Garden Sanctuary

Erik and I have been busy working on our backyard. It is turning into a an outdoor garden sanctuary. I need a sanctuary. I find the yard to be so much more peaceful than I ever anticipated. As a child, I remember my mom always working diligently in the yard. At the time I had zero interest in her outdoor hobbies. Years later, the first place I go each morning is out into the yard. I go to check on my plants, flowers, and to just look at the grass. On occasion I notice the dog poop and pray Erik will mow that day and it will turn into nice fertilizer. Unfortunately, he doesn't mow everyday.

Yesterday, Erik and my dad built the trellibo. We hung solar lights, set out the chairs, and put the fire pit in it's rightful position. I am contemplating putting flowers in the pit. I don't need a literal fire in my yard for several more months. The air just feels like fire. Today, I purchased Cat's Claw and Snail Vine. I planted the Cat's Claw and am in the process of looking for the perfect pots for the Snail Vine. The Cat's Claw will grow to cover the walls that make up our fences. The Snail Vine will grow around all of the posts of the trellibo. My vision is coming to fruition.



Today, Erik and my dad also built cornhole, while my mom sewed all of the bags. Erik and my dad played several times. Erik never even let my dad win once! But they had fun.

I love my yard. I could spend hours out there. There is just something about getting dirt under your nails, digging with a shovel while jumping on it as if it is a pogo stick to get deep into the Arizona ground, and fresh air. I love seeing all of the tiny insects running as I start to dig. I was ecstatic when I found rolly pollies in one of the Cat's Claw pots.

Gardening and being in the yard reminds me of my younger days. Days when life was simple. Days when my primary concerns were whether or not my parents would make me come inside at dark. Days when I stole pomegranates from the tree in the backyard and ate them while hiding in the dog house that my dad built. During these days there were even grape Fruit Roll-ups. I miss grape Fruit Roll-ups. These were also the days when I would sneak into the cabinet and drink the Dimetapp because it tasted like grape. Maybe my mom should have just kept more grapes in the house. I would also fake a cough so that I could have cherry Luden's. And today I confessed to my mom that I would fake illnesses to stay home from school because I wanted to stay caught up on certain TV shows. I seemed to fake a lot of things, but honestly, I think my mom knew the entire time.

It is funny how we quickly we forget the simple times. As a kid, I always wanted to be older and have more freedom. Freedom brought more responsibilities. Responsibilities brought more commitments. Commitments brought less free time. I am so thankful and blessed with the life that I have. God has led me down an amazing path. I know my parents wanted two things for my life. A great husband, which I can put a check next to that one and a job that I love. Another check next to that one. My commitments often feel like free time. They aren't burdens. My responsibilities even bring about more freedom. That said, I love being a responsible adult!

Becoming Domesticated

Tonight I realized that I am becoming domesticated. I know this is a term usually reserved for animals. I wouldn't normally compare myself to an animal, but let's face it, I am somewhat like a wild stallion. I like to do things my way. I am independent. I have too many ideas and don't always march down the typical path. Yet, within that context, I am simple and prefer many traditional values. I don't think anyone would ever describe me as one might describe the stereotypical wife from the 1950s or even 1980s. I never envisioned myself with 2. 5 children, a white picket fence, and making dinner every night for the family. Instead, I saw myself working, possibly a white picket fence because they are so darn cute, eating out, and living a life similar to the one I lead now. I live out my dreams on a day-to-day basis.

Lately, I have gained more and more interest in decorating my home. It is fun to find cool ideas, work on projects with my husband, and create what I see in my head, but can't find in the store. Plus, I love the thrill of the hunt. Gardening for example. Fun, but my mother tried her best to develop a green thumb on me at an early age. It did not take. I HATED gardening. Why? Because it required getting dirty and being outside. My two least favorite tasks. Today, I love them both. I am an evolving creature. I pray I don't turn into a Martha Stewart type. I think it would just cause people to panic and be certain that the end times were upon us.

Here are some of my latest projects:




The first project is our outdoor trellibo (trellis and gazebo). I am going to plant some vines that will grow up the red posts and we are going to add more roof pieces made out of this bamboo-like material. It is only in the beginning stages. My dad and Erik built the trellibo. It is perfect. My dad T-ed it up. I learned that is term used in carpentry, not just a call in basketball. Erik and I painted it in the time it took my parents to make dinner one evening. We found these wonderful Christmas lights that run on solar panels. They are perfect!

The second project was my collection of plates. I have always collected plates, but I finally had enough to hang them on the wall in my dining room. I think all of the plate hangers cost more than the plates themselves! It is fun to look at the plates. Some are from my early days of plate collecting. Some are more recent.

The final project is one piece of a larger piece of art that will end up on the wall behind our couch. I was inspired by a piece that we purchased and took back because the color scheme was wrong. Then I saw a blog that showed how a lady made her own. Currently, I am 2 hours into the project and about 5 or 6 hot glue sticks. I have one circle. This may be one of my largest undertakings yet. But don't worry. I will complete the task at hand.

Burning Down the House

For those of you that don't know, when I was in college, I inadvertently caught my parents' house on fire. Needless to say, this is never a good thing. The past two days I have been burning candles on new candler holders to get the perfect drip patterns on the candles that runs down onto the holders. Silly, I know. I have burned through 2 of those red torch lighter things. I have gone through matches. And finally, I have used small pieces of scrap wood! I shouldn't admit this because I used the wood when everyone left the room. As I was working on the candles, I found myself putting my fingers into the melted wax, just as I did as a small child. I guess this obsession carried into my teenage years as well. Some of the wax even ran down the candle holder onto the table. There is just something about the feeling of soft wax underneath your fingernails as you scrape it off the table. Then I found myself putting the dried wax from the table back into the melted wax on the top of the pillar candle watching as it melted again. I didn't want to let any wax go to waste. So frugal or "green" of me not to be wasteful. I even found myself dipping used matches into the wet wax so that they would burn again. Seriously, I may need counseling for my pyro tendencies. I need to purchase some more pillar candles and work on some more tapered candles. Honestly, I enjoy dragging this project out. The joy of playing with fire and melted wax brings a grin to my face. The simple things.

Growing Family

No, I'm not pregnant. I'm getting a sister! No, my mom is not pregnant either. My brother-in-law, Kevin, proposed to the most wonderful person, Krystle! I am rather excited about this! Growing up I never realized that I was rather different because I did not have siblings. It was not until I entered junior high and started staying at my friends' houses more often that I realized the benefits of a sibling. Although when I think back not all siblings seemed that great. However, most of my friends had wonderful siblings. They set great examples of how siblings should treat each other and interact. Selflessnes. Graciousness. Generosity. And most importantly, laughter.

When I got married I gained two brothers. That was pretty exciting and has been great! I couldn't ask for better brothers. In fact I really hate the term "in-laws" because it carries such a negative connotation, which my family is in stark contrast to those stereotypes. I am thankful that my family is growing. God has truly blessed me with great family.

Diapers?

I've been too tired to write lately. Lame, I know. I have been staying up too late and getting up too early. My usual "Summer O'Fun" has been more of a "Summer O'Tired." But I love summer! It is a great time to work without too much pressure and hang out around the house. It is also a great time to just think and reflect. Usually I think about self-improvement in the summer.

Today I really realized that I am a rule follower. I don't like breaking the rules or getting in trouble. This may be shocking to some of you, especially my mother. But it is true. I don't like conflict and I don't like letting people down, on purpose or on accident. I actually lose sleep over it, which is often times why I am so tired. I think way too much. Too much for my own good. If I could generate electricity from my thoughts, I would not be dependent on SRP.

One thing I do know about myself - I know what I like and don't like. I try not to be opinionated, but I told a couple people this and they laughed at me. I took this to mean that I am failing miserably! I think so much that I often wonder if I over think the things I need to improve or change about myself. But because I know what I like and don't like, I don't like it when people say, "It's just the way I am. I was born this way." I was born without the ability to control my bodily functions and we are ALL thankful I learned how to do that. I would look silly with a diaper on at this point in my life. Plus, I don't think my clothes would fit correctly. Imagine your metabolism slowing, gaining a few pounds here and there, and now you have to wear a diaper. Obviously, God had a better plan. I am thankful adults don't wear diapers, and even more thankful that I don't need one.

On a regular basis I am asked the following questions: 1. When are you going to have kids? 2. What are your goals? Of course I have an opinion on both of these topics. First, are you supplying the trust fund for the baby? Secondly, goals are just something I teach my students to do. They aren't anything you need in the real world.

So, here are my goals for the summer. I would like to call this my self-improvement plan.
1. Stay home an entire day without leaving my house. This may be an impossible task for me, but I will attempt it.
2. Read more. I love to read. I encourage reading in others. I may even judge those who hate to read. But honestly, I don't read as much as I should.
3. Meet one of my neighbors. I have met one neighbor and I already forgot her name. I want to bring back the art of being neighborly.

With that said, I need some shut eye. The 'rents arrive tomorrow.

Decorating

Today Erik and I ran errands all day. We set out to Costco and the fabric store, but ended up finding some great deals on decorating items. We have been slowly but surely working on our living room. On one of the ledges, I had a vision of funky candlestick holders. We are almost done! We found several today! And, all were on sale! :) We also wanted to put curtains on the sliding glass door to dress up the area. This project needs some serious TLC! Erik picked out curtains and I had the idea to use knobs to hang them instead of a rod. We need to get a few more knobs and then I think it will be complete. Hopefully. I really love decorating together. We feed off one another, in a good way of course. In fact, we went to return TJ Maxx this evening to return an item and who was in line checking out? Mike and Jess. They work well decorating together too. I love that Jess and I both have amazing husbands that see our vision, add to it, and are willing to sand anything! I hate sanding. It is loud, dusty and tedious. But my husband with asthma gladly sands for me! Over the years, we have created some great projects. I fear one day we will run out of room. I don't think I will ever let that happen though. We have a project planned for when my parents visit. It will be the project of all projects for us. We have a vision, but have to build it from scratch. We have never built anything from nothing. Thankfully my dad will be here to teach us a thing or two. Thank heaven for daddies, right!?!?!

My Birthday

Today is my birthday. Well, at least for the next hour and a half. I am on what I consider the downward slope to my 30s. Now I am on the last stretch. What does that mean? It means that I have to wear a mouth guard to bed because I grind my teeth. It means I can't eat what I want anymore. It means I determine an outfit as cute only if it is slimming. It means I clean up after myself. I think about retirement. I don't do anything too adventurous because I am concerned about my hips and joints. I want to make sure my clothes match my age group. And for some reason, my face still breaks out, but I religiously put on anti-wrinkle serums and sunblock every morning. I no longer care if my hair is perfect, but if I have a single strand of gray. I don't necessarily care of people see me without make-up, but if I have crow's feet. And one more criteria for my clothes - not too tight on my mid section.

I realize I sound a little vain. My mom always told me I was vain. Oh wait, actually she always wondered why I didn't get ready to run errands with her. Times have changed. I dream about working out, but never put those desires into action. I dream about salads, but never order one. I make fun of Denton for groaning like an old man, but I am not far behind him. The big 3-0 is looming. I hope I make it. My only glimmer of hope is that 40 is the new 30, so I guess next year won't really be that big of a deal.