Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day!

My first shout out goes to my "Big Daddy"


Daddy's Girl



Hands On


Honey

I love ya sweetie!

My Pops!

This was taken the last time we all got together.


Happy Father's Day to all the "Daddy's"

This is the song that I dance to with my father at my wedding.



I know that it is not "officially" summer yet...
(2 more days)

all I can say is... 
WOW!

It sure feels like it is!
We have been very busy around here with all kinds of things.


The Marchitelli School 
is Still In Session



This was part of a History lesson.
Making a Seal
I knew I would eventually get her to like History!


A Math Exercise

Fractions and Multiplication

This is the part of Home-schooling I really like!
When education is relevant ...

Being able to apply what you learn with everyday life.

Liquid Dishwasher Detergent

Baking Soda
Borax
Water
Citrus Essential Oil (lemon or orange)
Liquid Castile Soap
White Vinegar
Lemon Juice

  1. Mix 1 c. baking soda with 1 c borax in a mixing bowl.  Stir with spoon.
  2. Add 1 c water and 3 drops of citrus oil to bowl. Stir ingredients
  3. Pour the liquid mixture into a clean, empty squeeze bottle and close the lid.  Before using, shake bottle.

More Seeds

You can NEVER have enough Basil.

A New Addition

We have gone 2 years without a sofa.

When we first brought Lexi and Roscoe home from the pound,
(Lexi- Charlottesville, VA no kill pound & Roscoe- Manteo, NC SPCA)
anyway...
they decided to make a chew toy out of our sofa. 
errrrrrrrrrrr... 
 I was tired of constantly picking up stuffing every time I turned around. 
So when our town did the Spring Curbside Pick up 
I  dragged the sofa out to the road and said 
"ENOUGH!"

I told myself and the rest of the family that since summer was right around the corner, we wouldn't need a couch.  
We would be too busy to miss it. 

And to be honest ... we didn't.

I put the dinning room table in it's place.

We all went to bed earlier, ate at the table together more, had more conversation and even broke out the board games more often.

I had friends offer me sofas...
only for me to answer, 
"No Thanks!  
I kinda like not having a couch.  But, maybe if it were a leather sofa I would say yes".  
Leather is  much more forgiving with all the critters and beach bottoms, ya know.

Then last week my "Barn Angel" 
told me about her latest attempts of
getting back into her skin...

fortunately for me that meant I got a new leather sofa.

The only catch was that I needed to take the whole set.

All-Stars

No rest for the weary!

Fastpitch

This kid has a mean Fastpitch and a great stick to boot.
"Way to go Boogie!"

Almost Done

This is a gift for Coach Dana.


Bill's Vineyard

I wonder what he plans to do with all these grapes, 
seeing that neither of us partake in the consumptions of spirits.

Don't Be A Mater Hater


Zucchini 


Another Christmas in July

This chair was built to last!

Part 2 of the sofa saga...
Acquiring the sofa set was not expected as suddenly as it was...
I was not prepared.

It is a good thing that I take the roads a little less traveled.

The bed of the truck was already half full of wood my husband had gotten from a friend, no tie downs and about a 40 mile journey home.

So with flashers going 
and traveling at the high speed of 35 mph...
 with a sofa, love seat, chair, ottoman  and a school desk piled in the back of my pick-up truck I started home.
I thought it would be safe to give my husband a call and give him a heads up. 
  

DON"T  DRIVE AND TALK ON THE PHONE!

As I was talking... 
my speed started to increase...

next thing I know 
I have an ottoman flipping into a ditch 
and a chair sitting in the middle of the road behind me.
Yikes!
Thank God, nobody was behind us.

It took Mary and I a little longer to get them back in the second time around 
with fewer helping hands, but we did it!

We found some bailing twine and tied them down this time.
However, traveling at 35mph and the time it took getting the furniture back in the truck put us way behind schedule.

We showed up at practice looking like a cross between  
OBX Beach-Billies and Sanford and Son.


Cottage Cleaning

I picked up a cottage to clean on the weekends from a friend.
It is a owner rented cottage so the families that stay here are usually easy to clean behind.

The big beach rental companies are not easy to clean for...
A lot of the folks who stay in those big rentals don't care how they leave the home
kind of like hotels.

Yuck!

Way back in the day I cleaned for the Carolinian Hotel.
Wow... I didn't like that job much!
I got to see a side of humanity that certainly left a sour taste in my mouth.

Please, if you leave a mess...
leave a tip!
Maids should only have to wipe down and tidy up. 
Those ladies don't get paid enough to deep clean after every guest.

My Own Cleaning Products

I have been asked if I sell my cleaning products and my response is:
No, 
I usually just share the recipe.

Almost All-Purpose Cleaner
  • 1 tsp liquid castile soap
  • 1 tsp borax
  • 2 tbs white vinegar
  • 2 c hot water
  • 1/4 tsp each eucalyptus & lavender oil
  • 3 drops tea tree oil
Mix all these things into a spray bottle and you are ready to go.  



The whole point of my making my own products was to break away from consumer consumption.
I was already buying natural products for a greener footprint.
But, I am starting to think that maybe I will.   
This cottage may be a perfect opportunity to test the water.


Back Home

Pregnancy Plant
 I have always called this plant the Pregnancy Plant but it has many other names like Mother of  Thousands, Mother of Millions, The Maternity Plant or aka Kalanchoe.

I gave a baby to Robin a long time ago and now it's off-springs have found their way back to me.

Oh the Joy!

Getting the Boot

I got the boot ..
I have the left foot and Robin has the right.  Mine definately doesn't look as good as hers.  But thanks to some  of the plants she sent home with me... 
my left foot has gotten a face lift.

Town of Nags Head
Happy 50th Anniversary 


Last night was closing night of the Nags Head Carnival.
Shew...
Mary bugged me all week to go.  

I finally caved in and took her.

She wouldn't ride anything but this dang thing...

Sorta funny really!

Now...
 time to rest, 
pamper the hubby 
and get ready to start a new week.

Next weekend is Tournament Time
Go
Dare County Thunder!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The new furniture looks really good..Congratulations see what waiting did..Perfect for you just what you wanted and needed...

Debbie Talley Marchitelli said...

Patience...

"The Green Gourd" strikes again!

Anonymous said...


http://www.petinsuranceuks.co.uk Besides all the other services that the ASPCA provides, it also offers pet insurance. If you lie to insurance companies about your dog and circumstances and they find out then all those premiums will be for nothing and you may only to find out when you need to claim.