Dawn's Blog

New Windows

We got the last 8 windows in our house replaced, last week Wednesday and Thursday. They are all maintenance-free and all have argon gas in them to make them more energy-efficient. The best part, though, is that we won't have to replace storms and screens, every fall and spring! Yay! We have lived here 9 years and had separate storms and screens on all the windows, at first. In September 2001, we replaced the living room windows that face south and the upstairs windows (5 altogether). Now, all the windows look exactly alike!

Our other windows, had wooden bars about halfway up each window pane, except for the picture windows. It is so nice to have those gone, too!

Monday Madness 7-25-05

1. What kind of storm is the most scary to you?
A tornado, since that is what we get in WI. If I lived down south, it would be hurricanes!
2. In your opinion, what is the perfect outdoor temperature?
75, with no humidity and a breeze! Maybe tomorrow!
3. Would you rather experience thunderstorms or snowstorms?
Probably a snowstorm, since sometimes thunderstorms can be scary! We don't usually get snowstorms that are scary.
4. Share a weather-related experience with us...feel free to include pictures!

When my oldest daughter was still a baby, we were trying to drive home, during a snowstorm, after spending Christmas with family. We lived 200 miles away from them. About halfway home, we are in a whiteout, and it's dark outside. We got to an exit, where we knew a hotel was, and got a room, to spend the night. It just wasn't worth our lives, to continue on with our trip. Once settled into our room, I called the hospital where I worked and told them I wasn't going to be there in the morning. Gary called the newspaper where he worked and told them, he would be in about noon. Then he trekked over to the gas station and got us sub sandwiches, chips, and sodas! It was still Christmas Day and nothing else was open. We were grateful for the food we did get, although, the subs really weren't that good!

In the morning, the restaurant across the street was open again and we had a good breakfast. We got to drive the last 2-1/2 hours on clear roads, with the sun in the sky! The night before was just too scary!

A couple times, in the 10 years we lived in central WI, I had to call in, because of snow and not being able to travel back in time! LOL!

Here's a snow pic, to remind us of why we should appreciate the hot weather! LOL!

HOT Again!

Way tooooo hot, for this northern gal! Sheesh! I don't live in TX, for a reason! It's just too darned hot! I think all those southerners decided to share the wealth! We got up to 97 today and last I knew, it was still in the 80's outside, at 10pm! Yuck! Poor dog barely wanted to go outside today.

We finally dragged her around the block to get her to go potty, since she didn't want to do her business, in our yard. She kept running back to the door. What a warm-weather wussie! (Well, okay, so am I!) At least, no annoying fire-crackers to scare Jasmine half to death! On a recent walk, we had to take her home, because she refused to walk! A neighbor was setting off little pop-pop-pop firecrackers and Jasmine didn't like it one bit!

We are going to Niagara Falls soon and I can hardly wait! We will be there on Thursday and I can't wait to go down and see the Falls for myself! I don't know how I will get through the next few days! We plan on taking lots of pics and having waterproof dispostable cameras, for the Maid of the Mist!

I can't wait until the sunflowers bloom, either! They keep getting bigger. We planted some mammoth ones this year and I can't wait to see how big they get!
Here's a pic from last Friday (7-22-05). I weeded this morning, so their area looks a lot better now!

Monday Madness 7-17-05

1. Mal asks... What is the last thing you do at night? Brush my teeth
2. Wil asks... Where were you when the lights went out? Huh? What lights? We haven't had a power outage in a long time!
3. Andrea asks... What's on your refrigerator? Too much stuff: Report cards, things we don't want to lose, phone numbers.
4. Jenny asks... What is your ideal vacation spot? This year? Niagara Falls. We are going in less than 2 weeks!
5. Kia asks... What's the sexiest language in the world? German? It's the only language I sort of know!
6. Zeno asks... Have you ever made a wish on a shooting star and had that wish come true? No, but we got the "you will be married to your best friend in the next year" fortune cookie message and we really did get married!
7. Bunnykissd asks... We're more than halfway through the year now; how are you doing with your New Year's resolutions? I don't make resolutions! I would fail miserably!

Monday Madness 7-11-05

1. What book are you currently reading? (from dawn)
-- We Were the Mulvaney's by Joyce Carol Oates. It is about the disintegration of a family, after a tragic event.

2. Have you ever experienced the loss of a pet? How did you deal with it? Would you get a new pet, and why? (from peanutbutterfly)
I suffered through the loss of a cocker spaniel named Corky and a cat named Sparkle, when I was 17. I missed talking to them after school. My parents never got anymore pets. I also lost a mystery mutt, named Honey, about a year ago, after she developed liver problems. We did get a new pet, about 6 weeks, later, since the house was just too quiet, without a dog! Her name is Jasmine, and we adopted her from the local shelter.

Corky - cocker spaniel

Sparkle the cat

Honey, the mystery mutt (possible Australian cattle dog mix)

Jasmine the Australian cattle dog

3. Is anyone in your family in the armed services? (from teresa)
No one in my family is in the armed services, but one of my co-workers has a hubby who will be going to Iraq soon. He is in training right now.

4. If you have or have had a girlfriend/boyfriend, did you tell your parents about her/him without them prying for the information? (from shady88)
Yeah, I'm pretty sure I told them, before they pried. I was usually too excited to keep it a secret.

5. What was your favorite childhood pet and tell me a few things about it. (from beth)
Corky was a purebred cocker spaniel, although, he wasn't always groomed like a show dog. He was the nicest dog, although he did favor my dad. I loved watching him do zoomies around the yard!

6. Have you ever been in love? (from seren)
Yes, most definitely! Although, what I thought was love, in college, is different from the long-enduring love I have with my hubby. We share a long history together and I think that is what makes the difference. I can't imagine that I would still be married to college-guy, if we had actually gone through with the wedding! DH and I have been married almost 18 years!

7. What's your favorite activity? (from robyn)Reading books and surfing the net! For things to do with a friend, it would be just hanging out with my best friend, watching movies together, or playing games!

Rain on our Parade

Happy Fourth of July! Yes, it rained on our parade today, soaking wet, change your clothes, sort of rain! Yes, it was wrap up in a quilt, sort of chilly, too! It's normal here. It seems we get a chilly 4th of July more often than we get a warm 4th of July. I remember it being in the 90's on the 4th a few years ago. Last year, we were bundled up in jackets and sweatshirts, too.

Just realized that my tagboard wasn't working. I had to CHMOD the data file! LOL! Should work now! I thought I had tested it. I guess not.

We are off to the beach shortly, to eat popcorn and wait for dark. We all hope it doesn't rain.

(Firecracker from Recycle Bin Graphics)

Monday Madness 7-3-05

1. I have the hardest time -- getting exercise--.
2. As soon as I can afford it, I'm buying a --digital camera with more megapixels than 3--.
3. I should probably eat more --veggies--.
4. When --Fourth of July-- comes around, it always brings back wonderful memories.
5. I remember my favorite childhood toy; it was a --Betsy Wetsy doll--.
6. If I had to describe my computer desk in one word, it would have to be --crowded, since my computer desk is so full of computer stuff, it's hard to find a place to write--!
7. I could only wish the person running this meme would ask more questions about -- books --.
8. If I had to come up with one question to add to a future 'Monday Madness' it would be... -- What book are you currently reading?--