I wanted to share with everyone my Nephews paintings. He is currently enrolled at Radford University working on his masters in the art program.  He also teaches the undergrads art appreciation. He has had no formal training and started drawing when he was a toddler.

Here are some of his paintings that adorn several of my family members homes; but definitely this collection isn't all inclusive; this is just what I have access too right now. Most of his work is "still life". He does pencils, charcoals, oils, etc...

This is his latest & I'm trying to talk him into giving it to me....but no luck so far :)

This one is actually hanging in my dining room!

Some of his works hang in at The little gallery at Smith Mountain Lake and some in his studio in Radford; but most are stacked up in a corner at his house. He really under estimates his talent!

We're proud of you Nick!!

We woke up this morning to the 1st snow of the season in anticipation of 3-4" and it delivered!! This photo was taken around 8:30am.  The flakes were so large, they looked like feathers falling from the sky. It fell until around 4:00pm and then stopped. Of course the ground and road is so warm, nothing stuck (on the road at least) but it is nice to see the Christmas lights bounce off of the white snow.

Now tomorrows temps. is supposed to be in the 40's.  Good bye snow for now....but it'll be back...ole man winter promises!!

8:30am

1:30pm

I have heard alot of how Christmas plantings are toxic to pets. Poinsettias are not a friend, but does anyone know about a Rosemary tree?

My Husband brought home a rosemary tree (smells great) and the dog could care less but my cat is extremely curious. Will this cause her distress? It is actually rosemary so it is edible for humans?

There are so many social networks out there, it's hard to keep track.  Several that our company encourages us to utilize are:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Linkedin
• Handshake
• Gladhandle
• Active rain

These coupled with our email, personal websites, cell phones (with email and camera capabilities of course), landlines, and of course the in person "meet & greets".  What on earth would we do without them all?  How did we survive growing up without texting, blogging or tweeting?

I actually drug out an old typewriter the other day and found the keys so stiff and hard to control. It's hard to imagine when the typewriter, dictaphone and that old rotary phone was so cool. I barely remember the party line where I grew up; but I do remember. Imagine the scandals & gossip we heard by simply picking up that old black phone and eavesdropping on our neighbors.  I remember our phone number was 2 shorts and a long ring tone.  Imagine if we still used those to communicate now? Imagine if I asked my Son to call me at 2 shorts and a long. His head would explode :)

Imagine if we didn't have an mls and had to use those 3" thick books to look up new, pending or closed listings (& that wasn't that long ago). My how we've grown!  It's hard to imagine that we can get more advanced than we already are. When will we find the time to breathe? Right now you look on facebook and posts include going to bed now...just woke up and having coffee... taking the day off to enjoy with my family (really...is that why your on facebook?  Its a family thing?).But, imagine if we didn't log in, upload or hit reply on a daily basis...our inbox, message notifications, voice mails, chats or IM would be loaded with 250 missed messages, beeps or blinks & we can't have it beep or blink without at least looking at it (even if we don't reply).

I'm the worlds worst to communicate via email or texting and I don't know why. You would think since I'm in a service industry, I'd want a live conversation, but here I am on Active Rain talking to thousands and talking to no one at the same time.

We are strange, aren't we?

The New River Valley (NRV) economic development has created a video and posted it on you tube. It outlines many highlights of the NRV and surrounding towns and cities like Blacksburg (home of Virginia Tech), Christiansburg, Radford (home of the Radford Highlanders), Giles & Pulaski counties to name a few.  No doubt why we choose to live here. Atmosphere, scenery, great people, businesses, innovation and continual growth. A great place to call home! I invite you all to visit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CsD6-DVCIE

My Husband and I recently went to Baltimore (me pleasure, him business) and we stopped by Aunt Irenes in Harpers Ferry, WV. Such a quaint place with alot of history.

All of you with a sweet tooth that want some yummy confections, should stop by if passing through!

I am planning a fall get together and want to serve warm apple cider (spiked or not, I haven't decided) but need a good recipe.

Does anyone have a good cider recipe and suggestions on how to keep it hot while serving? I thought about using the crock pot??

Thanks

I've hit a cross roads in my life where I must decide where & how to care for my elderly parents. I have never really thought about the what, where, when, why & how my parents would be taken care of once they reached a certain age.

My Mom has COPD and her lungs are shot. When it was cool to smoke, she took advantage of it. She is only 70 but is an effective 90 (so says her doctors). She has congestive heart failure, blood loss (normal levels are 12-14 & she was at 6 when she was admitted to the hospital a few months ago). She gets a blood transfusion every month now. She is in a nursing home doing rehab. Why rehab? Her lungs won't get better but they want her to learn how to adjust to oxygen and a c-pap or bi-pap 24/7 and how to take care of herself. Something as simple as going to the bathroom or showering lowers her oxygen levels to a dangerous level (normal levels are around 93 but when she moves around, she drops to the 70's, 50's and even sometimes to 30's or 20's).

Problem is, Mom is not the problem. With her in rehab, Dad is left alone in the house. He is 74 (again effectively 90), has had several strokes, is deaf, uses a walker & wheelchair and is as contrary as can be. He insists on making his own breakfast (forgets about cleaning up after himself though), won't bathe, won't wash his hair (in his defense it is hard for him to raise his arms), won't change clothes & most times will have a bathroom accident because he can't get there quick enough. Oh yeah and he's in early Alzheimer's too, so he don't remember he did it.

When we get older, do we forget what it was like when we were trying to raise our kids, pay our bills, do our chores or do we all regress to a child like stage and not only want, but expect someone to wait on us? I understand the bible says a white head is a crown of glory, and know if they had their choice, they wouldn't want to be a burden (I think....) .  I find myself getting mad when I prepare a meal & take it to them, when they criticize the way it was prepared, the amount I bring or the time it took to get there (apparently normal people don't eat past 5pm), the methods I use to clean their house, pay their bills, water the plants etc.... I am not sure after hearing them every day, how I function on my own at all.

It's sad & depressing to see them in this way. It's hard to see them who was once competent and capable become frail and needy. It's pitiful to look back and see my Dad looking out the window just to wave goodbye  or my mom wheeling down the hallway of the nursing home. Then it makes me mad that (especially Mom) did it to herself. Who in their right mind smokes 3 packs a day for 40 years and still be in denial for the last 40 years of what her outcome would be? Why would a parent want to make it hard on their children?

How do we make the choice to place them in a nursing home permanently or take them into our own home. The latter will involve someone having to quit work. Taking care of adults isn't any different than taking care of a child except they are more stubborn and use abusive language. They can't be left alone (just like a child), need to have daily activities, exercising, baths, changes (both clothes & bedding).  I'm not certain I'm up to the task & along with the guilt need forgiveness for my thoughts about the amount of help I want to give. I am torn between obligation to them and want to be the good daughter and guilt for not wanting to go there everyday. I find myself arguing with my siblings, arguing with my spouse, arguing with my parents, arguing with myself. Plus, I know one day I'll look back with more guilt that I have these feelings now, because they'll be gone.

I'm not looking for physical, financial (I'm not even talking about the burden financially) or mental help (or maybe I am) I'm not looking for advice because I know every ones situation is different (or maybe I am). I just feel like I needed to write it all down or in the least put on my big girl panties & deal with it. I think it'll help to look back on this post as my family will progress/regress. I know that's why God says he helps push us through it. Through it is the key...thank the Lord, we don't stay in it.  But what happens when we're not "in it" any more. That's the part that frightens me most.

The mental health of America (MHA) & CBS has articles on the effect of dealing with aging parents.

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/older-adults/taking-care-of-an-aging-parent

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/26/health/webmd/main4634572.shtml

Economist say the worst of the housing bust is over. According to Reuters, "U.S. home prices are nearing the end of a three-year slump and should rise in 2010:. The same report, however, stated though the overall economy can rebound even if the housing market does not as a housing rebound is not needed to end to the economic slide.

Most people think we will bottom out and start to see an upward swing Oct. - Dec.  Anecdotal reports suggest that low mortgage rates and an $8,000 first-time home-buyer credit (set to end soon) are coaxing buyers back into the market.

I don't watch NBC,CNBC, MSN, CNN, or CBS and try to rely on local subject matter experts. While, speaking with a local lender he told me that mortgage applications for his company were on the rise. However, 1/2 of those he has received are in relation to refinancing. He said foreclosures, he's finding are still high overall and set to rise again as banks begin to move on the ever increasing delinquent homeowner, (whereas that actually could boost home sales and skew the rosy outlook but at the same time send us back into another boom of sorts). And, with the jobless rate increasing, mortgage defaults aren't likely to end very soon. 

Virginia's outlook: Richmond is forcast to hit 16.4% deflation by the end of the year (one of the hardest hit) while SW Virginia/Roanoke area will see an overall lower 12.8%. The below falling home price graph indicates VA isn't even registering..which is great news!

 This bubble/rebound varies per locality and we all have to address it as such. Pay no attention to the scuttle of the day, although we get giddy when we hear it's getting better. We know it'll get better, we've all been on this roller coaster before. The VAR put out an article on Have we reached the bottom yet and you should be able to view it at the VAR website varealtor.com

In regards to scams: I found an article that was written in regards to lead generating scams. It details a gentleman's unfortunate experience with a credit card charge.  The comments show some for,  but most against the company Reply real estate lead generation.

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/reply-real-estate-lead-generation-c107384.html

I have been scammed in the past by a company called Mississippi Valley Promotions, LLC in Davenport, IA or MVPas they call themselves; (Katie Fetty ph#866 606-3995 was the head honcho), whereas I paid them $300 to create some collegiate football calendars.  They never produced the calendars, returned the money, zip, zilch, nada.  I complained to the BBB and they had several complaints on the company (but I didn't check the BBB first before giving my information) but were unable to resolve the complaint. I've emailed & called MVP directly, but no response. The BBB has since closed the case and in the end simply $300 out of luck. I betcha they opened another marketing advertising agency after this one closed.... Just do your home work and stay far, far away from Mississippi Valley Promotions or anything this young lady has her hands in. Just like a liar & a thief, if they do it once, chances are they'll do it again. In this case MVP was a liar & a thief; at least to me.

BBB link to MVP:

http://www.bbb.org/iowa/business-reviews/advertising-agencies-and-counselors/mississippi-valley-promotions-in-davenport-ia-32023027

The best advice is to investigate the company prior to giving your personal info. over the phone/email. If it is a "buy now or the offer is void" situation, then let it be void.  IF they can offer the promotion now they can offer it later. Common sense, huh? Yep, but it still happens & people do take advantage of the unprepared.  The old "if it sounds too good to be true, it is" saying is true...take it to heart. Scammers make it hard for the legit business to make a living.

I'm still bitter (as if you couldn't tell) about what happened, even 2 years later, but life is short & I moved on. The downturn in the market offers the chance for a scammers to make their move. We never like to burn bridges in our business so politely hang up &/or delete the email and move on.