Tour de Farm

We went on a Farm tour today. One of the farms is owned  by a family in our church, they grow vegetables, flowers, herbs and have chickens. It was great fun and also educational for Jamie and for us.

I bought some Kale at that farm and also scavenged an heirloom carrot, (it was yellow) a turnip and a white potato. Have you heard of Kale chips? You wash and dry the kale really well and then tear it into pieces and shake with olive oil, then put it on a cookie sheet and put in oven at 300 degrees.

Well since I bought the kale and I was going to do it in the oven, I also sliced up the turnip, carrot and potato and did the same with them.

Mike informed me that there was NO WAY he was going to eat or even try the turnip. Thank god Jamie didn't hear him. (I think she copies his bad food habits and I try to insist she at least try stuff). Mike tried the Kale chips and wasn't a fan. Jamie did like the Kale but not the turnip. And predictably enough we all liked the Potato.

We also went to a farm that had a lot of animals, most notably a large pet turkey, lots of baby goats, a Teacup pot belly pig and chickens. There was some 'designer' vinegar and EVOO for sale - our fave was chocolate flavored vinegar - but we couldnt stomach $14 a bottle for it.

It was nice to get out of town for an afternoon and enjoy each others company. 

Someone called her fat today

Jamie came home from dance class today and said another girl told her she was fat.

I was sad for my girl and feel bad that she does have a tummy. (as we all do in this family)

I asked her what she said to the girl and this is what she said,

"It's not nice to say mean things to people and make them feel bad".

Good for her, what a great answer. Couldn't have advised her to say anything different. (Though I was thinking, what a mean little girl!)

Anyway, Jamie asked me if she should 'not talk to her again'.

This was a tough one but I do believe in not holding grudges and turning the other cheek so I told her to be polite and nice to the girl unless she says something mean again. then if she is mean again to tell the little girl that she doesn't talk to mean people.

Think that was ok advice?

Clothes fads

Weeks went by and Jamie had to wear skirt shirt and leggings under the skirt every day. Well guess what, all her leggings are now wore out or stained.

I don't let her wear tights to school because that would be a pair a day. Boom, wear em to school and they are wrecked.

Thank goodness the style has changed in Kindergarten last week and she started wearing jeans.

So I took her to the thrift store and got her five pair for $20. I pray that the tide doesnt change again.

Hope Ashley and Amelia who seem to be the pack leaders stay with jeans for the rest of the school year.

Introducing Cody!

One day a few weeks ago after church I saw this whitish cat being circled by the feral cat at church. I stopped the van, mom, Jamie and I were in it, not Mike. (Important to the story)

We sat there and called to this kitty who answered back pitifully. After about five minutes while Jamie was begging to get out and get the kitty, I got out and approached him.

Now I know if anyone approached my kitties anywhere including our house they would bolt and run, heck they bolt and run if I make a move to pick them up.

Not this kitty. He let me pick him up and cuddled right up to me.

So I took him home.

Yes to the husband who swore 'Not one more pet in this house for me to turd chase!'

I am now doing the cat boxes.

And I have a cuddly kitty. Who likes to be picked up, even by Jamie. He is sweet and loving to everyone except our other cats Minnie and Spicy. They have spent the last four weeks huddled up in hiding places.

I do put Cody outside on the screened porch whenever there is a cat fight. (which is mostly growling and hissing - big dramatic screaming from the Minster...)

He is Cody because he is truly the most codependent cat ever. He just loves to be held and loved on. He calls out for it whenever I enter the room.

I love my Cody Kitty. Isn't he unusual? He has a bent ear because of ear infections that didn't get treated. Isn't he the cutest?!!

(Yes I ran an ad on Craigslist but he's mine now)

Springing into Home ownership

Jamie learned to ride a 2 wheeler this month, and her and Daddy went to the beach together one day during Spring Break last week and rode bikes there. They had a blast. I didn't make it as I had to work, showing houses.

I am working with a couple of different buyers and actually have one accepted contract. Still not sure of financing for the lady - we hope to find out tomorrow.

Working with buyers is very rewarding but ALOT of work. They really want to make the best decision possible so it's understandable.

Alot of them don't want to get reapproved which is unfortunate. I spent a couple hours with a very nice couple this past weekend to find out they are not approved and will not be approved until they establish credit.

If you don't have any revolving credit and never have that is not a good thing. Go out and get a credit card and buy something. Don't pay it completely off though. Make payments (minimum or more) each month and that will establish that you are able to pay bills on time and you will have credit. At least 6 mos is necessary, a year is probably better.

If you hit a dog please stop!

Yesterday after I dropped Jamie off at school I saw a dog on the sidewalk that had been hit by a car. My girlfriend had just dropped off her son behind me so she and another couple of woman stopped too.

The poor thing was hurt but alive. We managed to get his collar off though he did try to snap at me at first, then we calmed him down.
,
The collar had a rabies tag with the phone number of the vets office on it but no other tag. It was one of the 'cheap' vets here in town so it rang busy for over 10 minutes but I was able to get through finally.

At first they just gave me the ownersname and phone number but I thought to ask for the address as well and wouldnt you know it, the phone was temporarily disconnected. So I called my office to tell them Iwould be late and asked for help mapquesting the address.

The street was just a cruddy part of town.. Jamie attends a performing arts 'magnet school' and our district places such schools in the poor parts of town. This was an effort to integrate the schools I think by bringing in the upper middle class into the ghettos in town. It works.

Anyway, the address was way at the end of this street, ahd there was a car idleing in front of the house and a chow dog laying in the dirt in front. I pulled up honking the horn...nobody came out so I knocked on the car window (the windows were tinted pretty dark) and the woman inside said she didn't know anyone named 'Joe Schmoe' (the name I got from the vet was actually different but just in case I am changing to protect the not so innocent).

I said, "why are you sitting out here in front of this house then...?" and went up and knockedon the door. Joe came to the door and I told him his dog "Rover" had been hit andhe needed to come.

"Is he dead?" is all he said to me.

I answered no, but he is in bad shape.

That was it. I drove back to the dog where one of the girls was stll there with him as well as a couple of neighborhood kids. I waited til Joe showed up with the woman in the car with the dark tinted windows and went to work.

I think some people shouldn't have pets.

She's pretty Grown up

Jamie went on a sleepover at one of her BFF's on Saturday night. And she didn't call us to get her to come home.

Earlier today she made herself a cream cheese sandwich. And she applied makeup all over her eyes and cheeks.

She is getting pretty good at straightening her room and picking out clothes for herself.

Is she ready for Girl Scout Camp? Mike isn't.

She just joined a Daisy troop and they are having a 2 day overnight camping trip coming up. I think we should let her go, but maybe Mike isn't ready to let his little girl go.

Waiting

I manned (Sat in...? Worked..? hosted...?) a model for a small designer community today and did another Open house on Sunday. Lots of sitting and waiting...

After being and outside sales rep I got used to being the one doing the running and going - And I liked it. Now I am doing some sitting and waiting. Which I am not so sure I like.

It reminds me of when I worked in a swimming pool store in Michigan. We also carried spas and pool tables and were open year round. I was a glorified assistant manager which meant I got to sit many long dreary cold days alone in the store. It wasn't a good scenerio for one prone to SAD.

This isn't so bad, it's just a few hours every once in a while, but I am just sayin... So glad I am not back in that swimming pool store. In winter. In Michigan. Long cold dreary days, having to shovel the walk sometimes more than once per day (We had snow removal but only if it was over 2" during the snowfall and we have more snowfalls under 2" than over).

I am glad to be living here in the sunshine state. Today I was at a model home which is really the community's clubhouse on a creek with a pool off the back.

Yes it was a grey day. But it was mild - 73 degrees or so.

But it wasn't Michigan in a pool store in 34 degrees with slush on the ground.

So it was a good day.

Oh really I didn't know that...I am so glad you told me!

I am getting the to age where I would love to impart my wisdom unto others.

I remember the first time, I had recently graduated from college and my cousin was still in high school. I realized I could save him some pain and expense if he would take my advice about Math. "Take math in high school and learn all you can while it is free," I told him. I had had to pay for 3 college courses in math, Beginning Algebra, Intermediate Algebra and College Algebra so I could take Statistics which was the required course for my major.

I don't know that he took my advice on that topic, but he recently told me I turned him on to some cool bands in the 80's most notably Gang of Four.

When I was at the paper I loved helping folks and showing tips and tricks to get work done quickly.

I used to attend Alanon meetings and loved telling things that would help others, like "He who angers me controls me" or "Resentment is the poison I drink hoping the other person will die."

Then there is my favorite Computer shortcut I want to share with everyone-Window D...I just love that quick trick to reduce all windows down to the bottom so you can see your desktop - See I even want to impart wisdom while writing this post - LOL.

For some reason when my mom has wisdom to impart I cringe inside and don't want to listen. I feel like she constantly wants to tell me the right way to be...

"You know you aren't supposed to tell the child to clean her plate, it could lead to obesity..." (and she is obese and I have been flirting with it for years)
or
"When I cook I always do it this way..." (She never cooks anymore)
or
"Do you measure your cat's foods each day so they won't get fatter" (Her cat is fatter than my cats)
or
"Have you ever cleaned out your garbage disposal/dishwasher etc. etc etc?"

I will quit here, enough said...I just wish I didn't get so defensive and reactive.

If I could just smile gracefully and say "Oh! I didn't know that! I am so glad you told me!" it would be so much better.

Wish I could be the patient loving nuturing daughter...

Our winter is outside time

Jamie hasnt learned to ride without training wheels yet. To tell you the truth I may ask a younger more fit friend to run alongside her and help her learn. Pitiful I know, but I just can't run more then 30 feet or so and she won't do it without one of us beside her.

She did get a new scooter for Christmas and that does seem to be helping her balance. She just isn't interested in giving the bike another try without the training wheels.

I take her and Samson to the park quite often and the scooter is what she chooses to bring. Lots of folks at the park which is good in some ways but not so good for Samson. I don't feel ok letting him off the leash when there are others at the park, as dogs are not supposed to be running free.

Some mornings when I don't go in right away, I take Sammy to a small park that is fenced in and I walk the sidewalk while encouraging him to rip and roar around.

We really do spend more time outside here in the winter than in the summer. In the summer it's so hot I either want to be in my pool or inside. Winter is the out and about time.

How is your winter going?

Walking the walk and Talking the Talk

I am learning to be a realtor...and what I have learned is you just have to do something...anything. The key is to get in front of people every day and let them know you are in real estate and could help if they would like to buy or sell their homes.

So I am out getting in front of them. Now that I have a listing in my neighborhood I decided I need to let folks in the neighborhood know that I am an agent and am doing business here. I have my name on the sign now, so now to reinforce it somehow.

But how?

Yes I could mail them all something... There are 702 houses in our neighborhood. And my brokerage doesn't pay for postage. But they do let you make color copies...hmmmm. So why not walk it around? They say face to face is best for meeting folks anyway.

So I developed a newsletter, called it My Neighborhood's Real Estate Journal and wrote an article about how great the neighborhood is, got another article from our local Realtors association and finally a small article about my new listing. Then on the other side I put 3 larger photos of the new listing with the information about it...

I started my 'Door Knocking' Campaign yesterday, did 20 houses yesterday. Today I did 30 houses this morning and another 30 this afternoon. For each 30 doors knocked on I typically talk to between 6-8 folks. So ninety down, 612 to go.

They say Rome wasn't built in a day.

Tis the Season

If Jamie had her way we would be on the go every day and night...which we pretty much have been.

The beginning of the month was crazy with studying for my state real estate exam...I studied most of Nov and beginning of Dec but managed to pass my test on my first try and then got to do more classes courtesy of my new company.

I wrote my first listing last week with the help of my broker, but it goes live next week as they wanted to wait until after the holidays. It is a neighbor who cooincidently wanted to sell his house the week I passed my test. I happened to stop by to inquire about his new baby and mentioned passing my exam and wow this could be fun...

Anyway, lots of Jamie's friends have birthdays in December (three of her best friends!) and her birthday is next week. Poor baby would love a party but I have convinced her to wait until summer for a pool party again.

Our Christmas was awesome, Jamie got her coveted Monster High dolls (thanks Uncle Larry) a Hello Kitty scooter from Grandma Judy, a bike from Grandma Fifi and a Android tablet and zhuzhe universe from her Grandpa and Grandma Char and her new Aunt Jen Ron and Uncle Bruce sent her a handmade Chinese princess dress. Everyone was extra generous this year which was great because our income is down this season.

Mike and I got candy and the pleasure of seeing our little girls pleasure. Life is good.

Now to get busy.

Jamie's Fifth Christmas

Wonderful Christmas morning, Merry Christmas everyone!!

Crazy busy but loving life

I am a licensed Real Estate associate! I passed my state test and have signed with a local broker here in town that I used to be the rep for when I was at the paper.

I feel like this is a good fit for me and my skill set and it's my passion. I hope I excel at it and make a good living for my family.

We went out to eat the night I passed my state test for the first time in four months. Jamie picked Fridays.

And I think I may have my first listing!

WIsh me luck, I will try to post more now that I am done with the crush of studying!

Tee shirt rug using Hula Hoop

From this site:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/hula-hoop-rug-995304/

This looks so cool! Hoping to try it sometime. This pattern says it works best with boys size large tee shirts with a 33" hoop. So I am guessing that you could use a smaller hoop, say 28 for girls 4t.

Cool idea huh? Love this magazine and thanks Tara for the FB post about this great idea to recycle favored tees.

Destructive Sleepovers

Jamie has a BFF who when she sleeps over there is always some sort of horrendous mess and most recently destruction has become the norm.

They have learned to be quiet after they are put to bed and to do a real number on her room while we think they are sleeping.

Friday night they went to bed and proceeded to take all her books out, most of her dolls and toys. They also used magic markers on the Hello Kitty bed sheets (they colored in the clouds) and also on furniture and the hand painted waistbasket.

Last time they dumped all her toys out and the Moon Sand all over everything.

On a regular play date last summer they climbed the walls in the bathroom tearing the porcelain double towel bar down off the wall. (Which is of course no longer being sold at Home Depot - I found it on Ebay for $400!)

They love each other so much but I just can't handle this mess and destruction! I had the girls do over an hour cleaning up the room Saturday morning, and Jamie and I still worked for another 2 hours that afternoon to get it back in shape.

I really do love their friendship and both sets of parents enjoy the Adult time when the kiddies are at their friends, but really!

Our country isn't really number one anymore

Ok as someone who has recently become unemployed I have given some thoughts to the state of employment and unemployment in our country today.

One of my former colleagues, let's call him 'Ray' who normally was not very outspoken with the management team told our managers last year that 'they could treat us as badly as they wanted as they knew we couldn't easily find another job'. (this didn't go over well, in fact another colleague who spouted off in that meeting was fired a week later).

Ray was really was so succinctly true in that statement. Think about it. Most of the folks I know who are employed are pretty miserable in their job. I mean from all different sectors.

First of all the corporate sector:

I recently worked for corporation in a failing industry. The newspaper industry once enjoyed HUGE revenues and profits for producing a product most consumers in the market bought and invited into their home. A trusted source for news and information. And yes the newspaper is still trusted and purchased. But by fewer and fewer people each year. There is just so much competition out there for information, they are struggling to maintain any sort of healthy market share and although there is still revenue coming in it is nowhere near what they were used to before the housing bubble burst.

This is also happening in manufacturing, telecommunications and even the health care industry. Profit has become number one and since the profits are down the employees seem to bear the brunt of it. Ok so that is the corporate sector.

Then there is the education sector (which is really part of government/state services). Working for either is no longer a stable job you can count on being in for the rest of your life. I have a friend who was 'downsized' from her job with the state, (and is now on government paid disability) and a husband who teaches high school in a failing school. He is contantly struggling to keep up with the myriad of demands from his school administration, the county, school board and the state. He is at school Mon-Friday from 6:30 am to 6pm every day and works on grading papers and tests, lesson plans, rubrics and countless other tasks that seem never-ending. There is rarely a time when he can take more than 20 minutes to be with his family. He has been to church with us 2 times since school started back. He is constantly told he needs to work smarter, better and faster and provide more with less. He has aged five years in 10 weeks.

We have all heard of pensions being repealed and retired folks losing benefits they thougth were theirs for a lifetime. Nothing is a sure thing these days.

I am not sure about the military sector but do know of several folks in the service who are getting out this year.

The retail/service industry seems to be thriving. I have asked those who work for Rent A Car, Cable, Pool Stores etc how they like their jobs. The answers have varied but usually are along "It's a job and it's ok until the economy shifts."

Will it shift? Or the optimistic way to say it is when will it shift?

As someone who is now unemployed after almost 19 years with the same company I have a different outlook now. Our country needs help and it needs it soon. Why must health insurance be either unattainable or $500/month?

And why is it so hard for any family to live on one income? My parents did it, lots of folks did it, but it just isn't done anymore.

I just think it's crazy.

We live in the so called best country in the world.

I think we are slipping.

The deal was...

Ok so this is one of Jamie's new sayings...I can't believe it...It just seems so adult...

She said "The deal was.." when explaining a twist in the Barbie Mermaid movie. I asked her what that meant and she responded, "That means if you don't follow the directions that you stay a mermaid forever"

Great day!

Not just because it's my Birthday. Life is just grand for some reason.

Yes still no job.

I am thinking of becoming a realtor and am exploring options and next steps to see if this is realistic.

Some say because of the economy that it isn't a good option.

But it's my passion. When given the choice I have on House Hunting or Flipping Out on the television and have spent countless hours on zillow and realtor dot com. What can I say, I just love looking at houses for sale.

I spent the last 6 years of my recent tenure as an ad representative working with the real estate sector, mainly agents and brokers so I have some background.

Now I just need to go through Real estate school, pass the test, get licenced and get more training and mentoring to become what I have always wanted to be.

It's my passion and you know what they say about passion...

Busy Busy Busy!

Wow not much time to post, but life is good. This is the first time in over 20 years that I don't report to someone else to carry out their agenda.

My and my family's agenda every day all the time.

And there still isn't enough time.

Or enough money.

Wish there was more of both.

This is what has been filling my days lately:

Garage sale prep, Sunday school prep, Getting my health taken care of (Using up health benefits, getting new insurance etc. Trying to get over cold or seasonal allergies), getting this house in order, enjoying my pool now that the water is finally under 90 degrees and refreshing to swim in, Working with my new school age child on homework and behavior issues, Reading a bit...

Miraculously NOT worrying about finding a new job or that the money won't stretch enough, or feeling any bitterness or resentment about my recent job loss.

Wow.