SUMMER IS ALMOST ENDED

I have been to busy to write on the blog for the past 2 months. I am still learning my new" stay at home job", "Medical Transcription". It was a bit tough at first the biggest problem understanding the Dr.'s one speaks with an accent, the other rather fast and one is quite long winded (more money) and learning all these new terms. I get $.12 a line although that doesn't sound like much it quickly ads up. I made $242 last month just part-time. I could make more if I wanted to work full time. Sometimes my sister-in-law has extra that needs doing so I will help out. I hope to make a little more this month since I am getting much faster at it. I kinda enjoy it. All work has to be done the same day so there is a 24 hour turnover. This allows the Dr.'s time to get the printed reports we type, look them over and sign them and then they go to the Dr. who requested the procedure. My sister-in-law is looking for another new client preferably another imaging center. I mainly do MRI's but will soon be doing CAT scans and PET scans. They each have different terms to learn and spell. With the price of gas being so high, its nice not to have to leave the house (this will be especially nice in the winter) and drive anywhere. Everything I type is done on the computer and sent to a temp file where my sister-in-law checks the reports before sending them on. Not all her clients use the computer she still has a couple of clients that use tapes that she has to go and pick up then return with the printed reports. Luckily, she doesn't live far from them.

My vegetable garden is doing well last week we picked some okra and everyday there are cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes and regular tomatoes. I have som Japanese egg plant and some green peppers as well as about 6 different herbs. Next year we hope to have a bigger garden and that way I can freeze vegetables for the winter months. Our neighbor gave us some potatoes out of his garden. What a difference compared to the ones from the store. We will plant some potaoes eyes next Spring and see how we do. One problem we are having is some kind of bug is eating holes in the leaves of some of my plants and grasshoppers are a problem to I think that they like my tomatoes. I have had to pick some before they are vine ripe and just set them out on the porch to ripen.

My second grandaughter celebrated her 10th birthday yesterday. I had sent her a package last week so she opened it while I was on the phone. She loved her new outfit and digital/camera/camcorder. They live in FL and start school the 19th of this month. The baby, Lilly, was keeping busy getting into the packages having a good time. She also got a new outfit as did the oldest one Jynna who is 12. I was at Penneys on the 1st of the month and was able to get Jynna 2 new bathing suits for $.89 each and one for Kaylee at the same price. They have been going to the beach at least once a week and are really tan, even Lilly.

Well its time to get the rest of the housework done and make the pasta salad for dinner. Hubby is working today and hopefully will be home early. He and Ken are trying to finish up a job so they can go on to the next one.

Rare Summer Storms

I got up to go to work at 0600

one morning and when I went out on the back porch, this is what I saw. A Summer storm was crossing the valley, following Wolf River (top photo) and in a short time the clouds were nearly in our back yard. Temp was really cool (68) and you could feel the moisture in the air.

Black Berry Time

Well Now - It's that time of year again. Chuck went out today and came back with about a half gallon of black berries. This year there seems to be a lot more black berries than usual. They're a somewhat smaller because we have not had the rain we need but when you look close to the ground you can still find some larger berries, about the size of your thumb. They'll be around for about another week. The turkey's are really getting them early in the morning and late afternoon, so we'll have to try to beat them to the punch. They tend to strip all the ripe berries off the lower branches and obviously that's where the best ones are. Turkeys ain't dumb and they been picking them a lot longer than we have. These berries make an oooohhhhh sssssooooooo good cobbler

Spruce Creek Garage

This is the garage that Chuck helped build in Spruce Creek. He, Ken and Brian also built the three board fence you can see in the background, which was 700' around three sides of the property. The owner has someone who is coming in to stain the garage a cedar color. Brian, Chuck and Ken have also been signed on to replace the roof on the cabin that's on this property. It already has a shingle roof but the owner wants it to look the same as the garage, which is hunter green steel roofing. Another job a little more income to help out. Chuck and Ken also finished up about 2,000' of wire fencing last week and are supposed to start another project, a combination of fencing/construction next week.

My Little Spring Garden

Small but effective. I've planted seven tomatoe plants, five peppers, a Japanese egg plant, five okra and a bunch of herbs. Still have some radish and carrots to replant. Not a very big garden but big enough for us.

A Job at Last

My sister-in-law has been after me to start doing medical transcription for her. She lives in IL and has her own business. Her younger sister does some work for her. She has decided to expand her business after being in it for the last 3 years. I started last night doing a little bit. Its going to take some time to become proficient at it. I have had some medical language training but that was years ago and it seems the medical terms change or rather there are more than when I was studying. So I will give it a try. I did a little practice last night. Diane sent the software to our computer then we couldn't get it to work because our Java program (for the sound) was so much newer than what she was using. So after her sending another software file and drivers we are good to go. She had already sent the footpedal and I already had headphones from school. It will be nice to work at home and not spend any money on gas because everything is done over the computer now. I am amazed! Wasn't like this 10 years ago.

Getting sick has put a crimp on getting any practice in today. After finally seeing my Dr. today and getting a couple of shots and medication I hope that I feel better tomorrow and can get back to busines.

Its been hot and a bit humid here since last week with temps in the mid 90's still not as hot as FL was. But it is cooling down a bit and will be in the high 80's daytime and high 60's at night at least thru the weekend into next week.

Chuck has gotten a little work with 2 days of work last week and 2 days this week. When this garage construction job is finished, he and co-worker will move onto a fencing job which they hope to finish in 2 days. The extra money will be great since gas is really getting in our pocket lately. We just don't do much driving but still have to mow the lawn with gas!

Well thats it for now not alot happening here. Conpany for dinner on Sat. it will be nice to cook for some other people.

Cookeville Day

Today is our day to go to Cookeville, which is about an hour drive sw of us. Cathy gets her hair cut at JC Penny's, while Chuck donates apheresis. This is our day to get out and do something together off the mountain. With the price of gas these days we dont do much running around. We usually eat something at Red Lobster, our one extravagant expenditure for the month, and do a little shopping while we're here. Chuck has been working helping to build a two car garage and maybe will be building a large horse barn later this month. So, that'll be a little more income. Chuck's sister, Diane, has a medical transcription business and has offered Cathy a job doing online transcription. Cathy hopes to start this week - Every little bit helps.