Brian Turns Three!

Today was Brian's 3rd birthday! The unfortunate part is that he's in So. California and we're in Arkansas! Brian missed his Grandpa's birthday by just a few hours! Grandpa wasn't very happy about that! That's o.k. with Grandma though...he could miss it by as many hours as he wanted to! He came when he was good and ready! Brian is the happiest little boy! And he is ALL boy! He loves everything sports - even at three!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY BRIAN! WE MISS YOU!

Happy Birthday Don!

On November 14th, Don officially became old enough to collect Social Security! We spent the day with our friends, Glenda & Ray Roe. We had a great dinner of steak, salads and potatoes (don't ask about the squash that I forgot in the microwave)! For dessert we had carrot cake! We were also joined by friends of the Roe's, Donna & Al who joined us at the RV park in Shirley on Tuesday!

It didn't take us long to get acquainted with Donna & Al! We had them join us at the house for "happy hour" and also brought my mom along! After our happy hour...we all had dinner at Bentley's, a local restaurant!

Today, we once again went over to the house for happy hour, but we started by going to El Jefe's...for their all you can eat from 11-3! It was a little colder today so we had happy hour out on the "as of yet, uncompleted deck" (that doesn't make much sense does it)! Seems like you would want to be on a solid floor with some walls and windows instead of precariously perched on boards out in the elements! :-)

After that we stopped by the boat storage to show off the boat! The ladies took a quick glance and then headed to Dollar General for a quick look around!

Tomorrow, the Roe's and Donna & Al will head out. Glenda and Ray heading towards Las Vegas and Donna & Al to Texas. It's been a very quick visit but we were glad to be able to share our new adventure with them! I'm hoping that the next time they're through here that the house will be finished, but I'm NOT holding my breath! :-)

You can see the latest house building pictures here:

www.picasaweb.google.com/vickileith

A bird in the hand...

Don and I went over to the house today to "clean it up" a little before we had our first official guest! It's amazing how messy the workers can be during the week!

When I walked into the game room I was startled by a bird! Yes, a bird! It was perched on the window sill...except it wasn't outside, it was inside! It didn't attempt to fly away even when Don walked up to it. Luckily he had brought along some gloves so he put those on and gently picked up the bird. It was obvious that the bird had flown into the window. We needed to put the bird somewhere that Tess wouldn't get it so he took it outside and placed it on some tree branches that Don, Lewis and Bill (our neighbors) need to cut up for firewood! I watched it for a while then left to do something. Later when I looked...the bird was no longer there! Don't know if it flew away or fell to the ground, but it was gone. Later I went out to the garage to investigate something Tess was barking at. At first I thought it was a frog (that was from across the room) until I got closer and saw that it was another bird! It was the same species of bird and this bird didn't survive it's crash into the window! I hope they get the garage doors and the rest of the doors and windows in pretty soon so we aren't responsible for the decline in the bird population around Greers Ferry!

After a quick stop at the grocery store...we headed back to the motorhome. We were waiting for our friends, Glenda & Ray Roe to arrive for a visit! Luckily we arrived at about the same time they did! After they got pulled in and settled, we packed up the car with some chairs and a drink (or two) and headed back over to the house! We officially welcomed them as our first guests (sorry Rick & Joanne, Bill & Kathy, Kim, Tim, Ashleigh & Mom...when you all came over we only looked around and never sat down and made it "official")! We enjoyed our visit and the sunset but once
the sun began to go down...we needed to head home! The house is starting to really come together and we enjoyed having our first official guests visit! Hope we have many more friends and family stop by!

You can check out the progress of the house here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/vickileith

Fairfield Bay - Tricks & Treats!

In Fairfield Bay, where my mom now lives, they had a Trick or Treat Party for the kids on Saturday! They had lots of things for kids to do! First they took the kids pictures and printed them right there...for free! A hay ride around the nearby area, and games on many of the holes of the miniature golf course!

Ashleigh had a great time hitting a funny little bean bag with plastic golf clubs into the hole; shooting baskets (again with something other than balls); ring around the Pepsi (notice the ring around one?) She actually won the liter of Pepsi...you would have thought it was a million bucks! Musical chairs (she was next to last), pin the nose on the pumpkin (that's her nose right above the marked area); fishing for treats; bowling and tattoos! It was great, since ALL the kids were winners and got both a treat and a toy!

There was also a costume contest, but personally...I think it was rigged! Now I know that I'm biased, but I think a hand-made costume is far better (and cuter) than almost any store bought costume! :-) In Ashleigh's age group (4-6) a store bought "Arial" won for best costume (NOT)! Most original was very cute but I can't tell you who or what it was, funniest was a Tigger costume (another store bought), scariest was a witch (and it was well done). There were about 200 kids and they did divide the kids into various age groups, but I definitely think it helped to have people "know" you!

After the costume contest, there was a "Trail of Terror" that you could go on. It cost a couple of $$, and Ashleigh wanted to go on it. I told her that I didn't think she would like it, but she kept saying that she wanted to go and she wouldn't be scared! I finally relented and bought two tickets! You had to wait for your group to be called and the wait was about 1/2 hour. Just before our group was called Ashleigh said to me "I can't do it, I'm too scared"! I once again tried talking her out of her decision, but she said she was too scared and couldn't go through the Trail! I have to say, that we were behind some teenagers that were discussing the screaming we could hear and talking about someone getting chased with a knife (don't think so, but try telling that to an impressive 6-year old)! I was able to get a refund and we headed over to Nanna's house for a late dinner! Ashleigh had a full day and after dinner, while Grandma was trying to help Nanna clean up, she curled up in the chair and fell asleep! Grandma had to wake her up for dessert!

A Sleepover at Grandma & Grandpa's...

On Friday I picked up Ashleigh after school! She was coming to Grandma & Grandpa's for a sleepover! She couldn't wait! A quick trip to Wal-Mart (you have to take advantage of EVERY opportunity) and we were off! Of course, a trip to Wal-Mart wouldn't be complete without a "little" something! She picked up a "Junie B" book so we could read it at bedtime! A quick dinner, some computer games, a little t.v and it was time for bed!

Saturday morning we got up, had breakfast, showered and headed for the house! Ashleigh hasn't seen it for a little while so major changes were in store! Grandma showed her the neat "magnet" used to pick up nails! She had fun going around picking up the nails off the floor that the framers has dropped! She also "picked" out her bedroom! For some reason...she picked out the farthest one away from the master bedroom! :-) Earlier she picked out the furniture for "that" room! (We've purchased quite a bit of furniture. We just have to give them a delivery date)!

Grandma let her write her name on the floor...but also told her that this was the ONLY time it was o.k. to write on the floors, walls, etc.!!!

After spending some time at the house we had to head back to the motorhome for a quick lunch and then it was time to get our costume on and head over to Fairfield Bay (where Nanna lives). Fairfield Bay was having a special night for Halloween! Grandma wanted some time before to take some pictures. There are some beautiful spots around the "Bay" that are perfect for taking pictures!

We didn't have a lot of time, so we only took pictures in Ashleigh's costume. BTW she's NOT a genie, and NOT a princess! She's a BELLY DANCER! Her choice! :-) You can tell she's developing her own sense of style, especially this year with her costume! She had definite ideas on what she wanted to be and what it had to look like! We bought the pattern and material quite some time ago. Ashleigh didn't really "get" the concept that it didn't have to be exactly like the picture on the pattern as far as color, design on the material, etc.! With a little coaxing, I think she ended up liking what we got...especially the bead trim! :-) I didn't begin to work on it for some time and everytime she talked to me she would ask me, "Grandma, is my costume done yet"? Once I started working on it, she'd ask "how's it look"? I think she really liked it once she saw it! I thought it turned out pretty good, myself! :-)

Fall in Greers Ferry, AR

Thought I'd share with you a view of some of the fall colors around the lake. Along with the link to the latest house pictures! It's finally coming into shape! We almost have a roof, some of the doors are in (the garage...not quite in), and the windows have all arrived (with the exception of one we just ordered - Don was having a hard time not having a window in the "bath area" of our guest bathroom...even though both the contractor and I think it might look "out of place").

Check out the latest pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.com/vickileith The very latest pictures are under Emerald Isle, Greers Ferry, Part 3, with earlier ones at Emerald Isle, Greers Ferry, Part 2 and the first ones at Emerald Isle, Greers Ferry! I take pictures every day we go to the house! :-)

What the heck????

The past few months we have seen these signs that are obviously folded down, with an arrow pointing in different directions. Didn't know what they were until the other day when we were shocked to see what they said! What the heck? Everyone has told us that 1-3" of snow is about all this area gets. So my question is "if that's true, why do you need a snow route"? Do you think they're lying to us? Are they just joking? Do they know something we don't? (Well obviously they do!!) :-) Guess we will find out in the next few months! This year we will be here throughout the winter months while they are building our house, next year and those following we can head south if it gets to that point! BTW this picture is taken just in front of one of the entrances to Fairfield Bay. Fairfield Bay is a resort area here at Greers Ferry Lake. This is also where my mom just moved a few months ago!

In Memory...

The picture is a car in which my Aunt was a passenger. Her 94-year old friend, Leah, was driving them home on Monday when they had the accident. A few hours after the accident my Aunt Doris succumbed to her injuries. The friend is in stable condition, but now must live knowing that the accident killed my Aunt. Please keep my Aunt's family, as well as Leah in your prayers. I can't even imagine what it would be like to know that you caused someones death.

You can read the newspaper article about the accident here:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-crash1009-cn,0,333354.story?coll=all_tab01_layout. There is another article here: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/police/all-5fatal.6084141oct10,0,18446.story.
The accident was also on the local news. You can see the video here:
http://www.wfmz.com/view/?id=160564.

I wasn't surprised to hear that my Aunt had passed away (she was 86), but I never thought it would be in such a tragic way and in that I was shocked. Aunt Doris had always been my favorite aunt! I hadn't seen her in quite a few years, and I'm sorry that we hadn't gotten back there to visit while she was still alive. This brings several good lessons... 1) you never know what tomorrow brings; 2) always let people know that you love them; 3) don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. I'm sure there are others, but this is what comes to mind.

Tennessee Vols 35 Georgia Bulldogs 14

Are you wondering why the title to our blog has the score for a football game? And one that we have no vested interest in at that? Might be because we were in the thick of all the fans today as we took a trip to the World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville! We had a clue that a game was being played on Friday as we were driving into Knoxville! Lots of cars with flags, pom poms in their back window and even a few that had pom poms secured to the outside of the car! Orange prevailed everywhere you looked! Even the service guys in the Buddy Gregg facility! :-)

In doing a quick search on the internet, I saw that there was a "Sunsphere" in the World's Fair Park downtown. It had recently opened thier 4th floor observatory to the public so we decided to venture down there. Hadn't gone too far when the traffic slowed on the highway and a sign alongside was flashing "Urgent Message tune to am 1620". Quickly tuned in and found that they were advising traffic to avoid the downtown area. Not good for tourists who didn't have an area map, no GPS and only vague directions on how to get where they were going! :-) Since we are California natives, we decided that we wouldn't let the traffic detour us...and it didn't! Glad that we didn't try to go around or make the decision not to go see it! Traffic was nothing!! Oh yeah, it slowed a little, but nothing to write home about! It wasn't long before "game" traffic went one way and we went another! Actually, they should have followed us! We got off following downtown signs, and quickly realized that we were amongst a lot of game traffic and game parking! We found a parking area near the Park and told a very nice attendant that we only wanted to see the Sphere. He let us park right there and off we went! The park is really beautiful and had lots of water features! There was a fountain that the kids loved playing in and would have been great to cool off in - and I would have IF I had dry clothes and a towel! Found the Sphere and the elevator that would take us up to the 4th floor! There was also a big football bash going on up on the 6th floor...you could even hear the music on the 4th floor! There were some great views of the city from up there and a sea of orange all around! From our view we saw a parking lot with lots of canopies set up so we decided to walk and see what it was! What is was, was a lot of tailgate parties for both sides! Lots of orange AND red around! On every corner you could find people looking for tickets and selling tickets as well! The good thing about it...we were going in the opposite direction! Enjoyed walking around the World's Fair park, seeing the view from the sphere and seeing all the Vols and Bulldog fans!

Snow Geese!

The other day while we were at the house it was getting late when a flock of geese came flying overhead. I think they turned and went around in a circle because they came over the house again. They were so low (or our house is so high in the back) that we could actually hear the flapping of their wings! It was so weird! There was hundreds of them...it kind of reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" (remember that movie?) They weren't in a very organized formation, but then again...there were a LOT of them! I don't think I've ever seen that many birds flying at one time before!

This morning we left Shirley, AR (where we are parked while building the house) and headed towards Knoxville, TN. We are heading for Buddy Gregg's (a motorhome dealer and service) where we will have our annual service work done on our Aqua Hot (water heater/heating system in the motorhome) and a few other things. Tonight we stopped in Yuma, TN which is beween Memphis and Nashville. We should get into Knoxville tomorrow and will spend the weekend checking out the area while we wait for service on Monday. Originally our plans were to continue on to Urbanna, VA but our plans have changed. We were joining our friends, Rick & Joanne Stone at a Monaco America rally. Unfortunately, they have had to return home and we decided we would wait to go with them another time. They were the only ones we would have known at this rally. Not that that's a bad thing, but our contractor was a little disconcerted that we would be gone for three weeks or more (and I think my mom was a little bit too)! So it really was for the best that we will just take this "short" trip and head back to watch the progress of the house. Troy, our contractor thinks we will be "roughing" in the plumbing and electrical in the next two to three weeks, but I don't know! I hope so, but I'm not holding my breath!

Before we left, we did pick out our plumbing (faucets, tubs, shower, sinks, etc.). I almost forgot one of the best things! Last Saturday we went to a store in Marshall, AR called Roten's ("www.rotensfurniture.com"). Roten's has the absolute MOST moose things in one place than I've ever seen before! It was awesome! I saw so many things that I didn't have and of course, tons of things I MUST have! :-) They had some awesome furniture and tons, and tons of moose things to decorate with! I KNOW we will be going back before we move into the house! We've been to quite a few furniture stores in the past few months. We haven't purchased anything yet, since we have no place to put it, but we have definitely found our dining room and master bedroom furniture! I think we've also picked out our pool table as well! It's almost overwhelming to have to make all the choices for the house and also furniture as well!