Long Day

It's been a long day. One where I had to put on my big girl panties and deal with it. I found an escape tonight by researching my fun new skill of couponing. Hours later,I drug myself off to bed feeling cold,tired and mentally drained. That's when it happened..somehow my electric blanket had gotten turned on and was waiting for me all cozy and warm. Oh heavenly! It's the little things that make days like today disappear..snuggling into a warm bed next to my sweet slumbering boyfriend. One dog at my head and one at my feet. Good night all,good bye bad day :)

Do You Have A Design Style?

 After 33 years and 14 years of having my own place,I could never quite figure out what to call my indoor and gardening style. Last night I found mine as I was researching flowers for my summer projects.
Cottage/English Garden and Funky Junk.
 I know this may all seem trivial to some and let's be honest,for most of my adult life I have been too broke to have anything much more than "hand-me-down" style. After years of collecting and thrifting I learned that I always ended up with a cluttered look and a ton of dusting. In the last few years I have tried to focus on simplicity yet my yearning for a feminine shabby chic touch has never disappeared.
So here lies my dilemma-
I don't have a good eye for interior design. At all. Zero.
 I want a cute house that is not too feminine looking.
My budget requires creativity and a knack for deco using items I already have.

My solution?
Pictures and ideas taken from Google and one of my favorite blogs Funky Junk Interiors. So if you were wondering what my idea of Cottage/English Garden and Funky Junk is...here is some of the inspiration I found.

 

 

 

 

I Made Bread...Without the bread machine!

Confetti Fiesta braided bread from March issue of Taste Of Home magazine. My first attempt at home made bread and I picked a tough one! Thankfully it turned out great and was fun to make. Here's the end result :)

Mobile Blogging?

I hope this works..

The ability to blog from my smart phone would be great.

I've tried other apps with no success,

I hope this works!

Lazy rainy night tonight.

We are snuggling up with the kids,a movie and tons of our favorite munchies.

I love nights like this :)

Ketchup

I thought I 'd take a minute to catch you up on all the things happening around here!

The kids are doing great! Last night was bath night so they are both very soft and fluffy! Chipper has put on a pound or two this winter due to his surgery and our switch to puppy chow. Now that he is healthy,happy and back to his Chipper self, I assume he will quickly run and play it off this summer. Maxine is still the most beautiful little girl ever! She has grown a little but her hair still grows the fastest !ha ha Her next grooming appointment is April 8th and she will be getting a shorter cut this time. I have learned that until she grows up a little it is best we keep her hair fairly low maintenance. She is a wild and crazy fun loving puppy,running the halls one minute and napping the next. At times we feel like we really do have a toddler...and we love every minute of it :)

We are still waiting on "most" of the cheese to rest before we can give it a final taste test. We have been sampling and sharing with friends and family and so far the reviews are good! Looks like we might have lots of potential customers! We have already learned that we don't like the mesquite smoke as well as we did the apple smoke but both were good..:)

The garden and flower beds are all weeded and tilled up. Then it rained and rained and looks like a giant mud pit.Gotta love spring ;P Soooo,until I dig out my compost and buy some fresh dirt..I sit her planning and dreaming of this summer's gardens *exaggerated sigh*
All good plans start with good lists right?
So far this is what I've got-
Front flower beds possibilities,shade friendly plants and flowers
Japanese Painted Fern                                      Hosta
Astilbe                                                             Columbine
Viola                                                                Cobra Lily
Lily Of The Valley                                           Impatiens
Begonia                                                            St John's Wort
Wax Flower                                                     Spotted Horsemint
Hydrangea                                                        Sweet Pepperbush
Geranium                                                          Heuchera

You may be wondering where some of the odd sounding ones came from ..they were chosen because they were either very fragrant (for outside my bedroom window) or shade and drought tolerant. No sun AND no watering,now THAT'S my kind of plant! lol I will attempt to find them while feeding my addiction to garden nurseries :)

Yesterday I survived a busy day with my 4 year old mini BFF Maddison. We had a great time! We ran errands,made cupcakes and a cake,played with the dogs and watched a movie. I was ready for bed early last night and I hear Maddison fell asleep on the way home :)
OK I think that's it...? Tomorrow is my Friday and then I have TWO WHOLE days off in a row with my sweetheart! Yay!
Have a great weekend !
:)

I Love These Kind Of Recipes...

I have been following a new food blog written by a lady I met and I have been really loving it!
Practical recipes for busy women.
Simple recipes using common ingredients.
This particular recipe looks too good not to share the link!
You're welcome :)
http://onecrazycookie.blogspot.com/2011/03/tried-and-true-simple-fudge-bars.html

Victory!

I am feeling victorious! Vern and I finished weeding and prepping the flower beds and garden for planting! Woohoo!

Rainy spring almost got the jump on me! There is still much work to be done..new soil to add,starts to buy,planning,planting and than many many months of fertilizer and TLC..Oh and must I not forget the daily prayers for more sunshine and less rain. I forget that "summer" is not guaranteed when you live in Washington :P
 Vern and I had a fantastic time celebrating our anniversary. Mexican dinner,salted caramels and watching movies while snuggled up in bed with our kids. On Saturday Vern humored me while I shopped at Ben Franklin for supplies to make hair accessories for Maxi. I found the cutest beads and charms! This daughter of ours is going to have enough hair ties and barrettes to last a lifetime :)
Vern had purchased a new cold smoking tray we were anxious to try. He used apple wood sawdust to smoke cheddar,sharp white cheddar,Gouda and Havarti cheese. 4 hours later it looked and tasted de-lish! He also figured out a way to seal the pieces into small packages with the Food saver .Now we wait impatiently as we let them set for one week. One very long week. Again,I find myself bragging but wow..he's such an awesome boyfriend!

  Do you all remember when we went to Sekiu last? Mid February I think. The when we got home and I got the flu and took another day and a half off. Since then,my work schedule has been completely booked with no end in sight! Finally this week I am feeling caught up and beginning to have some free time and a lighter load. I am so grateful to have so many loyal clients but at times I admit the numbers are overwhelming! Perhaps the day will come when I feel well enough to work 5 days a week..until then I love my bonus Tuesdays off. This Tuesday I am hanging out with my 4 year old friend Maddison. We have big plans to make cupcakes and a giant cookie cake with my new cake pans! I am also hoping she and Maxine have lots of play time.That daughter of our is so full of love and energy! Perhaps by the end of the day both girls will be worn out? Two Mamas can only hope!
Off to bed,my Monfriday alarm will be sounding early enough. I pray Monday is gentle on the rest of you :)