The lights are on....and I'm home! ;)

I wanted to show you the lights that I've used to decorate the outside of my house. Pictures just don't show how pretty they look but at least you get the idea. I put some of them up about 2 weeks ago when we still had 70*. The rest went up a week later with 45*. I plan on decorating the inside of the house either today or tomorrow. After all, we are supposed to have a messy storm on Saturday with freezing rain, snow and wind. I actually am off from work too so that is nice! It will be a good inside project.

The pictures all look different due to my experimenting with the settings on my camera for night time photos. I'd never used it before so I thought I would see what they look like. I like them....I think. Here is a brief explanation of where all the lights are:

• 1 string in each of the upper windows
• 1 string around the tree on the left
• 2 strings along the gutters
• 1 string wrapped around the railing (behind the bushes) that are all white
• 2 sets of net lights on the bushes in front

There you have it. I had planned on buying some pathway lights that were sold out when I went shopping. Maybe next year...

I will also get one more string for the deck on the back of the house. You can actually see the deck from the street out back. So I thought I would light it up as well. Why not?

Computer Kitty Chasing Computer Mouse

Yoda decided he needed to "attack the mouse" while I was working on the computer. He usually jumps up and sits on my lap when I'm sitting at the desk. Today he happened to notice the mouse moving on the screen and got a little closer to investigate. Can you see the white speck next to his paw? Good eyes! He's still got it....

Update on my Dad

Dad was finally released from the hospital. You may recall my telling you about his heart problems. He was sent on his way on Wednesday a little before noon. They are not to leave Reno until after he has a checkup with the cardiologist next Thursday. I spoke with him on the phone and he feels real good. He has been trying to get out and walk and move around a bit so that his joints and knees don't get so stiff. But he's anxious to hit the road too, and get further south before the real cold weather moves in. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers concerning him and Beverly. It's all very much appreciated....and I think it's safe to say that Dad would thank you all as well! ;)

Parent Locator #1--2ND Annual Winter Getaway

This year marks the 2ND year that my Dad and Beverly have "closed up shop",(if you will) loaded up the motor home, hitched the car behind and have begun their travels which will ultimately end somewhere in the south with warmer temperatures.

Last year, my brother Kevin, was kind enough to keep everyone up to date on where they currently had set up camp as the days went by. So this year we decided that I would try to keep you informed. Here goes....

The traveling duo left the farm in ND around the end of October sometime. After making a quick stop in Dickinson, ND to visit my brother Kevin and his family, they set their sights west with the first destination being Blackfoot, ID. It's located southwest of Idaho Falls, ID and north of Pocatello, ID, approximately halfway between the two on I15. They have friends there that they met last year while staying in Castle Rock Shores, AZ.

From there they continued west to see my sister Cathy and her house that she's been in for two years now. Cathy lives south of Portland, OR in a town called Woodburn. They found a nice travel trailer park and stayed there about a week. From her house, they continued on their way but headed south towards Reno, NV. Dad's younger brother Ray and his wife Connie live there.
That's where they are right now. Except that my Dad has decided to spend a few days in the hospital there with some heart problems that will soon be resolved! We thought he would be released on Saturday but that wasn't the case.

And special thanks to Uncle Ray and Aunt Connie for the extra help for Dad and escorting Beverly around. Also thanks to Bruce, Ray's son-in-law. He is a doctor specializing in pulmonary critical care in the hospital that Dad is staying and happens to work on the same floor that Dad is on! So we are blessed to have him watching over Dad too!

Our prayers are with you Dad....take care....we love you.

The real meaning of Thanksgiving

This year, I chose to work and get paid the overtime on Thanksgiving Day. Plus I signed up and worked a 14 hour day today--Friday--which was all overtime as well. I'm thankful for this.
But the night of Thanksgiving, I had a phone call from my Dad's wife Beverly. My Dad was in the hospital....in Reno, NV. This is where my Uncle Ray and Aunt Connie live. Ray is my Dad's younger brother. I'll be writing more on this trip very soon to catch you up on what they are up to. But for now, this is what happened.
Dad had some tightness in his chest but from what I'm told, didn't think he needed a Doctor. My uncle Ray had gone out to the motor home to talk to Dad and after finding out how Dad was feeling was able, along with Beverly, to talk Dad into going to the Doctor. He went to the emergency room and they found out his blood pressure was elevated to almost 200. NOT GOOD! Then they decided to test the enzymes in his blood. This, I found out from a web site, WEB MD, will help determine if the heart muscle has sustained any damage. For example, a mild heart attack. As hours pass by more tests are done. If the enzymes are high, there has been some damage. My Dad's were higher than normal. He had had a mild heart attack. He, in the mean time had been moved to ICU and was being monitored and was given something to rest. He is fine and will be leaving the hospital on Saturday. What more can we be thankful for! We all love you Dad! Take care and be safe.

Holidays = Foul Weather

It would seem that Mother Nature paid a visit to Omaha and parts of Iowa just in time. That is, in time to disrupt the Thanksgiving Holiday travelers that have embarked on their respective journeys to visit family, friends and the like, with our first snowfall of the season. Some hadn't even hit the road, some were enroute to the airport and some were simply just leaving home and finding themselves amidst several fender benders on the interstates and roadways. However, there were reports today of many accidents that were more than just fender benders. In fact, after I left work today around 1:30 PM, I came upon an accident not more than a couple of miles from the airport. It happened to be right in the middle of an overpass too. So it was very slippery and because the overpass itself curves, I had little time to react as I couldn't see what was ahead immediatly. Now, before you assume the worst, NO!, I didn't get into an accident. But, I had a close call! I found myself fish-tailing, and aimed directly at 3 vehicles involved in an accident plus two police cars that had responded to the unfornunate event. As I'm doing everything in my power to avoid all of them, I'm seeing car doors of the stopped vehicles open! Just as I'm getting closer and closer to wiping out some car doors, policemen, and maybe a curb or two, (from sliding on the road) my van straightens out and I'm able to stay in my lane and drive by the entire scene without incident. Cut scene: while this is all happening at blazing speed, I'm cursing (yes, me...) and seeing myself in the future (through the thick, blue cloud inside my van!) ....maybe in a small room with 4 walls, a cot and a steel toilet seat and nothing more....harrumph! Because somehow, with my luck, I'd be in trouble for an "accident".
Fast forward 30 minutes: my nerves have settled, I've made a stop at the grocery store and I've arrived home without further incident! As you can see from the photos, I found quite a bit of snow had accumulated on the roof of my house and the grass everywhere you looked.

Here's wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving. Be safe in your travels and eat like there's no tomorrow!

Snug as a Bug

Well, there isn't much to say about these photos. My cat, Yoda, had been snuggling with me watching TV. I got up and he stayed right where he had been laying. So I wrapped him up into the blanket I had been using. He doesn't mind either. He will sleep for hours under the blanket if he's tired enough. He's my "cozy kitts."



P.S.
See his tail sticking out from under the blanket? ....big kitty!!!

Fall or Spring?

Friday I was outside for quite awhile raking (the 2ND time) the leaves in my yard. I filled two yard waste paper bags and a regular garbage container. It's been so windy this whole week so I haven't even bothered going out prior to then. I think the wind gusts on Wednesday were up to 45 mph....give or take. My big tree in the front yard still has about 1/4 of it's leaves still hanging on as if not wanting to accept the fact that winter is just around the corner. I don't blame them! (Do leaves think like that???) Anyway, I don't plan on doing anymore raking this year. My neighbor to the east hasn't raked and their leaves haven't migrated to my property too much. I found a lot of leaves on the west side. It seems to be the area that the wind swirls them into the most. The fence aids in trapping the leaves back there as well. My grass is still nice and green and the weather has been very mild yesterday and today so it doesn't seem like it should be fall. Right now it feels like spring.

Looking southwest at my still leaf covered tree

Other trees around either bare or partially covered as well.

I think I may have to dig out what Christmas lights that I have and start figuring out where to hang them. I have seen others in the stores that I'd like to purchase to add to the yard and house. Hopefully the weather stays warm enough for a few more days.

I kind of felt like my Mom yesterday. She was so good at getting the outside of the windows of the house washed up. She would use the pickup and get her little red and white step stool, bucket of water, squidgy and a couple old rags. The pickup was backed up to each window that was out of reach from the ground, then she would climb on the step stool (that was in the bed of the pickup) and wash each window like this. I, fortunately, didn't have to use a pickup to reach the windows. But I did use my step stool and cleaned a couple windows on the front of my house. Mom instantly came to mind. When the sun shines into these particular windows, they show all the dust and small fingerprints of the young neighbor girls that have come over to visit. They will stand and peer into the windows, with hands acting as sun shades around their eyes to view into the house, and see if I'm home or coming to answer the door! But next spring, I'll have to wash the other windows on the house. My ladder will allow me to reach these, with the exception of the two on the second level. I'll have to get on the roof to reach these.

Last year at this time, I was preparing for my drive to ND to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I can't believe it's been a year already!

As mild as the weather is today, it's like a spring day......or is it fall?

Look who was on TV!!

My friend Teresa, was telling us at the halloween party about her "tv time" that was coming up this week. It was on the local news last night. This is the link. Once there, scroll through the story choices under the video box. You will see a picture of a hand holding a cell phone. This is the one you want. It's called Tracking Teens. You might have to use the arrows to find it. It's very interesting and fun, to be able to watch someone you know on tv of all things! It sure doesn't happen very often.

P.S.
Teresa, can I have your autograph?

Post halloween party of 2007.

Oh my gosh....where do I begin? How about if I just show you the pictures.....all 24 of them!?!?!? Scott and Lisa. AKA Larry the Cable Guy and a Pirate

My entertainment center....decked out! There were black lights on to make it all glow!
My front door....need I say more?

One of the grim reapers!
Trisa as a toothbrush.
The organ looking as if a ghost should be sitting down to play.
Trisa and Jamie ....(he called himself "confused"), and Dee as Medusa.

My inflatable cooler. Watch out!

Chris and Dee. AKA a Scarecrow and Medusa.
Trisa the toothbrush, Dee (Medusa), Tammy ...the Outlet, and me....50's girl with poodle on jacket!



Most of the goodies....Fried chicken and BBQ meatballs and punch didn't fit on this counter.
My Minnesota Viking pumpkin.
The official front door greeter (he talks and his eyes light up)....and my luminaries for the driveway.
Poor soul, she didn't quite make her landing! ;)
Just in case people didn't see the rest of the decorations to find the right house!

Bat lights and cob web.

More party decs....
The bud light pony keg....
Her arms and head move up and down....with sound.
My cauldron had dry ice....for awhile anyway.
He moves up and down as well.

Well, there you have it.......we had more food than we could all eat. We had eyeball eggs, brain jello mold, Bobbitt dogs, pumpkin pasta salad, ghostly shaped chips, ghost cookies and finger cookies to name a few items. The basement was all black except for the glowing white all around. And there were scary movies playing. For some reason, I don't have any pictures of Steve, Tammy's husband. He had on the electrical cord to plug into the outlet....2 prongs and all! It was great!

It was roughly 12:30 AM when I got to bed. Thank heavens I didn't have to get up early on Sunday....phwew....too much fun.

Tomorrow's the day....

After I got home from work today, I mowed my grass....hopefully for the last time this year. I had to start getting my place ready for the Halloween party on Saturday night. And because I worked later than normal (4:30 PM), the sun was already starting to get low in the western sky. So I had to do it ASAP. After that task was finished, I decided I had better get myself something to eat before beginning another job inside the house. Not wanting to spend a lot of time preparing food, I drove to Burger King and picked up a meal to take home. It was almost time for Deal or No Deal, a TV game show to air. So I settled in to watch it before beginning my cleaning rampage. I fell asleep on the couch about half way through it and awoke again 10 minutes after it ended! Crap! I hate it when I do that! Anyway, I made myself get up and start my cleaning.......at 9:30 at night. Now, if you know me at all, I just don't clean during the night time hours. Let alone on a Friday night! But this time I did. And I continued until it was done. 2 hours later, I finished and sat down at my computer to relax a little bit before going to bed.

I knew I would have to be up early to shop for my groceries and make a couple of recipes before a couple of my friends would come over and help me finish decorating. So I set my alarm for 6:30 AM and was asleep in no time! Tomorrow was our Post-Halloween Costume Party.