guest bedroom...

Hello,

Gary and I did not paint our bedroom this weekend. We did however, paint out guest bedroom. As indecisive as we are we have still not chosen a specific color for our own room. We are getting closer though. Since we already had some paint for this guest bedroom we went ahead with that.

Our friends from Gary's work came over last night to help us, Aaron and Emily! These are the same friends who helped us to move into the house. We promised them eventually we would have them over and they wouldn't have to work on the house, haha. Anyway, with four people working we got that thing knocked out in no time. Gary wet sanded the spackling (trick courtesy of Randy Spatharos), Aaron trimmed out the top of the walls with paint, and Emily and I painted the baseboards and rolled the walls! It was so fast, Gary and I would have taken over twice as long to get it done ourselves, so we are very grateful to them! While the boys finished up some detail work, Emily and I went downstairs to make dinner.

This morning, Gary and I went to finish up a little more detail painting and then we put everything back in the room. I say "everything" like there was a lot in there. This is not true, basically we put the bed back in. Haha, but while my sisters were here over Christmas break we did pick out some bedding, side tables (or plant holders), lamp shades for some old lamps, and some picture frames. So I was able to put all that out to "finish" the room. Of course, it still needs blinds/curtains and I haven't bought pillows for the shams or cases yet, but I must say it is looking pretty good.

Some of the pictures turned out pretty dark, but the green is actually a light light green called "Belle Grove Valley Fog" by Valspar. It is part of their National trust for Historic Preservation collection. The paint used in the kitchen was from the same collection. Anyway, that is neither here nor their. Hope you enjoy the pictures!


Sorry, no light bulb in the other lamp yet, haha. Lamps courtesy of Brandy McNeillie. Also, in hopes of saving money I bought "plant stands" as bedside tables. $15 vs. $50 (at least)




Gary would like to call this his "mint chocolate chip" room. ^

something from nothing.....

I'm sure by the lack of posts lately that some of you may think I never got my Maryland nursing license and therefore can no longer afford to pay for internet and therefore can no longer blog, or maybe you just thought I died or something. Either way NO WORRIES I did finally get my nursing license and can continue to pay for internet and despite tomorrow being my 4th 12hr shift in a row I AM still alive. Miracles by all counts!

On to my true post: Nothing really is going on in our lives right now. The severe lack of post material is truly sad. I even googled "blog topics" and from that wide array of everything in the world to write about I could not decide on anything. The only things to really say are 1. we got lots of snow yesterday. about 6 inches worth. It has been our biggest snow of the season so far. Of course I was working so there are no cute pictures of Gary and I making snow angels or snowmen or snow icecream.... no, there is only work lately. (which I hate to say I am thankful for after my long ordeal with my license, shout out to Mr. God on that answered prayer!) 2. If I am not severely incapacitated by Saturday, I think Gary and I have finally decided to paint our bedroom. Right now it is a dull yellowish white color with unknown stains in weird places with multiple holes. I know, sounds like a little slice of relaxation heaven, perfect for a master bedroom, who on earth would want to change that you say? Well, that is why we have taken so long to decide to do it. :)

I think I have sufficiently found a way to write a whole blog about nothing. I hope you have enjoyed you time inside my mind today!

until next time...

rantings of a college criminal....

Today, Copper has been gone from us for one week. We miss him, but while I was out today wasting time until Gary got home from work, I stumbled upon this saying:


"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose,
all that we love becomes a part of us."
--Helen Keller







Today was filled with craziness! First thing this morning I had to head BACK to Baltimore (1.5hr one way), yes, I said BACK to Baltimore. I was there just two days ago, at the Maryland State Board of Nursing. Apparently, although claiming to participate in the multi-state compact, they are having difficulties processing my nursing license.

OK, so I have a record, what self respecting woman this day in age doesn't, right? You don't have to answer that. Either way, SC licensed me with no problems, shouldn't that mean that participants in the compact would do the same? I thought so too.

So back to my story, and long story short (as possible), I had to go to Baltimore ONCE to figure out what was wrong with the processing of my license. Now, this is assuming a lot, but when and office building provides a phone number, that means someone is on the other end to answer it right? Well that is something the MD board of nursing seems to be in disagreement with as well. In hopes of not having to go to Baltimore for the second time, I spent nearly every thirty minutes yesterday calling their office to check on this paperwork and not even once was the phone answered. Lunch break, Lunch hour, extended lunch hour.... no no no try day of lunch! So there I was heading BACK to Baltimore to make sure they received the paperwork needed to resume processing my license only to find myself explaining what I needed to a receptionist (poor lady, I suppose it isn't her fault) who has no idea what I need. So I wait in the office for an hour as she takes care of other people. Then, as if everyone in the office didn't have enough lunch the day before, she goes to lunch. WHAT? HELLO? So a new receptionist takes her place, woo hoo, so I go explain what I need again and luckily finally get somewhere. I verified my paperwork had be received! YAY, that is all I need, that, and now I need a drink!

So, my day went on. As promised, I made some pillows today with my sewing machine. OMG, it was so much faster than making the pillows from the summer.













Also, we had stir fry for dinner. Easy, one dish meals are my specialty! Cut up whatever vegetables you like, make them fun shapes. Make rice, cook vegetables and meat of choice, mix and serve. I used a "stir fry" seasoning packet from the store, no judging please. :)













Whatever tomorrow brings, I hope it is not a trip to Baltimore!

Until next time....

sew, what's new you say?

I GOT MY SEWING MACHINE FOR CHRISTMAS!!

Sew, Gary got me a sewing machine for Christmas, which happened to be at the top of my list this year. Besides the fact that it is way cooler to make things than to buy them, having this machine will make it sew much easier and faster to make curtains, pillows, and many other things for our home. Although, I really haven't ever made a whole lot with a sewing machine, my mom has taught me a few things on occasion.

Sew, I thought the best way to start out would be to alter the length of some curtains I already have. You know, sticking to the straight lines. Over the holidays my family came up to visit and helped us to decorate our half bathroom. They put up some cute curtains over the window, but they were slightly too long. Today, I shortened them!! A few easy steps, and a call to my mom, my sewing machine was up and running. And before I knew it, the curtain was complete. It looks great. Sew, I wasn't really paying attention and didn't get a "before" picture, but here is the "after."





That's it for tonight, tomorrow I may tackle some pillows.... you know, four straight lines connected together!

still missing Copper,




until next time....

my dearest Copper,

Gary's alarm clock goes off this morning and I awaken to a truth that I know in my heart, but my head keeps replaying what happened hoping for a different ending. After a few minutes of deliberation my mind finally wraps around the fact that Copper is gone. He died yesterday, today he would have been two months old. I loved him with all my heart, I loved him for three years as I wanted and waited for him, I loved him from the minute I touched him. He filled our home with with everything we never knew was missing, everything that is gone now.

I won't go into details, but he showed no signs of being sick. Not 40 minutes prior to him showing signs we were playing tug of war with his toys and I was teaching him to sit and stay, something he was catching onto quickly, as I knew he would. The next thing I knew, I took him outside and he just laid there, lethargic. As I scooped him up, he lay limp in my arms. He only made a small cry, I didn't know then that that would be the last thing I heard him say. I ran for the car and took him to the vet, a short ride, 5 minutes later my world comes down. The vet handed me his collar and I just starred at it and cried. I was devastated, I am devastated. When the vet was explaining to me all the things that could have happened I wasn't listening. I was just hearing.

After a few minutes I asked to see him. I had to tell him I was sorry and that I loved him. The vet took me back and left me with Copper, just the two of us. I put my hand on his little head and sobbed. He felt real, like he would wake up, like I would wake up. I pet him and pet him and talked with him for what felt like forever, it was probably only 2 minutes. When Gary arrived, he too said goodbye, together, the three of us for the last time. Although we are far from our real home, we decided to bring him back to the house to bury him in the backyard. We picked a sunny spot near the woods. I watched as Gary dug the hole, in tears, not wanting to actually put Copper in there. I didn't either. He was our first family member and there isn't even a picture of all of us together. We love you Copper and will miss you so much!

I'm writing this, not so everyone can know our story and feel bad. I think it is just a way for me to account for what happened, to make it believable. I'm attaching all the pictures of him we had yet to post. Some pictures of him learning to get past his temporary gate. One of he and his brothers and sisters a few days before we picked him up.

work....

Work







Who invented that again.................................. and why?










Is it time to retire yet?

wine, women and words....

One of the best Christmas gifts I got this year was a cookbook.... and not just your regular kind. The kind made of all the best recipes of all the best women! A while back my mom and her friends formed a book club and a great sisterhood formed as well. This year they put together a book of recipes that have been famous among their own families or famous amongst the whole sisterhood to disperse to daughters, friends, and "those who they love." Lucky am I to receive one!



So, the first recipe I cooked from it was Eggplant Parmesan, a recipe from Marilyn. Delicious! Look for more recipes from the "Wine Women and Words Cookbook."










And now a days, what blog post wouldn't be complete without a picture of Copper :)
I thought this blurry one of Copper chasing Gary was funny... makes him look crazy!









This is a picture of Copper sleeping with his head in his water bowl... don't worry, it was empty so no chances of a drowning.