Three times in my life I have held a Humming Bird in my hands. Today was one of those times. This little one got caught in my garage. They are lighter than a butterfly and more fragile. Covered with pollen. I gave it a little sugar water to give back a little strength and off it flew.

According to the real estate “experts”, the housing market will return to normal in approximately two years. At that time Ed and I will be selling our home. We built this house and it has our sweat and blood in it but we need something smaller. With the kids grown and only Eddie left, we need to down size. This is just to much house to take care of. So, we are looking for land in North Carolina near my mother and sister (on the Chimney Rock side of the county). More land and less house is our plan. Right now we have 4 acres and 3000 sq feet of home. We are looking at around 2000 – 2500 sq feet and 8 – 10 acres. But I have the house plan and design ready. This will be the last house we build. When we built this one five years ago… it about killed me. So this WILL be our retirement home.

On the outside, around the large windows and the fireplace inside will be of river rock with more green tone stones than pictured.

I want a green roof like I have now but the roof above the large bay windows I want to be of green wood shingles and on the main part of the house be of cedar log siding.

And my front door except the stain color will have to match the cedar log stain.

WENT AND VISITED DAD AND LAURA YESTERDAY. IT WAS A GOOD VISIT. DAD’S PICTURE SHOWS WHERE HE FELL AND HIT HIS HEAD. HE ALSO BROKE HIS HAND AND WILL HAVE PINS PLACE IN IT TOMORROW. LAURA WILL HAVE BACK SURGERY THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST. HOW THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER WITH ONE BROKEN HAND AND ONE “BROKEN” BACK IS BEYOND ME.

My Cousin’s Daughter is Missing:

Rachel Padgett, 15 Years old
Born: May 30, 1994
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190 lbs.
Description: Brown hair with blonde highlights
Right ear has 3 piercing
Hometown: Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Missing Since: Wednesday July 8, 2009 at 12:30pm

If seen please contact
Rutherfordton Communication Center (828) 286-2911,
Detective Leon Godlock (828) 287-6395 and also
Carol Padgett at (828) 248-1942

Please help us find Rachel!!

Breakfast time… Rachel is such a natural at taking care of babies. She is going to be a awesome Mom one day. Her baby brother smiles when he sees her and I can tell how much he loves her

My son’s (Ben) and his girlfriend (Caycee) Prom.

And this is what they looked like a little over two years ago:

This was a few days ago…sorry it took a while to get them on here. EJ started to smile and I had to get it on film to show family and friends.

I took the kids to Carowinds today. They had a blast. I tried to ride the roller coasters but my vertigo kicked in and I had to sit out after two rides which I was just happy to do. I was able to get a lot of pictures that way. I would just find a shady spot and watch the kids have fun. Ed stayed home with EJ and they did the daddy/son thing. It was a good day.



Rachel’s 14th birthday was yesterday. I cooked a feast for her. She wanted seafood so I grilled Salmon, Shrimp, Crab and Steak. The kids ate until they were busting. It was good.

I woke to donuts and coffee this morning. Ed kept EJ last night so I could sleep. It was nice. He took Ben, Rachel and Paige to the early movies to see Transformers. Then they are going to buy fireworks. Dori (my black cat) showed up this morning at the back door and she looks pretty bad. Her left eye is messed up and she will not eat or drink. She is so limp. I made an appointment for Ed to take her to the vet at 2pm. I am really worried about her. EJ just got his bath and now is down for his nap. If he takes a nap. With him sometimes it works and sometimes he has other plans. He loves to be held so much that my right wrist hurts. I don’t know what I did to it but I can’t bend it now without pain. So Ed bought me a brace and it helps a lot but it is hard for me to hold EJ with it on so I tend to wear it mostly at night or when he is asleep. We are having a cook out tomorrow so Ed and the kids are getting the back deck/grill ready in the morning. Ben did the yard work yesterday but he still has to weedeat. If I can get Nik over here then we will have the entire family here (all five kids…wow). Ben’s girlfriend will be here also. Then tomorrow night everyone will be on the front porch and in the cul-de-sac with our neighbors shooting off the fireworks. It is going to be so much fun. I better get some chores done while I have the chance. Happy 4th everyone!