April...already?

It's been a busy spring, but I'm thankful for being healthy and happy.

My niece and nephew are college planning. That's been fun to participate in with the family. Chris and I are the only college grads in the immediate family, so we've tried to help out where we can. We did a college tour a few weeks ago with ny niece. She really wants to go there and now has a goal in front of her. Hopefully it helps her current grades. Her math classes are killing her.

We moved the garden closer to the house due to making use of rain barrels and a tomato leaf spot (not the same as blight) epidemic. It required a major soil-improvement project and it was nice that Chris was really interested in being part of that. We used a coconut husk product instead of peat, as peat is not easily renewable and bogs are being stripped, but it took some searching to find it. My purple fingerling potatoes and asaparagus arrived from Gurney's yesterday, so I'll plant those this week. Apple blossoms have already sprung, so we need to also get some frost protection ready, as there are frost warnings tomorrow-the weekend.

My birthday is on Friday and I need to figure out what I want to do. I'm not being a party pooper, I just don't know what sounds fun. It will probably be a "day of" decision.

We got a new couch today. I always hated that our leather couch with two end recliners is not a "snuggle couch." So we got a microfiber and leather combo couch with a chaise at one end. Of course, our living room is now going to be stuffed to the gills because we aren't springing for two new recliners as the other seating in the room. We are keeping the old couch for at least a year. Chris called and said the cats are enjoying the new couch. Loki realized he can get behind the rear cushions (he's a burrower) and Bartleby treats the chaise as his personal throne. He's happy he can stretch his big body out. Ali has thus far ignored it.

Hope you are all well, my friends!

In like "something really awesome!"

Forget the "lamb" or "lion"!
I think most of us have been enjoying this silly-great weather. It was the best St. Patrick's Day I can remember. Walking around downtown Madison was super fun with my pretty green toenails and shorts.

It's the begining of birthday season this week in my house. I'm furiously trying to finish a grant proposal so that I can enjoy Chris's birthday with him.

I won tickets to Elton John for this Thursday, but am considering selling them. Chris doesn't want to go and the Wisconsin-Syracuse game is that night. I could also use the cash to have extra fun on my birthday instead. Such decisions that need to be made so quickly.

Happy March!

Spring is just around the corner! I've been busy at home and work. Overwhelmed at work, but kind of a good balance at home.

We are still helping my dad with his house. It's looking good for probably only $200 and some elbow grease invested thus far. Two new light fixtures, a cleaning product for cabinets, some Old English, a boatload of white and cream inexpensive paint, a 2.99 beautiful cream throw pillow on clearance, some plastic lemons and four new rugs are the investment thus far. I've taken some things from our house to "stage" at his house. It's been kind of fun. Next is carpet cleaning.

Every weekend in March we have something fun going on:
-Trip to some brewpubs and bars in Iowa with friends this Saturday and taking my niece prom dress shopping on Sunday.
-Brewery tour with my sister to one we haven't yet been to in WI
-St. Patrick's Day!
-Chris's birthday and my niece's birthday (same day). We are going to see The Hunger Games together. :-)
-My sister's birthday

Party on, Wayne.

Valentine's Day prep

I woke up this morning a few minutes early so I could shave my legs, since it's Valentine's Day. Otherwise, I hate to admit that I tend to only shave on the weekends in the winter or when I wear a dress/skirt. *shame*

Chris mentioned he'd like the Bon Iver cd, so I downloaded it to my iPod (which we share songs between ours) and had it cued up on the speakers in the bathroom this morning. This made me late.

So, in my rush to lotion up my newly shaven legs, I forgot to put on my wedding ring. And it's Valentine's Day. At least it's not my anniversary.

I also wanted to wear the necklace he gave me a few years ago. I forgot.

Way to start the day out on a bad note!

Things that make me happy

This donut that I'm eating this morning. I haven't had a donut in about six months and this tastes sinful.

Planning the summer vacation. Now that it's February, July doesn't seem so far away.

Planning to plant a peach tree. It might die or never fruit, but right now I'm enchanted by the idea of tree grown peaches in my yard.

Helping my dad get his house ready to sell. It's the house I lived in from birth until I moved out on my own. It's good to spruce it up. He's moving in with his fiance, and it's hard for him to give up the space of his own, so it's been a good bonding experience for us. I'm also now the keeper of many old family heirlooms. Pressure's on.

Mild winter weather.

Doing research site visits. I love research where I go out and spend time in nursing homes or interviewing care recipients in the community. It reminds me that my job makes a difference. Tomorrow I begin a two year stint of long site visits across the country. This one is in Wisconsin-our only "close" site.

Blacklight flashlights. I feel better knowing there was only one cat pee spot. And in Ali's defense, she has kidney failure and peed where we'd put her litterbox when she had knee surgery and was confined in the bedroom. Using stuff called "Anti Icky Poo" to clean it also made me smile.

The Voice! My friend Mark co-wrote a song that was on a snipit last night. That made my Voice love even more intense.

In honor of Boo turning 40

What I've liked about my 30s

• More financial stability
• Settling into a house
• The ability to fit in with several age groups, young and old
• Feeling more confident in my career
  

What I've disliked about my 30s

• Hairs that pop up in random spots
• Still having some acne
• Retirement is REALLY far away
• Not having as much in savings as I'd like
• Doing less spontaneous fun stuff
• More responsibility at work-spending nights and weekends working or worrying

Entertainment lineup

What I'm watching:
Movies Contraband, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Salt, The Italian Job, Blue Valentine
TV shows Top Chef, The New Girl, Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, Football

What I'm reading:
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, Emperor of all Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

What I'm cooking:
Chocolate chip cookies, OTCC recipes, paninis

What I'm doing:
Starting Pinterest, planning the spring garden, hemming and mending on a borrowed sewing machine, hauling branches to a giant burn pile for next weekend, stretching and basic exercises

Alone Time

Ahhhhh...I've caught up on some needed alone time. Other than two or three short business trips, and my weekend visit to Carey, Chris and I have been joined at the hip this year. And after an 11 day vacation, followed by a few days off around the holidays, I was feeling a little "crowded." When we are home all day, I often get asked two-three times, "What are you doing?" Sometimes I don't have an answer for that, other than "going to the bathroom," etc. So after a few times, my stress level raises a little.

This week I worked from home one day just to get a little quiet time, then today Chris went hunting around 11:00 a.m. and it's almost 9:00 p.m. and he's still out. I enjoyed the day to myself. But tomorrow, I think I'll be ready for together time again.

I did exciting things today such as:

• Went to local gym open house
• Took a long walk outside (it was in the 40s!)
• Baked three OTCC recipes: kale chips, cinnamon rolls and a pasta casserole, plus some pumpkin granola for my yogurt
• Cleaned out all the inside compartments of the washer (fabric softner & bleach...how to they get so dirty?!)
• Gave some plants a haircut
• 2 loads of laundry
• Sewed up Chris's sweater & hemmed a pair of pj pants
• Cleaned kitchen floor (mistakenly before I made the cinnamon rolls)
• Cleaned up the deep fryer (that was in the garage) from last weekend's football party
• Found cat poop & cleaned the carpet around it and fabric cat toy that was hiding it (Ali's constipation issues make this an occasional issue)
• Cleaned a spare bedroom closet

Now, I think it's time to eat a cinnamon roll and watch some tv...there's gotta be something on at 9 p.m. That's when all the nudity and swear words come out, right?

Can you....?

Random questions for you. Can you....
1. Thread a sewing machine without instructions?
2. Bake good chocolate chip cookies without a recipe, if you had to?
3. Paint your toenails and make it look like a salon job?
4. Fairly easily drive up to your state capitol building with no directions?