Lions & Tigers & Bears, oh my!

Ok - there's not really any lions and tigers but we did have the bears.

Last night some friends had brought me a load of pinestraw and as we were unloading into the front yard our neighborhood police officer stopped by to tell us that...."Y'all might want to watch out. There's a black bear over on that fairway."

"Ummm.....a what?" we all say in unison.

He repeats, "There's a black bear roaming around on the golf course and I just wanted to make y'all aware."

"Ummm..Ok, thanks. We'll watch out for it."

So, needless to say, we hurried up with the pinestraw unloading while cautiously watching the hill in front of my house to see if the bear actually made it to the green. He must have lost his ball in the bunker or a water hazard because he didn't make it to the fourth hole.

The whole neighborhood was abuzz. We had to tell a few walkers to be on the lookout and a few looky-loos actually made their way down to the pond (in golf carts - like he can't catch them in those) where he had been reportedly spotted. The next person to enter the action was a photographer from the local newspaper zooming around the neighborhood trying to get a glimpse of the Moore County bear that has been making appearances for the last couple of weeks. (He usually likes to hang at the movie theater but I guess he wanted to play the front nine).

I kept waiting on my front porch armed with my camera hoping this elusive bear would stroll by. No such luck. The photo above is just one I downloaded. Oh well, knowing my luck he'll sneak up on me while I'm outside working in the yard.

Do y'all have any animal encounters that you'd like to share?

duchess (I've got to work on my signature thing)

I've been playing around.

You are not in the wrong place. This is still our blog - I've just been playing around.

I'm really starting to get into this blog business. I have to admit that it helps when the instructions are written out step by step.

I have to give a shout out to Leelou Blogs for the "FREE" template. It's pretty fabulous actually. There are so many to choose from......I can change my mind to my hearts content.

I'd better run - still got more changin' to do.

Hope you enjoy the change as well.

(Ok - I've still got to fix this.)

How do I explain this?

Today Gracie happened to see a picture of Jamie Lynn Spears & her new baby on the computer. (It just happened to be while I was checking out the OK homepage but whatever.)

Up until this point I had managed to keep her delicate condition a secret from my Zoey 101 watching 7 year old impressionable daughter. She looks with interest because she loves anything having to do with a baby & says....."she looks a lot like Zoey....wait, that is Zoey. What's she doing with a baby?" Then she proceeds to read the captions and suddenly she knows. I then have to go into the whole..."no, she's not married honey" routine. "yes, she is only 17". I kind of make it through that part of the conversation without too much detail and we change the subject.

Well, of course my little busy body's not going to let it drop. Later in the afternoon while on our relaxing ride to gymnastics she asks about the baby again. With a roll of my eyes I suggest that maybe she should find another TV girl to watch. "But why, Mommy?" I reply, "She has made some bad decisions, honey, and I'd rather you not look up to her so much." (Thinking I had done alright with my answer.)

"She then says but I do that all the time."

"Ummm, what honey?"

"I make bad decisions all the time and L is still my friend."

(Momma mia!!) My 7 year old is too smart for me.

"You're right, sweetie, we do stick by our friends when they make bad decisions but....she's not really Zoey and Jamie Lynn is not our friend so JUST FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO LIKE ALREADY!"

I so wish we didn't have to have conversations like this. Anyone got any advice for when the subject comes up again (and it will)?

Thinkin' about a change....

Anyone who knows me in the "real" world knows that I become bored with things very easily.

I'm forever changing our furniture around.
I'm always scared to buy large ticket items because I might not like them in a couple of years.
I always want a different car.
I always over-analyze bedding choices.
I love the look of some wallpapers/paint colors, but am afraid to commit to any on a permanent basis.
(What if I change my mind??)

All of this psychoanalysis brings me to my point........I want to redo my blog design.

Not that I don't love my current design.

It's fun.
It's whimsical.
It's summery.
It's very kid friendly.

But.....I'm kinda tired of looking at it.

I want a classic look. I chose the current design because of the children, however after using it for a while, it's really my blog and I'd like it to be more reflective of my personality.

Now, to get to my second point.

Does anyone know where I could download some really nice backgrounds and embellishments?

I know there are some talented bloggers out there, so just drop me a line & help me come up with some ideas for a new look.

Move update:

Just a quick note to keep everyone posted on where we are in the relocation process.....

sitting still!!

We have gotten a couple of things accomplished:

Our house has been on the market for a couple of weeks (no showings, one broker open house).
Apparently real estate agents don't like red bedrooms, so we spent the weekend painting Bray's room a nice "neutral" color.

I have called and fussed at gently reminded our relocation specialist of our time constraints and her lack of concern for them.

Since then we have scheduled the moving co. to come by for their survey and with the help of an e-mail to hubby's company relo rep, we are working on getting the appraisal process started. (We need this information in order to purchase a home in the new location - kind of important.)

Our realtor in SC is tanning on some exotic island and won't be back until 7/12 (July 12th people!)

As of my last check, the SC board of education has not delayed the start of their 08-09 school year because of our circumstances. It is due to begin on 8/19 (August 19th people!).

I know that all of this will work out. I have complete faith that God is in control of our situation and He knows that I don't handle waiting well and is chuckling at my endevors to control things from here. I will just try to be content with the calm before the storm and keep house hunting online until our vacationing realtor comes back and the appraisers appear at my door.

Until later.....I hope you all have a great day.

We've been gone.

Sorry I haven't had any new posts lately. We've been out of town celebrating Independence Day with my family. Hamburgers, hot dogs, swimming & fireworks (with a few birthday celebrations thrown in for fun). A good time was had by all. (I'll post pictures later - too much to do to download right now)

Hope all of you had a great holiday weekend.

Please comment & tell us all about it.

Counterfeit

There once was a little girl named Gracie,
and she really loved to shop.

For everyday she begged her mom
"Just let me get one little top?"

Until one day she heard her mom say,
"I'm sorry honey, not today. Do you think they just give this stuff away?"

She hung her head low and back home they went
And later at her drawing table, this little girl had an idea.

"I think I will draw me some money to spend at the store.
For surely mom can't object, she's always such a bore."

She brings it in and proudly states,
"Let's go shopping now, I have my own dough"

Her mom sadly rolls her eyes and says,
"On what tree does this money grow?"

She pulled it out and I finally saw what she had in her little mit,
My seven year old little girl was now a counterfeit!

Ok - it didn't really happen that way (exactly) but she did try to print her own money.

If it were just that simple!

Yay! It's My Birthday!!!!

Ok - so June 30th is my birthday and I'm turning "37" years young.

In honor of this special occasion, I would like to give away gifts.....bloggy award gifts to be exact.

In the last few weeks I have been awarded some bling from some of my wonderful bloggy friends and today I'm going to return some of the love.

Let's get the award ceremony started:

Award #1:

This award was given to me by Jennifer at A Sample of Jennifer's Thoughts .

It was originated by Crystal at Memoirs of a Mommy in honor of the organ donor who saved her young son, Noah's, life. In order to accept this award, you just have to link back to her and share it with other blogs that you read and love.

Now for the receipients (in no particular order):

Wendi at Because Wendi Said So!

Kristen of Loving Our Simple Life

McMommy of the McMommy Chronicles

Award #2:

This award is pretty self-explainatory, so with no further delay, it goes to:

Memoirs of the Shoe Obsessed

Jodie of The Minniear Family - Life Through My Lens

Kellan from On The Upside (you probably already have this one - just not from me)

Award #3:

This special award is to be given and accepted by everyone who has visited me & comments on a regular basis (you know who you are). Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone for stopping by & sharing my special day with me.

You are all truly great friends.

Our Nest

OMGoodness! I have been surfing around blogworld and have discovered a whole new set of sites that I just adore. There is Shannon from Bless Our Nest, Feathers In My Nest, Kari and Kijsa, and The Nesting Place and these are just a few. I haven't made it through their blogrolls yet, so I'm sure there's a lot more in store for me to enjoy.

I have gotten so many ideas already. I can't wait to try some of their tips and ideas in our new home.

For those of you who don't know me well, I love to decorate our home. It's one of my passions. Not only do I love to decorate but I want to do it as inexpensively as possible (without actually looking it). Since our house is on the market now, I went around the other day and took some pictures, so I thought I would take this opportunity to show you inside our nest.

Our Family Room

Our Kitchen
Our Office

Our Bedroom

Our Bathroom

Gracie's Room (yea, her bedpost is broken - it's on the to-fix list)

Bray's room - (it's not finished - we stopped until we move)

Well, there your have it - a tour around Chez Edwards. Have fun browsing some of the blogs mentioned above & I'd love to see your nest.

I'm Feeling Nostalgic

The time was 1989 - 1991. The place was White Hall of East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, where a group of girls were placed together in a dorm and became life-long friends.

For some reason, tonight I'm feeling a little nostalgic for those friends. I'm not sure if it's because in 5 days I'll be turning 37 or if it's because today we applied for a new mortgage for our house in SC (and that's got me feeling old & responsible), but whatever the reason, they were on my mind. Some I keep in touch with on a regular basis, others only occasionally, and some I haven't heard from in years. I hope everyone & their families are doing well. I know we're all busy and time goes by too quickly, but I'd like to take this opportunity to let them know that they are missed.

W, Me, M, C, & S (where's T?)
Spring Break 1991 Myrtle Beach, SC

There was always a lot of this going on. M showing T how to work it.

(Maybe they're getting ready to head out to "The Elbow Room".)

Always some kind of spa treatment being adminstered.
(That's me, BTW.)

Now, let me introduce these great girls to you.

This is M. She's now an Assistant Principal at a High School, a wife and
mother to two beautiful girls.

This is S. I guess her t-shirt was foreshadowing because she is now a teacher. She also has two children and a husband of her own at home.

Here we have W and C.

W is a social worker, wife and mother to a wonderful little boy.
C is now a stay at home mom to two great kids and wife of one lucky man.

Here is T. She married her high school sweetheart & is now the stay at home mom of twins.

And now last, but not least.......

We all know what happened to this couple.......they lived happily ever after.

Thanks for taking this stroll down memory lane with me and Wendi, I'll apologize for the music now - I know you'll be singing it all day.

Just a quick note to all of the younger readers out there. Please don't laugh at the music, hairstyles, or fashions & think to yourself...."I was only 8 (or whatever) when this was popular." because I promise you, 37 will be here before you know it.