As I was walking Ladybug this evening I was mentally thinking of her as Pteradactyl Bait due to her matched scars on her sides, where the hair is slowly regrowing. Afterward, playing around the house she got a bit excited with dispensing violence to one of her squeaky toys and ran down the stairs to the foyer with more speed than grace. The Clumsy Bug skidded across the small foyer and slammed into the table holding our beautiful Crystal Glaze vases from Walter. The bodies of the vases are in tact, but she did manage to crack edges off both of the rims.

Sigh. We love our dog. And need to buy more superglue anyway.

This weekend I:

Enjoyed sitting under the awning experiencing the edge of a passing thunderstorm on Friday night. Then I watched the end of Hancock and Kung Fu Panda while I played on the computer.

( Saturday... )

( Sunday... ) ouch.

After our evening walk and dinner, I spent a little bit of time sitting out on the back patio watching the fireflies flicker about and listening to the waterfall on the koi pond. It was a little slice of heaven.

I grew up in Greensboro, NC. Our ranch home was conveniently placed across the street from a private community pool that we were members of for over twenty years. We grew up around that pool; taking swim lessons there, joining the swim team, playing on the playground, more time spent on the swim team, working at the snack bar, working as lifeguards- you get the idea. When the power was out, we had a key so we could use the showers over there and hang out in the game room until the other half of the street got power back. The few times we got blessed with snow, we'd go sledding on the hills surrounding the pool area. I learned to ride a bike in the parking lot and we'd catch snakes and fireflies in the field. We lived for Summer, that much was sure; splashing water, twinkling stars, fireflies and all.

After my sisters and I graduated from college and started our own adults lives, my parents sold the house and moved to Florida to care for our grandparents. I haven't been home for many years, and not since my folks moved away. I don't really think of Greensboro as home anymore.

They say that home is where the heart is. I now think of our current abode as home, Maryland as home, my comfy chair and the cozy bed as home. But really life and family has taught me that home is where we make it. We always talk about our mustering point when on family vacations. (Of course being the dorks we are, we call it the mustard point.) We had a favorite lounge on the cruise to Bermuda where we'd meet. At Gulf Wars, home base is the Royal Cabin, at Pennsic it is the Vair and Ermine camp.

Over a decade ago, when I was still coming up from Blacksburg to visit with Alan, I made the trek one Friday afternoon. I don't remember all of the particulars, but I seem to have had a rough week, and a rough drive by myself up there, and was just really looking forward to arriving to a place I'd come to call home eventually. As I pulled into the driveway on Eldrid Dr. that time, I heaved a sigh of relief, and a host of fireflies landed on my windshield all lit up as if in greeting. It was a wonderful welcome, one I remember vividly. Since then, despite my sharing an apartment with Mel, and our living in that house and now this, and through all of our travels, home is where Alan is. The fireflies showed me.

Finished Patio! Hooray!


To complement the picture of Alan operating the BRUTE jackhammer, here he is on the Wacker.
snert tee hee giggle- yes, sometimes I feel like a 10yo boy


Kirsten on the saw making pink dust


Kirsten and Susan made amazing progress on the patio this week. They spread the underlay of granite dust and pulled up and cleaned most of the bricks from the old patio to use on the new patio. The ultimate in green renovation, we cleaned off and re-used all of the pavers we could, and only had to purchase ~30 more pavers to finish off the back corner.

I spent Saturday sitting in the sand pulling up the remaining bricks and cleaning the concrete off those that needed it. (It looks like one previous owner tried to use dry concrete mix instead of sand so there were at least two buckets full of chipped off concrete chunks.) My right hand and shoulder were very sore at the end of the day, but it seemed to be a task I was reasonably good at, and kept me out of the way of Kirsten and Alan tamping, screeding, and laying the rest of the patio. Today I spent many many hours behind a broom slowly sweeping sand into the cracks and crevices prior to final tamping, etc. Kirsten spent her time making cuts for the final bricks, while Alan was marking and setting them. I'm a little sore, especially my right arm, as to be expected of a desk jockey pulling the weekend warrior tasks.

The rest of the time this weekend was spent playing with setting up my palm contacts etc. into a syncronizible format for use with my new iPhone. I did finally get it working late Saturday night, but we ran into problems trying to activate it as my phone, so that is a task for tomorrow. I'm already enjoying the portability, facebookiness, camera, and such. Suggestions for useful non-game related apps are cheerfully accepted.

Now, I must go to bed.

I meant to post last night, but a certain pup kept nudging my elbow when I quit paying attention to her, so it was impossible.

I've had thoughts about the conflict in Iran, appreciation to those who are posting info, aghast at the blatant election fraud, inspiration at the silent protests, hesitant to wear green myself because I don't see how I can have a voice in Iran for who should lead, but fully support that each Iranian vote should be counted. If they vote in a crazy conservative Holocaust-denier then so be it, but let it be real. Go Iranian people, you are awesome!

I've been meaning to post on the Golden Rose Tourney, appreciation for all those who took pictures, aghast at my fatness in them, the wonderful spirit of the day, the beauty of the procession and the field, and the fun had by most in attendance, despite the heat.

I've been meaning to post more on UofA, how awesome Crois Brigte folks were, the loveliness of the site, my appreciation for Eldred's job well-done holding the custody of the University, my appreciation for those who took my class, fun company of Thjora, and dinner with folks before departing. Oh, and the deer, but that's been told, more or less. BTW, we got the car back from repairs on Monday, she's just as beautiful as new, and I'm grateful that they handled the claim and repairs in a week. F'ing Ay GEICO!

And I'm not sure if I've really said all I wanted to about our last Plimoth trip. Still need to make a "Real Men don't Sparkle, they Spangle" icon of Ansel working on a frame.

But I am still alive, I have an adorable pup, a loving husband, and a nice house I get to actually share with them this weekend. yay!

I swear I'm reading the words on the screen, but my brain is refusing to comprehend anything. I see distinct words and my brain parrots "blah blah blah" back to me. blah. I blame the allergies, and the lack of sleep. I made the mistake of taking a Mucinex-D too late in the afternoon yesterday and I think it kept me from sleep last night. Am rockin' the Muc-D, my Zyrtec, and some special allergy eye drops, and feeling quite foggy.

Yesterday was fun though. I got up, fed and pup, sliced my thumb while cleaning up the sink ('cuz i r stoopid), walked the dog, mowed the back half of the yard with the reel mower, napped, hung out on the patio in the cool breeze employing fleece pants, took Ladybug to the goggeh park for an hour, did a quick grocery targeted strike, vacuumed the top two floors of the house, then watched the Return of the Musketeers in the basement. Alas, no embroidery, but I did a bit on Saturday that was productive.

( notes to self on dogs, housework and Sapphire... )

When I got home from working Commencement this morning (ugh, I do not do 7am well) I go to hang out with the Ladybug in the the backyard for a bit. There were two wonderful surprises stealthily waiting for me.

First, was the first blooms of the year off our Gyrth irises. Hooray for happy yellow sunshine flowers!


I love the Gyrth iris blooming time. sigh. We have a pot of g-irises and sweet flag for Mel the Wiser, and I think for Gianetta too. Anybody else wanting some Gyrth pond irises, let me know for the next time Alan takes the axe to the overgrown pots.

But also lurking in the over-grown honeysuckle vines by the bog, was an Eastern Box Turtle that Ladybug sniffed out.


Of course she was more than a little bit skittish at the slow moving rock, so was quite the barky dog around him. Eventually I dragged her inside to give the turtle the time and space to escape to wherever s/he found more friendly. Luckily she amuses me greatly, and I like to share:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urzjLPOdV6s

The rest of the day has been napping, embroidering outdoors, walking the pup on an extra long walk- just before the rain, and watching the Preakness.

One of the non-rabbit related activities I accomplished this weekend was to attack the juniper and vines on the back hill in our yard. After a long walk with the pack of pups, we were hanging out in the backyard in the sunshine, and I confess I finally snapped. I had hoped that Corby's attempts to transplant the junipers would have had more success and he would take the rest. Alas that was not to be. I've been irritated at the dead and dying portions of the junipers, and well frankly at the junipers themselves.

( yard work accomplishments )

I find an icy patch on our morning walk, cleverly disguised by a dusting of snow, which sends me flying off my feet onto my butt and palms of my hands.

ouch.

The good thing is that Ladybug came to check on me, nothing is broken, and we were able to complete the walk- if slowly.
sigh.

I went to the chiropractor this morning before work making me late, and will likely need to go again on Friday.
Of course my left shoulder was already sore from correcting LB on her defiance on our walks, and now I've made a sling out of my scarf to take weight off that shoulder. Neck and back are nice and sore from the impact of the fall. I think I need to bail early to go home and flexeril myself into oblivion.

Can I get a do-over for the past week?

*I've had nasty thoughts about giving gifts of Ice Melt to those in the neighborhood who have failed to clear and maintain the safety of the sidewalks (which, I hate to say it, is part of our homeowner's association covenants) along with a copy of that portion of the rules highlighted. I actually did take pictures of the place I fell, if only to show the chiropractor/my boss the scene of the accident if needed. I'm did think for .2 seconds about suing the idiots who didn't clear their walks, but that's a whole lot of bluster really. What I might do is sprinkle the sidewalk I prefer to use instead of the street with some traffic with some of our Ice Melt to make it safer for me.

sigh.

Skipped a work happy hour and a friends gathering last night since my throat was sore and I was tired. Napped after work from 5:30-7:30pm, before getting active enough to finish the last load of laundry and working on a knit present for Niece #1.

I got this cool looking ribbon-y yarn in a color she said she liked last year, and my first test knit was terrible, but then I discovered cool instructions on the inside of the label, so I tried them, and then I decided that the ruffly pattern would look cooler oriented the other way. So I ripped it out again, but now it is coming along, if slowly due to the funky treatment to the yarn. If this works out well, I have the same stuff in variegated pink shades to knit up for Niece #2.

I still need to do Christmas cards either tonight or this weekend, as well as knit for the nieces, possibly embroider for my Mother in Law, and we should re-hang pictures and decorations in the kitchen, not to mention change the calendar from Nov. to Dec. I should also order our 2009 Despair.com calendars for work, but I'm not sure I remember which ones I chose for Alan last time so I don't duplicate. And of course my head is still filled with snot and all I want to do is nap and/or vege in front of the tv. Oh, and the bathrooms could use a cleaning too.

But, I did cook in my new kitchen on Wednesday! Since we went out for dinner after practice on Tuesday, and I knew Kirsten would have been painting all day on Wed, I had a feeling that dinner at home would be in order. After Kirsten was done with her painting clean-up, Alan prepared a blue martini for her and I tidied up our tub so she could have a relaxing soak before dinner. Then I whipped up some marinara sauce with smoked turkey sausage and some pasta for a sit-down dinner at our dining room table. Then we all food-coma'd out and I got the last episode of Stylista over with and bed called our names in sweet seductive tones.

I could be convinced to make today an early day from work. I have to run by the CVS to pick up an Rx and some photos, before hitting the chiropractor (who is open at 3, hmmm) and collapsing at home.

theblueleader  is made of Awesome!



We haz Green Kitchen.

Finally, the house is ready for Christmas. The tree is up and full of ornaments, the mantle is decorated in pine garland and colorful lights, stockings are hung, wreaths are hung, bows adorn railings. Christmas music streamed all day today while the festive tasks were undertaken. Yup, the house is ready.

The question is, am I?

At least I have non-stop Christmas music streaming in the car thanks to XM-Holly and WASH-FM, and I love it all. Even the odd song about Dominic the Christmas Donkey...

Befores and Afters

( behind the cut... )

We get our new countertops installed tomorrow!
Yippee!

Thanksgiving weekend was wonderful, and reminded me of things to truly be thankful for.

We drove down to Mike and Kirsten's for their Lost Lambs Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday morning. We skipped traffic, and were greeted by many friends and soon-to-be friends. It was great to see a whole host of folks, especially the ones rarely seen like Evja and her Tom, as well as the Caitlin and Naro. The food was plentiful and delicious, and the company was beyond compare. I was able to sit and chat a bit, embroider some, examine a simple antique loom and research information on how it may be warped for the new owner, showed off pictures of T-bone's eldest daughter with her pink rifle at the range, as well as help with some of the set-up, and redirect a child who was trying to open a nut with the pointy tines of a gardening tool that a rock might be easier and safer. There was no football, no Macy's Parade, and yet the day was full.
For friends, old and new, present and absent, I am blessed with a richness of company I am proud and humble to have around me.

We spent the night at Two Dog Hill, and after a leisurely morning of leftovers for breakfast, as well as Caitlin's fabulous blueberry bread, we kidnapped Kit and stole her away to Jamestown. We only worked a half day at Jamestown Settlement on Friday, but were kept busy by the wealth of visitors with interesting questions and a thirst for knowledge. I spent most of the four hours with Sandy at the Devon Oven, not baking, but being the mouthpiece to her activities to engage those interested in the methods of cooking of the past, and some of the daily life experiences those first folks to Virginia may have endured.
For the opportunity to participate in such a fun volunteer activity and have some faith restored in the creativity and search for information on history by the visitors, I am thankful.

Afterward, we retreated to Carla's rental condo for showers, easy pannini sandwiches for dinner and yet more interesting company. While a tired lot, we had Jimmy to entertain us, fun time with Cindy from JYF and excellent tales of the visitors experienced that day.
I am grateful for the gift of laughter.

Saturday we decided against a return to Jamestown since someone's back was unhappy from spending a day in armor, and someone else was a bit peopled-out. We helped pack up the condo and make cookies for breakfast using tin-foil and got back on the road home to Two Dog Hill, in a car full of fine conversation. Once returned we were greeted by a treed Corby, and very happy pups, and settled down for a bit more of a visit, and a nap, and some more embroidery before whisking off to downtown Charlottesville to join Rich and Genie in a post charity hockey game meal. The food was yummy, and again the company and conversation was fine. We were again captivated by stories of minor, if anticipated, family drama, and I only had a little of someone's Liquid Love (cocktail drink) spilled down my back, with good natured ribbing on the wet stickiness. :) Alan and I made it home safe and sound that night and crashed into our own bed with a happy belly of food and fun music in our heads.
For the freedom to do as we please and alter plans, I am lucky.

Sunday was spent sleeping in to the sound of the rain, taking care of some of the minor projects around the house, like hanging the hall bath mirror, hanging shower curtains, putting away parts of the kitchen into the upper cabinets, and given the opportunity to really consider placement and usage, and enjoy the new space. (Kirsten, the tea has been moved to be mostly over the electric kettle instead of crammed in a cabinet beside the stove.) I looked at the leftover paint chips from the bathroom consideration, and used it for a first level weeding out of colors and tones for paint, but I think we really need the countertops in before a final decision is reached. I meant to do some shopping, but the rain and inertia kept me home snuggled on the couch.
I am thankful for a comfortable home, and my Alan to share it with.

Last night was the delayed shopping for my Salvation Army Christmas Angels. I shopped for 3 hours trying to carefully choose items needed and hopefully desired by the disadvantaged children chosen. Normally I try to get two angels about my nieces ages so I can shop for twice the folks in the time given. This year I took on three siblings of different years, primarily due to the eldest daughter being a larger girl at only age 11. I hope most of all for her I was able to find clothes to make her feel pretty and boost her confidence. I also used some coupons at DSW to get her and her brother shoes that might last them a while, but still appeal to their youth. Naturally gift receipts are included so that color preferences or incorrect sizes can be exchanged. I bargain shop, but also try to get a good haul for the children I host, knowing that they are lucky to be loved, but not lucky enough to have extra for even some necessities. I spend more on these children than I do for my own nieces likely, but my nieces rarely need clothes and shoes, and mostly do not want for goods, activities, nor affection. And while I love to give to the Red Cross (good), Doctors Without Borders (great), and Heifer International (amazing!), I know that these gifts go directly to the children who may not expect much of a celebration despite the time of the year.
For the ability and inclination to be charitable, I am thankful for my job and my upbringing.

A better picture of the bathroom blue:


Cabinets done, now we wait for countertops and plumbing:


Of course now the kitchen paint color looks terrible, so we need to contemplate painting it. Alan's thinking green, but I'm thinking more of that pale blue. I wonder how it would coordinate with the Oh Bother Blue from the powder room...