Monday, Monday oh my it's Monday!

Whoa, what a weekend! It was jammed packed and I was truly happy for bed last evening and for my extra hour but it's Monday morning now and we are prepped to start all over again though the calendar is thankfully not so full this week!

I am getting a few house things accomplished and then getting out the door to catch up on those mundane errands that have been put by the wayside in the wake of a very busy last few weeks and weekends. I am also doing launder, tidying up on the home front (dust IS evil), de-cluttering still and getting my "winter clothes" out. That kinda makes me chuckle but it seems it might be time to pull out some long sleeve shirts and put the shorts away. I could be wrong cause the weather has been so awesome but I do think shorts with the exception of one pair are going away until spring.

Sooooo hope you have a productive day, it's really a bit dreary here so finding my motivation is causing me to dig deep, very deep but I'm going there, I'm getting it done. My list is getting smaller but yet larger, I love it. It pleases me to see what I am getting done and what I am planning to do. It's exciting! Never a dull moment at 1104 that's for sure!

Happy Monday all!

Ima gettin' my grout fixed...maybe!!!

I'm totally hyped to report that our flagpoles are re-fixed...I hope they hold this time. I wish I had a before picture but I don't! You can trust me on this, the holders were NOT put up well. I am really not sure they are this time either, but at least they are up again! They sure aren't pretty either with the pole all messed up, but again they are up again! We've been without our flag for well over a month!

While the flag fixer fellow was here he also wanted a look at the "caulking" needed in my master bathroom...I had a feeling he meant grout but I didn't say anything. I just took him up and let him see for himself. I also made sure he saw the hall bath as it has the same issue. Ohhhhhh, he told me he didn't have the right stuff to fix that with him. Yep, I thought as much. So, looks like the grout has to be ordered. 

Since I have been living with a sandy beach (grout disintegrating) in my bathroom since we moved in I guess a few more weeks won't hurt. I am taking a before shot on this though! It's a little unbelievable that the former occupants didn't report this for repair IMO. Then even more unreal that the "make ready" team who had several weeks before we moved over didn't have this repaired before we moved in. Then we reported it when we cleared our former house, still nothing happened. Finally MiB put in an electronic maintenance request a couple weeks ago and we are getting somewhere. Not fast but we are getting somewhere! Progress is good!

Hall Bath

 Grout is coming out.

Master Bath

 It is much worse in the master.

If you know anything about Barksdale you might be thinking but those homes are old, I mean historical, and you have to expect some deterioration, it's only natural for their age. But of course, however, I DO NOT live in the historical homes area, no siree, I live on the east side! That's where the new stuff is as many say. Yes, it's true I am in a newer home. Still it is my opinion that old or new we must do diligence in maintaining what we have and that means repairing and fixing as needed. It is also my opinion that they skimped on building these homes and they are now in that stage of realizing they should have put more money on the front side so you wouldn't have to put so much money on the backside.What I do know is we pay rent and for the amount we are paying we should not have a sandy floor in our bathroom...nor a crackly tub, but that's a different day. 

Suffice to say that the same reason the grout is cracking is the same reason I have a crackly tub. The builder did not use proper flooring materials. I suspect that if they ever decide to pull up the tile they will not find cement backerboard, which should be there. No I suspect the tile was laid right down on the sub-flooring. Which is not a good plan, hence the cracking of the grout...backerboard should have been affixed to the floor with a thin layer of thinset and then the tile should be laid on top of that. Yeah, my dad was a builder and a I did learn a thing or two along the way :) I also know what fascia boards are too; I know you are totally impressed now!

Enough, I gots to finish cleaning my house, girl's are coming over tonight,it's Moscato Monday!

Thankful Thursday!

We are here at another Thursday, I am thankful that as of right now when I am done this afternoon I am coming home and we having nothing tonight. This makes me really thankful, it has been well over a week since we have had nothing in the evening. Mix that with the travel we have done lately and I need some at home time. I have a load of laundry going now and hope to finish it before I get out the door this a.m. I also have hopes of clearing the dining room table. My basket is there and all those things need to be put away! I still have some of the weekend travel remnants to stow away and I should do a bit of tidying up, you know those little things that just need to be done to keep a home in good order!

Ugh, I need to get off here and get moving and it's just now 7:00 a.m. I have been productive in the 30 minutes since I have been up but there is so much more so short and sweet today!

Thoughts:

• I have a sore throat :(
• I am not going to be sick!
• I really cannot be sick at this time!
• I am looking forward to the weekend!

Nothing profound there, sort of feeling it's already the holidays with the craziness of our schedule, but I know it's not and it will get even worse...yeah, I am sooooo excited, NOT! LOL Oh well, tomorrow's another day and MiB is off and I'm super excited!

Out and About

 Today was warm...

In addition to going out and about I also did laundry and packed and sorted for the AL trip not to mention I did get up and walk this morning. Since we did church last night we did not have that this a.m. We also made a commissary run in between laundry loads.

 Shreveport Veteran's Memorial

We found a new way to the downtown area and on our way we stopped to look at the Veteran's memorial which was kind of neat. We also checked out the outlet mall area (via drive by since it was waaaaay too warm to get out and shop in this outdoor venue, maybe this fall when the weather cools). We also drove by MiBs elementary school, it's pretty much how he remembered it. There is a new addition but it's still the same overall.

We went for an early dinner since we had a light lunch of hummus and veggies with a bit of cheese. We tried a new place that will NOT BE A KEEPER. This is unfortunate since we had high hopes but I guess it wasn't meant to be. It's our second attempt to find a good Mexican restaurant, we have had no joy! Today's was on a recommendation of more then one...great place they said. Hmmmm, not so much in our opinion, though the two surfboards used in  the decor got high marks from MiB the food, very specifically, the fajitas did not. I was not so shocked since he had the same experience at the last place we tried.

FAJITAS 101 - Saute the veggies, they taste better that way and by veggies I mean more then just a couple green pepper slices and a few onions. Use onions, red and yellow peppers and plenty of them. Toss all this with the meat and bring it out on a platter that is hot and sizzling.  Please do not bring a cold sliced chicken breast placed on 9 slices of firm onion with two slightly limp slices of green pepper. THIS IS NOT FAJITAS, trust me it's NOT. Then also please do not give me unheated tortilla's that are not even homemade, it's just not right people! In addition if you are going to serve rice, flavor it please, that way it taste better! 

You see we love our Mexican food, we had some awesome Mexican food in TX and OK on our travels and if we can't get it here in LA we will be going across the borders. There are still a few other options out there to try and we will, but it's got to get better then this. The fajita's at both places we have tried have not been like any we can say we have ever tried. Now lest you think we are totally sunk, we are not, cause once we get settled and get our things we will be having our own made at home fajita's but there is still something to be said for having a favorite Mexican place to go out and get some too! So I will remain hopeful :)

Our soon to be new home :)

Yep, it's true we are going to be moving into this home as soon as our things arrive from FL. While it is not at all my ideal house it will serve us well for our time here I'm sure! We will have to get used to some things as it has a very different set up then we've had and are used to and some things at first glance I really disliked but in the big scheme of things will not matter as they are my personal preferences. So there you are that's been my day, nothing too earth shattering just ordinary stuff. Hope your day was good and that you feel accomplished or content with whatever you tackled. I'm looking forward to being amongst our things again and in our own four walls...the good thing is, is that day is sooner rather then later now that we know where we are going to live!!! So start planning your visits, we will be ready to receive guest soon :o)

It's over!

We are officially homeless again...yeah, I know, it's sort of non news since it happens so frequently in our life but I just wanted to report on that! We had our final out this morning and all is well. Well, as well as can be considering they owe us a month's worth of rent that is, but that should be remedied in a week or so and then it will be really good!

Just to recap, the packing team came out last Thursday and as I already said they did an awesome job. Friday we were all ready for the truck and loaders to arrive by 10:00 a.m. and 4 hours after their scheduled arrival time they, well, they arrived. Yes, I did say FOUR hours after their scheduled arrival time. For those of you that are non adders that is 2:00 p.m. for their arrival time. You see they had a little trouble clearing the gate to get on base. We will just leave it at that and say we are very thankful that "locals" were hired to fill in the void and in record time we were tagged, inventoried, loaded and watching the truck leave with all our things heading to a storage facility in Plant City, Florida for the next 15 or so months.

After the truck pulled away we were pretty spent. MiB helped out a lot more then a customer normally would, he was definitely in the middle of the mix doing what he could to move things along, he dismantled nearly all things that needed to be dismantled along with helping to put down and take up the house protection when they were done loading. If you are unfamiliar with house protection that is the stuff they lay down on your floors to protect the tiles and carpet and the things they put up on the doors to protect the door frames, it is quite a good idea to do this.

I on the other hand spent our waiting time and my non "watching them" time cleaning for our final out. It was a long day. The master bathroom was completed along with the laundry room and most of the kitchen. The bar sink area was also checked off the list. There was still a good portion of the list for cleaning on Saturday, but by 11:00 a.m. Sunday we were F I N I S H E D. All that was left before the inspection was to meet the carpet cleaner Monday morning.

So when 6:00 p.m. Friday rolled around and they had just pulled away from the curb we really wanted to collapse on the floor and take a nap, even though we had a lovely chicken enchilada casserole in the fridge for dinner. The downside on this was that it still needed to bake for an hour. That really would be fine but I had already cleaned the oven so it would need to do that in our temporary living quarters, across base, after the oven heated up...yada, yada, yada, so when "three doors down" invited us to pizza it didn't take to much to convince ourselves we were in!

I must say that it was the best pizza to date for this area, I am only sad we didn't try Baci earlier! It came highly recommended last summer and we just never made it over to that area to try it. The restaurant also has a wine shop attached. Since "three doors down" are wine connoisseurs we had a hand picked bottle of Villa something or other from Italy, it was nice, fruity and not too oaky wine. I liked it! We enjoyed the nice wine with a Baci Special which is a white pizza with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach. It was A M A Z I N G, very yummy indeed. Not to mislead you, it was NOT like any authentic Italian pizza we ever had while in Italy but it was a GOOD pizza with a nice crisp crust!

So there you have the update. We are out the house, we are leaving for South Carolina in the morning for a couple days then on to Montgomery for a week before coming back here for a couple days before heading up to the Panhandle for a week, then back here for several days before another trip to the Panhandle then back here until MiB leaves for the sandbox. Whew, it will be a whirlwind from now until then won't it? But it's all good :)

Ciao!

Thursday Thoughts!

WooHOO the movers are here today!!! I am so happy to be packing out even though moving is not that fun, this is exciting. The closing on the house is Monday, things are progressing, we are relieved, yet still anxious for it to be a completely done deal.

• I am totally ready for SPRING
• I have way to much scrapbooking stuff
• Ziploc bags are your friend during a move
• There are dust bunnies even in a clean house
• Moving is always an adventure, this one will be no different

As they are here packing out all our worldly possessions I am a bit overwhelmed, but it is going well. I do not really enjoy being a "one man show" but that is my lot today. The movers have been good, we have a team of three, they are already done on the upper level, the main level is done with the exception of the kitchen, which always seems to take the longest and the lower level is coming along. So that only leaves the basement and garage which are pretty light but could be stretched if you don't want to be sent to another job; we'll see. I had hoped for a pack and load all on one day but they said, nope, so we will be loaded tomorrow and I hope it will all be completed by noon.

Since this was our first home to ever own, I have many different emotions swirling around in my brain today. I am proud of all the things we did to improve it...laying tile, putting down wood flooring, adding a bathroom, cabinets in the garage, landscaping, etc, but I am also ready to be out from under it. The costs of ownership really has been no different then anywhere else we have lived, we have done the same type of maintenance and upkeep as we usually do, however, the some of the projects have been a little more costly but well worth it. So as we move on, I have many memories of this home that I will take with me, mostly good with atleast one exception. The reselling process; which leads me to say...as of today I don't care if I am ever a homeowner again. My realtor says I will change my mind and that is quite possibly true, kind of like when you have just had a baby and say never again and then you do bring another life into this world. Not exactly the same but sort of in my world!

Anyway that's a glimpse into my thoughts today!

Thursday Thoughts

Well, it looks like we are back into a deal for the sale of our home, I am praying cause this rollar coaster ride is not very fun and since I have matured a little I am no longer a rollar coaster fan, they make my stomach quesy!

• You don't need a snowblower in FL-so I sold ours!
• I have given away our non-packables, but there is still more.
• MiB got to see good friends on his trip to AL-I am envious!!!
• A gracious and faithful God is getting me through day by day.
• The dent to our savings account to get out of this house is going to be huge, but thank God we do have a savings account to pull from and do not need to get a loan!

It's been sooooo busy I feel this bloggie world of mine has been neglected and it will only get worse as the frenzy of packing out starts. I will try to keep the updates coming but they may be slower then I'd like.

Blessings!

Thursday Thoughts!

Wow, a week has passed so quickly and so many things can happen in such a short amount of time. I really feel like the world is closing in...it's been a pretty down week, but the weekend in MO was awesome. We had lots of fun doing "stuff" from walking the lake, cropping til past 2 a.m., dinners out at some of our favorite places, playing with "the littles", basketball games, bowling and just being around the family, it did my soul good.

Thoughts for today:

• Addendums are real deal breakers
• There is no sold sign on my for sale sign anymore =(
• Lil' Blue and I had such a great time in MO with family
• At least while in MO I missed the BIG snowstorm in NE
• I am really having some major financial anxiety, but I am not going to let it control me

Trying to stay warm on a very chilly day in NE and hoping that someone would like to buy my house, like NOW!

YES!

We are thrilled to finally see this...and I think the sign says it all!

And for the close up in case you are missing it, there's a SOLD sign!

To say this is an answer to prayer is an understatement! The closing is 6 March. It is a relief to have this burden lifted from our life, now I am really counting down the days til I am able to join MiB in FL! It's time to finish cleaning out those last few drawers, schedule the movers and clean out the freezer, we're moving kids!

Thursday Thoughts

Well, here it is Thursday again...

I am glad to be safely back home.
My dad's surgery went well, results were not as good as hoped for.
We have an offer on our house-it is way low.
To recover in this economy no matter any offer will be a challenge.
I am trusting in God to continue to take care of us.

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts; please continue to remember us as we decide how to proceed with this offer on our home. I am too tired tonight to really wade through the details, but will be at it first thing in the morning as we put together a counter and conditions to go with it. Stay tuned...

Back in the Heartland

After an uneventful drive down and back we are back home. Going down we did have a bit of ice and snow to contend with but we sailed on through. PTL! Coming back today we were blessed with a lovely sunny day and no ice on the driveway when we pulled in!

It was a nice trip, lots of visiting, relaxing and way to much eating, ugh, I did go to the gym this afternoon after we got back home. I think, um, no I know I needed it, too much brittle, chocolates, lumpy dip, black olive dip, cheese dip, and the list goes on and on...I have a new favorite, almond m&m's, who knew they were sooooo yummy :)

Oh, and we got a call from our realtor this afternoon and we have a showing in the morning.

A post with pictures will be coming soon!

ICE

Well, today I shoveled more snow, I'd say a couple inches or so maybe more, it was hard to tell since the wind was/is blowing so much. It is COLD, like -15 with windchill, actual temp was 7. The bad thing is the layer of ice underneath the snow.

After shoveling the snow, I let what little bit of sun was out do it's thing while I warmed up and then headed back out to chip away at the ice. That my friends is not an easy task, I was using a shovel, not a snow shovel, more of a garden shovel. I was able to get the upper and lower steps done and most of our stoop and part of the landing. It's slow going and very hard on the hands.

Since tomorrow's high is going to be 0 and -30 with windchill not sure I will tackle the driveway. I am still uncertain when or even if we will head to MO this week. I don't really think we need to be out traveling in such bitter temps even if the roads have cleared. I just don't know yet. I don't even know if I am getting out to attend church in the morning.

Well, I am going to get a big bowl of veggie soup and warm up, I have been in for over an hour and am still quite chilled. I am listening to the wind whip violently against the house as I write. Ugh, it is supposed to do that all night long, I never sleep very well when the wind in whipping like this.

Hmmmm, I guess I will do a little future thinking and tell myself, "Lord willing, this time next year you will be in sunny Florida" yeah, that's it, that's what I'll do :)

Ughhhhh

Will the basement ever be ready? That is the question that plagues me right now...it just seems the more I do or try to do down there the less I think I am accomplishing. Well, it's another day tomorrow and hopefully more progress. Atleast there is a pretty new lighthouse curtain hung. I just think until all the boxes are gone it isn't going to get much better then it is.

It's been a somewhat productive day, could of done much more, could have done less.

All the trees are now mulched. The front yard area still will need "something" just not really sure what that "something" is yet. Carpet will be installed on Tuesday and then I think we are "going to market" ready or not. While I know the market is slow right now I just know there is a buyer out there waiting for MY house!

Weekend

Wow, what a weekend, lots accomplished...painting, cleaning, packing, shopping (lil'blue, needed a new jacket) ordering (senior pictures) and I am glad it is over...it was productive, but I think I need a break. The "list" is getting shorter. WOOHOO!! But there are still some larger projects that remain. The lawn is the biggest thing left along with mulching the trees, also doing a little something to "spruce up" the front area, and re-weatherproofing the deck. For the most part, the inside is ready, still waiting for carpet installation, which should happen this week, hopefully on Wednesday and just a little more cleaning (windows, mainly) and a bit more organizing in the basement so it is not so cluttered, but there is just a lot of "stuff" down there. Trust me I am soooo ready for a break from it all, "Calgon, take me away!" LOL

Even though today is OUR day, since he is there and I am here it is a low key remembrance! But! I'm still happy to have been asked and say YES all those days ago!

OUCH!!

Yes, it hurts...and it bled and it's swollen...the drywall mud bucket and I got in a tango today and it won! But I still finished the job. Not only that job but several others as well. I have a freshly cut lawn, painted attic access panel, new tubs for LilBlue to start sorting things in and I patched five nail pops, hence the tango with the mud bucket. I think I had a pretty productive day.


Tomorrow starts our new fall season of ladies Bible study so I will be at least taking the morning off to go to that and then I have another "to do" list that I hope to get a good start on before AWANA tomorrow evening. I will be looking at new colors for new carpet over the weekend. Their could also be a new dishwasher in my future...hmmm, I'm gonna be busy the next few weeks.

Painting...

So, we had some company a few days back and they said our bathroom was just "too white" so for the past three days I have been working on painting it. It is now painted and although the pictures do not do it justice it looks amazing. The little bit of color did take the sterile look out of it and it has a much warmer feeling now. All I need now is a bit of wall decor and a TP holder. I am thrilled with the outcome! It really did not take three days, but the first day I painted the lower ledge wall. Had to let that dry and yesterday was so broken up that I really couldn't start and finish before I had some other things that needed to be done so I just waited until today to go ahead and finish. Besides I picked up another/different roller and it worked well. I may also look for a hand towel holder, not sure about that yet??

Anyway, that's my latest project! And as for colors they are the same as the rest of the main level, "southern breeze" and "toasted almond". The toasted almond is the on the lower ledge wall and the other area I painted is the southern breeze. Best part was we already had the paint so no new purchases!

I think the before and after pictures are quite telling...hmmm....what's next??? The choices are many!