Tuesday, May 25, 2010

hiking


Recently we went for a hike. It was a lot of fun.
My daughter could hardly contain her excitement. She packed her little backpack with her bird caller and binoculars and as soon as she woke up she woke us up with a 'is it time to leave yet?'
So, we made sandwiches and cut up watermelon and packed the cooler and off we went.
When we got there we wiped bug repellent all over us and tried to catch up with my daughter.

She waits for no one!

The kids skipped rocks:
Finding the best rock is very important.
Flat and smooth make the best skippers (in case you were wondering).

Cutie Patootee

And then we spotted these:
millipedes

So, my husband had to pick it up with a stick and show it off. And, of course, I had to take pictures of it. Wouldn't you?? No? Oh...hmm....

He told us that they don't have 1000 legs,
even though their name implies it.

My daughter named this one Twirly because it likes to twirl.
Sorry, are you still there?
I hope you are not grossed out by bugs and creepy crawlies.
I'll do better next time.


Friday, May 21, 2010

Bleak House


Remember this book?

I mentioned it here.

I had to read it for my book club. Well, the meeting has come and gone and I finished the book. It was good. I was the only one in my book club who finished it. I guess it's that kind of book.

It is a book written by Charles Dickens in the 1850's. What I found most interesting about the book is the parallels to today's world. That some points and concerns (be them social, political or moral) are still points and concerns in today's society. That more than 150 years later we still feel the same way about certain things. That people still act a certain way. That certain things still need to change.

I also liked the characters and how they all intertwined with one another. That the reader saw them intertwine even though the characters themselves (some of them) never met or knew how a certain character had affected their life.

All in all I liked this book and would recommend it. However, I should point out that it is a meaty book and not for the light reader. If you have never read a classic before you might want to start with a Jane Austen before you dig into a Charles Dickens. If you like classics you will (hopefully) like this.

Read it and let me know!


Sunday, May 16, 2010

new item


So, this is what I got this weekend:
It was part of some liquidation sale, or moving sale, or I can't remember what the signs said, but it was less than $60.
As my husband says, 'you couldn't afford NOT to get it!' Yes, Dear.

Anyhoo...what do you think?
I have always liked the weathered painted look on furniture.

I like the yellow color and the floral detail, but I am not sure of how it looks in my house.
We recently had the interior of the house painted and the color here is a yellowish-gold color.

I am not sure if there is enough contrast between the wall and the piece.
The other furniture in our house is wood. Mostly darker stains like cherry or mahogany, so maybe that is what I am used to seeing which is why I am not instantly loving this?? I liked it in the store, but against the wall I am just not feeling it.
At $60 ya gotta love it, but where??
I'll try it around a few different places this week and see what I like the best.
I did want something next to the front door for mail, etc... and to just spruce up the place, which is why I got it. So, maybe it will end up here after all.
I will let you know after I play around with it for a few days!

If you have any design thoughts, ideas, comments please let me know~

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mother's Day


I hope all you mothers out there had a wonderful day today.
Happy Mother's Day to you all.
I had a nice day.
I am a bit under the weather so that is all that prevented it from being a super duper out of this world kind of day.

But, I got these:
Aren't they pretty?
I am sure my daughter had a hand in picking them out since there is a lot of purple going on.

That girl loves her some purple. And pink. You get the idea?
Little girls. Ya gotta love 'em.


I also got THIS:
Oh, Lord bless us and save us.
Yes, you are right.
It's a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing. frosting? icing.
I mean come on now!!
These kids know me. I mean, they really get me.
They know what mama likes.
This is where I needed to just sit back and take a half hour break.
I could have just walked away for good, but like I said, come on now!
Do you see what's on my plate??

In the meantime...
I was treated to some amazing rubber band tricks:
They were truly amazing. And, yes, I am a bit biased.

I like this one because it looks like my son has 4 hands.
It's just all part of his magic trick! I tell ya, the kid is amazing!!

Don't worry. I didn't forget about this:
And, no, I didn't eat it all by myself.
Okay, yes I did. Or did I?
I can't remember.
I think it has to do with all the sugar I consumed.
Either way, I'll never tell!

The end.

Amen.

Monday, May 3, 2010

my little helper



You've met my dog, Hoss. He's awesome!
He's gorgeous!
He's my lovey-dovey-wubby-pie.
He is also hairy and sheds like a...well, like a...
big ole hairy St. Bernard!
When you have a hairy dog you have hair EV.REE.WHERE.
It's like little tumbleweeds blowing through your house.

ugh, excuse me while I go vacuum...

When it gets windy and rains a lot
your outdoor mats will look something like this:

Oh, Lord bless us and save us
I am going to have to sandblast that thing to get it clean.



Do you see that wet matted hair?
And those things that blow off the trees?
They make my no good lousy husband sneeze and get all stuffy.

Oh, boy, are those fun days around here!


Well, as I was surveying the outside and trying to convince myself to get outside and clean that mat and the rest of the deck and just get it over with for crying out loud I saw this little gal helping me out:



Isn't she just the cutest?
She is picking up that hair for her little nest.
To make it nice and comfy for her little babies.

I am pretty sure that is what she is going to do with the hair.
I mean, can you think of anything else?

Well, I can't clean it now.
She might come back for more!
I wouldn't want all the birds in the area to have uncomfortable scratchy nests.
no sirree bob.
I really think I should leave it
for all the birds in the tri-state area.



I mean, once word gets out in the bird community
(I am sure they will tweet about it--oh ho ho ho ha ha ha sorry, just a little bird humor)
that there is tons of St. Bernard hair
just lying around for the taking
the birds will just be flocking to my little mat.


I am amazed at how much she can hold in her beak.


She doesn't drop any
and keeps bending down for more.

I bet she is going to be a great mom!