August

Where in the world has August gone? I can't believe how quickly the summer has been going! Well, here is what has been happening since my last post.
We took a trip to Minnesota with my in-laws and our good friends. Our last night, the full moon was amazing:

We took the time to experiment with all kinds of chocolate for s'mores. I think the clear winner was the symphony bar. And the big marshmallows were a hit too- although they are a little more messy than the traditional 'mallow:

I love time spent around the campfire, talking about all kinds of important things late into the night:

And a trip up North isn't complete without a trip to Granny's Pantry. Mike tried to steal my ice cream when I was leaning in for the picture:

Our good friends! Thanks for coming! And thanks for sharing your photography skills!

My favorite place on earth:

Since we got back, we had a night with amazing hailballs (that's right- when they're baseball sized, they're hail BALLS). We also had a night with 5 inches of rain (not just outside the house if you know what I'm sayin...)

The next day (after VERY little sleep), my husband dropped his cell phone down this hole:

SERIOUSLY?!? How does a cell phone even fit in there? He kindly sent me an e-mail entitled "Non Life Threatening Tragedy." Boy- does he know me or what?!? Yeah, the phone was unretrieveable, but we did have insurance on his phone (YESSSSSS!)

And, we built a platform bed. My dad is the brains behind the whole operation! We found this DIY website and built the whole frame for under $100. It is amazing, and the upgrade to a king-sized bed was totally worth it!

In progress shot:

Frame complete: (the mattress just sits right on it):

And then Mike finished our grill patio this week as well (thanks again to my amazing dad for his help building the frame):

Until next time! LEAVE A COMMENT!

Landscaping and Porch Remodel!

Warning: This is a long post with lots of pictures! So let's get started: last week Marilyn (awesome Mother in Law) came to help us with our landscaping disaster. I didn't get a before picture of this area, but picture the rocks all submerged in the dirt and without the little bushes in front (eunysmus?). They also planted a nine bark bush on the corner that will help 'bookend' the space. Isn't it a precious front yard? Additionally, we decided to keep all the flowers in the back and keep it business in the front (seen here). Like a mullet...
Along the Spirea, they planted 2 burning bushes! I cannot wait until these things turn red. How cool will that be? Also, how could you not love the edging circles around these things?!?

I told them to look tired in this next picture, which was no problem as it was in the 90s when they were planting and working and digging. The dream team hard at work:

One of my favorite new things is this block from our wall that was left over and Marilyn planted this little plant in here (acetum?) It is so precious!

Then comes the big project. We were wondering what we should do with this space in front of the massive wall our neighbor built (which we call 'The Wall of Frank'). Here is the before:

In Progress: (it was a lot of work to get all the grass... err...clover and creeping charlie off that hill in front of the WOF)

The final product (without the edging and some day lillies). It is so beautiful and I am so happy. The bushes in the back are korean spice viburnum which has an amazing perfume scent when it blumes and then double knock out rose bushes in front of the others. It is so beautiful! Thank you Marilyn!!!

Then my parents came over this morning to help us get our nasty storm windows off the porch. Here is the before:

And after:

Other side Before: (and my Dad who was apparently tired)

And after:

Doesn't it look so open and free? I love it!!! We need to paint and sand (not in that order) and hang the mailbox and re-locate the hooks, but it is an amazing start. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for helping us with this- you are lifesavers!

We posted the storm windows on freecyle and someone actually wanted them! We were standing there after we called them to tell them they were out of the porch and Mike saw this guy drive by in a Geo Metro with the hood held onto the car by bungee cords. He said, "You have got to be kidding me, " and the person stopped to get out windows! The guy was really nice and ended up STACKING all the frames on the top of the Metro and bungee cording them to the seatbelt inside!

Well, that is all for now! And for those of you who may think that my stuff always looks good before I post, I present......

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Hahaha- thanks for reading!

Em: thank you for the inspiration to post disorganized pictures of my house

Carrie: thank you for pointing out things always look too perfect in my pictures

Kristine: you need to start a blog

Allison: Can't wait for vacay!

Mom: Love you thank you so much!

Marilyn: Thank you so much- it looks beautiful and it was great to spend some time with you here!

Tessa: you need to start a food blog

Becky: Are you still reading this blog?

Leave a comment!

Bench, Tulips, Coffee Table and More!

First of all: Happy Easter everybody! We had Easter at our house this year, and it was a blast! My parents, Mike's parents, Mike's sister and my friend Tessa were able to come- it was great! We did miss Allison though, but it was great to hear from her!!

So- some recent projects. My parents actually found this bench at the dump:

And I thought it would look better in a different color:

(also- from our wedding we got the wedding pictures from our parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles and display them now in our home. This is one of my favorite things about our house and demonstrates the legacy of love they have left for us)

For my birthday, I asked my parents to make us a coffee table, so I gave them a pattern.

Living room before:

They had no pattern and just figured it out themselves and made it. Here they are bringing it into the house. I was giddy with excitement at this point, which is why it isn't the best picture:

Living room after: (aren't they so precious?!?)Thank you mom and dad- we love you!

Okay- who knew this is how ferns grow?? They are all balled up- I can't wait for them to burst open into their HUGE leaves!

Finally, the tulips have bloomed and they are beautiful. Enjoy!

And thanks for all the comments on the last blog. That was truly wonderful. Keep it up! :o)

Things New Part Two

This weekend started like any other: lazy Saturday morning, coffee cake, coffee, trip to some home improvement store... Then we got home and went CA-RAZY! Mike got his landscape on and put in some edging around this flower bed. We have NEVER had anything here, so it's really nice to have some boundaries for the flowers this year! Here he is hard at work! Isn't he cute?!?

I planted the flowers that he got for me after I finished an inside project. Don't they look great?

Here is the inside project. Our dining room chairs are damaging our floors, so we decided to get a carpet for that room to start that room remodel. Here are the floors after I cleaned them like they have only been cleaned twice since moving in: (yeah- it's worthy of taking a picture!)

Here is our new rug:

Also- new rule: if you visit the site, comment!!!!! It makes me want to keep documenting our home remodel!

All Things New

So this weekend's weather encouraged me to get out into the yard, so here you have it. Some home improvement (yard improvement) this year. This is the fence that my amazing mother in law planted tulips and other perennials. I so enjoy watching these come up every year. Here is what it looked like just two weeks ago: And now they are getting bigger every day!!!

I then tackled the side of the house where we have some other flowers that I just love each year. This is where the balloon flowers and flox come up.

Before:

After:

Before Menarda and cone flower area:

After:

We need to put in some edging here... more on that to come.

Before along the house where the hostas grow:

After:

And here is the before picture of the great wall in our backyard. Our neighbor built this wall between our yards last year (was it something we said???) so green thumb Marilyn is helping us problem solve what to do with this weird area now!!!