Life goes on, even when you are away from home and living in a hotel.
Hotels offer housecleaning, but not like you do at home. So everyday I clean and spray and disinfect trying to keep one small room neat, relatively germ free and tidy.
Hotels offer breakfast, and this one has a great breakfast bar, but it is the same thing everyday. Yes, there is a lot to choose from and we do vary our selection but the breakfast still consists of the same 10 microwaveable things each day. We look forward to the weekends when we go out for a fresh cooked breakfast.
We are in a great location, near the mall, several restaurants and pizza parlors, but we get tired of eating out all the time. I am so thankful to have brought a small crockpot which I use a lot for heating soup or small meals. It is definitely not homecooked but so much better than eating out each day. We save our restaurant trips for days when we just want to get out.
Getting out is easy because we are within walking distance of so many things. We try to go for a walk each day just to leave the hotel and keep from getting cabin fever.
The hotel has a laundry room but with almost 200 rooms and only 3 washers and dryers it can be tricky getting laundry done. I have started going early in the morning while most people are still eating breakfast. I can get 3 loads done and be back in my room by the time the laundry room starts getting busy, then I have all day to get the clothes folded or ironed and put away.
We are adapting quite well to life in Minot and look forward to opportunities to explore more of the city and surrounding areas soon.
About Me
- pattisoriginals
- MS Gulf Coast, United States
- I am a Christian wife, mother and grandmother. I love to sew and create new and innovative items to share with my customers. The most popular area of my store is my Walnut Grove section which features clothing reminiscent of "Little House on the Prairie". Please take a moment to visit my store and see my latest creations. www.pattisoriginals.etsy.com
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sunday Phunnies
Quickies
Q. What's the Cuban national anthem?
A. Row, row, row your boat.
Q. What's the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo?
A. The southern zoo has a description of the animal on the front of the cage along with a recipe.
Q. How many people does it take to change a light bulb in a divorced man's house?
A. Like he'd get the house ...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow, and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?"
The crow answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Management Lesson --
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A bus station is where a bus stops.
A train station is where a train stops.
On my desk, I have a work station ...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office?
What are we supposed to do ... write to these men?
Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they delivered the mail?
Q. What's the Cuban national anthem?
A. Row, row, row your boat.
Q. What's the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo?
A. The southern zoo has a description of the animal on the front of the cage along with a recipe.
Q. How many people does it take to change a light bulb in a divorced man's house?
A. Like he'd get the house ...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow, and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?"
The crow answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Management Lesson --
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A bus station is where a bus stops.
A train station is where a train stops.
On my desk, I have a work station ...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office?
What are we supposed to do ... write to these men?
Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they delivered the mail?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Importance of Family
If you are a regular reader you know that my husband was unemployed for 8 months and has taken a job in North Dakota. As a result of this we have a very, dear friend who is house-sitting for us in Mississippi while we are away and we have been living in hotels for 2 months because of a lack of available apartments.
Being away from our home is difficult and not being close enough to visit makes it even harder. This would be a very morose situation if it were not for family.
This family is not our biological family and not even our home church family (whom we miss terribly) but the family of Christ as represented at Harvest Reformed Church in Minot, ND.
We first contacted this church before we left MS, as a possibile place for us to worship while we were up here. Our home pastor checked the church out for us, as well, and he said it looked promising. Our first Sunday at Harvest proved to us the Lord had definitely led us to this church.
We were welcomed warmly and the members of this church have gone out of their way to make us feel at home and a genuine part of their fellowship. We have been included in book studies, family meals and fun excursions-and we have only been here one month.
The Pastor and his wife are a true example of Christian hospitality and love. They have invited us for dinner, opened their home for me to set up my sewing projects, and even offered to have us spend a few nights with them when hotel rooms cannot be found.
Others have invited us for brunch, to visit their gardens and just to get together for a good time.
How lonely I would be without the friendship the ladies of this church have extended. They have truly gone above and beyond in making us feel welcome.
There is no way to express our sincere gratefulness to the Lord for the blessing He has shown us by leading us to this church. If you live in the Minot area and are looking for a church, come by for a visit. You will surely be blessed.
Being away from our home is difficult and not being close enough to visit makes it even harder. This would be a very morose situation if it were not for family.
This family is not our biological family and not even our home church family (whom we miss terribly) but the family of Christ as represented at Harvest Reformed Church in Minot, ND.
We first contacted this church before we left MS, as a possibile place for us to worship while we were up here. Our home pastor checked the church out for us, as well, and he said it looked promising. Our first Sunday at Harvest proved to us the Lord had definitely led us to this church.
We were welcomed warmly and the members of this church have gone out of their way to make us feel at home and a genuine part of their fellowship. We have been included in book studies, family meals and fun excursions-and we have only been here one month.
The Pastor and his wife are a true example of Christian hospitality and love. They have invited us for dinner, opened their home for me to set up my sewing projects, and even offered to have us spend a few nights with them when hotel rooms cannot be found.
Others have invited us for brunch, to visit their gardens and just to get together for a good time.
How lonely I would be without the friendship the ladies of this church have extended. They have truly gone above and beyond in making us feel welcome.
There is no way to express our sincere gratefulness to the Lord for the blessing He has shown us by leading us to this church. If you live in the Minot area and are looking for a church, come by for a visit. You will surely be blessed.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Sewing Issues
Since we have been living in hotels for over 2 months I have had to let sewing fall by the wayside. Recently, I received an email from a previous customer telling me her girls had outgrown their pioneer outfits and asking if I could create new ones for them.
I had to explain that my hubby had taken a job out of town and we would be living in a hotel with limited room for a few months. I told her if she did not need the outfits right away I would be happy to make them, but it would take a bit longer than normal.
I have been very blessed by the Pastor's wife of the church we are visiting in North Dakota. She, very graciously, allowed me to set up my machines in her home. She picks me up several times a week and takes me to her home so I can sew. What a blessing!
My customer ordered 2 pioneer outfits and 2 doll outfits for her girls. I have finished 1 complete outfit and hope to finish the remaining items this week.
It feels so good to get back to sewing and I am very thankful for a customer who sought me out with this special request.
I had to explain that my hubby had taken a job out of town and we would be living in a hotel with limited room for a few months. I told her if she did not need the outfits right away I would be happy to make them, but it would take a bit longer than normal.
I have been very blessed by the Pastor's wife of the church we are visiting in North Dakota. She, very graciously, allowed me to set up my machines in her home. She picks me up several times a week and takes me to her home so I can sew. What a blessing!
My customer ordered 2 pioneer outfits and 2 doll outfits for her girls. I have finished 1 complete outfit and hope to finish the remaining items this week.
It feels so good to get back to sewing and I am very thankful for a customer who sought me out with this special request.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Sunday Phunnies
Puns
Two vultures board an airplane, each carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at them and says, "I'm sorry, gentlemen, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
Did you hear that NASA recently put a bunch of Holsteins into low earth orbit? They called it the herd shot 'round the world.
Two boll weevils grew up in South Carolina. One went to Hollywood and became a famous actor. The other stayed behind in the cotton fields and never amounted to much. The second one, naturally, became known as the lesser of two weevils.
Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, but when they lit a fire in the craft, it sank proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it, too.
A three-legged dog walks into a saloon in the Old West. He slides up to the bar and announces: "I'm looking for the man who shot my paw."
Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.
A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?" they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."
A woman has twins, and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Amal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Amal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Amal."
These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that: Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.
Two vultures board an airplane, each carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at them and says, "I'm sorry, gentlemen, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
Did you hear that NASA recently put a bunch of Holsteins into low earth orbit? They called it the herd shot 'round the world.
Two boll weevils grew up in South Carolina. One went to Hollywood and became a famous actor. The other stayed behind in the cotton fields and never amounted to much. The second one, naturally, became known as the lesser of two weevils.
Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, but when they lit a fire in the craft, it sank proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it, too.
A three-legged dog walks into a saloon in the Old West. He slides up to the bar and announces: "I'm looking for the man who shot my paw."
Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.
A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?" they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."
A woman has twins, and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Amal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Amal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Amal."
These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that: Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
A Great Location
I have been posting about the difficulty of finding permanent housing in this area so we are staying in a hotel.
Hotel living offers it's own unique challenges. For one thing, we don't get to stay in one room long enough to unpack everything, so in a way, we are living out of plastic bins. We change rooms next week and, thankfully, will be in our new room for about 6 weeks.
Our hotel room does not have kitchen facilities. We have a small microwave and refrigerator but almost no flat surfaces to prepare any food. We did bring a small crock pot which has been a real life saver. Most of the time we eat something I cook in this pot. We try not to eat all the time for several reasons:
1. We are tired of eating out
2. It is expensive
3. There are not many restaurants (except for fast food)
4. The portions are usually too big and our fridge is not large enough for leftovers.
So most of the time we eat in our room and are so thankful for our little crock.
This will sound strange but it is difficult to keep a small area clean. I clean the room everyday but with 2 people living in one room, it really needs it.
The good thing about this hotel is the location. I am within walking distance of the mall and Barnes and Noble, Hobby Lobby, the bank, CVS, the grocery and several restaurants. I get lots of exercise because I try to walk everyday to at least one of these.
So while living in a hotel has its challenges, at least we are in a really nice one, and for this I am very thankful.
Hotel living offers it's own unique challenges. For one thing, we don't get to stay in one room long enough to unpack everything, so in a way, we are living out of plastic bins. We change rooms next week and, thankfully, will be in our new room for about 6 weeks.
Our hotel room does not have kitchen facilities. We have a small microwave and refrigerator but almost no flat surfaces to prepare any food. We did bring a small crock pot which has been a real life saver. Most of the time we eat something I cook in this pot. We try not to eat all the time for several reasons:
1. We are tired of eating out
2. It is expensive
3. There are not many restaurants (except for fast food)
4. The portions are usually too big and our fridge is not large enough for leftovers.
So most of the time we eat in our room and are so thankful for our little crock.
This will sound strange but it is difficult to keep a small area clean. I clean the room everyday but with 2 people living in one room, it really needs it.
The good thing about this hotel is the location. I am within walking distance of the mall and Barnes and Noble, Hobby Lobby, the bank, CVS, the grocery and several restaurants. I get lots of exercise because I try to walk everyday to at least one of these.
So while living in a hotel has its challenges, at least we are in a really nice one, and for this I am very thankful.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Tourist Attractions
We have been in Minot, ND for about a month and the town is slowly recovering from the flooding which happened a few months ago. Travel around town has been pretty limited because of the temporary dikes that were built in an effort to try to save as much of the town as possible. The dikes are beginning to come down but that means lots of big trucks all over the city. So I have been sticking pretty close to the hotel.
We have taken a few trips out in the country to check out possible apartments but other than that we have remained close to our hotel. Now that things are starting to return to normal I have been asking around about the attractions that draw tourists to the area.
Minot seems to be an interesting city. It is a very fast growing city with very few big city attractions. There are only a few national chain restaurants, a small mall but it is very nice, lots of hotels and some interesting Norwegian sites.
In the late 1800's this area was settled by folks from Norway. The government was offering free homesteads to those hearty souls who could stick it out and make a life for themselves here. The Norwegian influence remains in a big way.
Minot also contains some antique shops, local artists, and a zoo, that I have been told is very nice. The zoo is located in Roosevelt Park which, unfortunately was flooded and will not be rebuilt for quite awhile.
As we remain in the area we look forward to the city returning to normal and having a chance to visit some of these sites. In the meantime, we hope to visit some of the other cities located nearby.
Rugby is about an hour east of Minot and they have a pioneer village that really looks nice. Rugby is the geographical center of North America and we hope to visit this city.
Bismark is the capital of North Dakota and it is located about 90 minutes south. I have been told the capital building is very nice and the historical museum is an extra special treat. I am looking forward to making this trip.
We are hoping to make a weekend trip, perhaps over Labor Day weekend to South Dakota. We would like to visit Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands and the Black Hills. This will be quite a busy weekend, but should be fun, if we can work it out.
These are our plans for the next few months as we continue our adventure. Hope you are enjoying coming along with us!
We have taken a few trips out in the country to check out possible apartments but other than that we have remained close to our hotel. Now that things are starting to return to normal I have been asking around about the attractions that draw tourists to the area.
Minot seems to be an interesting city. It is a very fast growing city with very few big city attractions. There are only a few national chain restaurants, a small mall but it is very nice, lots of hotels and some interesting Norwegian sites.
In the late 1800's this area was settled by folks from Norway. The government was offering free homesteads to those hearty souls who could stick it out and make a life for themselves here. The Norwegian influence remains in a big way.
Minot also contains some antique shops, local artists, and a zoo, that I have been told is very nice. The zoo is located in Roosevelt Park which, unfortunately was flooded and will not be rebuilt for quite awhile.
As we remain in the area we look forward to the city returning to normal and having a chance to visit some of these sites. In the meantime, we hope to visit some of the other cities located nearby.
Rugby is about an hour east of Minot and they have a pioneer village that really looks nice. Rugby is the geographical center of North America and we hope to visit this city.
Bismark is the capital of North Dakota and it is located about 90 minutes south. I have been told the capital building is very nice and the historical museum is an extra special treat. I am looking forward to making this trip.
We are hoping to make a weekend trip, perhaps over Labor Day weekend to South Dakota. We would like to visit Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands and the Black Hills. This will be quite a busy weekend, but should be fun, if we can work it out.
These are our plans for the next few months as we continue our adventure. Hope you are enjoying coming along with us!
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