Flower Pot & Graduation

This is a Flower Pot I made for Shelby's best friend, "Nelly." Her room is brown & turquiose, so I tried to match it as much as possible. The photo in the back is printed turquoise and white (like black and white) and the girls have those little plastic barretts in their hair...so I made them both a different color and made them stand out. I love it! It was so much fun putting it together, but a pain in the rear as well b/c I was trying to hurry so I could give it to her the night of their high school open house. I put "Friends Forever" on the base of the pot. The flowers are scrapbook paper - designed by my friend Janna. She's living her dream designing for Junkitz - a scrapbook company. Anyway, I hope you like it.

The weather here is starting to turn "weird." It's cold in the morning, hot in the afternoon, cool at night.....it's FALL - my favorite season! I can't complain - I love it. Oh, I'm still working on organizing my kitchen!!! This is my 6th day of doing it! I'm soooo ready to get it finished - I'm sick of doing it.

Update: I took Abby to the vet the other day to get her shots - they also had to give her THREE stitches where those idiots cut her (at the grooming place). It cost me $50! I took the bill to them & they said they'd bring a check to me the next day - it's been 4 days since then. They told me that if it ever happens again, they have a charge account at a local vets office for incidents like this --- tell me, what kind of groomer has a charge acct. at a vets office?!?! And why in the world would they ever think I'd bring her back after that?! I have heard horror stories about this place! I heard they killed a dog & that they told the owner it ran off...

My brother graduates from Basic Training October 6. I really want to go, but I can't get the kids situated for me to be able to. He really wants me to be there - and I REALLY want to go! I am so proud of him and this accomplishment. He's had a blast (more fun than he thought, he actually loves it) & we are all so proud of him. He basically went from living on the streets, doing drugs & drinking to becoming a responsible man. (OK, so I can't really give him credit just yet, but it's a start!) He's 27 and it's about time he grew up! He has 5 weeks of AIT after this - they'll leave shortly after graduation for Missouri. Then he'll be home to do his '1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year.' He got a $20,000 sign on bonus. I think that's what encouraged him to join! (I'm glad cause he owes me $1,000! - haha!) If I get some pictures of graduation, I'll post them. I've been trying for over three hours to post this picture - whats up with blogger?! Here's one of the 2 of us together the night before he left... I was being a nerd, but enjoying myself! :)

Organization

I love organization, however I'm the most unorganized person I know. (With the exception of my mother and her mother...) I have started in my kitchen "fall" cleaning. I've thrown away 2 garbage bags of trash & I've only cleaned out 4 cabinets. (I have 6 more to go, 6 plus drawers.) It's time - I'm in the mood - and it needs to be done. I watched the season premier of "Super Nanny" this week - with the pirates...good grief - anyway, one of the wives does organizational stuff & her 3 questions were...
1. Do you need it?
2. Do you love it?
3. Will it make you money?
If you can't answer 'yes' to any of these questions, get rid of it! I've even thrown stuff away that I could sell in a yard sale, but who has time! I don't even want to store it until I have time to take it to the salvation army...it will only collect dust & probably never get done. So, away it goes. Can you believe I have 9 casserole dishes? Where did they come from?! Who needs NINE of them?! I'm sending two to my mother in law & one to my mom. I have a few pans I'm giving to my grandmother as well. Who knows what else I might find! I'm anxious to get it done so I can start on my bedroom...including the horrid closet! I'm going to get rid of clothing after clothing! Who knows where it will end up! Probably a 'lot' on ebay, knowing me!
So, my dog got butchered this weekend! I took a picture to the groomer and told them, "This is what I want her to look like. I don't want her shaved..." Well, they shaved her legs, her belly, her booty & her eyes & nose. They did not touch her back, head or neck. PLUS, they CUT her! Her little leg looks like it needs stitches! I'm so pissed. (Excuse the harshness, but I am...) I'm thinking about calling or writing them and getting my money back. Oh, YES, I paid for it!!! I'll post a picture when I can.

Do you have a second grader? Or have you? Is school a little tougher for them this year or what? Brady is an "A" student at all times. He might've brought home 2 or 3 D's all last year & he's brought home 3, I think, so far this year. The teacher said she's having a hard time getting them to listen to her for some reason...it's not just him. He's in the top level & she's only there 3 days a week, so who knows. Hopefully it will get better.

Mason got a hold of my orange sharpie marker this morning & colored his left leg...his pajamas...my tile...who knows what I haven't found yet. This is the story of my life. :)

In Memory of Alfie...

I posted a precious picture of Abby with her big brother Alfie last week and Tonda called me yesterday telling me that Alfie had died. He'd been a little sick, but was getting over it. She went home after work to get him so she could bring him with her to pick the kids up from school. Tanner (her son) was so attached to Alfie (all of them were)....I just know he's going to have a really hard time with it. They were the only boys in the family!!! She has a daughter & 3 other GIRL dogs. Please say a little prayer for them. She was devastated when she found him. I called the man we got them from to see if he might have anymore. He has a few that are about to deliver, but he wants an arm and a leg for them! We were very fortunate to get these pups at a great price! As small as Abby is, I could sell her for $2,000. BUT - they have legs that don't work like they should. Instead of them bending at the knee, they are straight. Alfie hopped around like a bunny ... both his back legs were this way...it was so cute! When Abby gets to running fast, she'll pull her right leg up to the side (it's the only one like that). The vets say it's just like a kid being born with a deformality. It's not a big deal. Neither are bothered by it. There's no way to replace little Alfie, but if I could afford to buy her another baby, I would!!! You don't know how bad I wish I could find one right now & bring it to her. She stayed home today. She's probably still asleep. I called & got no answer. They told me at work she was sick. My heart goes out to her.