Tuesday, May 31, 2011

New House Day!!

I got the keys to my new place today! I am pleased as punch! Here are five pictures that hit the "highlights" for today. I will take more once we get some furniture and decor moved in. First is the kitchen sink, but actually, what I was focused on was the tile backsplash! I love, love it!


This is the breakfast area.... I love the light fixture and the fact that I already have a curtain rod! Entry way from front door.... door to the left (in the picture) is the dining room, to the right is the study.



My bedroom/sanctuary! My back porch.... which faces my thick row of pine trees!!




All this for slightly less than I am currently paying in rent per month! Woo hoo!!! :-) Oh, and the sellers offered me their lawn mower and very nice basketball hoop, which they had left behind when they moved to Ohio, if I was willing to take care of the pile of garbage they had also left behind in the garage! I definitely got the better end of that deal since it is only about 10 garbage bags to throw out and a few items that I will donate somewhere. :-)


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Recitals, Concerts and Awards

It's that time of year when we have to sit through piano recitals, band concerts and award ceremonies....
Sarah's piano trophy is pictured below. I made a video of her playing at her recital, but I can't get it to upload here. I am going to keep trying because she is so good and I am so proud of her. Libby's final band concert (and by final, I mean FINAL, as she is done with her band career, which I find to be a shame because she has great potential).... she's on the left in this picture, look for her long blonde hair.... she's in the chair closest to the audience (which is also the last chair in the clarinet section... she just didn't like band, unfortunately).


Monday, May 23, 2011

You Asked For Them

Mom, you seemed to want more pictures from Montgomery. Jacob had the camera most of the time... here is a sample of the pictures he took (and a few I took).......







































































Sunday, May 22, 2011

Montgomery Memories

I accompanied Jacob's class on a field trip to our state capital this week. I found it very interesting. We got to have lunch (cold hamburgers) on a river boat.



Saturday, May 21, 2011

Strawberry Jam

Buy the strawberries (if you can't pick them yourself, just buy the ones someone else picked)... Wash the jars.


Explain to the dog that you aren't in the kitchen to get him a treat, but he is welcome to stay and keep you company.

Mash the de-stemmed and clean berries; boil the pectin.


Fill the jars.... Admire your work.


Jam for a year. Yay!


Sunday, May 15, 2011

My New House

I'm so excited about my new house, I couldn't wait to talk about it. We won't be moving in for a couple weeks (at which time, I will post lots of pictures).... but here are the highlights from the listing the realtor sent me. It is on a corner lot and the driveway (which would be to the right in this picture) is on a cul-de-sac. It's a pretty quiet little corner of the neighborhood.

This is my favorite room of all.... the kitchen (if you couldn't figure that out yourself). Isn't it gorgeous? So much more counter space than I have now in the apartment. (That room to the right beyond the kitchen is my bedroom).


The backyard! It has a covered porch and just these trees, which makes it so secluded and peaceful!!! :-) My bedroom looks out at the trees. And the yard isn't too big (so not alot of mowing).


Can't wait!