COMMON GROUND COFFEE HOUSE #81

Cindi, your yearly electric bill is more than our adjusted gross income for all last year. People can't understand why I can't turn on the air or just go 'buy' something like new clothes, etc. It's not as easy as it sounds. Nick got upset when he was helping me fold clothes and he saw that every one of my socks has 1 - 3 holes and he got new socks a few weeks ago. Hey, they're inside my shoes, right? LOLOL Thank the Lord, this year will be a different story!!

Sue, sorry to hear about that headache! I've had green tea and don't remember it causing any reaction. Are you using it like Helen had suggested or just a new 'brand'? I must tell you that I am waging a weight battle now that menopause is fully here! I eat almost nothing and even have gained four more pounds! No sweet tea, no afternoon snacks with the kids, one cup of tea at breakfast... UG!!!

 

Diane, I'm hoping that when we get the new heat pump installed sometime this fall, that our electric bills decrease drastically. Ours is a dinosaur that they don't even make parts for anymore! Till then we are stuck with them and have been cause there just hasn't been enough money to replace it and we don't use credit except for the house and the car.

The couple of months a year that we don't use either the heat or the air as much, our bills are way, way down. Sometimes as much as $150. So I know that it's the heat pump causing most of the problems.

Something else that runs our bills up: sixty watt light bulbs! Since we have a rather dark house and I can't stand it, I keep the lights on if I'm moving from room to room cleaning and such. I found early on in this house that sixty watt bulbs will cost me anywhere from $20-$30 dollars more a month than using 40 watt bulbs. It took me a while but I eventually got used to the forty watt ones.

Speaking of moving fromm room to room, I've got to get started. All this outside work has left the inside only half done.

See ya!

 

Ah! We have so many windows that I never have lights on during the day. Also, we have gas heat, gas stove and gas hot water. Our bill for gas in the summer runs about $45. We only had a couple bills this winter at about $120. for heat. ONE may have been a little higher.

The little children demand so much attention and watching that I don't have time during the week to do all I need to do... PLUS.. they make such messes! I'm still finding sand from Thursday! LOL Kelsy goes back to school in 5 weeks and she's only here 14 more days before then. The older kids make messier messes than the little ones. MacKenzie turns 4 on Tuesday. Ty won't be 4 until mid December. Brayden was 1 a few weeks ago. Nick enjoys have the older child around tho. The neighborhood children are always gone or sleep late (after lunch!!) and the one younger boy (6) throws rocks and calls names.

Nick has his fireworks divided into 3 nights worth. LOLOL He's got a 'plan'. Jon's not working tonight or tomorrow night.

Our oldest turns 34 Sunday week!

 

Blessed Lord's Day everyone!

We're kinda having a quiet one around here. Going to take it easy and maybe straighten up a bit. We've company coming tomorrow evening.

I'm going to make some peach icecream base and put it in the fridge to chill. Haven't made ice cream in a while so I hope I can remember how the freezer works.

I need to hunt out a pattern for a baby gift. Somewhere I have a sweet one that is a diaper shirt and cover. Since this baby is already born, I need to get it made ASAP. It's for one of T's new coworkers. (I have a new audience for my work. )

Ya'll enjoy your day! Stay cool.....

 

Well, evening all. We left Augusta this morning at 4am EST and got home at 10am CST. Had to stop several times because of pain and needed to try to walk around. Atlanta was actually very smooth to go through this morning though..the first time this has happened in over 10 years.

My mother in law is now on her chemo/radiation and is still very weak. She has left her finances in a mess Vivian is having to deal with all of that, plus the fact the Viv's aunt is now backing out of taking Viv's mother when she get's out of the hospital like she said she was going to do. She has stolen things from the trailer while we were in the hospital, and we're going to have to take and go over what we know from the inventory sheets after my mother in law passes. It's not that we want anything, because we don't. Vivian and I want nothing....period. The other two can split whatever. It's the principle of my MIL's sister stealing. She has stirred up trouble all weekend while we were in Augusta and nobody from the family is speaking with her right now.

The oncologist said my MIL had 30 days to 90 days, but she expects sooner because of the rate of growth of the cancer. We're checking several plots for burial and also caskets. I believe an an ex-aunt of Viv's is doing the funeral. She's a pentecostal preacher.

Anyhow, we appreciate the prayers of ya'll who've been praying. I've read through the posts today, and I'm praying for all. God bless ya'll, and have a great day tomorrow.

T

 

Tony, I'm glad the trip wasn't awful but am so sorry about your pain.

Cindi, did you find your pattern? I REALLY need to bring up my muslin and cut out my Raggedy Ann dolls soon. Want to get Christmas done ASAP. I've bought for Jack so just the two little girls and then Nick. By doing a few dollars a month, it won't be so overwhelming in Dec.

Our Minister to Youth preached today and did a great job. His sermon was on Gratitude. I had children from ages 3-5. Some teachers didn't show up and didn't get replacements! The people who were to do Extended Session for my class didn't show up but a Dad with a Kindergartner and a mom from my class offered to stay. Hey, I gave them red paper, glue sticks and GLITTER! I also gave them LOTS of candy for sitting quietly for my lesson on Hannah. They liked her having all those babies. I got a real kick tho. When I talked about Hannah being so much older than me and Mr. Jim and they all started coming up with their moms supposed ages. I got 15 to 51 and the '51' year old mom is actually in her 20's. LOLOL

Nick burned his hand on a sparkler. It had gone out and he bumped his hand against it while it was still hot. He's got a little 'line' blister on the side of his palm. The 'boys' all shot tonights fireworks right at dark.

Jon has to work tomorrow night so we had our cookout today. We'll do another one tomorrow but just burgers, corn, beans, potato salad...

For Gayla, Nick got a mosquito bite on Friday afternoon on his elbow. It's basically gone. Just a pink spot left.

 

Brief history about the Constitution

The reason that John Hancock's signature is so large on the paper

True or False

So that King George could see the signature from across the Atlantic----"There!!! Lets see if King George can see THAT!!"(speaking of his signature)

True or False

Because he was the first to sign it and believed that he would be the only one to sign it


True or False

John Hancock was the only one to sign it ON July 4---the rest of the signatures came later as the Constitution was circulated over the 13 colonies

 

Well, it's number one but not an exact quote. What he actually said was;

Happy 4th of July All!

 

Happy 4th of July everyone!

 

True

 

Happy Independence Day from where those signatures were penned!
Philly loves the Fourth!

 

And our countries 1st Captial, Debby!

Multiple Choice:
These are the first words of the Declaration of Independence.

When in the course of human events...

Four score and seven years ago...

We have nothing to fear but fear itself....

The Congress shall make no law...

 

Well Good Job Sue! I didn't realize women had signed! See what we can learn off the net!

(How'd you DO that?) LOL


Here's a neat page on the Liberty Bell. It cost $225. and rings in E flat.
Liberty Bell FAQ Click Here

 

I thought that the declaration was actually signed in Easton, Pennsylvania. They have a small shop in Easton, with several artifacts on the wall, including the list of the signatures.

Cheers, and happy 4th to Americans,

Jim

 

And a belated Canada Day to you, sir.