Shoulda, coulda, woulda

The Cabin

So, I am totally aware that I need to update my blog. I had plans to do it tonight/tomorrow. I've got pictures from first day of school, a zoo trip, soccer games, football games, the wedding cake, my garden over haul, ... But for now I would only be able to do the stories, for you see a tragedy occurred today. Trent had a football game in Smithfield. After the game we went to Nic's moms' cabin. It is about 20 mins from Smithfield. Much closer than the 1 hour drive home. Knowing this would probably be the last trip we were taking up there this year, I wanted to get a few shots. Nic & the kids were down at the river catching baby fish-- & when I say catching, I mean inside a paper cup, just for the kids to get a closer look & maybe hold the cup for a few minutes. I was in the river on a rock. I had taken a few picts. & lost my balance. Really, do I need to say more? I am sure most of you are saying yes & that you want detail. Especially those of you who know I have a fear of water, and what the extent of it is. (Deep breaths-- oh the memories). It starts on a rock. A mossy wet rock. I move to get a different angle. Not only is the rock wet & slippery, it is loose. I slipped. I tried grabbing the post to regain my balance. However, the post was rotted & was no help. I didn't really have room to turn my slip into a jump, because of the kids trying to catch fish. SPLASH, down I go, camera and all. I held my arm up to try and save my camera (after it was submersed). My head & 1/2 of my torso was above water. I had nothing to grab onto to get myself up. & had Nic grab the camera so I could use my arm to get up. The water was cold and most of Nic's family was there & heard me making these gorilla noises. whooo haaaa, between the cold water, the laughter & a little hidden phobia, I am sure the sight & sound was hilarious. Had my camera not been dripping I would have asked Nic to take a picture of me. Once he had my camera & had set it on a rock, he helped me up. I almost pulled him in , being that the rocks he was standing on were also slimy & unstable. (Pretty sure my weight had nothing to do with the fact that he was having a hard time- those of you reading, feel free to insert nose giggle here [ ] ). I climbed back on the the cabin lawn laughing in disbelief, with a few family members wondering-- do I laugh, or is she going to make a scene because she touched water. They are all aware of my water phobia. After Jon- my brother in law asked if I was okay, they sensed that I wasn't going to go into shock & hypothermia. Nick described the whole incident as a turtle who was stock on their back. Arms and legs flailing, bot not able to move. I can laugh about it now, so go ahead and join in. about 10 minutes later, after a change of clothes, I wanted to try & catch fish myself-- not this isn't going where you think it is. about 2 minutes after I was down at the river, the kids were all headed up (can't remember why) & I started back up. I had 2 rocks give way & start rolling. I had both hands free & steadied myself on a step. When the kids went back down to let the fishes go. I decided I had better stay up on the lawn. My camera is currently drying. I decided not to try turning it on for a few days. I am sure the pictures I had on the memory card will be fine, but not sure the camera will recover. I accidentally left it up at the cabin, but will be seeing my mother in law on Tuesday, which will be a great time to turn it on and see if it still works.

This would be the post that no longer serves a purpose.

The rocks have been moved, bit the general area of where I fell in, is the obvious one, only I'd say there was more water involved. These pictures were taken when the water was lower.

JAMBA JUICE

Seriously the BEST coupon I have found all year-

could be used over and over for 12 days!!!!

http://www.summerblissisback.com/bogo_print.php

I have had 1 a day for the last few days! Yummy!

Grapes

I made a fruit plate last week. My kids are always trying to find the smallest grape & then argue over who gets to eat it. So last week when I was washing grapes, I found quite a few that were this size that my kids loved.

Weekend

Well, the weekend has been Okay. Nic has been down and out- he said that Saturday has been the worst day so far, with today coming in at a close second. The nausea and pain haven't stopped. With each treatment, he is supposed to feel worse. So what will the next treatment bring....hopefully a little sunshine.

I want to Thank Kellie K and family, Monte, and Mom for the dinners this week. The food has been great & Nic is gaining weight, so Thank You for helping out me and my family. We really appreciate it.

When it rains it pours...

and it's started..

Okay, so not only am I looking for a job & loosing my insurance, my washing machine broke today. I knew it was coming, it hasn't worked right for a while. However, with all due respect, Nic's mom bought it from a yard sale, so we aren't sure how old it was then, we've had it for 7 1/2 years. It's been acting a little funny for the last 6 monthes, and today it died!

As excited as I should be to get a new one-- or one that is new to me... we've been trying not to spend too much money for the days to come.

APPLESAUCE

Applesauce...

Our first time ever making it.

What FUN on a friday night.

Thanks to Kelli for letting me pick her apples Ü

Apple Guts

The finished product. Over 60 bottles of applesauce & a few bottles of apple butter.

I ran out of bottles in the end & started putting it in freezer bags. A big thanks to my dad for helping me for 6 hours straight on saturday, completing my applesauce venture.

Nic & the kids were fishing.

AHHHH CHEWWWWW!

Anyone feel my pain?

I've had allergies for the last 3 weeks. Uggg. I normally sleep with my mouth closed, lately, however, I've been sleeping with my mouth opened, and since I am not a drooler, my mouth gets all dry & stiff inside-- not so comfortable. A few times I have awoken to snot running down my face-- Yup-- not fun. I've changed & washed my sheets a couple of times in the last few weeks. I've tried nose sprays, & sinus pills, even prescription allergy nose spray.

NOTHING WORKS!

I'll take any suggestions.

& no it isn't a sinus infection, because my runny nose is clear, not green or white.

My Garden

My Garden--- Did quite well this year, got quite a few green beans. Too much zuchinni. A gazillion cherry tomatos. Some nice Carrots. I had some herbs, & what didn't get taken over by the mint (I've learned my lesson with this plant) was killed off by my neighbors who sprayed their weed killer a little too close to my garden. I did have some chives & parsley survive. My peppers were stunted in the beginning, but those little plants grew some nice big peppers.

I tried something new this year, tomatillos. Never grown or tried them, but they grew well & now I've got a few pounds in the freezer for future use. I got 3 very nice sized pumpkins from one plant. & some of the large sunflowers-- I should be harvesting the seeds any day now.

-Funny thing, I didn't plant potatos this year, because last years didn't work out. However, I have some potato's in my garden. Funnier thing-- I usually "give back" to my garden with egg shells, melon rhinds, fruit skins & pits (peaches, pears, strawberries, bananas) & just have Nic till them all up. Well last year I had squash coming out my ears, & I had eaten alot of cantelope. Well when Nic tilled last season & again at the beginning of this season... I had 3 plants sprout up that I didn't plant. One was summer squash I kept that one-- the other 2 looked like-- Honey dew-- maybe a little more oval. I pulled one of the plants, because it was taking over my carrots. The other was by my grean beans. I let it grow for a while, still not knowing what it was. I took them into work & gave them away, with the advice that I wasn't sure what the *heck* it was. My co-worker Tina & Supervisor Glenda took them. Both were cooked as thought they were a squash, because once they were cut opened, they had the seed of summer squash/pumpkin looking. The outside was white & the inside had a slight yellow tint to it. After they cooked it up with butter & salt, came the taste test. They both told me it had a sweet taste to it--Wierd. I wish I had a picture of it, but after hearing that, I pulled the plant. My guess would be cantelope & squash mix, but who knows, could have had a little help from zucchini...

Knowing that this weather would kill anything left-- with the exception of my carrots-- I picked everything I had left. Gave lots to family & what was left I took to work to hand out. I still have one pepper & a few tomato's, because for lunch today we are making french bread pizza, & those are great toppings!

P E A C H E S

After 3 nights of botteling peaches & 1 night of drying them-- I am done.. Hurray! Now I just have to wait a few days for the orange to grow out of my fingernails.

Debate Party

Next debate, lets have a party. Every time the work Economy is said, we'll all take a shot.

Scentsy

$ "'Tis the season" for fundraisers. Anyone interested $

$ in scentsy, Cassidy is selling them for her dance class. $

nothing new

So many ideas about what to do over Labor day- unfortunately it's going to rain on Monday bummer. Maybe We'll go and see a movie. We are still going camping tomorrow for one night & fishing. Cassidy got a pole for her b-day & we haven't used it yet.
I need to get the kid's first day of school pictures up. They look so cute in their uniforms.