Beyond the Small Gate

Chicken Containment Evolution

2013-08-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

After a couple of weeks and many chicken pen upgrades including, the Tupperware container brooder, the deck bench brooder, the exercise pen, the ghetto chicken tractor ( built by me) , The other half's awesome chicken house( for indoor use), we built a 8x8 shed.Currently the chickens are free ranging but after yesterdays escape to the "other side" of the neighbors fence.
They will be getting a coop soon and only be allowed free range privileges after our young man gets home from school, I get home from work, or it is a weekend and we are home.

Luckily we have been able to move the chickens up as they mature. When my other half built the awesome chicken house, we moved the barred rocks in with the "ladies in white" Barred rock chickens are mean! Considering that they are 2.5 weeks younger than the ladies, they chased the ladies around, and bullied them into a corner. It got so bad at one point when Chicken Little and Rooster Cogburn were bullying the ladies that I stuck them I solitary confinement for a week and a half and hoped that by then some sort of pecking order would be established and Rooster and Little would be moved to the bottom. When they moved back in with their "friends" their was some scuffles but for the most part it worked. The other change this brought about was a major attitude adjustment, in Chicken Little. From the beginning Chicken Little has been a biter. Every time I feed them or watered them or stuck my hand in to socialize with them she would peck me. While in isolation I was able to spend more time with her and we came to an understanding. She now is one of our more friendlier chickens, however many time s this is one her terms and she will only accept pets or hanging out with us when she isn't busy. She behaves like a teenager!

When Chicken Little and Rooster Cogburn were in isolation I stated looking for another rooster. My fear is that Rooster Cogburn will turn aggressive towards us and will then become my other half's first fly tying flies. I want a rooster to protect my flock, we have an extreme predator problem, hawks, fisher cats coyotes and fox, and weasels have all been spotted in neighboring yards. Granted I would probably try to work with Cogburn because he is pretty and after being reintegrated much nicer to the hens. He also needs a full 8 months of life for his hackle feather to come in appropriately. I am luck enough to live really close to Terry Golson. and I have been reading her blog since I started hatching chicken dreams in my head.

Terry had a little rooster, who she dubbed Mr. Grumpy, included in her shipment of pullets this spring and was requesting for someone to take this rooster and one of his "friends." Terry had mentioned several times that she was looking for a new home for him, and after some quick math I discovered he was of similar age as my Ladies in White and I contacted her. I am hoping that because of his meek personality he doesn't turn aggressive.

Here is to Hoping

Getting Somewhere Now

2013-06-17T06:49:00.001-07:00

When we first purchased our property in 2011, I had grad intentions of goats, gardens , chickens. Basically my little farmstead in the wilds of the "Backyard."

http://frabz.com/3oov

Since our property is too small for goats according to town bylaws. Perhaps I will have to borrow a neighbors to eat the poison ivy we haven't gotten rid of. We have tamed the back yard and it is wonderful.

Last year for mothers day we set up some temporary raised beds and I have decided they are now going to be permanent raised beds and we will be adding to them as soon as the seedlings get a little bigger. For now the tomatos and peppers are in but our weather has been wonky and so spring crops haven't gone in as planned and now might become "basement crops" to keep them cool enough so that they don't bolt or wither away. My direct sow seeds are behind schedule and so I better get after it, perhaps tonight after I get home from work, and after soccer's ice cream social.

I guess it will be probably be Sunday because that appears to be the next day I will be home for longer than to see my bed, and feed the chickens....CHICKENS! Yes we have those too and now that I have them, I have to say chicken math is absurd. I originally was going to order 6 chicks from my pet chicken. my other half and I decided to get plymouth barred rock chickens because he ties flies for fly fishing and their feathers would help offset the cost of buying the pelt in the store. I went into the local Tractor Supply to get brooder supplies when I ordered the chicks. Well Tractor Supply runs this CHICK Days Event around Easter every spring and they had chicks and ducks and they were irresistible. I wanted bantams but some crazy man and his son bought the last 20 of those and then 26 ducks which made me think. IF I DON"T GET THE CUTENESS NOW, I WILL HAVE NONE. Because I, of course hadn't just ordered some online. The chicks they had were a hybrid pullet called tetra links. they are a cross between a Rhode Island Red roo and a White Leghorn.

6 chicks in a boat

I brought 6 of them home to one excited child one ecstatic dog and my other half laughing at me. He laughs at my antics often, good thing he likes me. They grew at amazing speeds, so much that when the "original chicks" came in I had to move the "Ladies in White " into a bigger brooder. I also somehow ordered 6 guineas somewhere in this whole craziness....Not sure I even remember doing it. When I went to pick them up we got 7 because they threw in an extra.

Here they are all cute and Puffbally.

Guineas....

For the Ladies in White only 5 survived. One was lost to an overexcited canine.We are going to say that after an outside adventure was scared to death. The Ladies are generally called by name since they all have distinguishing markings and personalities.

Sidekick, who is my favorite, and shares co-top chicken duties with
Jasmine, who is my sons favorite.
then there is
Loudmouth, Who would squawk at all hours as a chick, luckily she is much quieter now.
Puppy, who is the dogs favorite and can be found on an adventure with either, Jasmine or Sidekick or leading someone else into trouble.
and Sedgewick, who just is.

For the Barred Rocks their were 4 that were named before their adult feathers came in, we don't know who they are now. We think we might know who 1 of them is but those names disappeared and now we have.

Rooster Cogburn, from true grit. We found out he was a rooster around 4 weeks when his comb started coming in and his legs started to thicken.
His best friend is a small, but a bully chicken, know as Chicken Little.

This is not Zelda This is a guinea

Then there is "Zelda" as my son named her as a chick. My other half and I call her Mustache, cause she has a mustache.

The other three are in need of a conglomerate name, because you really cant tell them apart and they tend to hang out together.They are becoming friendlier but, pretty much tolerate us, and follow the others around.

February Foodie Pen Pals

2013-02-28T11:30:00.001-08:00

Hi It's been forever since I have posted anything so in a strong moment or return I am going to tell you about my February Foodie Pen Pals. Foodie Pen Pals is the Brain Child of Lindsay from The Lean Green Bean. She is a genius, and loves food, literally. She blogs about it, went to school for it, and now works with it. I like her, she is great.

here is the small and informative print.... You MUST read it in a Tina Fey voice outloud though...If you haven't listened to the audio book you are seriously missing out and it is probably available for free at your library or even online through your library. I n which case you don't have to waste gas or even remember to return the silly thing.

-On the 5th of the month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you can choose to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.
- Foodie Penpals is open to US, Canadian residents & UK residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I’m going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!

For February I was matched with Bethany. Bethany doesn't have a blog, and I couldn't creep her twitter account or instagram, so all you will know about her is that she sent me a wonderful package of Asian inspired foods.

I haven't ever tried the wasabi peas , or the Tasty Bite mixes, but they both look delicious. The Miso Soup I tried last month and enjoyed it more than I thought I would, I have this thing about fermented things. No Kombacha for me. I did like it though and am waiting for the next miserable weather day to take it to work with me. Thai Kitchen is one on my standby " easy lunches. Thanks for a great food swap Bethany.

I sent goodies to Emily, she also doesn't have a blog. She asked for seaweed, So I sent her a Seaweed Salad, and some other goodies like coconut oil, and black salt, and moosemunch.

Sign up for your own Foodie Pen Pals Swap here.

Happy New Year

2013-01-06T19:22:00.003-08:00

Happy New Year!

New Years day 2012, this year we stayed home

I literally fell off the face of blogger last fall. While all was quiet here I was motoring along and we have several updates to now reveal. We have a grassy Back Yard, a fantastic new kitchen art piece, and a guest bedroom. Who wants to come visit me? No Excuses now. So today is usually the day we all have a million resolutions that we are going to rock in the coming year. I have gotten to the point where after I said my ideas for my resolutions this year, I thought I i sound like my mother. My thought that lead to this shocking revelation was. THIS is the Year I am finally going to get my shit together. I will probably not have my shit together this year either. In general I am going to re sharpen some of last years behaviors. Last year I went on a lifestyle healthy kick and after the holidays I remember exactly why I made those changes. I also felt a spark in my heart again and want to yet again rekindle my relationship with God. I also have many other little things I would love to do. Time will be a constraint. but I don't have many excuses after July. Mostly because in July I get my BA in Accounting. I have toyed with Starting the process to become an actuary but I need to financially plan how that decision will affect my family.

September Vegan Food Swap

2012-09-30T19:37:00.003-07:00

In September I participated In The Verdant Life's Vegan food Swap again. This Moth I was matched up with Molly from Vegan Princess in an Omni Kingdom. I got a two for one from molly because she sent me my card seperatly, I love getting non-bill mail. Since it is fall I asked for fall inspired goodies and I was pleasantly surprised by what Molly sent me. I received

Surf Sweets Sour Berry Bears, which I munched on prior to my 5K run
Vega One Nutritional Shake: Vanilla Chai flavor, I am trying to figure out how to infuse pumpkin flavor in here also
Peanut Butter & Co: White Chocolate Wonderful, which is Gone gone gone
and Terra Vegetable Chips, so yummy especially with jalapeno hummus

Molly did a tremendous job this montha and I am jelous of whoever she send goodies to next month.
I sent my goodies to Donna She doesn't have a blog YET, but here is what she had to say about what I sent her.

Hi April,

I received my box of goodies today and have already devoured half of the almonds. I think they just became my new favorite snack! Where would I find them?

You also sent items containing three of my favorite ingredients, sweet potato, chocolate and coconut. I know I will be sharing the oatmeal with my husband. We both love oatmeal for breakfast. Thank you for making my first swap a great one. I don't have a blog, but you can add this to your blog if you like. I will forward a photo.

Have a Happy Fall.

I sent her
Three Sisters:Brown Sugar and Maple oatmeal
Pacific: Thai Sweet Potato soup
Boston Cookies: Chocolate Chocoalte Chip
Kit's Clif Bars: in Berry and almond Chocolate Coconut
Sahale Snack Nuts: Soledad almonds

There are many other swappers and a blog hop you can paroose.

I have really enjoyed swapping if you would like to swap also ( vegan food isn't as scary as you think it is ) you can sign up here.

The Boys are coming, the boys are coming!

2012-08-08T13:34:00.001-07:00

WOW that was a lame attempt of the British are coming! the British are coming, Hey sometimes Boston's history just screams from me.
Anyways, My boys (older and young) are on a plane, and they are coming home from vacation!

I had to stay and work due to my vacation IN TWO WEEKS! but i am so excited to see them. They had oodles of fun, I was lame. I didn't watch any good TV, I only caught a couple events in the Olympics, I ate a fairly regimented menu, and I didn't read any good books. Mostly what I did was go to work, drive back and forth between work and hang out with our wonderful neighbors when I started hearing the voices echo in my head.

Oh yeah an d that other crazy exercise stuff but you can find out about that over at the MOOSEATHON.

Foodie Pen Pals

2012-07-31T03:00:00.000-07:00

I participated in Lindsay @ The Lean Green Beans Foodie Pen Pal swap again in July and the swaps just keep getting better a better. If you aren't swapping you are missing out and should do it. You can sign up here.

My July Foodie Pen Pal was Trisha Bass, she doesn't have a blog, which is a total bummer because she sent great foods, and is a total sweetheart. I love that she sent me a postcard from her home state. Trisha totally hooked me up on vegan snacks! I mentioned that I have a long commute and she found me a wonderful array of snacky foods to much on while I was headed home so I wasn't a crazed starving animal when I got home. To bad the boys were on vacation and didn't get to see the fruits of her labors.
My commute snack week reads like Eric Carle's, The Very Hungry Caterpillar book.

On Monday April ate one Pure Brownie Bar, But she was still hungry so she also ate one Vegan Decadence Peanut Butter Cookie. Then she was home and went to bed.

On Tuesday April ate one bag of YogaVive Caramel Apple chips, they were so fulfilling and Delicious that she stopped there.

On Wednesday, and Thursday April Ate 1/2 bag of 180 Blueberry Pomegranate Trail mix, and Pecan Trail Mix She was so satisfied that some survived the week.

On Friday April Ate 1 Primal Jerky Strip and then she was done with all her snacks so she wished that foodie pen pals happened every week.

I also received Amber Agave from Trish, Which is great because it has a different flavor than the other agave that I have received and I am almost out of it. Thanks again Trish for the Yummy Snacks, and Lindsay at the lean green bean for setting this up. If you would like to see what other swappers received Lindsay Hosts a link party that you can check out here. Don't for get to sign up, I have gotten so many products that I may have never tried or seen in the stores that have become weekly buy from this program.
If you are Interested in seeing who I sent my package to, go Check out Joanna at Midwestern Bite, She has a hilarious blog and mentioned doing a CHOPPED challenge with what I sent her.

I also participated in another Food Swap that you can check out over at Aprils Mooseathon!

Planning for Vacation

2012-07-24T09:20:00.004-07:00

It has been forever since I have been on an actual vacation, I honestly think that it has been close to 6 years. I have trips that don’t exactly qualify as vacation: Moving away from home to a new scary city, going back home to see family, Going home for weddings and funerals and sickness. But as for vacation where nobody has any real responsibilities, that has been 6 or so years.

Around the same time I went to Seattle, I have pictures they are just lost on a computer somewhere

Last time I went on vacation I went on a road trip with my mother and my older sister to Seattle, This time I am flying and meeting my mom, my little sister and my grandmother in Seattle. I really like Seattle can you tell.

My little sister and I are very concrete thinkers and we like to know when we are doing something and how much it costs the other half of our trips occupants are less concrete. We are having a wonderful time planning the couple days that we get. It is so exciting to go on vacation with one of your favorite-est people ever. Yes that is a word because I say it is and use it all the time.

This looks extremely safe Doesn't it, we are adventurous, we can handle it, we grew up with grizzly's in our back yard. We have never, ever Kayaked before.

Currently we have decided to go to Pike Place Market, and travel to Anacortes for a kayaking whale tour.
Is there anywhere else that we have to see while we are in the Seattle area? Please send my suggestions.

Week of the Fourth, whats going on

2012-07-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

Well the first week of July has been Great we spent an abundant time in our neighbors pools

Beer Please

Ready. Set. Jump

We ate yummy Foods

we lit off some awesome fireworks

this = the video to see what that wagon of fireworks created, It was my first time doing our own fireworks and well I AM ALSO LACKING ON YOUTUBE SKILLS, AND VIDEO EDITING SKILLS, AND GRAMMAR SKILLS. BUT WE AREN'T HERE FOR THAT ARE WE?

And here is what has happened in gardening world. I weeded. They Grew.

That's all folks

Vegan Food Swap June Reveal

2012-06-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

I Participated In Cat's Food Swap during the month of June and I was thrilled, thrilled thrilled. Cat Blogs over at The Verdant Life and has been a huge resource to a new vegan such as myself. If you would also like to participate in fun food swaps meet some like minded people. And expand your foodie horizons I highly suggest you sign up That link is HERE. Cat reveal is Here, and she has a blog hop with all of the swappers the bottom of her post. Anyways I was matched with Heidi at St Pete Vegan Food Swap. Heidi was a super match and got me a wide range and substitute for an NON vegan item I was having a hard time saying no to.

I think I ate all of the apple ginger chews the first day, I will defiantly be getting more of them. The picture above is of an empty bag #FAIL.

The agave has been a great addition/ Substitution when I am having a sweet attack. I have used it in my coffee, and in my overnight oats.

The Garlic Habenaro hot sauce is Outstanding and has become a necessary item to add to my Marinara sauce and any where else I put garlic. SO good.

I squealed in delight because I have been wanting to try the Primal mushroom jerky and Heidi sent me some! then I waited to photograph it, unlike the ginger chews. I honestly haven't tried the Jerky's yet Because I am saving them for an EMERGENCY. I haven't been able to find any around my foodie haunts and so I figured they would be the perfect items to stick in my car for one of those rides when we are out of food and the non vegan stop for some crap food. I will eat them if I can find more and put an update up.

I sent My package to Amanda at Pickles and Honey, we contemplated meeting up because we are fairly close but her job is sucking the life outta her and wouldn't let her come have fun bloggy vegan fun. We have scheduled a rain check.

Garden Updates

2012-06-26T08:28:00.001-07:00

well my garden is feeling neglected like my blog, but I do have pictures to show you of the sad state of affairs it is in.

that is grass, in our back yard

makes you want to sit down and have an iced tea, perhaps a spiked iced tea

Bachelor Buttons from Seeds my mom sent me

The lilies are blooming and look wonderful even with the scorched window boxes above them

Must remember to water the plants

Sunflowers will bloom soon too

Lettuce and Brussel Sprouts bed,

Late planted tomatoes and peppers that need to be weeded, I think I will just take pictures instead


Carrots

And that how things are around my house, plants are growing. It is hot, bad for me, good for plants. We are in full swing busy season.

Summer weekends

2012-06-11T07:03:00.002-07:00

We had a very restful weekend, it included lots of fishing, some much needed housework, a little yard work and some good eats, lastly some exercise. The rest is pretty much wordless. Should you feel like reading more words there are plenty and recipes over at April's Mooseathon.

That is a deer in my yard, bad pictures are all I have!

I'm Having a Baby............

2012-06-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

No, Silly not that kind of baby! A blog baby.
I feel as though my life has shifted a little and to maintain any sort of organization, I am starting a vegan foodie, health and overall fitness blog. I am not leaving this blog I am just very interested in my health right now and that doesn't fit into my original goals and intentions of this blog. I still intend on blogging here about my house and decor and whatever current escapades we are up to. I do have some updates on my garden and such. And I will be looking at my goals in about a month to see what I have accomplished and what needs to be modified or completed. If you want to also come and see my healthy transformation you can find/ follow it at April's Mooseathon. I just started it today and so it is in the growing pains stage but I hope it will pick up and get going soon-ish. I can also now be found on twitter just search for

@AprilMooseathon, and hopefully you will find me. I am brand new to twitter and it is scary!

come on follow me

I've been tagged, ( another form of Answer me This)

2012-06-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Larissa at Papa is a Preacher. ( Probably because I have been a little lax about this whole blogging thing in the past couple of weeks, and she wanted to hear from me. ) Anyways she challenged me to answer the following questions about myself. So here it goes: ( deep breathe so i don't have to breathe until they are all answered. perhaps I should do it without punctuation =)

1>What is your "go-to" dish. The one that springs to mind when someone asks you to bring something to a potluck, or a party, or place where people will be gathered to eat. Your food.

Um, oh, um well this is hard because my go to foods have changed, the most recent thing i took to a BBQ was salad, original I know. I also used to take all kinds of tasty baked goodies but ( my oven doesn't work so that hasn't happened for about a year)

2>Have you ever broken a pencil in two?

Yes, many times it is great stress relief until you remember that those things cost money and now you have to go buy more. Dumb just dumb. I honestly rarely use pencils anymore, thanks to smartphones computers and such I probably haven't used a non mechanical pencil since middle school which was more than ten years ago.

3>Sweet or salty (food).

Sweet but I am changing to salty/ savory. honestly the only thing I really really want right now id red lobster biscuits, Does anyone have a vegan recipe for those?

4>What was one gift that someone gave you that you will always remember? (Doesn't have to be one you liked. A memorable one.)

I don't remember who it was but I remember getting a plastic saxophone for Christmas, I am sure it was torture for any adult in a mile radius, but I loved " honking on that think while I looked down at my red cowboy boots. I thought I was the biggest and cutest girl in that moment.

5>What is your favorite blog post.

On My blog or someone else, Honestly I am a little ashamed of my blog posts, they are all really bad. I also have a phobic oh I shouldn't have put that much info about me or my family out there into the interwebs feelings sometimes.

6>What annoys you?

Well I think it is a little to grotesque to post about, see I am so annoyed I can't even think about it.One post-able example is that I can't handle listening to people eat, my mom, my Scott, my boss, they all make me want to lose my cookies all over them.

7>What makes you happy?

Being home with my family and acting like an irresponsible kid.

8>Truth or Dare? ("Depends" is not an option.) Dare, I hate having to tell the truth about things I feel as though I might get caught in a lie I once told someone.

9>Did you collect anything as a kid?

Dogs, mostly stuffed and one real, and Breyer horses ( all with broken legs because they had to prance and paw the ground and have epic battles with rearing involved) Now I collect bills, in my mail box and all over my desk.

10>Bath or Shower? ("Depends" is not an option.)

Shower, unless I have to shave.( If I shave in the shower I shred my legs as though I have been attacked by a shark and come out with half of me still looking like big foot. I am probably just as scary too) I like really hot almost Scalding showers, every time i hop in I say burn baby burn just to trick my brain into handling the heat.

11>Would you ever use gel pens? Sparkly ones.

I did used to use sparkly gel pens mostly in high school so I could make interesting notes, really in didn't record anything of value. stupid just stupid.... the gel always got stuck and so I switched to adult pens, that the company I work for orders.

For more questions I have answered you can find them here.

Foodie Pen Pal Reveal

2012-05-31T03:00:00.000-07:00

In The month of May I participated in Foodie pen pals by Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean. Lindsay is genius, pure genius. she connects people who love Food and people like me who are re-learning everything they knew about food. I was matched with Melissa from Eat and Live in a way that Nourishes. Since I have only been a vegan for around a month and Melissa is a vegan she hooked me up. Melissa was very efficient and mailed my goodies so I had them before the ship by or die date. She also was extremely thoughtful with her padded packaging and wonderful stickers. They were from PETA, they made me smile =)
Here is what I received.

And here it is Unwrapped.

I immediatley opened the That's it apple and pear bar and it was so good and simple.

For Lunch I added the Justins Hazelnut butter to my lunch and made apple sandwiches. Yummy Justin's is my favorite, who needs nutella.

melissa also sent me Joe's Quinoa patty mix and I have eaten about six burgers ( I ate the last one last night and now I am out and need to order more), it is the best burger especially with the mango habenero sauce on it .

Melissa was the best first pen pal I could have gotten. To see all the Foodie pen pals goodies go to Lindsay's Link Party. and if you want to sign up here are the details.

I sent goodies To Amy at Beautifully Frantic

--------------------------------------

And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals. In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:
-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.
-Foodie Penpals is open to US & Canadian residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa.
If you’re interested in participating for June, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions.
You must submit your information by June 4th as pairings will be emailed on June 5th!

*If you're from somewhere besides the US, Canada or Europe and want to participate, send me an email and I'll see if we get enough interest this month!

Answer me this

2012-05-16T20:53:00.002-07:00

Recently I have found a ton of "surveys online so I am filling them out and starting a new series called, Answer me this. If you want to play along link back in the comments I would love to see your answers too.

Zodiac Sign: Pisces by birthday, Aries by Astrological sign study.

Where were you born: Wyoming

Where do you live now: Boston-ish

Height: 5'4

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Eye Color: Hazel

Tattoos: 1 going to turn it into a jackalope

Piercings: had multiple but am highly allergic to almost all but the expensive metals now so I only chance wearing earrings for 1 hour maximum

*Favorites*

Color: to. Hard. Cant Choose just one. Honestly with the onset of summer it is probably Nantucket red

Food: sautéed mushrooms, or maybe steel cut oats and chocolate almond milk

Candy: Dark Chocolate

Movie: National Velvet, or the Patriot

TV Show: DIY network, the middle, Suburgatory, Modern Family, Bones, Last man Standing

Actor:

Actress: Natalie Portman

Favorite Author: um well, um that would have to mean I read more than one of their books, and um that leaves hunger games or the girl with the dragon tattoo series.

Band or Singer: I have to know who sings that one song I like? You know the one on the radio.

Song: see previous.

Holiday: Thanksgiving

Season: all, I do I love them all!

Day of the week: the Mondays or Fridays that are also holidays.

Store: Container Store, Target

Restaurant: Bubbas in Jackson

Sport: Baseball, Football

Animal: Dog

Flower: Escape’ Flowers ( violets or violas or pansies)

*Have you ever*

Danced in the rain: yes

tripped and had an embarrassing fall: more than you want to know

smoked: Yes

got drunk: Yes,

done drugs: yep

gone skinny dipping: No, but there is this guy I totally want to go with.

been in a car accident: yes, I got hit by a semi

been in love: yes

met the President: if it was a past president then yes.

met a celebrity: not that I am aware of, I am not very star struck

cried over a movie: yes, almost any movie gets me to cry

laughed so hard you cried: yep .

cried for no reason at all: it was hormones I tell ya

*the last*

thing you said: see you in a bit love ya

thing you ate: A Quinoa Burger pattie and Salad

song you heard: that would mean I would have had to have paid attention

movie you saw: Thor

cd you bought: um, that was at least seven years ago, ummmmmmm

book you read: water for elephants

phone call: To Scott, to tell him I had picked up our young man.

im: ( so I read this and thought I’m, like I am) supposed to be doing homework. But I “chatted” with my sister the other night, it was awesome.

person you yelled at: both Scott and Jade

*This or that*

pepsi or coke: Coke

mcdonalds or burger king: Mc Donalds

chocolate or vanilla: What am I eating it with

tv or movies: tv

colored pencils or markers: colored pencils

sun or moon: sun

day or night: night

pants or shorts: pants, I have cellulite

long sleeve or short sleeve: short sleeve

n'sync or backstreet boys: who are they, can we get a relevant question like beiber or gaga

burgers or hot dogs: burgers

rock or rap: well definitely not cRap

aim or phone: phone

romantic comedy or thriller: Romantic Comedy

waffles or pancakes: Waffles, With Sausage mixed

peanut butter or jelly: peanut butter

*Others*

what color is your toothbrush: orange

do you believe in love at first sight: that is so dumb, no

have you ever wished upon a star: yes it was broken

what other language (s) do you speak: sarcasm, and aprilisms

if you dyed your hair what color would you dye it: red

if you could change your name what would you change it to: I don’t know, can we really switch identities for a bit.

what's the weather like right now: thunderstorm, just sat out and drank a beer listened to the frogs and watched the lightening

what instruments do you play: the Kazoo

do you talk to yourself a lot: no people can hear my evil thoughts then

Flavored Water That is Yummy

2012-05-15T11:41:00.001-07:00

I have been drinking a lot of water recently which means that the bathroom is by far my favorite place. In the increase in water I have found some yummy flavor combinations that are essentially sugar free. Go to the baking isle and get the flavor extracts, I have vanilla and mint and orange and raspberry, and cherry. Now I add the tiniest drop pf the flavor to my 24 oz. Klean Kanteen,and mix and match according to the mood I am in. If you are used to juice, or sports drinks, this probably won't taste very good at first but it grows on you.
I have found that mint is almost better that Ice water because it has a natural cooling effect and doesn't melt.

I do suggest using a clear vanilla especially if you have a opaque or clear water container otherwise people might think you are headed to the Drs. office with a sample, of well...... I guess you will figure that out if you don't get clear.
vanilla and mint
lemon and raspberry
orange and vanilla ( tastes like a creamsicle)
cherry vanilla
pineapple coconut
Well it's pretty endless. What flavors have you or would you try?

Getting Summer Started

2012-05-08T08:32:00.004-07:00

We have been Extremely Busy at my house this Spring and The results are starting to be noticed. Apparently our house looks better than it has for 15 years which is great since it is only 13 years old.

Lets Start the front Yard tour

I lined the walk way to the house with heather, here's to hoping it spreads.

We got an awesome forsythia, I love the yellow.

I love azaleas, I had never seen them , ok, never paid attention to them till I moved to new England.

I planted my favorite pansies and violas ( with elf sunflowers working on spouting) I call these escape' flowers because next spring they will have bloomed all over my yard in an attempt to escape. I planted them next to the steps for a cheery entrance.

the Side of the house in progress

After Mulch

Old--------------------------------------------------------------------------> New

We also added Window Boxes

The Full Before and After reveal

Before

After

Foodie Pen Pals

2012-05-07T07:35:00.001-07:00

Have you heard of Foodie Pen Pals, I hadn't until recently and because I have this crazy love for food and I am exploring all kinds of new foods recently. Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean orchestrates the whole thing and does an amazing job. There were 800 pen pals singed up for May. I signed up, I am so excited to do a review at the end of the month for you too.

I worked my fingers and I think every muscle to the bone and it is sunny today which mean I can finally take pictures of the front yard progress, we had to make it pretty first and mow and weed eat and well, I will give you a list of all the improvements with pictures. I think you may be amazed as all of our neighbors are. They most common comments are, " Your house looks the best it has in 15 years which is saying something because I think it still has a long long way to go.

April and Scott = Apricott

2012-04-26T13:10:00.002-07:00

A silly love story,
which produces fruit.

Sometime last year, while eating dried fruit ( Apricots) Apricott was zinged into my head! I thought it was pure genius, I became obsessed with apricots and started pinning them and looking for stationary with them... yea sad I know.
For valentines day,so long ago I know, and my birthday you know the one where i mentally turned 35,we discussed this.
Scott got me two apricot trees. They arrived and we planted them.

Well it might take more time to produce fruit than we originally thought but it is coming....

Brush Clean up and Back Yard Update

2012-04-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

Slow going is the name of the game in the back yard, I will try to remind you what it looked like when we purchased the property, wait...
Somehow I had it in my mind that I had shared the "state of our house" when we first moved in and I am mistaken so, here is a back yard progression tour in PHOTOS.

These are in "date" order with my *thoughts*

*Is that Poison Ivy!? What have I gotten myself into!*

*Don't venture out there, there are probably snakes and ticks and spiders*

*Thank God and Aspen tree, I love aspen trees, we must save it from those asshole vines.*

THEN WE STARTED CHOPPIN' DOWN THE WEEDS

Well after cutting down almost every living thing for 1/3 of an acre we had to wait till we could burn it all. and we did, and now it looks like this. Next step is tilling and planting grass!!! Well we still have one or two brush fires to go but those are further back in the woods...

Does anyone know what kind of tree is above?

Shall we revue Side by Side

I am so Excited.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-04-18T13:45:00.001-07:00

"Natural" Stairway

2012-04-17T10:18:00.002-07:00

our First Completed Project is our "natural" stairway. I am excited because we actually completed something and because in my humble opinion it looks pretty good and well natural.

the problem aka "why we need this":
we have a walk out basement and do to this we have a hill that angles from the front to back of our house, prior to our staircase the only quick way was to skid down this almost five foot suicide hill or walk half way to eternity and then switchback onto the inconvenient driveway to the back side of the house.

So we put in a stair case, it was a long process using rock that came with the property and well time and more time and muscles.

After the stairway was complete then we needed a connecting walkway to the stairs.

and then we needed to move the "sod"; (I am using that term extremely loosely) to the side hill.

and we needed to finish with some pea gravel in between the stones. and use the pinterest moss trick to get moss growing in between the stairway.

GROW MOSS GROW!

I choose a white chipped Marble, white because my house is white and it would make the stones POP!
on the plus side,I might have chosen wrong, bummer, although if you drink to much at night you can still see the walkway because it GLOWS!

for no other reason than the fact we don't Love the white gravel we are calling this project DONE.

Tax season- but this post isn't about that

2012-04-12T08:36:00.002-07:00

Have you Filed your taxes yet?

I did months ago, and have been working very diligently at work to get my work related preparations done. Now that my busy season,is for the most part wrapped up it means, I 'm Back! I am so glad to be back. I have missed and thought about you while I was gone. I have also still been working on and around house goals and personal goals so I will have updates over the next couple days.

Here are the "goings on" while I was gone:

WE Finished Our First Project! We are good at starting and not so very good at finishing all these projects, have you noticed that there aren't any reveals here.

We burned a ton of BRUSH, so we can finally get that back property disaster under control

I received Apricot trees for valentines and my Birthday ( the story is CHEESY, But I absolutely love it and what it means)

I had a birthday and (mentally) turned the same age as I was last year 35.

I stared at so many numbers, I felt they had turned into ninjas and were attacking every fold of my brain.

We got a start on summer and planted some shrubs.

I started a new and pretty exciting/ easy diet.
I am half way through but found a great blog taking you through the step by step, Jen H from Leaning into Veganism

Goodreads

2012-03-08T06:56:00.002-08:00

Have you heard of Goodreads? I just discovered it recently and am wondering how I survived without it. You can read reviews, find out what books your friends are reading. And you can win books! I don't ever win anything but I have won three books in three days. The Books are slated to arrive within a couple weeks and then I am supposed to do a review in return for the book. Sounds good to me. I have set a goal to read 52 books this year and am a little behind considering I started at the beginning of March.
I read/ Listened to Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. review = wonderful, insightful.

I am currently reading Agent Zig Zag, by Ben Macintyre It is thrilling, and better than 007. If you decide to sign up I would love to know what you are reading.

Happy reading!