Saturday, October 31, 2015

Stitch Fix #9

I was a little disappointed in my fix this time. I had requested warm, cozy clothes since it soon will be winter in North Dakota. I do feel my stylist sent warm clothes, I just didn't find myself loving the choices she picked.
Item #1: Winter Coat. It was very soft and felt very warm but last year I splurged on a really nice North Face coat that is about the length of this blue coat. So I decided against this one. Plus, I didn't love it. Returning.
Item #2: Purple Sweater. It was just okay for me. Kind of a boxy fit and I didn't think I liked it enough to spend $78 on it. Returning.
Item #3: Sweater Dress. I'm on the fence for this one. (I haven't checked out yet.) It is slightly form fitting but it is a thick material and it's long, which I really like. I wear lots of black in the winter, so maybe wear it with a vest? or jean jacket? But then would I get too hot? If you are reading this before Sunday (11-1-15), your opinion is wanted!
Item #4: Vest. Just didn't like. Returning.
Item #5: Fingerless Gloves. My fingers are the coldest part of my hands during the winter months, so why would I keep these? I could maybe wear them now, or in the spring... Returning.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Monday

On Monday...
Ruger had an accident in the house. It rained all evening which equaled putting up the porch railing in the rain, in the dark. My math lesson was a flop. A student of mine got the stomach flu. My cough is lingering. I stubbed my toe really, really bad on the bed.

...and then my sister texted me. 
A co-worker of hers and mother of three was killed by a drunk driver in the middle of the afternoon on Saturday.

What was I complaining about now?

Friday, October 23, 2015

Raising Ruger

Right now Ruger is over 6 months old and I would imagine he's in the toddler stage of puppy hood? When I say toddler, I mean always going and going. This guy has energy! I was trying to facetime my mom the other day and I had to laugh; Ruger was wild. As in running around the house full speed, trying to pick up anything that would fit in his mouth. I suppose it didn't help that I was chasing him...!

He is wild at times, but he is good, too. He doesn't bark in our back yard (thank GOODNESS) unless he hears Jack, the neighbor dog, on the other side of the fence. He doesn't jump on us (just guests because he gets so excited...we're working on that..). He's potty trained. (hallelujah!) And he's wonderful on walks. He's starting to ignore other dogs that bark when we go by and he is getting lots better with not stopping so much to sniff!

We love him so much and more often than not it's my husband, the guy that swears he doesn't like animals in the house, that is saying "Why don't you let Ruger in?" I have to chuckle as I go to the door and let the big baby in. He'll gingerly walk up the steps in the garage and then shoot into our bedroom, jump on the bed and give Aaron a wet, sloppy welcome on the face and lips - tail going crazy. "I don't let just any dog do this Ruger," Aaron will say to him between licks. I just have to sit back and smile before joining them on the bed (or rather, 1/8 of the bed since Ruger takes up over a half).

Ah, puppy stage - you make us laugh even when you're exhausting!

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Happy Birthday, Kristin!

I know everyone probably thinks this with siblings, but I think the bond my sisters and I have is kind of rare. I remember my grandma saying, "I've never seen you girls fight! Don't you just want to get mad and hit something?" I'm not sure if she said it in those words, but the fact is we got (and get) a long really great. Maybe it was the 5 year age difference between us,  maybe it was just personalities, maybe it was really good parenting, or maybe we just all grew really close when our dad died. Although, I honestly think we would still be really close if dad wouldn't have gotten cancer.

It is one of my sister's birthdays today - happy birthday Kristin! One of my favorite memories is when you brought me along on your road trip with you through North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho! I remember feeling pretty special that you chose to include me and I loved the sight seeing! That was probably my first taste of loving being in the mountains! (I even don't mind that I got bed bugs in Glacier Nat'l Park!) ;)

Zane and baby are so lucky to have you as a mom and I am so lucky to have you as an elder sister! Have an excellent day!
 

Friday, October 16, 2015

currently... {october 2015 edition}

<> listening: yanni radio on pandora

<> eating: nothing at the moment - but there is pulled pork in the oven for sandwiches tonight!

<> drinking: nothing

<> wearing: jeans and a school logo shirt. i really enjoy jean fridays!

<> feeling: cold. i didn't think it was cold enough to wear a coat today, but, the october air was actually a bit chilly! i'm thinking a hot shower will feel good...

<> weather: in the 50's

<> wanting: some cute cozy pajamas.

<> needing: aaron and i to take some photos for our christmas card this year. i have a vision in my head of some poses with ruger included...now just to get it done.

<> thinking: about some fall decor for our PORCH that is going up this weekend!! i am so excited! the "before" picture it taken below.

<> enjoying: the thought that i have tonight off before starting to prep for parent teacher conferences tomorrow.

<> missing: a fire place. that would feel so good right now!


<> 10.16.15 snapshots <>

Monday, October 12, 2015

Ruger

As I was scrolling through my newsfeed on facebook, a friend had shared an article that made me go "ah really?" in a disappointed voice. In our neighboring town a man camp is going up because of a new Urea Fertilizer Plant being built. At it's peak this new plant will need 750 workers. I wonder how this will effect the small towns in the area...? I'm not optimistic.
Now more than ever I am thankful for this 75 pound guy living in our backyard.


Saturday, October 10, 2015

Stitch Fix #7

I was deep cleaning our house all day (since the cats got the boot two days ago) so I really wasn't up for getting my picture taken in all the new clothes. I just really was not feeling very photogenic! My snap chats were proof of that...! :)
Item #1: Boot Cut Jeans: kept - I forgot to take a picture! But they were just a dark wash with no fading. Very professional and very comfortable so I kept them.
Item #2: Jacket: kept - I know I'll wear it a lot with black pants/skirts and plus I love to layer in the winter so I thought it would be a good addition to my closet.
Item #3: Black/Grey shirt: returned - It was a bit on the short side and the tight side. I could see myself wearing it now, but it had no room to shrink.
Item #4: Infinity scarf: returned - I just didn't really like it. And I didn't have much that would go with it...
Item #5: Striped dress: returned - The fabric was a bit too thin for my liking, as well as a bit too form fitting.
I was kind of disappointed with this fix with not keeping many pieces from it, but, on the other hand maybe our bank account was thankful for this fix?! :)

Friday, October 9, 2015

The eviction was eminent. We love them but knew we did not want them in the house anymore. The smell downstairs and the hair around the house. The sitting on the table, the drinking out of our glasses, the licking my toothbrush...
Our two kitkits have a new home in our backyard. I really am impressed by my hubby's handiwork for our two cats. Eventually they'll be able to go in and out of the house via the cat door but for now they are locked inside. Ruger's future little place is beneath their "upstairs".
the dog/cat/garden house
looking out their window to the south
their upstairs, with the kitkit's looking downstairs
the downstairs - a piece of osb is currently blocking the cat door in this picture

Monday, October 5, 2015

Friday, October 2, 2015

TGIF

Thank Goodness It's Friday!
My desk at the school looks like someone threw up all over it.
And by that I mean threw up papers, sharpies, assessments, stickers, permission forms, unit file folders...
And then this afternoon while we were making scarecrows one little boy thought it would be fun to glue his shirt together. And then try to glue pieces of yarn to his upper lip.

Then, I came home from school, let Wylee out (our in-law's dog that we are baby sitting) and Ruger would NOT stop pestering the poor Bichon. Wylee finally figured out that to get away from our pup, he can fit through the small cat door in the garden shed. 
Our "little" 6 month old (6 months old tomorrow!) cannot squeeze in, no matter how hard he tries. First he'll try getting in with his head and right front foot, and then his head and left front foot, and then frustration kicks in and he just tries to push his way in. I can imagine Wylee in the shed, just out of reach of Rue, happily panting away.