NANA NOTES

FINALLY AFTER 12 YEARS!

Have you ever wanted something done that you knew you couldn't do that someone else had to do that you couldn't get them to do?  Well, I've been in that position for 12 years and thanks to Ed I finally got the situation under control.  My office is taking shape [still a mess to him :)] but I know that the wires are neatly wrapped and put together with "pipe cover" and velcro.  Matt came out and got it together for me.  I enjoyed a visit with MK and we discovered that we have lots of things in common--one of which we don't is that she's a whiz on the computer and I am NOT!  Together they make a great team. The better part of the afternoon was spent taking everything apart and putting it back.  Saturday I picked up and cleaned up and this is how it looks now.  To me it's wonderful.  How does that country song go, "I like it; I love it. . .and I have NO more room for some more of it!  Thanks guys!

"HELL DONE FROZE OVER"

I was reading a book not long ago and it had two old country boys as characters.  I don't remember what they were discussing but one of them looked at the other and said, "Well, I'll be, hell done froze over."  Obviously something they thought would never have happened had and that was their way of saying it did. Well, today it happened here too.  My alarm clock went off at 6:30 AM by mistake and just as I got snuggled back into bed the Ed's cell phone started ringing.  From that moment on it has been wild all day.  The pictures will have to be the thousand words.  It has been wonderful.   

As Ed and I were riding around taking the pictures we noticed the sign on the church on the highway.  "God's got a blessing with your name on it."  We certainly got our blessing today.

Don't forget that you can click on the photos to make them bigger.  They will be much prettier when you do.  Happy Snow Day!

HOMEMADE GIFTS ARE SPECIAL

I was cleaning up one day this week and found an invitation for a shower for a friend that I had overlooked.  A friend and I had seen these cute monogramed towels at a shop and had discussed how "we could do that".  I decided to give it a try.  I was pleased with how they turned out and I even tied a little bow on one of them to show it was "hers".  I delivered the gift today so I felt like I could post it since she'd probably opened the gift by now.  (She probably doesn't read the blog anyway!)   I can definitely see some funky initials on some pretty towels for graduation gifts coming in the spring.

ONE "SNEAK" PEAK

Ok, so I'm not playing fair.  A picture of the outside is not really a "sneak peak". Someone is coming next Tuesday to help hang pictures.  Everyone is afraid to drive the first nail--including me!!  :)  I don't want to show the inside until the pictures (or at least some of them are up).  Ed's office is on the left.  There will be new landscaping done and I have several other ideas that I haven't shared with anyone.  So, what do you think?  How do you like the new building?

FEEDING THE DUCKS & BUGGAR TAKES A RIDE!

Our veterinarian gets me into more "stuff"!  She's a good friend and I love that she trusts me with animals.  She's given me more animals than I care to mention and than Ed would want to add up the care costs.  But, we are a farm after all--doesn't a farm have animals?  Not too long ago when I went by to drop off old newspapers (she uses them and loves ours because they are clean and bug free!) she loaded me up with a car full of mallard ducks.  Granted we do have lots of ponds.  We've been feeding them on occasions and now they have gotten accustomed to my voice (I walk by there almost every morning). Today I didn't walk so Josh and I rode up in the Ranger and fed them corn. This group came in a hurry. 

The Cowarts always have a dog.  We haven't had much luck with one but that's ok because theirs always come to live with us.  Shelly ran over "Bugger" and had to doctor him when he was younger.  No one on their family can touch him.  Lately he's been riding in the truck with Ed and I've been picking him up and rubbing him all over. (He has always hated to have his ears touched!)  Sunday when they came over Shelly told Ben about Bugger being calmed down and Ben attempted to pet Bugger.  Bugger tried to bite him.  It's really not funny that their dog doesn't like them, but it is kind of fun that he will ride with us and let us pet him.  HE KNOWS WHERE THE GOOD FOOD IS!! :) That's ok guys, we'll take good care of him since we're taking good care of Uncle Josh's cats!

A NEW CHAPTER

The last two days have been spent helping Ed move into the new office building.  He asked for my help; he said it would be stress relieving!  For whom? :)  I just realized I haven't made any pictures of the building process but the building has been a bitter sweet time for me.  I know Ed relishes change but for me it isn't easy.  The "store" building has been remodeled several times since I've been in Meadville.  Our children have grown up running through those halls and climbing on those cabinets, getting "little cokes" out of the fridge.  Employees have come and gone but a lot of the same ones are still there--family--people who are loyal to the company--people we love.  The old building was there one minute and gone the next.  Ed made the decision to completely rebuild instead of remodel this time.  Herring Gas has been a fixture in Meadville for 60 years and now it has a beautiful new home.  In a few more days when everyone is settled and all the boxes are gone, I'll take pictures.  I think you'll be as pleased as we are with the beautiful new home of Herring Gas Corporate Offices.

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 2008

Take a look at our January birthday boys!  Hayden turned seven and Sam will be five soon.  Those of you that follow the goings on at CB know we have a monthly birthday dinner to celebrate.  Sam used his birthday money to go to Boots and More and bought a new rope and some cool Cinch jeans.  Hayden got a roping dummy head (?) from his Dad and Tiffany and money from us and the Cowarts to buy a bag for the hay bale that the head fits on. (That's way over my head but that's what I was told!)  He was excited.  Looks like all the guys around here are "Cowboying Up".  Happy Birthday, boys!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS. . .

is my two front teeth and a nine point buck!  Hayden got his wish--or rather part of it.  The teeth will come later.

Shelby (on the left) got "everything she's ever wanted" when she got her eight point.  These two were pretty happy little kids. 

I should have posted this first but got carried away with the ice picture.  (Don't forget you can click on the photo to see it better.  I'm sure they want you to get the full view!)

AM I JEALOUS OR WHAT???

I get a little jealous when people blog about getting snow and showing their pictures of things like sledding and skiing.  Plain and simple--no brag, just fact.  I should live a little further north where I could at least have a little of the "white stuff" to make angels in when I went outside.  Not to mention that it would make the gas business a whole lot better. (That could be a whole blog! BUT--blessings are blessings and we'll take what we get.)  For the last several days it's been pretty cold here.  Cold enough for the fountain (from you know where!!!) to freeze.  That will have to do for now--but I can still wish for a flake or two to fall.