Cowboy Town

Usually in January the STP and I have a one night get-a-way.  We do a little planning and organizing and take a break from the ordinary.  This year we reserved a suite in a swanky downtown hotel.    In the historic section of the downtown.  Downtown Dodge City.

 

This place is quaint.  And cute.  And fun.

 Like maybe Miss Kitty and the Marshall slept here.



And got mail here.

The STP and I got a rock in our mailbox.  Perfect. 

Because we had a suite, we did not have to wait in line behind any desperadoes to use the water closet.

And there were no shoot outs on the roof while we were there.  Just a quiet relaxing overnight.

Marshal Matt Dillon: You're looking pretty tonight, Kitty. 
Kitty Russell: How is it you never tell me that in the daytime? 

We had lunch downstairs before we headed home.  The advantage of staying three blocks from home?  Minimum travel time.

43

Everyone Should Have A Birthday

The STP helped me celebrate my birthday.  By helping me cross something off the nonresolutionlist.  Last week he traveled to the big city and returned with a paint sprayer.  I will have to wait until the weather gets nicer to try it out.  I think the first project could be the fence that did not get painted in the summer of '12.  And then the possibilities are endless.

31

 Today the STP helped me move some furniture.  I promised you this big reveal last summer.  The Slovakian Princess helped me paint a garage sale find peg board for my sewing craft area.

I paid three dollars for this.  I thought the STP could use it above his workbench in the garage.  It leaned on the workbench for a year.  The STP did not find it useful.

So the Princess and I re appropriated it.




And, of course re painted it.  Like a giant paint chip.
(Naming my own paint colors--priceless.)

Later last summer the STP bought a little desk/table.  Which I just recently repainted using the same quart of imperial yellow paint.  Sorry there are no before pictures of this table.  It was a stained a dark brown.
Here is a 'during' picture.  Yellow paint requires a lot of coats.

And  before and after pictures of the sewing craft area.

Some details:

Happy green chair.  I am on the look out for the perfect paper or fabric to decoupage into the bottom of the table drawer.  Just for fun.

This one's for me.  (Always good to have Barry Manilow in your corner.)  Sing it, Barry.

A few wall lizards, and a little chalkboard.  The green clock was a gift from a friend.  I keep it set one hour ahead.  That way I gain an hour whenever I come upstairs.  One of my most genius crafting ideas to date, 

So to the STP for helping me out today I just want to say:

As an aside, the STP moved the drafting table to the attic.  As he came back down and was turning around, the invisible Santa was sitting there looking at him.  Guess Santa will be around a while longer.

A Right Jolly Old Elf

Several days after the Goob carried all the Christmas things back to the attic, I turned around to find this two and a half foot tall wooden Santa with the stump of a pipe held tight in his teeth standing in my dining room.  (Clearly he has some kind of magic since he was able to make himself invisible when I was gathering all the Christmas things together and checking the place twice to make sure I didn't miss anything.)  Truly, I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.  Chances that the Goob is planning another trip to the attic anytime soon are slim, so I am thinking of letting Santa hang around till next Christmas. Do you think anyone will notice?

DIY

You haven't heard much about our bathroom/bedroom redo, because I have been trying to control my tongue (which as James says is a restless evil, full of deadly poison).  Plus, because it is the slowest redo in the world, there is not much to report.  And because we just might qualify for an episode of Do it Yourself Disasters, we can't reveal much before the episode airs.

The STP, ever the optimist, really believed we could do this ourselves.  And he has held to that belief for six months.  I believe the optimism gene may be closely linked to the procrastination gene.

 I am married to man who endeavors to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  Clearly, though, he is more theologian than carpenter.

Still, I have learned new things.  Like how to replace an electrical socket.   I was wearing a head lamp (which is as flattering to me as a hat, thus I had to edit it out of the picture). I used a pliers and a screwdriver.  
TA DA!!







I also cheered the STP on while we mitered things.  With our miter saw.

This is our last corner. 

 We were pretty much pros at this point.

Now I'm thinking that we don't have enough material for an episode of DIY Disasters. 

I believe we have the makings of an entire season.

Number 22

Ah, the baby afghan.

When I worked at the slightly bigger than itty bitty health care facility, I had a lot of down time that I filled with mindless knitting projects.  Baby afghans were the perfect thing.  Not too big. Not a lot of counting.  Easy to get rid of.  Then two things happened.  #1.  I started this baby afghan with a pattern that I hated.  #2.  I got a new job that did not involve long hours of down time.  Thus this half finished baby afghan languished in a blue bag for nearly two years.

Until I rediscovered it, added it to the non-resolution list, and FINISHED IT!  Sadly, I did not have a baby available to try it on, so I had to settle for trying it on a chair.

I still am not in love with this afghan.  But I am loving having it DONE. And loving crossing the first thing off the 2013 non resolution list.  (I have added number 48 to the list:  Enter something in the county fair, so this might be the proverbial two bird afghan.)

22

If Refrigerators Could Sing

Some Flu for You

Right after I become a big game wildlife photographer, I will perfect my microscopy photography skills.
Until then, here is another peek into the (fluorescent) microscope through the point and shoot.







While the press has just joined the 'flu is newsworthy, epidemic, deadly scary' bandwagon, I have known for weeks.  Because I have seen it up close.
The red cells are normal.  The green fluorescent ones are infected with Influenza B virus.

Should'a got your flu shot.

Little Boxes, Little Victories

Came home from work to find Christmas boxes in the big room.  (And the Goob is still speaking to me.)

And now there is an empty spot where the tree has been for almost a month.

What used to be there?

This week in the newspaper there was an ad placed by the 'meanest mom in Wyoming' who was selling her 16 yr old son's truck because he had been picked up for underage drinking.  I pointed it out to the Goob, so he would know I am not the meanest mom in Wyoming.  Pretty sure he just thought I am worse than that--he doesn't even have a truck.

O Christmas Tree,

O Christmas tree,
You must go back in boxes.

Asked the Goob a couple of times to bring the boxes back down from the attic so Christmas can be packed away.  He has not complied.
Today before I go to work, I will carry his laptop to the attic.
I tell you this for two reasons.
1.  If the Goob asks you where his computer may be, go ahead and tell him.  Where. And why.
2.  If I forget that I put the Goob's computer in the attic with the Christmas boxes, someone should have this information. Thanks for looking out for me.

2013 Non-Resolutions

2010   2011   2012 New year's resolutions:
1. Lose weight
2.  Organize photos
For the past several years I have not needed to make any New Year's Resolutions.  I just change the date at the top of the list.

But this year, buoyed by Amidala's success and inspired by Meg's list, I decided to make my own list of non-resolutions.  Things I would like to do in 2013.  And since their lists were as long as their years, I will likewise list 54 things I would like to do in 2013.  While this may seem daunting at first, I think it will work well, since I might actually accomplish something on the list.

1.  List 54 things to do in 2013.
2.  Finish the bathroom redo.
3.  Put the bedroom back together.
4.  Paint the kitchen.
5.  Read 12 books.
6.  Take a multivitamin daily.
7.  Finish memorizing James.
8.  Paint the little dresser.
9.  Kayak with the STP.
10.  Kayak with friends.
11.  Sister's weekend.
12.  Glacier Nat'l Park
13.  Jackson
14.  Get a mammogram.
15.  Visit the gynecologist.
16.  Eat 5 fruits/vegetables a day.
17.  Call my Mom and Dad once a week.
18.  Organize my recipes.
19.  Organize my addresses.
20.  Organize the photos.  (Bwah ha ha)
21.  Spend time with Nick and Claire.
22.  Finish the baby afghan.
23.  Buy something on eBay.
24.  Yard sale an awesome piece of furniture.
25.  Make at least one big red deer moose.
26.  Make new pine cone Christmas decorations.
27.  Plan a trip to Hawaii.
28.  Give to the Tarahumara.
29.  Have a party on the patio.
30.  Ride my bike 100 miles.
31.  Get a paint sprayer.
32.  Run a 5k.
33.  Crochet around a rock.
34.  Make some Christmas gifts.
35.  Reread Harry Potter series.
36.  Rewatch Ann of Green Gables.
37.  Go ice fishing at night.
38.  Tie some flies.
39.  See big horn sheep.
40.  Try something new.
41.  Finish the north rock bed.
42.  Grow something exotic in the SFG.
43.  Spend a night at the Historic Greybull Hotel.
44.  Have dinner guests once a month.
45.  Put music on my  ipod.
46.  Take pictures off my camera.
47.  Think of eight more things.
48.  Spend a weekend with my BFF from highschool
49.  Hang out with my Maid-of-Honor
50.  Cowboy boots
51.  Montana Women's Run
52.  Finish painting fence
53.  Make a treacle tart
54.  Photo with a road side wonder

Kindred Spirit

I was going to do something constructive today but then I happened upon this.   Am I going to do this?  You know I am.
Crocheted snowflake-themed wrapped rocks.  This woman and I must have been separated at birth.

Pure Joy and Two Quarts of Happiness

Happiness is owning your own fandeck.
Pure joy is living across the street from the Dodge City Building Center.
Various trials is making a decision.
Today I picked up two quarts.  Emerald and Hurricane.

Composting for Fun and Profit

Did I make a salad and clean out the vegetable crisper just so I could fill my new compost container?

Maybe.

Nice House

Got any food in this nice house?  Just wanted to mention that I still have some of Mom's chocolate candy left. Since Thanksgiving!!  And I did not keep it all for myself.   Record for me.  WIN!!  This could be the year...

What Child is This?

How could it be?
16 Christmases ago, I couldn't even imagine...

...what this child would be like now.











Love you, Goob.

Plants Vs. Zombies

The Goob got this video game for Christmas.  Looks like the zombies might be winning.

Ox and Friend

 Last week we sang "What Child is This?  and  "Good Christian Men Rejoice" in the morning worship service.   Which means we projected the word 'ass' on the sanctuary wall and sang it right out loud in front of God and everyone.  Twice.

Why lies He in such mean estate?
Where ox and ass are feeding ...

(I know I should be mature than this.  Butt I confess I struggle.) 

Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now...

Pope Benedict says he finds no evidence that there were any animals present at the birth of Jesus.  So I begged the STP to change the lyrics to ox and sheep.  What difference would it make?  Same number of syllables.  Just as likely to be present at the manger.  Less likely to make me and junior high boys giggle.  But no, we sang it again on Christmas Eve.  And then this happened:

Our manger scene donkey tumbled onto our train track (which, while it is a traditional part of our under the tree Christmas scene, is probably not authentic to the Christmas story either) and broke his ear off.  It is not the first time our donkey has lost this particular ear.  But it is the first time I couldn't stop referring to it as our sorry ass.  And wondering (aloud to the STP) if it would be appropriate to blog that I broke my ass on Christmas Eve.  And giggling some more.  Which is probably why Santa did not bring my fox hat this year.

I glued it back together, but sadly you can still see the crack.

Just a Few Words

Sometimes a gift is just perfect.  Like the little pottery dish that sits on the little round green table.  It holds rocks that we picked up on the beach on Cape Cod.  And any heart shape rocks that the STP hauls home from wherever in his pockets.  (What's it gots in its pocketsss, Precious?)  Mostly the rocks just sit in the dish, but sometimes they crawl out and arrange themselves in the sun spots.

And these wooden letters.  I am always glad to take them out of the Christmas boxes and arrange them on top of the hutch.  (They can not arrange themselves because it is too high for them to crawl up there all by themselves.  Plus, unlike the rocks, they are clearly believers in intelligent design.)  
Two Christmas gifts from years gone by that bless my heart.
Enjoying the little things this evening.  A movie with my guys.  Snuggling with the SLD.
Making a grocery list and checking it twice.  Some more of my favorite words:
pecans
cornflakes
brown sugar
red jello
crushed pineapple
grapes
cream cheese
sour cream
green chilies

You're Getting Nothing For Christmas

Dear Siblings, Siblings-in-law, and Nephieces,
Blah, blah blah--just read the bold print for the quick version (which may be passed on to those who never read the blog.)
On the marker board is a remnant of a list.  One that I made last year at this time.  The last thing on the list, the thing that never got done, is:  Write 2011 letter. ( It's still on the board because I hate to give up on it.  Hopefully, you are not holding your breath waiting for it.)  In light of that, I did not make any new lists for the end of 2012.  No gift list.  No to-do list. No note to write a 2012 letter. 
But if there was a theme for 2012 it would have something to do with giving.  With doing small things with great love.  With living beyond myself.  It included a couple of books on living simpler, a mission trip to Mexico, a dusty Lent, an Advent focused on acts of kindness.
In light of that, here's what I did with your 2012 Christmas gift.  I bought a sheep with it. To welcome the Lamb of God in your honor.   Because what I want you to know at the end of the year is that I love you.  And while homemade caramels and silly mustaches (which seem as silly to me right now as they must have seemed to you last year) might communicate that love, I think it will be just as effective to just tell you this year.  Hopefully you know that. Hopefully when I saw you this summer and/or fall I told you that.  Hopefully you don't need to open a package to know that you are loved and you aren't unhappy that I gave a sheep to a family who can really use the milk and the wool.  Because they need food and clothes. (And trust me, you don't want Aunt Brenda buying you clothes.)
And while I was at it I gave them three ducks.  Because that way they get milk and eggs.
And with the money I saved on postage, I bought a bicycle.  For a girl who will ride it to school.  So she will be safer.

Because when I think of you, I remember how blessed I am to have ridden through the Big Savage Tunnel with you this year.  And how blessed we are as a family to be healthy and wealthy enough to ride our bikes for pleasure.  And I remember how lucky I am to have you in my life and how much I love you.  Merry Christmas.

One of a Kind

Still going out of my way to be kind this month.  Which seems to be a particularly unkind month.

I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same.  People will never know how far a little kindness can go.
~Rachel Joy Scott (1981-1999)  First victim of the Columbine High School Massacre

It's Good To Be Fancy

Love this child and her brother more than you can imagine. 

 Having a kindergartner in your life makes Sandy Hook news even more heart wrenching.  And even more unimaginable.  

A Wintry Western Welcome

Welcome to the front porch.  Fresh greens and a smattering of pinecones in the flower boxes.
Took the lanterns down to hang the snowflakes.  Used the upside down flowerpots on the steps as pedestals for the lanterns.  (God Himself decorated them with fresh snow.)

Added two garage sale trees with white lights and garage sale icicles to the one sad and lonely tree I already had.

 Filled the big blue pot with more pine cones and coneflower seed heads. (God Himself frosted the tips of them.)

Freshened the bow on the barbed wire wreath.  

Cause nothing says 'Welcome' like barbed wire.

Candles, Trays, Ornaments, Pinterest

 A 10 cent tray, ornaments no one wanted, three upside down birthday glasses, half a pack of clearance candles from Michael's (a real store).   Voila!  Big room coffee table.

 A knitting needle.  More ornaments no one wanted.  Green glass bowl the dog once drank from on the patio.  Voila!  One more tree in the living room.

Three free 2 quart jars.  Epsom salts.  More ornaments no one wanted.  The other half of the candles from Michael's.  One silver garage sale tray.  One silver star ornament from the box of ornaments. Voila!

  I'm pretty sure this justifies all the hours I've spent on Pinterest this year.