Family made it back home safe and sound!

My Mom called and said the trip home went fine. My poor sister found out her husband was cheating on her on the way home though. Poor thing! Keep her in your prayers everyone. I am getting back into a normal routine and eating better than when they were here. Last night I read some more of Julie & Julia, watched some TV and then chatted with John when he came home. Everyone have a wonderful day!

My family is on their way home and I am trying to get back to normal!

I love my family but sometimes a visit is just too long. My Mom was wonderful but my sister was such a complainer, demanding, self centered and just not a very nice person to be around. My nephew had a great time with Teddy and enjoyed all the places we went to. I am ready to get back on my schedule now and I'm even ready to go back to work! Yes back to work! I did have 2 phone calls from work on Wednesday-it is nice to be missed! On Wednesday we went to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and it was just gorgeous. Here are some pics from that visit.


This was the outside of the pergola as you began the self-guided tour through the botanical garden.


The walk through the Pergola in the beginning of the self guided tour was so beautiful. It was also nice and cool under there.


This was a bronze statue and a small fountain on the way to the White Garden.


These cone flowers were just beautiful waving in the slight breeze along the path.


This is my sister, Sue and my nephew, Troy. They aren't used to the heat down here so they stopped along the way to catch the mist coming off one of the fountains.


This was an odd plant growing there. I still don't know what it is. The botanical sign was missing. I thought it was kind of neat!


There were many varieties of hibiscus, but I loved this white one the best.


There was a lot of Rudebeckia growing. I think these are absolutely beautiful!

Here are some fountains at the gardens. There are a total of 13.





This was a bird aviary right before the topiary gardens. There were 2 pairs of parrots in there. My nephew tried to make them talk but they were silent that day.


These topiaries were at the end of the garden tour and my nephew was fascinated by them.

I will have more pictures for you another day!

I am exhausted!

Hi Everyone! Just thought I would stop in while I'm waiting for a realtor at the old house. We have been going everywhere! The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, World Market, Trader Joe's, the movies, swimming, panning for gems, antiquing and Sea Grove, NC!! I think I'll need a vacation from my vacation! I will have pictures of atleast the Botanical Garden after they leave on Sunday a.m. Then my vacation begins! Talk to everyone soon!

Company has arrived!

I just got a call from my Mom. They have made it to the townhouse and let themselves in. My Mom, middle sister and nephew are here for a visit until Sunday morning. We have alot planned and I hope we can cram it all in! I will be off work Wed., Thurs. and Fri-WOOHOO! A full 5 days off from work-YAY! The things we have planned so far are: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, NC, a trip to see the pottery in Sea Grove, NC, IMAX Theatre uptown to see the Grand Canyon story, my sister and nephew are going with my 2 girls panning for gems (the girls went last summer and Megan found a huge garnet!). My nephew should really enjoy that, he loves adventures like that. We will probably go to the Hobby Lobby store. My Mom wants to show me some new painting techniques too. WHEW, that is alot to do in such a short time! It will be hard for me to post during their visit, but I will check in occasionally. I hope we get internet at the new house soon, running over to the old house is a pain! Everyone have a wonderful day-hope the sun is shining where you are!

The weekend was a good one!

Saturday night with the girls and their men was really nice. We all went to Long Horn Steak House and had a great time! Then everyone came back to the townhouse. We had cake that Megan made for John's Birthday and Father's Day. I took John out to breakfast for Father's Day before he had to go to work. The rest of the day I spent painting the birdhouse my Dad made (the squirrels had made a mess out of it at the old house), hanging some more pictures, reading and watching HGTV. It was a nice day for me. Hope everyone had a great weekend too!

Here are some pictures of the townhouse

As promised here is some pictures of our new home. I was able to take a picture of the Dining Room yet or any of the bedrooms upstairs, but this is what is completely done for now. Atleast it will give you an idea of where I'm living now. Hope you enjoy the stroll through our new home!


This is the entryway. I'm actually standing in the entryway facing the front door.


This is the staircase side of the entryway. This little piece has followed us from NJ. I bought it at a craft show many years ago.


This is the coat closet side of the entryway. We bought the console table, the 2 stick lamps and the beautiful painting from Haverty's. Megan helped me put the group together.


Here's a glance from the entryway through the eating/kitchen area through to the Living Room.


I think this is one of my favorite walls in the house. I love the fireplace! It's a gas fireplace, all I have to do is flick a switch on the wall-it's great! I still have an ironwork piece to put behind the bird of paradise plant on the right side, but other than that I think that side of the room is done.


This is the wall across from the fireplace. I was able to break up my long wall unit from the other house. I used 4 of the 5 pieces here. I'm glad this wall can accomodate my huge twig wreath that I had over the fireplace in the old house.


This is my reading corner when I'm not sitting in the one and 1/2 chair on the other side of the room. It is great I can sit in this chair and look out into the courtyard and watch all the little birds coming to the 2 feeders, birdbaths and fountain! It's great!


Here is my lovely kitchen. The kitchen looks right into the eating area and there is also a half wall into the living room. Very nice for entertaining.


This is the eating area across from the kitchen.


Closeup of the eating area.


Remember the little iron bird bath/feeder I bought a few months back and painted? Well here it is in it's new home on my kitchen table. I found this runner with 4 matching placemats when I was packing. I had forgot about this set and I love it. Just perfect for summer!


To wrap up my tour I'm including a picture of my beautiful daylily that is blooming in the courtyard.

That's the end of the tour for now. I'll have more in a few days. Last night I made up the guest rooms, I just have to hang pictures in there. I also have to get the Dining Room just right before I show you that. Hope you enjoyed the tour so far! Have a great day!

I Did It, I Changed the Name of My Blog!

I just posted that I was thinking of changing the name of my blog because I don't just talk about books. Lynne and Mary commented that they thought it was a great idea and I thought why not change it now! I think Sherri's Jubilee doesn't limit what I talk about on my blog. My life is very diversified, even though books and reading are a big part of my life. I hope you like the new name and look of my blog. Enjoy!

I'm thinking of changing the name of my blog.

I'm thinking I need a new name for my blog or maybe I'll just change it to Sherri's Jubilee. My blog just isn't about reading. It is about many different things. I changed the background and the header and I'm thinking it would be good to change the name too or shorten it. Maybe with all the things that have been going on in my life I feel I need to change some things. I'll have to think about it a little more. What does everyone else think?

New Blog Background

I was getting tired of the old blog background so I decided to pick a background that reflected summer. I always think of cherries when I think of summer. I used to eat cherries by the bowl full when I was growing up. That reminds me I need to stop at the grocery store on the way home and pick up some! Everyone have a great day!

It's back to work at the office today.

I made it to work in record time this morning from the new house. It only took me 25 minutes. My trip used to be between 45-55 mins. School is out now too so that helps. There are alot less traffic lights and we are 15 mins. closer. I didn't know that I was suppose to work the front desk this morning. Our regular receptionists last day was Friday and usually the other girl from accounting takes over the front desk but she has payroll. I will be up here all morning, which is really boring. I can't work on any of my projects while I'm up here so I just have to wait for the phone to ring. Oh well I get to get caught up on my posts, etc. I also updated my new address on some of my personal accounts, like Netflix, etc. Tonight John doesn't have to work so I think we'll hang some paintings. I have a few other boxes to unpack too in the Dining Room. We have decided we aren't going to kill ourselves unpacking the little we have left to do-when 9:00 or 9:30 comes we are done for the night. My Mom, sister, Sue and nephew, Troy is coming for a visit next Tuesday afternoon through Sunday. I'm glad it's not this week!!

We are all moved!

Everyone we are all moved over to the townhouse and we love it there! We started packing the truck at 8:00 Friday morning and we were all moved over to the townhouse by 2:30 that afternoon! One of the guys didn't show up so John and our neighborhood had to lift alot more heavy furniture than they expected but they did a great job! Yesterday I spent all day unpacking while John was trying to figure things out in the garage. He also took a whole pickup truck load of junk to the dump. Good thing I brought the company pickup truck home! Our bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, pantry, eating area in the kitchen and living are all set. Now I must work on the dining room and the 2 bedrooms. We only had one antique pottery jug break and that was after the move, John dropped another jug on top of it by accident. I think for all the things we have and moved that wasn't too bad! I won't be posting very much on weekends just during the week for the next several weeks. Time Warner messed up the office move so all the office things are still at the house. That means no internet connection at the townhouse. I will be posting regularly during the week though. I was able to take a few pictures of the courtyard, which is a work in progress. Here they are:


Here is my beloved fountain. I made a "grotto" like atmostphere here around the fountain. My neighbors wisteria hangs over the fence so I put the fountain in the corner and put shade loving plants around it. The birds just love it already!


Here is the grilling area of the courtyard. I tried to put some flowers and the palm tree on either side of the grill to soft that area a little.


My other neighbor has a trumpet vine that has decided to bloom on our side of the fence. I thought it looked so gorgeous. The hummingbirds love it too!

We already have my birdfeeder that my Dad made up and a cardinal has claimed it for his very own! He sits in it for hours just eating and resting and eating and resting! He's very beautiful!

Well that's all the news and pictures I have right now. I'm headed to the grocery store! Everyone have a lovely evening!

New Giveaway!

My blog friend, Lori at (http://perfectisboring.blogspot.com is having a wonderful giveway. The bracelet above is one of her creations. Check out her blog!

I could so use this right now!

John and I have been going none stop with the packing, moving things to the new townhouse, unpacking, cleaning, potting up plants and we really could use some rest and relaxation about now. Last night we were getting ready for bed and he was walking all stooped over, I had stepped on a piece of glass and was hopping around on one foot, I was also telling him how I had pulled a small muscle in my back lifting a potted plant out of Jenny's SUV when we just looked at each other and started laughing hysterically! We both realized we looked like a couple that was about 90 yrs. old and here we are only 54 and 49! This too shall pass but in the mean time I'm dreaming of the picture above and a pina colada!!

Moving all my plants today.

Jenny, Megan and I are moving all my plants over to the townhouse today. I was going to do this on Thursday night when I had the company truck, but I'm afraid the wind will rip the plants if they aren't protected inside of a vehicle. My bird of paradise plant is huge! I will wrap the leaves and the main stem or trunk in towels so it doesn't get bruised. I also have my lemon tree to protect, especially now that it has blossoms on it and little lemons again. My banana tree is pretty hard and so is the palm tree so I'm not too worried about that. We might even bring over the fountain. I would love to get that working before we move in. I have the bird feeder my Dad made to bring over yet too. I need John for that though. He has to dig a hole for the post. I hope the birds come to the feeder because I noticed last night my neighbor has a fake owl on his fence. I hope he doesn't dislike birds. We haven't met him yet. The owner of the townhouse said he has been fighting with the builder about stupid little things and now his house is for sale. I'm trying to not form an opinion of him before I meet him. That wouldn't be fair. I noticed the walk up to the front door is long so I can put some plants up closer to the house too if the courtyard feels too much like a jungle. I'll be putting the 2 black urns with the plants in them on either side of the front door. Hopefully I can start taking pictures so everyone will understand what I'm talking about! Enjoy your day!

The gradual move is going very well!

Well we are definitely off to a good start! Saturday after the garage sale John and I loaded up our cars and took more things over to the townhouse. He had to be at work at 2:30, so Teddy and I stayed and unpacked all the kitchen items. Yesterday we got up and had our breakfast on the screened porch (probably the last one we'll have out there). We then proceeded to fill up our cars and then Megan called and said she would be over with her new car (2008 Ford Edge)to help move boxes over too! We took 2 loads in the 3 vehicles and that was every since box in the downstairs half of the house, all my hanging clothes in my closet and some pictures! I thought we did really great! I think by the time Friday rolls around we will only have to move the furniture, everything else will be at the townhouse by then. Tomorrow night Jenny is coming down and we're moving most of the plants in her Ford Escape. The girls have been a huge help with this move. Some times I can't do alot of lifting with my neck, it seems to be affecting my right hand. I guess the really heavy boxes I'll have to leave for someone else. Tonight I'll be taking all my baking sheets and cutting boards over to the townhouse and I'll unpack more things. Some of the things I won't be able to until the furniture arrives but I can atleast get some things done ahead of time. Overall I think we are doing great!

Today's Garage Sale was a major success!

The neighborhood garage sale was today from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. People started showing up at 6:00 a.m.! We did extremely well we made $375.00 and sold tons of things. That was our goal to get rid of as much stuff as we could so we wouldn't have to move it! The lady came from Craig's List and bought the 2 chaise lounges too! I have 2 boxes of things to give my neighbor for the Humane Society Garage Sale next weekend. I'm more than happy to donate these things!

John and I then went over to the townhouse and brought more kitchen boxes, my blue painted pine cupboard and all my green depression glass dishes. We put the cupboard in the dining room and I loaded it up with the green depression glass! I then proceed to put the rest of the kitchen together. I only have to bring over the pantry items and the baking sheets and then the kitchen is done!

Tomorrow we'll go over in the morning and bring some more things. Coats for the front hall coat closet, we'll hang the wreath on the door and we'll bring some of our closet clothing over and put it in the walk-in closets in our room. Everything is really looking good over there!

Friday is the big move day-all the furniture and more boxes. Hopefully bringing boxes over every night this week will cut down on what we have to bring over next weekend. We will probably bring all the plants over on Thursday night when I bring the company pick-up truck home with me. The courtyard is going to look fabulous!

It is like a monsoon outside-YIKES!!

It is raining here so hard, it is like a monsoon! I am looking out of my office window and I can hardly see the trees about 50 feet from my window!! It is blowing and there is flooding. I am hoping it stops for the weekend for our neighborhood garage sale. I am also going to be moving some small boxes (kitchen things and bathroom items) over to the townhouse tomorrow afternoon and Sunday, so it would be just grand if it wasn't raining! This isn't good for our projects at work either. The one project hasn't dried out from the last torrential rains we had! We have had an awful lot of rain this year, but I guess it is better than what we had for the last 2 years-severe drought! I was wondering if the power was going to go out-that would be horrible for such a thing to happen on a Friday wouldn't it-, LOL!!!!

John is picking up the keys to the Townhouse today!

John will be meeting the owner today at 4:30 to pick up the keys for the townhouse. They said because they made us wait for the lease so long they would allow us to move in early. We aren't going to live there and the furniture is already scheduled to be moved on the 12th but we will bring some boxes over. I'm going to set up the kitchen and the bathrooms. It will make the move so much easier if those things are all ready. John and I are tea drinkers but I'm sure some of the other people helping us will want coffee. I have the box marked with the coffee maker in it for just that reason. This is an exciting new beginning for John and I! We need something good and positive in our lives for a change! Thanks for all the support of all my wonderful blog friends!

Our poor cars!

This isn't my car, but the dented bumper looks the same as mine. Yesterday morning wasn't a good morning for me! John had used my car and he pulled it into the garage so close to the left hand side. I was pulling out to go to work and I was being so careful because I didn't want to take the sideview mirror off that guess what I forgot his car was parked out in the driveway! Yes, I hit it with my car. I quickly jumped out of my car to see how much damage I did. Well I couldn't believe it!! My bumper on the driver's side was completely dented in and starting to pull away from the car. John's little Scion TC had a big dent in it right in front of the back driver's side tire. He called the insurance agent and they are treating it like 2 separate crashes. They are charging us $500.00 deductible per vehicle. I know it was my fault but do insurance companies ever pay anything for accidents-really! John took my car this morning to get an estimate and it will cost $700.00 to get it fixed. So we will be paying the $500.00 ded and the ins. company will be paying $200.00. Does that seem fair to you after all we pay in car ins.! He was taking his car this afternoon. I don't even want to know what the cost of the repair will be on that one. We looked and because he has a 2-door car the panel I dented goes from the front of the car to the back tail light. One of the guys at work said we should just stay in our house and lock the door for a few days with all the bad luck we have been having! I told him the house would probably fall down around us! Atleast no one got hurt and the cars are repairable. I have never had an accident or any fender benders either, John is usually the one that has bad luck with cars. I guess in a matter of speaking he still does!

Here are all the plants John and I dug up on Sunday to move!

Yesterday John and I spent the entire afternoon digging up plants to take to our new home on the 12th! It was alot of work but I couldn't leave all my "babies" behind. The coralbells were my Nana's. Those 3 little plants have been moved 7 times and I will move them whenever and where ever I move. We moved all sorts of plants and I tried to make then in container gardens for the little fenced courtyard at the townhouse. All the plants will fit I'm sure and if not I'll make them!! I have a few plans for the courtyard all sketched out-I want to make a little haven out there. I hope I can coax the birds to visit!


This daylily is one of my favorites! It's called Lake Norman Sunset. When I first bought this daylily 15 yrs. ago from a grower in North Carolina (at the time I was living in NJ) I didn't know that one day I would live only 45 mins. from Lake Norman!! The sunsets there are absolutely gorgeous-they look just like the colors in the daylily!


This collection has some hostas, hellebores and phlox in it.


This hosta is absolutely gorgeous this year and just couldn't be left behind.


I put my treasured blue hosta in with my little tiny ornamental grass. I think it makes a great combo.


I could not leave my tree peony behind or my beloved lavendar plant.


I put the coralbells from my grandmother in this container. I will be protecting them very carefully.


This is my lovely double flower red camellia. I just had to bring it with me. I have just the spot in the courtyard and hopefully it will love it as much as I think it will.

We will be renting the townhouse for atleast 2 years and I couldn't be without my flowers. At first I was going to leave some behind, but then I started digging and potting and I decided the more the merrier!!