documentation verifying that you are the Executor of the Estate (called Letters Testamentary in Georgia) is received, you will then need to write letters again to all three credit bureaus requesting a copy of the credit reports so that all open accounts can be closed.  Not everyone carries charge cards in their wallets for every open charge account so you will need to close ALL open charge accounts.  I did this by writing a letter to each one, enclosing copies of Letters Testamentary and Death Certificate, and mailed Certified Mail requesting verification that account had been closed by return mail.

MEMBERSHIPS: Send a letter enclosing copy of Death Certificate requesting membership be cancelled.  The Estate may be due a refund for the unused months of membership and again prevents identity theft.  Also, do this for any subscriptions (magazines, newspapers, etc.) OR you can just let the subscription run its course since you will be receiving all forwarded mail; however, you WILL receive requests to renew in your loved ones name if you have not contacted them which can go on for years!!!

INSURANCE (auto, home, life and health):  Once the home(s) and automobile(s) have been sold you need to cancel the respective insurance (this will not happen automatically and in most cases a refund is due to the Estate).  Obviously, with health and life, the insurance company needs to be contacted immediately.  IF you do not sell the vehicle(s) right away, make sure whoever will be using or driving the vehicle is listed as a driver on the policy, otherwise, if there is an accident and the driver is NOT listed, the insurance company may not cover the damages.

INVESTMENTS (IRA’s, Stocks, Savings Bonds, etc.): You will need investment statements and stock certificates (or statements, which was all we had) not only for value but for address to contact investment advisor or company in which administers stock holdings.  There is a process to follow and go through when transferring or selling investments/stocks.  These are explained by the respective holder of these accounts but CANNOT be done without Letters Testamentary (proof that you are Executor).  You may not even know some of these investments/stocks/savings bonds exist unless you look through all of your loved ones files.

NOTE: For Savings Bonds … the following website has all the forms and information you will need:

United States Savings Bonds

TAXES (to prevent identity theft): Notify Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Treasury for your state via letter enclosing copy of Death Certificate so that no false returns can be filed in your loved ones’ name.  I learned this the hard way and it was too late … someone had already filed a return and received a refund in my Mama’s name!!!!!  AND don’t forget to contact a CPA to find out if tax returns must be filed.

DRIVER’S LICENSE (to prevent identity theft): Notify Department of Transportation via letter enclosing Death Certificate requesting Driver’s License be cancelled and notation be made on driving record of death.

VOTER’S REGISTRATION (to avoid illegal voting): Notify Voter’s Registration in county of registration via letter enclosing copy of Death Certificate so that no one can illegally vote in your loved ones’ name.

CAR TITLE:  If the vehicle(s) is paid off make sure you have the car title.  NOTE: Title cannot be transferred (or vehicle sold) until you have Letters Testamentary.

HOME OR OTHER REAL ESTATE:  Cannot be sold or title transferred without Letters Testamentary.

It all sounds relatively easy when reading it in list form like this but believe me … there is a lot of work involved.  In most cases, multiple telephone calls back and forth to get things done correctly.  Nothing goes smoothly … the government and some companies do not care what you are going through.  Some are even downright RUDE!  My best advice is to handle it as if it is a business dealing … it’s hard to take the emotions out but if you don’t its difficult to handle when emotions get in the way.

Again, this is just a guideline (talk to your attorney for legal advice) … not all of this can be found on one website … at least I couldn’t find it.  The Probate Court gave me a booklet outlining what must be done and not all of this was listed even in that. 

Another note, the Executor is the only person, in most cases, that companies will discuss accounts with. 

IDENTITY THEFT can happen very quickly after the death of a loved one so be sure to handle those items listed above as soon as possible!  I cannot emphasize this enough!  Both my parents had their identity stolen to some degree within a couple weeks of their deaths.  This is NOT something you will want to deal with AFTER the fact … stop it before it happens!

AND of course, this goes without saying, make sure you disburse the Estate as the loved one wished it be done.  Be fair.  Most of Mama’s personal property (the things in her home, furnishings, kitchenware, Rooster collection, Christmas collectibles, photographs … everything) was divided not only between her children but also amongst her 9 grandchildren, who were so appreciative to receive items of their Nana’s.  We had very little leftover and that was given to charity.  It was comforting knowing that the majority of Mama’s ‘things’ were divided amongst her loved ones.  I know it would have pleased her to know this! 

Finally … I cannot stress enough the importance of having the keys to the home and car(s) … otherwise with unlimited access to various family members, things WILL go missing, some important things and some just sentimental.  Sadly, I tried my best to be FAIR but things still went missing and of course no one claimed responsibility.  I found the fairest way to distribute ‘things’, if there were 2 or more ‘wanting’ certain items, was to flip a coin or something of that nature.  Sounds elementary but hey as long as it’s done fairly that’s all that matters.  AND remember, things really don’t mean anything, having it won’t bring your loved one back, and you don’t want to cause friction between yourself and your other relatives … NOTHING is worth fighting over … NOTHING!!!

Puppy Adventures

A little background.  We always had a dog or two (or three) when I was growing up but my kids didn’t … well we did once for about 3 months, Anthony begged for one for his 11^th birthday but since I worked full time it just did not work out and we ended up giving her to my Mom … so never again did my kids have a doggie.  Sad … I know, but when you work full time it is hard … heck raising kids and working full time is HARD enough.  By the time I was unable to work any longer and became a full time stay-at-home Mom, I was just too sick to take on the job of raising and training a puppy.  Well … we got Bella when my illness was somewhat under control and what a blessing she has been to me since both the boys were grown and out of the house and Alayna in high school … it was time for a puppy.  Somehow though (since she is now 6 years old) … I had forgotten how very HARD it is to train a puppy.  Funny how we forget things like that isn’t it?  LOL

Soooooooo … what was I thinking getting a 9 week old puppy at my age?  Scott suggested I journal about it so that when I’m a little older (lol he actually said the age but I won’t) and want a new puppy again … I can look back and think … “what the hell am I thinkin?”  Well funny thing is … it wasn’t my idea to get another puppy in the first place …Scott!!!

I can’t really complain though … Scott HAS been a great help … getting up in the middle of the night, cleaning up ‘accidents’, mopping, etc.  I’m pretty sure though he is thinking that if he doesn’t help that I will say take this puppy back LOL … no I really wouldn’t do that, too attached already … BUT I will say this … I am too freaking old for this shit!!!

The first 3 nights, as it was with Bella, were HELL!  Whining and howling all night long … by the fourth night she slept 6 hours straight before needing to go potty.  Thank goodness!

Okay so we’ve had her 11 days and she has managed to …

Try to chew on my coffee table, kitchen cabinets (outside corners), the trash can ‘step’, a magazine and the sphagnum moss around my fake olive tree … thankfully so far we have deterred this behavior by offering her a bone or toy and no real damage has been done.  We also sprayed these areas with a mixture of 50/50 white vinegar and apple cider vinegar (apparently they do not like the taste or smell) and it has worked!

“Christened’ every main floor room (we have an open floor plan) but also thankfully only on the hardwoods so clean up has been easy.

Tried to go up the stairs to the second floor and only ONCE has she actually made it by running from me as I chased her yelling NO … she’s tried a couple times since but all I have to do is say NO and she comes right back down.  This is something we taught Bella … to never go upstairs and the downstairs is inhibited by a closed door.

Find the lower shelves in the library (twice now) and pull off several books at a time … thankfully, again, she has not tried to chew them.  Both times I was in my bathroom which backs up to the library and heard “bam bam bam bam bam” thinking …. “that did not sound good”.

Jump on the sofa (once) trying to get the cat (Ciana) and when Ciana jumped onto the back of the sofa, Nora did too … then Ciana jumped off the sofa to take flight up the stairs and silly little Nora thought she could move like that too, took a dive off the back of the sofa and ended up wiping out … it was hilarious though it did sorta scare the crap outta me cause dogs DO NOT land on their feet LOL … she’s fine though!

Get trapped inside the bar stool … LOL … that was funny watching her trying to figure out just how to get out!

Trapped in the Bar Stool ... LOL

Ya’ll its like having a baby or a toddler in the house … into EVERYTHING!  Again … what the hell was I thinking?  I’ve been able to not get much of anything done unless she is sleeping.  I just DO NOT have the heart to crate her during the day … its hard enough at night time.

For those of you are may not be animal lovers … there is NOTHING like the love of a dog for its ‘mommy and daddy’ … you leave for 10 minutes and come back and they act like you’ve been gone for days!!!  Unconditional love … pure and simple!  Cats are nice too, a little too independent and not so loving but they do like to curl up beside you once in a while and they do love you in their own way … just do not show it like a dog does.

Me and my Nora

Well … I’m sure there are more Nora adventures to come … so stay tuned!

January 21, 2013 ~ More about Nora ...

As of yesterday, we have had her for 2 weeks and finally she has stopped chewing on things she is not supposed to be chewing on ... so far ... keeping my fingers and toes crossed on that one!

Also, yesterday, she went potty outside EVERY time (except once) which is a biggie.  She even rang the bell each time.  Bell, you ask?  Well when Bella was a puppy our Vet told me that if I attach a bell to the door we use the most to take her in and out and each time BEFORE taking her out touch her nose and then touch the bell (ring it) she will eventually learn that that is her way of letting us know she needs to go out.  Works like a charm and actually I've told a couple other people about it and they have done the same thing ... like my grandpuppy, Chicago, he uses a bell too!  So we're in the process of teaching Nora to use the bell and she's starting to get it.

And last night ... biggest achievement of all ... she slept from 11:30 pm until 7:30 something this morning!!!!  

January 28, 2013 ~

Well we've had Nora for 3 weeks now and she's 12 weeks old.  Finally she's got it ... the going outside to potty thing.  Oh yeah!  She goes outside 90% of the time now.  Funny thing is she pees like a boy ... at least twice on every outside excursion ... sometimes three times!!!  And she's definitely got the knack of ringing the bell ... woohoo!

Now knows a few commands: SIT, WAIT and RING THE BELL and I'm (we're) working on a few more.

Still doesn't understand that when she gets up needing to go out at 6 am that I really want to go back to bed afterwards and sleep a little longer but we're working on that!

It's no longer easy for her to get under the sofa ... well getting  under there is not the hard part ... she literally takes a running dive and slides under by splaying her legs at the last second ... I really wish I could catch that on video ... its hilarious ... hard part is getting out from underneath LOL

Hiking in the Woods

Remember my story here on my blog “Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My”?  Well … Anthony and Kay were here for Memorial Day Weekend along with another couple, their friends, and since they had heard about mine and Alayna’s hiking adventure … they wanted to hike this much talked about trail.  So off we go, Anthony and Kay, their friends and Scott and I.  It was a beautiful but very hot afternoon … we made it down the short trail (about a mile or two and definitely the flatter trail) and Scott decided he was heading back home to start dinner for us.  The rest of us wanted to hike on … so we took the longer trail.  Everyone but me had brought a bottle of water along … we really should have had more.  I was sweating like you can’t even imagine … soaked to the skin! 

Somewhere along the first of our hike, Kay heard my iPhone’s notification ‘ding’ go off and she asked “you brought your phone?” … I’m like “well, duh, didn’t ya’ll?”  They’re all like “Noooooo”.  I said “well it will come in handy if we need to call for help” … they all laughed at me.

The red star in the bottom right corner denotes where we live.

Beautiful huh?

We saw a couple bunnies, a snake of some sort (maybe one of you can identify it from the picture), tracks which either belong to a coyote or possible a small black bear, we heard the very loud gobbling of numerous wild turkeys though we never saw them … we could sure hear them … the guys even found a couple ticks hitchhiking on them … thank goodness none of us girls did (I’d have freaked!!!) … wildflowers … there were hills to climb and rocks to stumble over … greenery that I couldn’t identify but oh so beautiful.  No deer, which we were surprised about, considering we see them all the time in our yard.  We even came across what I called “little stone mountain” but by the time we reached it I could barely move along … I was sooooo dehydrated … stupid me not taking along any water!!! 

'Little Stone Mountain'

I’m not sure how long we hiked but I was not feeling too good any longer … I really thought they were gonna have to carry me … Anthony says “Kay and I are trained and can make a stretcher, if necessary” (both having served in the USAF) … I laugh saying “we won’t need that” but inside I’m thinking it sounds like a dang good idea.  Remember now … I didn’t bring any water along with me so I’m running on empty cause I’ve sweat out about every bit of water in my body!!!  

Anyone know what kind of snake?

Anyone know what this is?  A brilliant green ... fernlike.

Just when I think I CANNOT make it any further … weak from dehydration and feeling nauseated and thinking “I’m gonna passout” … we come out at the Dog Park … then I knew for sure there was no way in hell I was making it back home … the Dog Park is a good 3 miles from our house by car!!!  I pull out my iPhone … you know, the one everyone laughed about me bringing …never was I so glad I brought it til that moment LOL (we even used the GPS a couple times before that checking to see how much further we had)… Kay call Scott to come get us … she knew I couldn’t make it any further … she said I was very pale.  So Scott came to my rescue with water bottles for everyone… well I suppose it wasn’t just ‘my’ rescue as the rest of them would have been carrying me out of those woods LOL 

After getting back home, drinking lots of water and taking a cold shower … I felt much better.  And I’d do it again … just take water with me next time (how stupid that was not taking any).  It was a bea-u-ti-ful hike … I loved every minute … well not every minute LOL but every minute til I starting feeling ill… God’s beauty everywhere … so much to appreciate.  The pictures speak more than words can say.  And to think, back during the Civil War men walked these same woods in their wool uniforms and boots and heavy equipment in tow.  Sadly there is a Civil War Cemetery just a mile or so up the road from us where those who didn’t make it are buried.  Sure makes you appreciate what our ancestors had to endure!!!

This was pretty cool ... Anthony pointed it out ... upside down Heart!

Lucy Lou Turns 21

She’s turning 21 …oh how can that be?

Just only yesterday she was just 3

Reading her books and thinking she’s grown

Singing her Zippity Doo Dah song

Or was it 5 when Charlotte’s Web she read

Dancing across the stage with dreams in her head

“Mommy’s Angel” she’d say and “Nana’s Angel too”

Dancing around the house in Mommy’s shoes

Wait … wasn’t she just 7?

Thinking she’s big … yet carrying “Jaque-a-mo” everywhere we went!

There’s Old Bunny, and Betsy, the Black Cat and the ‘bird”

There was Barney, Pocohonis and Lion King too

Where did the time go?  Or where have I been?

Suddenly she’s 8

And it’s late, this I know

But she’s finally riding that bike down the road!

Thanking me over and over again

as she’s tumbling and tumbling all across the gym!

Wasn’t she just 11

The year she finally grew … out of those Tinkerbell panties, so cute!

She was so tiny walking across that pageant floor

Singing “These Hands” song to hundreds or more

There were birthday parties, recitals, days of honors and try outs

A few bruises, broken arm and some stitches … quite a few

13 … oh no … that was just the other day

with Spanish she was learning to say

Oh how she thought she was grown … knew-it-all

Mom and Dad know nothing at all!

She was just 14, no 15 …or was it 16? Oh my!

On top of the pyramid … she was the fly

There were tears and there was laughter

A friend lost or gained

But through those years, a young woman she became

Oh no is she really in college, so far from home?

Learning just how to make it on her own.

“Don’t call me or text me, I won’t even answer”

That’s what she told me as she left for campus

The calls and the texts came right away …

My baby girl was missing her Mommy everyday!

Then off to boot camp … oh she’s too little for that

A Thunderbolt, a perfect marksman … boy is she tough!

So off on her own, she truly is now

Making her way in the world … making this Mom proud!

I surprised her early

With something of meaning

‘Cause this Birthday is special you see

Gave her my necklace …

gold chain and diamond pendent

The chain I’ve had since a teen

The diamond some 28 years …

But now it is hers!

Then I put it around her neck

As we hugged and we cried!