A Visit with half of the 'Rents!

Jeff and I just got home to the Gump from a three day visit with his folks in Trussville - just East of Birmingham.

We had a great time with them - despite the epic battle being waged against infestation - FLEAS. We had our own battle with them earlier this summer, and as we arrived, things had hit a high point in the Pridmore yard.  Along with visiting, cooking, a trip to the new Outlet Mall in Leeds, and a drive up to Wright's Dairy in Alexandria, AL, we waged war on annoying little blood suckers!

Thursday morning, we drove up and headed out to the house. Dad was kind enough to help me out with getting the Honda's breaks fixed at his favorite garage - so he and Jeff dropped the Civic off, while I hung out a the house with the rug rats: three adorable (albeit flea ridden) shih tzus: Squirrel, Booger, and Harley. (These little fur balls are the reason I ended up with Fang!)

After dropping the Honda off, the three of us spent the afternoon at the house relaxing, watching TV, and I practiced my very sorry knitting skills (I need lots of practice) and did some cross stitch. Mom Peggy got home from work, and we feasted on lasagna and garlic bread, waged some more flea war, and laughed over Aubie (Dad's parrot) mimicking Peg with the pups.  Harley spent most of the evening on Jeff's lap. It was pretty frickin' cute... I should've taken a pic!

Friday, Jeff, Mom Peg, and I went shopping. We first went to pick up some flea med and spray for the dogs to continue the flea battle, then drove to the new Outlet Mall in Leeds. It's pretty fantastic - although unfortunately outdoors, and we worked up a sweat wandering the complex.  It was also really busy, as this was Alabama's tax free school weekend - clothing has reduced or no sales tax, and general school supplies are sales tax free. This worked out great for us - the Sketcher's store also had a back to school sale, so Jeff and I were able to both get new tennis shoes (much needed) for about 70 bucks - what I'd expect to pay for one pair!  We stopped by Michael's on the way back to the house so I could pick up a skein of embroidery floss to finish a tea-towel set I've been working on for way too long. (I finished them tonight! Yeah me!)

This is Ashe... although this is an older pic.
He has a lot more white/grey in his mussel these days.

Back at the house, Dad had treated the yard and Ashe's pen with insecticide - hopefully the key battle in the flea war. We started seeing a difference - though not gone, the number of fleas in the yard seemed to drastically reduce. (Whooot!) Jeff and Dad worked on the steps to Ashe's dog house (it's multi-level don't you know) - replacing some wood that had dry rotted out, while I gave Ashe a brush down and some head scratchin'.

After cleaning up, I helped Peggy make a veggie supper - cornbread, cream corn, speckled butter beans, and fried okra! The okra may have been frozen/pre-breaded but it was AMAZING!

After supper, Jeff went upstairs to read, Peggy went to bed, and I ended up hanging out with Dad - he likes to tell me stories about what Birmingham was like when he was young - and about dogs, and I like to hear them! Without doubt, Bud and I get along thanks to dogs... and beer. :)

Saturday morning, we took a ride to Wright's Dairy - a great little outfit in Alexandria, just north of Gadsden AL. Peg and Bud drive up every week or so to get "real" milk, ice cream, and cheese. They make amazing cheese - and I was glad to get some! They also have their calf shed right next to the parking area, where we saw these little cuties! One of the newest born (no ear tag yet, and very shaky on the legs) thought it was well past lunch and was bawling his little heart out.  As we were going into the cheese shop, one of the dairy folks came out to spray their stall for flies and he about had a fit thinking it was feeding time.

We made a few stops on the way back to the house - the first at a great little candle and knitting shop: Yvie's. I very narrowly escaped buying about half the store - including this fantastic piece of head ware:
Love it! :)

We also stopped at a tropical fish store - and found some pond gold fish for the 'rents back yard.

Then back to the house... to load up, say goodbye to the rug-rats and the 'rents, and head home to the Gump to gear up for some churching on the morrow (the choir resumes from it's summer hiatus) and to set-up Scot Bruce. Not a bad weekend!