I'm Still Here

My last post was 2179 days or five years, 11 months and 17 days ago . Is anyone still out there? I am considering returning to blogging.  I honestly could not have predicted the return of the blog, so much time has past.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever consider returning.  The truth is, the kids have started a campaign, they are requesting the return.  In one of my last posts, I predicted how they would feel about the blog when they were older. ~

March 13, 2014 "I began this blog for two reasons. The first was to update my family in Ohio.  The second happened because I would tell my mother stories of my day with Donny, she would tell her friends at lunch and they didn't really believe her so I started photographing and blogging.  The blog slowly became a love letter to the kids so that one day they would read this and know that I found them to be intelligent, witty, creative and loving children.  Of course, they won't like me or the blog that much while they are in high school but who cares?"  

Although they are not quite in high school, they are old enough to be embarrassed by the blog. Quite frankly,  I am surprised by their reaction, they love reading the entries.  Last night we spent two hours reading the entries and reminiscing. I went to bed thinking how grateful I am that I began blogging.  I know there were probably a total of five constant readers at the time I was posting daily, but as I look back, I realize it was always truly about two readers who couldn't even read when I started.  So, that brings me to today. Do I dive into the blogging world again?  How do I begin?  Review the past 2179 days?  Begin with present?  How will I make this work?  Will I be able to breath new life into this blog? There are many things to consider and questions to ask but I do know I am still here, are you?

Long Time No Blog

Every night when I crawl in bed I have terrible feelings of guilt because I have not posted an entry.  The guilt intensifies as each day passes and I have neglected the blog. The end of the year is always crazy for me: making Halloween costumes, the kids birthday's and the holidays.  I started a new job and became involved with Donny's Cub Scout Pack at the end of October so my free time became very precious.

I began this blog for two reasons. The first was to update my family in Ohio.  The second happened because I would tell my mother stories of my day with Donny, she would tell her friends at lunch and they didn't really believe her so I started photographing and blogging.  The blog slowly became a love letter to the kids so that one day they would read this and know that I found them to be intelligent, witty, creative and loving children.  Of course, they won't like me or the blog that much while they are in high school but who cares?

I have decided not to sit here and dissect the past few months and drive myself crazy.  I will post some photos but I will move on and not look back.

Photo

I have been trying to upload photos for 24 hours.  I'm not sure why the site won't allow uploads but I will keep trying.

My Mother

I have copied the following from my Mother's Facebook page.  It was too good not to repost!

 

Once again, this could only happen on Harrison Street. I was awakened by shouts from my husband with "CALL 911, CALL 911!!!!!..so I called 911 and while I was waiting for an answer, I was yelling at him "ABOUT WHAT, ABOUT WHAT!!!! while running down the stairs. The light in the front hall was on, the hall tree was knocked over and the front door was standing open and there was a guy standing on t...he sidewalk facing the house. He had on a Carhart jacket with the hood up. I didn't have my glasses on and did I mention just two hours earlier I had had a healthy dose of Nyquil? Well the guy I thought was Ted, wouldn't answer me and started to run north on Harrison Street and I'm on the phone with dispatch running after him still yelling "ABOUT WHAT?!?!" Then it occurred to me. Ted can't run that fast, so I tell the lady dispatcher---maybe it is about the guy who is running down the street. I run back in the house and meet my husband peering around the corner with a gun in his hand. I shoved the phone in his hand and tell him to talk to dispatch, because I have no clue what is going on. After blah, blah, blah on the phone with the dispatcher he hands the phone back to me and tells me there is an officer outside, go talk to them. I run outside in my brand new christmas socks that are wet and dirty now and I still don't know what had happened. THEN he comes out and talks to Police. They have caught the "Perp" and wanted Ted to ID him. I went in the house and found the guys ski mask on the floor and under it was todays paper. He had brought the paper in.
Ted said he heard a commotion in the front hall and thought it was one of the cats, or two or three...anyway, there stood the guy waving his hand up and down (as an Elephant would his trunk) towards the hall tree. Ted kept telling him to get out and he wouldn't leave, so Ted said "This isn't your house " and the guy said" You're right". Ted said "I'm going to get a gun" that's when he woke me up with "Call 911!" He said he passed me on the stairs and said there was an intruder, but, I don't think so.
The whole episode was like a "Chinese Fire Drill". The poor guy was just very drunk and got into the wrong house..I'm sure he is paging through the phone book for some therapy he can get into and I'll probably have pneumonia tomorrow.
I'm going back to bed. I just noticed...I'm fully dressed.

Salt Flats

I have been meaning to post this since Grandpa's visit. In 2010 (October 12 "Granpa's Visit), I posted about Grandpa's visit and the missile he brought to town.  It was actually a fuel tank from an airplane that he was going to convert into a race car.  Well, he decided to trade his tank for one that was already finished.  He recently took the car out to the salt flats in Bonneville, Utah to see how fast he could go.  Unfortunately, the inspection team put a limit on his speed of 125mph.  Here are photos of that day:

Grandpa is inside.

Uncle Timmy, Grandpa's brother.

SORRY!!

Please don't leave me.  Things have been so crazy here that I haven't been able to blog.  I promise to catch up on the past two weeks within the next several days. 

Here is a Halloween photo of the kids:

Baby Coyote

This is the baby coyote that was hanging around our house for a few days.  

House Love

I just found the most wonderful blog.  I am watching 'The Family Stone" for about the four hundredth time and I decided to Google where it was filmed and I stumbled upon this blog.  For anyone who loves houses, this blog is for you.  Have fun.

http://hookedonhouses.net/

Zoo

On Monday I opened  the front door to find a little deceased chipmunk thanks to Kitty.  On Tuesday, we were greeted by this little guy who has been snacking on Kitty's food and bathing in her drinking water.

And finally this morning, Big Daddy was surprised to find this newborn fawn next to the garden shed.

Storm

A nasty storm came through last night. I sat on the porch and watched it come over the mountain. The clouds were incredible.

I'm back

I spent last week with Mom in Charlotte working on a project. We were very busy and the project started shortly after we arrived at the airport. I'm very proud of Mom, she worked very hard and didn't complain at all. Everything went very well until I got to the airport and flipped my mental switch to off.  Mom and I were sitting at her gate when I realized that I returned my personal keys with the rental car.  It all worked out in the end, but DAMN, we almost pulled off the perfect trip.  Good job Mom~!!!!

???

Well, this was a bit unexpected.  I quit checking the weather since it has been so mild.  Imagine my surprise at 5:22 this morning when the phone rang to inform me of a two hour school delay.  The kids were very happy and I'm sure Ashley have a bit of fun playing.

One Year

What a difference a year makes.  Last year at this time I was looking at real estate and seriously considering relocation.  Today the temperature was in the 50's and the kids played outside in jackets.  How long will this last?

Speaking of one year...after an entire year of very hard work, Big Daddy has completed the house renovation in Larchmont.  Big Daddy you have out done yourself and I am so proud of you. xoxo

TP

Tea Time

Sunset

Big Daddy took this photo of the sunset.   It is so beautiful, I thought I would share.

Power Up

I took these photos as the sun was coming up on Sunday morning. We finally have power again. While it was fun to play with the kids, I'm glad it is over. I just hope we don't do this again this winter.

Happy Halloween

October 29, 2011

1:25

2:25

2:25

They lasted fifteen minutes.  Even Ashley wanted to go in the house.

Come On!

Dear Mother Nature:

Please, please, please let this snow be your idea of a cruel joke for April Fool's Day. It doesn't look as if we are going to get the 3-6 inches predicted. I would like to thank you for the sleepless night since I woke every two hours and felt the need to look out the window. For reasons I will discuss later, I REALLY needed Donny to go to school today. Thank heavens school will be open. Please get this storm out of here and bring on the blue sky's...tomorrow is a big day for us. (The few of you who know, please don't spoil what I hope to be an awesome video.) One last thing...As Abigail walked into the family room this morning, I told her to look out the window expecting a two year old to be thrilled with the snow. However, she took one look, stomped her foot and yelled YUCK! My thoughts exactly.

Hello Again!

I apologize for the absence and have been told that I need to get back to blogging, so here I am. Things have been quite crazy for us for the past two weeks, but I think we may be slowing down.