Random Rambling

First, I wanted to take minute to say Thank-you for all the birthday wishes for my DD! I think she had a really nice birthday, although I doubt she would ever admit it, lol. TEENAGERS! Her friends decided to stay another day, so they didn't leave to go to Traverse City until Sunday. I gotta admit, it sure is lonely here right now :( I guess it's really starting to hit me that it won't be long now until she moves out on her own & then it'll be just Jim & I. Talk about a weird feeling! It's never been just Jim & I.....when I met him, I already had Shawn, so we were an 'instant' family. But now, reality is starting to set it....the reality that my kids are all grown up & I'm getting OLD! LOL I guess I need to look at this as a new chapter in my own life......a new start for me.....a new start for Jim & I. But it's still scary!

Here are some glimpses of her cake. Isn't Wall E cute? :)
And here is Eve, aka Eva.
After they left on Sunday, Jim & I decided to take a drive to downtown Royal Oak for their annual Antique & Garage Sale event. It was okay.....nothing to write home about. Just seemed like the prices were too high on most stuff. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't so hot & humid out! I only purchased 2 things while I was there.....the angel above for my garden along with this:
I fell in love with this plaque as soon as I saw it! Once Jim & I decide what we're going to do about moving, I plan on setting up a little garden area in memory of Karen & Jimmy which will include the angel & this plaque.
Here are just some more random pictures from around our porch/garden. This old milk can I purchased a few years ago at a garage sale for $5.00. It was all rusty, so Jim has a friend that offered to sandblast it & paint it for us & I just love the way it turned out! Now I'm trying to decide if I should decorate it at all with maybe some rub-ons, paint a design on it or something. Any ideas?
Here's a picture of our Black-eyed Susans, which Jim hates. They don't look like they're doing very good right now.....probably because of the heat.
I have no clue what these flowers are on the side of our house, but they're pretty. Anyone know what they are?
I just noticed these lillies blooming last night on the opposite side of the house.

As far as the moving situation goes, we still haven't made a decision as to what to do. Surprised??? ;) We do know that the expensive house right down the road from us is out.....turns out, a friend of theirs is going to rent it from them instead. But that's okay cause like I said, it just would have been cutting it too close financially.



We looked at another house on Friday that we really like.....mainly because it's new construction & we would be the first ones to live in it. BIG plus there! It's 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths with a jacuzzi tub in the master bath & it has a HUGE kitchen, but no pantry, which we've been spoiled with. I think that's one of our biggest problems.....we have been spoiled with different things & somehow, they've seemed to almost become a necessity when looking for a new house. Side-by-side fridge with ice & water on the door, glass top stove, central A/C, etc., etc. The other good thing about the home is that it's $150 cheaper a month than what we're paying now & there's a pond right behind the house, so the view isn't bad. The only downside to this house is that we're a little worried about the neighborhood. The house is on a cul-de-sac, but to access the house, you have to basically drive through an apartment complex, which doesn't look the best. But another plus.....it's only 4 miles from Jim's work, so it would save us a LOT on gas, but then again, it's further away from our gym, which we go to 5-6 days a week, so there goes our gas savings right there, lol. ARGH! Why is this so hard??? I do know one thing.....I'm just tired of stressing over all of this....it's really been taking a toll on me lately, but I need to stop letting it!


Jim & I received some sad news today. We just found out that a fellow bowler/friend passed away on July 8th :*( He was on vacation in Tennessee & apparently drowned. He was only 47 years old & he left behind a wife & 3 kids. We didn't know him real good, but good enough that we still considered him a friend. I'm going to make a card this week to send to his wife & children.

Till next time,
Benita