Well, today is the second last day of my family's trip out here, and we're spending it in Vancouver. But before we go, we first have to clean crap off of my jeans. Because Kiera had a big poop. And it came out of her diaper, onto my lap.
Well, now I can't say that that's never happened to me.
October 28, 2008
October 25, 2008
Kiera Wanted to Blog Today
Here's what she thinks of the trip so far:
, x l.7 bbbbnbbvb bnv bgtn 3 3. N nv.
Yup. Those are her own words. If anyone can give an interpretation, I would appreciate that. I can only guess that she's enjoying herself. She seems pretty happy.
, x l.7 bbbbnbbvb bnv bgtn 3 3. N nv.
Yup. Those are her own words. If anyone can give an interpretation, I would appreciate that. I can only guess that she's enjoying herself. She seems pretty happy.
October 24, 2008
Chronicles of Yesterday
After not sleeping a lot, we went for breakfast yesterday morning at Semiahmoo with Mari. I love that restaurant. The breakfast there is AMAZING. And the restaurant is so nice! I really love where Art works, I can't get enough of how beautiful it is.
After breakfast, I gave them a tour of the resort, and then we came back home so Kiera could nap. Once she was well rested, it was off to Bellingham to buy a few necessities, like warmer boots for Kiera, and a large plastic bin for our garbage. But more on that later.
And get this: I actually made dinner! A whole dinner! I mean, it was tomato soup and grilled cheese, but Mari was kind enough to call it "gourmet", and everyone got there fill.
Joe and Phil and their friend Steven came over in the evening, along with Wayne and Sozan. We all played Cranium and Apples To Apples. They were going to play some Guitar Hero, but it would have been too loud for Kiera, who went to bed before 8pm!
And basically slept through the night! Thus, we did too.
Waking up this morning felt sooooooo good. :)
Again, click here to see Elleah's version, with pics.
After breakfast, I gave them a tour of the resort, and then we came back home so Kiera could nap. Once she was well rested, it was off to Bellingham to buy a few necessities, like warmer boots for Kiera, and a large plastic bin for our garbage. But more on that later.
And get this: I actually made dinner! A whole dinner! I mean, it was tomato soup and grilled cheese, but Mari was kind enough to call it "gourmet", and everyone got there fill.
Joe and Phil and their friend Steven came over in the evening, along with Wayne and Sozan. We all played Cranium and Apples To Apples. They were going to play some Guitar Hero, but it would have been too loud for Kiera, who went to bed before 8pm!
And basically slept through the night! Thus, we did too.
Waking up this morning felt sooooooo good. :)
Again, click here to see Elleah's version, with pics.
October 23, 2008
Out of the Mouths of Babes....
...comes very little sleep.
My mom and sister and niece arrived yesterday. Praise God that Kiera did not "suffer" on the plane. We were all praying that she wouldn't fuss or cry, and apparently, she was an angel. She even managed a short nap en route.
So we got all there stuff here, unpacked, and then headed to Bellingham for dinner. We indulged Elleah, who LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES IHOP. She was not disappointed. Then we went to Target to buy an air mattress for Mom and Elleah to sleep on. Yup, we managed to get that ding dang bunk bed out just in time.
So we came back with our $30 air mattress, opened up the box and were told that the air pump had to charge for 12 hours before we could inflate the bed. Unfortunately, my mom and sister are not the type of people who want to stay up for 12 hours waiting for the pump to charge.
Plan B: pull out the Hide-A-Bed. Yes, our couch is also a hide-a-bed. I am SO THANKFUL right now. But anyway, that wasn't actually the point of this post. Did you read the title? Yes, I'm getting to that.
Anyway, they brought with them a collapsible playpen for Kiera to sleep in, so we set that up right away, and before long, it was time for bed.
Or so we thought.
I guess Kiera doesn't sleep well in other places that are not her crib at home. Read: she didn't sleep. So neither did we. She cried. We did not cry with her. Well, I didn't. I can't speak for my mom or sister, who had her in their bed most of the night. In fact, I think Art is the only one who actually got more than a couple hours sleep!
So I think we're all a little tired, including Kiera, although she doesn't show it as quickly, probably because she's so excited to be around five cool people 24/7. Kiera is actually napping as I type this. Lucky duck.
Here's hoping we all sleep through the night tonight!
Ooh, click here to read Elleah's version, and see some pictures.
My mom and sister and niece arrived yesterday. Praise God that Kiera did not "suffer" on the plane. We were all praying that she wouldn't fuss or cry, and apparently, she was an angel. She even managed a short nap en route.
So we got all there stuff here, unpacked, and then headed to Bellingham for dinner. We indulged Elleah, who LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES IHOP. She was not disappointed. Then we went to Target to buy an air mattress for Mom and Elleah to sleep on. Yup, we managed to get that ding dang bunk bed out just in time.
So we came back with our $30 air mattress, opened up the box and were told that the air pump had to charge for 12 hours before we could inflate the bed. Unfortunately, my mom and sister are not the type of people who want to stay up for 12 hours waiting for the pump to charge.
Plan B: pull out the Hide-A-Bed. Yes, our couch is also a hide-a-bed. I am SO THANKFUL right now. But anyway, that wasn't actually the point of this post. Did you read the title? Yes, I'm getting to that.
Anyway, they brought with them a collapsible playpen for Kiera to sleep in, so we set that up right away, and before long, it was time for bed.
Or so we thought.
I guess Kiera doesn't sleep well in other places that are not her crib at home. Read: she didn't sleep. So neither did we. She cried. We did not cry with her. Well, I didn't. I can't speak for my mom or sister, who had her in their bed most of the night. In fact, I think Art is the only one who actually got more than a couple hours sleep!
So I think we're all a little tired, including Kiera, although she doesn't show it as quickly, probably because she's so excited to be around five cool people 24/7. Kiera is actually napping as I type this. Lucky duck.
Here's hoping we all sleep through the night tonight!
Ooh, click here to read Elleah's version, and see some pictures.
October 20, 2008
My Mom and Sister's Most Excellent Adventure: Visiting Me
I cleaned the carport today.
I cleaned the spare room even more today.
All we have to do is move the bunk bed frame out and the house will be ready. Well, that, along with the every day chores of dishes and laundry and cleaning the bathroom.
I'm a little nervous for my mom and sister coming out to visit. I don't know what they're expecting. Our place is pretty tiny, so it will be interesting having five people living here for seven days. Well, four regular-sized people and one baby.
We've got a few things planned, but I definitely have to think up some more activities, besides going out for dinner. I can think of lots of great places to eat, but we can't just stuff our faces all week!
I cleaned the spare room even more today.
All we have to do is move the bunk bed frame out and the house will be ready. Well, that, along with the every day chores of dishes and laundry and cleaning the bathroom.
I'm a little nervous for my mom and sister coming out to visit. I don't know what they're expecting. Our place is pretty tiny, so it will be interesting having five people living here for seven days. Well, four regular-sized people and one baby.
We've got a few things planned, but I definitely have to think up some more activities, besides going out for dinner. I can think of lots of great places to eat, but we can't just stuff our faces all week!
October 17, 2008
Apparently Potato Soup Doesn't Go Down the Drain
These past couple of days have been really nice. Art had the day off yesterday, and there was much relaxing and cuddling and tv/movie watching. And not a whole lot of productivity on the cleaning/organizing front.
And today felt fairly similar, even though Art worked. I slept in, relaxed, watched tv, and then, when he got home, we made dinner together (hence the potato soup tite) and watched a movie . And I finally got his closet organized! ("His" closet being the closet in our bedroom, but it has all his stuff in it. I have "my" closet in the spare bedroom).
The whole point of my never-ending cleaning and organizing is so that the house can be clean and organized, and also so that we don't have to rely on the spare bedroom as storage for one whole week. And that week starts next Wednesday, when my mom and sister visit. And they will be sleeping in the spare bedroom. And now that Art's closet is more organized, it also has more space. So some things that are just sitting in the spare bedroom can now be tucked away in the closet.
I know this is all so terribly fascinating, but if you know me, you know that it makes me very very very very very very very happy.
And today felt fairly similar, even though Art worked. I slept in, relaxed, watched tv, and then, when he got home, we made dinner together (hence the potato soup tite) and watched a movie . And I finally got his closet organized! ("His" closet being the closet in our bedroom, but it has all his stuff in it. I have "my" closet in the spare bedroom).
The whole point of my never-ending cleaning and organizing is so that the house can be clean and organized, and also so that we don't have to rely on the spare bedroom as storage for one whole week. And that week starts next Wednesday, when my mom and sister visit. And they will be sleeping in the spare bedroom. And now that Art's closet is more organized, it also has more space. So some things that are just sitting in the spare bedroom can now be tucked away in the closet.
I know this is all so terribly fascinating, but if you know me, you know that it makes me very very very very very very very happy.
October 15, 2008
Ho-Hum, Pig's Bum
So..............................yesterday I did some laundry. The experience was about as exciting as it sounds.
And today I went to bible study, which is A LOT more exciting than it sounds. Although, hopefully, it doesn't sound unexciting.
I can't believe how amazing it is; every week, I'm just blown away by how good the book of Daniel actually is. Who knew that it was so applicable?!
My mom suggested that I share, on my blog, some of the things I'm learning, and I should. I'd like to. But there's just SO MUCH, and I'm not very good at being succinct. I don't know how I could pick out a just a few points here and there and manage to share the significance and weight of those points without writing a novel. But one of these days, I must attempt it. It really is too good to keep to myself. And I can't go on just saying how amazing my bible study is without telling you why.
But for now, this post will have to do. I don't have much else to share about this week, it's been pretty uneventful (as my title is supposed to imply).
I've been a bit lazy these past few days, so hopefully tomorrow I'll pull up my socks and get more cleaning and organizing done. There are still a few more tasks to complete, and I can get it done in a week, but only if I do it.
That's all!
And today I went to bible study, which is A LOT more exciting than it sounds. Although, hopefully, it doesn't sound unexciting.
I can't believe how amazing it is; every week, I'm just blown away by how good the book of Daniel actually is. Who knew that it was so applicable?!
My mom suggested that I share, on my blog, some of the things I'm learning, and I should. I'd like to. But there's just SO MUCH, and I'm not very good at being succinct. I don't know how I could pick out a just a few points here and there and manage to share the significance and weight of those points without writing a novel. But one of these days, I must attempt it. It really is too good to keep to myself. And I can't go on just saying how amazing my bible study is without telling you why.
But for now, this post will have to do. I don't have much else to share about this week, it's been pretty uneventful (as my title is supposed to imply).
I've been a bit lazy these past few days, so hopefully tomorrow I'll pull up my socks and get more cleaning and organizing done. There are still a few more tasks to complete, and I can get it done in a week, but only if I do it.
That's all!
October 12, 2008
Turkey Day
Today Canada celebrates their Thanksgiving. Practically everybody I know will be doing the turkey thing today. I was a bit sad that I wouldn't be a participant this year (I've never missed a Thanksgiving). But such is life in a different country. I am far away, and thus will not be a part of major holidays and events like I used to. But I can't say it has me down in the dumps.
Surprisingly, I'm actually quite glad that I don't have any family gatherings to attend, or any overeating to do. Today I woke up sick. Again. I don't know what this random not-feeling-well-ness is all about, but at least it's not serious. I went to church, I went grocery shopping, I attempted to eat some lunch, and none of it felt very great, so now I'm happily cozied up on the couch with the laptop. I doubt I'll move from my spot until Art gets home (except to get more water).
And hey, just because I'm not eating turkey and stuffing (or eating at all, for that matter) doesn't mean that I can't be grateful for all that God has done, and is doing, in my life.
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
Surprisingly, I'm actually quite glad that I don't have any family gatherings to attend, or any overeating to do. Today I woke up sick. Again. I don't know what this random not-feeling-well-ness is all about, but at least it's not serious. I went to church, I went grocery shopping, I attempted to eat some lunch, and none of it felt very great, so now I'm happily cozied up on the couch with the laptop. I doubt I'll move from my spot until Art gets home (except to get more water).
And hey, just because I'm not eating turkey and stuffing (or eating at all, for that matter) doesn't mean that I can't be grateful for all that God has done, and is doing, in my life.
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
October 10, 2008
Food for Thought
So I was sick on Tuesday; I don't know what it was, but I'm glad it's gone. I felt much better on Wednesday, but then I ruined it by not eating much during the day, and eating A LOT of sweets late in the evening. That made for a pukey-feeling night. Thankfully it was just a feeling, and not a fact. (Side note: Art and I went for a walk on Wednesday, it was nice and relaxing, and special. It's such a simple yet wonderful way to spend time with my husband. I love being married).
On Thursday, I felt ill for OTHER reasons (ahem), and again, I didn't eat a lot. Towards late evening, I was feeling mostly fine, and hungry. Plus, I knew that I should probably get some food in my stomach, whether I felt like it or not. So I did. And I over-ate. Guess how I was feeling at night? Yup. Pukey. Again, I managed to stick to feelings. I also learned my lesson.
Today I felt mostly normal again, and I ate small portions of food throughout the day. So barring an actual virus, I won't be reporting any sickness of my own making. And hopefully, I'll remember this the next time my eyes are bigger than my stomach, and it's past 8pm.
On Thursday, I felt ill for OTHER reasons (ahem), and again, I didn't eat a lot. Towards late evening, I was feeling mostly fine, and hungry. Plus, I knew that I should probably get some food in my stomach, whether I felt like it or not. So I did. And I over-ate. Guess how I was feeling at night? Yup. Pukey. Again, I managed to stick to feelings. I also learned my lesson.
Today I felt mostly normal again, and I ate small portions of food throughout the day. So barring an actual virus, I won't be reporting any sickness of my own making. And hopefully, I'll remember this the next time my eyes are bigger than my stomach, and it's past 8pm.
October 9, 2008
Fit and Famous
So you all know how Art loves to work out. Just in case you didn't, click here to take a peek at his blog.
He's into a specific type of fitness called CrossFit. The idea behind CrossFit was inspired by triathletes and decathletes. They're strong in many areas, not just one, and it makes sense. Your body works as a whole, so if you're going to get fit, your whole body should be fit. Don't just lift weights, or just run. Do both. Don't isolate muscles when building them, because your muscles don't work individually, they work together. And switch it up. If you keep doing the same routine over and over, eventually your workouts will become ineffective.
It's pretty addicting, and since Art is so passionate about it, he can't help but spread it around. He's got his siblings doing it (Mary and Joe), and their roommate Phil, and Art's friend Wayne, and Art's chiropractor, and one of his profs from college, and one of Phil's friends has recently been joining them.
And they don't even have to go to a gym! They've got what they call their "Hobo Gym." They've got enough equipment in Mary's and Joe's and Phil's garage that they can basically do every workout there, and they're really good at substituting if there's one they can't do. Also, the workouts (called Workout Of the Day, or WOD) can be modified so anyone can do them. Seriously. Anyone. I've seen grandmas doing CrossFit. One the official website I saw a video of a pregnant woman working out. And then there are off-shoots of CrossFit for specific groups, like women, or kids. Yup. CrossFit Kids. And look how much I'm writing about it. Even I'm getting into it!
So anyway, Art recently got hooked up with a real CrossFit gym in Bellingham, and they asked him to join them for a fundraiser they were having. It's a specific WOD called Fight Gone Bad, and this time, those who were working out asked others to sponsor them. All the money raised went towards the cure for prostate cancer.
Fight Gone Bad goes like this:
5 stations, one minute at each station, for 3 rounds, and one minute of rest between each round.
So 15 minutes of work total, with 3 minutes of rest total.
The stations are:
Row machine - row for calories.
Wall balls - holding a 14lb or 20lb medicine ball, squat, and then toss the ball up 9 feet, catch it, and repeat.
Sumo-Deadlift High Pull - lift 53lbs or 75lbs from the ground to your chest in one movement.
Box jumps - jump from the ground onto a 24inch box, and jump back down. Repeat.
Pushpress - lift 53lbs or 75lbs from your chest straight up into the air. Oh, and this is not a bench press. This one is done standing.
Every rep is worth a point, and you want as many points as possible. Here's a link to a video from the CrossFit website that shows and explains the whole thing.
However, you should really watch THIS video. On the day of Fight Gone Bad, there was a camera guy who filmed the whole thing, and he put it up on YouTube. Art and his brother Joe are both in it. Enjoy!
He's into a specific type of fitness called CrossFit. The idea behind CrossFit was inspired by triathletes and decathletes. They're strong in many areas, not just one, and it makes sense. Your body works as a whole, so if you're going to get fit, your whole body should be fit. Don't just lift weights, or just run. Do both. Don't isolate muscles when building them, because your muscles don't work individually, they work together. And switch it up. If you keep doing the same routine over and over, eventually your workouts will become ineffective.
It's pretty addicting, and since Art is so passionate about it, he can't help but spread it around. He's got his siblings doing it (Mary and Joe), and their roommate Phil, and Art's friend Wayne, and Art's chiropractor, and one of his profs from college, and one of Phil's friends has recently been joining them.
And they don't even have to go to a gym! They've got what they call their "Hobo Gym." They've got enough equipment in Mary's and Joe's and Phil's garage that they can basically do every workout there, and they're really good at substituting if there's one they can't do. Also, the workouts (called Workout Of the Day, or WOD) can be modified so anyone can do them. Seriously. Anyone. I've seen grandmas doing CrossFit. One the official website I saw a video of a pregnant woman working out. And then there are off-shoots of CrossFit for specific groups, like women, or kids. Yup. CrossFit Kids. And look how much I'm writing about it. Even I'm getting into it!
So anyway, Art recently got hooked up with a real CrossFit gym in Bellingham, and they asked him to join them for a fundraiser they were having. It's a specific WOD called Fight Gone Bad, and this time, those who were working out asked others to sponsor them. All the money raised went towards the cure for prostate cancer.
Fight Gone Bad goes like this:
5 stations, one minute at each station, for 3 rounds, and one minute of rest between each round.
So 15 minutes of work total, with 3 minutes of rest total.
The stations are:
Row machine - row for calories.
Wall balls - holding a 14lb or 20lb medicine ball, squat, and then toss the ball up 9 feet, catch it, and repeat.
Sumo-Deadlift High Pull - lift 53lbs or 75lbs from the ground to your chest in one movement.
Box jumps - jump from the ground onto a 24inch box, and jump back down. Repeat.
Pushpress - lift 53lbs or 75lbs from your chest straight up into the air. Oh, and this is not a bench press. This one is done standing.
Every rep is worth a point, and you want as many points as possible. Here's a link to a video from the CrossFit website that shows and explains the whole thing.
However, you should really watch THIS video. On the day of Fight Gone Bad, there was a camera guy who filmed the whole thing, and he put it up on YouTube. Art and his brother Joe are both in it. Enjoy!
October 8, 2008
Tee Hee
Apparently there are people out there who don't appreciate it when I joke about being pregnant.
:D
It's really just my response to all those who joke (or not joke) about us having babies right now. We've been told many times (and some people were absolutely serious) that we should have lots of babies, and soon. I hear that this is perfectly normal for young married couples, so I'm not really annoyed. I just brush it off and say, "Not for a few years."
But I'm not the only one who has joked, on my blog, about being pregnant (*cough* Erin *cough*)
And I promise not to do that again.
In other news (that might seem to be related, but it's not) I'm feeling much better today. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to go to bible study tonight, which wouldn't be the end of the world, except it WOULD BE. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE bible study. It is the best, and it's amazing, and I'm blown away every time.
But I can go, so the world can keep on spinning.
And we're going grocery shopping today, and I'm buying ingredients to make my world famous spinach dip! It is very very yummy.
And my mom and sister will be here in EXACTLY two weeks. We're almost ready for them. We still have to get rid of the bunk bed. ART!
:D
It's really just my response to all those who joke (or not joke) about us having babies right now. We've been told many times (and some people were absolutely serious) that we should have lots of babies, and soon. I hear that this is perfectly normal for young married couples, so I'm not really annoyed. I just brush it off and say, "Not for a few years."
But I'm not the only one who has joked, on my blog, about being pregnant (*cough* Erin *cough*)
And I promise not to do that again.
In other news (that might seem to be related, but it's not) I'm feeling much better today. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to go to bible study tonight, which wouldn't be the end of the world, except it WOULD BE. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE bible study. It is the best, and it's amazing, and I'm blown away every time.
But I can go, so the world can keep on spinning.
And we're going grocery shopping today, and I'm buying ingredients to make my world famous spinach dip! It is very very yummy.
And my mom and sister will be here in EXACTLY two weeks. We're almost ready for them. We still have to get rid of the bunk bed. ART!
October 7, 2008
Tuesdays Are Perfect For Being Sick
Art and I are a pretty pathetic couple today. We're both sick, but we don't know with what. Neither of us has a fever, and there are no cold symptoms either. We're both just incredibly achy. Like, our entire bodies hurt: muscles, bones, insides...
Thankfully, Art has the day off today. On the downside, it sucks to be spending it like this, but on the upside, at least he didn't have to worry about work.
We kind of tried to take care of each other, but that didn't work so well. He's been watching tv, and I've been in bed most of the day.
We finally decided to take some painkillers, just to get some ding dang relief. I think they're working, but I'm hoping that we'll feel more normal tomorrow. I have bible study, and I REALLY want to go. Also, we need to go grocery shopping. Also, feeling like this just sucks, no matter what.
Is it possible to get sick from eggs? Because that's all I've eaten today. I cooked eggs for us this morning, before we started feeling so yucky.
I have no idea how to end this post. I just wanted to report on how we're doing.
Thankfully, Art has the day off today. On the downside, it sucks to be spending it like this, but on the upside, at least he didn't have to worry about work.
We kind of tried to take care of each other, but that didn't work so well. He's been watching tv, and I've been in bed most of the day.
We finally decided to take some painkillers, just to get some ding dang relief. I think they're working, but I'm hoping that we'll feel more normal tomorrow. I have bible study, and I REALLY want to go. Also, we need to go grocery shopping. Also, feeling like this just sucks, no matter what.
Is it possible to get sick from eggs? Because that's all I've eaten today. I cooked eggs for us this morning, before we started feeling so yucky.
I have no idea how to end this post. I just wanted to report on how we're doing.
October 6, 2008
Savor the Flavor
That's what Art told me to title my post. Why? Because we went to the garbage dump today.
Art switched cars with his dad last weekend, so we've been driving his dad's truck around for a week. His parents are coming up today, which means that the cars will be switched back. I told Art that we had to get rid of the futon TODAY. It's been sitting in the carport for a few weeks, and I was adamant that it will not be there when my mom and sister show up in two weeks.
So we piled it into the truck, along with a ton of other garbage and recycling that can't be picked up. (Which I think is incredibly retarded. Did I ever tell you? Our garbage and recycling only get picked up once a month, and we have three small bins for recycling: one for newspaper, one for scrap paper, and one for bottles and cans. That's it. So milk cartons, jars, cereal boxes, ice cream tubs, and all manner of cardboard and plastic just piles up, until you're forced to take it to the dump, or stuff it into your overflowing garbage can, which is the only amount of garbage you're allowed to put out. You can't have a can and multiple bags sitting around it. If you want two garbage cans, fine, but you have to clear it with them so that they can charge you extra. And if you want your garbage picked up more than once a month, they charge you extra. It's such an inconvenient system!)
We loaded up the truck, and headed to Ferndale, which is about 15-20 minutes away. I've never been to a dump before. And I definitely don't want to go back anytime soon. It stinks SO bad!! I'm sure I didn't need to tell you that, I mean, it's a dump, but now I know! I hope the people who work there get paid A LOT.
The cool thing is that it's really organized. There's one section with several large bins just for garbage, then there's another area just for recycling, and separate bins for everything. I also saw areas where you can dump construction materials, tree branches, even concrete scraps!
So that's the dump. Now I've been there. Now I need to take several showers.
Art switched cars with his dad last weekend, so we've been driving his dad's truck around for a week. His parents are coming up today, which means that the cars will be switched back. I told Art that we had to get rid of the futon TODAY. It's been sitting in the carport for a few weeks, and I was adamant that it will not be there when my mom and sister show up in two weeks.
So we piled it into the truck, along with a ton of other garbage and recycling that can't be picked up. (Which I think is incredibly retarded. Did I ever tell you? Our garbage and recycling only get picked up once a month, and we have three small bins for recycling: one for newspaper, one for scrap paper, and one for bottles and cans. That's it. So milk cartons, jars, cereal boxes, ice cream tubs, and all manner of cardboard and plastic just piles up, until you're forced to take it to the dump, or stuff it into your overflowing garbage can, which is the only amount of garbage you're allowed to put out. You can't have a can and multiple bags sitting around it. If you want two garbage cans, fine, but you have to clear it with them so that they can charge you extra. And if you want your garbage picked up more than once a month, they charge you extra. It's such an inconvenient system!)
We loaded up the truck, and headed to Ferndale, which is about 15-20 minutes away. I've never been to a dump before. And I definitely don't want to go back anytime soon. It stinks SO bad!! I'm sure I didn't need to tell you that, I mean, it's a dump, but now I know! I hope the people who work there get paid A LOT.
The cool thing is that it's really organized. There's one section with several large bins just for garbage, then there's another area just for recycling, and separate bins for everything. I also saw areas where you can dump construction materials, tree branches, even concrete scraps!
So that's the dump. Now I've been there. Now I need to take several showers.
October 5, 2008
I Feel Braver With Gloves On
Well, lucky for you, you don't have to listen to anymore complaining from me about how unfair my life is.
Because we DIDN'T go to Oak Harbor today, which means I got to do yard work! It was a beautiful day, absolutely perfect. As soon as I got home from church, I grabbed my borrowed gloves and borrowed trowel, and borrowed trimmers, and I chopped up everything in sight.
Okay, well, I didn't trim EVERYTHING. I did a lot though. I don't think that Art and Joe gave much thought to their plants while they lived at the house.
Observation #1: Clearly, the plants haven't been tended to ONE IOTA in about two years.
Observation #2: Practically everything that grows on our yard has thorns. Why is that?
Observation #3: There ARE a lot of spiders in Washington! I remember people telling me that, but I never saw the critters, so I didn't believe it. Well now I know where they are. They're outside, on the ground, among the plants and grasses. Where they belong. At least they're not inside.
I saw many many spiders, mostly small and black, and no, I didn't kill them. They already looked distressed, since I messed up their habitats quite a bit. So I left them. With the exception of a large one. I didn't want that one reproducing and making more large ugly spiders to live around my house.
We have two unnameable bushes beside the carport. They are thorny, and apparently, have cute orange blooms on them in the spring (according to my landlady). If she turns out to be wrong, if there are no blooms, then I'm chopping it down completely next year. I will not tolerate large, thorny bushes that don't do anything.
We have one rose bush at the back of our house, and I pretty much trimmed it to about half of what it was. I felt bad, but the thing was growing to the ceiling! So I really hope it's okay.
I tried to even out/round out/clean up the rhododendrons. I can now see out my kitchen window, although not much more. I will probably have to take more off the top. The ones in the back of the house are huge, which is nice, except huge mean unmanageable. Especially one particular bush: it's a flippin tree! The thing is taller than our house, and the blooms are coming off of a trunk, not a nice soft branch. I don't know how I'm going to get at that one. The large trimmers weren't strong enough, and neither was I. Maybe I'll get Art to try. He's taller, and stronger.
Then I hacked at some tall weeds by a shed we have but don't use. All those were thorny too. I have three or four large piles of weed branches about the yard, which is unsightly, but once they dry out, I can burn them. Thank goodness we have a fire pit. I'm not done with the shed weeds, but I had been going nonstop for five hours, and I was tired and hungry, and very sore.
I accomplished quite a lot, and I'm a very happy woman. I don't know when I'll continue, maybe in a few days, if it's not raining. I'm not as anxious now about the yard. I got quite a start!
P.S. I saw a pill bug for the first time. I didn't know what it was until I looked it up, but I saw it curl up into a ball when I bothered it. It's a nifty little creature.
Because we DIDN'T go to Oak Harbor today, which means I got to do yard work! It was a beautiful day, absolutely perfect. As soon as I got home from church, I grabbed my borrowed gloves and borrowed trowel, and borrowed trimmers, and I chopped up everything in sight.
Okay, well, I didn't trim EVERYTHING. I did a lot though. I don't think that Art and Joe gave much thought to their plants while they lived at the house.
Observation #1: Clearly, the plants haven't been tended to ONE IOTA in about two years.
Observation #2: Practically everything that grows on our yard has thorns. Why is that?
Observation #3: There ARE a lot of spiders in Washington! I remember people telling me that, but I never saw the critters, so I didn't believe it. Well now I know where they are. They're outside, on the ground, among the plants and grasses. Where they belong. At least they're not inside.
I saw many many spiders, mostly small and black, and no, I didn't kill them. They already looked distressed, since I messed up their habitats quite a bit. So I left them. With the exception of a large one. I didn't want that one reproducing and making more large ugly spiders to live around my house.
We have two unnameable bushes beside the carport. They are thorny, and apparently, have cute orange blooms on them in the spring (according to my landlady). If she turns out to be wrong, if there are no blooms, then I'm chopping it down completely next year. I will not tolerate large, thorny bushes that don't do anything.
We have one rose bush at the back of our house, and I pretty much trimmed it to about half of what it was. I felt bad, but the thing was growing to the ceiling! So I really hope it's okay.
I tried to even out/round out/clean up the rhododendrons. I can now see out my kitchen window, although not much more. I will probably have to take more off the top. The ones in the back of the house are huge, which is nice, except huge mean unmanageable. Especially one particular bush: it's a flippin tree! The thing is taller than our house, and the blooms are coming off of a trunk, not a nice soft branch. I don't know how I'm going to get at that one. The large trimmers weren't strong enough, and neither was I. Maybe I'll get Art to try. He's taller, and stronger.
Then I hacked at some tall weeds by a shed we have but don't use. All those were thorny too. I have three or four large piles of weed branches about the yard, which is unsightly, but once they dry out, I can burn them. Thank goodness we have a fire pit. I'm not done with the shed weeds, but I had been going nonstop for five hours, and I was tired and hungry, and very sore.
I accomplished quite a lot, and I'm a very happy woman. I don't know when I'll continue, maybe in a few days, if it's not raining. I'm not as anxious now about the yard. I got quite a start!
P.S. I saw a pill bug for the first time. I didn't know what it was until I looked it up, but I saw it curl up into a ball when I bothered it. It's a nifty little creature.
October 4, 2008
Foiled! Twice!
I woke up this morning and realized that it was going to be a beautiful day! It wasn't raining, and the sun was almost out!
Art and I had some things to do this morning, but I was looking forward to being home this afternoon, and doing some yard work!!
So. It's the afternoon. And, clearly, I'm not outside. I'm inside, blogging. Because it's raining.
Yup, that's right. We had been home barely TEN minutes when it suddenly clouded over. I've probably said this before, but I know I shouldn't be surprised. I mean, it's the WEST COAST. It's kind of known for rain. But usually, if the day starts out nice, it stays nice. The weather doesn't change a whole lot around here.
Okay, so that's foiled once.
Foiled twice hasn't actually happened yet.
You see, I've been aware (for a few days now), that the weather is going to be agreeable tomorrow. And Art was scheduled to work tomorrow afternoon. Perfect! We go to church in the morning, he goes to work in the afternoon, and I do yard work in the afternoon!
Notice I said that Art WAS scheduled to work tomorrow afternoon. He decided to switch with his brother. So now Art will work in the morning. And guess what we're doing in the afternoon? Going to see his parents in Oak Harbor! Which is two hours away! So at least four hours will be spent just driving! Plus all the time we spend just being there! Why am I still using exclamation points?!
On a more positive note, we got a keyboard and mouse for our desktop computer, so now we have two working computers, which will be especially good when my mom and sister come to visit. In 18 days!! And if all the rain now means that it won't rain when they're here, then I guess I'm alright with it.
Art and I had some things to do this morning, but I was looking forward to being home this afternoon, and doing some yard work!!
So. It's the afternoon. And, clearly, I'm not outside. I'm inside, blogging. Because it's raining.
Yup, that's right. We had been home barely TEN minutes when it suddenly clouded over. I've probably said this before, but I know I shouldn't be surprised. I mean, it's the WEST COAST. It's kind of known for rain. But usually, if the day starts out nice, it stays nice. The weather doesn't change a whole lot around here.
Okay, so that's foiled once.
Foiled twice hasn't actually happened yet.
You see, I've been aware (for a few days now), that the weather is going to be agreeable tomorrow. And Art was scheduled to work tomorrow afternoon. Perfect! We go to church in the morning, he goes to work in the afternoon, and I do yard work in the afternoon!
Notice I said that Art WAS scheduled to work tomorrow afternoon. He decided to switch with his brother. So now Art will work in the morning. And guess what we're doing in the afternoon? Going to see his parents in Oak Harbor! Which is two hours away! So at least four hours will be spent just driving! Plus all the time we spend just being there! Why am I still using exclamation points?!
On a more positive note, we got a keyboard and mouse for our desktop computer, so now we have two working computers, which will be especially good when my mom and sister come to visit. In 18 days!! And if all the rain now means that it won't rain when they're here, then I guess I'm alright with it.
October 3, 2008
Some Noodles, and a Book or Two.
I made dinner yesterday. Are you hearing me? Dinner. An ENTIRE meal. I made it, three courses, all by myself. This is the very first time I have ever done such a thing. Ever. This is a very big deal for me.
I won't go on to boast about how amazing it was, but it wasn't a disaster. I made Penne Marinara, a simple salad with Italian dressing, and muffins for dessert. And I did it all in under 45 minutes.
I had timed it perfectly, actually. It was all ready right when Art was supposed to come home from work. Except he kind of ruined that by coming home an hour early, but he was still surprised and very pleased. And I guess that's better than his coming home late.
Oh, and it would seem that God answered my prayer from Tuesday evening. That was the night I had a not-warm bath. I tried again on Wednesday morning, and it was wonderfully hot.
And I'm very excited to announce that I'm pregnant. No, just kidding. What I wanted to announce was that I don't have to buy my own gardening tools anymore. I was speaking with my neighbor (who is also our landlady) about doing some trimming and weeding, and she told me not to buy anything, I could borrow anything I needed from her! So I was all ready to get started yesterday.
Except I haven't started yet, because it's raining. We had such nice weather for nearly a week, and now it's going to rain for a while. But it can't last forever, and one of these days, the sun will come out,and so will some weeds.
A few days ago, I posted about my indecision regarding my rhododendron bushes. At my neighbor's advice, I will bit the bullet and trim the plants. She said that they will come back as strong as ever, and though their blooms might be few next year, they will bloom nonetheless. And maybe I'll only trim the one by our kitchen window, and leave the rest. It's the one that needs it the most; the rest are alright.
That's all for today, tune in next time when I tell you all about how I ordered two books on amazon.com yesterday, one for FIVE CENTS, and the other for $1.98 from the bookstore in my former hometown! Or I guess I'll just tell you all about it now.
The end.
I won't go on to boast about how amazing it was, but it wasn't a disaster. I made Penne Marinara, a simple salad with Italian dressing, and muffins for dessert. And I did it all in under 45 minutes.
I had timed it perfectly, actually. It was all ready right when Art was supposed to come home from work. Except he kind of ruined that by coming home an hour early, but he was still surprised and very pleased. And I guess that's better than his coming home late.
Oh, and it would seem that God answered my prayer from Tuesday evening. That was the night I had a not-warm bath. I tried again on Wednesday morning, and it was wonderfully hot.
And I'm very excited to announce that I'm pregnant. No, just kidding. What I wanted to announce was that I don't have to buy my own gardening tools anymore. I was speaking with my neighbor (who is also our landlady) about doing some trimming and weeding, and she told me not to buy anything, I could borrow anything I needed from her! So I was all ready to get started yesterday.
Except I haven't started yet, because it's raining. We had such nice weather for nearly a week, and now it's going to rain for a while. But it can't last forever, and one of these days, the sun will come out,and so will some weeds.
A few days ago, I posted about my indecision regarding my rhododendron bushes. At my neighbor's advice, I will bit the bullet and trim the plants. She said that they will come back as strong as ever, and though their blooms might be few next year, they will bloom nonetheless. And maybe I'll only trim the one by our kitchen window, and leave the rest. It's the one that needs it the most; the rest are alright.
That's all for today, tune in next time when I tell you all about how I ordered two books on amazon.com yesterday, one for FIVE CENTS, and the other for $1.98 from the bookstore in my former hometown! Or I guess I'll just tell you all about it now.
The end.
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