In dog heaven!

We drove out to Busch Wildlife last Sunday and let the dogs run.

"Look mom I can fly"

I had a bright idea to walk around the lake and oh my what a trip. We are talking untouched land around the back half of the lake.  Briars, tall grasses, streams that we had to figure out how to cross and walk arounde.  It was a bear.

Lake #37 Busch Wildlife

We saw trees laying flat from beavers.  Really awesome.  It was so beautiful.

By the time we made it around the lake the fishermen were all gone.  Thankfully we made it around the lake I was pretty worried that we wouldn’t make it and going back around was not an option.

Buttercup loves the water and of course by the time we got back around the dogs smelled pretty fishy so it was bathtime for the both of them.

We have figured out that Buttercup NEEDS walks or else she is wound up!!! My benefit is losing weight which is a really good thing after figuring out how to make homemade cinnamon rolls and breads.

Out like a light….

Tuckered out!!!

Who me?

We are going on a month now and we are on constant vigil on watching her.  Today my step-son took Buttercup to the park and see if she is a babe magnet.  We don’t know as of yet so we will tell you if she is.

After watching the movie “Marley and Me” we ran to the petstore and signed her up for puppy class.  She and I start Tues. night.  That movie really scares a puppy’s mom and dad.  So far she is pretty mellow but we have learned to take her for a walk everyday to wear her out.

She is sleeping half way thru the night which is good also because we really need our beauty sleep since she wears the poop out of us.

But I'm tooo cute! to be naughty..........Look how much I've grown.......

We have also realized that we needed to change her food since all we do is clean up the backyard.  We met a woman at the store and she has a 110 lb lab and she approved of our new food we picked out-she should know.

For the past 2 weeks I have had a mop and broom stuck to my hand cleaning up after her constantly.  We are in the beginning of potty training.

My best friend!

It stands at attention I quite putting it away.  Really you aren’t training the dog -your training you to pay attention and watch the puppy like a hawk and most importantly listen to your voice.

I have also finished almost the upstairs hallway.  What a trial.  Longest project ever.  Looks great though I do have to say.  Took 5 tubes of caulk, a tub of drywall and 2 gallons of paint and so so many man hours.  All I have left is to clean the handrail and paint the brackets and I am DONE!!!!  No more projects for awhile.  I am burned out and my right hand is toasted.  I need to let it heal the caulking just about rips my hand.  I only have 1 more gallon of paint left to use.

Last week was a butt beater for us was it for you too?  Nothing really awful happened just little annoying time consuming stuff and a puppy.  Friday came and I needed a stiff drink and I am NOT a drinker.  I had a great Bloody Mary.  And we made Saturday a pajama day which we needed desperately.  Puppies take Everything out of you, plus some.

Spring is springing and I am so excited.  We have a lilac tree with 10 pregnant robins sitting and chirping.  What a nice site.  New beginnings!

To a great week coming up.  Putting the last one behind us and looking toward a new and fresh week of possibilities!

My eldest daughter the artist and now the traveler to Taiwan to teach English

Picture of my middle daughter and her husband in the German Forest

http://tarynawilkinson.webs.com
Check out her website there are some really awesome pictures, sketches and photos.
She just graduated from George Mason University with a degree in
Global Affairs.

The room is ready for reading

Back door catch-all........

Well, it is finally over the mess and the cleaning up over and over again. The floor was finished lastnight. I think it came out really well. I have trim to cut and you all know how much I am not that great at it. Right now the curtains cover up the missing trim so I have a little reprieve before I need to start cutting.
The curtains are a nice plum color. I found them at Target they just came in and are 96″ long which is difficult to find. I need about $167.00 for a blind since it is 108″ long.
I used the furniture from the diningroom since its not in the budget for special furniture and it really was crowded in the diningroom.
I found my daughter in the room reading when I got home so it is cozy and sunny. There isn’t much light in the house so its a treat to be where its sunny and WARM.

Porch before

Now

The wall stuck out at the bottom because of the drain pipe for the washer.  We actually hired someone to cut  it out so that the wall would be flush.  I filled all the holes (not this one yet-) but the small crappy looking holes and dents from age. Painted the ceiling, and the trim and the knarly back inside door that goes into the kitchen.  The last owners had a dog that pretty much ripped the door apart with its nails.  I used 2 tubes of caulk either fixing the drafts or just to make everything looks crisp.  You know I am a caulk fanatic.

New color for the ceiling and the trim

Brand new looking door

This room is 8 X 15 which is pretty narrow and the ceiling is 12 ft. I hope with the darker top the room would seem more cozy and not so narrow. we will see. Thinking now about the curtains for the window. It is 108″ wide. Wow major fabric.

I had and hour face massage.  My skin is nice and young looking.  That is my start to a new year either a face or a body message, starts the new year right.

My daughter also took me out for breakfast and we did a lttle shopping a perfect day.  My husband worked on the porch for my gift.  Still not finished but getting there.  Had to hire a plumber to take down the large pipe so we could get an even surface for the wall.  I can’t wait!

The lower upper hallway is finished.  I know need a ladder to get the upper part.

Really getting tired of cleaning up the stray wallpaper from the whole house.  Needs to get finished so I can clean up for good (minus all the cat hair that floats around here and of course the old house dust and dirt.  If any of you have those see thru vacs it is a sight to see what you live in and with on a daily basis.

Well, my birthday is over and I made it without a crisis.  A Good Birthday.

The bestest deal!!!

I am so excited found this great deal thru Craig’s List yesterday.  I have wanted the one from Ballard Design for about 3 years but I have not had $1200.00 to spare for it.

This completes the kitchen.

I am still working on the 3 layers of wallpaper in the hallway.  What a mess! I have wallpaper remnants everywhere.  I also am still looking at my 8 gallons of paint sitting waiting for it to be rolled on.

A Very Merry Holiday!

I want to just express that we made it through this year pretty tough! I hope that all of you also made it through 2009 that you too also made it with some hide intact. To the next year may it be better and happier and a LOT more properous.