January 28, 2011

13 Confessions


My dearest readers (also known as my family and a few friends),
I am delighted to report, because of my apparent boredom of house cleaning and laundry, I have a top 13 confessions list for you.

They are random, slightly psychotic, and one is slightly embarrassing.

Without further ado..............

1. I love the smell of lit wooden matches!

2. I read cookbooks and cooking magazines like I do a book.  

3. I never get tired of listening to "Black Eyed Peas", "Lady Gaga" and "Pink".  I shamefully admit that "Britany Spears" should have been on that list.

4. I eat lemons like I do an apple.

5. As a child I had a cow named Betsy (Who we rode with only a halter..... and she didn't seem to mind.  Although the halter served no purpose because she went where she wanted.
   I also had a pig name Lulabelle (Who we also rode, albeit she was not as understanding as Betsy, and HIGHLY disliked it).

6. When I was young (really young) I wanted a pet monkey, a robot, and a iron horse.  Now I'm grown, and all I want is a nap.

7. I drink ENTIRELY too much Coke Zero!!!!

8. I believe in shopping etiquette.  Don't stand in the middle of the isle people!!!  
Don't wear bathing suits, tank tops without bras, or Daisy Dukes to Wal-mart.
Return the carts to the corral!!!  Let me repeat!!!  Return your carts to the corral!!!

9. This time next week, I will be strolling on the strip in Vegas with my man.

10.My new favorite colors are mint, pink, cream and white.  (note: my favorite colors change often.  As a matter of fact, I'm really enjoying grey, white, and pink now.

11.I liked owls before owls were cool!!!  I'm slightly miffed that everyone else has to copy me. (lol)
I own four owl necklaces, one owl ring, lots of owl ornaments, and  I even read owl books.

12.I get the hiccups when I eat dry bread.



13.I'm excited about the new "Smurf" movie.  Like..... really excited!  Like.... I used to pretend I was Smurf-ette.  Like.... Papa Smurf was my hero!
La La Lalalala La La La La La!







Before I leave, I thought I would show a snippet of Ryan's game last night.  This was captured on my cell phone (so the quality isn't wonderful).  I was FLOORED to see the lack of sportsmanship in our opponents fans.  Calling our players names, screaming at the top of their lungs when we got the ball, elbowing and jabbing our players when the ref wasn't looking.  It was revolting and I was mad as a hornet (no pun intended).  The Hornets are in red.  The Excelsior Springs Tigers are in white.  So sickening!!!

January 27, 2011

Furry Frost

I noticed a beautiful glistening on the tall grass when I took the kids to the bus stop.  Every limb and blade of grass was covered with a white flocking.  
It seems every year between Christmas and Valentine's day my mood is dreary.  I'm sure it's the grey colors, lack of sunshine, and the let-down of all the excitement from the holidays.  We are nearing February, and I am in the thick of the doldrums.  Blah!!  
I'm thankful that I have pretty things to look at from my windows.
I'm thankful that God at least made snow pretty (even if it is a thorn in my side).
I'm thankful that snow brings more birds to my feeder.
I have no flowers to photograph........ so ........for a couple months, you are getting birds.  Lots and lots of bird photos!!!!  You say that you could care less about birds..... DOESN'T MATTER!!!  You get what you get, and don't throw a fit!  He he!!
This is Mr. Cardinal.  I have been very impatient about his arrival.  I've recently discovered that it takes nearly a month for them to go to a new feeder.  I also learned that they are ground feeders and prefer a stable platform to eat.  

I caught him with his mouth full.  Sorry!
Mr. Yellow Finch
I have oodles and oodles of these feathered friends.  They are messy with the seeds, but aren't they pretty.  
This is my very first year feeding the birds.  I thought for a week that these red-heads were cardinals.  Silly me!!!  They are actually house finches.  The males are red and the females are plain-jane.  
Help me guys!  I don't know what species this is.  If you know, leave me a comment.  
He also has his mouth full.  






January 20, 2011

Closets and Tuppence

                       Do you remember the song in Mary Poppins called, "Feed the Birds"?




Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's
The little old bird woman comes.
In her own special way to the people she calls,
"Come, buy my bags full of crumbs.

Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do.
Their young ones are hungry,
Their nests are so bare;
All it takes is tuppence from you."

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag.
"Feed the birds," that's what she cries,
While overhead, her birds fill the skies.

All around the cathedral the saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares.
Although you can't see it, you know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares.

Though her words are simple and few,
Listen, listen, she's calling to you:
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag."




 I never realized how much enjoyment I would get out of watching birds.  Until this year I never even owned a bird feeder.  Aside from a humingbird feeder I hang up in the Spring.  
 


This is as close as Mr. Blue Jay would come to the feeder.  You cannot know how badly I wanted a close up.  At one point, this blue jay and a cardinal were within three feet of each other.  I guess they are camera shy.  I will not give up though.  If it means that I have to sit by that window for hours.  I will capture the shot I want.  


So, anywhoo, the closet is very near to being finished.  Our carpenter is coming back Tuesday to switch the lights out and install the toe kicks.  THEN WE ARE DONE!!!!  I love organization folks.  I love it more than ball park nachos.   
  
                                            before                                                        after
       
before
after

  
                                         before                                                           after

Beginning of construction looked a little like this.  


Now, you get to see how my room looked during construction.  It was a TOTAL disaster.  Imagine me digging through this giant heap to find my clothes.  Sadly..... this was only MY side of the bed.  I guiltily admit that I also had two large piles on the great room couch.  Then at least four large rubbermaid tubs full.  Trust me, I did a much needed clothing purge.  
I spy with my little eye............ CONGO!  (look closely)
I'm a neat freak by nature, so this type of upheavel sets me over the edge. 
To top it off, Rick and I couldn't sleep in our bed.  The first night we tried the queen spare bed, nuh-uh!  The second night, I opted for the couch.


January 18, 2011

The Monkeys vs. Play-doh

Because my trusty Mac has been a little fickle lately, and because I'm (as usual these days) short on time, will make this post heavy on pictures and short on words.

I suppose that lightning fast internet speeds is something I gave up when we built on rockyridgefarm.  I'm crossing my fingers and wishing on shooting stars that someone gives us another alternative.  So far, there are no takers.

Enough whining, right?

I have been taking photos of the closet progress.  You might be surprised to know that I plan on showing before photos?  You might be surprised to know that I did a "little" tidying before the photos?  They will be very near to accurate.  For instance, you will see lots of clutter.  But you may not see the bra that I hung up to dry.  Just saying.

I considered showing you daily progress but later decided that I wasn't courageous enough.  I cannot allow the before images to linger in your mind all week.  So, I shall do an entire post (beginning to end) when it's completed.  Which, again crossing my fingers and wishing on shooting stars, will be sometime tomorrow....... or Friday.  In the event that Friday is the day of completion, I won't be showing you photos until Tuesday.  (because this momma is taking a GIRL ONLY three day weekend!!!!!!  Eeeeeek!)


Until then, I wanted to leave you with a few photos I took yesterday afternoon.  It was Martin Luther King's birthday and the monkeys didn't have school.  Which turned out to be a good thing since my red-headed monkey came down with a fever.  He layed on the couch most of the day.  Coughing and contaminating my throw pillows, my throw blankets, and my remote controls (which I never hold anyway).
Ian, Gracie and I had a little play-doh time.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  We made creatures and pretend food.  Any day is good when there is play-doh involved.












In case you were wondering........ it's pizza!  Play-doh pizza, yum!
a doughnut



I may (or may not) have created this little goblin fairy myself.  He said "NO" when I asked him to clean the house.  You wanna know what I did to that goblin fairy.  Well...... you probably don't!