Camera Problem

I have a major camera dilemma. You see, I have two cameras. One is a point-and-shoot, the other is a DSLR. I love them both. My problem is not that I have two cameras.

My problem, my friends, is that their batteries are dead. And I have no idea where either charger is... uh oh!

I probably need to clean, huh?

Life with a Dog

Oh my, how life has changed with our "addition." It's true, it is just a four-legged addition, and not a human one, but it sure is a lot of work! I am so blessed to have a break at work that is long enough to get home to let the boy relieve himself. I am so blessed to have a husband that is nice enough to let me use his ear muff type head phones ear plugs in order to fall asleep at night. Finn is one loud dog, holy cow! The first night with him home, we went to bed at 10pm. We were woken up at 12:15am. Again at 3:30am. And yet again 4:30. Then I was up for the morning. Night #2 with Mr. Finnegan? Repeat of the first night. Horrible. Needless to say, it has gotten better as Finn has spent more and more time with us, in our house, in his kennel. We get woken up around 5:15 each morning, which is fine during the week, but a pain in the butt on the weekend! Can I be like a mom with an infant? We weighed the boy. He is up to 9.5 pounds at 8 weeks. That's up an entire pound since we brought him to the vet. He's still a tiny boy, though! Okay, one more thought about the pup, then I'll be done. We brought him to the lake today, just to check it out. We had no intention of putting him in the water. We want him to love swimming, so we didn't want to scare him by forcing him into the water. My parents-in-law's dog came down with us and loved jumping off the dock to fetch a tennis ball. Finn was very excited about running around the shore and picking up sticks. The boy did fall in the water. Twice. He hid for a few minutes after the first fall, but the second didn't phase him a bit.

Finn!

Yesterday, we brought home this guy! Sorry about the picture quality..I blame it on the iPhone.

Finnegan

Dream Big

I love my house. Absolutely adore it. Hubs found the house online the day it was listed. The following day, we had a showing, our second of the day. We liked the house we saw first, and were contemplating an offer on that house. Those plans flew out the window the moment I walked through the front door of the house. I stood in the entryway and knew I would live in that house. It already felt like home. It now is home, and I love it.

But, oh, I have dreams for my little house. Big dreams.

Dream #1: Paint. The color of cheap grated Parmesan cheese for a house? No thank you. But, that is what we are dealing with. New paint would be absolutely beautiful. Oh, yes, a big project, but a lovely change. I have yet to even dream of colors, but it will not look like cheese. And that, my friends, I assure you.

Dream #2: This one will be attained much more quickly. Mostly because I'm already halfway there. Woo-hoo! My husband and I have a lot of stuff and it is all hanging out in our office. Daaang. Here's the problem. It's all of our stuff. Oh wait. I haven't even stated the dream. ADD moment. The dream: a beautifully organized office. The plan: bookshelves out. Good and gone...to our bedroom. One bookshelf is already there and it has helped so much! Now, we need to get the other bookshelf over there and go through the rest of our "stuff."

Dream #3: A beautiful bedroom. Another one that we have started. But, we have not gotten far. Paint will work wonders--it always does. What color would you choose for a bedroom, though? Oh, I just don't know. There are also things that we need to move out of our bedroom. Like the box of tax documents? The (empty) ceiling fan box? The remote control car? Yeah, not necessary...

But the biggest dream of them all? Well, there are two. The first? A new kitchen. The second? An addition. We would love to add an office and a 3 season porch. Or we could buy a bigger house with more acreage. These dreams, of course, are years and years away. But a girl can dream, right?

That's what's so great about dreams. I'll dream about the kitchen and the addition for quite some time and that is just fine.

Oh, and my other dream? Chickens. I would love to have chickens!

Patio Clean-Up!

Spring is here! Well, I suppose it is just about summer by now. Goodness, I have been quite the slacker. When did I last post? Feels like a year ago. I have a sort of valid excuse. I've started another class for my masters. Just a bit busy around these parts!

But! I hosted a triathlon themed wedding shower last weekend and it was amazing! The backyard needed a big clean-up and I had just the inspiration. I have to admit that it felt a little bit like the Saturday Burn Day I read about here, only I didn't have a burn going on, nor do I have any children. Still. I felt "cool." That family togetherness to get things done makes me so happy! I fashioned my own "work day" while the hubby was working, and he joined in the fun when he got home.

Our wood pile and garden beds on the patio (wood pile so close to the house--horrible!).

A view from the other side of the patio (with the rickety old fire pit).

The wood pile is half gone!

When the hubs got home, he brought with him an old sod cutter so we could place our garden beds.

Our beautiful garden beds. Rock will never be our first choice to fill the space between the beds. The previous owners must have gotten an amazing deal on rock, though, because it is everywhere!

Enjoying a Sierra Nevada (one of my faves!) while figuring out to do with all of the leftover black dirt...

It was a wonderful, beautiful day! I love my new garden beds (there are four) and I can't wait to plant! I am, though, SUPER jealous of this garden plot. SO envious of her and her family!

Holy Busy, Batman.

Here's the thing.

I am home right now, and have been for about 15 minutes. I need to leave in 25 minutes. This is my life for the entire week, and next. Needless to say, it is a busy time of year. I feel like the husband and I have been go-go-go for at least a month now. In fact, I don't remember the last time I actually went grocery shopping and bought more than just what was needed for that night's dinner. I don't like that.

I did get the chance to run to the fabric store. Let me admit something quickly. I was crabby Saturday afternoon. Since I was home alone, I decided to head to my local fabric store to learn that it will be moving in a few weeks. SALE!

I bought $110 worth of fabric and paid $23. Totally awesome. I have some awesome plans for the fabric: pillows, a skirt for my niece, pants for my nephew. I can't wait to start creating and show you all the awesome things I make! Wait a minute, though. I don't know how to sew very well (I'd call myself a novice!), so we'll see how these projects actually turn out...