A beginning!!!

I am so happy to say that, after almost exactly three months later, restoration has begun!!!  It's a little slow at the beginning.  Right now we have gotten the trim work down so the demo of the plaster and ceilings don't trash this beautiful 90 year old wood.

I'll admit that I got a little teary when I saw the guys taking the wood down.  The thought of all of the work ahead of us overcame me.  But Cainberly always intrigues me and I found myself drawn to the weight system within the window sashes.  90 year old weights for the window suspension...

So interesting to me.  The architecture of this house astounds me.  One more pic of the trim removed around the floors...

I'm off to sign a contract.  We've got lots of work to do.  Anyone want to come for a visit???

A new blog button!

Feel free to post her on your own blog!





Crying over spilled milk......

Just so y'all know, I'm still quite upset about the lost blog post!  Sucked into the black hole of webdom.......

But, I have had a Pepsi Throwback and a Hershey bar....and I think I may be able to recompose now.

(How's that for drama?)

OK, my favorite things for the moment....in no particular order.....ENJOY!

1.  PINTEREST  Oh holy unhealthy addiction, Batman!  This is a great community for finding ideas, inspiration, even recipes!  Try it- you'll LOVE it!  This is my newest project- for the new schoolroom/Ab's bedroom....


2. You have GOT to try Annie's Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips!  Oh my soul....YUMM-O!!!!  HINT:  If you don't have time to make the chips, try Stacy's Cinnamon Pita Chips.

3.  Heels!  Who knew??  I haven't worn heels in 16 years....since someone near and dear to me- on our way out the door on a date- said "Wow, you're not too graceful in those, are ya?" (He's ALWAYS known JUST what to say!  Melts my heart... anywho..) But recently some other people near and dear to my heart- again, you know who you are- called me "dowdy" and the next thing I know we're shopping, I'm trying on heels, and they're in the floorboard of the car on the way home with me!  (And I've bought 3 more pairs since then!!)  Now, lest you worry that I've sunk into an abyss of stereo-typical female hoarder shopping.....remember that tree that fell through the house??  It's resting place was, of all places, my closet and my schoolroom!  SO!  Wanna see some picks????

I KNOW!  Scandalous for a homeschoolin' momma, huh?!

4. Menu planning.  Do you menu plan?  With all of the turbulence of our lives lately, we had fallen into some pretty unhealthy and muy expensioso eating habits!  Well I decided I had enough (which tells you it must have gotten pretty bad because I LOVE to eat out!) and me and the kiddos sat down and planned a menu for the next week and are really enjoying cooking and eating at home!  Sigh....baby steps....getting back to normal one day at a time.  Would you like some free pintables to help you plan your menu?  Try here at Organized Home.  They have some good info to share!

5.

 

Right now, and most always, I'm really loving my Andy.  We've had a bit of a rough year.  Well, that's an understatement.  We've had the second most horrible year ever.  I have never, save the year my daddy got sick, experienced 12 months that have been cram packed with such debilitating happenings!  But here we are, celebrating our 15th anniversary this month- together.  And I love him so.

OK, so I only gave you five, but I'll come back and give you five more soon!  The house still has no roof or AC and getting on the computer is a true act of love!  Oh, I do have a piece of good news...a review coming soon on a book!  Why?  Because...

!

Rrrrrrrr at Blogger.....

I just spent 2 hours making an UH-MAZING blog post on 10 favorite things complete with pics and links and Blogger ATE it!!!!!!!!!

ARRRRGGGGG! 

Will be back soon with a re-post.......but for now, I gotta get a Pepsi and something chocolate!
        +   =

A week in Gulfport

The kids and I headed off for a week of fun after VBS.  Af ter leading crafts for 70 preschoolers- I find that the day after the last day of VBS is the PERFECT time for a vacay!!!!!!  :o)

We hit Nonny's and headed off to a super fun new waterpark attached to a hotel in Bay St Louis called Barnacle Bill's.

Barnacle Bill's was a blast because there was NO water above my kids heads- which meant I could relax a bit and enjoy myself.....

with my sister......

and my momma!

The kids REALLY enjoyed themselves as well!  This is the summer of swimming for the Cain kiddos!  They're really taking to it and their confidence in the water has grown.... finally!

Ben doesn't look happy...but he is I promise!!

After such fun at Barnacle Bill's, the kids began a week long Ocean Expo Marine Camp at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulf Port.  I admit....I was jealous.  And for some reason I could never seem to get an answer when I asked when the "mommy" camp would be held!

They got to go fishing on a pontoon boat, seining, crabbing, touch crabs and animals in a touch tank, see a dolphin training exercise, study the gulf , and go to the beach.  They talked about gulf ecology, marine mammals, pollution, and lots of other awesomely interesting ocean topics!  Abby got to take an excursion to Ship Island for a day even!
While the kids were having their fun..........the ladies decided to have some of their own!!!!  Dolphin smoochies, anyone???

What?  Don't like fishie breath?  Well how about just some tummy rubbing then?

Bo REALLY enjoyed the tummy rub!

When the day was over, God treated me to one amazing sunset......just to top it all off-

And then the last day of camp we thanked everyone and headed to the movies....cuz who could pass up Cars2 in 3-D???  When we came out, God gave me a sign......

to go shop for a little bit at the Maxx! (My favorite!)..........

before someone stole my debit card number and drained my checking account!

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGG!!!!!



But the bank terminated my card and is restoring the money to my accout- so all's well that ends well!  It was a fun week!