A New Found Love.....

I have a new love in my life...Craigslist! I have looked in the past on CL for a dog, washer, just general 'stuff'. The kinda 'stuff' you didn't know you wanted or needed till you see it listed. Like when I go to Meijers outlet, garage saleing (I know this isn't a word!) or Goodwill, I'm not sure what I'm looking for till I see it! "Oh, I didn't know I needed that!!" Unlike going to the grocery store when I need milk...in and out with milk.

Okay, anyways back to my new love. They have a 'free' listing for Grand Rapids. Normally, it's broken concrete, old TV, couch that my dog chewed a hole in....you get the idea! This particular day I was checking it and there it was....A hot tube (that's how it was listed) knowing it was a probably a hot tub, I clicked on it. There it was....a 4 yr old 6-8 person with all working parts but needing a cover. It stated that they paid just under 7,000 for it! What?? are you kidding me, my thought...scam. You know, if it's so good to be true...it is!

So Steve picked up the phone and promptly called on it and guess what.....busy...shocking! Mind you, we were only calling 15 min. after it was listed. So he left a message. I left a message about an hour later stating we would be willing to pay some cash for it?????? (My thought...you gotta 'stand out') We were pretty confident after a couple of hours that it was gone. I did pray as I was working in the yard....."Lord if you would want us to have this, would you work out the details." Low and behold about 4pm we received 'the' phone call. The lady asked if we were still interested in the hot tub? Steve said absolutely!!!!! By 5 we were headed down with our trailer and a neighbor. We soon realized that it was going to take more than two guys and me to lift this item! We paid her $100 and told her we would be back! She stated that she had received over 100 phone calls...no doubt in my mind! I felt like I was the big winner!!

So yesterday, we called on some unemployed friends to help Steve bring it home......it was H-E-A-V-Y! The homeowners had put up a fence since it was placed on their deck....needless to say, it was a little difficult to get it on the trailer. They did get it home and it resides on a trailer in our backyard. Side story...when Steve went down to pick it up, I didn't go, but he lady was talking to him and said "I called you 'cause your wife sounded so nice when she left the message!"

It does need a cover (and some stain) but the lady said everything else works...we will soon see. I asked Steve to 'mock' hook it up before we get rid of our old tub just in case something doesn't work. We are not sure what we will do with our old one?!?!?

In my opinion, this is a great Craigslist story! Okay I'm now realizing I just revealed my secret.......CL! Now, I have that much more competition. I'm guessing there is enough 'stuff' to go around!!! May all of you have a CL story like ours......

~joanne

The BIG 40!....

Steve has arrived......this past Thursday he turned the big 40! Just think ½ way to 80! That would make him at the top!...right?

We enjoyed a great dinner at Dad and Linda...thanx Linda! Steve had a village meeting at night, so I had snuck a balloon and cake there earlier in the day. They sit in assigned seats so I tied the balloon to his chair for the night. Seemed kinda uneventful for a big birthday.

What he didn't know was that I had planned a Surprise party for him on Saturday....with some help from a few friends. We had a party-Euchre tournament. We had 20 players and about 40 total came.....so obviously not everyone played. I'm pretty sure that everyone had a great time!

Out of respect for my husband, I'm refraining from posting a picture of him with the Fairy. I hired a Fairygram to come and sing a little song to him. Needless to say, this wasn't the highlight of the night for him. He came in a pink leotard, tutu, blond wig and big red lips. Steve was sprinkled with fairy dust, leaving a trail the rest of the night!

Thanx goes to all of you that helped me "pull this off!" An extra special thanx to Brian and Caryn Snyder for letting us use your house....it's beautiful! Thanx to all of you that came and made Steve's birthday extra special! We have wonderful friends and family.....

~joanne

Hip Hip Hooray.......

The kitchen project is almost complete! It's been a long painful journey...at least in my mind right now! It's good to see it done. Steve finished one of the bigger projects on Monday...the under-the-counter lighting. He wired it direct with a switch. We had this lighting before but not wired with a switch...Thank You Steve! One of the best kitchen additions...lighting. You can never have too much lighting for me! Also new is the back splash.....it wasn't such a joyous project for Steve. He assured me, "if I never work with that stuff again, it would be too soon!"

We also added all new hardware....pulls, handles and hinges...we got brushed nickel. We got a wonderful deal on E-bay on the pulls...crazy huh! As you can see I don't have curtains or decorations up...that vent it the middle of the wall...what were they thinking????

One thing that is disappointing....how long a painted surface stays clean and unchipped!!!

Best thing....completion! *Ü* and under-the-counter lighting....seriously, you have to get some...you'll never go back!! You'll wonder how you managed to make Mac & Cheese with out them!!

Our vows....to never paint these cupboards again!!.....

~joanne

Easter...late...

Troy and his Easter Eggs
Trent and his eggs

We had a wonderful Easter dinner at Neil and Bonnie's house. We enjoyed all the fixings, with my personal favorite....sweet potatoes!!!....and Strawberry Shortcake to boot! We were hoping the road would stay drivable so we could have dinner at their house and then be able to visit G-ma 'Buck'. She is going to be 97 this fall...yes I said 97! Can you image??....That would mean that I'm not even half-way! We had a great visit with everyone...Grandpa's. Grandma's and Great-Grandma's!!!

The road, kinda their driveway, stayed drivable. Some years they have to ride 4-wheelers in and out till the road dries out...another...can you imagine?? You thought hauling groceries in from the car was bad! It reminds me of when Craig and Kristi lived on Mackinac Island. They had to bike in everything they wanted....makes you kinda look at everything differently!! One year they lived in what they called the village....the center of the island, kinda up behind the Grand Hotel. And when I say 'up'...I mean up! We visited them that summer...I walked my bike up the hill!! I told them I wasn't coming to visit till they moved to the outside & flat perimeter! All I have to say is, you don't go back for your purse if you forgot it!! I do remember Kristi could petal up that hill with a cart on the back of her bike!....She's quite a women! Call me wimpy, but I'm not sure I could ever pull that off!! I did enjoy the visits when they moved to a house on the main drag!...pretty cool to stay on the island for a couple of days!! One year we took Tyler with his broken leg. We biked him all around the Island and brought a picnic lunch that we enjoyed part way around. Wow....was that fun! Oh!! summer.....what will we do this summer!?!?!

Catch'n Some Rays.....

Here's our little Jaxi.....she found some sun to lay in today!!! It's a rare find here in Michigan! I couldn't resist taking this 'not so lady like' picture of her. She was spayed yesterday and is loving all the pampering the kids are showering on her! They are wrapping her in blankets and giving her sips of water. If she is a true women she will milk this as long as she can!!!!! Trent asked if we could change her name to a boy name, now that they took out her 'female parts'. I explained to him that she is still a girl. Not knowing how many questions that would invoke....Steve was instructing me from a distance "don't go there!!" He didn't get to detailed in his questioning...he's gonna be the one that needs all the details. That's why he came along last...we are more experienced now...kinda...okay, maybe not!!!

~joanne

Sparks-A-Rama

We attended the annual Awana Games today, Trent played in the Sparks-A-Rama. This is the games for the K-2nd graders. He wasn't to sure he wanted to compete during the Saturday practices but when the games rolled around he was ready to play!!! They took a second places...he was quite excited to receive a ribbon and a patch for his vest! Here he is with his friend Carson waiting to compete and then with his awards. He will be all practiced up for next year!!

(Uncle Tod...notice his shirt!...he loves it and wants to wear it everyday!)

So Beautiful.....

Isn't it beautiful when it snows around Easter? We just love it when we have a late snow! It's so refreshing...it makes everything so white again...not!! What in the world...who put in an order for this???...not me. I hear south of GR is getting it much worse than us!
Happy Good Friday to ya! Enjoy the weather you are having...you could be getting this!!!