More Home Improvement Updates

We've been working on some more major improvements this summer. We've re-sided the garage with steel siding and we'll steel the roof before July 2018 when things calm down a bit. We are in the process of putting up a fence for the pups and we updated our HVAC system. Crazy summer but very much appreciated to have a "cool" home vs. an old dinosaur AC unit that never really cooled but continued to climb in temperature throughout the day.

So unfortunately, no major vacation plans this summer. More like "staycation" type things we've done. 

Gearing up for Middle School!

Matthew is officially done with grade school and will start MIDDLE school in August. Looking forward to more independence and more structure as he will have to be more in tune with his schedule/routine and hopefully less assistance. He's learned how to open a combination lock this summer because he'll have an actual locking locker this year.

He's also really excited for his 12th birthday and still seems to be Transformers obsessed. Looking forward to what middle school brings, he'll be back in the town that we live in for school which is a huge stress relief during the winter time.

Cactus Styled Photoshoot

Summer is flying by, so I figured it was time to do some updated Boston photos as we retired Luna, Finnegan, and Beans.

Yeti and BB

Yeti and Ginger

Yeti and Mavis

Rogue

Mavis

Ginger

Yeti

Tigger

Handmade is always Best

Handmade things are so much more meaningful then store bought. 

I found this Flamingo sculpture make out of screwdrivers and a hydrant handle. 

I just love him.

My nephew made Matthew a pet rock for Christmas. 

He spray painted a good sized rock and put googly eyes on it. 

Matthew loved it and named him "Rocky."

Luna's Final Litter.

On November 7th, Luna gave birth to her final litter of puppies. Luckily, Luna is still alive today as the delivery was pretty tough. The first puppy was born dead as he came out breech and got stuck. But low and behold, he took his first breath 40 minutes later and wouldn't have done so without my Mom's help. We named that puppy Lucky. The next girl was also breech, but my Mom got her out too. She was able to breathe on her own. The one and only beautiful Luna girl now named Topanga. The 3rd puppy came breech and we were on our way to the vet at the time and ended up getting her out on the vet's office floor and she was unable to be revived, a chocolate girl. She may have been dead for awhile inside, hard to say. The last puppy was coming out head first but upside down so we opted for a c-section for him. Now Luna is spayed and would have probably died during her next pregnancy, so we are very thankful and fortunate that was not in her cards. She means too much to me that the right decision was made so she can enjoy the good life as a pet. Some breeders may have opted for stitching her back up and taking the chance to try one more time, not me though. Our dogs are truly family to us.

Christmas has come and gone....

It's amazing how FAST winter break goes. 

Especially since I was sick. 

I think all and all the boys had a very good Christmas and New Years, and now they are back to school today. 

Just before Christmas, our family was hit with the stomach flu.

Sean had it early in November and both Matthew and I were spared.

Then right before Christmas my nephew got the stomach flu.

Luckily, he only had for a few hours. 

Next my Dad had it really bad. 

Then Mom.

Then finally me, and when I got it I was also hit with a huge chest cold that I'm still not over.

The day after Christmas, I was just done with Christmas decorations so I packed them all up and took them down to store in my basement.

Sadly, I missed the very last step and ended up falling with a couple of totes in my hands.

The worst part was it felt like my toes were bent back in a completely wrong direction.

I think I broke a toe or too. :( 

So I'm still dealing with that as well.

Luckily, Matthew hasn't gotten the stomach flu but I'm sure he will now that he's back in school. :( 

Hopefully not though.

For Christmas, Matthew got a TON of Grossery Gang toys. He loves those.

Grandma got him a remote control helium balloon shark and Nemo.

My nephew got a lot of tractor stuff AND a Big Bud. Now that's one cool tractor.

Christmas Cards 2015 and 2016

2016

2015

Another Project Checked Off the List: WOOD SHUTTERS for our HEADBOARD

We started with this. 

I got the old barn door from my parents' barn. It's beautiful. 

At the time, I had to make due with vinyl shutters.

It just never looked right. 

I recently asked around if anyone knew of any wood shutters. 

Char from Anchor Creations directed me toward a local gal that had a pair of them. 

They needed a lot of work but I wanted wood. 

I sanded a lot. And then stained the outer frame. I decided I just couldn't deal with trying to strip the blades so I painted them. Then they were too stark white, so I poly'd them, distressed them, and added some brown wax. Right before my husband was to install them, I looked at them and they were soooooooooo yellow. They looked terrible. So then I busted out the white paint again and fixed. Granted they are a little brighter than the door, they will do. 

I am happy.

Definitely a labor of love. 

Finished it off with this beautiful garland that I found on Etsy and gives it that pop of color it needs. 

5th Grade = BAND!

In 5th grade, students have the opportunity to participate in band.

Matthew isn't that keen on band but I talked him into it. 

In 6th grade, they have to choose between choir or band, so band it is.

Matthew will be playing percussion! 

I'm so proud of him. 

I really hope he will take to it and play all throughout high school.

TV Stand

Sean and I have been working really hard at changing out all of our furniture for older pieces, 

be it REAL wood or metal. 

If you remember, we scored an old metal medical cabinet that is now the most beautiful night stand ever. 

Swoon!

Our list is dwindling down. 

The last things on our list are projects we are going to try and tackle ourselves: 

2 end/side tables, a bookshelf type thing, and our small kitchen table that's just great for extra counter space.

 I've already got the 2 old metal stools for it.

One of the last pieces on our list is our TV stand. 

I happen to really like our TV stand, except for the fact that it's not real wood.

So I've been looking for the perfect little stand to redo myself. 

I found the cutest little wood dry wash sink/stand at a Junk Fest a few weeks ago that was done in white. I generally avoid pieces that someone has already done because I prefer to put my own touch on them and I really didn't want to go to all the effort changing out the white, plus it wasn't really what I wanted.

I've been looking. I've even had my junk buddies looking for me.

Well low and behold, Char from Anchor Creations posted a 1950's side table that will make the most beautiful TV stand and give our living room that pop of color it needs. This is one piece I can live with because I would never have thought to make it look like this.

This evening we'll be out with the old, and in with the older. 

Without further ado, the gorgeous TV stand: 

Isn't she LOVELY?! Isn't she Wonderful?

This one definitely served it's purpose. Small, swiveled, and had storage for my printer! 

5 Year St. Patrick's Day Wedding Anniversary Custom Made Farm Table + Bench

Sean and I are quickly approaching our 5th wedding anniversary. 

St. Patrick's Day 2017 to be exact.

What better way to celebrate it than by having a custom Farm Table and Bench made for 

our special day.

5 years is WOOD, per tradition, ya know?

We chose Anchor Creations located in Hartford, SD.

They locally sourced 110-120 year old barn wood for the job and stained it gray to give it that rustic, weathered look. Oh boy did they do an Amazing Job!

If you are looking for custom made furniture or have a piece you'd like them to do, 

please don't hesitate to check them out on Facebook.

Joe + Char are a lovely couple and do gorgeous work as a team.

Anchor Creations

The chairs were the project that Sean and I tackled.
Kind of needed old chairs to go with an old beautiful table!
Sanded them down, reupholstered them, stained and sealed.

Joe adds an Anchor to every piece he makes. 

August Shenanigans

Wow, August just flew by.

Matthew turned 11 years old on August 14th. :) 

He's already back in school. He's now a 5th grader. This is his last year of elementary school.

I also received this little surprise in the mail from a friend on Instagram/Facebook. 

Ashley has many, many talents. One being watercolor painting. So she did a Boston picture for me. 

LOVE.

I've also spent a few weeks documenting my Mom's current litter of puppies growth: 

As for that, I am waiting for Ginger and Beans to have puppies in September. 

Looking forward to a fun filled fall. Can't wait to start decorating for it. :) 

Bug Adventures Cont.'d

Sean painted the bug a few weeks ago, still have a ways to go, but it's PROGRESS!

Phoenix picked the colors. 

Dudeoir: Fun on the Farm

Life gets too serious, why not have a little fun (at my husband's expense)?

Girls shouldn't have all the fun!

I present to you, Sean's dudeoir photoshoot, just for kicks and giggles.