We're back!!!

We got home late Sunday night. We spent 12 hours on the road! But some of that was well spent. We stopped at Monticello in Charlottesville, VA. Oh it was an impressive home. Jefferson was such a gadget guy! Sorta like my hubby. We didn't take the time to visit the grounds/gardens or cemetery but will do that on another visit.

I have lots to share about my vacation but just don't feel up to it right now. Still trying to recover from the trip. They always wear me out. Plus the heat from a vacation in July! What was I thinking???

So more later and photos!

Pam

Looking forward to vacation

Hello bloggettes. Sorry to be MIA this weekend. We just had a lazy weekend here at home. Well, except for having a worker here fixing the hole in our den ceiling. Oh, I didn't tell you about that did I? Well our potty in the master bathroom had a leak and I woke up and stepped onto the rug in the water closet and it was soaking wet. Yikes! I woke up dh and he immediately turned off the water. We sopped up the water and got that mess cleaned up. A plumber came later that day and repaired the problem. Then this weekend we had a guy cut out the drywall and replace it. So we have white dust everywhere and I have put off vacuuming and dusting because it looks like more sanding is needed. But I can't stand it much longer. First thing tomorrow morning the dreaded vacuum is coming out of the closet.

So anyway, I am looking forward to our summer vacation. We are going to Old Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. I am so excited. I love history and I have never been to these places. Virginia is so full of American/British history. I know I will come home with lots of books and cookbooks! I will have lots of photos to put in scrapbooks too. I have a feeling that one week will just not be enough and we will want to go back again. Just think about all that is in that area minus Washington DC which would be a separate trip all in itself. Monticello, Mt. Vernon, are just a couple of places I am thinking of. But Historic Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown may be all we can fit in this trip. Best of all we get a free admission to Williamsburg. I bought the John Adams DVD set and it had a coupon for a free admission valued up to $118 !! Yay me!

Robert's paternal lineage is all from Virginia. There are places we would love to go to and do genealogical research but we won't be able to do that on this trip either. But we are stopping to see a cousin on the way up and spending the night. It is always good to see family. We haven't see this cousin since his father died. He was almost 102! Dh talked to his cousin on the phone this evening and his accent is so different than ours. I love the way he says "howse" for house and "sowth" for south.

My car goes to the dealer tomorrow for an oil change and to get the tires balanced and just general a good going over before taking it on vacation, It is almost 10 years old! It's been a great car. No complaints.

My folks are coming by Wednesday afternoon. Mom has a doctors appointment and is coming by afterward. I am fixing dinner for them and then they are taking dd home with them for two nights. I'll go up Friday and get her. While she is gone I can get the car cleaned inside and out and get our packing done. Somethings are just easier done without a child under foot. KWIM?

I'll write more before we leave on vacation and I will have photos to post when we get back.

Ta ta, Pam

I'm back from the grocery stores

I made a haul tonight. I went to three grocery stores to shop and stock up on specials and ran through the drive-thru at the drugstore to get a prescription. I shouldn't have to shop again for about 3 weeks. One week being away on vacation in Virginia. Dh and dd were great sports and helped to carry in the groceries. Of course they were awarded with ice cream!

Pam

Grocery Store Woes

Do you hate going to the grocery store? I am finding lately that it has become a real chore for me. I once looked forward to it. Kinda took care of my retail therapy needs, know what I mean? But now, it's really one of those things I put off, and put off, and put off. Then when I go, I have so much to buy, that it becomes a really big chore for dd and dh who carry in most of the bags. If I go while dh is at work I usually just bring in the cold and frozen stuff. I figure if I do the meal planning and the shopping, someone else can carry in the bags.

Our garage is in the basement. Ugh. I despise carrying groceries up the stairs. My next house with have a garage next to the kitchen! That would make life for these old knees and back so much better!

I make a grocery list on Sunday or Monday along with my meal plan. I clip coupons I think I might use, etc. Then as each day comes I come up with some excuse for not going. Does anyone else feel this way? Am I just getting old?

I just made chocolate chip cookies for dd. I used a devils food cake mix. It was super simple. Didn't make all that many though. Must save some cookies for dh. Must not eat all the cookies. Must leave cookies alone. Do not touch cookies. Do not breathe the chocolately kitchen air. Do not look at cookies. Oh, it is sooooo good...

Pam

Where is the summer going?

Dd goes back to school on August 13th. We leave on July 19th for a week in Virginia. It doesn't leave much time to accomplish all the things I wanted to before summer break's end. My life is just flying by too quickly.

Dd still wants to have more sleepovers with friends and family. We still have summer schoolwork we are trying to do to keep up dd's learning skills in-between 3rd and 4th grade. Did I tell you how much dd enjoys this? NOT! I also have her reading books this summer. She doesn't enjoy this much either. She would much rather be watching TV or playing on the Wii. But we are only a child once. I keep telling myself this when I realize how little productive work gets done.

We have been to Dollywood several times already this year. It is so hot now I think I would like to wait until things cool down to go back. But we enjoy it so much.

My backyard looks like it did when summer began. I haven't been able to get rid of the wooden playset. It sits on the only level area of the yard. I have a fire pit I want to put out there and set up a nice outdoor living area. Oh that would be so nice. We may wait until the end of summer to make purchases of a screened gazebo and such when they are good bargains. Maybe next year I will have a nice outdoor living area in which to entertain friends and family. How about a smore? Lemonade anyone? Aahh I can dream.

Well, I need to go reboot the laundry and unload and reload the dishwasher. I love my servants. They are such good workers!

Pam

Hello Blogworld!

It's a lazy Sunday here. We attended church this morning and came home and ate lunch and then just lazed around. Dh and I watched some shows on the History channel that I had DVR'd about the United States Presidents. We watched up to President Arthur. That was all that was broadcast that night. I didn't think to check and see if there were any more the next night. Oops.

Dd spent quite a bit of time on Webkinz. She had a lot of those little stuffed animals that she hadn't adopted yet. So we proceeded to help her name them and she got quite a lot of them officially adopted and earned Webkinz cash. This girl likes to spend money! Now she is watching the Disney channel. Oh the life of a nine year old!

I have perused the sales papers and made a grocery list. That's really the only reason we get the Sunday paper. Coupons and advertisements. I should hit the store tomorrow. I may even try some CVS bargains that I hear so many other bloggers taking advantage of. Gotta save where you can!

Well, I'm gonna go fix myself a glass of ice tea, surf the web a bit and check some other blogs. Have a great evening.

Pam

Wii

My dh an dd love playing on the Wii. They love Mario Kart the best. Wii fit is pretty fun too. I think they would rather race each other than watch tv. That is fine with me. My computer is in the kitchen and I can sit here and surf the web and also watch them in the den playing on the Wii. Do you have one? What do you think of it? I have played very little on it. I'm not much into video games. How about you?

Can you believe I am still hearing fireworks? It doesn't sound like just any run of the mill fireworks either. Wow.

Well, guess I had better get ready for bed. I've missed church the last few Sundays because I've not gotten a good night's sleep. I need to get some good rest tonight. Talk to you all again tomorrow.

Pam

Happy 4th

We are back from the lake house. We had a good time and good food. It was good to see the family members that we don't get to see often. On the way home we went by Oak Grove Cemetery to look at the Seay plot. Dh's father, grandfather, grandmother and an aunt are buried there. Dh took photos. It started raining and we left to come on home. We are watching the movie Independence Day. Fitting, isn't it.

Here are the recipes for Banana Pudding and Spaghetti Salad that I've made for the 4th of July Celebration.

Spaghetti Salad

16 oz. spaghetti, cooked and drained

1 medium red onion, finely chopped

4 green onions, finely chopped

1 cup prepared Italian dressing

2 tomatoes, peeled and diced

1 cucumber, scored and diced

2 T salad seasoning

In a large bowl combine the spaghetti, red onion, green onions and salad dressing, tossing gently. Cover and chill overnight. Just before serving, add the tomatoes, cucumber, and salad seasoning. 10 servings.

Jiffy Banana Pudding

2 large boxes instant vanilla pudding

3 cups milk

1 large Cool Whip (may use fat free)

8 oz. sour cream (may use fat free)

Reduced fat vanilla wafers

4-6 bananas

Fold, don't beat the first 4 ingredients together. Layer vanilla wafers, banana and pudding mixtures. Sprinkle crumbled wafers on top.

I make my pudding with the sugar-free banana cream mix and use light sour cream and reduced fat vanilla wafers and the new sugar-free Cool Whip. Anything to cut the calories!

Well it's 10:30 at my house and I'm ready for a nap already! Well, we have cats that want out during the wee hours and my hubby is usually the one to do it. Well, okay, he's always the one to do it. My cats know who to wake up and it's not me. Anyway, it disturbs my beauty sleep(and boy do I need that), and I have a hard time getting back to sleep and usually just go ahead and get up. So by this time in the morning I am sleepy. My sleep doctor says morning naps are better for us anyway. Yay me!

Dd is watching the telly and just filled her belly with breakfast. Dh is at work slaving away. I had several things on my to-do list to get to today. I need to run to the store for fresh cucumbers. We are going to Aunt Pat's lake house for the 4th and I am bringing Banana Pudding, Brownies (decorating in red, white and blue) and Spaghetti Salad. I'll post recipes later. But first, a nap!

51 As a 1930s wife, I am Average Take the test!

My first post

Hello blog world! This is my very fist post. My dh was kind enough to set this up for me. I love reading blogs and thought it was time for my own. It is rather plain at the moment but I (we) have a lot to learn. I would appreciate any tips you could share with me.

Now to find where to publish my profile and share more about myself. Hmmmm....