Cancelling

I am still not feeling well. I am not sleeping more than a few hours due to congestion and coughing. (TMI???)  I am still taking my antibiotics and using inhalers along with a decongestant. It's keeping some of the crap at bay... but I still am hacking up crud.

We are suppose to go to my friend Miss Jane's for Easter dinner. She has been following my progress on feeling better on Facebook. She left me a voicemail tonite to call her... and to not feel obligated to come on Sunday. She's also afraid that I could pass this on to her mother-in-law or her father, both of whom are quite elderly. I totally understand that issue and wouldn't want to pass this on to anyone.

DH and I discussed it briefly before he went to work today. We didn't come to any conclusion but now I have confirmation that I should cancel this visit. I need to plan on what we will have for our own Easter dinner... likely a ham and a potato casserole that won't be taxing on me. It's also a matter of still having enough air in my lungs. I went out with Punky tonite and made it to the top of the drive way. I came in and climbed the stairs and got winded... but I only had to rest a little bit and my coughing was as head splitting as it has been. So, there is a little improvement.

Tomorrow begins a 4 day weekend for DH... and some much needed time off for him. We are planning on doing some catch-up chores and laundry. (There's always laundry!)

Thanks for reading.
~Suzanne

Tuesday... Catch Up Time!

It's Tuesday night.... and I am exhausted. As many of you know (from Facebook) I have had more than my share of health issues in the past few years. I am quickly learning my limitations of living with aortic stenosis and an ascending aortic aneurysm along with a few other things... like the after effects of Thyroid cancer, and insulin dependent type 2 diabetes... and osteoarthritis and needing my right knee replaced - 3 years ago! (They did the left knee 3 years ago instead cuz that was the one that hurt!)

I state all of the information only to say... that I went grocery shopping on Saturday... and it kicked my butt!!! I went to the store and usually find a electric riding shopping cart. Not that day, so I ended up having to walk through my shopping trip. In my defense, I did do a few errands and get a mani/pedi before I hit the store. Anyway... I was so tired from all the walking and loading and unloading and carry up the stairs and putting away all the groceries, I didn't do much on Sunday. And I was still feeling it on Monday. More than one coworker told me that I looked pretty tired on Monday.

I managed to feel pretty good during my work day today. I worked hard and covered alot of ground for the start of my next month which accounting wise, will start on the 3rd of August. So... I went to see my hair dresser tonight after work. We always have such a great time when we get together. She does an amazing job with my hair... making sure that I get to be as blond as I want to be without having my very black hair not be brassy or become damaged. It's always so good to get my hair cut and colored... it helps to camouflage my gray hair and the amount of hair I have lost from being sick and medications.

That being said... I was hoping to share that DH and I were planning a get away. But, sadly, that won't be happening anytime soon. His work schedule has been changed to 7 days a week and included lots and lots of overtime. I feel as tho I am living with a mouse... I buy food and put it in the fridge and it disappears! I feel bad for him... and if I didn't get to call him on my lunch or him calling me on his breaktime... we would live on notes for communication. I appreciate how hard he works and it's very hard for him to always be at work.

It's bed time for me and for Punky. I don't have any idea what time DH will be home tonight.
Thanks for reading.... keep us in your prayers!

~Suzanne

Well... What Do You Know!

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth... just into a huge pit of work, and trying to keep up with everything else. I have also been fighting a double ear infection, sore throat and bronchitis. I've been on lots of antibiotics and have 2 new medications added to my regular regimen, one being a bronchial inhaler. I've been working through all of it... and it makes me extremely tired by the end of the day.

I've also been dealing with DH traveling more. He's was gone all of last week, and worked yesterday. We have spent most of today getting him repacked to be gone this week as well. It makes for a tough week for me with extra trips up and down the stairs to walk to the dog (which is fabulous when you can't breathe!)

I did manage to get lots of work done in getting my closet organized while DH was gone. And I did get a little bit of shopping and found some great maxi-dresses for work this summer.

We have yet to get all the flowers planted that we usually do... I don't seem to have the stamina to do all the watering that I did last year. I am not doing nearly as much as I did last year now that I am working full time. I am hoping to add having a weekly housekeeper this summer so that I have more time for the things we want to do. We shall see if the does infact happen, as it depends on how much travel DH will have this summer.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Soooo Busy... I'm Spinnin'!

This past week has gone by in a blur. Work is going pretty well so far. Friday was a rather intense day as the entire office was down to using one printer that is on it's last legs. We had a new one at the front... but somehow it's not working at all.

Moving on... I was pretty tired yesterday, so we went out for chinese food. We got there before the big dinner rush and we were able to get seated with our favorite waitress. She's around 70 and her parents were doctors. She has always been wonderful to us since we first moved here... and we hadn't seen her for awhile. Last night was hugs and well wishes as we left... she took good care of us and we were happy to have seen her.

Today... was super-duper crazy busy. I tried to sleep in, but Punky had some crazy dream and howled in her sleep around 5:30. She woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep. I got up and went to try and go to sleep on the sofa so I wouldn't wake DH up. I snoozed in front of the tv after falling asleep after 6:15. I woke up at 8:00 with Punky licking my face and hand... so much for sleeping in. I took her out and then got dressed... heading up to McDonalds for breakfast from the drive-thru and brought it home to DH. After that, DH got dressed and we headed to the Amish market up in the Pocono Mountains.

We found our usual eggs and butter, smoked sausage and produce. We also found some great pumpkins, squash and beautiful mums. We came home... and I went straight to work. I had to clean up all my summer flowers and get all my flower pots and containers and terra-cotta pots put away for the winter. It was a little sad for me to pull up all the flowers and fill up the wheel barrow with all that stuff. I got things put away and moved. We also decided to do some painting... our doors all needed some spiffing up and we got that done too. We finally got finished just before 5:00.

Tonight, I am back from going to dinner with DH and stopping to pick up a couple of things I needed for work. I'm looking at a pretty big to-do list for tomorrow... but I'm certain I will be moving quite slow while I do it. All I can say is... I'm glad my day started out with a large mocha! I'm sure I'm gonna need one tomorrow too!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Where Did It Go????

Oh Wow... did this weekend ever go by in a blur! Where did the time go? I think I last relaxed on Friday evening and the rest is a sheer blur. We ran errands, got DH's phone reprogrammed with features he used to have, shopped for Punky, DH has his hair cut, we picked up prescriptions and I think we went to the Wal*Marts at least twice on Saturday and once today. Oh... and I forgot, we went to Target too... got a new blue tooth there.

And today... DH did laundry, I cleaned in our bedroom and got things straightened up. Then I tackled something I have been wanting to do since we moved here. I went through all of my jewelry and organized it, cleaned it, and DH has a nice pile of things that need to be repaired. At least now, when I get ready for work, I can pick things out without having to search and dig for what I want.

We did grill out for dinner tonight. It was good... thick steaks, grilled corn, fresh cauliflower with cheese sauce. DH went to take Punky out after dinner... and it was rainy like crazy! We managed to get dinner done in just the nick of time! So, here I sit, contemplating what I am going to wear to work tomorrow, watching the movie "The Family Stone" and trying to cool off after running my legs off this weekend. Really, seriously... where did the time go???

Sitting here wondering... Thanks for reading, be blessed!
~Suzanne

Working Girl

That's what I am... I seemed to have made it through 4 days of work... and they seem to like me! I still don't have my own computer and have to share with someone after they have left for the day. I managed to spend 1/2 the day on the phones all by myself. I can't wait until I can do this job at my own desk.

We are still slowly working on the mouse issue. DH has put traps out and today he caught one very big mouse. It was an adult... at least 2 years of age according to DH. (He used to have mice for pets. Shuddddderrrrrrrrrr!)  I still have a couple of things to put away... but I didn't seem to get to it tonight by the time I got home, did a couple of things and then headed back out for dinner. After dinner, we came home to get a few other things done, like watering flowers and such. I am very tired... but I will eventually get use to a full time schedule.

Keep me in your prayers as I adjust to working again and learn the ins and outs of this particular job. It's a little more aggressive than my last 2 jobs... but I'll get there! Everyone else seems to have gotten "there"... there are a lot on the team that have been there for less than a year... but to listen to them on the phones, you'd think they had been there forever. I hope to sound that good soon!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Ummmm... It's Wednesday.

I am still stressed to the max. Worker's Comp is starting to yank our chain. I went on a job interview today... I really hope I get this job... because it's a job that I can do well... and leave at the office. I won't know about it until early next week. Please send up good vibes and silent prayers that I will be the one they want.

I was good and went to Good Will today and donated several bags of clothes, shoes and handbags. They didn't even bother to give me a donation slip for taxes... don't they do that anymore? My house is fairly clean... I think I will dust again today. (See? ... my mind is cluttered with stuff, I can't even write a decent post!) .... breathe... remember to.... breathe.... breathe... nice and slow.

Thanks for reading this drivel today! Be blessed.
~Suzanne

Lost in the Closet...

I've been in my closets today... doing more purging and some organizing. I am making headway... and can actually see where are my (remaining) shoes are now. It's a good feeling, but I still need to add a couple of organizing pieces to my closet. And I need to move the clothes bar back about 4 inches. (I really don't want to do that because I'll have to take all the clothing out on that one side.) But if I did that... I would gain some valuable real estate just inside the door for the aforementioned closet organizer.

In the guest room closet... I was able to really organize a good deal of our linens, some Christmas stuff and odds and ends of things I am not yet ready to part with. One of my goals this summer was to get a handle on how things have a tendency to either not get put away (because of space issues) or get tossed into the guest room to be dealt with later. I can confess that I am a card carrying member of the procrastinators club for most of my life. I understand that I come by that tendency genetically, no matter how hard I try!

That's what's  happening here! Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Grace Under Pressure

Yesterday was a bit of a crazy day with getting paperwork in order, having lab work done and my having mu 2nd knee injection of Eufflexxa. By the time we got back home, ate lunch and sent off paperwork, I was more than a little fried.

We decided to grill chicken for dinner and decided that we would eat dinner before we left for DH's physical therapy session as we wouldn't be back home until 7:30 by the time we made the trip back across the city.
We made it home at about the time I estimated, 7:30 and I rested for just about an hour. Then I went down to water the flowers as it was just after sunset and I could still see what I was doing... ( for a little while at least.)

Just as I was finishing up with the watering... DH came outside to join me. We still needed to get a couple of things done... like take the trash can up to the road. (Thank goodness it's on wheels and I can do it!) Anyway... Punky came downstairs with DH... I  got everything watered and then sat down in one of the patio chairs with Punky-dog. She wanted to be held and I snuggled her and talked to her and even sang to her. She seemed to enjoy it... and then I realized that she was going into a seizure. DH was down at the bottom of the stairs and he ran upstairs to grab honey out of the cupboard. I ran to the top of the stairs with Punky in my arms to meet him. We got about 3 good doses of honey down her... I just held her and  calmed her. It took about 3 minutes for her to totally stop with her tremor. Of course, after expending all that energy, she was ravenously hungry. (That is normal after a dog has a seizure.) We spent quite a bit of time on the couch, keeping her calm and quiet. I was very surprised at myself for being able to run up the stairs while holding 10 pounds of trembling dog. And also surprised that I didn't cry... that's usually my first response to something that scares me! And as of this morning, all seems well.

Please keep us in your prayers as DH is still off of work and we are going through the process for Worker's Compensation. Things are going to be tight around here for awhile. I am in hopes of going back to work myself... it's all in what the good Lord leads as of this point.

Thanks for reading...be blessed!
~Suzanne

Purging Domestic Goddess

I woke up this morning with more energy than I've had for awhile. It was also much cooler than it has been for many days. I have had a long list of things to get done this week... with rarely getting the most mundane chores crossed off the list because it is just too hot.

Today... DH and I needed to do laundry... it's been put off for 2 weeks now, other than doing his things for work. So... he decided that I needed to sort the laundry and while I was at it... I went to work in the closet too. I have 3 big bags of clothes, shoes and handbags that are headed to either Good Will or the Salvation Army. I could drop it in one of the Planet Aid boxes, but I heard that people take that stuff and sell it for their own profit and not for charity. It shouldn't matter... only that I am finally getting rid of some old clothes that I really don't need and have been hanging on to because to the memories or dreaming that I will ever be that small again.

So... I am being a Domestic Goddess today... getting every thing cleaned and shined and sparkling and getting the house smelling good again. (It's amazing how bad dirt can smell and you don't notice it... until you start to clean... ----> telling on myself! I hate cleaning... and the dogs can be soooo piggy!) So, as I go... things are getting pitched in to the trash, thrown in a bag for donation... and a few things like my little pine bench, my wood plant stand and my wicker antique rocker are getting put up in the loft of the basement. I need room and I need organization... and NO CLUTTER!

Here's to a clean and happy house and that I have the energy to keep going until I'm done! Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Lost in the Closet

I am starting a new project today... and it's one I've put off long enough. I am going through my closets. I am going through shoes and handbags. I am going through all my clothes. I am getting rid of all the old stuff that doesn't fit me. (I have been carrying around a wardrobe of clothes for the last 10 years of various sizes.) I am coming to terms with the fact that I may never get down to the size I was 15 years ago. I have to realize that thyroid cancer and it's craziness will never let me do all that I want nor will it let me drop weight for any amount of time.

I have decided that it all must go... and that I need a new way to approach how I am currently storing my clothes. I am going to do more of a "edited version" of a California closet. (That means there will space for folded clothes like t-shirts and jeans.) I need to also store my winter wool jackets and make room for all my summer shorts. I checked the forecast... it seems that we may have turned the corner to spring after all! That means in the next few weeks, we are going to start deep spring cleaning... (If I can wrap my head around that.) and take down the winter stuff. I have never lived in a house such as this... it's the dustiest house ever. We can never keep it down... it just comes up out of the heating ducts... which go completely around the perimeter of this old house!

I'm even thinking that we could start doing the spring clean-up in the yard... but I don't want to jump the gun too soon. We still have some windy times to get through. It's a nice thought that soon I will be going to the nursery and flea markets to shop for flowers for the yard! (That makes me soooo happy!)

Well... look at me... I've gone from cleaning out the closets to shopping for flowers! I am looking forward to spring. I guess before I can do any of the other things I've just written about... I must go and get busy in my closet. (Hopefully, there's nothing bad lurking in the back of it, waiting to get me!) I will pace myself, because I know my back can only take so much. I did have quite a bit of pain last night as I tried to fall asleep... I had to do isolating exercises, which helped quite a bit. Time to go and slay the mess in my closet. =)

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Snow Day (For the Eastern Seaboard!)

We knew last night that this was gonna be a big storm... Heck, we've known for more than a few days as our local news station has been tracking it for a week. This storm is HUGE! It's so bad out there... that Penn-DOT has closed most of the roads including I-81 from the Maryland State Line all the way to New York. We happen to live in the little triangle of I-80 and I-81... and the snow is deep and not stopping anytime soon. They say the roads are closed until at least 1am. So glad that DH had a snow day for work... I'd hate for him to be stuck in Scranton for a couple of days! Plus the snow is so deep... I wouldn't be able to walk the dogs. DH is doing that... but he goes out first and shovels a path and then shovels a section of grass so they can go potty. Nolli dog is having a ball in the snow... he has been running and literally plowing head first into all that powder! Punky is trying to keep up but can't get to the really deep snow without becoming completely buried. It's fun to watch and they both make me laugh so much.

Our greatest worry right now is the wind... and the power line coming to our house. Our Landlord won't take care of anything... and we should have insisted the power company come out and trim some of the branches of our fir trees. I worry that the lines could snap... and we would become trapped in our house! (As if I don't have enough to worry about these days!)

DH is out with the neighbors next door... They have been plowed out once, but the snow is again very deep. Miss L has to work tonite (she's an ICU nurse)... and they need to get their Honda SUV out of the garage.... and they have a good foot of snow in the driveway. DH is out there with his trusty snow shovel... we are discussing the fact that we need to buy ourselves a snow thrower if we stay here!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Domestic Life

It's a lovely Friday morning. It's cool this morning and the breeze is nice. I have all the windows open to air out the house. It's so quiet... just some light traffic and a few crows cawing off in the distance. I have begun my housework to get ready for the weekend. I managed to clean off the desk last night, it's still waiting for a waxing though.

Other chores going on... laundry and getting the bathroom rugs cleaned. I am going to try and change a couple of wall hanging on the porch and tonight, DH is going have to carry my piles of stuff down to the basement. It's time to work on getting some garage sale stuff in order. It keeps getting piled up. It's mostly odds and ends of stuff... maybe a few furniture pieces that I've changed my mind on, but mostly lots of little stuff that it's time to let go of. I just need to go to Staples and buy tags and get started!

I'm also in prayer mode... praying for friends. One is going to visit a friend who has cancer and wants prayer about her visit... and also about a new job in another state. Another friend is going back to work today after her 3 month maternity leave... she's having trouble with leaving her babies.... hard, emotional stuff. I'm also praying over DH and his job, and his other issue of bond. I'm praying over Nolli as well... he hasn't wanted to eat lately. (I did give him some mac and cheese and some broccoli with butter the other night, he chomped that right down!) It seems he doesn't want dog food. I did give him just canned food this morning on a salad plate. I went back a little later and the plate was empty... so that's good!

We are hoping to have company tomorrow... a dear friend from Maryland who is house sitting for her brother in Doylestown wants to come and see us! I am so hoping that she does come, she's never met DH and they would get along so well! And Nolli dog would be over-the-moon happy as he just loves her! I guess I'd better go and get myself started on getting things in order, just in case she decides to visit us. (I'd better make something good to eat too!)

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

I Can't Take It Anymore!

Those of you who know me... know that I have struggled with my knees for almost 10 years. Back in January of 2000, I slipped off of some icy steps while holding a clients baby... I held on to the baby and injured my knees with blunt force trauma from landing on the sidewalk that was 4 steps down. I was rated by the state as having incurred 7-10% permanent knee damage and disability.

I have not been able to go down steps the "normal way" since then.... nor can I kneel down to garden, pass cpr or play with the dog. I have had several series of Synvisk... which is an artificial form of synovium fluid that cushions the cartilage in your joints. I had the longer last Hyalgan done in my left knee, 3 years ago. It did well... and recently quit working. I've gotten to the point that I have to rest after doing basic chores and have to be careful of the side to side motion that we all do when we are doing dishes and cooking and doing laundry. (You don't realize it, but there is a lot of side to side motion in daily life.) Not to mention, all the stairs that I climb up and down during the course of my day. (Some days are better than others.) Last night, after fixing dinner and cleaning up, we ran off to Walmart to pick up prescriptions and a couple of items... when I got back to the car, I was in pain... enough to take my breath away. When we got home... I waited until DH had done all the outside watering and walked the dog before I got the courage to climb the stairs.

Today... I called the doctor and made an appointment. I know that this is going to entail x-rays and that I will have to kneel on the table while those x-rays are taken... Oooowwww! I am hoping to start another Hyalgan series at the very least... and who knows.. maybe it's finally time for new knees. We shall see!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Home Improvement!

We finally finished getting the trim done around the stove and the kitchen looks wonderful! I love what DH did... and he's definitely as talented as his father in construction and trim work! (He's also a fabulous mechanic... he's a very talented man, and no, I'm not biased!) He gave up most of his evening to get this finished. I did have "before pics, but can't seem to locate them in the folders... trust me when I say this is a "huge" improvement! We also had Nolli there to help supervise what was being done! He's an excellent helper!

He keeps a good look out for anything that might come his way... like a treat or kisses... or praise! (Come on-- You knew I was gonna throw in some cute dog photos!)

I think that for now... we are finished with "improvement projects." Although we may have to actually put in a pantry on the porch. But I think it will wait until we have gone to Connecticut in July.... I don't want to put out any extra money until after that trip. (Unless I get a job before then... I keep praying... but God doesn't seem to open that door yet.)

I am going to work on doing some deep cleaning on the porch... and over on the bookcase... and I need to clear off the dining room table... it's become the "catch-all area" for my scrapbooking things and odds and ends that I never seem to find a home for! Does anyone else ever have that problem... needing a home for things you don't seem to know what to do with? Hmmm... I do have that back closet, I just need to get to it! (DH has a few boxes of his own in the way!) Okay... on with my day... grocery shopping also needs to get done!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

It's Almost Here!

Only one more day... and then it will be Memorial Day weekend! We have been looking forward to this weekend... not that we have any plans for it (now) but it's nice to have 3 days off together. We will probably just keep working on our never ending projects... things like changing out closets, cleaning gutters, doing a little painting... and doing it together, at our own pace!

We may actually go to the movies... we would like to see Night at the Museum 2... we liked the first one. And we may rent a couple of movies as well... and of course, we will Bar-B-Que out on our grill. I am still undecided as to what I want to grill... likely some chicken with homemade sauce... and of course we will need a great tossed salad with homemade salad dressing! (I am hoping my back will let me do all that I have planned! It has a life of it's own these days!)

I need to actually go grocery shopping... but I may wait until this evening when DH comes home to go with me so that he can load and unload everything for me. We are also waiting for the oil delivery to come today... I went with a new company... and I am hoping that the driver is not weird and won't give me a case of the "heebie-jeebies" like the other one does! Nolli and I have already been outside, watering the flowers and enjoying the beautiful weather!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

A New Morning!

I am so over-the-moon happy this morning. I took my Synthroid and enjoyed it! The sun is shining and DH will be home early today. He went to work at 3:30 this morning... and has to do that tomorrow as well.

I have many plans for the day... I have errands to do. And I want to get my flower boxes planted. We'll see just how much energy I have. I have a long list of stops... and a long list of things we need. (But on the good side... I don't have to stop and read any labels on food! I can buy what we normally get!)

So... if I get it all together... I will try and post again later. If I don't, I know you'll understand that I ran outta steam!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

Suzanne

TGIF!!!!

Yippee! Happy Friday Everyone! For me this means.... I just have to get thru this weekend and then I start the carnival of medical visits! Today... I have to go for labs. Monday, I have to go for an ultrasound on my neck. Tuesday, it's more labs and my pre-scan cocktail. And on Wednesday, it's the full body scan! That's a lot of visits back and forth to a hospital that is 20 miles away!

It also means that I have to plan for meals during those visits. I am thinking I will make myself some simple veggie wraps like I had the other day at Wegmans. Lot's of lettuce and tomato with spicy red onion and topped with sweet celery seed dressing. Yummm!

It's started to rain this morning... so I went and got back into bed and turned my electric mattress cover on... it was such a divine, warm coziness! I need to get myself pulled together to get to the post office and pick up my lab slip! Then it's off to get gas and head out for another blood draw. (Oh joy!)

Yesterday, I did make it all day without having to take a nap. It was tough, I wanted to curl up and go to sleep sooooo badly. With this fatigue, I can say that when I go to bed at night, I sleep fairly soundly (with the exception of my back hurting, and DH will rub my back to relax me enough to go back to sleep) and I sleep all night long! I hope that I continue that pattern!

Well... I'm off to pull myself together and hit the road. I will have to get some gas in the car along the way. Since it's cold and rainy, I may take Nolli with me. He's good company on little trips, I took him with me yesterday, and he loved it! Gotta throw some laundry in while I'm at it... everyone... have a great Friday!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Yesterday... we spent a nice portion of our day getting our washer installed in the basement. (We acquired one through my beloved Craigslist!) It involved a trip to Lowe's for new water valves... lots of cleaning of both the installation site and the inside of the washer as well... (It came out of a rental unit and the previous owner did not understand how the lint filters worked... eewww!) And when all was said and done... it has the beginnings of a nice little laundry area... and we did 2 loads of laundry! Not exciting for most folks... but we haven't had our own laundry area for almost a year.

We did have to take the laundry to be dried... as we don't get our dryer until later this week. (Also another Craigslist acquisition.) We are trying to follow a mindset of buying used and banking the difference... not that we are cheapskates, just trying to make our money go a little farther in these times. It would be much different if I were making the kind of money I did when I lived in Maryland... and the same for DH... he does not always have the kind of OT or emergency calls like he did in Maryland, that gave both of us lots of disposable income. But back to the laundry and taking it to be dried at the Laundromat... When we got there, it was a ghost town. No one was there, it was heaven! We had our pick of dryers... and we do know which ones work the best. We got things drying and settled down to wait.

Every so often... a certain woman with 2 kids comes in to do laundry... and when they come, chaos ensues. It's loud, it's annoying, and it also smells! I don't know where she acquires the plastic bags she uses to bring her dirty garments to the facility, but they're very large and I am impressed that she can carry it in on her back, by herself... along with her purse, her laundry soaps and fabric softener... and her kids behind her. She filled 7 washers up... and I wished that she had given her son a bath before she brought him... we were sitting near the open door and I had to breathe through my mouth every time he came near by... which was a lot... as he was curious in what we were doing while we waited. DH was doing a Sudoku puzzle from the paper and I was playing Chuzzle on my phone. We were startled when all of a sudden... small sonny-boy went to the nearby Pac-man video game machine and plunked in quarters and started to play... he proudly went and kipped quarters from Mom's machines without her looking! DH remarked to me that he hoped she had extra change, because he felt that he'd have to help her if she didn't. Anyway... after she chastised sonny-boy... they took off for the other end of the shopping center as he needed to use the restroom and she needed coffee.

It was a nice break from the smell and the noise... we were able to get almost all of our clothes folded and out to the car before they came back. We were outta there as quickly as possible. We are so happy that we won't have to be going back on a regular basis except to do the big stuff like comforters! It is such a wonderment to me that DH loves to go with me and help me. He won't let me carry anything too heavy, and he does not like for me to be there alone if it can be helped. The last time... he went by himself to do a couple of loads so I wouldn't get too overloaded. He knows that my energy level is iffy at best! We do live a simple life... and I don't want it any other way!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

FOR TODAY (March 16, 2009)...

Outside my window... it's good weather... 60 degrees with high cloud cover

I am thinking... about all the people we saw on Saturday... Friends and Foe!

I am thankful for... full cupboards, my friends, and a new stove to be delivered this week!

From the kitchen... we have so many choices after going to Trader Joes! I even managed to get some fresh sugar snap peas for dinner this week!

I am wearing... jeans, a hot pink knit top and a pair of birkenstocks.

I am creating... nothing at this moment...

I am going... to do laundry today.

I am reading... my bible, blogs and Coastal Living magazine.

I am hoping... to continue to make our little nest comfy and cozy and "organized."

I am hearing... my DH working on his getting his truck organized, and the tv in the background

Around the house... we still need to get that dresser painted, laundry needs to be put away and dinner to start in a little while.

One of my favorite things... memories of this last Saturday... I can't wait to share them with you!

A few plans for the rest of the week: To go to the library, to clean the stairway and our new stove delivery!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

When we went to visit our dear friends, Mary and Rob... she had these chargers and this adorable bunny waiting for me! I love bunnies and I love these chargers too! Friends are such a blessing... and these wonderful gifts have come to a good home!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne