Ruby Roo

 Ruby Roo came into our life suddenly.  My daughter had been looking on the shelter website and there she was.  I had never had a dog.  Our family had never had a dog.  I remember feeling nervous about it but there was something about her and so the next morning, we went to the shelter and brought her home.  She spent the whole trip home standing between the two front seats and licking my husband and I.  When she got to our house, she claimed the leather recliner as her own.  How could we say no?

She was two years old when we met her.  We had her in our lives for nine.  She helped my son overcome his fear of dogs.  She slept with my kids.  She made us laugh.  She frustrated us at times.  She was an awful leash walker.  She loved snow.  She didn't really care for the beach or the lake.  She ran away from our home three times but only because she wanted to explore.  We forgave her when we found her trotting along with a big smile on her face.  On the first day in our new house, she pooped in our bedroom.  She loved going to Auntie Tracy's house when we went on vacation.  She was needy and anxious and begged for treats from our neighbor.  She was there for us when we felt sad.  She ran fast and chased squirrels.  She chased a chipmunk out of our basement once.  She snuggled with us.  She listened to us.  She loved us deeply even we when were ugly.  It's the reason, I believe, that dog spelled backwards is god.

And so she left us almost as suddenly as she entered our lives.  I know she's not in pain anymore but I'm struggling with the decision to put her down.  We all miss her terribly.  The house is incredibly quiet.  There were days when I couldn't stand the sound of her nails on the floor and now I wish I could.  We still catch ourselves locking the garbage can in the kitchen.  I catch myself thinking I forgot to let her out one more time before bed.  I swear I hear her whining at the bottom of the stairs for me.  I swore I saw her come to the fence the other day when I came home from work.  I guess all that will change with time.  I'll be able (someday) to look at pictures of her without crying.

She was a wonderful little soul.  Everyone who met her, loved her.  She was gentle and loved unconditionally.  She brought us joy and comforted us when we were sad.  We'll never forget her.  We are thankful for what she gave us.

Bedroom Paint

Here's the bedroom.  I've always considered this space my cocoon.  Now that it has some color including some darker shades, I absolutely spend more time here.  I have some trim to install and want to take the drop ceiling out but for now, I'm happy with this victory.  

Bathroom Paint

We've been living in a blah white bedroom and bathroom for almost six years now.  I've finally gotten the motivation to paint them.  They were challenging because the walls (most of them) are bead board so getting paint into all those grooves sucks.  There are some little things to touch up on but for the most part it's done.

New Living Room Artwork

So I've been trying to conquer some home improvement projects this winter.  Plus I feel the need to tap into my creative nature.  It makes me happy and relaxed and forces me to be mindful of my own life.  I needed new wall art.  I kept seeing things I liked but couldn't justify the price.  So that's when I went to work on my own art.  Pinterest is marvelous if you need to get inspired.  I saw this pattern and practiced drawing it like a hundred times on paper.  I drew these with chalk first and then went over that with metallic permanent marker.  Any chalk still on the canvas just wipes off.  Then I used craft paint for the inside feather detail.  

Looking at this shot, I realize I want to hang them closer together.  The art I had there before was larger.  Or maybe I need to try my hand at making some wood frames...hmmm.  

Beautiful Icy Place

We really do live in a beautiful place.

Someone else feels the same.  They sanded the beaten icy path down to the beach so everyone can enjoy what I did.

Summer Is

Summer is...
Sand on the floor
Hand and dog nose prints on the front door
The smell of grill smoke
Waves
Flowers
Tree shade
Roller coasters
Beer
A long-awaited thunderstorm
Swimsuits and beach towels hanging on railings and doorknobs
Bikes
Beach fires

Another Birthday, Girl-Woman

My daughter is 17 today.  I know I sound like every parent but where DOES the time go?  I looked through pictures this morning to put a Facebook collage together and it was like watching a movie of the last 17 years in fast forward.  It's all good though.  Life doesn't stop.

She's so close to starting a new big chapter of her life and she's chomping at the bit.  I remember it well; I was the same way.  I spent lots of time when I was her age dreaming of life after high school.

I wonder what her wish was today.  I hope she gets all her wishes.  I hope she doesn't spend all of her time waiting for the next chapter but instead lives in the moment...every moment.

Beach Bum

For the first time in nine years, I have taken vacation in August.  Like the middle of August.  It's so foreign to me.  In my previous job, we weren't allowed to take time off from mid-July through Labor Day because we were so busy.  I learned to just deal with it but in the back of my mind I always hated it.  It always felt like work stress kept me from enjoying half of my summer.  Our summer season up north is so short to begin with.

So when I started my new job, all I could think about was how different my summers were going to be.  I made sure to ask for time off both in July and August.  It has been wonderful.  Today, I went down to the beach at 10:30 in the morning...on a work day...in the middle of August.  So great!  I was alone, the water was calm, the sun was bright.  I had my favorite chair and a new book to read and I was in absolute heaven.

I am a beach bum.  Always have been.  I love sitting with my feet in the sand and reading.  And it's almost spiritual, the feeling of getting warmed up in the sun and then dunking in the ice cold water of the lake.  It recharges me.  It takes away stress and makes me feel like everything's going to be okay.

Summer Blooms...Finally!

I always look forward to spring/summer but it was especially so this year.  We had such a blustery, cold winter that felt like it would never end.  I'm so glad to see the yard come alive.

Oh! To Be a Stay-At-Home Mom

I had to call in to work today.  My son is sick, which is rare.  He's not quite old enough (in my opinion) to be left home alone when he's sick unlike my high school daughter.  It was quiet in the house.  My husband at work, my daughter at school and my son sleeping with the dog.  I had a thought.  This could have been my life everyday if I had the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom.  I could have this quiet every morning before starting my daily routine.  I would have time to scramble eggs for my kids in the morning if they wanted them.  I wouldn't have to call my boss when my son was home sick from school. 

It's the quilt and occasional resentment I deal with as a working mom.  My husband and I were never in a financial position to make that an option years ago.  Plus, I think as a child of divorced parents, I have always felt the need to have my own job just in case things ever went sour in my own marriage.  My mom was a stay-at-home mom and I watched her go out in the world and look for work when I was in middle school, preparing to be a single mom.  She said to me once, "Always have a skill.  Always have a way to make your own money."  Partially words of wisdom to her young daughter and partially kicking herself in hindsight.  Maybe it was then that I realized I would be a working mom out of fear of depending on someone else.  Who knows.  I just know that as a grown women looking back, I would have liked to have had the choice to stay at home.  Avoid the guilt and occasional resentment as a working mom.

Ultimately, though, your kids have a path in life either way.  They are destined to do certain things and make certain choices whether or not you had time to scramble eggs in the morning for them.  My mom was a stay-at-home mom to my sister and I and a working mom to my younger brother later in life.  We all turned out pretty great.  We've all made our way into the world and made our choices and live our own lives happily.  I have said in the past that home is a verb.  It's what you do within the walls you live that matters most.  You can raise great kids in a shack or mansion; as a working mom or a stay-at-home mom; as a strict or liberal parent.  It's about doing what's best and or necessary for your family.

Photo courtesy of Lina Blair

A New Chapter

I just cannot believe the zen in my personal life right now.  I'm not bragging; I'm just in pleasant disbelief and wonder!  Since my husband and I moved on to different jobs, we have experienced so much more peace in our home.  We aren't as negative.  We don't bring work home like we used to.  We are nicer to each other.  We're more affectionate.  I knew our previous jobs caused us stress (job stress is always present) but I didn't realize the enormity of it until we did something different.

Oh, don't be fooled.  We still have problems to face and deadlines to meet and kids to corral but without the added stress we had previously, we just face them with lighter hearts and without hyperventilating.  I'm just happy and thankful for the change.

New Xmas Wreath

I made these last year for my mom and sister but I wanted one too so here we go.

My Weekend With Me

Every year, or almost every year, my family leaves for the weekend to go hunting.  I get hounded by my husband to go along to visit family because he loves all of us being together but I selfishly decline.  I LOVE a weekend alone with myself.  Don't get me wrong.  Love my husband.  Loves my kids.  But I love myself too and sometimes I need to nurture my soul.  A big bed to myself.  No supper time rush after work.  I can listen to my music and watch my shows on TV.  I can visit with my friends or check in on my grandparents.  The point is, I can do whatever I want to do minus a need-to list shuffled in the mix.

So during my marvelous weekend I:

Friday
* Left work early cuz my boss said I could (bonus!)

* Spontaneously met my dear friend for a few beers and great conversation

* Slept in the middle of my bed with no fan on (hubby always has to have it on) and the window wide open

Saturday
* Sat on the beach and watched the sunrise with my dog

* Raked some leaves

* Changed the air filter and the brake light on my car

* Went shopping and FINALLY bought myself a pair of tall black boots and a pair of running shoes

* Visited my grampa, aunt, and cousin.  Stayed for supper.

* Listened to some music and sang loud with the windows open

* Made popcorn and watched a movie on Netflix

Sunday
* Made cinnamon rolls

* Took a walk with my dog in the woods

* Drank a glass of wine and watched an episode of Revenge

* Went for a long bike ride

* Drank another glass of glass of wine and watched more Revenge

* Sent an email to my supervisor and told her I would be late to work in the morning (she knew this might happen; it's not from the wine!)

I am refreshed and recharged.  Life.  Is.  Good.

Cooking Marathon

So I got it in my head that since the weather was not so great I would cook all day.  Maybe because I had just watched an episode of Rachael Ray's Week in One Day.  Surprisingly, I don't feel that wiped out.  Even better, I don't have to cook for the next few days.

Double batch  of banana bread

Macaroni and cheese

Mini  turkey meatloaves

Pasty pie

I have cooked, cleaned dishes, and blogged.  Now I can rest.  Hopefully there's a good movie on tonight!

Salt-n-Peppa

I couldn't pass this by over the weekend.  Nesting doll salt and pepper shakers on clearance.

My Wee One is 10...

Our youngest is 10.  Wah.....Like all parents we wonder where the time has gone.  We had a birthday party for him and brought the gang down to the park where we hadn't been in a couple years.  It brought back a ton of memories of when both our kids were little.  We were at that park at least three times a week back then.  We felt a little out of place today, watching all the new parents there.  On the days when your kids are being weenies, you may question your decision to ever have kids.  But when you are at the park like we were today, those weenie days seem impossible.  In fact, you regret the weenie days altogether.

To-Do List Follow-Up

Let's see how I did, shall we?...

1. Grocery shop with reusable bags instead of getting plastic ones (CHECK)
2. Collect branches for a craft I'm working on
3. Start a cork project (CHECK)
4. Make invitations for Garret's birthday (CHECK)
5. Take pictures for Garret's birthday party scavenger hunt (CHECK)
6. Buy boots for Kalen (CHECK)
7. Make flag for information picket (CHECK)
8. Bring a load of yard crap to the compost (CHECK)

Branches just didn't happen.  It was rainy and cold most of the time.  I will have to wait for dryer weather.  But all in all I'm glad I completed most of my list.  Here's the cork project I completed.

A little cork board strip.  I found this strip of trim in my garage.  I stained it then attached the corks with hot glue.  Some of the rubbery corks didn't like the hot glue so I used tacky glue for them.  Pretty easy.  

To-Do List For My Long Weekend

I have a 4-day weekend coming up.  Woohoo! 

Here's my to-do list.  Afterwards, I will post on how well I did.

1. Grocery shop with reusable bags instead of getting plastic ones
2. Collect branches for a craft I'm working on
3. Start a cork project
4. Make invitations for Garret's birthday
5. Take pictures for Garret's birthday party scavenger hunt
6. Buy boots for Kalen
7. Make flag for information picket
8. Bring a load of yard crap to the compost

Wish me luck!

Finished Projects...Well Almost.

I am determined to keep this old spider plant alive.  My old neighbor gave it  to me.  I'm trying to root it so though it might look nice in here while it's growing roots.  I put some corks in the top to keep it centered and in the water.

My bottle cap mirror is done.  Just have to get a piece of mirror for the center but the hard part is done.   Thanks to all my friends and family for drinking so much  :) 

Found this frame at Vinnies.  I was planning on making it a wine cork board but I would have to collect corks for the next 10 years!  So it got a couple coats of chalkboard paint instead. 

View From the Hammock

We had lots of rain this weekend.  So you can imagine how great it felt to wake up to nothing but sunshine and blue skies.  Enjoyed coffee and breakfast outside.  A walk with the hubby, a walk with the dog, a bike ride with my son, and steaks on the grill.  Somewhere between coffee and the walk with my hubby, I enjoyed the view from the hammock.