HALLOWEEN TIME!!

We took Kiley to our Ward's Trunk or Treat on Saturday Night at the Park.
She was dressed up as a very scary skeleton. She had so much fun playing at the park.

When it got dark, she went around to all the cars and collected candy in her pumpkin bucket. She even got to eat a few pieces of candy that night.
Kiley had a blast in her skeleton costume collecting candy & saying "thank you"
to everyone.

Reef's 4th Birthday Party

Reef's birthday was today - she is a BIG 4year old. We didn't invite any other dogs to the party but it was quite a celebration. Gift opening took hours - of course she got her favorite gift of all- Squirrely.
We also got her a pink skirt to wear for fun (you will notice it in the pictures).

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY REEF!!

ALMOST DONE!

BOB'S HOME!!

Today - Wednesday September 23rd- we finished most of the painting of the furniture - the only thing not finished is the Hope Chest. But that is going to be done differently - it's going to be painted some sort of green.

It's been a very busy day - I've been putting the hardware on the dressers, cleaning the drawers and measuring them for the drawer liners, then putting the clothes back in them (nice & neatly).

Since I've been in the cleaning mode, I decided to put the kitchen cabinets in order also. I've been a clean freak - organizing the plates, cups, glasses, bowls, all the china, and glassware. I don't know what's gotten a hold of me - but when Bob got home - he said that he's going to go out of town alot more! (not because I changed the furniture to black - but because I cleaned the cabinets!)

Here are the Before and After pictures:

Doing this kind of work sure is messy!! You get really dirty!!!!!

I like to paint the sides of the dresser drawers to give them that "finished" look!

On these 2 nightstands, we used the same hardware - we just painted it black -
now that's economical!!

A Good First Day

WE GOT MORE DONE THAN I THOUGHT WE WOULD!

Sue really gets down to business!! We started with the bed and worked our way through the 2 nightstands before lunch. By that time, there wasn't enough shade to work any more. So, we decided to wait until evening when it was cooler.


Around 5pm, Sue came back and we finished the bed and started on the 2 dressers.

We are very happy with the way the bed looks - we tried some new technique combined with the distressed look and wala! - magic! Just like I said! Sue definitely has the touch - the magic touch!!

Tomorrow we will finish the 2 dressers and figure out what we are going to do with the hope chest. We are considering painting it a green color. We just have to find the right color green and that's not always an easy thing to do.

As for now - I just took a shower and noticed that I had black paint all over my arms and legs. It was really a funny thing to see!! I should have taken a picture - oh well.
Maybe next time -

OUR DECORATING DEAL -

OH - DID I MENTION THAT BOB AND I HAD A DEAL? He could decorate the cabin any way he wanted and I could redecorate the bedroom at home. YIPEE!! HOORAY!! YEA!! Does that describe my feelings? Let me paint you a picture - we have a very beautiful bedroom at home, with a king size bed, 1 tall dresser, 1 long dresser, 1 very big armoire, and 1 hope chest all in OAK.

Now that is fine and dandy if you like honey stained Oak. Bob happens to really like Honey Stained Oak. We have lived with that bedroom set for a number of years and to put it quite frankly, I am getting sick of it. I need a change! We had pillows, chairs, and curtains to match a million years ago in maroon colors & you can only live with those colors for so long! I am SO ready for a change! I think I've lived with those colors long enough -

So, when he really wanted to decorate the cabin, I saw my chance. Sue, refinishes furniture and I've seen what she can do. She has the touch - the magic touch! She just waves her magic wand and - poof - MAGIC!!

The first time we went to the cabin in Heber, Sue took a small table from our Bedroom and (just as an experiment) painted it black to see how it would look. She distressed it and it came out just beautiful!! You would never even know that it was once a piece of that nasty looking honey stained oak. It looks so beautiful now.

Well, Bob went to Heber for a few days so, for the next few days Sue and I will be painting as much furniture as we can. The most important project is the bed. I spent yesterday afternoon getting it ready to move & last night the missionaries came by & moved it for me into the backyard. (those guys are so wonderful - always willing to do a service project!)

So, check back tomorrow - there will be some MAGIC going on at my house - this ugly oak bed will be transformed into a BEAUTIFUL work of art!!
Bob WILL love it - he just doesn't know it yet!

Our New Cabin in Heber Utah

Well Bob finally got his cabin in the mountains - Heber Utah to be exact!
It is a beautiful area and a cozy place for us to come and relax -

We have views of a small lake below us: the lake is called "Clyde Lake"

We love being able to spend more time with our grandson Ashton - who lives in Lehi, Utah.

Bob is the Interior Decorator of our Cabin - and is doing a fabulous job!
He has Incredible taste and an eye for rustic cabin design.



But, we will be going to the cabin for Bob to work.......

And for us to be together.......


And for the family to be together.......


BUT WE ARE MISSING:
MICHELLE, SHAWN, KILEY,
AND JOE.......

Wrapping It Up

Last day on the trail for us – and are we sad? Well, not because of the heat! It’s been unbearable-the humidity is horrible – I don’t know how people can live in this kind of heat! I’ll take California weather any ol’ day.

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Sometimes Sue forgets things or misplaces things or even loses things. I don’t like to bring it up – but - the first day we were here she forgot her cell phone at one of the yard sales and we continued down the road a ways & she suddenly realized her phone was missing – so we went back & got it. The amazing thing was that she remembered where she had left it!

Then yesterday she bought a stethoscope at another yard sale (a very important item – one she couldn’t live without)! This stethoscope was a really good one and cost a whoppin’ $4.00. It was real – not a fake one. We tried it out and it really works. Well, when we got to the hotel room, she realized she didn’t have the stethoscope so guess what? We had to go back to the yard sale and get it. She was so happy to find her Stethoscope!

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Then we found another new friend named Magnus – who was thrust from his Amish community at the wee age of nineteen. He showed us a “church key”. We didn’t know what a church key was. He explained that it was a tool to open an alcoholic beverage on the Sabbath day. Hence the church key.

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As we went along the way we saw a sign that drew our attention. We approached, and met two sisters who were a hoot! They had signs everywhere! “Signs,Signs,everywhere signs….” They were our new friends we found in Kentucky.

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“CONGRATULATIONS TO ME” ….. I am a WINNER!!! I got my next free Item today! YEA !!!!! This very nice looking man gave me (FOR FREE) this very rare juice glass (it doesn’t really matter what color it is.)

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In Kentucky we got as far North as Frankfort and were going to stay the night but when we got to Frankfort at 2:30 pm on Sunday afternoon we decided to Hightail it back to Chattanooga and spend the night there.

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But before heading down south for our 4 ½ hour drive, we decided to mosy on over to the “Waffle House” (there’s one on every corner.”) We had ourselves some Waffles for lunch & the diet cokes were the best!

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As you can see from this photo - the vendors have all packed it in - time to say good-bye for this year. We'll see you again next year maybe. We've learned alot about this yard sale. It certainly isn't for everybody. But it was for us! We had a ball and were so glad that we came.
We loved every minute of it. If you ever decide to come - bring enough cash, suitcases, wet wipes, bubble wrap, & be prepared to make alot of new friends!
(BTW - that 4 1/2 hour drive from Frankfort to Chattanooga actually took 7 1/2 because we got lost.....again.)