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Spectacular Spring! - 5/10/2008 9:09:35 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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Friday: The day started off a bit wet and chilly after the rain came through late last night, but it quickly warmed to 80° and the sky was a very bright blue. Tomorrow will be another nice day but Sunday is supposed to be a bummer with two sets of storms coming through. That’s okay. I’m sure I can find something fun to do.
I am not going to have the daycare child on Monday. Her Dad is off. I’m going to keep the car so I can get out of the house and also help decorate for the baby shower. I still need to buy a gift!
I got a replacement microwave off Freecycle this afternoon. Our 30 year old microwave died a few months ago during a storm. We missed having microwave popcorn, instant oatmeal and quick reheating of leftovers. A family in town just remodeled their kitchen and got all new appliances. They gave us a good-sized unit in GREAT condition. It looks like new.
Our Home School Year is completed! This is the end of our 9th year. We’ll begin 8th grade in late August or early September but we’re going to continue math lessons during the summer while Daddy is home to teach. After all, Daddy is a math major. We use Saxon Math.
What did I do today? I cleaned the fridge and vacuumed the house. I did a few loads of clothes and a few other things. We went grocery shopping after a really good supper. It was a very nice day.
Saturday: I woke at 8:20!! I’d gone to bed around 10:30 and went right to sleep. Jim slept until 9:00. I got up once he was awake and we did several chores. Jim cut the grass in the front and back yard. We also took the broken gas blower over to be repaired but the guy there took it apart to see if it had just lost a screw and found a sheared off bolt and ripped up gasket. It wasn’t worth repairing. It had served us well and we’d gotten a good 8 or 9 years out of it. Considering we have almost an acre of land with about 100 trees, we have a huge amount of leaves to get up each year.
Jim went to Home Depot and got some wood for a 4 X 8 raised flowerbed. He built that and we got it into position. He took me to Home Depot tonight to choose some plants for Mother’s Day. He gave me a choice of what I’d like, and I chose live plants. We have to put topsoil in the raised bed and then will plant my new flowers tomorrow afternoon. The pictures are the two plant types I chose today.
We went to the dump and also put the new seat on our outdoor swing. It looks so very nice and sits well. I’ve sat in it several times today and enjoyed it very much.
We had Mary and Jon over for a Mother’s Day cookout. We decided to do it today because we’re expecting a rainy day on Sunday. Jim grilled steaks that were so tender you could cut them with a butter knife. We had corn on the cob, potato salad and baked beans. I’d made a Peach Cobbler for dessert and we ate it while it was still warm.
We sat on the deck and visited for a long time before the picnic. It was a bit overcast, but we were under a tornado watch and had thunderstorm warnings. Instead, it was quite pleasant with the sun breaking through on and off.
Jim took a pre assessment test today and passed with flying colors. He’ll schedule the final exam and take that at the college in the next few days. This was his final literature test. He still has two papers to finalize, but he sure is doing great!
I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers from our oldest son and his family. A pink and white checked ribbon in a very feminine material surrounds them. They smell so lovely, too.
I broke the chain off our whole house fan. Jim has a new switch so he’ll fix it for me in the next day or so. I’m just glad it broke when I turned it OFF.
Have a lovely night, a wonderful Mother’s Day and God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
PLEASE SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PETS!
Never ‘buy’ an animal when you can save a life by adopting a deserted or unwanted furry friend.
We got our Scooter (Black Lab) at ‘Wal-Mart’ (parking lot give away at 5 weeks old) and our Patches (Calico Cat) at our local animal shelter. She was about 6 months old. Both were spayed and neutered before six months of age. We’ve now enjoyed the friendship of Patches for 4 ½ years and Scooter for 3 years.
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Storms all night - 5/11/2008 8:50:08 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Ephesians 4: 14-16 Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
It was very noisy around here last night. Scooter woke at 1:00 when the thunder started. He was whimpering so I walked him and then closed the two windows in the t.v. room, gave him some cookies and sat with him for a few minutes. By 4:00, we were awake again because of the thunder, roaring winds and pounding rain, but we didn’t even have a downed limb. Many in our county were not so blessed.
Since I hadn’t slept well at all, I took a two hour nap at lunch time today. It’s still very windy and only about 70°. At least the storms are gone. Turnout at Sunday School was very low. Jamie and I didn’t have even ONE girl out of our class and the 8th graders had four girls. Many teachers were absent. Next week is the breakfast/ ceremony for graduates and Jim doesn’t have to cook. We won’t have Sunday School class. I’m sleeping in!
Jim and I went to Douglasville this afternoon and bought gifts for the Baby Shower. I found three really precious dresses and a ‘classic’ stuffed animal. I chose Eeyore because he’s my favorite Pooh character. I got a classic Pooh gift bag so I didn’t have to find boxes for everything. I do need some tissue paper, tho, in a pastel color.
Because of the high winds, we didn’t go out and work on my newest flowerbed today. Jim offered to get the holes dug but it was so very windy that I suggested we wait.
Hope you had a really nice Mother’s Day. God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
PLEASE SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PETS! Adopt an animal from your local shelter instead of buying one at the mall. Save a little life.
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Tuesday at our house - 5/13/2008 8:12:30 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Psalms 56:8 "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." I would never leave you alone at a time like this. Let Me come in and dine with you, sharing comfort and fellowship together. 1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 
School was closed Monday because we’re under a ‘State of Emergency’ here in Carroll County. Staff still had to report, so Jim got up his regular time. I didn’t have my daycare toddler, so I was a bit laid back drinking my coffee and eating oatmeal at leisure.
I decided not to keep the car Monday because I expected Jim to have a really short day. It made no sense to use extra gas driving him back and forth when he would be home right after lunchtime. I just needed to buy some tissue paper and a missing ingredient for one of the foods I was taking to the Baby Shower.
I didn’t have the daycare child on Tuesday because of a dental visit for her sisters, so I did some chores that generally take a bit longer and demand more of my attention. I’d pulled a muscle in my back lifting her into the highchair last Friday and it’s still bothering me a bit.
Jim had his stitches removed this afternoon and doesn’t have to return for three months! Wow, he’s thrilled! We’ll have to keep an eye out for any new black spots or moles that change, tho. He goes back on August 12th. He’ll go every three months now.
I sat outside in my swing for a long time today. It was so pretty. It was supposed to be hot, but we had a nice breeze and a few clouds. We have a chance of rain the next few days. My plants need it, so I shouldn’t complain. I just really enjoy being outside!
I cancelled our unlimited long distance service, Caller I.D., Call Waiting, etc., and will save $47.00 on my monthly phone bill. Next, I’m going to call the local cable company and see about getting phone, cable and internet through them. We really, really, really dislike AT&T. Our service is extremely slow since they took over DSL for Bellsouth. We’ve had more outages with them in just months than we’ve had in 9 years with Bellsouth!
I completed some surveys today that paid immediately for a quick $15.00. I have two more that are waiting to be completed. I like free money.
I got pine bark nuggets put in my newest raised bed tonight. Jim had planted the two shrubs while I was at the Baby Shower last night. I got two smaller plants that bloom purple spikes for the front of the bed. I am actually thinking about adding some annuals in the front of each new bed to give them more ‘oomph’ while the shrubs grow and fill in. I didn’t buy any small shrubs, only 3 gallons, but they have plenty of room to fill in the beds.
I have the topsoil and pine bark for another small raised bed. I just need for Jim to buy the wood and build it for me. Of course, he had to ask ‘What are you going to put in it?’ Something colorful, of course! Maybe a Hydrangea that blooms late summer or a Hibiscus that can withstand heat and our mild winters?? I’d like a Camellia and Gardenia, too. You can never have too many plants.
NCIS is on and I really like that show. Think I’ll watch it. Good night and God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
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All day rain - 5/15/2008 6:56:27 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Psalms 37:5-6 "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun." Matthew 5-16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 
Rod Dreher, a conservative columnist for the "Dallas Morning News," said: I blog about negative stuff for the same reason that newspapers aren't filled with good news: because "usually" "good news" isn't that interesting to talk about.
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I had a bad night. I seemed to sleep well until 3:30. Scooter woke to go out and I walked him to the end of our cul-de-sac and back. I had a stuffy nose and sinus headache but also just felt a bit off. Between 4:00 and 7:20, I slept very fitfully, not able to get comfortable and I’d awaken for a few minutes aware I was clenching my jaw. I woke with a backache. I think I’d overdone it moving top soil and then mulch on Tuesday night. I’d carried 200 lbs of soil about 40 feet, 40lbs at a time. Anyhow, a hot shower and a few minutes on a heating pad have helped a lot.
My mother is supposed to come through in two weeks and stay for one or two nights. She’ll stay at a local hotel, because of my animals, but we’re going to have cook-outs with Jon and Mary. I hope we have really nice weather those two days. Mother won’t come inside except to run to the bathroom because of the cat and dog.
Mother wants Jim to either ride with her or follow her to Birmingham for her dental implants. She’s already had the two major surgeries so this will be a minor thing, taking about 25 minutes, but she’s very anxious about it. Her procedure is the last Friday of the month. We do have a concern that he could be gone up to three days, leaving me without transportation. Jon and Mary are only 15 miles away, tho. I don’t expect Jim to stay more than the night before the procedure.
Weight Loss:
I’m very discouraged with my weight loss. I gained back four pounds then lost two of those pounds, so I’m stuck again and at a higher weight. I don’t know why this happened. At first, I thought it was all water weight because I’d been craving and eating salty foods and it happened ‘overnight’. It didn’t go away quickly like your typical water weight gain, tho. Our final weigh in is the third week of July. I’d wanted to have lost down to my goal of 124 lbs by then. Eight weeks to go and at a standstill.
I’ve been snacking after supper but not like before I began my weight loss attempt. Jim will bring me a serving of my Peach Cobbler or make popcorn and I eat it. I’ve also had some chocolate almost every day. I’m not eating a lot of food, just the wrong foods. Still no soda, tho. I have coffee in the morning and then drink tea the rest of the day.
I ate oatmeal for breakfast and had Ramen Noodles at lunch. For supper, I made a small amount of lean meat and lots of veggies. No snacks today for me, other than a small pear.
I didn’t do my aerobics this morning because of the backache. I may sneak in some exercise before watching TV tonight. We’ll see how my back feels. My walk aerobics calls for arm movements and back stretches for the whole two-mile workout.
It started raining here before lunchtime. I have two small plants I should have gotten planted but they’ll do okay. They’re still in the pots they came in. I think we’ll miss most of the bad weather. The real storm appears to be moving up instead of over us tho we’ve had a steady downpour for hours. I think we’re out of our drought. This has been a typical rainy spring.
Jim is taping the middle school concert tonight. He set up his equipment right after school so he could run home for supper. He has six more school days left in the year and has off until August 15th. Students return August 22nd in Bremen. That gives him 3 months off, with pay.
The rain has never stopped. My flowers are going to be HUGE! Good for me! Plus, the rain is free water. It’s really coming down! Thankfully, it’s not blowing, so I can keep my windows open. I love a soft rain. I like a thunderstorm. I don’t like dreary days. Today was just ‘light’ enough and interesting enough to be pleasant. Plus, it’s not chilly.
The kitchen is cleaned and I don’t have any chores that need doing. I’m going to try and force myself to do aerobics before something good comes on TV. I’m VERY drowsy from not sleeping well last night, but I can’t go to bed until after I walk Scooter at 10:00 or around there. That’s three hours!
Diane Tavegia
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Ten hours of yard work today! - 5/17/2008 9:17:44 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Habakkuk 2:2-3 "Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run. "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay." Romans 8:1 and Romans 8:28 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ... And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
FRIDAY: We had a cloudy day today. I got a lot of housework done and then, while the toddler napped, I did some yard work in our front flowerbeds.
I pruned a lot of low branches off trees and cut down the saplings that had sprung up. Most of them were about three foot tall. I haven’t helped in the front beds in a few years and Jim doesn’t pay attention to those type needs. I’ve got two trees that need cutting down and a huge number of limbs that sprouted up from a downed tree. I have a slew of dead branches and limbs that need picking up and moving to our compost pile. I also have five or six piles from the work I did earlier that need moving.
I did laundry and swept, dusted and other chores before going outside. I didn’t want anything left to keep me inside tomorrow when it’s really pretty.
We don’t have to cook for the youth this Sunday because the church is having a breakfast and ceremony for 7th grade through 12th grade that will take up our Sunday School class time. There’ll be a ceremony during church, too. We’re staying home. I’m not ‘into’ pomp and circumstance and it will be really nice to not have to be up and out of the door so early.
SATURDAY: Whew! I have really enjoyed today. We were out working in the yard before 10:00 and I just came in. It’s 8:30!
So, Jim cut down two trees and Nick and I picked up limbs and sticks in the front flowerbeds. Jim cut the grass and made a run to the dump with our household garbage, bags from mulch and topsoil, pots from my newest plants and anything else we could find.
We moved a birdbath that was under a big stand of trees. It was very hard to reach to fill and the birds had never used it. We moved it up where one had been previously but had cracked too badly to be repaired (again). The birds were in it right away.
Jim made me two more raised beds. These are 4 X 4 each. Home Depot had a sale on Perennials and I had a $5.00 off coupon I got by email so I got a lot of flowers for the new beds. I got a Lavendar Camelot Digitalis Foxglove, an Appleblossom Achillea, Paprika Achillea, 2 Salvia, Arizona Sun, Shasta Daisy, a variegated Sedum, Blue Veronica and a Lemon Sunset Primrose. The Foxglove was a 3 gallon but the others were all one gallon sized plants.
After the plants were in the ground, I spent hours cutting down wayward limbs and saplings, loads and loads of Devil’s Thumb (horrid plant with horrific thorns that spreads like crazy and crops up all over). I picked up a lot of sticks out back and have lots more to go. I raked up near the house and in my path that meanders around my raised beds and to my swing.
My large wind chime broke and we fixed it good as new. I watered most of my flowerbeds by hand and have the sprinkler going on the other two. I just ran out of steam.
I filled all my birdfeeders except one. I ran out of birdseed. I have seven feeders out back.
My backyard is looking more beautiful every day. Tomorrow I have to pick up some more pine bark mulch and birdseed. Once that’s down, I’m going to pick up more sticks out back and show Jim two more trees I noticed are dead. They’re about 5 inches in diameter, but one has two trunks. They’re not dangerous and even if they fell, they’d not be big enough to damage the fence or reach the house, but they do need taking down.
When I get that done, I’m going to enjoy my deck and swing. I really, really enjoy flower gardening, working in the yard and being outside. I am a very happy camper.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the day as much as I have and I’ll talk with you later!
Diane Tavegia
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Lilies and Lamb's Ear - 5/19/2008 6:32:25 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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Galatians 5:16-18 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." Romans 8:5-6 "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace."
Sunday: I slept in until almost 9:00 today. Boy, it felt good! Jim had gotten up around 7:30 and was downstairs listening to music and reading for college.
It was a mostly sunny day but cool because of strong winds. We sat outside tonight until 7:00, tho. Jim was listening to music and reading a magazine and I read the paper and just enjoyed the last bit of sun hitting our deck. Scooter sat with us. Patches cried at the door. She’s not allowed outside. Nick was watching TV.
I didn’t do a lot today. We cooked steak on the grill. I’d not marinated it overnight so it was just okay. We had baked potatoes, green beans and collard greens. For supper, I had a huge green salad with radishes, cucumber, mushrooms, olives, green pepper, a boiled egg and a tablespoon of tuna fish.
I didn’t do any yard work today because of the strong winds. We couldn’t rake. Oh, I did pick up a few sticks and played Frisbee with Scooter, but no true yard work.
I took a nap this afternoon. I slept about 1 ½ hours. I was tired because Scooter got up a number of times last night. He does this about once a month. I’m guessing it was Moon Madness, Lunatic! A cat was in our driveway and just sat and glared at us. Two cats were howling out back. A cow was mooing loudly in the distance.
I’ve not had any snacks in days and have been very careful what I’ve eaten. I lost the weight I’d gained but am stuck again. My weigh in is Tuesday night between 6:00 and 6:30. If I’ve not lost any more weight, I won’t bother to go. I’ll decide on Tuesday morning.
A neighbor is giving me some Stella D’ora Lilies and Lamb’s Ear. I have to drive over and pick them up tomorrow. Both are drought tolerant and like this horrid clay!
Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous and mid 80°’s. In fact, most of the week is supposed to be near 90°! I’ll spend a lot of time outside, you can be sure! There’s a chance, several days, of afternoon thunderstorms. I’m so glad we’re getting rain because that means we’ll be able to use water outside during the summer.
There’s nothing on TV tonight, so we’re watching ‘21’. I don’t know too much about it. So far, it’s fine.
My mother is definitely coming to visit on May 28th. I’m planning our cook-out menu around her. She has trouble chewing so I’m going to have really tender steak, hamburgers and hot dogs. I’m thinking steamed broccoli and steamed new potatoes are easy to chew. For everyone else, I’ll also have corn on the cob and a Peaches and Cream pie made with Jell-o, peaches and Cool Whip.
Monday: Wow, did it storm last night! It began raining around 10:00 and poured for a good three hours. I woke several times to the sound of the downpour. We were able to leave our windows open.
I took Jim to work and then went to get my plants before lunch. The lady gave me a number of plants. Some plants are very teeny but the Stella D’Ora Lilies were such a huge clump that I divided them into four smaller clumps. She’s very nice and I enjoyed visiting with her and seeing her gardens. They live in the ‘rich neighborhood’ two streets from us. The homes are HUGE. Most have four car garages.
Our daughter’s divorce is final today. She’s taken back her maiden name. She’s been supporting her family for several years. Poor kid has had it tough.
After school, Jim put down five bags of Pine Bark Mulch and four bags of red mulch. The red mulch is a pathway around my flowerbeds and to my swing. We also planted the flowers I was given.
I had fish for supper. I ate it on the deck. Scooter helped me. I crave fish about once a month. Since dieting, I must be missing something in my diet that my body needs. I’ve not been a fish eater. I love lobster, crab, clams, etc., tho.
Jim went to the Sports Banquet tonight. It’s a cookout in the parking lot at school. He really didn’t want to go but was made to feel guilty. I’d have gone if he wanted me to, but he said it wasn’t necessary. He decided at the last minute to make an appearance.
One town in Georgia is telling their residents to ‘take down your Christmas lights’. When we went to Jon’s a few weeks ago, coming home a back way to pick up Nick from a friend’s house, we saw half dozen homes with their lights still up! Get some class, people!
Shucks! Since canceling Caller ID, I’m getting several sales calls or ‘donation’ calls a day. Today was something in Spanish talking about Mexico and Disney World and the second was for the Police Benevolent Order. I’m on the ‘no call’ list. Hmmmm….
The sun’s down a bit. I need to do some raking out back. Have a lovely evening and God Bless!
Diane Tavegia
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Lovely day and gorgeous weather! - 5/21/2008 8:46:16 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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Acts 4:29-31 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness."
TUESDAY: It’s partly cloudy here today. We’re supposed to have high winds later. Still, it’s very warm. I had raked a bit last night and planned to do a lot more today, but if we have high winds, I can’t rake. I’m trying to get leaves, huge piles of leaves, from one side of a large yard to the other.
Jim’s ‘appearance’ at the Sports Cook-out/ Banquet ended up being 3 ½ hours. They had one grill to cook for 200 people and couldn’t get it started.
Boy is it storming! Jim and I had gone out early and bought a few groceries but forgot dishwashing powder so we ran up to Wal-Mart after supper. It’s horrific storms with lightening that appears to hit ground, hail, high winds (60mph) and thunder.
I went for my weigh in tonight but the ladies from the hospital never showed up. There were only three of us to be weighed. That’s pretty sad, out of 25 or so. I’d lost two pounds since last month. I’m hoping to lose another four or five before my next weigh in the third Tuesday of June. With all the yard work and no snacking, I MIGHT make it.
WEDNESDAY: Jim and I woke early today so cuddled and laughed for a long time before we got up. I’d turned on the coffee pot when I first woke, so that was ready when we crawled out of bed.
There was a husband and wife deer family out front this morning. They didn’t run off even when I opened the door and took pictures of them. I can’t figure out how to zoom on my old digital camera, so the pictures were not that great.
I started some extra cleaning today and have not accomplished a lot because I’ve done some extra things like painting some places on the woodwork that had been dinged. The problem is the white paint is going on top of 9-year-old white paint. BOY does it show how yellow the old paint has become!
I took down the door to my bathroom and took it out on the deck. It needed a good scrubbing so I did it out there. It took a while! Hairspray had built up on it and turned gummy in the soap. So, it’s clean and back up.
I took down the return air ducts and washed those. I was very careful because Jim slit his finger open on one about 32 years ago. It was horrible! I did all but one that’s in our living room. It’s up near the ceiling and it’s a vaulted ceiling. The rest were near the floor.
Nick’s tub needed scrubbing. He only showers and I’d not checked it in weeks. Anyhow, I didn’t have more soap scum stuff so I decided I’d fill the tub with hot water and some Tide to loosen the soap and then I’ll get some cleanser when I have the car this afternoon. I start running the water and went to the laundry room for the detergent. When I turned back around, there was Scooter, standing in the bathtub expecting a bath! He didn’t want to get out, either. I patted him on his head, told him he was a good boy and tried to get him out. Nick came and helped but finally we walked away and called him. He came running, acting crazy like after a real bath, rubbing on the carpet, snorting. We laughed so hard.
My wind chime broke again in the strong storms last night. Jim had warned me when he repaired it that he only had four-pound filament line and it wouldn’t hold up in a storm. He bought me a beautiful replacement today and also got wood and filament line to repair the old one. We both like wind chimes. Isn’t he sweet?
I made ribs and corn on the cob for supper. Boy was it good! The house smelled so good all day. It drove Scooter crazy!
We sat outside quite late today. Erin called and I sat out on the deck and talked to her. Our youngest granddaughter turns five next week. I’ve already sent our presents. We won’t get to talk to her on her birthday.
Time for Criminal Minds. That’s one of my favorite TV shows. Hope you had a really nice day and are having gorgeous weather.
Wishing you big hugs, warm kisses and sweet dreams next to the one you love,
Diane Tavegia
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Saturday and Sunday - 5/25/2008 8:43:15 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Psalms 27:3 "Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident." 1 Peter 5:6-7 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
Saturday: We had a busy day with many more to come. Jim and I both had problems sleeping last night. Around 2:45 a neighbor was outside calling for an animal, clapping her hands. It woke me and I was wide awake until after 4:00. Jim woke close to 4:00 and never got back to sleep. We’re both tired tonight. It was very hot out today, too!
We had gotten a coupon for a free shrub at Home Depot so we went up early this morning and got two Snowball Verbenas in five-gallon containers. We also got two very small Boxwoods to replace two that had died. I got a $20.00 shrub for FREE. (Join Home Depot’s Garden Club online and get offers by email at least once a week.)
I needed to get leaves out of my ‘triangle’ flowerbed that’s behind a fence while some plants mature. I couldn’t plant my new shrubs until those leaves were gone because they would have to be moved right across the chosen areas. So, I raked out a huge pile of wet leaves and Jim came out and we loaded them onto a tarp, pulled four loads across the yard and dumped them into a sunken area we’re raising by composting. That took a long time.
Jim planted my two large shrubs. They sure look nice where we’ve put them. They get really large and will be a nice backdrop for our other plants. I love flowers and love getting things for free!
We did a search for the replacement lure and sticky pads for our Mosquito Deleto. It looks like we can only find it through Coleman. No local store carries them anymore.
I put our freestanding basketball goal on Freecycle and gave it away at lunchtime. The family who took it has several children and I got the impression they couldn’t have afforded to buy one. They were so nice and so very thankful.
We have a lot more leaves to get up. I do mean a LOT more. We also need to cut the grass, edge the driveway/ street/ sidewalk and use the weed whacker. We want to get it all done by Monday.
I watered all but a few flowerbeds by hand and have the sprinkler going on the others. The mosquitoes are already out. Nick has three bites and I have a number on my left arm. Boy do they itch! Mine go away very quickly. Nick’s are only 1 ½ days old and are almost gone. He reacts pretty severely to them. For 8 years, he’d end up at the doctor at least once a year because of localized swelling. He took medicine for years to prevent reaction. He’s not taking it this year. We have it, but want to see if he’s matured enough that he fights it off. I don’t like medicines.
Sunday: We had a decent turnout in church today. Off the top of my head, I think we had 12 in our 7th and 8th grade girl’s Sunday School class. Of course, we have about 30 on roll.
Our sermon was from Genesis 12 & 13. I forgot the topic.
Jon and Mary called right after lunch and asked us to go to the movie with them. They took us to see Indiana Jones. It was pretty good. I don’t think it was anywhere near as good as the old ones, but Harrison Ford must be 60.
I didn’t spend much time at all outside today. We got home from the movie after 6:00 and by time I got outside, the mosquitoes were awful. I used some bug spray that smells like baby powder. It works pretty well.
We went up to Wal-Mart and got Mosquito Dunks for our birdbaths and my water feature. Our yard fogger is acting up. Of course, that’s another thing we’ve used quite a bit for a good number of years. We can’t afford another one. I’m going to soak the tip in vinegar to see if it’s just clogged. Fridge, Washer and Dryer, Microwave, Leaf Blower, Fogger, all dead or dying.
I have a LOT to do in the next few days. My mother is coming through on Wednesday and will come here for a cook-out. Even tho she won’t do more than walk through the house into the backyard, I still need to get some cleaning done. I was a neat freak for 50 plus years. Now, I’d rather enjoy life than worry about a little dust.
I’ll change the sheets tomorrow, as usual and do my usual laundry. Jim’s going to do yard work. I’d prefer to mop the floors AFTER he does that because we tend to track in some grass clippings or clay when we’re doing outside work, but the kitchen floor is a must. The 2 year old I keep throws her food some days and Friday she figured out how to pour out some juice from a leak free sippy cup. There’s a sticky spot under the edge of the table. That needs doing. So, I’ll be busy. I’d prefer to work outside with Jim but I’ve found if I leave housework til the day before or day of someone’s arrival, something goes wrong and I don’t get to do all that I’d planned to get done.
We’re going to cook out with Jon and Mary tomorrow. We sure enjoy being with them. I love having them just minutes away. I wish all our kids were nearby.
Jim has to go into school (work) Tuesday – Thursday and just SIT. He and several friends have nothing to do. He’s going to take his laptop and do some college work. Maybe they’ll get to leave a bit early each day. He’ll have off three months, with pay, so we sure can’t complain!
I’ve got the sprinkler going because one of my plants is quite wilted. I realized the one plant has been missed by both waterings because it’s in the middle of all the beds. I moved the sprinkler so it’s getting plenty tonight. I am a bit upset because it was covered with big purple flowers. I hope they pop back up. They were all droopy tonight.
Diane Tavegia
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Mr. Fix-it - 5/27/2008 7:39:40 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:9-11 "So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience." 
Wouldn’t you know it. Rain is expected on and off on Wednesday. My mother will have a good excuse to not come see us. She’ll drive less than 2 miles from my house. We’ll see.
To be allowed to water our 50 plus new plants/ shrubs, I had to take a course and pass a test on water conservation and drought, etc. I made 100% and paid my $4.95. We have to ‘prominently display’ our certificate and can now water those plants three days a week.
The lawnmower broke. Jim had done a few strips of grass when the belt broke. Then a cable broke. Of course, the John Deere store wasn’t open on Memorial Day so he couldn’t get the parts to fix it. He left here extra early this morning and went there before school (work). He did the edging and weed whacking and the backyard is done. The John Deere store didn’t have the belt or cable so they had to be ordered and will ship to our house. Uh Oh! The grass will have to wait a few days.
When I got up this morning and went into the kitchen, I heard a loud ‘hiss’ sound. The line to my icemaker had split and was spewing water all over the floor. I told you I needed to mop today anyhow. I shut off the water at the wall right away and Jim fixed it for me right after supper. He got all new tubing and the brass things at Home Depot for just dollars.
The pull chain to my whole house fan broke off last week. The fan pulls in the cool evening air and early morning air to help keep the house cool much of the day. Jim replaced that tonight before supper. It’s amazing how well it works. Jim installed it about 8 years ago for us.
Our satellite dish is acting up. For several days I’ve gotten ‘searching for signal’ messages and now am getting ‘not a valid access card number’ mixed in with ‘no signal’. I think I’ve fixed it, tho. I’d seen a wasp going in and out of the piping where the cable runs up to the dish. I jiggled the cable and it came on and has stayed on all afternoon/ evening.
Fridge, Microwave, Washer/ Dryer, Leaf Blower, Lawnmower, satellite, whole house fan, ice maker, my computer all gone or going! Whew!! We were given a microwave and Jim repaired the ice maker, whole house fan and will fix the lawnmower. The other things are held together with prayer.
I’ve not had any calls about another child to keep. I really don’t want to keep another child right now. With Jim home for three months, I’d rather it be just us and the sweet baby I’m keeping currently. Jim can do his schoolwork and we can even go to the park with just one toddler. I can sleep in until mom knocks on the door at almost 8:00, too. Our home is much quieter with only one child. I’m trusting God to provide.
Jim will be 61 in August. Only a little over a year and he can get Social Security. He says he feels better than he’s felt in years. He LOOKS great! He does sit-ups, push-ups and lifts weights all twice a day. He weighs the same as he did in high school and has a 34” waist.
My mind is just all over the place today, isn’t it? LOL
Jim came home at lunchtime. He had to run to the bank. The school is making them donate $10.00 toward gifts. He also had to give them $3.00 for a cook-out on Thursday or take in something. He wants out of there as soon as he eats so opted to pay instead of wait for a dish (plate) to be finished. He’s working on his college work at school today. He has nothing to do for three days but has to report. Jim’s going to make pancakes for everyone tomorrow morning. He has everything ready to go. He’s also taking in a bunch of our DVD’s to show in one of the rooms. People were actually asking ‘Do you have XYZ?’
I have a head cold. I pretty much never get sick. Oh, my sinuses will clog up but I go a very long time without even a cold. I knew this would happen because of my mother coming and our cookout. I am a bit achy and my head is all clogged up. I have sinus pain in one spot. I took Sudaphed and aspirin.
For the cookout, we’re having chicken, baked beans, new potatoes, broccoli, garlic bread and apple cobbler for dessert. The potatoes and broccoli are on the menu as I need softer foods because of my mother’s dental procedure. The only thing that might be too tough to chew is the chicken. She’ll grind it up.
I still have some cleaning to do. I might do some tonight and I might not. My house always looks clean because we never leave any piles around and everything is in its place.
I’m going to do a few chores and then watch TV. Have a great evening and God Bless!
Diane Tavegia
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Summer Vacation begins today! - 5/29/2008 7:40:00 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Romans 4:20,21 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Philippians 2:1-2 "If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal." "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart" Psalms 37:4 "And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful." Proverbs 8:32 
Last night was our cookout. My mother did make it. She came over about 4:30 and Jon and Mary got here about an hour later. We had a lot of fun. The weather was cloudy so cooler. It rained for less than two minutes just before my mother got here. The chairs didn’t even get wet. We stayed outside until the mosquitoes were eating us alive.
Scooter really disliked my mother. She really dislikes animals and she’d growled at him, barked at him through the window. He scared her to death.
My mother doesn’t look good at all. She’s lost weight and her skin just sags on her arms and legs. She’s aged 20 years in 11 months. I’m sure it’s these three surgeries she’s had done so she can have permanent false teeth. She’s to have another procedure done tomorrow in Birmingham. Vanity may just kill her.
Our oldest son, Scott, called today. He’s going to Honduras on a mission trip with 100Churches. He leaves in early June. I’m thrilled he’s able to get off work and go. He and his wife are very involved in their church. His son is 5 ½ and graduates from Pre-K in two weeks. He’s playing T-ball.
Scooter got hurt today. I think he’s fine, tho. The electric meter reader was shouting at him from the house behind us. I’m guessing he didn’t see me sitting on our deck. When he came around to our house, Scooter put his paws up on the top of the fence, barking like crazy. One foot got stuck! He yelped and yelped. I’d gone in the house, heard the noise and thought a dog had been hit by a car. By time we ran outside, he was running across the backyard. The reader told us what happened. I bet he won’t bother the dog again. Poor puppy! When he puts his paws on the top rail of the fence, his head is well above it. Anyhow, there’s a slight abrasion but he’s running around like normal. He did act a bit skittish much of the afternoon.
Our neighborhood is very noisy all of a sudden. A man down the street got a LOUD motorcycle and he rides it up and down the street, revving his engine. (Grow UP!) Some tiny kids are riding electric (go cart?) flat type things that sit just above ground level. They’re pretty young to be riding up and down the street with no adult watching them. I’d never seen them until the last few weeks and they don’t live on this half of the street. The things they’re riding are also noisy. The lady on the corner does daycare for older kids. She has three of her own (yours, mine, ours) and keeps 8 kids. They roam up and down the street, shouting and running around. I’m sure this will all pass when the newness of summer vacation wears off.
Jim’s last day at Temple Middle School was today. He went to Bremen and filled out his paperwork for his job there. The lady in human resources said health insurance for all Georgia teachers is changing this fall. We’ll choose from United Health Care and Cigna, I think he said. Also, their city school pays for his dental care and she said we’ll pay a bit less. So, we began our three months together with hamburgers on the grill and a long afternoon on the deck.
The part for our lawnmower came last night and Jim repaired it and then cut the grass today. I’m glad he’s so handy!
Tomorrow is our youngest grandchild’s 5th birthday. I sent her presents a long time ago and even let her open one a few weeks ago. Our daughter has plans for this weekend. They were making cupcakes tonight to take to school tomorrow.
I’ve got a dental cleaning on Monday. I don’t like going to the dentist but haven’t had a cavity in a while now. I hope it stays that way!
We’re taking Scooter for his rabies shot in the morning. We take him to a mobile vet who goes to the Tractor Supply store each Friday morning. He does spaying and neutering in a mobile office and comes out between each surgery to give shots or do ‘check ups’. You don’t have to pay for visits, only the actual shots. It’s about a 20 mile ride from here. Jim will drive and I’ll sit in the backseat with Scooter and Lauren. We’re supposed to be there at 9:00.
Have a great evening and God Bless!
Diane Tavegia
< Message edited by dianetavegia -- 5/29/2008 7:46:17 PM >
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Red HOTS - 5/30/2008 8:59:38 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1793
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely , whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." James 4:14 Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. Eccles. 7:1 The day you die is better than the day you are born.
This was an odd day. I got up early so I could be showered and dressed before the baby got here. She was a little later than usual so I’d had coffee and was ready to go.
It was very misty or foggy out this morning. It looked like a brush fire, tho, instead of mist.
We took Scooter into Carrollton to the Mobile Vet at the tractor supply store. We had to wait a few minutes because there were a lot of people coming and going. Scooter was SO good. He was the best behaved dog there. There were four huge dogs and one mop like dog plus a cat. Scooter sat quietly and licked people who’d approach him, telling him how good and how handsome he is. He was not sure about the stethoscope, but let doctor check his ears, heart and teeth before getting two shots. The exam and all the shots was $35.00. He’s all set for another year. He also enjoyed the ride. Lauren played with his ears, pulled his eyelashes and told him ‘Good Boy!’ over and over.
The daycare child was gone before 2:00. Jim had been given a gift certificate for Olive Garden so we went for a late lunch/ early supper. We also stopped by the Dollar Tree and got me some crossword puzzle and word search books. I do several each day. Keeps my mind sharp.
I have off until Tuesday. That’s neat. Since Jim has off for the three months, we can sleep later each day, not setting a clock.
My mother didn’t have her procedure today. She needs a skin graft and it’s a true operation. That means another long recovery time and a bunch more money. I sure wish she’d never started this. Jim’s going to help her out by going with her and then driving her back to Mobile. It’ll mean his being away from here for a week or so and we have NO idea how he’ll get back home. Don’t ever choose to have elective surgery four hours from home.
The mosquitoes are already bad here. I was out on our deck at 6:00 and had even sprayed my arms. The darn things were going for my face. I have a couple of bites on my arms from before I’d sprayed. They sure itch. We have mosquito dunks in the bird baths and water fountain with no standing water elsewhere. Of course, the yards on either side of us are all leaves, limbs and brush.
Today is Kaylee’s 5th Birthday! Happy Birthday to YOU, Precious!
She’s our youngest grandchild.
It’s going to be very hot here tomorrow. It may hit 90° before June 1st. Now that’s just TOO soon!
The plants in the pictures are called ‘Red Hot Pokers’ Kniphofia. Our son who lives in the next town, Jon, planted six of them today. That’s all the lady had in stock. They grow up to 5’ tall and are perennials. Maybe I’ll get some, too. You can never have too many flowers!
Have a great evening and God Bless!
Diane Tavegia
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