Judy vs USPS

 I went to the Post Office to mail out a package today. I put in it in a priority flat rate box. The lady at the counter tells me $11. and something. I tell her no, I want the $5.00 box. She already has the sticker on it, and tells me that it is lightweight, but because it is in a flat rate box it is the $11 whatever.
I told her I didn't want to mail it then. I looked around for a regular priority box, but they were all flat rate. I repeated to her I wasn't paying 11 dollars for something I could have put in an envelope.
She acted as though she couldn't void the transaction, but then I saw her supervisor coming through, so she jerked those stickers off the box and gave me the box back.
  Why don't they put on the boxes "Heavy things in this box", and "lightweight things in this box".
Just too many boxes, too many rules, and too much drama!

Now for the rest of the story!
   We go to Mt Olive to the Pig Store (99 cent Pepsi). The Post Office is two doors down.  I take my box, and go to the Post Office there to pay my $11 and whatever. I decided by the time I go home, repackage my box, the last mail truck would have already gone. Then I would have to go to the Goldsboro Post Office, because the Dudley Post Office isn't open on Saturdays. I hesitantly gave them my money, and shipped the package out. There! Now it is done with. They won! That's OK. Wait until Christmas, I will CRAM everything I can in tiny envelopes and boxes, just to see them bulge.
  I will WIN this battle......... Battle of the Bulge!

Oh What a Mess!

This is what my closet looked like last Monday.

This is the stuff I had already taken OUT.

2 totes, 2 clothes baskets, plus a basket full of pictures

This is what it looked like when I finished. I still have a large section of quilts to straighten on the right hand side. I think there's like 25 of them. At least I can see the floor, can walk in now, well, I could until Sherrill moved furniture in there. While I was at church today he moved a big mirror in. Now I can't even get to my clothes. Sherrill hauled off a car load of clothes, shoes, and misc items to the Habitat Store. They LOVE seeing him stop by.
   I never realized how messy I was. But hey, it was all behind closed doors!

I love about anything cooked in the crockpot with cream of mushroom or celery soup. I don't like all the sodium though. When I came across this I decided to give it a try. I haven't fixed it up yet though.

Soup or Sauce [S.O.S.] Mix

Ingredients
2 cups powdered non-fat dry milk
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup instant chicken bouillon (regular or low sodium)
2 Tbsp dried onion flakes
2 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a recloseable plastic bag, mixing well.
Equal to 9 (10.5 oz) cans of cream soup.

To substitute for 1 can of cream soup

Combine 1/3 cup of dry mix

with 1 1/4 cups of cold water. Whisk until well blended.

Cook and stir on stove top or in microwave until thickened.

Add thickened mixture to casseroles as you would a can of soup.

Or just eat it! :-)

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/03/soup-or-sauce-sos-mix.html

News for the Day

   It has been just one of those days, everyone needed to call a nurse or doctor. It all started out with Eli waking up feeling a little "under the weather". He missed a day of school. Allergies already!
  Christy had to go for a procedure, it ended up going wrong, and she ended up in bed with pain meds.
  Isaac has his EKG and echo, and he's doing fine. Pulse still too fast, but they are watching it.
  Mom (Grandma Cat) went to the doctor, had to go for X-rays for her knees, and ended up on stronger pain meds. Goes back again on Wednesday.
  Poor Sherrill is walking around with a finger that keeps bleeding (where he took a chunk out of it).
He can't understand why painter's tape doesn't make it better.
  Oh, Sto got a couch for his room (some assembly required). He wasn't able to get it together, so he was calling some friends to come over tonight to help him. He now goes to a "single's ward". For those who don't know, that is an entire church for young people, usually ages 18 to thirty something. No more hanging out with "Ma" at church.
  As for me, I'm doing GREAT! I'm still getting my room put together. Sherrill is still painting, and had some flooring patchwork to do today. He should finish up the painting tomorrow. I'm walking on a bare floor with those carpet staples sticking in my feet. I can't wait for the flooring man on Saturday.
  Kelli, are you still out there girl? We haven't heard from you in awhile.

Hello.........

Sherrill is painting.
I'm sending out invoices for dad.
Jack is pouting because he can't go in my bedroom.
Grandma Cat goes to the Dr today. She still has problems walking, and wants a shot of cortisone.
Grandaddy's truck is in the shop ready to be painted from his "fender bender".
All is well in the world today....... as far as I know anyway!
Oh...dessert for the week is Spice Cake with cream cheese frosting. Feeling a little spicy!

My Life

Please copy and paste this and watch this. I feel like this is my life. Anyone else? 

Picking out colors

   Well, it's that time again. Sherrill has a couple of days off work, so it's time to put him to work! All the furniture is OUT of my room, except for the ginormous dresser and mirror. That won't be moved until the floor man cometh. I think these will be my colors Soft coral on three walls, and sea spray as the accent wall that goes from the back wall, all the way through to the dressing area. The tile in the shower is a light blue. Hope it doesn't clash too much. I'm ready to get rid of that beige (sorry Kat). My bed has been taken apart and is in the living room against the wall. I had to move the quilting frame to the living room too. I've asked Sherrill to move it there every since I saw Christy's in her living room. Who wants to sit in a back bedroom to quilt? I want to be in the center of things
   I went online and picked out a granite counter top for the vanity. It was a mere thousand dollars (double sinks do cost a little more). Sherrill just walked away, so I knew my answer. I'll just happily settle for a new paint job and flooring.
  The closet was finally clean (after a week's work). Then, we had to load more stuff in it when we cleaned out the room. Grandma's Jeanne's hutch is sitting in the middle of it right now. I can't wait to get all of this stuff together. I am ready for a CLEAN, clutter free room. I don't want anything out to collect dust! I guess now there will be no excuse for clothes laid out.
   Gotta go....time to watch Big Brother.

Who's the MAN?

You're the MAN!
Happy Happy Birthday Sto Baby.......Oops, I mean "STO MAN"

Another athlete?

Did you see what Cindy has been up to?
Biked 30 miles today.
Go girl go!

Birthday girl........

And........
What do you do on your birthday.........
A Pedicure of Course!

Happy Birthday Olivia!

Happy Happy Birthday Liv.

Be sure to go back to last year's post and see everyone singing to you.

Call us today.

Love YOU,
Grandma Judy and Papa

Grandparent's Day

Grandparent's Day is September 9th. While cleaning out my closet (photos to come) I found this original copy of my Grandma Naomi's class picture taken around 1923-24. The problem with the picture though was none of her children couldn't identify which one was her. Even her sister couldn't pick her out. After blowing this thing up super size and really studying it, I was able to find her. Look in front of the tree, the girl in the white dress with the brown hair (kinda looks like a chubby Mandy). That's her! To make sure, I sent the picture to Aunt Debbie, and yes, she agreed.
  Then I went online to find the name of the school.

Yes, Here it is, Gaston School. It's just turned around. Notice the chimney!

More pictures of Grandparent's to come.

Lost

We lost the horses. Yep that's what happened this morning. Kurt is back at work so now it's my turn to feed and water the animal's. Well I get up and send the kids off to school and go out to feed the horses. There not there. I go check the fence's and see if there shut. Yep there closed and locked. But no horses. I start callling them and calling Kurt on my phone. I go into the little fence(that's where the kids play area is) and guess what. There around the corner by my room eating grass. So horses are back in there pasture area and Christy can rest a little easier until they escape again. Wonder how they got out?? Kurt left the gate open to the kids area. They just walked right through.

Here's a few more.......

Handsome little devil!

Awwww

Carter thought this was Eli!

It's so fun going through old, and not so old pictures. It kinda makes you Remember when.....

Sherrill and the Computer

   Sherrill has been using the computer the past couple of weeks. He has learned how to type in the password, go to a bookmarked site "Swap and Shop" and look for items up for sale, and to see if anyone has sent him a message. Last week I made him an additional tab, so he can check his email.
SO, when you get a chance, send him a message to  mckeelpaint@gmail.com  Just beware, you may never know what he might send back!
  Kat told me to hook him up to Craig's list, but I'm not sure if he is prepared for that quite yet.

A few more pics

Remember when there were just 2 Roller Kids........
And two McEwan Kids...........
And two McKeel Kids..........
Times have changed!

Happy Labor Day.......

So, what are you going to do........Labor.
Kat cleaned house. Christy harvested honey. The last I saw of Abby she was headed to clean her bathroom. And where was Wendy........ on the way home from the beach. Now she is the only one with the right idea.
   Sherrill helped me most of the day clean out my room and closet. I kept taking breaks, as he filled my car with items for the Habitat store. Christa came to help out. I got rid of about half of the clothes in my closet, lots of picture frames, and no telling how many hangers. Now I have to reorganize photos in envelopes, in boxes, in albums, and even in totes. Then there are the quilts, purses, and all kinds of  unopened games and toys (thanks Kat).
   The flooring man is coming on the 14th to put down the wood flooring. So, it looks like Sherrill will be painting this weekend. I came across some pictures tucked away so I'll share a few with you.
   Be sure to show them to the kids. More to come tomorrow!

 

Blegens

Hey everyone, well sorry I haven't posted for a while. Ive been busy with volleyball and school and when i have free time Nate always has the computer. Well school is kinda boring, but the days go by fast. Then right after school I have volleyball from 3:30-5:30. On Tuesday I have a game so wish me luck. Ha grandma, nope there is no cute boys. Nate says that 5th grade is kinda hard but he likes it so far and he is doing football. But that's about it, well love ya all. -Tristen

New Paint

   Sherrill went this morning to get the paint for 3 of my outside doors. Guess what color! The actual color name was South Seas. I haven't taken a picture yet, but the color is pretty close to the ones above.
When he first started painting I began freaking out, but as he continued on, I kinda got use to the color.
The house is gray, so why not turquoise doors.
   I am surprised I was able to get these in a collage. This was only the 2nd time I have made one.
   Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend. If you get bored, or need something to do, go paint a door or two!

September Birthdays

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Special birthdays in September

4   Carolina Murray  (Leigh Ann's daughter)
8   Olivia
9   Christopher 
20 Brandon
22 Sherrill 

   Have I left out anyone? My main calendar was in the other MAC!