Building Progress

Keith worked this week on backfilling around the foundation. He hauled about sixteen loads of pea gravel and leveled it getting the floor ready to pour.

Casey will soon be 10!!

Casey's birthday is the 29th and she will be ten! An important birthday for a girl. So Keith & I got her an American Girl Doll for her birthday. Her name is Emily.

Her party is tomorrow night and Keith has an auction in Edgerton that he listed, so we will be unable to go. We went over tonight to take her gift to her. By the look on her face I think she liked it. Isn't Casey beautiful??

Money the Bunny

I went over to Kurt's tonight just for a visit. Got to meet the new member of their family, their first pet, Money (the bunny.) He is a Steel Dutch and so soft and cute. Thought you might like to see a picture of it. Kurt built it a nice little hutch and the kids really seem excited about their pet bunny.

40th Class Reunion

We attended my 40th Class Reunion Saturday night. I was the head of it this year as I have been for six of our eight reunions. I stood up front for the business meeting and told them that I was done and that I wouldn't sit down until someone else volunteered to be the head of it for the next one. It took some time, but finally they must have got tired of looking at me as Ron Stoner agreed to be the head of it and Jestine Schmidt agreed to create the booklets like I have done for each one. We had a great time and saw some of my classmates I haven't seen in ten or fifteen years!! Twenty five classmates out of seventy attended and with spouses we had forty six. Not too bad a turnout.

I helped serve the sherbet as people just were setting and waiting to be served even though I announced they should help themselves. When I started taking the sherbet around, one of my classmates said "Now that takes planning this event a little far - the dessert matches your outfit!" We had rainbow sherbet and by golly, it did match my outfit. Was not planned as I just ordered sherbet - any kind. I am attaching a picture Keith took of me serving dessert. Oh, also first picture on the blog of my new haircut & color.

The following day, Sunday, we met at a classmates lake cottage for a cookout. It was a fun weekend.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!

I spent my birthday holiday with my best friend, Vicki, and we went to Sauder's Village. I will post some pictures.

Things have been hectic here at the Whitman's. Kurt, Kraig, Casey, Denny, Tom & Keith worked Monday cleaning out the garage and moving the hot tub. I think only two more loads and we will be done (stackable washer & dryer and waterbed). The closing should be before the week is out! We also sold a building lot and that closing will be soon too.

Today Keith & I worked outdoors. I finally got the plants that Kevin & Sarah got me for Mother's Day and my birthday planted. They also got me two hanging baskets. I planted the clematis out by out trumpet vine on a trellis yesterday and planted the daylilies and hostas today. It is not quite done, need to add some more stones and a good rain will wash the dirt down through the stones. I will post some pictures. I think I am ready for a nap, so more later.

Oh, I got my hair cut short again and highlighted. Pictures will follow sometime.

KRAIG IS 11!!!

Hardly seems possible, but Kraig is 11 today!

Yesterday I had a busy, but fun day. First I went to Chloe and Cayla's T-ball game. It was the last one so they each got a trophy. I will post some pictures. Their game started at 9 am in St. Joe and Casey's softball game started in Butler at 10 am. Kurt, Kraig and I watched the T-ball game and as soon as it was over and they had been awarded their trophys, I started out to go to Casey's game. Christy is the assistant coach so she was already there. Kurt was heading to wait in line at the concession stand to get the girls cotton candy when I left. As they were having Kraig's party that night, they went home to get things ready and did not go to Casey's game. As ususal, Casey's team played a great game and they won 18-6. This was the first of her tournament games. They play again Monday night, but I have a Library Board meeting so I will miss it. I went home, did the laundry etc. Mom, Linda, Tonnya, Courtney & Alexis stopped in to see our home and then (even though Keith was not home from his auction-they sold out a furniture store in Fostoria) I went on to Kraig's birthday party. Keith came as soon as he could, but Kraig waited until he got there to open his presents. We got him a 22 rifle. His other grandparents got him a BB and pellet rifle. I will post some pictures of the party too.

Keith is taking a nap now (after all it is Father's Day). You know that sounds like a good idea - even for mothers so I will sign off.

CEMENT BLOCKS EVERYWHERE!!!!

One of these days, these will be a beautiful building!! We finally got our computer moved to the new house and internet hooked up yesterday so I will try to keep you informed on the progress.

Slow but Sure

Gary and Keith laid the first row of block Thursday night. I will post the pictures. I went to the girl's ballgames today. All three got hits and that was the first I had seen Cayla hit off a pitch and not the T. Chloe is quite a slugger!! Casey's team was so far ahead that they only had to play five innings. They all played great today!!

Long overdue post!!

I just realized that I have not had a new post for over a month. We sold our home and have the closing soon. All of you who know Keith know that he has been wanting a pole barn at our old home for years. Well, we (actually Keith's brother Gary) poured the footer for a 30 x 40 building at our new home Monday. Gary will be putting up a split stone cement block building for us. The block look like stone on the front and are a beige that matches the lightest brick in the house. Keith is excited as he will now have space for his drill press, table saw etc. I am happy as they will be out of the garage!! I will post a picture of the footer. It is to the south of the house and does not interfere with our view of the ponds from the house.

We still have a few things to move but as starting June 12 to the 30th (18 days) Keith has 14 auctions, I'm not sure when we will get it done. Chloe and Cayla have a t-ball game tonight that I am going to and they also have one Saturday and Casey has a softball game Saturday too. After the game, Kurt's family is taking me out to lunch for my birthday.

Kurt came out last night and put his deer stand in the woods. He's looking forward to hunting season already.

Keith has been so busy with the auctions lately which is good. We also had the guy with the backhoe pull out some shrubs that were past their prime and when we get some good dirt put in, I will plant the plants that Kevin & Sarah got me for my birthday and Mother's Day.

We are pretty organized in our new home except for the scrapbook room as my desk is still at the old house. As we have so much more storage space, it is easier to keep the house clean.

I am also going to post pictures of the girls at one of their games this year. If I have time will add pictures of the landscaping before the bushes were pulled and after, but as I have not planted the new plants, that will have to wait for a later post. Don't have time for the after picture on the bushes. Gotta go to the game. I'll post it when I get the plants in and do a before and after then.

WE HAVE MOVED!

Well, Saturday we stayed the first night in the new house. Friday they laid the rest of the carpet. Sunday Kurt and family came and helped move the freezer, a dresser, a couple recliners etc. Monday morning Keith left early for 3 auctions in eastern Ohio and didn't get back home till last night. His birthday!!

While he was gone I would stop at the old house and load the car and take it to the new house and put it away every night. I am down to just the kitchen cupboards and of course the furniture and wall hangings we are leaving in until the sale is over Wednesday. As Keith doesn't have an auction this Saturday, I think he can get the garage done. We still have lots of sorting to do, but will have more time after the auction.

I will post some pictures soon of the inside. Would like to get the rest of our furniture in and something on the walls first.

Update!

They carpeted the living room, dining room, and hall with the same carpet. They were supposed to also put that in the scrapbook room, but did not have enough without seaming it so they didn't do it. They put the chinese green in the master bedroom. I had to go a pick out something different for the scrapbook room and they will lay it either today or Friday. The gray for the spare room will be in today or Friday (had to order it) so I imagine they will do them both on the same day. The carpet for the front porch has not arrived yet! They did do the office also. Yesterday Keith & I (I took a personal day) put down the flooring in the utility room and put up some more light fixtures (only two to go) and put somethings away in the cupboards. They are delivering my new washer and dryer today. We have a stackable and there are cupboards above where they go so could not use it. I decided I did not want to use the waterbed anymore, so they delivered a bed frame and new mattress and springs yesterday too.

We could have stayed last night as we have a stove and refrigerator in the garage, but Keith wanted to go home so he could use the hottub. Not sure when we will start staying out there. We are leaving most of the furniture in the house for the sale as houses seem to sell better with furniture in them.

Had a nice stay at the Holiday Inn Express Saturday night (before the Open House) but the new restaurant we tried was a bad experience. The Open House went well, I guess. At least there were people waiting to come in when we left at 10 till 2. It was from 2 till 4. The auction is only 13 day away. Wish it was over.

Progress!

Well, I haven't posted for over a week now. At the new home, all the painting is done. All the woodwork has been cleaned except the bathroom & utility room. The kitchen cupboards are all ready to start putting things in as are all the closets. The carpet was supposed to be put in, but the installer is busy on a tile job in Auburn. So it will be Monday or Tuesday before he will be able to do ours. Hopefully I will have the remainder of the woodwork done then. We can then move whenever we want.

We have been busy getting ready for the open house at our present home Sunday. Friday Melinda will clean and Vickie Apt and I will wash all the windows. Saturday Keith has a big auction, so I will finish anything that needs done in the garage then. I made reservations at the new Holiday Inn Express for Saturday night! We need a break and we purchased a gift certificate for a one night stay that will expire in May so the timing was perfect!!

Only twenty days till our auction!!

Painting is going well.

We hired Dawn VanHorn to paint the rooms after we primed them all. She has been there two days so far. The master bedroom has two coats, the office has two coats, the scrapbook room and spare room have one and she has two coats on the burgundy accent walls. She started in the hall, and will be back tomorrow.

Day's carpet called and the roll of carpet we purchased is enough to do the living room, dining room, hall, and scrapbook room but not the master bedroom. Keith called me today and he had found a remnant at Lutterbeins of Chinese green plush. I took the sample wall color (Frosty Pine) with me after work and checked it out. They look great together. I love it. I was glad there wasn't enough of the other now. Keith also picked out the carpet for his office. The spare room carpet isn't in yet, but we are crossing our fingers.

We are busy getting our home ready for the open house. We have nine days! Piece of cake-right!! I'm sure everything will get done. My best friend, Vickie, is coming down tomorrow night to help. Her husband works nights.

I am working on the bathroom cupboards and medicene cabinet. (Sorry Kevin, I took a break) Kevin would be proud of me for how much stuff I have thrown out so far. Well, breaks is over, back to work.

A Feeling of Accomplishment

Well, here it is Easter Sunday. We have gotten a lot accomplished. We have all the walls primed with a oil based sealer. All closets (9) have been primed and painted. The kitchen cupboards have been washed inside and out and polished. All carpet has been pulled up. Keith & Kurt hauled two loads of "stuff" and carpet to the dump. Kevin painted 6 of the closets Thursday and I painted 3. Keith painted the entire basement (took him a couple days) He also cleaned the basement and shelves so we could start taking things out there. Kevin helped me sort and pack up my scrapbook room, closet and computer room. He was a great help as an organizer. Kurt, Christy and the kids were here helping Friday and Saturday helping all day too. Saturday night we went to Lowe's and bought all new light fixtures and ordered window coverings. Tomorrow morning Bill Schooly will be there at 6:45 to start spraying plaster on the ceilings. Dawn will start painting Tuesday or Wednesday. After the paint cures for a couple days they will lay the carpet. I have done about all I can out there till they are done.

Now I have to get this house ready for an open house on the 22nd. I think we are on the right track but time is so short. This home will sell (hopefully) at auction one month from tomorrow. I am ready for a break. I am going to bed early.

Work, Work, Work

We have been busy. Kurt, Christy and the kids came and helped me at the new house Friday night till 9 o'clock. Keith was in Jackson, Michigan at a sale which started Saturday. Kurt and Christy did a lot of taping getting ready for paint. Saturday I had hired two girls to paint and Kurt and Christy and the kids again came to my rescue and did all the rest of the taping. We got the four bedrooms, bathroom, utility room, living room and dining room primed. The kids helped wash wood work, take down spiderwebs in the basement and anything I asked them to do. I stripped the wallpaper from above the kitchen cupboards and the kids kept sweeping up what I threw on the floor. It was a long day. I was there eleven hours, Melinda painted ten hours and Paula painted around four or five hours. Kurt's whole family worked from around ten to five. We were all pooped. I went back Sunday from two till six. Keith took down most of the light fixtures and worked in the garage and basement.

Today I went our around nine and Paula came and helped today. I primed the three walls with a gray primer that we are going to have painted burgundy. We got all the painting finished except the closets. She is coming back Wednesday to help. Keith was out today too and cleaned out the garage, worked on the basement and some of the woodwork. Keith & I went and picked out the carpet. We are now kinda waiting for the plaster guy to come and spray the ceilings. Then everything will go pretty fast. I have painters lined up and then the carpet guys.

I think I will go soak my feet. Tomorrow is another day. Kevin will be here Thursday to help.

Busy, Busy!

We have set the date for our auction of our home and other real estate we own for Wednesday May 9, 2007. Not very far away. In the meantime we need to get the new home cleaned, painted, carpeted, ceilings sprayed, new light fixtures, window treatments, etc. Then we want to get moved so we can get this home ready to sell. That leaves us 41 days to get everything done. (But who is counting?-ME) Pray for us.

Well, We did it!! Bought a new home!!

Well, we bought a home at auction today. It has 11.43 acres, 7 acres of woods and 2 ponds. It has 4 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bath, large living room, dining room, kitchen, utility room and a full basement. I am posting a couple pictures so you can see it. Can't wait to show it to the kids. Kurt's are coming home from Florida right now and will be home tomorrow. Hope they can come over to see it. I don't know when Kevin & Sarah will be coming, but I am anxious for them to see it too. Now we have some work, painting etc to do and then get our home and lake cottage sold. What exciting times!! It also has a three car attached garage and a one car detached garage!!

Van Goghs we are NOT

Well, Keith and I went to a painting class for beginners today at the West Unity Library. We each painted a landscape. I won't tell you which one I painted. They are similar but neither of them look like the one the instructor painted. We enjoyed it and may end up buying some painting supplies and start painting for fun. I'm sure you can tell we aren't going to make a living painting!!

Family Get Together

We had a really nice weekend. Kevin & Sarah came home Saturday and we went out to dinner. It was a relaxing evening. Sunday we had my sister Karen and all her family over for lunch. Karen, her twin daughters and their spouses and her six grandchildren, Kurt, Christy and my four grandchildren and Kevin and Sarah. It was a housefull, but I think everyone had a good time. There were 10 children between the ages of 3 and 10. (One set of twin boys!) And there were 10 adults. Karen and Kathie's husbands had to work. As the next day was President's Day, I didn't have to work. That is why I planned it then. Kevin and Sarah didn't have to work either so they stayed until around one o'clock before they went home. It was really good to see and spend time with all of them. When Karen's girls were younger, they used to spend a week with us in the summer and I miss seeing them since they are grown up and have families of their own. I will post some pictures of the families.

Old Fashioned Snow Ice Cream

Well, here we are still snowed in. I am sure we will be able to go back to work tomorrow. All the schools in the county have been closed for two days and so has the library! We have been under a level three snow emergency which means we have not been able to go anywhere, and I have loved it.

There was a thing on the news about making ice cream out of snow. It reminded me that my mother, who is 93, used to tell us how her mom would have them go outside and get clean snow in a dishpan and make it into ice cream. I asked her once if she had Grandma's recipe and she said no, but she had one she had cut out of the Toledo paper years ago but had never tried it. She gave me the recipe and asked me to try it if we got a heavy snow - so tonight I asked Keith to go out and get me some snow and I made it. It tastes just like homemade ice cream that you make in the freezers.

Here is the recipe in case anyone would like to try it.

One gallon fresh fallen snow

2 1/2 cups milk

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.

Combine milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg and beat until eggs are well blended with all other ingredients. Pour over snow and stir (I used a whisk) until all are blended. It will become thick like real ice cream and ready to serve. It may be set out in a covered container in the snow until ready to serve.

We ate ours right away and put the left overs in the freezer.

Hope some of you will try it. It is really good.