ROLLING IN

Still playing catch up and clearing paths to move on toward the future but Christmas closed one door concerning some of the children in the family. We were in Europe and Caribbean last Christmas but home fixing and replacing lots of stuff so had a Christmas eve party here. The great nieces wanted to stay and forfeit on gifts because they now know who santa is. After helping and playing secret santa last year on Cmas eve right from coming home from vacation, it's great to see everyone back on track in a niece of mine's family! They had a blast and this holiday brushed off the fall from last years difficulties they had undergone.

Harley toy life den tree

And I was still decorating and doing masks up until Cmas eve. I was ready to go put lights on the dog house if I hadn't gotten stuck in the kitchen making more party trays lol! :D I even changed the centerpiece in the ding room but never gotten around to helping the kids decorate the outside tree for the critters. They must have given up early in the game because there was still deer corn, bird suet and feed, untouched ribbon so I never got to go outside and see what they did :( I hid the masks in the 12 ft. tree in the den but loved the dining room tree the best. Didn't get to do a new barn for the nativity set our grandmother made back in the early 60's but I remember her firing it in the kiln and gluing each little crystal and pearl into the wise men's gifts. And although a friend mentioned how tired the nativity set in front of Elvis's house looked, I knew it was just as old as mine but the joy and nostalgia of seeing them one more time excites me just the same :) I guess sentiment was the word of the year.

Forest Friends dining tree

But with New Year's rolling in, I find myself alone yet very peaceful. Just what I needed after so much family so I played games on one TV and shopped on another lol :D They even dressed up and had a lengthy show on gold jewelery. The woman hosting the show just salivates like me over the huge pieces so I bought another fat wide bracelet called the "I survived them piece!" lol :D "One to Bequeath" as they said! Of course I had to call my older daughter to let her know I'm safe keeping her another trinket ;) I also got a laptop for upstairs. With the internet being stable for 4 months now, I learned the browsers on the game consoles and smart TV's are slow and won't download prices for stores in my zip code. Going downstairs to turn on central heat, firing up computers, etc. is a pain so this should be convenient and keep my bill down (which I got my first one with the kids now in Fla. which was under $300 ~praises and thank yous~).

As for resolutions...it is improvement in any area I see the opportunity to seize at the time. Whether financial, health, spirit, others, environment...whatever is there I can. As for links I have found in my research on renovations, computer arts (which I detest Adobe's subscription service now on Photoshop so there is an end to updating my programs :( ), Annabelle's fat/satin balls for weight gain (most have creams or garlic which is a no-no for canines), landscapers and tree services for the area, and of course Greece or holy land cruise is on the itinerary but when checking prices to plan it...I find some $399 deals for last moment notices! Wow! Of course the flight over there isn't bad when you have them schedule it. Usually around $500-700 pp). And with stepfather and grandson gone...I am
glad my oldest daughter is considering going with me! A vacation is soooo needed after not going in 2014 due to illnesses with doctors giving death notices without expiration dates, other family disrepects (and with younger daughter not calling or FB for Cmas...everyone was right in calling that :( ). Looking back I almost want to say it was a horrible year but sleeping with my jewelery box on New Years Eve and looking at all the pieces I got for every time something sour slapped me...all of a sudden it became an AWESOME year lol!!! :D My very BIG, BRIGHT, SHINEY year! :P Kudos to QVC for being there so I don't have to dfrive 2 hours away to shop around...unless I go half an hour to a Walmart or Lowes...an hour to Home depot or very small and limited JC Penny or Sears which I have to order online anyway :/



Reason for Season

It's in the 60's today but I can't wait for spring already. We have only 6 weeks left of PlayStation Home before they shut it down and I am sad to see it go. It was like a virtual Facebook of mini games or virtual places you can take your character to and socialize with other friends online with a Playstation 3. I am surprised that it didn't catch on and soooo many people that owned a PS3 was unaware of it :( I had mine for 3 or 4 years before I found it just last January. I won't be adding the PS Plus again or restarting it by repurchasing items if they reopen as Neotopia on PS 4 (well...unless we can bring our items over we paid for lol). So goodbye to PS Home and come on March for Square Enix's Final Fantasy XV! The English trailers for the game have been out and they have been progressing nicely! Since I finished Diablo on PS 4...and don't care for Destiny because it is a shooter type game...I've been hooked on Minecraft...a silly but cool little game my granddaughter turned me onto :}

Till then...prayers have still been for peace in my heart, a friends family members, another friend with financial dilemma, a family members recovery. Stepdad and others are happy and ok :)

 

And goodbye PS Home ~sniff~ I looked better blonde there than in real life lol! :D

 

Group dancing at David Guetta's in Home :)

And oh man, what will the laptop sound like without my bose?!?

 

RIDING THROUGH

I made a blank canvas for my daughter and her family to create their story on when I tore down my craft room, Jim's room, guest room, den, and protected the table so they could have the dining room too so now they did their thing (and I prefer not to mention their story they left). Now it was up to me to erase it so I've been cleaning since mid late November when they left. I did stop to take my oldest daughter out for a shopping spree at Dillard's and lunch at the Harley Davidson café called "Filler Station" and had treated my sister for her birthday too a week later. That eased the pain of still paying over $400 on my electric bill, replacing sheets with missing cases, towels, broken dryer, rained on pressure washer, scratched leather sofa, but relieved to know my Dyson survived them! I had the craziest laugh when my youngest girl posted how this state made #1 for the dirtiest cities! I already knew it fails EVERYTHING, EVERY year but I'm not from here nor did I make the mess that lied in wait for me here lol! I just kept thinking....did they do that poll while they were here?

But the joy of being with the grandchildren and to unearth my house after 3 months made it worthwhile. I couldn't process if I was more happy for their joy to go or gaining my house and life back lol! I just call it a tie and even though it wasn't on my to do list to replace the bathroom floors in the guest rooms this quick...we had no choice. They were soooo wet it warped the subfloor :((( The
kitchen, garage, and downstairs floors are on hold again...along with finishing interior painting or outside paint :/  Nor did I finish pressure washing the outside brick for winter. I did do something more important. I got to be with them, learn about them, and love them a little more. And the biggest answer to my dilemma on who to leave what to when the doctors said to get my stuff together earlier this year.

So we will be broke for Christmas with no gifts still fixing, replacing, and paying for the last atrocious electric bill but the house will be clean, decorated, and we will enjoy the peace and quiet living out in the woods, or country, has to offer. No more burbs daughter screaming 'BUGS!!' like Bates from Psycho with 'Oh God, Mother! Blood!!" lol but at least she is missing the herd of deer and 2 field mice I had to take back outside after the cold spells hit. And playing games alone without the kids won't be the same either yet having my dining room without childrens toys, shoes, and stuff will be nice. It hasn't seen the light of day until last week. I kept the protective mat with table cloths on it while they were here lol. And dunno why I couldn't cook a dish with them here. I think because I was overwhelmed...or even a bit traumatized lol....with soooo many of them running about me in different directions. No time to think with that chaos and it became clear how and why they left the baby in the SUV just outside in the driveway for an hour in the hot August sun! I owe our father a formal visit for him being ok and appreciate the 'slow south' on a deeper level.

And I am able to get off the extra BP meds so that's another good thing. Did have a nightmare trying to save the children's stuff from the IRS when they didn't report taxes from renting stepfather's house but he is selling it and he is alive and well so it was all a bad dream! My daughter isn't sentimental

On tree instead of Misfit Toy Island :(

about things and doing very well with insurances and in life so my attention has been focused on the older one...who has a penchant for vintage things. I know she is sentimentalist too and will love to go through the things she grew up with and my new things as well when I am gone :} My little brother gets a few things like my grandfathers 1940 Winchester. My sister will get a bit as well but not what she is wanting...the afghan hound painting, statues, etc. will hopefully go to my breeder or whoever Paros will go to if I go before him (except for the Marcia Van woert print :). I also bought a piece of jewelry for my grandson Jacob (who is on my mind for the custom Legend gold keyed Ovation and a cameo I bought in Italy). We picked it out together and I see soooo many similarities between my little gaming buddy and me! (like staying hibernated in our rooms with our heads in the games while chaos ensued in the rest of the house :l).

Well...I still have a 9 foot tree to light, office to unearth, doctor appointments, bills, cleaning, groom the dogs, and there will be 11 of us here for Christmas eve but upstairs is almost done! Nice to have my craft room and grooming table and dryer back! My house may not be much but it is mine and it is home. I'm good with it too as long as it's clean and in good repair. The bling and renovations can always come another day. I don't think I could ever live in the burbs or city with other homes sooooo close to me! I do love the woods....bugs, deer, foxes, and all. Commute can be hell but I'm good as long as no snakes and my dogs are good. If God's plan is for me to move...then let his will be done. Till then...it's a great to be here, and with all it's faults, there are sooo many blessings too :}

 

Thanks to all my friends too for getting me through it all! How treasured and prayed for you are! Lannie, David, Shar, CC, Linda, etc.

Brother Tommy said to expect a big miracle. I got mine. And I already have what I want for Christmas anyway..love, family, dogs, a home. So blessings, grace, and peace to all....in your heart and space as well ;)

 

IN ALL THE LAND

11, 12, 13. 60's, 70's, 80's for school

Things have definitely been nutty in my neck of the woods since last post with the son in law moving in with the step father a couple hours up the road and renovating his house and watching the grandkids go to school. It's been quite a culture shock for me but I've actually been enjoying it immensely! 4 lbs of chocolate in my closet, 2 TV's in my bedroom alone with game consoles all over the house and 3 grandsons gaming their butts off lol :D  Not to mention the gorgeous weather change and ironically enough...a grand daughter that has the outside bug like me! :) Got her an archery set for her birthday this week and we will go to get her the rod and reel she wants as well. St6ep grandson got a game he has been wanting and some money. Sold Jacob's go cart so will put it in a savings account or buy Playstation 4 (a big gift to make up for all the other events I missed from not having his address while he was with his dad in Cali during the others 2 yr. stay in Japan). With the son in law renovating and staying with the step father...he never really learned mechanics in order to change belts, fix brakes, etc.

4# candy, 3 gsons, 2 TVs

As for the 4 year old, we bonded really well. Now when they come back to the house after being up by Memphis for the weekends, he goes to our 'secret' closet (armoire) to pull out some of that 4 lbs of chocolate mini bars I have mixed in a large container. He also wanted to stay with me on a couple of occasions and let Jim and I take him toy shopping and to a restaurant. His favorite holiday is Halloween and I get it now. With all of their stuff in storage while they were in Japan and 3 of the children's birthdays a week before Halloween, it has been the biggest month of the year for my daughter's family. Then there is the ex who has all of his money tied into a motorcycle chromed out in skulls so 'Bob Skullington', the life size skeleton, is his best friend :l Of course his favorite children's story has been the spooky tale I was told as a child at my great grandmothers house in the country when I grew up. He made me tell it twice, then told it back to me on the third time, improvising it on the 4th :)

Finally did get my neck looked at. Looked like no disc from x-rays so they ran an MRI. Calcium deposit...probably from healing funny while nurse practitioner said it was ok from CAT scan while telling me she was an MD for 2 years...and disc was ruptured pressing on spinal cord. I saw a neurosurgeon who doesn't talk, show results, or stays for questions. I was informed by an attorney to visit good doctors up in the city. I do like my general practitioner half hour up so I will keep him at least. I'm sure this is why my arm tingles everyday since Jan and why some weeks I can't lift my arm because my shoulder is out. Seems there is a 2 year statute of limitations of medical malpractice and I am just soooo mad it even got this bad. I will keep seeking some retribution when time allows till then...I will take a credit hit before paying any of that hospitals bills for that mess :P


Cousins

As for the fountain I molded for my step father, Jim finally put it together for him last Sunday. We went up there so I could visit him and so Jim could help Chris, the son in law, on his reno project. Jim had already patched the roof leak and plumbing leaks, so thought I'd have him show Chris how to do the floors and other projects, then go celebrate our anniversary. We met 17 years ago I believe it is now. No pictures but of the one from weekend before...son in law must have been yelling and going on and on at me due to military. Said he only had 3 beers and I don't think he is a natural born ass so I think it is from the military lifestyle. Has to be hard for him to be told something from a woman...and what's worse...a mother in law so I told him he really needs to soften up here in civilian life. Not a lot of people will take that yelling with no end to it even when you comply (over smoking...I don't even smoke in my own house but for 2 rooms, and fixed it at real dads so we all had a place outside on the back acreage of his property for all that). So with my distance, I see the sweet guy deep inside...I just get thrown off course when I hear things like "return investment on my money" or how they need every bit they can get from the house in order to take care of him. I already feel like I said my last goodbyes and his time is short here :(


Gdaughter wants deed to her house :D

My sister is hanging in there but did relapse and drink. She is more devastated but was closer to our step father. I was only under his roof for about 2-3 years growing up. Rest of time was at real father's or boarding school. I adored the sisters and my peace there! And as I told my realtor lady friend from church...I don't think I could handle moving from here and living where others are so close or having anything less than a few acres. It's been so peaceful here and after getting yelled at with all of Jerry's neighbors and me shrugging at each other and with him being sick....I may want to add a few more acres lol :D  We've been clearing out the back to keep snakes away then the old driveway that rides up the front 3 acres and circles in front of the house so we are interested in a few more acres...3 at least. Still find it ironic we have to go more than an hour and a half up the road to a farm in Hernando for fresh vegetables, horse back riding, etc. and did enjoy a hay ride with the family. My father lived down the road and used to stop in there a lot so I think the people who owns Cedar Hills Farm had their tractors serviced at his shop. As for here...the just harvested the cotton last week which was late this year because of the lengthy cold snap we had at the start of the year :/



Southern Snow

Really depressed about not finishing the fountain or having a last goodbye at my mom's and stepfathers house but can't afford to butt heads anymore with Chris because of the grandchildren. I kind of view him as a kid with the way he leaves my things he borrows in the rain or keeps yelling and in front of the sick or with neighbors all around. My father and I were never those kind of people. Nor were the sisters at boarding school. Even though he may not come from the best of families, you'd seem to think you'd get it way before you are 41. Well...that is if you weren't raised in military land where yelling in front of everyone in your surroundings everyday all day is the norm lol :D Maybe he will get it in civilian life.  Do have a couple of prayer groups going for them, Jerry, and their move :)


With the grandkids on their 3rd week out of school, I try to squeeze in as many visits with them as I can before they are gone. I will soooo be sad here without them but plan to keep myself busy and pick that paintbrush up to finish some home renovations I was doing here before they came. Plus there is Christmas coming! MY favorite holiday where I go overboard with the house and doing the balcony, more than one tree, stairs, foyers, mantle, doors, dining room, etc.! Wanted to replant a fir tree closer to the house, maybe where the old driveway curves towards it on the north side of the
property. Then I can dress it each year with bird seed sachets, squirrel corn, deer apples and pears, etc. One outside for the critters :))))

So in all the land, whether in fairy or scary tales with children, Slidell and New Orleans with it's bars (where it started us saying this...Sonny owning the most bars at any given time after my boss who left me the money for my beach house and my own bar), or here...my grounds...I still plan to continue on with my changes to me, the house, and pick up where I left off.

And I do now have glimpses of the future as one of those visiting grandmothers staying in a hotel or beach rental down the road and hopefully will get to take the gkids on a cruise or excursion at least but staying with the family...nooooo. At least until he does a bit of growing in this land as a civilian and we can talk, smile, and hug for REAL again without Shell making him apologize. I think he will get it :) Till then...as long as Shell and the kids are happy, he isn't hitting her, and I have my 'like' for him which seems to come from a distance when I am on my own ground, it will be alllll gooood in alllll the land lol :D