THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2015

Good morning y'all. Mark and I spent our day grocery shopping and catching up on chores! Imagine! It's just a week until Christmas and, food wise, we're ready!

Tonight, we're meeting RanDawn at the Hideaway for a Christmas party! 

Cheeky, isn't he? LOL. 

It's was a fun evening of music, dancing and good food. We left just as the party was really taking off. Work tomorrow ... and we've got to drive home. 

The Hideaway was beautifully decorated.

Dawn & Randy with Tommy Dee singing.  

Mark and I tried to fuel up the Dodge on our way home. One station was out of diesel; and the next was closed! 

Oh well!!! Ta ta til tomorrow!

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16, 2015

Happy 5th Birthday to our sweet Robbie the Bruce! We love our handsome boy!

March 2011 with our wee lad growing up in the RV while in Oklahoma City. 

Near the end of January, we are going to T-town, Tulsa, to visit Bonnie and her husband Roger. They are going on their (delayed) honeymoon while we dog-sit a plethora of Scotties and Percy, a Westie. When we head for home after the 7th, it will be with the newest member of our family, Belize, aged 2. She is retiring from the dog show circuit and 1 litter of pups to become our precious new Scottie girl. 

Cute, isn't she ... and yes, he's very handsome. 

Today was a work in progress sort of day. Tomorrow is a day off and a party at the Hideaway! Randy & Dawn are going so we are assured of a great time!

My first haircut. Thanks Auntie Bonnie. 

Easter in Tulsa, 2011

Robbie had chicken, pizza bones, pretzels and a new ball for his birthday. Aroooo! 

TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2015

Good morning! We're up and ready to roll by 7:15. Not too shabby after a long day yesterday! Haha ... I paint in my sleep now! I dreamt the garage door was painted. Not. So, it's off to the Depot for a gallon. We're into our last (full) week at the house. Once the kitchen cabinets are in, we'll do the backsplash and countertops to finish it off. 

Before & After of the kitchen floor ... 

Mark and I had the biggest laugh on the drive to Orlando today. We saw a young black man riding a way-too-small bicycle, with his pants drooping down and his plaid underwear showing. When he stood to peddle faster, his pants slid down to his knees. He was trying to pull up his pants and maintain control of the bike. We missed a good picture! LOL

The work day is done and we're enjoying a glass of wine ... and Mark is cooking al a vodka sauce with pasta and a side of chicken. Randy phoned in the middle of it and Mark told him he'd been a painter, a plumber, a carpenter and a candlestick maker today. LOL

I was the vanity refinisher ... 

Before & after ... Mark painted the peaks ... me, down low and garage door. Teamwork ... and a few laughs. Just a couple more full days and The kitchen cabinets will be ready for installation. Well that's our news for today. Tata

MONDAY DECEMBER 14, 2015

Ho Ho Ho. Last night, Randy and Dawn dropped over for drinks after dinner. 

We sure wondered what was up when Dawn came in lugging an overnight bag and PILLOW. LOL. Randy had forgotten to tell us they were staying overnight. Dawn laughed when she found out Randy hadn't mentioned it. LOL. (They need a septic tank pump out, pronto!)

This morning, Randy and Dawn were up and off to breakfast by 7:15 as Dawn had to open shop at work. The last person ready for work was, as usual, Robbie dog. Mark and I had plenty of things to get at Home Depot for the Orlando property. Robbie came in the store and rode around just like "K's" Shizzles. LOL

Our new Kia is loaded to the hesdliner with sinks, toilet seats, a pressure washer and supplies. I guess we will be finished the big job before our Dodge is ready! The parts haven't arrived yet. 

We ran short of paint to finish rolling the stucco! Drat. It's looking good. Tomorrow, I'll paint the garage door and the front door jamb white. 

We arrived home in the dark. I don't like this time of year for that reason and wish we kept daylight savings yearly. Mark cooked a nice dinner while I did out paperwork. Tonight, relax and watch the news. Ta ta. 

WORKDAY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Lovely 64Fthis morning as Mark tied the new bedroom door to the Kia roof rack. Yes, we're the Clampets again! It's going to be a day of odds 'n soda. There are doors to be hung, shelving installed in the hall closet, a board cut for a cabinet base; etc. It was a nice drive with no rush hours traffic. 

Doesn't this recipe sound great? I might whip it up for Christmas Day dessert! 

We kept busy til 5 when we closed up for the day and stopped for burgers and shakes on our way home. 

Tomorrow, a few supplies from Home Depot and mostly working outside the house. Alright! We're getting it done!

Sue took a car load of donations to the Shizzles Rescue this afternoon. 

It looks like there will be some cozy doggies over Christmas!

Randy and Dawn have been busy at her Fruitland Park home today. She had a water leak and needed some repairs. They are going to drop over for a visit tonight. 

Homeland is on tonight, and then it'll be straight to bed after that. Well, that's the plan. 

SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015

My recurring Christmas nightmare begins about July every year. It motivates me to prepare early for the big festivities. Well, this year, my nightmare is true! I'm nowhere near ready! Whhhaaatttt? LOL

I awoke at 3:30 ... then 3:45; well you know! I gave up and started wrapping Christmas gifts at 4 a.m.  Mark planned hunting with Lew and Ben, so no problem there; he was ready to get up. Of course, he had to tease me by wringing his hands like my mother would do. Oh No! I'm not ready for Christmas!!! LOL What a household. Anyway, by 11 a.m. I'd wrapped and written a few Christmas cards, now an archaic practice with email  and Facebook. Mark dashed in from hunting at 11:30 and went to the post office to mail 1 eBay parcel, a little something for my pal in Tulsa and the cards. I guess EVERYONE was up early with the same idea! There were 17 folks in line already! 

Well K's are ready to load their sleigh, er Escalade! Go on, add to my nightmare. LOL

Bonnie (and Roger) are very busy bathing  7 puppies who are learning to eat "solid" food. 

Apparently, someone fell in. Cute!!! 

Speaking of Christmas cards. Yesterday, Mark and I received our first two in the mail. One from Jack and Carol and the other from Randy and Dawn. 

LOL ... They are identical ... Mailed the same day and received on December 11th at our house from different ends of Florida. 

It's such a gorgeous day we sat on the front porch for happy hour and FaceTime with Bonnie. Robbie grunted and growled (talked) to his auntie. He's a very unique Scottie. We're planning a road trip "before spring" to T-Town for a visit ... and to bring home retiring show girl, Robbie's half-sister, Belize. Obviously she's a beauty, but more importantly, she has personality plus. 

Happy hour Granola Milkbone & cheese  Robbie's a perfect character himself and a little serious. He needs, we need, Belize. Yay. 

We're off to bed early tonight having skipped a Christmas party. It's back to work at the Orlando house as the carpet was laid today. Git er done! 

FRIDAY DECEMBER 11, 2015

Good morning from sunny Central Florida. It's a bright beautiful day, again. Last night, before bed, I checked my phone and found we had a couple of eBay sales. Yay. It's been extremely quiet. So, this morning Mark had to box up a French easel while I got a car charm packaged. We're going to be late for work today as the post office doesn't open until 830 in Ocoee. We wont be starting work until 9 o'clock. Oh boy, I hope we don't get fired. LOL

Oh my aching (fill in the blank). 

Mark is on his knees doing baseboards (still) while I'm rolling bedroom and hall closets and bathroom ceilings. The place is looking tight. 

We still have doorknobs to tighten ... door stops to screw in ... but we will be ready for carpet & vinyl flooring by the end of today!!! Then ... the front door project ... the room removal project ... pressure washing ... replacing bathroom sinks ... Caulking tubs and vanities ... washing exterior windows ... maybe freshen paint on front of house ... then the kitchen cabinets should be ready ... find a countertop company and be done? I'm sure there are other little things that will come up ... another week or so. 

Front door ... new hardware & "Deep River" paint. 

Tomorrow, we're invited to Sharon & Art's  Christmas shindig, complete with entertainment. I must get some gifts wrapped and put under our tree; write a few Christmas cards and be ready for more fun at K's Orlando property come Monday. 

Well, that's it for tonight. We're looking forward to Randy's homecoming tomorrow. I bet it's been a trying week for him. It was so nice he went for Gregg's service.