Celebrating Beau!

"Don't cry because it's over,

smile because it happened."

-Dr. Seuss

March 1, 1995 - December 29, 2010

Photo Day 86: Merry Christmas!

Photo Day 86:  Merry Christmas! 

Eat.  Drink.  Be merry. 

And then eat some more and more and more!!

Photo Day 85: Not traditional

Photo Day 85:  Not traditional.  So my family's tradition of lasagna and garlic bread doesn't really fit into the traditional Christmas Eve dinner category...most people have ham or turkey.  Unless, of course, you are from Minnesota. 

Anyone care for slopping joes and wild rice soup on Christmas (yes...served together!!)?  Or how about some lutefisk? 

I'm sticking with my lasagna!

Photo Day 84: Guest room

Photo Day 84:  Guest room.  Oooooo...the irony of my life!  For the last year or so we've been using/storing our friend's mattress on our guest bed.  Other than the cats, the bed has not seen a guest in forever.  Today...the mattress owner requested to stop by and pick it up.  Are you kidding me!?!?  The guest bed is going to have guests in a week!

At least Beau didn't let a little thing like a missing mattress get in the way of his afternoon nap!

Photo Day 83: Ice decor

Photo Day 83:  Ice decor.  I'm pretty sure it appears that I have way too much time on my hands if I'm creating decor for outside the house...and it's a box of ice.  But I live in the north pole so it just seems like the thing to do.

Photo Day 82: Winter starts

Photo Day 82:  Winter starts.  Dude…where’s my car?!?!  Oh….there it is.  It’s that round bubble under a foot of snow that was certainly not there last night.  The calendar says winter begins today.  Really?  So what do I call the winter-like weather that’s been going on for the last 2 months?  Pre-winter?  Anyway, I should have guessed there was a lot of snow when I awoke to the sound of snowblowers before sunrise...which sounds eerily similar to the buzz of generators during an active hurricane season in Florida.

Photo Day 78: Cat thoughts

Photo Day 78:  Cat thoughts.  Sometimes I wonder what goes on in the mind of a cat.

"Really...you're going to take another photo of me!"

"Tuna?  Did I just hear the can opener?"

"Hummmm...I wonder when someone is going to come home and turn up the heat in this place!"

"How come all the plants I like to eat are out of reach?"

Photo Day 76: Quality time

Photo Day 76:  Quality time.  Sometimes there is nothing better than cuddling with my little furball at the end of a long day.  Well, except when he tries to lick my face with his cat breath.

Photo Day 75: Too cute

Photo Day 75:  Too cute.   In cat years, I’m 108 and I still look marvelous dar-ling!  Keep up the chin scratching but no more photos please…the flashbulb is bad for my complexion.

Photo Day 74: Freezing water

Photo Day 74:  Freezing water.  I decided to freeze a box of water outside.  Why exactly?  Because I can!  Temp this morning = negative 10.  Yep....pretty cold!

Ok...I admit I do have a project in mind for my block of ice.  I'm envisioning some kind of ice based decoration outside my door.  But in all honesty...I'm freezing a box of water outside my door because I'm still amazed by the fact that I can!

Photo Day 71: Brownies for breakfast

Photo Day 71: Brownies for breakfast.  Seriously...who decided holiday potluck parties at work are a good idea!  And what was I thinking when I signed up to bring dessert.  Such a recipe for disaster when I'm trying to lose a few pounds.  Between eating the brownie batter last night (yes I know it's bad for me since it has raw eggs but whatever...it's sooooo yummy) and having a brownie or two for breakfast, looks like I'll be spending all weekend on the treadmill.  Next year I'm signing up to bring the plates!

Photo Day 68: Impossible addiction

Photo Day 68:  Impossible addiction.  I overheard this guy telling his friends that it's almost impossible to get addicted to things that are good for you.  Yep...I'm thinking there will never be a need for recovery meetings for a "broccoli addiction."

Photo Day 63: Not really cold...yet

Photo Day 63:  Not really cold...yet.  It has finally happened.  I've acclimated to the cold weather.  The car told me it was 9 degrees outside.  Really car?  Because it didn't seem that cold....a bit chilly.....yes....but not really cold yet.  Really cold happens at below zero with some wind thrown in.  I've become a northern-er, an official resident of the north pole.  I think I'll go next door and say hi to my neighbors:  Mr. and Mrs. Claus (as in Santa that is)!

Bonus Photo Day 58: Never too old

Bonus Photo Day 58:  Never too old.  They say cats have 9 lives.  I think Beau has surpassed that and is on to number 10 or 11.  But he proves that you're never too old to do whatever you set your mind on.  A little arthritis was no match for Beau's desire to climb the boxes filled with Christmas decorations. 

Although, I was a bit nervous watching him climb, wondering if this would be the day the cliche "curiosity killed the cat" really came true!

Photo Day 58: Dog sledding

Photo Day 58:  Dog sledding.  Don’t play with matches. Don’t run with scissors. And most importantly….Don’t let your 30ish-year-old children go unattended! Seriously…I’m starting think we need some kind of chaperoning. Our parents stopped monitoring us years ago…hello mom and dad…that was a bad idea!

So now there’s nothing keeping us 30ish-year-olds from our own stupidness – no parents supervising, no kids to be responsible for (well…except for the four-legged furry kind). Add in some fresh snow, a steep hill, some kiddie sleds and watch out! Somehow….we all thought it was a fabulous idea to sled Andee (our friend’s doggie) down the hill. Not sure Andee quite agreed! This gives a whole new meaning to the term "dog sledding!"

Bonus Photo Day 56: Man toys.

Bonus Photo Day 56:  Man toys.  I think the toys just get bigger as you boys get older.  Somehow the snowblower falls into the grown man toy category.  What I'm really perplexed by is the assortment of shovels behind the hubby.  So...if you're using the snowblower....what's with the shovel collection?  Okay - maybe 1 shovel is needed but 4....really?!?!  LOL!

Photo Day 57: Ficus tree - one down!

Photo Day 57: Ficus tree – one down!  What to do when you manage to kill a ficus tree? Well….decorate it of course (and hope that it will come back to life in the spring)!

Photo Day 56: Turkey Day!

Photo Day 56:  Turkey Day!  My first turkey EVER!  And, well, maybe my last.  I think they should sell those things either with or without the “extra” parts.  I’m still traumatized by the “extra” parts that I had to find and pull out of that bird!

Photo Day 54: Welcome home

Photo Day: Welcome home.  Nothing really says “welcome to our home” quite like 3 dead plants and a snow shovel greeting our guests at the door!

Photo Day 50: I'm melting

Photo Day 50:  I'm melting. 
I'd hate to run into this snowman in a dark alley!

Photo Day 49: Accessorizing in winter

Photo Day 49:  Accessorizing in winter.  Let's see....I live in a place that's cold and snows from November through April.  And I absolutely refuse to look like the winter version of people in a Polk County Walmart.  Therefore, having lots of cute matching hats/scarves/gloves is a requirement in my world!

Photo Day 48: For the birds.

Photo Day 48:  For the birds.  I currently have a weird obsession with ceramic birds.  So when I saw these salt and pepper shakers, I had to bring them home.  I love how they are perched on my stove, almost like they say "hi" to me everyday.  Almost.  No worries....I know that birds don't talk....especially the ceramic variety!

However, there are a few real birds pirched in the trees outside that talk trash to Paris all the time but that's a story for another day.

Photo Day 47: Stupid Bus

Photo Day 47:  Stupid Bus.  Missed the bus.  Twice.  No kidding. 

Thanks to the time change and the arrival of winter, it's getting too dark outside to walk home from the gym.  I tried to catch the 5:55 bus but I got there just in time to see the bus driving off. Oh well....I'll catch the next one which I thought left at 6:25.  So I head into the bus hub @ 6:21 and no bus.  After several minutes and still no bus, I check the schedule.  Holy crap! It left at 6:20.  Are you kidding me?!?!.....I missed another one.  Next bus leaves at 6:50.  So I walked home.

Photo Day 46: Post Card-esque

Photo Day 46:  Post Card-esque.  This is the view from my office window at work.  The snow looks so beautiful, right?!  Unless you are one of the people who bit the dust on the ice this morning….twice to be exact.  Thankfully, it was not me but I hear the view from the ground sucks.

Photo Day 45: Chair Renovation

Photo Day 45:  Chair Renovation.  Me vs. the chair and I win!  Crazy chair was reupholstered by some serious professional who knew what they were doing and wanted their work to last forever.  Sometimes I wish people would do a half-assed job!

Photo Day 44: Winter is here!

Photo Day 44:  Winter is here!  After snowing for only an hour or so, the hubby tells me I should go outside an make a snowman.  Hummm…it’s cold and wet and just enough snow to get me in the Guinness World Records for the world’s smallest snowman.  Yep…I passed on that idea! 

Photo Day 43: Daylight...Wait Up!

Photo Day 43: Daylight...Wait Up!  Procrastination.  Patience.  Just finish it.  Too cold.  Hurry up.  Prioritize.  Daylight fading fast.  But do it right.  Don’t feel like it.  Snow incoming tomorrow.  Laundry.  Dishes.  Lots of dishes.  Snow all weekend.  More dishes.  I hate dishes.

Okay...here's the game plan:  Off work @ 4:30.  Walk home (quickly).  Change into painting clothes.  Add 2nd coat of stain to the ottoman.  Dishes (ugh!). Cook dinner. 

Ready.  Set.  Go.......Halt!  What an amazing sunset...the sky is beautiful!  Stop all plans, find the camera, rush to the second floor balcony, take pictures.  (And while doing it, notice that the next door neighbor is staring at me from his window.  Until he sees me looking him, then he quickly closes the curtains.  He should have waived "hello" instead....it would have been less creepy!  LOL!)

Photos taken - check.  Okay....resume game plan. 

Photo Day 42: Nap Like a Pro

Photo Day 42:  Nap Like a Pro.  I went upstairs to get ready for the gym and this is what I found….two cats – passed out!  I firmly believe this kind of sleep can only be achieved through years of dedicated daily practice!  Wow....makes me feel like such an amateur!

Photo Day 40: Dinner Ready?

Photo Day 40:  Dinner Ready?  Our cats totally amuse me!  So I totally cracked up when I just happened to notice Paris sprawled out next to the stove while I was cooking dinner. 

However, if I'm a cat looking for a cozy spot to nap....I don't think this would be my first choice.  Paris says, "it's a cat thing - you're not a cat - so you wouldn't understand."  Okay then.

Photo Day 39: Getting Toasty

Photo Day 39:  Getting Toasty.  Hummmm....maybe our house is too cold during the day?  Makes me wonder when I see the fur-wearing members of our family regularly gathering in front of the heat vent.

Photo Day 38: Fall Back

Photo Day 38:  Fall Back.   I planned for the time change and it still caught me by surprise.  How does that happen!  The clock said 4:54am when Paris decided it was time to get up (ummmm...she starting clawing the bed).  So imagine my surprise when I see the atomic clock in the kitchen and it says 3:56am!!  Ughhhh 4am!  really?!?! 

I guess the upside to getting up at 4am (it's a stretch...I know) is that I had some extra time.  Yeah....I would have rather been sleeping but the ottoman got some stain instead!

Photo Day 37: Wings

Photo Day 37:  Wings.  Gotta love a friend who wants to celebrate her birthday with some chicken wings.  I know.....it's incredibly hard to imagine that I am friends with anyone who would eat such a thing! 

Photo Day 36: C'mon Trees

Photo Day 36:  C'mon Trees.  Not looking so good for the recently cleaned, bug-sprayed, pruned, and repotted ficas trees.  I'm guessing I was a bit over-zealous this time.  Hummmm....more is not always better!  Poor trees.  They were the recipients of my procrastination. 

Well....they each still have a few healthy leaves.  Maybe just enough to come back to their former glory.

Photo Day 35: Mascara

Photo Day 35:  Mascara.  Finding the perfect mascara is turning into some kind of science experiment!  I currently have 5 different ones that all promise to create voluminous lashes while being waterproof, smudgeproof, flakeproof, clumpproof, blah, blah, blah.  Well....they are all failing in at least one area!  I'm about to start calling the 800# on the product and start asking for refunds.  This morning I tried combining two of them and spent waaaayyyyy too much time applying mascara.  Guess what?  Still clumped, took forever to dry, and smudged within a few hours.  Hummmm....don't those stupid little tubes say WATERPROOF?!?!  So I'll try a new combination tomorrow....ugh!

Photo Day 34: Clothes Chaos

Photo Day 34:  Clothes Chaos.  Why is it that everything moves toward chaos instead of order?  And why is chaos a bit comforting in some weird I-need-therapy kinda way?  Today I must tackle the mound of clean clothes that has taken over our spare bed.  But first I must admit that it's been strangely free-ing the last few days to toss clothes around while trying to dig out a pair of matching socks. 

Photo Day 33: Whatcha doin?

Photo Day 33:  Whatcha doin?  Today is turning out to be one of those days when everyone I encounter is all too concerned about my biz-ness!  Full moon?  Nope.  So there's no explanation except that it's a state full of nose-eey people who are all "Minnesota nice".   My theory is that this "nice" culture breeds more nose-eey-ness since everyone is too polite to say "butt out"!

News flash people:  I'm NOT from Minnesota so if you insist on being nose-eey, don't be shocked when I'm not nice about it!

Photo Day 31: Halloween

Photo Day 31:  Halloween.   So....we also had a "new dad" ring the doorbell.  He was trick-or-treating for his infant who was sleeping in the stroller at the bottom of our porch steps.  Not only was the guy (aka - grown man) NOT dressed up in costume but if the kid-0 was in a cute getti-up....we missed out on that too.  And I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure feeding candy to infants is frowned upon!  So basically....some strange man rang our doorbell and we gave him candy - no questions asked.  Kinda creepy.

Isn’t it amazing that we had 2 trick-or-treaters dressed in costumes that look eerily similar to our cats? 

Photo Day 30: Free 50!

Photo Day 30: Free 50!  "The early bird gets the worm" or in my case…$50 buck-a-roos! While enjoying my Chai Tea Soy Latte (I’m still coffee free), I was doing some window shopping at the mall. A few stores opened early and it just so happened that Ulta was one of them AND it was their grand opening. So I wondered in to look around, get a free gift bag, and did a free-be drawing dealio. And whatcha know…I pulled out a $50 gift certificate! Hummm….now what do I spend that $50 on? Make-up, nail polish, maybe a new blow dryer or flat iron…ahhh….gotta love free!

Photo Day 29: Fleece

Photo Day 29:  Fleece.  I think fleece anything is frumpy and not so flattering.  However, fleece socks rank high on my list of "I don't care how much they cost...I CANNOT live without 'em!" 

Photo Day 28: Tuna = Meow

Photo Day 28:  Tuna = Meow.  Decided to take a tuna fish wrap for lunch.  Cracked open the can of tuna and my sleepy cats came-a-running!    And so I began my morning to a chorus of meow, meow, meow, meow.  Of course I gave them some....I'm such a sucker for their cuteness!

The Coffee Table (Part 3)

I lived with the dark brown stain for a while.  Not really feeling it!  So on to priming and painting the coffee table a light cream color.  I think this is round 3 for the coffee table - we had the natural look, dark stain look, now the painted cream look (and I added contrasting stripes).  And let me just say that if this doesn't do it, there will NOT be a part 4!  Waaaayyyyyy to much effort into my $10 pile of wood!

**latest update here**

The Ottoman

It's Saturday night @ 10pm....do you know where your children are? Guess I'm getting too old for my parents to ponder that question. However, the hubby was wondering what happened to his wife when I left @ 9pm saying I was going to the garage for a few minutes and would be right back. An hour later, I still had not returned...hubby found me in the garage building an ottoman. "See what had happened was.....LOL!"

What can I say....I can't control when inspiration and genius strikes me (or so I think it's genius)! Long story short - we have an extra cushion for our couch. The story part is that the delivery guy accidentally marked a cushion with his ink pen right in front of us - on our brand new couch. So the company sent us another one. The funny part is the couch is microfiber so the pen mark came right off after a little scrubbing with water. Fast forward 7 years and here's this extra cushion that has moved all over the country with us and been annoying taking up space in our closets for years. Until now!

The genius part.....why not turn that little sucker into an ottoman/footstool type of thing. All it needs is a base of some kind. So I measured the cushion (20" x 20") but needed to check out my scrap wood selection.  Hence my heading out to the garage for a few minutes.  And since I was out there and dragging out pieces of wood...why not plug in 'ol miter bob and get all my pieces cut.  So I cut the 1x3's @ 20" -> the plan being to glue them together to make one solid piece with 2 horizontal 1x3's nailed underneath to attach it all together.  So then my thinking went something like this:  "....if I'm going to build this tomorrow, I should glue it together tonight so the glue has time to dry."  Totally logical, right?!  Nevermind the fact that it was late, cold, and kinda dark (i.e. bad lighting in there).  Note to self:  take more lights and space heater to garage next time.

Well since I was already in the glueing process...why not nail the underneath support pieces and finish cutting the trim (I learned a new way to angle cut with miter bob - so fun!)  Since almost everything was done I headed in for the night. 

On Sunday morning, after painting the fireplace wall and coffee table, I headed back out to sand and finish assembling my ottoman.  The weather was not cooperating - totally windy, raining, and cold.  Building in the gargage with the door closed is fine but it's best to sand outside.  Oh well....it's a small project....how much dust could it possibly generate?!  Yeah - everything in the garage is covered now (guess I'm cleaning the garage again next weekend)!  Darn Minnesota weather!

I moved the ottoman base into the living room and put the couch cushion on it's new home.  And it's PERFECT!  Not only does it look way cute but it's so comfy and super functional.  It practially turns my leather club chair into a chaise of sorts.  I think it's my second favorite project to date...the bed, of course, is the best-est ever! 

And what's even more amazing is none of this cost me a penny more.  I used wood scraps, glue, nails, and screws already in my possession - mainly all supplies left over from building the bed. 

Update:  2 coats of some gel stain and I'm in love with my ottoman!