Swine Flu

Ok well Cliff came home last night and was a little on edge about this whole flu.. So yes.. Cliff and I went at 10:00 on a Wednesday night to the local Walmart and stocked up on a few items. We want to be prepared and even if we have too much, we'll definately use it! Another thing was the hand sanitizer was totally out on the check out aisles.. None in the normal section of the store and after we bought 5 bottles of the pump bottles, there were only 6 left on the shelf!!! CRAZY!!!

Good friends, Good times

Well for the past week I have been a BUSY girl. I spent a lot of time with my friend Amy, who now lives in Oregon, and was down to visit. Also last week was my friend Holly's birthday!!! Got lots of girl time in and Cliff even got some time with the girls! And on Thursday night I finally was able to meet KEVIN FOWLER!!! He is a Texas Country Music artist, who I absolutely adore!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLLY DEE!!! LOVE YOU GIRLY!

Anyhow with all of that said, I wasn't able to get on here because our laptop at home somehow (we think Limewire or Frostwire) got some spyware "stuff" on it and caused the computer to turn on but all we could see was a black screen. FINALLY found a place and in McKinney, called High Tech Redneck. Well they fixed our computer and re-loaded our computer for $110. We thought that was SUPER cheap, when we first went to Best Buy since that is where we bought the laptop. Anyhow they said first they would have to replace the keyboard and we would have to buy a new power cord, both have damages from Cutter. But in the end it would be close to $1000 with the Geek Squad to fix. And even worse, Cliff knows far more about computer than they can even start to know. But fixed, just waiting to get from my mom, she picked up for us.

Dogs and eating grass

Ok so we all think our dogs eat the grass for an upset tummy... Well I have found some new information in regards to this assumption.

If you dog eats grass and then gets sick, its probably not actually getting sick. Canines can't clear their throats, so they often swallow grass because it helps the frothy stuff that collects there to come up. Now on the other hand, if you pet stops eating his food, has a fever and is lethargic, he may be chewing grass to soothe a sore throat resulting from an infection, which a vet can treat.

Dogs are omnivores, and grass tastes as delicious to them as a salad does to us!

Interesting info from the State of Idaho.. I know shocking!!!

Ok I was looking through a magazine I receive in the mail and noticed on the VERY last page tons of facts about the state of Idaho.. I literally thought they were only known for the potatoes... Anyhow here goes:

*First Appaloosa Horse was born here
*For $92 you can spend the night inside the world's largest beagle a/k/a Dog Bark Park Inn (www.dogbarkparkinn.com)
*The town of Stanley served as the primary location for the movie Pale Rider <~~~ old western

Anyhow my favorite fact was about the Beagle Inn since we have a beagle of our own.

Bling-Bling, Friends, Shopping and Cleaning

Yes that is definately a handful of festivities listed. Saturday I finally was able to take time and head over to Solitaire's in Plano to pick up my wedding ring!! So nice to have back on my finger and of course its all clean and shiny and just sparkles like the diamonds in my eyes!!! I headed over to Watter's Crossing in Allen to meet up with my good friend, Beth and also was fortunate to see her new little prince, Kyler. We chose to eat at The Cheesecake Factory. We literally got the same meal all the way around. The pizza we chose was kind of funky, but the Key Lime Cheesecake ROCKED!!! Mmm, Mmm, Mmm. I totally forgot to take a picture of Kyler, but he is so precious and a good baby! He just slept while Beth and I were able to catch up and enjoy lots of laughter over lunch.

After lunch I shopped a little while there. I went into Swoozies which is now one of my FAVORITE new stores! Such a sassy place filled with LOTS of bring colors. I got this totally cute pink, princess glass and a cute little koozie for the summer. Check them out below!

I also stopped in Victoria Secret's for a new bra to use the $10 off coupon I received in the mail and also the free panties. YAH for FREE stuff!

I stopped by Kohl's to use a giftcard I received at Christmas time. Got some cute flip-flops, windchimes for the back-porch and Cliff 2 summery tee's.

The day ended with see one of my great friends, Amy, that was in, visiting from Oregon. We also had a great time catching up and our hearts stirred with laughter.

Sunday while Cliff got the electric fence going around my whiskey barrell, I literally scrubbed the shower in our bathroom like crazy. I started out first with Tilex Mildew Root, then on to T.S.P. (which required me wearing rubber gloves, a face mask and eye goggles.. Finally ended with Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer.. Overall a huge lead way was made and our shower is looking MUCH better.

***UPDATE*** Well the grass seed Cliff planted on the side of our house which is almost total shade is popping up! Check it out below!

List of Accomplishments

Take a look and do what CSI has done and make it your own...add one that is not on the list! To make this your own!

Here we present a list. Highlight those tasks that you have accomplished in your life and for something extra I am going to tell a little about my experience or add some details to the "things" I have accomplished for fun.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins - yeah for my hubby and the surprise honeymoon, but in addition to the honeymoon he gave me the gift of swimming with dolphins. How fun is that! Actually swimming with them, hugging them, dolphins kisses and even being thrown in the air by them. I was in HEAVEN with those babies that day and Cliff enjoyed the experience too!
03. Climbed a mountain - actually in Arizona and somewhat in Colorado and New Mexico
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it - I have several close to my heart
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg - actually yes I did on our Alaskan Cruise.. How cool!
19. Slept under the stars - One of my favorite times with Cliff...
20. Changed a baby’s nappy - what is a Nappy anyhow??? navette
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten tipsy on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope - Coolest thing ever when Cliff was a student at Austin College they made one and it was out of this world INCREDIBLE!!!
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger - Well I did talk to Cliff first so I would say yes to this!
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse of both the sun and moon
34. Ridden a roller coaster - Forced to do so and ended up loving it
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer - do now! How crazy is that!
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had/Have amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip - Galveston and the Flagship hotel is all I'm going to say!!!
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud - DITCHES AND MUD PIES
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married - MAY 12, 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted a river
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in a Rocky Horror Picture Show
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray - AND HELD IN MY ARMS!
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone -MY ANKLE - DISLIKED THAT PINK CAST BUT IT HEALED ME SO I GUESS I LOVE IT - DEFINATELY A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept 30 hours in a 48 hour time frame
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. touched a cockroach - NOT BECAUSE I WANTED TO EITHER. UGH!!
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read “The Iliad”
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Easter Weekend

Our weekend began Friday night. Cliff and I opted for a night in. I was exhausted from the week and just wanted some R&R. We searched high and low for something to watch on TV and found nothing. We looked in our DVD collection and found nothing that spiked our fancy. Finally we decided to head to Blockbuster, well and to our surprise found nothing on the new releases. We decided to rent and old movie and Cliff picked it out. We ended up with Naked Gun... The first one. We grabbed a pizza and headed to the house. Relaxing evening with my hubby and Cutter.

Cutter went outside for a bit to do his business and came to the window and began scratching, which meant he was ready to come back inside. Well I was being lazy and so was Cliff and we didn't get right up. Suddenly, I had the feeling in my head and stomach that Cutter was up to no good and I had a few hanging baskets on the ground that I had watered earlier. Much to my thinking, I went outside and the little rascal had destroyed majority of one of my baskets. I don't know what was wrong with me but I immediately began crying. Cliff ran out thinking something was wrong. I was so upset. Cutter had done so good so far this year and then BOOM!He destroys one basket I truly thought was beautiful. Well Cutter was upset for a long time and should be. Cliff never actually got to spank him and but he did throw the fly swatter at him. I promise we aren't violent, but Cutter knows better. We lost majority of all of the flowers and plants in our backyard last year due to the dog. We literally tried everything. We even bought a spray at Petsmart and one day left the bottle on our patio table, and came home that evening and the 100% guaranteed bottle of magic solution was destroyed!!! Needless to say. we got our $17 back, but nothing keeps this dog from digging. We have bought a solar powered electric fence but haven't installed yet. We keep praying that someone he will refrain from doing so. So again we are back to square one and I go home every afternoon after work with the hope that he has been good.

Saturday, Cliff and I slept in. For me to sleep in a miracle usually has to happen or I am up at 7:30 - 8:00. But today was a good day. I slept until 10:00!!! We got up got ready and headed to Walmart and Lowe's. We bought a few things at Walmart and then headed to Lowe's. Oddly enough, while at Walmart I decided to check the gardening center and found one of the hanging baskets Cutter tore up. Of course I asked Cliff and he said I could get one. YEAH!!!! The Decatur Walmart somehow brightened my day. I have one of those Miracle Grow water sprinklers that you attach the plant food bottle too and mine broke. :( So we found a new one. Unfortunately while there instead of spending the $10 we spent $100. We found some absolutely, beautiful star gazer lilies. And for most of you that know, they are my favorite and actually my main flower at the wedding. I was just in awe.... We went home and spent the rest of the day outside. I working in my flower beds, killed some ants and got sunburned. Yes sunburned. I didn't think the sun was strong enough but I was a little strawberry that evening. Cliff worked behind the fence again and got about 10 more feet cleaned out, he installed some new hooks for my flowers, wind chimes and bird houses. We were pooped by 8:00. I had a brisket slow cooking all day in the over and it hit the spot!!! We had strawberry shortcake for dessert and quite delicious. Cliff actually decorated it and did a very lovely job if I do say so myself. We hit the sack shortly after dinner.

Easter day was glorious! I am so thankful for what Jesus did on this day. How much more blessed can we be that he died for us on that sacred cross. He is the Almighty King who paid my price and His death has brought me life. I love the gracious Lord above Endlessly!!! Cliff and I actually didn't attend an Easter service. We headed to my moms house and then on to East Texas to my grandparents ranch. We spent the day there and had a wonderful time. It seemed so weird not to attend church, but my Grandad years ago stated... sometimes you have to give your seat up to those who don't attend regularly. Perfectly stated. My grandma made a wonderful lunch! We chatted and the togetherness is just priceless! Cliff and I spent some time outside there riding the mule on trails and just taking in the beautiful scenery. We headed home late that afternoon. Cliff spent time in the back seat watching movies and my mom and I got to chit-chat the entire time in the front. Mom got me a beautiful Brighton cross necklace and Cliff and Barnes and Noble gift card for Easter. I always love the Easter bunny still paying a visit! Thanks mama! We love you dearly!

I was off Monday since I worked Friday. I spent the day cleaning and relaxing. We went to the Wise County Christian Counseling Fund Raiser during the evening. It was just an eye opening experience to take in the words Beverly Ross spoke. She is an amazing person inside out and truly wants to help those through God's word. The program is a non-profit program here in Wise County and her office is located inside with my office. Everything about the evening was remarkable. We chose to donate and hope to continue to be able to donate to this wonderful and out-reaching organization. We also had wonderful fellowship with our Pastor, Monty and his wife, Tamaria. We truly love and are blessed to have met them since arriving in Decatur.

Here's to a wonderful, sun-shiny week!!!

Early Anniversary Present

Well while we were in the area, Cliff decided we could run into the Oakley store at the mall. I have worn Cliff's sunglasses on numerous occasions and absoloutely love them. Anyhow I tried on several pair and came down to 2 in the end. I kept going back and forth between the 2 pairs. In the end I ended up with the Ravishing frames and also got polarized lenses. I absolutely love them! The frame my face well and I can see things I actually don't think I was seeing before...

Thanks hunny!!!

Unconditional Love

Last night Cliff came home a little later that normal... Anyhow I was outside on the patio placing the plants outside again from the freeze the night before.. Anyhow I went in there to get started on dinner and he grabbed me and gave me the hugest hug! He then told me truly how much he missed me today and wished he was able to hang out with me all day instead. It just melted my heart! My goodness, I love this man! I know I'm corny, but hey someone has to be and its me!

Master Bath Renovation

Here are the pictures of our Master Bath completed. Pictures I am sure don't do justice, but anything is better than the horrible wallpaper!

View from entrance of bedroom

New lights fixtures!!!

New Faucets!!!

New towel rack

Bathroom

Alternate view

Recap of Weekend Festivities

Well my weekend was centered all around taking my wedding ring back to my jeweler and getting a diamond put back in that had fallen out. No, it wasn't the center stone, just a tiny one on the side at the bottom. Anyhow it that stated... Here goes!

Friday night Cliff and I went to Lowe's to buy an attachable part for his Weed-Eater. Kind of like a brush hog to assist in clearing out the massive mounds of "stuff" behind our fence. Left there and went home and I just couldn't decide what to make for dinner, but we didn't really feel like driving to Denton or Fort Worth either. So all of a sudden we both decided on Sean's BBQ. Neither of us had eaten there in the almost 2 years we have lived here, except to pick up a pan of potato salad for a cookout we went to in December. Anyhow we got there and I got a sandwich plate and Cliff got the mini 3 meat meal and drinks and our total was only $19.87. And not only was it cheap for us to eat, but it was so yummy! Definately going back there again soon! So if you are ever by chance in Decatur, definately either hit up Sean's BBQ on 287 or Sweetie Pie's (sister company of Babe's Chicken Dinner) in Downtown. We got home that evening... And were both wired. So I cleaned the entire house and washed 4 loads of laundry, while Cliff went to the side of our house that is ALL shade and prepared and planted grass seed over there. What exciting lifes we live on a Friday night!

Saturday came quick. We headed to Solitaire's at the Shops at Legacy and dropped off my ring. Then we decided to hit up the mall for a bit. Walked around and and just had a good time talking and laughing. Left there and got the car washed at a decent one since the one in Decatur is not up to T and I ran over the guys foot in December. I'm still scared to go back. HAHA! Then we headed to my moms house. We took off the lights (yes Christmas lights) on her house... You would think we were rednecks.. Sorry mom! I cleaned in her garage and little and started trashing things to get ready for her to sale her house and move to McKinney, while Cliff did the lights. We spent Saturday evening grilling pork chops and having dinner on our patio. Simple, but nice.

Palm Sunday was COLD and WINDY!!! However, that wasn't stopping us from working outside. I planted a few flowers and mowed the yard. Cliff then began the forest behind our fence. I decided to help him too. Threw on my boots and jeans and leather gloves and I was ready to work! There really insn't enough works to decribe how hard we worked, but we did and the pictures probably don't do justice to it. Anyhow in lieu of clearing out what we have so far, we found I think 6 new balls for Cutter to play with. The kid next door must always get new balls when he loses one. Must be nice! I didn't take pictures of the before forest, but hopefully from the pictures you can tell what we cleared out.

Have a blessed HOLY week!

Alley view

Alley - this was ALL covered and you can see what we have done so far... Cliff made the walkway on the right side.

The back of our house...

Look closely at the blooms on the hanging baskets... aren't they cool! They are like fuschia and purple honeysuckles!!!

Anniversary Countdown