By Golly, Ms. Molly-

There is a light at the end of the tunnel!  There is all most an end to all the painting -with in this home.  We worked on the 3rd floor stair well this past weekend.  Larry is always so excited when I randomly decide to do stuff like this.  It was Friday night- and I asked him if he could grab the 10 footer [ladder] from the basement.  Sure-- no questions asked.  I asked him to please put it up on the landing.  Next thing you know- I have the Dif-  I'm spraying walls- removing wall paper paste.  Wiping down walls, scraping/priming molding.  Saturday- it was all about the oil-based primer [which sucks!] and painting the ceiling.   Sunday- edging, I AM Queen Edger, just in case people were unaware of that.  I take great pride in my edging abilities.  There was  small section [2nd photo] I let Larry take care of.  I hate that funky ladder- suspended over the stairs in a scary like fashion. I do have  a fear of heights- so being at the top of a 12 foot ceiling- sucks for me.  Being able to look straight down- through the banister, to the 1st floor- from the 3rd-  double sucks when  you  have a fear of heights.  

I really have height issues.  I know it sounds corny- but even the first time I snorkeled- it was in Maui, in amazing water :sigh: i'd love to be there now. But seriously- I had a really hard time at first, seeing the different levels of the sea's floor.  With cliffs and rocks and different heights.  Realizing the sea floor was like 60 feet below [we were kayaking- then snorkeled] This freaked the piss out of me!!  At one point on the trip- we rented a boat and went to this crater to snorkel.  I had to jump in deep water- to look for an under-water anchor, to tie the boat on to.  Talk about having to get over a fear- quickly.  The point is- I have this thing with heights.  It sucks. But that 10 foot ladder is my best friend. It's been with me to paint many rooms, many crown moldings.  Hang Christmas garlands outside.  I still feel uncomfortable around heights- but a girls gotta do- what a girls gotta do!  

I'll post the final stairwell photo later.  :)  I only have a bit of this  hallway left to paint. Some 'popc0rn' ceiling to scrub smooth- ceiling to paint, walls to fix-  Painting will be done. There is an end to the beginning-  "the end is the beginning is the end"  that's a Pumpkins song = and yeah, that doesn't even make sense to me. 

Going out with a BANG!!!!

So- most of the trails had snow.  The sides of the mountain were bare- but the good trails had snow:)  Larry and the girls went snowboarding for the last time, of the season.  I think life is easier to sum up in photos, right now.  More colorful. 

breakfast of champions!

when you start a day with little Hello Kitty head waffles-- you can conquer the world!!!!

Diet Breaker!

CARROT CAKE

2 1/4 C. sifted flour  

2 tsp. baking powder  

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt 

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 c. sugar  

1 1/4 c. oil

4 eggs

2 c. grated carrots  

1 (8 1/2 oz.) can crushed and drained pineapple

2/3 c. chopped nuts  (I use walnuts and pecans, mixed)

1 c. shredded coconut

Shift dry ingredients. Add sugar, oil and eggs. Mix well.  Add carrots, pineapple, nuts and coconut.  Blend thoroughly.   Bake in 3 - 9"pans, round or square, greased and floured.

Bake at 350* for 45-60 minutes.  Cool on racks.

Icing

1/2 c. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

8oz. cream cheese

2 c. powder sugar

combine butter and cream cheese- until creamy. Add vanilla, then sugar- slowly.  Beat well-

until light and fluffy.  

** I bump-up everything a bit- to make more icing.  3/4 c. butter, 12 oz. cream cheese, 3 c. powder sugar, some vanilla.  I like icing:)

Refrigerate this cake.  This cake is always so much more amazing the next day! 

long, long ago- in a far away world~

...there stood a very scary house.  Rumors and mysteries it stirred up, stories and tales of the evil and unknown.

Okay- not really. I mean, yeah- all kinds of stuff has been said about our house.  It has always been known, in our Town, as 'The Haunted House'.  When I was a little a girl, there was this old white house, that sat about 10 blocks from my house.  My grandfather would always tell my sisters and me, 'Casper, the friendly Ghost, lives there.'  We believed him- hellsyeah, because we were like 7- riding in the  back seat, going some where adventurous.  It was always an adventure with Gramp.  No seat belts- because they weren't really 'the thing' in 1977, so you know... sitting in the middle- feet on the 'hump', holding onto the head rests- peering through the front windshield.  

When Casper's house was torn down- I had to be near High School?? We were sad:(  It was Casper's house.  A part of our youth, our innocents, us holding onto everything my Grandfather said as being gospel. I miss my grandfather terribly.  If he were around today- he would fix all the broken chains and weights in my windows.  He's make the banister shine with such gleam- you'd wish you had sunglasses on. None of the doors would squeak and all the windows would open smoothly.  He  may have been a stubborn man in his ways- but he was a gentle soul when it came to us grandkids.  Taking us to the movies when we were young.  Going on long walks with our dog- down in the woods.  Giving us rides ANYWHERE- when we were teenagers.  'Lending' us money, I guess it's not really a loan when you know you don't really need to pay it back. I have lots of sweet memories- and I wished more than anything that I had asked way more questions about his life, his past, his memories.  One more wish- that I had a photo of Casper's house.  

The above photo was taken of our house- we're not sure when?  Perhaps the 70's? it's hard to know.  I do have one from the late 1800's.  Not the clearest thing- I just don't know how to work our scanner.  I know that sounds really dumb- but I don't.  When I do- it'll be here.  

It's NO Crap!

Okay- so my horoscope in US Magazine- of all places.... The one where Heidi talks about being betrayed by Spencer~ You know, Heidi- new singing sensation.... :cough:  yeah-- anyway....    My Horoscope:

An unexpected expense makes you anxious. Take care of your finances before they're a problem. (Sugar daddy Pluto could land you a loan or extra gig on the 14th) Your social life is surprisingly flush and helps take your mind off money matters.

OKAY-- so the basement smells like either : death or sewerage.  Larry couldn't find anything dead down there [I'm still not 100% convinced...]  The  holding tank for our sewerage was all full- blockage? problem?  We have the tank cleaned out= $219.  Water is flowing nicely from home-to-holding tank.  [which- btw, in out in the front yard- but you wouldn't  know.... it's a concrete slab w/ a pretty bird bath on it]  Anyway~ problem solved??!!!!  I think not.  The pumps haven't been going on- so we check out the holding tank again [2 days after the cleaning]  it's totally full.  WTF?  Must be a blockage some where between the tank- and the street.  Okay- let me just say- the drive way is over 800 feet.  The sewer line has to be about 1100 feet of so-- how it goes this way- that way- straight down the drive- that way- then to the street.   The lines are being flushed as I write.  $950.  thankgod my parents are my Sugar Daddy Pluto are are leading me the money$$$.  I'm broke poor right now, no lie.  friggin' blows!  Shit Happens- literally.   I'm praying [and I don't even pray- or believe in that whole biz..] praying that this does the job.  This is the problem.  When it's all said and done- the pumps will work properly, the tank will empty out.. the smell will disappear.  I still think something is dead though. I have a pretty good nose for Death. 

Cheesy- but Easy!

I know it might seem lame- to do way more photo's than words--- but didn't someone once say: 'A picture is worth a thousand words'  ???  For lack of time- lack of motivation- lack of thinking- sometimes it's just easier to have photos sum up the week.   My niece turned 21!  [see photo below]  I can't believe it.  Now I feel old.  Old in the sense- I remember her clearly as a little squeaky-voiced 4 year old, who I would take shopping.  I'd pick her up in my red jeep, boy- she LOVED that!  We'd go clothes shopping, apple picking, to the beach.  Stuff.  Now she's a loud-voiced 21 year old.  The other difference, I pick her up in a black Mom-SUV, we still shop for clothes.  We even do the apple picking, the beach and stuff.  I just have more lines around my eyes and stuff. 

The essential b-day cake w/ little 'beer-bottle' candles, for the big 2.1. 
We couldn't make the family birthday party- so we had our own.  Larry was given 4 tickets for the Sixer's game- so we took advantage of them.  Okay- the seats were Guam-like-  BUT they were right on the center court line.  Seemed far up- but had a nice view of the whole scene.  
NO- those aren't ants, silly!  They're real live over-paid NBA boys. 76'ers totally won-  I don't follow basketball.  I use to. Naturally- when I was accepted at UNLV- and it was going into the year they won the championship-- sure I watched a few games.  Even went to an UNLV game- while in Vegas.  But besides that- which was many moons ag0- meaning like: 1989-90??? I don't really watch sports.  
Not much else.  Yesterday, while I was entering the post office parking lot- another truck was leaving.  I look at drivers, people and stuff. I'm aware of my surroundings.  Anyway-- Oh my! Not sure where this human came from- but driving was one of the most beautiful men I've ever seen!  Yes- people, I'm happily married- but that doesn't mean beautiful people don't exist.  That's all-- I have class today.  I had a week break- which I thought wouldn't be a big-deal- but I really enjoyed it.  Not thinking of goof-ball chemistry and such. 

Weekend in Pictures--

Finished Anna's Diorama for school.  Ok- I helped, by sewing the little outfit on Libby. 
  Alex with her new snowboard.  Very Happy:) she got to try it out on Sunday.  Hopes to get a    few more runs in- before the season is over. 

  Anna had her last basketball game.  awww- the final score was 12-14.  They lost:( but had a great season.  She's now onto lacrosse- and this other competitive basketball league.  sports, sports and more sports. We'll have a busy Spring!

Moved Larry's office to the Attic room.  WHY?? is this underlining- and I can't seem to turn it off.  f-u blogger!!!!  

Got all the Valentines stuff put away- and started to get out the spring/Easter stuff.  Seems early-  but my daffodils are all popping up!