Holding the World in a Paper Cup

Eating Out....side

2012-05-23T11:29:00.001-05:00

Chuck likes to cook.

Apparently he also likes to serve Charley and I, because he does it all. the. time.

Lucky us right?

On this particular night he took serving to a whole new level.

Here's our waiter, telling us in words that don't match

his clothes, face, body, or name, what's on the menu.

Simple man. Fancy words.

Charley and I were SO fancy that night too. I mean just look at us! Charley has on a large, round, shiny, disk dress and I have on my uniform t-shirt. We're a class act.

I love a simple man, with fancy words, who cooks.

Wouldn't you?

Church Goers

2012-05-22T11:46:00.002-05:00

This church is within walking distance from our house.

All of the churches we've visited are beautiful.

Most, hold so much history, and it is apparent that great effort has gone into preserving the history in each one. Tin ceilings, arched passageways, ornate stained glass, wooden pews, creaky hardwood.

We are a Christian family.
We understand the importance of attending church.
That's why we've been on a mission.
Our mission?
To find a good Bible believing church with and strong youth department.
Our church search has not been an easy one.
We've had a surprisingly difficult time trying to find a good fit for our family.
Through it we've learned, one of the most
important parts of church, is worshiping with those that you feel closest to.
Fellowship with those whom we feel most comfortable with.
Here in Mathews, we've found it difficult to make that connection.
There have been some who've been happy to reach out, attempt to pull us in, make us feel comfortable. Make us feel less like outsiders.
We really appreciate that.
But somehow we've still find it hard to really sync with any one congregation.

Sadly, most of the Baptist churches we've visited consist mainly of elderly folks.
While it was a blessing to experience each one of those churches, as parents we have to focus on the opportunities for our child to learn and grow in God's word.
I felt saddened leaving each one, thinking about the day when those churches will close the doors for the last time, having no new generation to carry on for them.

While we're Southern Baptist by birth, we haven't let that limit us in our search.

We've visited the Methodists, Episcopalians, and Catholics.
Though the services were beautiful, we found ourselves lost in the motions,
never fully understanding, therefore never fully appreciating the process.
In the end we've decided, we deeply, deeply, miss Dwight Baptist Church.
Dwight Baptist is the church I grew up in.
There were a few years that I broke away during my parent's divorce and for a short time after, while trying to establish my independence, but Dwight Baptist will always feel like home to me. Chuck and I were not only comfortable there, but we learned so much, thus strengthening our faith and our family. Plus it's nice to know you can leak a few of your worries to one of your aunts and rest assured the whole congregation will have you on their prayer list by nightfall.
(Thankfully, one can be an out-of-towner and still be on the Dwight prayer list.)
We didn't make it to Dwight every time the doors were open,
but now, being so far from home, wish we had.

We have found one Methodist Church here in Virginia that we are going to try to insert ourselves into.

There is however, one downside to settling on one church.
I can no longer wear the same dress every, single, Sunday.

Every. Sunday.
It's ok.
No one knows.

A Happy Mother's Week

2012-05-13T22:39:00.000-05:00

So a few days ago I had a birthday...

My family made on over me a lot that day.

(When I said "made on over me" at work, a co-worker asked me to define it.

Made on over me - to make a big deal out of, to celebrate a person)

The dog wants my cake...

He ain't gettin' it.

(Ain't - is not)

She ort to smile

(Ort - should)

My Gift Before My Gift After

I have the BEST family.

Last night Chuck was whipping something secret up until the wee hours.

This morning he put it in the oven and delivered it to the coffee table piping hot.

The whole platter.

It was a Mother's Day Quiche.

Then Chuck and Charley cooled me with paper fans while I ate, and gave me several cards full of love. Charley even danced me a dance and gave me one of those pieces of paper that mean so much....

And when I asked that sweet little thing to go upstairs and get my book because it was Mother's Day she replied, "Uggggg. That's too much about you this week."

Then she stomped off to retrieve the book.

Happy, happy, day.

I spent much of the rest of the day playing patty cake in the grass, collecting ladybugs, tending to a baby snapping turtle, dumping her out of the wheelbarrow, and scrubbing her grass stained knees and dirt covered feet in the bath.

Mothering is good, good stuff.

And having a mother is a good, good, thing too.

Happy Mother's Day to my Mama!

I love you SO much.

Meet Trouble

2012-05-04T22:58:00.000-05:00

This dog, oh, this dog.

Lemme tell you a little story about this dog.

A couple of weeks ago, I dropped Charley off at school and was just about to head in the direction of work, when I remembered I'd left the oven on. So, when I was at a point where I'd have to make the decision to turn left for work or turn right for home, I called Mom. I was hoping she'd say, "Oh, it's just on broil? It'll be fine for 8 1/2 hours. Go on to work." She didn't say that. Instead she said, "Go home NOW. Turn off the oven. You'll be lucky if your house isn't already on fire." Oh, ok. I turned right, arrived home, found that I had left a science experiment full of vegetable oil directly on top of the potential fire zone, and cut the oven off. Then I left the house, already late for work. About a half a mile down the road I saw this lady, in a brown uniform, leading my dog, with her leash, into the back of a vehicle marked with the letters, S-H-E-R-I-F-F.

I say, I say, something like, "Ummm, THAT'S MY DOG!!" while hanging out the window of my car. She says, something like, "I'm sorry mam. This dog will have to be taken into custody until we can have a hearing." I pulled over and got out of the car.

It seemed that My Friend was busted red paw-ded attacking another dog's face. Thankfully the other dog was large like My Friend and suffered only minor cuts. My Friend was bitten on the leg during the scuffle and wasn't able to put his foot on the ground for 3 days.

I don't know who started it but I do know it was about a girl.

After talking to her a while, the deputy seemed to gain confidence in me as a pet owner and released My Friend to me. After several days of unease, we learned that we were going to receive a warning with no fines. We were so thankful.

The owners of the other dog were inclined to expect us to pay their vet bill, but since My Friend was injured also, and both dogs were guilty of trespassing on someone else's property, we felt obliged not to. Based on the evidence, we've deduced that this was simply 2 male dogs, doing what dog's do (fighting over a girl in heat), and no dog in particular was at fault. We've been told, there is a chance we'll be sued in a civil court based on our feelings, but Chuck and I are sticking to our guns, and still believe in a world where dogs fight and the owners each take responsibility for their own, without laying blame where it doesn't belong in order to cover a vet bill.

This was no pit bull attacking a poodle situation.

This incident has changed My Friend's life. We've decided to put him on house arrest. He is no longer allowed to be outdoors without us present, and if only Charley is supervising, he must be on a leash.

Oh this dog, this dog, who lives in my house most of the time....

this dog needs a fence he can't Houdini over, under, or through,

before I lop his pointy little head off.

Bubble Snakes

2012-05-03T14:39:00.002-05:00

Hello!

Just thought I'd share this simple kid's activity.

I originally found the idea on Pinterest.
Just cut off the end of a water bottle, rubber band a piece of washcloth or sock to the bottom, dip in bubble solution, and blow into the other end.

The outfit Charley is wearing is one she created herself.

Periodically, I add strips of fabric to her dress-up bin and she finds a use for them all. She's got her own set of safety pins and uses them to fashion the fabric. She is quite the designer.

Take One Six Year Old and One Box....

2012-04-25T14:06:00.000-05:00

Jewelry Storage

2012-04-22T20:43:00.000-05:00

My bathroom has issues.

First off, it is really small. It lacks counter space and storage.

I haven't got it all figured out yet, but did do something to

help out the window sill area.

While this may not look so bad...

it was NOT functional.

All my jewelry, (with the exception of my necklaces which were hanging from the banister), was here, perched on the window sill, above the toilet and trash can.

I would drop things, find them under the lip of the plunger, say words I shouldn't...

It had to stop.

So I took a frame I had...

Painted it and stapled some trim to the back.

And now I have very functional earring storage.

I needed it to work real bad.

It seems that lately every crafty project I take on turns to crap.

wonk wonk

But this, I like.

And the necklace storage solution you see here was a success also,

though it didn't come without some trial (cursing).

The moose antler is one we found in the wilds of Alaska.

This whole picture wall grouping was born because of that

little thermostat you see there above the gold shelf.

Someone brilliant set it right in the middle of that wall.

I swear.

And don't even get me started on upside down electrical outlets.

COME ON.

Anyways, my little bitty stupid face bathroom is to the left of the mirror,

so it makes sense to have the jewelry area close by.

I know. I have this attitude problem.

Me and that bathroom with the orange water....we are not cool.

Though, I am really grateful I have a bathroom.

I am. I am. I am. (This is me knowing better and trying act right.)

Some people don't have bathrooms.

I mean my own husband only had an outhouse less than a year ago.

So, I am going to suck it up, be grateful,

and keep working on that bathroom as time and money will allow.

I will also stop saying "I hate you bathroom" under my breath while I am scrubbing the toilet.

Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and the wisdom to know the difference.

And thanks God, that a bathroom is one of the biggest things on my plate right now.

Spring Break!

2012-04-21T19:34:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, Charley was out of school for spring break.

I took some time off from work, (ya'll didn't even know I was a employed did ya?) so we had 5 solid days of nothing but fun. Well on the third day we rested....and on day 4 Charley went to daycare while I worked, and on day 5 she came to work with me, so actually it was 2....2 days of solid fun.

I'm not a fun robot ok?

On day 1 we explored Gloucester Point Beach.

We had a picnic, wallered around in the sun,

got really irritated at our careless beach neighbors who kept letting their trash blow into the bay!!!!

I mean don't liter the OCEAN people...it's kind of a thing these days...not littering.

Heard of it?

Get on board, beach neighbors.

Gloucester Point Beach is about a 30 minute drive from the house.

The water was seriously cold that day, but that never stops Charley.

We took a kite too.

The Easter bunny brought a really small one that Charley

can handle without going into angry convulsions.

I recommend them.

These ducks kept swimming to Charley despite the fact that she had no food to offer.

I think they were attracted to her kind spirit.

You know, she did save a duck once, from My Friend's jaws of death.

My Friend is the dog.

That sentence wouldn't flow so well if you didn't know.

She seriously took the bird from the dog's mouth.

She held it for a while then took it down to the river and set it free.

The duck circled a few times as if to say thanks, and left.

Who knows, maybe he flew to Virginia for a visit.

On Tuesday, Charley and I went to BUSCH GARDENS!

It was totally fun.

We literally skipped our way to the entrance gate and were dragging our limp bodies on the way out.

It was an all day affair.

Charley surprised me by saying that she was ready for REAL roller coaster.

First thing we did was get in line for the LOCH NESS.

Source

Did I mention she's SIX and a GIRL

and has a reputation for SCARING EASILY and she's really TALL?

This means that her body is qualified to ride certain things that her brain is not yet ready to handle.

As soon as we topped the first hill, I thought, "Oh no. I have made a mistake."

I thought those words exactly.

Source

During the first loop I looked over at her and her little head was practically in her lap.

It was a combination of fear and force that put it there.

She looked so young, so weak.

It was a pitiful sight.

I felt compelled to help her get her head upright after each loop.

Awwww. She's JUST a baby.

Which is why it surprised me to hear she was ready for THIS....

Source

Charley TOTALLY rode that sucker.

I could NOT believe it.

(The scary stuff is on the inside.)

Source

She's always had a love/hate thing for volcanoes.

Afterward, she said she wouldn't go back.

Not until she was 18.

Then she bumped it up to 19 to be safe.

What did ya'll do on spring break?

Making it Pretty

2012-04-19T10:46:00.001-05:00

I found a good deal on azalea's ($2.50 each) and wrapped them all the way around the house.

THIRTY TWO of them.

I dug so many holes that I actually got BETTER at digging holes.

Practice, practice.

I can hardly wait until they fill out!

Patience, patience

Togetherness

2012-04-18T12:01:00.000-05:00

We've found the best way to be outdoors, as a family, is around a campfire.

We cook out and feed the fire.

Stay up late and pretend Pocahontas.

What is your family's favorite way to have fun outdoors?

After Easter

2012-04-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

Finding 100 Eggs

2012-04-15T09:11:00.000-05:00

Grass Path

2012-04-15T08:27:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wanted to jump on a mower and just set off in a random pattern?

I have.

Only, this time, I wanted to mow a fairy-like winding, path.

But before I could just jump the old pony, I hit a roadblock named Chuck.

You see, Chuck likes to mow.

He likes for things to look neat.

(the above statement is only applicable to outdoors)

I am still getting to know this grownup version of Chuck.

Lemme tell you, he's come a long way since our days in the Mill Village when he swore the rain would take care of whatever waste our 2 dogs produced in a 600 square foot of space.

(The rain did NOT take care of it.)

Anyway, all I asked is that he leave the strip of land beside our house alone.

No mowing that spot.

He gave me a real hard time, but I won the battle.

Ya'll knew I would didn't ya?

The woman always wins these types of battles.

Then boy, I set off. I meandered through that tall grass ever' which way.

I had a real good time too.

Our path is long.....

And Charley LOVES it.

She spends a lot of time wondering up and down the path.

It's like she sees the land in a whole new way.

Sure, we may need to hire a bush hogger before the Summer is done,

but I say,

totally worth it.

(The above statement is contingent on the price of the bush hogging.)

Something's Missing....

2012-04-13T17:16:00.001-05:00

A Girl's Best Friend

2012-04-05T14:15:00.000-05:00

He is the best dog ever

My Friend is the best trained dog ever

He is a well trained

I love My Friend

My Friend is a good dog

Love for My Friend

XOXOXOX for My Friend

Geocache!

2012-03-30T10:14:00.001-05:00

Geocaching is like treasure hunting for grownups.

It's also a great fun for the whole family.

Something that I am still having a hard time wrapping my mind around is

that there are treasures stashed all around our little town!

Say what?

Treasures ya'll.

Hidden.

For me to find.

This is the stuff of my childhood AND grownup dreams.

I mean sometimes those treasures are dirty SpongeBob magnets or rusty buttons,

but every now and then, you score.

Like that time we found the cache with glittery blue fingernail polish.

Yes, you read that right. GLITTERY.

But I tell ya, while the treasures are hit and miss, the fun is really in the finding.

The only downside is trying to figure out this GPS.

If a major component of any family activity involves a parental figure

staring into a electronic device for lengthy periods,

kids tend to loose interest real fast.

But I think I'm getting the hang of it.

(Chuck...not so much.)

Since my handheld GPS will only show me how to get somewhere as the dang crow flies,

I plan to use the car GPS to get to each location.

Then once we are out of the car, I'll use the handheld.

The Technical Stuff

Somebody who knows Geocaching feel free to offer up suggestions or tricks of the trade.

I've got a Garmin nuvi 1200 and a handheld Garmin etrex Venture HC.

I'm a premium member of geocaching.com and use easygps.com

to download the waypoints to both devices.

#1 Problem: I am having trouble filtering out the extra small caches. I have used the pocket query feature on geocaching.com to filter these out but they still come in my query.

Kids don't really go for the "log only" types of caches.

#2 Problem: My GPS doesn't indicate what the size caches are, so we don't know what we are looking for. To a kid, it's disappointing to work real hard for a cache and then discover a "log only" situation.

#2 Problem The clues aren't showing up on my GPS.

The clues are what gets the my little girl into it. Otherwise she's just following me around.

This was Charley's first find.

How fun!

If you a take a treasure out, you just put a treasure back in.

Also, sign the logbook.

We're Team Piankatank.

I chose it because:

#1 I couldn't think of anything else in the whole world.

#2 It's another term for the area in which we live.

#3 I think the word is funny. It makes me want to sing Badonkadonk, Badonkadonk. And that makes me laugh, because it is an unbelievably ridiculous song.

(Spoiler alert)

(Another Spoiler Alert)

This is crazy.

Treasures planted all around my town and in most every town I want to travel to?

I must be dreaming.

When it Rains....

2012-03-29T12:15:00.000-05:00

On a dry day, the ground around here is like a saturated sponge.

After a couple of hours of rain, we've got a few swimming pools in the backyard.

Yeah, we've got flood insurance.

In Etowah County, Alabama, if you find out that

a house you are interested in needs flood insurance,

you just don't buy that house.

If you want to live on Gwynn's Island, then you just buy the flood insurance.

There are no other options.

Speaking of options....Shirts! They are option-al here on Gwynn's Island.

Jest kiddin, jest kiddin'.

Though in our backyard, anything goes.

Yo Bigfoot

2012-03-28T12:25:00.000-05:00

Bet ya'll didn't know we're a Sasquatch hunting family.

Yep.

We are gearing up for a big season.

Been watching "Finding Bigfoot" pretty regularly.

We feel sure we're going to find a whole slew of them Squatches using "BoBo's Eating Bacon Out in the Wilderness So The Squatches Know It's Not Poison" technique.

If you don't understand the above reference it just means your probably not a Bigfoot hunter...

like us.

We're in Sasquatch hunting training.

Chuck's our ringleader.
He asked Charley to paint him up like Bigfoot.

Then he put her to the test.

Her mission was to run from window to window listening and watching for the Bigfoot (Chuck) to make an appearance. When she found him she was to shoot rubber suction cup bullets at the window when she found him. But it was dark and the bullets wouldn't load easily, so the game evolved into tapping at the window, and that evolved into all out banging on the window.
I tell ya, it's a wonder I still have any windows at all.

It was worth it though.

We're ready.

When it warms up a little more, we are going on some Bigfoot hunting/camping trips.

We don't know yet what we'll do with Bigfoot when we find him (or her).

Probably just get a real blurry and distant photo.

Oh and you can lure them in with your Sasquatch call too...

(When you do this Bigfoot thinks you are his Bigfoot relatives/friends and will call back.)

Fierce.

Ya'll want to come?

Yard Work/Yard Sale

2012-03-25T20:04:00.000-05:00

Chuck's been working hard.

He's been plowing up the earth with hand tools in preparation for vegetable planting.

Charley helped out as well.

I helped too.

Ok so whatever. I was really just popping little cute dirt wads

out of the ground with my new...uhhhh...hole maker.

Which leads me to....

Last Saturday morning I noticed that there were lots and lots of cars pulling into my neighbor's driveway and parking along the road. I had my fingers crossed it was a yard sale, but it was hard to tell because I could only see a few random things in her backyard. Charley and I excitedly ran from window to window trying to decide if this was a bona fide yard sale or if it was something else. I mean NOBODY wants to walk up on a death in the family situation with a bunch of spending money in hand. Finally, we determined it was an indoor-everything-goes yard sale!!

Those are the best kind.

We'd go next door, buy and yard tool, and run back over here to test it out.

Then we'd run back over and do it again.

It doesn't take much to entertain us.

We didn't spend much,

but we did walk away with a grill and 4-5 yard tools for $5.00.

Cheap is good.

Well, usually.

My neighbor GAVE me those rubber boots.

Free is even better than cheap.

And yeah, when I am walking around the yard and my neighbor is over there doing around in her yard, I feel a little funny wearing the woman's boots,

but I'll get over it.

After working in the yard a while, I told Chuck I want to be Amish,

only with internet access.

He doesn't have a lot of faith in that idea, and I'd have to cook....soooooo

Nah. I think I'd rather be a rich person.

Take a Good Look at These Teeth

2012-03-23T19:57:00.000-05:00

It seems that this little girl is going to be missing one

of those really prominent, front teeth VERY soon.

Oh little Chiclet teeth...

How I have loved you...

Ready for Our New Pets...

2012-03-23T09:25:00.000-05:00

A House for the Chickens

2012-03-22T13:54:00.003-05:00

We've wanted chickens for few years now.

Our first attempt at chicken owning was in Alaska.

Chuck and Charley finished the coop just as winter hit.

Without insulation and heating lamps, chickens don't generally fair well in Alaska during winter.

We didn't want to invest in these things, so our chicken dreams were put on hold.

When we left town the coop was hauled off by a friend to use in his own chicken yard.

Fast forward to present day, Virginia...

Chuck is determined to get Charley the chickens she so deeply desires.

$5.00 Oops paint from the Lowes mistake shelf!

Chuck's so proud of his coop.

Yes I know, using a quilt as a drop cloth in a sin, but it was falling apart.

You just can't see the damage here.

This sucker's solid.

I know because I had to help Chuck lift it off the porch and into the back of his truck.

He's always putting me up to these tasks that are physically impossible.

It ended up being being a shove and drag and affair.

Chuck built this little ramp for them too.

I can just imagine them walking their fat little chicken bodies up it.

Cracks me up.

He went with plastic roofing since it the coop is so low the ground.

Don't want any head severing incidents.

I swear, that aluminum roofing should be outlawed.

Once, there was this incident where Chuck's leg met a sheet of aluminum.

He bled so profusely that his blood congealed in the floor of the truck while on the way to the ER.

A story for another time perhaps?

The pallet fence was my bright idea.

Yep. That was me.

Chuck initially was against it.

mmmm hmmm

But when he got all fastened in place, he was pleased with the result.

I had hoped to get the pallets for free, but NO, NO.

Nobody wants to simply give pallets away these days.

Not around these parts anyway.

$2 a pallet.

But not too bad for a fence.

It's surprisingly solid too.

Chuck has recently added some chicken wire to the sides and netting to the top

to keep those fat chickens in and the critters out.

This weekend we'll be going to Gloucester Tractor Supply to pick out 3 or 4.

Charley wants one of those with lots a feathers on its head.

Ha!

I can't wait.

Oh and we're in it for the eggs, not the meat.

Let's Dance

2012-03-20T09:28:00.001-05:00

Ya'll want to see something sweet?

Something SO sweet it warrants photo explosion?

It's a Father/Daughter Dance ya'll.

It doesn't get any sweeter.

This little girl barely left her Daddy's side the entire evening.

She refused to participate in any of the games with the other little girls.

It's like she realized,

she's gets to play with her little friends all the time,

but having her Daddy at school, by her side, at a real dance,

is a rare event.

Even when he threatens to embarrass her in front of her friends...

And tries to cause a scene wherever he goes...

She just eats him up.

She cherishes their time together.

This girl is a wise one.

She loves dressing up,

and getting treated like a lady,

and feeling beautiful.

She's a peach I tell ya.

A beautiful, sweet, peach.

She's quite the camera hog as well.

Brimming with confidence..

She still delights in the simple things.

Our little girl is growing up at the perfect pace.

Family Pizza Night

2012-03-16T19:13:00.001-05:00

Family Pizza Making is Mmmmmmm Good

The only problem I have with family pizza making is that it seems kinda pricey.

I know. I am super cheap.

But by the time you get all the ingredients, you've spent more than take out.

Any ideas for how to get the pizza cost down?

One thing that will help is that garden Chuck and Charley have planned.

I think I'll get in on it this year too.

Something about that hard, red, Alabama earth and that scorching blazing sun that kept me out of the loop of gardening in previous years. We've got good, rich, soil in Virginia.

Good soil makes gardening cheaper.

Hauling in two truckloads of dirt kinda shoots the price of vegetables up.

Got big CANNING plans.

Yup.

All I need is someone's wing.

Any sweet old ladies out there willing to take me in for canning training?

Seriously.

I. want. to. come. over.

I can offer you lots of chatter and photographs of you in action for the grandkids.

Call me.

I'll leave the kid with the knife at home.

I Get A Peaceful Easy Feeling

2012-03-16T08:44:00.000-05:00