Well why didn't you say there was a party going on here?? LOL Seriously, I can't believe how long I have been MIA. I am okay just busy. I had a wonderful camping trip; in fact, it was enchanting. The field was covered with second cut red clover and the Monarch and some other small yellow butterfly were just everywhere in the field. It was truly beautiful to watch them dance in the sun. The moon was full and rose in a big orange ball each evening and then gave way to soft light through the light. The kind of light I could look out of my trailer and see the girls sleeping in the grass...........wonderful. The true topper this year was the performance of bluebirds who visited our camp in masses of 12-20 at a time. No kidding, I have never seen anything like it. They would come and sit on the horse fencing and sing and flirt. It was truly amazing........if only I could have gotten a photograph. They must be gathering for migration as the butterflies are. The horses were energetic as it was cool and we had some wonderful miles long cantors and trots! It was so nice and I had so much fun. The weekend almost ended in disaster as we were walking the horses down to the sandy brook for a cooling off Sweet Pea fell down and landed on her side. She was really struggling and I did not know what had happened or how to help her. Suddenly, she laid still and righted herself and got herself up. When she was safe investigated and she had fallen into a bottomless hole which was no doubt a woodchuck's hole. These are the holes that snap horses legs in two. I was almost nauseaous when I looked down into that hole. She had some swelling her fetlock but she was fine the next day. I shudder to think of what had happened if I had been riding her when that happened. Ugh, perish the thought! Anyway, she was fine and the weekend was wonderful. You all are right, it's very quiet here!! SO, where is everyone???? Not much else new here - just work, work, work. DeeMarie, I am SO DISAPPOINTED that you don't have a photo of you on or at least NEAR a horse. You didn't even touch one????? Glad you had fun.

Good evening, Marilyn Sue. It's cold here, still have a small amount of snow on the ground, most of it has melted. I have no idea if we are expected to get more. Haven't been watching local news. Trying to get over this bronchitis. On meds and neb treatments. Getting ready to take a hot shower so I can breath easier. I hate being sick. I was supposed to go back to work today after being on vacation for about 10 days. But, I have a doctor's excuse for two days. I just hope I feel better by Friday when I'm supposed to go back. Alex went grocery shopping for me yesterday. He did good, got everything but the Take Control because he couldn't find it. Spent a whole lot less than I would've too. Maybe I'll let him do the shopping from now on. At least until he goes to college. He's been accepted to UK in Lexington and got a small scholarship. I'm hoping he gets another bigger one. We'll see.

Guess what I did???? I'm so upset! After all that work getting the other box painted....I forgot to take a pic!!! We delivered everything tonight and I walked back in the door and wham!! I remembered! DH said he'd ask them if he can come back and take a pic of it tomorrow. ha Sounds dorky though, doesn't it? They really liked it though. It was a Karen Wisner pattern and it turned out cute. Dang it! They said everyone asks them where they got the one I painted last year and they tell them they did it! ha Said it works out real well until they ask them to do one for them. ha Haven't heard from my other friend, but they love the simple little jar I painted for them for Halloween a long time ago so I know they'll love the Santa box I did for them. I just put some Bear Creek soup mix and tiny Ritz crackers with smiley faces on them in the boxes. On the tag I wrote this: (Though this gift my seem a little quirky...Here is something to do with that leftover Christmas turkey.) You can add chicken or turkey to the soup. Kinda dumb, but it's all I could come up with. ha Crossing guard lady about started crying when I took her a gift. Her DH died a few years ago so I like to get her a little something every year. So many people I'd like to do something for. Ya'll please make me start in August next year so I'll have plenty of time to get everything done! Crazy!! Had to make a bunch of candy to give to DD's friends. Just cereal with melted almond bark stirred into it, but her friends LOVE it. I certainly hope I am DONE!!! Glad you got all your stuff delivered. Did you friend like her Santa??? I know she did. Too bad about neighbors dog. So many people I know are losing their pets recently. It is sad. I'm just happy my little dog doesn't have to try going in and out in this cold weather. My house is a disaster area. There is not a clean dish in the house. I'm running one dishwasher full now and I can probably do 2 more. There is plastic runners everywhere trying to keep all the wood chips out of my carpet that are coming out of the attic. Here is the thing...We used to have a flat roof, but DH built a slanted roof over it so the old roof became the attic floor. Now they have to tear up the attic floor (old roof) to spray in the insulation. Big mess. Big gigantic mess. So that's why everything had to come out so they can have it all torn out and ready to spray the whole thing at one time. And I carried about 1/2 of the boxes down and out by myself, but my Dad has been great helping me and the kids helped carry some of the lighter boxes out to the garage for me too. I have waaaay to much stuff that's accumulated up there. Glad it's out of there so I'll be forced to go thru it all and get rid of a lot of it. So I will be spending tomorrow cleaning again so Santa won't have to see my house looking like a bunch of hogs live here. I promised these kids I'd make some cookies with them too. Wondering if we'll get out tomorrow night to go see the lights and then get home in time to feed the reindeer. Does your GD do that? We use oatmeal and glitter and nonpareils. Better see if I can remember where I put the glitter. ha Ok, I'm gonna forget all this mess for tonight and just go to bed. It's heading toward 1am. Ugh. What a long day. At least I got all my grocery shopping done today. It was so crowded today I can't imagine going tomorrow. Sorry, I'm tired and I'm in ramble mode. I'll check in tomorrow! ~Anj

If you are painting your cabinets, you may have wear and tear...2 years, 5 years, who knows. If you are purchasing cabinets it is going to come down to quality of cabinets. Some finishes are baked, some applied. Some companies even have you sign off on a painted finish order stating that you are aware of the "issues" associated with paint. Most common is the separation of the joints (expand and contract). Thermafoil, an MDF or engineered wood is away to go, but it's a look more suited for bathrooms. Go with a company that has a lifetime warranty and make sure you understand the different paint finishes.