I thought I'd just bring everyone up to date on the birds we've seen around here. I haven't seen the wild turkeys since last week, that is disappointing. But yesterday Tom told me to look out the front window to see all the robins. There were at least 40 robins in our front yard. I've never seen so many robins together like that. Then about an hour later Tom hollered from the kitchen to ask me what I thought was in the tree. At first, all we could see was something bright red. When it moved, we decided we better take a closer look...so we went to the other door and sure enough it was a pretty good size bird. After it moved around the tree where we could see it better, we decided it was a red headed wookpecker. I'd NEVER seen a red headed woodpecker before. He sure looked like Woody. It was fun to see him! I've also seen cardinals and somekind of blue birds. Each day brings different kinds of birds to our yard. I guess that's a benefit of living down south in the winter? We get to see so many kinds of birds that head back home for the summers.
We hope ya'll are having a great day!
Michele
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Face Book
Ok, so a friend asked Tom to join Face Book, which he did. So, I have a question. What are the pros and cons of Face Book? I know that a number of you do have Face Book accounts. So, if you'd please let me know what you think of Face Book, I'd really appreciate it. Tom actually got to type to his cousin in Phoenix, so that was cool. I guess you can see who is online and then do an IM like thing with them. I don't know if I want to take the time or have the energy to do another thing besides this blog...so any and all advice would be appreciated!
Michele
Michele
Thursday, January 22, 2009
My Closet, The adventure continues
Back to My closet. I've finally gotten all my clothes and shoes unpacked. Since I decided I couldn't use the walk-in closet, I took over the smaller closet in our bedroom and the closet in the office. I am proud to say that I think it will work fine. Now I have a summer closet and a winter closet. And I must admit that I have a bit of stuff in Tom's big closet...but he is very kind and willing to share with me. I don't think he's ever had such a big closet, but he's got it organized really well. We are sharing my shoe rack, I figured since he let me put it in his closet I could share it with him.
I've been reminded lots lately of a thought my good friend, Dawn, shared with me long ago. It goes with my potted flower pens she gave me when I was released from Young Womens. The thought is this: "BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED." I'm trying very hard to do just that. These past few weeks, I think I was acting more like a weed than a beautiful flower. I'm trying really hard to do better and be more creative on how and where I'm putting things in our new home. All seems to be more settled each day and our home is becoming more homey now that most of the boxes are removed.
Stay Safe & God Bless!
Michele
I've been reminded lots lately of a thought my good friend, Dawn, shared with me long ago. It goes with my potted flower pens she gave me when I was released from Young Womens. The thought is this: "BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED." I'm trying very hard to do just that. These past few weeks, I think I was acting more like a weed than a beautiful flower. I'm trying really hard to do better and be more creative on how and where I'm putting things in our new home. All seems to be more settled each day and our home is becoming more homey now that most of the boxes are removed.
Stay Safe & God Bless!
Michele
Spiders
I ABHOR SPIDERS!!!! They just give me the creeps, to say the least. I have killed 5 spiders since we moved in. These are those dark black spiders about the size of a nickel..including their legs. It's to the point that I just start looking in all the corners expecting a new spider to appear. I think I'll keep wearing shoes or slippers in the house, just in case I happen to step on one. In my younger years, I'd just start hollering for someone to come kill the spider. Usually one of my sons was around and could handle that for me. Now that I'm here alone most of the time, it's up to ME to kill the spiders. IT just seems like everytime I see a spider, Tom's at work, hence home alone! I haven't come to the point that I'm nice to spiders and just try to pick them up somehow and take them outside where they belong. If they are inside, they must die! If I could find a fly swatter, I'd use that, but no luck finding a fly swatter yet. SO, I just have to get them with a paper towel and squish. I hate that feeling, seems like I can feel that squish and it makes me tremble.
How is YOUR day going?
Michele
How is YOUR day going?
Michele
Water?!?!
Have you ever stopped to think about water? It's been on my mind since we moved here. I was hoping that we could drink the water, and we can...as long as we drink it from the side by side refrigerator. Thank goodness for that side by side! The water tastes kinda funky if you drink it from the sink. Sometimes it even smells! I haven't decided WHAT it smells like yet. It's NOT that sulfur smell I'm used to...but something entirely different. The water is very soft, we can really tell the difference in our hair after a shower. There seems to not be much iron in the water either. Hence no red ring in the toilets. When we went to Savannah to pay our deposit at the water company, we found out that this water company actually manages most of the water companies in the area, with over 10,000 customers. I wondered at the time how they managed to take care of so many different water companies. I am very thankful that we can drink this water and that it doesn't have that funky smell all the time.
So? The next time you get a chance, just take a few minutes and think about your water, please! It seems like a trivial thing to most Americans, but what a priviledge it is to just have decent water each and every day of our lives.
Michele
So? The next time you get a chance, just take a few minutes and think about your water, please! It seems like a trivial thing to most Americans, but what a priviledge it is to just have decent water each and every day of our lives.
Michele
Friday, January 16, 2009
Boxes, and More Boxes & Wild Turkeys!
HI All,
There really isn't anything new to report...I'm STILL unpacking boxes and looking for missing things. I thought we'd labeled the boxes really well.....BUT, not well enough apparently! Seriously though, the garage is looking a bit bare, that has to mean that most of the boxes are already unpacked or else they are in the spare bedroom still waiting to be unpacked! I thought I'd gotten rid of A LOT of my clothes and shoes, but I still have way to much here. I still have 3 boxes that aren't even unpacked yet, mainly because I don't know where I'm going to put that stuff!
On the bright side...we have wild turkeys in the backyard! I first saw them Monday morning and couldn't figure out what they were. I saw them again yesterday at noon, so I went searching online to see what I was actually seeing. They are wild turkeys. And NO, I haven't been drinking the "Wild Turkey!". I saw about 10 of them, they just feed right behind the house in the dead brush and grasses. I tried taking some photos, but didn't get any really good ones, because I was shooting through the French Door...and when I tried opening the door, they took off.
For all our Northern Family & Friends...it's been cold here the past few days. I mean COLD! Lows at night...mid teens, daytime temps...high 40's. Tom even had to dig out his window scraper again!
We hope ya'll are surviving your bitter cold temps! Take Care & God Bless!
Michele
There really isn't anything new to report...I'm STILL unpacking boxes and looking for missing things. I thought we'd labeled the boxes really well.....BUT, not well enough apparently! Seriously though, the garage is looking a bit bare, that has to mean that most of the boxes are already unpacked or else they are in the spare bedroom still waiting to be unpacked! I thought I'd gotten rid of A LOT of my clothes and shoes, but I still have way to much here. I still have 3 boxes that aren't even unpacked yet, mainly because I don't know where I'm going to put that stuff!
On the bright side...we have wild turkeys in the backyard! I first saw them Monday morning and couldn't figure out what they were. I saw them again yesterday at noon, so I went searching online to see what I was actually seeing. They are wild turkeys. And NO, I haven't been drinking the "Wild Turkey!". I saw about 10 of them, they just feed right behind the house in the dead brush and grasses. I tried taking some photos, but didn't get any really good ones, because I was shooting through the French Door...and when I tried opening the door, they took off.
For all our Northern Family & Friends...it's been cold here the past few days. I mean COLD! Lows at night...mid teens, daytime temps...high 40's. Tom even had to dig out his window scraper again!
We hope ya'll are surviving your bitter cold temps! Take Care & God Bless!
Michele
Friday, January 9, 2009
Our New Home
I was finally able to get the photos of our home off the property management website. You are getting first hand what I saw when I went looking for a rental home. Of course, we have lots of stuff in the house now. When we get it a bit more organized, I'll post some new photos. Until then...this is it!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Trials & JOYS? of relocating!?!?!?!
Oh, the joys of moving!?!?! It seems like everything we try to do takes way more time than planned. The most popular stores in Rincon, GA are Super WalMart and Lowe's. WalMart is ALWAYS very busy. I dislike having groceries at WalMart. If I want groceries, I'd just as soon go to a grocery store. The problem is..the stuff at the grocery stores is quite a bit more expensive than at WalMart. So, my dilemma is this? Do I just bite the bullet and just buy everything at WalMart (where it's always packed with people and a VERY long checkout line) or pay a higher price and shop at the quieter, but more expensive grocery stores?
We went to get our new Driver's Licenses and get the new plates for the 2 vehicles today. All went well with the new drivers licenses. And Georgia even prints the licenses right then. (Angie, It only took me an hour to get all my makeup on, unlike the hours and hours it took last year!) Then we went to get the cars licensed. Tom was able to get his truck license and a new title. Of course, I didn't have all the paperwork that was needed to license the Envoy. Since it's a leased vehicle, I had to have the lease agreement, address of the leasing co., and a power of attorney from the leasing company. What a joke! I've never heard of having to have so much paperwork with me to just license a darn car! So, back home we go to find the lease agreement and call GMAC to tell them I need a power of attorney. GMAC tells me they will fax the power of attorney to the TAG Dept., but it will take 24-48 hours to do so. Since today is Thursday, that means the fax may not show up until Monday. Of course Monday is Tom's first day of work...he's on day shift for 2 weeks for training. Tom also has to sign the paperwork for the license plates for the Envoy. We don't know what time he'll get off work, but the TAG Dept. is only open until 5PM. So, I will probably have to go give them all the paperwork, get it all from them to bring home for Tom to sign and then go back again to take all the paperwork back! AND...of course....they don't take out of state checks and I only have $100 in the new checking account. In Georgia you also have to pay a vehicle tax based on assessed value of the vehicle. Between $200-$300 dollars a year, I HOPE not more than that. The other problem...the lease is up on the Envoy Oct. 11, so I won't even get the full year on the car taxes I have to pay!
Don't these people understand that we are STILL trying to unpack and put everything away somewhere?!?!?! And of course, they only give you 10 days to get new drivers licenses and 30 days to register vehicles.
Oh.... we also had to have the faucet replaced in the kitchen sink this morning. We had to have a plumber come because of the way the current faucet was installed. Thank goodness the plumber was prompt, 9 AM exactly, and got the faucet replaced in record time...40 minutes. I'm glad we didn't have to pay that bill...I guess that is one plus for renting? Let the landlord foot some of the bills!
Oh...and we are STILL trying to clean. I don't know how people live in homes that look like this! I didn't think I was a very good housekeeper. But after seeing what was left behind here, I don't feel the least bit guilty in my house keeping skills. I don't think the baseboards in this house have EVER been cleaned! It will take me months to get them all cleaned....MAYBE I won't bother, and I'll just put my blinders on? I did ask our property manager if we could get a break on the rent because of all the cleaning we've had to do, not to mention having to spend a night at a hotel because the carpets weren't dry. The pat answer: I don't know, I'll have to ask the owner! What do you think our chances are on getting a discount on the rent? I'd say slim to none! The only good thing I can think of is that I don't have to worry about leaving this place very clean if and when we have to move!
We hope all is well with ya'll. Especially to all those family members and friends who are in the snow country! Please be safe! God Bless!
Love,
Michele
We went to get our new Driver's Licenses and get the new plates for the 2 vehicles today. All went well with the new drivers licenses. And Georgia even prints the licenses right then. (Angie, It only took me an hour to get all my makeup on, unlike the hours and hours it took last year!) Then we went to get the cars licensed. Tom was able to get his truck license and a new title. Of course, I didn't have all the paperwork that was needed to license the Envoy. Since it's a leased vehicle, I had to have the lease agreement, address of the leasing co., and a power of attorney from the leasing company. What a joke! I've never heard of having to have so much paperwork with me to just license a darn car! So, back home we go to find the lease agreement and call GMAC to tell them I need a power of attorney. GMAC tells me they will fax the power of attorney to the TAG Dept., but it will take 24-48 hours to do so. Since today is Thursday, that means the fax may not show up until Monday. Of course Monday is Tom's first day of work...he's on day shift for 2 weeks for training. Tom also has to sign the paperwork for the license plates for the Envoy. We don't know what time he'll get off work, but the TAG Dept. is only open until 5PM. So, I will probably have to go give them all the paperwork, get it all from them to bring home for Tom to sign and then go back again to take all the paperwork back! AND...of course....they don't take out of state checks and I only have $100 in the new checking account. In Georgia you also have to pay a vehicle tax based on assessed value of the vehicle. Between $200-$300 dollars a year, I HOPE not more than that. The other problem...the lease is up on the Envoy Oct. 11, so I won't even get the full year on the car taxes I have to pay!
Don't these people understand that we are STILL trying to unpack and put everything away somewhere?!?!?! And of course, they only give you 10 days to get new drivers licenses and 30 days to register vehicles.
Oh.... we also had to have the faucet replaced in the kitchen sink this morning. We had to have a plumber come because of the way the current faucet was installed. Thank goodness the plumber was prompt, 9 AM exactly, and got the faucet replaced in record time...40 minutes. I'm glad we didn't have to pay that bill...I guess that is one plus for renting? Let the landlord foot some of the bills!
Oh...and we are STILL trying to clean. I don't know how people live in homes that look like this! I didn't think I was a very good housekeeper. But after seeing what was left behind here, I don't feel the least bit guilty in my house keeping skills. I don't think the baseboards in this house have EVER been cleaned! It will take me months to get them all cleaned....MAYBE I won't bother, and I'll just put my blinders on? I did ask our property manager if we could get a break on the rent because of all the cleaning we've had to do, not to mention having to spend a night at a hotel because the carpets weren't dry. The pat answer: I don't know, I'll have to ask the owner! What do you think our chances are on getting a discount on the rent? I'd say slim to none! The only good thing I can think of is that I don't have to worry about leaving this place very clean if and when we have to move!
We hope all is well with ya'll. Especially to all those family members and friends who are in the snow country! Please be safe! God Bless!
Love,
Michele
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Fifield Adventures (Days 3-7)
Hi Again,
Well....we finally made it to Georgia! Actually we arrived about 12:30PM on Friday. We got to the house to find it unlocked so we could get in...but were we disappointed! It wasn't cleaned at all! We made some calls, finally found out that the carpet cleaner was supposed to clean the carpets on Friday (but hadn't gotten here yet), but all the other floors were dirty, not even swept yet alone mopped! Needless to say...we had to spend another night in a hotel(because the carpets were still wet)...something we weren't planning on. We got a few things unpacked Friday night, then Saturday morning we had the unloading crew here. We met some very nice guys from our new ward...they had everything unloaded into the garage by 11:45AM. I didn't want a bunch of boxes in the house, so we've been bringing them in a few at a time and getting things put away the best we can. Of course, through all this we've still had to clean the house. It's still not all done..but we are slowly getting there. We got the DSL and phone lines in yesterday (Monday) without a hitch. I thought Direct TV was going to be here yesterday too...but they called me from MICHIGAN wanting to know how to get to the house, I laughed and told him I was in GEORGIA! Needless to say...we didn't get Direct TV yesterday, but the guy is here as I type trying to get the Direct TV hooked up. It has been an interesting few days without internet AND TV! We lived in our own little fish bowl and had no idea what was going on in the rest of the world.
We went to our new Ward on Sunday and met a whole lot of very nice people. It seemed like they all were fighting a cold like I am. The ward isn't all that big, compared to our ward in Ypsi. There are only 6 rows of benches(front to back)and the standard 3 sections (left to right) in the chapel. There were about 30 people in Sunday School class and only 20 in Relief Society, including the Relief Society Presidency. Tom said Priesthood met together (Elders & High Priests). I don't know if that's always the way it's going to be or if it was just a special Sunday. Sorry to Tom's family that may not have any idea what I'm talking about here... I just wanted to pass that info. onto my family and our friends from Church up in Michigan.
Temperatures! What can I say! IT'S NICE and warm! It's been in the 70's every day since we got here. The mornings are a bit chilly...about 59 degrees. I'm NOT trying to rub it in...just trying to keep you all informed. ;-) And NO we DO NOT miss the snow and cold!
Gas Prices! We we got here on Friday, gas was $1.58, today (Tuesday) it's back up to $1.68. And I haven't seen any gas stations that vary on the cost.
Food Prices! They are the pits! A gallon of milk is $3.13...bread anywhere between $1.97 and $3.00 (not on sale) and I can't find any brands that I'm used to seeing. Fruit is a bit cheaper than Michigan.
MY Closet! I'm having a big problem with MY closet! The darn attic access is in the ceiling of MY closet, and I can't have anything hanging because it's in the way of the fold down steps! I really had a break down over that! The first nite I layed awake wondering how I was possibly going to use that closet. I know.... a trivial thing? Well...to me it's a big thing. I was telling Tom I couldn't deal with the closet and he kindly told me I could trade with him. So, I'll take over his closet and at least 2 other closets in the house. I just don't understand why a builder would put an attic access right in the middle of the walk-in closet? Seems really crazy to ME!
We are very busy trying to find places for all our stuff.....it's really interesting to figure out. Tom's been busy carrying all his stuff up to the top room over the garage. I guess that will be the Man Room, minus Direct TV and a big screen TV. Maybe we'll put in a small TV and a DVD player, at least we could watch movies up there..OH! there's NO furniture up there either. We got the new washer & dryer yesterday and I've been busy seeing what I could wash up. I LOVE THE NEW SET! We got front load machines and they sure seem to clean well. I've even got the big blankets washed. It's nice not having to take them to a laundromat!
If any of you are interested, we got a Fridgidaire set (around $1,600 with pedistals). So far, they've worked really great! I did a bit of consumer checking on them, and most people gave them a good rating. I was quite surprised to find front loading machines for under $1000 each.
All in all, we are doing ok. We are both stiff and sore and tired. Bedtime can't come quick enough most nights. We don't even have the bedroom set up yet and I've been sleeping in the recliner where I can breath easier and not cough so much! I'm sure after the TV gets all set up, Tom will stay up and watch TV, but I'll be in bed!
BOTTOM LINE... We love and miss you all! We hope all is going well for ya'll!
Love,
Michele
Well....we finally made it to Georgia! Actually we arrived about 12:30PM on Friday. We got to the house to find it unlocked so we could get in...but were we disappointed! It wasn't cleaned at all! We made some calls, finally found out that the carpet cleaner was supposed to clean the carpets on Friday (but hadn't gotten here yet), but all the other floors were dirty, not even swept yet alone mopped! Needless to say...we had to spend another night in a hotel(because the carpets were still wet)...something we weren't planning on. We got a few things unpacked Friday night, then Saturday morning we had the unloading crew here. We met some very nice guys from our new ward...they had everything unloaded into the garage by 11:45AM. I didn't want a bunch of boxes in the house, so we've been bringing them in a few at a time and getting things put away the best we can. Of course, through all this we've still had to clean the house. It's still not all done..but we are slowly getting there. We got the DSL and phone lines in yesterday (Monday) without a hitch. I thought Direct TV was going to be here yesterday too...but they called me from MICHIGAN wanting to know how to get to the house, I laughed and told him I was in GEORGIA! Needless to say...we didn't get Direct TV yesterday, but the guy is here as I type trying to get the Direct TV hooked up. It has been an interesting few days without internet AND TV! We lived in our own little fish bowl and had no idea what was going on in the rest of the world.
We went to our new Ward on Sunday and met a whole lot of very nice people. It seemed like they all were fighting a cold like I am. The ward isn't all that big, compared to our ward in Ypsi. There are only 6 rows of benches(front to back)and the standard 3 sections (left to right) in the chapel. There were about 30 people in Sunday School class and only 20 in Relief Society, including the Relief Society Presidency. Tom said Priesthood met together (Elders & High Priests). I don't know if that's always the way it's going to be or if it was just a special Sunday. Sorry to Tom's family that may not have any idea what I'm talking about here... I just wanted to pass that info. onto my family and our friends from Church up in Michigan.
Temperatures! What can I say! IT'S NICE and warm! It's been in the 70's every day since we got here. The mornings are a bit chilly...about 59 degrees. I'm NOT trying to rub it in...just trying to keep you all informed. ;-) And NO we DO NOT miss the snow and cold!
Gas Prices! We we got here on Friday, gas was $1.58, today (Tuesday) it's back up to $1.68. And I haven't seen any gas stations that vary on the cost.
Food Prices! They are the pits! A gallon of milk is $3.13...bread anywhere between $1.97 and $3.00 (not on sale) and I can't find any brands that I'm used to seeing. Fruit is a bit cheaper than Michigan.
MY Closet! I'm having a big problem with MY closet! The darn attic access is in the ceiling of MY closet, and I can't have anything hanging because it's in the way of the fold down steps! I really had a break down over that! The first nite I layed awake wondering how I was possibly going to use that closet. I know.... a trivial thing? Well...to me it's a big thing. I was telling Tom I couldn't deal with the closet and he kindly told me I could trade with him. So, I'll take over his closet and at least 2 other closets in the house. I just don't understand why a builder would put an attic access right in the middle of the walk-in closet? Seems really crazy to ME!
We are very busy trying to find places for all our stuff.....it's really interesting to figure out. Tom's been busy carrying all his stuff up to the top room over the garage. I guess that will be the Man Room, minus Direct TV and a big screen TV. Maybe we'll put in a small TV and a DVD player, at least we could watch movies up there..OH! there's NO furniture up there either. We got the new washer & dryer yesterday and I've been busy seeing what I could wash up. I LOVE THE NEW SET! We got front load machines and they sure seem to clean well. I've even got the big blankets washed. It's nice not having to take them to a laundromat!
If any of you are interested, we got a Fridgidaire set (around $1,600 with pedistals). So far, they've worked really great! I did a bit of consumer checking on them, and most people gave them a good rating. I was quite surprised to find front loading machines for under $1000 each.
All in all, we are doing ok. We are both stiff and sore and tired. Bedtime can't come quick enough most nights. We don't even have the bedroom set up yet and I've been sleeping in the recliner where I can breath easier and not cough so much! I'm sure after the TV gets all set up, Tom will stay up and watch TV, but I'll be in bed!
BOTTOM LINE... We love and miss you all! We hope all is going well for ya'll!
Love,
Michele
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Fifield Adventures (Day 2) HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!
Hi Again,
I missed the ball drop, I was in bed by 10PM last nite, I was totally worn out! Today we did much better with the trip...of course, we started before noon too! We made it to Columbia, SC. We are only about 4 hours away (Uhaul speed) from our new home. Tomorrow will be an exciting day for us! We'll go get our new house keys, and check out the house and then start the unpacking!
The weather has been great, the roads haven't been all that busy, except for around Charlotte, NC..it was pretty busy there, I'd hate to be in their rush hour traffic! The turtle has survived, he's had front door service to our hotels and gets wheeled right up to our room on a luggage cart. I can't say that my plants have faired as well. It looks like most of the car full have died. It was just tooooo cold for them last night, stuck out in the car. I may be able to save 3 or 4 out of about 12 plants. So sad! Can you tell, I LIKE PLANTS?!?!?!
We won't have internet access after tomorrow morning (Friday) until Monday...(hopefully)...the phone company is supposed to be at the new house Monday morning, so I'm hoping to be back online sometime Monday. I will post again as soon as we have internet service again, and I can take a break from unpacking!
We hope everyone had a Great New Year's Eve...and a good New Year's Day...May God Bless you all and please have a safe, healthy, prosperous New Year!
Love,
Michele & Tom
I missed the ball drop, I was in bed by 10PM last nite, I was totally worn out! Today we did much better with the trip...of course, we started before noon too! We made it to Columbia, SC. We are only about 4 hours away (Uhaul speed) from our new home. Tomorrow will be an exciting day for us! We'll go get our new house keys, and check out the house and then start the unpacking!
The weather has been great, the roads haven't been all that busy, except for around Charlotte, NC..it was pretty busy there, I'd hate to be in their rush hour traffic! The turtle has survived, he's had front door service to our hotels and gets wheeled right up to our room on a luggage cart. I can't say that my plants have faired as well. It looks like most of the car full have died. It was just tooooo cold for them last night, stuck out in the car. I may be able to save 3 or 4 out of about 12 plants. So sad! Can you tell, I LIKE PLANTS?!?!?!
We won't have internet access after tomorrow morning (Friday) until Monday...(hopefully)...the phone company is supposed to be at the new house Monday morning, so I'm hoping to be back online sometime Monday. I will post again as soon as we have internet service again, and I can take a break from unpacking!
We hope everyone had a Great New Year's Eve...and a good New Year's Day...May God Bless you all and please have a safe, healthy, prosperous New Year!
Love,
Michele & Tom
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