Tall Tales

My Valentines

2012-02-14T19:48:00.000-06:00

Oh, these boys! Nothing is cuter than having your 3-year-old bring you a handmade card and a bouquet of flowers at work. Nicely done, fellas! In return, I cooked them up a big steak dinner and we ate by candlelight. A little party in our kitchen, with heart-shaped cookies for dessert. Best Valentine's Day ever!

(Me and my little Valentine.)

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Walter's frog

2012-02-05T20:44:00.000-06:00

Walter: Can we sew a frog, Mama?
Me: I don't think I know how to sew a frog.
Walter: I'll make you some instructions.

We followed them as closely as we could.

And, in case there is any confusion, here's the explanation I got:

Turns out, frogs are good for balancing on your head, too.

Bean bag games

2012-02-04T20:51:00.000-06:00

I made this set of bean bags for Walter more than a year ago. They sat around for a long time, mostly ignored, but they've recently become a house favorite. And we've found a ton of different ways to use them. We toss them into buckets, play catch, practice juggling. They get hidden and found. They get stacked and balanced.

And, because I'm an art nerd, they become a color wheel and get sorted into primary, secondary, and complimentary colors. Walter still calls them all "imaginary" colors, but I think he's starting to catch on.

Lil' puzzler

2012-01-26T20:42:00.000-06:00

"Don'tcha wanna play with me, Mama?"
Oh, that sweet smile and those batting eyelashes have me hooked. Of course I want to play. And playing puzzles is one of my favorites. Call me lazy, but sitting on the couch, occasionally helping him find the right piece, is just the kind of easy night a mama needs every once in a while.

(Tongue-out concentration. Puzzling = serious business.)

We've reached the Lego stage

2012-01-22T21:24:00.000-06:00

I keep finding him perched here, on top of the toy chest. He builds, tears apart, stacks, rearranges, occasionally calls for help or names some complicated thing he'd like us to build for him. My nails are torn up from prying apart tiny plastic pieces. I've learned to watch my step in the playroom, trying to avoid the sharp corner of a Lego in my foot. But really, this is kind of a peaceful toy. Quiet and creative - the sort of thing I don't mind spending an afternoon playing with. The sort of thing I might even play with on my own.

Side note: Do you remember being able to crouch in that position? Oh, to have the flexibility of a three-year-old...

Snow!

2012-01-12T20:18:00.000-06:00

It's January 12 and we've finally gotten our first measurable amount of snow for the winter. Walter was really, really excited... to shovel! He's been looking forward to shoveling for weeks. So he shoveled and shoveled and shoveled some more. Nate gave him a dollar for his efforts and he went right out and spent it on video games at the pizza place. It was his first paycheck. He should be allowed to spend it any way he wants.

I managed to finish my scarf just in time for the snow. The pattern is the Rick Rack Scarf, which was featured on the Purl Bee back in November. It's nice and cozy. And now I can move on to finishing another wip. Knitting is such a good activity for a snowy evening.

Feet, camera, actions!

2012-01-10T20:24:00.000-06:00

The boy and the dog, both with their paws dangling over the edges of their chairs. A perfect opportunity for me to crawl around on the floor and take some pictures, right? It was night time, low light, and I wasn't super excited about what I was getting out of the camera. So I did a little playing in Photoshop and used some of The Pioneer Woman's actions to give them a little extra somethin'. If you've got Photoshop and a little time on your hands, actions are fun to play around with. Check them out, search for others, create your own!

Winter wonderland

2012-01-07T20:59:00.000-06:00

I can't remember the last time January in Wisconsin was this warm. This sunny. This snow-free. I know there are people out there wishing for snow, but I'm content with our unusual winter weather. We spent our Saturday enjoying the outdoors.

Works in progress

2012-01-05T20:49:00.000-06:00

Much of my free time these days is being consumed by knitting. My works in progress (that's "wip" in knitting speak) are piling up. If only I could finish something! That skirt I started WAY back in October is almost done. It just needs a little lace edging and a waistband. This scarf, a tedious little pattern to work, has been tying up my evenings for almost two months now. But I only have about 10 more inches to go!

And the sweater that Walter asked me to knit, and even picked out the yarn himself? Well, that's still all balled up. But it's next on my list, I swear! I'm going to finish these wips, and I've given myself a little incentive. This morning I stopped at my local coffee shop, which also happens to be my local yarn shop (that's "lys" in knitting speak), and found this hank of deliciously wonderful, hand-dyed yarn. I scooped it up right away and then made a promise to myself not to touch it until all my other knitting projects are finished. Enough of this blogging nonsense. I have knitting to do!

Instagram Christmas

2011-12-27T20:17:00.000-06:00

It was a great holiday weekend. Lots of time with family and not too much running around – nice and relaxing. It was so laid back, in fact, that I didn't even feel like getting out the big camera. I grabbed a few shots here and there with my phone and doctored them up with Instagram. (If you have an iPhone, get this app. It's super fun to play around with and turns ordinary photos into something a little cuter, in an instant!)

Merry Christmas!

Hawaii – part three

2011-12-20T21:51:00.000-06:00

Maui
The last few days of our vacation was spent on Maui. Another beautiful island, though completely different from the black lava beauty of the Big Island. The weather was sunny and warm, so we spent a lot of time on the beach and in the pools. Walter loved playing in the sand. I think I'm still finding sand at the bottom of his bathtub!

This island is also home of the Sugar Cane Train, located just a block from our hotel. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how happy this made Walter. We took a few trips into town on that train, listening to our tour guide sing us Hawaiian Christmas songs.

We went to a luau, where Walter excitedly told me, "I DO want to learn to hula!" Really? Up there on stage? In front of all these people? "Yes!" So, up he went, and I went with him. Boy oh boy, the things I do for this kid! I still haven't seen the photos from Grampa's camera, but I'm sure they'll turn up eventually.

We drove the road to Hana – a long, twisty, turny, mountain road, with beautiful views and waterfalls. Walter wasn't impressed, but he was a trooper and, for the most part, happily watched movies the whole ride.

The most exciting part of Maui, for me, was the bike ride down Haleakala. A bus picked us up at 2am to take us to the top of the volcano. We lucked out with a clear night saw a few shooting stars from a meteor shower, and then the sunrise over the cloud-filled crater. After sunrise we got a little tour around the Haleakala National Park and then we hopped on our bikes and coasted down 28 miles of mountainside, with beautiful views of the rest of the island. Totally worth getting up so early in the morning!

We went to the Maui Ocean Center, shopped in the little tourist towns, ate lots of delicious, fresh fish and even got to see some whales. Whale season started on the last day of our trip, and they arrived right on time. At the end of our stay, we tossed our leis into the ocean. They say if they return to shore, we will return to the islands. I hope they do!

(See a few more photos on Flickr.)

Hawaii – part two

2011-12-19T20:57:00.000-06:00

Oahu – The Honolulu Marathon
Nate and I left Walter with Gramma and Grampa on the Big Island, and flew to Honolulu for the marathon. We had dinner with some friends and went to bed early. The race started at 5am, in order to beat the heat of the day.

We both got up early and set off for the starting line. Let me tell you, if I had brought my running shoes, I'm pretty sure I would have jumped right in to that race. There's some great energy at the starting line of a marathon. The national anthem, fireworks, and a nervous crowd of 20,000 people – I was tempted to run in my flip flops! But instead, I wished Nate luck, kissed him goodbye, and sent him off running.

He looped around and I gave him another cheer at mile four before heading back to the hotel. I treated myself to coffee and a stroll along the beach before going to meet him at the finish line. I ended up standing next to a woman, also waiting for her husband to finish, and also missing the race because of a stress fracture. We had a nice chat. :)

I'm happy to report that Nate finished the race with a time of 4:52:48! That crazy, huge crowd of runners slowed him down a bit, but he came in injury-free and ready to enjoy the rest of our vacation. He swears he'll never do it again. We shall see. Time has a way of changing your mind.
Next up, Maui...

Hawaii – part one

2011-12-18T22:12:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the long break, but we've been on vacation! In Hawaii! The whole reason for our trip was the Honolulu Marathon, but we built in a few days before and after the race to enjoy the scenery. And we enjoyed the heck out of it! I personally enjoyed about 650 photos worth, so I'm breaking them up into three parts. (Don't worry, I won't show you all of them.)
Part one: The Big Island
This was the rainiest portion of our trip, but we had enough nice weather to see most of what we wanted to see. We visited the Hilo farmer's market and stocked up on pineapples, papayas, star fruits, and apple bananas – quite different than the selection here in Wisconsin! Perfect for a picnic on the way to see some waterfalls.

We spent a day at Volcanoes National Park and saw the steam pouring out of Kilauea Volcano. Truly fascinating to see an active volcano. (Did you know the volcano adds 50-100 acres of land to the island each year? Wow!)

We went to a black sand beach, where green sea turtles were lounging on the rocks and sand. I'm pretty sure Walter's favorite part of this vacation were the beaches and the animals. Wild chickens were running around everywhere. We even saw a wild peacock!

We woke up early most mornings since we were adjusting to the time difference and got to see a couple of gorgeous sunrises over the ocean.

The house we stayed in was perfect. It was right on the ocean and a short walk from some tide pools where Gramma and Walter went snorkeling. It had a pool, which was freezing cold because of the rain, but also a hot tub, which was nice to lounge in and enjoy this view!

We also visited the Hilo Coffee Mill, the Mauna Loa macadamia nut factory, and Lava Tree Park. There was plenty to do, even with all the rain. A fantastic island!
(See a few more photos on Flickr.)
Next up, Honolulu and the marathon...

'Tis the season

2011-11-29T20:19:00.001-06:00

We had ourselves a little tree-trimming party tonight. Treats and Christmas music set the mood. We missed out on decorating last year because of the move, so it was extra fun to get all the ornaments out this year. And Walter was a big help. I love that he's old enough to really participate now. It's going to be a fun Christmas!

Monkey

2011-11-28T21:19:00.001-06:00

A post-swimming snack. That funny hair-do is the result of a winter hat on a wet head.

Play with your food

2011-11-18T21:30:00.001-06:00

Let's sew something

2011-11-16T18:53:00.001-06:00

"I have an idea, Mama! Let's SEW something!"
Oh, I like that idea very much. We decided to make a zippered pouch that Walter could use to store his "collection." Collection of what? I don't know. But there's a pteranodon on Dinosaur Train that has a collection, so, Walter needs to have one too.
He dug through my scrap basket and picked out which fabrics to use and chose a zipper. Halfway through sewing he got distracted by my button jar and gave up his position at the sewing machine to choose buttons. Those buttons became eyes and the zipper pouch became a monster zipper pouch. And it was put to immediate use, holding his collection – a pencil and Lightning McQueen.

Put this on your wish list

2011-11-14T20:03:00.001-06:00

Did you know you needed an immersion blender? Neither did I! But I got one as a gift a few years ago and I think it might be one of the most used gadgets in my kitchen. There are a million different brands/models, and I honestly can't tell you what's good and what's bad. But THIS is the one I have and I love it. It doesn't take up much storage space and it's so much easier than hauling out the blender or food processor or stand mixer. I use it for so many different things – making applesauce, whipping cream, chopping herbs, blending soups, chopping bread crumbs, pureeing vegetables, and so on, and so on, and so on. And I end up with fewer dishes to clean up afterwards. Bonus! Ask Santa for an immersion blender. You'll be happy you did.

Strike a pose

2011-11-09T20:33:00.001-06:00

Funny how Walter will never stand still to pose for a photo, but just about every night he'll pull out the yoga mat to do a few poses with me. We checked out The ABC's of Yoga for Kids from the library and Walter LOVES to flip through the pages and choose which poses to do. He's been doing a little yoga in his preschool class, too. It's certainly not a bad way to wind down at the end of the day. I'm thinking it should be part of our daily routine.

Molly, on the other hand, is happy to pose. As long as there's a treat involved.

Sunshine and trains

2011-11-05T22:02:00.000-05:00

One nice thing I'm noticing about fall and winter in this house, is that when the trees lose their leaves, the house gets a LOT brighter. And when it comes to taking pictures of a certain boy and his trains, well, that natural light comes in handy. Boys and trains move fast, you see. Without all that light, they'd just be a blur of motion. Nature finds ways to make me happy, even in cold weather.

Since we had such nice light, I talked Nate into snapping a few photos too.

Last outdoor market

2011-11-05T21:43:00.000-05:00

Today was the last outdoor farmer's market of the season. We lucked out with some beautiful weather. Crisp, cool air and sunshine. Unfortunately, we got a late start and Walter's favorite sugar cookies were sold out, but he found a tasty, chocolate chip substitute. Lots of vendors were trying to unload squash, so I took advantage of the low prices and bought a bag full. Nate was kind enough to carry it. (And only complained a little.) My very last purchase from the market was a Christmas present, which means I have officially started my shopping, and it's officially time for the seasons to change.

Done

2011-11-01T20:27:00.000-05:00

Ever since last week's great run in Denver, I've been feeling some pretty bad shin pain. I took it easy all week and then tried a run on Sunday. Ouch. I only made it about 2 miles before things got bad. A couple of x-rays showed a teeny-tiny bump that the doctor tells me is most likely a stress fracture. The cure – REST! More rest. That's not in the marathon training program. So, I've decided it's time to let this one go. I'm disappointed and angry. I've put over 370 miles of training into this! But I'm also feeling a lot of relief. I'm letting go of my goal, but I'm also letting go of a lot of stress. I'm looking forward to having more time, more sleep, a better attitude and a pain-free body. I'll get back to running soon. And I'll be there to cheer Nate on as he crosses the finish line. But I'm going to sleep in that day.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T20:55:00.000-05:00

Oh yes. He's an engineer (or "train driver" if you ask him.) Did we expect anything else from this train-loving boy?

We aren't exactly in a good trick-or-treat sort of neighborhood out here, so we borrowed the Lee family's 'hood for the night. The kids had fun until their buckets got too heavy to carry and we had to call it a night.

Can you believe in that big pile of candy, there was not one Swedish Fish? Good thing my sister bought the good stuff and I could fill my pockets before heading home.
Head over to Flickr for a few more photos including cousins in costumes.

The new family photographer

2011-10-29T20:41:00.000-05:00

Walter wanted to carve the pumpkin. Nate was nowhere to be found. This exciting event just HAD to be photographed, obviously. But what to do? Hand the sharp knife over to Walter so I could take photos? Of course not. I found our old point and shoot camera and put Walter to work. I snapped a few before my hands got messy, but Walter gets the credit for telling the photographic story of our 2011 pumpkin carving.

And I had to include us taking photos of us taking photos. :)

Weekend away

2011-10-26T20:33:00.000-05:00

My sister and I had both been needing a little break, so we broke away to Denver for a long, kid-free, work-free weekend. It was the perfect destination. Great weather, great scenery, great food, and our cousin Sara - a great tour guide! We shopped and ate and visited with old friends. We carried our knitting along to keep us busy on the flights. I even managed to stick with my training and fit in a 13 mile run. I didn't want to lug my big camera along, so I just have a few iPhone photos to share.

Airplane knitting.

We got attacked by zombies! The annual Zombie Crawl took place during our visit. Luckily we got out with our brains intact.

Sara and Kristin in the Stanley Hotel. We were trying to capture a ghost on camera. No such luck.

The beautiful view from the Stanley.
This was exactly the getaway we needed. In fact, we think we might need to go back on a regular basis.

Happenings

2011-10-19T20:36:00.000-05:00

Oh goodness. It's been a long time, hasn't it? There's been so much going on.
- I'm back to running! The achilles tendinitis is gone, but I'm still trying to take things a little easy. One body part or another seems to need ice on a daily basis. But I'm getting my strength back. Marathon, here I come!
- It's squash season! Are these not the cutest little pie pumpkins you've ever seen? Also, if you're looking for an acorn squash recipe, I highly recommend this one.

- I've been doing some sewing. Just a tiny bit. New pillows for the bench seating in the kitchen.

- Walter has become the most inquisitive kid EVER. And his questions just keep getting harder. "Where does water go when it goes down the drain?" "How do you make walls?" "How does an owie heal?" I'm running out of answers. I think we need more trips to the library. Although, he came home with a new book today and decided it would work better as a hat.

- This cool fall weather has gotten me back into the knitting mood. Mama's getting a new skirt.

- Walter has been practicing his writing by making his Christmas wish list. He's getting pretty good. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "How do you spell train?"
So, that's a little of what's been keeping us busy. What's happening with you?

The pumpkin patch

2011-10-08T22:11:00.000-05:00

We had a long day of driving, watching Nate run the Prairie State Half Marathon, and driving some more. So we were super excited to come home to an invite to the pumpkin patch with the Lee family. Walter needed some time to run around outside after that long car ride. And his cousins wore him out!

(Nate finished the half in 1:48! Click here for race results and photos. I had to sit this one out, but my ankles are feeling a LOT better and I hope to be back at it soon.)

Outdoor lovelies

2011-10-05T19:17:00.000-05:00

A few sights from a fall evening. We're getting out and enjoying the warm weather while it lasts!

It's not ALL in your head...

2011-10-03T20:33:00.000-05:00

My ankle pain turned into BIG ankle pain and a visit to the doctor confirmed that I have achilles tendinitis. Yee-ouch! So I have some resting to do. That's not exactly on the marathon training schedule. I'm not sure how this is going to affect the race yet. We'll just have to wait and see how things heal. Luckily, I have Walter offering to kiss my owies.

Some days are like that

2011-09-29T21:37:00.000-05:00

Some days you come home to a leaky pipe and a bathroom ceiling that looks like this:

Some days your ankle is too sore to run on.

Some days your son refuses to put on his swimming suit and throws a fit in the changing room at the pool.
Days like that remind me of this book:

According to the inscription on the inside cover, Nate got this book for his 5th birthday. I'm so glad his mom kept it all these years and passed it on to Walter. We love to read it and it's perfect for those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. But that day was yesterday.

Today was one of these days:

No leaks, a bike ride, and a good boy, who happily finished his dinner so he could eat the cookies he and Gramma made. He even shared.

Gooooaaaallll!

2011-09-25T20:27:00.000-05:00

Walter: How big do I have to be to play soccer?

Me: You have to be 4.

Walter: At my next birthday I can play soccer?

Me: Yup.

Walter: But I can play with my soccer toys at home now, right?

Me: Right.

(Like I could stop him.)

Walter: Stop taking pictures and kick the ball, Mama!

It's all in your head

2011-09-20T20:15:00.000-05:00

Long distance running isn't just about being in good physical shape. You have to be in good mental shape too. I had been having a rough couple of weeks of running, when I finally realized I didn't have my head in the game. I was too focused on details of the "right now" – my ankles hurt, I was tired, I could be using this time to knit or sew or just sit on the couch. But then I changed my attitude. Before my long run on Sunday, I decided I needed to focus on the goal. I needed to think about that awesome feeling of crossing the finish line. It was a 12 mile run. It was raining. I hadn't slept well. But I got out there and despite the rain and the tiredness, I felt great. I finished those 12 miles in 1:50. (9 minute miles, a little faster than my usual pace.) Amazing how a change in attitude can make all the difference in the world.
<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/51046748">iMapMyRUN: Sep 18, 2011 11:03 AM</a> <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/?location=Madison, WI">Find more Runs in Madison, WI</a>
I ran twice around this 6 mile loop in the beautiful Arboretum. It also helps that Madison has such a great places to run!

Crafty

2011-09-18T20:45:00.000-05:00

Nate was working this weekend, so Walter and I were on our own. I decided we should have a little project to keep us busy. I was inspired by this simple felt garland featured on Made. A little felt from my stash, plus a few more colors from the fabric store and we were ready to make an autumn leaf garland. Walter chose which shapes should be which colors and I cut and cut and cut.

Then, we sat down at the sewing machine and I let Walter drive. He pushed the start button and fed the leaves in, one after another, until we had one long string.

Walter was so proud of his work and so excited to surprise Daddy with our new decorations when he got home.

The annual family photo shoot

2011-09-12T21:30:00.000-05:00

Another summertime photo shoot and another amazing collection of photos from the talented John Kuehl of Kuehl on Location Photography. I knew we'd get great photos. John is very predictable that way.

I love this one. Aren't we cute? :)

I'm so excited that we have more new things to put on our walls! Slowly but surely we're filling them up, and a few of these family photos will be a good addition. Poke around John's website to see more of his work, including an amazing wedding extravaganza he shot earlier this summer. Good stuff!

Preschool!

2011-09-07T20:48:00.000-05:00

It seems like every kid I know has started school in the last week. Today, it was finally Walter's turn! He put on his backpack and let me take one, just one, photo before climbing into the car. Let's go! Let's go! We met Gramma, Grampa, and his classmate and cousin, Ginny, in the parking lot at school. It was good to have a familiar friend on the first day. It made it all even more exciting. The drop-off was a breeze. No tears, from him or me. :)

I'm told he had a job as the snack helper today and he brought home his drawing of a ~~bear~~ ~~camel~~ horse. He wasn't quite sure, but he's very proud of it. First day = success!

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-05T20:39:00.000-05:00

We spent our long weekend:
- Canning tomatoes
- Puzzling through a rainy day
- Cleaning up the debris in the yard after the rain
- Hitting the 200 mile mark in the marathon training - 11 miles on Sunday, our longest run so far!
- Making quite a dent in a giant bottle of Nyquil (we are a sick house these days)
- Cooking up our favorite Pumpkin Waffles for dinner
- Finding new bike routes, and new hills
- Visiting with family
We hope you had a fun, busy (and healthy) weekend!

We play trains

2011-08-30T20:20:00.000-05:00

CRASH! "Mama? Can you help me? They fell all by themselves again."

Do you want to know how many tracks I've built? Somewhere around a bajillion.

"You're a nice mama. You're a fun friend."

I like you too, Walter.

View from the top

2011-08-22T20:35:00.000-05:00

In my marathon training program, Sunday is my "long run" day, which makes Monday my "recovery" day. I still need to do some sort of activity, but running is off limits. If the weather is nice, I usually choose the bike. The terrain around here is hilly, but the views are gorgeous. Kinda takes my breath away. Or maybe that was just the climb...

Weekending

2011-08-21T21:50:00.000-05:00

Lots of time spent outside, gardening and exploring the trails that have become a bit overgrown.
Walter's first fishing experience. I'm so glad Nate was there to touch the worms and the fish. We caught three!
Big breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon to fuel my long run for the weekend.
A pre-birthday celebration with family. Chocolate cake, chocolate icing, seven candles. (On Wednesday, my age will add up to 7!) Walter also insisted I have a train ride at the zoo today. It's what you do on your birthday, you know.
Happy weekend to you!

Smart frog

2011-08-18T20:15:00.000-05:00

This frog visits our back door every night. He's figured out that the bugs are attracted to the light in the window and he hangs out there, waiting for his evening meal. It's entertaining to watch him, sitting perfectly still, waiting for the right moment. Then BAM! He snaps them up. Who needs TV?

Summer evening

2011-08-17T21:28:00.000-05:00

Grilled dinner, eaten outside on the porch.
Some work in the garden, including taking Grandpa's advice and thinning the beets.
Airplane spotting, then swinging and climbing on the treehouse.
What did you do with your summer evening?

Late season garden report

2011-08-14T22:01:00.000-05:00

The gardening season is just about over. I suppose I could plant some fall crops, but honestly, I'm looking forward to a break from produce for a while. Our first garden here did well for the most part. We had a few failures, but still plenty to harvest. Our bush beans did great, while our pole beans served as a daily meal for the japanese beetles. Picky eaters, they are. The zucchini had a bit of a slow start, but really came through in the end and we are, once again, overloaded with the stuff. The tomatoes were the biggest disappointment for me - hit with blight right away. We have very little to show from those five plants. Better luck next year.

I just pulled the first few carrots from the ground today and they are looking great. The beets are a bit small, and I take full responsibility for that. I planted a lot, intending to thin them for the greens, but I let them go and get overcrowded. Oops! Still, plenty to keep Walter happy through the winter. He loves beets! My first ever crop of corn was a disaster, but I think I learned some things and I'll try again next year with a different location and more support.

We had quite a few creatures in the garden this year. The fence did a fantastic job of keeping bunnies and deer out, so they weren't a problem at all. I was amazed at all the frogs we found. At least 3 or 4 different varieties hopping out at me. Today's find was the most unusual, a little green guy, sleeping at the top of a corn stalk.

And then, there's this guy:

This little stinker has been nibbling on my eggplants. I did a little investigating and it seems to be the destructive tomato hornworm. Sorry buddy, no tomatoes for you this year.

So, things are winding down, but there's still plenty to do. I think it's about time to get Walter to harvest his beets!

Enjoying my view

2011-08-10T22:02:00.000-05:00

My daily run sometimes seems like such a chore. It usually doesn't happen until the evening. It gets put off until after work, after dinner, after Walter goes to bed. But then I get to see the sunset in our neighborhood. It's a good end to the day.

This photo was taken with my iPhone - not bad!

A day at the fair

2011-08-09T21:11:00.025-05:00

I took the day off.
I spent it with my boys and my mom, watching pig races, stuffing my face with cream puffs, and spinning in teacups – a great day at the Wisconsin State Fair!

Stewart Railroad Tunnel

2011-08-06T21:50:00.000-05:00

We did a little exploring this morning on the Badger State Trail. This bike trail used to be the Illinois Central Railroad corridor and includes the Stewart Tunnel - 1200 ft long and, because of the bend in the middle, pitch dark. We parked nearby and let Walter ride his bike to the tunnel. Then we got out our flashlights and walked through the darkness. It was pretty cool. Walter thought it was great to be "rained on" inside. Is there no end to the magic of trains? I think not.

(With a long exposure and a flashlight you might even see some ghosts!)

Try this at home!

2011-08-06T21:38:00.000-05:00

We made ice cream. In a ziploc bag! It's super easy, super fun, sort of messy, but super delicious. And it goes like this:
In a quart-size ziploc bag, mix 2 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla, and 1 cup half and half. Seal tightly.
Put the quart-size bag into a gallon-size ziploc bag along with some ice and about 1/2 cup salt. Seal tightly.

Now shake! And shake some more. For about 5 minutes or so.
Remove the quart-size bag and wipe the salt off the outside. Open and enjoy!

Outgrown

2011-08-03T23:01:00.000-05:00

This shirt is too small. I don't want to believe that Walter is too big...

The Billmeyers go to Chicago

2011-08-01T21:53:00.000-05:00

Another long gap between posts – more busy excuses. Late nights at work, running, and a Billmeyer family weekend spent in Chicago! The highlight of the trip for Walter was the train ride there and back. You couldn't wipe the smile off his face.

We also saw lots of skyscrapers, of course, and went to the top of the Sears Tower – or the "serious" tower, as Walter calls it. (It's really called the Willis Tower these days, but I'm not ready to make that change.) Here's Walter refusing to turn around to take a photo with me. We had some trying moments over the weekend. He's three.

And he's a brave three-year-old, stepping fearlessly onto the glass hanging out over the city, 103 stories up.

We also visited the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Planetarium. Phew! Walter was attracted like a magnet to the trains. He's got a one-track mind.

Thanks, Gramma and Grampa!
(There are a few more photos on Flickr.)

Market morning

2011-07-23T20:37:00.000-05:00

Another Saturday morning spent at the farmer's market. Walter eats his way around the square, starting at Chris and Lori's for a cookie, then to D&G Sausage Shoppe for a beef stick, then a sample of the pesto at Renaissance Farm, then cheese curds from Forgotten Valley. And he picks up samples of anything else he can find in between. There were lots of cherries out today – we had to find just the right ones. We ended our trip with a stop at the balloon guy. Walter asked for a blue helicopter. The poor guy got flustered and Walter ended up with some abstract balloon art. And he couldn't be happier.

Busy, busy, busy

2011-07-19T21:46:00.002-05:00

How does a week slip by so quickly? I'll tell you how. With buckets of black raspberries, bowls of beans, and piles of zucchini. Beets, chard, and peas are filling all the spaces in between. And then there's the running. Have I mentioned Nate and I are in training? For a marathon? I know, I know. I often question our sanity. It takes place in December, so for the next 20 weeks or so, we will be running and running and running some more. This will be Nate's first marathon, my second. I'm actually enjoying the training so far. After a day of work and an evening of cooking, gardening, and hanging out with Walter, it's good to have that little bit of quiet time to myself. I could do without this crazy heat though.
So, we're busy. But I'll get back into the swing of things here soon enough. I think my camera is hiding somewhere under a pile of canning jars.

Bike night

2011-07-13T21:58:00.000-05:00

A new (used) bike from the thrift store and a park with a big flat patch of concrete is all it takes to put a smile on this boy's face. The one thing our house is missing is some level ground for practicing on the bike, but the park is just a short drive away – and it's right in Gramma and Grampa's backyard! By the end of our stay, Walter was pedaling and steering like a pro.

Buzzed

2011-07-11T20:42:00.001-05:00

No more shaggy hair for these boys! (Would you let a three year old cut your hair?)

Up, up and away

2011-07-10T21:38:00.000-05:00

Today was the annual fly-in breakfast at Morey Airport. This was our third year attending with the Lee family. As I was looking through my photos from this morning, I realized I had almost none of the kids faces. Either they are getting faster, or I'm just too tired to keep up with them. They ran from plane to plane and watched a lot of take-offs. Here are some photos... of their backs...

Starting to stock the pantry

2011-07-10T21:22:00.000-05:00

Saturday afternoon was spent making filling for two peach pies, 5 jars of black raspberry peach preserves, and 6 jars of dilly beans. The canning kitchen isn't ready yet, so I heated up/messed up the kitchen in the house. So, Saturday evening was spent eating burgers from Culver's and cooling off at the beach. The perfect reward.

Berry bliss

2011-07-06T22:06:00.000-05:00

We've discovered that our property is full of black raspberries. We can easily spend an evening gathering a few beans and zucchini from the garden, then wander the paths and fill the rest of our bowl with berries. Walter gets the low ones, I get the high ones, and Nate gets the ones way back in there, far off the path. It's a good system. By the end of the night, our fingers (and mouths) are stained purple.

Befores and afters

2011-07-04T21:07:00.000-05:00

Well, I can't think of any excuses to put it off any longer. The kitchen table is in place, we've hung a few things on the walls, and I had this long weekend to clean. So, finally, 6 months after moving in, I give you: New House Photos! To recap, we tore out most of the whole first floor and rearranged everything. Here are some before and after photos.
What used to be the dining room, is now the kitchen:

Those big, pretty doors aren't gone! They found a new home in the back room, leading out to the porch.
What used to be the living room, is now the dining room (plus the pantry and a little more kitchen):

What used to be the kitchen, is now the living room:

The kitchen was our main focus and everything else kind of fit in around it. It's where we spend most of our time. There's plenty of space for visitors to gather. I can keep an eye on Walter, wherever he happens to be. He spends a lot of time drawing and coloring at that little red table while I cook dinners.

We eat most of our meals at this table. Nate designed and built the bench seating. The benches lift up so we can store things inside. I still haven't filled them.

And this is Walter asking, "Are you done taking pictures yet?"

Yes! I'm done. Thank you for helping me, Walter! Now let's mess it up again.

A long weekend

2011-07-03T21:25:00.000-05:00

After being away all last weekend and having a busy week, I've been loving this weekend at home. We've been playing and cleaning and gardening and baking – being productive in relaxed sort of way. Walter and I picked the first beans from the garden and cooked them up for dinner tonight. They were the first things to disappear off his plate. We've spent some time with family, watched fireworks and played at the park. All that and I still have one more day to go! What am I going to do with all that free time? I'm sure I'll think of something.

Get a load of these lanky boys. I just don't know where Walter gets it from. :)

This is Strawberry Summer Cake from Smitten Kitchen. I didn't have enough berries for a big cake, so I halved the recipe and made four little cakes. They baked in half the time and we all got our own cute individual desserts. Plus one extra. I call dibs.

Ahhh, nature...

2011-06-30T21:48:00.000-05:00

Gardening tip of the day: If you smell something strange, check under your zucchini leaves for dead skunks.
(Possibly the only thing that could make me shiver in this heat.)

Inspiration and sugar snap peas

2011-06-28T21:02:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the long break between posts. I've been away at the HOW Design Conference in Chicago, getting inspired. It was a long weekend filled with fantastic speakers, great food, the beautiful lakeshore, and the company of good friends. It was a nice break from the usual, but I'm very happy to be home with my boys. I'm still getting back into the swing of things here, so I've got just a quick snapshot to share today – a "garden picnic snack" of sugar snap peas. He ate so many he couldn't eat his dinner. Not really a bad thing...

First harvests

2011-06-20T20:51:00.000-05:00

We have successfully grown food! We are finally at a point where there is more green than brown in the garden. Peas and beans are climbing. The zucchini and cucumbers have already started crowding out their neighbors. I have a steady supply of salad greens for my lunches and Walter has had a few strawberry snacks. He quickly figured out how to tell which berries were ripe for picking. He's become very interested in where things come from and how things are made. One of his favorite questions about food is, "Does this grow?" I think he might be planning future crops.

Shenanigans

2011-06-19T21:10:00.000-05:00

The boys celebrated Father's Day with a squirt gun fight. I was (sort of) safe from their aim while I was holding my camera. But once I put the camera down, I became the main target.

When Daddy says "Get Mama!" Walter obeys.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Making music

2011-06-13T21:03:00.000-05:00

The latest installment on Walter's playhouse: a banging wall!

I've loved the idea ever since I saw this post from SouleMama. It wasn't really very practical for our old neighborhood, but it's perfect out here! Now Walter can grab a stick or a wooden spoon and make all the noise he wants, and we don't have to worry too much about annoying the neighbors.

Thanks, Grampa! We love it!

Three years!

2011-06-12T14:28:00.000-05:00

Our little boy turned three today! He's growing up so fast. He's smart and funny and downright adorable. His obsession with trains continues – he has decided he's going to be a conductor when he grows up. As I type this I can hear him in his room yelling, "Choo-choo!" Um, Walter? It's supposed to be quiet time...

Happy birthday, sweet boy!
There are a few more party photos on Flickr.

Hometown Days

2011-06-09T21:18:00.000-05:00

Well, we survived last night's storm. Walter and I spent some time in our dark basement due to a tornado warning and power outage. Thank goodness I brought my phone and some books to keep us busy. There was some concern about monsters, you see. But all is well. Amazingly, we had no damage, even with all these trees around us. Not everyone was so lucky – lots of trees and branches down. The town was buzzing with the sound of chainsaws all day.
Even with the storm last night, the Verona Hometown Days carnival was set up and ready to go. Grampa and Gramma took us and Walter's cousins, Emma and Ginny, over for rides and dinner. The kids had a great time. The rides were "Awesome!" Thanks, Gramma and Grampa!

See more photos on Flickr.

Garden report

2011-06-05T15:08:00.000-05:00

Things seem to be moving right along in the garden. Nature is doing it's thing out there. Strawberries are starting to appear. The peas will be needing some support this week. Swiss chard thinnings became a little afternoon snack today. I even spotted a tiny tomato already! We planted two types of corn. One is doing well. The other, not so much. Unfortunately, I can't remember which was which. I should have written these things down! Maybe I'll be better organized next year. The flower beds around the house are still surprising us with new things, too. Walter likes to smell the flowers and then pretends to sneeze. Speaking of things growing up right before our eyes, can you believe he's about to turn three?

Today's workout

2011-06-01T21:01:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful day! Perfect bike-riding weather, so that's just what I did. I finally figured out a good route from the new house to work and made my commute by bike. It's about 14 miles and it took a little over an hour. There are a LOT more hills between here and there than I was expecting. Maybe by the end of summer I'll be able to tackle those hills with ease. Maybe...

Weekend activity

2011-05-31T21:48:00.000-05:00

Rainy Sunday activity: Painting a flower pot. He did it all by himself.

Hot, sunny Monday activity: Flower shopping and planting. He had a little help from Mama.

The finished product is brightening up our front door.

Market bag

2011-05-28T20:41:00.000-05:00

That blue thing you saw me knitting a couple of posts ago? That is this:

My sister knit a market bag and I just had to copy her. It's like, the law, that when your sister has something, you need to have that something too. So I made my own market bag, following the pattern Kristin chose and using her modifications to that pattern. Because it's also the law, that you should let your sister do the work and then cheat off of her. It's a great, lightweight bag, that expands, expands, expands to fit all your market goodies. The pattern and mods can be seen on Ravelry.

cow hen bird

2011-05-24T20:56:00.000-05:00

I found this video while looking through old photos yesterday. I shot this with my phone about a month ago. Walter loves these puzzles (Melissa & Doug See & Spell), and I love that they helped him learn the lower case letters. Next, I think I'll teach him about the anatomy of type, and maybe someday I can get him to organize my fonts.

Unused photos

2011-05-23T20:58:00.000-05:00

I seem to have run out of things to say the past few days, so I looked through my old photos to see if I had anything entertaining to share. I didn't find anything that created much of a story, but I did find a few fun shots from the past year or so. Happy Monday!

Mystery solved

2011-05-19T21:06:00.000-05:00

Well folks, it looks as though our mystery tree is a hickory! Thanks, "jt bear," for the tip. We'll have to do a little more research to find out what kind of hickory, but at least we have a good starting point.
Here are a few more sights from the yard. Nothing that needs identifying this time!

I found this adorable creature in the garden. He climbed right into my lap.

An extra hour of sleep

2011-05-18T20:17:00.000-05:00

Last night we hung new, Mama-made, blackout fabric-lined curtains in Walter's room. This morning Walter slept until 7:20 instead of 6:20. Nate declared me the BEST WIFE EVER.

Lil' sprouts

2011-05-16T22:18:00.000-05:00

Walter and I have been checking the garden every day since we planted last weekend – closely examining the dirt for any sign of green. And we've found some! Just the tiniest bits, here and there. Little sprouts of beans, peas, zucchini and swiss chard. (And a few weeds, which are much easier to find. Humph.) The fence is in place, protecting our tiny plants. Fingers crossed that the bunnies, deer, and other creatures don't find a way in.

Weekend with Mama

2011-05-15T20:29:00.000-05:00

While Nate worked, Walter and I had the weekend to ourselves, so we did all the things that Mama likes best. Shopping at the Farmer's Market, visiting with friends, planting, baking, watching movies and knitting. Lucky for me, these are the things that Walter likes best too. Of course, if he listed off what we did this weekend, he'd say we ate cookies at the Farmer's Market, played with friends, dug in the dirt, made monster cookies and watched Toy Story 3 while getting his legs tangled in Mama's yarn.

The great outdoors (and a pop quiz!)

2011-05-11T19:57:00.000-05:00

It seems we are spending all of our time outside these days – exploring, planting and playing. Walter has found a favorite hide and seek spot behind an oak tree in the yard. He's never hard to find. The garden is half planted with just two more beds to go. We had a short break from the mud, but today's rainstorm brought it back. All this outdoor activity leads to daily tick checks and nightly baths for all of us. Poor Molly gets the hose every time we bring her back into the house.

We're finding so much great stuff growing on the property. I'm excited to see new varieties of daffodils, some bleeding hearts, tulips, hostas, daylilies, and all sorts of interesting things I've never seen before. We've been doing our best to identify plants and trees, but the internet is failing us and books are only somewhat helpful. So we are turning to you, smart blog readers, to help us. Today's mystery tree is:

I've never seen anything bloom quite like this before. Any ideas? I just know that one of you will have the answer!

A Bee-utiful weekend

2011-05-08T20:47:00.009-05:00

First of all, Happy Mother's Day! We had a lovely brunch with our local families. The food was great, the kids played well together, the grown-ups got a chance to talk and the weather was perfect. I didn't finish the new kitchen table in time, but we managed without it. I promise to have it in place in time for the next gathering!

The other big fun of the weekend – BEES!

Jess, my brother-in-law, has a new beekeeping hobby. He has been readying a hive and his first bees arrived on Saturday. The whole family headed over to watch him (literally) pour a box full of bees into the hive. A truly amazing thing to witness. Thousands of bees and not a single person got stung! I'll be taking notes this summer. This was so cool that we just might get a hive of our own next year. You can read all about Jess' bee adventures on his blog, Be A Participant, Not A Recipient.

Progress

2011-05-04T21:16:00.000-05:00

Know what this means?
This means I just put the first coat of paint on our new (used) kitchen table!! It's not perfect, it needs some work, and it probably won't end up being the table we use forever. But it's a good, cheap solution for the time being. And I have the somewhat ambitious goal of getting it finished and into our kitchen in time for Mother's Day brunch on Sunday. Wish me luck!

Boys at work

2011-04-29T20:38:00.002-05:00

Some days it's impossible to get anything done with a two-year-old running around. And some days he happily helps out. As long as there's a tractor ride in it for him.

My kind of cookie

2011-04-27T20:30:00.002-05:00

I'm kind of a picky dessert person. I don't really care for chocolate chip cookies. I'll usually skip dessert if apple pie is being served (even if I made it.) But this! This lovely Lemon Icebox Cookie, is my kind of dessert. Buttery, lemony, salty, sweet. Yes, please!

Garden beginnings

2011-04-25T20:23:00.000-05:00

The garden is started! Well, it's built. Ok, mostly built. We've been working hard out there. Nate built the frames for five raised beds.

We got them set into the ground over the weekend, and filled with dirt today.

Even Walter pitched in and moved some dirt around. He also buried some cars in there. I wonder if a car tree will grow...

Now that the beds are made, the next step is to protect them. Nate has big plans for a big fence. It should be done just in time to start planting!

Easter bunnies

2011-04-24T13:34:00.000-05:00

Lookie what we found hiding in our daylilies this morning!

Cute little baby bunnies! (Cute until they get into my garden, that is.)
Here are a few more shots from the morning. Happy Easter, everyone!

Easter eggs

2011-04-22T14:24:00.000-05:00

A rainy day like today is just the right kind of day for an indoor project like decorating Easter eggs. I decided to try silk dying this year. I've been collecting silk ties from thrift stores for just this reason. It was a fun experiment – wrapping the eggs up like presents, boiling them, and then unwrapping them to see the surprise inside. We followed Martha's instructions and ended up with some pretty little eggs.

Spaetzle

2011-04-20T21:06:00.000-05:00

Many years ago, Nate's great aunt, Auntie, gave me a spaetzle maker and her spaetzle recipe. And, (can you even believe this?) until two days ago I NEVER used it. I have no idea why. I guess I thought it would be complicated or something. It wasn't until I read this post from Smitten Kitchen and was convinced by both my sister and mother-in-law that it was an easy, kid-friendly meal, that I finally made spaetzle for the first time. Guess what! It was easy. It was good. Walter gobbled it up – what kid doesn't like noodle-y things? I cooked it up with onions, bacon and mushrooms and we all cleaned our plates. The spaetzle maker will be getting much more use from now on.

Birdwatching in his underwear

2011-04-18T20:33:00.000-05:00

Yes, he's wearing more than just underwear. But he is wearing underwear! As in, not a diaper! Woohoo!

Daffodils

2011-04-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

Daffodils outside means fresh flowers inside too! Walter pointed, I cut, and we now have a little vase of sunshine brightening up our kitchen. Yay, spring!

What we came home to

2011-04-11T20:37:00.000-05:00

It was nice to spend the week in the 80 degree weather down in Florida, and it was even nicer to come home to 80 degree weather in Wisconsin. It didn't last, of course, but we enjoyed the warm weekend and the loads of pretty spring flowers that had popped up in the yard. We also enjoyed seeing the huge amount of progress that Grampa had made on Walter's treehouse! It's so cool! Slides, sandbox, swings, ladders... Walter is having a fabulous time out there. And since he has such a nice play space outside, it gives us free time to do some yard cleanup. And some relaxing on our comfy new bench swing. I may have found a new favorite activity for Sunday mornings.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!

2011-04-10T20:26:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the long break in posts, but we have been on vacation! We took a week-long trip to Walt Disney World in sunny Orlando, FL. Walter did really well with his first plane ride. It took him a couple of days to get comfortable with the theme park atmosphere, but he was soon jumping on rides with confidence and giving high-fives to any 6 foot tall animal that happened to walk by. We lucked out that Walter is just exactly 40 inches tall, so he got to go on some pretty cool rides – Splash Mountain was one of his favorites. But the real thrill for him was the trains. Even before you get into the Magic Kingdom you get to ride the monorail. And once you get in, there's a steam engine! He was in train heaven. The weather was great, except for one day of rain, which meant the park was empty and there were no lines for rides. Here are some photos from the trip. Click on any photo to see some more on Flickr.

Hang-ups

2011-03-31T21:54:00.000-05:00

We're finally starting to hang things on the walls! I don't know why this is such a hard thing for me. I guess it just seems so permanent. I mean, what if I change my mind? Then there would be a (gasp!) hole in the wall! Tragic, right? But we've done it. We've put holes in the walls and I'm happy about it.

This hangs in the kitchen. The print is from Hatch Show Print – we picked it up on our road trip to Nashville two years ago. The little cork strip is something I picked up while shopping on the chocolate walk last weekend. I think it will be a nice home for weekly menus and recipes. (If we ever manage to be that organized!)

Glorious mud

2011-03-28T21:01:00.000-05:00

On days when the temperature creeps above freezing, the ground outside turns into a soft, sloppy mess. It doesn't help that we still have mounds of dirt in the yard, left from the construction of the outbuilding. Molly constantly tracks dirt into the house, no matter how well we clean her paws. And Walter's new boots are getting quite a workout. He walks through the woods in hopes of finding a good pile of "glorious mud." He's never disappointed. But that soft ground is giving way to all sorts of spring flowers – nice little surprises to make up for the brown, muddy mess.

Moments after this picture was taken, one boot was stuck in the mud and one socked foot was wet and dirty. Oops!

Chocoholic

2011-03-26T21:49:00.001-05:00

What a perfect afternoon I had! I spent a few hours with my mom and sister at the Monroe Street Chocolate Walk, a benefit for the Henry Vilas Zoo. It's a really fun event – sort of like trick-or-treating for grown-ups. You buy a ticket and are given a bag and a list of participating stores. Then you're off to shop and gather chocolate treats all afternoon. Every girl's dream! I came home with this bag of goodies... and several other bags. My mom and sister are very good at helping me shop. I could use more afternoons like this!

Pictures of Mama

2011-03-24T21:28:00.000-05:00

I rarely post photos of myself here, and there are several reasons for that.
1. I'm usually the one behind the camera.
2. I'm not very experienced at setting up shots with the self-timer.
3. Probably the biggest reason, I'm super critical of how I look in photos.
(4. I barely have time to post at all these days! I'm trying to be better, I swear!)
After reading Ashley's post today, and the other posts she linked to, I've decided I need to get into photos more often. Because it really is fun to see photos of your parents when they were younger. When we look back at those old photos, we tend not to notice the flaws, but we see family resemblances. And while we don't change as quickly as our kids do, we do change. So I started today. I tried some shots with the timer and I handed the camera to Nate. These photos are for you, Walter. And I'm really going to make an effort to get in the shot more often.

Finally!

2011-03-20T20:53:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the long break between posts, but the recent time change (and our stubborn child) has put us back into bedtime battle mode. By the time Walter finally falls asleep, I'm all out of energy and I'm ready to fall into bed myself. It's a good thing he's so charming the other 23 hours of the day.

And now, for the REALLY big news of the day: WE HAVE A SINK!!! Three months after moving in, and four months after the originally scheduled delivery date. It's here. It's installed. And I will be brushing my teeth in my very own bathroom tonight. Can I get a Hallelujah?

A clean, close shave

2011-03-13T20:52:00.000-05:00

The beard is gone! Just this morning, Nate looked like this:

This evening, he decided it was time to lose the lumberjack look. In the process, he tried out several styles of facial hair before going for a clean shave. Watch Nate transform before your very eyes!

I liked the beard, but it was getting a little unruly. It's nice to see his handsome face again.

Evening hike

2011-03-11T20:27:00.000-06:00

The boys were out for a walk in the woods when I got home from work today, so I tagged along with my camera. The melting snow is uncovering a whole lot of mess in our little piece of forest. Branches and trees are down everywhere. Dead trees need to be cut down. Paths need to be cleared. We have our work cut out for us, but we have a very willing little helper. Stick by stick, he's cleaning up the place. And that melting snow is uncovering bits of green here and there, too! Spring is on it's way!

Duck, duck, goose!

2011-03-07T20:58:00.000-06:00

Duck, duck, goose is Walter's game of choice these days. It's the most fun when we all play together, Molly included, but Walter will settle for any number of players he can get. I must admit, the two player version lacks suspense.

Ready for spring

2011-03-01T06:30:00.003-06:00

Happy first day of March! I, for one, am ready for this winter to be over. I'm ready for sunshine and grass and flowers. I'm ready to be able to leave the house without having to wrestle Walter into his boots, coat and hat. I'm ready to see what our new surroundings will bring us as things start to grow and bloom. I can not wait to go outdoors.

House update

2011-02-24T21:23:00.001-06:00

We've been in the new house for a couple of months now and I have yet to post any "after" photos from the renovation. The fact is, it's just not done yet. Most rooms are close to being done, but I'd rather not show the finished product until it's really finished. What's holding us up? Well, we are STILL waiting to have a sink installed in the master bathroom. What a fiasco that has been! First the cabinet was the wrong size, then the wrong color. But we now have a new one on order and in 3-4 weeks, we'll be brushing our teeth right there in the master bathroom. Probably. We're also trying to find a kitchen table that fits in our new space. Nate built some beautiful bench seating that I'm dying to show off, but right now it's covered up by an ill-fitting table. I'm on the hunt for the right solution. Another little roadblock is my own indecisiveness. I can't decide where to hang pictures and where to put shelves. There is a pile of artwork stacked in a corner just waiting for me to pick a spot already!
But aside from all that, we've been making real progress here! Like I said, Nate built bench seating and it's exactly what I was hoping for. I've even made cushions for it already. He also built an organizer for the foyer so we each have our own cubby for coats, hats, gloves, shoes, etc. Oh! Did I mention the pantry shelves he built? Nate has been busy! He even got the garage cleaned out so that both our cars will fit in there. At the same time! Room by room the paint is being touched up, towel bars and pictures are being hung, the last odds and ends are being put away and organized. We've also been making a real effort to make this place as energy efficient as possible. Insulation has been added and a new fireplace will be installed tomorrow.
We're so happy with the house and we really feel comfortable here. We'll keep chipping away at the to-do list and with any luck, those "after" pictures won't be too far off.

I heart Saturdays

2011-02-19T21:16:00.000-06:00

Saturday is, by far, my favorite day of the week. Especially a sunshine-filled Saturday like today. We bought seeds for the garden, baked a cake for Nate's birthday, and got Walter his first real haircut. We were busy with things to do, but nothing was hurrying us along. The best way to spend a Saturday, I think.

The backyard neighbors

2011-02-17T20:50:00.000-06:00

Walter really likes the deer that visit our yard and he's been coming up with a plan so he can pet them. He's going to put them on leashes and bring them up into his treehouse. Then he can pet them any time he wants. Grampa, you might need to rethink your plans for the treehouse renovation. We need to fit some deer in there.

Celebrating BOYS!

2011-02-14T20:37:00.000-06:00

Hip, hip, hooray! Made and Made by Rae are hosting Celebrate the BOY month again! During last year's BOY celebration, I got the pattern for the fabulous 90 minute shirt, which I have used over and over again. And I got ideas and inspiration for lots of other handmade boy stuff. The fun starts tomorrow. Bring on the great ideas! I can't wait to start making!

Can't wait to get started? Check out the archives from last year's celebration.