tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49794463412801077682024-03-05T09:54:47.198-08:00In this Southern lifeJanicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-56060667791317485532014-07-27T17:04:00.001-07:002014-07-27T17:04:02.701-07:00Change<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After 5 years of working at Advance Auto Parts as their Commercial Parts Pro, Brett turned in his resignation and took a job closer to home. He is so excited and I'm happy for him! Tomorrow is his first day!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since he won't get any real time off for a year, we decided to take a few days off this past week and go down to Gulf Shores and see Jim and Mar. The weather was beautiful and we had a couple great beach days. We both got a little bit of sun and had a great time! We were also able to take a walk on Bubba's beach and collect some more Indian pottery fragments. Our collection has grown quite a bit this year.</span><br />
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Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-40877416722589046712014-03-02T14:49:00.001-08:002014-03-02T14:49:17.647-08:00Mardi Gras 5K<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">St. Mary's Episcopal Church had their 1st Annual Mardi Gras 5K for their Rice & Beans Ministry yesterday and the weather could not have been any better! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brett was in charge of the balloons (all the helium made it INSIDE the balloons!) and I was on official camera duty. The turnout was even better than expected. The last number I heard was somewhere around 160 runners! I'm hoping that next year Brett will be on camera duty while I run!</span><br />
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<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-902642669084301242014-02-17T16:00:00.000-08:002014-03-02T14:33:14.467-08:00Sun, Sand, Water (and golfballs!)<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Normally I'm the girl who LOVES Winter. I'm practically giddy when the crisp Fall air turns cold and I get more excited than a toddler when it actually snows, so it's pretty surprising that I'm actually excited for Spring to get here. I think that part of the reason is that there were no January or February foals this year and foaling season is one of my favorite times of the year. The first foal is due around the first week of March and I'm very excited to see what's been cooking!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've finally had some warmer weather so Brett and I took a weekend trip down to Gulf Shores to see Jim and Mar. We spent Saturday morning seeing some of the houses that they've been looking at lately. I know they're ready to get out of that small rental! Saturday afternoon was well into the 60s so we loaded up and went out to the driving range in Orange Beach!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After we left the driving range we drove down to the Bear Point neighborhood to watch the sunset. It was absolutely breathtaking. Mar's family had a beach house in Bear Point when she was growing up so she gave us the tour down there. I fell in love and now I want us to get a little cabin down there!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We spent Sunday morning looking for more pottery on the beach at MeMe and Bubba's house. Their place is a little piece of paradise and I'm so grateful that they share it with us. Fort Morgan really is Alabama's best kept secret!</span><br />
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<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-72711571563955276452014-02-04T07:09:00.002-08:002014-02-04T07:10:50.515-08:00Snow Day 2014<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Southern Alabama actually got my favorite 4 letter word this year --- SNOW! Winter storm Leon brought about an inch of ice and a couple inches of snow last Tuesday and it was enough to completely shut Alabama down for 2 days. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">It started off as a COLD, light rain on Tuesday morning and then quickly became freezing rain as the morning progressed. My boss decided to close the office at 10:30 and I decided to grab a quick lunch (and a margarita!) with a friend before I went home. In the 45 minutes I was inside the restaurant, my car looked like this!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Brett's boss let him come home around 1 so we settled in and got warm and cozy because we knew we were going to be home for a while! The freezing rain turned into sleet about 2:30 and then it started to snow right after dark. I'm very grateful that the freezing rain transitioned into sleet quicker than they forecasted because I was really starting to get concerned about the trees and power lines!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">When we woke up on Wednesday we had a beautiful blanket of snow covering everything! Nothing is more beautiful to me than a fresh blanket of snow and the absolute quiet that comes along with it. It's so peaceful.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Since the roads were completely iced over and everything was shut down we decided to get outside and play like kids! We rode the 4 wheeler through the woods and spent hours running around with Gomer. I'm not sure who had more fun, Gomer or us! :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">This was the first time that Gomer has seen snow. He was born 3 months after our big snowfall in February 2010. He wasn't quite sure what he thought about it at first, but he quickly decided that it was pretty fun!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I really hope that we get lucky enough to get just one more snow day this year!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-28343096513099067392014-01-16T08:01:00.000-08:002014-01-16T08:01:24.401-08:00Making memories<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The past few months have just flown by and once again I forgot to keep up with my blog!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Despite having several "no new additions" conversations, we brought Lola home in October. We found her in the parking lot of our favorite Mexican restaurant which is right next to a busy highway. There was no way we could just leave her there so she came home with us!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Marlene had exhibits at Williams Station Day in Atmore and the Fall Art Festival at the Gulf Shores United Methodist Church and we were able to go to both of those. It's always fun to hang out and watch Mar go into her "professional" mode! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">We had beautiful fall weather this year and tried to spend as much time as we could in Shell Banks. Walking along the shoreline just soothes my soul.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Brett and I were both able to take a week off for Thanksgiving so we met up with Jim and Mar and drove up to Aiken. Brett's grandmother had 2 good days while we were there and it was nice to be able to spend some quality time with her. Brett's younger brother drove up Thanksgiving Day so Jim was able to spend Thanksgiving with his mother and all 4 of his kids. As always, we had a fabulous time in Aiken. I honestly think I could live there and be happy as a clam!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Christmas was a little low key this year, but that was fine with me. We had Christmas dinner with my parents and my great-aunt and uncle and had a very good time. This was the first year that I cooked everything on my own and I'm proud to say that it all turned out just fine! (Thank goodness!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">We started off the New Year with some record setting cold temperatures. I was really hoping we would get at least a few snow flurries, but they stayed too far north. Our highs stayed below freezing for a couple of days and we dipped into the single digits at night. I was shocked when our slough at the river actually froze over! I've never seen that before.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">2014 was also kicked off with a new look for Brett. The ponytail is officially GONE! She cut off a 16" ponytail, plus cut off another 3". I can't believe he had that much hair on his head in the first place! LOL</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">2013 ended with some pretty great memories and I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store!</span><br />
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-6493664249094174522013-10-01T17:56:00.000-07:002013-10-07T06:37:19.752-07:0010.01.01<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's hard to believe that it's been 12 years. Some days it feels like it's been forever and other days where it feels like it happened yesterday. My grandmother was one of the biggest influences in my life and there is not a day that goes by where I don't miss her.</span> </span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-69827204398322156122013-09-25T16:58:00.000-07:002013-10-07T06:37:03.367-07:00Spring/Summer 2013<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brett and I went to Aiken at the end of March to see his grandmother and spend some time with his half siblings and nieces and nephew. Jim and Mar were up there at the same time so we all had a great time. Brett's grandmother was admitted to the hospital the day after we got there so that changed our game plan a little. In between visiting G-ma, we did quite a bit of exploring around Aiken County and into Augusta. I'd driven through Augusta several tiems, but this was the first time we went downtown and actually checked it out.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;">We've taken several trips down to Gulf Shores to see Jim and Mar. While we both miss the Scottsboro area (and the great friends we made up there) it sure is nice to have Jim and Mar closer to us and a great excuse to always get to go to the beach! We've been taking full advantage of the great beach weather this year. :)</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My boss and his family took a 2 week trip to Costa Rica at the end of June and the day after they left my only co-worker went out on medical leave. It was an interesting 2 weeks holding down the fort, but it went smoother than I expected. I was BLESSED to have a great temp helper and thankfully nothing out of the norm happened while he was gone. As soon as they came back Brett and I took a trip to New Orleans (my first!) for a weekend.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had a fabulous time and I'm ready to go back anytime. We stayed at the Loft 523 which was a very quick walk from CBD into the French Quarter. We spent most of Saturday walking around and sight-seeing and took a bus ride that afternoon. We had made dinner reservations at K-Paul's, but the earliest they could get us in was 9:00 and we came across a wonderful restaurant next to Pat O'Brien's. I highly recommend the Old Coffeepot on St. Peter Street. The food is incredible and their bartender made the BEST hurricane that I drank the entire weekend.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we came home from New Orleans we had quite a surprise waiting for us. My aunt and cousin from New York (along with his girlfriend and son) came down to spend a week with us. It was the first time that I got to meet Declan and Megan. We had a ball while they were here!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also took the Camaro out of couple times this year. A friend of ours drove it in August while my dad was building the motor for his car. It was fun to get to watch it go down the track as just a spectator!</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been nice to have the last few weekends around the house before our fall schedule kicks into high gear!</span></div>
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-67006161147416307852013-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:002013-03-24T17:29:00.778-07:00151<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">151 years ago today, my great-great-great grandfather enlisted in the Civil War. He joined up with several of his family members, all of them fighting to preserve a way of life that was all they had ever known.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jacob Perry Merrill (1838 - 1875) was one of seven children born to William Merrill and Susannah McDade. He was the youngest surviving son. The information that I have on his younger years isn't very clear. We do know that William Merrill and his older brother Jacob Merrill settled in the Leon area of Crenshaw County, Alabama in the late 1820's. In addition to owning many acres of farmland, William Merrill also opened a trading post near the Patsaliga River. While tension was high between Indians and settlers during this time, William and Jacob Merrill became known for their ability to peacefully trade with the local Indians.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jacob married Elefare Parrish (daughter of Hamilton Parrish and Belinda Handley) in 1858. Church records from Good Hope Primitive Baptist Church indicate that both the Merrills and Parrishs attented Good Hope and it is quite possible this is where Jacob and Elefare met and became acquainted. Jacob and Elefare's first child, Susanna Melinda, was born in 1860 with the rumblings of the Civil War in the not-so-distant future. Although his father was a farmer and trader, Jacob was listed as a tailor on the 1860 federal census. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On March 24, 1862 Jacob Perry Merrill enlisted with the Alabama 37th Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. William John Merrill (brother), Benjamin Greenberry Merrill (cousin), Greenberry Benjamin Merrill (cousin), Henry Martin Merrill (cousin), Thomas Hezekiah Merrill (cousin), Thomas Lambden Merrill (cousin), and William Reid Merrill (cousin), joined on the same day and all of them served in Company C together. All but Benjamin Greenberry Merrill (son of Greenberry Benjamin) made it home from the war.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Through the United Daughters of the Confederacy application process I was able to learn quite a few details about Jacob's military service. The Alabama 37th fought at the Battle of Iuka and he was captured on September 19, 1862. He was paroled shortly thereafter.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jacob fought again at the Siege of Vicksburg and was captured as part of the Confederate surrender on July 4, 1863. He was paroled five days later on July 9. Jacob's cousin Benjamin Greenberry Merrill was killed in action on June 12/14, 1863.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jacob's final battle was the Battle of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga. He was captured on November 25, 1863 and held until December 2, 1863 when he was transfered to Louisville, Kentucky. From Louisville he was sent to Rock Island Barracks in Illinois where he appeared on a POW roll in December 1863. His official confinement date is listed as December 5, 1863.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not much is known about his time at Rock Island. He never regained his health after he returned back home and died 10 years later at the age of 36. He is buried in the Good Hope Primitive Baptist Church cemetery next to his wife Elefare. Four generations of his descendants are also buried in Good Hope.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Elefare married Daniel Hansome Gainey in 1880 and they had one son, Joseph Samuel Ganey. Joseph went from a teacher in Covington County, Alabama to the superintendent for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind throughout the end of the Great Depression and through World War II. He also served as President of the American Association of Institutions for the Blind.</span></span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-74800869003540317292013-03-11T11:02:00.001-07:002013-03-11T11:05:36.796-07:00A quick glimpse at our new hobby<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brett and I (and Gomer!) have a new hobby and we spent the gorgeous weather yesterday enjoying it to the fullest!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfi8kMnNaBwZoL9NDCx_R_OyWiW94xLq96Ha3dvj-1xSAvIZ4lRZJuGOkGzaaUmkXdU5FRoP7RT0zGt2x0mi_9ZmuYH2hXiDsWRTXAxC7aae7VRgkdAn9hI1NaVVf6hwMH_XUE9_-9umO/s1600/Trail+Sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfi8kMnNaBwZoL9NDCx_R_OyWiW94xLq96Ha3dvj-1xSAvIZ4lRZJuGOkGzaaUmkXdU5FRoP7RT0zGt2x0mi_9ZmuYH2hXiDsWRTXAxC7aae7VRgkdAn9hI1NaVVf6hwMH_XUE9_-9umO/s320/Trail+Sign.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We live near several National Forests and had never really taken the time to get out and enjoy them. We started looking for places to take Gomer on quick day trips and got hooked after our first one. Gomer is a trooper and LOVES going on adventures!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHqSW7CzYgdQoGzTCBVGg6_jLCDFKKqp-T4SdTgG4u7zs4OIinXBbEAvX40eJvS15hkdjaXJ7c6Ly6yxjKgibhywWcwLmaiawr7MfMvCYyatr4iSEdpouhuA1EYTOGWwzJpXfhcUSnnBV/s1600/Gomer+Car.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHqSW7CzYgdQoGzTCBVGg6_jLCDFKKqp-T4SdTgG4u7zs4OIinXBbEAvX40eJvS15hkdjaXJ7c6Ly6yxjKgibhywWcwLmaiawr7MfMvCYyatr4iSEdpouhuA1EYTOGWwzJpXfhcUSnnBV/s320/Gomer+Car.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We spent most of yesterday in the </span><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/alabama/recreation/picnickinginfo/recarea/?recid=30107&actid=71"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conecuh National Forest</span></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">. I grew up going down to Blue Springs in the summer and had never taken Brett down there. It doesn't resemble the old swimming hole much at all anymore. The bank has eroded quite a bit over the past few years and they've had to build 2 retaining walls to keep the damage from continuing. Gomer was fascinated watching the fish swim in the clear water, though!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUpN3IqeMhsghjSFehW-zmut8qeZVOuWfa21R_47KoLqsJ32ZHG-y7GTHXuOzeVmaEKxjIPBEqjXUvw9bY2xJIMVB-hDu1C4hyphenhyphenl8jLlBLor8BGjOlJAv5yVZqF7bbU-liQzgN1mn2KMBA/s1600/Group+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUpN3IqeMhsghjSFehW-zmut8qeZVOuWfa21R_47KoLqsJ32ZHG-y7GTHXuOzeVmaEKxjIPBEqjXUvw9bY2xJIMVB-hDu1C4hyphenhyphenl8jLlBLor8BGjOlJAv5yVZqF7bbU-liQzgN1mn2KMBA/s320/Group+3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We followed the Conecuh Trail around to where the creek, Blue Springs, and the river meet up. I was fascinated at how different the water looked from each source. I wasn't so thrilled about crossing the bridge over the creek though. It was only 15 feet up, but it was extremely windy and the bridge wasn't so sturdy. I'm PETRIFIED of heights and I think Gomer takes after me in that regard. Brett got Gomer across and I sucked it up and followed. I wasn't too happy about it, though!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8S9DS2dit4AT-mbax3rJRnoD33v3yPkQS9V3dOpg00kZGHlzRuigDdUofCokFYD50EYCBNFnLDHo4BfIy23l2xLU0exdLw8ZhEnEfEfXPcdRVXCMNdyG7e49LSm6QWtkgCbIoR7c6zUp/s1600/Group+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8S9DS2dit4AT-mbax3rJRnoD33v3yPkQS9V3dOpg00kZGHlzRuigDdUofCokFYD50EYCBNFnLDHo4BfIy23l2xLU0exdLw8ZhEnEfEfXPcdRVXCMNdyG7e49LSm6QWtkgCbIoR7c6zUp/s320/Group+1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We stopped at had a quick picnic lunch at Open Pond on our way out. The shelter they have is extremely nice and overlooks the pond. It's a gorgeous view!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyK6XTwa0ZEnvxeeNmtOEIoFQ59IAAIhFPuu9H06ipU149qiH_SKLOnY9GYRDki_m8_P-CVL0bPCJybQLq3XC5Bxvj2sYojaHyhBsWlSQwai1RM4qnkxW290nayfgSi8P_2KEYSG_kDec/s1600/Group+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyK6XTwa0ZEnvxeeNmtOEIoFQ59IAAIhFPuu9H06ipU149qiH_SKLOnY9GYRDki_m8_P-CVL0bPCJybQLq3XC5Bxvj2sYojaHyhBsWlSQwai1RM4qnkxW290nayfgSi8P_2KEYSG_kDec/s320/Group+2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I grew up here and our place on the river is less than 3 miles away, but I had never gone to the actual waterfall that the town of River Falls is named after. I was planning on just stopping on the bridge and trying to grab a couple of quick pictures through the trees, but Brett suggested we actually trek back there. I'm glad we did. When the sunlight peeks through the trees and onto the waterfall, it's absolutely breathtaking! It's hard to imagine that such a beautiful sight has practically been in my backyard this whole time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cX26WL-9GRaWsuuW5NyLlz1b9ZsgkeH7DbDIYNpkioIRRWW5BvbsDbdfpsG-V4tUk8eHyoMmgt6W097Gtn4FjX0SS8NhwBVM8HFEIpEKcvDkys9nYe9cHyRfBBrSgo0Y6JHZFMryfcme/s1600/River+Falls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cX26WL-9GRaWsuuW5NyLlz1b9ZsgkeH7DbDIYNpkioIRRWW5BvbsDbdfpsG-V4tUk8eHyoMmgt6W097Gtn4FjX0SS8NhwBVM8HFEIpEKcvDkys9nYe9cHyRfBBrSgo0Y6JHZFMryfcme/s320/River+Falls.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-61763143062558195272013-03-09T09:16:00.002-08:002013-03-11T11:06:02.281-07:00Poor Lucy!<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lucy (a.k.a. Lula Belle when she's particularly prissy) is the grand dame of our house. She was Brett's grandmother's favorite cat and she asked us to bring Lucy home when she passed away. Lucy has been with us ever since.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lucy had a little accident when she was jumping off our bed the other day and ended up breaking the last bone in two of her toes. That's the same bone that holds her claws. Somehow (our vet is baffled by this, too!) when the bones broke it caused her claws to get bend inwards and lodged into and under her pads. The only option was for her to have surgery on that foot to dislodge the claws and completely remove those bones. The way the vet worded it was that removing those bones was essentially de-clawing her on those toes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lucy was not a happy camper when Brett picked her up and brought her home last night. She was still groggy from the anesthesia and is NOT in love with the splint/bandage apparatus on her foot. Watching her limp/crawl/hop around just breaks my heart, but Dr. Toby's office said that it's normal for now. She seems to be feeling a little better this morning and has spent the last couple hours curled up between Brett and I on our bed. I keep putting off a trip to town because I don't want to wake her up and move her!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUkKu7blEfQVjVSkNcYb42c5QgNahJh6T2tPU52FTZxHF6DaMdq8PD_tgPqeVIy7Zd8Pky7JameSXGOvvqNsn1iBxDuWTaYIx8eT1yNid-RWveDYPJS_VSSRJzabKHo3tzA0SpRG91Vmj/s1600/Lucy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUkKu7blEfQVjVSkNcYb42c5QgNahJh6T2tPU52FTZxHF6DaMdq8PD_tgPqeVIy7Zd8Pky7JameSXGOvvqNsn1iBxDuWTaYIx8eT1yNid-RWveDYPJS_VSSRJzabKHo3tzA0SpRG91Vmj/s320/Lucy+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully, Dr. Toby said that she should be good as new in about three weeks. Despite her foot and being a little on the chunky side (she weighs a whopping 13.5 lbs!) she's in great health for her age. Don't tell her, but she's going on a diet once her foot is healed!</span></div>
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-65758557907287456252013-03-04T07:55:00.002-08:002013-03-11T11:06:23.731-07:00What we've been up to!<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once again I've done a poor job of keeping my blog updated. I had completely forgotten about it until I was reminded yesterday! Here's a quick recap of what's happened since Christmas.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">January was a BUSY month around our house. We started the year off by taking the Camaro to the Hangover Nationals in Montgomery. Brett, Dad, and I had a great time hanging out with everyone again. I'm hoping we'll actually go to the track more than once this year. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrehvY5TYoF08ENorVjC3Fs_JkAiRDUKKwaIoJJdTjm9XVmEub0GPOfFJxeJPH-LwruwDtK5MqRfjZUZvy7sCJ_IyDwRsHr7ob-pgnN9vprPv-xooh10KrQ9Aus6G-JkeybumK0lTC4qec/s1600/Me+Camaro+Hangovers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrehvY5TYoF08ENorVjC3Fs_JkAiRDUKKwaIoJJdTjm9XVmEub0GPOfFJxeJPH-LwruwDtK5MqRfjZUZvy7sCJ_IyDwRsHr7ob-pgnN9vprPv-xooh10KrQ9Aus6G-JkeybumK0lTC4qec/s320/Me+Camaro+Hangovers.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following week we actually saw a couple snow flurries in town! I was hoping it would snow for real and everything would shut down for a few days! No such luck, though. I think we got a grand total of 20 snow flurries before it stopped!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The end of the month brought 2 new additions. One at home and one at the barn. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">February was a little less exciting. I started working out with a new personal trainer (who is amazing!) and I've lost 6 lbs and a couple inches. I'm pretty excited about that. We've also started taking our Boxer, Gomer, on quite a few adventures with us. He's turned out to be an awesome traveling buddy!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I finally turned in my United Daughters of the Confederacy application and heard back that it was approved on the state level! I should be getting my certificate in the mail in the next few weeks. I joined under the service of my great-great-grandfather, Jacob Perry Merrill. He enlisted with the Alabama 37th Regiment of Volunteer Infantry on March 24, 1862 in Leon, Alabama. He was captured three times during the Civil War (once at Iuka, once at Vicksburg, and once at Missionary Ridge) and was held as a POW at Rock Island Prison in Illinois. He was released as part of a prisoner exchange on March 20, 1865. He lived for another 10 years after the war and died at the age of 36. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">March is looking like another busy month for us. Hopefully I'll do a better job of blogging about it all!</span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-64245945957959869802012-12-26T07:00:00.000-08:002013-03-11T11:07:03.092-07:00Christmas 2012<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the first year since Brett and I have been together that we have not made it to Marlene's family's Christmas Eve festivities in Atmore. Since we knew ahead of time that we couldn't make it, we made plans to drive down to Gulf Shores on Friday night to see Jim, Marlene, and Alaina for a few days. The weather was absolutely beautiful and we had a great time!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of my favorite places is down at Marlene's parents' house (MeMe and Bubba) in a little community called Shell Banks right outside of Fort Morgan. Their house is right on the bay and backs up to the Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MeMe and Bubba have a resident heron they call Gertrude. I FINALLY got the chance to get some up-close pictures of her. She's not the most sociable gal in the world. She also had a pelican friend hanging around the boathouse with her. He was a little less camera shy so I was able to get a few more pictures of him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was the only one who wanted to brave the chilly wind on Saturday and go down to the beach and I am SO glad I did. I ended up with some pretty awesome photo ops while I was down there. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As much fun as we had in Gulf Shores, the absolute highlight of my Christmas was going to church with my parents and Brett on Sunday night. This is the first year that my Dad came with us to the candlelight service. It will always be one of my favorite Christmas memories! This church has always been very important to our family. My great-grandmother donated the land for the church to be built and it is the church that my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins all grew up going to. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christmas morning was low-key. We had breakfast with my parents and then I got to work in the kitchen. This was the first year that Christmas dinner was on me and we also had family coming over! I was a little on the nervous side, but everything turned out better than I expected and we all had a good time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully, all of the bad weather that came through didn't affect us. A tornado passed just a few miles away from us! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas!</span></div>
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<em><strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luke 2:11</span></strong></em></div>
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-22301129458063696172012-10-18T08:36:00.002-07:002013-03-11T11:08:40.268-07:00Welcoming Fall on the gulf!<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I haven't felt inspired to blog in a while, mainly because there really hasn't been anything too exciting happening in our neck of the woods! We've been catching up on some major yard projects, playing with Gomer in the cooler air, and spending as much time on the beach before it gets too cold as we can. Oh, and a little thing called finally fighting the infertility monster. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm not sure how much I'll blog about our fertility treatments, but I'm excited to say that I have a wonderful OBGYN who has been a great source of knowledge and encouragement. Even though our situation is less than ideal, he's confident that we'll be able to make everything work!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The weather is finally starting to cool down a bit and I absolutely love it! Fall is my favorite season by far so I'm finally a happy girl. Marlene had her first art festival down in Fairhope two weeks ago and we had a blast! The weather was beautiful and the beach was even better. :)</span><br />
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Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-26328201168790946402012-08-17T11:29:00.002-07:002013-03-11T11:08:57.417-07:00Coundown<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We will be headed to beautiful Ft. Morgan/Gulf Shores in 3.5 hours. I can't wait! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm ready for sun, sand, and surf!</span>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-60849983899008328692012-08-16T07:23:00.000-07:002013-03-11T11:09:16.163-07:00Montgomery highlights via Instagram pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My birthday isn't until next Tuesday, but Brett and I went to Montgomery last weekend to celebrate with just the two of us. This weekend we'll be in Fort Morgan with Jim and Marlene and then we'll celebrate with my parents on my actual birthday. We take birthdays seriously 'round here!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We lived in Montgomery for a little over a year, but I never went to the First White House of the Confederacy OR the State Archives. That's hard to believe considering my obsession with genealogy! I'm sure Brett was bored to death, but he at least acted interested for my sake.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had the best tour guide at the FWHOC. I thought I was asking some pretty tough questions and he rattled off the answers before I finish the question! He was fun to talk to and let us wander around until my heart was content. Had a huge group of people not walked in at the last minute, I was going to BEG him to sneak us into Jefferson Davis' study and take our picture in there. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The house originally stood almost directly across the street from where the official government seat of the Confederacy stood. The marker for that is right outside of Wintzell's Oyster House behind the Renaissance Hotel. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Alabama State Archives are right next door to the FWHOC. I was so tempted to poke my head in and look up a few things, but I knew that there was no way it would be a quick trip. I could easily spend all day in there! Brett was being a trooper and I didn't want him to be bored to death.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The best part was Saturday morning's temperature. It was actually in the 60's in August and I have proof! I'm so ready for Fall to get here. Bring on the boots, scarves, chili cookouts, and Auburn football! WAR EAGLE!!!</span></div>
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Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-47984332903591496702012-08-05T11:43:00.001-07:002012-08-05T11:44:40.598-07:00No Spend August: Day 5 (and weekend recap)I'll fess up. I blew it yesterday. Twice.<br />
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Yesterday morning I drove up to Selma and I stopped in Greenville to grab breakfast at Krystal. I was weak for two reasons: 1) We don't have a Krystal within an hour of where we live and 2) I'm a complete sucker for their Sunrisers. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-$5.00</span><br />
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Saturday afternoons have turned out to be our weekly shopping time. Brett went with me to Walmart and we actually stayed well within budget. Once a month we always stop and pick up chicken wings and cheese bread for dinner with my parents and it was our turn this month. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-$45.00</span><br />
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Maybe next weekend will be a little better!Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-72339482106412628762012-08-03T07:32:00.000-07:002012-08-03T07:32:13.221-07:00Boxer Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We love our silly, goofy, clutzy, rambunctious boy!Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-62192494937244729642012-08-01T09:41:00.001-07:002012-08-01T09:41:24.497-07:00Day 1 - No Spend AugustI've made it through approximately 1/2 of Day 1 and I've learned that I'm way too tempted to shop online at work! I've deleted Etsy from my menu bar so hopefully that will squash any extra temptation. :)<br />
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My birthday plans have been excluded from the 'No Spend' clause. Hallelujah! We're going down to Fort Morgan for that weekend. I told him I was totally OK with no shopping, but I wanted at least 2 round of min-golf and dinner at <a href="http://thebeachclub.spectrumresorts.com/dining/gulf-shores-restaurants.aspx">Southbeach</a>. Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-50750919817394200432012-07-29T19:06:00.000-07:002012-07-29T19:06:10.081-07:00No Spend AugustI'm a little late to the "<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/7-jen-hatmaker/1110788490?ean=9781433672965">7</a>" party; I just finished reading it last weekend. It ranks a place in my Top 10 Favorite Books Ever pile for sure. Despite the fact that it was an awesome book and that I totally think Jen is a rockstar for pulling that off, I'm not sure that I have the self discipline to do so. Imagine my surprise when my hubby (who never read the book nor did he know I was reading it) decided we need to tackle some 7-esque type challenges to make us aware of just how much extra crap we have/spend/do/waste. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hello, God. Nice to meet you here. Would you care for a glass of tea?</i></span><br />
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{This is where I inserted a pretty big sigh and a slight eye roll. Just being honest!}<br />
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We're tackling spending for the month of August. There are several good reasons why I'm not excited about doing this during the month of August -- my birthday being a big one! I had some pretty fun ideas that are now pretty much flushed down the commode. Granted, if I know Brett I'm pretty sure he has something nice up his sleeve, but I'm still not in love with the idea.<br />
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The goal for the month of August is pretty simple. If it's not a bill or a necessity, don't buy it. It sounds a lot easier than it's going to be. I'm already not a fan of no new Kindle books, no stalking good deals on eBay, no cute stuff from Etsy, no new iTunes downloads, no Sugar Rush (our local version of Starbucks) -- no ANYTHING.<br />
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Unlike the book, I don't think I'm going to ask for external accountabilty partners. I think Brett and I are going to try to fly this thing alone. Hopefully we won't crash and burn!<br />
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I'm planning to use my blog as a way to journal this. Here's to hoping I can remember to update it!Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-23769614205315684002012-07-08T12:25:00.002-07:002012-07-08T12:25:45.595-07:00Sweet SummertimeThe past few months have slowly melted together in the delicious blur known as summertime. Nothing overly exciting has happened; we're just enjoying life!<br />
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Our family grew by 4 paws over Memorial Day weekend. A sweet, 2 year old male Boxer wandered up and adopted us. We managed to find his original family and after learning that they were not able to keep him any longer, made him an official member of our family! His first family named him Bama, but Brett starting calling him Gomer as a nickname and it seems to have stuck. He's such a funny fellow!<br />
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Jim and Marlene drove up for Memorial Day and my dad twisted Jim's arm hard enough that he agreed to take Dad's Harley for a spin. I'm pretty sure that my Dad is now on Marlene's bad list. :)<br />
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I've been fighting 2 new addictions lately --- HGTV and Pinterest! I've dabbled on Pinterest for a while, but I've been really drawn in over the past couple weeks. Brett laughs at me when I hole up in the bedroom every night to pin until my heart's content! LOLJanicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-12990449839794597432012-05-06T07:13:00.000-07:002012-05-06T07:13:03.900-07:00Bon SecourOnce again I'm way behind on updating my blog. Sheesh! It's so easy to be a slacker lately. :)<br />
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Brett and I spent last weekend in Gulf Shores and had a wonderful time. Jim and Mar took us on a back road tour of the Bon Secour River area and I think I like it as much or more than Gulf Shores proper.<br />
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One of my favorite stops was the <a href="http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~alcbonse/swiftcoles.html">Swift-Coles Tidewater Mansion</a> that was on the Bon Secour River. Marlene's childhood friend's aunt (say that 5 times in a row!) was the last Swift family owner of the home and Marlene and her friend would spend a considerable amount of time here back in the 60's and 70's. It was so fun to walk around the house and hear Mar share her childhood memories.<br />
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After our visit to the Swift house, we decided to plan a last minute shrimp boil. Mar suggested we stop at MeMe's favorite place to get shrimp -- Freddie Stewart Shrimp. Freddie and his wife (whose name I can't remember. Ugh! I hate when I do that!) have a boat that they use to shrimp in and around the Bon Secour area when it's in season and down around Port St. Joe, FL when Bon Secour isn't in season.<br />
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I love the inside of their shop! They a huge bulletin board that is covered with load tickets back from the 70's. The Stewarts have been shrimping here for a good while.<br />
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We spent most of Saturday afternoon down at the beach and then came back to the house for our darn good shrimp boil. After dinner we went to play a quick game of putt-putt at Pirate's Island. That seems to be tradition in our family!<br />
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We slept in Sunday morning and then Jim, Brett and I went to play golf while Mar finished up a painting. I learned a valuable lesson out there. I may not be able to drive worth a flip, but I can sure putt! LOL<br />
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As always, we had a wonderful time down there and can't wait to go back in a few weeks.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-10736765165193015972012-04-09T14:34:00.001-07:002012-04-09T14:34:21.881-07:00Wedding preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few quick shots from last month's wedding. :) These two make my heart smile!Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-85221668800721156422012-04-04T07:57:00.002-07:002012-04-04T07:57:31.162-07:00MarchOnce again, I've fallen WAY behind on blogging! A lot has happened since my last post. :)<br />
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Brett's dad retired on February 29 and we went up there for a little over a week to help them pack and to celebrate his retirement. Thankfully their house sold (and closed!) 10 days before he retired. <br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>{Brett couldn't resist a last chance to pose!}</strong></span></em></div>
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We spent Jim's first day of retirement in Chattanooga. It was a nice break from packing! We have been to Chattanooga many times, but I had never taken the time to drive through the Missionary Ridge battlefield area to find the memorial for the brigade that my great-great-great grandfather, Jacob Perry Merrill, had fought with/been captured. I was glad to finally check that off my bucket list!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong> <em>{Moore's Bridgade memorial. Jacob Perry Merrill was in Co. C of the Alabama 37th}</em></strong></span></div>
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We wrapped up our final trip to Scottsboro with dinner at Salt. It was our first time eating there and the food was great. Our dinner was interrupted with a massive hailstorm, but fortunately my car managed to come out unscathed! Phew!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>{Dinner at Salt -- before the hailstorm!}</em></strong></span></div>
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As soon as we came home from Scottsboro, I got busy getting ready for our local Arabian show. It is a qualifer for Region 12 and is always a good (but tough!) show. I was pretty tickled to get to show the same gelding that I had shown at the Baker show last fall.</div>
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Jim and Marlene drove up for the weekend to hang out with us during the show. It was great to have them there with us! We had a great group of folks all weekend and the show was a blast. Sadik did a great job for me and we came in 3rd in ATH Geldings!<br />
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One of my co-workers got married last Thursday night and she asked me to take pictures for her. I've never shot a wedding before (this was my first and last!) but we had a great time. It was a small ceremony with just family and close friends in the old chapel at the First Baptist Church. I've just started editing some of the pictures, but I love the way some of them turned out.<br />
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Brett and I drove down to Gulf Shores last Friday evening to spend the weekend with Jim and Mar at their new house. Let me go on the record and say that while I really miss going to the mountains, I'm THRILLED to have a place to go play on the beach! LOL</div>
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I didn't get any cell phone pictures of their house, but I did get some down at MeMe and Bubba's. Their house is our little piece of paradise. It's one of my favorite places!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>{Pottery fragments from an old Indian shell midden}</em></strong></span></div>
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We went to The Beach Club for dinner on Saturday night and it was excellent. The bartender made one of the best Mai Tai's I've ever had. :)<br />
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<br />Jim and Brett went golfing Sunday morning while Mar and I went shopping for a bit. We met for lunch at Tacky Jack's and then hit the beach until it was time to go home.</div>
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<br />Can I take a minute and say just how excited I am for private beach access? Can I get an Amen? LOL</div>
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This weekend is going to be a stay-at-home catch up weekend. Between yard work, cleaning out my closet, and editing photos from the show and wedding, I'm going to be busy for a while!</div>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-86755961404535102782012-02-24T09:22:00.000-08:002012-02-24T09:22:28.052-08:00Breakthrough!<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After years of researching my dad's side of the family tree, I finally made a break-through on my mom's side! {We've tracked my dad's maternal side back to two sons of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_III_of_England">Henry III of England</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_I_of_England">Edward I</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Crouchback">Edmund Crouchback</a>.} Both sides of her family have been incredibly hard to track in the past, but I found a long-lost cousin on her paternal side (via <a href="http://ancestry.com/">Ancestry.com</a>) who so graciously sent me a photo of my great-grandmother Jenevieve. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB4rJumVR33oA7ULbQAvV9oHtxJdMovgyonzinmjIJPWhZP_GyatKw72yV-jVDGSNdjs82hHCwwgRRs6h3wIuWsOTDMevF3CONXuXNVmHzIS1gyVdvc-OnzqjFKmYq3z-a0oN16UXHCVK/s1600/Jenevieve+Ida+Carr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB4rJumVR33oA7ULbQAvV9oHtxJdMovgyonzinmjIJPWhZP_GyatKw72yV-jVDGSNdjs82hHCwwgRRs6h3wIuWsOTDMevF3CONXuXNVmHzIS1gyVdvc-OnzqjFKmYq3z-a0oN16UXHCVK/s320/Jenevieve+Ida+Carr.JPG" width="204" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>{My great-grandmother Jenevieve around 1940}</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My mother's maternal great-grandmother, Rose Polczer, was born in Lovaszpatona, Veszprem, Hungary in August 1884. Rose and 2 of her cousins (Julia Horvath and Rosa Klesitz) left Hungary in October 1907 aboard the Pannonia. They left to join Julia's brother Josef in Buffalo, New York. The girls arrived in New York City on November 7, 1904. We know that Rose lived in Buffalo and attended the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church. She met my great-great-grandfather Karoly Racz in 1909 and they were married at St. Elizabeth on January 22, 1910. Karoly was born on July 2, 1887 in Szentgyorgyhegy, Zala, Hungary and arrived in New York on March 20, 1904 aboard the SS Statendam. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The two sides of my family tree are so completely different. My dad's side has been here since the 1600s and were always well established. My mom's side came over in the 1900s as hard working immigrants who came to make a better life for themselves. I'm pretty darn proud to be a combination of all of them! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4979446341280107768.post-54201411477815305992012-02-21T09:17:00.000-08:002012-02-21T09:17:28.358-08:00Playing catch up!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It feels like forever since I've blogged! We've been staying pretty busy, but it's just been the daily grind -- nothing new and exciting. I'm not doing a very good job of meeting my once a week blog post goal for this year so it's time to get cracking!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Jim is retiring on the 29th and he and Mar are moving down to the gulf. While I'm excited to have them so much closer, I'll be honest and say that I'm really going to miss visiting Scottsboro. It's a beautiful little town and the surrounding area is just gorgeous! Hopefully Brett and I can get a little cabin in Mentone some day down the road. We're going up there this weekend for an extended trip to help them back and to celebrate Jim's retirement. We've got a ton of packing to get done, but we're all going to take next Thursday as a play day in Chattanooga and officially celebrate his retirement! So far the agenda includes the Missionary Ridge Battlefield {for Mar and I!} and dinner at the Bluewater Grille. I'm sure we'll sneak in Rock City or Ruby Falls while we're there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">On a completely un-related note, my love affair with Sephora keeps growing! I ended up buying a few new goodies and I absolutely love them. The Naked palette is probably the best thing ever! Seriously. It's a little pricey, but it's well worth the money.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFHCCeYAukNryx0ixhyhOw0IEMLuFqMT6IlEoLGvXimXnYjJsgntm7e6InD5-WxP3xutfAz5M6KnHuJsYoKcCACNTha0elR9Dhh6fse3YjNGIJKFeY8qOA1ry7_bSR1rWR18unIBNIul7/s1600/Sephora+Goodies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFHCCeYAukNryx0ixhyhOw0IEMLuFqMT6IlEoLGvXimXnYjJsgntm7e6InD5-WxP3xutfAz5M6KnHuJsYoKcCACNTha0elR9Dhh6fse3YjNGIJKFeY8qOA1ry7_bSR1rWR18unIBNIul7/s320/Sephora+Goodies.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">{I apologize for the sideways photo. I can't flip it on my phone. Ugh.}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy Fat Tuesday! :)</span></div>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10695438729976210956noreply@blogger.com0