Has it really been that long?

Holy Wow!  I just looked at the date of my last post and cannot believe it has been that long.  I have officially been a blog slacker.  No reason in particular except that I haven't been able to come up with anything exciting to write about.  I haven't been on any adventures in months.  I guess you could say other things have gotten in the way of life.

We got moved into the house about 3 weeks ago.  Work is good... I LOVE my job!  School is keeping me really busy.  I was very happy about my first semester grades and being included on the deans list.  This semester, however, is a different story.  Intermediate Accounting II has become my nemesis.  The school is trying out a new program for the assignments and quizzes and there are still a few quirks that are making it really hard to get a decent score, meaning my grade right now is not an A like I would like.  I am working hard and hoping I can improve that before the end of the semester, which leaves me about 3 more weeks.  My other class is a sociology type class where we are discussing America in the 1960's.  That class is going great and my grade is where I want it to be.  Wish me luck in my accounting class!

I enjoy living in my new small hometown, and like that my drive to work is now 20 minutes instead of an hour.  However, I miss my sister and her family.   I am just glad that I didn't move so far away that it would be hard to see them on a regular basis. They are only 30 miles away.  And, they are coming over for dinner on Sunday.  Yeah!

Since my last post, my kids are back in school.  Shellise is attending Southern Utah University and Jessie is in  his Junior year of High School.  Crazy!  I get to see them in a week-and-a-half for a day or two, and can't wait!  I am so proud of both of my kids.  Jessie because he is making some really great choices right now and turning his life around.  Shellise because she is working so hard in school and is doing great, and because she is also making some better choices that is improving our relationship.  They have both been trying to get jobs, but the market in that town is not good.  They really need jobs though, so if any of you in Cedar City know of any place hiring, let me know.

I need to get back to my studies now, but promise I will be back a lot sooner.  I am leaving you with a few photos.

Kitchen not quite finished in this photo

Family room looking into kitchen. 

Shows the wood floors

From the foyer looking into front room 

Closer look at the hand-scraped wood floor

A view from the patio

Back yard

And this is me!  

I hope you will still check back once in a while, even though I am such a slacker these days!  

M.I.A.

You might have thought that I have been Missing In Action lately so I just wanted to write a little post to ensure you that I am not M.I.A.   I have just had a lot going on.  For instance.....

I started a new job.  I work at Citibank.  I drive almost an hour each way.  The long distance driving is only temporary, thank goodness.  As soon as we get moved into our new home the drive will only be about 20 minutes.

The house is coming a long nicely.  We expect to take occupancy in early August.  I will  post some pictures very soon.

Also, I am back in school working on my bachelor's degree.  I am currently taking Intermediate Accounting 1 and Art & Humanities.  School and work keeps me very busy.

Dear Hubby's work schedule has changed and we are trying to adjust to it.  It kind of really sucks!  He has always worked 10-14 hrs per day 5 days a week, but before he would go into work anywhere between 8:30 and 11:00 pm and get home between 10 a.m and Noon usually.  Now he goes into work between 2:30 and 4:00 a.m. and gets home between 2:00 and 4:00 pm.  It all depends on where he has to drive to.  He can usually count on a 600+ mile trip every day though.  With the new schedule he needs to be in bed around 7:00 pm  every night, so that doesn't allow much time for "us".  Also, he has Sunday/Monday off and I have Saturday/Sunday off.  Yeah it kind of sucks but we will adapt.  Work sure gets in the way of life though!

Anyway... I guess I can say I have been adjusting to a bunch of changes right now.  Hopefully I will find some balance in all things, including blogging.  That is what I am striving for.

See you soon!

A day in the life....

Working around the property, making everything come to life.....

Making room for a new home

Iris in bloom near the pond

My hot and sweaty hardworking man!

Moving off old wood from an old deck

Cleaning up the back yard

Chasing critters

 

Love this area

Mom and Dad's years of hard work made a really beautiful yard

Hard working man!

And then last weekend there were a gazillion Butterflies....

Aren't they so pretty?

And this is a day of Daisy's life on the ranch...

Helping to replant trees

Helping Mommy water the trees and cooling off... she really did love riding around in the water!

Just a day on our life!  We are Loving it!

Our Country Life

Life in the country sometimes involves sleeping in...

Aw!

Most of the time it involves getting up at the crack of dawn and working until sundown.

On this particular January day it was a beautiful day with temperatures in the 70's.

Everyone was enjoying being outside seeking new adventures.

This is China Doll... isn't she gorgeous?

Daisy was also getting into exploring 

Do you see those flowers in bloom?  

Spring is just around the corner

Eagerly waiting 

Jack Bull

Even our Llamas were excited about the nice day

And curious...

Anxious for new adventures.

Sebastian & Dottie

Sebastian & Pahyon 

Pahyon

Look at her lashes... beautiful baby!

Sweet Sebastian... our baby boy!

He just got back from the vet after recovering from an injury

What?  No Carrots?

Dottie

Baby Cakes & Cinnamon

Wanna know a secret?  

*If you look past those trees just on the other side...

That is where we are building our home. 

Groundbreaking very soon

Baby Cakes

And just to show you what beautiful blue skies there were on this day.... 

Nice huh? 

Today the bird feeders were fixed up, repainted, filled with seed and hung.

Sometime in the near future I will post some pictures 

of all the birds that pay us a visit

Including Red Cardinals, Blue Jays, Bluebirds, Golden Finches, Titmouse and many others.  

They are so gorgeous and fun to watch.

And then there are people hard at work like DH here...

That's my guy!

On this day he was securing the fence line along the backside of our property.

And then at the end of the day we can relax on the 

front porch and gaze out at this view...

Breathtaking!

And that, my friends, is a sample of our life in the country of the Lone Star State 

And life in the country is pretty darn good!