What happens...

...when you leave the puppy alone in the house?

This does! All the couch cushions awry, Kleenex box chewed up and strewn about the place, lotion bottle chewed open and a nice moisturizing layer on the couch and red pillow, Matt's new glasses case chewed to pieces and the glasses a bit damaged, Matt's planner shredded and the contents of the recycle bin chewed and strewn about.  There is evidence that she may be a hoarder as it was mostly in a pile on her blanket.

The good news is that she did eat her real food, didn't chew the remote controls, didn't go potty in the house and isn't barking outside since I put her out when I got home.  Obedience training is a must in the near future!

We weren't sure how it would go and I needed to go run an quick errand so I thought I would give her the chance to be responsible.

She didn't handle it well! Yikes.  She is grounded and for sure will be going to the kennel when we leave.

What's so great about Picket Fences?

There is a song I used to really like by Chely Wright called Picket Fences.  The chorus says:

Tell me what's so great about picket fences

Paintin' them is such a mess

And a big back yard where kids can play

I'd probably never get a moments rest

And setting the table for five at five

Only means more dishes to load

What's so great about picket fences

I guess I'll never know

I used to reflect on this idea when I was younger and still single.  I used to envy my friends who started families young and wondered if it would ever happen for me.  Well, Matt and I are going on two years married in July and we are having some fertility issues.  (Prayers appreciated!)  It makes me really think about being thankful for what I DO have and not always thinking that there must be something else/ more.  I have had many friends who have walked gracefully through this same struggle so I feel like I am handling this hurdle a bit better than I might have otherwise.  I just keep remembering, which is something we can all benefit from, that "the grass is greener where you water it!"


Well, I made a craft, also pulled from Pinterest!  It is a reminder to be thankful for the green grass RIGHT WHERE I AM!


Here's what you need:
tuna cans, cleaned (I used canned chicken cans, bigger than tuna.  I think if I did them again, I would have used regular tuna cans!)
clothes pins
spray paint
anything you might want to use to decorate them inside or out


Here's what you will do:
1. Adhere clothes pins all the way around the edge of the can.

2. Spray Paint the entire thing in a desirable color.
3. Let dry.
4. Decorate.

Cherry Blossoms

I love Cherry Blossoms!  They are bright and beautiful and lovely.  It means Spring is here and that means Summer is on it's way!  Happy soul!

Here's my newest Pinterest idea made mine!

 

This came from Pinterest but I didn't like how the paint looked after dipped in a pop bottle, so I went for finger painting!

Cherry Blossom Painting.

Here's what you need:

Blank canvas

paints

Here's what I did:

First I painted the sky.  

Then I added grass.  

I was going to stop there, but I felt like it needed another layer...so I added soil.  

Then I painted the sprawling branch.  Then by dabbing my finger, I placed the blossoms sporadically around the branch.  Then I added leaves and accents on the branch to make it look a little more real.  I hung it on the wall behind my beautiful vase full of cherry blossom sprigs.

Yeah!

Our Newest Family Member!

Matt and I have been talking for a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNG time about getting a dog!  Well, we finally did today! 

Meet our girl, Saben _______ Konrad (named after the notorious Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide and needing a middle name). 

She's a rescue pup and we don't know a ton about her.  What we do know is that she's about a year old, she's about 50 lbs., she has the most adorable line down her face and a white tip on her tail and spotted paws, she's very calm but can be playful, she's part Hound/ part Shar Pei, she jogged with me tonight and she chases ducks!  She also came from Spokane!

The Hanging Gardens of Konradland

So, as you all know, we have been working on gardens galore!  It has been such a delight to get outside and work with our hands and sweat!  And, watch the birds in our yard.  Some of them are truly beautiful.  The other day I heard something very noisy adn when I looked over to see what it was, there were three Steller Jays hopping around our feeder.  We've even been naming some of our birds (although, I can say with certainty that the birds assigned said names are interchangable as there is really no way to tell them apart).
Due to space issues, I wanted to put my herbs on the side of the house.  I found this idea on Pinterest!  I thought it would work with a little tweaking, but I ended up making several tweaks! 


Here's what you need:
-Wood pieces (mine were scraps left over from our table project)
-Hose clamps
-Screws
-Pots/ jars
-plants of your choice

First, I like the look of things that are labeled, so I stamped the herb name on the boards.

Second, we didn't really want to screw things into the siding.  I decided to hang them with chain from hooH\ks at the top, but anytime the wind blew, it was so loud it sounded like Bo Jangle was trying to break into our house!  I am home alone a lot at night so that didn't sit well with me.  Untimately, we decided to screw them into the siding!

Third, I started with the mason jars, but I quickly realized that I needed something that could drain. We live in Western Washington, which is equivalent to mold and mildew.  I want fresh herbs not mottled ones!  So, I went with the terra cotta pots so that they can drain.

When all was said and done it wasn't a hard project, I just had to change it up so it took a bit more time than I had anticipated. 

I am obsessed with Cilantro and Basil.  I cannot wait to pick it fresh and throw it in some delectables!

Spring Flower Wreath

I literally am in love with Cherry Blossom trees this time of year.  I wish I could have a ton of them, but Matt is anti-leafy trees (as he's the one that has to clean up the messes in the yard).  I might have talked him into a bush form of them, but definitely not getting a blossoming tree.

So, since I can't have them inside, I try to bring the look inside.  I have a vase fill of limbs but I wanted to round out the look with a wreath across the room.  So, I took a wreath made from twigs (found at most craft stores; this one was left over from our wedding!) and literally glued the blossoms from one bunch onto the wreath!  It was the easiest, least time consuming wreath thus far.