Scrapbook Saturday

The layouts here are still from our scrapbook retreat. I haven't had time for any other scrapbooking this month. I'm "itching" to get back to it, but there's been too much going on. 

Sleepover W/70 somethings!

In July, a good friend of ours passed away. The Saturday night after the funeral, I had the girls come for a sleepover. I didn't want our friend to be alone on her first weekend without her husband. We had such a fun time doing all the things we did when we were teenagers. 

Birds

I've always had a "thing" for birds. I've wanted to do a layout about them for a long time. I had so many stories! I even enclosed a report I did in the 5th grade about bird beaks. It's tucked in to the pocket.

AYM: September--Travel

My September search for pictures through the years pulled up so many travel photos. England, Africa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia and Illinois are represented.

Downton Abbey--the grand finale

I let the title of the movie be my title for the page. My friends and I went to Cheekwood (our botanical gardens and mansion) for a Downton Abbey tea. The next day, we went to the movie. It was so good and I actually sobbed! It's the end of something really special to me.

Life is Better on the Patio

I just had to do a layout about how pretty our patio was this summer. We had happy hour out there just about every night. Our flowers were so pretty. 

Okay, that's it for now!

Friday Frustrations

Let's talk about "Fake News!" 

I've had it! How in the heck are you supposed to know what is really true anymore. It's so frustrating!

One morning, on Facebook (or as I like to call it: FAKEBOOK!), there were 3 stories that I just didn't know whether they were true or not. So, I had to look them up.

1. Travis Kelsey walked off The View stage. 

NOT TRUE!

Travis Kelsey did NOT walk off the Vew stage. IN fact the panel complimented him on his diplomatic response regarding a statement they launched at him about Trump attending a game.

2. Bob Dylan and Joan Baez got married!

NOT TRUE!

Bob Dylan and Joan Baez did NOT just get married! They had a tumultuous relationship in the ’60’s but that ended then.

3. Then you add the ones about people who have died—all BS! If famous person has died, it’s all over the news.

What I've learned is that if the only place you are hearing about something is social media, it's FAKE NEWS! 

Does artificial intelligence have anything to do with Fake News? I don't know. I can't really wrap my brain around artificial intelligence.

Then, I almost fell for this one:

What a show this would be! It's FAKE! Well, I do not know why the picture wouldn't come through. Probably because it's fake. It showed a country music concert called The Last Ride with Dolly, Reba, Willie, Keith and several more. It couldn't possibly be true.

I just really want to know who is doing this. And for what purpose? 

All I know is that it's so hard to figure out what is true anymore. There are so many lies out there. It's so darn frustrating!

Throwback Thursday

What We Buy Wednesday

Well, I might have mentioned before that we are having to "re-do" our pool. It's a HUGE job with a price tag to match. 

This is what we've been looking at:

The first thing was the delivery of supplies and a huge dumpster.

There were about 6 or 7 people working for a solid week--7 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. (dark)--every day except Sunday.

We had to move all of the cars to make way for this plaster mixer. Our contractor asked Butch to park the cars in front of all this so that no one could come and steal it. What? How in the world could that happen? Plus, we live in a pretty safe neighborhood.

Wires and hoses everywhere--front and back.

I'm pretty sure I already mentioned that we picked the exact same tile that we already had. Obviously, we still like it.

When the plaster mixer was taken away, we were left with this mess.

Our contractor, Wilder has handled so many of our remodeling jobs. We trust him completely. He brought this mess up to us and said they'd get it cleaned up. We never have to ask, he just handles everything. He's just the best. He has come to our rescue so many times. It's nice to have someone you can always count on to handle everything for a fair price. 

They filled the pool--it took 2 1/2 days running two hoses. Wilder told us we had to do it slow and could not stop until it was full. If we stopped the water during this time, it would have made a permanent water line. On top of that, the leaves have been falling like crazy. They have been cleaning the pool every day--sometimes twice-- to keep the leaves out as they can also have an effect on the new plaster. Now it has to cure for several days. 

The new drain that runs all along the brick wall around the edge of the deck has already been replaced. The only thing left is the pool decking. That's going to be next week. I'm excited for it all to be done and look like new again. 

One disappointing thing is that the lights could not be fixed without tearing up the yard. Considering night swimming only happens about once a summer, it's not the end of the world. We have nice landscape lighting all around so the pool is not totally dark. We're going to get some floating lights next year, just for the fun of it!

So the bottom line here is we just bought a brand new pool this week!!

Travel Tuesday

Today, it's not about me traveling, but the rest of the family.

It was an unusual weekend in that the entire family was in town for various unrelated reasons. Jordan, Robbie, Morgan and Olly were here for a wedding. Sandy was here to go to the Keith Urban concert with Steph, Mindy and me. Greg, Victoria and Elizabeth came in because, they (and Sandy) were going to be spending Saturday with Mitchell, Emily and her family. 

And, as is the Eads family style, we managed to cram a whole lot more into the weekend. The Keith Urban concert was fabulous. It was a rock concert--he is amazing! He played for nearly 2 1/2 hours. 

But the best part, is spending time with all of my girls together. It doesn't happen very often. I can't believe we didn't get a picture!

I'm always amazed when I go downtown to see all of the excitement--and music everywhere. A lot of locals do not like all the tourists. I think it's pretty exciting! It makes me happy to feel part of the craziness. I wouldn't like it all the time, but I don't go down there that often.

And the neon lights are so pretty!

On Saturday morning, Stephanie had the girls over for a Halloween craft project. Her friend--actually "our" friend, Bonnie came up with the idea and did all of the advance work. I appreciate all the time that takes. 

Steph had spooky Halloween drinks with cute glasses which were the party favors. 

I made sloppy joes and loaded 'tater tots for lunch with carrot cake and salted caramel chocolate cake for dessert from Publix. 

And then, the project!! It turned out so cute. 

This is Mindy's Halloween door mat. I do not particularly like craft projects and hadn't planned to make it. I was just going to hang out and have fun with all the girls. Then, Morgan was busy with Maid of Honor duties and couldn't be there. So, she asked me to make one for her. So, I did. I'm saying "yes" to anything the girls ask me to do! 

I got home around 1:30 p.m. After a brief rest, I started cooking for Sunday morning. The whole gang--16 of us--were coming for breakfast before everyone , , headed home. We had about an hour and a half together. The last time ALL of us were together at the same time was for Butch's 70th birthday--nearly 4 1/2 years ago. Everyone is spread out all over. We have plenty of gatherings and vacations, but it's rare when we are all together at the same time. 

Butch reminded us to get a picture! We got this on the first try!

There's nothing I like better than seeing the family laughing and having so much fun together. We are truly blessed!

The Lapps family, Morgan and Olly were on the road heading home. Stephanie was taking Jordan and Robbie to the airport for their flight back to LA. Butch, Nicky, Mindy and Justin were off to the Titan's game. 

Once they were all out the door, I changed in to my pajamas--or rather I prefer to say loungewear--which I were on Sundays. I put the house back in order and then discovered this:

What?? It's always somethin'!

As you are reading this, I might very well be back home after my second cataract removal. I hope I slept through it again!

Me On Monday

So. I had my first cataract removed this week. 

Once they called me in at 6:15 a.m., they started prepping me for the surgery. They started a series of numbing drops and drops to dilate my eye. They inserted an i.v. and told me that they would give me something to relax prior to the surgery. I said that I was already relaxed. They hooked me up with the blood pressure cuff. I didn't ask what my BP was, but it's always low and I was not a bit nervous or worked up.

They wheeled me in to the operating room. The doctor told me that I would be awake the whole time and feel him working, but that it wouldn't hurt. He reiterated that they would be giving me something to relax. He said I would hear all of their conversations. 

Well, I fell asleep before they even did whatever it is they do to keep my eye pried open. So I actually fell asleep with my eye open! Now that's somethin'! I didn't wake up until the doctor said in a loud voice, "Okay, we're all done!" It seemed like a second, but in reality, it was somewhere between 8 and 15 minutes--that's what the doc told me prior to the surgery. 

We left by 7:30 and home by 8 a.m. Now that's my kind of surgery. 

I haven't had any problems. But there are some annoying things: 1. I cannot wear makeup for the next two weeks. Only one week per eye, but I'm having my secondd one next Tuesday. I don't usually go out without makeup and I had many things this past week, and several next. I just feel better with make-up and definitely look better too! 

And 2. I do not like that hard plastic eye cover thing I have to wear at night. I'm supposed to wear it for a week, but I probably won't. I don't move much when I'm sleeping anyway. 

So, I get to add "sleeping through cataract surgery" to my growing list of things I have slept through:

1. Movies (if I don't take Vivarin before--they are caffeine pills)

2. Facials (that's why I stopped getting them--it's hard to think I can sleep while someone is rubbing on my face!)

3. Massages (stopped them too--I was missing the whole thing!)

4. Two times I have fallen asleep on an airplane before taking off and waking only when we landed. (Okay, they were short 45 min. to 1 hour trips, but still...

5. I kept falling asleep during a root canal. The dentist kept nudging me saying that when I dozed off, my mouth went slack and he couldn't work!

I've always said that if you make me lay down and be still, I'll be sleeping! Actually, I think it's kind of a talent. Or perhaps a "gift!" Either which way, I'm glad for it. I always wake refreshed! 

Can't wait for my nap tomorrow morning during my second and final cataract surgery!

Something for Sunday

I am so grateful for this reminder outside of the Publix. I always seemed to forget my bags. Now, with this reminder, it only took me a couple times going back to the car to retrieve them. Now I remember them most of the time.