Category: Family

Posted on

And so school starts

In a way I wish I didn’t have to send my son to school today. We have had a great time “getting to know one another” in a whole new way. He is now a junior in high school and it seems like yesterday he took his first two steps.

All summer I have been picking up school supplies when I would see sales on the items he will need this year. Also we went shopping for some school clothes, but he generally only wears band Tshirts and jeans. I got a few flannel shirts for him and will get shoes and also some hoodies for him this coming week.

I have hit a lot of sales and in my shopping I kept an eye out for items I need to start my winter projects. Not quite sure what I’m going to remodel or make some home improvements to yet, but I’m sure I’ll find something to do to make winter go by faster. There always is something to fix or improve upon in old houses!

Posted on

School Starts

School starts on the third of September for my youngest son. He has been bored all summer except when their band was playing shows. This weekend we have to go shop for some jeans and shoes, shirts and such since I swear his arms, legs and actual torso, got longer!! As I look at him, I see one very wiry tall adolescent and realize that my “baby” at 16 is nearly grown up.

I’ve been trying to suggest things for the guys to do, and for the most part they do keep busy but have those moments of boredom.

When school starts, all this will change. My youngest always tries to make the honor roll and loves school work, but is a far cry from being nerdy. This year he of course will run track, and pick up more credits at school. It’s great having a kid that tolerates school and actually tries hard not to miss a day.

Posted on

Family Survival Guides

For nearly 10 years I have been interested in survival techniques of all kinds. I even have some of my survival kits made up and have contemplated on even those bunker type dwellings. I haven’t really gotten that far of course, but it is on my mind and my friends know this. A good friend of mine named Lindsay told me about Family Survival Guide HQ. It is a website that is filled with all kinds of survival tips and guides on how to start gathering the essentials in case of a disaster.

I haven’t even made a dent in all the reading material and other comments from folks but I have bookmarked the site and by going to familysurvivalguidehq.com I can start to put together a list of things for the start of a decent survival kits for every member of the family. I know I really have a lot to learn and lots to read up on to become even slightly efficient in matters of survival, but I’m totally willing to gather as much information, tips and “how to” answers (as I call them) that I possibly can read and absorb.

When my friend told me about the website, http://familysurvivalguide.com I put it right into my address book and as I said, bookmarked the site also. And since I’m really interested in this and want to remember what I have read I bought a special hard bound journal/notebook to make lists and also take notes, and build plans for myself and my family. Lets face it, to me this world is in deep trouble and I know in my heart that on down the line every little bit of knowledge I can gather, learn and remember is going to come in handy one way or another. I’ve already learned a great deal already and though indeed I have a long way to go, I’m a quick learner and with sites such as the one that I have listed here I have a way of learning even more.

 

 

 

Posted on

Additions to the family again

We now have two more furry additions to the family. My daughter’s cat had kittens sometime ago and despite having plenty or room at her house, her husband told her she had to find the kittens homes since they already have four dogs and three cats. So, she got me in a good moment and begged me to take two of the semi grown kittens that she hadn’t found a home for.

I have a preference and only have black cats. Both of the kittens she wanted me to take are black and since she did get me in sucker mood, I agreed that I would take them as long as she bought the cat food for them. She agreed to it right away and so now will be bringing the kitten/cats over tomorrow.

I figure since they are already used to being outside, they can be outside cats here. My daughter told me that they are already hunting mice and bringing them to her as little presents, so with the mill just down the road a bit at least two more cats will keep the mouse population down. She hasn’t named the two of them yet since she didn’t want to get attached and so it might be fun getting to know their personalities and naming them accordingly.

Posted on

Hiring a House Cleaning Service Miami FL.

When my daughter told me that she and her boyfriend were going to rent a house in FL, but that it needed a good cleaning and she was going to hire a House Cleaning Service Miami FL, to first come in and clean the house they want to move into. I think this is a great idea, considering the fact that my youngest daughter used to be quite tidy and neat until she met her boyfriend. Plus with both of them going to school and working they don’t have time to really clean this house before they move into it and if they are to hire a service, at least it is something that they wouldn’t have to worry about doing.

Keeping the house clean on the other hand after they move in, will no doubt be a problem for them. I suggested that they hire a maid service from the same company and that way, they would not have to worry about the cleaning too much. I know both of them are working hard and going to collage also, so there really isn’t much time to actually keep the house clean. A maid to come in once a week, would be totally ideal for them.

In the mean time, just in case…I’m going to box up some new cleaning supplies, a dust pan and items like that, then send it out to my daughter. Who knows? She may use it all one day!

Posted on

A day of garage and yard sales

Saying that I’m tired is a total understatement. My daughter and I got up super early and met at a small diner in town and had breakfast. After that, we were in for a full day of walking from one yard sale and garage sale to the next in the historical section of town. The whole North side of the small city was having a massive sale.

We got a lot of loot, as my daughter calls it. I’m beginning to just think we are both garage sale fools! I swear I get rid of things I don’t use in my house and the fill it with more “new to me” items. Most of which I really don’t need, but liked.

All in all it was a very productive day and I was so happy to see that my sons had fixed a great dinner for us when we got home. My feet hurt a bit and I’m sunburned, but I think I got some really great finds today!

Posted on

AC problems

Go figure, this week has been the hottest and most humid weeks we’ve had so far this summer and the air conditioning unit went on the fritz. Normally in my younger days, I could handle the heat and wasn’t bothered with it at all, but now…not so much.

To say everyone is rather miserable, despite of fans in the windows and the floor and ceiling fans it feels like they are just moving the hot air around. The heating and air conditioning guy is booked solid and can’t get out here until this coming Monday. Umm, a bit late I would say, considering the heat index will no doubt drop by then. At least we are all hoping so.

In the mean time, I’m drinking plenty of iced tea and water, and my son and I are putting ice cubes in the dogs water. Everyone is kind of irritable including myself. I just keep thinking about when we didn’t have an AC and how we coped with it. People have dealt with this issue a long time ago, and didn’t have an air conditioner so,  if we must we must.

Posted on

Using Susan Rindley to find a home in Ft. Lauderdale

My cousin recently moved to Florida and has been staying with a friend until she finds a house of her own. When I talked to her, she said that she was thinking about using Susan Rindley to find her the home of her dreams in Ft. Lauderdale. Ms. Rindley is the real estate agent that came highly recommended by the friend my cousin is staying with right now, and apparently the lady knows her business when it comes to houses. She deals in the more pricy homes, which is fine by my cousin as she got a HUGH settlement and wants to live in Florida for the rest of her life.  I don’t blame her.

When I asked my cousin if there were any more recommendations from anyone who had used this agent, she told me about the testimonials on the site that she looked at and that was all she needed to do is read them. She’s got a good head on her shoulders and also knows a bit about real estate herself so I’m sure that she didn’t go into this blind, so to speak.

Once my obligations are finished here, I also plan on moving South and Florida is my first choice. My youngest daughter lives there and my oldest daughter wants to move there eventually. I had lived on the gulf side and really enjoyed everything about it. As soon as my cousin finds her new house she said she wanted me to come and stay for awhile and I do believe I’m going to take her up on it. I would have loved going house hunting with her, but I’m sure once she finds the perfect house I’ll be getting loads of videos and pictures!

Posted on

Independence Day Wishes

This summer seems to be flying by and now it’s the 4th of July, and I’m wishing every one a very safe and happy Independence Day. We have no plans and since it has been raining and we’ve had storms, it looks like the day is going to be wet, to say the least. I feel for people in these parts who have planned big parties or BBQ’s, since we are expecting to have storms (heavy ones) all weekend, also.

To all my readers, family and friends…I wish you a very safe and happy 4th of July!

Fourth of July

Posted on

A work in progress

My daughter and I bought a small lake house to renovate and then sell, but the more we work in the place, the more we are starting to think of it as our special project that we are going to keep. I know this doesn’t look like much right now, but as you can see, we have totally gutted the inside of the house and hope to at least get much of it finished by the end of the summer.

It is amazing to me that we can work so well together on a project like this. We have very similar tastes in color and style. And she knows how to use the tools properly, because – I taught her!

My parents used to do these kind of projects while we were growing up. All of us kids were expected to pitch in and help with every project. Even the youngest kid was able to drag trash across the room to the trash can, or pick up trash from around the yard. The older kids would swing a hammer, paint, even hang cabinets. We spent a lot of time together as a family and when we were finished we had a beautiful home ready for some lucky family to live in!