HOLY CRACKERS! ONLY TWO MONTHS LEFT!

You can't really see it well but that's a photo of our brand new fence! Mostly we need a fence around our empty lot to keep the juvenile delinquents from stomping our pumpkins, and keeping the people from cutting through our lot after making illegal purchases. We are so happy to have it up, Nick put the posts in on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday we stretched the wire, together.



Things are moving really quickly around here. With the wedding two months from today, it's a good thing! Nick and I spent the day out buying plants for the front beds. We wanted flowers that we can cut for flower arrangements for the reception.

After the tulips bloomed and wilted, the beds in the front looked horrible, the chippy paint doesn't help. After an hour or so digging, adding compost and fertilizer we finally got to start planting.

I can't wait until it all fills in!

I've already started dead heading in the hope that I'll have tons of blossoms to choose from. Since I was out cutting I thought I would bring some in to enjoy now.

The invites are almost all addressed, the final shopping lists made, the cookie list done, now to just put it all together!

Just two months from right now, Nick and I will be relaxing with our families and friends, and I will officially be Mrs. George Nicholas Reeves! Two months from today, WOW! O.K. I need to write my vows...moment of stress...what is one moment out of a lifetime of happiness?

A LITTLE EASTER MORNING PORN

I have come to expect some things to be a certain way. Like Easter for example, it should be a day of peace, relaxation and joy. A day of contemplation, a day for family. A day for...



homemade, all the way from scratch, with love in your heart and a song in your soul, cinnamon rolls! I have really been craving a good cinnamon roll, hot out of the oven, but getting up three hours before breakfast, on a holiday? Not happening!! The answer Overnight cinnamon rolls! I'm so happy I found this one! A little crunchy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, just right, and the smell. On an Easter morning, the smell of bread, sugar and cinnamon. What could be better?

A man who does the dishes! Man am I lucky! He doesn't even mind the pink curtains! Since we've moved things have changed, Nick is still stressed, but not like he was in Portland, he's not nearly as angry. I'm not as stressed either. We get to spend more time together doing "normal" couple things, like the dishes or puttering in the yard. We talk more, about the future, the past, mistakes and blessings.

We laugh more. We decided to spend our lives together because we enjoy each others company, in Portland we didn't really have much time to enjoy, we were both so exhausted from just trying to get by. Here, well, I can only speak for myself but I've fallen in love with this big silly goof ball all over again. Nick and I don't really argue, we don't always agree but, life is too short to worry about little stuff like the toilet seat or the cap on the toothpaste or dirty clothes on the bathroom floor or clutter on the table. Maybe it's because we have both been in "bad" relationships or maybe, because we found each other later in life, I'm not sure, I do know that, all my life I have wanted a relationship like my Mom and Dad's and now that I've found it I'm going to hold on to it, and appreciate it.

It's a beautiful day in Ontario and I think I might just go plant some seeds. Maybe I'll just go sit in the yard with Bru and enjoy another cinnamon roll, oh and work on wedding plans.

Happy Easter-
xo

A VERY GOOD DAY INDEED

I don't have to work today. It's a good thing too, I spent ten plus hours in the salon yesterday, had my big six month review with corporate (keep in mind I've been there 2 weeks) and it's spring break here, so I also had to cut a bunch of hair.



The QSR, as we call them, went just like I thought it would, no surprises for me, I know what needs to be done, the owner of the salon however thought that it was unfair and biased, and made me feel as though she holds me responsible for her low score. What ever. I've promised myself I'm not going to worry about it.

Nick decided to take my mind off of it by suggesting we go look at the Ontario State Recreation Area, we have been thinking it would be a good place for our wedding ceremony, I think he really just wanted to see if it would be a good place to fish but, whatever his motives it sounded like a good idea, and it's really nice today.

He went to drop off a couple of resumes and run a couple errands before we left, so I jumped in the shower and got dressed. That sweet man did something very unexpected, he stopped at the grocery and picked up some things for a picnic!

Smoked salmon, cheese, crackers ,strawberries, Mexican pastries and sodas! It was just what I needed! We sat and relaxed, talked about the wedding, talked about our grandson, watched Bru try to act like a civilized dog, all bets are off when it comes to cheese and salmon! It was a beautiful time! I love my two boys so very much, they know just how to make me feel better!

Have you ever wanted to cry because you were happy, but known that if you did the person that was making you happy might misunderstand and think it's his fault somehow that your upset? I've needed a good cathartic cry for a while and just haven't been able to get there.


 I think that I just might go lie down and do that, not because I'm sad but because life is so beautiful!

And because I'm so lucky!

Well, that's all for now. I hope someone you love does something to make you cry tears of joy!

Have a great day!
xo

p.s. remember to enter the giveaway:) you can find details in my last blog!

LIFE, MUSIC AND ROCKS

I should be glad all of this is happening now. It could be a week before my wedding! Now my reception in the back yard can be as beautiful as I hoped it will be, I hope.

My kitchen knobs are finally finished and on the cabinets! I think that once I make a few bright dish towels, and re-frame some art work I can call the kitchen finished! So that's two rooms done, the entry and the kitchen. Guess the next room will be the dinning room.

Having great taste and little money makes decorating a home a challenge. I just keep plugging away with what I have and keeping my eyes open for the things I want. I love this china hutch. The color of the wood is so warm, and it has the original glass knobs. I don't really like the stark white wall, not sure what the final solution will be. I keep looking to my fellow bloggers for inspiration. There is so much beauty out there.

Nick finally blessed our new home with music today! He pulled out his old Yamaha and played for about an hour, I can't even get upset that I was trying to take a nap when he did it, it was so nice to hear! Even with all the digging and his hands being so sore. I love when a house is full of love and music, it makes a house feel like home.

My rock painting project started today, finally. I only have a week of freedom from the job type work left. I start back to cutting hair next Saturday, so I want to get as many things done around here as I can.

Hope you all are having a beautiful Saturday, and thank you for spending part of it with me!

IT'S NOT HAVING WHAT YOU WANT...IT'S WANTING WHAT YOU'VE GOT

From that title you might think I'm a big Cheryl Crow fan...I'm not! That being said, there is alot of wisdom in those words. It's Sunday, and I guess I'm feeling a little reflective. I don't have all the things I want but, I do really love everything I've got. Our "new" house is old. Built in 1930 it's 6 years older than the post office here, and I swear there is dust that has been here at least that long, it's a little cold here sometimes, the heater is newer than the house but, it's still old, it works just fine. My house is strong...guess that's how I would describe it, and I think it's happy to be loved!

Bruno and Nick are both second hand as well. If you know us at all, you know that our silly little family is more important to us than anything! The three of us, Miss Jane, Papou, Papa Lee, Brother Corbin, Sister Maddy, Baby Cayden, and Parker. Bruno would also like to add crazy Leo and Brody the pit tank. There is no order of importance there, our family would not be whole with out any of them. I never thought I would be a grandma, I never had kids of my own, but, even though we aren't married yet Nick's two amazing kids are mine, and that little boy Cayden will only ever know that he is the luckiest in the world to have so many grandmas to love him! I couldn't be prouder of my weird little family!




We've been so busy loving this property, getting to know it and trying to put it together. It's sort of strange, when you take on a project like this, knowledge just sort of jumps in your head. I can't tell you how many times I've sat down to sew only to have my Mom whisper an easy or better way to do something. Or out shopping my Gamom will point me to a better deal that ends up working out better or Gapop helping me see the potential in the things we already have. It's happening to both of us. Nick has the fence project pretty much finished and has managed to reuse just about everything. Now he's on to composting bins with the left overs. He's threatenin to build a worm box like his grandfather had.

 

I've had this clock and crate for a very long time and never really loved them until now! Three bottles of .59 cent Jo-Ann's craft paint and a little time and now I have a spice rack and clock that I love that fits right in with my sweet shop kitchen. I keep having these visions of Cayden running into the kitchen to swipe a cookie, or more likely, me handing him one with the words" DON'T TELL YOUR MAMA!"



                                        

Wow! I just realized...not only do I want what I have...I have what I want!!

Have a beautiful Sunday!

SUNNY DAYS AND COUNTRY DATES

AHHH...A nice sunny spot for the Bru! He loves hanging out in Brunotopia. Nick has been so busy trying to expand the boarders of Bruno's kingdom, and the army of one has succeeded!!

O.K. we know the place needs to be painted...and yes we have a plan...even if we don't get to the painting won't it be cute with window boxes across the front? Maybe one of my Mom's favorite flowers...nasty urchins...or as most of us call them nasturtiums.

The garage is my favorite building on the property. So rustic and charming, and it isn't ready to fall down like so many old out buildings you see! I am so blessed to have this place, and my two guys! I've only known two men besides Nick who are as hard working...my Daddy and my Ga'pop... Guess I have to add Nick's dad Lee to that list...we have a plumbing project to take care of today and I know Nick wishes his dad was here to help. Boy do we have a long list of projects for Lee when he gets here!!!!

I want to finish my spice rack project as well as my favorite clock. Hopefully we can go get at least one dresser so we can at least get our clothes put away--Nick was just putting things away in the fridge thinking how much he was hurting when he nailed his head on the fridge door! His comment? "Now I really hurt from the tips of my toes to the top of my head!". -We had a country date last night, we went to the auction preview, that was a bust, then we went to dinner which was not a bust! WINGERS, good food, good service, really a nice time, and with out the Bru! After dinner Nick really had something special for me...KMART! He really knows how to show a girl a good time!!

Well, I'm feeling guilty just sitting here doing this...guess I should put one last coat on the spice rack so I can get it hung up...then maybe organize the laundry! Have a great day!!!

MIRACLES, BLESSINGS,PATIENCE AND TIGHT SPACES

That Little speck is the moon! Almost full, that was a couple nights ago, I might not be in Montana but the sky here is huge and full of stars. We go out every night together, Nick, Bruno and I, so Bru can potty before bed, and every night I look up at the stars and realize that I never saw the moon so big or the stars so bright in Portland. One of many miracles I've recently experienced. Our whole adventure has been peppered with them. Doors that we didn't even know were doors have opened just when we needed them to, things that have caused us stress before our move have resolved themselves just in time, we've met the right people, been n the right places and, for a change, been aware of whats been going on around us. I wouldn't say I'm a christian, most of the people who claim to be really need to look up the definition of that word, but I do believe in God, and I try to live my life in a truly christian manner. That being said I really didn't much believe in miracles, I can now say without reservation that small miracles do happen!

I don't know if it's the way I was raised or what but I do count my blessings every day. Some days are harder to to pare down to just a handful and some days it's hard to come up with 3. Two everyday blessings, my top two, are my two boys, Nick and Bru, they make me laugh, make me smile, support and love me every single day. I am so very lucky to have both of them in my life. My future Mother In Law, Ms. Jane is another constant blessing. I lost my Mom to lung cancer in 1997 and learned that a Mom has a very special place in a persons life. That place, which is a huge one, was very empty for a very long time, and then Nick decided we were serious enough that I should talk to his Mom. Ms. Jane, from that first phone call has treated me like a daughter. She has given me so much love. Some times blessings, like miracles, are disguised. Like the three of us living in a studio apartment for a year and a half. I don't honestly think that if we hadn't gone through that we could get along as well as we do in our tiny temporary home.



the Ontario Inn, our home for now

our tiny little room

This has actually brought us even closer together. The stress of buying a home, the hurry up and wait, the uncertainty of whether an offer will be accepted, all of those things can take a toll on the strongest relationships. For us, it has the opposite effect. Since there really isn't much to do right now we go for walks, we explore our new town, we plan the rest of our life and we wait for the phone to ring. Being new in town seems to give some people the idea that we can be taken advantage of. Of course I don't know that for sure and I don't want to look at everyone in that way but I am aware human nature, I think that's Portland talking, Portland where the golden rule was re-written: Do unto others before they can do it to you. Guess I'm still a little shell shocked.

I just need to remind myself that the world is a wondrous place and that everything happens for a reason. Our first offer on our house was not accepted, but we have agreed with the seller on a price, just so long as the furnace checks out. Our room is cozy and warm. We have only had three overcast days since we got here on January 31st. None of us have had any serious run ins with  the "damned" locust trees, ask any of the locals, they all call them the "damned" locust trees.

one of the "damned" locust trees



The same can not be said of the Russian Olive trees. At least we now know what they are, and more importantly, where they are. I would suggest giving those a wide birth. We are a little closer to having our dream house.

I can't wait to start decorating our new home, cooking again and getting back to normal. I think blueberry pancakes should be our first breakfast.