Stamping with Kim

Tornadoes in the South

Thank you for checking on me!!  Yes, we are absolutely fine.  Tornadoes touched down on BOTH ENDS of our street!  But our sweet little cottage was spared from those violent winds, and our cleanup was done in no time at all.  Thank you, God!!

I'm sure you've seen dozens of pics, so I won't bore you with too many.  This pic is from one end of our street.

That is a POWER LINE draped across the road.  And this site is far too common all around us.  I can't begin to tell you how bad it is - and we've been through hurricanes before!!!

HERE IS A LINK FROM FOX NEWS This video was made just about a mile from my home.  In fact, this is what is left of a little convenience store between where I live & where my friend, Paige, lives.  This was only a few feet away from where Steve Harrigan made the video for FOX.

All that is left of that convenience store is the back wall....and the soda machine!!!  If you look closely on the ridge behind this spot, you will see the spot of one of the nastiest tornadoes that took the lives of several folks on that ridge.  Some of the houses were ripped to shreds.  THAT is the area that Harrigan was standing in for his video.  Right now there are 8 confirmed deaths from that one street.  That is about a mile & a half from my house.

This last pic is one of the main streets here - see the double lines in the center of the street?  It really is a BUSY, MAIN street!!  But now it looks like something from a movie - something way out in the middle of nowhere.  There are miles & miles of this same look all around me.  It's very depressing.

My son Adam's girlfriend, Katie, had a huge oak tree fall through her roof & landed on top of the dog cages!  My poor grand-dogs will be traumatized forever when it storms!  They are safe & sound, but poor Boulder's cage was crushed on one side.  We're so lucky he made it without a scratch!!  Katie is a trooper, though.  She may look tiny & frail - but I learned that that girl is a STEEL MAGNOLIA!!  :)  Andy, Steve & Adam were on top of her roof - in pouring rain - using a chain saw to cut away what they could.  Even THAT was scary to watch!

And I have to say that I'm so proud of Andy & Misty.  They are safe & sound - their properties came through without a scratch, too.  So yesterday they spent the day out helping those that are less fortunate.  Have I told you that I have 2 terrific sons???

OK, that is what I've been up to - for just the last 3 days!!  Now you ask - so why haven't you updated your blog in so long!!!  sigh..........if I tell you everything that has been going on it would go something like this.....

and then....

and then....

and then....

and then....!!!!  Seriously!!!

Short story - we got a contract on our house the very first day it hit the market.  We have made THREE trips up to WVa in the past 5 weeks.  Think about it this way - each trip is 1,100 miles round-trip.  We did that 3 times in 5 weeks.  And packed, and moved, and unpacked, and turned around and packed, and moved, and unpacked, turned around and packed....well, you get the picture!!

My garage is full of boxes, my house is a mess, and I'm absolutely exhausted.

Remember that scrapping weekend I was going to in my last post???  I didn't stamp much.  In fact, I spent most of the weekend sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch reading a book.  I was too exhausted to do much of anything.  Paige is such a good friend to even let me go LOL!  It was well worth it - the area was gorgeous, and the weekend was very refreshing.

Needless to say - I haven't stamped a thing!  Oh, and I've managed to misplace all of my addresses - so I haven't mailed any cards either.  If I've missed your birthday - I apologize!!  One day I hope to be back to normal.  Keep your fingers crossed on that one!

So I apologize for being away so long - that was not planned.  Please keep praying for all of my neighbors that were hit so hard with these tornadoes.  Life is fragile - handle with prayer.

Thanks for checking on me.  Have a great weekend!!

Kim

Welcome Home!!

It's so gorgeous outside today!!  I finally got a chance to be out & get a quick pic to share with you.  If you look closely (just click on the pic) you can see that the dogwood trees have already bloomed, my hyacinths have come & gone, and all of the knockout roses are about to burst.  I love the springtime!!

When I got back home this afternoon from shopping with Paige for the weekend, my lawn service (that would be my son, Andy) had just finished with the grass and measuring for all new mulch.  I LOVE having him here every week AND I love not having to cut grass :)

I also love coming in my new front door & seeing this little bench with....my rubber boots from SU! sitting out front!  These were a gift from Shelli at Founders Circle a couple of years ago.  I still love them & was so happy to be able to work them into my new decor!

As I mentioned earlier, I was shopping with Paige.  That is because THIS WEEKEND is her annual scrapbook event held in the mountains of Ellijay, GA.  I haven't been there in YEARS and can't wait to see it again!!  I also can't wait to have an opportunity relax.all.week.end....!!!!!  As Donna would say....."shut up!!!"  hee hee!!  I can't wait!

So I will end here, since I still need to pack for the trip!  I have my camera beside me, and hope to have some cool pics to share with you soon.

Have a great weekend, y'all!!!

Head up, young person!!

That's a line from one of my all-time favorite movies - the name of which escapes me right now.  And what does that have to do with ME??  You're right....not much!!!  The movie starred Jennifer Aniston & Paul...?, they became dancing partners & she loved him...but of course, he was gay...so that didn't work.  But it was good!  OH, I just remembered the name!!!  "The Object of My Affection"  Impressive.  I meant my memory, but the movie is, too!!

Just wanted you to know I am still here.  On Sunday we took the 540 mile drive up to WVa to our beautifully clean and SOLD home there!!  Insert huge smile here!!  Some neighbors came over Sunday evening for pizza and helped us celebrate.

On Monday we worked our tooshies off.  We packed, packed & packed junk...um...stuff.  The appraisal came in (yay!!), the home inspection went very well, the pool inspection was done Monday, the water test was Monday... our realtor came over THREE TIMES while we were there!  I packed 27 boxes FROM THE KITCHEN, and 5 bags on Monday... and stuffed them all in my SUV!!  DO NOT mess with me when it comes to packing.  Hubby says I have a PHD in packing LOL!!

We left WVa @ 6:00 am on Tuesday, driving 2 vehicles back down the 540 mile trek to TN.  We got "home" around 3:00 pm yesterday, UNPACKED AND UNLOADED everything from my SUV, his truck AND a trailer full of outdoor furniture, lawnmowers, etc.  By bedtime last nite I was dragging....seriously dragging.

That was 1,100 miles, pizza, and some SERIOUS packing and moving crammed into just 3 days.  The phrase "Head up" keeps popping into my mind....the "young person" phrase is totally lost on me right now!  LOL!!

OH, I forgot to tell you this part....when we left yesterday morning it was 61 degrees, and raining.  The further south we drove, it kept getting cooler & cooler, until the thermometer hit 38 degrees.  The rain turned to snow flurries, and the snow flurries turned into sleet!!!  And we were heading SOUTH!  Hello!  It's supposed to be warmer in the south!!

But I swear, when we hit the TN state line, the skies started to clear and the thermometer went up.  By the time we arrived home, it was back into the 60's with blue skies.  I love it!!

Today I will be unpacking boxes AND getting a good pic - now that the sun is shining - to share my new diggs with you!!  What are you up to today???