Ever been to Lake Gaston?

Have you ever been to Lake Gaston? Sherrill and I headed that way Saturday and covered the SE
Quadrant. We were amazed with the million dollar homes located on the lake, and the dumpy little fishing trailers sitting next door. We went in through Littleton, a quaint little town, and rode the back roads. If we had stayed on 95 for another 20 miles I think we would have ended up at the more commercialized part.

Where we went had one grocery store, one mom and pops restaurant, and one Subway. No Mickey D's, no Walmart, no "chain stores". Lots and lots of real estate brokers, and lots and lots of land and houses for sale. I guess the average price is around $600,000 -$750,000.
There were so many boats on the lake, but because it is so big, there was room for all. There was one really big Marina.

I was just wondering if anyone has been on the Virginia side of the lake.

This is what one man posted about the lake itself.
The main body is approximately 34 miles long and 1.3 miles across with an average depth of 40 feet and covers approximately 23,000 acres. There are no state parks, but lake access is available to the public at one of the county’s boat launch sites or marinas. The 350 miles of shoreline is tastefully appointed with beautiful waterfront homes nestled close to the water’s edge or perched higher on a bluff to provide spectacular lake views.

Community Cat......and what she left behind!

The "community cat" took up residence in our back yard about 2 months ago to have her litter of four kittens. "Big Mama" was killing our squirrels to feed her kittens, so we started feeding her. Now we have "Big Mama" and her kittens Lauren, Carter, Izzy, and "Scaredy cat" living in the back yard. No problem...... as long as they are out at the barn.
BIG PROBLEM though when they are on the back deck at 4:00 AM playing around.
I heard what I thought was an opossum on the back deck, only to find four playful kittens and one sleepy mama cat. I would scratch on the window of the glass door, and they would chase my hand wherever I would move it. We played around for a while, then I went to get the camera.
Cats do NOT like flash bulbs. They would go and hide, then come back out to play some more.
I listened to these animals do their aerobics for over an hour before they finally calmed down.
Anyone want a kitten? Two white, one calico, and one gray mix. You can catch as many as you want, "Big Mama" included!

Old Men

Today I spent a large part of my day talking to two of my favorite senior citizens, Grandaddy Joe, and Uncle Rudy. Now these men are 85 and 87 years old, and still don't mind explaining how things work.
My first conversation began asking me to find pictures of a conversion kit, converting a gasoline generator to propane. NOW......I know how interesting this must be to ALL of you. But, as I learned today, this really IS done, and I found the pictures to prove it! ! !!  And.....dad can do it! After this was accomplished, there was still other tasks to do.
Next came the conversation with Uncle Rudy. He's getting a distributor cap for granddaddy's tractor.
In this conversation I learned the difference in the carburetors of the John Deere 40 and 50.  Now, we had just been through this same conversation Friday night as we were walking through the fields looking at all 14 tractors on the farm! Would you like me to tell you the difference and similarities?
Sometimes they ARE interchangeable.
What wonderful things we can learn from the older generation if we just take the time and put on our listening ears. It's not always convenient, or interesting, but you really can learn a lot!
I just LOVE me some Old Men!

Christmas in June

Yay, new brushes.   Lol

Mmm Hot Sweet Potato Muffins

There's no better smell than a batch of baking sweet potato muffins. You have to get up and start them early though to beat the heat. With some days topping out at 100 degrees, baked goods are few and far between.
Last week I decided to get the sweet potatoes. I ended up using half of them for yams to go with Sherrill's chicken pastry on Sunday.  Today I decided was muffin day. Glad I did too! Now I can just sit back and smell that cinnamon!
I hate cooking in the kitchen when it is so hot. Well, to be honest, I don't like cooking anyway. The other morning I asked Sherrill if I could fry his chicken early morning, that we were having that night. He just looked at me, rolled his eyes, and "Whatever", or something like that came out.
I did cook his boiled potatoes, field peas and snaps, squash, and fix his cucumbers earlier in the day, but did save his fried chicken for the afternoon.
Keep it cool folks on these hot summer days! There's just more of them to come.

What I Learned on TV Today

I was watching TV this morning as a woman was telling her story of getting "glued" to the toilet seat in a public restroom. Now please tell me, what person does not LOOK before they "squat and drop"?
And, who does NOT line the toilet seat with a paper liner or tissue? Go figure!

She had to be removed by using WD 40, pulling off some skin, and causing lots of pain.
What is this world coming to? Even little kids will shriek when they see something on the toilet seat!

Weekend in Charlotte

Just Playing Around

I made one of these today.
Just a cute little bag. I saw them years ago in Vegas, and wanted to make one. I actually bought
three kits but never made them.
Today I decided to go on my own without the kit. I went digging through my fabric and found the watermelons. Now that I have it figured out, I can go find the kits and make them!
On a roll here!

Going for a Ride

Remember the van in the yard I have been complaining about for the past 9 months?  Well, today it
went for a ride. The battery was dead, so Sherrill got the bright idea to have Mandy pull him down the road. She did. It started, and she came back to the house. A few minutes later I get a call, "Tell Mandy to come get me, and bring the rope". She goes through the neighborhood to find him, and there he is..........driving in reverse down the road. She comes back to the house, and still no Sherrill.
He calls again, "Tell her to come back and get me." They get all the way to the driveway, then tries to get up the hill, and the rope breaks.....and breaks......and breaks. He finally has to go through the neighborhood to find a chain before he get it back in the yard.
And oh, did I mention he left it in the middle of the road for about 20 minutes during this time.
It didn't bother him a bit.
Well, he promises......MAYBE it will be gone in two more weeks, when he can get a day off!
I think he finally realizes he can't drive it to the junk yard.

Sethie

I've been unpacking and look what I found.  Seth in kindergarten

Address Correction PLEASE!

This morning I read in the paper the name of a previous renter's BOYFRIEND. He was arrested for not paying child support, and resisting arrest. He gave the address for the trailer 151 Woodland Church Road as his current address. Well, the devil flew into me. He has been in trouble before, and his "friends" came and slashed the tires on his girlfriends car after he had moved out. The girlfriend moved out about a year ago, and new tenants are there. I am afraid of his "Friends" coming back.
All I want is the address taken OUT of the computer.

So, I call the sheriff's department .............I was referred to the clerk of court  (30 minutes)
I called the clerk of court...........................I was referred to the jail.     (20 minutes)
I called the jail........................................... I was referred to the magistrate. (10 minutes)
I called the magistrate...............................I was told to find a current address, and they could change it. Duhhhh....... His current address is Wayne County jail. Use that address. He is still there!
I asked if he can use mine, why can't he use yours? I was referred BACK to the clerk of court.
I called the clerk of court and told them his girlfriend was receiving child support, and they could use that address ..............................................I was told to call child support division! Well, I KNEW they would not release any info.  (30 minutes)
So, I FINALLY gave them a street address where the girlfriend lives, I don't know the apartment number. But, in the meantime they found the father's address and gave it to me.
I called the magistrate back .................25 minutes later he was entering the new address in the computer. It took almost 2 hours just to remove a simple address from a machine!

I asked the magistrate what if he(the renter) is using the address on his driver's license. Is a highway patrolman going to come knock on the door and tell them their loved one has been killed if he gets in a wreck or something.

Kathy told me to take a "chill pill".
What is with this system of ours?

Olivia's recital pic

Hey Wendy
Tell Randy I stole his picture from Facebook.
Tell LIV she is just darling!

Happy birthday mom

Happy birthday to you

You belong in a zoo

You look like a monkey

And you smell like one too

We love you

Happy Father's Day

The phone rings this morning while I am still asleep

Me: Hello
Dad: Judy, I am going to pick up your Uncle Hallett after church and go visit Velma (their 90 year old sister). While we are out I thought I would go by to see Robert.
Me: Robert who?
Dad: Robert Evans
Me:  Who's that?
Dad: You are the one that does family history! Don't you know who my cousin Robert is?
Me: No dad. Have a nice ride.
Dad: I need you to help me find which Robert he is. There are a lot of them in the phone book. And I want to put his address in the GPS.
Me: Ummmm......how am I supposed to do that?
Dad: Get on the internet when you get a chance.
Me: OK dad.......right now. Hold on.
       Here he is...... Robert Evans......87 years old......He's the Robert O.
Dad: Yep, that's the one. I thought it was.

This is just one of the million and one reasons I LOVE my dad. He knows he can call me at ANYTIME and I am willing to help him out, but most of all he is ALWAYS there when I need anything.

Happy Father's Day to all of you dad's out there.

Grandpa Having FUN ! ! ! !

Here again....... little boys and their toys!
Don't jump Grandpa.....don't jump!

Happy Birthday Eli

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Eli
Happy Birthday to YOU! ! ! ! !

These pictures really show your personality!
You are one of a kind my dear.

Still Looking.........

Yep, I'm STILL looking for campers.
Wonder if I could at least afford this.

The Rendezvous should be able to pull it!

What I did at school.......Oops, I mean work!

Little Boys and their toys........

Better still, old men just having fun when they are supposed to be working!

Yes, he is KING for the day!

Poor Dad

Dad came home from lunch and he's so sleepy from the heat. 

Happy Birthday Debbie

Happy Birthday little sister!
Oh........you have officially reached the "retirement years".
Love you.

Meghan and her classmates

                                                               Here's Meghan!
                                                         Photo by her Chinese teacher.

Happy Birthday Travis Jr.

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday Travis Jr.
Happy Birthday to YOU............and Congrats on that High School graduation!

304 Crestwood Drive

This was taken 2007. Ugly brown door and ugly landscape timbers.

This was taken Dec 2013. See the new brick landscaping and my turquoise door.
Same old brown van sits in the yard......but hopefully not for long!

Happy Anniversary Kat and Joe

Sorry no picture or gimmick.
Make it special.......once he gets back home.

Las Vegas....

ATTENTION....ATTENTION...THIS IS CAPTAIN KATHY SPEAKING TO YOU:

If we're going to ALL go to LAS VEGAS...

we have to reserve our house now!

Here's the deal...

1. The consensus is that December 26-Jan.2 is the BEST time for everyone.  Please confirm in writing.
2. We'd love it if EVERY family can donate $500 to the house.  (dad will generously buy the food and toilet paper) Not due until closer to December (if you need to apply for a scholarship...call me)
3. Who's flying and driving??  I will drive and let anyone who flies use my car (and Joe can rent a big SUV for almost nothing and we'll share that too)
4. In case you didn't know...fireworks on the strip are AMAZING...so, if you were wavering...you NEED TO COME!  (and...I'll watch any kids that don't want to go)

I think that's all for now.

We just don't know HOW BIG of a house to reserve until I have some confirmations.  SO...call me, text me, or leave a comment on this post.  (each family will get ONE bedroom)...kids can sleep in tubs, any open floor space, and outside patios.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Cannon, Londyn, and Brock!

Homemade Moon Pies

Have any of you tried making home made moon pies?
This is pretty easy.

1/2 cup butter, softened


1 cup white sugar


1 egg


1 cup evaporated milk


1 teaspoon vanilla extract


2 cups all-purpose flour


1/2 teaspoon salt


1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder


1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda


1/2 teaspoon baking powder


1/2 cup butter, softened


1 cup confectioners' sugar


1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract


1 cup marshmallow creme

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a cookie sheet.

To Make Cookie Crusts: In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter or margarine and white sugar. Add egg, evaporated milk, and vanilla. Mix well. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder. Add flour mixture slowly to sugar mixture while stirring. Mix just until all ingredients are combined.

Drop the dough onto greased cookie sheet by rounded tablespoonfuls. Leave at least 3 inches in between each one; dough will spread as it bakes.

Bake in preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until firm when pressed with finger. Allow to cool at least one hour before filling.

To Make Marshmallow Filling: In a medium mixing bowl, blend together 1/2 cup butter or margarine, confectioners' sugar, flavored extract, and marshmallow creme. Mix until smooth. Assemble pies by spreading 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls of filling on flat side of a cookie crust, then covering filling with flat side of another cookie crust

Blake, Kelli and Liam

Hey Hey!
Everyone is well on this side. I am working as an administrative assistant/receptionist at a mortgage company. so yes, i am the you know what for my big boss. lol! I work 9-6. so my days start off at 630 trying to get both kids ready and off to the sitters house and me to work in the crazy traffic and then home to cook supper and give baths and that fun MOM stuff! i dont even know how i keep my head on half the time. but i do enjoy my job alot! we have this one black man that everyone picks on. and on the 4th floor we have pigeons that have gotten into the cieling and it smells like a zoo down there. so on my floor (5th) floor is the main floor, this black man who is a manager comes up here quite often and i ask him everytime if he has taken the monkey smell back with him. i guess you have to be here to laugh but it is funny! it is a young company so everyone is fun to work with. i will try to get some pictures updated here and email them to grandma so that she can upload them. hope everyone else is doing good!

Kelli

I found some more Pictures

Look here Blegen family.
I found some more pictures of you!
Wonder what year these were taken!?!?

Found a video too of Chris Paint balling in the hood!