Walk About

This little stinker decided to go on a walk about last week. For two nights and most of two days he was gone. I didn't really realize how much I have come to  like this cat. I really was getting worried and a bit sick to my stomach thinking he might be gone. 

I have been having a bit of trouble warming up to Simba. I think it is because of the fact that he is a bit aggressive with my Bella. He has become better but he still will go after her for no reason. Or for any sane human reason. I'm sure he has plenty of kitty reasons to pounce on her out of blue :).

But like I said, I was very surprised at how much I was worried about him.

I woke up one morning and there he was at the back door. He just sauntered in ate something and went right back outside! Gee, thanks, I love you too, you little @#$%.

I think another reason I have had a hard time warming up to him is because he isn't a cuddler. Only when he is total zonkered will he allow us to hold him for any length of time. He's a fun cat to watch and play with though. He'll chase/pounce on anything!! And he loves to walk around the yard with me, darting from one bush to another. Since it is a beautiful day, I think I will do just that.

Hope ya'll are having a great Sunday!

Painting Boxes

 

I bought this when my sister was down. Pretty but kind of "fake" looking. It's a sturdy box though and for 2.99 I couldn't pass it up.

Here is where I am at with it right now. H is into pink so I decided she can have it. I have decoupaged some pink paper on the inside bottom and she wants the little blue bird painted on the sides. The bird and the paper don't really go together but it's what she wants. So, I guess, it's what she is going to get :)

After painting this sweet little thing I was in a major paint zone. I REALLY wanted to paint something else. I started digging around in my garage and came up with this....

Very much in need of a make over! I believe everyone in the neighborhood heard me give a WHOOP when I found it. It came to me by way of my Mom. She got it by way of a Jr. High wood shop. She used it to keep some of her own little tools in it. 

I knew immediately what color I wanted to paint it but after that I was a bit stumped.

 I decided I wanted to keep the decoupage thing going, so I went through some of my scrapbook paper. Nothing jumped out at me. I was starting to get frustrated!! Finally, FINALLY, I remembered that my Dad has saved a whole bunch of old maps. Genius! I found the right one....a map of my hometown. I pulled my scissors out and got to cutting and gluing.

I just used the map on the top and then used the adds on the back of the map to decoupage around the sides. I was so much fun reading the adds and remembering the places of business. I'm not sure how many of the places are still there. Hmmm, maybe not any of them. I'll have to check on that. The little brown spot on the handle is where my Dad carved his initials. Apparently, he had a  stint where he used his little wood burning tool on everything!! Fun fact: I lived in the upper left area of the map.

I decided to stick with the tool box idea and scrounged around for all my tools to fill it up!! I don't seem to have as many tools as I thought I did. I guess I need to do some more scrounging and/or shopping to fill it up!

It was another beautiful day here on the Gulf Coast. I spent most of the day piddling outside and crocheting some fingerless gloves for my Aunt. I hope all ya'll had a nice Monday too.

More of Last Weekend

Here are a few more pictures of last weekend.

 The donkeys live in the pasture surrounding the cemetery. Seriously, who can walk by donkeys and not give them some love? 

 This isn't one of my relatives but I just love how it is written all in Czech. There were several like that. I have always been fascinated with these.

  

This was the side porch where the bathroom was. There was NO heat or air in the bathroom. It was just kind of tacked on at one point. I really hated taking baths in the winter time. Especially since they only had well water and we could only put about 3 inches of water in the tub. As a kid, I really hated it...then as I got older I realized that my Grandmother had to live with that EVERY DAY. For the entire time she lived there she didn't have central air or heat. She had gas heaters...it amazing that the house never caught fire. Wait...my cousin did once...or rather her night gown. It could have been really bad. Thank goodness it wasn't.

The house was built sometime in the 1880's

I'm not sure when these pictures were taken and exactly who they were...I have it written down somewhere....I'll look for that a bit later. You can tell that this was before some of the other bits of the house were added on. The barn, in the background, is still standing as well.

It is just so fascinating to me that I've walked in that same house. I love history, especially when it pertains to me personally. I would love to have a blue print of the house but I really don't think they ever had one. I think they just built it then added on what they needed. 

At one point, they had 300 hundred acres. Cotton fields. Now, it is down to just 2 acres. When my Great-Grandmother died in 1982 there was 7 acres( I think, don't quote me or anything :) ) and that was divided between all her children. My Grandmother got the house and the 2 acres because she stayed there to help take care of her mother. Everyone sold theirs off right away. That house was all my Grandmother had.  When she passed away in 1992--about 5 days after my first daughter was born--she left the place to my Uncle. Of course some brothers and sisters weren't all that happy but he had been living with her and taking care of her his whole life. When he passed away a couple of years ago he left it to my cousin. He and my Aunt are keeping the place up as best as possible. I'm just happy I am able to still get there every once in awhile to re-live some good memories.

Last Weekend

Alrighty, I think I took enough time off. Time to get back in to things :)

Well, Christmas was good. Did everything a person is supposed to do over the holidays. Visited people who needed to be visited, went to all the required Masses, baked the right amount of goodies, etc. All things Christmasy were taken care of!

As January hit I was forced to look back at my resolutions. I pretty much stuck with most of them. Well, maybe, just a little bit. So this year....no resolutions! I'm just going to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. We are just going to see what happens this year.

Not sure if I mentioned it earlier or not, but my husband was laid off from his job about two weeks before Christmas. Yeah, I know, tough break. He is still looking and it's been kind of hard on him. If ya'll wouldn't mind throwing a prayer or two up I would appreciate it. I'll do the same for ya'll!!

Last weekend my Mom and sister came for their yearly visit. It was supposed to be this weekend but my sister had to work. While they were here we had lunch with my Dad's sisters and went out to the old home place. Oh, how I have love that place. So many memories. My Aunt let us take home some, I mean a BUNCH, of grapefruit, lemons and oranges. After we left there were still gobs on the trees. We also went to the cemetery across the street. Just about any past relative I have is buried there. It was such a beautiful day.

 This is the front yard. It's not easy to see but the yard has little rolly hills. That's because they used to be farm land and the rows are still barely there. We played many softball and volleyball games in this yard. Not to mention all the other games us kids just made up.

 The grapefruit tree. I never ate these as a child. But now...all the time. I am going to try and save some seeds so I can start my own tree.

 Looking at the front of the house. It looks so small.

 Looking at the front again. It looks rather haunted doesn't it? It used to have the BEST front porch. It has all but disintegrated now. We had a blast on that front porch. We would always want to sleep out there but would always chicken out because the cemetery was across the street :)

These were taken out at the boat dock/pier. The pier wasn't there when we were kids. Nearly every weekend we would come down and set off fishing from here. I am so grateful to my parents for giving me those experiences in life!

I have a few more pictures that I'll probably post a bit later. Right now I'm off to get ready for Mass.

Hope you all are staying warm and have a Blessed Sunday.