Spectacular Spring! (Full Version)

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dianetavegia -> Spectacular Spring! (5/10/2008 9:09:35 PM)

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Friday: The day started off a bit wet and chilly after the rain came through late last night, but it quickly warmed to 80° and the sky was a very bright blue. Tomorrow will be another nice day but Sunday is supposed to be a bummer with two sets of storms coming through. That’s okay. I’m sure I can find something fun to do.



I am not going to have the daycare child on Monday. Her Dad is off. I’m going to keep the car so I can get out of the house and also help decorate for the baby shower. I still need to buy a gift!



I got a replacement microwave off Freecycle this afternoon. Our 30 year old microwave died a few months ago during a storm. We missed having microwave popcorn, instant oatmeal and quick reheating of leftovers. A family in town just remodeled their kitchen and got all new appliances. They gave us a good-sized unit in GREAT condition. It looks like new.



Our Home School Year is completed! This is the end of our 9th year. We’ll begin 8th grade in late August or early September but we’re going to continue math lessons during the summer while Daddy is home to teach. After all, Daddy is a math major. We use Saxon Math.



What did I do today? I cleaned the fridge and vacuumed the house. I did a few loads of clothes and a few other things. We went grocery shopping after a really good supper. It was a very nice day.



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Saturday: I woke at 8:20!! I’d gone to bed around 10:30 and went right to sleep. Jim slept until 9:00. I got up once he was awake and we did several chores. Jim cut the grass in the front and back yard. We also took the broken gas blower over to be repaired but the guy there took it apart to see if it had just lost a screw and found a sheared off bolt and ripped up gasket. It wasn’t worth repairing. It had served us well and we’d gotten a good 8 or 9 years out of it. Considering we have almost an acre of land with about 100 trees, we have a huge amount of leaves to get up each year.



Jim went to Home Depot and got some wood for a 4 X 8 raised flowerbed. He built that and we got it into position. He took me to Home Depot tonight to choose some plants for Mother’s Day. He gave me a choice of what I’d like, and I chose live plants. We have to put topsoil in the raised bed and then will plant my new flowers tomorrow afternoon. The pictures are the two plant types I chose today.



We went to the dump and also put the new seat on our outdoor swing. It looks so very nice and sits well. I’ve sat in it several times today and enjoyed it very much.



We had Mary and Jon over for a Mother’s Day cookout. We decided to do it today because we’re expecting a rainy day on Sunday. Jim grilled steaks that were so tender you could cut them with a butter knife. We had corn on the cob, potato salad and baked beans. I’d made a Peach Cobbler for dessert and we ate it while it was still warm.



We sat on the deck and visited for a long time before the picnic. It was a bit overcast, but we were under a tornado watch and had thunderstorm warnings. Instead, it was quite pleasant with the sun breaking through on and off.



Jim took a pre assessment test today and passed with flying colors. He’ll schedule the final exam and take that at the college in the next few days. This was his final literature test. He still has two papers to finalize, but he sure is doing great!



I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers from our oldest son and his family. A pink and white checked ribbon in a very feminine material surrounds them. They smell so lovely, too.



I broke the chain off our whole house fan. Jim has a new switch so he’ll fix it for me in the next day or so. I’m just glad it broke when I turned it OFF.



Have a lovely night, a wonderful Mother’s Day and God Bless,

[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/265209/Diane.gif[/image]
Diane Tavegia



PLEASE SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PETS!

Never ‘buy’ an animal when you can save a life by adopting a deserted or unwanted furry friend.

We got our Scooter (Black Lab) at ‘Wal-Mart’ (parking lot give away at 5 weeks old) and our Patches (Calico Cat) at our local animal shelter. She was about 6 months old. Both were spayed and neutered before six months of age. We’ve now enjoyed the friendship of Patches for 4 ½ years and Scooter for 3 years.



dianetavegia -> Storms all night (5/11/2008 8:50:08 PM)

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Ephesians 4: 14-16 Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."



Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.




It was very noisy around here last night. Scooter woke at 1:00 when the thunder started. He was whimpering so I walked him and then closed the two windows in the t.v. room, gave him some cookies and sat with him for a few minutes. By 4:00, we were awake again because of the thunder, roaring winds and pounding rain, but we didn’t even have a downed limb. Many in our county were not so blessed.



Since I hadn’t slept well at all, I took a two hour nap at lunch time today. It’s still very windy and only about 70°. At least the storms are gone. Turnout at Sunday School was very low. Jamie and I didn’t have even ONE girl out of our class and the 8th graders had four girls. Many teachers were absent. Next week is the breakfast/ ceremony for graduates and Jim doesn’t have to cook. We won’t have Sunday School class. I’m sleeping in!



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Jim and I went to Douglasville this afternoon and bought gifts for the Baby Shower. I found three really precious dresses and a ‘classic’ stuffed animal. I chose Eeyore because he’s my favorite Pooh character. I got a classic Pooh gift bag so I didn’t have to find boxes for everything. I do need some tissue paper, tho, in a pastel color.



Because of the high winds, we didn’t go out and work on my newest flowerbed today. Jim offered to get the holes dug but it was so very windy that I suggested we wait.



Hope you had a really nice Mother’s Day. God Bless,

[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/265209/Diane.gif[/image]
Diane Tavegia



PLEASE SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PETS! Adopt an animal from your local shelter instead of buying one at the mall. Save a little life.



dianetavegia -> Tuesday at our house (5/13/2008 8:12:30 PM)

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Psalms 56:8 "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." I would never leave you alone at a time like this. Let Me come in and dine with you, sharing comfort and fellowship together.



1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”



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School was closed Monday because we’re under a ‘State of Emergency’ here in Carroll County. Staff still had to report, so Jim got up his regular time. I didn’t have my daycare toddler, so I was a bit laid back drinking my coffee and eating oatmeal at leisure.



I decided not to keep the car Monday because I expected Jim to have a really short day. It made no sense to use extra gas driving him back and forth when he would be home right after lunchtime. I just needed to buy some tissue paper and a missing ingredient for one of the foods I was taking to the Baby Shower.



I didn’t have the daycare child on Tuesday because of a dental visit for her sisters, so I did some chores that generally take a bit longer and demand more of my attention. I’d pulled a muscle in my back lifting her into the highchair last Friday and it’s still bothering me a bit.



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Jim had his stitches removed this afternoon and doesn’t have to return for three months! Wow, he’s thrilled! We’ll have to keep an eye out for any new black spots or moles that change, tho. He goes back on August 12th. He’ll go every three months now.



I sat outside in my swing for a long time today. It was so pretty. It was supposed to be hot, but we had a nice breeze and a few clouds. We have a chance of rain the next few days. My plants need it, so I shouldn’t complain. I just really enjoy being outside!



I cancelled our unlimited long distance service, Caller I.D., Call Waiting, etc., and will save $47.00 on my monthly phone bill. Next, I’m going to call the local cable company and see about getting phone, cable and internet through them. We really, really, really dislike AT&T. Our service is extremely slow since they took over DSL for Bellsouth. We’ve had more outages with them in just months than we’ve had in 9 years with Bellsouth!



I completed some surveys today that paid immediately for a quick $15.00. I have two more that are waiting to be completed. I like free money.



I got pine bark nuggets put in my newest raised bed tonight. Jim had planted the two shrubs while I was at the Baby Shower last night. I got two smaller plants that bloom purple spikes for the front of the bed. I am actually thinking about adding some annuals in the front of each new bed to give them more ‘oomph’ while the shrubs grow and fill in. I didn’t buy any small shrubs, only 3 gallons, but they have plenty of room to fill in the beds.



I have the topsoil and pine bark for another small raised bed. I just need for Jim to buy the wood and build it for me. Of course, he had to ask ‘What are you going to put in it?’ Something colorful, of course! Maybe a Hydrangea that blooms late summer or a Hibiscus that can withstand heat and our mild winters?? I’d like a Camellia and Gardenia, too. You can never have too many plants.



NCIS is on and I really like that show. Think I’ll watch it. Good night and God Bless,


Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> All day rain (5/15/2008 6:56:27 PM)

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Psalms 37:5-6 "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun."



Matthew 5-16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."



Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.



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Rod Dreher, a conservative columnist for the "Dallas Morning News," said: I blog about negative stuff for the same reason that newspapers aren't filled with good news: because "usually" "good news" isn't that interesting to talk about.




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I had a bad night. I seemed to sleep well until 3:30. Scooter woke to go out and I walked him to the end of our cul-de-sac and back. I had a stuffy nose and sinus headache but also just felt a bit off. Between 4:00 and 7:20, I slept very fitfully, not able to get comfortable and I’d awaken for a few minutes aware I was clenching my jaw. I woke with a backache. I think I’d overdone it moving top soil and then mulch on Tuesday night. I’d carried 200 lbs of soil about 40 feet, 40lbs at a time. Anyhow, a hot shower and a few minutes on a heating pad have helped a lot.



My mother is supposed to come through in two weeks and stay for one or two nights. She’ll stay at a local hotel, because of my animals, but we’re going to have cook-outs with Jon and Mary. I hope we have really nice weather those two days. Mother won’t come inside except to run to the bathroom because of the cat and dog.



Mother wants Jim to either ride with her or follow her to Birmingham for her dental implants. She’s already had the two major surgeries so this will be a minor thing, taking about 25 minutes, but she’s very anxious about it. Her procedure is the last Friday of the month. We do have a concern that he could be gone up to three days, leaving me without transportation. Jon and Mary are only 15 miles away, tho. I don’t expect Jim to stay more than the night before the procedure.



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Weight Loss:
I’m very discouraged with my weight loss. I gained back four pounds then lost two of those pounds, so I’m stuck again and at a higher weight. I don’t know why this happened. At first, I thought it was all water weight because I’d been craving and eating salty foods and it happened ‘overnight’. It didn’t go away quickly like your typical water weight gain, tho. Our final weigh in is the third week of July. I’d wanted to have lost down to my goal of 124 lbs by then. Eight weeks to go and at a standstill.



I’ve been snacking after supper but not like before I began my weight loss attempt. Jim will bring me a serving of my Peach Cobbler or make popcorn and I eat it. I’ve also had some chocolate almost every day. I’m not eating a lot of food, just the wrong foods. Still no soda, tho. I have coffee in the morning and then drink tea the rest of the day.



I ate oatmeal for breakfast and had Ramen Noodles at lunch. For supper, I made a small amount of lean meat and lots of veggies. No snacks today for me, other than a small pear.



I didn’t do my aerobics this morning because of the backache. I may sneak in some exercise before watching TV tonight. We’ll see how my back feels. My walk aerobics calls for arm movements and back stretches for the whole two-mile workout.



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It started raining here before lunchtime. I have two small plants I should have gotten planted but they’ll do okay. They’re still in the pots they came in. I think we’ll miss most of the bad weather. The real storm appears to be moving up instead of over us tho we’ve had a steady downpour for hours. I think we’re out of our drought. This has been a typical rainy spring.



Jim is taping the middle school concert tonight. He set up his equipment right after school so he could run home for supper. He has six more school days left in the year and has off until August 15th. Students return August 22nd in Bremen. That gives him 3 months off, with pay.



The rain has never stopped. My flowers are going to be HUGE! Good for me! Plus, the rain is free water. It’s really coming down! Thankfully, it’s not blowing, so I can keep my windows open. I love a soft rain. I like a thunderstorm. I don’t like dreary days. Today was just ‘light’ enough and interesting enough to be pleasant. Plus, it’s not chilly.



The kitchen is cleaned and I don’t have any chores that need doing. I’m going to try and force myself to do aerobics before something good comes on TV. I’m VERY drowsy from not sleeping well last night, but I can’t go to bed until after I walk Scooter at 10:00 or around there. That’s three hours!



[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/265209/Diane.gif[/image]
Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Ten hours of yard work today! (5/17/2008 9:17:44 PM)

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Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."



Habakkuk 2:2-3 "Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run. "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay."




Romans 8:1 and Romans 8:28 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ... And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.





FRIDAY: We had a cloudy day today. I got a lot of housework done and then, while the toddler napped, I did some yard work in our front flowerbeds.



I pruned a lot of low branches off trees and cut down the saplings that had sprung up. Most of them were about three foot tall. I haven’t helped in the front beds in a few years and Jim doesn’t pay attention to those type needs. I’ve got two trees that need cutting down and a huge number of limbs that sprouted up from a downed tree. I have a slew of dead branches and limbs that need picking up and moving to our compost pile. I also have five or six piles from the work I did earlier that need moving.



I did laundry and swept, dusted and other chores before going outside. I didn’t want anything left to keep me inside tomorrow when it’s really pretty.



We don’t have to cook for the youth this Sunday because the church is having a breakfast and ceremony for 7th grade through 12th grade that will take up our Sunday School class time. There’ll be a ceremony during church, too. We’re staying home. I’m not ‘into’ pomp and circumstance and it will be really nice to not have to be up and out of the door so early.



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SATURDAY: Whew! I have really enjoyed today. We were out working in the yard before 10:00 and I just came in. It’s 8:30!



So, Jim cut down two trees and Nick and I picked up limbs and sticks in the front flowerbeds. Jim cut the grass and made a run to the dump with our household garbage, bags from mulch and topsoil, pots from my newest plants and anything else we could find.



We moved a birdbath that was under a big stand of trees. It was very hard to reach to fill and the birds had never used it. We moved it up where one had been previously but had cracked too badly to be repaired (again). The birds were in it right away.



Jim made me two more raised beds. These are 4 X 4 each. Home Depot had a sale on Perennials and I had a $5.00 off coupon I got by email so I got a lot of flowers for the new beds. I got a Lavendar Camelot Digitalis Foxglove, an Appleblossom Achillea, Paprika Achillea, 2 Salvia, Arizona Sun, Shasta Daisy, a variegated Sedum, Blue Veronica and a Lemon Sunset Primrose. The Foxglove was a 3 gallon but the others were all one gallon sized plants.



After the plants were in the ground, I spent hours cutting down wayward limbs and saplings, loads and loads of Devil’s Thumb (horrid plant with horrific thorns that spreads like crazy and crops up all over). I picked up a lot of sticks out back and have lots more to go. I raked up near the house and in my path that meanders around my raised beds and to my swing.



My large wind chime broke and we fixed it good as new. I watered most of my flowerbeds by hand and have the sprinkler going on the other two. I just ran out of steam.



I filled all my birdfeeders except one. I ran out of birdseed. I have seven feeders out back.



My backyard is looking more beautiful every day. Tomorrow I have to pick up some more pine bark mulch and birdseed. Once that’s down, I’m going to pick up more sticks out back and show Jim two more trees I noticed are dead. They’re about 5 inches in diameter, but one has two trunks. They’re not dangerous and even if they fell, they’d not be big enough to damage the fence or reach the house, but they do need taking down.



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When I get that done, I’m going to enjoy my deck and swing. I really, really enjoy flower gardening, working in the yard and being outside. I am a very happy camper.



I hope you’ve enjoyed the day as much as I have and I’ll talk with you later!


Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Lilies and Lamb's Ear (5/19/2008 6:32:25 PM)

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Galatians 5:16-18 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."



Romans 8:5-6 "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace."




Sunday: I slept in until almost 9:00 today. Boy, it felt good! Jim had gotten up around 7:30 and was downstairs listening to music and reading for college.



It was a mostly sunny day but cool because of strong winds. We sat outside tonight until 7:00, tho. Jim was listening to music and reading a magazine and I read the paper and just enjoyed the last bit of sun hitting our deck. Scooter sat with us. Patches cried at the door. She’s not allowed outside. Nick was watching TV.



I didn’t do a lot today. We cooked steak on the grill. I’d not marinated it overnight so it was just okay. We had baked potatoes, green beans and collard greens. For supper, I had a huge green salad with radishes, cucumber, mushrooms, olives, green pepper, a boiled egg and a tablespoon of tuna fish.



I didn’t do any yard work today because of the strong winds. We couldn’t rake. Oh, I did pick up a few sticks and played Frisbee with Scooter, but no true yard work.



I took a nap this afternoon. I slept about 1 ½ hours. I was tired because Scooter got up a number of times last night. He does this about once a month. I’m guessing it was Moon Madness, Lunatic! A cat was in our driveway and just sat and glared at us. Two cats were howling out back. A cow was mooing loudly in the distance.



I’ve not had any snacks in days and have been very careful what I’ve eaten. I lost the weight I’d gained but am stuck again. My weigh in is Tuesday night between 6:00 and 6:30. If I’ve not lost any more weight, I won’t bother to go. I’ll decide on Tuesday morning.



A neighbor is giving me some Stella D’ora Lilies and Lamb’s Ear. I have to drive over and pick them up tomorrow. Both are drought tolerant and like this horrid clay!



Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous and mid 80°’s. In fact, most of the week is supposed to be near 90°! I’ll spend a lot of time outside, you can be sure! There’s a chance, several days, of afternoon thunderstorms. I’m so glad we’re getting rain because that means we’ll be able to use water outside during the summer.




There’s nothing on TV tonight, so we’re watching ‘21’. I don’t know too much about it. So far, it’s fine.



My mother is definitely coming to visit on May 28th. I’m planning our cook-out menu around her. She has trouble chewing so I’m going to have really tender steak, hamburgers and hot dogs. I’m thinking steamed broccoli and steamed new potatoes are easy to chew. For everyone else, I’ll also have corn on the cob and a Peaches and Cream pie made with Jell-o, peaches and Cool Whip.



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Monday: Wow, did it storm last night! It began raining around 10:00 and poured for a good three hours. I woke several times to the sound of the downpour. We were able to leave our windows open.



I took Jim to work and then went to get my plants before lunch. The lady gave me a number of plants. Some plants are very teeny but the Stella D’Ora Lilies were such a huge clump that I divided them into four smaller clumps. She’s very nice and I enjoyed visiting with her and seeing her gardens. They live in the ‘rich neighborhood’ two streets from us. The homes are HUGE. Most have four car garages.



Our daughter’s divorce is final today. She’s taken back her maiden name. She’s been supporting her family for several years. Poor kid has had it tough.



After school, Jim put down five bags of Pine Bark Mulch and four bags of red mulch. The red mulch is a pathway around my flowerbeds and to my swing. We also planted the flowers I was given.



I had fish for supper. I ate it on the deck. Scooter helped me. I crave fish about once a month. Since dieting, I must be missing something in my diet that my body needs. I’ve not been a fish eater. I love lobster, crab, clams, etc., tho.



Jim went to the Sports Banquet tonight. It’s a cookout in the parking lot at school. He really didn’t want to go but was made to feel guilty. I’d have gone if he wanted me to, but he said it wasn’t necessary. He decided at the last minute to make an appearance.



One town in Georgia is telling their residents to ‘take down your Christmas lights’. When we went to Jon’s a few weeks ago, coming home a back way to pick up Nick from a friend’s house, we saw half dozen homes with their lights still up! Get some class, people!



Shucks! Since canceling Caller ID, I’m getting several sales calls or ‘donation’ calls a day. Today was something in Spanish talking about Mexico and Disney World and the second was for the Police Benevolent Order. I’m on the ‘no call’ list. Hmmmm….



The sun’s down a bit. I need to do some raking out back. Have a lovely evening and God Bless!


[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/265209/Diane.gif[/image]
Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Lovely day and gorgeous weather! (5/21/2008 8:46:16 PM)

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Acts 4:29-31 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness."





TUESDAY: It’s partly cloudy here today. We’re supposed to have high winds later. Still, it’s very warm. I had raked a bit last night and planned to do a lot more today, but if we have high winds, I can’t rake. I’m trying to get leaves, huge piles of leaves, from one side of a large yard to the other.



Jim’s ‘appearance’ at the Sports Cook-out/ Banquet ended up being 3 ½ hours. They had one grill to cook for 200 people and couldn’t get it started.



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Boy is it storming! Jim and I had gone out early and bought a few groceries but forgot dishwashing powder so we ran up to Wal-Mart after supper. It’s horrific storms with lightening that appears to hit ground, hail, high winds (60mph) and thunder.



I went for my weigh in tonight but the ladies from the hospital never showed up. There were only three of us to be weighed. That’s pretty sad, out of 25 or so. I’d lost two pounds since last month. I’m hoping to lose another four or five before my next weigh in the third Tuesday of June. With all the yard work and no snacking, I MIGHT make it.


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WEDNESDAY: Jim and I woke early today so cuddled and laughed for a long time before we got up. I’d turned on the coffee pot when I first woke, so that was ready when we crawled out of bed.



There was a husband and wife deer family out front this morning. They didn’t run off even when I opened the door and took pictures of them. I can’t figure out how to zoom on my old digital camera, so the pictures were not that great.



I started some extra cleaning today and have not accomplished a lot because I’ve done some extra things like painting some places on the woodwork that had been dinged. The problem is the white paint is going on top of 9-year-old white paint. BOY does it show how yellow the old paint has become!



I took down the door to my bathroom and took it out on the deck. It needed a good scrubbing so I did it out there. It took a while! Hairspray had built up on it and turned gummy in the soap. So, it’s clean and back up.



I took down the return air ducts and washed those. I was very careful because Jim slit his finger open on one about 32 years ago. It was horrible! I did all but one that’s in our living room. It’s up near the ceiling and it’s a vaulted ceiling. The rest were near the floor.



Nick’s tub needed scrubbing. He only showers and I’d not checked it in weeks. Anyhow, I didn’t have more soap scum stuff so I decided I’d fill the tub with hot water and some Tide to loosen the soap and then I’ll get some cleanser when I have the car this afternoon. I start running the water and went to the laundry room for the detergent. When I turned back around, there was Scooter, standing in the bathtub expecting a bath! He didn’t want to get out, either. I patted him on his head, told him he was a good boy and tried to get him out. Nick came and helped but finally we walked away and called him. He came running, acting crazy like after a real bath, rubbing on the carpet, snorting. We laughed so hard.


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My wind chime broke again in the strong storms last night. Jim had warned me when he repaired it that he only had four-pound filament line and it wouldn’t hold up in a storm. He bought me a beautiful replacement today and also got wood and filament line to repair the old one. We both like wind chimes. Isn’t he sweet?



I made ribs and corn on the cob for supper. Boy was it good! The house smelled so good all day. It drove Scooter crazy!



We sat outside quite late today. Erin called and I sat out on the deck and talked to her. Our youngest granddaughter turns five next week. I’ve already sent our presents. We won’t get to talk to her on her birthday.



Time for Criminal Minds. That’s one of my favorite TV shows. Hope you had a really nice day and are having gorgeous weather.



Wishing you big hugs, warm kisses and sweet dreams next to the one you love,


[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/265209/Diane.gif[/image]
Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Saturday and Sunday (5/25/2008 8:43:15 PM)

[image]http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/38967/1329230281000253553S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]



Psalms 27:3 "Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident."



1 Peter 5:6-7 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."




Saturday: We had a busy day with many more to come. Jim and I both had problems sleeping last night. Around 2:45 a neighbor was outside calling for an animal, clapping her hands. It woke me and I was wide awake until after 4:00. Jim woke close to 4:00 and never got back to sleep. We’re both tired tonight. It was very hot out today, too!



We had gotten a coupon for a free shrub at Home Depot so we went up early this morning and got two Snowball Verbenas in five-gallon containers. We also got two very small Boxwoods to replace two that had died. I got a $20.00 shrub for FREE. (Join Home Depot’s Garden Club online and get offers by email at least once a week.)



I needed to get leaves out of my ‘triangle’ flowerbed that’s behind a fence while some plants mature. I couldn’t plant my new shrubs until those leaves were gone because they would have to be moved right across the chosen areas. So, I raked out a huge pile of wet leaves and Jim came out and we loaded them onto a tarp, pulled four loads across the yard and dumped them into a sunken area we’re raising by composting. That took a long time.



Jim planted my two large shrubs. They sure look nice where we’ve put them. They get really large and will be a nice backdrop for our other plants. I love flowers and love getting things for free!



We did a search for the replacement lure and sticky pads for our Mosquito Deleto. It looks like we can only find it through Coleman. No local store carries them anymore.



I put our freestanding basketball goal on Freecycle and gave it away at lunchtime. The family who took it has several children and I got the impression they couldn’t have afforded to buy one. They were so nice and so very thankful.



We have a lot more leaves to get up. I do mean a LOT more. We also need to cut the grass, edge the driveway/ street/ sidewalk and use the weed whacker. We want to get it all done by Monday.



I watered all but a few flowerbeds by hand and have the sprinkler going on the others. The mosquitoes are already out. Nick has three bites and I have a number on my left arm. Boy do they itch! Mine go away very quickly. Nick’s are only 1 ½ days old and are almost gone. He reacts pretty severely to them. For 8 years, he’d end up at the doctor at least once a year because of localized swelling. He took medicine for years to prevent reaction. He’s not taking it this year. We have it, but want to see if he’s matured enough that he fights it off. I don’t like medicines.



[image]http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/28709/2103392990045485662S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]



Sunday: We had a decent turnout in church today. Off the top of my head, I think we had 12 in our 7th and 8th grade girl’s Sunday School class. Of course, we have about 30 on roll.



Our sermon was from Genesis 12 & 13. I forgot the topic.



Jon and Mary called right after lunch and asked us to go to the movie with them. They took us to see Indiana Jones. It was pretty good. I don’t think it was anywhere near as good as the old ones, but Harrison Ford must be 60.



I didn’t spend much time at all outside today. We got home from the movie after 6:00 and by time I got outside, the mosquitoes were awful. I used some bug spray that smells like baby powder. It works pretty well.



We went up to Wal-Mart and got Mosquito Dunks for our birdbaths and my water feature. Our yard fogger is acting up. Of course, that’s another thing we’ve used quite a bit for a good number of years. We can’t afford another one. I’m going to soak the tip in vinegar to see if it’s just clogged. Fridge, Washer and Dryer, Microwave, Leaf Blower, Fogger, all dead or dying.



I have a LOT to do in the next few days. My mother is coming through on Wednesday and will come here for a cook-out. Even tho she won’t do more than walk through the house into the backyard, I still need to get some cleaning done. I was a neat freak for 50 plus years. Now, I’d rather enjoy life than worry about a little dust.



I’ll change the sheets tomorrow, as usual and do my usual laundry. Jim’s going to do yard work. I’d prefer to mop the floors AFTER he does that because we tend to track in some grass clippings or clay when we’re doing outside work, but the kitchen floor is a must. The 2 year old I keep throws her food some days and Friday she figured out how to pour out some juice from a leak free sippy cup. There’s a sticky spot under the edge of the table. That needs doing. So, I’ll be busy. I’d prefer to work outside with Jim but I’ve found if I leave housework til the day before or day of someone’s arrival, something goes wrong and I don’t get to do all that I’d planned to get done.



We’re going to cook out with Jon and Mary tomorrow. We sure enjoy being with them. I love having them just minutes away. I wish all our kids were nearby.



Jim has to go into school (work) Tuesday – Thursday and just SIT. He and several friends have nothing to do. He’s going to take his laptop and do some college work. Maybe they’ll get to leave a bit early each day. He’ll have off three months, with pay, so we sure can’t complain!



I’ve got the sprinkler going because one of my plants is quite wilted. I realized the one plant has been missed by both waterings because it’s in the middle of all the beds. I moved the sprinkler so it’s getting plenty tonight. I am a bit upset because it was covered with big purple flowers. I hope they pop back up. They were all droopy tonight.


Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Mr. Fix-it (5/27/2008 7:39:40 PM)

[image]http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/31341/2166126380073498737S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]



1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:



Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.



Hebrews 4:9-11 "So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience."



[image]http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/34754/2103468860073498737S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]





Wouldn’t you know it. Rain is expected on and off on Wednesday. My mother will have a good excuse to not come see us. She’ll drive less than 2 miles from my house. We’ll see.



To be allowed to water our 50 plus new plants/ shrubs, I had to take a course and pass a test on water conservation and drought, etc. I made 100% and paid my $4.95. We have to ‘prominently display’ our certificate and can now water those plants three days a week.



The lawnmower broke. Jim had done a few strips of grass when the belt broke. Then a cable broke. Of course, the John Deere store wasn’t open on Memorial Day so he couldn’t get the parts to fix it. He left here extra early this morning and went there before school (work). He did the edging and weed whacking and the backyard is done. The John Deere store didn’t have the belt or cable so they had to be ordered and will ship to our house. Uh Oh! The grass will have to wait a few days.



When I got up this morning and went into the kitchen, I heard a loud ‘hiss’ sound. The line to my icemaker had split and was spewing water all over the floor. I told you I needed to mop today anyhow. I shut off the water at the wall right away and Jim fixed it for me right after supper. He got all new tubing and the brass things at Home Depot for just dollars.



The pull chain to my whole house fan broke off last week. The fan pulls in the cool evening air and early morning air to help keep the house cool much of the day. Jim replaced that tonight before supper. It’s amazing how well it works. Jim installed it about 8 years ago for us.



Our satellite dish is acting up. For several days I’ve gotten ‘searching for signal’ messages and now am getting ‘not a valid access card number’ mixed in with ‘no signal’. I think I’ve fixed it, tho. I’d seen a wasp going in and out of the piping where the cable runs up to the dish. I jiggled the cable and it came on and has stayed on all afternoon/ evening.



Fridge, Microwave, Washer/ Dryer, Leaf Blower, Lawnmower, satellite, whole house fan, ice maker, my computer all gone or going! Whew!! We were given a microwave and Jim repaired the ice maker, whole house fan and will fix the lawnmower. The other things are held together with prayer.



[image]http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/25272/2820268710073498737S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]




I’ve not had any calls about another child to keep. I really don’t want to keep another child right now. With Jim home for three months, I’d rather it be just us and the sweet baby I’m keeping currently. Jim can do his schoolwork and we can even go to the park with just one toddler. I can sleep in until mom knocks on the door at almost 8:00, too. Our home is much quieter with only one child. I’m trusting God to provide.



Jim will be 61 in August. Only a little over a year and he can get Social Security. He says he feels better than he’s felt in years. He LOOKS great! He does sit-ups, push-ups and lifts weights all twice a day. He weighs the same as he did in high school and has a 34” waist.



My mind is just all over the place today, isn’t it? LOL



Jim came home at lunchtime. He had to run to the bank. The school is making them donate $10.00 toward gifts. He also had to give them $3.00 for a cook-out on Thursday or take in something. He wants out of there as soon as he eats so opted to pay instead of wait for a dish (plate) to be finished. He’s working on his college work at school today. He has nothing to do for three days but has to report. Jim’s going to make pancakes for everyone tomorrow morning. He has everything ready to go. He’s also taking in a bunch of our DVD’s to show in one of the rooms. People were actually asking ‘Do you have XYZ?’



I have a head cold. I pretty much never get sick. Oh, my sinuses will clog up but I go a very long time without even a cold. I knew this would happen because of my mother coming and our cookout. I am a bit achy and my head is all clogged up. I have sinus pain in one spot. I took Sudaphed and aspirin.



For the cookout, we’re having chicken, baked beans, new potatoes, broccoli, garlic bread and apple cobbler for dessert. The potatoes and broccoli are on the menu as I need softer foods because of my mother’s dental procedure. The only thing that might be too tough to chew is the chicken. She’ll grind it up.



I still have some cleaning to do. I might do some tonight and I might not. My house always looks clean because we never leave any piles around and everything is in its place.



I’m going to do a few chores and then watch TV. Have a great evening and God Bless!


[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/265209/Diane.gif[/image]
Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Summer Vacation begins today! (5/29/2008 7:40:00 PM)

[image]http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/37552/2005289500061733145S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]



Romans 4:20,21 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.


Philippians 2:1-2 "If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal."


"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"
Psalms 37:4


"And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful."
Proverbs 8:32



[image]http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/39928/2298828330062516904S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]



Last night was our cookout. My mother did make it. She came over about 4:30 and Jon and Mary got here about an hour later. We had a lot of fun. The weather was cloudy so cooler. It rained for less than two minutes just before my mother got here. The chairs didn’t even get wet. We stayed outside until the mosquitoes were eating us alive.



Scooter really disliked my mother. She really dislikes animals and she’d growled at him, barked at him through the window. He scared her to death.



My mother doesn’t look good at all. She’s lost weight and her skin just sags on her arms and legs. She’s aged 20 years in 11 months. I’m sure it’s these three surgeries she’s had done so she can have permanent false teeth. She’s to have another procedure done tomorrow in Birmingham. Vanity may just kill her.



Our oldest son, Scott, called today. He’s going to Honduras on a mission trip with 100Churches. He leaves in early June. I’m thrilled he’s able to get off work and go. He and his wife are very involved in their church. His son is 5 ½ and graduates from Pre-K in two weeks. He’s playing T-ball.



Scooter got hurt today. I think he’s fine, tho. The electric meter reader was shouting at him from the house behind us. I’m guessing he didn’t see me sitting on our deck. When he came around to our house, Scooter put his paws up on the top of the fence, barking like crazy. One foot got stuck! He yelped and yelped. I’d gone in the house, heard the noise and thought a dog had been hit by a car. By time we ran outside, he was running across the backyard. The reader told us what happened. I bet he won’t bother the dog again. Poor puppy! When he puts his paws on the top rail of the fence, his head is well above it. Anyhow, there’s a slight abrasion but he’s running around like normal. He did act a bit skittish much of the afternoon.



Our neighborhood is very noisy all of a sudden. A man down the street got a LOUD motorcycle and he rides it up and down the street, revving his engine. (Grow UP!) Some tiny kids are riding electric (go cart?) flat type things that sit just above ground level. They’re pretty young to be riding up and down the street with no adult watching them. I’d never seen them until the last few weeks and they don’t live on this half of the street. The things they’re riding are also noisy. The lady on the corner does daycare for older kids. She has three of her own (yours, mine, ours) and keeps 8 kids. They roam up and down the street, shouting and running around. I’m sure this will all pass when the newness of summer vacation wears off.



[image]http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/40858/1042045685012940524S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]




Jim’s last day at Temple Middle School was today. He went to Bremen and filled out his paperwork for his job there. The lady in human resources said health insurance for all Georgia teachers is changing this fall. We’ll choose from United Health Care and Cigna, I think he said. Also, their city school pays for his dental care and she said we’ll pay a bit less. So, we began our three months together with hamburgers on the grill and a long afternoon on the deck.



The part for our lawnmower came last night and Jim repaired it and then cut the grass today. I’m glad he’s so handy!



Tomorrow is our youngest grandchild’s 5th birthday. I sent her presents a long time ago and even let her open one a few weeks ago. Our daughter has plans for this weekend. They were making cupcakes tonight to take to school tomorrow.



I’ve got a dental cleaning on Monday. I don’t like going to the dentist but haven’t had a cavity in a while now. I hope it stays that way!



We’re taking Scooter for his rabies shot in the morning. We take him to a mobile vet who goes to the Tractor Supply store each Friday morning. He does spaying and neutering in a mobile office and comes out between each surgery to give shots or do ‘check ups’. You don’t have to pay for visits, only the actual shots. It’s about a 20 mile ride from here. Jim will drive and I’ll sit in the backseat with Scooter and Lauren. We’re supposed to be there at 9:00.



Have a great evening and God Bless!


[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/265209/Diane.gif[/image]
Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Red HOTS (5/30/2008 8:59:38 PM)

[image]http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/40334/2043797630096077517S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]



Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely , whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

James 4:14 Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.

Eccles. 7:1 The day you die is better than the day you are born.




This was an odd day. I got up early so I could be showered and dressed before the baby got here. She was a little later than usual so I’d had coffee and was ready to go.



It was very misty or foggy out this morning. It looked like a brush fire, tho, instead of mist.



We took Scooter into Carrollton to the Mobile Vet at the tractor supply store. We had to wait a few minutes because there were a lot of people coming and going. Scooter was SO good. He was the best behaved dog there. There were four huge dogs and one mop like dog plus a cat. Scooter sat quietly and licked people who’d approach him, telling him how good and how handsome he is. He was not sure about the stethoscope, but let doctor check his ears, heart and teeth before getting two shots. The exam and all the shots was $35.00. He’s all set for another year. He also enjoyed the ride. Lauren played with his ears, pulled his eyelashes and told him ‘Good Boy!’ over and over.



[image]http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/40316/1085797178048219341S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]




The daycare child was gone before 2:00. Jim had been given a gift certificate for Olive Garden so we went for a late lunch/ early supper. We also stopped by the Dollar Tree and got me some crossword puzzle and word search books. I do several each day. Keeps my mind sharp.



I have off until Tuesday. That’s neat. Since Jim has off for the three months, we can sleep later each day, not setting a clock.



My mother didn’t have her procedure today. She needs a skin graft and it’s a true operation. That means another long recovery time and a bunch more money. I sure wish she’d never started this. Jim’s going to help her out by going with her and then driving her back to Mobile. It’ll mean his being away from here for a week or so and we have NO idea how he’ll get back home. Don’t ever choose to have elective surgery four hours from home.



The mosquitoes are already bad here. I was out on our deck at 6:00 and had even sprayed my arms. The darn things were going for my face. I have a couple of bites on my arms from before I’d sprayed. They sure itch. We have mosquito dunks in the bird baths and water fountain with no standing water elsewhere. Of course, the yards on either side of us are all leaves, limbs and brush.



Today is Kaylee’s 5th Birthday! Happy Birthday to YOU, Precious!
She’s our youngest grandchild.




It’s going to be very hot here tomorrow. It may hit 90° before June 1st. Now that’s just TOO soon!



The plants in the pictures are called ‘Red Hot Pokers’ Kniphofia. Our son who lives in the next town, Jon, planted six of them today. That’s all the lady had in stock. They grow up to 5’ tall and are perennials. Maybe I’ll get some, too. You can never have too many flowers!



Have a great evening and God Bless!


[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/265209/Diane.gif[/image]

Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> It feels like summer! (6/3/2008 8:07:47 PM)

[image]http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/43442/2355208110028972814S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]



Habakkuk 2:4 Look at the proud; his soul is not straight or right within him, but the just and the righteous man shall live by his faith and in his faithfulness.




Luke 9:62 "Jesus said, 'No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.'"




Sunday: I had to get up early today so I could water my plants. I have a certificate that allows me to water all my plants, but I have to water Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from midnight to 10:00 a.m. On Sunday, that means before we leave for Sunday School. I got up at 6:00 and did it. Scooter was barking at the neighbors cat and I let him bark!! Because…….



The people who live behind us and to the side have two small kids. They were outside playing after MIDNIGHT! The squealing and shouting woke me up. If I had to guess, I’d say they were outside for about an hour. It was quite irritating! I hope it’s not something they plan on doing often. They had played in their swimming pool (above ground) and ridden their Barbie type cars for hours after supper last night. They’re quite loud (kids and screaming parents) and then the two dogs next door bark at them, but I can deal with that. Just not in the middle of the night!! Maybe they had company. I’ve not heard them or seen them yet today.



[image]http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/41025/2544495800028972814S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]




Jim has 16 school papers he needs to complete before the end of June and since he’s going to take my mother for surgery in Birmingham and then take her home to Mobile, he has to get as much done as he can. He’s done four or more in just three days. He’s studying long hours. That sort of leaves me ‘alone’.



We still can’t figure out how he’ll get home from Mobile. I could ask Jon to go get him. He’s taking Jim to meet mother in Birmingham and would do it for us, but he has to take his step daughter back and forth to summer school and the trip to Mobile is 5 hours each way. I don’t like ‘using’ people. Mother mentioned Jim flying back but the cost is horrific and the flight from Mobile to Atlanta takes forever. Jim offered to ride Greyhound but mother says it takes two days. I checked just now and he can ride Greyhound to the airport for $53.00 and only 7 hours. That’ll work. I REALLY dread having Jim gone. Nick has his friends and activities and I will be very lonely.



[image]http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/33946/2659627620028972814S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]




Monday: We went over to Jon and Mary’s house to see the new landscaping. It looks pretty. He has a good number of plants to get in the ground, still.



I went to the dentist Monday. No cavities. I didn't dread the visit like I used to. Being able to go every six months and having insurance relieves a lot of worry.



Tuesday: It’s really hot here today. It was 90° earlier and has only dropped a little since. I get quite confused as to what day it is since Jim’s home all the time.



I slept in until after 7:30. The childcare baby got here not long after that. I watered my plants while she ate breakfast.


Scooter found another snake in the yard. This was a Ring-Neck and it was quite small. We have found four now. One was about 2 ½ to 3ft long and about the diameter of a rake handle.



Jim’s done a lot of his college work the last few days. He’s scheduled to take a test on Friday 13th in Carrollton. It’s a lit final.



We had BBQ chicken, corn on the cob and baked beans for supper. It was very good.



Have a really nice evening and God Bless!

Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> A phone call (6/5/2008 8:46:49 PM)

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"Once again I'll go over what God has done,
lay out on the table the ancient wonders;
I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished,
and give a long, loving look at your acts."
Psalms 77: 11-12




1 Peter 5:2-3 “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”


Joshua 3:15-16 "Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho."



[image]http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/23849/2625629880029319295S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]




Wednesday: Another lazy day! I did get up before 7:30 and make my coffee before the baby arrived. It looks like 7:50 will be her normal arrival time during summer. In the fall, when school begins again, her sisters will be going to school in the town where they’ve moved and mom will drop them off before coming here.



Jon and Mary are getting a swimming pool. Jon wants to build a deck and a screened in sunroom too. I’ll help when I can. I love working outside!



I was hoping for some rain today. I can only water on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, so rain on the other days would be a blessing. I got my water bill for April and May and was pleased to see it is only $43.00. Not bad for two months! It only went up a small amount.


Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you constantly, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose water falls always.



Dandelions. Where YOU see weeds, the birds see God’s provision!



[image]http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/11028/2120471920053495645S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]




It was hot again today! It didn’t hit 90°, tho. There was a nice breeze, too. I love being able to sit on the deck. We’d sprayed for bugs and sat outside tonight until I looked down and found four mosquitoes on me at once. We don’t have any of the liquid for our electric fogger and need refills for our Mosquito Deleto. You’re talking about $60.00! So, we’ll swat and use whatever we can until we can afford the refills.




Thursday: Jim got a call today asking him to teach Summer School. It’s actually only 13 four hour days and the pay is good. He starts on Monday.



We’re not taking a full vacation from home schooling. Nick is doing math each day. We’re reviewing using Saxon Math. It always seems we ‘forget’ things during the summer and a few hours a day will help prevent that. Keep us all sharp!



My mother called to say my Uncle and his wife will take her back and forth to Birmingham for her dental procedure. That works out really well for all of us.



The wicked black dog next door terrorized me last night when I walked Scooter. He’s been running loose for almost two weeks and is a biter. He came at us in the dark and went around behind me, lunging at me and Scooter. I’d planned to call the dog catcher today, but he was not out in the yard. The brown dog was. Anyhow, I contacted the house owners who said they’d contact the renters for us. (I’ve left messages and sent emails many times over the last two years with no return call). I was mauled by an Akita in 1994 and had many surgeries on my right leg because of it. I still cannot feel a portion of my lower leg. People who own bad dogs need fences. We put up a fence when we first moved in to keep dogs OUT. It’s wrong that I can’t check the mail or water the plants out front without being chased by a badly behaved dog!



The baby was here really late tonight. Whew! Seems like anytime we plan to do something, we get held up. We did get to Home Depot and Wal-Mart tho, right after supper.



Have a really nice evening and God Bless!


[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/265209/Diane.gif[/image]

Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> My Cala Lilies are in bloom (6/8/2008 9:23:44 PM)

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Mark 6:4-6 "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief."


1 Kings 18:36-39 "At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God."


2 Corinthians 2:14-16But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.



Saturday: I slept late today. In fact, I was still dozing when our daughter called from Connecticut at 9:00. I was in bed and asleep early last night too. I think the heat wore me out.



It was over 100° in our T.V. room yesterday. We closed up the house and turned on the central air today. We’re on a ‘flat bill’ which means we’re billed the same amount each month no matter how little or how much electric we use. That flat bill increases next month to $152.00 a month. That’s an extra $30.00 per month, which is very tough for me, but we can’t do without air all summer. So, we closed up and turned the a/c on, setting it at 78°. It hasn’t shut off yet and it’s 86° in the T.V. room at almost 2:00. We have a window unit to put in this room because it faces due west and has no trees shading the two large windows. It takes both the central air and window unit to make this room bearable in the summertime.



I haven’t accomplished much today. Oh, I’ve done laundry and made the beds, washed dishes and the like, but not much else. I did talk to my mother in Alabama three times, our daughter in Connecticut twice and our local son twice. They all called me.



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Sunday: We had another low turnout for Sunday School. I had only one girl!! We’ve sent cards several times and made phone calls too. I’m removing four from my Sunday School Class role for not attending even once in two years. They’re not from church families and have not responded to messages I’ve left.



We went to Jon and Mary’s this afternoon for a few hours. They needed help with some electrical but we’ll have to go back tomorrow when they have the right wire. We took some tools they wanted to borrow for another project. The guys are going to have to go up in the attic and it was 140° up there!! They got a lovely lamp with three globes for the side of their walk. It is so very pretty. I can’t wait to see it lit up.



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Jon was going to dig up 15 Azaleas and a number of 10-foot tall saplings. I offered to put them on Freecycle for him. I’m hoping we can give them away. They’re too large to suit me. They’ve gotten ‘leggy’ from not being trimmed properly over the years. Someone will surely want them. The tree removal company will be coming this week to remove a HUGE pine tree. Jon has already gotten up 38 wheel barrows full of pine straw and has about the same amount or more to remove.



We had 13 Bibleman movies. They’re a bit young for Nick. I asked if our Children’s Church workers would like them so Jim took them up tonight. They’re really great videos and teach Bible verses to the kids in a fun and modern way. I’d like to get rid of our Veggie Tales but Jim won’t hear of it, yet. Most of them are VHS.



I’m into this ‘downsizing’/ Clean Sweep type mindset. If we don’t use it, we don’t need it. Jim doesn’t agree. I don’t bother his things.



It’s going to be hot but then rain might move in. Later this week, we may have some nights in the low 60°’s. That’s nice sleeping weather!



Hope you have a blessed week.


Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> My week (6/13/2008 11:04:59 AM)

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Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."



Philippians 3:13, "Forgetting the things that are behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press toward the mark to win the prize to which God called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."



Hebrews 12:15, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God. Do not let any bitter root grow up among you or it will cause trouble and defile many."





Tuesday and Wednesday: It’s cooled down a good bit and I’m glad. We’ve been able to do things outside even during the day. Yesterday it was over 100° in the late afternoon but it was quite pleasant by summertime.



We’ve been busy the last few evenings. Jon and Mary were putting in an underground, invisible fence for their dog and we helped. We finished it up last night.



Jim’s going to rewire a receptacle in their shed and install an ‘old school’ type lamppost for them next. It’s a beautiful lamppost. It has three globes with flickering lights. They have no wire running to the area where Jim needs it for the lamppost so Jon’s going into the attic to find out the problem. Once he locates the ‘cold wire’, Jim will go up and fix it all.



Nick and I are doing Math each day while Jim’s teaching summer school. It’s going quickly because we’re just reviewing last years work so he won’t lose time the beginning of next school year.



Jim gets home from school each day around 12:30. It’s really boring, says he. It’s four hours in one room with the same kids and the kids are doing a weeks worth of math each day. Thankfully, it’s only 2 ½ weeks. He’ll still have over 2 months of vacation.



It stormed last night, right after we went to bed. We got about an inch of rain, a bit of hail and some strong winds. We had thunder and a very quick shower just after supper tonight. The bits and spurts of rain help my plants.



We got our liquid for our electric fogger this afternoon. That really works well at helping control mosquitoes and other biting insects. When we’re planning on being outside after a rain or late into the day, Jim will fog the whole backyard with a spray made from flowers. We’ve been doing this for a few years now. I shopped around and found the liquid in a generic form in gallon containers. That’ll last us the whole season and maybe more. My sticky pads and lure for my Mosquito Deleto should be in the mail tomorrow.



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It is a great and truly Christian joy to me that after all this time you have shown such renewed interest in my welfare. I don't mean that you had forgotten me, but up till now you had no opportunity of expressing your concern. Nor do I mean that I have been in actual need, for I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry, of facing either plenty or poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me. Philippians 4:10-13




Thursday: Good Morning! It’s getting harder and harder to find time to post in my blog. I generally open my Word document and add things all during the day when I take a minute to sit down or when it’s quiet.


Tonight we’re going over to Jon and Mary’s for Jim to wire the lamppost and repair the receptacle out in their storage shed. Of course, I can only help a bit, since that’s beyond my capabilities. I’ll visit with Mary and help ‘clean up’ the front island. The tree was removed yesterday morning. It took less than 1 ½ hours to remove a huge tree. It towered over the house, maybe forty feet or more tall.


I made our bed and unloaded/ loaded the dishwasher before 8:00 this morning. I woke with a sinus headache. A quick spray with Afrin, some aspirin and Sudaphed fixed that right up tho.



I’ve not gone out to water my plants yet. That has to be done within the next few hours or I lose my turn today. I’m a stickler for rules and my days are Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from midnight until 10:00 a.m. I have a variance certificate that supersedes the 25 minutes or less rule.



Friday: ACK! The wiring didn’t go well. Jim and Jon got the lamppost wired and ready to be connected but a trip to the attic reveal major concerns. First, they cannot find a way to turn off much of the wiring!! Even if every breaker is off, many things in the house remain on. Jim couldn’t change out the receptacle in the storage shed because the wire running to it cannot be found and it cannot be turned off! We’re very concerned the house is a fire hazard. Wires thrown everywhere. You’d think the bank would have sent an inspector who would have spotted these problems back when the house was being purchased. I’m sure it’s too late to do anything now, other than call an electrician and have the whole house rewired.


Meanwhile, Jim has determined he can still get the lamppost lit but it’ll be by hooking it into another breaker and will call for it to be ‘always on’. We’ll go back over as soon as the daycare child leaves today.



Jim takes his literature final at WGU this afternoon at 2:00. He hasn’t spent much time studying and hopes to do well. Since summer school is different, teaching a weeks worth in one day, there’s no time for him to study while at school.


Hope you’ve had a lovely week and have a great weekend!

Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Not much happening here (6/17/2008 8:27:24 PM)

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But the wisdom that comes from heaven is... full of mercy and good fruit... James 3:17




I guess you can guess I’ve been busy or just not at the computer much lately. It’s not that a lot is going on. In fact, not much is going on at all.



After Jim got home from school at noon, we ran over to Jon and Mary’s house to replace a sensor in their lamppost. It was staying on all the time instead of only at night.



I helped Jon for about two hours, clearing out some Azaleas and loads of small trees that had overtaken one of their island flowerbeds. It wasn’t very hot but it was quite humid. Jon and Mary got some beautiful plants last night. He’s not decided exactly where to put them yet. I do that too. I buy plants because I love them and not because I have a spot for them. Speaking of my plants, we sure need rain! My plants wilt in the heat each day.



While cutting down saplings today, I noticed a plastic bag in some branches and found a bird’s nest with three bright blue eggs. Mother bird was in an Azalea, watching me closely. We cut down other saplings near that, but left everything else so as not to disturb their environment. Once the baby birds have hatched and ‘moved out’, we can take that sapling down. The next was about 5 ½ feet off the ground. Because the sapling is so small, their cats can’t climb and harm the birds.



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We went and saw The Happening this past Saturday. What a waste of time and money. It WAS nice to spend time with Jim, but the movie was downright stupid. I’d like to see The Strangers and Mirrors, which comes out in late August.



My mother had her oral surgery. My aunt and uncle went with her to Birmingham for a short vacation and the procedure. IF the surgery is ever over, it will have taken two years out of her life. This time they removed the top of her mouth, the pallet, and replaced it with ‘donor’ tissue because her own tissue had receded due to the implanting of ‘cadaver’ bone. I can’t believe any oral surgeon would do this procedure on a woman almost 80 years old just so she can have permanent false teeth. She has another five months of healing.



Well, not much has gone on around here so not much to share. Hope you have a nice evening and God Bless!


Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Dog, dog, dog (6/20/2008 9:16:50 PM)

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Psalm 18:1 "I will love You, O Lord, my strength."


Jeremiah 10:23 “I know, LORD, that a person's life is not his own. No one is able to plan his own course”.


2 Thessalonians 2:15 "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us."




Wednesday: This morning seemed to last a very long time. I’m not sure why, tho. I woke a little after 6:00 because I heard Jim moving around, but I went back to sleep until around 7:00.



Our daughter called around 7:15 while on her way to work this morning. She was in a singing contest last night and made it to the finals in September with a chance to win $3,500., a single CD, radio airtime and a spot on the entertainment venue at The Big E this fall in the North East. Her video will be on Comcast.net sometime in the next few days and we can vote online. She wasn’t able to choose what she sang but was given three songs she knew. She had to register under her ‘married name’ because she’s not gotten to the DMV to change her DL back to her maiden name. I told her I’d tell y’all about it and ask people to listen to her and vote for her if they’d like. Once the website is up, I’ll share the link.



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Friday: This week has gone pretty quickly. I’m glad the weekend is here. Jim has three more days of teaching summer school but the final two days are re-administering the CRCT. Any student who didn’t pass has to return to take the test, which means the ‘summer school kids’ will be joined by a lot of others, including some unruly kids. Once this is over, he’ll have off til late August.



Last night we went to see The Strangers. We can go to the movie for $6.00. Anyhow, it was a decent scary movie. Certainly there was a lot of startling scenes. It’s based on a true story, which makes it more unsettling. It was much better than The Happening.



My dog is having a meltdown. I believe it’s the Solstice moon. He’s waking numerous times at night and whining. I walked him at midnight and again at 2:00 and then put him in the t.v. room and ignored him after that. He really didn’t need to go out, but was quite interested in the moon and things going bump in the night. Tonight I’m going to start off with him in the t.v. room so I don’t easily hear him and am going to ignore him. He’s quick to fall into a schedule!



My dog can tell time. Every night at 9:29 he comes and barks a special little bark telling me it’s time for his walk down the street. I know he enjoys the long walk and I’d take him many times a day except for the killer Dachshund who terrorizes me. Jim goes with me now at 9:30 and carries a bat to chase away the ankle biter. Scooter ignores the darned dog, but I’m afraid of aggressive dogs because I was mauled by an Akita back in October of 1994 and had to have numerous surgeries to repair the damage.



We don’t have any plans for the weekend. Maybe we’ll cook-out with Jon, Mary and their girls. The oldest girl is moving today. I’m not sure if she needs to use our car. She doesn’t have any real furniture. Just clothing and stuff. We have a Saturn VUE. Jon has a Mustang. Mary and Nikki both have Hondas. Certainly our car can carry a lot more at one time.



We’re expecting rain most of the day on Saturday. We sure need it. It’s been really pleasant with temps in the mid 80°’s for a while now. Next week will return to those 90° days.


Uh Oh! My dog got a chicken breast (bones) out of the garbage and ate it. I sure hope he doesn’t get sick! I try to be so careful but the phone rang right after supper and I wasn’t paying attention.



I really need to find another one or two children to keep. I see lots of ads for childcare so there must be a shortage of kids all around.



Our 31 year old son, Jon, has poison ivy and is covered with blistered patches about the size of a small pancake. He finally went to the Minor Emergency Clinic down the street. He got a steroid shot and prescriptions for Prednisone, Keflex for infection and Atavax (sp) for itching. I hope he clears up soon. Their vacation is in less than two weeks. Jon has always been terribly allergic to poison ivy. He’d done well for a number of years. We got shots for him for many years when he was a kid. Our pediatrician gave them to him four times a season. He'd done well for so many years now.



Well, it’s been a hectic and not so enjoyable day. One of those ‘Murphy’s Law’ days.


Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Tuesday Already (6/24/2008 8:36:20 PM)


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Leviticus 26:7-9 "But you will chase your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword; five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. So I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will confirm My covenant with you."



Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."



1 Samuel 2:7-8 "The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and He set the world on them."



Philippians 4:6-9 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.


Psalms 8:3-8 "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—what are mortals that you should think of us? For you made us only a little lower than the angels, and you crowned us with glory and honor. You put us in charge of everything you made, giving us authority over all things—the sheep and the cattle and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.”







Well I’ve been quite boring lately, haven’t I? Not much going on to talk about.



Jim has one more half day of Summer School. He’s administering a repeat CRCT today and tomorrow. He had three 8th graders doing the reading portion today and will have four tomorrow for the math portion, if things go as planned. He will have to read the word problems and directions to some of the 8th graders who can’t read. That blows his mind! He’ll have almost two full months off before heading to a new school system about 10 miles from here.



Jim went to the doctor today. He’s not felt good the last few days and his chest is tight. Since he has COPD and Asthma, we don’t take chances. The Pulmonary Specialist at Emory called last night and said he’d rather see him than guess and prescribe a Z-Pak. Jim is his first patient this afternoon so he should be home by suppertime. (NO, Jim is not a smoker! He grew up in a home filled with smokers, tho.) Jim weighs 159 lbs and does push ups, sit ups, lifts weights, deep knee bends, etc. twice a day. He looks incredible! He’ll be 61 in August. ** Jim got a Z-Pak. Doctor wasn’t concerned, blaming it on allergies.



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I sent out fliers again today about childcare. I REALLY need to keep one or two more children. It’s so pleasant having just the one precious little gal, but we have to pay our bills! I know she’s really enjoyed being the ‘only child’.



I’ve only gotten $10.00 from my surveys in the last month. That’s a bummer! I really was counting on that income, too. I don’t know if the surveys slacked down because of summer or if more people are responding so we’re not getting as many invitations. Two of my survey sites dropped payment from $1.00 for each survey to 50 cents per survey. You can only do one a day on those sites. That makes it harder to reach the $30.00 for payout.



Scooter had no problems, thank the Lord, from eating the bones from a chicken breast last week. Whew! He has to be with me constantly! Even if I walk from one room to the other and back again, he will wake himself up and follow me. He whimpers sometimes at night now. If I pet his head and stay with him a minute or so, he goes back to sleep until 8:00 a.m. or later. He’s such a wonderful dog! Our teeny, tiny Calico rubs up against his legs.
We need rain! My flowers are drooping. It gets quite warm each day, but it isn’t unbearable. It’s just too much for young plants.



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I need to be inspired! Other than puzzles, crosswords, etc., I have nothing interesting to do. I have a lot of interest in crafts, sewing and flower gardening, but they all cost money. Jim’s been restoring stereo speakers and components that we’ve gotten off Freecycle. I helped him replace grill cloth, but that’s about it. I enjoyed the search for material and finding much more than we needed for…. Drum roll please….. $1.00! That was that. I’m quite bored!



I really enjoyed helping Jon build the doghouse. I also enjoyed helping him with some heavy-duty yard work after a huge tree was taken down. He’s been very ill with poison ivy and not allowed to do any yard work for about three more weeks. He’s on huge amounts of Prednisone, Keflex and more for another 2 ½ weeks.



Jon and Mary leave on vacation in a week. They’re going to stop and visit with our daughter and her girls before going to Niagara Falls. They’ve been married one year on July 7th. It seems like Mary’s been part of our family forever! We love her so much.


Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> A Quick Hello (6/27/2008 7:05:11 PM)

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Romans 8:39 "Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord"




Wednesday was the last day of Jim teaching Summer School. He was home before 11:00. I hope he can enjoy the next two months!



It was a lovely day. It was warm, but not unbearable. Scooter is black so he can’t handle being out for long, but I enjoy time on the deck. We had a quick rain this afternoon. It wasn’t enough to do more than wet the ground.


Our fireworks are on July 3rd this year. We missed it last year because they had it on a day other than the 4th. I’m not sure why they do it early, unless it’s in case of rain. I’m glad I saw the notice, tho.



This week seemed to pass quickly. Next week I’ll have off Friday July 4th, of course, so will only have the daycare child four days. Jon and Mary will have left for their vacation and anniversary trip so we probably will just cook out here and listen to the drunken neighbors shoot fireworks (LOLOL).



I’m getting a lot more housework done. Jim’s a big help watching the baby for me. She’s almost two and is getting into everything. She climbs! Everywhere! Everything! I got her down from the kitchen chair, about to be on top of the table. She ran off and climbed up on the toilet. She was climbing the back of the sofa tonight and was about over the top when her foot must have slipped and she bumped her lip. I had just stopped her from climbing on it minutes before but the cat was on the sofa, hiding from her, and she wanted kitty.



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Anyhow, with Jim here to keep an eye on her, I’ve actually been able to get the food off the kitchen wall (baby throws food when she’s finished eating) and wash a few baseboards. I got a lot of housework done today. Jim helped by getting down a cobweb from the corner of the cathedral ceiling and cleaning some dead flies off a windowsill over the front door. Both are too high for me even with the cobweb thingy. He vacuumed the stairs, too.



I made BBQ Ribs tonight. They were quite good. We had potato salad and lima beans with them.



Jon and Mary are going to take Erin’s clothing to her when they stop by to visit next week on their vacation. They’re driving Jon’s Mustang so won’t have a lot of room. She left behind a lot of toys and the girl’s clothing, too. We don’t have the funds to ship them to her but they’ll be able to take a lot of the things. I did mail all the DVD’s and a few favorite toys in with some gifts we’ve sent this year. The stuff was left behind a year ago!


Hey all, Our family is a member of the Nielsen Group. We have a handheld 'scanner' that we use to scan groceries, gas purchases, etc. We submit once a week through the computer and receive points we use to get free things. It's EASY, it's fun and it is FREE. They are open to new members for a short time. You have to follow the link below to join. I've done it for about 2 years now.

Homescan Consumer Panel is the most prestigious of all household panels. Feel free to tell your family and friends and have them select the link below!

Click Here



We watched the cutest movie from www.familytv.com called ‘Return to the Secret Garden’, rediscovering the meaning of friendship. It was really good.



I hope you have plans for a nice weekend with your family.
God Bless,


Diane Tavegia

"In a way, the world is a great liar. It shows you it worships and admires money, but at the end of the day it doesn't. It says it adores fame and celebrity, but it doesn't, not really. The world admires, and wants to hold on to, and not lose, goodness. It admires virtue. At the end it gives its greatest tributes to generosity, honesty, courage, mercy, talents well used, talents that, brought into the world, made it better. That's what it really admires. That's what we talk about in eulogies, because that's what's important. We don't say, 'The thing about Joe was he was rich.' We say, if we can, 'The thing about Joe was that he took care of people.'
"A Life's Lesson" by Peggy Noonan re: Tim Russert 2008



dianetavegia -> Rumors of my demise (6/28/2008 9:12:51 PM)

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1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."



James 1:23-25 "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."




Jim and I were laughing today. We went to the dump and to the consignment shop. We noticed the old men who ‘man’ the dump chatting away and decided we might just take our lawn chairs over and spend the day with those fellas. Seems like they have more of a social life than WE do.



Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated! I say this because I was talking to our five year old (just turned five) granddaughter on Thursday night. She was chatting away and then seemed to get frightened. She asked if I was the grandmother in Georgia. ‘My DEAD Grandma??’ Seems the other half of their family talks about their dead relatives a lot and Kaylee was just sure they meant ME. At least she doesn’t say I’m fat.



Anyhow, not only am I not dead, MY mother and MY father are both very healthy and lead super active lives. My mother is deciding between Southern Italy and Africa for her next trip. Or maybe it’ll be Alaska or a Scandinavian cruise. She’ll be 76 in July and my father will be 81 in December.



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My final weigh in is July 8th. Bring Food, the invite says! I’m still stuck at 137lbs. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I stopped doing my aerobics a few weeks ago when I was doing intense yard work and just never started back up. I’d loaned out my 1 mile DVD and contacted the lady to get it back so I can start back up. I’m doing some minor weight lifting to try and firm up my upper arms.


I mentioned the consignment shop earlier. I am happy to report that it was either bought out or is under new management. They mark down when you bring in a bag and offer things back to you that haven’t sold. Previously, I’d take some really nice things over and after six or seven months, would have $2.00. Today I picked up $7.50. Hey! I can buy two gallons of gas!



We DID stop and get half a tank of gas today for $30.00. Our gas is $3.87 for regular. Isn’t that just horrible? Of course, it’s down from $3.99 from a few weeks ago. When I was in college I’d go home to Florida with my college big sister. She’d fill up down the road from Tift Baptist Women’s College and not buy any more gas until we crossed the Florida line where she could get it for 29 cents a gallon. Scare me to death! We’d be running on fumes! That was 1969- 1970. Boy have things changed.



Since Mary and Jon are leaving this Thursday for their vacation, we’re having our Fourth of July cook-out tomorrow afternoon. There’s a chance of rain but Mary and Jon have a large covered patio/ carport.



Wasn’t that just awful about the 17 year old boy with a church group who was decapitated at the Six Flags near us? The people responding online to the news blogs are so very cruel. Yes. He broke the rules and made a stupid decision that cost him his life but his parents still lost their child!



We’re going to watch Untraceable. Enjoy your evening with your family and God Bless!

Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Monday and Tuesday (7/1/2008 7:17:03 PM)

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Hebrews 4:15-16 "For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in good time for every need.



1 Peter 3:15-16 "Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath."



James 4:6-8 But he gives more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God... Come near to God and he will come near to you.





Monday: Wow, the sun was hot but otherwise, it was quite pleasant here today. It never got over 80° and we have 20mph winds, to make that feel even cooler.



Are you bored? We are. With gas prices high, we’re staying home. That makes for a long and boring day.



I started back doing my aerobics today. I did the Miracle Mile, which is one mile in under 20 minutes. It will take me a week or so to build back up to the two mile DVD. That’s much more intense. At least I am doing them.




I’m still searching for another daycare child or two. I’d love to be able to keep just the one, but that’s not an option. I need to create a flier and get it out there. Certainly, someone is seeking childcare. I really do not want a newborn because they need a lot of attention, as does the two year old I’ve had for a year now. At this point, I’ll have to take any age offered me.



Tuesday: Jon needed to borrow our jigsaw and sawhorses for another home improvement project he’s completing so we took those over today. He and Mary had leftovers from a bath project and gave them to us. We have just sheetrock above our shower and bathtub so we are going to cover that area with their leftovers.



The daycare child played in the shade while we visited for a while. Jon’s very excited about their vacation and the next few days of waiting is going to be hard.



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Jim made a run to the dump with a stereo unit we’d been given that was ‘blown’, a garden sprayer that had sprung a leak and a bug zapper that couldn’t be repaired. He put those things on the ‘share’ table so someone looking for a piece or part can grab and recycle. While over that way, Jim picked up a huge bag of dog food from a friend off Freecycle. She’d bought it for her dogs and they won’t eat it.



I had a hard night last night. Not sure why, but Scooter just couldn’t sleep. He woke at midnight and again at 2:15. I walked him both times. He seemed to have an upset tummy at 2:15. I got back in bed, but he whined and did these little barks until I sat with him. He slept very well while I was with him and I tried to sleep on the sofa with him. That was just not comfortable. Around 4:00, I went to bed. Scooter whined once or twice but then quieted down. I woke at 6:00 long enough to look at the clock. The clock went off at 7:30 so I had to scurry to get up before the daycare toddler arrived. Before y’all send me emails about just letting the dog fuss or put him outside, Scooter is MY dog so my responsibility. The neighbors don’t need to hear dogs at night nor does my sleeping family.



Two more days before a long weekend! I hope I can sleep in some of the days. Rain is supposed to move in on Friday and last for several days. Maybe I can even take a few afternoon naps. We’ll see!



We ate light tonight. Jim and Nick had hamburgers and I made a ‘taco’ salad without the nacho or shell component. We need to buy groceries so this is a very good time to clean out the fridge.



Still no calls about childcare. I did make up a flier and sent it by email to several hundred people locally. Would you mind whispering a prayer for us? Thanks!



Have a great evening and I’ll talk to you soon. God bless you and keep you.


Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> 4th of July (7/4/2008 8:24:38 PM)

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James 4:8, 10 Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded... Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.


James 1:5-6 "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind."




Wednesday: Shucks! Another bad night! Scooter woke at midnight and 2:15 and I finally closed the door and let him whine at 3:45. We’re really unsure what’s going on tho it seems to start off with him needing to go out. We’ve put away his dog treats today. Yesterday he had probably 10 large bones. Hope we can quickly get past this behavior!



The next few nights will be filled with loud booms from fireworks. People go across the state line into Alabama and buy fireworks not legal in Georgia. The more people have to drink, the louder it gets. At least it’s only a few times a year. The fireworks frighten all the neighborhood dogs.



I’ve gotten together a bag of things for the consignment shop. If Lauren leaves early enough, I’ll take them this afternoon. Otherwise, I’ll take them down early in the morning. ** Tomorrow it is. It worked out fine, tho. I found a few pair of tennis shoes the granddaughters had left here a year ago and needed to wash those.



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Friday July 4th: There are only four days a year the American Flag can be legally disposed of and one of them was today.



Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.




Two nights and Scooter has slept well again. Whew! We stopped giving him so many treats and were careful of the other foods he was given. No Nacho Doritos for YOU!



I didn’t go to the consignment shop as planned. I’ll wait until Monday now and go when I run to the bank to deposit my daycare check. Save Gas! It’s not a big deal, other than these are summer clothes and shoes and would sell now.



We had our cook-out for the 4th this past Sunday with Mary, Jon and her girls and their friends. Jon and Mary left on vacation after work yesterday. They stopped by to say goodbye and also pick up Jon’s original birth certificate. They need that to enter Canada at Niagara Falls. They called this morning to say they were near the George Washington Bridge and about 3 hours from Erin’s house. They’ll stay with her today and tomorrow before heading to Niagara Falls. They want to be there for their wedding anniversary. I got some video of the grandkids and our daughter about 1:30 so I know Jon and Mary arrived safely.



That being said, we’re having steak, corn on the cob, baked potatoes and garlic bread for our supper.



I hope you’ve had a safe and Happy Independence Day.

God, please bless America again.

Diane Tavegia



dianetavegia -> Yikes! Mosquitoes are BAD (7/8/2008 6:09:25 PM)

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1 Corinthians 2:9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."



Proverbs 3:5-7 "Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to GOD! Run from evil!"



Romans 8:6-7 "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,"




Monday: Did you have a nice Monday? I woke when the clock went off at 7:30. I was sleeping very hard!


Jim went to a softball game at 9:00. Some of the kids and teachers from Temple Middle School were playing. They had another game at noon but he didn’t stay for that.


My belt on my vacuum broke when Jim was out. He fixed it as soon as he got home. We already had a spare belt, thank the Lord! I got my vacuuming done and Nick cleaned his room. I also did the wash and swept the tile floors.



I’d sprained or twisted my ankle last Tuesday night so I’d not been able to do my aerobics since then. I wrapped it up and did them this morning. The swelling is down but certain movem