MHS Spirit Week

This week, Brady's school is celebrating "Spirit Week". The kids are encouraged to dress up everyday this week in a different theme.

Monday"s theme: Rocker ..... Brady forgot or didn't know about spirit week when he went to school. It just happened that he had on a "Music" t-shirt and fit in great!!

Tuesday's theme: Lazy day / P.J. day ..... Brady wore P.J.'s to school. I didn't get a picture with him in them - but these are the P.J. bottoms he wore with a regular t-shirt. He was only one of a few people who dressed up... Lot's of people in the halls commented "Nice P.J.'s".
Wednesday's theme: Cowboy and hat day: Brady wore this hat... His hat was the biggest at school. He really had a fun day yesterday!

Thursday's theme: Hawaiian day or Hippie day... Brady decided to wear his "peace" shirt. He is being nice to me and letting me take these pictures... What a great kid!!

Friday's Theme is going to be School Colors, which is appropriate for "Spirit Week".

I am really proud of Brady for participating in school activities. High School can be fun if you are involved and make it fun. I've always stressed that it is much more fun to be weird and have fun then "Too Cool" to enjoy life. I hope he always keeps this fun loving spirit in him, it is truly the only way to enjoy life and the journey!

This past weekend our stake had youth conference for the teenagers in our stake (area church members). Brady attended all day Saturday and wrapping up with a fireside on Sunday. I have been begging Brady to another guest blog about all the fun... Hopefully he will. I wasn't there which means I can't really blog about it.

Electricity

Sometimes it is hard to keep up with all the little things that need repaired when you are a home owner. For me it comes to having enough money to actually do the repair or taking time off work to wait for a repairman (usually an all day thing).

I've had some issues with my electricity that has needed to be fixed for a while. In the upstairs room the ceiling fan has been broken for several years. Yup, several years! It actually spit out sparks when it quit working - scary!!

About six months ago I found a ceiling fan at Fred Meyers that was on sale and it had addition 40% off the sale price. I was able to purchase it for under $40. It has been sitting in my garage since then.

When we had warm weather a couple of weeks ago I decided I really needed to get it fixed. This is the top floor room that gets very hot in the summer too. Since I only had to clean one house this past Friday, I decided to call and get it replaced with the new one. I didn't think to get a picture of the old one.
Yes!! It is finally fixed. The ceiling fan works, the light works and it is beautiful!!

Another electrical problem I have had is that the lights in my hallway have not be working for - ooohh about 2 years.. I know - just shake your head!! Yeah!! They work - you can turn them off and on!!! LET THERE BE LIGHT!

AND...... Yes -- AND the fan in the bathroom has been out for about 4 months. It's been horrible not having a fan in a bathroom with no windows.. It's new, smooth running and now we have a working fan in the bathroom.

Such a relief to have these things fixed! Sometimes it is hard to be a home owner and a single woman... but I manage... It may take months or years - but I eventually do get things fixed!!

Spring Flowers!

Oh how I love Spring!!! I love how the earth starts to awaken, flowers bloom, there is popcorn on the trees and the grass is green. After a long cold winter, it's nice to have milder weather. I love being outside enjoying the beauty that surrounds me.

I love daffodils! Last year I was able to get several bulbs in the ground after a 75% off sale.

The colors of some of the tulips we planted are magnificent!

I also love the plants that remind me of "Jesus".. like this bleeding heart.... each drop of blood our Savior shed for us - because he loves us!

Here are some pictures of the seeds I planted. They are finally looking good after putting them in my kitchen window. They were looking really sad and didn't have enough sun in the craft room... I was about to give up. Finally I put them in the window seal and now they are thriving. They just needed sun. I'm happy to see that the tomato plants look like tomato plants now.

Here are my trays of Geraniums and Fuchsias I purchased at Fred Meyers for 75 cents a plant. They are growing big too - I need to plant them soon!

You can see the Fuchsia is starting to bloom.

I have one bush in my berm that is a "popcorn" tree... Yeah!

My berm is finally looking like spring with all the bulbs starting to bloom.

I love the green grass, the Iris's are starting to grow and you can also see my Peonies are growing too at the back of the picture. Aaaahhhh the smell and beauty of a lilac bush... Filled with flowers this year! I love this time of year!

I just can't say no to more work...

It is crazy that I have been in such high demand for my cleaning services lately.

One of my customers, Mary Kay (true name and not that Mary Kay), has been adding on an extension to her home as in-law quarters. It's another 1200-1500 square feet home of bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, living areas attached to their house. I've been dealing with all of the construction mess for a good 6 months. I can't wait until it is done.

This week I finally asked her if they were going to have me clean the addition. I don't have more time on the day I clean her AND also clean the addition. Her regular home is about 4500 square feet and is huge. I told her the only way I could clean it would to do it as a separate house on a different day. She currently is cleaned every week, but I could only clean the addition every other week. I currently only have one opening that I have been reluctant to fill - I need the time off.

While we were talking she indicated that her mother-in-law would keep her own cleaning lady to clean her area. I was pretty relieved.

Then this past week they found out that her own mother has lung cancer and may not live much longer. She was pretty upset of course and we had a long talk about that - life after death - the gospel etc. It was a good conversation and even though death is a very difficult thing, you hope that you can give some comfort in the knowledge we enjoy from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mary Kay has been staying with her Mom and Dad to help take care of her at home. The night before her cleaning day, she called and asked if I would go and clean their house instead. Of course I would help her out and clean their parents house instead of hers.

Every time I clean a new customer's house - it is a major deal, because they just don't clean like I do and I have to fix problem areas like bathrooms and kitchens. This was no exception. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned as hard as I could as quick as I could because I still had another house to clean that day. I think I was able to do a pretty good job in fixing the toilets, shower, sinks and kitchen. I was exhausted by the time I was done. Plus, I feel pain in my wrist and elbow from all the hard work. I'm going to really have to baby my arm this weekend - with the hopes I can get it healed before Monday. (Do you think you can be addicted to Tylenol?)

Mary Kay called me and thanked me for the amazing miracle work I did to their bathrooms and kitchen. She was very happy and so were her parents.

Now for the dilemma.... Her in-laws and husband want me to clean the addition in their house so they don't have to work with multiple people coming in and out of their house. AND her parents would like me to clean their house too. Sooo much work and not enough of me...

I've thought about how I can do it and not let one of my favorite customers down - or possibly lose the customer to the other cleaning lady.

I finally had a thought and I told her I could rotate the in-law addition one week and the basement the other week - but do the main living area every week. Plus, then I could do her parents on my last opening every other week.

I have absolutely no extra time anymore... which makes it very difficult if I have to change any customer's cleaning day for a party, illness, conflict, company (etc) or even a holiday.. It's hard to say NO to money, to work... especially when your customers love you so much and I know I do the best job out there.

I get worried about getting over loaded. I know when I work so hard that when I'm done I am so very exhausted and come home an die. No energy to do anything fun.. I have to recover enough to clean the next day.

The dilemma is -giving up work and have a life with energy... Be proactive in case my two older customer die. Be proactive in case the economy effects one of my customers ability to keep me - a luxury.

I think at this time, I will work myself to death and save like crazy. I hope my body can handle all the physical labor and be able to keep up with my craziness in getting so over booked with work.

The other thing - do I have time and energy for my own yard work this summer? To be able to have a vegetable garden and then can food in the fall. I just don't know... Is it the right thing to always be working and working - and not living?

A side note... sorry to be complaining about work when so many people are without work. It's just a bit over whelming to me at this moment... Over whelming when I still can't say "no" very well... I should be grateful for all the blessing I am receiving and that my body does handle all the work.

I AM grateful for all the blessings I have and know that my Heavenly Father truly watches over me and my family.

Spring Swap

A couple of weeks ago, Cherie at Bakow Babbles held a spring swap. If we were interested in joining we signed up with her. Then she matched 2 people together and we were to send some surprises with at least 3 spring things in the package.

My swap partner was Wendy from "No Botox Allowed". I was able to get a little gift sent to her and today I received a package in the mail from her.
Woo Hoo - the mother load!! Look at all that cool stuff! Wendy sure did spoil me!! I totally LOVE everything! Isn't it fun to get surprises in the mail?? I love it!

She sent me eight fabulous wash clothes that match my colors... cool and very nice!

2 bars of Olive Oil soap... Orange and jasmine scented. How fun!

Also some Bath gel from Avon - scented blackberry and vanilla

4 piece manicure set - which my poor finger nails are desperately in need of - a good manicure.

Note tags to mark special notes to books without altering the pages! This will come in handy... I always mark up LDS books I read - especially Sheri Dew books. Now I'll be able to find the references quicker...

Kiss Me mints.... Hmmmmm Kiss me?? What's that?? But, I love the mints. (it has a frog on the front)... to find my Prince! Perfect kiss me mints - for me!!

Now....talking about kissable lips... she sent me some Avon lip gloss... Is she hinting that I need some kissing action?? I'll have to think on that --- or dream on that!! LOL!

A note pad to stick on my fridge that says: "i was never meant to work".. I'll say Yeah to that!! Where is that husband to work for me.... Oh... yeah --- gone... I guess I'll have to work... Darn!

And a really cute magnet that says: "Things happen for a reason. Just believe.


Like I said....Wendy totally spoiled me...

Thanks a bunch!! I loved it all!!

Cherie -- thanks for having a spring swap... It was such fun!!

The Joys of Cooking

One of my favorite things I love about blogging is all the inspiration I am able to get when I visit other blogs. You blogging women out there are simply amazing! You are talented, creative, smart, witty and inspiring. I can get sucked in to the blog world for hours and hours reading your blogs and searching your site. I try to limit the hours I stay on-line to have a real life ..... but sometimes it is hard to do.

I have really become addicted to getting recipes. You ,my friends, are awesome cooks. When I was a little girl and being the baby daughter, I had NO interest in learning how to cook. I didn't want to do it at all. I always said that if I couldn't get it out of a box - then I wouldn't eat it and my husband would have to deal with it - LOL! (this is true).

Through necessity, I have had to learn how to cook a few things. Of course, I have my few basic recipes that I cook over and over - the same hum drum... I like things that are quick and come out of a package - still to this day. I work hard every day and don't really want to spend hours in the kitchen when I come home.

Lately though.... I have been inspired over and over again by all the great recipes I run across. I really want to be a better cook and be able to use the food I store, which I think is part of self-reliance and emergency preparedness to know what to do with the food now and not just in an emergency.
Who would know that I would start loving to cook?? I have become better prepared and a better cook since blogging and being inspired by all of you.

I received the sweetest call on Sunday from my niece Zoey Michelle. When her family was here visiting, I sent 6 loaves of bread home to my family members with her. They liked my bread recipe and made it over the weekend. She was very excited and proud of her bread that she called me to share the news and invited their neighbors over for a piece of warm homemade bread. I was excited for her as much as I was excited for me when I made my first homemade bread. It's a great feeling to know you can provide basic food for your family without having to go to the store and in case of an emergency. We are learning what to do with our food storage and it's a great feeling.

Over the weekend I made the best soup. Wild rice and chicken soup from Pinks Cookies with Sprinkles. I found her blog when Cherie featured her last week. She is an amazing, health conscience and frugal cook. I have really enjoyed browsing her recipes.

I've started a binder that is full of detailed recipes I find on different blogs. Everyday, by your examples - I am becoming a better me! It's a great feeling! Thanks for all the inspiration you give to me daily through your amazing blogs!

Drivers Training

Yup, it's that time when my teenager is enrolled to learn how to drive. We sent in the registration for Drivers training summer school. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

Teenage drivers are kind of scary ... they are new to the whole driving experience. Brady is real "NEW". He hasn't even started a car or anything related to driving a car. Soon he will be behind the wheel and moving that big piece of metal.

I remember my first day at drivers training. I was the first one up to drive. We were in the church parking lot and my instructor tells me to back up. I put the car in reverse and push on the accelerator and go. All of a sudden we come to a screeching halt. Scared me to death. Then I received a lecture that we don't push on the accelerator when going in reverse - like I knew that without instruction...

I am a great driver ... a little impatient at times ..... well most of the time..

I was in a few wrecks when I was a teenager. I sure hope I can live through another teen driver. Actually, Jason was a great driver and didn't really have any wrecks when he was a teen. For some reason, I handled Jason driving better then I am handling Brady going to Drivers training. Maybe I'm just older and wiser now, and know the risks better. Not to mention the added costs of insurance and another car... Arrgghhh it's a scary day!

Our Easter and Recipe for Resurrection Rolls

Brady decorated our Easter Eggs Saturday night. I called Jason to see if they were coming over to help decorate. He indicated that they were not feeling well and didn't want to come over. I asked if they were going to come for Easter dinner and again they were not going to come because they had colds and were not feeling well.

Since it was only going to be Brady decorating the eggs, we only did 24 eggs.

The Easter bunny did come to our house for Easter. When Brady got up for church and went to sit down for breakfast, he said, "Do I have to find eggs?"
I said, "Only if you want to."
He said, "Well, there is one on my chair."
I said, "Well, I guess you can find that one if you want to"... LOL.. He found it.

After he ate breakfast, he started finding eggs - even though the Easter bunny wasn't suppose to come visit our house. He found a bunch and I asked if he had looked inside the plastic eggs. He hadn't and went to check. Right off the bat, he opened 2 eggs with $5 in them (there were only 3 with $5 in them). He got really excited and motivated to find all of the eggs. He started to have fun and loved the pile of money he got (about $30).

Then we got ready and left for church.

When we came home the ham and potatoes were ready for dinner. One of our traditions is to make Resurrection rolls. If you don't know about resurrection rolls - here is what you do.

Can of Pillsbury crescent rolls
melted butter
large marshmallows
cinnamon
sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.

Give each child a marshmallow, this represents Jesus (we cut the marshmallow in 1/2 for less mess)
Have them dip the marshmallow in the melted butter, which represents the oils of embalming.
Then dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body.

Then wrap the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside). This represents the wrapping of Jesus body after death.

Place in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. The oven represents the tomb.

When the rolls have cooled sightly, the children can open their rolls (cloth) and discover that Jesus is no longer there. He is risen.. (the marshmallow and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty. )

Also to help with the mess, we put them in a cupcake pan with cup cake liners. It helps a lot.

They are hollow inside and really yummy. (Brady made his into balls - which worked too)
The Easter bunny made up 3 baskets, for Brady, Jason and Sharon.

Looking at the picture, it appears that Brady took out the spiritual stuff. He received a hymn book with his name engraved on it. An LDS hits CD, a DVD of Glen Beck's conversion (the store employees and customers recommended to me). We haven't watch it yet. He didn't get too much candy. Of course he receive a big chocolate bunny called "Da Bunny". Also Peeps and some Reese's eggs. He was happy and wanted more Reese's eggs which I just happened to have extras in case he changed his mind.

I asked him why he didn't want candy this year. He said that what he really meant was he didn't want small candy like jelly beans. He was happy with the cold hard cash - and his bunny. It was an excellent Easter for him. However, he refused to let me take pictures - and I was NOT happy about that. He was not in a picture mood.

Later in the day, Jason and Sharon stopped by to pick up their baskets. They only stayed for about 20 minutes... It made me happy that they at least came by.

I had an excellent Easter - even though my children are all grown up!

Recipe for Play Dough

Ingredients:
3 Cups water
2 Tsp Vegetable Oil
3 Cups Flour
1 & 1/2 cup Salt
1 Tablespoon Cream of Tartar
Food coloring few drops or unsweetened "Kool-Aid" 1 pkg.

Mix ALL of the ingredients in a large saucepan.

Cook over medium low heat, until the dough comes away from the edges of the pan and it becomes difficult to move the spoon - as below:
Remove from heat. Cool until it can be handled.

Place on counter or wax paper kneed 3-4 times.

Store in an air tight container.

The secret ingredient here is cream of tartar. This recipe makes play dough that is not grainy like uncooked play dough and keeps for a long time.

Recipe Cherry Cheese Cake

Ingredients:
Cream Cheese (room temperature)
Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 cup lemon Juice
1 tsp Vanilla

Cream the room temperature Cream Cheese with mixer until it is nice and creamy.

Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix until nice and creamy.

Add the lemon juice and vanilla. Mix well for several minutes.
Put in a graham cracker crust and chill.

Add a can of Cherry Pie Filling on top (after it has chilled for several hours). Cut and serve.

This is one of our favorite desserts - and it really EASY!

Food Storage Recipe: Apple Upside Down Cake

Apple Upside Down Cake

3 cups dried apple slices
1 3/4 cup hot water
3 TBSP butter or margarine
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp lemon juice
3/4 tsp cinnamon ground
1 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Combine apples and hot water. Set aside. Sift together salt, baking powder and flour. Set aside.
Combine soaked apples and remaining juice, 1 and 1/4 cup sugar, 3 TBSP butter, lemon juice and
cinnamon in a sauce pan and simmer just until tender and moist. Pour into well greased 9 x 13 pan.

Sprinkle with pecans. Cream together 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup sugar. Blend in eggs, beat well.
Combine milk and vanilla, add alternately with dry ingredients to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Spread over apple mixture in pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until done. Remove from oven. Turn cake upside down over large serving plate.

Let stand a few minutes, remove pan. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.

Food Storage Recipe: Chicken Pasta Salad

Chicken Pasta Salad

12 oz bow tie pasta
12 oz tri-colored pasta
1x20 oz can pineapple tidbits
2 cups chopped celery
4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed (canned chicken or turkey may be used)
1x16 oz bottle Kraft Coleslaw Dressing (do not substitute)
4-6 green onions, chopped
1 cup salted cashews
2 cups red grapes, halved
1 cup mayonnaise(do not substitute)

Cook all pasta. Drain pineapple. Mix dressing and mayonnaise. Add pastas and rest of ingredients to dressing and mayonnaise mixture. Mix well. Refrigerate a few hours before serving.

Food Storage Recipe: Applesauce bread

Applesauce bread

1/2 cup cooking oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 and 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup sweetened applesauce

Mix cooking oil, sugar and eggs; beat till light and fluffy. Stir together dry ingredients and add to
creamed mixture, alternating with applesauce (beating after each addition) Stir in nuts; pour into paper lined 9 1/2 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 70 minutes or until done.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes and remove.

When cool spread with sugar glaze:

1 TBSP butter, melted
1 cup powdered sugar
1 TBSP water
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix till smooth. Let stand 3 minutes or until thickened. Drizzle on bread

Food Storage Recipe: Refried Bean 7 Layer Dip

My  standard non-food storage recipe for Refried Bean 7 layer dip:

1 Can Refried Beans

3 Avocado

2 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

2 Tablespoons Mayonnaise

Olives chopped finely

1 Large can of Sour Cream

Package of Taco Seasoning

Cheese

Spread refried beans on the bottom of your dish.

Mix smashed avocado with Lemon juice and Mayonnaise. 

Layer on top of the refried beans. 

Layer the finely chopped olives.

Mix taco seasoning and sour cream together.

Layer over the olives.

Sprinkle small shredded cheese on top.

Yum!

This next recipe is with freeze dried refried beans. The recipe come from the LDS dry pack cannery. 

Refried Bean 7 Layer Dip

Mix and add together:

1 cup refried beans (dried beans from cannery)

1 and 1/4 cups boiling water

1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/8 cup dry pack onions

1 small can mild green chilies

Allow first 4 ingredients to sit 10 minutes.

Add green chilies.

Add salt and garlic to taste.

You may also add 2-3 TBSP of salsa.

Spread out on serving plate.

Continue to layer with taco flavored sour cream (1/3) package or less of taco seasoning added to sour cream, diced tomatoes, grated cheddar cheese, green onions, browned and crumbled hamburger, black olives, etc.

Serve with chips of choice

Foodstorage Recipe: Applescotch Crisp

Applescotch Crisp

6 cups sliced peeled tart apples or 6 cups reconstituted apple slices from Cannery
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup and 1 TBSP flour
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1 pkg.(3 1/2 oz) cook and serve butterscotch pudding
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold butter

Place apples in ungreased 9 x 11 baking pan. In bowl, whisk brown sugar, 1 tbsp flour, water, and milk.

Pour over apples. In another bowl, combing oats, pudding mix, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt and remaining flour. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over apples.

Bake at350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until topping is golden brown and fruit is tender.

Serve with ice cream, if desired.

Food Storage Recipe: Pinto Bean Fudge

Pinto Bean Fudge

1 cup cooked, soft pinto beans, drained and mashed or reconstituted equivalent of re-hydrated refried
beans
1/4 cup milk
1 TBSP vanilla
2 lbs. powdered sugar
6 oz. unsweetened chocolate
6 TBSP butter or margarine
Nuts, chopped (optional)

In large bowl stir beans and milk together, adding enough milk to resemble mashed potatoes in
consistency; stir in vanilla. Melt chocolate and butter and stir into bean mixture. Add nuts.

Gradually stir in powdered sugar to get it well blended. Spread into lightly buttered 9 inch baking dish or form into two 1 and 1/2 inch rolls. Chill 1-2 hours. Cut into pieces. Refrigerate.

Easter Children are all Grown UP!

This year I was informed that Brady is not a "CHILD" anymore and does NOT want to do anything fun for Easter.

The Easter Bunny does NOT need to come and visit our house anymore.

The Easter Bunny does NOT have to hide eggs anymore.

But he will decorate some eggs!

Brady does NOT even want an Easter Basket.

Because he says he never eats it anyway - which is true.

All he DOES want is a chocolate Easter Bunny.

My heart fell -- WHAT?? You don't want the Easter Bunny to come to our house?? What?? sniffle - sniffle... I can't believe my baby is all grown up.. sniffle - sniffle.

However, Ann Marie had a great post today that her grandparents put money in the plastic eggs for the Easter Bunny to hide. Hmmmmm great idea. I can NOT bear that we will NOT be having the Easter Bunny coming to our house anymore. What a sad day!

There was a great article in the Ensign this month about Easter Baskets with blessings. I think I'll have to hit Deseret book and Seagull book. Here is the article:

With a little thought, you can prepare Easter baskets for your children that focus on the gospel. Many materials at Church distribution centers make ideal gifts. One year we purchased several sets of New Era poster cards and some red scripture-marking pencils. We divided up some of the cards and put them and a pencil in each basket. The rest we gave to neighborhood children. Another year we included pocket-sized hymnbooks among the Easter treats. Many options are available to help your family focus on the true purpose of celebrating Easter.

Julie Eichler, “Easter Baskets with Blessings,” Ensign, Apr. 2009, 70

Enjoy the journey - as it will be sooner then you think - that your babies will be all grown up!

My Roof is Repaired

Last week during a wind storm, I lost several shingles off of my roof. You can see the black line on the roof - that is where all of the shingles were blown off.

I have to say that I HATE having repairs. It seems like I have a huge sign on my forehead that screams "Helpless single woman - make sure you try to rip me off!". Every time I get a repair, the repairman tells me how doom and gloom things are. Then they proceed to tell me that I need this huge repair cost to be up to code or that we are all going to die because of this. I hate this rip off age. I just want a fix - like a husband would do... not a whole remodel / fix it / up to the latest code fix. Plus, I think the new frame of mind is to get as much money as you can out of every little fix.

When I find a good repair man who doesn't rip me off - they are are on my list forever. Usually I come across them accidentally and my most favorite repairmen are those who are retired and who have a good work ethic and are not out to rip me off.

Unfortunately, I have had many shingles blown off this side of my roof. I've had several repairs. They always tell me the doom and gloom of it all - that I need to re-shingle my whole roof for $3000+ dollars and I need to do it now. They tell me they can't match the shingle color and so it's better to just replace it all. It's always some big sad story. Luckily I've had extra shingles and was able to have those particular repairmen just fix the missing shingles.

Then I came across a wonderful retire man, Mel Wirz and the name of his company is Absolute Best. He is honest and does a great job. That is what I want "honesty and integrity". Mel came yesterday to fix my roof. Yeah!! It's repaired! There were no doom and gloom stories, just honest labor and my roof fixed. He even had the shingles - which is good because I don't have anymore. And the shingles match - imagine that!!

If you live in the Boise area and are in need of an honest man to fix any shingles you may have lost in a wind storm - he is the man to call. His number is 208-283-2932.

The cost for this repair was $100. By far the cheapest repair to date that I've had to replace blown off shingles.