Barnaby's great adventure

Barnaby has taken another adventure.  This bear has traveled the Midwest with me during my roving naturalist years- but he has had a fairly low key and stationary life for the last few year.  That's all changed with a trip to Italy.  He went with Chris last week- and here are a few pictures from his adventure... so far.

Weekend projects

With Chris gone for a couple more weeks I have a few things left on my to-do list. I need to do some touch ups upstairs and I'd like- wait I think that's all that's left on my to-do list! Wahoo! This first week has been busy- intentionally so.
Yesterday the carpet was installed. Chris has my camera- which has a picture of the upstairs pre-carpet but post-trim. So we're a little out of order, but I'm sure you get the idea:

Yesterday I my mom and dad came over to help me work on a landscape project. I forgot to take a before picture. But I have a picture of the area from last year's fence project. My dad pulled out all of the hosta-like plants and repositioned them, planted a hydrangea, added a few items from around the yard, and helped me estimate how much mulch I needed. Today I added the mulch and the plant in the front triangle.

Before:

After:

A couple more pictures of landscape projects:

I added the mini-fence edging to this area. I'm hoping it'll keep the woodchips from running away when it rains- I kinda think they look like tombstones!

I added edging, mulch and a couple hostas by the garage:

Chris if you're reading this, I mulched and edged all the way to the fence. And pulled out the dead ferns. =( But they look good in the compost. =P
So, with that said I'm exhausted. I'm thinking a popsicle, the couch and a good book might be the way to spend the rest of my day!

Just for fun

Crazy wildlife photo

Another crazy picture compliments of Adam Borgstahl. (Click on the picture and look closely at the green heron's bill.)

Three weeks

Well, I'm a single girl for three weeks. Boo. McClane and I are holding down the fort until Chris returns from a three week "thing" in Italy. (I'm still not sure what to call it- training maybe?)

Conversation this morning

This morning I subscribed to the local newspaper... at first he wasn't sure he could deliver the St. Paul Pioneer Press to Minneapolis. I live two minute walk from the border of St. Paul. I can almost see the river from our house- which is the border. I was ready to argue that point- they deliver to Wisconsin but they won't drive across the river? But, that argument was not needed.
So, on to the details of the subscription.
Marcus: Can I get your first and last name?
Me: My first name is Krista- K-R-I-S-T-A
Marcus: Okay, let me spell that back C-H-R
Me: No.
Marcus: Oh I'm sorry will you spell it again...
Fast forward to my last name.
Me: Prokosch- P-R-O-K-O-S-C-H
Marcus: Okay let me spell that back P-R-O-C-O
Me: NO!
Marcus: Oh, I'm sorry. C-A?
Let's just say, that bill oughtta be really interesting.

Birthday sushi

I've never made homemade sushi before... I'll be trying again soon. It was delicious!

Happy belated birthday Katie!

Not exactly red...

...but kind of orange... Autumn russett according to the paint chip/can. We like it!

McClane has been doing a fairly good job of staying out of our way. He does have some white spots on him from last week's primer frenzy. Somehow he got his chin whiskers coated!! He wouldn't sit still for a shot of that though. Here's one of him with his new buddy. (Who by the way is already missing two ears, an arm and a leg!)

Progress

A couple new pictures of our attic/bedroom project.  We finished priming the other day and yesterday Chris put the first coat of paint on the the kneel walls.  We had been talking about painting the chocolate brown- but changed our mind when we got to the store.  Any guesses on what color we'll be painting the end/window walls and closets?

Independence day

My sister and spent yesterday with our parents. We ate lots of yummy food, played games, giggled over pictures and videos from the past and watched fireworks. What a great day! Here we are at the park waiting for the fireworks to begin. I've never been so close to a fireworks show before!

Knee High by the 4th of July

Our garden is doing MUCH better than last year! Last year we were squashed at the starting line when the dog decided to lay in the freshly mulched soil.
This year we've already had some strawberries, peas, LOTS of lettuce and one hot salsa pepper! We're eyeballing the loads of grape tomatoes ripening on the vine.