Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate Truffles
1 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
6 Tablespoons Butter, (Unsalted)
1 Lb. Semi-Sweet Chocolate, broken into pieces
In the top of a double-boiler combine cream and butter over summering water. Stir constantly while butter melts, then increase heat until mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate pieces, stirring until mixture is smooth and blended Continue stirring mixture for 5 to 10 minutes until cooled to lukewarm. Cover with a tight lid and chill 8 hours or over night Stir occasionally during the first two hours of refrigeration. When mixture is firm, shape into one inch balls and place on waxed paper lined cookie sheet Refrigerate until very firn Roll in powdered cocoa or dip in melted chocolate.
Powdered Cocoa for Dusting
You will need 1/2 to 1 cup of powdered cocoa. Sprinkle it in a cake pan and dust your hands with it. Roll truffles in the powder one at a time until each is well dusted, Place truffles on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet and chill.
Chocolate for Dipping Truffles
1 Lb. Semi-sweet Chocolate, broken into pieces
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
1 Tablespoon Paraffin
In top of a double-boiler,melt ingredients, stirring constantly until smooth and creamy. Remove pan from heat and let mixture cool to 90F on a candy thermometer. Mixture should be approximately 90F during the entire dipping process If mixture thickens before you finish, return pan to heat and bring back to 90F.
Dipping Process
Hold the truffle between two forks with long tines and dip in chocolate mixture until well coated. Place coated truffles on wax paper lined cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm.

 

Billie C.

Biscuits For Two

I was going through my Recipe files last night and picked out a few to try soon. The first is this one for Biscuits for two people. Now I know that only 2 biscuits are not really enough for the two of us in the long run, but I wanted to try and share it I've got about a pound of ground meat in the Crock pot with about a quarter of a bottle of BBQ Sauce for our dinner this evening. I am thinking that the beef would be great over the biscuits.

 

Biscuits For Two
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons shortening
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted, divided

 

In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening
until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk, tossing with a fork until a
ball forms. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 5 to 6 times. Roll or
pat to 1/2 inch thickness; cut with a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter. Place on a
greased baking sheet. Brush tops with 1 tablespoon butter. Bake at 450
degrees for 9 to 11 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with remaining
butter. Serve warm.
Makes 4 biscuits

 

Billie C.

For Today ... October 27, 2017

For Today ... October 27, 2017
I saw the doctor. He looked at the wound on my breast. he said I will need surgery. but it's debatable over wether they will just try to bring the edges closer together or do a skin graph. If they bring the edges together my breast may be a bit mis-shapened. I can deal with that. I really don't want to have a skin graph. From what I've looked up on the "Net" it's very involved.

 

 A nurse came in and asked if there was a bad day for surgery and I told her that I have another doctor's appointment on the 17 of November. Okay. The doctor said he would like to wait at least 10 more days before surgery, just to give the edges more time to grow closer to each other.

 

October 20, 2017, Update

October 20, 2017, Update
I have totally forgetten about my blogs. Oops
Lets see, I have been painting rocks and placing them around town.
Hubby "retired", then un-retired, then retired again. Now he's found a job, driving train personal from place to place, at night. Today, I'll be working on making the bedroom as dark as possible so he can sleep during the day.
I have started going to the Senior Center for lunch. Hubby is not impressed with the meal, but what can you expect for around $1.50 each. I do find that there is more on the plate than I can finish. Next Wednesday is a covered dish and my plan is a Creamy Chicken and Rice dish. I did see that someone else had written they were going to bring Chicken and dumplings. the rest of the dishes all seem to be desserts.  I'm going to have to be very careful of which ones and how much I get of each.
I was in the hospital for 6 days, getting out on my 60th birthday. It all started with an infection under my left breast. I think it was yeast and I treated it with some powder  iwas give for a "raging" yeast infection when I last saw a doctor in March. The powder was working, then then it didn't. I used what I had on hand and it didn't get worse but didn't get better either for a few days. then about September 16, it started getting worse. Since we didn't have insurance, I waited until the Social Security came in to go to the local clinic, paying close to $100 for the visit. She said to come back on Friday and have it rechecked. I went to the local ER on Thursdayy since it had gotten worse. I went back to the Clinic on Friday and told her that I had been to the Er and they had changed the antibotic I was on. She was okay with that, come back in a week. Well by Thursday, September 28, it was much worse so I went back to the Eer which recomending i go to the hospital. Since I was in the ER, I had to go by amblence. I was in the Er from Thrusday night until Satureday, 4 pm. I had surgery to remove the dead tissues and clean up the infectined area and was then in the hospital until October 4, on Iv inatbotics. I might hve been able to go home on October 3rd but they had taken the day trying to find someone who would come to the camper to do daily dressing changes. No luck in finding someone to do that because we don't have insurance, so they taught Hubby how to take care of me. My next check up was in the Surgeral Wound Care clinic. I am doing very well, according the thre 4 doctors who came into the room. keep doing what we are doing. So we did. I went back this past  Tuesday and still told I'm doing well, but might need a skin graph. A slight change in how it's being "dressed" No more wet then dry dressing, just a dry dresing now, held in placewith one strip of tape. The tape is starting to break my skin out so Hubby is trying to place it slightly different each time so the same area is not covered by the tape all the time. I go bvack next week Friday and I'll try to remember to post an update after that appointment.
Today, after I and someone else suggested a "cahllange" in our locak Facebook "rocks" page, we are placing lots and lots of rocks painted to look like Candy Corn around town. I'll have to wait until Hubby get home to put my rocks out, but that's part of the fun. I noted that some people have already put their rocks out a day early. No Biggy as it just helps extend the fun for everyone to go out and find more rocks.
I need more rocks to paint.  I have found a source, but getting Hubby to let me out long enough to get a bucket full ... I hope to get some more rocks this weekend.  I think the next challange I'll post will be  either leaves, or turkeys or "Thanks". I'll post the challange about 15 days before Thanksgiving, and suggest we place them out the week of Thankstgiving since the kids will have 5 days out of school.
Next will be Christmas Challanges and I hope to put out three for the month of December. Angels, stocking or stars and then one for "New Years" day.

 

 

 

Billie C.

Good Morning Wednesday

 

 

Howdy.... Wow, Fast Changes around here. All for the good.

Let me start with Corbin. He was in a much better mood when he got off the bus yesterday. I do believe that his school day went much better. It's funny though, He really doesn't have "homework" assigned each day. His Homework is anything that he didn't get to at the end of each lesson.  I noticed that he had an armful on Monday. Not as much yesterday. He admitted he was up late on Monday and I'm guessing he was doing homework. He fell asleep on the couch, while we were waiting to go get his sister from Band practice.  We let him know that he was getting the First ride of the kids, in the van. We took Barney with us. He had jumped out of the camper when Jerry opened the door, I am not going to chase him down, so I opened the van door and in went Barney. I asked Jerry to just grab a lead from the hand rail by the door. We keep them there so they are handy.  Corbin had to hold the lead and be responsible while Jerry was driving. Corbin has been enjoying exploring inside the van. I am hoping that Jerry will start showing Corbin a few things about motors and how to maintain a car. I'm going to ask him today to show Corin how to check the oil.

We started off the day sunny, but it's getting darker and darker outside. We are expecting some rain from the outer bands left from Harvey. Not at all like what Texas received but still some rain. Maybe Texas will have a chance to dry out before any more rain comes in their way. Our temperatures are going to be nice for a few days, by only being in the mid 70's through Friday. Maybe back up into the low 80's on the weekend, but even at that, I can leave the doors open and the fans on and be comfortable.

I told you that Barney jumped into the van, yesterday. That's not the first time he did that. When Jerry brought the van for me to look at, he got out and jumped in through the open door.

Macon got to get in and out of the side door a few times on Monday, but he's not gotten a ride in it just yet. Rocky has yet to get into the van. I figure that Macon will most likely get the back, bench seat, while Rocky will want to ride behind Jerry and Barney will get the seat behind mine.

 

 Blessings are strange and wonderful things.  I, on a whim, looked on Craigslist in the Crafts/Trades just to see if anything new had been posted. Right there, at the top, was a company looking for Industrial Electrictions. I emailed the link to Jerry. He had some trouble finding it from his phone, but when he used his Ipad, he found it. responded to it with the required information and he got a call in less than an hour.  He's going to work out this week and next week, at the factory, but the next Monday, we will be getting up much earlier and he's going to be back working in construction. It's not as much as he was getting before but it's more hours and double what he's getting right now.  So just holding my breath that I don't have to get into a bit of money I have saved. At least not this week, I hope.

 

 Bailey was told to get some pork chops out of the fridge, but she pulled out the pack from the freezer instead. So Heather needs to cook both packs and since they won't eat left overs, And as a "Thank You" to us, for making sure her kids are getting around to the things they want or need to do, she's invited us to dinner. We will get Corbin from the bus, but instead of having to go get Bailey, she will get Bailey, after band then go home and start cooking and we will show up a bit after 6. I'll need to see how much salad we have left in the bag, and take that with us. Heather said "No Dessert". she and Bailey are trying to lose a few pounds and so have removed all "sweets" out of the house and most of the chips. Keeping only the ones that Corbin likes to eat. She's been doing this for about 2 weeks now and has lost 8 or 9 pounds. That, and changing from Coke to Diet Coke. Now the kids want to just drink Diet Coke.  They see Jerry and I drinking diet cola's so it's not surprising that they want to try it.

I am still catching up on the weeks of "The Young and the Restless". I have 24 more but that will increase here in a bit when the next one is recorded. I also have about 25 "Blue Bloods" to watch. Outside of Y&R there isn't much for me to watch in the middle of the day. There are a few evening shows we recorded as well, but I save them for when Jerry is home in the evening and there isn't anything to watch then either.  WE record all the NCIS shows, Salvation, Ninja Warrior, (Jerry watches that, it's background noise for me, while I'm reading)  IF we don't want to watch something recorded Jerry will pick out something from Netflix. I like watching series on Netflix.  Ones I didn't get to watch when they were shown on the networks or movie channels.

I'm wearing some shorts and a loose top. I have a few Tshirts but I wanted a change for today. Of course it's got butterflies on it. One thing I noticed last spring is I have a number of tops with butterflies on them.

 

Billie C.

a way to conserve dish soap

 

I bought this apple shaped soap dispenser a couple of years ago. It was filled with hand soap, and I kept it by the kitchen sink. We hardly used the soap in it,at the sink as we usually just use a bit of dish soap the wash with, before we cook.
I need a way to conserve dish soap, that was my original reason for buying it in the first place. I just never really got around to using up the hand soap .finally, today. I put the hand soap into a jar, to fill the dispenser in the bathroom, once it's empty, and fill this one with dish soap.  Next time I do the dishes,  I'll measure out how many "pumps" it takes to fill a spoon for my small sink. Can't believe I've put off doing this for so long......

 

 

Teri's Crafts News letter for May 16, 2017

Teri's Crafts News letter for May 16, 2017

 

If you ever wonder why I post Christmas crafts all year round here is one reason. Some of the things "needed" for making a craft are just not easy to find in fall or winter. Example- Pool Noodles. Just try to find some nice PN's for crafts in November in the northern  hemisphere. Almost impossible. And if you are lucky to find any at all, they may have been used in a pool and the chemicals that are used in pools may have altered how the PN's look or feel.

 

 

 

Pool Noodle Palm Trees (could be used for Easter next year)

Pool Noodle sprinklers

Pool Noodle race tracks

Pool Noodle Luminaries.

Tulle Santas Wreath

Use Pool Noodles as a base for a wreath

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https://shebakesandcreates.com/2013/08/13/make-your-own-palm-trees-with-pool-noodles/

 

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http://ziggityzoom.com/content/pool-noodle-sprinkler-summer-fun

 

 

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http://hotwheels.mattel.com/en-us/news/blog-details/summer-activities

It's not just little boys who would love this race track. I think their fathers would also enjoy a few races on family Night.

 

 

 

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http://www.createcraftlove.com/pool-noodle-luminaries/#_a5y_p=1994474

 

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http://www.sheknows.com/holidays-and-seasons/articles/979939/tulle-santa-wreath-tutorial

 

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http://www.sweetpickinsfurniture.com/2012/12/christmas-2012-mantle-with-ornament-wreath-tutorial.html

 

 

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Billie C.




Proverbs 1:8
My son, hear the instruction of your father,And do not forsake the law of your mother;

For Today ... May 10, 2017

For Today ... May 10, 2017

 

Outside my door ...

 

 

 

 

 

How is your weather today?
It's going to be almost HOT outside today with our expected high around 85. Right now, it's almost comfortable cool. It's always the coolest of the day just before the sun comes up. We have an extended Dawn since we are down in a valley and can watch the sun creep down the side of the mountain to our west each morning, and watch the shade of night creep up the side of the mountain to our east each evening. Right now (5:45 local) It's still dark enough that most every thing is still a shade of gray to our west, but the Green of the leaves and the reds of the roses are just now showing up with the slowly raising of the sun shedding more and more light on every thing. The yellow of the flowers outside our front door really starts to pop while the red of the roses is still a darker shade of red. The edges of the yellow tipped Hostas lining the walk help define just where the flagstones are and as it gets lighter outside the birds get noisier and louder until the sun tops that eastern ridge and then they suddenly get quiet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The birds start their songs about 4 am, with just one or two pipping a few notes.. but soon it will sound like every bird in town is just outside our door. The sudden quiet is loud enough to wake me up, if I have gone back to bed once Hubby had left for work. He leaves so early, and I just can't seem to stay awake most mornings, and will go back to bed. He goes to bed at 8 pm, and I go to the bedroom not long afterwards. He's been sleeping on the love seat for a few weeks now. No, he's not mad at me, but he discovered, as I did, that the couch, which is more a Loveseat size, is very comfortable. He has a bad knee and has found that he can either prop his foot on the armrest or have his leg stay bended and is less painful when he wakes up. He also once told me it's easier to get up to go to the bathroom from the couch that it is from our bed. There isn't much room on either side of the bed so we both end up "crawling" out off the foot of the bed.
sunny or cloudy?
(5:50) The sky is still a very pale color. The lightest of blue broken by the pinkish opal of the clouds as they catch the raising rays of the sun. The ridge to the west has a haze to it and is why this area is part of the Smokey Mountain Ranges. it looks very misty but not long after the sun is over the east ridge all that mist will burn off and it will be a bright green color. We are expecting only a few high light clouds today and tomorrow.
Rain, snow, or foggy?
Sunny, Lots and lots of sun shine today.
Cold, cool, warm or hot?
It's a bit cool here in the camper but that's because I have a fan on to move the air. We had the air conditioner on all night, set at about 74, so mostly it was only the fan running. I turned it off not long after Hubby left for work, the noise was just getting to me. I'll be opening the doors and over-head vents soon, and will be forced to close them all this afternoon. I turn on the air about an hour before Hubby gets home from work, unless I am getting too hot then I turn it on before that. I love being able to have the doors open and the vents up in spring and summer time.

 

I don't know what this is, but it's huge.

 

 

I cleaned up the yard this morning, The young man that Keith has hired to help around her has the riding mower out and I needed to clean up after the dogs. I heard a squeel though and so think that the belt is gone on that mower. Now I can see him out the dining room window and he's using the push mower around the rock wall, walkway and rock lined flower beds. I don't mind at all that he's using our mower as long as he mows our area while he's at it. Part of cleaning up the yard was cleaning out most of the fire pit. Almost every time I take Barney out, he manages to run past the fire pit and the lead gets caught on some of the wood and it goes flying. It's not like Barney is playing with the wood or bringing me a piece of it to toss for him. He is just running off some pent up energy. I really do need to get his ball out from under the couch and toss it for him a few times each day. I put the pieces of wood in one of the kennels we keep outside.

 

I decided to plant a few seeds and to try growing things in "pots".

I've put a few colorful pieces in the pots to help add some color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have Kohlrabi planted in this one.

 

What are you wearing, Wednesday, May 10, 2017
What are you wearing today? Are you in pants or a dress or a skirt?  I'm wearing Jean Capries today. Our high is expected to be 90 (What happened to Spring?)
What color is your top?  My top is teal and bluish, with lighter and darker plant leaves on it. Some of the leaves have a white sparkle glitter on them. It's very "Jungle" looking.
Socks and shoes or boots? White socks in blue canvas shoes
Are you wearing any jewelry? My gold band and Earrings that are small gold balls, but I'm going to e changing them in a little bit and not sure what I'll pick out to go with my top.
Have you any nail polish on? Not yet. maybe not, unless I can find my box of nail colors

 

 

A few plans for today...

 

Straighten up the camper for the day , bed made and dishes done. Table 'found'.
Clean top left bunk, sorting things into a couple of large tubs ..... didn't even get it started.

Print out some papers for Jerry.  I need to find the power cord and the printer cord first.

Well, I got the dishes washed, and the bed made yesterday,so I got most of my top three things done yesterday.

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is really hard to break a soft drink addiction. And I have and enabler, Named Jerry. During the week I can usually avoid all soft drinks. That is until He decided we need to go someplace and if it's more than just to the trash collection, He will stop and buy us both a drink. I don't like paying for bottled water, unless I just have to. It's just ridiculous to pay as much for plain water as it is for a cola.
During the week, while I'm alone in the camper, I drink water with powdered flavoring in it. I've tried using just lemon juice but I don't like that too much.
I use lemon aid, pink lemon aid or Orange aid drink powders. From time to time, I get a different flavor, but those three I will buy each week.
I wonder if you could quit cola much like you can smoking? Or, at least quit it like my mother did. She was a pack a day smoker at one time. But she realized that, at work, most of her cigarettes she would light at her disk were just burning up. So she moved her ash tray to the break room and would only smoke on her breaks. Once she got comfortable about that, she started dropping one smoke break a week. She started with her Mid morning cigarette, Because she could keep her hands busy with a cup of coffee. After that week, she worked on dropping her afternoon break one, but kept the one she would smoke at lunch time.. Then she was able to drop the ones she smoked between dinner and bed time.
She was able to work her way down to just 4 a day. Those last four though, she just could not drop. She would have one when she woke up. One at Lunch, one after dinner and the last before bed. considering she started smoking at 14, that wasn't bad.
Funny thing is. Mom smoked, Her mother smoked. Her father smoked. My dad smoked for a long time but gave them up. Both of my brothers smoke. I think David has given it up, I didn't see him smoke at all at the rehearsal or at the Wedding. Jamie smokes, but not around her mother. I don't smoke and never have. I have tried 3 times. Once as a kid, I think I was 9 at the time. Again when I was 16, choked up so bad, I couldn't breath well for hours. I tried again when Heather was small so I was maybe 23 or so. And well... I just never picked up that habit.
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Wedding pictures 2

Resetting up after the wind came and blew things about.

 

 

 

 

 Jerry was on his way to our car, to get out something  while I was walking back to the pavilion. This was a bit after the wind came through.

 

 

Jamie made all the signs.. I love this one. Pick a seat and not a side.

 

This was set up on the parking side.  A nice way to be guiding into the area. There is a small dance area defined by some hay bales that the kids loved jumping on.

 

 

Here's the guest book and the treats for the guest. I don't know how many got the small pouches with silver Kisses, but there were a lot left when we left.

 

 

David, waiting for his Bride to come down to meet him.

 

 

This is Jamie, the bride. Her aunt is helping with the train and veil, keeping them out of the wet grass. I think this is her Father.

 

He passed Jamie to her Daddy, at the edge of the concrete. He and her mother "gave" the bride to our Son.

 

They make a beautiful couple.  This is the last picture I was able to get. My batter died on me.

 

Jamie posted a few pictures on facebook and I snatched them up.

 

 

 

 

 

Billie C.

Mothers hold their children's hands for just a little while...
And their hearts forever.


Proverbs 1:8
My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;

May 10, 2017 Wedding pictures

Last Saturday, Our Son David married Jamie.

Hanging up the lights and stacking the hay were done on Friday evening just before rehearsal. It was cool but not awful cold but it was also cloudy and we had a couple of showers. We all had lots of fun though, and lots of laughter.

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Every thing was set and people were just starting to come in when we had a storm come through. It was not nice and we had to scramble to save everything. A couple of the jars got knocked over and spilled their water that the candles were floating in. A few of the table clothes got soaked and had to be replaced.

The Photo wall (hay bales) was blown over. We were lucky that none of the children were nearby when it fell in.

It was a walk from the parking area to the pavillion but well worth it.  Jerry wore over alls as did many of the men in the wedding party including the father of the bride.

 

 

There was a lot of "Last minute" things going on. getting the lights and tulle to come together and hang as it should. The bells over the cake station, setting up the tables and all this was before the storm.

 

 

 

Jamie, David and Landon used a sand ceramony to show how their lifes, separate at first, have come together to become one. Landon is Jamie's son. I didn't get a picture of the sand in the mason jar as the finished product of their life starting together.

 

 

The Brides cake. The lady doing the cake worked hard on it. and then the storm and it was moved to a safer place. I think the hardest part was keeping the kids and the best man out of the frosting.

 

 

The Grooms cake. I had a small piece of this. Red Velvet cake.  I love the detail that was put into both cakes.

 

My Update From April 23 through 28.

Hello

On April 23, we had minor flooding in the campground. I was able to get a ride, with the dogs in their kennels, up to Heather's home. Where we spent the night. It didn't take long for the water to go back down. One of my steel pots floated away but I was able to find it on Wednesday along with two of the Elephant Ear roots that has washed out of it. I had called Jerry at work and explained that the water was raising and I was going to have to head to Heather's with the dogs,walking, and he needed to come home. Keith and his wife asked if the dogs would ride in their kennels in a trailer long enough to get to Heather's place and that is what we did, We loaded the kennels onto his short traler, then I put each dog into a kennel, and Keith got the guns out of the camper for me and put them in his truck and took us to Heather's home. We unloaded and by the time he got back to the camper the water was to our hitch and Jerry was soon there and between them they got everything unhooked (Power, wate and sewer) and someone from the Rescue Squad came with an old Surburban and pulled the camper to the front of Keith's place. Keith took a picture of it and the water was to the under side of the camper when it was pulled out along the driveway. (I'll see if I can get that picture) Of course I was worried about the camper, but I was more worried about getting me and the dogs out at the time.

 

Monday, I mostly just slept.  My sugar was up then low, then up then low again. We had bought a few things to eat at Heather's house and we ended up leaving a bit of it there for her kids to have. Some cereal,  fresh bread, and bananas. The water went back down rather quickly and Jerry called Keith about putting the camper on a different site. One on the other side of his house. Which is a larger, nicer site, but the wifi will not reach that far. It's a good trade-off and, if the water raises again. I'll have a bit more time to prepare to leave the camper and we now have a plan for that. Keith can more is Pop-Up, then hook up his small trailer and take me and the dogs to Heathers'. and while he's moving his Pop-up and can ready ours to be moved by getting everything out of the way of the slide out, and once the dogs are loaded, I can pull in the slide out, and also help with unhooking the services before he takes me up the mountain. We are just praying that there is no "Next Time".

 

Tuesday, I spent cleaning up the kitchen area and taking care of a few things that I should have taken care of before it flooded. Tossed some stuff, cleaned up a skillet of ham that got left out, by giving it to the dogs to enjoy. I then washed up the dishes. put a fan on the living room area carpet to help dry it out from where the water leaked in from under the slide-out. It wasn't a lot but it took two days to get it all dry again. I cleaned out the fridge and took inventory of what we would need for the rest of the week, which wasn't much at all, really. I then started on Cleaning the Bunk room. Yes it took two days to do that and I'm still not done, but I need some tubs t put things in to make it work better in there. We went shopping after Jerry got home from work and we had sandwiches and chips for dinner with fresh fruit for dessert.

 

Wednesday, I cleaned more in the bunk room. I had put it off for way too long. I didn't do much to the upper bunks but I straightened out both lower bunk beds. Jerry and I had one one of the upper bunks about a week before. He was searching for something. we are thinking of drilling a hole near the foot of the lower right bunk for the coax for the internet connection to run iwithout having to lift that decking and having to move all of that to the kitchen area until the man is done getting that set up. Wednesday was an 8 hour day for Jerry and we went to the local Telephone ompany to see if we could get internet and cable. You have to join the membership, and have their telephone service in order to get the other stuff.  I talked to Jerry about just getting the cable while we were there, but he said he wanted to see about getting our dish moved first. We had Hot dogs, Has Brown potatoes and chips for dinner.

 

On Thursday,  I had Jerry's  phone and he had mine and the Dish man showed up about 4 pm. He tried and tried but could not get a good line of sight on any of the satilights for our tv  service (Directv) and so that ended up being for naught.  We ended up eating dinner out, as it was just one thing after another keeping me from starting dinner. But Heather brought home the kennels from my taking the dogs to her place and she brought home the handguns we had taken to her home, the day the creek left it's banks.

 

 

Friday Morning, around 2 am. as we were getting Jerry up and ready for the day, the foot feed to the toilet broke off. Jerry decided that he better stay home anyway, because he's in the bathroom with urgancy every 20 minutes or so.  He called around looking for a replacement toilet and there is one, in Ring gold Gergia which is about 50 miles from here, and we would have to join their membership club to get the discount price that still wasn't as low as what Jerry's search of the "net" showed and that didn't please him at all.  We went to Heather's to use her "Net" and Jerry found one on-line for about $60 less including the shipping and handling charges, but it will not be here until Tuesday. In the mean time, we can use the toilet, it's just we have to put our face kinda close to the seat in order to flush it. and we have to use either the shower hose or a bucket to put water back into the bowl. But we can handle doing that until it arrives next week.

 

A couple of weeks ago, Mary and Steve were thinking of comeing to Dunlap the first weekend of May, not realizing that is when David and Jamie are getting married. But I chatted with Jamie and she said the more the merrier and said they could come to the wedding. But now, because they had to fix Mary's car, they may not e able to come at all. Jerry and she talked for about 40 minutes this afternoon. it would be nice if they can still make it, but the changes are slim right now that they can do it. Heather has offered them a bed so they don't have to go to the motel while they are here and Jerry said we could cover the cost of any of their meals while they are at her house.  So they have a wedding to come to, a place to sleep and family to visit.  But as with almost all plans.. things happen. Mary said she would know "For sure" on Wednesday this week if they can make it out or not. but don't count on it.

 

Heather is using me as a back up if something happens while she and Corbin are camping with his scout troop. Bailey is in Dollywood with the band and also has my number. So if anyone calls me, I can relay the messages as needed. They both have my cell phone number in case they need to call someone. We just didn't know if Jerry would have to work this weekend or not.

 

Tonight (Friday, the 28) as we were winding down, I set up some Tiki torches in the yard and near the camper so we could sit outside without being bugged too much. It was nice and peaceful to just sit and watch as the world got darker and darker. Jerry was falling asleep in his chair and so now we are inside and He's already asleep and I'm typing this to go out as soon as we get the "Net" back again.

 

I slept very little last night. I would sleep a few minutes then wake up and struggle to get back to sleep, I had figured on going to sleep after Jerry left for work, but as I wrote before, He stayed home today. Oh, we got a lot done though. We went and changed our order at the phone company to include the basic cable. We really don't watch much more than the national stations any more most of the time, and we can afford Netflix once we get the "net", and can catch up on shows through that. We went to the pawn shop where Jerry was told some more guns were coming into the store, and he had to check that out. And yes, we put another one on lay a way.  He also picked up a power washer / sprayer.

After we left Heathers' it was back to the pawn shop for some more information on a gun Jerry had looked at, and then we decided to just go to the camper for a light lunch of sandwiches and cola's.

 

Tomorrow (Saturday the 29 th) I think I'll be moving some of my plants around a bit. I want the two steel pans on the top of the empty Propane tanks at the front of the camper.  That will open up the metal step stool I have and it can go to the back of the camper to sit on while we open the black water tank every two weeks. Of course, I could put that near the backdoor and put plants on it, and just take them off when that tank needs to be emptied. I hate to leave things in sight at the back of the camper if we are not going to be using it on a daily basis.

 

Sunday's plans are...laundry (ugh, that is going to take at least 7 hours, I'm sure) Heather and Corbin should be back home around 10 am. I don't know when Bailey is due home but I am guessing mid to late evening. But once Heather gets home, She and Dad will come to the camper, pull it forward about 4 foot wit her truck. place down some boards on one side, then back the camper onto those boards to make it much more level.  After that, the plan is to move Jerry's gang box full of tools out o Heather's car port and take it to storage. I am in hopes that they will move that old spa tub out and either take it to Heather's home or find someplace else to take it. Just get it out of our storage so we have more room for "our" stuff. Heather said something about her maybe getting some of the things she's got stored in there and taking them to her home to sort, and discard the majority of. Most of what it is there, is the kids school papers from Kindergarden through last year. And she's got a few craft things in there to take care of, as well.  I want to try to set up "Zones" in the storage for things like Craft at the back, Seasonal clothes in the middle of one wall, Jerry's stuff, better orgainized, near the front. and outdoor stuff behind his stuff along one side and that would leave more space for things we have but don't Need Right Now, in the camper.  Maybe we will bring home the base for a pop up shade. Or Heather may want it over her picnic table. We have two or three of them in different sizes.

I know that the orgainzing won't get done on Sunday, because I'll be doing the laundry while Jerry and Heather deal with the storage.

 

Billie C.
How much can a dragon carry?
As much as it thinks it can"
Anne McCaffrey

Psalm 144:15
Happy are the people with such blessings. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh. 

April 12, 2017

 

I got my hair cut short.

 

We talked about wether or not I should color my hair for the wedding, but once it was cut, Heather was pleased with how it looked and helped me decide to not color my hair at this time. As I told the two, I'm 59 years old. I should have silver on my head. They laughed about that. I have come a long, long way from my bright red color of my youth. One reason I don't want to color my hair is I'm afraid it will look "fake" and not natural, and the second is that I'm not sure i would be able to keep up with keeping it colored.. but once the wedding is done, I might get a box of color and let Heather try her hand at it. I would want something that has the high lights and low lights in it, I think.

    

My "Before" picture

 

My "After" Picture.

March 22, 2017

Hello.

It's Spring!!!

And the weather is Spring Like. We had some strong winds last night and after the worst was over, I took the dogs out for their last potty of the night, I discovered that the Trash Can was missing. I had to ask Jerry to get me a flash light so I  could try to hunt it up. I was afraid that it might have gone into the creek and if it had, I would never had found it. I found it half way between the other side of the driveway and the Creek. The bags of trash were also scattered and I picked them up. They were in the can but were not heavy enough to keep that can from blowing over and rolling away from the front of the camper.

 

(These pictures were taken on Monday, the day before the storms came through)

See that tree over there, the second to the right of the dish? the  trash can way behind it. The largest bag of trash just at the edge of the grass and two smaller bags were over where that tall stuff is to the left.   

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It was a nice, warm bright day on Monday and even Tuesday was warm before the storm. The trees are still not leafed out yet.  Some are, The Cottonwoods have dropped their blossoms and now have leaves and the Tulip Popular's have also bloomed then dropped their flowers and have new leaves on them. But the rest of the trees are still no yet put out leafs yet.  The brush is greening up though. 

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Over the weekend, on Sunday to be more precise, WE took the Grand Kids out for breakfast then we went to Walmart to get some new tires put on the car (very needed as they were falling apart) After our jaunt through Wal-mart, We went to Lowe's. Jerry was looking for a Laser Level or something that he needed a Laser for. He didn't have any luck finding what he went for. but I took the kids over to the Lumber area and let them pick out a flat panel each. Grandson needed one for a wood burning project and I though that his sister might want to try her hand at it as well. I'll have to take her my wood burning set this next weekend. so she can work on her wood as she wants to. I'm sure "Mom" is loving me for this. She's the one who is going to have to cut the panels down to size for the two of them.   The kids then went with me to the Garden area and helped me pick out these flowers. The pans, I got the night before at the auction for $5 a piece. one for the flowers, two for a confined fire and one to be able to cover it if the wind come up. I can put a couple of binder clips along the edge to help smother it, as well.

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Someone challenged the group members to post some Spring pictures. The first flowers of our Spring are about done. but there is always Dandelions  and there are by the rock wall at the back of our camper.

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As I said, the Daffodils are about gone now.

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Some of the area that I want to clean up soon. There is a lot of rocks behind the rock wall.  and there are other flowers starting to poke their leaves up from and I will get more pictures of them soon. There's a Koi pond here as well. I might pick up a couple of Koi for it soon.

Billie C.

March 13, 2017

We "Almost" had a snow over the weekend. Wish I had taken some pictures. Hubby didn't have to work this weekend and we took care of a few things on Saturday. Shopping and errands that needed done, like taking the trash to the city's recycle center.  Hubby needed to replace a meter for work. We went to the local Pawn shop and he found just what he was looking for there. He also found a tablet with detachable keyboard (I don't recall just what it's called). I found a nice, plain wedding ring that is just a bit too small. The Pawn Shop is sending it out to be enlarged and it should be back by Friday. I lost my original band years ago and have been wanting another one but just never saw what I waned or if I saw something I liked, it was way too pricey.  Besides, A ring is not what makes you married. But now I will have a nice ring to wear that will be an sign that I really truly have found the man who completes me.  I am in hopes that it will also be polished before I pick it up.

While we were looking around, I asked to hold and check out a hand gun. The last one we looked at, I could not pull back far enough to load the first shell.  This one, although still new, has been 'racked' a number of times and I found I could pull it all the way back. I'm very happy with it and the man who sold it to me, knew what I was looking for since we have been in several times, looking at the hand guns. This will fit into my handbag, if I feel like I might need to carry it. I do have my Conceal and Carry permit. Of course, he tried to sell me a more expensive gun. One with a laser pointer and I had to tell him that the pointer is all but useless for me. Oh, I can follow it well enough, but it would be more of a distraction than a help. I was taught 'Old School', how to shoot a hand gun. Look at what you want to shoot, raise the gun to your eye level and pull the trigger. Your hand will automatically point where you are looking. I may not hit "Center" but it will hit close enough to stop someone who may be wanting to harm me. I'm not expecting or looking for trouble, but I am prepared for it. And, around here, a hand gun is also a good investment. It's re-sale value, even after it's been fired a few times,  is very close to it's whole sale value. I can take it back to the pawn shop and they will purchase it back from me.

Too bad it was too cold and raw to go and see just how well I would be able to hit a target this weekend. Next weekend looks like it will be better weather for getting in some practice with it.

 

We had to replace a tire on the car on Sunday, and there isn't any place open on Sunday to do that, in our town. We went out for breakfast, Saw some snow on our way to breakfast, then headed to Kendal Tennessee's Walmart (closest without having t climb a mountain) and Hubby had both front tires replaced. Oh, now the ride is much smoother. 

We did want to go to the auction on Saturday evening, but the chance of snow kept everyone away. We did see some snow but we only had a little of it settle on the top of the car.

While we were shopping on Saturday,, I did pick up some more earrings. I got four sets of "Saint Patrick's Day" earrings. I will be looking for some for Easter next weekend. I made sure my new Saint Patrick's Day shirt made it into the laundry and was washed.

Growing up, my brother would take any opportunity to pinch me on Saint Patrick's Day so I would go to bed wearing something Green, and to this day, I still make sure I have some 'Green' on when I wake up on March 17. 

A few years ago, I got a 'Build a Bear' bear. I have her wearing a red gingham top and red shorts most of the time.. Right now she also has a green bead necklace and a green bowler style Glitter hat.

 

 

Billie C.