EVEN PUNK ROCK GIRLS GET THE BLUES

Even well intentioned comments can hurt, and well, this last week has been a tough one. That's my excuse for being away for a week. One of the girls at work keeps commenting on my appearance, I've already been feeling ugly, since we moved my hair and skin have gone completely hay wire, and though I hope she means well, right now I don't want to hear confirmation that what has always worked isn't working any more and I can't afford to fix it right now. So I've spent the week having pep talks with myself, watching Youtube videos about "mature" skin care and makeup and trying to feel better about how I look. Normally I have pretty high self esteem, so feeling insecure about something so trivial seems to make it worse!

It's raining here today after three days over 85 degrees, and the scariest wind storm I've ever been in. I was hoping to get a pair of ruby slippers out of the deal, but no. The plants are finally getting a good, deep drink of water and the dust is settling. I have a ton of dusting to do before Ms. Jane gets here in just a couple weeks. I also went out to the Quonset today and boy...I need to do some work out there cleaning and decorating.

living room

bedroom

kitchen




I have my work cut out for me. I do love having this space for my friends and family, a place where they can stay and not feel like their under our feet and we're not in their way.

back windows

I don't think I'll need to spend much money, well, famous last words. Thanks to Ms. Jane though I wt need to buy fabric for the windows. Just a few dishes, some bar stools a couch...o.k. it's adding up! and I almost forgot, I have to stock it with Mystic Mint Cookies! for Dad!!! We got rid of so much on our last two moves, things we didn't have room for in our studio, things that we didn't think we needed, now we could use them, oh well, no use crying over it now.

Nicks latest raised bed

On the wedding front...we finally found the Basque! and no Dad it did not involve throwing a lamb in the middle of Main Street and yelling here Basquey Basquey! I can say that I'm Greek and pretty sure there is some Merino in my DNA! The Basque Club owns the train depot and we want to make sure there isn't a problem standing outside saying I DO! The flower seeds I planted for bouquets are finally coming up and the grass is really filling in nicely! I can't wait to be Mrs. Nick! To officially be Corbin and Maddy's step mother and Caydens Yia Yia! That reminds me I need to find and fill a toy box for Mr. Cayden to have at Papou's house.

Who knows, maybe my rose will be in full bloom for the wedding! I can't wait to see what color it is!  I just found out that my brother Stefan will be taking photos for the wedding! Score! Free good photographer who I can black mail to make sure I get the photos I want!! Bet you didn't think of that did you Froggy Bottom? How do you know it's right? Everything just seems to fall into place. Even my hair and skin are starting to get normal again!

Well, guess that's about all. I'm going to try and be better about posting, it makes me feel better when I do.
Have a lovely evening!
xo

MY HOW TIME FLIES

It's hard to believe that we left Portland two months ago, one day short of two months. So much has happened, it feels more like six!

In two months, we've sorted and packed all of our belongings, driven completely across the state, bought a truck, bought a house, I've gone back to work...WOW...



Both Nick and I have remembered lessons learned as children, lessons from parents and grandparents. We have truly been able to slow down a bit, relax a little, and enjoy time together.

We've seen snow that doesn't cripple a city, sunshine, and yes even rain. We've looked to the sky and seen more stars than I've seen since I was a kid on the beach.

We've seen snow covered mountains...

and majestic buttes...

it hasn't been easy...we've had our bumps...but through it all we have all been able to keep in sight what really matters most...we are together, and we are in love. We might not be rich, but who cares!

Well, it's off to work with me.
I hope your day is filled with love, wonder and beauty.

xo

BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE

We're in our new home, it's been a week today. When I look around and see the things we've done to turn it into a home, I think, wow, we've done soooo much, then I look around again and think, what have we been doing for the last week!

That "couch" and coffee table are about our only furniture at this point (we do have a bed) and trying to put things away is hard. I've been busy making curtains for every window, that's really eaten up a big chunk of my time and Nick, bless his heart (southern translation...he aint to bright) has been outside fixing the fence, and playing with shiny things.

I won't bore anyone with all the before pictures. This is the only room that is really "finished", it's the entry way. these built in shelves are just one of the things that make this house so special. I finally have a place for all my treasures...yes I'm still looking for more! even though the shelves are pretty full.

This has been my little roost since we moved in...sewing hell. Yes that stack of fabric is all of my curtains...I finally, today, got the last curtain hung.

This is the dinning room curtain, my Mom was such an amazing seamstress, decorator and was so meticulous. Those are big shoes to fill, but I'm trying! I was thinking I was done sewing for a while but no...now I'm thinking about making a stuffed chicken for the kitchen and even our Christmas stockings!

I'm feeling really guilty doing this instead of unpacking or painting my spice rack or...where to start. I'll put more of the after pictures up here tomorrow, or maybe later tonight, after we get home from the auction! Have a beautiful day and remember to tell those special people in your life how much they mean to you!

WE'RE NOT HOMLESS ANYMORE!

Our super sweet little farm house, minus the farm, and yes, that's a "damned" locust tree in the front! I'm not sure what I want more...furniture, or that tree gone! We want to replace it with a curly willow and we want our family and friends that come out for the wedding to help us plant it. What a great symbol of our life together!
                                        

If you've never bought a home let me just tell you, it's not all happy wet puppy kisses! It's a lot of phone calls, pieces of paper, trips to the bank, stress and headaches. This whole process of moving from Portland has actually given me shingles and that's no fun! It seems like every time we turn around someone has their hand out and wants more money that we were expecting to pay. Oh well, it's only money, and this is the home that we will build our best memories in. Our wedding reception in the yard, Thanksgiving, Christmas. For the first time in a long time I have a fireplace to hang stockings on, and places for at least 4 Christmas trees!!!! My G'mom(Mom's Mom) is sitting on her cloud in heaven jealous! Day off breakfasts and special dinners! I can't wait to be a real farm house wife! 

This is BRUNOTOPIA, a place where leashes and harnies are forbidden and kitty cats are like the guys in the black hats in the old western movies,and will be run right out of town before sundown! I think he's been watching way to much Daniel Boone on t.v. lately! It makes me a little nervous. Of course when he's not busy playing sheriff Matt Dillon to Nick's Festus, he'll be being Sgt. Schults! Big dog, big security! He's also convinced that the Quonset should be his dog house!

The outside of the house needs a lot of t.l.c. but the inside really only needs some cleaning and tons of furniture. So far I have named the yard and the Quonset will be called the Swamp, the house is nameless and that just won't do. If you have any suggestions please let me know, I just can't think of anything yet.

Well, if all goes well we'll be in there on Friday! No more motel! No more microwave food! No more stepping on each other!

WHY NEETIE MAE'S HAT BOX?

Nettie Mae was my great grandmother. Simple as that, she was a hard working, loving, beautiful woman who I loved and respected even though I really didn't know her that well, she passed away when I was 13, and my family might accuse me of romanticising or idealizing her life, but if I am please keep it to yourself. I didn't even know that her real first name was Nettie until this summer when my hero, my grandfather died, I knew her as Grandma Richards or Grandma. She lived in Payette Idaho, which is only about 10 miles from my new home in Ontario, and played a big part in our decision to move east(that and the fact that, in Portland Oregon we couldn't move far enough west to get away from the jerks without drowning)to the high desert.

We started planning our escape quietly in June or July. The Oregon coast sounded like heaven, I spent a very big chunk of my childhood there. Let me tell you,it's expensive and jobs are very hard to come by. Central Oregon has the same issues. We bought a big map of the state and lived with it on our kitchen wall,running over to it looking for places that had something to offer, a low cost of living, a job, low land prices, it was the same every evening around our place for quite awhile, check the map and then check the web. We fell in love with Sumter, but how to make a living? The idea of being snowed in and house bound with Nick and Bruno was beautiful, but love doesn't put food on the table. One day, while I was at work, Nick went on line and googled the company I was working for. There was a location in Bend, one in Redmond and one here in Ontario. We planned a trip out here to see what it was like in October. To say that, initially, we were underwhelmed would be an understatement, but we decided to give it a couple day to explore. Boy am I glad we did! This town is great for us, the people are friendly, the sky is blue, the town is flat and there is great coffee! So that was that, the decision was made, Ontario it is.

I gave my notice at work, we picked a date and we started packing. There were a few times when I asked myself if this was really the right thing to do. When I had those moments all I had to do was look over at Nick, I know that beside him is where I want to spend the rest of my life, and that when we work together to achieve a goal we can't fail.

So here we are, at the Ontario Inn, our temporary home, waiting to hear if our offer on our dream house is accepted. The proud owners of a newly acquired 1980 Datsan pick up truck. Two people and one dog who love each other and want to build our dream life together.