You're Invited

Abbie will be dancing in her ballet company's recital on Friday, May 29 at 7:00 pm at Seeger Chapel, Milligan College. They are doing a production of Snow White. She's going to be Bashful, a dwarf. She will also be in a jazz number - separate from the Snow White storyline. {She is reading over my shoulder and says she likes Jazz the best.}

Right after her recital, we are leaving for our vacation! Yay- it's not that far away!

And in December, she will be dancing in The Nutcracker. Don't know dates or times yet or her role. But it's an honor for her just to be asked!

Bird Watching

After visiting my dad today, Abbie and I went to my mom's house. She was just finishing up a Butterscotch Pie. We sat and talked while Abbie and I ate a late lunch. Eventually, we ate a piece of pie (Mom couldn't wait for it to completely cool). It was delicious! I have the recipe and might make one this week.

At her house, we always hang out in the kitchen. She has her rocking chair facing the backyard where she does a lot of bird watching. She kept telling us about all the bird happenings - which birds were building nests, which birds she has seen lately, etc. She also has full view of her bird bath which is quite a popular hangout. Birds were in and out of it, splashing and drinking, the whole time we were there.
After scraping the pie plate clean, we went outside so Abbie could swing. Mom has a wooden, bench-style (porch) swing mounted on big square beams (with ivy growing and climbing all around - it is idyllic). On either end, she has regular, child-size swings. She and I sat together in the porch swing while Abbie ran around nearby. The bird play-by-play continued. She knows all the regulars - the bluebirds, the wrens, finches, chickadees, mockingbirds, starlings, house martins, etc.
Basically, my mom's backyard is a nice habitat for birds and butterflies. She also has a fish pond, and we saw a frog in it today. There is nothing formal about her gardens - she plants what she wants, where she wants without any any true planning for curb appeal. She grows many plants that the butterflies like, and she has the birdbath, numerous bird houses and gourds and lots of places for a bird to perch. She also has a grape arbor (not sure if arbor is the right word, but she has one, whatever it is). The birds love perching there and building nests.

I love sitting with her, shooting the breeze. We don't discuss politics or gossip about family or talk about anything "heavy." Bird watching is fine with me!

Enjoyable

Since resigning from one his jobs, Paul is working 3 days a week. He has 4 day weekends!
He is home with me on Monday and Friday while Abbie is in school (he usually takes her to school on those days - I get to sleep in a little).
So far, we've been doing house projects, but we are mostly done. I told him today that we need to start planning dates - go out to eat, maybe take a drive, go to a movie (stuff Abbie can't watch). He agreed. I'm looking forward to that.
He did do a small project today then he and I went mattress shopping. It feels kind of strange to be out together, shopping on a weekday. But I could get used to this!
So far we have not experienced that married-couple-retires-and-discover-that-they-can't-stand-spending-all-day-together syndrome.
I'm hoping we can keep this schedule for as long as possible.
While eating lunch today at Olive Garden, we were discussing how to pronounce certain meal options in Italian. I said I'd like to visit Italy (we've both read a few books set in Italy, but we're not experts). Paul liked that idea too. He said if we sell our house and still haven't found a house we want to buy, it would be the perfect opportunity for him to do a Locum Tenens....Italy, Australia, Hawaii, or some other place we'd like to visit. Who knows? It might work out........

On the Market

Our new bathroom paint color. Too bad the pics don't show the new crown molding.

Paul put in this new sink top and cabinet (but Stephen did make an emergency visit to help him - it's so nice to have friends that will drop everything and come over when you're in need). We finally have double sinks. I can barely get used to it!

Abbie's new desk where she does her homework.

This room is always clean b/c we never use it (well, hardly).

New kitchen paint color. Is this a sitting area or a keeping room? Dunno.

New paint color in sunroom.

It's clean. No slacks hanging over the foot of the bed, etc. Luckily, you can't see my bedside table where there are about 50 books and magazines. I might get bored and need to read something...

Guest room, but it now has a new modern, colorful bedspread.

Pretty dogwood blooming. Everything is nice and green b/c we've had plenty of rain and cool weather.

Our new black shutters - they used to be white and the black looks classier. The white ones were old, cracked and yellowed. And there were a ton of wasp nests behind the old shutters.

Tomorrow, our house officially goes on the market and the "for sale" sign will go in the yard. It feels bittersweet. There are so many things I like about living here in this house, in this neighborhood and in this area.

Someone told me this week that the city high school is going to stop taking county students (we are in the county) so that is one more reason to move into the city. But still.....

And for the record...

Paul knows I'm knocking him and his pop rocks on my blog.
I don't say anything here that I wouldn't say to him.
It's all good! :)

Don't Mess With....

My food! I'm not super picky or have wierd obsessions (in my opinion), but I don't like it when people mess with my food. I don't like people to eat stuff off my plate unless they ask me first. And I don't like people to put stuff in or do strange things to my food (unless I okay it first).

Paul and Abbie are famous for messing with their food. That is great - they are so creative! Maybe I am a fuddy-duddy, but please, don't mess with my food!

For example, Paul is always wanting to add a new ingredient to my famous caramel-brownie recipe. His idea for adding M&M's was awesome. But jelly beans? --- his coworkers gave that a thumbs down (I told him!).

For his birthday, he wanted caramel brownies instead of birthday cake. Today, he presented me with some strawberry pop rocks to add to the brownies. Ugh! Sure, I'll do it - it's his birthday dessert, but I'm leaving it off 2 brownies so I can eat them the way they are supposed to taste.

On Saturday, when I was working my hiney off trying to get the house ready to show, I didn't eat breakfast or lunch. I asked Abbie to follow me around and feed me a candy bar (not nutricious but easy), and yes, that is how busy I was. But then I got really thirsty, and she went to fix me a drink. When I heard stirring, I knew she was making a concoction. Ugh! I don't like it when people mess with my food or drink! She brought me some funny colored milk (I especially like my milk un-fooled around with). But I was gracious and drank it. It was her famous "mystery milk" recipe and actually tasted good (and I told her that and thanked her but secretly, I just wanted plain milk...).

On Sunday, Paul fixed both of us a bowl of Pink Salad. I noticed he had put some pop rocks on his serving. I cheered and said, "what a great idea!" (meaning - that is a creative way for YOU to mess with your food and use those pop rocks you bought). Then I looked in my bowl and noticed it had pop rocks too. {SIGH} I said, "Paul you KNOW I don't like my food messed with unless you ask me first. I've told you and told you that!" And he said, "But you cheered when you saw my bowl..." Then I had to explain why I cheered. And by the way, he had already put the pop rocks in my bowl before I cheered so that is not why he did it.

I ate the pop rocks on my Pink Salad. It wasn't horrible. But I would have preferred it without.

In other news, a couple looked at our house on Saturday. They really like it. But they have low-balled our offer. We'd love to sell it without a realtor commission, but we're not calling them back right away to let them sweat it a little. And we're still putting the house on the market so they're going to have to make a better offer.

Strange news of the week - my niece and her fiance stayed with us this weekend. As they were leaving on Sunday, Mike said, "there is a bird in your attic." Not the strangest news in the world. He said, "As I was packing the car, I kept hearing a tapping noise. I kept looking around but couldn't find the source. Until I looked up at your attic window. It's a big bird - I think a crow." I couldn't believe it! I wren or robin or black bird - I could believe that, but a large crow? I asked him to go up there and open the window so it could get out. I think it is out now, but I still can't figure out how a large crow got in. It's not like we have a big hole anywhere.....

Finished!

I finished cleaning the room and closet that was junked up and that I was avoiding like the plague!!!!!!

And I cleaned up some other really cluttered areas (that were all mine) today.

Tomorrow the carpet cleaners come.

Last night, Paul spackled some nail holes in Abbie's wall while she was getting ready for bed. After she was asleep, I went in and SANDED the areas and then painted them. She didn't wake up. She's such a deep sleeper.

Today, we took another load to the storage unit. Thankfully, we still have quite a bit of room. And some junk man met Paul after work, and he took a bunch of car parts with him.

I think we're going to put the new sink top in the master bath tomorrow. We'll finally have double sinks! Paul can stop crowding me while I do my tooth-brushing routine! I may not want to move once we have double sinks! :0

We have company coming on Friday (a niece), and I'm not sure if I'll have time to change the sheets. Or go to the grocery store.

We plan to show the house on Saturday to someone off the street who has approached us twice about wanting to buy it. It will be so cool to sell the house with ZERO days on the market and no realtor commission!

I am really excited about having a 3 day weekend coming up. I could use a little extra sleep and the extra time working on the house. I still need to work on curb appeal - weeding and planting flowers and cleaning the windows.

Everyday, I think about hiring someone so I can say, "go do this" and "now clean that" and "now I need you to do this" and "please help me" and "THANK YOU." Luckily, Paul and I are working in unison and not bickering. Yay!

Still Busy

We've had a busy weekend. Lots of home improvement projects.

Yes, I did start the project that I was procrastinating about. No, I did not finish or even put a huge dent in it.

Buying more Rubbermain Roughneck tubs helps. Some things are easy to pack, but other things... I can't decide if I should pack vertically or horizontally. Paul asked me today if we would "miss" any of this stuff that we're packing up and taking to storage. Some of it (winter clothes) is a yes, but most of it is probably a no.

We went out the eat on Saturday, and Paul and I both made our own "to-do" lists. Our lists do not overlap b/c there is so much to do. And neither list is short.

Paul called the dude that wants to buy/look at the house, and our goal is to have it ready by next weekend.

Today, we went to church. I prepared and served communion. Abbie waved some palms and sang. After church, while Paul and Abbie put away the communion items, I changed clothes and drove straight to my dads. He and I had a good time together. I got all his bills paid, swept and mopped the whole house, and changed the litter box. He and I gathered eggs together, and he gave me a dozen to take home. He's got two sets of eggs in an incubator. What is he going to do with all these chickens? I got a sneaky feeling today that he likes giving eggs away to his neighbors and friends so that he can have company. Ahhhhh! :)

Then I came home and watched a movie with Abbie and snuggled her.

In other news, Abbie really likes the Pink Panther movies with Steve Martin. She can do an excellent imitation of a French person speaking English. Paul can too. Me, not so much, but I try! Everyday, they speak with a French accent. I told Paul that I think it makes me love him even more. Can't explain why, it's just hilarious and fun and cute!
Oddly, Abbie speaks with a French accent perfect in-person, but on the phone, she can't really do it. I don't understand why that happens, but you'll have to visit our house to meet our "French exchange student."

Too Busy

I've been too busy to blog lately. I miss it.

We've been doing several home improvement projects lately. And we hired a handyman to do the other stuff that we can't or don't have time to do.

This handyman is amazing! He's a retired engineer and can do anything, and he's a very hard worker.

This weekend, we hope to get the new shutters up. There are two rooms downstairs that I've been procrastinating about - they need to be cleaned out completely. I need some motivation...

A man stopped Paul one day and told him that he was interested in our house. He left his name and number, and I kept the info b/c I planned to call him when we were closer to putting it on the market. Today, he came by again, and he's really interested! Eeee! We're going to call him and see what we can negotiate. But I really can't let anyone come look at the house until I get the carpets cleaned and get those two rooms cleaned. I need Paul to bribe me with a pedicure and dinner out or a facial or something. I just don't want to {wah wah}. I'm going to have to suck it up and do it tomorrow.

Yeah, tomorrow.........