Tent and such

Earlier this week I bought a tent to get ourselves ready for "Fall Camping" I set the tent up today to make sure I could do it :-) No problems here! Brandon and his friend Chance will be spending the night in it tonight. Brett is going to the neighboors to spend the night :-) And Mom will watch a little tv... I'm currently watching "The Waitress" one of my all time favorites :-) Maybe I'll get in the mood to make some pie real soon :-)

On another note... I had bought a Alder Tree and a White Evergreen... I think that's what they call it... I love Evergreens... Because they look beautiful year around and they don't die... Last night and early this morning I put down some black cover up stuff, to keep grass from coming up and then I laid some mulch over that. I really like how it turned out. I like to set on my patio and swing and look at the trees, it's peacful and calming for me... I also like sitting by a camp fire at night and looking at the stars. Tonight we'll make smores over the campfire and enjoy the night.

Brandon's First Scrimmage

Brandon had his very first Scrimmage game against the Warriors last night. And what a way to start off the season.. They won 2 - 0. He got to play the entire first half... :-) and boy he's fast... A couple of times he almost got the quarterback. During his practices earlier this week he did take the quarterback down. YOU GO BOY!! :-) He played a couple of different positions and because I'm still "New" to all this I'm still learning the positions... I'll get up on it soon enough.. Here are a couple of pics... He's the one in the "Purple" pants

Falls of Big Sioux and Winery

I'm going to try to take a bus trip (tour) to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.... to see the Falls of the Big Sioux River at Falls Park... Also known as Laughing Waters... The river winds through the city into the center of Sioux Falls. You'll be able to tour the waterfalls from three different lookout platforms, visit a five-story observation tower and gift shop (I don't like heights), Tour the regional art at the Horse Barn Arts Center built in the late 1800's... Catch a ride on the Sioux Falls Trolley, pic a place to eat, most likely Minerva's... We also get to go to the Strawbale Winery for wine tasting and such... OOOO and shopping at Macy's! HA! Like I can afford that! Maybe I'll get myself some $40 beer coasters.. ha!

A deluxe motor coach departs here in Omaha at 7am on Saturday September 27th and returns around 10:30pm that night... The cost is $89.00 per person and then of course, you bring extra $$ to spend at the gift shop and food and such... I'm enrolling this weekend. So far I'm going by myself... Let me know if any interest should arrise...

Staining the Fences and Deck

Well I took on a project this weekend in which may turn out to be a much bigger project then expected.... Today we'll know the outcome of this project.... For some time know I've been wanting to stain the deck and fences, but more the deck as I think it's only been stained once in the last ten years that I've lived in this house. I had an estimate done and they also said... "The deck needs it most". The estimate was $600. Dave and I we're going to split it, but we both agreed $300 is a little much. Soooo after a few more conversations we went to Menard's and bought 6 gallons of stain, brushes, tape, plastic cover up stuff and a sprayer.... for about $175.00 Not bad...

So yesterday we took on the project. I took on the smaller fences (Garden and Air Conditioner fences) He took on the "Yard" fence. He then left for a while and hooked me up with the sprayer, which was not a good idea. I could not get that flopping thing to work for the life of me. I pumped and pumped and pumped and nothing but a solid stream of stain would come out. I thought "Shit! This Sucks"! And that it did. So along back came Dave and he tried and couldn't get it to work.... Back to Menards he goes..... Back to the house he came with yet another sprayer.. By this time the Air-Conditioner fence is completed :-).... And yet another sprayer bit the dust.... Sooooo... he said "Grab a paint brush and start painting... It's the only way it'er get done." I thought "YEAH RIGHT" So I took a deep breath and took a brush and after two small boards I was done!!! I thought "OH NO! - THERE'S NO WAY I'M DOING THIS BY HAND" I went inside took a few deep breaths and a shot of Pepsi and back out I came. This time I got myself a very comfortable blanket and laid it over by the garden fence. Where I painted and painted... Pretty soon Dave came over and said "This is gonna take forever" I just smiled and said "Yes" Back to Menard's he went... and then he went to a rental place and I dunno where... He came back with good news and bad news... Good News He's got a sprayer, bad news - Can't pick it up until tomorrow.. hahaha Ok no biggy.. Just spray'er down and get'er done...

The Garden fence is almost done :-) and the deck has been washed and it's ready to go. this morning I will tape and put plastic up along the siding and start on the garden deck before the "sprayer" gets here.... Anyways... I must say I'm really really really happy with the color.. I really really really like it :-) I so can't wait for it to get done. It'll be really really really pretty....

Now all I need is for some-one to help with the garden and put in little walking paths and such. I think it'll be more enjoyable this way... (Hint Hint)

And why am I painting and such.... Well the market may be bad right now, but I believe it'll get better... Someday I want to sell maybe next year or the next or sooner, who knows. This house and yard is pretty darn big, but it's mine and I do my best to keep up with it... But it's not my little old two story white house with a porch and such.. It doesn't have to be white - it's just small and cozy and it's my place... But that's a different topic..

So any way here are some before pic's....

UPDATE (Monday 8/25) : The Deck is done... Just needs alittle touch up, The front fence of the garden is done... The back side needs the sprayer (or the chicken wire will have to come down and be hand painted). OOOOOOO the sprayer didn't work (again)... Dave picked up a high power sprayer from some local rental place... We couldn't get it to work so we called them.... Apparently they were on their way out to help us... When 7 hours later and still no guy.... I think he got lost or probably just went home... HA! Anyways... Last we just decided to take the sprayer back and call it off. We we're both very tired and the thought of hand painting the fence is not a very pretty one.

Last night I decided to stay home today.... and rest and such.... To much of my surprise... Later this am I got a call from Dave, who decided to give it another try.... I guess he will stop back at the rental place this morning and have a chat with them and then come back out yet for another sprayer day.... Me? I won't be much help today... I'm a littled "Fried" more ways the one....

Maybe some new pic's will come tonight... We shall seee...



Final Update: What took 2 1/2 days could of took 1 day... The sprayer worked and it looks beeeauutiful... I wasn't going to help out, but found alittle energy and gotter done. While Daved Sprayed and came up from behind brushed the excess in... Before and after pics are below...

I must go camping

Well My Aunt Carolyn has got me in the mood to go camping... When I was young my parents use to take us camping all the time.. I have Lot's of camping gear, so I really don't need much... Just a tent... Hahaha I have sleeping bags, a cooler, coleman lantern, and even a coffee percolator(?) and much more to cook with...

I'm thinking about going to the Indian Cave State Park..

If you Google the park and look for pic's and such you'll find some really cool stuff. Below are two pictures which I took (oops!) Don't tell on me :-) from some source... I will go here this fall and hopefully sooner. But a must in the fall! The colors would be most beautiful to see...

Brandon and Football

Brandon is on the cowboys football team for BJSA.... Yippee Last year they took 2nd place and they have the same coach as they did for the past 5-6 years... I'm really excited to see him play and I really enjoy going to the practices and such.... Tonight we got his uniform :-) and next Friday we'll go watch Bellevue East vs Bellevue West in Football. When Brandon wears his jersey he gets in the game free. A really sharp looking uniform :-)

Go Cowboys...

Canned Salsa

Putting up Salsa is definitely and task and then some... I usually start with washing each tomatoe, onion and peppers... I then Dip each tomato into boiling hot water for about 1 minute, then plunge into cold water. The skins split and then I can easily peel them off.

I then Slice top off tomato to reveal seed "pockets". Insert a spoon into each pocket and scoop out seeds. And then I chopethe tomatos coarsely. I do this for each tomatoe....

I then chop onions coarsely. Remove stems from peppers and remove seeds, cores, and ribs from inside pepper. If peppers are very hot, I wear rubber gloves and keep my hands away from my face. You can adjust your "pepper taste" to your liking

Sometime I even blend a few tomatoes and peppers to get extra juice and flavor...

I then place prepared ingredients into a large saucepan, adding a secret spice and then I bring the mixture to a boil over high heat and simmer for about 30 min's

I then clean each jar and lids and sterlize each jar in boiling water...

When it's all ready I ladle the hot salsa into hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. I also add a "Hot Pepper" for looks... I then wipe the rim of jars with a damp paper towel and place lid on evenly and adjust ring onto jar. I then process each jar for 15 minutes using boiling water canning method.

Needless to say I'm pretty darn tired.. Especially since I just got down wedding the garden :-) The Salsa is very hot and well make an excellent gift to pass out..... Who knows, maybe your on my list... I have about 6 little jars and 4 quart size jars... Plenty to go around. I still have alot more canning to do... Let the fun begin...

How do you like your ..Mators

Today I spent the day weeding my garden, picking tomatoes, green & red peppers, salsa peppers, really hot peppers, and onions... So how do you like your mators? I personally love to make salsa and stewed tomatoes.... I have way more tomatoes then I can handle... My co-workers love it when I take them in, so tomorrow I shall bring them some :-) over then next few days I'll be canning and making salsa until I get tired of the doing the salsa dance :-)

The air show is this weekend, so it was nice to set outside and watch all the planes while I worked away :-)

The yard is mowed and dead bushes are gone as well :-) Yippieeeee...

Yesterday I got my hair cut and colored... A nice way to start the 40's era...

That pic will have to come later... :=)

And then to tope the evening off... I'll be serving bacon wrapped smoked chicken, baked potatoe and sweet corn... Oh and of course a fine tasty Land Shark UMMMMMMMM...

Happy Birthday to Jackie and ME

Well It's that time of year again... Birthdays in the air... Today is Jackie's Birthday... Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Daughter Jackie! Whom I'm so very proud of... She makes me smile and laugh.. She such a joy to have around.. I'm very blessed to have her in my life.. Happy Birthday Jackie :-)

Tomorrow is My Big B-day! The big 40 or as some say the big 29. My day started off wonderfully as I received a beautiful bouquet of peruvian lilies at work from a friend who wished me a Happy 29th Birthday... hahaha Thank-You! They are most beautiful..

I have a feeling that my cube at the west location has been decorated. I was going to work from home tomorrow, but was asked to come in... I know they're all up to no good :-) But it will still be fun... I get to go to lunch at Stokes with some old ComFed buddies so this will be fun as well... I haven't seen some of them in a while... and as usual we have some catching up to do.

After that I'll be coming home where I'm going to spend it with the boys, Jackie and Kio. We're going to go out to eat and then come home and have a camp fire with the neighbors and such... We'll drink plenty of drinks and roast marshmallows under the moon and stars... Something I love to do, which is why we're going to do it :-)

For all you concerned readers, Yes I'm still alive (Hi Aunty Carolyn) hahaha... Been busy with the kids and football. We're starting to get back on schedule with school starting and stuff, so more updates will come later... :-)

Alittle update: Today at work with much of a little surprise my cube was decorated.. Just like I thought :-) Only they got me with "Look Whose 40" signs posted all over the building.. I had to climb over my wall to get in it... hahaha... It was a fun filled day that's for sure..

Some of my co-wokers who think they are all innocent and such!

Yeah RIGHT!!!

And then from another co-worker in Calif... I get this Poem:

Happy Birthday Sherrie!

Let the ailments now begin
Just swash it down with tons of gin
Forgetful spells and "Depends"
Await for you, my aging friend

For 40 candles, Sherrie dear
Have shortened out your cake this year
Yet even though the cake's in flames
To me you're still one awesome dame

So here's a toast your birthday brings
A slew of happy splendid things
With added years of health and love
In riches blessings from above

As you're a lass who's most admired
Whose days are lived .... life inspired
So wear those skirts and play the flirt
Never mind, You're Old As Dirt!!!

So far I've really enjoyed my day and I'm looking forward to tonight :-)

More Pic's and Such will come later. We still have presents to open and cake to eat :-)

A Big Thank-You to All!!

And then the final finanally: