Best Friends

These were my best friends as a kid. Francie, Old Barbie, New Barbie, Ken, Miss America and Staci. Sadly the ladies all visited my hair styling salon. They wouldn't be worth anything to anyone but me. But to me they are part of my childhood. Just can't bear to part with them.

Houston we found the problem

Electrical is not my thing. That is to be left to the experts...(yes, I have electrocuted myself. No fun!)...and I'm not an expert. However...shouldn't the wires be attached for the object to function? Guess that's why the doorbell never worked!

Boxen

And so it begins. Hubby brought home about fifty boxes. Sadly, we will probably need more. I just don't know what to, and what not to keep. Just trying to take it one box at a time. I finished packing a few boxes on Sunday. And did a few more today. My brother is a hoarder... I make a conscious decision to not have things overtake my life. But it is hard to let go. I have the treasures from my childhood since both of my parents are gone. I think maybe a granddaughter would appreciate some of it. I just don't want to leave a bunch of junk for my kids to go through. My grandmother was a bit of a hoarder too. Her house was a nightmare when she passed. So another part of me wants everything to go. There must be a happy middle ground? Somewhere.

Spring Fever

I have spring fever. I like wearing sweaters and boots. But as they say, been there done that. And now I am so over it. I want to feel the warm sunshine. I'm tired of being cold!

Knit Wit

After stuggling on my own for awhile, I decided to take a knitting class.  A co-worker of mine: Gloria, before she left for Massachusetts, tried to teach me how to knit.  So, when Jo-Ann's had half price classes, I signed up.  I told Rose, the teacher, that I could sort of knit.  I don't think she knew what to think of me.  So I demonstrated.  The other lady asked  the teacher...well, can she knit?  And the teacher said that I was right.  I can sort of knit.  But not the way you are supposed to.  So, Rose instructed.  It took me awhile to unlearn the way I was doing it and relearn the correct way. I learned the two stitches (knit and purl) and three combinations.

Then I got new yarn and needles to start an infinity scarf:

I think my progression will be infinity scarf, baby blanket, hat and then try something bigger like a vest and eventually a sweater. The other ladies were working on a sweater. It didn't look that hard...just time comsuming.

Rick and Bubba

Cletus, Buddy, Rick, Me and Bubba

That's where the magic happens

 

After all of the housework and moving prep, we needed a getaway.  So we got Golden Ticket seats to the Rick and Bubba Show in Birmingham.  They are now a nationally syndicated radio talk show and broadcast on tv as well.  We have been listening to them for almost all of their 15 years.  We have purchased cd's and books and have met them in person before.  It was really interesting to be behind the scene.  It was definitely upclose and personal.  We sat just feet from where the show was live for three hours. You can check it all out at rickandbubba.com

Location, Location, Location

After the conversation on Saturday night...we went out Sunday afternoon with our mls listings to see what all was available for sale in our area.  Hmm.  $40k. Pictures of the house look nice.  Lets go check it out.  Well, it was pretty far out in the country. That's ok.  It was in rough DIY shape.  That's to be expected.  The neighbors to the west: beat up redneck trailer. The neighbors to the east...  Well, that's where there was a problem.  I don't mind if you are struggling financially and your house reflects that (like the one to the west). But!  The lot to the east...was a deer processing place.  There was a rough scaffolding contraption in the front yard with the sign: "You hang 'em, We gut 'em". Wow, that just spoke volumes to me. Needless to say, we kept on truckin'!  The Realtor catch phrase: "Location, location, locaton" was never more evident!

Fixin' To

Well, after leaving Top O' The River, we had about an hour drive home.  We took the back way through Grant Mountain.  Probably really pretty, but being in the country at night...it was just pitch black.  It felt a bit Squatchie.  That is, some place that Bigfoot/Sasquatch might hang out.  Cletus and I got into an interesting discussion about what would you do if you saw Mr. Foot.  He said that he would not tell a soul.  I  think that is true of most people.  That is why they haven't found Mr. Foot yet.  By the way, I would probably tell S and V and no one else.  Not sure what they would think.  But that's what friends are for. As well as they know me, I'm not sure that they would be in the least bit alarmed (or surprised) that I saw Mr. Big Foot.

The rest of the conversation was a little less serious.  Our five/ten year plan.  After, Buddy graduates in May.  He will need full time care.  So, I am going to take that role.  Hopefully, he can work part time and I will chauffeur.  Otherwise, we will volunteer.  I just can't have him just sitting around the house watching television.

So, we have decided to put our house on the market and get a smaller, more managable home. So we are fixin' to be ready.  And there is a lot of fixin' to do: sort, donate, clean, box, repair, sell. Ugh.  We haven't moved in ten years and we have accumulated quite a bit.  And we plan on a house about half the size of the one we have now.  So this week has been cleaning out the top of the garage (I didn't know we still had that). And sorting through crammed closets for donation items. And having work done on the outside of the house.

When I get to that point.  I have some items to sell.  I'll let y'all know about yard sales and other large items.

It is a lot of work and not very glamourous.

Discriminating Taste

Wow, it is Friday already and I am waay behind on my blogging.  Well, I had a great Saturday with Sharika (A New Beginning) and V (Am I Getting Old).  We worked on a watercolor batik of boats.  I think they have already posted pics of theirs if you want to check out their pages.  I'm not happy with mine.  So I am going to do some more work on it. Pics later.

After the class, we went out to dinner at Top o' the River.  S and V's hubby's are both named Gary.  I wanna fit in so I am going to change Cletus' name to "Gary".  Just kidding.  I have never been a fitting in type of person. Cletus said it is too confusing for all of the guys to be Gary.  Besides, he has enough trouble with people calling him Ronald or Randy (neither are correct).

Dinner was fun.  TOTR has southern food: fried catfish, turnip greens, pinto beans, cornbread. It is good, just not what I grew up on.  Actually, I like my cornbread... sweet (with honey butter).  Gasp!  And having unsweet cornbread with pinto beans...well, that is not a meal (to me). Gasp! As for catfish, I've tried it.  I like fish that doesn't taste like fish.  A mild white fish...like halibut. Oh my!!  I know, I know, I get this all the time: "ya ain't from 'round 'ere, are ya?"

Well no.  I am from the west and a city girl. I "branched out" and tried fried dill pickles.  Pretty good. And had fried chicken.  Can't help it if I'm 'picky'...although, I prefer to think of myself as having "discriminating taste".  I know what I like.

Anyway, painting was fun.  Dinner was good.  And the company was the best!!