Schwetty's Blog

Project 52 ~ Week 9

2010-02-27T21:43:00.003-06:00

Joel is out of town this weekend, so the only date we'll get to have is one over the phone...

Saturday's Project

2010-02-27T20:54:00.003-06:00

Pottery Barn's Hyde Console Table $499
My unfinished DIY table $35

My sister, brother in law and I built this console table in about an hour and a half. I am so happy with it! It's a Pottery Barn knock-off. They are selling one for $500. I spent about $35 for lumber. Plans are from knockoffwood.blogspot.com the website I am on most often. I cannot believe how talented Ana is.

I have been wanting a nail gun for awhile now and building furniture is just one more thing that I can use it for.

My list of things to do for 2010 is far too long and money far too short.

Project 52 ~ Week 8

2010-02-20T21:26:00.000-06:00

Saturday morning Joel woke me up and whisked me off to Saint Paul. A few years ago, he had tried some of their pull apart cinnamon rolls and had been craving them.

When we asked for them, they were already sold out for the day. However, one of the employees called someone who had an order for five pull aparts that hadn't been picked up yet. The customer said that they were planning on picking them up, but not until Monday. The employees then turned to us and said "these won't last until Monday, we can sell you on of them, if you are still interested".

They were out of this world. Nummy. Nummy. Great date Joel!

Project 52 ~ Week 7

2010-02-14T19:46:00.007-06:00

This week we were busy preparing for our 2nd Annual Fondue party. The morning started out with Joel's present to me - flowers, chocolates and another fondue pot! That man of mine sure knows me.

The guests -
The five of us,
Bethany's boyfriend
Carrie J and her niece
Nancy F
My mom

The menu -
Wisconsin Trio Cheese fondue
(dipping basket of rye bread, peasant bread, baguettes, rosemary and garlic bread and green apples)

Oil fondue
(dipping basket of marinated chicken and ribeye, shrimp, brats, cheese curds and hot dogs)

Bananas Foster White Chocolate fondue and a Chocolate fountain
(dipping basket of rice crispies, spritz, cheesecake bites, graham crackers, strawberries, bananas, blonde brownies, pineapple and cherries)

The cheese fondue was tasty, but I had a hard time keeping it warm enough without overcooking it. I recommend the green apples with it.

The cheese curds were an interesting addition this year. The oil fondue is the easiest for me to deal with. Set it and forget it. I recommend the shrimp dipped in butter.

The two chocolate fondues were difficult to work with. We spent about 30 minutes getting the chocolate fountain to work. While Joel was working on that, I started the bananas foster. I got it all melty and perfect and then added more banana flavoring, which caused the chocolate to seize. Ack! I was able to salvage it mostly, but it was never perfect. Still delicious, but a rookie mistake I won't make again. I recommend the rice crispies in bananas foster.

We did this for our date last year too, and I like it because it reminds me that Valentine's Day isn't only about "couple" love. It's about all of the relationships in our life that we cherish.

Joel says "The cheese fondue was killer and the cheese curds were a nice addition."
Wyatt and Alice cuddling up on the chair.
BINGO!

Project 52 ~ Week 6

2010-02-04T19:24:00.006-06:00

Saturday after baseball practice we grabbed the cribbage board, a deck of cards and headed out to Caribou Coffee to sit by the fireplace and engage in a little friendly competition.

When we got there, the parking lot was full and it didn't look like there were any open tables, so we decided to try Dunn Bros. Score! We were practically the only ones there. Nice and quiet.

It has been years since I've played cribbage and I couldn't remember anything. Joel is very competitive, so I was a little worried, but he only took three of my missed points. I would have won if I hadn't have missed them. Shoot!

Joel says "It was good."

Project 52 ~ Week 5

2010-01-26T20:56:00.012-06:00

Last year for our 10th anniversary, we tried The Melting Pot for the first time. Joel wasn't too sure about it at first, a little out of the norm for us. But we ended up LOVING it!

OK, so this doesn't fit our new criteria of $20 or under, but it's our anniversary week. I work hard for this meal!

Project 52 ~ Week 4

2010-01-26T20:56:00.011-06:00

I've figured out how to get around the whole "no money" date things. Throw in a date as an anniversary gift!

I love the place that I get my hair cut because they give scalp massages after they wash your hair. It is something that I look forward to. After everything I do for everyone, it is so nice to have someone pamper me.

I knew that Joel would love, love getting a hair cut there, but also knew there would be no way that he would ever go there himself. So I made an appointment for him and brought him there.

When he was getting his massage, I noticed his little smirk, so I knew he was enjoying it very much. Not that he would ever tell me that...

Joel says "It was good"

Project 52 ~ Week 3

2010-01-26T20:56:00.010-06:00

For my birthday, I got a gift certificate for an 80 minute massage at a local spa. It was wonderful.

When I came home afterward, I had no energy to do anything other than walk upstairs and take a long, long nap. Just Joel and I were home and enjoyed a quiet afternoon together, just relaxing.

Joel says "It was good"

Project 52 ~ Week 2

2010-01-26T20:55:00.008-06:00

This week we went to a real dinner party. There was even wine to make it official.

We drove over to my mom's apartment. The party goers consisted of my mom and her date, her date's son and girlfriend, their son, two-thirds of my kids and Joel and myself.

The kids swam and I enjoyed a few glasses of that official wine.

The menu was prime rib and twice baked potatoes. The meat was tender and flavorful. My mom has mad skillz with home cooked meals.

We spent most of the day there and while not a kid-less date, I was reminded that it is important to foster relationships with family and friends. I have a hard time remembering that it's not ok to be a hermit, that I need those people in my life to say "Get off that couch and come with me".

Project 52 ~ Week 1

2010-01-26T19:40:00.004-06:00

October 2009 marked our one year anniversary of dating. What a year. We went out to eat, stayed home, went to plays, discovered bar bingo, taste test for broasted chicken, football games, ice cream, comedy clubs, all you can eat crab, breakfast, wings, wings by the river. And I wonder... why didn't I blog about those dates?

This year, it appears that the idea is catching on in the blog world, but they've labeled it Project 52. I figure that since I'm already doing Project 365, I might as well tack on Project 52. This year will be a little more challenging. First of all, there are diets involved, so going out to eat is not always a good idea. We have also decided that we need to make a conscious effort to save money as much as possibl whenever and where ever possible, which means no more $100 date nights. The result of this decision was home date nights or dates under $20. We are going to have to get creative this year.

Week 1 - the first week of January.

New Years Eve - We love to fondue. We tried a new cheese recipe this time. It was smoky and smooth and yummy. The chocolate was my favorite, which isn't really a surprise, since I'm not much of a cheese person. My favorite part of doing the fondue is that it's hands on. And very romantic. And you don't have very far to go when you need to take a little rest after gorging yourself.

Joel says he liked the sausage dipped in the cheese fondue.

November

2010-01-08T08:39:00.000-06:00

October POTD

2009-11-16T10:07:00.003-06:00

While I was at it, I also updated October's POTD.

Click the photo below to be routed to October 1st's photo.

September photos

2009-11-16T10:05:00.001-06:00

I've updated my September picture of the day calendar.

Click on the photo below to be routed to September 1st.

Must.Stop!

2009-11-13T08:09:00.003-06:00

This week I am unable to pull myself away from this website. I love the before and after section.

DesignSponge - I wonder how often they use "Sponge worthy?" lines. If it were me? You know I would try to use it at least once in every conversation I had.

I just noticed that on page 38 or here I have these exact same bird plates. Funny.

What I am ocd'ing about this week.

2009-10-29T13:01:00.008-05:00

This week I am looking for pantry inspiration. I know what my dimensions will be once we get the ball rolling, so I have a limited space to work with.

Way in the background of this photo, The bank of three doors is very close to what my pantry would look like. Mine would be with a microwave in the first set of cabinets though.

Here's one with a darker island (see previous post), along with a fridge. This is getting closer to what it would be, except that I still need a place for a microwave.

Like this, except lower the microwave and add more cabinets to the right.

Like this except add the fridge and microwave.

Like this, except without the wall of golden oak.

And what is it about open shelving that I am totally loving? Maybe I should just take out my upper cabinets and do open shelving? Except mine would never look like this. Mine would be a complete mess. I need doors to hide all of my crap.

ok...

2009-10-07T07:19:00.004-05:00

How much trouble would I be in if I painted my island like this...

Using products from here http://www.caromalcolours.com. This specific color is called peppercorn.

Without my husband knowing (he's a firm believer that wood should never be painted)?

The current island is oak. Not "golden" oak, a lighter oak, but still an oak.

I have just switched out all of the kitchen hardware (fine, except two that you can't see above my fridge) and am now thinking of other ways to update before I knock down the wall and put in a pantry, solid surface countertops and a snack bar.

Here are the worst case scenarios that I can think of -

a) I mess up and it looks hideous. Since I've used paint, I'll have to strip it and restain it. hmmm
b) I love it and will then want to redo the rest of the kitchen.
c) After I do it, I love it, but then hate it and get sick of it.

So then, here is my justification -

a) It's only the island, so it's best to tackle a smaller surface first.
b) Making them a color I want will be less than all new cabinets.
c) It will match my new appliances better. (When I get them.)
d) I'll have to get new stools to match the new color.
e) Notice the oak cabinets in the background? Ya.
f) That island is awesome.

What do you think? Yea or Nea?

I love to plan a weekly menu -

Here's the next one...

Meatloaf - mashed potatoes - carrots
Ribeyes - baked potato
lasagna - garlic bread
Swedish meatballs - egg noodles - green beans - rolls
hamburger gravy - cheddar biscuits - peas
chili - corn bread
fried chicken - mashed potatoes- watermelon lemonade
creamy Italian pasta - garlic bread
chicken wild rice soup - rolls

desserts -
banana bread
apple crisp
pudding

One of the things I LOVE is that since I do all of my grocery shopping online, I can just sit on my duff, look at recipes, decide and then add to cart. Then whatever I want magically appears before me. I have my own grocery genie.

September

2009-09-18T12:44:00.002-05:00

Why does it seem like as soon as the kids are back in school that the week goes by so much quicker?

This is also the time of the year that I crave the bigger and heavier meals, like meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Here's my To Do list for September, which I am acutely aware that it's almost over...

Add new "threshold" to the bottom of both garage doors
Seal garage doors with insulating foam
Stain deck at lake
Stain deck at home
Buy blueberry bushes
Buy apple tree
Buy cherry tree
Sod back yard
Apply weed killer to mulch
Fix guest room walls
Paint guest room
Move tv and satellite to guest room
~~New Bedding for guest room~~ Done
New window treatments

August POTD

2009-09-04T08:19:00.002-05:00

At this point, I'm only a few days behind! Yea me!

July Picture of the Day

2009-09-03T08:45:00.003-05:00

Click on the photo to bring up the website, then you can click through each day of the month.

Time wasting

2009-07-24T10:45:00.004-05:00

I have been playing with the www.yearbookyourself.com and have been laughing so hard!...

You upload a photo and align it with some preset options, then scroll through images from 1950's through the year 2000.

Here are some of my saved pictures. I'll have to try again with a different photo. I think that they will turn out better if I use a photo with no hair on my forehead and no glasses to deal with.

So many morphing possibilities, so little time....

Me in 1996

Me in 1998

The 2000 Couple of the Year award goes to...

While I'm at it...

2009-07-14T08:21:00.000-05:00

July is mostly up to date.

June Calendar

2009-07-14T08:18:00.003-05:00

YEA!!! I know, finally!

My updated calendar for June is finally posted.

May

2009-06-17T14:25:00.002-05:00

My May photos are all done now too.

April Picture of the day

2009-06-12T09:27:00.001-05:00

I have finally finished April's online picture of the day calendar.

Only May and June to go to get caught up.

Opening weekend

2009-05-27T08:38:00.001-05:00

What's worse than finding two dead mice in your home away from home?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Finding 7 dead mice and having a sticky trap with a dead one fall on top of you.
gag!

Typical

2009-05-22T08:45:00.003-05:00

After a successful Wednesday, I failed every attempt to check off anything on my list for Thursday.

Thursday
Plant annuals - Failed
Organize linen closet - Failed
Organize bathroom - Failed
Work out - Failed
~~Date night~~ - Success : )
~~Cleaned first floor~~ - Success (Yes, I am reaching here)

For date night we went out to a new local restaurant. And when I say date night, what I mean is "I don't want to cook and I have to think of something real quick and oh by the way, we don't have a babysitter either" night.

The food was just ok and they had a limited menu. Wyatt enjoyed the game room and kept buying super balls instead of playing games. And of course this conversation ensued ~

(Wyatt walks back to the table and sits down. Super balls in front pocket of his shorts)
Dad - Hey.
Wyatt (with hand in pocket) Hey
Dad - How *you* doing?
Wyatt - How *you* doing.
Dad - How many balls you got. (smiling at his genius)
Wyatt - Five.
Mom - Whatchya got in there, bud?
Dad - Wyatt, are you playing with your balls? (smiling and giggling at his genius)
Wyatt - (smiling and giggling at his dad's genius)
Mom - (rolling her eyes, wondering if it *ever* gets old for boys?)

A perfect example of how my dates usually go.

Score!

2009-05-21T08:19:00.004-05:00

For once in my lifetime, I was able to cross everything of my to do list! *And* I even added a work out!

Wednesday -
~~Fill vases with greenery~~
~~Paint mirror and frame~~
~~Bring in wardrobe~~
~~Buy annuals~~

Tonight
Plant annuals
Organize linen closet
Organize bathroom
Work out

The mirror I got for $20 at HomeGoods (because it was chipped) looks really good with a coat of paint and I can't wait to hang it up.

I'll probably print this and frame it too. I just knew my cat was a star!

Graduation Party

2009-05-20T11:38:00.002-05:00

Hosting a graduation party is a lot of work.

I started planning around this time last year. It all started with re-designing our landscaping.

Here's the last of the list of things to do.

Tonight -
Fill vases with greenery
Paint mirror and frame
Bring in wardrobe
Buy annuals

Thursday
Plant annuals
Organize linen closet
Organize bathroom

Friday
Go through Wyatt's room
Organize storage "corner" - 5 shelves
Clean out fridge
Scrub stove
Paint end table
Order cake

To buy yet
Mirror for entryway
3 large candle sticks
2 birds
Dollar store frames
black oil paint
20 x 30 frames for collages
36 x 24 frame for art
36" shelf
24" shelf
towels
chair or stool
wire baskets
more stems for pitcher
food
plastic silverware
paper products
3 plates for plate rack
plate hangers

hmmmm...

2009-05-19T10:56:00.006-05:00

Is it wrong of me to be planning what to do with my soon to be extra bedroom? I mean the 18 year old isn't even out yet. Well, her *stuff* is still all over the house, but I haven't had physical, visual contact in about a week. And I may have told her to take her clothes, the desk, dresser and nightstand out of her room. oops.

So anyway...

I need a multi-purpose room. A guest room/craft room/no family allowed room.

It's currently blue with holes and tears (from using duct tape to hang up blankets over the window) in the sheetrock and has friend's names painted in acrylic.

So, here's a list of what needs to be done.

Patch holes
Decide on colors
Repaint (stuck on what color though)
Find a desk or work surface (sturdy enough for my sewing machine)
Take down bifold doors and put up "curtains" (doors are broken)
Window Treatments
Reroute satellite tv from kitchen to this room.
Purchase new bedding

I love this room from HGTV's dream house. I don't think I would have room for an armoire and am planning on putting all of my craft stuff in the closet.

There's not a lot of floor space in the room either, so I would most likely be able to only put one dresser or bookcase in there, so I would definately have to use wall space.

or

18 Years ago ...

2009-05-13T15:09:00.001-05:00

18 years ago and I was still in high school.
I was looking forward to the day of my prom.
I was living on my own. I was making my own decisions.
I was working and going to school and busy growing a baby.

A short 18 years ago I was in labor. Scared out of my mind.
I hadn't yet met the human being that I had already loved so much.
I never realized how much one person could bring me so much joy, make me so proud.
How time would fly by so quickly. How much I would try to hold on, how much she would try to get me to let go.

Happy Birthday Bubba!

Right up my alley

2009-05-04T14:25:00.002-05:00

I just bought two tickets for this show. Looks like it's not deep and very funny. Perfect for us.

http://www.bravenewworkshop.org/current-show.php

List Number Two

2009-04-15T08:05:00.004-05:00

Madison Public Library - Readable Fiction Classics

Looks like I've got some reading to do. I've read only 11 of these.
(in alphabetical order)

1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
2. Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
5. The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow
6. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
7. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
8. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
9. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
10. Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
11. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
12. My Ántonia by Willa Cather
13. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
14. Select Tales of Anton Chekhov by Anton Chekhov
15. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
16. Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
17. Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig
18. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water A Novel by Michael Dorris
19. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
20. The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
21. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
22. Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier
23. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
24. The Reivers by William Faulkner
25. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding
26. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
27. Howard's End by E.M. Forster
28. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines
29. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
30. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
31. The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
32. A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton
33. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
34. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
35. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
36. The Best Short Stories of O. Henry by O. Henry
37. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
38. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
39. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
40. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
41. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
42. The World According to Garp by John Irving
43. The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
44. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
45. The Best Stories of Sarah Orne Jewett by Sarah Orne Jewett
46. The Road by Jack Kerouac
47. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
48. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
49. The Best Short Stories of Rudyard Kipling by Rudyard Kipling
50. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
51. Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence
52. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
53. Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
54. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
55. The Fixer by Bernard Malamud
56. Death in Venice by Thomas Mann
57. The Short Stories of Katherine Mansfield by Katherine Mansfield
58. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
59. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
60. The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
61. Atonement by Ian McEwan 62. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
63. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.
64. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
65. Beloved by Toni Morrison
66. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
67. In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien
68. Animal Farm by George Orwell
69. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
70. Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
71. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
72. The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx
73. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
74. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
75. Giants in the Earth by Ole Edvart Rølvaag
76. Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth
77. Empire Falls by Richard Russo
78. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
79. Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
80. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
81. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
82. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
83. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
84. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
85. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
86. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
87. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
88. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
89. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
90. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
91. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
92. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
93. The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
94. Rabbit, Run by John Updike
95. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
96. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
97. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
98. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
99. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
100. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thorton Wilder
101. Native Son by Richard Wright
102. Germinal by Emile Zola

Reading list #1

2009-04-15T07:47:00.004-05:00

Madison Public Library compiled this list I've highlighted the ones that I've read. I'm at 18 so far.

Madison Public Library - 100 Best Novels: Readers' Choice

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
3. 1984 by George Orwell
4. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
7. Beloved by Toni Morrison
8. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
9. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
10. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
11. Animal Farm by George Orwell
12. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
13. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
14. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
15. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
16. Ulysses by James Joyce
17. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
18. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
19. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
20. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
21. Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
22. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
23. My Ántonia by Willa Cather
24. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
25. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
26. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
27. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
28. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
29. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
30. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
31. Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller
32. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
33. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
34. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
35. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
36. Deliverance by James Dickey
37. Howard's End by E.M. Forster
38. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
39. Dune by Frank Herbert
40. The World According to Garp by John Irving
41. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
42. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
43. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
44. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
45. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
46. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
47. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
48. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
49. Native Son by Richard Wright
50. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
51. The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
52. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
53. The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton
54. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
55. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
56. From Here to Eternity by James Jones
57. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
58. Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey
59. Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver
60. Being There by Jerzy Kosinski
61. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
62. Martha Quest by Doris Lessing
63. The Four-Gated City by Doris Lessing
64. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
65. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
66. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
67. Hawaii by James A. Michener
68. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
69. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
70. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
71. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
72. Rabbit, Run by John Steinbeck
73. Trinity by Leon Uris
74. Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
75. The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker
76. Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
77. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
78. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
79. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
80. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
81. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
82. Firth Business by Roberston Davies
83. Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
84. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
85. Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi
86. Ironweed by William Kennedy
87. The Stand by Stephen King
88. Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence
89. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré
90. Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
91. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
92. The Enigma of Arrival by V.S. Naipaul
93. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
94. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
95. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
96. My Life as a Man by Philip Roth
97. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
98. Sophie's Choice by William Styron
99. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler
100. Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison

2009-04-10T08:25:00.001-05:00

updated photos

2009-03-24T08:25:00.001-05:00

Click on the photo to go to to website to see all of March's photos.

Inspiration

2009-03-04T15:15:00.004-06:00

Here is a link to an online "gallery" of inspiration. These are just photos that I've saved in a folder and thought it would be better to load them somewhere other than work. Especially since I've recently lost my hard drive.

I can't give credit to any of these and apologize for that. Once I find them again, I will update the photo with the proper credit.

Inspiration

As I look through all of these pictures, it kind of makes me think that if I were to have a decorating style (and those of you who know me, know I don't have *any* style) I would have to say that I am attracted to ... gulp... country. Is that true? Am I a country girl at heart? I love a good "chippy" piece of furniture, a rustic bench. I mean, take a look at this one...

Need I say more?

Exhibit a. My first house was mauve and country blue, right down to the carpet and vinyl siding.
Exhibit b. I love birds.
Exhibit c. And flowers.

Sometimes it hurts to look inside and see who you really are.

Finally!!!

2009-02-19T16:15:00.001-06:00

My contractor popped in yesterday for a few hours.

This no longer looks like this. Now my shopping list has grown. I need a rustic bench, towels, antique hooks and a huge basket.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-12T09:37:00.002-06:00

We usually try to do fondue for Valentine's Day. This year, I've invited a few friends over.

Who wouldn't want to spend a special day with my loving family? (see bullet through neck shot)

Totally 90's

2009-01-28T09:47:00.003-06:00

We hate this mirror, right? (And the dining room light that's reflected in it - can't find a light that I like with a long enough chain and I have been looking forever.)

Should I -
1) Take it down and buy a large framed mirror to put above the couch.
or
2) Buy a miter box and put some molding up around it.

I am leaning towards 1, but am afraid of how small it will make the room look without the mirror there.

Pizza nights

2009-01-27T09:24:00.003-06:00

Fasted pizza night in the west.

Ingredients ~
1 Pillsburry Thin Crust Pizza dough
1 jar of Pizza sauce (I use Davanni's)
1 Pkg Pepperoni Slices (I use Turkey Pepperoni)
Shredded cheese or cheese of your choice
Other Pizza toppings of your choice

Directions ~
Unwind the dough from the can and lay in 9*13 pan. Bake for 6 minutes.
Take crust out of oven and spread desired pizza sauce over top.
Layer pepperoni and cheese on top of pizza sauce. This is where you would add any other toppings as well. We do half pepperoni/half pepperoni, green olive.
Bake for additional 6 minutes.

Serve with fruit or a salad.

(Hint - If you click on the picture, it will bring you to the rest of the month of January.)

Date Night 1-22-09

2009-01-23T10:33:00.002-06:00

Last night we went to our favorite local bar and played BINGO. I was the lucky winner of $59.00. The worst part about the whole night was that Iwasthisclose to winning $20,000. That's right my friends that does have four zero's behind it.

How awesome would it have been to come home with that check? I guess that's just further proof that I am destined to be poor.

Date Night 1-15-09

2009-01-23T10:08:00.004-06:00

Last week we found an awesome theater about 30 minutes away from where we live. It's more of an entertainment pavilion than just a theater. There is a huge arcade, a bistro and a bar. The best part about it was the memory foam seats in the theater. Looking forward to going there a lot more.

We saw "Yes Man" and laughed out loud a few times.

Next up!

2009-01-21T14:47:00.006-06:00

My January 2009 project is shaping up. Tonight I go pick out tile for our basement shower.

Can I just say that I have no idea what I want to do in there yet? It's a 3 x 4 shower, with a 4' x 6" ledge on the back. Shower door? No idea.

<- My husband wants gray slate. I just want something neutral. I would love to do Subway tile. <- But would be fine with something like this.

I don't want the slate that he picked out. I think it belongs in the 80's, along with his beloved dining room table.

We go through this *every* time. He wants one thing, we get into a *huge* fight and then I do what he wants, because I don't want him mad. Then when we do his idea, he hates it too. When I don't back down and just do what I want, he likes it.

I just want to know why stuff like this is important to him? Enough to fight about it?

Anyway, rant over... I need some inspiration. One that would go with a grayish, blueish tiled floor.

January - Basement Bathroom
Tile
Repaint
Towel rod
Hook for outside of shower.
New rugs
Paint outside dresser
Buy a make-up mirror
Add threshold in basement
Add toilet cap covers
Fix doorknob
Shower filter
Replace tin floor vents with wood ones

Jaymie's calendar

2009-01-15T12:54:00.002-06:00

Just moving my calendar picture up.

Devising a plan

2009-01-13T15:34:00.003-06:00

While I have been in my "inspiration" phase for getting the bathroom shower tiled, I have wasted many hours on the new websites that I just posted.

And have added many new projects to my "To Do" list for the year. These women are very talented.

I also must say that every day, I find a new picture of someone who has painted their kitchen cabinets. If I were to paint mine, I would start to go down a slippery slope, cabinets should match the trim, trim should match the baseboards, baseboards should match the doors, the railings, the fireplace.... That would be if I could get Joel's buy in, which I would not. He is of the "NO PAINTED WOOD" (Read like "No wire hangarrr's!!!) and bad taste (exhibit a. Kitchen Island exhibit b. golden oak dining room table exhibit c. Chrome Craft kitchen bar stools)era.

Date nights

2009-01-12T11:26:00.005-06:00

Joel and I used to have every other weekend all to ourselves and I finally realized that I missed having him all to myself for a little while. So, in October, I instituted a weekly date night.

One week he plans some time together and the next week I plan it.

On Saturday, he took me to the Omni Theater at the Science Museum. We saw the Grand Canyon movie. Uh, I was only nauseous for some of it...

Grand Canyon

Good cheap date, $14.00

2008 Projects

2009-01-09T20:35:00.014-06:00

Our goals for 2008 were unbelievably all completed. And they were pretty lofty, along with a *huge*, unexpected one thrown in.

1. Redesign landscaping.

This was something that had to be done before graduation this year. I also wanted it to be in the ground for at least a season, so that looked like it had always been there. Not that I did it to impress people.

Before

After

2. Fix the water damaged kitchen floor -

Before

Before

After

After - The real color isn't as orange here. I must have had my flash on...

And our third big project in the 4th quarter of 2008 was a big, unexpected, hurtful, bitter-filled mess. Our much loved neighbors lost their home to foreclosure. They had been *the* best neighbors and we were extremely close to them. We went through many laughs, many tears,loss of jobs, high school graduation, a new grandbaby, the loss of their son together. I loved these guys. Then one day after they had to vacate the premises, a different neighbor stopped by, introduced himself and let us know that our old neighbors fence was on our property by 10 feet.

TEN Effing FEET!!!! One foot we knew about. We have reason to believe that the old neighbors knowingly installed permanent structures on our property the whole ten years that they lived there. Sprinkler systems, sidewalks, several shrubs, the fence, retaining walls, landscape rock and oh-by-the-way a pool thisclosetoour property line. Not only did they install these items, he dug out the property pin with he was alerterd about his error years ago. We are still bitter about this whole thing, to say the least, there's a lot more to the story, but I don't like being lied to and I thought I was a better judge of character than that.

Joel contacted the bank, the real estate agent and the city (who said we should try and work it out by ourselves...??) to apprise them of the situation and let them know that there is a property line issue and they need to have everything removed from our property. They agreed and finally after three months, had the work done and also paid our survey bill ($850!) for us as a thank you for everything we did to help the project along.

So, longer story shorter, the beginning...

The orange flags mark out our property line, the fence is on the edge of the photo...

The stake with the pink ribbon marks our property line here, by the tree at ten feet.

And the end.

I'm so awesome!

2009-01-08T18:44:00.001-06:00

I totally love that my photo below changes everytime I update the calendar.

Project 365

2009-01-06T19:59:00.004-06:00

Ok, once again I am going to try and take a picture a day. This time though, I am using the buzzword, Project 365. Changing the title will make me successful this time, right?

Here is a link to an online calendar that I am updating with the pictures. Hopefully this works.

It's me Mario!

2008-11-05T10:22:00.004-06:00

Halloween pictures -

Wyatt's costume was the best ever. Every time I saw him, I just giggled.

He even went up to some houses and said "It's me Marrrrio!" instead of "Trick or Treat". That boy cracks me up.

We still aren't sure what Bubba was. A short skirt, stockings with holes, sunglasses and a cape? She loves to see all of the little kids come to the door in their costumes, so it really doesn't matter I guess.

I do have pictures of Bailey, (she went as an elephant) but they all have a friend of hers in them and I didn't want to post pictures of the friend without her parents permission.

RNC 9-4-2008

2008-09-04T14:44:00.003-05:00

Here's a photo looking to the south of my building today, over the Wabasha Street bridge.

My company is asking us to leave early today, because there is a scheduled march at 4:00. It looks to me like there are two separate groups, it should be pretty hectic down here when they converge on the Xcel.

RNC 9-3-2008

2008-09-03T13:51:00.001-05:00

This is outside of my window at work right now. They are chanting "9/11 was an inside job".

This is happening right where I would normally get on the bus in the afternoon. As I walked away, I was able to see SWAT getting in position.

Hold me, I'm scared.

POTM

2008-07-24T20:50:00.003-05:00

It seems like I've been really busy for awhile now, but don't have many pictures to show for it. I've been really busy landscaping every weekend, but it doesn't seem like I've gotten anywhere. This weekend, I will be planting 9 plants in the front yard. Hopefully

Wyatt and his coach. Wyatt's warming up for his first time at bat, during his first game.

A beautiful view from where we stayed for the Annual Alex Girls weekend 2008.

My adorable kids on vacation at the lake.

Wyatt and my nephew at Como Zoo.

Have you read anything lately?

2008-07-24T09:43:00.003-05:00

Entertainment weekly put out a list of the top 100 New Classic read from the past 25 years. The books I've read are in Red. (Get it?)

I'm not sure who created this list, but I have to say that I disagree with some of them. Da Vinci Code? Really? While it's definitely an ok (at best) book, I don't think that it's a "must read" and I hated Atonement. Where's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"? "Life of Pi"? "The Red Tent"? Sounds like I need to a) read all of the books on the list to determine how my opinion stacks up against theirs and b) make my own list.

1. The Road , Cormac McCarthy (2006)
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (2000)
3. Beloved, Toni Morrison (1987)
4. The Liars' Club, Mary Karr (1995)
5. American Pastoral, Philip Roth (1997)
6. Mystic River, Dennis Lehane (2001)
7. Maus, Art Spiegelman (1986/1991)
8. Selected Stories, Alice Munro (1996)
9. Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier (1997)
10. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami (1997)
11. Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer (1997)
12. Blindness, José Saramago (1998)
13. Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (1986-87)
14. Black Water, Joyce Carol Oates (1992)
15. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers (2000)
16. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood (1986)
17. Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez (1988)
18. Rabbit at Rest, John Updike (1990)
19. On Beauty, Zadie Smith (2005)
20. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding (1998)
21. On Writing, Stephen King (2000)
22. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Díaz (2007)
23. The Ghost Road, Pat Barker (1996)
24. Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry (1985)
25. The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan (1989)
26. Neuromancer, William Gibson (1984)
27. Possession, A.S. Byatt (1990)
28. Naked, David Sedaris (1997)
29. Bel Canto, Anne Patchett (2001)
30. Case Histories, Kate Atkinson (2004)
31. The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien (1990)
32. Parting the Waters, Taylor Branch (1988)
33. The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion (2005)
34. The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (2002)
35. The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst (2004)
36. Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt (1996)
37. Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi (2003)
38. Birds of America, Lorrie Moore (1998)
39. Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri (2000)
40. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman (1995-2000)
41. The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros (1984)
42. LaBrava, Elmore Leonard (1983)
43. Borrowed Time, Paul Monette (1988)
44. Praying for Sheetrock, Melissa Fay Greene (1991)
45. Eva Luna, Isabel Allende (1988)
46. Sandman, Neil Gaiman (1988-1996)
47. World's Fair, E.L. Doctorow (1985)
48. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver (1998)
49. Clockers, Richard Price (1992)
50. The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen (2001)
51. The Journalist and the Murderer, Janet Malcom (1990)
52. Waiting to Exhale, Terry McMillan (1992)
53. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon (2000)
54. Jimmy Corrigan, Chris Ware (2000)
55. The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls (2006)
56. The Night Manager, John le Carré (1993)
57. The Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe (1987)
58. Drop City, TC Boyle (2003)
59. Krik? Krak! Edwidge Danticat (1995)
60. Nickel & Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich (2001)
61. Money, Martin Amis (1985)
62. Last Train To Memphis, Peter Guralnick (1994)
63. Pastoralia, George Saunders (2000)
64. Underworld, Don DeLillo (1997)
65. The Giver, Lois Lowry (1993)
66. A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, David Foster Wallace (1997)
67. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini (2003)
68. Fun Home, Alison Bechdel (2006)
69. Secret History, Donna Tartt (1992)
70. Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell (2004)
71. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Ann Fadiman (1997)
72. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon (2003)
73. A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving (1989)
74. Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger (1990)
75. Cathedral, Raymond Carver (1983)
76. A Sight for Sore Eyes, Ruth Rendell (1998)
77. The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)
78. Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
79. The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell (2000)
80. Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney (1984)
81. Backlash, Susan Faludi (1991)
82. Atonement, Ian McEwan (2002)
83. The Stone Diaries, Carol Shields (1994)
84. Holes, Louis Sachar (1998)
85. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson (2004)
86. And the Band Played On, Randy Shilts (1987)
87. The Ruins, Scott Smith (2006)
88. High Fidelity, Nick Hornby (1995)
89. Close Range, Annie Proulx (1999)
90. Comfort Me With Apples, Ruth Reichl (2001)
91. Random Family, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc (2003)
92. Presumed Innocent, Scott Turow (1987)
93. A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley (1991)
94. Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser (2001)
95. Kaaterskill Falls, Allegra Goodman (1998)
96. The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown (2003)
97. Jesus’ Son, Denis Johnson (1992)
98. The Predators' Ball, Connie Bruck (1988)
99. Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman (1995)
100. America (the Book), Jon Stewart/Daily Show (2004)

POTM - - June

2008-07-08T13:27:00.006-05:00

Hey - I hate to use it as an excuse, but I've been busy!!! At least it's been less than a month since the last time I've posted, so I guess it's not *that* bad... Pictures to come tonight, when I have my camera.

The week that school got out, my girls went to their G'ma B's for the weekend. Then stayed with my mom for the next week. I met with a landscape designer.
<- before
The next Thursday, my BIL and his family came to visit for the weekend. They had all kinds of fun things planned with the kids, like the Science Museum, Como Zoo, swimming and a baseball game. I picked up a landscape design and cut down all of my shrubs in the front of the house.
<- during...
My evil genius struck again and I put an add in on Craig's list "Free Landscape Rock!!!". Someone came this week and hauled my landscape rock away. HAha, hehe, hoho..... For FREEEEEE. Muhahahaha

Saturday we rented a sod cutter and cut, removed and transported sod for 9 hours. Backbreaking, exhausting work. But it's done and I can go get my middle child two days early. It's been two weeks since I've seen her. I miss her.

Sunday W and I drove up north, Joel is working Mon and Tues. Picked Bay up at her Grandma B's, then made our nest at the camper for the next week.

Joel called and basically said "I can't stand being at home by myself. I'm coming up now and bringing the cats too." And then another call "I've been trying to pick Jessie up for 40 minutes and she keeps running from me." Gave instructions over the phone how to capture a cat. How to show her who's the human and who's the cat.

In other news, Wyatt lost his first tooth. The toothfairy left him $5 and a card. She told him that his tooth was the biggest she had seen in 125 years.

Had a good time on vaca, but came home early (Saturday), so that I could get some more done around the yard. Removed the rest of the sod that was left around sprinkler heads, drainage systems and other forgotten areas. Too hot and humid to be outside. Purchased 11 plants and planted on Sunday. Transplanted two more plants and installed weed barrier and 30 pavers on side of house. It had to be about 100 degrees out with at least as much humidity. I only almost fainted twice.

Tonight - Plan on installing weed barrier on side of house, behind garage. Install 30 pavers.
Tomorrow - Rip out edging in front bed now that rocks are no longer there.
Thursday - Rest??
Friday - Track down and purchase 7 plants 2) cotoneasters 2) minuet Weigela's 2) chokeberry's and 1) Viburnum.
Saturday - plant shrubs
Sunday - Mulch completed landscape beds.

POT..Week? Month?

2008-06-12T18:33:00.006-05:00

My picture of the day was a huge undertaking and was good while it lasted.

I guess I am going to have to try for something that would more resemble a Picture Of The Week, or even Picture Of The Month.

So here are some to get us all caught up...
- March. Seriously? Still?

- Wyatt was so excited to go to the MN Zoo, a month before his trip, he made me a grocery list/what to pack list.
Bethany's mad skillz for her work. Cool names to go on everyone's drink.

My WoodyCat. He's adorable.

bueller? bueller?

2008-06-03T13:45:00.002-05:00

Bonus points to anyone who remembers someone from 4th grade.

Clues ~
1. Last name started with a "C" I think.
2. Was good friends with Gerek.
3. Hottie bad boy with a good heart?

Not a big deal, just wondered whatever happened to him.

POTD 4-9-2008

2008-04-09T19:28:00.004-05:00

16 yr old self portrait, 'cuz she's having a good hair day.

POTD 4-8-2008

2008-04-08T19:23:00.000-05:00

Love this photo. Grandma hates taking pictures, so a good one is hard to get.

Love you!

POTD 4-7-2008

2008-04-07T19:19:00.000-05:00

We saw this on our way back from the Mall of America. There were cameras involved, but we are not sure why. She was just standing there.

POTD 4-6-2008

2008-04-06T19:12:00.000-05:00

The only difference between Bailey and her mom is that her mom is weird, but Bailey is OK with being weird.

Typical socks on a typical day. Weird-O

POTD 4-5-2008

2008-04-05T19:06:00.000-05:00

Beth bought these pink extensions, which are perfect on her best friend (they are hugging with the extensions in KDWB's hair). Joel, who always has to be the center of attention, couldn't stand *not* being in the picture.

POTD 4-4-2008

2008-04-04T19:03:00.000-05:00

First grill night of 2008.

POTD 4-3-2008

2008-04-03T18:57:00.000-05:00

My birds are starting to come back to the feeders now. I have already seen my first bluebird of the season and my first flicker ever.

POTD 4-2-2008

2008-04-02T20:50:00.003-05:00

Wyatt testing his new rollerblades. And I also wanted to just say how much I love my new camera. Love the way this picture turned out.

POTD 4-1-2008

2008-04-01T20:44:00.000-05:00

My husband makes me supper. He's the best.

POTD 3-31-2008

2008-03-31T18:30:00.002-05:00

Beth's big purchase after working all weekend. They glow in the laser tag area at her work.

POTD 3-30-2008

2008-03-30T18:30:00.003-05:00

Tired boy after playing all night with his best friend, Jack.

POTD 3-29-2008

2008-03-29T18:29:00.001-05:00

My party hero made $60 today.

POTD 3-28-2008

2008-03-28T21:47:00.005-05:00

I had posted photos of some adorable neighborhood kids. Emma and Conner, but I took it down, 'cuz I didn't know how their parents wouldn't feel about having their photos on the internet.

Conner is one of the cutest little boys that I have seen. Ahdora-ble.

Emma is one of Wyatt's best friends. And she's a girl. He even told me one time, with her sitting right next to him "mom, isn't Emma's laugh beautiful??"

POTD 3-27-2008

2008-03-27T21:47:00.002-05:00

Typical face from my typical teen. (She's wrapped up in her baby blankey in this photo, haha)

POTD 3-26-2008

2008-03-26T21:46:00.000-05:00

Easter baskets sans Wyatt's swim trunks and googles.

POTD 3-25-2008

2008-03-25T21:46:00.000-05:00

Spring + neighborhood kids + family of five = so many shoes in the entryway, that the door is unable to shut.

POTD 3-24-2008

2008-03-24T21:45:00.000-05:00

Easter basket goodies.

POST 3-23-2008

2008-03-23T19:59:00.003-05:00

Happy Easter!

My mom and I threw together a "no fuss" lunch for four people. So no fuss that I only used stuff I already had in the house, except the orange juice that we needed for mimosas. It was probably a little more fuss for my mom. She brought the salad, asparagus and dessert.

Ham

Glazed carrots

Cheesy potatoes

Strawberry spinach salad

Asparagus

Dinner rolls

Vanilla bean cheesecake

Tiramisu

mimosas

POTD 3-22-2008

2008-03-22T19:51:00.000-05:00

Organized chaos.

I am currently re-organizing all of my scrapbooks. My old way just wasn't working for me anymore. I had several different categories. Beth, Bailey, Wyatt, Joel and Jaymie, Christmas, family, camper and cruises.

My new way will basically be People and Places.

But it's going to take a lot to get there. Of course, this means that I've taken over the living room until it's done.

shh, don't tell anyone, but I just don't like my old Creative Memories albums and won't be using them in this new system.

POTD 3-21-2008

2008-03-21T19:42:00.000-05:00

Seriously?

My deck *just* all melted off.

POTD 3-20-2008

2008-03-20T21:43:00.002-05:00

Our best neighbors lost their son almost a year ago. Love you guys so much. I am so sorry for your loss. We all still miss him so much.

POTD 3-19-2008

2008-03-19T21:29:00.003-05:00

Awww.

Woody and I have this game. Well, mostly I have this game that I play. And He wins every time.

At the top of our stairs is a landing with Woody's cat bed. Whenever he is sleeping like this, all curled up, I crouch down and try to sneak up on him. EVERY time I am just about to poke him, he opens one eye to let me know that he is the master. I guess sometimes he just grumbles at me "hmmrrr", but then I scratch his belly, every time.

POTD 3-18-2008

2008-03-18T21:24:00.001-05:00

Love the way a new hair cut feels on this little head.

POTD 2-17-2008

2008-03-17T21:14:00.000-05:00

Wah, Wah Wahoo!

Finally! My teenager has a job, she got the job from Friday!

Bethany's first day on there. See all of that cash??? She made $35.00 in tips on her first day and she was only in training...

POTD 3-16-2008

2008-03-16T20:42:00.003-05:00

Bailey and the Science Fair Project.

POTD 3-15-2008

2008-03-15T20:26:00.000-05:00

Beth and I went on a little adventure Friday night.

We went to a book signing with Jodi Picoult, aka my new BFF.

Jodi is Bethany's favorite author. I think that her books are a little predictable, but I love the characters that she creates.

POTD 3-14-2008

2008-03-14T20:59:00.001-05:00

Bubba has a second interview here today. The position she wants is Party Hero. They host the birthday parties here. They serve food, cut the cake, get drinks, get adult food and non-alcoholic drinks, tokens, play games, dance with the kids and over all just give moms a break.

When we had Wyatt's b-day party here, I may have said "I love having a wife." So awesome to sit back and have some one else do everything.

Good luck Beth!

POTD 3-13-2008

2008-03-13T20:56:00.001-05:00

Love this girl.

Last week on her day off of school, she cleaned the whole house without being asked, just to make me happy. Love, love her.

POTD 3-12-2008

2008-03-12T20:51:00.001-05:00

Loving me some sunny spring time weather with my new screen/storm door.

I sold my golden oak curio cabinet on craig's list and used the money for this beaut.

POTD 3-11-2008

2008-03-11T20:44:00.003-05:00

Sigh...

Really?

Still?

POTD 3-10-2008

2008-03-10T20:00:00.003-05:00

Trying this again...

Just over the weekend, I received my new lens from Ritz camera. This lens has a much larger zoom than the lens that came with the camera.

Here is the max zoom I could get before.

and now here's what I can do.

POTD - 3-9-2008

2008-03-09T20:18:00.001-05:00

ack!

I am trying to upload my photo for today, but the blogger server is "Not able to complete the request at this time".

Sorry.

Hopefully it will be better tomorrow.

POTD 3-8-2008

2008-03-08T20:19:00.006-06:00

Say it isn't sooooooo!!!

In the 80's

And the say it isn't so ~ now

WTF happened?

I know that we did a lot of weird stuff in the 80's, but this is NOT who I once had a crush on. This is not who sang "Smooth Up In Ya", the svelt, smooth talker, Smoothy McSmootherton dancer that I knew.

POTD 3-7-2008

2008-03-07T20:05:00.001-06:00

Grody.

Some of you (haha, like it's more than two people) may be wondering what happened to my thumb and why it has a grody bandage on it.

I burned myself on Coffee. Yes, my friend, coffee.

I made a pot-o-coffee, put it into a thermos and headed out to Carrie's for a day of scrapping. I bent down to open her door and coffee spilled out onto my thumb. And for the longest time (clearly time is not my friend in this case), I stared at it thinking "I can't believe how much it hurts!" Finally I wised up and took my glove off, which I am assuming trapped the heat next to my skin, making it worse.

After ten days, this is still what it looks like. I don't "think" it's infected. (?)

Ewwwwwa

POTD 3-6-2008

2008-03-06T19:56:00.003-06:00

I'm also known as the crazy pin lady.

If you've read my family blog, there were a few posts regarding lanyards and Disney pin trading.

Well, I love Disney pins. I don't know why, I don't even think that most of them are cute or pretty or in any way attractive.

Maybe it's the hoarder in me? Must have them all?

Here is an example of the pins that we trade with, I will be purchasing 50 more to try and fill out my collections and to add to the "traders" basket (see previous post). All of these traders are stored in the white basket. We currently have 72 traders.

POTD 3-5-2008

2008-03-05T18:39:00.003-06:00

My kids call me "Crazy Basket Lady", especially after my recent addition.

I'd like to give a shout out to Carrie. She's the one responsible for the my newest basket. It's the big one on the left, tipped up on its side with the handle on the basket next to it.

Look at how it's liner matches all of my other liners. Just like it was meant to be.

POTD 3-4-2008

2008-03-04T07:51:00.002-06:00

I have recently signed up for at http://www.goodreads.com/. I have spent two full work days there, adding books, reading reviews of books, making friends.

I love the concept of the website. Add books to a "Read", "Currently Reading", or "To-Read" list. Review books you've already read, read what's on other members lists and in general waste your whole day away.

Bethany are going to go to Jodi Picoult's booking signing in two weeks. Here is a shot of Beth's collection of JP's books. Minus the one that is in my car.

POTD 3-3-2008

2008-03-03T19:34:00.000-06:00

Ok, I don't know what calendar I thought I was using, but apparently March is the Third Month and it started on Saturday, not Sunday.

So here's one from 3-1

Bethany, Jaymie, Carrie, Amy, Bill, Wyatt and my favorite Anoka wrestler, Joe.

POTD 3-2-2008

2008-03-02T19:28:00.003-06:00

My aunt and uncle have a cattle sale every year. Planning for the sale begins early every year, as the cattle have to be cleaned up, groomed and posed for their big photo shoot. Their photos then go into a catalog and then those catalogs are sent through the mail to (hopefully) buyers. Since the photoshoot process takes so long, my uncle asked if I could Photoshop any of the pictures for him.

So, 25 cattle, 25 new backgrounds and many hours later, I finally get to send the clean cattle cd out. Each photo takes about an hour and a half. I am done with cleaning crap up for a long time...

So, technically the above photo is not a photo that I took, so I will add this one to make up for it.

<- Bethany and Wyatt getting warm in front of the fireplace at Gooseberry Falls.

Picture of the Day (POTD) 3-1-2008

2008-03-02T18:43:00.004-06:00

My little girl cat sleeps in the weirdest positions. Here, she is sleeping with her front legs tucked backwards behind her. I always think that she looks like a seal in this position.

Goal setting

2008-02-29T12:12:00.001-06:00

OK, a little goal setting time, but first some background.

My adorable husband got sick of the all of the hints I was dropping for what I wanted for Christmas. Every time I found an ad for the Nikon D40, I would clip it out and put it in his wallet. On every grocery list or Target list, I would add "Nikon D40". For a full year I did this and he said nothing.

Isn't she beautiful?

On Black Friday, at the crack of dawn, Honey ordered this for me. This camera and my KitchenAide stand mixer are the best presents I have ever received.

Because this camera is an SLR and I am a point and shoot sorta gal, I need to learn how to use the different settings. Right now, I only have the small lens that comes with it, but hope to be ordering a new lens within the next few weeks.

So, I have challenged myself to take a photo everyday for all of 2008 and post it. Wish me luck.

The Pioneer Woman

2008-02-28T15:30:00.002-06:00

I have been stalking this website as of late. She is a woman after my own heart. I love what she can do with a stick or even a pound of butter.

It is because of her that I have started a new tradition of making my own cinnamon rolls on the weekends.

From scratch.
Yes, my friend(s), that does mean the yeast and everything.

I share them with family that comes to visit and neighbors. It takes a full day, but they are so worth it.

I have tried several of her recipes, although I do have to say that not all are fantastic. The bacon wrapped appetizers were not my favorite, however, the men at the Lemke family Christmas gobbled them up. I did very much enjoy the Olive Bread, though. Delish!

Did I mention that it would be really helpful if I had an apron? Hint, Hint Jerome.

I don't use her recipe, but this is one that I've tweaked ~

* 1 tablespoon white sugar
* 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
* 1 cup warm milk
* 1/4 cup warm water
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg, room temperature
* 1/4 cup butter, melted
* 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
* 4 cups bread flour

* butter, softened
* brown sugar
* ground cinnamon
* additional brown sugar
* heavy cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Proof the sugar, yeast with the warm milk and water for 10 minutes.
2. Pour that into mixture, add salt, egg and melted butter to yeast mixture in the stand mixer and using a dough hook, give that a quick mixing.
3. Add the vanilla pudding and bread flour, mix until the dough forms and is elastic.
4. Return the dough to a greased bowl, turn to coat dough with butter and more butter on top if needed. This prevents the dough from drying out.
5. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 17x10 inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over dough.
6. Grease 9 x 13 glass pan with butter, apply thickly. Then spread a thick layer of brown sugar on the bottom of the pan, then generously pour the heavy cream over the top. This mixture will make the caramel topping for the rolls, so the more mixture, the more gooey the topping.
7. Roll up dough, beginning with long side. Slice into 16 one inch slices and place in pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
7. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes.