Joining a New Group

I have joined a new group........52 ancestors in 52 weeks.
Every week, probably on Mondays there will be a post about one of our ancestors, old or new.
I NEED to get some of these stories OUT of my head and written down.
So, BEWARE ! ! !

Happy Birthday...........

Happy Birthday

Kathy

James

Christy

"Tis the Season to Be Jolly........

And my jolly is slowly diminishing!

I just found out last night that the "Special" present for Eli had been delivered to Kat's old house in Reno! I blame that on the computer "auto populating" info from my previous order! I spent 49 minutes talking to three different people at UPS only to get a return call from a supervisor and hour later and talked another 30 minutes.  They are actually are going to send out a truck to the address to see if they still have the package! IF they do, they will forward it on to Eli in Vegas. Oh, so much drama!

And then there's the fact that my living room looks like the warehouse at FedEx.  You gotta love these kids that send all these last minute gifts that pile as high as a mountain! Yes, you know who you are!

Then there are the "Santa" presents, and just the regular presents, but the main issue........What is in this box, and who is it for? ? ? ?

I took a few hours off yesterday and went shopping in Smithfield with Phyllis. You can imagine the parking, and the walking. There were a lot of good deals, too bad most of my gifts had already been shipped. I did pick up quite a few Christmas decorations for next year at 70 percent off!

I've been wrapping this morning, and will do my cooking tomorrow. Christmas Day will be a day of rest!  Perhaps some weaving is in order.

LOOK........... Here's Proof!  There are regular wrapped presents under each tree!

That's life! ! !

Time for a Change! ! !

Look what I ordered me! The living room looks pretty good with the red, white, and black Snowman Christmas tree. This year I added a red and burlap "country" tree to go along with it. My red velvet
and fur curtains are hanging, but I never got the red scatter rugs I wanted. I saw these on sale last week while shopping online!  A long runner, and two rugs all for $90.00.  My "good" rug is still rolled up behind the couch until Jack stops drooling, and rubbing his mouth in it! That's  how he would clean his face after he ate, or drank water. I had taught him to use the rug in front of the
laundry closet, but he quickly discovered the one in the living room was much softer!

Christmas shopping has been off to a slow start. I did make my way to Target yesterday to hang out for almost 2 hours.

The favored gift for this year is going to Eli. Just wait to see the "after" picture for this one.

This is how the count is going
Brook, Braylee, Blake and Kelli all shipped.

Working on Tristen and Nate....will ship those tomorrow. Cindy is still a mystery!

Eli and Kat ordered and shipped.  Chris...... still in the works.

Christy and Catherine shipped. Still waiting to decide for Ken, Luke, and Jacob.

Liv and Cameron still waiting to decide. Wendy's, got her covered.

Mandy's shipped. Seth and Meghan.......undecided.

James, Lauren, Carter, and Izzy....... making it myself!

Next year in July instead of making curtains, I will be Christmas shopping! ! ! !

Blake #2

Here's another one.

Blake's Concert

This is Blake before his concert.

Below is a "snip" of his concert.

Do you notice two boys, one on each side that are dressed alike? ?

He is the one on the right, s step above the boy in the black vest.

WE LOVED your performance Blake!

Meghan hard at work

HELP... they keep falling over!

Finally finished! ! !

December Birthdays

24th   Kathy Roller
25th   James McKeel
29th   Stella Murray
31st   Christy McEwan

Thanksgiving 2017

The day AFTER Thanksgiving 2017!
Grandma said No reposting on Facebook Mandy, her nightgown is showing.

Happy Turkey Day

Happy Turkey Day to one and all............

Happy 16th Kenneth

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Kenny
Happy Birthday to YOU ! ! ! !

Enjoyed hanging out with you at the beach!  We love you.

Happy Birthday Brooklyn and Braylee

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Brooklyn and Braylee
Happy Birthday to YOU ! ! ! !

Happy Birthday girls! Love you!
Kelli, be sure to send me a birthday picture.

Happy Birthday Dad!

This was the most recent picture of Dad, taken at the Dr Office in October.
Don't forget to call him! He will be in church 9-12, then nap after lunch.

Happy Birthday Catherine

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Catherine
Happy Birthday to YOU ! ! !

Hey girl, do you remember when you looked like this? ? ?  We LOVE you! Enjoy your present.

Chris the Munchkin......

 Chris is a Hip Hop Munchkin in the school's production of the Wizard of Oz. Performances start this Friday night. I think there will be 8 performances in all.
 Isn't my baby the cutest thing ever........ that is of course other than my other cute little grand babies, grand adult babies, kid babies, teenage babies, middle school babies, elementary school babies, and of course great grand babies!

Basket # 9 in Progress

So, this is basket # 9 in progress.  I completed baskets 10 and 11 Sunday afternoon. Phyllis came over for brunch, and we made two little Christmas goodie baskets each.

Wednesday I will start making these Christmas stars for the tree.

Your Dad is a Wimp! ! !

Selective laser trabeculoplasty
Selective laser trabeculoplasty
Selective laser trabeculoplasty

Let's see you say that out loud three times! 
That is the procedure your dad had yesterday. The Dr at Duke has suggested it over a year ago, so the old man finally had it done! The nurse had told him it would not hurt. I was not allowed to go in the room with him of course, and when he came out, he was rubbing his eye, and laid back in the chair with his eyes closed, looking towards the ceiling. I kept asking him how was he, and he would just reply..... "It hurts"! He said it felt like the Dr punched 50 holes in his eye! 
This procedure is supposed to help with the eye draining, thus lessening the pressure build up that is damaging his optic nerve. This was just too much drama for him. He was ready to get out of there.
On our way home he was feeling better, so we made a much needed visit to the Outlet Store for some new shoes and Christmas decorations of course!
Plans for the weekend ....... taking down the remaining Halloween decorations, and cleaning out the freezer.
My job will be an all day basket weaving class! Life is good, except for those that have to clean out the freezer.

November Birthdays

  8th     Catherine McEwan
12th     Grandaddy Joe (89)
16th     Hudson Evans
19th     Brooklyn
19th     Braylee
20th     Kenneth McEwan
21st     Aunt Cathy
23rd     Tristen Evans Allen

Happy Birthday Meghan Oct 26th and Seth Oct 29th

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday Meghan and Seth
Happy Birthday to YOU ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

We love you!

Catherine's Haircut

Catherine just donated 10 inches of her hair.
Good job girl!

Zelma Died

Zelma Winslow

Obituary GOLDSBORO: Zelma Winslow, 59, died on Tuesday, October 17, 2017. Funeral Oct. 22 at 2:30 p.m., at Emanuel Full Gospel Church, Merry Hill. Arrangements by Mercedes' Funeral Mansion & Cremation of Williamston. As published in The Daily Advance Zelma was our renter that lived in the trailer. She was the happiest one legged woman that I have EVER known. She always had a laugh and a smile! She LOVED Sherrill McKeel. She thought he was the best person that walked on earth. She could set him straight when he needed it though. We wanted to have a ramp built for her, but no, she wouldn't allow it! She was buried today some where near Windsor. She leaves behind her remaining triplets, Thelma and Velma. Yep, that's really their names, Zelma, Thelma, and Velma!  Her son from Florida will stay in the trailer until he gets things cleaned out, then we will be hanging out the "For Rent" sign. One thing for sure, there was no one like ole Zelma! I am quite sure she danced her way though those pearly gates!

Happy Birthday Luke

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Luke
Happy Birthday to YOU ! ! ! ! !

Save me one of those chocolate things.... I LOVE them.

CAT 2 ...... Sherrill 0

Sherrill hasn't caught a cat in a few days now.  I think they have really outsmarted him this time.
He usually gives them a large scoop of food every morning and night. Since we have been trying to catch them, he gives them a little less, hoping they will be just a little hungry to go into the trap.

Well, last night they must have ganged up and worked together to get the top off of the 5 gallon bucket that holds all of the food. Needless to say, they had a FEAST! ! !  They did leave a little behind for breakfast this morning.  These crazy cats will get the best of you!

15 down 6 to go

The dog catcher has so far hauled off ....... 15 cats.

We have also caught two opossums and one raccoon! !  !

One cat is MIA, and one got run over.

BUT........ now we have a new litter of kittens!

It's all in a day's work.

My Kitchen Explosion

I started a new basket Wednesday, and I want to make another one just like it. So, I got my 7" wooden circle, and drilled 24 holes on the outer perimeter, spaced evenly. Next it was time to dye my reed.
I got all my stuff together, read different directions a hundred times, and knew I could do this!

I put a big soup pot on the stove half filled with water, but then the directions said to take a quart of water to mix with the dye, right when the water starts to simmer. The water would be simmering soon, so I grabbed a quart jar, filled it 3/4 way full of water, and threw it in the microwave. When it started steaming, I took it out, and poured in a half of container of the liquid Rit dye. All of a sudden, the jar started boiling over, and royal blue foam and liquid was shooting up in the air. I opened the back door and yelled for Sherrill. The dye had covered one whole counter, 5 lower cabinets, and three upper cabinets. It was on the stove, the microwave, about a cup even ended up in a lower cabinet. Thank goodness there was a plastic container there that caught it! We had one big mess. The dye had faded into the butcher block counter top, the cabinets, floors, everything.

Sherrill kept on cleaning while I started putting the reed in the pot to dye. I had to stand there and stir, while he was under me in the floor with a combination of Bleach and Dawn dish detergent trying to clean up the mess. We finally got the dying done, got it rinsed out, and carried the reed out to lay across the fence to dry. Now that was some work! I told Sherrill I think I will buy the reed already colored the next time. I had ordered some flat reed already dyed, but I needed round reed, and thought I could do it myself! Next time I will use a hot plate OUTSIDE!  I have learned my lesson.

This is the first part of the basket. I will take this one, and the one I am doing in blue to class on Wednesday. Looks weird doesn't it?

Love on the Freeway...... or should I say Lust ? ? ? ?

Yesterday I was in Elizabeth City, carried dad to Virginia to the Dr, then headed out of town back home. Heading out I ran up on a white souped up Mustang with LOUD mufflers.. I couldn't see who was driving, just a tanned arm hanging out the window with a large gold watch on. I would pass him, then he would pass me. We did this back and forth for quite a while, then I slacked off on the speed where I knew the cops like to parol. He motioned for me to come on up, and I shook my index finger out the window. No, NO. In no time I could see him breaking, and yep, the Highway patrol was there as expected. As we headed toward Edenton, I sped up a little before the increase in speed limit. I motioned for him to come on, and he soon caught up.  He continued to follow until I slacked off again. He kept on and got almost out of sight. Within no time, he was back on the brakes. I could see
a Patrol car with a car pulled over right in the swamps of Williamston. After passing the cops, I got ahead, and he passed me again. I was sad to see him pull off what dad calls the "super highway", he was heading towards Little Washington. As he was going around the exit, his hand was waving, and horn was blowing over and over. Our love affair was over........it ended just as fast as it began! If I was 20 years younger, I may have just followed him on to his destination...........
Just one of the joys of being old, simple little things can make you smile! ! ! !

Happy Birthday Jacob

                                                                       🎈🎈🎉🎊

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Jacob
Happy Birthday to YOU ! ! !

Happy Birthday Jacob! Be sure to eat lots of cake.
I am ready for another chess match! ! !

Happy Birthday Isabella

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Izzy
Happy Birthday to YOU! ! !

Hope your present arrived early. We LOVE you.
Tell your mom I STOLE her picture. I didn't have time to look for a good one!

October Birthdays

                                         

 4th     Isabella McKeel
 7th     Jacob McEwan
 9th     Shane Stokely
19th    Luke McEwan
24th    Aurora Murray
26th    Meghan Long
29th    Seth Long

Happy Birthday to all the October pumpkins! ! !

Just a little Sightseeing in Manteo

Look! There is MY witch! ! !

Second Day of Vacation......

What's a girl to do? ? ?

Happy birthday!!

Happy happy birthday dad!!   We love ya 🍧🎂🍭❤😄😜

Just one of Sherrill's presents..........
from Phyllis!

Well, I think I Broke It!

I was out cutting grass this morning. The front yard went fine, then I moved on to the back yard. NO problems their either for the first two laps. Remember now I am using the 20 year old shiny red riding mower, that the brakes don't always work, and you can't put it in reverse unless you cut OFF the mower put in reverse, then restart....then stop again, put in drive, and restart. No big problem, until you are turning a curve, and meet up with a tree. NOW, I have already climbed a tree with the same mower in the back yard a year or so ago.....this time wasn't as dramatic, but after doing the stop, start, stop, start routine, I kept on driving. I got about half way around the yard, and then it happened. It felt like the entire under-guts fell out! What to do now? I drove it about 10 feet and parked it under the shelter. Oops, think I will leave it there until the old man tries to back it out!
James...... I need to borrow the John Deere!

Getting Ready for Halloween! ! !

Remember this from 2014. Sherrill is in the attic looking for indoor decorations. He wanted to know what color totes they were in, so I had to look back to this post so I could tell him the color. He's still looking for the blue tote, and somehow we have an additional colored one!
I want to get the inside of the house done before the end of the month, then we can work on the outside the first week in October. I think we are going to need to build a new barn to store this stuff.
The old man is just too old to move all that stuff around, and up and down the attic stairs. Perhaps someone would help build us some shelves in the garage for storage!

Happy Birthday Sto Baby!

I'll NEVER forget our Washington DC trip. You two guys were a "hoot"!

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Chris
Happy Birthday to YOU ! ! !

Hope your day is filled with lots of laughter and surprises. Don't party too hard!

Happy Birthday Liv!

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Liv
Happy Birthday to YOU! ! !

I forgot to text you this morning before school...... I was sleeping! Love you.

September Birthday Celebrations

 4     Carolina Murray
 8     Olivia Murray
 9     Christopher Roller
13    Aunt Jackie
16    Kevin Taylor
20    Brandon Evans
22    Sherrill
24    Krystal McKeel
24    Kelly Stokely

Gray Cat Saga......

Last night Gray Cat brought up a new little kitten to the patio area. She fed him, groomed him, and left him there at the bottom of the steps all alone for almost an hour. In the meantime I called dear old "Dr Debbie" to see what I should do. I knew the kitten would not survive alone out there during the night. She gave me her expert advice, which I explained to Sherrill. He said  "NO", we were NOT going to feed any kittens, and bring them inside, that we had to get rid of the cats we already had. I waited, and before I went to bed the kitten had disappeared. I sent Sherrill out to see where it was, and Gray Cat had not only brought that kitten, but two others and had moved them in a corner beside the steps at the garage door.  I guess she might realize that a small storm is headed this way, and what better place to be than near the "Old Man" that feeds them.  Sherrill went out last night and put her out some food and water.
This morning I noticed where he had fed her again, and then I carried her out some cheese when I got up .....(gotta have that calcium)!

So, this is what we have......... three new kittens just waiting to meet their new family! !! !
Oh, their eyes are shut, and they can't walk. They scoot on their bellies!

I put a box with a towel in it to see if she will move them into it. I also put a plastic lid over it to repel any rain.

We had another set of kittens a couple of weeks older than these. One is white with a black mustache. Sherrill calls him "Hitler".

Burning Man is LIVE ! ! ! !

OR

https://www.youtube.com/c/burningman/live

Baskets's # 2 and 3

Basket on the bottom I did in class last week. Friday I went to the basket warehouse and bought some colored reed to fancy up the same basket. So, yesterday morning I got up, loaded the crockpot for dinner, cleaned my kitchen, and sat back and made another basket, just like the one I had done in class. The only problem, I didn't have any instructions, and all of the materials were just bundled together without any identification. The reed is variegated colors, that is why sometimes you see pink, or purple, or green. This Wednesday I start  a new one! Yeah!

Separated, Washed, and Sanitized

Here's the first batch to get me started..... separated, washed, rinsed, and sanitized. I had to wash them in Dawn dishwashing liquid (to get the bird pee and poop off), rinse two or three times, then you have to let them sit in boiling water for 20 minutes to get the germs off. Now they have to dry. I think I will start tonight to see if I can get the base started. In the meantime, I am back outside to separate some more! Sherrill said the house smells like pine!

Where's MA BELL When You Need Her?

In case you haven't noticed, my phone is only working 20 percent of the time. If you call, you will probably get a busy signal. The repairman can't come until next Wednesday!  So, looks like it is quiet time for me! Call my cell and leave a message....... you know it stays in my purse! Even better than that...... just call Pa!

You will NEVER believe this!

See this!

Guess how much it costs?

$45.00 per pound on amazon.com! ! ! !

Who needs a job? I can make millions by just stepping out of the house.

Pure GOLD! ! ! !

New Distant Relative

Here's my newest distant ancestor!
Sure hope I don't marry a king and get put to death!

Where Ya Going?

It all started around 3:00 AM this morning, the roaring sounds of jet engines as they fire up and leave the tarmac. They know they are not supposed to practice between 11:00 PM and 5:00AM, but yep, they are definitely up to something! They often move out before a storm comes, and we do have a few headed this way, but they don't fly out in the dark of night. So, next option, they are headed somewhere!  The last ones left around 9:00 AM. I'll let you know if they are home before nightfall.
Another point of interest, they have been practicing maneuvers all this week. They ALWAYS fly in groups of two, but eerily they were flying with four.

Favorite New Hobby

Basketweaving 101

I received a call from the library in Mt Olive today to see if I was available to go to a class. It had started an hour before, but not all the participants had shown up. I jumped in the car and took off.
It was a basket weaving class, and I LOVED it! I made this basket start to finish in a little over 2 hours. It's called a Muffin Basket. I can't wait to try more. I found out there is a Basket Weavers group in town that meet every other month, and they sit around all day on Saturday and do nothing but eat and make baskets. Sounds like my type of laid back group.
Retirement if fabulous.........

A New Project.....

Now that I have my Christmas Curtains done, I want to try one of these!
Christmas is coming early this year!