Top 5 Tuesday

Reasons I was against the " government bailout".

1. It was too rushed.

2. It gave unbalanced control as far as deciding who would receive money and how much.

3. The government needs to stay out of private business. If they bailout the banks, who will be lined up for handouts next?

4. The markets need to self correct, they were over-inflated. If the govt leaves them alone (and stops causing panic), it will work out.

and last but definitely not least

5. I couldn't sleep very well at night knowing my children and countless generations to come have been left with that huge debt to repay for no other reasons than greed and stupidity on the part of the lenders and those they lent to.

Menu Monday

I know you all have been eagerly waiting to find out what we are eating this week, especially the guys at KHI, lol! Unfortunately, this weeks menu pretty much resembles last week's. With two jobs, I haven't had much time to grocery shop or cook. I think Sam's gone quite a bit of this week too, so next week may be more of the same. *shrug* Anyway, here it is:

Spaghetti & meatballs, garlic bread, salad
Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn
Fajitas, Spanish rice, refried beans
BBQ Ribs, baked beans, cole slaw
Grilled salmon, wild rice, Caesar salad
Club Sandwich, fries
Rice-A-Roni, biscuits, green beans

Thankful Thursday

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. Brian Tracy

1. Quotes that inspire me
2. Getting off work early
3. A new season of my favorite shows
4. Hazelnut coffee
5. Our soft and cuddly Boogity

Whaaaaasuuuuuuup Wednesday

It's been a beautiful week here in NC. Highs in the upper 70's, lows in the upper 50's. It's chilly in the morning.

Fall color season begins today! I can't begin to describe how beautiful it gets here. These pictures are great examples though. It will look like this in a month or so.



I can't wait to see what happens with all the trees behind us!

I'm dying to do some fall decorating, but other than wall hangings, there is not much I could do. We don't have any tables or places to set knick-knacks, lol! I'm also in a crafty mood, but have zero time. I totally need to re-learn time management skills. When I get some things up, I'll be sure to share pics.

Work at Kohl's has been good. I've learned how to run the cash register for times when they need backup. I have one more day there before I move to the softlines area (clothing). It's kind of a pain to work out a schedule that fits my family, so I'm not sure how this job will shake down. I'll see. I do enjoy it there and the benefits are nice. I mailed out a couple coupons for this weekend's sale. Hope they arrive on time.

I also started another job this week. A friend of ours has a business and needs some admin help, so I'm going to try that part-time also. I'm catching up with you Tonya!

Emily has joined the school choir and has her first rehearsal this week. While she's there I'll be doing some volunteer work to get ready for Technology Night at the school. That's where parents can learn to use the laptop their kids received. I might go check it out just because it's a Mac Book and I haven't used an Apple computer since I was in school. I'm thinkin' alot has changed, lol!

Sam's still busy with work. Their best truck was wrecked in Vegas, so that's a bummer. Amazingly enough, they didn't lose any points positions so they are still hanging on to the number 8 spot. Our friends Jeff and Shelby went to Vegas, but I hear Sam was to worn out to hang with them after the race. Poor guy has been fighting a cold too. Sam got some pictures from a photographer. He realized that the kids might enjoy having them some day. Here are a couple from New Hampshire.



According to jayski.com Mr Harvick announced that he hopes to have Ricky Charmichael run a limited schedule in a third KHI truck next year. Rick Ren is already pulling double duty as the 33 Craftsman truck and 33 Nationwide Crew Chief. It will be interesting to see what unfolds.

We've heard from lots of friends and family lately. Keep it coming! It's nice to be able to stay in touch. Hope all our loved ones had a great week, and an even better one to come!

Top 5 Tuesday

90's Rock Bands

1. Pearl Jam
2. Green Day
3. Nirvana
4. Stone Temple Pilots
5. Queensryche

ROCK ON!

Menu Monday

This week's meal plan:

Spaghetti & Meatballs, Garlic Bread, Green Salad
Alice Springs Chicken, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli
Fajitas, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans
BBQ Ribs, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans
Breaded Halibut, Clam Chowder, Fries
Club Sandwich
Rice A Roni, Green Beans, Biscuits

SAVINGS ALERT!

Kohl's will be having a Friends & Family Sale next weekend (26th & 27th). If anyone is interested in a 15% off coupon let me know and I'll get one in the mail to you. Combined with the already great weekly sale prices, a F&F coupon can push your total savings to 65% off some items. It is in-store only though.

Thankful Thursday

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! ~Henry Ward Beecher

Today I am thankful for:

1. My family being safe and secure.

2. Having jobs when so many people are losing theirs.

3. Watching the sun rise through morning fog.

4. Quiet time for myself.

5. Phone calls from family.

Whaaaasuuuuup Wednesday!

Hi All! Things are going good here.

The weather has taken a turn and it feels like fall. Temps have dropped from the upper 80's to the low 70's. Our ac unit appreciates the break! For the last 3 weeks we've gotten rain an average of every 5 days. Before that it was every 2 weeks. We are quickly pulling out of the 2 year drought thanks to the tropical storm activity. I think we're up to 33 inches so far this year and some of that has come 3+ inches at a time! I sure hope the drought is over 'cause we'd really like to get our lawn in shape. Restrictions limit watering and no rain makes for trouble. Turf grass (think golf greens) is mainly used here because it's more heat and drought resistant than the bluegrass used up north. It goes dormant in the cool weather though, so some folks over seed with rye (which dies when it gets warm again). When I think we'll get a break from heavy rain, it's something I hope to do. It's really odd to see all the brown lawns. Unfortunately,the flowers we planted a few weeks ago didn't make it =(. There is definitely a learning curve when switching from NW to SE gadening.


We've gotten a few more things done around the house. I put up some more wall decor, put up a valance over the kitchen window, and changed out the shower curtain hooks in the guest bath. I also put put some decor in the laundry room. I've been trying to prioritize our wish list, but most of it will be on hold since the holiday season is just about upon us.








We were supposed to have new neighbors on both sides of us last weekend, but only one went through. They have two young girls, so maybe Emily will have more friends! The other neighbors rescheduled their closing for this Friday, and I hope it works out. I've talked with them a few times and really like them. They have little ones, so maybe not playmates, but still fun!

Friday night Blake had a friend from the next block over stay the night. He's also gotten phone calls from buddies, so we're thrilled things are going well for him in that department.

We worked on plans for Miss Em's birthday. She mentioned a few weeks ago, that she wouldn't mind going without a party. All she wants is for us to take her to the American Girl Place in NY, lol! After a discussion of how costly that little jaunt would be she decided a sleepover would be okay(lord have mercy on me), in case mommy can't swing the big trip. We brainstormed some ideas and have a plan in place. What she doesn't know, is that there is a new American Girl Bistro in Atlanta (only 2.5 hrs away as opposed to 12). Sam will be there the weekend before her birthday, so I'm hoping to work out some surprise arrangements! Shhhhhh!




The truck race was a let down once again. They gave Jack another awesome truck (1st and 2nd in practices). Jack was doing great with it and was up to 5th when the right front tire changer dropped the tire resulting in a penalty that put Jack at the end of lead lap cars. It's always something isn't it. Rumors are circulating that Jack will be out in '09 replaced by former motocross superstar Ricky Charmichael. Sam hasn't heard anything about a driver change, but anything is possible.


Sunday we went with our friend Loren and his son to the finals of the inaugural races at the new ZMAX raceway. The drag strip is adjacent to the dirt track at Lowe's (across the street from the big track) and is a beautiful facility. I have only been to one drag race that I can think of, but nothing compares to the big boys of NHRA. We sat at the finish line where cars were at their top speeds of over 300mph! Holy cow those things are fast and loud! We ran into several KHI employees there and I got to meet Ernie (Sam's Crew Chief) and his boys. It was really cool how everyone can walk around in the pits.







And finally, I got a job! It's just a part-time seasonal position at Kohl's, but I'm really excited. It's been 9 years since I've worked and I'm happy to be re-entering the workforce in a light capacity. Maybe after the holidays I'll be readjusted to working enough to look for something more steady. Thanks to Kerri and Karen for the references! I go in tonight for orientation and I imagine I'll start training next week. Wish me luck!

Top Five Tuesday

Today's topic: Cleaning Supplies

I know, not a very exciting list, but since housekeeping represents a good 35% of my time it's an appropriate list. Funny thing is, when I started writing it, I had trouble limiting it to 5, lol. I decided to limit it to store-bought cleaners, and it was still a difficult choice, but I narrowed it down.

1. Mr Clean Magic Eraser


The name says it all Magic.Eraser. What more could you want from a cleaner? These are awesome for removing marks from walls, floors, counters, etc. One of my favorite uses for them is when detailing my car. You know the plastic part on the floor where you open the door? It's all bumpy and nearly impossible to get clean in the crevices. Mission made possible, and easy, with one of these sponges!

2. Clorox Wipes


I use these multiple times daily and they have certainly made my house cleaner and healthier. Forget about sponges and washcloths that grow bacteria and get all nasty. I use these wipes to clean counters, doorknobs, phones, remotes, light switches, keyboards, railings, toilets and more. They are great to wipe out the microwave, sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, etc. I know I could probably make a much cheaper cleaner myself, but it feels easier to grab and wipe, rather than grab the cleaner, grab the towels, spray, wipe.... you get the picture.

3. Windex


Okay, I'm going to make an exception to the spray and wipe process for this because I haven't found the wipes to be as effective. I use Windex on every glass and shiny surface. I love how it removes the mess as well as any film or streaks left behind be other wiping. I've also been known to use it on the carpet because it contains ammonia.

4. Scotch Brite Toilet Scrubbers


Who in the heck still uses a plastic brush? OMG, you have to get these! Not only do they do an incredible job cleaning the toilet bowl, they are much more sanitary. Grab the wand, stick on a scrubber, run around the bowl, let drip a little, dispose scrubber, wipe wand with a Clorox wipe, DONE!

5. BAM - Kitchen

I discovered this when getting the old house ready to sell. The oven stove drip pans had developed baked on crust that I was having a heck of a time getting off. BAM = Miracle worker! Spray on, let sit, wipe off. For stubborn crust you may have to scrub, but I promise this stuff makes the job much easier.
*Note* It appears they aren't making my favorite version any more. It's the one with a green top. If you find it anywhere, snatch it up!

I'm not one who loves millions of different cleaning supplies in the cupboards, but I urge you to pick these up on your next trip to the store and give them a try. They're worth it 'cause I am one who likes cleaning to be an easy job! =)

Menu Monday

Like I mentioned last week, my menus are just a guide and sometimes things will get rolled over to the next week. I think you'll see that twice here.

Mon - Spaghetti & Meatballs, Garlic Bread, Green Salad
Tue - Alice Springs Chicken, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli
Wed - Chicken Enchiladas, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice
Thu - Pork Tenderlion, Baby Red Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus
Fri - Shrimp Scampi, Linguine, Green Salad
Sat - Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup
Sun - Meatloaf, Baked Potato, Sugared Carrots

I posted the recipe for Alice Springs Chicken in the comments section last week when a friend asked about it. Since it rolled over, I'll post it here now in case you missed it. This is one of my favorite meals at Outback. I was jazzed when I figured out to make it at home!



Take your chicken breasts and marinate them honey mustard dressing overnight. You can also make the marinade using dijon mustard, honey and lemon juice, but I'm all about shortcuts! Set aside some sauce for later too. While you grill the chicken, fry up some bacon, sliced some colby-jack cheese, and cut up some mushrooms (or used the sliced canned ones). When the chicken is done top it with sauce, bacon, mushrooms and cheese. Warm just long enough to let the cheese melt. That's it! You can also fry it in a skillet with oil to sear it, top it, and then bake it covered with foil for 7-10 minutes if you don't want to grill it.

Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melodie Beattie

Today, I am most grateful for:

1. Friends who are always there when you need them and want nothing but the best for you.

2. My loved ones, for so many reasons. They can be taken from us all too quickly,

3. The men and women who risk their lives daily in order to save and protect us.

4. Freedom, and those who serve to protect it.

5. Our country who proved we can set aside our differences and truly be "one nation, indivisible".

Whaaaasuuuup Wednesday!

So on Wednesdays I'll try to update on everything going on around here. Are you liking or hating the new format ideas?

On to business. I think I left out some things between the last weekend before school and Hanna. Let's see....

Did I mention that the school district issues laptops to all children 4th grade and higher? Yep, as part of their mission to educate children to be able to compete in a global market, all students get a laptop to use. We were required to purchase an all-inclusive insurance policy to cover any loss or damage, but it was only $50. Blake's school supply list included things like a 1GB flash drive instead of paper!

The kids are in school and adjusting well. They love riding the bus and didn't even want me to take them on the first day. =( We hadn't received a confirmation with a bus number or schedule, but at open house we were given a bus number and told just to watch for other kids going out (as far as time). Well, that bus never came so the kids got on another. Once at school they got their confirmation letters with yet another bus number on it. Emily protested at the office and got reassigned to the bus they rode in on, but Blake got on the one the letter listed. I was out on the porch to greet the kiddos after school, but only Emily got off. I sat out and waited another 10 minutes or so and decided to go look for him. It was raining pretty fierce that day and I feared that he got on a bus that took him to a different stop (there are 3 buses that come to this neighborhood just from the intermediate school). I drove and drove, and followed a couple buses so he could see me if he was on there, but no luck. By then I was starting to panic. I came home and called the school who said he must be on some bus because he wasn't there. AAAAAACCCCCKKKK! I was counting the minutes until Sam got off work so I could call him and pacing the floor. Finally, an hour after Emily was dropped off I heard a bus coming. There was my boy! That darn bus they assigned him to went to an entirely different part of town. Although he said he got nervous, he seemed like he held it together better than I did! I went to the school the next day and made sure they got him switched to the correct bus and everything has went fine since.

The bus stop is just kitty-corner from our house and it's very convenient. Sometimes I feel bad that the bus takes so much more time (45 minutes before and after school), but they have made several friends from the bus too, so it's a good thing.




We planted some flowers one weekend. It felt sooooo good to be together in our own yard.







Taking care of the animals has been a full time job lately. Since they day Timmy went outside while we were planting flowers he's been whining to go outside, sometimes all night long. I had a talk with the kids about how sometimes we have to do what's best for others and not just what we want. Timmy has always been an inside kitty and we are afraid he won't come back if let out alone. The kids both got hysterical and insisted he stay in. One evening he got out so Sam called for Emily to watch him. She immediately ran after him, which caused him to run and well, you get where this story is going I'm sure. Sam went over the fence to get him, but Timmy kept hissing, so we decided to give him some space and see if he'd come on his own. Nope, he disappeared down the hill. The brush is tall and it was getting dark, but Emily wouldn't stop crying so Sam put on some long pants and got a flashlight to go look for him. No luck though. Emily finally came to terms with the situation and went in to get ready for bed. After hugs and story time I went out on the deck to look for any movement in the brush but didn't see anything. I said a little prayer that Timmy always know how much we love him and went back inside. I went to the front door to make sure it was locked and noticed something out on the sidewalk. I opened the door and Timmy flew under the car. I sat down on the porch and told him it was okay to come home. He wandered over and scratched at the door, so we both went in. He doesn't want outside quite as much anymore, lol.

Boogity found a Slim Jim Emily lost and was more sick than I've ever seen a human or animal be for about 3 hours one weekend.

Gracie is a food monger too. It's a fiasco to get each of them fed without getting into one another's food. She also runs in the pantry every.stinkin.time someone opens the door.

What a pain they are. You wouldn't know it from these pictures though.




And finally, we painted the master bedroom!





I haven't decided what to do with the tray ceiling yet, but it will get some attention soon. Oye does this room need drapes.... I know, I know, a little at a time =)

Top Five Tuesday

Another new topic to try, Top Five lists of my choosing!

SEPTEMBER

1. Kids are back in school
2. Fairs and community events
3. Weather begins to cool down
4. Holiday excitement begins to build
5. Monday Night Football begins

How about you? What are your top 5 favorite things about September?

Menu Monday

I'm going to try something new for the blog starting with today, Menu Monday. Each Monday I will post our weekly menu plan and at least one recipe.

I have a meal type assigned to each day of the week that goes like this:
Sunday - Beef
Monday - Italian
Tuesday - Chicken
Wednesday - Mexican
Thursday - Pork
Friday - Fish
Saturday - Sandwiches

Then I have a list of meals (at least 4) for each meal type. I try to throw in one new recipe a week in order to expand upon my go-to meals. I always have a Digorno pizza for those nights I just don't want to cook and kid friendly things (chicken nuggets, mini corn dogs, etc) in case the kids don't like what I'm making. I don't always stick to the food assigned that day. It just makes planning easier when I organize it that way. And if we end up eating out, the planned meal just rolls to the next week.

On Monday I inventory my pantry, refer, and freezer to make my shopping list. For now I pick meals for the week and add the necessary ingredients to my basic list (which is also a spreadsheet on the computer). I'm working on stocking up so that all possible ingredients are in the house and I just have to replace what we ate the week before, but that's a work in progress.

This weeks menu is as follows:
Mon - Raviolis, Texas Toast, Green Salad
Tue - Alice Springs Chicken, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli
Wed - Nachos
Thu - Pork Chops, Fried Potatoes, Green Beans
Fri - Shrimp Scampi, Linguine, Green Salad
Saturday - Teriyaki Chicken Burgers, Pasta Salad
Sunday - Stroganoff, Green Beans, Biscuits

For the featured recipe I'm just going to start at the top.

You'll get a kick out of how much I rely on pre-packaged foods. =) For raviolis I simply buy a bag of them (or two, 1 cheese and 1 beef) and Texas Toast from the frozen foods section, a jar of spaghetti sauce, a bag of salad, and a bottle of dressing. Preheat oven, boil some water, plop in the raviolis, cover and reduce heat, let simmer for about 7 min, drain water, add sauce, put Texas Toast in oven for 7 min, open bagged salad, place in bowls, top with dressing, wah-lah!

Hanna Hanna Bo Banna Banana Fanna Fo Fanna

Hi all! I was really making an effort to post chronologically, but there seems to be a need to jump to real time. Miss Hanna.....

I was planning to come on today and post that we were out of Hanna's path, but the little bugger is keeping us on our toes and decided to move more westerly, putting us inside the potential path once again. She's also showing signs of strengthening (pressure dropping and winds increasing).




The above map from The Weather Channel reflects the change as of 11am ET. We are located in the southern part of the state, over halfway inland, just above where the shape shows the first jog down, barely inside of the red shaded area of the projected path.

As of now, the skies here have started to become cloudy, no rain though. Out on the coast they have had 2 tornadoes already. Landfall is expected to be around 2am, but Hanna is sending out wind nearly 300 miles from her center (we're about 250 miles inland). Luckily she is traveling quickly, so she won't drop much rain. Sunday we'll be back to our gorgeous 85 degree weather!

Now, having made you all hold your breath for a second while reading above, let me assure you, that I'm NOT worried. Aware, concerned, prepared...yes, but not worried. Worst case scenario, she's upgraded to a hurricane and makes landfall in South Carolina, sending her north toward us. By the time she gets here, she'd have lost enough power to be nothing more than a windy, rainy inconvenience. We deal with severe thunderstorms alot here. Faye caused some havoc last week. I honestly think that the worst that could happen to us is losing power (and satellite signal, lol). We don't have any trees close enough to fall on us, so we're good there. We live on a hill that slopes down and we're quite aways away from the river, so no flood worries either. I just wanted to post to hopefully give you the inside perspective so you can understand the maps and weather talk you're hearing out west.

Weather has become my new reality tv addiction =) I've got The Weather Channel on, and check the computer a few times a day. I promise you, I am aware of what is going on out there. Nothing in this storm will catch me by surprise.

I'm also prepared, just in case. I have a 3 day supply of food and water stored in the basement along with battery operated lighting, first aid supplies, toiletries, and other stuff. The car is full of gas, cell phone and laptops are fully charged, extra jugs of frozen water are in the freezer to keep it cold. Tonight I'll take one of the laptops downstairs along with the air mattress, and blankets and park the car in the garage. The kids and I will each pack a bag with a change of clothes, the cell phone, 2nd laptop, and the keys to grab and go if we come under any sort of warning. Sam's gone, so I'll have the munchkins sleep with me. I'm on alert a little more than I was yesterday, but still NOT worried or fearful.

Most computer models are updated every 3 hours, so I'll update again after 2pm ET.
They predict she'll quit moving west and head north, which would keep her away for us, so I'll watch and hope for that.

Hope you all have enjoyable weekend plans. Love ya!

*********UPDATE**********




As of 2pm ET Hanna is being projected further east. We are out of her path again, Yay! Weather here is about the same. Still cloudy, and breezy with occasional gusts now.

**********UPDATE**********



So, the most current predictions still keep Hanna away from us! The weather has gotten more dismal. It's not just cloudy, but dreary now. The rain has just begun, and is very light, but we are under a flash flood watch. The breeze has kicked up to a light wind. The maps show about a 40% chance that we'll get 39+mph winds clear over here. The kids are home from school and we are all doing great. Look for another update shortly after 8pm ET.

**********UPDATE**********

Hrumph! I've been waiting for the new image to be put up on the website, but it's running late. Guess those weather folks think they are busy or something. =) Here is a map of the state showing all the counties and the weather warnings issued for them. We're green which is the flash flood watch. The yellow is wind advisory, the red is hurricane watch and the red outline box is tornado watch. You can see we are away from the worst of it.




Anyhew, we're doing fine and Hanna is further east again. She's still building strength and is only 5mh short of being a Cat I hurricane. The bands of rain keep coming through here, but it's light peaceful rain. I've got all the windows open and feel a little gust once in awhile, but nothin' big. It's dark now, but with reflections I can see a stop sign wiggling and can hear windchime clanging. I put my ferns out in the yard so they could soak up the rain. I moved my car in the garage, just in case the wind picks up and throws debris around in the middle of the night, although nothing makes me think it will. It a nice late summer night.

In other news, looks like the guys gave Jack an awsome truck again. Fast time during both practices!

**********UPDATE**********

More good news. Our county has been dropped from the flash flood watch! Though the streets still shine wet, there hasn't been any rain to speak of. The wind spped has doubled since my last update, but the gusts haven't exeeded 20mph. Miss Em has crashed in Blake's room, but he's still up looking at racing stuff on his laptop. I'm sleepy, but I'll keep myself up as long as I can, just in case =)

**********UPDATE**********

Hanna has passed us and currently is about 120 miles NE. Amazingly enough, it doesn't appear that we got any more rain or wind overnight. It's overcast with a slight breeze and 73 degreed already this morning. Looking to be a nice day!

Lazy 5 Ranch

So there's this place not too far from here that has oodles of animals. There is a 3.5 mile road that winds through the property so you can get up close and personal with them. We couldn't get over the amount of cars lined up to get in. At the ticket booth you can purchase tubs of pellets to feed the animals, so we got one and proceeded. The first encounter we had was an ostrich who came right up to Emily's window. She screamed in shock, and then spent most the remainder of the trip on daddy's lap! We had a great time slowly cruising through. Many of the animals would come right up to the car to be fed. One time, a zebra stuck his head in ad grabbed the container from Sam. Surprised, but strong, Sam held on to it, but I just about peed my pants laughing (of course my window was rolled up, lol)! Priceless. Emily loved the baby pigs, so we let her out once to try to touch them, but the mama pig's squeal sent her right back in! After the drive, we let the kids play in the play area awhile, and spent some time together on the swings, and then a petting area. Then we ventured over to a walk-thru area. I was sure that camel was going to spit on Sam, but he got lucky. We saw lots of birds and small creatures there. Finally we hit the snack shack for some slushies and got chased to the car by bees who wanted some too. The day ended with a trip to the car wash, my poor baby had NEVER been so dirty.

Sharpshooters

One Sunday afternoon Blake asked to use the BB gun Papa Jim got him. I'm always sure he'll put an eye out, but so far so good, lol. He also got out a target paper and put it up on the fence. The boys had a good time before being called in for dinner.

It is so nice to have the private space out back. Sam said one day he was surprised at how much he enjoys being back there. The morning sunrises are beautiful, as is the moon rising. The way the fog gathers in the treetops is moving, something I'd never seen before. And the bugs sing to us all night as the fireflies flitter about. Love it!

We still haven't ventured to far down the hill. Sam did whack some of the weeds down, but we still need to make a path. There alot of creatures in the brush, yikes!

Mesmerizing Moon

One evening the kids went to a birthday party a few houses down. I was going to get them when I noticed the beautiful full moon. We tried to capture it from our deck, but the pictures just don't do it justice. We can't figure out what the little blue spots are, hmmmm. And look at the one where camera shake makes the moon look like a heart, awww...