New Friends & Some New Fun Too!

Five months later, we are feeling like we're fitting in, making friends and becoming a permanent fixture here in Texas!  Both Flip & I are finding our way around the city with ease now.  Wev'e settled into our schedules at home and work now and we're making some new friends. 
Last weekend, we took in our first hometown minor league baseball game with the Shafer Services family and some new friends.  Highlights included lots of laughter, fun, some dancing (by Monica chicky) cheering for the home team and a great time had by all. 
I am looking forward to many more fun times to come. 
Oh and did I mention, we're well on our way to having a new home too!

Just For The Fun Of It

Have you ever, well I should say do you often, do goofy stuff just for the fun of it.  Think about that.  Welll sometimes you just have to, at least that's what I think.  Now I know you're thinking that this concept goes against my Type A, organizer personality.  But I think my children would tell you that I've got some of this in my blood. (I think it's a little of my grandad Axthle in me really.) 
When I think back on the years as my children

One Step Closer

We've officially began the journey closer to our new home.  After our weekned trip to Port A, we plotted out our next few months activities of choices and exciting progress as we see our new home come to life. 
Last week's trip to New Braunfels was the first as we chose our stone- Cherokee Chocolate Chop.  Shingles and exterior paint colors.  After nuch debate we did finally make our decisions.   With no work-Easter extended break for Flip- we visited the cabinet maker and appliance dealer today to pick out our appliances.  Full of big wishes and ideas and a not so big budget, we now play the search game for the "hottest deal" to get what we want.  Cabinets- I did really have an idea of what I wanted in my head, it just didn't translate well as I tried to explain it to poor Joe-our cabinet guy.  He was oh so patient and eventually, with Flip's help I think we settled that question and made some good decisions there too!  Next weekend is a busy one as we're off to yet another unsuspecting sales person for the faucet & lighting debates.  We'll keep you posted.

A Job with GREAT PERKS!

I had never in a million years thought that I would find myself working for a Air Conditioning and Plumbing company.  NOR would I have ever thought that it could be fun and rewarding.  The fun started the first week.  Everyone in the new workplace is great that the personalities are very colorful. Our dispatcher calls us staff from the land of misfit toys- it's really quite fitting actually.  It's very entertaining

Port Aransas Texas- SANDFEST!

Last weekend April 15, 16, 17 2011 made our way to the coast for the first time.  Scored a great little Guest House rental which was an excellent spot for the two of us and our two dogs.  Spent lots of time walking on the beautiful white sand beach.  Early morning walks in the sand with the dogs.  Soaked up

Gruene Texas

Made a trip to New Braunfels for stone selection for the new house.  Great reviews for our builder once again!  I know we picked the right one.  Off to Gruene for a bit of small town fun.  Famous Gruene Dance Hall was very cool.  We took some friendly advice and had a nice dinner at the Grist Mill Restaurant.  Awesome little town. Walked the streets in and out of little shops and nooks.  A very nice evening all together.

Killer Cake

A 32 layer Hazelnut Crepe Cake with dark chocolate glaze.  YUMMMY but a true death by cake.  Two years passed, I enlisted my family (husband and children) to assit me in making this spectacular culinary feat.  Once complete we feasted for weeks on this heart attack on a plate.  It was a beautiful work of art fit for the pages of Martha Stewart and the likes.  After devouring it

Settling In

Ok After 4 months in the Lone Star State, no winter and lots of NEW things happening, I think I finally feel like "I live in TEXAS!"  I am really loving the lack of snow.  Work is going really well.  I love the atmosphere and the boss is great!  All said, Life is good.  After a couple of months of getting bids and searching for the right contractor, we have finally chosen one to build our new house.  Should see groundbreaking in the next few weeks!  Can't wait to see things happen on the new homestead.

Great Friends are Hard to Find

Just when you need it most, my dear friends pay a visit to my new home.
Four months into our new adventure, I spent a wonderful weekend with my dear friends Kim & Cindy.  It was so great to see them and show them around beautiful San Antonio.  You must remember, I had spent the most wonderful passed 9 years with these two ladies and they have become part of my family!  My close family.  Their visit was awesome and a much needed breath of fresh air.  The weather cooperated,giving us sunshine every day.  The city was not lacking for adventure and things to do with Mardi Gras & Alamo reinactment activities all weekend.  One of the highlights was a trip to The Majestic Theatre to see the show"Wicked".  Truly a high point of our weekend.  We had a great dinner at  Biga On The Banks- is my new favorite!  Excellent menu and great atmosphere all make it a worth while experience!  I will return!  As I saw my dear friends to the airport and watched them board their plane home, I found it quite difficult to fight back the tears, but I know that I will see them again soon.  Thanks my dear friends for ....well the friendship!  Love you both.

That's TODAY...

Building a house is a long and drawn out process filled with debate and compramise.  The planner in me makes it buch more entailed and sometimes more overwhelming too.  After 5 contractor bids, 3 financing comapnies and many debates it feels as I am no further in the game. That's today, I know tomorrow I will feel differently, but that's TODAY! 

Saturday Morning Plans....

Isn't it funny how sometimes the best of plans evolve into an adventure.  I'm sure my dear husband is not in agreement of my calling it an adventure.  After setting our plan for our Saturday the night prior.  We woke this morning, warm weather, had a good cup of coffee, took the pups for a walk, chatted with the neighbor- a good start right. So here's where the adventure started...
We live in a "tiny" apartment.  Coming from a 4 bedroom house with a full attic and basement, 522 square feet is TINY!  It's an apartment- temporary, but doable for us while we get settled, find work, and build our new home.  WELL for weeks now I've been "complaining" about the condition of the carpet- needs a scrubbing to freshen it up a bit.  My dear husband agreed to take on the task with me this Saturday morning. 

MOM....

My mother is my hero, every day in every way. There is not a day that passes that I do not think fondly and lovingly of her and all that she is.  There is no catagory in the realm of "momdom" that best fits her.  A kind, loving, genuine, unselfish, devoted and fun soul from the inside out. Throughout all my life she has shown her strength, by far the strongest of any I know. 

Grandad...

OK I just thought I'd share some bits of fun.  I really had a great childhood.  Lots of fun with my siblings, friends and family.  I'll try to share a bit along as it comes to me. 
To start things off, I'll start with a Grandad named Axthle.  The name sets the stage and says it all.  Granddad was to say the least, a "character."  He spent his life as a truck driver for International.  He was quite proud of his work and all the people he had gotten to know all along the east coast. 
He was an extremely outgoing person and a HOOT to grow up with.  After retiring,

A Perfect Plan...

As I have stated before, I am a PLANNER.  Our moving trip was just another opportunity to do just that.  Day one began at 6am with breakfast with our beautiful children before we shuffled off.  Daughter, Maddison started us out with "snack bags" filled with our favorites.  DORITOS were most definately on the menu- I'll fill you in later on that note. 
Our caravan of 3 vehicles, 4 drivers and 2 dogs left Meadville, PA at 8am right on schedule. 

Leading up to the Move...

After weeks of packing, one gigantic yard sale & a pile of donations for the church rummage sale, we packed a 26' Penske truck to the brim with our entire life's treasures.  We enlisted the brother-in-law, Dan and father-in-law, Lynn to help us make the 1,500 mile trek from Pennsylvania to Texas.  On loading day,

Good Friends!

Texas has been great!  We love the weather, San Antonio City, and our new home here.  I say this after stating my disdain for cold weather and SNOW. 
However, I would be fibbing if I didn't let you know that it was  difficult to leave our children, families, neighbors and good friends!  The word "leave" is not fitting here,  I like to call it- giving everybody a new vacation spot!

Why Texas...Really?

The first question we are asked on a daily basis- WHY TEXAS?  Flip (my husband Philip is and has always gone by this nick name) & I did not make our decision to go or where to go lightly.  I am a PLANNER and we both almost always over-anaylize each and every one of our decisions.  We talk about and debate every possible aspect and scenario before we make  the smallest of decisions.  I guess you could say that's the part we enjoy. 

Where To Start...

As I begin this blog let me first tell you that I was born, and lived all my life in Pennsylvania.  A beautiful state, experiencing all 4 seasons.  With those wonderous seasons came 4 months of cold, freezing rain, slush and SNOW.  Now that snow was beautiful- on Christmas Day.  After months it got to be TOO much for me!  In 40 years