Christmas Parade

Charlus & I were in our local little Christmas Parade again this year. We were in it advertising for one of our local properties...Big Toy Storage.(You can see the top of my head in the passenger seat.) We were driving a 1980 Mercedes 450 SL Roadster...one of the "toys" we store.
Charlus has worked extra hard this year getting the name "Big Toy Storage" trademarked...and he succeeded! He reminded me that he started filing forms, etc last year at Christmas, and we just got the official papers & documents a couple of days ago saying after all the fees he had paid, forms he had filled out, filed, signed, and proved for the past 12 months...Big Toy Storage is now a national trademarked property! YAY, Charlus -- Good Job!

Bargain!

Over the last few years, my husband has bought me each piece of Brighton luggage, in the red. I love it!! Recently (in the last year or so), they came out with an additional piece of luggage...a large suitcase. I wanted it, but just could not see paying the price of $550 for it!! Last week, I found one on E-bay that had no minimum bid on it....I will just say I got it for a "steal"! And, yes, it is real...not an imitation!
I am soooo happy about my bargain! And, I bought it with my own money! (I feel like a kid again.) :) On top of my other property duties, Charlus has bought me 4 pop & snack machines that I stock, and I get to keep the profit....so I bought the new piece of Brighton luggage with some of my "Pop & Snack Machine Profit Stash". :)
The new piece of luggage is the large suitcase on the right, in the back. Sorry for "bragging" I am just so happy about my Brighton bargain!!! :)
Can't wait to use it on our trip to Texas on Thursday! Now, if the weather will just cooperate...it's not looking too good...blizzard like conditions and our flight is to leave at 6:30 on Thursday AM....guess we'll get to spend some quality time in the airport. :)

A Suprise from my Hubby....

My husband had a suprise for me, yesterday. This is our last name "written" with pictures taken around the Wichita area. I love it!! A lady in the area does these, he saw them and had one made for us. I'm not sure where I'm going to hang it, yet...so it's just sitting on one of our couches for now. :)

Click on picture to enlarge.

Happy Holidays!!

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Happy Turkey or Tofurkey Day! :)

...Whichever applies to you! :)

Nap Time

Who says dog's don't snore?



Lily snores, and snores loud! This is very common during nap time & night time. Some times she wakes us up snoring. The video is pretty dark (didn't want to turn the light on in the office & wake her!) :) but it was too cute not to share! :)

Extra, Extra...Read All About It....

Exactly where Charlus likes his articles...."front page & top of the fold". I think he has a few "fans" down at the newspaper office that make sure he gets his "preferred spot". ;)



Click on article to enlarge.

Celebration!

Recently, Charlus celebrated his 20 year anniversary at his Kingman Farm Bureau office. His actual anniversary date was yesterday, November 1st, but I threw a little early celebration for him. It was so nice! About 100 folks came out to congratulate him. Here's a few pictures from the "shin-dig"....I'll post the article they wrote about him in our local paper, in a few days. (This was about 4 days after his rotator cuff surgery, so that's what the sling is he is wearing. I wouldn't have planned it that way...but this was already planned when his accident happened.)

This was the invitation...and I also ran ads in the local paper for two weeks before.



This is Charlus' office staff (minus a part-time employee, Gerald P)
L to R: Tammy B, Jodie W, and Donna G


Charlus & Diane -- Diane was one of his very good employees...she retired this past year to stay home and be "Grandma". :)


Charlus & John P. John was a Farm Bureau agent many, many years ago -- he is 92 yrs old now. He loves to come in the office every week and just check on things. :) The sign on John's coat says "I have been insured with Farm Bureau Insurance for 62 years." :)


Charlus & Corine E. Corine made him a yummy chocolate sheet cake (one of his favorites).


Charlus & Wanda K. Charlus is on the board of the local Chamber of Commerce...Wanda is the director. A really nice lady, and good friend to Charlus & I.


Charlus and the table...before I had all the treats and finger foods out... :)


Charlus & Betty. Betty has cleaned his office for MANY years!


Charlus visiting.

Happy Howl-o-ween From Charlus, Teresa, Lily & Daisy

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Happy Fall, Y'all!

This Fall, it has been so beautiful here. The leaves are so colorful. With more rain coming today, and the Kansas winds picking up...they say we'll be loosing more of our pretty fall colors from the trees.



If any of you haven't been following this blog of one of our 16 year old friends that was in a terrible one car accident, and has been in a Wichita hospital Burn Unit, please, keep them in your thoughts & prayers.
(I don't know how to add a link you can click on...someone is welcome to tell me. :) )

http://larisahertz.blog.com/

Charlus' Surgery

Some of you may know, Charlus tore his rotator cuff recently and had shoulder surgery. It's a rough & brutal surgery & recovery, but he has done well.
Charlus' favorite saying when he looks at the incision is "Nice malpractice suit. Wrong shoulder, Einstein!" :) He makes me laugh!!!! :)
He is doing as well as should be at this point...he starts physical therapy tomorrow...they prescribed Percocet for him to take before each session... :(

I'm Back...

It's been an eventful, fun, & full Summer!! I had hopes of posting about past Summer events & happenings...but think I'll just TRY to pick up from here...we'll see.

The other day, my hubby was collecting from our RV Park and one of the ladies gave him this pamphlet. I know she meant well...but I found it comical. Being from Texas, I thought the only way to get to heaven was to live in Texas ;) soooo glad to know I can get there from Kansas! :) :)



Hope you all are having a beautiful Fall!

Annual Beeman Family Texas Beach Vacation -- June 2009

The nieces & nephews:
L to R: Cayden, Dylan, Bryce E., Brooke, Blaire S.


My beautiful parents!!


Charlus and I :)


The Three (Windblown) Amigas :) -- Renita, Sheila & Teresa

Annual Beeman Family Texas Beach Vacation

Every year, my parents, sisters & their families, meet on Mustang Island beach for a week of sun, sand, and smiles! Charlus & I arrived on Tuesday, June 2nd and plan to be back in KS on June 15th. We have ENJOYED our extended vacation thus far! Daddy & Mom arrived yesterday (Thursday) evening...my sisters & families will arrive on Saturday morning. We look forward to this trip every year, when we can all be together!!!

Funeral Plans

Papa Beeman's funeral is to be Monday at 11:30 AM at Wilkirson, Hatch, & Bailey Funeral Home in Waco, TX. Burial will be in Lorena, TX. http://www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com/

The Loss Of A Grandparent

Papa (A.B.) Beeman passed away very peacefully this morning (Friday) at 8:45 AM.
Papa & Grandma moved to Oklahoma City (from Central Texas) to live near Aunt Karen so she could help take care of them, almost two years ago (would be 2 years in July). Two weeks ago, it became unsafe for them to live alone in their home (3 blocks from Aunt Karen), and they moved into Aunt Karen B & Mary Lee S's home.
The funeral will be in Waco, TX -- burial will be in Lorena, TX. The funeral will be at Wilkirson, Hatch, & Bailey Funeral Home. Here is the funeral home's website for on-line obituary & on-line guest book. http://www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com/
I will post arrangements when we know them.
Papa was 86 years old. So very thankful in his faithfulness in the important things!!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful Mother!!!
So glad God chose YOU to be MY Mom!!!
I love you!!!


(Photo of Mom and my sister, Renita -- Summer, 2008)

Mourning the passing of my sister's youth...

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY, RENITA!!! :)
I love you!
Your YOUNGEST sister! ;)

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the BEST MOM!!!
Thank you for teaching, by example, how to be a wonderful Mother, Wife and Friend...and for your example in unconditional love! I love you, Mom!!

Snow Days

We'll we haven't heard an official number for our town, but we think we ended up getting about 16 inches of snow (on top of about 1-2 inches of sleet).
A town 30 miles west of us got 28 inches, but then a town 30 miles east of us got 7...so 16 may be close to right for us.

I didn't venture out too far, but this is a picture standing on one of our porches....there are three steps up to this porch...you can only see the tip-top of the top step.



The puppies LOVED our weekend of being "snowed-in". :)



There were snow drifts 4-6 feet deep. Our local grocery store closed, as their roof collapsed due to the heavy snow, as did the roof at the local Activity Center. Our neighbor, three homes down, has a collapsed carport (on top of their vehicle). So far, we haven't heard of any of our properties being damaged. We'll try to venture out, this afternoon, and check them .. it's suppose to get into the low 40's today - so we're hoping for lots of melting! :)

Spring Blizzard

We were to leave today, about noon, to head to Dallas for a quick trip to say our GoodBye's to Charlus' brother and family. They are flying out of DFW, on Sunday evening, to move from Indiana to Argentina, for 2-3 years with his job. Blizzard conditions were expected and they hit today about 10 AM.
The below photo was taken from about 40 feet away from the vehicle...visibility was LOW...8-15 inches expected by Saturday afternoon...WINDY, and sleeting and snowing hard. (Don't think I've ever seen snowflakes this big & heavy.) So, with the bad weather (and the long drive through the bad weather)and the incident posted below, we decided we better decide to stay home. We hated to miss seeing them before they leave, but glad we got to be with them in January. Think the company will fly them back to the U.S. a couple of times a year, so we hope to see them on one of those trips. :)
Meanwhile, we'll be holed-up at home...trying to stay warm and safe!
Hope all of you are having prettier, warmer weather!

Where not to get your oil changed!

Charlus decided to try out the new oil change shop, in our town, this morning about 10:30 or 11 o'clock. He likes to give business to the new local businesses...there are other oil change shops in town.
He said he heard the guy raise his truck all the way up on the lift, and then heard a bunch of metal noise, and then this guy let about 45 seconds of expletitives out. So, Charlus decided to leave the waiting room and go out and see what was going on.... His 2008 Chevy 3/4 ton diesel truck had fallen off the lift!!!!
Charlus was VERY glad the man hadn't been under it, as he had just walked under it to get the oil pan, and just as he got to the other side the truck fell!
The truck is pretty bent & bunged up, there's a hole through one side, etc Not sure when they will get it out...insurance companies, the people that installed the lift, etc have to come see it first.
I am so glad if it had to happen to anyone that it happened to my husband! He is the most kind, most patient man I know...and he was very understanding & sympathetic to the shop owner.
Just had to share the pictures, and the story, with you all! :)

"Roughing-It"?

Charlus & I decided to take a day off for much needed "R&R", this weekend. There is a nice state lake park about 20 miles from us...so we loaded up our puppies & the fifth wheel and went out Friday evening, and came home on Saturday evening. It was nice to just get away, even for just 24 hours. :)
I really don't consider it "camping", in a fifth wheel...comfy bed, kitchen, toilet, shower, etc....but it's our kind of "roughing it". :)

We parked right by the water. There were a couple of other campers that had ventured out this weekend, too. Now, we see there is snow in our forecast for Friday...so we may have to winterize the trailer again. :)


We took lots of walks on the trails...the puppies loved it!! This was the position assumed by CJB and the puppies when we were in the trailer...ahh, relaxation! :)

Turkey Talk

Wild turkeys are pretty common in these parts...hunters come from all around to hunt them. In the mornings, I drive to the high school track .... this morning on my way, I counted 15 turkeys. I sat in my car & rolled my window down, was fun to hear them "gobble". They scrambled pretty quickly when I stopped to take their picture.

My Hubby

My husband seems to be in the local newspaper quite often...and has become pretty good friends with the newspaper ladies. :) They have learned, from him, that he likes his articles to be "front page, top of the fold"...so when they have an article about him, that is exactly where they put it! :)
This week, the following article was in our weekly local newspaper and I wanted to share it.

Congratulations, Charlus!! I am proud of you!!!

** Click on article to enlarge & read **

Happy 42nd Birthday, Charlus!

Today, is my wonderful husband's 42nd Birthday! I made his Mom's yummy chocolate cake for his Birthday cake. It's not a "pretty" cake, but it sure tastes extra yummy! :)

~~~~25 Random Facts About Me~~~~

I have been tagged 4 times, on Facebook, to do this...and have finally decided to & share it on my blog, too. So...here goes!

1. My husband I married on August 10, 2002 -- he was 35 yrs old & I was 29 yrs old. I am so glad I waited later in life to marry my best friend, lover, & good provider. Glad I had a few years to "figure myself out" and experience some things, before getting married.

2. As a child, I never "dreamed of my wedding day"! I would have been happy just going to the judge and getting "hitched". Charlus & I wanted to get married on a beach with just our immediate family present. Daddy Jim (Charlus' father) was very sick, so instead we married in Denton, TX ...as this was half way between where I lived in East Texas & where Daddy Jim & Momma Martha lived in Oklahoma, making it possible for him to travel for the wedding. Daddy Jim passed away 6 weeks after we were married.

3. Charlus & I knew we would get married, after a month of dating! We saw/noticed each other in June 2001, met in July 2001, had our first date in Sept 2001, and married August 2002. :)

4. Before marrying & moving to Kansas, I had only been to Kansas twice! Once when Charlus & I were dating (in Oct 2001), and once the week before the wedding (in Aug 2002) when Daddy & Mom moved me and my "stuff". (I lived in East Texas - Tyler, TX area - all my life!) Charlus is a private pilot, for "us", so he did most of the traveling...and we met some in Oklahoma at Daddy Jim & Momma Martha's home in Oklahoma, as this was half-way between TX & KS! :)

5. My husband and I love to travel, and have travelled quite a bit since getting married!

6. I have the BEST parents & family!!! And, I am fiercely protective of my family!!
I think my Father is the perfect husband & Father! I think my Mother is the most beautiul & kindest woman I know!! They both are the most self-less people I know! have two of the best sisters in the world!! They have been two of my very best friends all my life!! Renita, is 4 yrs older than I -- Sheila is 13 months older than I...I am the "baby"! :)

7. I talk to my parents & sisters several times a week!

8. My close family & close friends call me "T"... if they say "Teresa" , I KNOW I am in trouble! :)

9. Charlus & I have two Maltese puppies we treat as our children. When we have children, they are going to be very disappointed!

10. I would like to adopt a child, one day...and also have a natural-born one. (My husband and I are in NO hurry to have children...even tho we probably should be...he is 42, and I will be 36 soon.)

11. When I was much younger, I was a "tomboy". I felt bad my Daddy didn't have a son, only 3 daughters. (We now know, he was not hen-pecked...he is spoiled rotten! :) And we wouldn't have it any other way!!)

12. Growing up, Daddy always said, "The boys/my sons will come later. You pick 'em, I'll cull 'em!" (Definition of "cull" - to select the best from a group.) :)

13. One of the things that most often comes to my mind, that my Mom told me growing up is, "The tears of restraint are never as bitter as the tears of regret." I remember her telling me this when I was facing hard choices/decisions...and I still remember it when I face choices/decisions.

14. One set of Grandparents moved near us, on our farm when I was 6 yrs old. We would call Papa & Grandma and see what they were having for supper, and ask Mom what she was fixing...then decide which house we would eat at! :) I feel VERY lucky to have lived close to my Grandparents for so many years!! Many, many good & precious memories!!

15. I prefer the big city life...my hubby prefers small town living. The town we live in is about 3000 population, but we are 30 minutes (south, west & east) from three larger towns, so I'm happy! :)

16. I have either worked part-time or full-time since I was 13 years old. I like making money! :) My first job was with my sister, Sheila. We worked after school at our 6th/7th grade English teacher(Mrs Massengill) English Bulldog Kennel. We would ride to the kennels with her after school, and Mom would pick us up when our chores were done.

17. In August 2008, I resigned from my job..and am "un-employed" for the first time in my life. I stay busy helping Charlus with our business properties...and I enjoy it...but it has been an adjustment. :)

18. I wave good-bye to my husband every morning, from the dining room windows, when he leaves in the morning & when he leaves after lunch! :)

19. I do not read many books! But I love magazines! My favorite magazine is People, and has been for years! I also enjoy Southern Living & Cooking Light magazines very much!

20. I taught aerobics & was a "health nut" for many years...since getting married, the last 2 or 3 yrs, I have struggled with it all!

21. I turn the lights off when I am not in a room (My Daddy taught me well!)...my husband turns the lights on when he is just walking through a room!!

22. I eat jalepenos on everything! Again, my Daddy taught me well...he keeps a shaker of Cayenne Pepper beside his plate! :)

23. I am addicted to my Blackberry, & making lists! My favorite color is green, and my favorite number is 8! I am a morning person! I actually enjoy ironing clothes!

24. I had asthma as a child, and thought I outgrew it...but it re-surfaced in 2008.

25. I like warm weather MUCH better than cold weather...but this "Texican" actually deals with it better than my hubby who has lived in KS since he was 3 weeks old! :)

26. (BONUS) Take it from someone who knows ... big boobs are highly over-rated!! :)


** I never thought I would do this list, but I have learned so much about my friends through their lists, even close friends. I think everyone should make a list of 25 random facts about themselves! (I just put a notepad on the counter, and when I thought of something I wrote it down...it doesn't take too long to get 25 things about yourself!)

Happy Birthday, Lily!

We have no "real children" yet...just our "furry kids"...and today, is Lily's 2nd Birthday! :) (So, I guess she is a teenager, in dog years!) She had a pretty un-eventful day, today :( -- but she didn't seem to mind! :) Happy Birthday, Lily!!




Last year, our nieces (Brooke & Blaire) were here to help her celebrate her 1st Birthday! :)

Remembering Special Grandparents

Thinking of Papa & Grandma Carlile, today. Today would have been Papa's birthday, and Grandma's was on January 1st. So glad for all the memories we have with them. They were two of the best Grandparents...and I am so glad for the precious time we had with them, both!!

Creamy Dip Recipe

2 - 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 - 15 oz can whole kernel corn, drained
1 - 10 oz. can Rotel, drained
1 - 1 oz. pkg Ranch Dip mix
2 jalepenos, de-seeeded & chopped


Mix all together with mixer, and serve chilled with your favorite dipping chip!

* It wasn't quite spicy enough for me (rather mild actually)...so I think next time, I'll use the Fiesta Ranch Dip Mix to put a bit more "zip" in it! Or, you could use a "spicier" version of Rotel...I just used the "Original Rotel".
Enjoy!!

SKYPE

We are on Skype now! So if you are, look us up & add us...and we'll do the same! :)

Charlus' Windmill Adventure

Yesterday, Charlus & I went on a tour of a windfarm, that is near completion a few miles south of where we live. (Kansas winds are good for something!) :) Some of the windfarm workers, that do the erecting of the windmills, have been staying in our RV Park for the past 6-8 months so we've gotten well acquainted with them. Now, there is only one guy left, Troy, and he told us since they are about a week away from leaving that he could give us an up-close-and-personal-tour.

Here are a few of the windmills in the windfarm.


The tower of the windmill is 235 ft to the top!


There are three propeller blades on each windmill -- each blade measuring 156 ft in length! Troy told us that some policeman have used radar to detect how fast the blades rotate -- and they have clocked them up to 200 mph!


Here is the door to enter the windmill. There will be a small crew that will stay and work maintanence on the windmills for as long as they are operating. We were told that each windmill has a 99 year lease with each farmer who owns the ground they are on. The farmer is paid by how much energy is sold from the windmill.


Troy & Charlus about to enter the windmill. Troy is the "big boss" to help with the finishing work -- a super nice guy, he is from Utah, is a Mormon, and has 5 children and a wife at home. His wife recently finished her degree to become a psychologist, and he can make really good money traveling with this job, to pay off the student loans -- he plans to work one more year traveling, then move on to a job that will keep him close to home. He really misses his family.


As you enter the door of the windmill, on both sides, there are several big computer machines that monitor the windmill.


Here is Charlus starting his ascend on the windmill staircase....straight-up! (I stayed to be the photographer. :) Me & heights Do NOT mix!) There is an elevator in the windmills that will take you to the top, but the electricity was not yet on in this tower, so the only way up was by man-power and the staircase.
Charlus said when he was up in the tower, he felt like it was swaying - so he asked Troy about it -- Troy said they do sway a little & showed him where he could see the amount of sway..CJB said it was about 4 inches swaying to either side.


Troy & Charlus looking at the backside of the windmill after they had descended. The green machines to the right of the windmill are other monitoring equipment, etc that each windmill has.


The "square" begind the blades, is a generator that is as big as most people's garages! The silver "thing" on the right side, is actually a garage door! On top of all this, there are some "antenna sensors", that direct the windmill which way the wind is coming from, which way to turn the head so it is facing the wind, etc...
EACH windmill cost (from top to bottom) is about $2.8 million!



It was all so very interesting!