Glad you're doing OK Mother!

And Ann, your postcard is so cute!! Isn't it fun? I'll send you some envelopes in the mail tomorrow...I'll send you a few too, Mother in case you want to try it. You do have to take them to the post office and have them hand cancelled so they don't put them thru the machines, so that makes it cost the same as a regular letter. I just use the self stick stamps and put them on the outside of the envelope(on the addressed side, of course).

Be sure to post pictures of any more you make!

Ann, Maureen, and I are here with Mom for the weekend. Pat and Marcie came by on Friday too.

Ann's learning to make quilted postcards and Mom's feeling sore but doing well.

We had terrible storms the other night with the tornado sirens blaring but I managed to take a few photos. I sent this one in to a local news station and it was published with other storm photos on their website. If you click on the photo, you can see a larger view - see my name?

We had a quiet one and I was able to finish up a quilt for Mom and get the binding on - it's ready for you to stitch down Mom and I'll be shipping it out tomorrow along with the two for Mt. Carmel.

Looking forward to my visit next weekend.

It seems I ran out of room...either too much to say or too wordy I guess.

Glad to hear everyone is doing well.

Hey Mom, I'm just now catching up on the news. I am so sorry to hear about Bonnie. My thoughts and prayers are with you and her family!

It seems I've been working non-stop for the past several weeks...in fact I'm should be at work now but my garage door won't go up (I think the spring broke) and my car is stuck inside. Curt is still at work and I can't get in touch with him so I'm patiently waiting for the service place to call back or for Curt to get home so I can get to work. Not exactly the way I would have planned to get some time off.

Mom have you heard from the doctor yet? I'm looking forward to seeing you next weekend. I don't think I have any books you haven't read but I'll go through them and bring some just in case.

I'm planning to go and see Laura Tuesday. We are going to go to Roanoke for shopping and dinner. She needs a suit for school (something to do with the fraternity she is joining...and yes I said fraternity). I'm really looking forward to seeing her. Last Thursday there was a fire in her apartment building and they are sure it was arson. It seems this year is starting off as stressful as last year (at least for me).

Mom- I'm looking forward to next weekend. Have you heard from the doctor yet?

Ann

Hi mary Ann and Maureen I'm looking forward to seeing you next weekend. If anyone has any books please bring them. Thanks

Mary the pictures are wonderful. What a pretty place.

We just got back from Key West and I took a quick look to see what was going on while we were gone. We had a good time but Keith whined about the heat - hard to believe he spent most of his life in FL!

Mom, I did get your email about Bonnie and emailed you back. I'm so sorry.

Chris, Dad told me you'd painted the bathroom yellow...wasn't sure how that was going to look but the pictures don't look half bad. If we ever get there to visit I'll let you know what I think when I see it in person!

Janet, glad school is going well. The pictures of Fiona are so cute.

Ann, did you do all the gardening?? How long will the plants and flowers last before they die of neglect?

Thank you Ben, Chris and Debbie
Ben so glad you are liking your school. I hear you are going to be starting a new sport, good luck.

Janet the pictures are so cute. It was great seeing you Stephen and Fiona on Saturday

sorry to hear about your friend grandma

hope you are feeling well

school is hard but not that bad

ben

Becky And I painted the bathroom! Thought that this would look good for a kids bathroom. Don't worry we aren't having one soon, we just were planning way ahead in advance. It looks pretty good, we still have a little touch up, but it was well worth it. Lots of tape, and a lot more tap. The next room that we want to paint is going to be our bedroom, but we are not sure what color we are going to paint it, or if we are going to do a pattern again. Anyways What do you think?

Grandmom, Becky and I will be thinking about you, sorry to hear the bad news.

Mother, I'm sorry to hear about Bonnie. I know you how much you cared for her. It is very hard to lose those we care for. I hope you feel better soon.

I love you.

Hi everyone, I'm having a sad day today. Bonnie died this moring.

The yard looks good Ann and Jamie. the flowers are pretty. Rosie looks good too she seems very peaceful there.

Stephen and Janet came by today and brought Fiona to see me. She is growing up so fast and is as cute as a button.

Rosie under the crepe myrtles

Stephen I will be here Saturday except to go to church @5p.m.

You're right Stephen, it was Fiona that called. Course I did get to talk to Janet too! lol

And Ann, the postcard directions are more complicated than they need to be. If you want to try some, I'll bring the stuff when I come in Dec. They are quick and SMALL. And lots of fun to make and receive.

Apparently I'm computer challenged -- I didn't mean to post only a title. Mom I'm looking forward to coming. I really need to get my wall hanging done before halloween.
Debbie--- I love the postcards. I didn't understand all the directions--I'm sure that surprises you!
Adam your new place looks great.

Ann

Thanks Mom...and they are. Especially the two who work for me who went to the school. And actually, I think Fiona called you, not Janet. She told me that Fiona was playing with her phone and hit the right speed dial number...Grandmom, if you're gonna be around we can swing by sometime on Saturday.

Nice place, Adam.

Glad to see everyone posting, I'm sure you are loving this Mother!.

Stephen, that sure looks like a motley crew there in your photos! Janet called me the other morning and let me talk to Fiona who just cooed and laughed! I can't wait to see her( and you guys).

Adam, the house looks great! Looks like you've got plenty of "personal space" and that's a good thing!

Things are quiet here (and hot). But another 6 weeks or so and the AC can go off and the doors and windows open for the next 6 months or so.....the best time of year here.

Adam that looks like a very nice place to live. It's nice you have your own little spaces that you don't have to share when you feel like being alone.

Stephen you little girl is really growing up. I would love it if you could bring her by to see me sometime.

Chris talking about yard work, the leaves will be falling soon to make more work, but I like fall weather and love seeing all the colors when the leaves change.

Note from Mary: These are the communal living areas and of course, the outside of the house where Adam is living.

These are his rooms - There's a nursery - where he has his bed, and then the main bedroom that he is using for his living area, a walk in closet and master bathroom (which he doesn't have to share).

Glad everyone's doing well - Sarah, happy belated birthday....had a long week down at Blackwater, but it was fun - I even got a little sun(burned). Got to be outside from sunrise to past sunset for a whole week making time and a half shooting...that was hard for me to do....here's a couple shots one of the instructors took:

Me too grandma i am really looking forward to seeing every one

Hey Guys!

Things have been busy around here in GA! Lots of yard work! Beck and I went to play tennis yesterday, and had a good time. I think that I am going to enroll in these classes as soon as things slow down. Maybe I can convince Beck, but we shall see, she does like the sweating part of tennis, but I was glad that she came out. And then when we got back we went to the yard and started picking weeds! I have got a lot of work coming up in the yard, trying to reseed, and get the bare spots filled in. But all of the work should pay off. Anyways glad to here that everything is going well!

Brian - How are things going in training these days, hope that your knee is feeling ok!

Laura - Hope that classes are going well, I miss the Fall Semester, with Football and all...To bad you guys lost to LSU.

Erin - Hope that your job hunting it going well.

Is that tropical storm going to get you guys in NN? I am sure that if you just got the rain that it wouldn't be that bad.

Hey Mom! Hey Dad!

Talk to you guys later!

Hello Adam, it's good to hear from you. Are you all settled in after your move? Are you liking your new place. Your mom told me you would be closer to work. That's nise isn't it?

I'm looking forward to seeing you in December.

Hey everyone how have you all been doing
where to start i been gone for so long i don't know where to start
happy birthday to you Sarah and congrats on winning your first game
hey dad like the t-shirt too it really fits you well and i hope you and mom have a great time in key west
Man Mom how old is the pic of me (and i still have little foot)

Good for you Sarah for winning your first game.

thanks for the card grandma :-) it was very nice.
and if anyone was wondering, i didn't get a car for my birthday. not like i was expecting one or anything though. haha. i did get some cute clothes though.

we had our season opener for volleyball today. we won so that's a relief for me until the next game on friday..

Good luck to you Erin. I hope you find a job soon and one that you will like. Sometimes we all have to learn the hard way. It's nice that you are helping your Mom and Dad

Erin, Good luck with the job hunting. Maybe you can find something that doesn't require you to be up early. I never was a morning person and I loved jobs that allowed me to sleep in and get a later start. Otherwise, you'll just have to suck it up and drag yourself out of bed on time girl!

Mary, that is such a great idea! The quilts are lovely oversized placemats and some lucky little girls will have a blast playing naptime with their dolls.

Erin....do you need an alarm clock? Good luck job hunting!

i guess i should start off saying there is no more work anymore. although i greatly improved my attendance, i was just one too many times too late, and they had to let me go. that was wednesday.

but i am now at a temp agency that can find me a job for the time being to help me get my foot in the door on some jobs, and then hopefully i can find something from there.

so lately i have been helping my dad out with paperwork and just helping out with a lot of the housework.

i've been in richmond all weekend with my best friend, and i am now back in town hanging out over at a friends house.

hopefully i will be back to work soon.

hope everyone else had a good week. :)

Hope you have a great birthday...and you never know, maybe that present with 4 wheels will still come!

Heather, this post is for you. Mom suggested that I share photos of the small quilts I'm working on. I wanted to do some hand quilting but didn't have time with all the other quilts waiting. I decided I'd make some doll quilts and then pair them up with dolls and donate them at Christmas. They're lots of fun to make and go pretty quickly!

Keith has no imagination and calls them big placemats. I obviously need to go doll shopping!

Sarah happy birthday. I was going to wait until tomorrow but you had so many wishes already I thought I would go ahead and say happy birthday. I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. Enjoy the Cheesecake factory.

Hi Kara I hope you have a good year in school.

Stephen that is a long time for a water heater to last. Mine is getting old too but not near that old.

I hope everyone had a good Labor Day.

Bonnie is better today. They moved her out of ICU today. I hope she continues to improve.

thank you for the early birthday wishes! i'm very excited.
nope, no presents with 4 wheels for me! haha, come on, you guys know who my mom is right?!?!
just kidding. love you mom! :-)

i'm not really doing anything for my birthday. going to school, going to volleyball practice...nothing too fun. next weekend my mom, some of my friends, and i are going to dinner at the cheesecake factory. that will definitely be fun.

school has been rough. i have already had hours of homework every night, but i guess that comes with getting prepared for college! lets just say i'm counting down the days until our first break..lol

But first, Happy 16 th Sarah! Did you get the present with wheels??

Well Kara, thanks for joining us. Middle school will be a little harder, but if you work at it and do the best you can, it'll be fine.

Stephen, welcome to reality! At least your warranty will cover most of the cost. AND, it is very nice that it happened in summer and not when it is 20 degrees!

Well, Lisa & KJ...hope the house sells soon; the river road house sounds like it'll be done soon.
Hi mother!

Have a great 16th birthday! I hope you get an extra special gift.....you know, the one with 4 wheels and a bottomless gas tank!

Hope you have a wonderful birthday tomorrow Sarah! Are you doing anything special to celebrate or getting any special *presents*? Are you able to get your driver's license or do you have to wait a while longer?

Good luck in school Kara! Yes, Middle School will be harder but I know you can do it!

Stephen - tough break! We always bought old houses not new ones so I feel your pain - something was always needing replacing but we liked those older established neighborhoods so it was worth it to us.

Keith headed off to Tampa and then Denver this morning. I dragged my butt out of bed at 7AM to go have breakfast with him (he'll be gone until Friday) That probably doesn't sound very early to most of you but since I was up until 5AM it was tough! I took a little nap this afternoon!

Hi everybody! Happy Birthday Sarah! (from Mom and Sammy to!).
School starts tomorrow and I am a little scared and a little excited, Intermediate school seems like it will be harder than elementary school! Well ya'll have fun and Hi Granny and Grandmom!

My little girl has a birthday tomorrow. Hard to believe she's sixteen.

Mom.. Sorry to hear about Miss Bonnie. We'll remember her in our prayers.

Stephen.. welcome to being a homeowner.

Lisa.. I have my fingers crossed for you. Maybe it will be moving day soon!! Just let me know.

Can't wait for Richmond this weekend. It should be a good race.

Grats Keith! Hope you two enjoy Key West. We woke up the other morning to discover about three inches of water standing in our basement...the water heater broke (it was installed in 1984, so I guess it had it coming). Thankfully it's covered under our home warranty policy, so it's only gonna cost us about $55 to replace - unfortunately, because we're working through our policy holder, we won't be able to get a new water heater until Tuesday at least...cold showers until then. We took Fiona to Janet's parents so we could give her a bath (and eat steak). Oh well....until later, I'll be down at Blackwater all week shooting so I won't be on much, but Janet might. BTW, thanks KJ for your help...

That's great Lisa. I already have my fingers crossed.

A big thanks to Lisa and Brian for taking me to Williamsburg. Bonnie was not doing well at all today. I was sorry to see that she was much worse than yesterday.

I'm really happy for you Keith...what a great accomplishment. I hope you both have a great time in Key West!

Sounds like things are moving along with both houses Kevin and Lisa. I hope you get an offer on the house soon.

Sarah did you talk your mom into a car yet?

And Heather, good luck keeping up with the little one at night! I never had that problem with Laura, she never wanted to go to bed but once I got her there she either stayed in her bed or I woke up with her standing next to mine.

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day!

Now that's what I'm talkin bout...that shirt is too funny! Glad you got your furniture. You'll have to take a picture of it so we can see. James - love the picture of my girl. Worked in the house all day scraping and cleaning windows. My real estate agent called at 3:30 and said a couple wanted to see the house in an hour. Everything was straight before I left this a.m., so I said OK. She said she thought it was the same man from the Open House last week bringing his wife to see it. She loved it and they are suppose to get back with the agent tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed! Brian took Mom to see Bonnie this a.m. and then to lunch at Pierce's BBQ. Brian said he had a great time. KJ worked from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on his lawns and he's tired as crap, but at least he doesn't have to work tomorrow. We are going to the house tomorrow. I'm going to work on some more windows, then we are going to make a list of things we need to get done.

Lisa, I made Keith go outside after reading your post so I could take a photo right then. I bought this shirt for him at the zoo when we were in San Diego - suits him perfectly don't you think?

We went furniture shopping today - bought a sofa, chair, and ottoman. We intended to buy a sleeper sofa but we didn't like any of the choices. Believe it or not we bought leather, a very soft, aged looking leather. It's going to look like a library in here!

Jamie, love the photo of Rosie - she's such a good girl.

Nice to hear all the congrats! Mary and I are very happy, and hopefully, now Mary will address me as the Veep and do what I tell her......yeah, right...that will NEVER happen! Looking forward to seeing everyone in December. Not a bad month to get out of Minnesota for a few days...although the eyelid freezing weather doesn't hit until around January. Did someone mention London Broil???

Keith - Congratulations. Now you'll really get those bonuses, bonuses, and more bonuses...good job (even for an ape man)! We are soooo proud of you. You deserve a great big london broil! Have fun in Key West - you both deserve a break and celebrate, celebrate, celebrate!!!! Say hi to Jimmy Buffet for me. Went by the house today and we got lights, toilets and sinks. They are putting the carpet down Sept. 12. Gotta sell this house!

Congratulations Keith (&Mary)! I know what a relief that must be, not having to move again so soon. So far so good as far as 'cane season goes...so hopefully it won't interfere with your trip!

Congratulations Keith!
Have fun in Key West!!