Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Here's my favorite Thanksgiving song!!

Our New Car!!!

Seems like everyone is getting a new car these days!
Everyone but US!!!

Wendie got a new ORANGE Element
Kathy got a new RED Rav-4

So, this weekend while we were in Lawrence, KS.
I was keeping my eyes open for a new ride!

So, we came across this little van.
It's sure cute!
That Officer would surely be able
to pick you out of a crowd!


Bill liked this one.
More travel room!!
Just think of all the dog crates
and stuff you could pile on top!!


Finally, on the way home we saw the wild
buffalo roam.
Okay, so they were steel cut outs.
I just LOVE THESE!!
How fun!

Today I'm thankful for my little van, Carrie.
She just keeps on a truckin'!
YOU GO GIRL!!

CHICKEN MOM of the YEAR!!!!

Okay, I'll admit it.

I LOVE MY CHICKENS!

They are curious, friendly and CUTE!

I'm always looking for fresh healthy food for them.
In fact, I plant extra in my garden, just for the chickens!

So, when a gal at work said her friend was trying to 're home' pumpkins,
I was all over it!

As long as I was willing to pick them up,
they would load them up.
What a deal!!

Now, I don't think about Iowa as a vegetable state, but
I was impressed by the size of the place.

They loaded me up with two pallets
of baking pumpkins!
BTW - they make AWESOME puree!

Of course the majority are for the birds.
It's been a bit cool, so when I break them open the
girls gobble up the seeds and soft insides.

They rest is not quite so easy.
I usually just let them rot a
bit and they will eat them then.
With the cooler temperatures,
that's just not happening.

I wasn't willing to cook all those
pumpkins in the oven!

I came up with a BRILLIANT idea!!!
I'll cook them over the fire pit!



THIS IS A BLAST!
You can pluck them off the
flames with the stem.
Or use a potato fork and pierce them.

They need to cool first of course.
In return -
My birds will keep on giving us
YUMMY eggs!

What a deal!

Back to "This Old House"

So, in 2002 I decided after the new red roof,
that a whole new paint job was in order.

Here's the house before the roof.

Here's the south side, in 2002, after a roof and with the chimney painted.
It's amazing how much a little color will do.

Boy, someone needed to mow the lawn!!

Here's the south side this summer.
In need of new siding, but it shows you the colors.

This little bay window is on the East side.
BORING!!!!

But add a little color and it really livens it up!
(Hi Kruz in the window!!!)

With the siding I'm going to lose the diamonds.
Not much I can do about that, but I'll have the scales.
These will be white!
BORING!!
I am able to paint them however, so I plan to.

The whole painting process took about 3 weeks.
We were hoping to only have the scaffolding for one.
We needed it for two.
It was a LONG JOB!!!

So, next time I'll show you what our
house looked like in 1923!!

It's OFFICIAL!!!

I've OFFICIALLY completed my training hours. Well, honestly, I do have a make up class on exciting TURF GRASS! I can hardly wait!! (insert sarcasm here!!) G

We had to miss a night as the conference room was booked for another activity. Word is that we'll be having the 'make up' shortly.

In the mean time I'm looking for a couple projects to do in my local community. Seems there are a lot of things going on in the 'larger' towns (I hesitate to say cities) in my county. The smaller towns seem to miss out, so that will be my focus.

There are so many grants available for planting trees, or seeding ditches...who would have thought? So, now I need to make a few phone calls and decide where my focus will be.

Is it too soon to start wishing for Spring?

Today I'm thankful for the rain!
My fall planted Garlic appreciates it!

I can't Drive 55!!!

Yes, it's taken me about 10 days to confess. I finally got a speeding ticket!! Before you ask, YES, I did say...."Thank you Officer and have a nice day!" I have been due a ticket for ages and realized my luck was starting fade. Let's face it, I've had 2 warnings in the last 2 years....what does that tell you! I WAS DUE!!!



Here's the sad part. I wasn't in a hurry! It was early Friday morning and I was heading to work after swimming my 30 laps. There wasn't any traffic in my lane on Hwy 151. I wasn't even listening to any hard rock!! I was listening to Susan Garrett's Crate Games of all freaking things!! LOL

I was on time, no reason to rush. Open road ahead, expect for that line of cars coming at me. Yep, that's a County Sheriff pulling over on the shoulder. I was so busted and I knew it. Pulled into the Walford Church parking lot....said a Quick Prayer that DIDN'T pay off! G

Oh well, now I'm being Joe Citizen and whining at all the people that zoom by me in the morning! That's what really hurts....Not racing with the big boys!!

So how fast was I going? Let's say he was being VERY generous when I got the 65 in a 55 ticket. Bill got some Amazon Points (Yes, POINT PIG) as you can now pay tickets on line for your convenience.

Oh, in case any of you are wondering what I drive. Her name is Carrie and she's a 2003 Silver Honda Odyssey, with 165K. Not exactly your sports car! Way to go Carrie!!

Today I'm grateful for all those officers that keep us safe. I just wish there would have been more doughnuts available that Friday morning!!! VBG

Red Roof.....

Not as in the "Red Roof Inn"!! In February 2002 we added a new roof. After a short debate, in which I WON, it was decided to change the color to red. To be honest, blue, green, black, white or "orange" (is there an orange?), weren't in even in the running.

It must have been one of the mildest winters in Iowa history. The temperatures were in the 50's and 60's. Just totally unheard of in February! Martha and Meme came out with Jamie and Robin to run around the pasture with Nina. It was WONDERFUL!!

It was also the perfect time to add a new roof. This involved a total tear off of two layers of shingles, one of wood and another of asphalt. I think I'm still picking up the nails! Then the new plywood and new red shingles, it gave the house a whole new look.

Of course, this meant adding paint come spring. Our 2002 "Parade of Home" venture began! I was excited!! Bill was...um....well, I was excited!!!

Here's the West side in June 2002.

The South side in June 2002 after the chimney has been painted.

Painting the chimney is always an adventure. The top peak is 19'. the chimney is another 5' taller. So, it's simple enough to climb onto the roof and do the West, North and East sides. The south side involves wrapping your arm around the chimney and holding on, while you do your best to paint the south side. The part against the house involves a 40" extension ladder. Yes, in case your wondering....painting the chimney is MY JOB!

Next post will involve scaffolding and painting the 2002 Parade of Homes!

Today I'm thankful for the turkey (not one of mine), I'll be eating for lunch!
YUMMY!!!!