In a pickle....

Today a visitor is coming. She loved my new puppy and wanted one of her own. So I went and got one this morning. I brought home the one I wanted yesterday. Now the kids like him. alot.

Can you blame them? Look at this face. And those eyes. One brown and one blue.
Hes a little bigger than the one we bought yesterday.
And more wrinkled. And those eyes!
They play so well together.
And they sleep well together. we are going to have a hard time letting one go. But... which one will the kids keep? They may plan a switcheroo. And we may have a different dog of our own in the morning. I will not be here to help them decide... And I want the wrinkled one so bad.... But what will Tylen James decide? Its his decision.

Look what we got!!!!

Finally! After months of searching for a small inside dog without wiry hair... We found him! When I went to meet his mother, I was planning on taking home a 2 year old Corgi... but sadly I missed out on her by mere hours. But the lady had puppies and we fell in love with all four that she brought for us to see. I was eyeing up a pug mix with one brown eye and one blue eye, Dani was loving up on a little wiener dog and Tylen was over heard saying "your just the dog Ive been dreaming about..." So guess who picked our new pooch?

His mother was a pug chiauha(sp?) mix. The father a purebred weiner dog.
So, does that make him a peenerwowa?
Whatever he is... He is adorable! And we are all madly in love with him.
All 2 pounds of him!!!

UPDATE...

Hello, there I go, slacking again. Its been a busy time around here. With Markypoo constantly gone... well, it reminds me of my days as a single parent. I know I know, its not like Markypoo is a big help around here, but still... I dont think I like his being gone all the time anymore.

The kids and I ended up making about 30 jars of jam! 10 jars did not set correctly. In four years of jam making, never once has it not set. I am a bit bummed, but luckily for me there is a way to fix it. I saw something about recooking it in the recipes page that came with the pectin. So I will look into that, if I dont get it fixed, thats fine. Like Dana said, I can always have it with ice cream.. or pancakes. The jam that set tastes wonderful and Tylen has been heard saying that he only likes "moms jelly now"

My garden has been growing beautifully. I have been worried about my tomato plants almost since day one. There are tomatoes out there, but it just doesnt seem like as many as should be. But, the finlanders out here are telling me not to worry so much, theres still time. So Im trying. Not to worry that is. We had a big rainstorm last night, so I will have to wonder out there and see if it caused any damage. The kids and I have picked a few carrots, peas and green beans. We couldnt wait any longer. Yum Yum.

Tylen and I have been doing a lot of running around to get Dani to all the activities she needs to go to. This is the start to her busiest time of the year. Shes got flag twirling practice and a few parades, and soon volleyball season begins. We live 40 minutes from her school so we are spending a lot of time in the car!

Well, I have to get going as this morning I am taking the placement test at the college. I am nervous about this whole going back to school thing. But I hear that alot of the general courses are offered online and this maybe a big help to me. I will find out more today.

Oh No....

I have always been told that making jam is kind of a risky business...if it doesnt set... you screwed up. We are making strawberry jam today since its kind of a rainy icky day... I dont think its going to turn out right, it just doesnt look right. We'll see when it cools.

The bathroom

Before shot of the bathroom. not bad but.... The wall paper was peeling, and I have a deep rooted aversion to wallpaper.

Here is the entrance into my tiny bathroom. There are some orange towels hanging under the striped one... obviously orange was not the right choice... glad I didn't do the walls in orange.




I love the green paint. Its called dusty green. Darkened up the bathroom quite a bit though.
I absolutely love this shower curtain. But now, showers are always taken in the dark...
I love this wood wainscoting...but... I am thinking of painting it. It would lighten up the bathroom quite a bit, but Once you paint it you cant go back... So for now, its staying.
The problem. The previous owners had put in a new shower stall, and used this rubber caulking. Then they got caulk happy and ran the stuff up the ceiling. In the whole room. And paint wont stick to it. Even if you sand it down. And to peel it off may ruin the plaster even more than it already is. So...
This is the same corner, fixed the finlander way... The ceilings are curved so I couldn't even think to put up some of that thin trim work up there, and Marky poo will be home soon so I had to fix it FAST! So, hence the bad idea that worked for now... Tape. I taped the corners and then painted over it. Wont last forever, but thats ok as I will change my mind on what color the bathroom should be soon. So what do you all think? Should I have went with a lighter wall color? Should I paint the wood? I used classic beige for the trim that would look nice on the wood work.

I SHOULD have known...

After all the problems I have run across while trying to fix this house up to my liking I don't know why I am surprised at what I had in store for me in the bathroom. Lets recap shall we?...

First there was the whole moving the house. The first house we had agreed to buy fell through due to problems moving it the distance we wanted to move it... It fell through after we had the basement dug to the correct dimensions. This was in late May. We first started talking to the home owner in February... 3 months wasted. When we found the house we bought, it came with a demolition deadline. We had 2 months to get all the purchasing through the bank taken care of, all the correct permits taken care of, the basement redug and built, a house mover lined up, (and all the permits and permissions that came with it... electrical lines needed to be moved from 3 different electric companies, two highway patrol cars had to be hired, and we had to do all the demolition on the house to ready it to be moved ourselves, it had to be loosened from the existing basement, all the electrical stuff had to be disassembled, it had to be cut from the attached garage and addition, and I'm sure more stuff that I can not remember at the moment.

Luckily for us that after 3 house moving dates canceled we were able to get the house pulled out of the existing lot just as the bull dozers were pulling in to start the demo. ( A hospital addition was going in in place of the 4 homes that were sold from that block)

All the interior decorating was boring, with the exception of the kitchen of course. So I started to redo the house 1 room at a time. 1 problem at a time.


I repainted the bedroom white. I had some help fancy painting the ceiling... 2 days after I finished painting the large bedroom this happened:

I cant explain what caused it, but the paint on that one wall bubbled then peeled. Strange I know.
Here is a crack that happened during the move... It was very large. I fixed it and today you cant tell its there unless you know about it.
The kitchen. I tried to be a little more exciting in my color choices than the rest of my blue and white house. I did not paint the green. Just the red... Bad choice on my part. The cupboards stayed red for 2 months while I tried to come up with a second plan.
finally when the second plan came to me...it required I remove the wall paper that was hidden under the god awful green paint... then I needed to remove the other two layers under that.

In all fairness, I do have to say that redoing the living room and dining room went smoothly. The dining room looks awesome! but I hate the living room and the two rooms share a wall, so to change one I need to change both. That's been a dilemma for me since nearly day one.

So needless to say, the bathroom did not go as smoothly as I was hoping. It will be finished in the morning, and I will show you the before and after photos... And the problem.

Im so sorry.... :(

Ive been slacking on my blog. I admit it. Its only because nothing really exciting has happened around here... but soon my friends, that will all change. Before I go any further, just let me say that no. I am not pregnant. Nor will I ever be.
Its just that time of the year. My garden is growing. I have the starts of green beans and peas... cucumbers and onions and carrots and even tomatoes. And what promises to be a record year for the green peppers! Soon I will be harvesting those things and that will keep me busy for a bit.
After that is the start of FOOTBALL! Go VIKES!!!! I really enjoy the build up and preseason stuff. Im hoping for a good year this year, (so I can sell my jeep)
Way back in December I pulled a muscle in my chest and that has finally started to heal, but I re pulled it at work a few weeks ago, so I have been trying to stretch it a little and heal it on my own because I need that muscle! its only like 6 weeks til deer hunting! Well, bow hunting... My wonderful dad bought me a new bow last year and I am going to take it out for the first time in september. And I have every intention of bringing home a deer or two with it. But first... I need practice practice practice... (hard to do with a bum muscle)
This last weekend Markypoo and I went out to the casino with his mom and we won. Between the two of us we won 500 bucks! so, I took my winnings down to the local paint store this morning after markypoo left for the week, and I am in the process of doing my bathroom finally. I looked at color options, ideas, and took all you had to say into consideration. I had originally said that I would not tell what colors I chose because I didnt want anyone to talk me out of it, but... after two months of planning, I went to purchase the green paint most of you said I should use, and then I went to find the deep purple accessories to go with it... green and purple how cool is that!?! but... sadly the did not have the purple stuff I wanted, so I had to change my mind at the last moment... All my planning wasted! So, I am painting it green and orange... Probably wont be as cute as I thought, but... too late to change it now... stay tuned!

AHHH... The Colors of Summer...

What a wonderful year this has turned out to be for all my favorite flowers. I cant tell you how many hours I have spent planning and then planting flowers all around my yard. All carefully chosen for their blooming times. The tulips bloomed quite some time ago, I planted about 50 bulbs two years before this. Not one, but two varieties of peonies... light pink and magenta... they are past their prime now, but it was a year for lots and lots of big blooms. The gladiolas are just starting to open their flowers... 100 bulbs planted 2 years ago... on the border between yard and woods... The tiger lilies will be starting soon. and soon after will be lupines and sunflowers. The roses I have planted have not done so well... I think about 5 bushes I have killed, (the winters here are rough on them) And I also killed the calla lilies... (how was I to know they wont grow here) This was going to be the year I put in the finishing touches around the new house... But... and this is a BIG BUT... I foolishly bought Marky poo a Weed Wacker for fathers day this year... And so now, all that remains is this one single solitary lonely rose bush...

Dang that Marky poo... Hes always out there playing with his wacker...

At the Fair...

We all had a great time at the fair last weekend. Tylen made a new friend.

This goat was so friendly. He climbed right up to say hello to us. He made Tylen decide he wanted to get a goat. Finally! I had been trying for years to get the kids on board of my lets get a goat campaign.
They really liked this guy. Alot.
We went to watch the demo derby. We had a close call there. A piece of rock, or metal about the size of a tennis ball came flying at us and nearly hit Tylen in the head. I dodged him out of the way and a woman sitting right behind us was nailed in the stomach with it. It tore her shirt and left a nasty welt on her. Poor lady.
Look at this daredevil! Wont let me drive one handed but... all summer hes been driving with NO hands! Hypocrite!

And last but not least... The big giant monster slide! Alot of fun for all!

Teeth or no Teeth... That is the question...

AWW..Peace At Last!!

I woke up next to Marky Poo, the kids are fast asleep aft er their sleep over party last night (with each other..lol) And the sun is shining! It has been a long two weeks. This perfect day will be short lived as Marky poo is leaving again in the morning, but we plan to makethe most of it. We are going to the fair today and then the demo derby. Tonight, we will have dinner at home and all together! Life is good...
Now Im off to check out Jetties site... shes got surprise she is going to announce sometime today. I think. Have a wonderful day all!!

Change of Plans...

We all had plans today. Marky poo went to the auction sale, and Tylen James and I ran some errands. We planned to meet up at the auction. Tylen changed his mind and we didnt go. When Marky poo called I told him we wouldnt be coming today and he said "O.k I am going to be late because there is some really great furniture here."
CRAP!! If theres one thing that Marky poo has its a disgusting case of awful horrible terrible no good taste. Oh Lordy Lordy what will he be bringing home today that I will have to "accidentally" set fire to next week???

Two down One to go...

Ok! The boys are home! Marky poo made it home safe and sound on Thursday evening. The two of us spent an enjoyable night together. We went out for dinner, then went some where else, ran into a couple people we knew and played some pull tabs. After losing a good amount of money, we went driving around to check out our deer population. The deer look so pretty now in their red coats and velvet antlers. We did see two small bucks.
Tylen James met up with us yesterday afternoon with tons of great stories to tell us! I am so glad to have him home. I really missed him. He had a wonderful time and made sure to let me know that even though he had so much fun, he still loves us!
Now, tomorrow... Marky poo will leave us in the morning, until Friday night. And Danibelle will be coming home in the early afternoon! So its gonna be until Friday night until we are all home in the same place. But it is a huge relief to me to get both kids in the same spot as their mother!!! I know... I worry too much! But... As soon as I get danibelle home, I'm gonna have to teach her some self defense moves...Again.

The Fruits of My Labor...

Okay... maybe not MY labor per say... but I did help! I picked em! Yummy! Strawberry Jam... Strawberry sauce... Strawberry panacakes... here I come!

Happy Birthday!!

Today is my Grandmothers birthday! Happy Birthday to her! Today she turned 29! Shes getting old! LOL!
Today is also the birthday of my house. One year ago today it really became MINE! You can read all about it Here. Go ahead and check it out, if your not already sick of the story that is...LOL