Forever!

Well, it's been like forever . . . I will try to update my blog more often.  To be truthful, I've had all kinds of trouble getting in and out of some of my blogs, emails, etc.  Hopefully that is now all behind me!!!

It's been a long winter . . . cold, very snowy and dreary.  Rain is predicted for today with the possibility of sleet and snow later in the evening.  I hope they're wrong.  I'm so tried of winter.  I've shoveled more snow this winter than I have in years.  The lot is plowed so that everyone can get in and out of their units but they take a big swing around the corner of my garage and I usually end up with a drift or two in front of the door plus the leftovers from plowing!  Oh well, spring is right around the corner (I hope).

Lots of changes in my life since I last wrote anything . . . my hours have been cut at work.  I no longer have any benefits (that sucks) and I'm trying to adjust to all of this.  I can work up to 24 hours a week (or 48 hours per paycheck).  By only working that amount of hours I am not eligible for benefits from my employer.  It's been tough.  I love my new apartment (unit) but I'm not sure that I'm going to be able to afford it in the future.  I began collecting on my social security last April (2013).  Thank goodness.  It gets me through each month but with not much to spare.  I'm looking into other places to live but really do love my new place.  

EXCEPT I've had some problems with mice . . . I live right next to a field where they love to live and play (if mice play).  In November I was invaded with the little critters!  Thanks to my landlord and a very good friend, I think we're rid of them.  I have to admit that I'm scared of mice.  I know, I know . . . they're just little critters that scurry around in the night and make messes . . . but I don't like them very much.  My friend Marilyn came over on more than one occasion and removed some of them for me.  Thank goodness for great friends like Marilyn.  All that I have left of that experience is a scratching in the walls (I think whatever it is -- is in the plumbing wall).  When Barbie was home for Christmas she heard it and so did a friend of mine that was here one day repairing my computer!  My landlord thinks I'm loosing it, but I really can hear scratching or some such noise all the time.  It comes and goes so I think whatever it is can move about the walls.  For some time the majority of my pantry (anything the little critters could get into) was in my oven and microwave!  I purchased a lot of containers to keep anything in a box in the pantry.  Probably wasn't a bad idea to start with!!

In October/November my son and his family (and my darling grandchildren) moved to Atlanta, GA.  I miss them terribly.  We were able to Skype at Christmas and see the Grands open presents and talk to them for a bit.  I have since lost my Skype application and haven't been able to talk to them since.  I'll get that fixed soon.  I will share some Christmas pictures later.  My Grands are growing so fast.  Oliver is running all over the place, talking up a storm and just being a healthy little boy.  He wasn't talking much at all when they left.  Charlotte is just being Charlotte . . . a beautiful little girl that is growing into a fantastic little lady!  Mandy is busy getting her photography business going in Georgia.  Barb was able to go down for Thanksgiving and brought back some great pictures of all of them.  Jim accepted a position with his company in Atlanta but they actually live in a suburb (about a 45 minute drive for him).  They got hit by snow storms a couple of times this winter.  Once Jim even got stranded in the City.  

My daughter has given me my Mother's Day present early . . . tickets to Atlanta for Mother's Day!  I will be able to spend that holiday with my children (all 3 of them) and my wonderful grandchildren.  I'm really excited about the trip.  Barbie is currently on vacation in New Zealand . . can't wait to see all the pictures and hear all about the country.  What a trip!!!  18 hours in the air and losing a whole day on the way there, of course, she'll gain some of that back when she comes home!!!

Had a great Christmas here in Iowa.  It was my sister's turn to host our gathering.  We missed Jim & family.  Barb and I drove up on Christmas Eve evening and spent some time with just Ron & Glee.  We played some cards, had our traditional oyster stew and chili and all kinds of other goodies that Glee made!!  It was great fun.  Christmas Day Beth, Karsten, Jackson and Tristan, and Mike & Kari joined the rest of us for brunch, lots of conversation and opening presents and like Barbie says "more grazing" in the kitchen!  Came home to be able to visit with Jim, Mandy, Charlotte & Oliver!  It was wonderful.  And to top off the holiday, Barbie stayed until Saturday with me.  It was so much fun having her here.  (And we always get a lot of stuff done.  Put up some more pictures - got a wonderful canvas from Jim & family - and got rid of some more stuff.  I'm sure Goodwill loves me by now!)  

I continue to work on scrapbooking projects.  I found a tutorial online on how to make a complete book.  The covers, binding, pages - everything and made quite a few of them for Christmas gifts.  I love scrapbooking.  It keeps me sane and some days I need that!!!!  I'm hoping to stockpile some of my books and try to work a few craft fairs here in the Dubuque area this coming fall.  One of these times I'll try and post some pictures of what I'm doing.

Well, I think I've rambled on for enough this time around.  

Later . . .