Being Grateful for our Blessings

I've been sitting here thinking on how blessed we are and all the things we have to be thankful for. We live a very simple life and yet we don't really hurt for anything. We still have a roof over our heads, even though sometimes it leaks it is still there. More than some can say, especially in these times of hardships across the country. We haven't had any automotive issues lately and that alone is a great blessing. It doesn't hurt that the hubby is on top of regular maintenance like a fly to glue paper (almost to an annoyance (hehehe)). No big health issues to report. For that alone I am extremely grateful. Sure we have our aches and pains and hubby's coughing/breathing issue but no trips to the doctors or hospital for a good long time. Even though hubby was unemployed for 6 weeks and things were getting pretty scary for the pocketbook, we are thankful to report hubby has a job and starts work Monday. Hard times are still ahead but I am confident that once we get past the holidays things will look up and the pocket book wont be stretched as badly. My little side business Southern Gal's Crochet has been going good and has blessed us with some much needed extra funds in our time of need. Every sale no matter how small helped. I am grateful that I was blessed with the knowledge to crochet and have found a way to help my hubby. I am grateful for my family and friends. We never had to ask a thing from them but they were always there to help provide. My pantry may not look like much to most people but it is filled with love. Many a meal was provided by the wonderful people in our lives. I'm sure I have posted something very similar to this post before, but I never tire of sharing what we have to be so grateful for. I could go on and on but I wont. Be grateful for the big and especially the little blessing you have in your life.

Changes

Soo, I've noticed something today (I pretty much do everyday, but this one stuck out..haha).
Well since we are soo close to broke due to hubby's layoff and two week delay in getting that first paycheck, I have been only buying the bare minimum of groceries, like only what we absolutely need to go with what we already have. I never really noticed how much was spent on...maybe I will make this this week or I'm sure the hubby would like this. Most of the time these impulse buys end up stacking up in the freezer or in the pantry.
I never was a big junk food buyer, most of my groceries is your basic meals but planned (in my head)weeks in advance. BUT I would do this every week whether I needed to or not I always picked up more meals. In a way this worked out for us cause we had plenty to eat on for like the first week or so(of no paycheck) without really having to buy anything else but hubby's lunch supplies and milk. Since only getting what I need, my grocery bill has decreased by at least $20-30 a week already!
I'm thinking maybe I will try to keep this tend going and see how long before I really have to break down and buy a large load of groceries. I'm thinking that we could possibly go another month before that happens.

In other news...the hubby has informed me that he is thinking of changing jobs to a company that has more trucks, newer equipment and pays by the hour rather than paying by the load. I told him that if he is going to do it he had better do it now while I am still in poverty limbo rather than later when I get a routine going and we won't be able to go 2 weeks without pay.

Now for some lighter news...I decided to clean my office. Every box and every piece of paper is going to be gone through and assessed, thrown, kept or shredded. I'm an idiot!!!

Unemployment?? Boy that was a close one...

Today was a super scary day for about 30 minutes. Hubby called to tell me that "Two Speed" (a coworker) just found out that he was laid off and there is rumored to be 15 expected layoffs. Two Speed went into the office to turn in his paperwork and WHAM he was asked into the big office and handed his severance package and told to clean out his truck, with best wishes and a list of hiring companies. There was no warning that this was going to happen, just a simple hello, goodbye kinda day.

I told hubby to let me know how it went for him.

THE LONGEST 30 MINUTES.....EVER!!!

The fear crept in instantly and I was close to tears. If it hadn't been for checking the mail and finding my current package of yarn there, I'm sure I would have broke down in sheer panic. I was already trying to figure out what things will would have to cut and where I could find a job.

The phone rang...Hubby took in a deep breathe (my mind went numb in fear), finally he uttered the words...I still have a job!
OH, THANK GOODNESS!!!! That was all I could say.

Later when the hubs got home he told me who all he knows got cut and why he didn't.

First.. he lost a good portion of his buddies that he runs with and chats with all day. He is very sad over this loss.

Second...he stopped one of the main girls in the office and asked her what the criteria was for keeping his job. She said for him it was mostly because he is in the top 10 of drivers who make the most loads and don't have alot of expense coming out for repairs. Basically saying he does his job efficiently and doesn't tear up is truck doing it. Plus combine that with is safety record (nobody calling in on him for unsafe driving or accidents)and always passing a DOT (Department of Transportation) inspection. Also unknown to the drivers but they have been spying on them all just looking for anything to pin on them... Speeding in the pits, failure to wear safety equipment, taking extra long lunches...just anything really.

All the while he was talking, I was thinking of the story of the Rabbit and the Turtle. Steady and careful vs fast and damaging.

It's just good to know that my hubby is a great truck driver and they value him as an employee...for now.

This and That...

I'm sitting here thinking..Is it possible that I am losing interest in the process of blogging. Naw..not possible! I just don't ever seem to have the time that is necessary to dedicate to it as I should.

Ever since I picked up my crochet hook last September, there is nothing I want to do more. I have always been a crocheter but maybe only one blanket a year, if that. I have a blanket I was worked on for 3 winters. Since September I have done..6 queen sized blankets and have currently started number 7. I don't know what spurred this obsession other than once I did A blanket for one person, bam I had a list of people to do blankets for. Like enough to keep me busy for the rest of the year! Then I got into exploring crochet websites for patterns and I got carried away. Soo many pretty patterns and new stitches to try!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got my new camera today and am dying to get outside and play with it. If only the stupid batteries would hurry up and charge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I washed both the truck and the car by hand. The car was beyond filthy and The hubby's running mates at work was giving him a hard time about it. Fingering in "Wash Me". The biggest culprit is his friend Grumpy. He goes back to work in the clean car and

Grumpy says...I did a good job BUT I should have used a towel to dry it.
I said "Dang, I just can't make that man happy!"
Hubby says.."They don't call him Grumpy for nothing!"
LMAO!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hubby gets home Thursday night knowing he is going to be off for a three day weekend, so he hangs up his bib'alls and says aloud..see ya Monday morning.
I said..What, your not going to get dressed till Monday?
Hubby..Dang toot'in!
This afternoon he gets dressed. I asked him why.
Hubby..I figured I better get outside and mow so you would think badly of me.
Me..You nutcase! I was perfectly resigned to the fact that you was going to do nothing all weekend. (stupid girl)
The bib'alls got hung back up!
Me...No, No, No...I didn't mean it! Go ahead and go outside!
Too late. Dang it, will I ever learn?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The new kittens are such a joy to watch. I love watching them learn new things. Like getting their little legs to stand up, they sway at the attempt and I can't help but to laugh. Yesterday one had learned how to get out of the box. She is my little explorer, she has already learned how to roam all over the place and tumble down the stairs. Her other sisters are trying to follow her lead. He brothers on the other hand..well lets just say they are slower to try. They seem to be saying...why should we get out of the box? It's nice in here. LOL!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yall have a nice day!

Drive A 100 Miles For....

Wednesday evening hubby suddenly asks "Do you want to go to Seguin this weekend?"
I look at him and say...well yeah!
Hubby...don't call your mom just yet, cause I don't know whether or not I will have to work Saturday.
Me...oh so this suggestion is just a tease! (I left him giggling to himself, yeah he made himself laugh, very amusing indeed! Please note the sarcasm)
From the kitchen I tell him he is mean. This leads to a full blown hysterical fit, followed by a "stop it, stop it, your killing me!".
I swear the boy don't play fair, how can ya even try to get and stay mad at a guy that cracks himself up so hard that you find yourself being sucked into the laughing? Ya can't, I can't.

What would you drive 100 miles for? Well apparently my hubby will drive that distance for...apples! (future teasing already running through my head) Hubby kept saying Beau d'arc apples. For the life of me I have never heard of such a thing and was super curious. I could have easily looked it up, but was afraid if I did, that would cancel the possibility of a road trip. Come to find out his mission was to collect the apples, get seeds and plant them. Now it was my turn to laugh and laugh my fool head off!

He had delivered a load way out there in the boonies, were the deer roam, the cows lay in the shade of the trees, the dust from the unpaved roads will make you choke and the stench of the oil refineries will make you gag. On this particular stretch of back road, he ran over a "Beau d'arc apple" and briefly looked up and saw them hanging in the tree. He wanted sooo badly to get out right then and grab one, but he had trucks behind him waiting to get a move on to the next load. "Loads are money moron, get out of the way or we will push your ass up this road!" (Yeah that's trucker talk for ya) So he kept going, but his longing did too.

As most of you know hubby can spot the strangest things on the roads that most folk wouldn't see. Well since spotting that apple tree, he has been looking at the trees instead of the road. Watch out people the boy is NOT paying attention!! His running buddies were mystified that he didn't see that bucket, bolt or pliers sitting on the side of the road. Yes this is getting serious, a road trip is a must for his sanity and the safety of all drivers!

After much teasing from the men and hubby asking (bugging) everyone he came across if they have a "Beau d'arc tree on their properties (no one knew what he was talking about). He decided to take Saturday off, specifically for this road trip.

After doing a oil change, we were off.

I saw soo many photo opportunities but only made mental notes of where they were so that maybe hubby will stop on the way back. When he is focused on a destination, there is no deterring from it, it's like tunnel vision! I kept seeing this flower along the sides of the interstate and was wondering what it was. Finally I mentioned to hubby that I wanted to stop on the way back to get a photo and what did he do, he pulled over right there. I was soo surprised and grateful.

After a little more distance, he slowed to a crawl with his eyes focused on the trees. I spotted one off in a fenced in field, he debated going in there. I had to quickly remind him that he could easily get shot! We trekked on. He finally decided he had gone too far and turned around. We rounded a curve at a snails pace and I was like "wait go back just a little" There is was, I found it!

The elusive Beau d'arc tree. Not much about this tree is very telling or standoutish. Except for this:

Big, green, brain looking "apples"! Funniest looking apple I ever saw. Just to be clear these are not real apples! I mean there is nothing about this fruit that resembles any kind of apple. Hubby found one already busted open and the insides are like a stringy white pulp with seeds simular to a orange, it smells simular to a honey dew melon mixed with a hint of orange and VERY sticky (like a sap sticky).

He was now happy as a lark and stopped everywhere I asked him to. We spent about an hour with my mom and continued on heading for home, but stopping occasionally for photos.

After getting home and looking those supposed apples up on the internet, it was reveal that they are most commonly known as horse apples and the tree itself is called an "Osage orange tree", hmmm...maybe that's why it smells like a orange!! Sadly it is not ediable for humans.

Ya think he is still going to try to grow some? You betcha! That is just how he rolls! Why even try when they aren't edible? Who knows????? LOL!! Who is going to end up trying to grow these things? Me!

Writer's Workshop: 10 Reasons

Writing prompt #5...10 reasons you like fall.

1) The colors!
Oh the pretty colors. Yeah I like green but the colors of the decaying leaves on some trees are just amazing. Sometimes living in the near desert of Texas, it's hard to tell when fall is actually here cause in some places even green is a rare color. The extreme Texas heat usually leaves everything a plain shade of brown, but I think everyone got a taste of that this year.

Back when we was traveling across America, I always looked forward to our return trip to the eastern states. Going through the Appalachian mountains was always my favorite, especially in fall. Getting up real high and looking at the beautiful landscape was breathe taking.

2) The cooler temps.
Like Sunday, was our first real taste of some livable days with out a/c. Yesterday morning was real nice and this mornings low was in the fifties. What I'm really looking forward to is a little reprieve to our electric bill. Getting that bill down to under a hundred for a couple of months will be well worth the wait. The weather will be so nice the chance of catching heat exhaustion on my walks or bike rides will be eliminated.

3) Clothing.
Not hot enough to have to run around with sweat stains and the minimal of clothing acceptable. Not cold enough to be bundled up in layers of clothes that you can't hardly move your arms. Just right for jeans and a t-shirt with maybe a light sweater in the evenings.

4) Pets.
Having the cooler temps will make having the dogs on my lap a more enjoyable experience. Just two weeks ago I was pushing them off of me in the effort to cool off my legs. There will be less aggravation towards them wanting to be on me and a whole lot more love and snuggling. I'm sure they are sick to death of hearing me say "It's too hot" and forcing them to go lay on the couch far away from me. They also sleep with me and two of the three sleep under the covers. I know for a fact that Stitch will be plenty glad for me to stop throwing off the covers in a fit of exasperation of being too hot.

5) Shopping.
The fall season is the time that I have to begin the winter stocking of our supplies. It is a hard and tasking job and yes I complain a bit, but really I do like it. It gets me out of the house and I enjoy the satisfaction I get when all is said and done. I know it sounds like: we live in the north or maybe that we are chipmunks, having to stock up for winter. Hubby's job is dependent on the weather and when the weather turns too cold; asphalt can't be laid, work is scarce and the pay checks get really small. So there will be no extra money for household, auto, pet or personal supplies. Now that I am thinking of it..I need to get started on that list.

6) Vacation.
I was looking forward to a fabulous vacation this year, but it looks like we will be staying at home. I was bothered by this for awhile but I have been researching places to visit here locally that we can enjoy. I have lived here for nearly 20 years and there is still so much about the area I have yet to discover. Two whole weeks of sleeping when I want, instead of being dictated to by an alarm clock. Oh the bliss!

7) The Cooking.
Even just last night hubby got all excited and rubbed his hands together in the anticipation of Chili. The summer heat tends to lead us towards quick meals like salads and sandwiches or just about anything that wont heat up the kitchen too much. When the fall comes with the promise of winter I tend to get out the soups, stews, chili and roasts. Can't wait to dig into the chili and cornbread. YUM!

8) The Holidays.
Not particularly the holidays themselves but the feel and spirit of them.

Halloween: gives me thoughts of children and their clever costumes, not the store bought ones but the creative ones that they dream up themselves. Then of course there is the CANDY and the house decorations (not mine but others). There is also the hayride to look forward to.

Thanksgiving: The family gathering of good food and good company. The preparation of thanksgiving can be gruel some but the reward of having family and friends to share with is awesome. Even if it is just me and the hubby and two small hens, the spirit of being thankful is always there. I also love the decorations of hay and pumpkins.

9) Photography.
I am really looking forward to the future photos that are just waiting to be taken or discovered. The anticipation has been gnawing at me for some time already. The trees will be thinning out and more of the landscape will be visible, things that were hidden behind the brush will now be reveled. I can hardly wait!

10) Crafts.
My craft of choice is crocheting. In the spring and summer it is nearly impossible for me to work on any projects cause the yarn doesn't flow to well when your fingers are sweating. Just in the week of slightly cooler temps I have managed to start a project and already have two other projects running through my head. AND that is just the first week of fall! I can do my crocheting up till about the beginning of march, then it starts to get a little too steamy outside. So when fall comes I tend to get into a creative mood and I love it!

Soo there ya have it folks...I love Fall!

For more great writing head on over to Mama Kat's place.

Rocks

So last post I mentioned hubby bringing me some rocks for the yard design I had in mind.
Here is a pic of my yard kinda bare and difficult to mow. I dreamed up a design that might look good and elevate the mowing issue, but first I had to get my hands on some rocks.

Hubby offered to bring me some rocks from work, but I had to unload them. Two hours of shoveling them out from the back of his pickup and lots of pain later, this is what I got done.

It was six in the evening by time I finished and since there was still some sunlight left, hubby thought it was a good idea to go get some more. Which was kinda cool cause yall know how much I LOVE to get out of the house, any excuse will do!

Just gotta love the look of a man driving a large piece of machinery!

I just had to share all my hard work with yall, even though as you can tell it is not finished.


I did manage to hurt myself as usual, my left shoulder feels like I pulled something and my left wrist still hurts but is getting better.

I am currently having an affair with Ben, but don't worry he is Gay. He sure does know how to treat my shoulder right. Sorry, bad joke, I know..but bf and I laugh our butts off cause we are on such intimate terms with Ben. Our hubbies should be jealous!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I told hubby I was going to post about rocks, he insisted that I show yall his fabulous pics from work. A strange and natural phenomenon that happened after moving truck loads of rock from this pile. The more that was hauled away, the top rocks would fall and left this face in the side of it. Hubby was at first creeped out at it, but that quickly turned into WOW!

A little trip to the Hill Country

Soo...I made it through the little bug that crept into my blood stream for two days. Thursday I started off with a scratchy throat and coughing. By that evening I was starting to lose my voice and a fever snuck in and turned my brain to mush.

You were then all subjected to my goofy delirious post, for that there will never be enough sorries to cover it. I should know better than to get on the computer when my head feels like it is floating in the heavens, but when the delirium sets in all control is lost. The computer should have a breathe alizer or finger prick to block delirious posts! LOL! Warning: Virus detected! User blocked!

Just to let you know I am feeling much better now, still have the scratchy throat but thank goodness the head cleared up when the fever went away.

Anywhoo..
Yesterday afternoon I laid down to take a nap and hubby came home early, woke me up and asked if I wanted to go.
Huh, what? Go where and why? (while grabbing for some coffee)
Go with me to get some wood.
Ohhh, you want me to get out in the hot sunshine and work my butt off. Okay I'm game! Just let me get some coffee.

Off we go, to where I don't know.
We headed up to the lower portion of the hill country. Went past some of the most gorgeous houses I have ever seen. Totally not in the right kind of neighborhood for me to feel comfortable. I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb in these types of neighborhoods with their fancy houses and manicured lawns. Thankfully we went past that and moved on up into the wooded area still under development.

The job site hubby has been delivering to, has trees stacked up along side the gravel road still under construction. The contractor of the job gave hubby permission to cut and haul away all the wood he can get. Since getting free wood wasn't something hubby could pass up, there we were working our butts off in the hot Texas sun.


We took a break and I went exploring and found this hole in the ground. It was awesome! If you look closely enough you will see a fuzz all around the rim. That is a jillion billion Daddy Long Legs! I have never seen so many in all my life!




There were rocks like this one all over the place. I begged and pleaded to take a few home with us, but alas hubby wouldn't budge. Besides the ones I really wanted, you would need a crane for! LOL! I was in rock heaven and couldn't take a single one. Heartbreaking!!


There was also cactus everywhere too!


Seriously folks, I could live in that area very happily! It was just so beautiful!
If it hadn't had been for my persistent cough, I think we could have stayed out there all day. Unfortunately it was only two hours, but it was the best two hours I have had all week!

My Hubby Is So...

The creators of this meme:
http://www.headacheshormonesandhotflashes.com/
http://menonewmom.blogspot.com/


My hubby is soo...HILARIOUS!!!

Driving a big rig has its rules. In order to pass a state inspection all things have to be just soo. On this particular inspection, hubby noticed the air hoses chaffing each other. Big NO-NO! This could lead to major problems if the chaffing creates a hole in any of the hoses, air leaks could cause no brakes, air bags or numerous other things. Strange that the officer didn't see it and hubby of course isn't going to point it out to him! The hoses are supposed to have separators on them, but the company is too cheap to have a supply on hand.

Hubby's brilliant solution to this problem is to wrap each hose in a inner tube with plastic ties. Well...first he has to get the inner tube.

While driving to the next job, he spies one on the side of the road. The man just has all the luck with junk on the road, I wish I could be that lucky to get the things I need like that!

He's all happy and fixes the problem. He chats with his work buddy and states that he would like to find a bag full of money.

Yeah wouldn't we all!! You ain't that lucky, dear!

Hubby comes home and is relaying all of this too me (with his hand in his pocket). I could tell he was excited and I was getting a little excited too!

He pulls this out of his pocket:

A little change purse!! I busted out laughing!!

Hubby say...well I got what I asked for! Just not quite!

He hands it too me and I open it:

.87 cents!!

My laughter is uncontrollable!

He says...I think my Genie needs more detailed instructions!

ROLLING ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING MY BUTT OFF!!!!

Hubby's Good Carma

Thursday:

Whiskers was sick and I could hardly keep up with him. Every time he was ready to spew I had to jump up and move him off of the rugs. Still trying to figure out why he insists on doing it on the rug!

I rode my bike for about ten minutes! My goodness my legs felt like they were going to fall off. I got off my bike and proceeded to walk, wouldn't ya know it, they felt like jelly!

Now on to the story:

Hubby came home and went to telling me about his day. He was getting ready to leave work in his personal truck and another driver in a tandem truck was in front of him.

(I'm thinking...No biggy this happens everyday)

Well all of a sudden this tandem loses one of his axles, the axle (two wheels and brake drum) is headed right for him! He kicks his truck in reverse and out runs it. He then tries over and over again to get this guy on the cb, Hey driver, did ya lose something? No answer.
He then picks up the tires (which I find hard to believe, I mean seriously we are talking about a man that has trouble breathing (just getting up out of his chair)and has a hernia on the top of his tummy, just taking the trash to the dumpster is strenuous activity) and throws them in the back of his truck.

By this point in his story I went from OMGoodness to hysterical laughter! Just the mental image of him doing all of this was too much And he is a great story teller with all the hand gestures, body movements and humor.

He takes the tires to the shop (I'm still laughing, I can just imagine those guys faces when he pushed those tires in there. Like...where in the world did you get those?!) and jokingly tries to get them to give him a hundred dollars for them, after no takers, he says I'll let ya keep them for no charge.
He says those tires and brake drums could be worth 600, so a hundred would be a steal. (I'm like..you did steal them!)

Okay so here is the good carma part...

He left his company radio on the back of his pickup after calling that guy in the tandem and putting the tires in his truck. If he had lost it, it would have costed him exactly one hundred dollars.

He states that if he was to have really sold those tires, he would have surely lost his radio.

In the end they both got their property back and alls well that ends well!

I sure got a big roaring laugh out of it though!

I know at times his mind can get a little carried away, but in the end he always manages to do the right thing.

His response to this is...I would have been a mad blankitty, blank, blank..if someone had sold my tires as soon as they fell off!! LOL!!