thanks, michael vincent!

Wow, Michael, I wanted to say thank you for taking the time and effort to find me a new job...even though there are several reasons why you shouldn't have...

1. I do not know you.

2. Your emails are always routed to my spam folder.

3. I don't even open those emails.

If you are some guy whose email got hacked into, you really ought to change your password to a more difficult one. Maybe add some numbers and some upper case letters? If you really are some guy trying to help people find new jobs, you may want to make sure those people you are trying to help want your help.

I'm pretty happy where I am. My boss is great. The staff is fantastic. My hours are never too horrible. The pay, well, I can't discuss that at all.

So even though you are relentless with trying to help me find a new job, I say thanks but no thanks. You can totally stop sending those emails now, Michael. I don't need, nor want, a new job.

where i sit

Yesterday life returned to "normal" and I worked until closing at our mall location (perhaps you read something about that yesterday?). I got home and my new desk had been delivered. Kev knew better than to put it together. I love doing that kind of stuff.

So after changing into my jammies, I set to work promptly. It took very little time and it's perfect. The chair is a fine height (after much debate). The desk is the right size for the space. I am a little saddened at the thought of not getting to use Jill's desk anymore, but it's time. She's not asking for it back, but I can't allow myself to get any more attached than I already am.

In real life, it's not as dark. It's a redder wood than you can see here. And that chest that Simon is splayed on? It actually lives where the tree is currently standing.

over

Everyone is now at their respective homes. It was a fun filled 9 days of family fun.

I am home from closing the store out at the mall. It closes at 9 pm.

It took me more than 9 minutes to build my new desk. And about 9 seconds to start wondering if my chair is now too short.

I'm going to go to bed.

I'm over the 9's.

never thought i'd say it...

But thank goodness for KU football. :) Currently I am sitting at work while my family is at home watching KU football (KU/MU). I had someone call in sick. The other manager is going to be in shortly, to let me go home to the visiting family. After I get home I am going to see what the game plan is that my family came up with for dinner. The original idea was to go to the store and make turkey broth so we could make soup tonight for dinner in the slow cooker. That has now been a wash, since they've not gone and have instead settled down with the foolsball. I just spoke with Kevin and he said Dad has two ideas. We'll see what those are when I get home in a couple of hours.

I'm glad they can entertain themselves (with the help of KU football).

So yes, thankful still.

giving thanks

We are ready. The silver is ready. The dog is ready (to lay under the table and pick up anything that gets dropped).

The food is almost ready. The house smells wonderful. The desserts are waiting in the wings.

I am thankful for family who could join us. I am thankful for family I married into. I am thankful for my little family I get to live with here, the animals and Kevin.

I am thankful that the tests run for my sister's baby all came back with the results for which we hoped.

Remember to give thanks for all you do have in life.

rest in peace barbara

We just got a call from Kev's mom saying that their dear kitty Barbara Frietchie has left this world. She was a good old girl. Not a nasty bone in her tiny little body. Nothing more than a few scritches made her happy. The neighbor's dogs... She didn't deserve to go like that. She was the sweetest old gal I ever did know.

Rest in peace Babs, we will miss your sweet little face...

good morning

I was met by this beautiful creature this morning as I was taking my coffee cup into the kitchen. The image is taken with an extreme zoom as well as through a window screen. But yes, our backyard is a virtual Disney movie!

Directly to the right of the chair was a squirrel. It seems as though they were having a bit of a face off (they are near the bird feeder).

I had to actually stop and do a double take before I realized there was a small hawk sitting on the chair. Then I backed out as slowly as I could, hoping I could grab the camera before it flew away.

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?

constant companion

Josie is a funny girl. She pretty much is my dog in the mornings, unless she's pulled an all nighter and decides to go back to bed (sometimes I tell her to go back to bed, too).

But normally, her position is under my desk while I have breakfast in the morning. I'm not complaining in the least. I love my constant companion. This morning, she even came downstairs with me while I put a load of laundry in. Just to stand near me...

Don't let the tag on her collar fool you. It may say Daddy's Girl, but she's really a Mama's Dog on many occasions. And honestly, nothing makes my heart sing more than when she's following me around, just to lay near me. No poking of me with her cold, wet nose. Just the need to be near.

I heart Josie...

let the waiting begin

We have a beautiful bird feeder we got years ago with my Mamasita-in-law while we were out on the coast. At our old house, birds wouldn't come near it because it was simply too close to the house.

At this house, there was a pole already out there with a pan for water for birds, so we instantly put up the feeder. The birds here love it, and the cats do too...since they get to watch through the back door.

The squirrels around here are pretty industrious and have figured how to crawl up the pole and launch onto the feeder, tipping the contents on the ground below. I have only seen this happen once, but once was enough.

Today, I have replenished the food in the feeder and am attempting to beat the squirrels at their own game. I've used petroleum jelly on the pole, hoping they will not be able to get enough of a solid grip to climb.

(I'm trying not to be the 13 year old boy that I can sometimes be...the wording of this post is enough to send me into fits!)

Pictures...yes, they will help keep minds out of gutters!

I am hoping that we get to see some of the squirrels having issues and that we can also get those "on film" to share with everyone here. Josie has been doing a good job, patrolling the yard, but when we see the squirrels at the feeder, we tend not to let her out. There is no real close tree or escape route and I DO NOT want my dog to actually catch a squirrel. That would be too much for me to be able to deal with!!

So, here's to hoping I have foiled the squirrels. I do sprinkle some feed on the ground for them, though. I know they are trying to fatten up for a chilly winter...I just want the birds to keep coming around, too. They need fattening as well.

happy birthday bay-bee

Today is your 34th birthday. Our 12th birthday of yours that we've celebrated together. 12 years. I have two responses to that amount of time.

1. Has it already been 12 years?

2. Has it only been 12 years?

It's kind of a tie.

Thank you for being the person you are. Kind, generous, loving. Funny, musical, interesting. You are my husband. But more than that you are my best friend. I am the luckiest girl in the world.

knittahs at noon

In a few hours my house is going to be full of amazing friends. All with at least one thing in common, we knit. Kevin says I lost a couple of eyes when I started talking about all this darn knitting (sorry russ and reggie, i still love you!). But there is something pretty amazing about who is brought together by the simple act of moving two sticks around with some string and creating something beautiful.

I feel like the luckiest girl right now because my sister is pregnant. Beautifully, radiantly, roundly pregnant (well, i've not seen her yet so i don't know if she is all those things, but i'm guessing she is closing in on that last one). For me, knitting baby things is like heaven. They are quick with the knitting so it makes for as close to instant gratification you can get.

With my family's arrival next week, I would like to have the four bibs done. With only one done and one on the needles, I need to knit with the wind to my sails. Perhaps we need a Bourne Identity night sometime this week. I always knit faster to action movies.

Okay, must go finish getting the house ready for the throngs of beautiful women who are coming over today. (i'm trying to get those eyes back...russ, reggie? you out there?)

I'll leave you with this:

a taste

It's killing me, not being able to share the wonderful things I've been knitting for my nephew. So we were playing with the macro setting on our new camera (mom, don't freak out...we are fine) and I am thrilled with it. This way I can tease you all with little snippets of what I've got done and what I am doing without truly giving away the surprise for those family who will be seeing things in person in just under two weeks!! I am beyond excited about Thanksgiving this year.

So, here is just a little peak. I'm pretty happy with the color, as it's pretty spot on for the true color of the bib. And every knitter knows, it's hard to get yarn color to look as it does in real life when taking a photo.

I have a tan one on the needles right now, a cream one laying in wait, only to be followed up by a striped one (in all three colors).

Knitters on ravelry, you can go see it there. :)

my dog's a jerk

Okay, perhaps she's not intentionally being a jerk, but she is still a jerk. I went in the bedroom to check myself in our full length mirror. And who should I see all curled up on my side of the bed, using my pillow? Jerk.

I'd be really upset if she weren't so damn cute.

It's just, I wish that could be me in bed still. I'm just jealous. I know I'm turning that jealousy into name calling...

jerk.

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.

my morning

We made plans to have brunch at our house today with our friends, Jessica, Brandon and their son Henry. Henry loves him some kitties. We have Simon, Udder Kitty, and Josie (who is also "a Nani dog"- they have a bit black lab at home.)

Chloe (aka Udder Kitty) really wasn't too excited for the quickness of Mr. Henry. But he wanted to find "Udder Kitty" the whole time. She was intrigued and would pop out of hiding to watch him, but would hide if he started moving.

Josie was a bit skittish by the fastness of him, but pretty much would just wander away from him if he got too near. Never making a peep, just moving. Henry is a great listener and would let Josie be when we told him she didn't want pat pats.

Simon and he cozied up on the couch for a split second before Henry was up and moving again.

The thing about Henry is, he doesn't wear me out. I enjoy every second of him. And Jess and Bran are really amazing parents (as I always knew they would be). One of my favorite things Jess does now and again, is she sends camera phone pics every so often.

This is on their drive home from our house...

He was on the go the whole time they were here. I'm sure his feet were smelling goo-ood.

And don't worry, he's got his own site and his Mom doesn't mind I post his photo.

have you ever?

I was going through photos tonight on my computer when I ran across this one. Yes, your eyes are correct, you do see a squirrel laying on it's stomach motionless. How do you know it's motionless? Well, because it is in focus, nothing is blurred, not even a hair on it's tail.

I remember this day. As soon as Josie alerted me to the squirrel, I grabbed the camera and took a photo. I text messaged our neighbor, Bret, to tell him I think Nutsy was in our tree acting weird.

I exited my house to see if I could get closer, and I sure could.

Bret came out to meet me and see Nutsy, but as soon as he came up the driveway, Nutsy got up and zipped off. I still think the photos is pretty damn funny. I've never seen a squirrel laying on it's belly. It wasn't even that hot of a summer day...

boy

My sister and her husband found out they are having a boy. 98% chance of it. Ever since I found out about them being pregnant, I've referred to the baby as him. Never waiving. I love little girls, don't get me wrong, but I knew she was going to have a boy.

She called me yesterday and left me a voice mail saying I am going to have a nephew. My heart sang. All I could think of was all the wonderful things I could knit for him. I've already got a jacket done in a kiwi green that is going to be adorable. I have a bib in a pale sky blue and a hat that is deep peacock blue both on the needles. The *Baby Yoda Sweater will be perfect, too. Oh Mah Gawd! I'm going to swoon. :)

(*sorry for no link, the one i have doesn't work anymore)

I did ask about names and am thankful to hear they are keeping that to themselves. I've heard horror stories of parents, family and friends saying things like, "Oh you can't name him *Jub Jub because I once dated an Jub Jub and it was..." or "Jub Jub, that's a dumb name...where'd you hear of Jub Jub?" or "Jub Jub was OUR baby name you..." You get the picture.

*For the record, I think Jub Jub would be a great name. ;)

change

I needed a bit more change in my life and opted to rearrange my closet, which led to the master bedroom being changed around, which meant the living room had to have some changes, too.

Change change change.

It seems that working on one room at a time really pans out for me. Although as soon as the end is near, I start dreaming of the next space to update and change. From the kitchen reno, I've moved onto our bedroom. I will get photos up, but probably after the family has come through in a few weeks. I don't want to spoil the surprise for them. :)

I've not done anything drastic in the master, just moved out some furniture, got a full length mirror and some curtains. Just enough to make it feel a little more done. All that I feel is left in there is finding some artwork for the walls (perhaps I will make something?), the curtains to be hemmed and hung, and finding the aforementioned light fixture. We will either go with a ceiling fan (which when the summer is here in a room where currently one window opens it would be nice) or a chandelier of some sort. Visually I know a really cool chandelier would be better, but again, when there is no air moving...although we will eventually be replacing all the windows in the house and we will be making sure that all in the bedroom open, so perhaps a great chandelier isn't out of the question.

Kev just goes along with my ideas, interjecting if he feels strongly about something. So far, we've done well working together. It's kind of nice to collaborate with him.

Okay, must be off to work. Walking to work in between the bouts of rain. Of course, I'll probably get caught in some since it takes me about 25 minutes to get to work from here. Ah well, it is fall in Oregon.

making the rounds

As I peruse the blogs that I've come to know and love the sentiment is the same, pride.

A feeling overwhelms me.

Tears come to my eyes.

A smile to my lips.

I am proud of my country.

i vOted!

did you?

make your voice heard.

vote for the candidate you believe in.

know that this time we CAN made a difference.

vote for a change in washington.

VOTE!

rosie

So this weekend we were invited to several Halloween parties. As the previous posts made note of, I had one hell of a busy week. All week I was on the fence about going to two parties on Friday. I chatted with one of the women with whom I work and we came up with an easy costume. I got home and started rooting around the closets. Kev asked what I was doing and I told him I was looking for something to use for my costume. All week he'd been wanting to go to the parties. So when he said he wasn't feeling great and thought he should stay home I stopped searching.

On Saturday we had yet another party invite. Kev was feeling better so we decided to search for costumes in our house (yea for no spending $$). Kev went as a beach bum. I went as Rosie:

We can do it!

You can't really see it, but the "badge" on my collar is actually my "KNITTERS FOR OBAMA" sticker. It felt right.

not quite done yet

Well, last night was very sweet. We had a handful of beggars come by the house. I think my favorite was the first two I handed out to. Older sister with younger brother...and she was easily the age where going out with your little brother could be annoying. She seemed really happy to be out with him. It was sweet. What's that? What were they dressed as? I can not remember. I just remember them being happy to be out together.

So, I got home from work yesterday and had mustered the energy and excitement about going to both parties. I started rummaging through Kev's closet, looking for a blue button up shirt. He then announced he was not feeling well and didn't think we should go to either. I told him there were no taksie backsies. So we stayed home. I text messaged our friends to let them know that we were not going to be attending either gathering because of a not feeling so well husband. Everyone told me not to catch it. :)

Today I get to go into work and finish getting the checks ready (gotta stuff the envelope with my memo) and then I get to go to the mall store way the hell out and interview four candidates for the position we have open out there. That will take a few hours and then I will compile notes, talk with Susie (who's conducting the interviews with me) and head home...

We have another party we were invited to tonight. We'll see how the Mr. is feeling tonight.

Tomorrow I work (don't worry Mom and Dad, I have plenty of time to call before heading into the store at 11:00).

I'm ready for Monday because Jill is coming over and we are doing the touch up paint and re-hanging the light fixture that we painted. It should prove to be a productive day. After which, we will drink wine and possibly light a fire...who knows?!?

a week in the life

Sunday: day off. start the finishing touches in kitchen. apply first coat of matte black paint to ugly brass light fixture. take jill out to lunch as a thanks for helping.

Monday: day off. install trim in kitchen. grout. apply another coat of paint to light fixture. go to friends house and play mahjong. win one game. go home. sleep.

Tuesday: back at work. get the mail and everything ready for boss's return home. speak to boss after he's landed in chicago. make boss laugh. boss is very sleep deprived. go to bar friend works at and have dinner and drinks with more friends. go home. sleep

Wednesday: work. write checks. visit with boss (who is at work at an early time of 8:00). go home. rearrange furniture in bedrooms and living room. do this in the three hours between the time i get home and time i have to leave for knit night. go to knit night. eat chili...mmmm, yummy chili. get my knit on with my foul mouthed knitter friends. laugh a lot. go home. sleep.

Thursday: make appointment for dog at vet (6 month check up). work. call potential employees to set up interviews. meet a/c guy downtown. climb through some poor girl's office window to access our a/c unit on the roof. watch as a/c guy disassembles unit. take field trip with a/c guy and his wife (our former employee) to check if we need a new motor as he predicted. find out it's electrical. must call different a/c guy to come out and figure it out. take stills of thief from day before. jackass. get home in time to go to friends pumpkin carving party. drink vodka and cranberry (with a splash of tonic). carve pumpkin before drinking too many of those (although i made them really weak...shhhh!!). light candles in pumpkins on friend's front stoop. oooh and ahhhh. go home, taking pumpkins with. sleep.

Today: work. I am going to call the a/c people about our unit and getting it fixed. I know, you're wondering why we're having it fixed now, with winter coming. Well the store is a little hot box and I don't want my staff to bake. I also have paychecks to write. Tonight we're invited to two parties, but I am still on the fence about going. I want to hand out candy in the hood here because last year we got kids coming by!! Kev is thinking after the candy delivery we could go, but the parties are in Northeast and North Portland (about a 35 minute drive away). On any other night, I'd be there. But this week has been chock full (read above) and an evening at home sounds perfect to me...we'll see.

when life gets in the way

Words elude me.

Legs are tired.

Body follows.

Drinks tonight, indeed.

Off the next two days.

Happy.

sore thighs and tiny pies

It's not like you think.

Kevin just got home from two and a half days of hiking and camping. He and two friends were dropped off at Eagle Creek trail head late on Saturday. They hiked in four miles and set up camp. Yesterday morning they got up, packed up, and hiked up. They hiked UP for about 10 more miles before setting up camp for the night. That meant they had fourteen miles to hike DOWN today. Kev's in a bit of pain. But he had a lot of fun, and that is what matters.

Yesterday I got up and went to my friend's house and we made five dozen tiny pies. Our other friend joined us, otherwise it would've only been four dozen. We each got 8 chicken pot pies, several apple, a few peach and a couple pear/apple. What are tiny pies? You take 8 oz wide mouth canning jars and line them with crust (you can let the crust hang over because after you fill it, you flip it up as a top crust). You can fill then with anything you want. Although we don't suggest custard pies (not that we've tried them). You can either freeze them or put them in the fridge for a week or so and then you bake them on 400 for 45-60 mins. If you freeze them, put them in the oven as you preheat, then keep an eye on and pull when the crust is golden through the side of the jar.

Now Kev's home and we're going to sit and relax together. It was a lovely quiet two days, but I'm glad he's home...so are the trio. Each have taken their turn meowing, sniffing, ribbing against the closed bathroom door, waiting for him to emerge.

today, with updates

Today will consist of the following (in no particular order)

1. Yarn shopping (what, there is a sale that starts today and I took the day off work...because it's my birthday). Yarn purchased. Enough for a sweater for a baby, some bibs for that same baby, and a really cool hat for...that very baby. I also scored on some yarn for a dress I'd like to make for myself to wear in my friend's wedding next summer. It's gorgeous (and sadly the camera died as I was attempting to take my first photo to share. not the kind of died that charging fixes, either).

2. Coffee drinking (that can happen only until about mid morning if I ever want to sleep again). Now it's the time of the day where if I drink more coffee, I will not sleep tonight. Most people think that I couldn't possibly be that touchy to it, but I am. Trust me.

3. Baby knitting (I'm almost done with the first baby jacket for the newest member of my family). I finished, except for seaming up the sides and sleeves (which will take zero time on a baby sweater) and I have to find a really great button, well...two really great buttons.

4. Sushi eating (this will commence this evening with a few friends). Done and done. Greatest meal!

5. Bones watching (I am officially addicted to that show. I've not watched any of this season, we are getting caught up on the former seasons). Done with this as well. Didn't allow myself to watch all day, but I did get quite a few episodes into the season I'm watching.

Other than that, I'm not really sure. I think I'll let the day play out as it is supposed to. I have my list for the yarn shop (remarkably, there is some yardage listed that isn't for the Blob and is in fact for me).

Hope everyone has a great day!!

life

Isn't it interesting how life sometimes seems to fly by? I mean you blink and we're near the middle of October already.

Work has been a bit stressful for me. Yep, in the world of comfort shoes, there can be stress. My boss is out of the country until the 28th, leaving me in charge of the check books. My co-manager was away for a few days. This was the perfect time for someone to get sick. So they did. I worked an 11.5 hour day on Thursday. I'm taking it slow this morning and going in when the store where the office is opens at 11:00. I have to close my old haunt tonight. Then, I am getting a day off!

Tomorrow we have potential plans to meet up with Jill and Mark at Sweetness Bakery, plans to go to Wolfgang's first birthday (he's a baby of some friends of ours), and plans to hang out with Shannon and Kiley.

I am looking forward to every single minute of tomorrow. I am also hoping to go get some yarn to start making a baby sweater for a very special someone in my life (sorry, not disclosing at this time, other to say it is NOT me). I am over the moon, however.

Today is going to be an easier day. It's going to be a less stress filled day. It is going to fly by like yesterday did (I got to work all day at my store...the one downtown that I worked at full time for five years).

So, I am going to go heat up another cup of coffee, scratch Chloe's back a bit more, and maybe take a bath.

morning

every morning

Without fail every morning my dear Chloe will come up to me as I sit in front of the computer eating my breakfast and drinking my coffee. She will stand on her back legs, front paws on my leg. She chirps. She chirps until I reach down and scratch her back. Only then is she happy. Of course, she does this repeatedly in the morning until I tell her she's had enough.

This is the face I get to see every single morning...

I rake my fingers up and down her spine and she just purrs. I look at her and think, "she can't be 11 years old." She acts more and more like a kitten each and every day.

and we have ice

So our friends Jenn and Dugan were over the other evening for dinner (it was after the marathon grape jelly making...after the Oregon Flock and Fiber Fest). Jenn and I had spoken about the possibility of Dugan hooking up our fridge's ice maker at one point. So that night, he took a look. We already had a valve tapping into one of the lines. We even had a hole that'd been plugged up by the previous owners of the house. All we really had to do (in theory) is by the tube and the fittings to hook it up.

This morning Dugan came over and he and Kevin got everything taken care of. We now have ice. Real, made in our house, ice. No more buying ice. Sigh...

It's funny how ten years ago, an ice maker would not have made me smile. Meh, it was just ice. We could buy ice. But now, now it's a beautiful thing. Of course it's ready right in time for the fall like weather we've been getting (although yesterday and today have been gorgeous).

Huh, ice.

brian

I went to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Fest (OFFF) yesterday with three fabulous women. We got up early and headed to the Canby fairgrounds. Much lovely yarn was purchased (I'd been on a yarn diet, saving for OFFF). I got yarn for Chaz's wedding cardigan (not at OFFF, but from one of my amazing friends who dyes yarn...and she had much undyed yarn that she offered up). I found the perfect yarn for Jill's shrug for Chaz's wedding. I also found some yarn for a Christmas present for my sister. And then some lovley yarn for a lace shawl for myself (?) or for whomever it tells me it needs to go to once it's done. I also picked up some skeins of alpaca for the "left over" blanket. I needed cream and I didn't have any cream in the stash...what?!?! :)

I will post what I got over at Ravelry once I have photos taken (sadly I can't do that today since I am working today).

However, I did make friends with a special someone in one of the flocks...

Meet my new friend, Brian. As soon as I pet him, his tail started WAGGING!!! With much enthusiasm. It was really quite sweet.

Okay, must gather my things to go to work downtown. At least I get to work at my store. Of course I am taking the lace shawl to start playing with...what?!? It is Sunday, most likely it will be slow (at least I'm kind of hoping it will be so I can play, although if it is busy time will pass faster...oh the catch 22).

aunty jill

Josie is in love. I always knew she would find that one friend of ours whom she just couldn't wait to see, would wiggle just as much as when she sees us after a long day. That one friend is her Aunty Jill.

Jill and I met the first week before our freshman year of college started. She was sitting alone at a table in the dining room. A group of girls I was hanging out with suggested we go ask her to sit with us. My first reaction was, "what if she wants to be left alone?" I'm glad nobody listened to me.

She became my closest friend in about two minutes after meeting her.

She became Josie's favorite aunt in a little less time...

Last night Jill and Mark (her husband) came over for dinner. It was a slightly less than stellar day for me but during dinner Jill kept giggling. She told us somebody was resting her chin on her foot. I had no idea her foot was in the air. I'd thought Josie had lowered her chin to Jill's foot on the floor.

That moment right there, made my night.

A couple of different moments made my morning this morning, but that may be another post (or I might just send those friends an email thanking them).

How can you not smile at a face like Josie's?

when pigs fly

63F

It was a chilly morning as I awoke to the soft sounds coming from my alarm clock (I have it set to a radio station that is not too jarring). No animals climbed across my head, chest, body. Simon was content to snuggle up and keep himself warm against us. Josie was starting to rouse, but had yet to come over to my side of the bed to poke me with her cold, wet nose. Chloe was not in the room with us.

I actually turned on the heater in the bathroom downstairs this morning as I fed the crew. I figured if I turned it on at that time, it'd be warm by the time I went down for my shower. It was.

The past few days I've been walking, riding my bike, relying on my body power to get to work. This morning, I decided to take the car. I need to run down to Portland Fixture (I LOVE going to this place and poking around) to get some things for the kids store. I figured it would be easier to use the Subie as opposed to strapping something to my back or relying on getting a car from one of the guys here. Yesterday I'd hoped to borrow Ahmed's car, but he had people with him and I didn't want to leave them stranded at the office.

Speaking of work...I better get to it. I've got photos to take and load up to our site. I've got fixtures to go buy. I've got shoes to unload and figure out where I am storing. I've got a day ahead of me...

when life settles down

It's funny how often I hear those words. "I'll be able to do ___X___ when life settles down." When is that exactly? I've been waiting, but it just seems to continue down the road of crazy busy (emphasis on crazy).

Today I work downtown (my old haunt) with our newest newbie. She and I have a ton of stock to put away in the small store room. I do have plans, great big plans. She has no clue what is in store for her today.

Tonight we have friends coming over after 8:00. We'll play Rock Band 2 and enjoy ourselves until the wee hours I am sure.

Tomorrow I have a tiny pie party to attend. It starts at 2:00, thank goddess. I can't imagine a late night tonight and an early day tomorrow. I do have to go and buy all my ingredients tomorrow (well, the apples) as well as the tiny pie "pans" which are 8 oz canning jars, with lids. I'm pretty excited about it, really. Of course ten years ago, I would have looked at you like you had a second head sprouting from your shoulders if you told me I'd be excited about making tiny pies.

I'm ready...so when's it going to settle?

crumby? crummy?

I woke up in a little bit of a foul mood this morning. Perhaps I had a dream that I am not remembering that left me feeling a bit "meh"?

Perhaps it was the knowledge that a "fun" day was waiting for me when I got into work?

Maybe it was just...I don't know.

I hate it when I'm asked/told to do something a particular way and when said thing is done in that way and the outcome is undesirable, I get blamed.

I'm having a bitch of a day so far. And honestly, it's probably best for me to not write right now. Yoga will be welcomed with open arms this afternoon!!!

shhh! i'm trying to talk here

I have had people tell me often, throughout my life, that I talk a lot. It finally has hit the time where I've heard it enough to want to say something snarky and rude back (because yes, I think people are being rude when they make that observation and feel the need to comment on it). I mean, honestly, do they not think I hear myself speak?

So now, I will probably be silent for a few more days because my in-laws from Chicago are in town. They arrived yesterday and leave on Thursday. We're going to get fabulous baked goods this morning and possibly hang a chandelier in our almost completed kitchen.

better beans

This morning as I was attempting to put together a lunch that would be substantial enough I looked outside at my garden. I had 20 minutes before I needed to leave to get to work on time. What could I pick to take with?! BEANS! I ran out, grabbed a handful and came in to boil them.

I just opened the container of beans and ate one. I swear, our whole garden could be green beans and I'd be happy. They are the perfect side for so many dishes. Right now I'm eating leftover ravioli and a green bean is perfection alongside.

I know I can't shut up about these damn beans, but let me expand on why they are tastier than those you find at the grocery store...

They squeak when you eat them. Not a crunch, like they are undercooked, but squeak. They are firm as you bite into them. The aroma they make as they cook (both boiling and steaming) is heavenly. Enough to wake Kev out of his slumber this morning, actually.

And now...they are all in my belly.

thanks mom and dad

Mom and I have been talking about our kitchen reno (which is so near complete I can almost see it). I told her that we were wanting to get a new set of dishes since ours were cracking and now didn't look right with the space. She spoke of going to a few places, but there was one that we had coupons for...so we found them there.

I couldn't wait to get them in the dishwasher so I could use them. I've already eaten dinner off of one of the plates and I'm letting a bowl cool so I can have some ice cream.

Thank you Mom and Dad. Christmas came early today. We love you both!

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...

first beans blanched

I have done it. I forced myself to NOT eat the beans I harvested today. Instead I blanched them and froze them for Thanksgiving dinner. There was probably about one healthy serving (two smaller) picked with many more on the plant that will be ready in a couple of days. I WILL be serving my home grown greenie beanies for Thanksgiving with my family. I am so proud of these beans (yeah, that feels as odd to write as it reads).

We just got home from a burger out. We've been really good about not eating out as much, but tonight I was tired from working, I didn't want to cook anything, and I just got paid.

really?

So I am sitting here at work, once again. It's been a much busier Labor Day than I thought (read feared) it would be. This makes me happy. However, what makes me cranky is the girl who just came in and very cheerily stated, "Oh, your working on Labor Day. And we're not..." giggling the whole time.

I want to write a book and call it "Stupid things that come out of customer's mouths" or something like that. I'm sure with the staff here we could come up with a large selection pretty darn quickly.

One of my faves was, "the sign on your door that has the hours...it's not right, is it?" said to me 45 minutes AFTER we'd closed. When I said yes, they proceeded to hang around even longer. I finally told them they'd have to come back as I had a life to live outside of the store.

I just have to wonder about people sometime.

the nerd herd

Okay so this weekend up in Seattle the Penny Arcade Expo is going on...aka PAX. Kev and a couple of friends left this morning (two went up yesterday). They're going to have a rip roaring time being their gamer selves.

We (myself and the other wives) are looking forward to a full weekend of quiet. Not that the guys are loud and raucous when home, but a house to myself sounds lovely. Tonight I don't have any major plans, other than doing a bit of picking up. Tomorrow the other ladies will be coming over for dinner and drinking and the option of staying over has been put out there (there will be no ladies driving home drunk on MY watch!). We did have one friend offer to come and video tape the pillow fights we are sure to have while wearing our...yeah, right.

Sunday I have a work BBQ to attend and then they are back that evening. I am sure the weekend will fly right by and before I know it the nerd herd will be back in town. And when that happens, I am sure I will realize how much I missed my nerd.

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

the green bean debacle

I currently have sitting in front of me a container of green beans. They were picked yesterday and steamed to perfection last night. Today, cold and pre-salted, they are tasty and crunchy and perfect. What is the problem, you ask?

I am supposed to be saving some for Thanksgiving with my family. Now, I know that the season has just begun for beans and my plants will be producing more, BUT I am feeling like I need to go ahead and save some (blanching and freezing) but am having a hard time doing so. They come off the plant and my belly hears them singing their siren song.

I will be saving some because they are just! that! good! and I want to share with my family the deliciousnesses of our bounty.

Perhaps instead of calling it a debacle, I should have called it a conundrum?

the duty of a jury

Well, I was at jury duty the first three days of this week. The trial is now over, we reached our decision (not unanimous), and I can now resume my week accordingly. Today I am biking into the office and playing the game of catch up before going to The Bhaktishop for yoga this evening. I'm hoping that going to yoga will help me feel that sense of normal again.

I am pretty proud that I was not one of the potential jurors who raised their hand to the question, "who would rather be having a root canal right now instead of being here?" Honestly? I mean, sure schedules get a bit goofy, but it is our civic duty. I wasn't the only juror who felt excited to be part of the process, but sometimes it felt like it.

It was actually a very fun and funny group. I'm not sure what the defendant thought, hearing us laughing behind the closed doors of the deliberation room.

This trial should not have lasted three days, however. Monday we had delivered our verdict and were all ready to be released from our duty. Then the judge told us she needed us back for sentence enhancement. So we all trouped back on Tuesday only to find that the dude had some kind of panic attack that they feared was a heart attack so they let us go after we had been there for a couple of hours. I went over to The Bhaktishop to do some data entry for them.

The coolest part of that was on my walk home, my neighbor Bret drove by and picked me up. It would have been a long walk and I was only 8 blocks into it.

Yesterday morning we got to be to court at 10:00 (Mon- 8:00, Tuesda0 9:00) and only had to wait about half an hour before going in to hear more testimonies from another victim and police officer. We were out close to 4:00.

So finally, on Thursday, my work week begins.

refelections

From where I sit in the store I see the oddest things. I think I see a woman walking down the street only to have her disappear. An arm looks like it is sticking out of a trunk. Cars seem to drive head on into one another.

The reflections of the differently angled windows makes for some interesting views.

sitting

I'm at work. I am on the floor today, all day, at one of our locations. It's normally a quiet store, but today it is sunny and beautiful out. I am hoping for tons of people and not much time to putz around on the internet.

Last night we went to our friends house to make her dinner with another couple. Jess has major back issues and recently was laid up for many days. Jenn had suggested that the four of us (our husbands and ourselves) go over and cook her dinner. I came up with a menu and we shopped in our garden.

Jenn brought green beans (both from her garden and her weekly veggie box), onion, garlic, tomatoes, lettuce. I brought zucchini, carrots, green beans (we ended up not needing so they went back home and will be eaten tonight), and tomatoes (Jenn used ours for the salad as we've got an overabundance) as well as pasta and chicken.

We made a penne pasta with sautéed vegetables and chicken (we added to the top of our own plates) with a lovely side salad. We made sure it was vegan because Jess's husband has opted for a vegan diet to see if it helps his gut problems (and it has been). It was a tasty meal prepared with and for great friends.

I got a text message on the way home from Jess saying she would break more often if that was the kind of treatment she got (we cleaned her kitchen after cooking because it wouldn't have been fair to make Erik do it when he got home, nor leave it for Jess to have to look at). I told her she didn't have to break herself just to get that kind of treatment.

So tonight we will be having steamed green beans from our garden. The first crop. I'm quite excited about it! I have no doubt that we will be able to blanch and freeze some beans for Thanksgiving (that is, if we don't eat them all up beforehand!).

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).

the sound of cicadas

Every night since we've returned home as I lay in bed, wishing for a break from the heat so that I may sleep, I hear cicadas. I know that I'm not really hearing them, but in my heart I do. I didn't realize I missed that sound so much until we were in Arkansas where the night air was thick with their sound.

It's going to be another hot one (although they say cooler than yesterday's 100+ heat) and I think I see a slight breeze, finally. Nothing is worse than cooler air outside with no means of it making its way into your home because the air is just sitting there with no nudges into this furnace of a house.

I sit in our basement with the windows open (the only space in the house where two windows are situated across from each other is the basement) feeling the coolness against my neck as I type. I should go check on the upstairs, but I don't think I want to feel the warmth as I know it is still there.

I wish Kev was up so we could go on a bike ride, it's the perfect morning for it. Overcast with crisp air. I hate mornings like these on what will probably turn out to be the hottest day yet (I normally am an optimist, but hot makes me cranky in Portland). Their such teases.

Of course I sit with my latte that I've let cool to just shy of cold. If only I had ice...

back home

The trip was amazing. We ate much food, drank many margaritas (well, Kev drank beer), and listened to some amazing music (and made some fun music).

I think this picture sums up our trip nicely...

We enjoyed every single minute of this trip. I didn't turn on my phone unless I was going to use it to call someone. And then I only turned it on a couple of times. I felt so free!

I did check email, but I rarely responded to any.

Laundry has been started and a grocery list needs to be made. The animals all look good and don't seem to have been lonely without us here. Julia and John did a great job taking care of the trio.

So now I'm back and will be getting back to life as I know it tomorrow. I took today off so I could regroup and take care of getting things back in order. It's nice, though, I don't have much more than laundry to do today. :)

maybe, maybe not

Tomorrow morning we leave on a vacation. Ahhhh, vacation. Mine started last night at exactly 5:00, when I headed home from work. I was originally supposed to work today, but my coworker graciously said he'd work for me. After I complained about having worked who knows how many days prior to Vegas and then every single day after Vegas leading up to my trip. In my defense, he had just been gloating about getting the entire weekend off. I had to.

We are going to Arkansas to visit my mother in law (Mamasita) and her husband (Daddy Walter). We are going for almost a whole week! We'll spend many days with them and then go to Bentonville to visit with one of my closest friends from high school, Rob. It's been 8 years since we saw him last. Since our wedding and then it was only for a few minutes through the receiving line and a couple of minutes at the reception before they left. So really, it's been more like 11 years since we've spent any real time with each other. Needless to say, I'm so damn excited about this trip!! I get to see several of my favorite people.

So I might post while away, I might not. I could take some photos, I could not. You'll just have to wait and see.

forgotten

I told Kevin before I left that he'd have to keep an eye on the zucchini because there was one, for sure, that would need to be harvested before I got home, if not more.

Yeah, he forgot. I think we all know where this is headed...

The smaller is a regular sized zucchini. The other, is about the length of my forearm and about as big around. Needless to say, I am searching for a zucchini bread recipe. I think I have found one, it makes two loaves. All I need to do is go buy some sugar and we will be in business.

Speaking of business...Vegas was good. We had a successful show and saw a lot of great styles. We are starting to debate going every six months. We're thinking of just going to the fall/winter show because that is where we tend to do more business (people in Portland and the Pacific NW just don't seem to want to buy sandals...it really doesn't rain all the time here!).

So I am back and immediately am working the floor (we actually got back on Wednesday and I worked a half day yesterday). I am on the floor up until the day before we leave (it was going to be up until the day, but I convinced Chas that I didn't want to work every single day before I head on our trip to Arkansas and he offered to work Monday).

I got a cold while in Vegas and am hoping I have it knocked out of my system before my real vacation. We leave on Tuesday.

6

I fell up the stairs today. Just a few minutes ago, actually. Big toe on my left foot caught on the very top step. Right knee crashed into stair as I twisted my body around to try to not let it hit too hard. Didn't quite work, but at least I didn't fall down the stairs as a result.

it's a luxury

It is exactly 9:19 pm as I start writing this. I am already in bed. There is light still hanging on, over the trees. My mind flashes back to when I was a kid and my sister and I would be complaining of how unfair it was to have to go to bed when there was still light in the sky and the kids down the street got to stay out...blah blah blah.

The look on their faces as they told us to pack it in and head to bed.

I think they were looking for a time to connect, without us, as well as teaching us that it truly is a luxury to get to go to bed early. We didn't believe it then, but I believe it now.

How luxurious is it to be lying in bed while the sounds of pots and pans being washed in the kitchen ring through the air? Extremely.

How decadent is it to read at night, the breeze blowing in the window, and absolutely no animals on bed with me? Thoroughly.

the zucchinis begin

This is our first zucchini of the season. It was perfect. The right size, the right texture, the right amount of firmness to the meat. We paired it with some fresh garlic (also from the garden), some onion, and pasta. It's a recipe our friend told us, as it's a staple in their half Italian house. Her husband is Italian. So you saute' the veggies (I started with the onions, added the garlic, then added the zucchini, allowing each to have some time to cook before the next was added, sprinkle with salt and some white pepper). While that was happening Kev was grilling some chicken tenders to the perfect moistness and the pasta was on the stove boiling.

When pasta is done, drain. Add veggies to pasta pan, two eggs, a good sized handful of Parmesan cheese, return the pasta and stir like crazy (essentially cooking the eggs). We added the chicken to the top of our bowls of pasta.

After yoga Kev rode his bike down to the store and got a small baguette to share. It was an amazing dinner. It's pretty basic, but downright filling.

my boss's wife

I got an email this morning from Wendy (Ahmed's wife) asking about a work picnic/send off for their daughters (they now have two in college...damn, I feel old when I think about how old they were when I met them). The date was going to be while we were in Arkansas visiting Mamasita and Daddy Walter.

So, what does Wendy do? Figure out a date when I can be there. I adore her...

Vegas this weekend, so I may be out of the blogging loop for a little while (like I've not already been recently). Perhaps upon my arrival home fun things will have happened and I will feel like blogging about said fun things. Things right now, a bit boring (well, except that my dear friend is moving home this weekend and I'm extremely excited about her arrival home!!)

Now, must get myself dressed and ready for going downtown to pick up the permit for that friend so she can block off a parking spot for unloading her truck on Sunday (rats, I'll be in Vegas and unable to help with the unloading...but my representative [aka Kev] will be here).

as promised

The muffins were met with great gusto from all involved. So, as promised... here is the recipe.

One of the reviewers at that site suggested using brown sugar for the topping and I did. I would do so again and again and again. :)

the awesome power?

One would think that if the scent of freshly baked *blueberry muffins was wafting through the house that it would wake all that were still sleeping with its siren call.

One might even think if that scent was sent via text message that the recipients would text back immediately saying, 'yes! Yes! YES! Please I would love some.'

However, none of the three men whom were accosted by the scent or offering up of these amazing blueberry muffins (still haven't taken a bite, but they smell damn good) have stirred or responded. I suppose they are all lazy and still in bed? It is Sunday.

It's okay, really. I plan on taking the boys across the street some anyway. I just figured Ian's drapes were open and Bret should be waking soon. Kevin's sleeping through the actual scent though, it's a little mind boggling. Although he did get home rather late last night. He played Halo 3 with a friend while the girls all went to see Aimee Mann. What a great show. What a great night. Thanks, girls!

Blind Pilot opened for Aimee. They are a local band here in Portland and this makes me happy. Because I will have more opportunities to see them again. And they make me happy. I love finding new music. I don't seek it out often, but when I stumble upon someone, it makes me...well, happy.

Hope everyone has been having a lovely weekend. I know we have. We're going to be heading to Jill and Mark's in a few hours for a late lunch.

*if they turn out as good as they smell, i will direct you all to the link where i found the recipe.

they promise me it's not a weed

I asked my fabulous neighbors, as this thing was just a wee sprout, if they thought it was a weed. They said it was not, so I left it alone to grow and become huge. Part of me felt that they were just messing with me. Until I investigated a bit further this evening.

How appropriate is it that a girl who grew up in Kansas has a sunflower growing in her front yard? Bret is trying to get me to plant a ton along the parking strip so it almost creates a wall when they are grown in. I'm content with having a single one come up.

The front needs some attention. We're hoping to get some work done on it this weekend. We've got a few ugly things growing that I know are weeds and we need to get them before they get us.

8 mile ride

Yesterday I worked at the second furthest store from our house. It's about 8 miles, round trip. In an effort to not spend money and not be wasteful of the gas we'd just put in our tank, I decided to ride my bike into work. I had butterflies in my stomach before leaving in the morning and my guts were twisted all day in anticipation of the ride home.

The ride there was pretty tame. Down some hills, up some inclines. Nothing too hard or strenuous, although I did arrive to the store sucking wind. It took me 21 minutes to get there. The ride home was a bit more daunting. There were hills (one of which I had already given myself permission to hop off the bike and walk up) and there was heat. My face was flushed for quite some time after getting home. That ride took just under 30 minutes. Not too bad, if you ask me.

Kev was pretty proud of me. I was, too.

So today I am getting picked up by my coworker and we are going to look at Spring/Summer 2009 styles at our reps house. He will cook us lunch and it will be wonderful. After that we head back to the office where we are meeting another rep. All in all, it will be a fun day...although maybe Kev and I will have to go on a bike ride tonight when I get home. I did lose .8 pounds yesterday. :)

so warm, but must blog

It's 90 F outside right now. For here, that's warm. In fact, that's downright hot. There is a breeze so I suppose that I shouldn't complain. However, our house isn't arranged so we can get a lovely cross breeze across the house. No two rooms have doors adjacent to one another except our room and the guest Chloe's room. And the front three windows in our bedroom do not open. Those are the windows that face the door, and consequently the other room.

We're thinking that next summer may just have to be the summer of window replacement. I love the architecture of the windows. So I will keep them and perhaps do something amazing in our backyard with them...oh the ideas that swirl in my head.

With that being said, I must adjourn to the basement now. It's lovely down there (as long as Kev isn't playing drums).

houston, we have carrots

I know I've used the Houston, we have... title before, but for the carrots, it just felt right.

I'm pretty jazzed that I had three carrots ready to harvest. They are baby carrots, so smaller than what you might expect to see, but I am anticipating their sweetness. I will wash them up (per Ian's instructions as I held them up to show him from across the yard) and eat them for lunch. We may not have a ton out there, but lucky for me it's enough for this girl. Kev doesn't like carrots so I won't even force them on him (plus I think they are going to be so damn good and he really would like them and that would mean less for me). Actually I don't know if he really would like them. I think he'd say they were better than store bought baby carrots (which are really just large carrots that have been cored) but I still think he wouldn't be into them.

So, here you have them...my first carrots.

title unknown

Tonight we are having three couples over for dinner. Only two of the people coming over have met each other. I think it is going to be a good mix of people. We're grilling out and the weather has cooperated perfectly. We've cleaned the house (ugh, I hate bathrooms) and have the kitchen as far along as it will be for a little while.

I even picked a few flowers to make my kitchen even happier. The daisies are looking a little sad outside. They got too top heavy and everyone took to lying down (lazy daisies). We have now used some twine and pulled them up, but now it looks pretty funny. I'm not sharing those photos (in fact, none have been taken).

My mind has been working on what room we'll decorate after we're done with the kitchen. I'd like to finish the hallway and our bedroom (as well as the kitchen) before our families start visiting. We are hoping Kev's Dad and wife will be joining us in September. My family is all coming in November. Not sure when Kev's Mom and her husband will be getting out this way again. Hopefully this year (although we're going to see them in August). I've already started with the sketches of our bedroom. The pain in my ass is I can't find my colored pencils. I am pretty sure I took them out of the box they were packed in for moving, but I can't remember what I did with them. I've checked every logical place and nothing. I will look at work tomorrow.

But today, we get ready for a BBQ with our friends. Should be interesting since three are vegetarian and one is vegan (two of the vegetarians used to be vegans until recently) . We are serving burgers and telling them to bring what they'd like to grill. Everything else is vegan/vegetarian. I am hoping to send home two of the couples with some romaine. :)

cuz i like lists

1. Pick a paint color and paint
2. Cut trim, stain and install
3. Attach door and drawer pulls to cabinetry
4. Find dresser to use as a microwave stand
5. Have table and bench made
6. Hang vessels in some artistic way (these really cool orb things from Ikea)
7. Remove shelves to left of cabinets over stove to make space for cookbooks (best idea ever, Jill!)
8. Get new dishes (donate old)
9. Get new flatware (donate old)

Enjoy the hell out of the kitchen

Perhaps not in that exact order

carnage and orts

We had an amazing, albeit not the healthiest, dinner last night.

And it was gooooo-oood! I decided to add nothing to the butter. We had three between the two of us.

My question is this though, where to artichokes fall in the world of food. It's not a vegetable, is it? I mean, it's sold in produce sections of grocery stores, but it really is a flower bud.

We're going to head down to Aurora today to take a look at an old dresser that, if it meets expectations, it will be coming home with us to use in the kitchen for the microwave and storing all the tuberware, etc. I am hopeful that it will make it home with us.

We also have to go to Ikea to exchange one handle I purchased for the cabinets. We decided to hang them differently than I'd imagined so the larger will work on the door.

After Ikea, we must go to a hardware store to get the screws for affixing the handles to the cabinet doors in the kitchen. I think we also have spoken of getting more paint chips since Kev's not a fan of the one I am in love with. We'll see if we find any others that grab my attention even more. We must get a miter box as well, to cut the trim we have to finish off some edges. Already have the stain to match the cabinets we have.

When we get home from these adventures, we must do something to help our shasta daisies stand upright (they are all so tall...almost as tall as I am...and are falling over). We also have to clean the hell out of the house. It's gotten a wee bit messy with the kitchen reno happening. Now that we're nearing the painting time, we must get it under control.

We woke last night to the most beautiful and loud thunder/lightening storm. Josie didn't even blink. I was amazed as I lay there in bed watching the light show, listening to the thunder following closely behind. It was just like being back in the midwest. Probably the biggest thunder storm we have had since moving here 8 years ago!

the knitttahs will know

I got mine.

Have you?

no title needed

phase i don't know

This just in...

Jill came over this morning and we tiled. We tiled like the fabulous women we are! We tiled like there was no tomorrow. We tiled and talked of our day tomorrow, which will include grout.

It's nearing an end. Well, it's nearing it's next resting point.

According to my calculations we still have to grout, seal the tile one more time, finish replacing the drawer and door pulls, stain and install some quarter round to finish of certain edges, paint, get the new table and bench made, possibly have a cabinet made for by the fridge for the microwave and extra storage (or find a really cool dresser that would fit the bill), and get new lighting for over the table and the back door. Really, not much left...right?

and she was

My parents are having a lovely vacation in France and the surrounding countryside. They left their dear Hazel at home to be tended to by their friends, Gale and George. When my parents left for their trip, Hazel wasn't doing all that grand, picky about what she would eat, not getting around as well as once before. They figured they would have the hard decision to make upon their arrival home.

Hazel had other ideas.

This morning she was laid to rest. The Vet and my parents have been communicating via email and he indicated she was now beginning to suffer. That was all he had to write.

Fuzzy Bunny originally started out as my sister's cat. She was an insane kitten. She was full of mischief and got into everything. Mom and Dad were only to watch her for a short time. Fast forward something like 14 years and Hazel-rah has finished her life where she was always meant to be. I thank my sister for giving Hazel the life she did. She was spoiled, loved, always had a lap to sit on.

She was the angel my mother needed all those years ago when first diagnosed with the Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. She'd sit next to Mom, but not on. She would simply be. Comforting by just sitting near.

I love you my little Hazel-rah. You will always be in my heart. Thank you for taking care of Mom and giving Dad someone to brush.

chicken and dumplings

About a week or so ago we had our neighbor and his brother rip out three shrubs so we can plant healthy foliage we prefer. This is the second meal I have made Ian (first for Seth) for doing stuff for us.

I think they think they're getting the better deal. But I know I really am. I mean think about it. I am getting work done to the yard. Some of it hard (which I know since I ripped out the butterfly bushes, which they hauled away for us). Some of it easy...aka fun (pulling out a bush with your truck). But it's the chores you don't want to do yourself because on the DIY scale of easy to hard it's about an annoying. And on top of all that? I get to cook. Cook meals from scratch for two men who have worked hard all day. *And they appreciate it.

I just hope the dumplings weren't little lumps of nasty. I've never cooked this recipe before today. I told them if it sucks, I owe them another.


*This is not to say that Kevin doesn't appreciate it, because he does and he always raves about meals I cook. But there is some other kind of satisfaction I get by cooking for bachelors. They have a different kind of appreciation.

you may well know

I am a knitter. I am not quiet about it, nor am I loud about it. I just am.

I have three major projects lined up for myself this year within the knitted world. My dear friend is getting married in June of 2009. She caught sight of my sweater and gushed, asking if she paid me, would I make her one. It was later in the evening that we realized she was wearing a rock on her left hand. It was seconds after that I knew what I would be doing for her wedding gift (he'll get the gift of watching her enjoy it).

Now I've got the wild hair to make my other friend (the other brides-matron) a shrug. She found one in a style she likes and I am thinking about trying to figure it out, or finding something that is similar. It, too, will be made in time for the wedding. I feel safe at the idea of making those two garments for those two amazing and beautiful women.

However, just a minute ago as I was surfing through that site some knitters still don't know about (mind boggling) called Ravelry and found a really sweet top that I am trying to decide if I can somehow convert it into a dress. You know, for the wedding...

Any of you knitters think this is a sane idea? :) The shell is knit bottom up, but I'm thinking of figuring out the length I want and the circumference for the bottom of the skirt and going for it. Of course, I do have to find all the yarn for these projects (well, two since I've already gotten the bride's on order).

the plot thickens

Well, this morning I went out and watered our garden. Things are growing nicely, especially the weeds (which I will go out in a while and pluck from the ground in areas nearest the garden plots). After talking with a few friends, the decision to plant asparagus next year was made.

So a bit ago I sat down in the kitchen and looked out the window, imagining. I planned next years garden. This year was our first year of actually planting a garden and we really just kind of plopped things into the ground as we thought would be good. So far it's fine, but it's a bit sparse. Next year we will have 6-8 tomato plants, two types of lettuce, spinach, asparagus (which won't be ready until the following summer), broccoli, onions, garlic, potatoes, green beans, edamame, and zucchini. I've plotted out the placement, according to sun requirements among other things.

Kev took a look at the sketch this morning and agreed it looked like a good plan. I'm sure there are other veggies we will realize we want to plant and we have a little bit of room left we've not already planned. But right now, nothing is coming to mind as being left off the list. Peas, left off intentionally. Even though I think they are better than I remember, they still are not my favorite. And why give over garden space to things you don't love and adore?

Now to chart out planting times...

devoured

Well, Tuesday night was not quite the night for us to eat the artichokes. Kev wasn't feeling well and just wanted something simple so we fended for ourselves. That meant only one thing...

Knit night!

The six of us ate those two in about two minutes flat. :) They were fantastic!!! It amazes me that those are growing in our backyard. I will be watching the rest on the plant and picking them as they are ready, nothing will go to waste on my watch. I have to read up on them because from what I've already read I learned that they only produce for about 3-4 seasons. So, I am not sure what season we are on with these, but the books tell me to harvest the best ones to keep as...crap, the words have escaped me.

Ah well, just know that artichokes are GOO-OOD!

Thanks for a fun night ladies! Already looking forward to next time. :)

Because next time I might actually get more than six rows down on my lap blanket.