Clean House: Day 10 - Bathrooms

1. Tidy counters, wipe down shelves & cupboard surfaces
2. Use degreasing cleanser on sink, tub, and shower walls
3. Launder bath linens
4. Sanitize toilet bowl and seat cover
5. Clean sink & tub fixtures with all-purpose cleanser
TIMESAVER: Spray tub, showers walls, & sink and move on to other chores, letting the cleanser do its work.

Clean House: Day 9 - Dining Room

1. Clear off piles of junk that have accumulated on the table, then dust.
2. Return clean dishes and vases to storage areas
3. Spot-clean any stains or chair covers & spray with stain repellent
4. Spot-clean windows & mirrors w/ damp paper towel or windex.
5. Vacuum or dry-mop floor
TROUBLE SPOT: Remove scratches from wood floors by sanding very gently with fine steel wool that has been dipped in paste wax.

Clean House: Day 8 - Living Room

My poor house doesn't have a basement....or an attic ....or even a separate family room .... but we do have a living room.

That being said, here's the game plan for today:

1. Make a sweep of the living room with a bag or basket to hold items that go elsewhere.
2. Straighten items on mantel, coffee and end tables.
3. Vaccum, dry-mop, or sweep floor.
4. Spot clean dirty surfaces and dust the rest.
5. Wipe mirrors and TV screen with damp paper towel.
6. Straighten or flip cushions and fluff pillows

TROUBLE SPOT: Use a dry sponge or vacuum on low suction with dust-brush attachment to clean lampshades

Clean House: WEEKEND 1 - Attack the Attic!

Just like my previous post about the basement, my home also does not have an attic.

But in case you do have one, here's what you're gonna do while I play catch up on the things I didn't get done this week.

1. Tidy up, grouping like things together
2. Take quick inventory; label storage boxes
3. Make piles for tossing, donating, or selling
4. Check for water damage or rodent infestation
5. Sweep or vacuum surface areas
6. Schedule any necessary maintenance or repairs

TROUBLE SPOT: Seal any holes in the walls, roof, windows, or eaves to keep out water, pests, & rodents.

Have fun!

My Heart is Broken

My 22 y.o. daughter lives in my home with my husband, The Teen, Little Bird, and Kangaroo. She's currently working as a "beverage server". It isn't the best job around. Her hourly wages are only $2.75 and she gets to keep whatever tips she makes. Basically, she's driving all the way to the job (71.2 miles round trip) for tips. The vehicle she drives is not hers. It belongs to my husband and I but we allow her to use it until she can save enough money to get her own car.

She has no ambitions to go to school or anything. She likes this job because it offers all the perks of a "real" job.....i.e. 401K, health insurance, etc. She really doesn't want to leave this job.

Then, I got the phone call this morning. It looks like I'm gonna be a grand-mother. She had stopped on her way to work to get a home pregnancy test. When she got to work and took the test, it was positive. She called me immediately, crying and blubbering and saying, "I didn't want it to be this way" and "Momma, I'm so sorry".

I told my hubby about it and he just clammed up. Didn't say a word to me all day. Kept a chip on his shoulder. When he came home and I said to him that I needed to discuss it with him, he replied, "I don't care and I don't want to discuss it. There is nothing to discuss."

I'm really feeling torn apart right now. This is my daughter! My child! My first born! I can't just throw her to the wolves! She needs me!

I know there aren't many people who read this blog, but if you're out there....please add my family to your prayer list and add a specific little ditty there for some extra enduring strength for me. Thanks.

Clean House: Day 5 - Basement

Our family has had a little crisis today. I didn't do much of anything except sit in my easy chair, talk on the phone, cry a little, eat some lunch, and do more of the same. As a result, I didn't get to any house cleaning today.

I'm feeling better right this second and plan to do a little more cleaning tomorrow before settling down to watch the Saints game with my hubby.

I live in Louisiana. We don't have basements here. If we did, it would be full of water. Swamp land is not conducive to basement building.

However, for the sake of staying on schedule, I'm posting cleaning tips for the basement. If you don't have a basement, feel free to catch up (if you need to) on the previous 4 day schedule. If you're caught up, you can always move on to the next day, or (my personal favorite) simply take a day off to recuperate. Believe it or not, all this house cleaning is burning calories. Take a break from all this "exercise" and rest. You can pick it up again tomorrow.

Okay, well, here's the Basement to do list, just in case you have a basement.

1. Neaten basement storage area
2. Move items off the floor to pallets or shelves
3. Sweep or mop floor
4. Label boxed items
5. Check for water damage or pest infestation

Date Night: Catfish Charlie's

NightOn Thursday evening, our family went to a little restaurant out in Hammond, La called Catfish Charlie's. It's located at 14256 W. Club Deluxe Road. Their specialty is seafood...mostly fried. However, there are a few healthy selections on the menu. We started out with a little appetizer of Gator Bites and salad. The waitress then brought the rest of our foods. The kids weren't in a seafood kind of mood so they all ordered standard kid's fare.....fried chicken tenders. Hubby ordered the Soft Shell Crab platter and I ordered the Grilled Shrimp and mushrooms dinner. Yummy stuff!!!

The food is good but the prices......well, not so good. For our family of 6, our evening out set us back $110.00!!! Maybe they'll come down on prices but I don't think it'll be any time soon.

Catfish Charlie's decor

The best part of enjoying a meal at Catfish Charlie's is the duck, turtle, fish feeding experience. The restaurant provides buckets of leftover biscuits for the kiddos to take out to the back deck and throw into the water to the wildlife.

And here's a shot of the wildlife! Before we even exited the building, they heard the footsteps on the hardwood floor and came running....or swimming ....or flying. They wanted some biscuits!


Does this look like a duck? At first my son yelled "Otter!" but it is in fact, a nutria rat. They are not native to Louisiana, having been imported in the 1930's for the fur farming industry. They were release, either accidentally or intentionally into Louisiana's coastal marshes.

Clean House: Day 4 - Home Office

I didn't get to this today. DH and I spent time together at Target shopping for some storage solutions for the girls bedroom. We ended up purchasing 2 of the 8 cube "Cubeicals" in order to organize their toys and things. I guess I'll try and get to the Home Office this weekend.

If your home is like mine, your home office has a special place in the distant corner of the family/living room. That being said, I will concentrate on that corner today.

Bill paying center:
1. group bills by category
2. file bills, user manuals, warranties, and receipts
3. cull old papers from files and countertops
4. replenish supplies such as stamps,envelopes, staples, and pens. Keep in one drawer or container
5. wipe down telephone
6. clear bulletin board of old notes

Dust:
1. Shelves, desktop, computer, monitor, keyboard, etc.

Computer:
1. Delete old files from hard drive
2. creat folders for each computer user
3. organize games, software, disks


TIMESAVER: When you open bills, immediately toss outer envelopes and any extra inserts.

Clean House: Day 3 - Conquer Junk

How are you doing so far? Today, we'll take it easy with the following chores. Have fun!!!

1. Clean catchall drawers and shelves by culling junk from usable items
2. Group like items, such as pens, tape, stamps, and coupons
3. Use small baskets to hold pens, coupons, etc.
4. Give kids 5 minutes to get all their stuff to their rooms – or else!

Today, I spent time catching up on things I didn't get done the past two days. I don't really have catchall "drawers". I have boxes, big cardboard boxes, full of miscellaneous items. In the past, when I attempted spring cleaning, I would take the above mentioned stuff and just toss it all into a box. THEN I would toss the box to the back of a closet or something. I would even tell myself "Out of sight, Out of mind!"

Over the years, I now have several of these boxes that I really need to go through. I just couldn't get to it yet. On the bright side, this coming weekend has The Attic on the list. I don't have an attic so I do plan to go through these boxes instead.

Where do babies come from?

My girls asked me that question last night while getting ready for bed!!! Can you believe it!!!? I was stunned. I'm not ready for this sort of "Facts of Life" lesson yet!

DQ (my 22 y.o.) was listening (i.e. eavesdropping) from another room as I explained to them that when Mommy and Daddy show each other how much they love each other, God gives them the gift of a baby and puts it in a special place inside Mommy's tummy. They seemed satisfied with that answer. They looked at me with their big eyes and this "Oh, OK!" look on their faces.

DQ laughed at me when she heard the explanation.

I shore wasn't prepared for the "so, how does the baby get out?" question, even though I knew that it was inevitable and would definitely be next in the line of questioning.

I chickened out. Changed the subject. Just decided it was bath and bedtime and who wanted to get in the shower first. They followed blindly and I was able to avoid it for the time being.

They're so sweet and innocent. Must they begin asking about the bird and the bees at such an early age? For I am NOT READY!

O Tannenbaum

My Little Bird serenaded the family with O Tannenbaum on New Year's day. She's so cute!!! If it won't play for you, try clicking here.

Clean House: Day 2 - Family Room

Did you remember to complete all the Everyday Chores listed on Day 1? If not, get those done first and then do the following.

(Oh, Look! It's the Family Room, which in my house is also the "Living areas" that I didn't get to yesterday due to taking a break and doing paint by number with Kangaroo!)

Now moving on to the Family Room. Now, in MY house, the Family Room and Living Room (Day 8) are the same room. So, I would probably combine these two.

Family room:
1. Return videos, CD’s, DVD’s to storage area (Well, I returned the ones to Blockbuster that were due)
2. Spot clean sofas and carpeting as needed (couldn't get to the sofa today due to laundry)
3. Flip and rotate cushions, fold throws (see #2)
4. Straighten magazines and newspapers (done)
5. Spot clean and dust surfaces (not done)
6. Vacuum/sweep family room floor. (done)

TIMESAVER: Clean rooms in a clockwise pattern, starting at the door. (and don’t forget to repeat day 1).

Even though I didn't get everything done today, I still feel like I got a lot accomplished.

Clean House: Day 1 (and everyday)

Ok, well, as Peter Pan says, "Here we goooooooo!" Day 1 of the Spring Cleaning schedule. These chores should be done everyday. I'll be back later to let you know how I did!

1. Make beds (only made my bed, not all the others)
2. sweep floors (more than once!)
3. Clean kitchen tables and countertops (did the countertop, too much junk on the table to mess with today)
4. Load/unload dishwasher (done 2x)
5. Tidy up living areas (Probably WOULD have gotten to this if I hadn't taken a break to paint by number with my Kangaroo. Oh, well, there's always tomorrow.)
6. Sort mail-toss junk (done)

TIMESAVER TIP: Keep a basket nearby to hold things that go in another room.

I also did 2 loads of laundry. Whew! I'm pooped! I do believe I'll turn in early tonight in hopes of having more energy for tomorrow's chores. Pray for me ya'll!!

30 Days to a Clean House

Last year sometime, I had read an article about Spring Cleaning. I couldn't remember where I had found the article, so I did a search on the internet in hopes of stumbling across it. Well, I found several references to it, and even a link or two to the magazine where it had been printed. But no article!

So, I took what information I learned...the name & date of the magazine I had seen it in (Woman's Day, June 2008)...and went to the local library where I knew I would find the magazine I was searching for! Aren't I resourceful? LOL

I found the article, and made a copy of the 30 Day Spring Cleaning schedule. So, am I up for the challenge of getting my house sparkling clean? I don't know...yet. However, I invite you all to join me as I begin this lovely little project on Monday! Let's start cleaning!!!

Homeless in Baton Rouge

After hearing a little story from my daughter about someone she met today, I was inspired to write the following. I'm pretty sure that I've given it the wrong title but it was all I could come up with at this hour. I hope you enjoy the story and please feel free to comment or pass along some constructive criticism. Thanks.

Homeless in Baton Rouge

'Twas a bitter cold night as 55 year old Arnie shivered beneath the bridge. The lights of the casino in the distance beckoned to him. He wrapped his ratty sleeping bag closer around him in an attempt to retain what warmth it provided. As he tossed and turned trying to get comfortable on his cold, hard concrete bed, he thought about his wife and memories of good times past came flooding back.

She was a lovely, God-fearing woman of high morals and standards. They loved each other with a love that most never experience. He remembered when they sat in the room together the day the doctor came in with the results of all the tests they had run on her the week before.

"You have cancer of the stomach that has mestasized and has spread into the esophagus. We think it has spread to your lymph glands as well." The doctor kept talking and giving more details but Arnie didn't hear it. He looked at his wife when she asked, "How long?"

"Not long, probably less than six months", the doctor replied.

Arnie remembered how graceful and fearless she was as she accepted this news. He remembered how her sky blue eyes did not even well up with tears. It was her time and she accepted it.

A bitter breeze shook him back to his place underneath the bridge. Again, the casino lights danced on the water, calling to him. He got up, folded up his sleeping bag, and tucked it up under the beams with the few belongings he called his own. Then he turned and made his way down the levee to the casino where he knew there would be warmth and maybe a bite or two of something to eat.

As he boarded the boat and made his way to the restroom, he noticed there were cash tickets here and there on the floor. He knew that each ticket was worth only pennies, but if he gathered up enough of them, perhaps he'd be able to buy a small meal.

After washing up in the restroom, he returned to the floor and asked a beverage server for a drink. She told him that she could only serve him if he's playing the slots or another game. He walked around some more and gathered up some of the vouchers he had seen and then sat at a machine, inserting a voucher one at a time. The beverage server asked him what he would like to drink and Arnie said to her, "Please bring me a glass with a little bit of cola and a lot of cherries and olives."

Then he pulled the lever on the side of the machine and waited. To his astonishment, he won $50! He turned to the waitress and grinned a toothless grin. She smiled back and told him she'd return in just a moment with his drink. He inserted another token and slowly played the slot machine until she returned. He didn't want to use up all of his tokens here at the casino when he knew he could cash them in and get a meal somewhere later on.

The waitress returned with his glass of olives, cherries, and a little bit of cola. He thanked her and as she walked away, he got up from his chair and made his way to the upper deck of the boat. He climbed the stairs, one burgandy floral step at a time, already feeling the warmth in the air.

Reaching the top of the stairs, he looked around for a somewhat secluded empty seat. Something discreet and out of the way. He found what he was looking for in the farthest corner and he was grateful to see that it was placed directly under a heating vent.

Sitting down, he bit into a cherry and chewing slowly he thought about his wife, her parents, and his parents. They're all gone now. With dismay, he realizes once again that he is all alone. He dwells on these thoughts for awhile, eating his olives and cherries, basking in the warmth coming from the heater.

Things weren't always this bad. He had a good job before. Before his wife got sick. Before his parents were killed in that car crash. Before her parents passed away only weeks apart. Before the big lay off at the plant. He regrets that he and his wife never had children. He always wanted a child but things kept getting in the way and preventing that enjoyable part of life. Now, it's just him and the few belongings he has stashed under the bridge.

He was tired and he must have dozed for he woke with a start, not knowing where he was, and he was momentarily confused. Then he saw the girl, the beverage server who had given him the cherries and olives. She was looking at him compassionately and began walking toward him.

"Hey", she said, "would you like another drink?"

"No thanks", he replied, and as an afterthought he asked her, "Would you know where I might be able to find a job?"

She looked at him for a second, as if trying to picture him in a certain occupation. Then she remembered the "Hire a Helper" place located within walking distance of the casino. She told him about it and said they might be able to help him. At first, he believed her, then he remembered that he had no permanent address or phone number that most employers require.

Feeling the need to do something, he got up, thanked her again for the glass of cherries and olives and walked off the boat. He decided that it couldn't hurt to talk to someone at Hire a Helper so he began walking in that direction. Thirty minutes later he was practically skipping back to the boat to share his good news with the girl. After all, she was the one who told him about Hire a Helper.

He found her quickly and said, "They said they'll work with me. Thanks for telling me about them." She was excited for him and said, "That's great! I know you'll do fine!"

He exited the boat again and walked back to his spot under the bridge. Wrapping himself up in the sleeping bag, he laid down out of the wind and began to happily doze off with the hope that tomorrow he may have a little job. Who knows? After tomorrow, anything could happen.

Prayer Request

A special childhood friend of mine is being deployed again. Louisiana National Guard, Alpha Co., 256th BSTB is headed out and will be there for the next year. Please pray for the safe return of everyone in this group. Pray also for the wisdom of my friend Company Commander Marshall Wilson as he leads his men.

If you're on Facebook and you'd like to keep up with the goings of the Alpha Co. or just send them a message of support, you can become a fan HERE.

Thank you to our armed forces for their enduring protection of the freedoms we enjoy!

From the mouths of Babes

Hubby and I have been sitting around just relaxing today. He has finished a bookhe's been reading and I've been researching our upcoming summer vacation. It was just us here .... and Kangaroo.

Kangaroo rose wide eyed and bushy tailed at 6 a.m. this morning and boy, was she raring to go! She ran and played all day! So sweet! She eventually pulled out her make up kit that she received for Christmas from our babysitter.

She sat and primped and got herself looking all pretty. Then she presented herself to us. Well, to her daddy anyway. Not to me.

She approaches her daddy, blinks her sweet little blue eyes, and coyly gushes, "Daddy, do you think I look pretty?"

He chuckled and responded, "Yes, honey, I sure do! I think you look just like mommy!"

Kangaroo is a little takin aback and says, "Mommy!? You gotta be KIDDIN' me!!!"

I wasn't sure how to feel as I sat here listening to this little exchange. I recognize that hubby was paying me a compliment...in a way. But her response? I don't know if it was taken as a compliment or an insult from her daddy. Is my own appearance so horrible that my child doesn't want to look like me?

Oh well, she's a sweet little cherub anyway and I love her bunches! :D

Paul B. Johnson Trip Report

Well, I've got the first day up for the State Park Trip Report. Here is a post about the cabin we rented.

Day 1 report is divided up into 2 separate posts. The first one is about our Bald Eagle experience. The second one is about our trip to the Hattiesburg Zoo that same afternoon.

I still need to post our Day 2 report but I don't have the time at this very second. I will post an update soon.

December Recap

What a busy month!!! I apologize again for leaving ya'll hanging all this time! I have been neglecting all my bloggy duties! But I have an honest excuse. I've been busy!!! However, I am here now for a brief synopsis of what's been going on in the lives of the Oxbow Gang.

On November 27, the girls, DH, and I went Christmas Tree hunting. We found this cute little tree that the girls insisted on helping to cut down. We got it home and immediately decorated the bottom half of it. As the girls slept later, I went in and put more decorations in the blank places.

The next evening, we gathered around a large bonfire at my dad's house, sharing stories and hot cocoa. Then we wrapped the evening up with some stringing of the popcorn for the tree.

Dec 3 - The Teen performed a Christmas Concert with his high school band. Earlier in the day, I was at the school to practice with the high school choir. The band director and I talked a bit. Upon realizing that I could not be there that night for the band performance, he invited me to sit in the class while my son went through the songs they were playing. I thoroughly enjoyed the private concert! What a cool teacher to allow me to observe!

Dec 4 - Little Bird performed in her first local Community Choir concert where she learned to sing a couple of songs in German and Spanish! I'm so proud of her!!!

Dec 6 - Little Bird AND Kangaroo both performed in the church's elementary and preschool choir Christmas program. It was Kangaroo's FIRST choir performance and she was such a pro! My chest is just busting with pride for both my girls!

The weekend of Dec 12/13 was my church's Christmas production of "The Splendor of Christmas". It was performed in our Christian Activities Center. The church provided a dinner of Vegetable Beef soup and Ham and Cheese Sandwiches accompanied by a big glass of iced tea and followed by a plate of Red Velvet cake. Yum Yum!

On Dec 14, Kangaroo and I went to the local library for some Christmas storytime and fun. While we were there, Santa came by for a visit! Kangaroo got to sit on his lap and tell him all about what she wanted for Christmas. She was so happy!

Dec 15 had us at the Boy Scout meeting hall for a Christmas party and Court of Honor to see The Teen receive some more merit badges for all his hard work. Soon, he'll be sporting that Eagle badge!!!


Dec 17 was Little Bird's FIRST school Christmas Program where she participated in a skit about the "Gingerbread Man" and sang "Must Be Santa" and "Jingle Bells". She was so cute!!!

The weekend of Dec 18 - 20 had the family dealing with the flu and other ailments. Little Bird was out of sorts and kept a fever for a few days. Kangaroo also had a fever but she's always so happy and it's difficult to tell when she's feeling bad. During this time, I went to Walmart and purchased one of those little Gingerbread House in a box kit to try and cheer them up. When the girls began feeling better, we decorated it. I had added too much water to the icing mix, making the "snow" slide right off the gingerbread roof. We ended up eating it as fast as we could decorate it!!! Yummy!!



Christmas Eve had us all down at the In Law's for vittles and gifts. One of the cousins had organized the gift exchange game where you draw numbers and then choose a gift with the cooresponding number. Before you open/unwrap the gift, you must first decide whether or not to keep it. If you don't want it but spy another one that was previously opened, you can then take the gift from that recipient and give them your unopened gift in exchanged. If all the gifts are gag gifts, then this is even that much more fun!!!

Cousin Blaine looks around for a gift to steal.

When we got home from the In Laws on Christmas Eve night, I sat down at my computer and discovered that Santa had sent my girls a very special Video email!! They were very excited to hear from him and see their names and photo in his big book of good little boys and girls. I read the Christmas Story of the Nativity to the girls, said prayers with them, and they went straight to bed and fell sound asleep without another peep!!! It had been a long and beautiful day. DH and I made sure that we assisted Santa before we turned in for the night.
Christmas morning dawned bright and early with the girls waking us at 6:30 a.m.! They were so excited that Santa had brought them each a beautiful little bicycle and other goodies. After a breakfast of monkey bread and hot cocoa, we dressed for comfort and warmth, loaded the new bikes into the surburban and drove up to the park (where there are paved paths) for a bicycle test ride. The girls did great on their first ride! Hubby and I got some much needed exercise while The Teen jogged along to fill in where we couldn't (as we stood aside gasping for breath). We old folks are sooooo out of shape! (note to self: must make new Year's resolutions!)

On the day after Christmas, my sister showed up with her 2 kiddos. We loaded the entire gang (and their bikes) up and went to the St. Tammany Trace to get some much needed playtime and bike riding in. We then decided that since no other activities had been planned for the next few days, we needed some R&R.


So, on Monday, Dec 28, we packed up and headed north to Hattiesburg, MS where I had reserved a lovely little cabin at the Paul B. Johnson state park. There will soon be another post and more pictures regarding our little mini-vacation. We returned home on New Year's Eve, just in time to ring in 2010!

Happy New Year and may the King richly bless each and every one of you!!!!

Christmas Procrastination

I am stuck in a rut. There are only 10 shopping days left until Christmas and I haven't even gotten started! I have so many people in my family! I have toyed with ideas of handmade gifts, but at this point it's a bit late to start any projects. I have explored the idea of restaurant gift cards, but after a bit of math decided it would be too extravagant. I have explored the "gift in a jar" idea, but can't seem to come up with any new/fresh ideas.

I had a brainstorm this morning but am not sure how it might go over. I have decided that my gift to everyone in the family would double as a gift to myself! My gift to them would be my commitment to my health so that I could stay around and visit with them, teach them, learn from them, a bit longer than statistics say I should. AND the $$ that I would be spending on them would go towards a health club membership as part of my "Health Commitment" gift. I know, it sounds selfish and goofy.

I guess the biggest part of all this is that I'm hoping to avoid the crowds of stupid people at the stores. I shoulda started shopping online much earlier this year but also postponed doing so due to a bad debit card comprising experience a few years ago.

There are 21 Married Couples, 7 Single Adults, and 44 children under the age of 16. Anyway, the bottom line is that I'm feeling a bit Bah Humbug about this whole shopping, gift giving thing.