♥

Isabel and Nic were outside playing the other day...

My girl can draw. But I am not sure what's up with the two legged elephant.

It was super cute when Nic came in to get me so that he could show me how he could play "hop skitch."

It's raining...

... worms?

Our next door neighbor's yard is a bit flooded. And our tree is a wreck! The landscaper should have staked it from the get-go, but didn't. I now how an open complaint with the Registrar of Contractors.

So, we missed movie night last night due to the weather and Isa's softball game was cancelled this morning. Instead, we took Alex to the ortho and then made a side trip to Goodwill and Home Depot.

And Wal-Mart.

Today was 50% off at Goodwill, I scored a mirror that will be painted antique white, two vases, some valances for Isabel and some king size pillow cases (unopened) in a pretty creamy yellow.

As soon as I start messing with things tomorrow I will do a post about our recent finds and additions! ;)

Hope you are having a super Saturday - and that it's not raining in your neck of the woods.

Reward if Found

Happy Friday, peeps.  I've been a heckofa week for me and mine, but we survived! ;)

Alex had 4 games this week.
Isa had 1 game and 2 practices.
I had Bunco on Wednesday.

But despite all of that - we have tonight! And tonight is...........

The Junior class at Alex's high school is hosting a family movie night on the football field. And can you guess what they are showing?!?! 

Yep, Finding Nemo. What?! You guessed Jaws?! Wrong.

We are so excited - the weather has been perfect (despite the slight chance of rain tomorrow) - so we will be enjoying the movie, loving the snacks, and sitting outside in the fresh air surrounded by good peeps.   I am dragging my whole darn family with me.

Alex's high school is surrounded by farm land - so it's all mountains, and stars, and nothing else out there. I wish you could join us - should be a blast.  Consider this your official invitation. =)

Hope your Friday is a good one!  See ya on the other side!

I Spy

As I was chatting with my mom last night [hi, mom!] I realized I never shared a pic of my citrus trees. Shame on me. Here they be:

I guess they look more like twigs, eh? But... look at this picture below.

I cannot believe it. When I was out watering and digging and scaping the land yesterday, I didn't even see these little buggers. It wasn't until one of my son's friends came over and I was showing off the greenery that he pointed them out. [I think he was secretly hoping I'd offer to make him a mini-margarita. I don't sever alcohol to 15 year olds, good sir. You have to be at least 16 and a half. I kid, I kid.]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So... I've been working a little bit on this room... Don't judge my metal diamond placements. Eventually there will be a very large mirror back there. And eventually I may realize the diamonds just don't work - and will have to move them. But for now - they show effort. And progress. And that makes me happy. I love them because they are supposed to be square - but I made an executive decision to make them diamonds. Because of the diamond shapes in my chairs. [deja vu - but at least I got a better picture this time!]

Goodwill shopping a few weeks back allowed me to score something pretty COOL!

It is, I believe, an old radio cabinet. I think. That's what I am calling it.

It's a lighter color than my table & chairs. But when I really look at the two, side by side, they do share some of the same tone. I just wasn't going for an all dark, all wood room. Remember, the other half of this room is the formal living room. Which we hope to make-over into a little library. And totally copy her design, here.

I plan on take some dark wood tones into the "library" in picture frames and books. And then I need to somehow bring some light, cream colors into the dining room to try and make this all work.

The cabinet does need some help. The insides were torn out and it has no back. Mr. is going to help me fix those problem areas and then we have to decide on if we are going to leave it alone, or paint it or stain it.

I originally thought I could paint it the color green that is in the curtains. I saw a REALLY cool example that I loved. And now I can't find it on the net, anywhere. Then I wondered if I should play with the indent, and paint that cream - and the rest green?!

Then I wondered if I should sand and stain the top, the beveled part of the doors and the bottom trim piece a nice mix of ebony and dark walnut.

Now I am wondering if I am out of my ever loving mind.

Do YOU have any thoughts on the subject?! [on the cabinet, not about me being out of my mind.]

I have plans to put a large framed picture above the cabinet... and maybe add a lamp... Give it a bit of height. The room will also, eventually be getting crown molding. So, weigh in. Let me know your ideas [so I can steal them, too].

Alex and Isa both had a friend spend the night - so I am off to get breakfast started. The line at Dunkin Donuts is sometimes long - need to get there early. =)

Have a fab Sunday, people!

P.S. WAIT - don't leave. I just thought of something. Do you think I should bring that light fixture [above the dining room table] down a bit? Is it too high?! Thanks! ;) I owe you one! Anytime you want some design advice... Well. Nevermind.

Two Tipus and an Ash Tree

You were supposed to read the post title to the tune of one famous Christmas Carol. Can you guess which one? Moving on. It's Spring! And as a new homeowner, I am LOVING the color green!! I know we don't get Winter as bad as some folks do, but we do get our share of brown.

The Mr. and I have been working really, really hard on our backyard landscaping. We thought the toughest part would be getting the digging dug (hehe) and the plants and trees in the ground.

We. Were. Mistaken.

The hardest part??!! Keeping those suckers alive. We have a different watering schedule for each type of plant and tree. We haven't yet put the watering system in the backyard (like we have one in the front)... so for now, the kids and I ARE the watering system.

I planted a new vine this morning!! It's a Lady Banks Rose vine. The mini-rose (which really look like carnations, I must say) are yellow - my favorite!

Isa has a game today - so we will pause on the scaping of the land to go cheer her on, but once we are back home, it's back to work. I LOVE the idea of Spring Cleaning. Actually getting to it is another thing. But I am feeling very motivated today! Here's a tour of our GREEN! - staring with the front yard.

My boxwoods. Love them. Here's what it looked like 4 months ago...

And now!! I love that white flower!!

Remember this bad boy?! A few months ago he was all nekkid...

Look at him NOW!

Now... moving on to the backyard. We recently put in a dog run... and wanted to hide it a little. So we purchased five bushes to start. Eventually they will grow together and form a hedge of sorts. We hope.

And CONGRATULATIONS to us - it's TWINS!!

We recently bought two Tipu trees. Up first is Twin A.

And here is Twin B.

Dead.

Okay, not really dead....

I spent some time outside this morning giving it some TLC and all of a sudden I noticed this...

I swear it wasn't there when I started out! Maybe the extra love really worked!!

When we planted the trees they were exactly the same. Now that we know how to properly care for them (thanks to the fine folks at our local nursery) I am sure they will flourish in no time. They are in the evergreen family and when full grown are considered lush shade trees. They will grow to a very large size!

Anyway... tour's over! I have to get Isa to her game! I will post pics of that tomorrow...

And I will also have a post about my formal living room. I bought a Radio Cabinet (I believe) at Goodwill a few weeks back and I need some advice on what to do with it. Paint? Stain? Both? Nothing? See? I will definitely need your help! So be prepared!!

Happy Saturday - and Happy Spring!