summer SUMMER summer

i suppose it is about time that i jot down a few updates! summer is quickly fading (ironically, it is just now that we are finally started to experience hot summer weather!) and school is just around the corner.

since our part time summer school jobs ended over a month ago, there have been several projects to keep us busy around the house. our backyard now proudly boasts a 12 x 20 "barn style" shed and our garden has finally started to produce green beans, scallions, sweet corn, carrots, and pumpkins. Hopefully this week's summer heat will ripen our five tomato plants...we've been staring at hundreds of little greenies for what seems like forever!

inside the house, i did a little work on a spare basement bedroom. it was the last room in our house that remained unpainted since moving in, and it was in desperate need of a facelift. so, i dug out my left over paint cans and after changing my mind five times (is anyone suprised, really?) decided to paint one blue accent wall, surrounded by my all time favorite color--"ostrich feather" (a super light and fresh grey). after getting everything cleaned up, j and i decided to move all of our office furniture downstairs and create a new office for ourselves. it ended up working out really well, and now all of his chicago bear memorabilia has a home. perhaps i'll post a photo later! right now, though, i'm too busy playing around on our new internet connection! it is so much nicer than the spotty reception we were, ahem, borrowing earlier.

aside from all of this, the best part of the summer so far, has been the ability to come and go as i please! honestly, no one has it better than me when it comes to june, july and august! i cannot ever remember feeling as relaxed and at peace as i am right now...

it is bliss!

oh, and i cannot forget the enjoyable moments we have spent with friends and family over the past few weeks. a wedding in sioux falls, a day trip to the waterpark with our adorable nephew, a delicious breakfast at the orchard, garage saling with mom and dad, wii bowling with the inlaws, dinners with friends on the deck, and, more than anything, the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time together. i am grateful for this, because now that football is underway, those times are going to become fewer and far between.

















what has been the best part of your summer?

bye-bye blond

sometimes you don't realize the difference a small change can make until you finally go for it. that's when you end up saying to yourself, "oh my goodness! why did i not do this sooner?"

well, i'm not sure if its good or bad, but i've said exactly that not once, but twice in the past week! (wait a minute, what am i talking about? it's good. definitely good.)

first, this past weekend when we replaced the builder-grade globe ceiling light in our kitchen with a much improved pendant fixture. My dirty sink is now illuminated brilliantly.

then again yesterday, when the friend of a co-worker finally took care of my poor, neglected head of hair at her home after work. two margaritas + two sets of lowlights = one happy me.

before......................and...................after



















yes. that's soooo much better.

randomness

evenings in september, for the most part, have proven quite plain.

now, i'm vanilla all the way, so this is neither a suprise, nor do i intend it as a complaint--

let's just call it an...observation. take, for example, today.

4:45 arrive home. mail, in. dog, out.
4:55 quick trip to library to pick up book reserved last may.
4:56 damnit! didn't beat the rain. sit in car while torrential downpour ensues.
5:00 feed thirsty car, $40 later.
5:15 trip to marketplace, to pick up fruit snacks and rice. was craving an apple, but honeycrisps were $3.99/lb. sigh. just couldn't do it.
5:42 begin dinner. well, begin warming up left-over tacos. what of it?
6:00 delicious!
6:15 peek into the fridge and happen across the last beer. well, ok. i suppose.
6:30 comfort my poor, pathetic dog, while the soft rumble of thunder terrifies her. catch up on wheel of fortune, and my bag of halloween m&m's.
7-9:00 i'm embarrased to say, but i can't tear myself away from the biggest loser, on nbc. could they include any more product placement? no. could they drag out the outcomes with any more commercials? no. do i wait with bated breath each week for that "what have you done today" theme song?.....um, yeah.
9:00 school project. i would explain it, but...eh. wasn't anything i couldn't do while watching law & order (the "season opener" as my husband would say).
10:00 gaze begrudgingly at a sink full of dishes. walk into office and turn on computer.

what a slow, rainy day it has been. here's hoping tomorrow brings more rain, and a little more zing!

(hmmm...perhaps less television would increase this likelihood--yikes!)

a breath of fresh air

despite feeling less than perky lately, the hubs and i decided it was time to step out and enjoy the beauty that lies just beyond our backyard. we hiked three different trails on the wisconsin side of interstate park, and i have to say, the view of the dalles (dells) of the st. croix were absolutely breathtaking.

with summer quickly fading and the start of the school year peering around the corner, i dobut we will be back as soon as i'd hope to, but you can bet i'll be there to catch a glimpse of the fall colors come october.

introducing, the "schwii"

today was one of those days where everything fell perfectly into place. the sun was shining brightly and i enjoyed a relaxing morning with my ruby girl.

around noon, i got a phone call from my mechanic saying my car was ready for pick up. i threw myself in the beat up courtesy car and headed down the road, eager to bring my little vibe back home. minutes later, i stood at the service counter and dreadfully reached for my wallet, only to be told--

"she's all yours, miss. everything was covered under warranty. have a great day!"

what?! you fixed and washed my car, let me waste all of the gas in the loaner car, and i owe you...nothing? come again?

then i went to the DMV to get a new license. was there a long line? no. was everyone friendly and helpful? yes. seriously, has anyone ever experienced that?

my good fortune didn't stop there--oh no, my friends. on my way home i stopped at wally world for dog food. there, i received a return phone call from my (hard to reach) physician. not only was she able to change a prescription for me over the phone, but she called it in to the pharmacy for "priority" pickup since i was already there. conveniently, this allowed me enough time to peruse the store and happen across the nintendo wii i have half-heartedly been searching for since christmas.

i bought it without a second thought!

i'm telling you folks, you don't mess with a day like today.