I Just Forget

 Sometimes I just forget that I need to update.  I try to keep myself busy and tend to only remember about it after I have gone to bed..lol.  I'll see if I can remember all the happenings since the last entry.

We have spent a lot of time in Tenn.  It has become our "go to" place.  We spent our anniversary in Jan (35yrs), and several other trips thru the winter.  So glad Jim has an office in Knoxville.  We made our first drive thru Cades Cove on our last trip.  Can't wait to go back and do some walking.  It was definitely too cold at that time.  Buc-ees has become a "must stop" for us also. They have the BEST praline fudge !!! Priorities, you know.

Jan was the final month on the lease of our house in Charlotte.  Got everything out, cleaned and we are officially SC residents.  Jim had the World of Concrete expo in Vegas.  I sat this one out and tried to deal with all the junk we brought to the new house.

Feb was another trip to Knoxville 😊 Tabby is getting used to being at the boarding/spa and has made a new friend.  She cries now for a day or two when she gets home looking for her buddy, who happens to be a huge white male resident cat named "Scooter" .  And NO we are NOT bringing Scooter home with us.

March - We spent the first weekend in March at Emily's with Jake for their birthday.  I don't think they have missed one together yet.  We took them to an escape room, which has almost turned into a tradition for them.  I think we have gone to one for the last couple of years. We had a blast with those two.  It's like watching an old couple interact....lol.  After the escape room and supper, we went back to Emily's and watched tv and talked.  All of a sudden Jim asked, "Does anyone want ice cream?".  It's ten o'clock at night!!!  but we all say yes, of course.  $60 and a door dash delivery later, I have never seen so much ice cream in one place.  Jim ordered a double banana split which came in a large to-go plate that wouldn't hardly close.  The rest of us were a little more reasonable. No way did we finish all of it and Emily ate ice cream for weeks...lol.  Sunday we went into downtown Charleston for the annual SAIA committee week.  Jake went home Monday and Emily came downtown to have lunch and spend the day with me.  It was wonderful.  Most of that week was boring except for the sightseeing cruise around Charleston harbor.  Jim skipped his meetings and went with us (the support group outing ).  On our way home from this trip, we stopped to pick up Tabby from boarding, only to find out that she and Scooter were in "time out" in their little apts.  They had slipped out of the cat room, and were teasing the dogs (the aggressive and anti cat dogs are kept in a separate place so no danger), but the caretaker was in the back and heard the dogs going nuts, so she came out to see what was going on and saw Tabby and Scooter walking on the fence railing in the dog play area, so needless to say, they went into time out and had been there about an hour when we got there. 😏

All things come to an end and Jim has been gone every week since then.  Leaves Monday and comes home Friday night just in time for me to do his laundry and pack him up to leave again.  I try to keep myself busy but I'm tired of trying to find somewhere to put things away. So much has "mysteriously disappeared". 😈 I rearranged and decorated Jim's office after he put up some shelves while he was home.  Going to start hanging pictures on the wall soon.  Since we have been in this house, it's been some decorating season and I don't have my "daily" decorations out or on the wall, so I guess after Easter when I take the crosses and bunnies down, it will be time to do that.  I have never decorated an open floor plan so this is a new experience.  No walls to hang anything on 😨

I am also getting out of my comfort zone.  Our new neighborhood has started a ladies only game night once a month.  The first night was last week, so I decided since Jim was out of town, I would try it out.  Maybe this will work....who knows.  I'm a loner and not into many people, so we will see.

Guess that catches us up for our house anyway.  Lots going on with the kids and grandkids as usual but that's for another day.  

I just re-read what I wrote here, and it looks like I write like I talk.  All over the place, so make it out the best you can 😂

And finally....Christmas 2023

 Only a month late....but as the saying goes...better late than never.  We thoroughly enjoyed the season and visits from some of the children.   Jenny, Jerry and Logan came up and spent a few days with us.  Spending an evening at Carowinds for the Christmas festivities has become a tradition for us, with Jerry being the biggest kid.  We all love the food kiosk, shows and the annual Christmas parade.  Logan and I are huge "Peanuts" fans and just as Disney is centered around Mickey, Carowinds is centered around Peanuts.   

Jenny and Logan worked on the gingerbread house but Jenny had to finish it by herself because Logan got "bored" and deserted her for movie watching with Jerry and Grandpa.  Jenny and I spent one day wrapping presents and making stockings for all the grandchildren.  I was surely thankful for the help.  As usual, Jennifer and I were red-eyed from them  having to go home, but the visit was wonderful.

Christmas was a hoot with both Jake and Emily being able to be here.  We started Christmas Eve with cooking a huge meal.  I was going to try to be a little fancy and asked if they would mind using my grandmothers china, but you would have thought I was asking them to scrub the floor before eating.  The three of them looked at me and almost in unison say ---no---we want the big, oval paper plates.  They hold more food.😏  At least I understood and it made me feel good to know that they enjoy my cooking .  However, right as we sat down to dinner, Emily said...get your phone and video this...I just do what I'm told anymore (sure), and as her Daddy is starting to eat, she has an extend-a-fork and starts going for the food on his plate and she is at the other end of the table.  Jim doesn't know what is going on exactly except that someone is after his food and  he's not happy.  You have to love the antics of the adult kids.😂

Christmas morning, after I have put out all the stockings and Jim has woke each kid up wearing his traditional baby blue sweat suit that he has had for 34 years ( it really honestly doesn't fit any more AT ALL) we start making our way downstairs.  Jim is standing at the stockings looking at his package of hot fries that didn't fit in the stocking and is almost pale.  I walk over to see what the problem is and there is a huge hole torn open in the bag.  Of course the first thing that springs to mind is there is a rat in the house.  This is a new neighborhood and I'm sure there are some displaced critters running around.  As we are standing there and looking, trying to make sure that whatever made the hole is not still in it, Tabby walks up, puts her head in the hole and walks off with hot fry...and by the fry dust on her face, this was not her first one.  We found our critter 

The rest of the day was wonderful.  You know your children are grown when they are THRILLED to get household items and socks for Christmas, all of which came from their wish lists...lol. Our Tabby went missing among all the gift wrapping and chaos so we just assumed she went upstairs to escape, but we thought wrong.  I have added pictures of our time together and you will notice one particular picture where we found our fur baby.  Nestled in an Amazon gift bag hiding but able to see everyone.  We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and be able to share such precious time together.. I just wish we were able to all be together, but we talked to everyone and thank goodness for FaceTime!!!

Cardinals now - Christmas Later

 I promise to post about Christmas later….right now, I’m being pestered by 3 cardinals.. I was always told that when a Cardinal came to your yard or close to you, that it was a loved one visiting from heaven.  If that is indeed the case, then I know exactly who these yahoos are.  Keep in mind that this has been going on since Christmas Eve.  I thought what a great sign that family is with us….now I’m “knock it off!!!”.  In my wild imagination I know who these 3 are and it ain’t the 3 wise men…lol.   Two are always knocking on the glass doors and fly away when I open the curtain.  The one is always sitting on a tree limb watching them.   The two pests have got be Larry and Garry.  It’s typical that they would be pests and doing this just for irritation….the lone bird on the branch has to be Janice…and you know she is telling them to behave and act their age.  Quit being so “childish”.   Obviously, they are not listening. Guess I’ll just enjoy the visit while it lasts, but dang they are rough.😂😂.  

Been just a little busy

 Wow what a week for Thanksgiving.  Jim took the week off (very unusual)  and we make our journey to Florida.  We had a great time with family.  We had maybe half of what we usually have but we had fun.  Made a trip to Orlando to see Pop before he left ( he spent Thanksgiving with David) ,  met Rachel's new boyfriend...not commenting but wasn't totally disappointed.  We had the community center for 2 days, so we had a lot of time to visit with the family, play games and relax. Jim and I left early Saturday morning for our trip back to SC and made it back in time to unpack car, grab some lunch and Jim to watch the Iron Bowl (Bama vs Auburn).   When we were packing up in Florida, Jake offered to put some stuff in his car so we wouldn't be so crowded in our little car and he would be by Tues to bring it to me.  I got a call Monday telling me that he had "the crud".  I checked on him daily (he had to call out of work) to make sure he was ok ...He's like his mama when he gets sick...an old cur dog that will growl and snap at you.  We just want to be left alone...lol. Two weeks later,  he finally got over his sickness and just as I was getting house clean from taking down fall decorations and putting up Christmas....here he comes with a car full of pots, pans and fall decorations that we took with us 😒   

Jim left the Monday after Thanksgiving and was gone most of the week...made it home for the weekend and the SEC Championship (Bama won).  Between Jim twitching trying to help them play from his recliner and telling me to "watch this replay",  and my brother keeping the texting going thru the game, I just decided to sit down.  Although I had already done the laundry and ironed Jim's shirts for him to leave Sunday for another week away.  I'm hoping he is through traveling for the rest of the year. However, I will be going with him on his first trip in January to Tenn to celebrate our 35th anniversary in Pigeon Forge (our new favorite place).  

I have been busy while he has been gone. The house is somewhat uncluttered, we still haven't finished unpacking or completely emptied our other house yet, but I have decorated for Christmas and have things ready for Jenny, Jerry and Logan to come visit us next week.  I can't wait!!!

That's all for now, but am posting pics of our Christmas overload house....lol  I have more but will have to post them later...forgot to upload to computer 😕

 With the 24h news, Facebook, twitter. Tictok and any and all other paths,it’s apparent that there is SO much information, but SO little wisdom.  Don’t believe me, just look around 😢

Still unpacking

 Well, another night alone...another afternoon/night of massive cleaning and unpacking.  Have things starting to get under control, then I remember that we still have stuff at the other house 😢.  I have a feeling that at least 1/2  of the remaining will not make it across the state line.  I just have to do it when my packrat husband is not watching.  Him being out of town a lot lately has been great for Goodwill..lol.  I get blamed quite often for "having too much stuff", but let me tell you, the man of this house is a hoarder.  I try to get rid of things and I hear "Do you know how much I paid for that?'....yes dear, but it was 30 years ago. Neither of us can fathom that almost 35 years have gone by in our marriage and housekeeping....where did the time go?  and I guess that's how we accumulated all this junk😄  Hopefully it won't be long before we can have a shed built and I can at least get the holiday boxes out of the house...lol.

Anyway...we are starting to get settled here...our privacy fence should be installed Thursday...yea!!!I have a new yard man who hauled off all the pine straw they installed for bedding...now to get border blocks and mulch...I'm a Southern girl and know what loves pine straw in the winter time....no "satan handpuppets" for me please 🐍 

Found a new boarding place for Tabby.  She is already a registered guest for Thanksgiving week. I think she will be much happier there that her previous place.  They have 8 cats that reside there full time and are the welcoming committee for the new guests.  They "take care" of the visiting cats and help them adapt.  When I went for the tour before I signed Tabby up, I was very impressed with their set-up.  

Starting to make my menu and grocery list for Thanksgiving.  Can't wait to have everyone (or most) together.  I have 2 kids that jobs have gotten in the way of traveling and they will truly be missed.  

Well, I just got bit so that means that Tabby is ready for bed...lol.  

Too much for one blog...lol

 Almost finished moving into new house.  Still a few odds and ends and things to sell at other house. I have the downstairs finished and decorated for fall...I have to have a clean place to go when I get overwhelmed with the clutter. We actually downsized as far as square footage, so I'm having a little difficulty placing everything and trying to decide what to keep and what goes. The upstairs looks like a war zone 😱  But this morning.....I receive a link to this beautiful thought process of "letting go".  Another God wink and blessing just when I need it  Click the link...it's a good read   How To Declutter When You Want To Keep Everything - Club31Women

I know things will come together, but anyone that knows me, also knows that unorganized clutter makes me nutty!!!  

Jim has been home for maybe 3 days in the last two weeks....I called and told him that I was going to need a "safe space" if he didn't get home soon.  I have had to pump my own gas, take out the trash 2 weeks in a row, load things in my car and back it up in the driveway myself....this is almost unacceptable.  I know how the college kids feel now when they have to get to class/work on time and actually work.  Poor babies...  I hope you know this is tongue-in-cheek and I am fully capable of taking care of myself,  I just like being pampered now and then 😀  

Just remember ----this too shall pass and any day above ground is a good day !!!!!