The Compulsive Ramblings Of A Philotherian: lowes

It's that time of the week again. This week is a smidge different, it's still photos from my phone, but it's mainly holiday related. I mean, I don't guess that makes things too different, but I guess some of this would get a dedicated post. Maybe... I don't know where I'm going with this.

We went to the tree farm earlier today and normally when we go to a tree farm I take my camera, but there was something SO off with today that I didn't even bother. I'm glad I didn't, because there were like 4-5 people there and they all worked there. It was a kind of smaller place to begin with, so bringing my camera would've made things hell awkward. They were very, very nice, don't get me wrong, but it felt like they were watching our every move. Not thinking we were going to steal, but wanting us to buy something.

My aunt and uncle also went, but they rode in a separate vehicle this time. Well there were some very beautiful water lanterns for sale for the staggering price of $53! Probably 90% of their stuff was grossly overpriced, so I wasn't jumping at the opportunity to buy anything. Well my uncle locked onto the lanterns and was asking my aunt if she liked them and, of course, she did. We he ended up asking the lady how much they were and if they had more in the back, which they did. Then out of nowhere he shouts, "We'll take it!" Um... excuse me? He didn't even ask my aunt if she wanted to get it, he just went for it.

Well my aunt was very obviously irritated at his $60 purchase. LaVaughn and I were equally shocked and surprised at the audacity. A little back story on my uncle real quick: he's been off work for like 8 weeks with his knee. He's gonna end up having a knee replacement, but his insurance isn't paying him as much as he would normally be making, so things are tight for them. I know this, LaVaughn knows this and my aunt damn sure knows it. So you can see where her anger comes from.

This was kind of the mindset of the whole day, just a lot of irritation and uncomfortable situations.

And to top the tree farm experience off, their trees were like so ridiculously tiny and carried a price tag that weighed more than the tree. We headed to Lowes after, which was a total bust. Thankfully Menards saved the day and we were able to find a 7 1/2ft tree for the same price as the micro trees from the tree farm.

Black Friday shopping was also a bust. I wanted to get this stupid little vacuum for like $20, but Farmington Walmart was out, as was Desoto's. I also wanted to get the $10 J-Lab ear buds, but they were sold out as well. We did, however, make out with 6 of the $1 wax melts and an awesome Blackstone set for my aunt and uncle. I take that back, we also got the 4 pack of mini cookers that Walmart had. Still... total suckfest. I also missed out on the 65in TV that Walmart had that I wanted to get my aunt and uncle for Christmas. Now I'm gonna have to swallow my pride and try to find a decently priced one that doesn't make me want to puke.

I guess I'll stop there. I hope your holiday week was less eventful, unless it was the good kind of eventful, of course.

This is my moms youngest dog, Hyde. He came on a drive with my and my step dad, Jeff, to pick up some Chinese food.

He was very anxious after his papa left.

But he still wanted to cuddle me.

A pretty little golden tree from Dollar Tree.

I think this was from Tuesday, this is when we got the inflatable ornaments hung up.

Messy Thanksgiving prep.

The coconut cream pie I made.

First time making these pumpkin bars. It's from a very old recipe... I also hate that it's sideways.

This is the iced pumpkin bars. They were So delicious!

Here are some of the Christmas trees from Bollinger Farms.

They were pretty, but they're like yard decor, not really big or full enough for Christmas Trees.

They had some very pretty wreaths.

They were crazy priced though, like $30-$50.

This is the only picture I took inside because it was kinda awkward and very quiet.

Here's the Bollinger Farms sign.

And here's the $60 church water lantern. It's beautiful, but not worth the price.

So I didn't have to work yesterday -- yay me! -- for some odd reason. Not that I'm complaining, it's like an inferno in that place! I kid you not, it's barely 10 degrees cooler inside than it is outside. How is that not abuse in the workplace? They will NOT fix the damn AC and I consider it cruelty.

Anyways, back to what I was originally going to say! I didn't have to work yesterday and ended up going to church with LaVaughn and my aunt. I haven't been to a baptist church in YEARS! I went to the same church that we used to go to, the one at the end of our road. I have to say, literally nothing has changed in the years I've been absent. A couple people have passed away, which deeply saddens me, but the rest is basically the same.

Our neighbor that lives up the road from us was there yesterday. I heard him ask my aunt if she had a good camera, she so much as cut him off and shouted, "Megan does, she has a real good camera!" I was thinking the entire time, "Woman, what in the hell are you getting me into?!"

Apparently he bought nearly $300 worth of outdoor paint and had his entire deck painted. It's supposed to have a 20 year warranty and is chipping in less than a month of it being applied. He was wanting someone to take pictures of the chips and have them sent to Lowe's. So that's what I did today.

I got to his house just after one, took pictures of the receipt, the paint can, and the chips -- which were actually all over his deck. He asked if I wanted him to call the store, which I did. I was hoping that they would have an email account that I could send the pictures to, as opposed to have them printed and either mailed, or taken in . Luckily they did have an email for the store, but we'll get to that later.

He attempted to call the store -- this man is 86, mind you -- but the person he was talking to was unable to hear/understand him. That's when I offered to call, which I did. Long story short, I talked to the paint department manager and was able to get all the pictures sent to him. I'm currently waiting on a confirmation email from him.

I think I almost had a heat stroke outside on his deck. This is a BIG wraparound deck that has absolutely no roof, no awning, no nothing! And it was midday, so the sun was basically at it's highest peak and beaming down like a laser beam burning into my soul.

I'm impatiently waiting on the email as I write this, all the while trying to cool down from the 100 degree weather outside. I think I need to go for a swim, that sounds like fun.

Love & Peace

-Megan