A to Z Blog Challenge - C

** I forgot to mention that this challenge does not include Sundays! Oops!

Letter C

Church

Church is a BIG part of my life! It has been since my kids were little. I wish that I could say that it has been for all of my life, but I wouldn't be telling the truth. I found the Lord when I was about 26 years old and followed His call to start going to church. I went as a child, but not very much. I went as a teenager with a friend, to her church, but I was not there for the right reasons. (Only for the boys! *Grin*) I was baptized as a baby in a United Methodist Church and this has always been my choice of church denominations. David grew up in the UMC church, as well. Throughout my adult life, I have been actively involved in church in all kinds of ways --- Children's Ministries, Women's Ministries, Small Group Ministries, Stephen Ministry and College Ministry. I love the Lord and believe that God sent His Son to die on a cross for ME! I try my very best to put God first in everything that I do and to walk closely by His side every day.

Camping

My family and I have been "campers" for about 12 years, now. We started out camping in tents, but quickly moved up in the camping world to a "Pop-up" style camper. We found friends at church that also liked to camp and quickly formed a bond with these friends that still exists today! We camp as often as we can. We have been as far north as the north Georgia mountains, to as far south as Walt Disney World. Two of our very favorite campgrounds (besides Disney!) are one that is very close to our home, called F.D. Roosevelt State Park... and one that is on the coast of the Florida Panhandle, near Destin, Florida.

Columbus

Like I told you in a previous post, I was born in Columbus, Georgia. When I was only 3 years old, my Daddy was transferred to Atlanta where I grew up and eventually met David (who grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! Ya... I'll have to explain that one at another time!). Thirteen years ago, David took a transfer with his company and we moved back to my home town of Columbus! Right now, I live just outside of Columbus in a very small town. When I was little, my parents and I would make frequent trips down here to visit my grandparents & other family. Columbus was, and still is, a very important part of my life. I live just down the road from my Great-Grandparents home and from the small church that I was baptised in. This is very special to me. I love living right where my family history is!

Chester

Oh my! What can I say about Chester?? He is my 1 year old Golden Retriever puppy. (I also have a 8 1/2 year old Golden, too.) We were going to wait until THIS summer before we got another dog, but Miranda... and her VERY persuasive self.... talked us into getting a puppy last May, instead! I love puppies, but I quickly realized that I do NOT have the patience that I used to have and as much as I love Chester... he has tried my patience MANY times!! He is our 3rd Golden that we have owned, and we have NEVER had one do the things that he has done! --- He took FOREVER to house-train. He has dug SO many holes in my yard. Last summer, he ate almost all of my newly planted plants. And he has LOTS of energy! He's a cutie, but my oh my.... he makes me crazy sometimes!

Computer

I have to admit. I spend a great deal of time on my computer. Probably, too much! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being a "blogger" and reading other blogs. I used to have an addiction to Facebook, but I have tamed that addiction down a bit, and I am not on it nearly as much as I used to be. But, I do have to say that I am thankful that Facebook was created. I have reconnected with SO many people from my past and it has been so much fun!! The kids of today don't know that fun feeling of "reconnecting" with someone from their past. Facebook has always been a part of "their" life. They don't know any different. I feel lost when I have no internet access! This usually only happens when we travel or go camping. I feel like I am disconnected from the world and it bothers me!! Yes. I know. I have issues! LOL!

The Birthday Boy

Well, the "party" that I had hope to have didn't really happen! No one was home when I got home, and the girls had already given Chester his gifts that we bought for him! Oh well! I snapped a few shots of the "Birthday Boy" and his new toys to share with you, anyway!

I tried to get him to "sit" with his new toys, but he decided to "lay", instead!

"Ok, Mommy. I'm 'sitting'."

"No. I think I'd rather lay down!"

Jackson just says... "Spoiled-rotten baby! He gets everything!"

"Yep! That's me! -- Spoiled-Rotten!"



It's Chester's Birthday!!!

Yes, today is Chester's 1st Birthday!!

In case you are new to my blog... Chester is the youngest of my two Golden Retrievers. He became a member of our family on May 1st of last year - 2010.

If you have been a follower of mine for the past year, then you will know that life has been quite the adventure since Chester arrived!

Here are a few photo's from the day that we brought him home, but be sure to check back later for his

"Birthday Party"

 pictures!!

My Poor Garden

I couldn't decide whether to title this post ...

"My Poor Garden"

-- or --

 "I Don't Have a Dog. I have a GOAT!"

If you follow my blog, then you will remember that back at the beginning of the Summer, I planted a garden next to my pool. --- If you don't remember... check out this post.

Here is a photo collection of my garden and.... what's left of it!

It started with David tilling up the soil in order to have this wonderful border next to our pool that would be filled with beautiful plants!

Some plants were bought....

Stella D' Oro Daylily, Lavender, & Knock Out Rose Bush

They were planted, along with a few others.

Then..... the new puppy came along!

(Chester)

And a fence had to be put up to keep Chester out of the garden!

He was eating everything!!

My Stella D' Oro went from looking like this.....

.... to this!!!

My rose bush was the only thing that he DIDN'T EAT!!

Until....

He decided that the rose bush tasted pretty good, too!!

It's not so pretty, anymore!

Recently... my Stella D' Ora began to come back!! YAY!!

This is what I have had to do to protect it from the jaws of Chester!!

This is what my "poor garden" look like right now. Pretty sad.

You can still see a little bit of the Lavender still there, and what is left of my rose bush.

He even eats my mulch!!

So you can see why I am not sure if I have a DOG or a GOAT!!

Early Start to an Eventful Day

I was awoken by Chester at 3:15 this morning, needing to go out and potty. Hopefully, this isn't a new trend that he is starting!! Then, my RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) decided to "kick" in and I couldn't go back to sleep!! NOT fun!

Check out this photo that I took of him last night. (It was taken with my Ipod Touch, so it isn't the best quality) He loves to drag the towel out of his crate and "play" with it. It's a game that he plays. He will bring it to us and we will put it on over his head and then, he will pull it off and then bring it right back again! Sometimes, we do this to him... We wrap it around his head and laugh at him looking like a little old lady! He loves it!

Anyway.... Today is going to be a busy, but fun, day!

This morning, I am going with Ashley to the college for a ceremony & brunch, honoring her and other students that were accepted into the Education Program. Oooh!! That reminds me... I better make sure my camera battery is charged!! -- Ok. It's good! I will, hopefully, have some chances to take photos and maybe post them in an upcoming post.

The weather is rainy this morning, so I am not sure what I am going to wear. It's warm, but since it's raining.... sandals are not a good idea. And it's really too warm to wear my boots. Hmmmm.... I'll have to think about it. Luckily, I have a little bit of time!

This evening.... David, Miranda, Rory (her b/f) and I are going to the Brad Paisley concert!! The girls and I bought the tickets for David for Christmas. (Well.... mine & his tickets! Miranda & Rory bought their own.) I am super excited about going!!! We haven't been to a concert in quite a while. Darius Rucker (formally from the band "Hootie and the Blowfish") will be opening for Brad! I can't wait! I'll take my camera and try to get some photos!

Ashley will be spending the evening with Nick, her b/f. They will be celebrating his new job as a police officer for a nearby town in Alabama!! YAY!!! We are super excited for Nick! He is a great guy and we are so happy that Ashley is finally happy!

Remember the photo of the material that I posted previously??? It looked like this...

Well, I ordered the fabric and picked it up yesterday. It looks so beautiful and vibrant in this photo.... but.... in real life..... it's a good bit "darker" than this photo presumes it to be! The background here, looks like it is almost white. Well.... it's not. It's more of a "yellowish white". And the reds & greens aren't as bright. They are much darker. I am a little disappointed. But... I have not found any other pillows that I like... so... I guess I am going to go with this fabric. I think I may do the back of the pillows in a coordinating fabric, tho. I'll have to go back to the fabric store today and look around.

I also ordered a slip cover for my navy blue chair. It was delivered last night. I haven't tried it out yet, because I didn't get home until almost 9pm. I will try it today and see how it looks. Maybe I will take some more photos and post them, as well.

I better go and hit the shower before the girls do!!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Snapshot Saturday - 12/18/10 - Thisisme's pick!

My friend over at Southhamsdarling picked this combination --- 2 - 3 - 4.

Here is the photo that she unlocked!

This is Chester, my 9 month old Golden Retriever. This is his favorite place to sleep --- our leather recliner! Every morning, after he & Jackson (our 8 year old Golden) have eaten their breakfast and gone outside to... well... you-know-what! .... I'll let them back in and while I am in my office, drinking my coffee and "playing" on my computer.... THIS is what Chester does! I don't ever have the heart to make him move. He just looks so cute all snuggled up, sleeping! **Smile**

Chester's T-shirt

You know how babies and young children have attachments to objects such as blankets or stuffed animals?? Well...... my 6 month old puppy has an attachment to a t-shirt!!

It all started when he was a very small puppy. One of my girls put one of their old t-shirts in Chester's crate for him to sleep with, hoping that the "scent" on the shirt would help him sleep thru the night.

Here's a picture of him, sleeping with it....

Well,now... this T-shirt is one of his favorite things!! He loves for us to throw it over his head. Then, he runs over to Jackson and he and Jackson "play fight" as Jackson tries to take the shirt off of Chester's head! It is hilarious to watch!! It's like a game that they play.

The t-shirt is now full of holes, has nasty stains on it and stinks pretty bad!! I DO wash it, but he doesn't like for me to. As soon as I pick it up to throw it in the wash.... he follows me to the laundry room, trying to get it back!!

Here are some photos of him and Jackson as they have fun with the t-shirt ---

Yep... he likes it on his head!

This is what he looks like when he brings it to you so that you can put it on his head.

He has it hanging from one (or two) of his bottom front teeth!

I PROMISE!! Jackson is not really being mean. He's just playing.

The tug-of-war commences!!

Chester won and the shirt is now, back on his head!

Back at it again!! -- I PROMISE... Jackson is NOT hurting Chester!

Chester succeeds in keeping the shirt on his head.

Another round of "play fighting".

This is a nightly (and sometimes twice, nightly!) ritual at my house!! They definitely provide the entertainment!

A to Z Blog Challenge ~ W

Today's word is WIMPS.

I picked this word because that's what my dogs seem to be! My dogs seem to be scared of EVERYTHING! Jackson has been scared of things since he was a puppy, and now... so is Chester!

Jackson has always been scared of "new" things in a room, such as a helium balloon tied to a kitchen chair or a box sitting on the kitchen floor. It's quite comical! He will do anything to avoid the room with the new "thing" in it.

One time, he wouldn't come out of my bedroom because there was something... (it might have been a box. I can't remember.)... near the doorway. The funny part is... he had walked past the item when he went INTO the bedroom and hadn't even noticed it!

Sometimes, he will walk between the chairs to go under our kitchen table and then he can't figure out how to come out! He will stand under there and whine until someone comes and moves a chair for him! It's hilarious!

One good things is....  he's not afraid of checking out sounds that he hears or someone new coming in the door. He will bark and go check out what it is he hears or sees.

Chester, on the other hand..... HIDES when Jackson barks!! If he's inside when Jackson is barking, he will hide under the end table. If he is outside and Jackson starts barking at a squirrel or a deer, Chester will run to the screen door and cower on the step!

We laugh at Chester the most when he sees his reflection in something and then growls and hides! He sees himself in places like our fireplace doors, the glass in our living room cabinet doors and the mirror in our bedroom.

Both dogs are terrified of the vacuum! Jackson will just go to another room and lay down, but Chester will either crawl under my desk or hide behind one of the chairs in the living room or bedroom. Sometimes, I have to go looking for him to find him because he won't come out!

It's no doubt that these two precious pups provide us with LOTS of entertainment!

My Boys

These photos are just too cute not to share!

 I just happened to catch this moment of sweetness between them!

I'm surprised that I managed to get this one of Chester.

He wouldn't stand still!

When Jackson has had enough of Chester, he practically "sinks" into the floor!

This is what you see if you are standing at the kitchen counter at my house, eating peanuts -- two adorable faces staring at you, waiting and HOPING that you throw them one!

Side view...

I found Chester HERE this morning!

He had no idea that I was even in the room!

  

Totally OUT!

After taking quite a FEW photos... I finally got Chester to sit still

for a couple more!