Half Way Home

I am halfway home after a successful trip to Northern Kentucky. We found the house we want to build; it is the one I showed everyone in a previous post. After adding ton of options, we put in an offer and got the price we wanted. From my research I think we got a great price and I can't wait to see the house built and finished with all the choices I got to make.

I will be going back to Kentucky in 3-4 weeks to review the plans for the house and finalize everything. After that I'll make another couple of trips and then probably move into an apartment once the house is framed and stay until the contruction is complete. Since there is another month after the actual construction is finished having various inspections done, I'll have a few weeks back home after that to complete packing and hang with my buddies.

I like the kitchen so much that I might just have to start cooking, LOL! And my craft room? It will be just awesome!!! Here is a picture of the kitche in the model. I picked maple cabinets and stainless steal appliances both of which are shown in the second picture taken from a different model.

I have a shot at 2 part time jobs when I get up there. One is teaching classes at the local scrapbook store and the other working in the model home in my community a couple of days a week. Time will tell if either of these come through, but they would be loads of fun to do and keep me out of trouble if I did get them.

How Beautiful

Is this a special picture or what?I guess they aren't kidding here when they have signs on the roads to look out for deer! It will be something to think about when driving at night!

I drove down a neighborhood cul-de-sac and when I came back up the hill there were 3 and then 4 deer just grazing there next to a home and across from the model home.

I was a little too far away when I took this picture, I didn't want to scare the deers away, and although I zoomed in and then did a little photoshoping, it still isn't all that clear. But if you click on the picture, you can see a bigger version.

Home Search Current Front Runner

How about this house, on the lot shown bellow? I've been trying to find a great home for us. I want it to be cosy, affordable and totally functional. We want a house that is in sync with our lives and for me, one that allows us to have family members or friends over. I want to be able to accommodate my scrapbook friends whether they are new local friends or the friends I've made over the years that are willing to come and visit a beautiful area of the USA. Choosing a home is an agonizing process. Having one built is even scarier. I can only hope that I make the right decision and that both Rick and I love living here and feel cozy and comfortable.

This is not the usual look for the front of this home. I came across this front visiting the model in Monroe, OH. I think this is absolutely gorgeous. But I had to consider the reality of having the most expensive home in the subdivision and then it occurred to me this morning that if the house is on a lot that rivals anything in any subdivision I've seen, IE a million dollar view, it would continue to be attractive. So here is the lot that I would love to put the house on.

I would love to read your comments, both positive and negative and any suggestions you might have on this choice. I'm also including the link to the plan for the house. Our home would include a full bath with a shower on the main floor. On the second floor we'd have a shower in the hall bath and a door from bedroom two, creating a second master. Bedroom 3 would be the guest room and bedroom 4 the exercise room/Rick's office. As for the basement we would finish the rec room a little bigger, add another window as well as have the slider put in. Like many homes in this area, the basement is a walk out. I'd make sure that my scrapbook friends could roll their carts right into the rec/craft room and would include another full bath and a space for a fridge, microwave and sink.

So what do you think? On the right track or completely out in left field?

So Much Going ON!

Well here I sit in a hotel in Newport, KY on a house huning trip. Some might think that this is a bit early to be doing this but there is a chance that we might need to be here in early May and since we are considering having something built that we can live in virtually forever, we wanted to make sure that I'd get here early. There is also the fact that the mortgage rates are low enough that in some places, most of the better priced homes are going a little more quickly.

I left Tampa yesterday morning stopped for the night about 90 minutes north of Atlanta and drove the rest of the way today. I got into the area around 3 and immediately went to work, stopping to look at some models in the Florence/Union area. I even went out to Alexandria to see a market home but despite the beautiful lot, it just didn't make my heart sing, so more looking to do tomorrow. I wonder if I'll dream of the perfect home for us. If I do, I hope the dream includes the address, LOL!

Pictures coming soon!

I've also been asked by my friend Jackie at Scraptopia to put together a Love word book as a Valentine class, so I hope to work on that in the evenings while I'm here in KY, so that it can be almost finished when I get home! Plus I can't forget my Scrapbook Buddies, and hope to schedule a meetup as soon as I can get home to FL and clean up the kitchen and the living room. I've spent the last couple of weeks cleaning out various things, which in plain talk means I've made a mess of the whole entire house! Hence the joy of being away from the mess for a few days, but the desire to get back there, and clean up so that my friends can come and scrap soon!

Goodbye Radar

Today we had to say goodbye to our favorite pet ever, Radar. Radar was born some 15 years ago on a night filled with fireworks, June 24th 1993. He was one of 10 kittens born to a cat I owned which I had been assured by the shelter was male and neutered! That night, I knew for sure that Fred was really Freida! I was right there when Radar was born and helped his mom with the litter over the next few weeks. Radar was the cutest and the cuddliest of the litter and he always, right up till today went all limp when I picked him up, just the way a kitten does when his mommy cat picks him up. Unlike most cats, he nearly always came when he was called even when he was a young kitten. Radar went into kidney failure, faded very quickly and had to be put to sleep. I am grateful that my furry buddy never suffered and that Rick was petting him as he passed away.

From the beginning Radar was a very special kitty. Even my vet wanted him for her own. Over the years Radar moved with me to 10 times. He will not get to see our new home in Kentucky. I am so sad that he is gone but feel blessed that I got to be part of his life. I'm going to miss tripping over him in the morning and having to him follow me into the bathroom every single time for all those years. Bye Radar, you were the best!

Happy New Year!!

There is no doubt that 2009 will be a very different year for my husband and I. While 2008 was a nerve racking year where major changes were set up and waiting for things to unfold was our norm; 2009 is a year where we already know that many changes will happen.

First, I am both happy and sad to say that we will be moving to Northern Kentucky within the next few months. We are not sure how soon this will happen, though we do want to take advantage of the low interest rates to buy our new home. The biggest concern for us is what we should do with this house. The housing market in our zip code is particularly lousy and we would really love to find a renter looking for a sweetheart deal for a couple of years.

My emotions have been all over the place. Happy that my husband has the new job he so wanted and that we will get a new start, but really upset that once again I have to pack and leave wonderful friends behind! I am trying to look forward to being settled in KY and to remember that good friends remain a part of your life and who you are forever. Good friends will cross your path again though never as often as you'd like.

Anyhow, this is January 1st and a time to look towards the days ahead and consider what we can do to make the next year better. I wish you well and I will do my best to keep eveeryone updated, though hopefully not bored, with our progress with the move.

May 2009 be the best year of your lives and may you wake up everyday with a smile on your face and a spring in your step!

Announcing the 2008 Winner of the Super Prize

The winner of the 2008 superprize is Teresa my friend from Hilltop!!!! Congrats on your win, you will receive:

A. Adirondak Markers
B. Miscellaneous Papers and embelishments
C. PortaInk Dual Swivel Traveler
D. A marker buddy to attach to the PortaInk to store your markers,











E. An Acrylic mini-book
F. And a partridge in a pear tree...oups, where did that cone from? That's wrong!
G. A Big Bite, yup that's it, a Big Bite!

Congrats to Teresa and to all have a wonderful holiday!

Remember everyone, the blog contest will start again in January with the first gift handed out early February 2009~

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A Yearlong Gift

A Yearlong Gift

Rushing here,
Rushing there,
Christmas gifts bought here and there.

No more time
For me to share,
Have to wrap those gifts with care.

What is free takes little time
What each can give to humankind,
Don't have to charge for it, it's free,
A smile I give to you from me!

M-C Graves

I love Christmas time. Not the preparation, that's a lot of pressure, but the enjoyment of the smiles and laughter and goodwill. I'm not the first to want to bottle the Christmas spirit and I'll surely not be the last. I truly enjoy the smiles of people receiving a gift and am touched and humbled when someone things that I'm worthy of their time or thoughts. A smile is a small thing and yet it is the biggest gift of all. It is hard to feel lonely, hurt or angry when someone is looking at you and giving you a genuine smile that says that they care, that you are special. A smile is something that you can share with a stranger you cross on the sidewalk, a cashier handing you your sales slip, a child or harried mom in a checkout line.

I've always believed that a smile is the best gift we can give each other, and so I send you all a smile for Christmas and my wish that you exchange and receive a zillion smiles in the months and years to come.

Close to Home

Sometimes beautiful things are so close to us and yet we either don't hear about them, don't pay attention or even just simply take the time to go and check them out. So it is that down by the smoke stacks on Apollo Beach, a 5 minute drive from my house, there was a place that I had never paid attention to though I would think that I must have heard about it before. Truly, after I took the time to check it out, I noticed the signs about it on the highway. Silly how we sometimes don't notice something that is right under our nose! Too rushed, too busy, to self absorbed? I'm not sure why I never paid attention to this wonder earlier. If I had checked this when I first moved here, it could have given me an extra two years of enjoyment!

During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I wanted to do something special with my son. Something new. It occurred to me that it would be great to go down to the power plant and see what was really going on and find out if it was worth adding to the list of things that you bring visitors to see.

Oh my goodness! Well put together, it is an awesome sight. There is a coffee shop and walkways and a space where you can sit and eat, a souvenir shop. Like I said well put together. By now you are surely wondering what I am rattling about.

I am speaking of a well cared for Manatee Viewing Center. Manatees are huge, inoffensive sea mammals. Strict vegetarians, they seek the warm waters of Florida during the winter and even more so the warmer waters of places like Blue Springs, or the Crystal River and Apollo Beach power plants amongst other spots. Because we were having a cold snap, there were about 30 manatees in the inlet and according to the ranger there were roughly 80 manatees in the inlet in the early morning hours! What a site! I can only imagine that they must have been almost shoulder to shoulder, or is that side to side in the morning. Manatees are protected animals and they cannot be fed and people are not allowed to touch them. This isn't a problem in Apollo Beach since swimming isn't allowed and frankly I wouldn't be inclined to go swimming there, but in Blue Springs, humans and manatees share the beautiful, warm spring water.

Needless to say that any visitors I have with a little time on their hands will be directed to drive down Big Bend Blvd right down to the Manatee Visitor Center! I wonder if there is a similar site near your place that you have a tendency to overlook?

I Should have...

I really should have announced the winner of the Big Bite already. What a silly head I am! Anywho, the winner is... drum roll please... Marie-Laurence!!! Felicitations! Ces pingouins sont tres contents! (Congratulations! These Pingouins are very happy!) I hope she is reading this! I'll give it to you next time we meet, which I hope is this Saturday!

Next week I'll announce this year's big winner. The winner will receive the biggest prize of the year super hopefully in time to open it on Christmas morning! Everyone's postings will give them one ticket in the potgood luck to you all!

Would you believe it...

Wouldn't you know it! Last Sunday I went to bed and with everything that is going on in our lives right now, I had a hard time falling asleep. Not only did I have a hard time falling asleep, I woke up at 3am and couldn't go back to sleep, so I watched a couple of pre-recorded TV programs till something like 5:30. I finally fell asleep again and woke up to the phone ringing at 9 something. I answer the phone to a perky "Hi is this Ms Graves?" "Hmm yes, this is she, can I help you?" "Well this is Julie from the Scrapbook Shoppe and I called to let you know that you won the big basket!" "Oh my gosh, I won? I won the basket? That is just awesome! I am so thrilled! Thankyou for letting me know!" Julie went on to tell me that she would put the basket back in the classroom with my name on it. I assured her that it would not be sitting there for long.

What is so weird is that it nearly didn't happen. Sunday I went to the Scrapbook Shoppe for something to do and because they were having a 25% off storewide sale and I thought well there might just be something that I'd love to have. So I drove on over and bought a couple of things to use on a Kaiser 12x12 clock that I bought a while ago. I am walking out the door when I think, oh darn, I didn't put my name down for their Christmas draw. I never win those type of draws so I very nearly got into my car and drove away, but for some reason I turned around. I put my name and phone number on the piece of paper provided, crumpled it and put it in the basket telling everyone, "well I guess I can't win if I don't fill one of those." Oh my gosh there is so much stuff in the basket and it is so awesome! Here is a picture of Alexia handing me the basket, well there is no basket but anyhow the big bag full of Christmas goodies!

Thanks to Julie the owner and Alexia for always being there, for the prize and for their always sunny disposition when I go in there to browse and shop! You guys are awesome!!!

Nov Christmas Cards

Well here are the Christmas cards I made this month. There are two sets, both from K&Co, one is their Swell Noel, the one with the funkier colors and the other uses more traditional colors. One of the amazing things about all the cards I've made this year is that no two are exactly alike! Again thanks to Lynne for the challenge. Now all I have to do is the insides and of course actually send them out, LOL!

I hope you enjoy looking at these and continue to comment on this blog. Remember there is one more winner for November and then from everyone who commented since the beginning of the blog there will be a winner picked for the big December giveaway!

Next up on the blog, the great news I got on Monday morning!

So Much to Share!

It has been a while since I updated my friends so here goes.

On November 3rd, Rick and I flew to Washington DC so that Rick could go to the AALS meat market. OK well it isn't really a meat market, it's a recruiting conference. But given how things are done and people selected it has always reminded me of the NHL's draft pick extravaganza better known as the NHL meat market in some circles. He had a number of interviews. Unfortunately for me, I was sick for the first few days with a fever of over 100. I couldn't even remember seeing 100 come up on a thermometer in the last few decades!

Once we got home it was time to get ready for the scrapbook class I was teaching today (Nov 15th) at Scraptopia. This was the second time around for this Thanksgiving class. I must say that it was rather flattering that so many people liked the project. However two people wanted kits and being me, I felt it was only right that they get complete directions, which I completed only 5 minutes ago. So now the question became, how to share them? Well seems to me that the best way is to put them online. So if you click here you will be able to see the instructions with pictures.

I am currently working on a perpetual calendar to be given as a class and a Xmas 8x8 wire bound book. I've also completed work on the November Christmas card challenge which I'll upload tomorrow if possible, a number of 6x6 pages for my BIL's birthday and some knitted sweaters. I guess I'm a little busy. In addition, Rick and I will be going to northern Kentucky shortly for an interview. I've driven through there with my son Shaun when we first moved to the US from Canada and found it to be rather nice country. We'll be flying into Cincinnati and renting a car so that I can drive around the area and get a feel for it should we end up moving there.

However until anything concrete happens, I have vowed that I'll keep living as if I were never moving, enjoy the dear friends I've made and continue to have fun. Which reminds me that I'll be going to the Scrapbook Expo on Friday December 5th and scrapping all day. If you are attending the Expo on the Friday, be sure to look for me and my buddy Janie!

More later!

And the Winner is...

I suppose that I could announce the winner tomorrow, but I can hardly wait till then to let this person know what she will be receiving! Besides tomorrow is a day for voting and politics and finally going forward and finding out if change really means what we all think or hope it means.

So for now, let me pray that whomever becomes the new president, and whomever gets to sit in the house or the senate, will rule the country with wisdom and integrity and leave office having made this country an even better place to live.

But back to my winner. Cathy R, you are the designated winner. I'll be shipping out to you a couple of chipboard mini books, one that says Adore and the other 12345. I hope that you will find something fun to do with them.