Seven Random Things About Me

I've been Tagged! Oh my confessions in cyberspace...ok hang-on I'm really weird. It's truly a God thing that my children are sane.

1. I have a tactile aversion to any fabric that is rough, slimy, or scratchy. Also, if you inherit my "hand-me-downs" all the tags will be cut out of them!

2. My "Blanky" is approx. 24 yrs old. Don't even think of using it. It's thread bare in places but it's still my favorite blanket and has just the right texture (see #1).

3. Denim - Created by God just for me. I won't take our daughter (Kathryn a.k.a. Dresses With Boots) shopping with me when I need to find new clothes. Why? Yes, I know she has great taste...but she won't let me buy anything DENIM!

4. I love Houses and floor plans and gardens. The fun of transforming a wreck in to a...a...a...MICRO-MANSION! We are not there yet, but eventually this place will live up to it's name!

5. Fall - Oh my favorite: apple cider, bonfires, smores, leaves turning colors, fruits and nuts to harvest, football games, wrapping up in my favorite blanket and sipping hot chocolate...etc...etc...

6. Vehicles should only come in one color - Bronze or shades thereof to hide dirt. As if to prove God has a sense of humor, we now own 2 white Vans. Hummmmm....should I wash mine or just let my friends and family continue to think the Van is two tone?

7. I have (had) two rare health conditions with which I deal with daily and do my best to overcome with the Lord's help and grace. First I am a Spinal Cord Tumor Survivor (crushed cord from C6-T2)and against the odds and because of the Lord Jesus Christ's Grace I am now walking. I deal with some neurological issues and waddle like a duck but that sure beats quadriplegia!
Second, I have Trigeminal Neuralgia a disorder of the large facial nerve. What's it like? Well sometimes it's like getting hit by a lighting bolt, other times it's like have a throbbing earache/toothache/sinus headache combo. Most of the time the medicine keeps it in check so that it's just an annoying throb in my ear with a little cranial pressure thrown in just for good measure. I received both of these diagnosis just this past year, so I am learning to live with it and in spite of it!

At the time of this posting I do not have anyone with an active blog to tag that has
not already been tagged. But I will keep my eyes open.

Any One Have a Shoe Horn Handy?

Well here it is, all 800 sq. ft. of it. The Micro-Mansion as we first saw it just over a year ago. It was about this time last year, before my diagnosis, before my surgery, before we moved back from Washington State, that we gazed upon this architectural marvel. Oh we had seen the house before, out of the corner of our eyes in passing, but not until life handed us a big sack of lemons did we realize that this little house might just be in our future. Or more surprisingly, that we would actually pray for this little house to be ours.

George moved us in during the month of June. Hummmm...let me restate that. George moved a bunch of boxes in during the month of June and filled the carport up to overflowing with what he couldn't pack in to the little house with out making the walls bulge. He also repaired sub floors, flooring, pipes, and electrical (the house had sat empty for two years). He accomplished all this while working and taking care of our son Noah. Yes, Robyn and Mom and Pops we owe you big time for babysitting so much! Thank You!

Meanwhile, I vacationed at Hillcrest Medical Center and for most of June. Then when I tired of that I went to their version of a day-spa named "Kaiser Physical Rehab". July 1st I came home to a house I had never lived in before...strange feeling. Actually I had to spend several days at my Mom's across the street while George finished up some projects. Then unexpectedly I ended up back in the hospital for another surgery (I just didn't want to unpack). Finally, I made is home to stay around the middle of July. Wow what a summer....

Ok back on track now. I guess as the Holiday season is upon us and I struggle get my house in order, I get a little down. Down because it's so blooming hard to fit three people and two big dogs into 800 sq ft. Hard to come up with even more creative storage ideas (the house only has ONE, count them ONE CLOSET). Hard to make my still recovering body cooperate. Normally we would be moved in by now. But since I've gone from wheelchair, to walker, to cane, to sometimes no cane, in record breaking time I should cut myself a little slack.

So how does it feel to have such a small "carbon footprint". Well it's kinda like Noah in this cartoon where you are wall to wall doing your best, and trying to keep the ship from sinking fully loaded.


I wonder if there is a "load" rating for my house? Cars and trucks have towing capacities. Do houses have load limits? If so the Micro-Mansion might just be in trouble!

Anyone have a shoe horn I can borrow...I think I can fit just one more thing in this house after all.

Still Looking

OK, OK, I know I just started a blog then left it hanging, and hanging, and hanging...ya see, I just don't think blogging is all that interesting without lots of photos. And I am STILL LOOKING for my camera cord. Don't despair help is on the way. Grandma (my MOM) has loaned me her camera for a while until we can uncover the missing camera cord...the mystery continues...which box is it in! Ya know, for a small house it sure is easy to lose things around here!

On The Road Again! A Week Of Firsts

Well I did it! For the first time in six months I drove! This evening after dinner I talked George into accompanying me. He and Noah strapped in, said a prayer, and away we went...Wow my legs work so much better than before surgery. Gee, my mind is stuffed full of new things to do now since I am mobile again! Now to work on getting a vehicle that doesn't inspire laughter....just wait till I find my photo of it...you'll laugh too.

Jake is home! Oh how I have missed my fluffy mutt. But not his endless supply of shed hair and stick-tights. Jake is a dogs-dog. Let me explain, he is the canine equivalent of "Indiana Jones". He has spent his first two days exploring for treasure in our very large over-grown jungle of a yard. Which leads us to another first...

I VACUUMED the house! For the first time in seven to eight months. I now walk well enough to wrestle with my adored Rainbow Vac. That thing will suck the floor joists up if your not careful. A very good tool to have when you share a tiny house with one hyper-active boy and two hyper-active LARGE dogs (New puppy will be home in 2 weeks). Well at least my hubby is neat. Oh did I mention that even though my house is sooooo small (you can plug in the vac ONCE and vacuum the entire house) I started vacuuming at 9am and had to have George help me finish up around 3pm! I kept having to stop and rest...I guess I still have some recovery time left huh. Not bad for someone with a dented spinal cord.

I have to start COOKING again....ugh! Yet another first. This coming week will be the first time Pops has not cooked for us since I've been home from the hospital....it was inevitable....a moment of silence please.

OK, OK, so our super intelligent, talented, can cook anything daughter has lead me to an awesome site that has great recipes...with pictures of every step....maybe I can get it right....then again there are restaurants in town....