Show Us Where You Live

So for the first time I've decided to participate in Show Us Where You Live Friday that Kelly at Kelly's Corner hosts.

Let me start by saying that I love my yard, it is child and dog friendly...that is what it most important about the back yard. I told Ron after he got sick that I liked out big yard when he was the one cutting the grass...when I have to do it I don't love it so much!! I now have a friends son cut my lawn! This picture is taken from out balcony...we also have a lower deck (so great for BBQs).

When Ron was sick he couldn't be left alone and wasn't able to get out (other than out on our balcony)...without a lot of effort. We decided to get Michaela the swingset for her 4th birthday...if we couldn't take her to the park we'd bring the park to her! She got the trampoline for her 5th birthday...it is a great place to play! The little blue shed is going to eventually become a playhouse...that is the plan anyway.

This maple tree our care group got and planted last year in remembrance of Ron, it was very touching...we call it Daddy's tree. This picture isn't very good, oh and you gotta love the heavy duty stakes keeping it straight.

The front yard I keep pretty simple...and someone trying to get in the picture! Most of the plants are in containers, I do have some roses planted...and they are gorgeous.

I just cut these yesterday...even Buddy had to get in the picture (I think my family likes the camera or something)!

We call this the upsidedown tree, I'm not sure what it is called. I got it a couple of years ago on sale, I just love the look of it. The branches just hang down, in the spring it flowers and now it has little berries.

There is my yard, I love it...especially when the sun is shining!! Time to get out and enjoy it!

Summer Holidays

Okay so it has been a while since I posted...I know big surprise!!

Last you heard I was planning on getting a lot done around here and guess what...I've done pretty good at it! I did get my spare room in order...yes pictures would be awesome...anyway! It was done in time for my friend Jen to visit and have a real room to sleep in, it isn't painted yet but that can be done when I actually have some time!

Not only did I get Oreo's cage outside (which he loved...because he could escape)! I've given him to a home that wanted to breed rabbits for food...on the condition that they wouldn't eat Oreo!! I figure he'd be happier getting to make babies, because that was not going to happen around here! Also I absolutely adore this family and I know he will be well cared for!

I did get my drawers cleaned out...and I even remembered to take pictures of it!

I emptied out all of my drawers onto my bed...and then began the big sort.

These are the bags that came out...one of garbage, one for donation and one for consignment. Ahhh it is so much nicer now!!

I also got my computer armoire cleaned out...these place has been driving me crazy for quite some time. I just keep my printer in there because I use a laptop. It became a catchall for so many things.

Before...everytime I used my printer I had to take down the paper sorter tray.

After...so much nicer...and a big bag of garbage out of there!

In all that we also went camping for 10 days!! Oh it was so much fun...even if our stretch of wonderful hot weather ended 2 days after we started!! We did get rained on quite a bit and it was at times a little chilly...but we had a blast and weren't ready to come home!

Today is Canada Day, we had a wonderful time at the parade and then a BBQ at my brothers...I found this material that I had bought on sale about 4 years ago.

My Canada Day Princess!!

Getting it all Done!!

So for the last few weeks of school the kindergarten class with be attending school full time!! That gives me 3 days a week at home alone...ALONE!!!

So I have a few big projects (and several small ones) that I'm determined to have completed by the end of the school year!! I figure if is is in writing then I'll actually get it done...I may or may not take pictures!

Get my spare room in order, clean it out and get a bed and stuff in there..actually make it a spare room instead of the storage room it is. I'm not sure if it will be done by the time Jen visits...but maybe or probably not!

• Get my family room area organized and have all of Michaela's toys down there.
• Get Oreo set up outside for the summer...Rabbits in the house kind of smell!
• Little organizing projects - these should take about a hour each:
• clear out my computer armoire
• clean out the craft room - again
• clean and organize my dressers
• get my books organized
• finish all my filing
• organize my pantry cupboard
• organize my kitchen closet and cupboards

Once these things are done I will feel so much better and my house will be so much better to live in!!!

Well I'm heading out to help my friend do some painting and maybe get to plant a few more flowers in the garden!!

It has really been that long...

Wow I didn't realize that it has been that long since I posted...wow time sure gets away from me!

Of course I did have a trip to Disneyland in there as well, kind of an excuse.

We had an amazing time there, I just love visiting there...it is like being a kids and playing all day long!

We had a big group of us there, my two older sisters and some of their families...there were 15 of us in total!! It was so much fun and of course while we were there it was Michaela's birthday...so we had to do something different how about a Build a Bear party!!!

Things have been very busy around here since we got back. Back to school, work, getting the house in order, getting the yard in order...I'm ready for summer holidays!!!

Dreaming

We little while ago I had a post about dreams...it wasn't very positive. Some times I just like to live my day to day...not looking too far into the future (except down when I only have 8 days till Disneyland)!!

Anyway I'm feeling a bit more positive about dreams, a good friend of mine got me to admit that my dream has always been to live in a log cabin and raise chickens (yeah you can all stop laughing now)!! I know it is crazy...but there has always been a bit of me who is drawn to that lifestyle. Who knows...someday God may surprise me and haul me out into the country!!

Michaela is a bit sick today, she was snuffly and stuffy yesterday and this morning she has been a bit feverish and has thrown up a few times...we're just hanging out at home and having a jammy day (we'll I'm going to try and get the cleaning done today).

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. It was so relaxing (which is why I need to get my cleaning done today)!! She has a spot on her face so I'm being paranoid and checking her all of the time to see if it is chicken pox (or chicken pops as she calls it).

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately, I'll have to take some pictures to prove it!! I made a Cinderella costume to take to Disneyland and a Hannah Montana dress (just a regular dress in a HM print)!! I've been loving it, my sister gave me her old serger almost 2 years ago and now I'm finally using it...WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG!!! It is the best!!

Well I'd better get some chores done around here! I promise to post pictures of my sewing projects!!

Love This

I just love Mandisa and this song really speak the truth!!

Dixie Cat

Something sad happened to us last night, our little Dixie cat was hit by a car and we had to have her put down. Now Dixie was no ordinary cat...I seriously loved that cat.

There is a great story that goes with how we ended up with Dixie. Michaela and I were visiting a friend and we wanted to go to the animal shelter to look for a dog...Michaela had already decided to name this dog Dixie. So on our way to the shelter we were prayer for God to show us the dog that would be perfect for our family.

When we got to the shelter we discovered that it was closed, there was another woman there who had found a kitten at the dump and was dropping her off...the rest is as they say history...

We decided that God must have wanted us to have a Dixie cat instead of a Dixie dog. Ron was so happy when he came home from work to see this scared little kitty (Ron was a cat person...I'm the dog person).

We all loved her so much, she was the typical aloof, snobby cat...I seen a magnet that says "dogs have owners and cats have staff" this is what Dixie was like. She was a sweet cat...but she came to you to be pet...not the other way around. She knew that this was her house and she over looked everyone who came in by sitting on the railing overlooking the front door.

What makes me the most sad is she was Ron's cat, it is like losing another piece of Ron. We have such great memories of her with Ron...of course no pictures to show you.

We will miss her so much, I'm not sure I would get another cat...who are we kidding I know I will but I'm sure it will be a while.

One day I was in the kitchen and turned and seen her just sitting in the sink...like it was perfectly normal!

Last Christmas once again I was in the kitchen and she had climbed into my shelves...not sure why she went there but I think it had to do with the little fish tank on the bottom left of the picture.