Of course he did.

Jonah and the gloves

The Tale of a Dog, a Cat and a House

We were looking for Jonah's orange stacking ring and we found the camera under the couch. Yipee!

Hmmm.... maybe I should clean more?

So here are some promised pictures:

Angel, our new dog. She is not going to respond to Ranger... ever.

My Swap project... This is Lillian relaxing on the swing outside.

This is the carnage it took me to get to Lillian. Four pairs of gloves. Sheesh!

This is the outside of the house....

And Jonah's room (pre-carpet! Please come soon Mr. Carpet Guy!).
Notice the nicely dyed curtains?

And the kitchen (pre-walls and cabinets)

And the Living Room... uh, post-Hurricane Jonah.

Our Room... uh, maybe later.

As you can see we are still a work in progress. Many things are.

****

Kitchen Update:
After searching EBay and finding no cheap resale on the Ikea pieces we are thinking of making a trip to Frisco Texas for a minivacation to the Ikea store and maybe a baseball game. Hopefully we'll have a more functional kitchen by the time my family comes to visit.

This will also give us the opportunity to caulk, insulate and seal the house up so we can spread a little Boric Acid around while we're gone to kill any scorpions around. We've seen two in the house and Josh is pretty freaked out.

plotting the kitchen

So last night I found Ikea's freestanding kitchen units. Check the link out if you want to look at the pieces- very affordable and modern (this thrills Josh who aspires to be modern but is way too much of a clutterbug). I was concerned that the pieces would not be well-built or would be chintzy so I did some research and found City Mama's blog in which she chronicles the installation of a new kitchen. Not only is her blog well written and entertaining, but I can sympathize with her final installment on the kitchen (moving right after you get it the way you want it stinks).

Best of all, she installed the very same Ikea freestanding pieces that I wanted to use!!! This means we can finish the walls later (we're insulating this week) and just move the furniture back later. It should also make it easier to clean (ha! I hope no one believes that's my top priority! Like I have time!)

So tonight I used Ikea's room planner (nifty tool!) and worked out the kitchen's layout. It's actually goin got cost several hundred dollars less than I thought since our kitchen is quite a bit smaller than I thought.

So here is the view standing in the living room. The half wall behind the stove and workspace is invisible.
If anyone knows any reason we should not buy Ikea, please tell me about it because we are feeling inclined to go to Texas this weekend with the trailer and pick up the 4 pieces we would need to finish it off. After we check ebay, that is.

Falling in love

Many new things going on...

We can't find the camera and suspect that Jonah (yes! blame it on the now mobile baby!) has hidden it in a box.

We got a dog. She's a very sweet collie shepherd mix. She's black all over with white paws. Her name is (blech!) Angel. We're trying to convince her that her name is Ranger. I don't think it's going to work.

We ordered carpet for Jonah's room today. It's going to be pricey but we have to spend some money sometime. They said they would try to be out next week.

We've been talking about getting the kitchen started as soon as the electrical is taken care of, so I've been looking at designs. I stumbled on the wonderful world of Ikea today. I'm in love with these.

Isn't Jonah cute? We really are having a very good summer, even if the unpacking and organizing is going far slower than I would like. I've got a folder full of pictures and articles from magazines of things to do to the house. *sigh*

As for my last post, things are getting better. For a while there it was just a mass of glove carnage- fingers everywhere and stuffing fuzzing up the place. I have the form completely sewn together. It's actually in the wash right now (don't ask) and I have picked out the buttons to use for the eyes. I have several bags of old buttons somewhere- who knows where- and I picked two out from a bag I could find. Hopefully this will come out better than I think it is going to at this moment. I realized today that I have some cosmetic surgery I will need to do to the ears after it gets out of the dryer. I'll post some pics after I finish it and find my camera.

I know I have yet to post pictures of the house, but I really will soon. After I clean up and find my camera.

#302: Craft Swap update.

5 pairs of gloves later, I think I can get it right this time.

number 301

I missed it! I can't believe that I've posted 300 + times and I didn't even notice until tonight. This calls for a bowl of ice cream!

Duhn Duhn Duhn!!

Okay, the only drama here has to do with getting the little monkey to sleep at night. By himself. All night. Without me. I swear he slept through the night at three months.

Anyway, before i even read the comments after my last post I went to Barnes and Noble and bought Elizabeth Pantley's book. So far... well, it been okay. Jonah isn't really into doing the same thing in a predictable pattern. If I bob he weaves. He's so like his father. He does much better one day, only to decide to wake up an hour or two early the next. Strange child!

Anyway...

Things are good here at Camp Watson. We installed a screen door today. I say "We"- HA!
Josh installed the door, I painted it (badly). We've been mowing regularly, but the hot and humid summer is prime for ticks and fleas. Fortunately we haven't gotten fleas. Our adopted stray dog is occasionally helping me clean out my fridge and will come within 25 feet of me now. I can't help but fed her. I'm afraid she'll starve to death otherwise.
Josh saw an owl in the trees last night and we stalked it until we made it fly off into a less lit area of our yard. There are all sorts of birds. Josh saw a hawk swoop down and catch another bird the other day, and I like to catch the many cardinals arguing with one another.

I was hanging out the laundry today and appreciating the solitude. My monkey was asleep and grasshoppers were skittering away as I walked through the yard. It was hot but I felt like I was getting things done. This is why the bible tells us to work hard, live quiet lives and mind our own business.

...but she's not there!

Yes I am!! I'm just a little unavailable for a while.

A few things:
1. My phone number is changing for the first time in 5 years. If you want my new number please either give me a ring or drop me an e-mail or a comment and I'll call you with it. I won't have a cell phone anymore- just a house phone-and we don't actually have a phone for the house yet, so we won't cancel my cell until we get the chance to go to Wally World and get one.

2. Our house closed and we are in it. Anyone who wants to visit should see the instructions above pertaining to my phone number and follow them as well. We don't have drywall in the kitchen- or cabinets for that matter- but we are more than willing to have a few visitors.

3. We should also have internet service at the house by the end of next week (everyone cross your fingers) so I'll post pictures and videos aplenty when that happens.

4. I may have a performance and workshop coming up soon!

5. Starbucks plays some weird music.

6. Anyone with tips on how to get a small boy to sleep through the night without waking 4 to 5 times and without screaming his head off (sorry, I'm not a cry-it-out kind of girl) please see above instructions pertaining to the phone number and send tips. Please.

7. OH!!! I almost forgot!!!!!!!!! If you are really wanting to participate int he coolest ever craft swap, go to Laura's blog and beg her to allow you to participate, since the deadline was last friday. She hasn't sent out the swap partners just yet, so maybe she will take pity on you and let you join!!!

The end