TCEA - 2010

Good Day from Austin. I am having a blast. I have even chosen some really good workshops yesterday and today. Technology amazes me. The problem with it is two-fold - not enough money and not enough time. I have trouble keeping up with my blog.

I hear it is snowing at home. Also I hear Rick is doing some really good work at the house. I will write more later.

Phase 1 - continued

Here I am in Austin at the TCEA conference with my house looking like a bomb exploded. You've got to love it. I will get to experience the best of it all. I love the TCEA conference. I am really one of the technology nerds who loves to touch and see all the latest things others are doing. I am waiting on a workshop right now to begin on BLOGGING (and other Web 2.0 apps)!

As for as the house, this weekend we continued with Phase 1. The ceiling got scraped and taped. All of the light fixtures are gone; as well as, the paper and wainscot paneling. The paper was the biggest challenge; but thanks to Rick, Chad, and Tara, I made my goal to have it all off the wall by the time I went to bed Sunday night. We used a various of techniques to do the stripping that I had found on the internet. WOW! This was messy.

The goal for this week is that the ceilings and walls will be done by the painter. The cabinets will be stained; and hopefully, ready to hang next weekend.

Phase 1

We are doing the kitchen in three phases. The ceiling, pantry and upper cabinets are all part of phase 1. Saturday the demolition actually began. We unloaded and tore out the top cabinets. Of course there was no ceiling above the furdowns, so Rick had to do some sheetrocking, also.

Letting Go

I started last night cleaning out and packing up my first kitchen cabinet for the remodel project. I must remind you that I married the first time 32 years ago; I have been in this house for 30 years; and I am a pack rat. Can you imagine what treasures I found?

I started with a corner base cabinet. This cabinet is where I stored my glass platters, large bowls, and cake stands on one shelf. This was a nice trip down memory lane. I have a mixture of my dishes and mothers. These were all keepers. Then I came to the jewels – a popcorn popper, a waffle iron, and a pan that poaches eggs. The popcorn popper went in the trash pile, the waffle iron went to the Goodwill pile, and the egg poacher is the only thing I kept of these three. The poacher was from Mother’s kitchen. I had many poached eggs as a child out of this pan. I am sure you kids have no idea what this is – considering I did not cook too many eggs since I stopped eating eggs as a teenager. I also had a crock jar full of old utensils that made the trash pile.

The next items were the appliances that go to my Nutone Food center. All the pieces went to the trash pile. Many good things have been prepared with these items – the mixer, the food processor, and the blender. However, it was time to retire these things.

As I was packing things away, I could not help but think back to 30 years ago when this kitchen was built. Carl was 25; and I was 22. I am amazed that God gave us the wisdom and resources to build this house. The other thing that kept going through my mind was what a great job Carl did on the house, and he was so young. The quality of work is unbelievable. As I start this major project, I can certainly tell that it is going to be hard to let go of so many things (including the yellow counter tops, Chad).

Kennith Marlow Scoggins

January 25, 1920 - April 14, 1990

What a Great Weekend!

It saddens me that another weekend is over, but I can't or shouldn't complain. It was fantastic.

We are focusing on prayer at church in the worship service and Sunday School. Both just made me realize just how much God wants us to have very personal two-way relationship with Him. It reinforces what we are also studying in our Women's Bible study about prayer.

Rick and I are in the planning stage of the kitchen. We have looked at so many stoves, ranges, and cooktops that I could get a job selling them. We actually made a decision after many stores, sales people, and internet reviews. Yes, he did call me hard-headed several times in this shopping excursion; however, we both compromised and hopefully made the right choices for our needs/wants.

Saturday night we went to a concert of the Platters, Coasters, and Drifters. The music was unbelievable. I am musically challenged, but I actually recognized all but two songs. Back when I taught keyboarding, my students typed to one of the Platters' Greatest hits CD. Also when I used to play the piano for my enjoyment only, a few of the love songs I played were from these groups.

The highlight of the weekend was Chad and Tara showed up Sunday morning to go to church with us. We got to take them to lunch and cook dinner for them. They got the picture albums out from their high school years. What a great trip down memory lane. I am so glad that I had it documented with pictures. Both talked about how young they looked. I disagreed. Neither have aged. Chad doesn't have the blond tips, but he still has the great smile. Hopefully, they will not mind me adding the picture from today.

Welcome 2010

As the new year has got off to a fast start, I realize that I have not blogged in this new year. So I guess it is fitting that my first blog of 2010 should be a list of things that I would like to accomplish this year. The items are in no particular order:

Enjoy life with family and friends.

Remodel the kitchen from top to bottom. This will be the biggest challenge for Rick and I. He actually called me hard-headed when we were just discussing doors. I am sure there will be many more blogs and pictures on this one.

Be more aware of others and their needs. Be an encourager.

Take the boys on an educational family vacation.

Have a greater appreciation for the small things in life.

Develop my photography skills to a higher level. I finally cashed in my anniversary coupon for the fancy camera.

Take trips with the Ditzy Dolls.

Work on the family genealogy and visit new cemeteries.

Find and cook new recipes.

Put more pictures on my blog.

Go to the lake more than last year. At least get in the boat once this year.

Have a greater personal relationship with God.