More Random Photos

Outside of re-staining a table for my mom, which she wants to be a honey pine color, we're not doing too much for Memorial Day. Here's the table...Does this look like it should be "ipswich pine?" or does it look more like "special Walnut" that is on mahogany wood. hmmmm...


Outside of going to my sister's for a BBQ, which I have to post pics of the work they're doing in the new house, I've been doing just a little bit of planting. Most of my stuff is perennials, but I still do a bit every year. take a look!

This is my Orange Blossom bush, that came from a rooting of my sister's, which came from a rooting from my mom's bush that is now about 8 ft. high.


Here's my birdfeeder seen through the rose bush


The roses... Its a David Austin Rose called Graham Thomas. You see this kind a lot in English Gardens..
There are loads of roses.. the only problem is that the stems are too short to cut and put into a vase. They smell delicious, and look incredible. Apparently, they really are disease resistant.

Here's my herb garden. Only small. Basil, Chives, Oregano, Cilantro, Thyme (French and English) and Parsley


And my front porch flowers...
these are mums that will bloom in the autumn


My hanging basket, that was supposed to go to my mom for mothers day..


and my impatients..

Will post more later, when I upload the pictures.

One year ago today

One year ago today, I was finally over the panic of waiting for immigration to go through on John and Charlton. It didn't hit me until last night that on May 12, 2005 they had their interview at the US Embassy in London. It's amazing that I carried so much stress with me for 11 months and survived. So, on this, the anniversary of the interview, I will now post the timeline.. oh, and a small glossary. With all of the immigration hubub going on here, this is what it took, in our case, to come over legally!

RFE = request for further evidence (aka wait longer than you should for a mistake that someone looking through your paperwork usually makes - sometimes its you, but in our case, it was someone else )

I-130 - petition for relative CR1 visa (greencard)
I-129F- petition for K3 visa
I-864 - financial evidence
DS-3032- paper that says to send me all paperwork
DS-230- Biographical information (the last bit of paperwork.. big deal when you get to this stage)
AOS- Adjustment of Status
VSC- Vermont Service Center
NVC - National Visa Center


6/14/2004 - married in Scotland
--------------VSC----------------------------------------
6/21/2004- sent 1-130 for John (was told I didn't have to for Charlton)
6/28/04- NOA1 for I-130 (they got it and its in a pile somewhere)
6/29/04- sent I-129F
7/01/04 - found out via congressman to get a I-130 in for Charlton
7/06/04- sent I-130 for Charlton
7/10/04 - I-130 for Charlton arrives (overnight mail, my ass!)
8/11/04- John's petition approved (where's Charlton's approval????)
9/3/04- RFE for Charlton (birth certificate)
----------------------NVC TIMELINE------------------------------
9/3/04- Case number assigned for John
9/24/04- DS-3032 sent for John
10/7/04- Charlton's I-130 approved
11/10/04- case number assigned for Charlton
12/7/04- AOS fee (both J&C) sent and DS-3032 sent overnight
12/26/04- Visa fee sent
1/4/05- I864 for both J&C sent.. COMPLETED. NOTHING is missing.
1/30/05- DS 230's sent to NVC!
2/4/05 - Black day... 2 RFE's on the I-864's. They said that I did not include my W2's for either packet... WRONG.
2/4/05- FED EX Tax forms to NVC
2/11/05- John's tax forms there... but they "don't have a set for Charlton" - bullshit
2/14/05- I fed ex another set of tax forms, as well as Congressman Weldon's office
2/16/05- Charlton's tax forms there
2/21/05- Congressman Weldon's office tells me to be patient.. then told me that the person at the NVC probably didn't even look at the packets, and that they didn't "feel" thick enough. grrrr
3/7/05- found out both cases were complete!
---------------------US EMBASSY-----------------------------------------
3/18/05 - Cases sent to LONDON
4/12/05- email confirming interview for 5/12
5/04/05- medical in Edinburgh..
5/12/05 - successful interview!

If you can survive that, you can get through almost anything!!!!!

Been crazy week...

What a nutty week. Things at school have been hectic, and Winston has decided to start peeing right outside his litter box. I've even bought a new box, which the other cats love, but Winston still insists on peeing outside the other box. I think we should get rid of the "pee box" and leave the new box, so he'll get used to it. Its a nightmare everyday. This box really does cut the smell and not as much litter goes onto the floor. So, it gets 5 paws, in my opinion. Its the Booda box, if you happen to want one.




I've been frantically trying to get everything together for the concert, while dealing with a crazy bug that just won't go away. Just feeling like poo, but not 24/7. I dunno, I just wish it would go away so I can move on!
This coming week is going to be insane. Concert is on Tuesday, have union meeting on Thursday, and hopefully there won't be too many more mettings. I have to get over to my mom's new house to get an antique bookcase for all of John's cookbooks. Right now, we have one of those horrible unpainted bookshelves that I put a light stain on, but it looks like it belongs in a kids room. Maybe I'll go get that today, if not, I will definitely get it this week .