A wonderful surprise...

Yesterday, there was a package waiting for me in my mailbox. I was thrilled to see that it was addressed in my good friend Marika's handwriting.



Inside was a card pretty enough to frame (and I might) & the above cast iron hooks. Each hook is the first initial of each Rustad puppy(...just in case you didn't figure that one out on your own...) --great for hanging their leads and collars from. These are the coolest hooks eVeR!!!

Thank-You Ross and Marika both for the hooks, and for making our lives fun!
I can't believe that you two have already been gone a month. Life is so cruel...

We love Blueberries!

I am in the process of weeding out my front ditch in hopes that the blueberry bushes that I leave behind will take over. Wild raspberries and strawberries have taken over and created a thick mat on top of the wild blueberries.
It's a whole lot of work, but blueberries taste so good!

Here is a picture of what it looks like before I weed.



And here is a picture of where I have weeded (on the left)compared to the overgrown weed patch.





I hope to get this finished this afternoon...I have 100 ft. to do in all, and I think that I have gotton about half!

Bad Luck!!!

I had decided last week that I wanted a white pitcher to put my wooden spoons in...and, as luck would have it I found the very exact same pitcher at my favorite Nursery yesterday. So, of course I bought it...it isn't everyday that a gal can find exactly what is in her head on the store shelf.



But, my good luck soon came to a rushing halt. On the way home I was forced to slam (most gently) my brakes, and the thing flew off the passenger seat onto the floor...where it hit my stainless steel water-bottle. I was so mad at the person ahead of me that I seriously considered ramming them in the butt! Once I got home I made every effort to repair it with the most super-est glue that I had on-hand, but the breaks were not clean & most of the pieces had shattered into dusty crumbles.



I decided that it is good enough. I kinda like it....(for now...)

Goodbye Brown....

Hello Blue!

I am so excited because I got my living room re-painted (4th time in 4 years) before the new furniture got here!!! I swear that I had to repaint--the walls were a dark chocolate brown, and the couches are dark brown. That just wasn't going to work. I must say that I really prefer the lighter walls to the dark...they just seem cleaner...and I really really loved my dark brown walls. Ryan says that he prefers the new colour, but that's what he said last time...however, I'm pretty sure he's sincere this time...but, one never knows with Ryan.
Even more fantastic, our new piece of art got here today. I was thrilled to find that it goes perfectly in the room. I was worried that I was going to have to get rid of my favorite red curtains....but the two go together like milk and chocolate!



I had the art whittled down to two pieces. Ryan preferred the naked woman over cherubs (or, naked babies, as he calles them...), so we ended up getting this picture. And, I am very glad because I LOVE it!!



Nevaeh is the worlds cutest dog ever! All he wanted was to be cuddled by Ryan while holding his playmate Lasagna in his mouth while growling. He thinks that's fun.



Have you ever seen a Bichon and a Pit Bull just "hangin" out? Here is (Left to Right) Kyisha, Emma, Nevaeh, and Daisy all enjoying themselves in the grass. Actually, Ryan lined them up and forced them to be good...I believe he is asking them if they want to go to the lake....

Days at the Lake...

We have been lucky enough to get to the lake everyday for the past week or so. The rain and clouds have let up, and it is beginning to feel like summer...or as much as summer can possibly feel like out here--Ryan and I had to laugh when we found out that the hottest day yet peaked at 24 degrees Celsius. We're not sure if we even remember what 40 degrees feels like. Either way, it is still hot enough to go for a nice cold swim.

And, if you're wondering, Ryan is not walking on water (though he would like to think...), but he is standing on a giant rock that is 3 ft. under water due to all the rain that we have been getting as of late......

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yesterday was my birthday. Ryan wrapped all my presents up with ribbons and bows and then attached fresh flowers from the garden to each package. Even though they were wrapped in navigation maps, they were the most beautiful packages ever!. He even picked me a bouquet for the birthday table! He is so sweet to me on my birthday.



For Birthday supper we had chicken tostadas with white kidney beans. I had never had white kidney beans before, but they sure were good.



My birthday cake was a surprise to me...Ryan hid it away in the fridge, and under no circumstances was I to peek. I was thrilled when supper-time came and he took it out to thaw---it was a tirimisu cake from M&M's and it was GooD! (Ryan has actually mentioned how good it was several times...which for him is an anomaly. That is how good it was)





I must say, too, that the presents this year were better than the cake! I got the most wonderful package of "silly stuff" that was anything but silly. Thank-You Mom...you really are the worlds best mom! I wouldn't trade the love in that box for a million dollars! And, my father in law and his wife sent me out a lovly card--stuffed with a lovely check! Thanks guys---I will put that money towards something wonderful! (probobly wonderful dishes!)
And, Ryan got me my clothesline!!!! Hooraaaaay! I am so happy. I have wanted a clothesline since the day we moved in...now, 4 years later, I have one!




And, if you couldn't tell from the above picture, Ryan got me a MAN'S weedwacker! I wasn't too thrilled about it as a present, but it is badly needed as our old weedeater, a lovely Christmas present from my parents 3 years ago, overheated last month and the head blew apart.

Pretty Flowers

My flower gardens are alive with color! It has been raining for the last 2 weeks, and everything is growing like stink...including the bugs.



This is the newest addition to my backyard gardens. It hugs the fire-pit, and is a nice transition from yard to forest. I am going to be planting some bigger bushes behind the twisted log to add to the feeling of seclusion.



and......I know that I have been told to cut back on the dog photo's, but I just cannot resist posting this one of Daisy and Nevaeh cuddling. He NeVeR lets her even share a doggie bed with him......so this is a very rare and sweet occurrence.