Musings...

traditional exterior design by nashville architect Eric Stengel Architecture, llc

traditional exterior design by cincinnati architect Richard Taylor Architects

traditional exterior design by nashville architect Eric Stengel Architecture, llc

Sometimes I think I'm a country girl at heart. No, I know I am.
My parents? Definitely city folk.

Every time I drive past our neighbors farms, I long to have one of my own. Talk about breaking some stereotypes eh?

My farm would have a big sprawling house, a lake, barns to house the many animals I would acquire and NO neighbors within ... well a couple miles at the very least! To have the SPACE to have several large dogs, horses, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep?... maybe a pool, a place to set up agility equipment. Close enough to the mountains to have trails to ride.

Sigh.

Redecorating

I've wanted to update my bedroom for a while now, but haven't had the funds or want to, to do so. However, as I was browsing through Ross the other day, I noticed "my" bedset on the shelf for a measly $34.99. Are you kidding me? I would have snatched it up right then, but with $20 in the bank, that just wasn't happening. I was scared they would be gone by the time I returned next week, but lo and behold it was still there! I was also able to get a matching dog bed, and storage ottoman.. while was I there, officially breaking the bank. :)
After seeing the pictures on a string idea, multiple times on Pinterest, I knew I had to do that SOMEWHERE in my room. Walgreens was giving away 25 free 4x6's so I spent about an hour, converting my "favorites" to black and white, with a few color to and some "splash". Normally I'm not a fan of Black + White photos, but considering my color scheme, I thought it would be  appropriate. I LOVE the way it came out. After first I just had them on the wall beside my window, but wasn't feelin' it and wound up hanging them over the windows.

I think for the blank wall, I'll see if I can locate a frame, as pictured here. --->>
It needs something else me thinks.

Further Plans: 

• Valences? Black or Accent color? 
• Painting the area by the window white. 
• Paint the doors? 
• Replace the nightstand with a table 
• Paint random mirrors Accent color

Yay I'm excited! 

Latest Obsession

Via

I don't claim to have a green thumb, in fact, if you ask any of the plants that lived in my house of the last year, my thumb is pretty black. What can I say, plants would be so much eaiser to take care of if they were more demanding of me, that doesn't stop me from wanting more!

Besides, whats a easier way to decorate than with plants? Lots of green plants to hide the ugliness of my porch for instance...For me, plants help the outside of a house seem more inviting. There is something about a place without any plants that just seems...I don't know, cold...but that's just me. Sure my house is surrounded by trees, but ....no es lo mismo...

Knowing me, I've probably started too late in the season to actually have a nice looking "garden" but one can always hope right? I'd really like something with a lot of greenery that will stay year-round, and won't attract a lot of bees to the door I go in and of most. On the other side of my house, I'd probably do more flowering pots to hang off the side of the porch for instances.

We've already got a lot of wasps around that area anyway, what's a few more?

Lowes.com

Did I mention, I stepped on a bee Sunday? That was my first time being stung, and GOOD NEWS! I'm not allergic to their stingers!! However, who ever mentioned using Bread + Milk to get the stinger out..? THANK YOU!!

But I digress.

I'd really like to find some cool things to stick plants in. Chairs for instance or cooking pots ...or furniture...

This is probably one of those "good ideas' but never gets done things. I should add it too my 101 list that I'm currently revising....hehe.

When I mentioned this idea to my friend, she laughed. Hard. We'll just ignore her for now ok?

God told Noah to build him an Arky....

But apparently forgot to give us in East TN that memo. Yesterday thunderstorms tore apart the area dumping inches of rain onto our fair town. Within hours streets were impassable, yards were flooded and people were stranded at work and school. Talk about flash flooding!! The last time I've been a town that flooded this badly, was when Katrina hit and that was only after it had been raining for DAYS!

The local news paper posted photos from around town here.

Via- Knoxville News Sentinel 

I was quite nervous about driving home, as our road floods even with just a heavy down pour, and while one of the roads did, the one I took hadn't, but boy was in for a surprise when I pulled into my driveway!

Neighbors Lake aka Yard

My front yard

My yard again

Yard part two....that water went up over my knees! 

I'd just went by Wal-Mart to purchase some rain boots, so I grabbed them and waded out into the water, Texas being my one and only water dog at the moment was right behind me and even took a turn around our new "pond". Don't worry, he got a bath later on, but it was quite funny. I don't know why I didn't realize that if he was SWIMMING that the water had gotten pretty deep, but I hadn't, and while I went to rescue a part of my dog's crate that had washed to the next street, um... I found out just how deep that water was.

Texas checking out the place 

There he goes!

Bye Texas!!

Of course this is just the beginning of the rainy season, I can only imagine what the rest of spring will look like!

1 Year

What soever state I am in, I will therewith be content - Philippians 2:34 

I'm sure I've missed the date somewhere, but its been over a year since I've moved "down the road" and gained a roommate...and two years since I moved out of my parents home and too the great state of TN all.by.myself. 

Moving to TN meant a major change in my lifestyle. Up until that point, I was living with my parents in our nice 5bedroom, 4 bath home, going to school for web design, involved with my church, working only to pay for gas and my car insurance...planning  for my future... life was good. 

Then my parents dropped the bomb, that they would be moving to TN and pastoring a church over there. A small church over there, in a city I literally hated. I can distinctly remember a conversation with one of my siblings, we were talking about the places in the USA we would move too if we could, and I remember the words out of my mouth were "I will NEVER move to ----- TN" 

Today, I never use the word never. 

So you can imagine the shock and well just shock at finding that we were moving to that city. All I knew of the town was the small part we visited when going over, and all I saw were cows, and horses and gray skies. That's all I can ever remember when we'd come over for meetings and such like. 

At that moment I made up my mind, that I was going to find a way to stay in NC if it killed me. I was quite vocal about that too, so much so people started to believe I was actually going to do it. My parents started commuting back and forth and I stayed home and worked, only going if I were forced too. At the time I was thankful I had to work the weekends, as it meant I was fine. 

However as time went on, I began to realize living by myself was going to be quite un-realistic. I didn't have enough money to support myself, and the housing/apartment market in our small town was REDICULOUS. 

That's I started letting God change my heart, ...and that's when I spotted "The White House" (pictured at the top) It was a small house, owned by my father's church that had been sitting empty, used only during camp-meetings to house people. 

That's when the idea popped into my head... "I wouldn't mind being over here if I could have my own house!?" 

It took some convincing but my parents finally agreed to let me move there..I didn't realize it at the time, but they were pretty tore up over the thought of leaving me behind. Times like these make me feel like a horrid daughter, as it didn't even occur to me to be sad.

With that plan in place, the thought of moving suddenly became a great thing, people we're genuinely surprised at my "sudden" change in attitude. Obviously I'd done a great job of convincing people that I was "NOT MOVING to TN." 

I had fun gathering supplies to live on my own, my own food, my own space, no one constantly coming in or out, no one constantly asking me why I was by myself. 

Honestly the first year was tough, though I got a job right away, I was making less than I'd ever made up until that point. (Looking back I honestly don't know what my boss was thinking but w/e) the house had no heat, and it was January when I moved. The first night I spent in there it was 9 degree's outside. 

9 people.

So that meant it was..............9 degrees inside! 

Up until that point, I'd NEVER had to live in a house that didn't have central heating and air systems. This was a definite shock, but I was too excited about being on my own to care. I went to Wal-Mart purchased some more heaters and made do. However the lack of internet for the first three months was horrible. I spent many days with the N family, stealing their WiFi or evenings at Panera Bread siphoning their internet. Some how I survived. 

Then I got a huge increase and was able to resume my comfortable life style. Sure my house wouldn't have even made it to an ad in Better Homes and Gardens, but it was "mine" and I was happy. 

In the last year so much as happened with that house, when I first moved in, I was by myself with my puppies, it was in the middle of a school year, and  to say I was stressed was an understatement. It didn't have a stove or refrigerate, but I was happy to finally have a house that had level floors. 

That was whathca call awesome. 

Its defiantly been interesting having a roommate..or a room visitor as I call her. We often joke that I just let her keep her stuff in the back room of my house. She's a very busy girl and while I don't mind having the house to myself, it is difficult for me to mentally adjust from having the house to myself, to all of the sudden sharing "my space" again.  Hey I did say that I have issues with sharing!

However having a roommate that is not related, is like having a mirror up all of the time. Things I say or do with my family, doesn't go over so well, when its a different person. It also made me realize how selfish I can be at points, the whole "N" family is a giving family, they all give and give. Living with C has made me realize that I could be need to be more like that. Its defiantly been an eye-opening experience for me,

Anyway, back to the house. While we were able to get a brand new stove, a slightly working refrigerate we're still hoping for a washing machine and working dryer. Than my life will be complete.

Aside from our frequent fowl visitors and the bed bug scare we had last fall...our year here has been pretty nice.

November 8: A Game

Potential Titles for this Post: 

Real LIfe of a College Student

"Oh Laundry How I hate thee...Let me Count the Ways" 

1. Sleep 2. Social Life 3. Good Grades 3. Neat House - Pick Two. Welcome to College 

I'm only 21 and already I need a maid..or at least a helpful roommate. *snickers*

For real though, my house isn't like this. 

During the summer at least. 

Then i have oodles of time to clean and straighten. 

Really, cleaning is a hobby of mine.
!?!

Believe me, my mother was a shocked as you are.

I have no clue why, my bedroom was always clean and organized.

Oh yes, she said because they always had to "force" (my words not hers) me to do my chores.

Well come on!! 

 I was a teenager..so rebellion being obstinate is my nature at that point

Who WANTS to wash BY HAND, 8 people's worth, of dishes???? 

*Our dishwasher broke and my parents took their sweet time about fixing it. 

When I say sweet time...think 1 year of hand.washing.dishes. 

1 YEAR PEOPLE.

It was child abuse I tell you.

To this day I LOATHE dishes.

And Laundry.

Have you ever seen laundry for eight people? Its a nightmare.

My organized brain would go into over load so I couldn't do that either.

I still hate it, but only because I don't have a working washer and dryer in my house. 

But as I was saying, I had good reasons for not being uber neat in the general population, parts of my families home. 

But now that all the junk is mine...well you know, I don't mind to clean it up.  

However...there comes a point in the semester where you stark "picking" the SLEEP category and the Good Grades category over the social life and clean house ones....

Six more weeks................

Summer Week 4 - Boredem

Um...

Ok, ok I admit it. 

I'm bored.

{Random Photo of Pins collected during Destination Imagination, whom I got from some kids from South Korea}
And I'm missing my old job. 

As in the WORK I was doing with them.

I miss having four dogs to keep up with.

I miss having SOMETHING to do EVERY DAY.

Wait.

No I don't.

Ok I think I miss having something to do every day.

I can only clean my house so many times before it just won't get any cleaner.

I did splurge a little this week, and did some "Me" shopping.

I bought one shirt from Kohls...

And I've finally decided on the bed set for my room. 

{Target.com}

Is it sad that I"m trying to find a dog bed cover to match? Yes?

{MollyMutt.com}

Anyway I need to get back to work....emptying my 4GB memory card.  Complete the weekly newsletter.
Until i have another random thought!

TTFN!

Moving Day

First off Happy First Day of Spring!
65-70 degree weather all day!
I really tried to do my homework.
Twice, but it didn't happen people.
It felt too much like summer to even attempt to do anything serious like school.

Its official.
Life as I knew it has officially ended.
I'm entering a new stage in the game.
One..I though I might avoid going to a community college and all.
I have a room mate. (Also known as "Roomie, RoomieC, C or Christy")
She's been moving in during the weekends, over the course of the past month, but its officially done now.
Granted our situation is different than a lot of other college students, since she's about 4 years older than I am, graduated college last year, and will probably be getting married in the next...1-4 years. (haha)

Her situation at home prompted this move, its not BAD as in ....BAD bad, but she needed to move, and guess whose home was made available!  (Thanks ..........YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!)
So that happened.
I'll admit to having second thoughts this week.
I mean...I've grown really comfortable having an house to myself for the past year...
But we're a lot a like, in many respects so I think we'll be fine. (READ: Like our own space,think a like, don't like the same foods...well I don't like her foods but she likes mine. hahaha)

Anyway her sister(R2)  and our other friend (H) moved into their house today as well.
So we all went out to dinner to celebrate.
Caffeine+ Funny Voicemails + 4 girls = lots and lots  of laughter

The dogs have actually adjusted to having a new person in the house rather well, TExas has stopped barking every-time she says something from her room, and they've also stopped whining at the baby gate we have propped to keep them out of her room.
Granted they are partially worn out from their extensive day of play as well. :)

Anyway now I'm just tired.
But I have SO.MUCH.HOMEWORK.
#I'mbeginningtohateschool

March 19, 2010

"The best part of waking up is cuddling with your pup!"

(Sung to the tune of the "that coffee commercial"...which everyone that is)

This morning start off soo much better than yesterday..I felt as if I'd gotten some sleep, spent about 15 minutes on the floor cuddling with my puppies, talking to God, and trying to convince myself to get ready for school.

I made to class in only about five minutes late, which completely messes up my record for always being on time; to that class.

Hey it's the only thing I can claim to be on time for…

After class Pompei and I walked around the school track in the beautiful 60 degree weather. Got a little shopping in..

Hobby Lobby ROCKS Y'ALL!

Ate some lunch, then went and played in a field until it was time for his shots.

Got those done, came home and set up "camp" (aka laptop, blanket, cell phone, and camera) in the middle of the yard, in the sunniest spot and let the dogs play for a while.

Picked the dog bed I'd washed from my parent's house (They have a ginourmous front loader washing machine that I love, because it doesn't have an agitator that messes up the beds)

Made Dinner, gave the dog their food in interactive toys..

And have been slogging through my Google reader. But people keep updating! 
STOP IN THE NAME OF ME I SAY! 
 

Until I finish anyway.


*sigh*


I must go work on my paper.


TTFN.

March 2

Dear March,
What part of "LOTS OF SUNSHINE" did you not understand? It was very disappointing to wake up this morning, to snow flurries/drizzle coming out of the sky; which did not improve my mood.
I was already way late for work by the time my alarm clock did not went off. Thankfully I have an understanding boss as I rushed in 30 minutes late.

Dear 2010,
What is up with all the gray and rain? I don't think there has been a day YET that I've been able to walk into class with sunshine, and blue skies. Do you know how hard it is to be motivated to do anything with this weather??


Dear Sociology Teacher,
I can completely understand why you don't like lecturing, on groups in society. The film you showed, really just confirmed a lot of things about human nature. Good people can turn evil, just because someone else told them to do something. But could you have picked a less...disturbing video? I mean yeah even watching people fake shock someone was unnerving but the "McDonalds Hoax"  and the other thing, which I don't want to remember was..just..wow. I felt nausea for at hours after I left, which forced me to go to Target. If you had NOT shown the video, I would probably be $70 richer at this moment. It also just goes to show you, you really don't want to know what people are thinking.

Dear Target,
I love you. Thank you for having your picture frames on sale, my room is starting to come together. Now if you would only put your bed sets on sale, that would be totally awesome.Oh yeah, and how could I forget the scarves for only $2.50 each. !?! I probably should return them...but that won't happen.

Good-Bye February

Two months in 2010 down, is it just me or is this year getting off to an extremely slow start?
I don't know.

February

What a month.

Major Happenings would be...

Finally finished moving from the old place to the new

Plowing through first "real" assignments

Learning my friends were going to move into my old place

Learning that I would be gaining a roommate.

Attempt to settle into new place

Of course there are a gazillion other things that happened, but we are going to let by gone, be bygones. And just press forward towards the goal. Whatever that might be at this time.

I have to throw this in there, as it doesn't happen to me often. (THANK GOD!)
I actually PMS'd.
I know, I know for some of you TMI, while others are going..yeah and??
Well like I said, I don't normally experience that "lovely" situation, but wow when I do its just like wow. I knew my emotions were extreme, but didn't exactly know why. From wanting to break down and cry sitting at work, to feeling depressed, taking naps in the middle of the day, extreme tiredness, it was crazy!

I was sooo annoyed about finding out my refrigerator wasn't working, it was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. 

No or maybe it was getting up at 3AM to clean Puppies crate...or..coming home from church to clean out his OTHER crate, and the wall...floor..blankets...bed.....

Now that I'm actually back to feeling normal, I realize what I miss each month. What a relief.

My poor roommate, if this starts to become a regular occurrence!

Speaking of roomies, her and her sister are very eager to get moving, and has already gotten her room together. Some of our church friends are also donating a couch, love seat, and recliner..the question I have is.. Where are we gonna put it?

{Ignore the mess..:)}

Its Friday! Thank God.

Random Ramblings of Me in a lot more than 140 characters...

{Is it the weekend yet? No?}

{Well wake me up when it is!}

• I had to set my twitter account back to private. Yeah I was kind of fun to keep track of what all I've tweeted throughout the day, but all the porn and spam bots I was getting, just isn't my cup of tea. 
• My refrigerator has stopped working, and its really bumming me out. It'll be next week until I can get something done with it...until then I guess I'll have to put stuff in my parents fridge and hop its there when I can get it...(family member male: Hey! whose pizza rolls are these? Family member that-didn't-get-the-memo: I don't know. Family member male, proceeds to eat them..all. probably.)
• Week of the wacky schedule is over, and I am soooo glad. oh geez. Switched back to my old supervisor, drove all.over.town. Every single day. A couple of days, I've come home and had to lay day for about 30 minutes, before proceeding with my evening. And who knows how much caffinene I've consumed. 
• My teachers have been ridiculously slow about grading our work, so I was happy to get two grades back this week. Both A's I think!!! Woooot!!! Alas I still have two exams, a report, and a paper to finish before the nights over. (hence why I'm on here) 
• My theater class will be the death of me. I hate it. With a PASSION. (To those majoring in theatre more power too you, but please understand as a photography major, I don't feel that this is doing me much good you see..) I don't care what the Greek Theatre look like, and I certainly don't want to pretend I'm there and right a story about it!!!!
• I want to start my career. I am tired of working part time jobs, bouncing here and there, worried that my position may not be needed. Yet at the same time, I’m not ready to give up the flexibility of part time. But then I think of the money I could be making if I worked full time........but with school....*sigh*
  I have been at current job for about 7.5 months now, so far my job “average” has been about 8 months, either due to me finding a better position, or other circumstances.
  I was extremely proud of myself for lasting a entire 11 months at my last job….
  I don't dislike my current job, I just wish I felt like I was needed, in a bigger part. Iono 
•  Stupid Weather changes, have really messed with my sinus/allergies/whatever, I don't care what you call them, but they are making me miserable.

Ok my head is now clear of all thses thoughts, and I can go finish studying.... 

AT least that's what I tell myself. :)

And Just Like That....

Just when you think life is about to settle down, that you'd be able to get a routine in place...you hit another curve in the track.

So I moved into a bigger place right? Well a dear friend of mine, texts me this afternoon, asking me to call her. My friends and I don't talk to each other on the phone. None of us like talking on the phone, so we either text/email/im etc...

Her sister and I had gone to seen a play for my theater class, and were on our way back from that, when i received this ominous message. So I called her and we played phone tag for a little bit, before finally connecting.
 
She rambled on for bit (i think the sun she was lying in was getting to her) before launching into a long story, about how she would be needing to move out. By this time I guessed what she was asking, and got her to the point of her call. (We are nice to each other. For Real!)


 For now, its a tempory 6-month thing, and since I'm in a three bedroom house...I have room. My computer won't have its own room anymore, but I think it will survive.

So for the next six months we'll find out just how good of friends we are.  Truthfully I don't really care about having another person here. C and I are very much alike in a lot of ways, so this will be interesting...or very interesting. ;)

What's funny is her sister and our other friend (R & H) are moving into the house next door, so we'll probably be seeing a lot more of each other.

 So my quiet blog followers, anyone have stories of what its like to go from "rooming" with your family, to having a roommate?

Did it make you better friends?

Lemme know!

Daily Thoughts

The random ramblings of me in 140 characters.....

• 23:31 Glad to see the marks on my wall come off with a little Windex/Clorox/409 ....don't ask #
• 13:16 Ok so I'm not a lawyer but I can read! And that is not what I asked. <Yes I'm being vague...> #
• 13:23 @abbyleighanne Where'd ya go? #
• 13:26 @abbyleighanne good for you! #
• 13:45 We have sunshine and 40 degree weather...do I hear light jackets and flip flops calling me name?? #
• 13:45 No I don't, cause I'm inside an office for the nex t....3 hours :(( #
• 13:49 My phone will not let me delete the 2,810 texts I have from Twitter. It keeps freezing up. #lame #
• 13:54 Cannot wait till @GuidePupPompei is legal and we can hit up some parks on the weekends! #

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Daily Thoughts

The random ramblings of me in 140 characters.....

• Need to try and put new house together and finish cleaning old one. So much work, so little time. Guess I'd better get crackin' #
• Wondering when I'll ever find time to use 23 GBS of digi scrapbook stuff I have downloaded. Perhaps if I stopped downloading stuff.....Naaah #
• Hmm phone alarm decided to go back to work today. So much for that excuse :( #

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First Night

Almost done, only a lot of little stuff left to move, but I officially stayed in my new house for the first time last night. The mildew smell was a little difficult to get by, but we survived..

Almost.

I now pity the Princess in the Princess in the Pea. Sleeping on two mattresses was HOR-RI-BLE. My back hurt so badly when I got up this morning. I can't imagine what it would have felt like with a pea on top of a 100 or so mattresses. LOL!

I am a homebody. While I don't dislike traveling, I really dislike traveling. Especially if it means leaving my dogs. Well ok I take that back, I don't mind leaving them if I know they are in good hands, last year during our trip to Florida, I was miserable the entire time, knowing my dogs were at home alone. Since then I'll board them, and have been fine, knowing someone was there with them 24/7.

But I digress.

Being a  homebody, even something as simple as changing houses is a little mentally ......traumatic....Now I'm having to create a new sense of normal in this place. Its a creakier house It was a little difficult to get to sleep, one being hyped up on caffeine didn't help my energy level, so i cleaned and put stuff away for at least an hour or so after coming in.

Than finally settled the dogs and attempted sleep. Pompei was crated in the "Dog Room" and Bubbles and Texas were in bed with me. (Guide dog puppies are not allowed on the furniture)
Didn't wake up until my alarm went off at 7AM. ON a SATURDAY.

And of course that means Bubbles has to get up, walk around the room, and go to the door to be let out. Me opening the bedroom door awakens Pompei all the way on the other side of the house, and he starts screaming. Of course Texas can't just stay in bed with all the excitment going on outside, and hops up and runs out the door with the gang.

We are doing some serious door-waiting-work with these guys, as I just can't have them doing the mad dash.

So that happened, and I herd everyone back into my room, to see if I can catch at least one more hour of sleep. Thankfully everyone settled back down quickly..and Pompei didn't destroy anything..(that I know of) and I woke up two hours later with a the previously mentioned back ache.

Since my refrigorater is STILL in my other house, I fed the dogs and wandered aimlessly around trying to figure out WHERE to start in this mess.

I eventually got dressed, got my bed room squared away, tackled the bathroom, took the dogs on another potty break; more wandering before going back to my house to check my email and such like.

Spent about two hours cleaning over there and surfing the net before doing some more hauling, taking and apart, and putting together, with the help of my ginormous puppy. 

Somewhere during this time I realized I could get my parents wireless on my work laptop. Ka-ChINg! (Another $50 stays in my bank)

NOt much got done after that....the internet is seriously distracting to me.

I finally pried myself away, and loaded Pompsters into the car, and we did some shopping; wore him out got something to eat and came back home.

Now I'm just trying to keep from having to go to bed. I may just sleep on the bed in my office (eeeek that is so fun to say hee hee) ...we'll see. 

Valentines day? Don't really care overly much about it; that's one Holiday my future husband will not have to worry about with me. Maybe my friends and I will go out to eat after Church.

Speaking friends, two of them will actually be moving into my old place, so we'll be neighbors! Woot!