To dream the impossible dream

Man!! So aggravating ... have an opportunity to get a horse ... no space or money!! :( A broke to ride Palomino!! And he is gorgeous!! He is barely a horse which would perfect for me. Especially for my first horse. And only $475!! Uggghhhh!!! So close but yet so far away ... I could get a saddle for less than $200 ... that is bridle, breastplate, saddle and in some instances, saddle pad!! Man ... the most expensive part is the trailer. But I know where I can get one for $1600 .. the thing with the trailer though, is that it can be used for several things not just pulling a horse. We could use it to pick up big stuff used to repair the house. So it would be multi purpose. Everyone thinks I am nuts for thinking about that. But I think it is wise purchase. I like the idea of taking stuff up there a little at a time. I can put stuff away then worry about bringing up the next load. It is an organizational thing. We could move the fencing up to Illinois too. Man ... life sucks sometimes!! Ugggghhhh!!!

Ok ok ... I suck!! :P

I never was good at a diary either. Well, only a week and a half before I am unemployed. Scott might have an interview with Marathon while we are up there for Christmas. Those are the big highlights for now.

I am a little nervous about being unemployed but at the same time looking forward to it. I can finally clean the house and be on top of it like I want to. It is such a mess. I have been trying to clean it lately but just never have the time to clean it the way I would like it to be cleaned. Once I get it cleaned enough, then keeping on top of it will be easy.

Scott got a call from Marathon Oil refinery tonight as he was coming home. They want to set up an interview with him while he is there. They are actually testing next week but since he isn't going to be there, they said they would work with him. The lady he spoke with is suppose to call back to give him a time to come in and test.

Got to help Bev with cleaning stalls last weekend. It was kind of like cleaning out a cat box!!! Like I was in a giant litter box and scooping out a litter box with a cat litter spoon!! LOL But as stupid as it sounds, it was still relaxing. I met Bev out in the barn last Sun morning to help her clean the stalls. But I got there 10 mins earlier and got to watch the horses play around in their stalls ... and listen to the knickers, and watch Dawson and Dancer play with one another through the paddock gate. It was fun. It was chilly in the barn and you could see their breath and smell the hay as you came in (it was actually orchard grass), then smell the horses ... it was heaven!! Then I got the chance to love on Cheyanne too. I helped Bev feed the boys, then change their blankets, then we took each of the horses out and scooped out the stalls ... then let them out to pasture. It was a great day. It was so relaxing. I actually got to see Dawson play with his ball in his stall. Something Bev said she hasn't seen yet. Dancer was doing rear ups (slight ones) while playing with Dawson through his gate. It was fun watching them in the quiet of the barn. It was relaxing just being there. I didn't get to ride but it was still a fun day with the horses.

That is the most excitement I have had lately!! Fun stuff huh!?!? LOL

So much for keeping a good "diary"!!

Wow ... how time flies!! So much has happened since I last wrote. I got to go horseback riding twice, Scott put in for a job in IL @ the Marathon oil refinery, he got his hard copy orders for the reserve fleet (no turning back from retirement now!!), and only 3 weeks until I am no longer employed!!

First off, horseback riding ... oh my gosh I really want a horse now!! LOL Bev, a friend and co-worker, has two horses that she so nicely allowed me to ride one of them. She says it is hard for her to find someone that wants to ride her horse. I looked at her in mock surprise and was like "You are kidding me right?!?!". She said nope, not too many people volunteer to do it. I told her it didn't matter what time of day it was, call me and I would scamper over and ride!!! LOL Our first ride we went to a nursery and rode. It was a gorgeous day and for my first ride, it was AWESOME!! The terrain was smooth and the trails through the nursery were nice. And it was just wonderful getting out in nature. And talking with Bev, we have a lot in common. She is a christian, she has a lot of the same political viewpoints that I have and the love of animals. So between all that, we always manage to have something to talk about. And since we both love to talk, it is a non-stop conversation-a-thon. I want to definitely keep in touch with her!! The second time we went to the state park in Petersburg and rode the trails. Now that was pure heaven!! There were many different terrains, including a little hill terrain, some water, flat and open, nice and wooded. It was just a nice ride. And it was about 3 hours or so of riding. I thot for sure I would be stiff from yesterday but I am not. I got down off the saddle and was like, oh!! I am going to hurt tomorrow!! LOL But actually I don't. But I told Bev that I was claiming Bubba as my own until April. And I told her that come time to move to IL, he just might disappear from his stall!! LOL But it truly is indescribable how it feels to be on the back of a horse and enjoying the outdoors. It relaxes me right up. Scott and I were laying there and giving one another back rubs and I didn't feel tight anywhere on my back. I was totally relaxed. It is just the best thing to physical therapy.

Scott decided to try and get a job at the Marathon oil refinery in Robinson. He put in a resume for a oil refinery operator. He feels good about it. He talked to his brother who thot they were looking to fill the position in April or May. He retires in June but goes on terminal leave mid April just about the time the position needs filled. Todd, his brother already works there, his uncle gary does contract work for them, his other uncle (that they don't claim, lol) retired from there and his grandpa retired from there. So we are hoping that nepotism counts for something!! LOL Plus with all his submarine experience, it would work quite well with the position experience. I just think it would be perfect for him. But I guess time will tell. God has taken good care of us quite well this far.

Scott got his hard copy orders giving him his time to retire. No turning back now!! LOL He was so tickled, he called me at work to tell me!! Then last night he danced around and was reading parts to me (of course he was on the light toast side .. aka 3 sheets to the wind!!). So he is excited that it is official. I am happy for him. The military has been real good for us but I know he is ready for a different phase of his life and so am I. It will good to have him home on a regular routine. We haven't really experienced that much in our 15.5 years together (1 dating - 14.5 married). It will be a nice change.

Only three more weeks and I am out of there. I am so happy!! Wahoo! I mean if I have to work, I love working where I do. But I am sort of looking forward to spending time at home and getting my house in order. I am tired of it being messy the way it is. It kind of gets lost in the shuffle of life. So although I love Acredale, I will love being home and caring for my own brood the way they should be.

Well, since starting this, we ran to Barnes and Nobles and bought a couple of horse books and a horse magazine so I want to take a look at those. So I am going to close this out for now!!

Toodles!!

Wow ... has been awhile!

It has been awhile since I have blogged here! Sorry .. it has been busy around here. Hubby came home so I have been keeping busy. It has been nice having him back. He is my best friend and I have missed him. I only have 7.5 weeks left to work! Ahhhhhh! Kind of nerve wracking to think about but we will make it. God has provided well for us thus far. Even though we don't deserve it most of the time. I look forward to being home though so I can make it cleaner than it is. Working full time and trying to keep the house clean as I would really like to see it is next to impossible with all the critters. And since they are a big part of my life, it isn't something I can ignore. So I will be glad to have a clean house again!! I get to cook again ... I have decided to start cooking with spices to decide what spices we want to grow to keep around the house. I made some really good chicken last night for Scott and I. I crushed up some ritz crackers, added some rosemary and basil to it then pounded out the chicken and spread some olive oil on it then rolled it in the cracker mixture and baked it. It was pretty good. I like the combination of those two spices. It would have been perfect with salt and pepper. I kinda forgot those two in my excitement of trying something new. I am really like a cat when it comes to routine. I know it seems pretty flaky that I am excited about cooking with spices. But it really is out of my routine. I mean in the near future, my whole life is going to be changed and turned upside down. So I am trying to go with a positive mind set to make things easier ... going outside of my comfort zone so to speak!! But actually I think I am rather excited about going outside my comfort zone. So maybe I am not so much about the same thing as I thot I was. But of course, as I get older, a lot of my normal likes and dislikes have been changing. Ahhh ... life. I did get to have some awesome fun tonight though. A co-worker and friend of mine owns two horses and she invited me to come and spend some time tonight in the barn. I was in heaven!! If Sunday's weather is good, we are going to go riding. I am so excited!! I will be able to learn somethings about horses and how to care for them. It will be good to know this for that one day I hope to have my own!! Anyway, that is about it. I mean there is a lot more than that since the last time I wrote on here but it doesn't come to my mind at this time. I will try to post a little more often now!!

Glad to be lonesome no more ...

Dear hubby came home finally on the 20th. Good news! No underway until next year! Yea!! That could be bad news also. Our wonderful president cut back monies for the military so much they cannot afford the fuel to do those underway which is why they are not going. That man is going to ruin our country yet! But anyway, to stay off my political soapbox, I will move onto a new subject!!

We have decided to check out the possibility of having a couple of dairy goats. I have been told by my "mil" that their milk is pretty good. Apparently it is creamier than cow's and is already pasteurized after you have milked the does. And to homogenize it doesn't take much. You can make ice cream, cheese, yogurt and even soap out of the milk!! So we will do some looking into that. It is about $50 -$150 a goat. A couple of goats is enough milk for a small family. So we would have enough extra for mom and Grandpa. Then could sell off the rest. Or freeze some of it for future use like for yogurt, ice cream, etc. As expensive as milk is, that would be a nice chunk of our money because we go through a lot of milk. And if we buy a side of beef when we first get there, gosh, our grocery bill would be pretty low. And that would be totally awesome!! So who knows, we may possibly have a nice get up one day!! That would be nice. I would love to have a place to dig in the dirt and raise some critters! Get back to basics and a simple life.

In the mean time, we have a lot of stuff to go through and throw away. We are moving to a much smaller house. It will be hard for me to get rid of a lot of stuff. Every so often I go through it and weed out a lot of stuff and throw it away. But I am REALLY going to have to throw stuff out! And I am not looking forward to it!! LOL

Singing the blues ... I wish

Ok, my voice is not much better. And I am tired of it being this way. I almost wish I hadn't gone to work all week ... as much as I am not suppose to use my voice, I still end up using it which isn't helping things. My throat doesn't hurt. That is the funny thing. But it is dry and with use, gets even drier and becomes irritated. Then that in turn irritates me!! If I could sit there and slowly drink ice cold tea all day so my throat remains numb, I think I would be ok. I have been eating the heck out of popsicles to try and keep it cold while I am at home. Eating stuff sometimes makes it more irritated. Not the popsicles of course. But warm foods. Bread sometimes too. This is really sucking bad!!

On a good note, not long now before the hubby gets home. Thank goodness!! I miss his company and even his frustrating antics. I cannot wait to hug him and hold him! Yea!! And I can't wait to have him around to help around the house!! LOL I miss him. He is my best friend.

Signing off for now since it is late.

To speak or not to speak ... that is not the question ...!!

Ok, went to the doctor's today. Found out I have one of two things .... either Laryngitis, which I do not have the typical symptoms (no barking cough, etc ... other than the loss of voice part) or paralysis of my vocal cords. The doctor gave me some antibiotics (Azithromycin) to take for 5 days. But it is suppose to remain in my body for 10 more days after taking the last dose. So if I am not better within the next 15 days, I am suppose to go back and be referred to a specialist to see what is going on. For a person that likes to talk, this is a death sentence!! LOL I have a doctor's note that I left at work that told them I could not talk or whisper for a whole week. That is going to be fun!! LOL

Ahhhh ... this is going to be so hard!! I am constantly yelling at the dogs for something or another! Good thing hubby comes home next week! He can take over the pleasure!! LOL

Not much else has happened today! I know I know ... you can't handle the excitement!! LOL

I did get the chance to do some reading on one of the hobby farm books and it kind of excited me about going to the country. I will be glad when I have an idea of what the house looks like so I can start planning. I hate the unknown.

Checking out for now. Gotta start cleaning the house a little!! :)

Swimming in tubs with dogs ...

Ahhh I survived another day at work with no voice. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the doctor to see why I have lost my voice. I have no obvious reasons as to why I have lost it. But because I could not talk, I got to wash dogs today at work. Which wasn't so bad but my back is killing me!! I washed 13 dogs ... 3 of which were large dogs. I was SOAKED to the skin with my first dog ... literally. Was a lab/shepard mix. Very sweet dog ... but soaked me to the skin!! And I just stayed wet the remainder of the day. I had a couple dogs growl at me but no bites. I am pretty much no nonsense with dogs and I think they feel that. I did have one poodle that did not want me to dry him. I ended up just putting a box dryer on him which typically you don't do with poodles (or any dogs that have a curly coat) but that was all we could do with him. When I talked to the groomer who was doing him, she had told the other bather that Cody needed to be done because he is on ACE (acepromazine ... a relaxant for dogs) so he needed to be done. Well, the other bather never did him. Just said oh ok and went onto another dog. Well, I noticed that he hadn't been done yet and I knew he was on ACE but I had already did two large dogs and there were just two other large dogs to be done including this standard poodle. I was going to let the other bather do those since I had already done two large dogs. Well I ended up doing this poodle. I really think this poodle is inbred too much. He just is not right. He is not a bad poodle. Just a little off!! Needless to say, his cut wasn't as good as it could have been because his coat had to dry under a box dryer (one of those dryers they hang on the front of the kennel). I tried to use the high forced air dryer on him and he went literally nuts! So between me not feeling good and him going nuts, I said Nuts to it!! Luckily the groomer was cool about it. Just ticks me off about the other bather. The groomer had told her to do the dog and she ignored her. That bather is known by the other bathers not to like to do big dogs. Now I have witnessed it myself. Oh well, in a couple months, it will not matter to me. I have told all the bathers that if they have issues to go to Alysia. If they do not want to handle it themselves then it must not bother them that much. I cannot wait to go to the doctor's to see what is causing my laryngitis.
Ok, other than that, not much going on here! Boring life, I know ... I LOVE IT!! Excitement around here is hardly ever good so I would much rather have it this way!!

Toodles for tonight!!

Tickle the tonsils ... I think not!!

I managed to make it through tonight at work. With hardly a voice at all. I had to use it when required and so I will be surprised if I have any voice at all tomorrow! And I get to work all day tomorrow in grooming ... I know my voice won't last that long if I have one tomorrow. And I get to return on Friday to do it all over again. Eye yi yi!!
I then came home and ate MANY popsicles after eating my supper. My throat is so irritated. But I survived. They let me off the hook as much as they could. I found time to do a lot of other things that actually helped them out in the end. We are so totally short staffed right now. Amanda Sermons has the Swine Flu (per her doctor's note), Tina is sick with something and on holiday for the next week. Then me with no voice. So we are hurting for people.
Scott bought us some books. Two hobby farm books and a beekeeping book. He wants to do beekeeping now on top of a large garden. I will look into it to see what is involved and think about it. It would be neat to make our own honey. Make it and send it out to family. Would make a great Christmas gift!! LOL But sounds like a lot of work from one website I found. But of course if all goes well, I will remain home and that will be my job. So we shall see. Scott will be going to school so it will be mainly me doing a lot of these things we are looking at doing. But I think it could be very satisfying to be successful at it. Being more self sufficient. Couldn't imagine myself looking at trying to do the things we are thinking about doing several years ago. I was very dependent upon things given to us, being dependent on grocery stores, etc. I have a tendency to try and do things more on my own. Have even gotten to the point where eating out just doesn't cut it for me taste wise. Not very self satisfying. It is a good thing as we will not have much money once Scott retires. That is scary but not really. I will be totally scared once we get to IL and see the shape his mom's house is and see how much work needs to be done on it!! LOL I will probably panic at first but then roll up my sleeves and do what needs to be done. I will be glad to see the house and have the wondering over. And I will be jobless after then too ... that is kind of scary!! LOL
Well, I am going to shut it down for the evening. At least I am doing better with the blogging thing! I know I don't write much to entertain but then again, it is more for me than anything I guess. I haven't really told anyone but my sister about it. I think it will be a good avenue for me to keep my adventures in IL documented!! LOL Good night to all!! Smiles!

Pretty quiet day

Not much happened today. A little more voice has re-appeared. I actually got one yell out at one of the dogs tonight!! But after that, I didn't have anything left. So maybe tomorrow I will wake up with even more voice. If not, I will just go into work and do what I can. Pull charts, etc. I went to the Apple Store at MacArthur Center to find out why my Mac was not working on the wireless internet ... they couldn't help me at all. They gave me a card for an Apple IT specialist but upon looking stuff up on my PC and setting up the Mac to try those things on it (set them both up in the living room), the Mac is picking up the signal and keeping it. Hmmmm ... currently on battery and back in the bedroom and it is keeping it's signal again. I don't know ... I don't get it. I guess as long as it is receiving it that is all that matters. Maybe the signal from the router was weak for the past few days ... who knows!! I just hope it continues to receive it!! :) That is all that matters!!
Other than that, that is all that has happened today. It was a pretty slack day. I wanted to do some cleaning but didn't get any of that done when I discovered my Mac was working!! LOL
That is it!! Boring stuff again!!! LOL

PC and puppies .. and the cat has my tongue!

Been having computer issues. As we speak, I am on my PC, not my mac, because it will not stay connected to the internet ... will not remember my WEP key. And I have no voice!! Of course Scott thot that was great. His response was "And I am not home to enjoy that bliss!" LOL Leave it to him to lighten the mood.


I also have been enjoying some time with our new Pit Bull puppy, Panda. We found out about her through one of Scott's shipmates, Matthew Clare. He is purchasing a pup from Missy Robert's litter named Faro. This is Faro. Well Matt had a picture of Faro with this adorable puppy with two patches over the eyes ... it was sooooo cute!! So I tagged Scott with the pictures and told him about the dog and how cute it was. Well wouldn't you know he goes to the website and emails me back, that puppy is available. He plots his evilness well. He knows I want another pit bull but we had agreed to start with a puppy next time with what happened with Penny and Sadie Kate in the past. He knew if he planted the seed, I would water and feed the plant until it comes to fruitition ... he is purely evil!! LOL



So of course I email Missy and ask if the puppy is still available. I hoped she wouldn't be so that I could walk away with a clear concious. Of course, Scott would have pushed for the sister that was left also. Frankly, if we didn't already have so many dogs and had the money, she (Luna) would have come home with me too!! LOL She was a real sweetheart and cute too. But anyway, plans were made to go pick her up on Friday, my day off. So off I drove to Lynchburg, new kennel in the back and a collar ready for her (real cute ... salmon colored with ribbon on it that is little dots of yellow, blue, green, orange and other colors. Really cute for her. I even bought the bigger version of it so when she grows out of that one, I have the same collar ready for her in the larger size. Planning ahead you know!). This is Panda ... the breeder was calling her Panda Boo. I liked the Panda name because she does look like a Panda Bear. So we are going with that name ... Panda Bear. She is a real sweet heart and smart also. She does the typical puppy stuff. She already chewed up part of my new Mac cord. Luckily I had kept the old one and with the combo of the new accessories and the old cord, I still have a working cord! She was soooo lucky!! Replacing that cord is $90!! Plus she has a thing with my shoes so I have to watch her with those too. And she loves to walk under your feet!! She puts Maya to shame!! LOL She is doing well with the cats too. She is confident about herself but a little wary of people. She has discovered the cat tunnels in our bedroom so the cats no longer have a place to hide in here .. unless it is on a dresser top or the bathroom sink/window sill. Fuzzy of course is not bothered by her. I mean he has his moments when her exuburence is a tad bit too much. And he lets her know with his paw. But for the most part, he likes the attention!! LOL I could do without all the puppy stuff but I do have to admit she is cute!! LOL And she loves being with you ... she goes into panic if you go outside her vision. So we will have to work on that. Build her confidence. But anyway .. that is what has been going on with my quiet life. Boring I know .... but I am a-okay with that!! LOL

Oh no .... not another one?!?!

Haven't blogged in a couple days. Sorry!! A lot of stuff going on around me that was first priority. But at least I have 3 blogs!! LOL I am not good at this stuff when I have nothing going on. The hubby is on his way home ...yea!!! Won't be long now. Unfortunately he has duty the first night he is home but that is ok. I have the whole week off to spend with him. I can deal! We have made probably a stupid decision although both of us are excited about it. We are going to bring a pit puppy into the house. She has an adorable face. She has patches over her eyes which is what drew me to her. She was in one of Matt's puppy, Faro's, picture. I was stupid and tagged Scott in the picture. Just made the comment that I thot she was cute. I really was tagging Scott the pics just in case he hadn't seen the new pics (as I am babysitting Faro during their December underway so we have been keeping an eye on his growth!!). Well, he took it a step further and went to the pages of the breeders and found out that puppy was still available! I wasn't going to go there myself. I just thot her markings were cute.

See!! Aren't they cute? So guess who I am going to pick up on Friday ... yep ... another hole in the head!! LOL But she is a cute hole in the head!! And we are so excited to have another pit. Penny was so special to us but with what happened with her and Sadie Kate, we had decided our next pit bull would be a puppy that we could mold and socialize to be pack happy. So we are excited. The breeder calls her Panda Boo. I know that I will keep the Panda part of the name. It is fitting!! She looks like a Panda!! Now I just have to think of a middle name for her. I have had Faith, Grace and Hope as middle names. Have to think of something in that line for her. I gave Zoe the middle name of Analee ... which is spanish for Grace or favor. All my dog kids have to have a middle name. I don't know why but I feel like they are not complete without a middle name. So I will have to come up with a middle name for Panda. Anyway ... it has taken me all day to write this and post it. It is going on 9 pm and I have yet to eat a single thing today. Going to go make some mac and cheese with hamburger in it. That sounds so good and filling!! Toodles for the night!!

Keep on trying

Ok, here I am ... going to try and keep up this blogging thing. I used to keep a diary all the time as a young girl. But I am not very good at writing things down anymore. But maybe I will do better now that I have a lot of learning to do in the future. There are a lot of changes to come. I will have to have a way of working through all that and documenting things. Like in December. I get to quit my job so we do not have to pay taxes for 2011 in the state of VA. I have worked for many years in my life so it is going to be really wierd to be home and actually a house wife again. I haven't done that in many years!! I am looking forward to the challenge though. I can sometimes tend to become bored when I stay home. But once we get up to IL, there is going to be so much to do, that I doubt that I will have the chance to become so!! In fact I will probably be looking forward to that day I get to sit down and have nothing to do!! It will be a strange feeling though not having a set pattern for my day ... just knowing what I have to get done and doing it at my leisure ... wow ... leisure .... what is that?!?! LOL Well, I must go to bed now ... it is almost midnight and I work all day tomorrow! Nitey nite!

See ... not good at blogging!! LOL

Been having computer problems so blogging is not my first priority. Then I couldn't remember my google email ... so I created a new blog only to find this one ... my original one!! Yeah!!

It has been a busy couple of weeks since I started this blog. There are so many things to take care of around here and just not enough time. I am so tired after work to throw myself into cleaning like I would like to. So I end up just doing the minimum ... which for most is a lot!! LOL I so look forward to being a housewife to take care of my hearth and home like it should be taken care of, spending well earned time with my husband and spending time with my fids. (BTW, Fids are feathered, fuzzy or furry kids!!)

Not too much excited to report. Just trying to get my house cleaned up for my husbands return home and just because it needs it! I think I may throw myself into the bird room tomorrow. It desperately needs a thorough cleaning. Walls, ceiling, going through the toys and toss them or put them in the cages ... I need to make me some cookies to nibble on this week. Chocolate chip cookies! So maybe do that too.

Such an exciting life I lead!! LOL But it is a life I enjoy. I find a lot of satisfaction in taking care of my home and family. What else besides God and family/friends do you need in life? Just enough money to pay the bills and take care of emergencies. A big garden, chickens and a happy kitchen ... ahhhh .... And sewing!! Such is the life!

That will be all for tonight. I am quite exhausted and my feet need to be iced!! LOL

Starting my blog

Ok, not always so good about documenting things. I used to journal all the time as a kid. But as an adult I have gotten a little away from writing. But I have a lot of changes coming my way and I think this will be a good outlet for letting off some steam during those changes and good ways of documenting my thoughts ... the good, the bad, and the ugly!!

Dearest hubby will retire in June 2010 from the US Navy and we have the undaunting task of going from a scheduled life to a more relaxed civilian way of life. Since this is all either of us has known in our life for ages (I joined the military in 92 and then married into it in 94. Been on both sides of the fence. Dear Hubby has been in the military for almost 22 years now!!), it is going to be a big change. Hubby has the opportunity to go to school for free (his residential state of IL offers free school to their veterans if they return to IL within 6 months of getting out or retiring from the military) so we are jumping on it. Between his retirement and GI Bill, we should manage to squeak by.

That being said, we are lucky that my mother in law has a home in a VERY VERY small town next to the little bit larger town she currently resides in with her dad, my grandpa in law. She has offered us the opportunity to live in this home rent free but it needs a lot of work (which me and dear hubby have no qualms about doing) and it is much smaller than we are used too but you cannot pass up the opportunity like this! Both my husband and I can be creative in many ways and my mother in law is super creative so slowly we should turn that house around. Plus we have the opportunities to use some green ways to make the home better.

Also the house sits upon 3 acres .... that is totally awesome for a girl like me who has always thot the postage sized lots we have managed to rent were a god send!! With the arrival of a mother in law that loves to dabble in gardening and landscaping, I have picked up the love of gardening in the past few years. This year has been one of my most successful years as I grew tomatoes, blackberries, green peppers, gypsy peppers, and cucumbers. My strawberries weren't quite as successful this year as dear hubby had weed whacked them down this past spring ... therefore it was like starting from square one. So I am looking forward to growing an outstanding garden next year ... hubby and I are on our way to researching the proper way to lay out a garden (companion gardening especially) and grow it. We have big plans to say the least!! LOL

Also on the agenda is keeping some chickens for eggs. As much as I would love to provide my own meat, I just could not imagine raising a chicken with the intention of eating it. I am just not emotionally set up that way!! LOL But to be able to provide fresh eggs ... I am so looking forward to this adventure. It is going to be so much work it is scary but will be so self satisfying. We are already researching chickens and chicken coops (we have decided to build our own) and how to manage them.

I am a city girl on my way to being a country chick. I look forward to learning many things (I get to learn to can and preserve next year with my mom in law ... I have always wanted to learn to do that since canning some tomatoes in high school home ec class!!) and learning to sustain life in a more basic way. My sewing has already gotten better so that I can make my hubby and I our own clothes and clothes for dogs!! LOL

I am anxious to see my dogs have a HUGE fenced in yard to occupy their free time with. They too have been accustomed to small yards for the past 5 years ... they will not know what to do with themselves with such a large yard and freedom to do things in it!!

So here starts my blog ... my way to major changes ... possibly the loss of my sanity ... LOL ... but nonetheless, big changes and lots of chances to learn new things ... here is to living, learning and loving my life!!