Since today is my day off, I thought I would play my favorite game: Domestic Queen. In between my domesticity I thought I would knit and blog. The knitting truly started last night but that's not to say the brunt of the work won't be done tonight. Along with all this fun stuff I am acclimating my little hummer friend to my presence and things like the flash of a camera. He's taking it well. He's more curious when I wear hot pinks and reds and such, so I oblige him. Anything in the name of kick ass pictures eh? I got a couple of decent ones of him perched up in his hiding spot under the canopy of the bonsai grapefruit tree. BUT! There is a plan and it is solid. It is almost impossible to get picture of these little speed freaks. I need a neutral backdrop and a way to keep them in the sun long enough to snap them in all their shimmery glory now don't I? Lucky me. I am going to confer with Mr. F and see if between the two of us we can rig something up on the walkway wall (sand color, perfect) that will hang the feeder in a block of sunlight that shines on said wall *all day long*. Ha. This should be interesting and I'll blog it best I can.
The knitting is going well thank you. I considered going with different colors but then I remembered my backpack. It's light purple. I don't want to clash. That's always an important thing to remember when you have chaps on. Right boys? Whatever, the point is that my backpack is light purple and light gray. I do believe Mr. F's hat and scarf are going to be a nice burnt orange and dark olive. Not only do those colors go together splendidly but the piping on his jacket is orange. The green is due to his eyes and when he wears the color green his eyes just about explode through his face so I'm going for it. Mostly because I am hoping to see his eyes explode, but also because I think it's going to be simply fabulous looking once finished.
That's all I have for now. I'm going to continue sprucing this place up and pretending to be a NG photographer. It's my day, so I can do whatever I want. :D
and aside from emailing it to everyone, I thought this a little more appropriate, don't you?? Here's the deal, I guess they had a purpose at one point, now we just keep them cause they're funny. They used to be put in with sheep and if a predator came down to eat the sheep... well, just watch the video. I don't know how this escaped me for so long.
The fish look fabulous on the CSE (coolest shelf ever). Like living wall art. Now that the lights are here, they look especially artsy. I always enjoy watching them and this means they are fulfilling their duties as pretty fish. I really can't get enough of this shelf. We need to put more things on it but we don't want to just start putting stuff on it. We want to be selective. For now, the fish and the two tiny money trees (that were presented to us at his birthday - I get presents on his birthday, how cool is that?? - by his mom's BFF) are on it. The money trees are going to be placed in a southwest (southeast? I forget) corner of the house (for prosperity) once more bad ass shelves are built. But for now they look killer on the CSE so they shall remain.
A new healthier life style has been started here in Scottsdale AZ. I have been swimming every day and the first day I was a total flunk stopping after 15 measly minutes. I am now up to 30 minutes and I have been using our pool since it is still warm enough to do so. It's not large enough to really get into it but it does the job. Provided it isn't shaded yet, I can stand it. Once the shade settles it is far to chilly. I guess there is a rumor floating around that our pool is supposed to be heated? The "pool man" is going to be questioned and if the pool is indeed heated I can swim in it all winter without issue. How sweet is that? The pool down the street is far longer and only $2 per visit but it also means driving and dealing with other people - something I abhor - so being able to swim at home really takes the cake.
Speaking of cake... Something that isn't so sweet but is decidedly awesome is that Mr. F is a certified nutritionist. This man refuses to cease to amaze me. Calories are being counted and diets are consisting of nothing but healthy goodness in our bodies. Mr. F thought I should blog some of the meals we have prepared and since I want nothing but his happiness I could do nothing but agree wholeheartedly. So get your mouths ready to drool. Last night we had candied acorn squash for desert. Delish!!!
This weekend kicked ass! Mr. F, his dad and I went on a little day trip on the motorcycles now that Mr. F's bike is finally fixed! YAY! It ruled. His dad is the coolest guy ever. So cool that I have started referring to him as Mr. Cool. I kid you not. I am psyched he went with us. The whole ride was very pretty. We stayed the night in Cottonwood (way cute little town) at a little motel called The View. As expected, the view was everything it should be. The next morning we ate breakfast in Jerome (man do I love that place!!) and then headed over to Prescott (by way of Mingus Mountain) to check out the craft fair they were having for Octoberfest. It was an excellent time. The only thing that ended up not having a great time was my crotch area. The seat on Mr. F's bike is absurdly small and round. Since the bike rumbles it ended up feeling like my crotch and inner thighs were being punched rapidly. Not cool. Not cool at all. I am either going to make little pillows to go inside my pants (no joke) or we are going to see what can be done with the seat so that I might be able to ride long distances without all my little friends paying the price. We ended up trading bikes with his dad in the end and my privates got some well deserved cushioning and rest. We also resembled super-heroes on the Bat Mobile. His dad rented a 2008 Harley Davidson Nightrod for the trip to see if he'd like it enough to own it and it belongs in some comic book movie. I guess Mr. F's bike is something. It's a 2002 Titan Gecko. Ooooo huh? Yeah, I don't know either but it's super shiny, very loud and other people that *do* know what it is think it's great. Whatever, I am a passenger... and I ride and ride. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to be quiet for all this time on the back of a bike? It's tough. Just because I stop talking on the outside doesn't mean the clammer ends. No no. It just keeps on going in my head. I end up getting all these songs running through my head and it's rather funny (or crazy, your choice). They're mostly songs that go along with riding like that "looking for adventure... or whatever comes our way!!". Cracks me up. You know what all this amounts to don't you?? I am a full blown biker bitch now. I even have chaps and a leather jacket. The real question is how many older women can purse their lips at me when I am in my gear. It's a huge amount. Smiling at them only helps a little. I am so obviously the fringe of society. I don't feel like fringe though, I feel kind of cool. Bad ass I'll kick your ass because I'm wearing leather but not to look cool cool. I'm like those ride or die chicks you hear about in rap songs. I think we should start riding for charities. I mean, what's the point of being an outcast if you don't give back a little right? There is a toy run coming up and we might join it. It's going to be in Cottonwood so it'll be cold (elevation and all that). This of course gives me a reason to make more hats and scarves! I almost lost my hat this ride so I am going to need a better more reliable one. So does Mr. F. I might make him one that matches his bike! Shut up! How awesome am I as a GF? Of course mine is going to be so girly and SO FUN. Probably pinks and glitter stuff and such. Nothing goes better with leather than a pink, fluffy, sparkly hat and matching scarf (this will be blogged!). I don't want to look like a butch dyke after all and with the short hair? I even find myself checking out hot babes when I am in my garb and away from the guys. Nah, just kidding, that never happens.
Oh yeah, btw, while at the craft fair we were looking around realizing we could easily make some extra cash with our talent of making things. So who knows, maybe we'll have our own booth next time. I would have to drive the truck up as it would be full of our oh so handmade items and this would mean the James could go. He had to sit this one out as he's lousy at sitting on the handle bars of the bike. One of the girls I work with let him stay at her place and it sounds like he had a blast and was on his best behavior. Good boy! I am contemplating getting him a little buddy so when he is here alone he won't be alone. And if someone watches him, he'll have backup. I don't want a large dog. I'm thinking 20 pounds or less. A little terrier would be sweet. I am not going to go looking for this dog though... if one comes along, I'll take it. I'm freaking Mr. F out with my need for pets and he's not so keen on the little dog idea as he wants a large one but I see him meeting the little guy and loving him. Besides, this is my idea... how opposed could he possibly be? Exactly. There is also the fact that I would be less of a basket-case when leaving Jim at the house. That is always a winner.
Here's a little something interesting for you... I thought it was interesting anyway. It also confirms my thought that the Smithsonian gets anything and everything that is really great. WHY am I not there?? Blah blah blah... farm equipment just went up a notch in my book...
This incredible machine was built as a collaborative effort between the Robert M. Trammell Music Conservatory and the Sharon Wick School of Engineering at the University of Iowa . Amazingly, 97% of the machines components came from John Deere Industries and Irrigation Equipment of Bancroft Iowa , yes farm equipment!
It took the team a combined 13,029 hours of set-up, alignment, calibration, and tuning before filming this video but as you can see it was WELL worth the effort.
It is now on display in the Matthew Gerhard Alumni Hall at the University and is already slated to be donated to the Smithsonian.
Well, so long then... if we end up doing the toy run you know I am bringing my camera!
Tra la la la. I just finished feeding all the flowering plants that adorn our front walk. They're beautiful btw. All the flowers have come out on them. See for yourself in the slide show provided below.
Side Note: I just realized the pictures I have taken are before super beautiful flowering time! GASP!! Where is that trusty camera?? Lucky for you, I am on this... be right back -- time line -- Phew! That was close.
Not to mention, the coolest shelf ever is completed and on the wall. I am waiting for the little tap LED lights that will assist me when concerning the grand finale and the fish's final resting place. The lights will help all their fabulous colors shine when it's dark. Without wires I daresay! I just want to be clear that this shelf was ALL MY IDEA. See, I'm the starter (and go team go cheerleader of sorts) of this team. Mr. F? He's the finisher. This is a working system that cannot be denied. The shelf is proof. It's perfect. I found it online and I was all bummed out by the price. Since this guy is nothing short of super-hero status he said he'd make it for me. And make it he did. I am beside myself with glee. Then the LED lights were purchased for a fraction of the price Lowe's has them for. F Lowe's anyway. There should be a cage fight between Lowe's and anyone else that sells helpful build it yourself items. This is so not the point is it? After the fish, I do believe some bad ass framed pictures will go up there as well. Will the Jim make the shelf? Only time will tell but I mean, come on, it's the James.
Some of my flower pots are finally painted. They look good enough for me and that's all that matters. Mr. F is thrilled that I am so crafty and I am starting to realize I could simply splatter paint on things and he'd think it was genius. Of course he'd be right as it would be me doing it. I have two more to do and Egyptian hieroglyphics are scratching at the door to be let in. I'm going to go make some coffee and start this little visit right after I am done blogging.
We have started the backyard too! This is exciting since up until this point it was full of rocks. Needless to say this is not the most pleasant of things to have in your backyard. It hurts and it's totally unforgiving. So we are going to put up little walls and plant desert plants in them. I have found six that I like a lot. The main thing is that I will be able to plant them and then walk away forever if I deem it so. They are all flowering desert plants and I am hoping they will fill our eyes with beauty every time we walk out the back slider. With me at the flowering desert plant helm, what could possibly go wrong? Exactly. Here are the ones I have chosen. They are hearty and they flower. Here's the list. All we have to do now is find them. Ha!
Oleander is my first choice since it has tubular flowers that will help attract the little hummers I so adore. Texas Sage is totally what that large fab bush is out front but I just can't get over it. I love it and I want more. So there. And who knows if we'll even need all six you know? Bougainvillea has the coolest flowers and they come in a range of colors. I'm digging the yellow but I haven't asked the finisher yet so it's still undecided. Lantana is next and check out the flowers! Woah! Different colors on the same stalk? You don't say!! The Fairy Duster is another one that has rad flowers. This isn't going to be a garden folks... this is going to be an experience. And what desert flower garden isn't complete without the Red Bird of Paradise?? A lot of the people out here call them the Mexican Bird of Paradise but that one only has yellow flowers so... I won't tell them if you don't. However, if you do end up telling them I will happily heckle and laugh at them with you. Until it seems dangerous anyway and then I am going to flat out ditch. So, there you have it. The absolute coolest part of this garden is that all these plants do well in drought conditions. That is perfect because I don't want to water or worry about this stuff. I want to just walk away and have pretty things for my eyes when I return. That is a garden I can deal with. The rest of the yard is going to have something like grass. Not sure yet. And then we will have a fire grill thing and a stone walkway where we end the grass. Man are we good or what?? Oh yeah. We are going to take all these rocks and put them behind the new little walls and have the plants growing up from them. Yes, of course the plants will be protected. Who wants to grow through rock? I know people that like to smoke rock but that's different and in no way makes it right. Here are the beginning shots of the yard... I'll keep them coming as we progress.
Am I the only loser past the age of 8 that still enjoys carving pumpkins? I personally feel October could be one of the best months due to that and that alone. I mean, what's Hell Night without candle lit pumpkins?? My point exactly. I might even have some sweet stuff ready just in case the children think the pumpkins mean friendly adults with candy to hand out. They usually do. And I always let them way down while being snarky and telling them to get lost. And this dictates they must come back later and do something nasty like throw rocks at my house. As I am no longer in some dump I don't care about, this simply won't do. What I would really like to do is put some of the rocks from the backyard in a so available pile, and wait outside with the pellet gun to pick them off as soon as they prove to be evil doers. Little bastards wouldn't even see it coming. And what are they going to do? Run back to mommy and cry about how I shot at them while they were throwing rocks through my slider? Plan B, I know. I know! But someone/something is clearly going to get it with the pellet gun, that's all I have to say.
The job continues to be a wonderful thing. The people there are oh so nice and easy to deal with and the clientele aren't so bad either. I am going to continue working there and enjoying every minute of it. Go me. Also, go Jim. Of course everyone there loves him. Of course he gets treats all day. Of course even the people from the hair salon down the walkway come by to see him. I'm not joking. He hangs out with the girls up at the front desk all day receiving visitors they just think he's the cats pajamas. He loves the girls but has no idea what to do with the fat cat Max (or Fatty) who has no fear and sometimes even goes so far as to rub his face on Jim. He also steals Jim's bed at times even though he has a perfectly good one on the counter between the computer. And let's just remind the crowd of how much trouble Jim would be in were he to try and lie on anything that was on top of a counter. The cat is clearly pushing the limit just to be a loser cat. I am considering bathing the scoundrel while James watches on just to solidify who has backup and who doesn't. Cats understand things like that you know.
