Happy Birthday Ali!

This is my little granddaughter, Ali. Today is her ninth birthday. Happy Birthday my sweet little grand girl. Grammy and Papa love you bunches. When she was down a few weeks ago we celebrated her birthday early. Just a spur of the minute thing and no I did not bake her a cake, but bought one. We bought her a few clothes and she gave us a style show. It was so much fun.

However, now we are in trouble with her Mommy. Ali dressed one day in a variety, of colors with stripped socks. Her Mother caught her and ask her what she was wearing? She replied to her Mother, "Grammy and Aunt Candy said I look great in everything." Oh my goodness! Ha!ha! ha! We had to laugh.

She does look great in everything because she is so cute and sweet and her new clothes looked adorable on her. Oops! I think we created a Diva. I am sure that her Mommy will be able to take care of that attitude.

Ali lives in Colorado so I don't get to spend much time with her. She loves horses. She and I scrap booked together and rode the rhino. She loves tadpoles, and butterflies. She is very grounded and smart. She looks just like her Mommy, but has her Daddy's brown eyes.

Thanks for letting me brag a lot and share her photos with you all.

Open wide..

My new dentist said he won't hurt me or cause me pain. That is so hard to believe. I went to the dentist today for a crown on my upper left back tooth. Talk about nervous. I have not had any cavities in about twenty years, needless to say this was totally exhausting from the wrenching and white knuckling I did to keep myself from loosing it. The little pill did not calm my nerves one bit.

Some how if I can divide the time into steps it is never as bad as it seems. So first step is the shots. They don't really hurt or scare me. Part one done, next step two is the drilling and removal of old cavity and more grinding of my tooth. I am so scared that I am shaking from fear. I have to tell you he was very patient and stopped often for me to breathe. After forty-five minutes of grinding and drilling he was through. Check step two.

Next is step three, the mold of my teeth for the crown to be made from. Not good. I gagged on the first try and had to wait till the mess was all dry before the attempted the second try. This is very upsetting to me and all I can do is apologize for my behavior.

I get up and go to the restroom to collect myself. I don't know how I am going to be able to sit back down in that chair and continue. They are waiting for me when I return. My mouth is shut so tight and I am scared to open it. After a few guttural sounds from me and deep breathing I open my tiny mouth for the doctor to fill all of that gunk into the mold. He says don't move. Press down, but I am gagging in the back of my throat.

By now I am praying the 23rd Psalms and trying to keep my composure. I feel it in my mouth. It is cool and icky like paste. It creeps me out for my tongue to touch it. I try to pretend it is bubblegum after it sets up. Four minutes and counting. Praying that I can keep it together. My heart is in my throat. This is the worst part for me. I am barely able to stand this much longer. The beeper goes off and he pulls all of that stuff out of my mouth. I pray that it took and that I don't have to repeat this step. Thank goodness it was a good mold. The assistant places the temporary cap on my tooth and some horrible smelling stuff to seal around the gum line and the cap.

Once again, I thank them profusely and pathetically apologize for my behavior. But I survived. The last step is getting the crown seated and I think I will be OK with that in two weeks. This is the kind of stuff that makes me crazy with fear. How do I control it? Next time I am taking two of those little white pills.

I would rather deliver twins than have to go to the dentist for anything. This is a huge step for me in building trust. Believe it or not I do like this dentist, but you will never find me not flossing or eating sugar or stickey foods. I brush my teeth like a mad woman and that will continue because I never want to have to do this again.

Fire Academy Graduation

Hunter and ex-girlfriend, Daneille

Chief Ford and our son

Chief Howard, EMT teacher and Hunter

Hunter

Dad, Hunter and Brian

Brian and Hunter
brothers

Chief Ford and Hunter

When we arrived there was a huge storm that blew the power out and it was hot, but soon the power came back on. The training center is out in the country on a many acres. The facility was down a steep slope and a small lake was at the bottom of the slope. Beautifully wooded land filled with different training areas. I must say I was impressed.

Chief showed the parents and families videos of the actual training these men had been through. I think it would be very difficult to go out head first out of a third story building to practice escape on a tiny little rope, but you have to do what you have to do. Saving time also saves lives. They drill over and over to cut down on their time to dress in their gear. Chief is always pushing them to be the best they can be. I am thankful for the dedication of all of their instructors.

The main speaker was a retired fire chief. His witness to these men was incredible. Telling them of the many horrors he had seen during his career. His hands and some of his face showed the ferocity of a dedicated hero. Burned scars and many memories. How sometimes he kept it in, but that was not the best way to deal with death. He talked about the closeness of the men and to always be there for them. It was so very touching. Men can cry and help one another because this is not just any job, but a calling. When you are called to serve people in this capacity you have to share yourself. You have to love people. Thankfully, all these men are full of all of the qualities a fireman needs. What God has started in them he will finish.

May God bless the men and their families.

Most of all I am grateful that Hunter is part of a brotherhood of these men. I pray for all of their safety. Lincoln parrish is one of the largest fire fighting parrishes. Bigger than most cities in Louisiana.

My sister and her son, wife and two kids came to the graduation. Our oldest son and my grandaughter also came. Brian is a major in the Air Force. It was so nice to have all of the family together. Hunter starts his shift on Tuesday. They will continue their studies in several other areas and will take the physical part of the test in August.

We are very proud of Hunter.

Our son

On Saturday, our youngest son will graduate from the Fire Academy. We are so proud of him. He has worked very hard to complete his training and education. I know he will be a great fireman. He is a wonderful young man.

Our oldest son and his daughter are coming down from Colorado to see him graduate. It will be so nice to have both of our sons together again. I look forward to Saturday. I will post photos later.

It is all about family and I will cherish these moments forever. I am grateful.

Hey something is different...

This morning I spent reading some of my older posts about moving. It still brings me to tears when I read about how hard leaving my former home, my floral business, church family and dear friends was for me. I have been in a blue funk as many of you know for at least the year before our move. Hubs was living in another town for a year before we found any land to buy. Oh my, I was so lonely and terribly sad. This was very traumatic for me. Not for Hubs. Men just don't think like women do. So how did I cope? Not very well, you see I just struggled along putting one foot in front of the other and tried not to think too much.



I had been in pain from RA and my knee was injured on March 8th and I was so depressed. I started seeing a chiropratic and a counselor. I have to tell you that finally and I mean recently...my knee is better at about 80% and I am not depressed. Thank you Lord for working in my life to mend me. When you live in pain all the time it really brings you down and it is hard to focus on anything else. Then to be depressed on top of that. Ugh...is all I can say.



So last week, I noticed something was different. Hmmmm....I feel good. This was a wondeful moment to see how far I had come. I can walk with out pain in my knee and carry groceries up the decks stairs. I am still not at a 100%, but I am on my way. I told my therapist that little bit of news and she ask me what I thought had happened.? I know I owe it all to God, but I think the other things helped me along the way.



I remember how Dr. John would say such comforting things to me about this move. For those of you that did not know him, he was a retired Luthern pastor. He went on to be with the Lord almost 5 months ago. He understood my sorrow. I sure miss him.



I want to thank my bloggy friends for lifting me up and help keeping me a float during this time. You will never know how much I appreciate all of you. I am starting to see a new me and I like her. While I may not have many friends here or a church that feels like home, I am so thankful for my bloggy friends. Your listening to me is the kindest thing anyone has done for me. It has not gone unnoticed and I am gratful to you.



I am no longer looking at what I left, but looking to what I have. Hubs will start a new project in another town soon. I am sorry, but he is not taking the travel trailer. He will have to get up early and drive to and from. Last summer he was in south Louisiana forever. That was really difficult on me trying to keep the house, yard and everything together.



I wish you love and peace.

Today's view from my back yard

Our pond will be just perfect in about three years.

I am so looking forward to that day

This is the deep end of the pond

Slowly but surely filling up

She loves to swim

Suzie knows we dug the pond just for her.

click on picture to bigify




See the bumble bee?

This sun flower is waving to you

I don't know why some are taller than the others?

But I like them a lot.

I ask Hubs to drive for me so I can take some pictures of the back of our land. Luckily, the sunflowers have started to bloom. I wanted you to see how full our pond is getting and see my dog, Suzie swimming. I know...it's small things, but that is what I like.

Finally a view of our home

When we bought our land it came with this huge double wide manufactured mobile home. I guess that is what you call it. I'm not sure if it is a mobile home or what ever. It was two years old and in good condition. We had planned on building a home, but at this point I think we will hold off. The one thing I don't like is that our home is pier and beam. I don't feel safe during a tornado. Other than that it is alright. Of course I had my dream home(we raised our kids there and finally remodeled it) which we sold to move here for Hubs work. My hope is to get this place fixed up and make it look like a real home.

This is my favorite view of the back deck and the woods. We so love the country life and the beauty of nature.

Back deck off of the breakfast area

My number one rule for furniture and accessories is that it has to work in every room of my home and that has served me well over the years.

It helps cut down on over buying or buying something on impulse or at least it does that for me. Because I have a lot of old stuff which mostly I adore I have been known to put everything in as many different places as I could. What works in the living room should also work in the bedroom. With this advice, you can never go wrong.

None of my floral arrangements I designed looked right in this home

That will be my next mission to find and design some pretty arrangements.

Formal dining room

We feed a bunch of family at Thanksgiving

I have been loading photos forever today.

I am not sure if this in any sort of

order.

Chest at the end of dining room

Dining room and to the left is guest bedroom 1 and guest bedroom 2

Antique oak ice box and view to dining room

Rose capatimonte basket that belonged to my grandmother

I love cut glass, etched glass, crystal and pressed glass

I have just now started to think about all of the house.

I still had boxes stuffed in the closets.

I cleaned that out a couple of weeks ago.

I found the old photos of my grandparents and some baby photos.

It still doesn't feel quite right to me, but I think I am getting close.

Nothing looks like it did it my former home and that makes me very sad.

I am still fine tuning things.

I am open for suggestions if anyone has any ideas.

This is my favorite room in the whole house

It just feels right to me.
Gold medallions on these lace panels with red silk drapes

The antique water color painting got replaced with the TV.

My company likes to watch it.



NEXT

China Hutch in dining room

View to exercise and

craft room on the left
See the two chairs...

One is for me and the other is for my cats.

Craft and exercise room

view from breakfast table

Picture over the day bed in second guest room

Antique writing desk and chair in same bedroom

Antique lowboy chest in same bedroom

Day bed with trundle

Antique barrister book case in same bedroom

Lowboy across from daybed




My husband's great-grandfather's antique roll top desk in the living room behind the couch




View of small living room

View of kitchen and looking into living room

Our master bedroom

I can't stand the color
Other end of master bedroom suite

Our chest of drawers is in the giant closet

It is really large and I don't know what to do with it.

Master bedroom suite
Master bedroom suite

Looking back to back kitchen door, fridge and pantry door

Our breakfast area looking out onto the deck which faces west and is our back yard.

My kitchen sink area

Kitchen sink view

This is our small kitchen coming in from the wash room back door.
Thanks for taking my home tour. I did not post all of my stuff

I just got tired of adding the photos.