Weekend Project

 

We had a chance to go to Kansas City for the weekend so we went antique shopping of course. We've been collecting old garden tools as we find them and we found a couple more this weekend. Old tools are really coll but what do you do with them? This was my husband's idea! Make a cool piece of art for the screened in porch.

 

I love the way it turned out. We ended up just tying the tools to the shutter with twine. I didn't want to damage the tools, so this is the solution I came up with. We did not alter the old shutter. It was already so cool I didn't want to change it either. We are working on another little joint project too. Hopefully I will have it finished next week.

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Two weeks ago we went to my youngest daughter's volleyball tournament in Gardner, KS. On the way home we stopped at the grocery store in Lawrence and I saw someone I thought looked familiar. I stopped her and introduced myself. I am sure I seemed like a stalker or something, but didn't want to miss an opportunity to meet a favorite blogger. It was Meg from the blog Whatever! Check it out if you already haven't. It is so full of inspiration and color and she is a great photographer too! (I have tried to link to Meg's blog with Blogsy, but I am not sure if I did it right. There is a link at my side bar to her blog if the link in the text doesn't work.)

 

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Around the House

So, like I said, I have really been missing the old blog lately. And it was really great to hear from some of you and know you still care. It has kind of slowed down here before spring break so I thought I'd pop in real quick to say"hi".

One of the hardest things for me as a housewife/stay-at-home mom has always been, ironically, housework. I LOVE a clean house...but I absolutely loathe actually cleaning house 95% of the time. I just never feel motivated unless company is coming and then I usually kick it in to high gear. Needless to say, maintaining a presentable house is no easier when you are going back to school. Thank heaven for the low light in these photos or you could see how badly I need to dust!

There is almost always laundry on the kitchen table for people to put away {laundry is one area in which I excel}. The floors don't get swept everyday and their have been a few cobwebs creeping around lately. But you know what, we're still alive. Life is still happening. I have just had to ask the kids to start helping more. That is something I should have been doing anyway, come to think of it. I think they secretly like helping with chores even though they usually groan at the idea. I am kind of wondering why I waited so long to have them pitch in because they are pretty good help.

Spring break starts Friday for us and we are headed to The Kansas City area for a volleyball tournament on Saturday, which may involve an overnight to add a little spring break fun. We don't have the means to go on a trip with all of my school expenses. It is crazy how much it is! Anyway, we have a few less expensive things planned. I can't wait to see the new "Oz" movie. Being from Kansas it was on TV every year and every year I waited and waited for it come on and I would lay on my tummy on the carpet and eagerly await the part where Dorothy wakes up and everything is in color. So I am so excited to see this new and different version.

Oh, funny story I have to share. Yesterday I was on way to class and I stopped at a trash can to throw something away. It was one of those trash cans with the springy lids that snap closed on their own. You know the ones where you try to remove your hand really fast so you don't have to touch it anymore than necessary?Anyway, I had my hand in there throwing away my trash and all of a sudden there is some movement from within and the lid won't close and this black cat comes shooting up out of the trash can at me! It runs off lickity split and I am left there with a scream and a gaping mouth, processing what just happened and beginning to thank God it wasn't a rabid raccoon. Who knows how long the poor thing had been in there waiting for me to come along.

Is this time change bothering anyone else? I just can't seem to get adjusted this "time" around. Does this happen as you get older?

I hope you all have a great spring break. Safe travels if you are planning on taking off for the week. They are saying our weather is going to be nice here in Oz. I sure hope they are right! I am planning on getting a little jump start on my flower garden and get it cleaned up over the break...hey, maybe I can enlist my new found help!

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The New Girl(s)

 

 

 

Hi guys.  I can't tell you this is going to be a regular thing again, but I've really been missing blogging lately.  I miss all the comments and checking your blogs.  It seems too special to just let it go completely.  With so much going on I'm not sure where to begin.  This semester is flying by.  I'm already taking mid-terms next week.  I've really felt like a new kid this semester.  Like a fish out of water.  I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb on campus.  You get the idea.  I've never been in a situation like this where I felt so conspicuous and out of place.  So far, everything is going just fine.  I'm naturally a very self-conscious person so this has been an uncomfortable time for me.  It's getting better though.  Yesterday, however, I drove clear to Manhattan (about 50 minutes driving time) for class and parked and realized I'd left my wallet at home!  So, my $2.00 parking fare for my 1 1/2 hours on campus went up to $10.00 as they had to charge me for a "non-payment".  Oh, well, I'll never forget my wallet again...right? 

 

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These beauties are Black Copper Marans.  We bought them this winter.  They were already laying when we got them.  I think they're around a year old.  The man we purchased them from shows chickens and these apparently didn't have the proper qualities for showing.  They're very nice birds and made the transition into the flock very smoothly.  None of our chickens are laying much these days. 

 

However, now when we do get eggs, we get some of these:

 

Aren't they fabulous?  I have always wanted these dark chocolate brown eggs in my cartons.  Supposedly these will get even darker in the warmer seasons. 

 

Hope to be back sooner this time!

 

 

 

 

 



All is Merry & Bright

 

 

 

How have you all been? I don't know about you, but the holidays come and go faster and faster each year. This year is no different. I have been busy subbing and doing homework and "mom things". We all have been on various antibiotics and inhalers and cough medicines. I think we are all healthy now...mostly. November was a blur. It's that time of year when you kind of hold your breath, waiting for the stomach flu strike. We were spared last winter...I hope we are so blessed this year.

 

 

 

 

I haven't done a lick of Christmas crafting. However, I am drooling over Pinterest ideas. Trying to make a mental note, at least, of things that I will try to make or bake over the break. Amazingly, I do not feel stressed out about the holidays. We've simplified our lists a bit this year which will allow for more time to enjoy the quiet moments that present themselves.

 

 

 

I will be able to breath a BIG sigh of relief once December 14th passes and with it the end of my first semester back at school. I registered for 2 more classes today and will take a couple more through K-State in the spring as well. Next fall I will start full-time at K-State with my block classes. Slowly but surely!

I hope you are having a joyous Christmastime and really feeling the warmth of God's love all around you this season!

 

 

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Oh Bother

 

So, my fast paced, glamorous, housewife life has come to a sca-reeching halt.

 

Bronchitis.

 

Yep.

 

Just me and a z-pack, an inhaler and big bottle of the hard stuff.

 

That's right. Codeine cough syrup.

 

 

I am usually too tired to focus on the book in my lap.

 

{FYI...that's not class work.}

So far I have managed to get my class work in on time...more due before Thanksgiving.

 

Oh yeah! I am hosting Thanksgiving!

 

Hurry up and do your thang z-pack!

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Halloween Treat

Happy Halloween everyone! Halloween has always been a favorite holiday of mine. My parents would always make a big deal of it or at least it seemed that way in my child's mind. I remember always going trick-or-treating every year to the same houses. We'd always stop in and say hi. There were houses I looked forward to stopping at and ones I dreaded.

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My husband had his last surgeon's appointment today and he got a clean bill of health. In just 12 weeks his wrist has healed up to 80% of it's original bone strength. We've been having little "dates" on the days of his appointments and today was no different. I had to have a treat of my own after lunch. Panera's holiday frosted cookies are always so appealing to me. I think they're shortbread. Mmm.

Have fun whatever you do this evening. I am hoping not to stay out too late with the kids {it is a school night afterall} and get home to have some cocoa and hopefully watch a spooky movie on TV.

Do you have any Halloween traditions?

 

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Perusing Pinterest

 

Stupid Pinterest. I am addicted. It is just the greatest thing. Why is that? Does anyone know the psychology behind its appeal?

These are just some of things that have caught my eye lately. I love the chalk board message above. I would love to embroider that and frame it, bunting and all. So simple and cute

 

Isn't this a great idea? A collage photo frame turned weekly message/to-do board. So cute!

I need to make some of these. Don't they look cozy? I am not sure I have the crochet skills for these though. They don't look like they would take too long.

These are just a few of the things catching my eye right now. We'd need a lot more time to show you everything I've pinned lately. If you're not on Pinterest good for you...don't start :)

{I have attempted to link to the original sites by clicking on the photo. Hopefully it worked!}

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