.

REAL Life...

Goooooooood MORNING dear friends! I'm only going to be here for a minute - I can not TELL you how busy life is just now! We are having a BALL - but slightly less than ONE week with Jientje is proving to be at LEAST 3 weeks too few! I'm starting to think of NOT taking her to the airport on Monday, and just kidnapping her for the rest of her American visit! I can't be that selfish though... I love you other's too -- and so, sadly, I will share her! But I won't LIKE it!

You will get pictures -- I'm sure from both of us - at some point - but not today -- of our activities yesterday, which included -but were not limited to - a trip to the Drum Point Lighthouse, Trunk or Treat with Luz at her school, and the highlight of ALL highlights - a trip to get Krysti's oil changed! THIS, ladies and gentlemen, was probably THE highlight of Jientje's American Tour! She got to get OUT of the car and take photo's IN the GARAGE of the Valvoline shop!!! The man UNDER the car and everything! You'll see! Keep an eye on her blog when she gets home! ROFL! SHE is having toooooooooooo much fun!

So, now I'm off to carve pumpkins at 9:00 in the morning -- so that we can get on with today's adventures! But for now, I'll just leave you with some of yesterday's smiles - over lunch!

posted by Melli at 9:02 AM | 13 comment(s)

TOO MUCH FUN!!!

Despite the fact that we were up sipping coffee - both of us by 6:30 this morning, we did not get out the door until 10:15 -- and had to stop for falcons and barns before we could even leave the county!


Just 3 or 4 miles up the road from my house is this barn. Jientje is in LOVE with this barn! She found many beautiful (and some ugly) things there to photograph -- and SHE HAD FUN!!! (you know our Jientje!)

Up the road a few more miles and I actually took her to another barn that I knew she would love ... and she did! She had FUN there too! Do you have ANY ideas how MANY barns I have in this county? I could keep dear Jientje in photgraphic HEAVEN for 6 months - just with BARNS!

But enough of that! We then headed out of the county and down the BIG road - where Jientje is in absolute AWE of Big Rigs and pick up trucks! (not to mention American school busses, postal trucks, and Cocoa Cola trucks!) LOL! She is sooooo cute! Yesterday while we were coming home and she saw a house with a front porch and she got ALL EXCITED and said - LOOK! A house with a PORCH! Just like in the movies! LOL! I was crackin' up! I'm finding it's much easier to entertain her than I thought it would be! ;)

Anyhow -- our main excursion today was to Great Falls! I have blogged Great Falls before - a couple of times I think - but never with Jiente ... and Ella. They definitely spice up ANY situation!

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 18 comment(s)

She's HERE! She's HERE!!!

posted by Melli at 7:37 AM | 19 comment(s)

Random Dozen #9 ... and Out My Window...

1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher.
LOL! I don't remember much about ANY of my teachers... but I had 3 that I really liked a lot. Mrs. McCabe taught english, Mr. Kahn taught world history, and I can't remember my science teachers NAME - but he taught chemistry -- and he did it in a very FLAMEboyant way! I was a horrible student, and now that I've taught, I know that he was NOT the greatest teacher -- but I would go in in the morning and check in with him to see what was happening in class that day - and if he wasn't doing anything terribly interesting (flame producing) I skipped his class to have lunch with my friends! He NEVER reported me! I don't know if he just figured I was a lost cause... or if he just figured he'd rather have me there when I was going to pay attention! I kept up with the work though and passed the class.

2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life.
I can't. There's only one that sticks in my head ... and I won't talk about it here.

3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke?
LOL! For years my favorite color was blue... I had no idea why! But the older I got the more drawn I was to ORANGE! I LOVE orange -- truly I do! I still don't think I have a FAVORITE color - but I definitely AM drawn to orange and I think it IS because it's the color of my hair! I also think it is just a very BOLD and cheerful color -- much like me!

4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older?
Must be the aches and pains -- cuz it's sure not the attitude!

5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you?
I'll do it ... for the kids... and this year for Jientje! But generally no. But I'm not against it for religious reasons... I'm more against it for SUGAR reasons!

6. What's your favorite musical?
Just ONE??? I loooooove musicals! I like the OLD ones more than the new ones though - although I like them too! But I'm going to reach back and choose either Seven Brides for Seven Brothers... or... The Music Man! Oh WAIT!!! NO - those aren't it at all! OF COURSE - it's Mary Poppins!

7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse?
I have become a country mouse -- who still loves to visit the city!

8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn."
$19.95??? My son paid $100 when he had his EXgirlfriend's star named! Oh wait ... no -- he actually BOUGHT her a star! Her very own! I think I would absolutely LOVE a star named after me!

This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways.
9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn't.
I can't think of anything "weird" I've done while trying to text. I'm so slow at texting that I have to drop everything and concentrate entirely ON TEXTING -- my kids don't seem to get that texting is MAJOR time consumption in my life and that is why I wish they would just use the OTHER function and PHONE me! We could have the entire conversation over and done in a tenth the time it takes me to text!

Paula, you do know that this blog is rated G, right?

10. "It's not a party unless there's so many people that I'm uncomfortable and can't wait to go home."

11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available.
In traffic I just always have my praise songs on and I SING at the top of my lungs and PRAISE Him! In the waiting room I have usually brought a book with me... so I don't have to rely on NO magazines... or 5 year old one's either! If I forget a book, then I resort back to the praise songs - but I just sing them in my head... I don't want to get kicked out of the office before it's my turn!

12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you?
I WOULD be friends with me! Yes! But that was not always the case. There's been times when I tried hard to run away from myself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last week Karen at KCinnova asked us to post pictures of what we see when we look out our windows. We don't have any windows that look down onto our back field... so you don't GET the best view of our property! LOL! (sad for US too...) Sooooo I seeeeeeeeeee....

Labels: Random Dozen

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 16 comment(s)

Ruby Tuesday... Haha!

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 18 comment(s)

Fall Festival

Yesterday we had our Fall Festival at church following the late service. Amanda & Luz came up for it! Her "real" Halloween costume (remember? she wants to be HORSE) isn't done yet, so they were just picking something out of her dress up box. This is what she came as!

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 14 comment(s)

The Day I Tried to KILL My Son... and his girlfriend...

As in yesterday! Oyyyyyyy VEY! I'm tellin' ya! If the day ever comes that a FLEA costs me the life of one of my kids, there's gonna be trouble! You know... I got up yesterday morning, took the pets to the groomer, bought some more bombs, came home. I waited and waited for Derek to wake up... and then around 9:00 I went up to wake him. He wasn't there!!! Sly boy! His room was empty! His car was in the drive, but his girlfriend, Jen's car was not. Jen's sweatshirt and watch were on the kitchen table... so I'm thinkin' maybe they went somewhere in HER car! Right? So I text him to ask where he is, and I wait... and I wait... and I don't get a response... So about 10:00 I decide enough is enough! The animals are out of the house, nobody is home, it's the perfect time to bomb! So I get mom in the car, I grab Jen's stuff, and some work clothes for Derek - just in case he should need them, and I put them in a bag on the front porch. I go upstairs and start the first bomb, run down here and start one on the landing and one in the kitchen, then ZOOM for the basement, start one down there, and OUT the back door I go! I get in the car and text Derek again to tell him DO NOT COME HOME until 2:00 -- or at least don't go inside! I explain the whole thing! Then I leave. FIFTEEN minutes later I get a text. I'm in Krysti's room! You didn't BOMB the BASEMENT did you? ... OY VEY!!! Yes, of course I bombed the basement boy! GET OUT OF THERE!!! So he does. I swear... it absolutely NEVER would have occured to me that he would be in Krysti's room! And I even thought as I was driving away... Oops! I shoulda opened Krysti's door! And then I thought oh well. I'll get it next week with one more basement bomb. So I text back to see if he got out. No answer. I call him. He got out... He was on the front porch. But he needed to get in the house to get his wallet and keys and ... shoes... *sigh* ....... so he covered his face with his shirt and RAN in and RAN out, and now I'm wondering how harmful this stuff IS to humans! And THEN he tells me that Jen had gone upstairs and was up there for like 10 minutes (and didn't NOTICE the place had been bombed???) before she came down into the basement to show him the message from me! SHE must have breathed in a TON of this stuff! But it's almost 12 hours later now - and thus far both kids are still healthy and not feeling any side effects. However... I don't recommend EVER staying in your house with one of these! This was a BAD situation! AND, even if you're POSITIVE nobody is home... check every room BEFORE you set the first one off!

Honestly... I LOVE my pets -- but I'm tellin' you what! Once they go ... from natural causes! ... I am done with pets! Done, done, done!!! It's time for the kids to have pets -- in their OWN homes! Not mine...

And I'll tell ya what else... I got OUTSIDE stuff! I'm killin' alllllllllllllllllll those little suckers! Right up to the foundation! They're NOT coming back in MY house! Nope. The heck with bein' green! I'm gonna be flea-less! Again!

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 16 comment(s)

Bugs and Odors and Lessons, OH MY!

posted by Melli at 7:27 AM | 14 comment(s)

Friday Fave Five

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday Fave Five in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. If you would like to play along just post your 5, link back to Susanne and visit her to see who else is playin'!





1. Having Luz stay overnight this past weekend was a real treat! (and she's FULL of tricks!) Since she started school this year it's nice because I get to see little short visits with her periodically during the week... but it's really hard for them to make time for her to spend nights with Nana now. So this was very much a blessing! (And I'm BLESSED to live close enough that she can EVER spend the night!!!)

2. Okay... even though I am most definitely a SUMMER person - shorts, pools, oceans being my 3 favorite things... even I have to admit that having a REAL autumn this year is rather awesome! I'm realizing it has been a LOT of years since we've had a real autumn. It usually goes from Summer to Winter in 3.0 ...days. This year we're having truly "brisk" weather -- and yea - it feels g00d!
The leaves are prettier than they've EVER been - and I'm sure it's because of the slower change in temperature. And maybe THAT is why I haven't liked Fall before... I LIKE this!

3. I did finally get all the fall decorations out this week... The house is looking a little less beachy ... well... it can't be done away with entirely... but it's looking like FALL at the beach! Sorta. LOL! I'm starting to think I should get rid of the grass that won't grow and just plant sand - WITH dunes! Maybe I could paint the neighbor's driveway to look like an ocean! *eyes brighten*


4. Amanda & I had the BEST lunch at Applebee's on Wednesday! It wasn't the food - though that was good too --- but just being with her and having great conversation! She was very excited about a job interview she had just come from, and I had some news to share too. (more about that in a week or so!) And we just spent a really GREAT couple of hours together! I sO love when we can do that!

5. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion... I know I have mentioned this before - but not in a long time! I can't help it! It is the BEST moisturizing lotion EVER! It does NOT leave you greasy but it stays with you for an entire day! And it's fragrance free! I absolutely heart it! Especially from now until April!

Really, she wants to be a HORSE.
There's still time!

posted by Melli at 3:00 AM | 19 comment(s)

Random Dozen #8

1. Candy corn: (Your thoughts) Cute, but icky!


2. Briefly, what was the first conversation you ever had with your spouse? (or best friend, if you're not married.) (Or someone significant, like your librarian.) LOL! He was my shop foreman - he was showing me around the sheetmetal shop the first day I worked there, and it was so noisy all I could think was "I hope I get to work outside!" -- and I did! For 3 months... then they brought me into the shop. Our first conversation went something like this:

D: This is the Duct Mate spot welder. *ZzZzZzZzT!*
Me: THE WHAT???
(for any sheetmetal workers out there - Duct Mate was back before TDC which is now called TDF -- I'm OLD!)
D: Don't look at that spark - it'll burn your retina.
Me: Kay.
D: And this is the snaplock machine...
Me: (nods)
D: Watch your fingers - it can cut them off.
Me: Kay.
D: And this is the power brake.*KaTHUNK kaTHUNK**KA THUNK!! KA THUNK!!*
Me: (thinking "i have a headache can i go home now?") Oh. Cool! Thumbs up.
D: Watch your arms. It can cut them off.
Me: (go me!) Nod. Smile.

3. Could you ever become a vegetarian? I could. I would really HATE to give up fish though! I could be one of those people that don't eat "meat" though!

4. Have you ever dressed up your pet in a costume? No! I definitely have not. I have slipped a hat on Jewl's head for a picture a couple of times... but costumes? Nope!

5. Name something about childhood that you miss (like Clark Bars, Teaberry Gum, Malibu Barbie, cracking fake eggs on people's heads with your fist and "It's the Great Pumpkin" airing only once a year). I miss Fizzies! They made a come back for a short while ... but they were NOT the same. The formula had been changed. They were gross. And I miss trampolines -- not that they're not around -- but my back doesn't get along with them! Probably my knees don't either... or my hips... or maybe even my feet.

6. Have you ever won a trophy? If not, what do you deserve a trophy for? I got a trophy for bowling when I was in High School -- I DIDN'T deserve it -- the team carried me! But I got it. And I was given a trophy for helping coach soccer one year. (I didn't deserve that one either!) I'm not sure I've ever done anything that was really trophy worthy... but these days I probably GET one just for facing each new day and not... hurting anybody. *shrug* Okay ... or not!

7. When do you think is the appropriate time to begin playing Christmas music each year? The day AFTER Thanksgiving. And it actually puts me in BAD mood to hear it before then! The stores start decorating and playing the music waaaaaaaaaay too early and it has the opposite effect on ME than they want it to -- it makes me not want to buy ANYthing rather than making me want to shop early. I tend to try to stay out of stores altogether the months of October and November! But now they're trying to get my attention even in September! It realllllly ticks me off! (sore subject!)

8. What's your favorite board game? Ooooh... that IS hard! We are a board game family! It would be a choice between Scrabble and Blokus or Blokus Trigon.

9. How do you feel about surprises (receiving, not giving)? Well... if I'm going to be receiving, I would rather it be a little surprise! Or a big surprise! Yea.... I LIKE surprises! But the BEST surprise I EVER got was the news of Luz!!!

10. Is it easy for you to say, "I'm sorry?" It depends. I'm getting better... but in general, I guess I would have to say no. I can say it easily over trivial things... but when I know I've really goofed up... you know, I think it depends on HOW sorry I am. Sometimes I goof up, but I'm really NOT all that sorry I did. If I'm really TRULY sorry, no I don't have a problem with it... but if I'm just SUPPOSED to be sorry - but in my heart I'm really NOT sorry... then I have a reallllllllly hard time with it. I guess the thing here, is that I need to ask God to MAKE me reallllllllly sorry when I've goofed up. Boy! THAT's a scary thing to pray for!

11. What is your favorite candle scent? I'm pretty boring here... I think either cinnamon or vanilla.

12. October is traditionally "open house" time in public schools. If you had a literal open house in your home (like a reception) what light snacks would you serve visitors and what would you show them (as in art projects, graded papers) that would uniquely represent you? I'm going to tell you flat out that there isn't a chance in the world I would EVER host an Open House! It's just not happenin' here! I really don't even want to entertain this question -- but for the sake of the question, I will "pretend" that this terrifyingly horrible experience might actually happen. If that were the case, I'm suuuuure I would make some mulled cider, a pumpkin cheesecake, some chewy gingersnaps, and then probably some fruit with cinnamon/vanilla yougurt for dipping, and a cheese/sausage tray, and a veggie tray. It would also depend how many people I was expecting... I might make other things if I was expecting a lot. Or I might lock myself in my room and just not come out until it was over!

Labels: Random Dozen

posted by Melli at 12:31 AM | 19 comment(s)

Not a Ruby Tuesday...

There is a tad of red on this so I'm sure it would be perfectly acceptable, however, I do not have time to come visit other RT'ers so I'm NOT playing today! Quilly asked yesterday for a picture of the crafts Luz & I made this weekend - and here it is! I have a billion things to do today... But I AM coming to visit my regulars! THAT is for certain! I shant bore you now with the minutia of my existence... I shall wait until I've lived it and see if anything humorous comes of it! Ciao!

posted by Melli at 9:58 AM | 11 comment(s)

Just Stuff...

posted by Melli at 2:25 PM | 11 comment(s)

It's a Nana Weekend!

posted by Melli at 6:00 AM | 16 comment(s)

Friday's Fave Five

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday Fave Five in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. If you would like to play along just post your 5, link back to Susanne and visit her to see who else is playin'!

1. I've finally got the "guest room" almost in order -- at least it's sleepable now! I know cuz I've tested it out the last few nights! I've been able to sleep withOUT ear plugs, and WITH the window open! Glory days! Jientje - you have a place to SLEEP when you get here! YES!!! Aren't you excited now? You should be!

2. Along with sleeping with the window OPEN last night, I got to listen to the falling rain! There are sOme things a body should NOT have to give up in life... this is ONE of them!!!

3. I have never made a homemade pumpkin pie from SCRATCH. (I have made them from canned - but not from the vegetable!) But this week my darling daughter and granddaughter DID make such a pie -- FOUR of them as a matter of fact! She dropped one off to my house on Monday. We enjoyed it after dinner Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday! She says that is good because she will probably NEVER undertake THAT endeavor again! LOL! But it was soooooo gOOd Babe!

4. This blessing provided by our local neighborhood farmer ... and God!

5. A lovely lunch with Karen (kcinnova) on Wednesday. This time we ate at the Brio Tuscan Grille. It was excellent! We both had a bowl of lobster bisque -- the waiter assured us it was the best thing on the menu -- I'm thinking he was probably right! The first time we met it was to take Ella to Karen. Ella stayed with her for 6 weeks - and Wednesday I retrieved her. SHE had some bisque too - and yea... even elephants know a good bisque when they taste it! Karen & I talked for 2 1/2 hours and then we both had to get home... Cheers - til next time Karen!

posted by Melli at 2:10 AM | 19 comment(s)

Singin' In The Rain!

posted by Melli at 1:24 PM | 8 comment(s)

Random Dozen #7 -

1. I've always wondered why we were taught both printing and cursive. Do you prefer to print or write cursive? (Keyboard is not a choice.)
I used to really like to write in cursive and had (once upon a time) very pretty handwriting! But like it or not, keyboards came about ... and my handwriting skills have gotten worse and worse... of course that could be an age thing too... but now, when I DO write it has become sort of a Melli-ized mix of print and cursive. I'm sure in this day and age, the schools are wasting a lot of time teaching cursive. It really is becoming a "senseless" art... but if they stopped teaching it we would probably all squawk about it becoming a "lost" art!

2. Are you a dreamer or a realist?
I am a realist who likes to dream.

3. Billy Joel or Elton John?
UGH! Noooooo fair! Absolutely BOTH! How could you possibly pick one over the other? They both rank very high on my playlists!

4. What is the scariest movie you've ever seen? Not limited to horror flicks but also includes ones where the tension or suspense is killer, for example, Flightplan (2005): A bereaved woman and her daughter are flying home from Berlin to America. At 30,000 feet the child vanishes and nobody admits she was ever on that plan.
I haven't seen that one - but it sounds good! I can't really name "a" movie - because I don't watch enough of them. But I know the ones that usually scared me the most were anything having to do with the Mafia. Just knowing that kind of mindset really truly does exist in the world -- it terrifies me. But honestly... after seeing one or two of them -- if a movie was about the Mafia, I didn't watch it. Silence of the Lambs did scare me too ... again... it's that evil evil mind... Rosemary's Baby scared me too...

5. Now what is the scariest real-life moment you've had?
I hate repeating things on this blog... but whenever this question comes up, the only thing I can think of was when I was a young teenager, I was home alone one night, and heard noises in the back yard. I went up stairs to my mother's room -- it had a balcony that looked down over the back yard - I was going to turn on the light and see if I could scare whatever it was away! As I walked into her room I heard the sliding glass door open. I FROZE! I was sooooo terrified! And then my sister and one of her friends came in... off the balcony! Apparently she came home and didn't have her key -- I guess I wasn't supposed to be home - I probably had a babysitting job cancelled or something - and so she thought she was locked out, and climbed up on Mom's balcony to SEE if the door was open. Lucky (for her) it was! NOT so lucky for me!!!

6. What word do you misspell without fail?
Oh wow! I have no idea! I try to spell everything correctly! I know the stupid mistakes that drive me crazy with others drive me REALLY crazy when I notice that I have committed them -- the WRONG use of where, wear, ware or hour, our, are... but I don't know any one word that I always spell wrong. If YOU know a word I ALWAYS spell wrong, point it out so I can re-learn it!!! I know I used to always spell definitely with an "a" after the "n" ... but I finally caught myself on it one time... and changed it forever!

7. Name something you like to do but are not really talented or good at.
SINNNNNNNNNNG! I love to sing! When I get to heaven God's going to give me a voice!!!

8. Do you get your emotional/mental batteries recharged by being around people or by having alone time?
Definitely by being alone. I need an incredibly selfish amount of time to myself.

9. Have you ever been on TV?
Nope. No desire either.

10. Apple or pumpkin pie? (Don't be greedy.)
Pumpkin pie! Pumpkin ANYthing!!! Bread, cookies, oatmeal, pancakes, butter, I don't think there is ANY food that can't be "enhanced" by pumpkin!!!

11. How many magazine subscriptions do you have?
Zero! I used to have a few, but I gave them up a few years ago. They were all decorating magazines! We used to get National Geographic though too - many years ago -- and I really enjoyed that one! I would like to get it again. It gave me most of my travel dreams I think...

12. What lesson do you have to keep re-learning?
Apparently compassion. I had none for my mother when she had alzheimers... and so now I have mother-in-law. *sigh* And I don't know if it's RE-learning if you've never gotten it the first time... but listening to God on the FIRST opportunity would be a huge one. I always want to argue and make sure He really MEANS I'm REALLY supposed to do that! It's really HARD when He tells you to DO something that you've been taught ALL your life NOT to do... like pick someone up who's walking down the street in the rain. A stranger. You know it's God speaking because you would NEVER tell yourself "oh I should pick up that guy... I'm sure he's not a serial killer!" But it's almost like Bill Cosby telling about Noah... "Pick him up Melli..." WHO said that? "Pick him up Melli..." Is that YOU Lord? Are you cRAZy? "He won't hurt you. Pick him up. He needs a ride." Lord, weren't you listening to my mother??? To my teachers? To my Pastor? By the time I get done fighting with God, the poor man is half drowned, and I have to turn around and drive back a few miles to see if someone ELSE has picked him up or not. Nope... (my luck) ... it's MY job to do! Okay Lord. I'm still here... that means He protected me! It doesn't mean I won't argue the next time too.... I never "get it" when he wants me to do stuff like that! Do you?

Labels: Random Dozen

posted by Melli at 2:27 AM | 22 comment(s)

Thank God I'm A Country Girl!

You know.... sometimes, God just smiles down on us and says "Child, you get a TREAT today!" Yesterday was such a day for ME! Nuttin' big ... well, wait... yea, actually it WAS pretty BIG! But it was just a "little thing"... just a little "let me make your day" type thing! I suuuuuuure did appreciate it! Let me show you!

Mom and I went grocery shopping, and stopped for McDonalds on the way home. Mom was still eating as we pulled into the neighborhood, and as I rounded the bend... I saw this...

Well... we all know I ALWAYS have my camera with me and so I pulled up into the neighbors driveway where I could get a GOOD shot of it, and zoomed in! Then I decided I really needed a closer look at that HOPPER! So, I got out of the car...

posted by Melli at 1:05 AM | 15 comment(s)