New Friends

So I get home from work this evening and am getting dinner going with mom on the phone when all of a sudden I see these two beautiful deer step out of the woods. We have seen many deer since living here, but all late at night. So this was a new thing seeing them in "prime time". I woke Greg out of a dead sleep to see them!! They are so beautiful and very calming to watch. While we were watching a third deer, much smaller, stepped out of the woods to join them. It was almost as if the two bigger ones were making sure the coast was clear! We hope that this is a common occurrence around the "ponderosa".

And the house work continues...

The cats were helping with work around the house the other day, the way they always do. Right in between you and what ever your working on. There has been more times than we can even count that they were covered in paint from them wanting to be close and right there that they brush up against, lay down right against or the swishing of their tail touches the freshly painted wall. So I was setting the new toilet in the half bath and right on cue they were all there together and in rotation following every move. So of course the install takes much longer than it should to try to keep them out of everything as well as to capture a few pictures of their curiosity.

Here Maya is doing a thurough inspection of the bowl.

Oscar and Maggie checking out the water quality.




P.S. The water really tastes good in a new and un-used bowl!

So this morning on my way in to work, this is what the temperature read.....

That's right!! Can you believe it? I have lived in Michigan 9 years now and have never seen it this cold. This is actual temperature, not wind chill. All the schools in the area are closed due to extreme cold. Never heard of that one. Warnings are out everywhere concerning frostbite and hypothermia. The projected high today....a mere 7.

While this is extremely cold, I am really not complaining. Why you may ask?? Well, I really do like living in Michigan. I love seeing ALL 4 seasons. This bitter cold will only last a few days, at most a week. We get beautiful snow....and lots of it this year so far! We have mild summers, with maybe 2 weeks of really hot temps and humidity. The rest is awesome. Mild temperate spring and fall with NO humidity, its great. So I guess the morale to the story is to get the good, you have to put up with a little bad!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVELY DARLING PERFECT WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friend from far far away

Last night we had a little get together for a friend that's been "out of town" for a little while. She's been living and working in Kathmandu, Nepal.









Here is a picture of the girls back together again at least for one night...








We wish J happy and safe travels back to Nepal. We look forward to her coming home again soon.

OOOOOOHHHHHHH The Weather Outside Is...

There is 6" of fresh snow already, with no signs of letting up anytime soon!

It's 22 degrees....anyone up for a BBQ??

So it's January and guess who's grilling? Yep, we are probably the only ones in Michigan with the BBQ out amid 3 inches of snow and freezing temps (well...that is now that Dad has moved back to 'bama - he's been known to suit up and brave one for a nice juicy steak!). But you know when the craving for a nice hunk of red meat happens, you just have to go for it. I know there are dozens of places to go and get one, but there's nothing like cooking your own! It was definitely worth it. Here is a nice shot of the BBQ with the snow.
Finally we have to give a shout out to our biggest fans.....
We are fast approaching the next "winter storm" in just a few days. Maybe then we can provide snow angels for your viewing pleasure. Or better yet, maybe a Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, any other suggestions?

The Soggy Bottom Boys

I am guessing that most of you have seen the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou". If not, I highly suggest that you pick up a copy and prepare to laugh. It is some of the best work George Clooney has ever done...of course that is one woman's opinion!

Well in the movie George Clooney pairs up with two other "convicts" and they form the Soggy Bottom Boys and sing the all too familiar "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow". Well they do this dance at the end of the movie as the sing the song, and well, the Soggy Bottom Boys were at our New Year's Bash and boy did they perform. Unfortunately we were all too slow with video cameras, and quite frankly we were laughing so hard we would have never been able to keep still. So here is a picture of the Alabama "Soggy Bottom Boys". If you are ever in or around New Hope, Alabama look them up, you will be in for a treat.

By the ways boys, next time I am in town I expect a repeat performance!!!!

For all of those Local to this group, they do perform once a week at the local Mexican Restaurant in "Hampton Cove" (next to Walmart) on Tuesdays. My brother is running Karaoke for the owner. Who can blame him, he is getting paid to do something that he loves, and quite frankly is pretty darn good at. Check him out some time! (Marty - do I get a cut if attendance rises?)

First Big Project of the New Year

We were so fortunate to be able to purchase this awesome house. We are loving every minute. It was a foreclosure owned by Fannie Mae, however it was in incredible shape compared to the many others we looked at. The house features a walkout basement that was finished at one time. Apparently through the foreclosure process the hot water tank burst and the carpet that was in the basement was ruined along with the drywall in and around that immediate area. So when we purchased the house the basement needed some drywall work and flooring. Right now we are in the process of having the basement tiled with 18'' tiles. So far so good. It is going to look beautiful and I will keep updating as the progress continues.



The Pictures didn't turn out well. There was a problem with my flash. All is well now:)

A Cat with a Rat!

Ok so we are going to be better about posting. Here is the latest. We have been south for the holidays and are just getting settled back into our surroundings. It is still weird living in this house! Well our cat...the male, Oscar looked like a ragamuffin when we arrived. He looked as though he went to war with a can of aqua net and a brush and won the tease my hair contest!! What a mess!! So we have been working with him and this huge knot he had under his neck for 2 days now....this is the final result that fell off moments ago! He actually has a little bald spot where this came from.