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Kids went to Camp Chateaugay and brought home some awesome summer camp pictures

First of all I had no idea what to expect with a summer camp for my two boys. I have two sons age eight and ten and they have never been to a summer camp before. But if you have two boys around that age you know that sometimes summer can seem very long as your nerves wear thin and your patience runs out. It’s not their fault it’s just, well they’re crazy boys and they need to get that energy out. So I bring you summer camp!

 

We looked around at a few camps online, checked out pictures, read reviews, talked to neighbors and checked on what kind of activities each one offered. We decided to go with Camp Chateaugay on one of the Adirondack Lakes in upstate New York after talking to the owners Hal and the assistant director Kirsten. They were both very nice, knowledgeable and had quite a bit of experience with both kids and camps.

 

Talking to the owners put my husband and I at ease and we took the kids up to the camp this past summer. They absolutely loved it and did not want to leave. They shared some of the awesome summer camp pictures that they had taken and it looked like they had an absolute blast. It was well worth the money spent in my opinion. I only wish I had found Camp Chateaugay a few years ago because if so it would have kept my sons busy with fun and kept me sane with some free time to get things around here done.

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My poor dog

Texas my cocker had surgery today. He had to be neutered and also had a big infected mass cell that was also infected. He had a big bump near the top of his tail on his hind quarters. Because of his general blood work and testing, he was in the normal range as far as health goes. In fact the vet said that he was in great health, so she didn’t think the mass cell was cancer.

To send the mass away to have tested would cost so very much money that we knew we couldn’t afford. And the vet told us that if we found anymore lumps to bring him in right away, but she also said by the look of the mass that it didn’t look like cancer. I pray it isn’t and doesn’t spread.

The stitches are bothering the poor little guy and I can tell he of course hurts because he keeps growling at me when I try to look at the wounds to make sure they aren’t or don’t get infected. He’ll have to go back to the vets and keep on his medication for ten to fourteen days, and then he gets his stitches out.

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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!

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Elvis Presley is and always will be the King

It took me a while to warm up to Elvis Presley. C’mon I’m just being honest. When I was younger I felt like I couldn’t fully embrace him because he was from my parents generation. Well it didn’t take long for the music to take a hold of me after my parents constantly played it on the old turntable. And the more I learned about Elvis and what he accomplished coming from nothing the more I started to dig him as a persona and more importantly his music.

Presley’s rise to national attention came in 1956 and as soon as he popped up he transformed the field of popular music and had a huge effect on the broader scope of popular culture. As the catalyst for the cultural revolution that was rock and roll, he was central not only to defining it as a musical genre but in making it a touchstone of youth culture and rebellious attitude. I can remember hearing about his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show and the camera would only show Elvis from the waist up because the censors considered his dancing to be too wild.

Elvis was notorious for giving credit for his musical influence to many black rock and roll and jazz performers before him. And rock and roll’s occupation of a central position in mainstream American culture facilitated a new acceptance and appreciation of black culture because of Elvis’s music. Little Richard even said famously that “He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn’t let black music through. He opened the door for black music.” His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. And in my option, like him or not, that makes Elvis Presley pretty darned rock and roll.

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Remember our workers

Besides this weekend is long and people some people have to work, I think that we should remember the real reason for the day and to be thankful of achievements. Have a safe and awesome weekend.

Labor day

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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.

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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.

 

 

 

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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.

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Bathtub woes

Seems we are going to have to replace all the master bathroom’s pipes and get all new plumbing. I pretty much had a feeling that a simple repair job wasn’t in the cards this time. I admit that I was kind of keeping my fingers crossed, even though I knew we had been having problems with the pipes for some time now.

Looks like we’re also going to have to call in a professional to do the job also. My Al just got put on 12 hour shifts at the plant where he works and even had a shift change to nights, so between the hour and a half  it takes for him to drive to and from work, and also the long hours, he just won’t have the time to do the job himself.

Needless to say, my small nest egg and my “me” vacation money is going to go to the professional plumbing guy. I then can start all over saving up my silver change all over again. On the bright side of things, at least I have the funds to pay for this and the peace of mind and also a working bathroom is well worth it.

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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!