Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Can't sleep so here's a post!

So per what I said in an earlier blog and a request by a friend, I'm gonna tell you about my little town. It's bigger than Whitesburg but not much really. I'm a little over an hour from Greenville, MS and close to supposedly 9 miles from Louisiana. I've haven't checked the last one out yet. Maybe next week! Well, there are a few little parks here and there throughout town and even a small zoo that is free the public. I don't have pictures of those just yet! Basically it's your average small town!

The main employer here is Georgia Pacific. I'm told it's a paper mill. The are certain parts of the day that you can really smell the factory and I'm even a couple miles outside of town but I'll get used to it. The coal trucks I used to see on the road have now been replaced with logging trucks. Although, I've only seen a few while driving around town but I know they come here.

Farming and rodeos are big here also. There's a big rodeo here in about two weeks so I look forward to checking it out and posting about it. Many of you may be thinking me going to a rodeo might be strange! As a young child on the family outing to PA I remember going to some rodeos when my cousins showed horses so I'm excited to check it out. Maybe I'll find me a cowboy! Ha!!!!!


Farmland. You guys know that I like to grow things so you might guess that I like farms as well. My uncle joked that when I moved here I'd be moving with chicken farmers. I've only seen one chicken farm so far! My county has cotton, corn and I think soybean as the three most produced crops. The day that I came here I was treated with a little surprise while driving. What's that surprise? I got to see the planes that spray the fields in close up action. I even squinted as I saw one dart close to a car on the road. No worries though. I wish I could have gotten a picture of that but failed on that one. Darn paying attention while driving!

Ashley county has it's fair share of farms from what I've seen but it also gets very forest like the closer to town that you get. The trees are so tall in spots and gorgeous. There is one spot in particular that I find breathtaking and I find a picture I'll post it.

Last but not least, I did travel a little going towards El Dorado, Arkansas. Most of my other town travels have been in Monticello, which is about 45 minutes north of me. It's a small college town. There is a branch of University of Arkansas there. Back to the trip towards El Dorado though. The goal was just to drive around and not really go anywhere. I did however find out that I'm only about 10 minutes from a national wildlife refuge. It's pretty and I have no pictures....yet. I still have time before school starts!

Enjoy the pictures from my travels!


The best decorated hotel room in Jackson, TN!


Remember when I said I was tired from driving? It wasn't even daylight when I started out on my second day of driving towards Arkansas.


Yes, I'm generally amused that I passes signs that talk about Hollywood in Mississippi.


To me, this is about the only thing exciting about Tunica. I didn't even get to go in because it wasn't open when I drove past the last time! Oh well, I thought the building was cool!


 I'm not much of an architectural buff but I do like admiring bridges. I think that the bridge that crosses into Arkansas is gorgeous!



Another shot of the bridge as I cross over the Mississippi River.



Corn field....one of the few that wasn't literally golden from heat.


Potentially a soybean field. Sorry it's blurry.


Bins.


Cotton field (I think) and forest in the back.


I'm pretty certain this was taken in Mississippi but I couldn't resist because it's a John Deere. P.S. My family only uses John Deere equipment on the farm.


Pictures don't do this spot justice! This is the little area coming from Monticello, AR that is right outside of Crossett. The final fact of the night is that apparently Crossett is the forest capital of the south....or so a sign says!


Peace!

Trust me....this isn't exciting!

So here goes with another little update on how I'm doing. I am officially from Arkansas now. Tomorrow I really make it official when I get my license plate. I've got some running around to do also. Nothing big. Another trip to Walmart to pick up some little things. Yuck! I've got to get my TB test looked at and then go to the school to do odds and ends.

Anyways, I thought I'd show you all the progress of my house. It actually looks better than the pictures. The only room that's bad is my bedroom, hence the picture with empty closets.


My soon to be office room.


Those boxes don't even belong there! I think you can tell what this room will be.


Bedroom needs a lot of work. No, mom I didn't make my bed either.



Bad lighting but kitchen is complete!


My new favorite hiding spot for my knitting supplies.


One of the two new washrags that I made!

Another update: I've gotten my new license plate and tags so I guess it's really official now! My living room is practically set up but has some stuff to get moved out before I take a picture, I've got a new bread recipe that I'm trying out later on so I'll let you know if it's yummy!

Peace!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Washateria


So here I am! I've been here in Arkansas for a few nights. I'm recovering from a little funk that I managed to pick up either from cleaning material or from the actual cleaning process. My new place is slowly but surely getting put together.


So it went from this.................................................................to this.

You may see that there are still boxes in the middle but notice the books and dvds put away.



Here's the kitchen in all it's messy glory. I'm happy to say that after years of not having a toaster, I've used one twice now. What was I thinking about not getting one. Thanks mom!!!


Here is a project that I am working on for the living room. Since I got rid of some furniture I'm now hanging up some pictures. Don't worry Whitesburg folks, I'm buying some new frame to put you all up there too! It'll be a project that I am working on for a while. I'll put up a better picture later.

Oh and thanks to the tenants before me for leaving so many nails in the wall....they are coming in handy.



This is random but it's my first homemade meal in my new place. I made some soup since I wasn't feeling well.



I'm officially stepping up the par in earning credit now through these bad boys. Now I have to get some laundry detergent. I also learned a new word today. What was that? Washateria. The man that installed these told me about the closest Washateria....ahem laundry mat. I guess it's the new "pop" that I have to get used to.




So I had plans of trying to display my basil longer but the Arkansas heat had other plans. I snipped the majority of it today but have another small round still growing. Dang heat! My plants may have to go under my carport. But anyways these last two pictures show that I am making this place home by drying some herbs. My drying dill (which was hanging off the picture) got blasted with some bug spray yesterday so I had to let it go. Sad day.

Well, I just wanted to give you all an update. I'll be putting pictures up of the terrain and about farming later!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Here's to all things new!

Arkansas. How did it happen? Things just fell in place since I randomly went on a job fair in Little Rock. Have I ever lived there? Nope. Do I know anyone there? I have a college friend that lives about 2.5 hours from where I will be. Are you crazy? Probably.

Many of my friends know that I first moved to eastern Kentucky due to landing a new job and was in the same situation. I didn't know anyone. I had a friend that lived 2 hours away. Why that area again.

Maybe I'm living like a gypsy moving around for jobs BUT I hope that this is the last move!



Well I didn't say that I wasn't nervous because I am. Wouldn't others be if they were in my shoes but I've done it once and will hopefully be fine doing it this time. I look forward to the new school year and teaching new things and putting in some hours and hopefully seeing some results.

Now on to the blog itself. If you've been following me for  little while, you may have noticed some downsizing of posts. I'm not regretting posting anything or trying to delete something from my memory. I'm just trying to start fresh and clean in every aspect of my life.

Here's to many more posts from me! (And thanks to my friend for inspiring me to blog again!)




Sunday, July 1, 2012

And off again!

Well, well well. I'm finally back again. If you're reading this you my think....let's see how long this time. I'm gonna try a little harder and to be a little more positive. I'm moving to Arkansas in about a week and once I get everything settled in I plan on using this blog to keep my friends updated about everything. I plan on totally revamping it....maybe even deleting some posts where I whined and complained about things. lol

Who knows BUT I'm gonna try to see you all real soon!