Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great – but busy – weekend. Friday night, I had dinner with Sara at Wildflower Café in Mason. If you haven’t been there, you should try it! The food was fabulous, the business environmentally friendly and the atmosphere homey and unique. It was great to catch up with Sara … haven’t seen her in a while.

On Saturday, I packed my childhood rocking horse in the car and drove to Lucasville to visit part of my extended family, including my new baby cousin, Graham, and my uncle Dave who just turned 60. We had cookout, so I got to see all my cousins and their kids which was very nice! Everyone is excited about the full family picnic I am planning for August, too, which made me very happy. I miss our biannual family parties at Grandma Jo’s, so I’m eager to get them started up again. Wondering why I took my rocking horse? Well, my great uncle Tuck built it for me when I was very small and offered to refurbish it for me. Next time I see the horse it will have new hair, ears and a bridle. I’m pretty pumped!

Brandon, his Dad and Grandpa spent Saturday installing a new privacy fence and re-hanging our porch swing at the house. It was wonderful to come home and see all the carpentry done!

Saturday night we attended a surprise birthday party for our neighbor, Joan. Her husband did an incredible job not only at keeping it a true surprise, but also making it a classy party. They had an acoustic guitarist, yummy appetizers/wine and lots of people. She almost fainted when she came in the door.

Sunday I picked up our awesome CSA basket – radishes, mustard greens, lettuce, eggs and more of those glorious strawberries – then we headed to Morrow to play Frisbee golf with Paula and Kirk. The course near their house was great and so were the brats they cooked for us afterward!

Monday I got up early and went to buy all our flowers and vegetable plants. After gorging on strawberries (trust me, you couldn’t resist either), we tackled the rest of the gate installation project the boys we’re able to finish, hung all new lights around our back porch then planted all of our flowers and vegetables. (The last task, unfortunately, was done in the rain.)

So, all in all a very productive weekend. Now we just have to find time to tackle the mulch pile in our driveway…hopefully the weather man is right and the rain will hold off on Friday. Saturday I’m looking forward to seeing Danielle and Duwayne.

Dancing with the Stars and My Busy-Body Weekends

We had a busy weekend and another one coming up…how do I always do this to myself? I need a break from my weekend breaks!

Anyway, Tito came into town on Saturday from Hawaii. It was raining, so I recruited Paula to accompany me on a last-minute trip to the salon for pedicures and a day of shopping. We had a good time and it gave me a break from the boys. I rented Bride Wars and vegged out upstairs while the boys battled it our at Wii golf until the rain subsided and we were able to walk Ginger. That night, we went to the Precinct for dinner and spent too much money, but it sure was tasty. On Sunday, I got my first CSA basket. We had some incredible strawberries in our basket and cute little brown eggs, among other things.

I cooked breakfast for Brandon, Tito and I, then we drove out to Woodland Mound for a round of Frisbee golf. The weather was incredible! Then the boys played croquet and I went shopping for perennials and a new butterfly bush. After all those were planted, it was off to the shelter. Last night, we went to the Reds game with Tito, Paul and Paul’s friend Simon. It was a good game and a great sunny night to be there, but the Reds unfortunately lost.
I cooked breakfast for Brandon, Tito and I, then we drove out to Woodland Mound for a round of Frisbee golf. The weather was incredible! Then the boys played croquet and I went shopping for perennials and a new butterfly bush. After all those were planted, it was off to the shelter. Last night, we went to the Reds game with Tito, Paul and Paul’s friend Simon. It was a good game and a great sunny night to be there, but the Reds unfortunately lost.

I am so disappointed that Gil did not win on Dancing with the Stars last night. he is an incredible dancer and he had such chemistry with Cheryl. Shawn was good, but she’s a friggin’ Olympian. Is that entirely fair? At least Melissa didn’t win. Boo-ya!


This weekend is packed: Friday night dinner with Sara, Saturday day trip to see my new baby cousin and get my childhood rocking horse refurbished by my great Uncle (at the same time B’s dad and Grandpa will be at our house working on the swing and fence), Sunday Frisbee/grill out with Paula and Kirk and mulching on Monday. I am determined to find some hammock time in there, too.

Bella

I've told many of you about the dog my mom rescued from being ripped apart by another dog. (Unfortunately, she is my cousin's dog and he just doesn't take care of her. The dog is very luck to have my mom!)

Anyway, I forgot to mention that I finally met Bella last weekend. She is adorable! She is like a little cat...she just wants to snuggle and sit on your lap. She was a little freaked out by Ginger, which is understandable since she probably weights six pounds and Ginger weighs 60. By the end of the trip, though, she was practically sitting on Ginger.

Here is a picture. I think she'd make the perfect "beast" dog for Jane!

Mother's Day Weekend

I had a great trip to Kentucky this past weekend to visit my family for Mother’s Day. On Saturday, Mom, Becca and I enjoyed a day of shopping and hanging out – something the three of us haven’t done all together in quite a while. It was very nice and mom seemed very happy, which was the point. That night, we stopped by a local horseshow where I snapped some photos that I was pretty impressed with, including one of a little girl. She would alternate between watching the horses intently at the fence, and showing off her dance moves to the country music that was blaring.
























On Sunday, Becca and I cooked breakfast for Mom, Grandma and Justin. I had planned to make cinnamon-oatmeal pancakes, bacon and fruit salad. I was yummy, if I don’t say so myself, and Becca’s help was much appreciated. Hope everyone else had a nice Mother’s Day!

This weekend, we’ll be hosting Tito. He’s flying in from Hawaii later this week. If the weather cooperates, we plan to play Frisbee golf and croquet over the weekend then go to Reds game on Tuesday.

Cans

I've been collecting cans for my grandma for more than a month now...probably several, in fact. Today, I had my first metal scrapping experience. Needless say, when I pulled into the muddy lot in my tiny car and in heels I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb. I had 17 lbs of aluminum cans and got $5.10 for my efforts. I'm not sure it was worth the effort -- I'll probably stick to straight recycling in the future -- but I know what to expect now!

I'm looking forward to a weekend with my mom. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

Blogs

I've probably told most of you, but I am lovin' the CincyLocavore blog: http://cincinnatilocavore.blogspot.com/. I feel like I learn something every day on there. It's awesome! Today, I discovered Athens has a very robust farmer's market. I can't wait to check it out in June: http://athensfarmersmarket.blogspot.com/.

Projects and Changes

Brandon and I spent most the last two weekends doing something very exciting...ok...not that exciting, but definitely an improvement to our backyard and our basement. First, we got rid of a ton of old paint and flourescent light bulbs that were left in our basement by the home's previous owners. We also ripped up the band planet growing out of control over what I referred to as "the grave," a big pile of rocks in the backyard, and built a patio for our firepit. Brandon did a great job scoping it out and we worked as a team to complete it. 

The rain is still gradually doing it's job washing off the excess sand (the brick is actually red, not tan), but it's finished. Here are a few pictures of the project:

AFTER: 

BEFORE

In other news, I found out last week that I was accepted into the University of Cincinnati's master's of marketing program. Whoo hoo! The GRE wasn't a waste and I never had to take it again. I will start classes in the summer, so I'm bracing myself for the change. I will have to give up spinning and adoptions at the shelter for the time being, which sucks, but it's best for my long-term plans. Wish me luck!

Tomorrow we're headed east to play frisbee golf with Paula and Kirk, which should be fun. I've never played, but I think I will enjoy it more that regular golf! We're also going to pick up a $35 Earth Machine composter through a one-day sale through the Hamilton County Waste District.