I truly enjoy this forum

[mac78]

I just wanted to say that I really enjoy coming to this forum. As a daycare provider of 9 1/2 years, my life is consumed in my home, and I seem to just sit around and try to think of "something else to do" as I look at my ugly home. Problem is, money, and I end up doing most projects on my own. Hubby is not very handy. Daycare is also a very lonely job, as I don't have the opportunity for friendships in the workplace.

Just thought I would take a few minutes and tell you all a little about me. We live in NW Ohio. I have been married for 23 years. We have a son, Austin, who is 20 and in college for nursing. He is leaving in September for Columbus State Community College, and I am sad about it. I don't want him to move, but that is just the mom in me I guess. Our daughter Ashley, is 18, she graduates this year and is going to a local college this fall and will continue to live at home, at least for a while. She is also interested in nursing. It is a crazy household here sometimes, with both kids coming and going with their busy schedules. Dave, my hubby, works for Sauder Woodworking, an RTA furniture company. Me, I have been doing childcare for 9 1/2 years, prior to that I worked in a woodworking company for 21 years. I am up at 5:00am and my first family arrives at 6:30. My day ends at 5:15pm. I am going back to college in the fall to complete my associates degreee. I completed a 1 yr certificate 4 years ago. My goal is to be in another job in 2 years, and I hope the economy takes a turn around.

As far as our home, we have several pieces of furniture that were given to us by parents/grandparents/aunts. Probably the biggest 2 things are a Victrola and a secretary that my hubby got from a great aunt before we were married. We have acquired way too much stuff over the years.

My step dad was a woodworker, and I have several pieces that he made, like my oak drop leaf table and my kitchen table and bench, my coffee table and blanket bench, a corner shelf, a child's hutch. I also have a rocker from my dad's house after he passed away. So, we have a lot of "stuff", and sometimes I just don't know what to do with it all. lol I am one of those people that constantly like to change things up, yet seem like I start one project before I finish another, which is bad. I have a small kitchen and constantly complain about it. I love spending cold winter nights curled up with my dogs looking thru magazines saying "I wish this was my house".

My mom is a stripper......got cha.......actually, she strips and refinishes furniture.....mostly antique furniture. She is 75 and still does jobs. When her hubby was living, they would do work for antique shops.

Well, just want to say hello. Some day I will post pics of my house when I am working, with all my dc stuff out. I think that is was drive me nuts the most. My home has become consumed with "work related daycare things", and I never really get away from it. I love my daycare kids with all my heart, but, besides it taking over my home, it is a very lonely job.

Anyways, thank you for all the suggestions. I am always trying to do things on a very limited budget, why can't money grow on trees????? Oh yea, my favorite place to vacation is the ocean, which is why I am trying to turn my family room into a coastal room.

Marie

[ChapterTwo]

Thanks for sharing some things about yourself and your life with us. Believe me, many of us have similar thoughts, dreams and wishes...especially about having a money tree!

I have to run, but really enjoyed reading your post and hope to comment more at a later time.

You have family to love, goals to strive for and dreams to plan...it all sounds hectic and wonderful, rolled into one!

Welcome, again, Marie - I'm so glad you found us!

[annielinz]

Marie, its a pleasure to learn more about you.

I too enjoy this forum.

We should have a little meet and greet thread. So I'll add on to yours.

A little background on me.

I work in the office at the neighborhood elem school. Been working here over 11 years. Next year I am going PT due to budget cuts. Did daycare while the kids were young for a little extra cash. My cash tree in the backyard didn't bear much fruit :rolleyes:.
Have 2 kids, DS 25 lives in So. Cal trying to become a firefighter. DD is 21, in her senior year at college and entering the teaching credential program next year. Goes to school in No. Cal. So DH and I are empty nesters.
We have 1 elderly cat, Pepper.
I love decorating and fluffing my nest, always on a budget. I don't have talent or ability to do renovations but can handle a paint brush quite well. We are getting close to finally remodeling our very dated kitchen but the economy has me a bit scared, so its on hold.
My dream location is also a cottage by the ocean.

Alright whos next to share a little about themselves.

[Gigi]

It's nice to visit this "home" of friends.... :)

It sounds like you are in overload---and need some quality time for yourself. BUT believe me it will come, and those days taking them to college, and working out the perfect prom dress will be in the past quicker than you can say, "Where did the time go?"

And I think that's terrific you are thinking about going back to school and when you finish your AA--please do the walk-you're family will be soooo proud of you! I know you can do it!

I finished my B.A. after years of thinking I should have, would have, etc. And I did it at 47 with my second grandbaby on the way! And my oldest granddaughter was five and was there at my graduation (University of MD)... First I said I was not going to walk, BUT family talked me into it. I'm glad.

And your home- as time goes by you'll find things that work, things that you love, and things that you can just live with...

AND isn't this board wonderful to hear everyone's opinion without judging anyone...just supporting you each step of the way!

Take care-looking forward to hearing your steps along the way!

[cheapdiva]

Four "legally" adult kids (that means two of them still haven't really grown up), four step kids - ranging from 23 to nearly 46. Seven grandkids total so far - the oldest will be 23 this summer, same age as my youngest. Then we have a huge gap and there are 6 more grandkids 10 and under.

My oldest (my daughter) is married with 2 children (my sweeties, Grace and Eli) and my oldest son will be married this June. Ten years between weddings - I'd like at least 10 more before the last two get married!

Was self employed until November when business just really started falling apart with clients filing bankruptcy and their businesses going south. Was offered the GM position for two historic house museums in Milwaukee, WI. Love it! Married, husband retired, our "baby", Lucy will be two in July. She is a 35# mop of a mutt, but very sweet. We live in a 3rd floor walk up condo in a historic building.

I am always thinking of projects and will tackle the small ones but my husband is the least handy person on the face of the earth!! We are about to undertake a major remodel of three rooms and are in the process of lining up all the contractors. Watch for photos to start showing up soon of progress.

And welcome to the newbies!!!!

[drdrip]

That was really a long post to say that you love this forum. But yeah I do love this one and its feel like we are talking to the someone whom we know very well and they are our neighbour or more than that.

[Lisa S]

Thank you for your post. The friendships here are wonderful. When I first joined, two of my kids weren't in school yet and I had no car to go anywhere. There were days when my visits here were my only time with friends.

I'm a stay at home mom. I have three kids ~ 15, 9 and 7. We have 5 pets ~ 2 dogs and 2 cats. Our home is always buzzing with activity. I don't know what all I do, but it sure keeps me busy. I do secretarial work for a real estate agent. I'm starting a business as a professional fundraiser at the suggestion of the auctioneers I worked with recently. This year's projects may include working for 2 school districts, a charity that helps women and kids, and a group of musicians who put on a Christmas show and donate the proceeds to charity. I also stage houses once in awhile. And chase dust bunnies. I spend a lot of time chasing dust bunnies.

Marie ~ Gigi is right. Take some time to nurture yourself. It's so hard to take care of kids all day, everyday. I'm so glad you've joined us here.

[cheapdiva]

Boy, I sure hope none of you find me "rambling":D
I think we all feel very fortunate to have this forum to speak our minds and "chat". sometimes it takes more than a line or two to explain how we feel or what we need help with.
Glad to have this space to be with my far-away buds!

[yarborough house]

I agree. I am a stay at home mom of 4. My oldest leaves for college in the fall, the next starts high school, the last two go into first and pre-k. My husband is in the air force and deploys for 6 months almost every year to 18 months. There really aren't a lot of stay at home moms now a days so having people to talk to is limited.
My parents moved down here from WV but are always on the go so I don't see them much either.

I live in a four square in the historic district and have tons of projects lined up- the scariest will be the kitchen. I wonder how much it costs to rent a wrecking ball? :)
I love coming on here and answering questions with my silly opinion. And I have been taking pictures to start asking for some opinions on my house projects.

I appreciate all the people on here- their opinions, their friendship and the time they give up to make my day at times.

thanks to all of you for letting me be a part of this wonderful group of friends.

[airsides]

I hear ya Yarbourogh... I'm a stay at home Mom to a 3.5 year old. I spend my "spare" time thinking about what I want us to do with this house. Instead of a brand new house with no land we chose a 1920's fixer upper with lot's of land. I like knowing that I could post a question here on this forum with my decorating ideas and y'all could help me out.

[RoseMary]

Like all of you, I love coming to this forum. Everyone on here is very sweet and friendly and I love the fact that we can talk about so many subjects.

I am a SAHW~I've been at home since our first daughter, now 24, was born. Our second daughter came along a year and a half later--so I had some very busy toddler years. I homeschooled both of them K-12. I should say 'we' homeschooled them, as my husband was their high school math teacher. They have since graduated from college and are doing some online work.

We built our little cabin (approx. 975 sq. feet) in the mountains over a 4-6 year period (six if you count all the log gathering), and technically, it's still not finished. Probably never wil be:p. It is decorated in hand-me-down family pieces of different eras and designs and flea market pieces. We've been married almost 27 years and have only bought 3 new pieces of furniture during those years. One was a very cheap rocking chair that is now gone (I had to have something to rock my babies in!). Since we live on a fairly strict budget, decorating is done on the cheap and only by ourselves.

Our daughters are grown, but still at home, and the house always seems busy with activity. We all love reading and writing, so the house is crammed with books~we are acknowledged bookaholics:).

Outside, we have 67 acres, mostly wooded. About 10 acres are clear and we spend a lot of the summer trying to keep it mowed. Usually some part of it still needs mowed:(. We have 5 cats, two dogs, 23 chickens, and 2 guineas, so there is always an animal that wants something:). One cat lives indoors, as well as, like Lisa's house, numerous dust bunnies.

[Breezy]

This is a great forum! It's so nice to chat with the gals from CL and also to make new friends.:)
I'm a SAHW&M - my youngest daughter just turned 17 and hubby is going to retire this July. I'm mom to 2 other daughters and grandmother to 5.
We bought our little rock bungalow in the Missouri Ozarks 4 years ago next month and after most of the renovations were completed we moved in that July. We had been down this way on vacation and liked it so much we decided to move here. We are located in a small town not far from Springfield.
It's peaceful and pretty much uneventful which is how we like it. Even though we are in town it feels like being in the country as we are surrounded by trees and critters. I love farms and this is as close to farm living as we can get.
I've lived in several different styles of houses in different states and this is the place that feels like home.

[shadylady]

I've really enjoyed hearing about everyone. I taught 3rd grade for 28 years. Have been retired for 5 years, Married my high school sweetheart 32 years ago and have raised 2 sons. My youngest is a senior at Clemson and I have now been able to slow down and have some fun on my own. I'm actually enjoying cooking and trying new recipes and I love to work in my yard and have redone our yard completely. My husband and I are now beginning to renovate a cottage ona lake that we will move to when the renovations are complete. I'll need plenty of advice from you guys when we get into it full time.

[Les B]

I love hearing about everyone's creative and decorating ideas. I work for a school bus contractor and teach bus drivers how to drive kids safely. My dds are 27 & 29 I have 6 grandsons 12,10,4,4,2,7mo. I loved being a sahm for 8 yrs and watched everyone elses children when they worked. As they all grew up to full day school they didn't need childcare anymore. Now I get to still play with kids when I drive the bus or show new children the rules of riding a school bus. Hubby and I have been married for 34 yrs. live in a 1400 sq. ft cottage farmhouse in progress.