The Farmhouse

Saturday, March 29, 2014

New Look - New Girl


I hope you all like the "new" look of my blog!  I got bored and changed it up a bit.  New colors , new season. A girl can change her look if she wants to.

Well it seems as though I have been sidelined with a case of "kennel cough".  No didn't catch this from dear Bella.  Got it from you know who.  It started a week ago and hasn't let up much. I'm not really sick, but I have been coughing like a dog.  I finally called the doctor and he started me on some meds, so let's hope they kick in soon.  I have barely left the house except for a few trips around the block with Bella.  Which got me thinking about our new hood.  It's a strange feeling when you  don't know your neighbors. I walked the same streets for 28 years and knew just about everybody.  By saying I knew them I mean I often waved and exchanged pleasantries. Most of these folks never knew my name, but probably thought of me as that crazy lady who always walks dogs.  In the 28 years that I strolled the streets of my old neighborhood I walked 7 different dogs. For 14 of those years I walked 2 dogs together.  Now not all of my encounters were cordial mind you.  You see I have something to admit.  Come very close.  Closer.  Just an eeny bit closer....I don't always pick up poop.  There I said it.  I am deeply ashamed and sorry!  To be totally honest that is why we moved.  I have had several "incidents" with my neighbors over the years.  There was the time my dog Timber made a "deposit" on an elderly Russian gentleman's lawn.  He must have seen me through the window and came running out of his front door screaming, "Miss, Miss!" Well I did what every self respecting crazy person would do.  I ran! Ran all the way home.  Came in the door huffing and puffing and had to explain why I was in cardiac arrest to my beloved hubby. He admonished me - again.  I know I should pick up.  I know.  Then there was the time I thought no one was looking and my Bernese Tucker "left a deposit" and just as he finished the couple from up the street turned the corner.  I looked away in doodie shame just in time to hear the husband say, "She doesn't pick up the shit?"  He said it loud as he had earphones in and probably didn't realize how loud he was.  Well folks that's what did it.  He shamed me right in to going to Petco and buying a 10 pack of poop bags.  I am proud to say - I now pick up!! Yeah me!  I even bought a bumper sticker stating this :)  Anyhoo....now we are in a new place and I must make a good impression. I am the new girl. I don't know these folks and I want them to like me.  And like Bella. And Cliff.  It is hard to make new neighbor friends in a world where everyone just whizzes by on the street.  I have met a few dog people and they are nice. They don't know about my past of not picking up, so that's good.  Right? We try to put our best foot (and paw) forward and make some new friendly acquaintances.  Dogs seem to make friends quickly.  A couple of sniffs here and there and then it's off to the races.  Bella has 3 boyfriends so far.  I am hoping when the warm weather comes I will make some new friends, too.

On the Farmhouse front we had a Landscape Architect come by to give us some ideas. I have been doing some crafting while I've been sidelined with my cough.

This is the new stencil I got.  I am deeply in love.

 
I painted this old toy chest and put the stencil on the front.  We are going
to get cushions for the top and make it a seat.


Also put it on a tray. Love!


Cliff hung the painted window on the screened in porch.


Proudly carrying my poop bags on every walk.  Thank you!

My little baby.
Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, March 17, 2014

The Down Side of Downsizing


Yes, it's cozy.  Yes, it's charming.  Yes, it's Unique.  Yes it's SMALL.  I am starting to feel the squeeze.  Why all of the sudden am I noticing how small our Farmhouse is?  Two words.  The Flu.  It seems poor Cliff has come down with the flu.  Yes mom - he got the flu shot! So naturally this affects me - after all, isn't it all about me anyway?  It all started innocently enough a few nights ago.  He had a few coughing spells, but felt OK.  That night every 36 seconds he coughed and I woke up (me...again).  Bad night.  Last night he started to feel sick and now full blown flu symptoms. Fever, chills, coughing  and moaning "why me."  So where's a man to go in this tiny place?  Well right now he's camped out on the sofa spreading germs on the remote.  He slept on the sofa last night, but I can't ask him to do that again in his weakened state.  Can I? I know, I know. I will give him the bed and I will go sleep on the slanting sofa bed upstairs. This is the down side of living in a smaller space.  There is nowhere to hide. I also noticed this phenomenon this past weekend when Josh came to visit.  A 6'2" man-child and his 65 pound puppy.  Throw in a 70 pound Golden Retriever and this place gets real small.  And I'll let you in on a secret....he may be moving home!  Josh has decided he wants to save money for a house.  Isn't that Great!  Fantastic!  Help! He couldn't of decided this before he got a Newfoundland? I remember walking around my old house, before we moved and saying how we never use these extra rooms.  Now I am yearning for just a little more space. Should we plan an addition to The Farmhouse???  I know once spring comes I will have the great outdoors, but, for now I am feeling the squeeze.

Don't think I am a bad wife, however. I am making my beloved chicken soup and I shoveled the drive and walkway.  I painted and waxed a bench for the screened in porch, too. Trying to keep busy.  Well I've got a go and get the soup off the stove.  I will be watching The Housewives Reunion upstairs tonight.
Thanks for stopping by.

Happy St. Patty's Day




Sunday, March 9, 2014

Springing Forward


It's almost here-Spring!  Our thoughts have turned from ice melt to flowers and we are very excited, indeed!  We spent yesterday getting the front porch spruced up.  We had an old wooden bench that lived on our front porch at our old house and decided it needed some TLC.  Cliff painted it and now it adds a pop of color on an otherwise bland porch.


He also hung the sign I made.



Still bland, but nothing that a few flower pots can't fix!  Oh - and see that pretty propane tank?  It's screaming to have a few bushes planted around it.
We also got to sit on the screened in porch. Come - sit a spell!


The sun felt sooo nice.
With the good comes the bad.  And by bad I mean mud.


And of course Bella loves to lay in the mud!


We did have a lovely lawn when we bought the house, but , Wes used the dirt from excavation to change the grade around the house, hence, the mud. I see many trips to Lowes in my future.  
We also spent a few moments on this porch.


Can't wait to get to work! Come on Spring.
Thanks for stopping by.