Last Week of August

This was a busy week and short work week too. Pat being in Bama made the rest of us have to pick up our pace a bit. I will say all the kids were a big help to me this week, helping with chores that Pat normally does. Its funny how they just automatically help me more when Pat is gone. I cooked for the kids on Tuesday and Rusty helped me clean up the kitchen... YES!!!! ya'll read that right. He is my favorite son-in-law!!!! I know Rusty appreciates my cooking and I appreciated his help. I think it took us all week to do the house chores that Pat usually does on Monday. Thursday I had to go to dentist to get my crown, so I had some extra time at home that morning and was able to vacuum after all the kids left for school. I think that was the last chore to do. We do appreciate Pat helping make our weeks smoother, but don't tell him.

Thursday after work Kyle, Blake, Brooke and I made the trip to Bama. It was a nice quiet trip and we were all pretty tired when we got there. We pretty much grabbed a sofa, pillow and blanket and crashed because we had a full day on Friday coming up. I carried Brooke to get her hair cut and on the way there I decided I might as well get mine done while I am there and have time. We got to talking to the girls there about Brooke's hair and how she wanted more brown in it and I decided to let them color it. that extended our trip by 2 hours. I had some errands to run so I left her and went to take care of errands. Her hair turned out real nice and I liked it but it was just not what we wanted and seems her hair does not take to color easily. Deb, my friend that runs the place told me that if she was not happy with it to bring her back tomorrow and they would do it again and go darker. So Brooke decided right away that she wanted to go back the next morning. We got up early for the 2nd morning and went back and they went to work on her hair again. I went to run more errands and when I returned I had a HAPPY little girl...They had her hair like she wanted it and I saw that lil smile that I like to see so much.

Friday we went out on the lake for a lil bit but we were later than planned getting gone and then it started to thunder so we really did not get to play very long, because we needed to get ready for the football game. WE went to watch Josh play for the Walker Vikings. I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the game. Josh got to play some but of course not as much as any of us wanted, lol. It was so nice sitting in the stands listening to SWEET HOME ALABAMA being played over the speakers while waiting for game time. It was just a good feeling and a much different experience than Mississippi. I think all the kids will agree. We did win the game 21 to 6. After the game Kyle and Josh hooked up and went to the 5th quarter which was held at one of the churches and then they came on back to the lake to spend the night. I am posting these pictures just to remind me of the culture difference, lol.

Saturday the boys went fishing then played on the jet ski while Brooke and I was out doing girl stuff. After lunch Marcia and Brody joined us and we went out on the lake. Brooke got to drive the jet ski with big brother Kyle as her trainer. I think she enjoyed giving him a ride he will never forget. We stopped at the lil Cliffs and swam and the guys jumped. And geeesh when we got ready to go the boat would not start. Luckily the boys were close by on the jet ski and after Pat could not get us going they carried him for a ride he will never forget back to the house to get the bass boat to rescue us. Pat was the watcher while Josh rode the tube and Pat says NEVER AGAIN! I will say it was like a Labor Day Parade of boats out there today and the waves were like ocean waves.In fact while we waited for Pat to return Marcia and I laid on the sandy beach at the edge of the water and let the waves wash up on us as we talked. Brooke, Blake and Brody played in the water and we all had a nice time ... to be stranded we sure had fun, we were sad to see Pat coming cause we were not quiet ready to leave our sandy beach and ocean waves, lol. He put in a different battery and the pontoon cranked right up. Pat drove the bass boat home and Blake was our cheofer back to the house. Blake did an excellent job driving with all the traffic and I was glad he was there so I could relax on my ride home. All the boys went out tonight and Pat and I watched football games while Brooke got her computer fix.

Sunday was pretty quiet and we all slept in...I was determined to stay in floor until 10:00 but could only stay there til 9:30. WE were all pretty content just chilling and in the afternoon Susan and Chloe came over and Mom, Dad, Josh and Hannah as well. We took a trip out on the lake and the pontoon was just fine.... now Pat admits that the battery that was in it was 4 years old.....I have learned that every other year you have to replace batteries in water craft... geeesh he knows that tooo. I guess I will have to track this battery stuff if I don't want stranded on the lake. There is no reason to skimp on tires and batteries in my opinion.

I made a trip to the store to get bread milk water and lunch meat to be ready to head home into the hurricane on Monday, LABOR DAY! I ran into some very dear friend, Johnny and Brenda Rollins and their daughter Stacy. We had a very nice visit talking over old times when Stacy and Tracy were small. I do intend to get back in touch with them and get caught up on life's happenings when I get moved back. It is now 9 months and 29 days until I retire....

LABOR DAY!!!! We got up early and traveled home. We drove light rain most of the way but never anything bad. I think we got home before the worst hit our area because it is getting much windier now. I guess that's about it except for the house project update.

This is the house from the road view, you can see that the front entrance is still not built but it is getting closer to time for that. I am anxious and it will make a big difference in the way the house looks.This is the master bedroom with the priming complete and the ceilings complete. All of the bedroom end looks the same for now. Painting should be going on this week.
This is the lake view and you can see the water level is down. The area under the sun room will be rocked before we finish the project.

August, Almost Gone!!!!

It has been a short 2 weeks and not much exciting has happened here. I have started trying to cook supper forTracy and Chris all the kids every other Tuesday. Tuesday seems to be a good day and nothing to interfere with it until my outage starts. I will have to take a break from it when the outage starts, but hopefully we can continue it November. Its a lot of work for being home from work, but all the kids seem to enjoy my cooking, lol. I cooked for Blake's birthday on August 12th, the meal of his choice, Grandma's boneless fried chicken, creamed potatoes, purple hull peas, fried okra, tomatoes, cornbread, rolls, macaroni and cheese and chocolate cake with chocolate icing and ice cream. Its hard to believe he is 15 years old... I just ain't got no babies anymore. I forgot to charge my camera battery so no pics, darn it.

I have several more friends from work retiring this month and we went to lunch one day at an old country store that is fixed up as a restaurant. They claim they have the BEST fried chicken in the world. Well, I can't argue with that, lol cause the chicken was gone when I served my plate so I had ribs, and was too full when the next batch of chicken appeared. It was a nice meal and GREAT company and we were even serenaded by the cook. He sang Grandma was my Cornbread Queen! So if any of you ever come to visit in Mississippi, remind me and we will go check this place out again.

I am at the lake now and its raining and has been all day. I will post some pictures of a few things, but basically the place is the biggest mess I have ever seen, lol. I know it will change, and its just the process of progress. The sheet rock in the bedroom end has been mudded and should get the primer on this next week. The ceilings have been done all but a coat of paint which will be done this week as well. The rock man is slow and has only been one man rocking this week, but he is making progress. The contractor has done more wiring and lots of things that just don't show up but still require time to do. They have started the siding where the rock is complete and looks really good. Hopefully the rain will slack and I can get some good pictures from the lake. The den area is piled up even more than before and its a good thing I am not here all the time it would drive me crazy, lol. I think they probably have 3 months of work left, lol. Larry the contractor will not even give me any estimates. I know we will not be finished by Labor day, so I am shooting to be finished by Thanksgiving now, lol. I guess we will come back next weekend for a 4 day weekend, but at this point I am not too excited about it. Some of the grand kids may come with us and we will all have to stay in the den area amongst all the rest of the furniture and furnishings, lol. This plan may change unless the weather is gonna be better than it is now. Football season will be starting and I am looking forward to watching ALABAMA next weekend, wherever I am.

The rain did stop for a bit on Saturday afternoon and Brooke had another jetski driving lesson. She did really good. We had hoped to have another lesson on Sunday morning before we left but the weather did not allow. Saturday afternoon Mom and Dad came to visit, Susan brought Chloe to spend the night with Brooke and Marcia and Brody dropped by too. We basically just visited and enjoyed the view. The water level is down, so maybe the rain will help.

I did take pictures from the lake side. Its really looking good, I think you will agree, but there is so much left to do.

Saaaturday night I had just dozed off when I got woke up by the girls, the power was off. I got up to find that all the neighborhood had power, but not me. That really concerned me woith all the construction going on. As we investigated more we could see arcing and sparcing across the road from us and the fire dept was on the scene. It appeares that a limb was in the lines. The power company came out and they turned off the power to everyone , lol. This is the 2nd Saturday night this month that we have had to sleep with the power off. It was windy all night, but about 8 a.m. the power comapny showed up and tyook care of the problem and power was restored. It rained most of the morning and it also rained all the way back to Vicksburg. Brooke and I had a nice wet drive home and left Pat behind to take care of things. Plans are to go back on Thursday night if the weather improves.

1ST WEEK OF AUGUST

I sit here trying to remember what has happened since my last post and I really can't think of much to post about. Kyle and Blake spent a couple more days at their Moms before school starts and Brooke spent a couple nights with Tanner. They also all got their rooms cleaned up real good even dusted and got their clothes all together for school. Chris carried them school shopping and got the supplies out of the way. It has been extremely hot with record breaking temperatures so Pat has stayed inside mostly as well as everyone else. I had just a normal week of work and have I told ya lately I only have 10 months and 20 days left til I retire. Time is really passing very quick.

The 1st week of school was a success. Was a lil rough around the edge a couple mornings.... with Kyle and Blake missing their ride with Tracy due to hand mottion miscommunication, lol. Then the 1st day Brooke and Tanner rode the bus home the bus driver let them off on our street then he made them get back on the bus cause he did not think it was the right street.... 20 minutes later he brings them back... GO FIGURE!!!



Pat and I made a quick trip to the lake to see the progress and get with the contractor on the next few weeks plans. It was a short and busy weekend. We had no kids with us which was good. basically we slept on the floor got up early and went to look at some things at the building supply place before making final decisions. We spent some time just checking out the progress. Of course they were not as far along as I wanted...but I am probably just tooo anxious. They do have all the sheetrock up in the new addition as well as the old bedrooms. The rock layers had more rock done but seems they only work 3 days a week at my house. They are holding up the contractor on the front entrance, but hopefully that will change soon. The guy that is to float the sheetrock did not get to us as planned but shoudl be there on Monday. I have given up on being complete with the inside of the bedrooms by Labor Dayt weekend.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!! We took Mom and dad to eat at the ANGLER on Saturday night for her 73rd birthday. It was very nice to visit with Randy and Glenda as well. The food was good and the company was great, what more can one ask for on a saturday afternoon. Later on Saturday night Marcia and Greg came by to visit as well.... It seems Greg is gonna beat me retiring by about a month and Marcia may be gonna work a couple more years. We spent some time talking about all the traveling we are gonna do and places we gonna go... I have an outage this fall but next fall will be so nice to travel. I think a late September beach trip and a late October mountain trip will be in order. I really should have taken pictures of Mom and Dad but I never even thought about it until too late.



I do have a few photo's I took before just before leaving, of the house progress.

This is a view of the garage area rock work. They have been concentrating on the bedroom end lately so there are no windows in the garage yet. I think they will be putting up the sheetrock in the garage this week so that it can be floated out this week while the sheetrock man is there.

This is one completed column which will stand out much better when the siding is in place.

The rockwork is looking nice and I can hardly wait to see the columns and the steps. I hope when I go back in 2 weeks that the rockworkis complete except for some on the front proch and under the sun room which both need some other work completed first.


This is taken from the new hall looking thru the old extra bedroom to the den area which is piled up with bedroom furniture at this time.

This picture is taken looking down the new hallway to the gurest bathroom from my new bedroom. You can see the doorways to the right going into the old bedrooms. On the left is the opening for the washer and dryer and right past that is the doorway to the new guest bedroom.