August 1, 2004

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  Today hasn't been very eventful. I slept in late, because I needed it. Isn't it great when you can do that and not feel guilty about it?      OK, well I did feel a little guilty about it. My darling hubby was outside early in the sweltering July heat and humidity *oh the joy of July weather in Northern Maryland*. He has been working like mad to get the yard into shape, and I, unfortunately have been no help at all.  I had strep for the first time since I was 5 years old that went systemic. Four weeks and 2 courses of antibiotics later I was finally over the strep, though my energy level was non-existent. The antibiotics were something new for me too. It had been almost 9 years since I had taken one. We are big on herbs, homeopathic remedies, holistic remedies, etc. Pharmaceuticals and I don't get along well together at all and I do my best to avoid them whenever possible. If you are looking for a natural antibiotic remedy, Colloidal Silver has become a staple in our household. For sinus infections, ear infections, bacterial infections, fungal infections, etc. colloidal silver is AMAZINGLY effective. I think I could have fought the strep with the CS, except I didn't have the usual kind I use and the concentration I was using wasn't great enough. *sigh* I will be getting my own silver wire and making my own. When I do so I will post instructions, information and pictures. It can be done simply, cheaply, and effectively! My daughter has only ever taken 2 antibiotics and she is now 9. If I had known about CS sooner, she wouldn't even have had those two as a toddler!   Anyway, back on track. We are having the house appraised because we are refinancing with a cash out. The slate roof needs new flashing in several places, and we are opting for copper. While the roofers are up there working we are going to have them go ahead and replace all the flashing on the slate part of the roof, seal the slate and repair any damaged slate. It will be cheaper to do it now, and barring any damage by an unexpected source the roof with then be good to go for 50 years or so. I can handle that.   We are also going to finish out the garage so I can have a studio. YEAH. When we bought our house, it was amazing because not only could we afford it, but God blessed us in that it was under market. Many of my friends wanted to know " Well, what is wrong with the house?" NOTHING. Not a thing. I totally believe the Lord saved this house for us. It is amazing because we have just about everything we wanted on our ''list" for our dream house. I can honestly say we won't be moving unless for some reason a huge amount of money rains down on us and we can build exactly what we want. In the meanwhile, we have over an acre of land, a house that has 4 bedrooms *really 5 but one is being used as a closet because old houses didn't have closet space*, 2 full baths, a large country kitchen, wood floors, a bay window in the dining room, we back to a meadow, the garage is BIG and has a loft for storage....I could go on and on. God blessed us abundantly and above what we every thought we could afford or would ever find. It was a stressful road getting through the financing and purchase of the house, but we made it!   Now, back to the garage * boy I do keep rambling...sorry*. The garage is a free standing building, just 3 steps from the family room door. It is a cinder block building and it is close to 30 x 30 on outside measure. It has a full bathroom in it, a sliding door in the back, a door on the side and a regular garage door on the front, and two windows on the front. There is a loft for storage and a chimney for installing a wood burning or pellet stove. The garage is large enough that we can put a wood shop in, an area for working on cars and storing tools and other auto do-dads, and my studio! I can teach art classes, sewing classes, quilting, photography, etc. I am SO excited! God planted this in my heart many years ago and it will be coming to fruition. I have had people constantly asking me when I will be teaching my art classes, and if all goes true to form I may be able to do so by the turn of the year. I am starting to get psyched!     I have a name all picked out: Frog Town Studios. See, our house was built in 4 or 5 stages, like all old farmhouses. The oldest part is dated at approximately 1774. The kitchen section is 100 years old, and the bay window off the dining room was added on then. A porch was put on sometime in that 100 year time frame or so, but then it was enclosed and a room added above it. Then approximately 5 years ago the last section was added on. That section gives us a large (16 x 28 ) family room, our bedroom *same size*, the laundry room and the master bathroom, and the stairs going down to the family room. It is unique but attractive in the style of a rambling farm house. Many friends have gotten lost in my house on their first few visits. *G* So, back to Frogtown...   Our back yard is approximately 1/2 acre, and we have two 100 year old apple trees that sit just our side of the meadow to which our property backs up. It is Chesapeake Bay Preserve land and cannot be developed!  One of the main creeks in the country runs through the meadow (I am not sure where its source is...I need to look into that) and ends on the Chesapeake Bay. Every spring we are greeted when the weather starts warming by the sounds of thousands of Spring Peepers... Let me tell ya..for one inch long little guys they are LOUD. But the sound is soothing and familiar and every time I hear one sing it makes me smile. I found out last year that the original name of the exact area where our house is was Frogtown. No surprise in that. I am more surprised that the name was lost somewhere along the line. When I was watching the weather on the local news out of Baltimore one evening last fall, the map showed Frogtown! Inspiration struck and I am working on a logo for the end of the driveway. My plan is to make a sign that says "Frogtown Circa 1774" with a frog of some sort on it. Our house qualifies to be in the National Registry of Historic homes, but that would mean for any work, enlarging, etc. we would chose to do on the house the Historic Registry would have to approve the construction. No thanks.  I waited 35 years to live in a house * I grew up in an apartment* and my husband and I will be the ones to decide what is done to our home. Well, within the bounds of dealing with the local codes and ordnances. p~~    So while hubby has been working outside to insure the landscaping looks maaahhvelous for the house appraiser, I have been working inside. Today I didn't work on the house, I worked on the furgirls. Furry dogs require pampering, pawdecures and scissored coats. Tomorrow I will bathe them and put Frontline drops on them to protect them from the deerticks and dogticks that have been so terrible in our area the last few years due to the amount of rain we have been having. They look so beautiful when they are all groomed, even before being bathed.  I hate cutting their black nails. I am terrified of cutting the quick and hurting them. It wouldn't be so bad if I was more consistent about cutting their nails so the quick pulled back more. I did great today though. Two dogs, a total of 37 nails, and I only had one bleeder. I hate that I had even one, but I think that is pretty good!   Oh by the way, if you wonder where 37 comes from, 20 toes on Shia, only 17 on Kylea. She has no dew claws and had a toe removed due to a tumor on it some 6 years ago or so now. Blessings!                Kathie

  
  

  • 12:21 am
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