A new toy for wee one....

I believe I just wrote about my little pianist....well, my mother decided to give us her electric piano and now I have music playing through the house 24/7. It's only been 2 days and I have heard chopsticks, Shortbread Boogie and Lavender Mood at least 100 times each. I am going to be really sorry that I put that piano right next to my computer desk.  It takes headphones which is a good thing....however, it takes stereo headphones which means I need to get an adapter. That also means that I get to listen to wee one's masterpieces until I get out to the store to get said adapter. I also need some sort of basket to keep all of my music in. I saved all of the books from my childhood lessons, and the girls, as well as antique sheet music from the 30's and 40's. I have all of the sheet music that I got during my 10 years of lessons. I want to go to the antique store and get an old music stand to display some of it. Now I want a music room! I wonder if John would stop production on the tree house and add a room on for me?

My front room has now become my sewing/computer/music room. It doesn't look bad though. I thought it might be too crowded, but the piano is just the right size. And let me tell you, it sounds exactly like a piano. After having a baby grand, I thought nothing else would do, but this one is not bad. I so wish we could have moved our piano down here when we moved, but we just didn't have the accomodations being that we were moving into an apartment and would have to store everything. However, it is still in the family at my sister's house, so I don't feel as bad.

Mom bought this piano last year so that she would have something to do, and dad would have something to listen to. I remember as a kid, she would play the piano or the organ and my dad would love to sing along to the old songs. When my sister and I were small, probably 4 and 5 years old, she would play the song "Yellow Bird" and we would sing along. Those were some of the best times....now that dad is gone, it's just too hard for my mom to play. The memories although sweet, are too emotional for her now and being the most loving and giving woman that she is....she gave it to us so that wee one could play and maybe get back into lessons. I'm telling you, even in the midst of her grief my mother is one of the most giving people you will ever meet.

Woohoo....she has moved on to a new book and new songs! I'm typing to the strains of Merrilly We Roll Along and O'er the Beep Blue Sea....however, she is having a bit of trouble so they pretty much end with a loud bang of the keys....lol.

Okay, I'm outta here. Time to get to the pile of laundry that is waiting to be ironed. Why did I think it would slow down over the summer????

Memorial day happenings....

Happy Memorial Day! We have had the holiday lunch and are now spread out about the house....Betsy is sleeping in her room, wee one is watching cartoons in my room, dh is watching Kelly's Heros in the den and here I sit with my computer....

For lunch I made a brown sugar/pecan encrusted ham, pasta salad, seasoned green beans, fruit salad and mom brought the potato salad. It was pretty dang good I must say. However, I didn't make dessert and now I've got a hankerin' for something sweet. Then again, when don't I? LOL.

Dh spent the day spreading the rest of the mulch and boy did he do a nice job. Everything looks just great. I cleaned and did laundry in between cooking. Now all I have to do is put it all away and iron. I think the ironing will settle down over the summer being that the girls will spend most of their time in pj's and swimming suits. I bought one of those beach cover ups that look like a dress....it's really cute with a Hawiian theme. I just love it. Anyway....I had it on the other day and we were going to the store when dh asked if I was going to wear my "house dress" to the store.

WOAH THERE MISTER....

House dress? Ummmm, as far as I know, a house dress is something an 80 year old woman wears along with curlers and slippers with the toes cut out. I hardly think my outfit constitutes a house dress. I had a bra on for gosh sakes....if it buttoned down the front and my boobs were hanging below my belly button, I could see the mistake....I yelled for about 15 minutes, and all the while he stands there looking at me like I'm crazy.  Trust me, he will never make that mistake again! 

Finally it's RAINING!!!! I'm so happy! They have had rain in the forecast for two weeks now and every day I wait patiently for it....but it never comes. The lawns are getting a bit crispy around here and my new plants need some h2o.

Okay, I'm going to go sit in my rocker on the porch and enjoy my rainy afternoon. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend!

 God bless all of our men and women, at home and overseas as well as those who have given their lives for our freedom, past and present!

Pictures to go with previous entry....

I forgot that I had pictures to accompany the previous entry....so here ya go! LOL.

Nothing mulch to talk about....lol....

Another Saturday, another day spent planting flowers and spreading mulch. It's looking pretty dang good around here lately! I think we overbought on the mulch though, so I am going to have to decide what to do with the remainder. I will probably spread it out front and forego the rock this year, since we bought too much. That's okay though....I don't mind. Monday will be another lawn day for me, and a treehouse day for dh. He got the steps built today which means the walls are next!

I went to Lowe's this morning and spent a small fortune on flowers and plants. They look very nice although I need to go back and get some more for the front. I bought some purple fountain grass....it's cool! I also got impatiens which I love. Ummmm, a gardenia plant and confederate jasmine were on my list as well. I just love that jasmine! It smells so good.

I think I overdid it today. I got sick to my stomach out there! I was so hot I couldn't see straight....so I jumped in the pool, clothes and all. I couldn't help it! It was quite refreshing. I paddled around for a bit and enjoyed the quiet....Betsy worked all day and wee one went blueberry picking with her aunt. Dh wouldn't get in with me because he wasn't ready to stop working....party pooper.

While wee one was at my aunt's house, my aunt gave her a piano book and cd to practice with. Wee one loves playing the piano and has a natural talent for it. Anyway, as my aunt dropped her off at home, she hugged wee one and said, "I'll see you later my little pianist!" Wee one got the strangest look on her face and said to me, "Why did she call me her little penis?" I tell ya, that kid cracks me up!

Tonight we will be relaxing and enjoying a quiet evening at home. No one got to bed before midnight last night. We took Betsy to work, then dh, wee one and I took my mom to dinner. Afterward, we went for a drive, and then stopped in to see Betsy and get some ice cream. Since we were two blocks from mom's house, we just stayed there till Betsy's shift ended at 11:00 then went home. It was kinda fun actually. Nicer than me picking her up that late all alone. I have a feeling there will be four sleeping people in this house by 9:00!

Have a good night all!

Yeeeeouch!

Ahhh yes, the first casualties of the summer....wee one's shoulders have been sufficiently burnt to a crisp! She was fine today when she went outside to swim. I don't know when it happened, but I think it was over at her friend's house. Their pool uses chlorine....the strong stuff....and I think what wee one has is a mix of sunburn and allergic reaction. We use the Baquacil which isn't chlorine, but a kinder, gentler sanitizing system. In any case, I saw the glow of wee one's shoulders before she came through the door! Poor kid. She couldn't even eat her dinner between the itching and burning. So, brilliant mother that I am (*enter sarcasm here), I filled a tub with tepid water and oatmeal. Let me tell you, that stuff works wonders! Her splotches aren't nearly as swollen and don't itch quite as bad. Of course, I did slather her with hydrocortizone cream as well. She is enjoying some ice cream in front of the tv right now....she says she isn't going to swim for a week!

Dh and I went to the insurance office today and I have to say, I wasn't as shocked as I thought I would be. For our two cars and a 16 year old girl, it will be $2400 a year. Dh is going to check with one other company before we sign with them. It was going to be $2500 but since Betsy has good grades and completed the school driving program, we got a $100 credit. Go Betsy! If anyone out there has a teenage daughter and an insurance company that they love, feel free to let me know....we haven't signed anything yet. We also got a new policy for the house, which was $14 less than our old one....woohoo. Hey, $14 is $14, right?

I made ribs with apricot bbq sauce, baked potatoes, corn and homemade coconut pecan pie for dinner. The ribs were tough, the potatoes were okay, the corn was so-so (I don't like corn) but the pie....dear Lord the pie....heaven on a plate I'm telling you. I really should sell my pies. They are scrumpdillyicious. You know who always said that? Dennis the Menace on the sides of DQ treats. Remember that? When sundaes came in paper cups....ahhhh, memories. Anyway, everyone else liked the dinner. I don't know what is wrong with me. I love cooking it but don't like eating it. So, why then am I such a fat butt? Well, I suppose it's because I love cooking AND eating thesweet stuff. Betsy just came through and said the pie was "good". Now that is quite a compliment coming from her. She hates coconut and nuts....lol. She had her pie with ice cream....and she's a size 6 petite. No freaking fair.

Seriously though, I have got to lose some weight. I lay in bed at night, deciding which diet I want to do....how much I want to lose....and it all sounds great. Until I get up in the morning and sprinkle chocolate chips between rock hard frozen waffles. SUGAR....WHY DO YOU MOCK ME???? I did buy some diet Dr. Pepper, which I do believe is the best of the diet drinks. I'm not big on artificial sweeteners, but when you are hankering for a sweetness kick....you gotta have something!

Well, I suppose I should go spend some time with my wee burnt one. Let me leave you with the one word every child needs to know this summer....SUNSCREEN!!!!

You Belong in the UK Blimey! A little proper, a little saucy. You're so witty and charming... No one notices your curry breath What English Speaking Country Do You Belong In?  

I found this lovely quiz whilst perusing journals. Try it yourself and see where you belong! Cheerio!

Documented evidence and reason #472 why I hate living in Florida....

It seems by the volume of comments that I received on my last entry that I am not the only woman in America with "OFGC Syndrome" (over-flowing-garbage-can). I feel soo much better knowing that! LOL. Things are much better today and I know why that is....

Have you heard of the disorder called "SAD"? Seasonal Affective Disorder....it's where people become sad and depressed, usually during the winter, when they are deprived of sunlight. Apparently I have the dyslexic version of the disorder. Today I woke up to NO humidity, high 60's and partial cloudiness. I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel. My mood is lighter, I have more energy, things are just, well, happier! Of course, I know the humidity and 90 degree days are ahead, but I'm going to enjoy today for all it's worth.

I took Betsy to work tonight, then came home with a burger for dh who is slaving over my brakes, both front and back....what a guy. Anyway, when I came into the garage with his food, he pointed out the spider that was hanging near the ceiling. Holy crap....that thing was freaking huge! I don't know if you can tell in the pic....but the flash from the camera actually lit his eyes up. Ewwwwwww~! Dh told me that it was a baby compared to the ones that are crawling around the building at work. They are in a woodsy area and he said that it isn't odd to see one the size of a dinner plate!

Being that he is deathly afraid of spiders (there was a banana spider "incident" when he was a child....), I picked up a broom to kill it (yes, I did say KILL....if you are offended by this, please send me your number and I'll be glad to call you the next time we have a spider rescue emergency!), when dh told me not to bother because it would be too fast for me. I decided to let him shoot it with some bug spray and, let me just say....I've never seen anything move faster than that spider in my life! He must have been hanging there from his web because he looked like a fireman sliding down a pole! We both jumped about 10 feet....but our mission was accomplished....we had to do something because he was right above wee one's scooter and bike. I didn't want her to get bit.

Both of the girls are sunburned. Wee one has been swimming every day and is a lovely golden bronze....however, they spent the day in the pool with their grammy today and it was overcast. Both of them are burned....especially Betsy who normally looks as white as the underside of a fish! LOL. She has gotten a bit of sun lately though and is looking more Floridian....but don't tell her I said that!

Okay, I'm off to enjoy the rest of the cool and refreshing evening that God has given me....have a good one!