#30 Plant an Orchard

This past week has been a blur of cold winds {and flippin flurries}, late nights, early mornings, sizzling bacon, ribbon, hot glue, cleaning house, muddy shoes, wet grass, and digging holes.

Mostly because as the title reads: we planted a small orchard this past weekend!

We now have apple, plum, apricot, pear, cherry and peach trees that dot our still very naked backyard.

We all helped to put them in the ground.

The Hub measured and dug almost every hole while I held the very slender trunk and made sure it was straight. Then we collectively pushed all the dirt back over the top of the hole.

Nolan smushed the unearthed dirt back on top of the trunk with his shoes.

 And Nev... well she ate some string cheese and supervised the project.

Then we stretched the hose all the way to the back of the yard and let Nolan water the trees.

He enjoyed it for about three minutes before he mistakenly took the hose over his head and drenched his coat and hair.

Can't wait until they get leaves. And of course fruit!

So there ya go... another part of my 30 before 30.

Done. {pats own back}

Opening up shop...

That's right! I am finally opening up shop on Etsy!

I have been making some new creations lately {see below} and decided I would finally pay the $1.01 activation fee and just start listing some of them.

Yippety!

The Etsy shop name is the ShabbySheepStore.

I have yet to list an item, because just getting everything set up yesterday took way too much time already. But I have my photos ready and will be getting them up this weekend, if I don't do it today.

And, yes! I still sell my creations in downtown Roanoke {in my mother in laws quilt shoppe} but thought it would be a great way to venture outside of little old Indiana.... or Roanoke/Fort Wayne anyhow.

So here are the recent items I have made:

I of course had Nev model each one of these... and straight grumpiness {sass} ensued.

I appreciated her efforts. And although most were not going to work, I did manage to get a few cute ones.

The Luck of the Irish...

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Eating lunch with a special bow today.

I made Nev a little boutique bow just because it was St Patrick's Day this morning. She could care less I'm sure. But I think even in her baby blue "I Want Candy" shirt from Gymboree she looks like a little doll baby.

I don't have a full tutorial on the bow because I have no memory card space left on my camera, but below are the two pictures I took to show the breakdown of the bow itself and then how it looks after it is stacked on top of each other.

 Spikes. 7/8in bow. 1.5in bow. 7/8in center. Optional Star.

Finished product on a 1 7/8in alligator clippie.

I am part Irish (as if you couldn't tell from the red hair and freckles) and partake in the holiday because it is a wonderful way to consume green beer!

I can only hope to be enjoying a little green beer this evening!

If you don't like beer or can't have any for a number of reasons, at least get outside and enjoy some of the delicious sunshine being bestowed upon us this day!

The Bachelor Finale

First of all, poor Chantal.

I really did feel bad for Chantal O last night on the Bachelor. I liked Emily as the #1 because of her tragic past, and felt she should not have to endure another heartbreak... but, with that being said, I also think Chantal would have been a much better fit. And I felt terrible for her as he described that he had stronger feelings for another person after talking about all the wonderful things they did and how he really took everything she had ever said to him to heart... making her stand there in all her anguish, as he asked if she had anything to say to him. Poor girl. Just let her leave already!!

I do think Brad and Emily are cute together, but I don't see it lasting past the Fourth of July {for the bang effect obviously}.
Emily is pushing and has pushed Brad away several times. During taping she always let her past come between her feelings for Brad, and that is simply what she has continued to do since the show apparently.

It was crazy to hear they had already broken up once and that she has no immediate plans to move closer to him. Crazy, but not surprising I guess.
Understandably she has a daughter to think about. She has taken care of that baby from the very beginning all by herself. They have a set way of life, as does Brad himself. Trying to mesh the two is going to be very hard in my opinion.
But honestly, if she wasn't ready to get married or be in a relationship then why did she even do the show??
I think she is simply using her past as an excuse to behave in an immature way. She likes the cat and mouse game Brad has continued to play with her, because as he said, he will fight "tooth and nail to be with her".

One thing I did like that Emily said last night on the after show, is how Brad said he knew he loved her shortly into the whole thing, yet he continued to kiss and be overly friendly {fantasy card dates especially} with the other girls. If she was so special... "why weren't some things just left between the two of them?"
Well said, Em.

I would like to see them last, because I think they both deserve someone... but I don't think the age {maturity} difference is the only thing these love birds need to get past.

As for the Bachelorette pick... I think Ashley H will be fun to watch and am glad she will get the chance to find someone next season. She seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, and was fun, outgoing and down to earth.

Can't believe I really just wrote a post about TV {or the Bachelor for that matter}, but it is about the only night I actually get the remote from the Hub. I have watched the last 4 seasons and don't intend to stop anytime soon. It's like my ice cream and magic shell deal. So yummy. But sooooo not good for you.

Later.

#8 Attend Church

I agreed to post about my 30 before 30 experiences as they unfolded. {Woot!}

And, I got to cross #8 off the list last night!

It was Ash Wednesday. So we attended church.

I can honestly say it had been a while. Like the kind 'you can't remember' been a while.

We of course say our daily prayers and talk about Jesus at every opportunity as a family. But we haven't been to the actual building. The place where others go... to worship. And it was time for a change.

The very first post I did on this blog was titled 'You Have to Start Somewhere' and that is exactly what I was feeling like. What a perfect time to repent and get things back on track.

I was prepared to take the kids myself because the Hub usually plays basketball on Wednesday nights. But when he called at 6:17 last night to ask what I was doing... he felt compelled to go with us.

Which totally made me happy.

Partly because he could help wrangle at least one of the beasts during the service, but also because I didn't want to "look" like a single parent.

So we waited until he pulled up the driveway at 6:33 and we all rode together to St Michael's last night.

The service started at 7pm. It was pretty packed.

We were greeted with a couple familiar faces.

I didn't feel bad. Yet.

The kids were rather behaved during the service.

A couple outburts from Nolan included asking if I wanted him to draw me a paw print and a rectangle on the prayer request cards, asking for the string cheese I had packed, and what the fire on the altar (candles) was for. He enjoyed the flutes that were played. And Nevaly, loved the baby sitting behind us. She kept trying to share Nolan's red car with her. Very sweet. Innocent little minds.

The service included a message about how since birth we are very selfish beings. How after our first words mama or dada, comes the word 'mine'. And from then on we classify and quantify ourselves by how much stuff we "own".

And that God is very unselfish. He gave His only Son to die for us. On a wooden cross while people mocked and ridiculed him. Just so we could enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

And that's why I love Easter. Really. 

It is a much needed reminder of the sacrifice that was made for us. A new beginning. Just like Spring. 

So back to the service. Communion and the Placement of Ashes was last. It went pretty quickly considering how many people were there. I remember going to St Paul Lutheran Church as a child, where a good portion of the pews were full including the balcony. I dreaded communion services there. It took a good forty minutes to get through. Really? There are KIDS in here people. Babies who need to eat!

Just kidding.

But really.

Anyhow, Nolan told us he wanted to get "his ashes". Which just about brought me tears right there. How sweet, right?

Then when the time came, he refused them. Which is totally understandable. He has never even seen them before.

And the whole time we are at the altar receiving communion Nolan is asking me "what is going on".

{Insert part where I feel bad}

If we had been the good parents we were entrusted to be, he would know exactly what was going on because he would have been doing it for the last 3 years of his life. 

Instead he is dragging his feet as we are getting up to go back to our seat and crying "where are we going mom?" as loudly as possible. Poor kid.

I did feel terrible.

It is all the more reason to continue the pursuit of attending church again.

I think for reasons beyond learning about our faith.

It brings families together.

Makes children respectful and obedient.

It inspires goodness all around.

So just because I crossed it off my list, it doesn't mean the quest has been conquered like a lot of my other endeavers on the list.

Some of them will be a one time gig. Yes.

But some will be the rest of my lifetime type. Hopefully.

Like the Key West one, the kissing in the rain... the growing and eating my own food one.

So there you have it. #8 Attend Church. I done it.

The sun will come out TOMORROW?

I am beyond ready for spring to finally get here.

I am tired of the weather forecasts that include drizzle, cold wet rain, temperatures below 50 degrees and of course snow!

Does anyone else feel like it has been an exceptionally looooooong, cold winter?

Seriously.
I know Easter is typically cold and sometimes even raining, but at least there are a couple days/weeks in between where you think the weather has turned.
Not yet, apparently.
But, I have wishful thinking right now.

I am ready to enjoy life outside of the house. And I don't mean the grocery store, or Chick-Fil-A for an afternoon to climb on the tree house with a slide. I mean really getting to spend the day outside.

In the grass. In the sunshine.
Without a coat on.

I am ready to get my hands dirty.

Dig holes. Plant some trees.

And some seeds. Hang some shudders on the front of the house. Plant flowers.

Add some more much needed landscape to our blank canvas. Mulch.

Push the kiddos on the swingset.
Let the dogs run around or just be lazy.
Set up the little red hen house in the yard. Build a fence.
We will have 25 different chickens coming the end of April. 22 female and 3 males. Egg layers. Brown eggs. And, white eggs. {squeels}

Barred Rock

Rhode Island Red

I can't wait to give them a name. You know like Bonnie. Henrietta {obvious one}. Otis.
I think the kids are really going to love taking care of them. And us too! They eat corn. And drink water.
They will come as day old chicks. And we will have to keep them inside for about the first week.
I am really looking forward to it.
Can you tell?

Never really thought I would be that person. But I am quickly evolving people.

There is such tranquility in having a farm.
And although I am far from being a farm, I am on my way to becoming at least a little self reliant.
Which I think is important at least in these coming days.
Skyrocketing gas prices are expected to change a lot of things. Including food prices.

I have talked about these things in previous posts. But I just read another interesting article about our "fossil water" supply here.

And, I can now feel the sense of urgency the good Lord is putting on me to do something for my family.
We will start with chickens. Maybe we will end up with a cow. I don't know.
I don't know if we will have enough time! {quoting from the movie Old School}

But I do know that if we don't start having some nicer weather soon... it's going to be forecasted as gloomy indoors too!

Oh I forgot to mention my most favorite part of spring! How could anyone forget this...
Cleaning!
And I mean that with as must gusto as this computer will allow.
I love being able to turn the house upside down just so I can reorganize and go through every last item. From baby clothes to toys, to my own clothes, to the stupid items that pile up in the garage all winter.
I guess I could do this any day of the week in the winter too, but it seems so much more productive with all the windows open and the great southernly Indiana breezes coming in to blow the winter dust around.

So I will leave on that note. {Dusty}

'30 Before 30'

Late yesterday afternoon, I stumbled upon a blog that was completely new to me called Positively Splendid.

I think the thing I loved most of all was a little series she recently did called Thirty before 30. Besides the fact that Amy was gorgeously crafty.... I just loved the idea of making a list of things, whether grandiose or mundane, that I wanted to do before I hit the big 3-0.

If you remember back in January, I described how I felt about turning 29. And was already on this 30 before 30 mindset, without even knowing it existed.

Just type the phrase "30 before 30" into any search engine, and you'll be inundated with matches. 

Suddenly it was like the light was shining through the trees. Which is a metaphor for my perfectly tucked away little brain realizing just how cool this is!

So I am going to make a quick list of things that come to my mind that I wish to accomplish this year.

And while I am at it, I might as well make them public. So here goes...

1. Frame family photos.

2. Hang them up.

3. Visit Key West as a family.

4. Attend a country concert.

5. Take my boards and pass.

6. Learn the art of canning.

7. Make window treatments for our bedroom.

8. Attend church.

9. Learn Spanish.

10. Grow and eat my own food.

11. Take a candelit bath with lover.

12. Eat breakfast in bed.

13. Fall asleep under the stars.

14. Go camping in a tent.

15. Make out with lover in the rain.

16. Go see a drive in movie with the kids.

17. Make bread from scratch.

18. Hug a tree.

19. Swim in a lazy river.
20. Eat something I have never tried before.

21. Organize the outgrown baby clothes.

22. Sing loudly in the car with the windows down.

23. Grow my nails out and paint them cranberry.

24. Wake up before the sunrise and make breakfast.

25. Take a family picture.

26. Get dressed up to go to the grocery store.

27. Go on an overnight date with lover.

28. Kill and prepare an animal for eating.

29. Redo the kitchen floors.
30. Plant an orchard.

I guess that's a good start.

I could think of ten more things right now, but should probably take aim at crossing these off first.

I expect to be be able to post about each experience as they unfold. And will post these in my side bar as a constant reminder.

I have little less than a year to fulfill my new quests...

Wish me luck!

Appetite Crush: Magic Shell

Does anyone else find themselves wanting to put this stuff on anything and everything?

I have a huge slight obsession. And now, so does Nolan.

This could be bad people. Very very bad. For reasons such as having to have ice cream in our freezer, just so I can drizzle this over the top.

Oh! 

Who am I kidding?

I don't drizzle it.

I dowse my ice cream in this chocolatey heaven!

So, here's to Magic Shell.

Throw me back.

I know it's been a while since I last updated this silly thing. I've been UBER busy. Surprise!

And it got me thinking the other day how I really wish I would have appreciated my teenage years instead of aimlessly running towards the future at a very high rate of speed. I think about how all I wanted to do was to grow up, move out, get my own house, have my own family, go to school, get a good job, buy my own things....

And now that all of those things have come to pass.... I am requesting a throwback.

It's true.
I think the recent desire to be younger again stems from all of the responsibilities I now have as an adult. Not because I am vain and prefer my teenage booty. 
Okay fine.
I do prefer my teenage behind over my "had two kids, got big but is now smaller and floppier" one.
But I was really talking about my call to duties. 
You know... the wife.
The mother.
The story reader.
The laundry washer (but not the laundry folder).
The grocery shopper.
The bill payer.
The house keeper.
The project analyst.
The meal planner (which includes the meal maker).
The Realtor.
The property manager (which were the brunt of my obligations these past couple weeks).
The school teacher.
The bedtime wrangler and prayer speaker.
The bottom wiper and toilet trainer.
The errand runner...

But, don't get me wrong. I LOVE being all of those things. I really do. I have essentially gotten everything I have ever prayed for, and more. I am healthy. My family is healthy. I am happy... I am truly blessed.

I guess I am just realizing now, how very fast life can happen and how very quickly it can change.
But everything is always 20/20 in hindsight. Right? 

I just like to think back to when things at least seemed simple.
Of course when you are going through it, nothing seems easy.
But doesn't everyone wish to be a teenager again, if even for just a day?
I mean seriously. You had free range to do whatever (to an extent) you wanted. You could spend your parents money. You had few responsibilities. You had a ton of friends. You came and went and slept away a good portion of the day just because you COULD.

Fast forward ten years and I find that I am dripping in obligations and responsibilities as an adult. And, I blame no one but myself. I apparently prefer it this way...

But. I would love to have the opportunity to spend my grocery money on a distressed pair of cropped jeans from AE, or some adorable flats from Toms, or some chunky, funky accessories from F21 instead of... groceries.
Or have my parents throw me some money to pay for my cell phone bill this month. Or any of my bills this month, honestly.
Or go on a "date" with lover to the movies that isn't a $1 Redbox (that I only get when I actually have a code for a FREE one) in our own living room.
And, I would love to be able to sleep in past 7:30am on ANY day of the week.

Anyone droehming yet?
Of course you are. Who wouldn't love someone else to do their "dirty work" so they can relax or party all day long. Or go shopping. Or just sleep.

Does anyone else see a recurring issue? An underlying plea?
That's right people.
I need some...
sleep!!!!

I will be glad to have a break very soon.
But before then, I need to rent the house, get a contract signed, hopefully get a close date for my HUD file, clean up my house, plant an orchard, make some hairbows for my new flower pot creations, show some houses to a new client, go grocery shopping, make a couple dinners, spend some quality time with my darling's, and make out with lover.

Gotta run...