We have been busy as usual. Any one who knows Rick, knows that being busy is an understatement for Rick Streetman. He truly is the "Energized Bunny." Mother's Day was no exception. We did church and a quick lunch - then the work began. We had heifers in the corral to take to Decateur to the sale. However, as we ran them down the chute they broke out. Next on the list was to mow and weed eat. I mowed with BAD BOY and Rick weed-eated. Then he finished painting the pipe and cable fence. After this we went to Tractor Supply to get some panels for the corral. We then went to the farm and started welding the place the cows broke out, then we welded the panels in. Next it was time to finish our yard work - watering and a little weeding. After almost 8 hours of work we got to sit down. He made the comment that his butt was dragging. I wanted to laugh at him, but I didn't out loud. I am so fortunate to have someone that is not LAZY and is so willing to work.
God blessed us with such a beautiful day to be outside.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Music to my Ears
Hello, world. I am still alive. I have just been busy. There are several things that I need to write about to catch up, but I decided that I would catch up on the great music experiences that we have had the last month. It all started with the Broadway Musical - The Jersey Boys that we went to see while we were in Vegas. Rick and I have seen Frankie Valle in person, so I did not know what to expect to see a story about his life. It was great. A few times the language was a little rougher than I like, however, the reason the different songs were written was the highlight for me.
Next we went to see a Chicago concert. It might make one of my top ten concerts of all times. The music was very loud, and your chest did vibrate. I love brass in a band - and Chicago has brass. After this we saw Terry Fator, who I have seen several times before. He and his dummies are so entertaining. While watching him and his dummies, you forget that he is only one man and is responsible for all the voices and songs.
This weekend we went to see the Doobie Brothers. The song "I'd like to hear some Funkie Dixieland Pretty Mama, come and take me by the hand......" is still in my head. I am lucky that music is a huge part of my life, even though I have NO rhythm and cannot sing. I am blessed that music is something that Rick and I both share a passion for.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Spring Break 2013 - Charleston
The trip for Spring Break this year was to Charleston, South
Carolina. I had been told by many it was great; and they were right. Charleston
ranks up there in the top sites I have visited in the United States. It was
another fun-packed trip by the girls. In the five days that we were there, we experienced
all the following:
Four plantations – Boone Hall, Drayton Hall, The Charleston
Tea Plantation, and Middleton Plantation
Six Historical homes
A 3 ½ walking historical tour of the city with Ed Gamball –
Rainbow Row, Battery Park
The Market
Two Forts – Fort Moltrie and Fort Sumter
Two Museums – The Slave Museum and The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
The Angel Oak – two times
Two neighboring towns - Beaufort and Sullivan Island
The bridge - Arthur Ravenal Bridge
Citadel
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| Rainbow Row |
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| Pineapple Fountain |
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| Drayton Hall |
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| Boone Plantation |
Some our trips food is not important, but this one was
different. We did have one good meal per day. I ate seafood at a well-known
restaurant in the area every day. Another slight difference that got me in
trouble was that I noticed that we did spend more time this trip looking for
our personal things – keys, cameras, glasses, tickets, etc.
As I always say, I am so blessed to have the opportunity to
travel and to learn history. It is a shame that I just can’t remember all the
wonderful details and facts I hear on each of our journeys. Also I am fortunate
to travel with my sister and a good friend. What great memories.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
TCEA 2013
Here I am supposedly at my last TCEA conference in Austin. It is such a bittersweet experience. I love technology. I love learning. I really love this conference.
Things I learned in my four days:
I am now a "Tweeter" and understand how it can be used for educational purposes.
I understand how "Pinterest" can be used for educational purposes.
I understand the difference in Dropbox and Evernotes; also when to use each one.
There is an "App" for everything.
Everything associated with Google is still wonderful.
Macs are still the best computer for me.
So as I say so often, ______ was no disappointment for me. This time it is TCEA 2013.
Things I learned in my four days:
I am now a "Tweeter" and understand how it can be used for educational purposes.
I understand how "Pinterest" can be used for educational purposes.
I understand the difference in Dropbox and Evernotes; also when to use each one.
There is an "App" for everything.
Everything associated with Google is still wonderful.
Macs are still the best computer for me.
So as I say so often, ______ was no disappointment for me. This time it is TCEA 2013.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
And the walls came down.....
Thirty years of memories, the house for junk and two SKUNKS disappeared in just five hours this past Saturday. No one would have guessed that this building could be totally destroyed and the land cleaned in this short period of time. (This picture is on my other camera.)
The only thing left at the end was the smell of the skunks. Rick knew all day that there was the very strong possibility that there might be a skunk under the building. I had my doubts. He and Peyton had been at it all morning. I joined them at lunch. Brandi and Cali came in the afternoon. We were on top of it, the girls and I pretended it was a dance floor, I hammered nails in ......
The last thing Rick was going to do was drag the floor to the burn pile. The kids had all left. He told Abby and I to go into the house, just incase the skunk came out went he lifted it up. Sure enough, he was right - almost. When he raised the floor, one huge skunk ran towards the pasture; but that was not all. There was another large skunk that got caught in the edge. He then later got hurt. After a little manipulation, he finally got loose and limped away to find his companion. I still do not understand how we could work on destroying this for five hours and never get sprayed.
The only thing left at the end was the smell of the skunks. Rick knew all day that there was the very strong possibility that there might be a skunk under the building. I had my doubts. He and Peyton had been at it all morning. I joined them at lunch. Brandi and Cali came in the afternoon. We were on top of it, the girls and I pretended it was a dance floor, I hammered nails in ......
 |
| After the first hour. One wall gone! |
The last thing Rick was going to do was drag the floor to the burn pile. The kids had all left. He told Abby and I to go into the house, just incase the skunk came out went he lifted it up. Sure enough, he was right - almost. When he raised the floor, one huge skunk ran towards the pasture; but that was not all. There was another large skunk that got caught in the edge. He then later got hurt. After a little manipulation, he finally got loose and limped away to find his companion. I still do not understand how we could work on destroying this for five hours and never get sprayed.
 |
| The End to a Junk Building |
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Not Your Ordinary....Week
Many Sunday nights I sit down and can't think of too much to write about, so a blog does not get written. In fact, my life seems to happen this way - an ordinary week with not much happening or many events happen, then I have trouble trying to write a post. Well this has been one of those weeks. So I will highlight my "not your ordinary week."
Tuesday I was totally dressed, lunch made, then I let Abby out to find the most beautiful snow fall ever. The ground was totally covered with more to come. The roads weren't bad, so we did have school.
After I got to school, I had trouble with my eyes. I thought I had my contacts in backwards. When I got home, I took my contacts out immediately, only to realize that I had pink eye. After getting some medicine I counted this as a blessing. Others around me have had either the flu or the stomach bug, which made them extremely sick; and I just had an inconvenience.
Wednesday, I did not go to school because I knew I was contagious. I made the best out of this situation by going out to eat, getting concert tickets, and sewing on some sweatshirts. This was also a sad day in history for two reasons. First, this was the 16 year anniversary of Carl passing away. Second was the announcement that Hilltop Haven will be shutting it doors in 2 months.
The closing of Hilltop Haven is devastating to our community on many levels. At the current time, there are 100 patients that will have to be relocated and 125 employees that will be out of work. This is the biggest employer in our community. On a personal level, it has always been apart of our lives. When I was 5, I had a uncle that was in there that we visited. Then when I was in 4th grade, my mom went to work there. We would go visit. Then in the early 1980's, my grandmother was a patient in there until she passed away. As a FHA sponsor, we went to the care home for various activities through the years. Then my mother started out in the Howard Apartments and eventually ended up in the care home. Just like her mother this is where she finished out her life. Many families are being effected by the closing of this historical part of Gunter.
On a different note, the weather was beautiful this weekend. Rick had warned me that this was going to be a working weekend. So Saturday was the day that we emptied the storage building that has housed our "junk" and Christmas for over thirty years. The building has to be demolished before we can get electricity to the new building. Many treasures were either trashed, "Good Will"ed, or moved to the new building. I could write about several treasures, but I will share one that really excited me only because it is a God-thing.
This year as I decorated for Christmas, my village and Santa Claus collection found a new arrangement. As I was anticipating this arrangement one night, I got to thinking about this plastic Santa Claus that we had growing up. I had not thought of this Santa in years, but I was wondering when Mom had gotten rid of it. She was not a hoarder. In the building I had three of her last boxes of stuff that came from her apartment. As I went through the boxes, in the bottom of second one was this plastic Santa Claus that we decorated with for many years. It still has the rocks in it that kept if from turning over when placed on the bookshelf. I already know where it will be displayed next year as I decorate for Christmas.
We did get the building unloaded, and Rick even made a 4 X 8 foot closet/box in the new building to hold all the yard ornaments. The box was made out of the shelves in the old building so history was preserved. Even though they did not get displayed this year, they are well-taken care of until I can get them out next year.
After this week, I can handle an ordinary week.
Tuesday I was totally dressed, lunch made, then I let Abby out to find the most beautiful snow fall ever. The ground was totally covered with more to come. The roads weren't bad, so we did have school.
After I got to school, I had trouble with my eyes. I thought I had my contacts in backwards. When I got home, I took my contacts out immediately, only to realize that I had pink eye. After getting some medicine I counted this as a blessing. Others around me have had either the flu or the stomach bug, which made them extremely sick; and I just had an inconvenience.
Wednesday, I did not go to school because I knew I was contagious. I made the best out of this situation by going out to eat, getting concert tickets, and sewing on some sweatshirts. This was also a sad day in history for two reasons. First, this was the 16 year anniversary of Carl passing away. Second was the announcement that Hilltop Haven will be shutting it doors in 2 months.
The closing of Hilltop Haven is devastating to our community on many levels. At the current time, there are 100 patients that will have to be relocated and 125 employees that will be out of work. This is the biggest employer in our community. On a personal level, it has always been apart of our lives. When I was 5, I had a uncle that was in there that we visited. Then when I was in 4th grade, my mom went to work there. We would go visit. Then in the early 1980's, my grandmother was a patient in there until she passed away. As a FHA sponsor, we went to the care home for various activities through the years. Then my mother started out in the Howard Apartments and eventually ended up in the care home. Just like her mother this is where she finished out her life. Many families are being effected by the closing of this historical part of Gunter.
On a different note, the weather was beautiful this weekend. Rick had warned me that this was going to be a working weekend. So Saturday was the day that we emptied the storage building that has housed our "junk" and Christmas for over thirty years. The building has to be demolished before we can get electricity to the new building. Many treasures were either trashed, "Good Will"ed, or moved to the new building. I could write about several treasures, but I will share one that really excited me only because it is a God-thing.
This year as I decorated for Christmas, my village and Santa Claus collection found a new arrangement. As I was anticipating this arrangement one night, I got to thinking about this plastic Santa Claus that we had growing up. I had not thought of this Santa in years, but I was wondering when Mom had gotten rid of it. She was not a hoarder. In the building I had three of her last boxes of stuff that came from her apartment. As I went through the boxes, in the bottom of second one was this plastic Santa Claus that we decorated with for many years. It still has the rocks in it that kept if from turning over when placed on the bookshelf. I already know where it will be displayed next year as I decorate for Christmas.
We did get the building unloaded, and Rick even made a 4 X 8 foot closet/box in the new building to hold all the yard ornaments. The box was made out of the shelves in the old building so history was preserved. Even though they did not get displayed this year, they are well-taken care of until I can get them out next year.
After this week, I can handle an ordinary week.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
December 2012
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| Rick and I in Chicago at the Blackstone Hotel |
December just continued the holiday season with excitement. The week after the wedding Rick and I got to go to Chicago for a business/pleasure trip. His business - my pleasure. I wanted to see Chicago at Christmas. The weather was perfect for me to do the Hop-a-Bus city tours. We stayed at the historical Blackstone Hotel; and I went to the Chicago Art Institute. We also ate at some fun places with not your typical southern menus.
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| Macy's in Chicago |
We did all the usual - Christmas parties, Church Christmas cantata and services, Christmas lights with the grandchildren, Christmas crafts, lots of food events, and a visit from Santa.
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| Santa and the sisters |
The unusual also happened this year - We had a white Christmas, in which Greg and Lisa made it to Gunter just in time. Even though Chad and Tara did not get to join us, we did get to skype several times plus all our normal phone calls and messages.
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| A White Christmas |
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| Greg's gift to Lisa |
We did have to adjust for my MARRIED kids this year, but that is OK. I know that even though we were not together doing the normal family traditions, they each started their own traditions with their wives. The best gift I have is knowing that they are with someone they love. What more can a mom ask for!
Rick's gift to me was a new camera lens. Hopefully, I will do even better posting pictures on here. I am determined to learn the different settings on my camera this next year.
May you have a very Blessed 2013!
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