and the winner is...

so the guesses are all in, the polls are closed, and we have a winner!!!

so listed from lowest guess to highest:

jwo-210
david- 244

mother hen- 250

lily- 282

monika- 288
*gail- 300

mishi-316

terri- 360

jgreg-447

tami- 475

dad-500
**rois- 540

*(changed when # of beds told)
**(# became available when gail changed her guess)

and the winner is...

ROIS!!!

 there are 541 bottles total used around the beds. 540 are wine bottles (well, some are san pelagrino bottles and there are a few champagne bottles) and 1 was a gin bottle. 

i will let you know when your wonderful prize is ready and we can either get together or i can mail it. i vote for getting together...for a cookout...with the fams. :) 

one out of ___?

one last bottle needed. 

i thought i had enough, but obviously i am one shy. so very close to the end of a rather long project. i must say i am proud of it though.



what is this project? some might ask.

well, it started with me wanting to find an economical way of bordering in our vegetable beds because the fabulous soil was being washed away with each winter. i didn't want to use wood because face it, in the pacific nw it can be rather wet.  

i had an idea out of the blue. wine bottles. the perfect solution. most of our friends drink wine. only a few loads were from people we didn't know or neighbor's recycling. kev only picked up a few that way once or twice. they warm the ground and help keep the roots toasty.

i know how many bottles were used in the bed project. i've counted twice. 

Guess how many bottles used in the 6 beds 
and win something fabulous and wonderful!!

Guesses must be made *HERE by next Sunday, the 25th. 8:00 am pst.

* comments left at the fb posting won't be counted. i want to make this easy on my brain people!

a confession

i have a confession to make. i am addicted to something. it's been a little while in the making, but it's full blown now. i don't know what i did without it before. i can't imagine life without it ever again. 

i'm addicted to...

debbie bliss prima yarn. it's drape, it's weight, it's warmth without being too warm. the only thing i am not in love with is that almost every single ball has at least one knot in it. BUT i don't let it sway me away from using it. because of the amazing qualities of the fabric it makes.

there is a slight sheen to it, too. as soon as i finished flirt, i went to the website where i had gotten the purple yarn on sale and saw they had more than enough left in brown. and it was still on sale! i just went shopping for our spring wardrobes and felt as though i was still missing something. a brown, bamboo and merino wool skirt! so yes, eventually i will make another. but not before i get a certain someone's blanket done. and i'm rapidly approaching that point...

don't send help...it's too late for me.

it's funny and sweet

so last week i got an out of the blue email from a reader of this here blog who lives a few hours away. she and her husband were overnighting it in my neck of the woods for a conference he had to attend. she was going to shop at one of our great Asian markets since where they live they have ZERO and would i want to meet for a beer.

i thought about it and thought, why the hell not? we've emailed back and forth for a little while now and honestly, it's kind of neat...meeting someone with whom you've only shared emails/blog comments (isn't it, B?).

i had a *dentist appointment at 11:20 (yea no cavities! just two old fillings need replacing...one of which has just fallen out) and i told her i would call her when i was done.

we met close to one of her favorite markets (it's HUGE) and grabbed a bite to eat. it was so so sweet to meet you V!!!

we talked of knitting, great Thai places to eat in town (glad to hear you liked it too, V), as well as our lives. it was so easy to sit and chat with one another. a new friend in this life i live. it's funny where and how we meet people. isn't it? funny and sweet.

we'll do it again sometime, i'm sure.


*any people in pdx who need a dentist...i've got your man!

it arrives! a photo story...thank you vicki

a conversation

my boss came by the store i was working at yesterday and actually sat and chatted with me for a while. it was a painfully slow day at the store so i was happy for the conversation.

he said to me, "you shouldn't complain about your life...you have it really good."

my reply to him was that i KNOW i have a good life and i try not to take it for granted. (for the record, i wasn't complaining about my life when he said that). he smiled at me, almost beamed, and said, "good. it's good you know this. not enough people with good lives know this."

it got me to thinking about the life i live. it is a good one. i might even say it is great.

i am thankful that i have a great boss, who is always challenging me. i am grateful i have an amazing family, which always supports me and my ideas. i am honored to have such fabulous friends, who are there to lend a hand when needed. and my husband...i can't imagine what i did to get so lucky to have met and married kevin. but i am thankful indeed!

what is something (or who is someone) you are thankful for?

i spy with my little eye

can you see it? i know you can. if not, click the pic to make it bigger.

you see now? two little sprouts. what are they?

CORN!!!

i planted roughly 40 seeds (two rows) and we have about 10 coming up right now, with hopes for more.

our zucchini sprouts have started too. out of the 9 i planted, 2 are emerging. we'll probably even cull that to one plant (will let the little boogers grow to see who is going to look the strongest).

i could hardly believe my eyes when we took the tour last night. i swear, every single day i walk through the garden i spy something else new and beautiful.

we've got quite a bit of garden work that kind of dropped in our laps last night, however. the tiny italian plum tree is covered in aphids. we have rock to spread. there are always weeds to pull (but that isn't new, so not really something that "dropped" per se).

advantage

sometimes you have to take advantage of the days you are given. today was just that type of day for us. the house got picked up and dusted this morning, while it was still chilly and grey outside. but just as the weather reporters predicted, it was sunny and lovely by this afternoon. kevin took josie on a walk while i finished getting cleaned up myself. we ate leftover baked penne with shrimp and scallops for lunch, i gorged on the leftover broccoli. and then we walked over to the garden center to get seeds.

we were lucky enough to get over to the center while there was still a few asparagus crowns left. we put our five into the bag and wandered the rows a bit more. we asked about broccoli starts and were told to keep on checking back in the next week or so. we picked up some seeds, though. butter lettuce, romaine, corn, red onion, spinach, and some cat grass kevin says he will grow for the duo. we'll see.

anyway, as i was putting the receipt in the pile to file, i got to thinking how for just a little bit more than $20.00 we will have vegetables for a good portion of the summer (hopefully our success last year was not a fluke). we are going to also plant potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and zuchinni.

it's a gift, being able to grow our own food.

the blog

when i started blogging a few years ago my intention was to have a place where my family could go to check in. then, i started really enjoying the whole sharing my life's stories with people i don't even know (well, at least not in person). and finally i got quiet.

i think it started being hard for me to write because i was not sharing some very personal things here. my life has continued, things have gotten better and i am starting to feel the pangs of missing my friends.

so, to write...to speak...to sing.

the perfect day

I woke without an alarm. Kevin had gotten up and fed the animals, which allowed me to have a bit of a lie in. It was wonderful to get up at 8:00. I had a single slice of toast with one cup of coffee shortly after getting up. Josie by my side. I pulled on my yoga wear and headed to to pick up Jill.

I got to see the beautiful curtains she made for us, giddy with the anticipation of hanging them after class. Practice was exactly what we needed, calm and relaxing leaving us to feel as though we were floating on air. Diana (our teacher) proclaimed she was going to have lunch with us. Jill and I were honored. I had an amazing meal with two fantastic women. Meanwhile, I got a text message from our furniture building neighbor that said "table is ready and why haven't we picked it up yet?!" Brett (neighbor) is a smart ass. I tell him we'll be home to get it shortly. He responds that he's not there, but will be in an hour.

So we installed the curtains in the bedroom and kitchen while waiting. The maple of our headboard against the copper faux silk is beautiful. And the sage color of the kitchen curtains is almost an exact match to the Kauai accent wall while the butter yellow of those same curtains pulls out the yellow in the tiles. Jill is amazing. I will share the photos after the family have gotten their first look at them in person. I love surprises. :) Well, I love surprising people.

Finally we headed to Brett's to pick up the table and Chickie. We are all three blown away. I was blown away, it felt like Kev and Jill were as well. Stunning was the first word that came to my lips. Then I just pet it. I am going to share a little peak of it. I just can't stop myself.

Can't wait to see the whole thing, can you?

shades of grey

The rain beats down outside in a deluge. It's the hardest rain we've had in a while. The sound is lovely as it bounces off the roof. The remaining leaves on our maple cling for their very lives. Not wanting to join their brothers and sisters that create a blanket on our front lawn. Soon, they will have no choice but to fall.

I've never seen a more beautiful tree in the fall than our maple. It's got shades of orange, red, green, and yellow. I look out my window from my desk and I see the branches blowing in the wind, as if it's trying to get my attention, to admire the beauty that lives before me.

So I will stop and take time to look out my window at the beauty that surrounds before it's all gone. For the grey winter that is on its way.

perfect

It seems to me that my written world here has gone a bit stale. It's not that life is stale, but I've not had enough time, enough inspiration, enough ___(fill in the blank)___. And you know what? I'm pretty okay with that.

I sometimes think about why I started writing. It's not that I felt I was a writer of fabulous words and just HAD to get them out. More like, I wanted to not have to write the same email to all our family and friends after having moved here. The cool thing is that I've met a few people along the way. A perk.

So as I reflect upon this I am struck by this thought:

The air today is perfect here. The sun is warm on my face as I harvest more beans (sorry Dad, they're going in my belly tonight, but there are more on the vine). Neighbors are out walking with their baby. And the breeze feels cool on my skin.

I find it hard to tear myself away from such a perfect evening any longer...

thank you

Thank you, Ree, for setting up your readers flickr account. Because of you, I found her.

If you haven't already been fortunate enough to have found Corey and her inspirational being, go now. GO!

Everyday she shares with us the ups and downs of her life, sending her love and life to us all. She's needed our love right back this summer and I know she felt it.

The words she writes and the photos she takes are like gems, precious and unique. Her voice is soft and inspirational. Her photography captures the exact mood. Her vision is amazing.

I believe in telling people you admire them, love them, appreciate them.

Corey, I do. You are one truly beautiful human. Thank you for sharing your kindness and spreading your amazing energy.

~xoxo

what to listen to

Every once in a while I get to bring new music into the house. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it feels wonderful.

A few weeks ago I went to see Aimee Mann with Blind Pilot opening. Blind Pilot is a local band who had amazing energy and life. Their music is soulful, energetic, and beautiful. Currently four of them hit the road for a tour. A West Coast tour. However, they did not go by van (well, except the first show) they are biking.

They set up a blog about it and I've been reading along.

I am lucky to have their album, Three Rounds and a Sound. It is beautiful.

I can hardly wait to see them in September when they are back in town (well, their back the 30th, but I've already got other plans).

some tidbits

Last night:

Jess and Erik (who have the Wii Fit I played last week) tell me my Mii is sleeping. Because I haven't been over to their house to play...Shanniqua is taking a nap. That bitch.

We had Jess and Erik over for dinner last night. We took the backyard tour and got to this bush. Erik promptly took a photo with his phone and sent it to his dad. We'll see. They tell us his dad will know the scientific name of it, so we may have to google it to find the common name. I just want to know what it is. Jess does, too. She wants to plant one in their yard. I don't blame her. I want to take a bush out that is blocking it from our line of sight when we are on the patio.

I mean, look at its amazing flower. It came off that bush and we have no clue as to what type it is. The flowers are these fantastic architectural structures. When they are closed they look like little tents almost. And then they pop open and it's magic. I really hope Erik's dad pulls through with the name.

Today:

I am going to a Strawberry Festival in the Mountain Grange my friend, Jenn, grew up near. We've gone a couple of times, but had to miss out last year. This year I almost had to work, but then the girl I was covering for told me it was not this Sunday, but next. Huzzah! Sadly Kev has to work, but he's got stuff he needs to work on so it almost is for the best. Hopefully it will be quiet and he can get much done. I will be buying a flat (or splitting a flat with Jenn) this year because I loves me some strawberries!

Tomorrow:

I will spend the majority of the day cleaning the house in preparation for Wednesday's Knit Night. Since there are more women coming, we will probably hang out upstairs. Plus with it being so pretty now (please, continue being lovely outside...) it will be nice to have some natural light to knit by.

Now:

I am going to finish my toast and drink my coffee before heading over to get Jenn and Dugan. I'm excited to spend the day with them.

on a curch marquee

Driving home last night I saw a sign at a church that obviously stuck with me. Most of the time I don't pay attention to the messages on church marquees because they are all too preachy (IMO) and I don't go for that. However, it's message was simple:

"being kind is more important than being right"

Normally my brain is like a sieve. Thoughts, ideas, names, phrases, etc all drip out. Some are gone in an instant, others take a little longer to disappear. Thankfully, this one stuck with me until this morning at least so I could write it down and remember it.

Any favorite phrases you've seen driving by a church, or anywhere that has a marquee? Something that really speaks to you?

but i don't like peas

Okay, maybe just enough for one person, but our first handful of snow peas got picked tonight (and a few promptly eaten out in the yard by yours truly and Kevin).

So darn good. There, I said it. I liked the peas. Brett was right, home grown peas are different. Now we'll see how I like the Mr. Big peas, which are shelling peas. Since he gave us the plants to sew, he will get to enjoy the splendor.

I am thinking for the first dinner in the "new" kitchen we will be making chicken caeser salads.

Just look at my romaine!


I can hardly wait until Tuesday!

We're going to get our disposal tomorrow, after Kev goes into work for a bit, but possibly before we get Josie out on a hike. Although Sunday hikes are never my favorite since there are more people out on the trails. Maybe we'll take her on a Mt. Tabor walk, she likes those just fine.

Okay, off to have dinner at yet another amazing friend's house. Thanks again, everyone, for making this not such a hard two and a half weeks without a kitchen!

the power of pie

The past few days have been beautiful. And luckily for me I got to get out of work a bit earlier yesterday and enjoy some of it.

I love when it starts to get warm again. Even if we know it will be a little burst of beauty before heading down the drain to the world of cold soon again (we get about two weeks of teaser weather before it plummets into cold and rain again for another month). The neighborhood starts to come to life. Not only in the pretty daffodils and crocuses that are blooming, but the humans come out, too.

Anyway, yesterday I was out chatting with my neighbor Brett while he was out cleaning up his yard. Ian, his tenant, was helping with his chainsaw. Seriously what is it about chainsaws?! Anyway, Brett tells me I should ask Ian to give me a quote on taking out four (what turned out to be five) red thorn bushes. Ian has his own landscape business. He's rarely home before dark.

Ian walks over and takes a look at them. He looks up and asks, "Do you ever bake cookies?" I tell him not only do I bake cookies, but I bake pies. His eyebrows raise as he says, "I like pies." I ask him what kind he would like and he said, "any." So for the price of an apple pie, those bushes were removed.

awww, thanks

So I was reading through the several blogs I start my day with and what should I see at Monika's site?!? Go look!

Inspired as she always makes me, I've decided to list my top ten blogs to read to be inspired, laugh, cry, feel all warm and fuzzy...you get the picture.

Passion Knit by PlazaJen

Tongue in Cheek by Corey

One Man's View from Lansing, KS by Dad

The Panopticon by Franklin

Out on a Limb by Bronxbt

Ottoblog by none other than Otto

Dogs Steal Yarn by Cari

Knitspot by Anne

Darrel Brannock [Artist + Realtor]

Party Ducks by Kerri

Not everyone posts everyday, but when they do they touch me. I don't always comment, but I always check in.

Thanks, Monika, for making me feel special.

i've got a confession

I have a crush. He's a little older than me. He's almost totally grey. He reminds me a bit of Monty Burns. His breath smells of death (at least that's the word on the street). He is Italian. Kevin doesn't know yet.

He's the one on the right.

I am honored that A. I got the second loaf of Challah (which is oh! my! word!); B. I fell in love with Diego (his human brother was having an off day and didn't really know what he wanted, but I still found him utterly charming and truly beautiful).


Cari, thank you for asking about Josie.

For everyone else who may be wondering: Josie is doing really well. Her skin is clearing up and she's less itchy. She also hasn't (knock on wood) had another seizure. We're hoping to reintroduce her favorite treats soon. Keep those fingers crossed for her.