Dumpr.net

Here is a fun place to do stuff with your photos! Doesn't it look like my photo is being enjoyed in a gallery? Go give it a try.

My New Obsession

Now that we have more outdoor space and no longer have neighbors living right next door we have been talking about getting some chickens. We have been researching what breed, how to build a coop, where to buy them etc.

At the moment I am obsessed with the Americana breed. They lay green/blue eggs that are gorgeous! Another thing that would be fun is to sell those beautiful eggs. We are thinking we would just put up a sign on the nearest street corners and see what happens. Bring a little country to the town sort of thing.

So after alllll the house fix-ups are complete we will be ordering our chicks to be shipped via USPS next spring or summer. We will have the beginnings of a mini farm. Somebody stop us......LOL

Poor Frenchie

With two little girls in the house he just can't get away from them dressing him up now and then. LOL He actually doesn't seem to mind though. He definitely has the motto- "Any attention is better than no attention."

"What are you doing?" Or How Green Works Saved My Husbands Life

This little bottle of cleaner is a life saver in many ways:

1) I use it to clean the counters without feeling like the chemicals are doing harm to me, the family, the pets, or the environment.
2) I use it to clean spots off of the hardwood floors. Again, no guilt or chemical smell. All natural.
3) I have even used it to clean mirrors in the bathrooms. No streaking- I could not believe it.
4) It was especially great for our RV camping trip. It cleaned everything in the RV. And they get really dirty.

No this is not a sales pitch this is a good laugh.........

5) My husband uses it to clean the kiddos dirty feet when they come in from playing outside. Can you believe it? I was floored when I saw what he was using. And I thanked myself for buying green cleaning products. If he had been using some spray with bleach in it I think I would have had to kill him.

So not only does cleaning green save the planet, it saved my husbands life too. LOL

I Heart Your Blog

So today I got a little message from Khris at http://www.lilylambchop.typepad.com/ saying she hearts my blog. Well, that was so sweet Khris thanks. Especially since I had been out of blog land for the summer. But I am back and I mean I am baaaack!! So hear is to Khris and her gorgeous art, her special friendship, and our love of French Bulldogs!

Here are the rules:

(1) The winner can put the logo on their blog.

(2) Link the person you received your award from.

(3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

(4) Put links of those on yours.

(5) Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.

Here are the blogs that I visit every week, sometimes more:

http://ricracsally.blogspot.com/, http://gogovivi.blogspot.com/, http://tarawhitney.com/justbeblogged/, http://freshpickedwhimsy.typepad.com/, http://dreamsintertwined.blogspot.com/, http://acolorfullife.wordpress.com/

Enjoy peeking at them.

California Redwoods

These pictures do not do them justice. I was in awe of their majesty. It truly took my breath away to see these gorgeous trees. And we did not do the full tourist thing we just camped and drove up Hwy. 101. These pictures were taken on the side of the road when I made hubby stop so I could drink it all in. I now understand the emotions behind the "tree huggers". In fact, I may actually have to call myself one. LOL

Delirium- Cirque Du Soleil & Opening Night Gala at the Met

I was lucky enough to catch this Cirque Du Soleil show on Sunday at the movie theatre down the street from our house. Since we moved we are just a hop, skip and a jump from http://www.theoldmill.com/index.php a wonderful shopping district here in town which includes a movie theatre that shows events from http://www.thehotticket.net/ It was a gorgeous show that made me think, feel and want to get creative in my studio. There is nothing like Cirque Du Soleil and if you can't see one live seeing it on the big screen is the next best thing. Also, if you are an Opera lover like myself, you must check out http://www.fathomevents.com/ to see the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD at your local theatre. My family and I have seen a few and are looking forward to seeing this years line up. The Opening night Gala starring Renee Fleming is Sept. 22nd at 6pm. It should be a wonderful compilation of well loved Opera scenes that even the novice will enjoy.

Happy ticket buying...... You know you want to see it!

On My Window Sill

We took Bruno for a walk down by the river last night and there are tons of wildflowers in bloom so the girls picked some. I know, bad mom, I let them pick the flowers. But there are sooo many and I really needed the pick-me-up for my kitchen. LOL

Patricks Point Camping

Here are some photos of the gorgeous campground we stayed in on the California coast. Not only was it right on the water, but it was also in the Redwoods! Talk about magical! There were all sorts of little paths with bridges and wonderful views. The coastline here is more rugged like the Oregon coast.
The light was perfect and the weather could not have been better. Some of the other campers said it was the best weather they had had all week. And we only stayed two days. What luck!
This is a rock that I found on the beach. I was facinated with the 'X' that nature had made. It didn't seem natural and yet it was so interesting and pretty too.
This is the view right down the way from our camp site. We were also happy to have seen two whales while hiking. One was a grey whale and the other a hump back. Fun was had by all.

Frenchie That Can Swim

This is all news to our family. We were told that most Frenchies can not swim. That their heads are too heavy and they sink. We have always had a life vest for Bruno for the boat and even just to go into the water with us to play. So this year at the lake we decided to test him out while just hanging out in the water one day. And lo and behold............this dog can swim! Who would have thought? Mr. B did a lot of snoozing whenever there was a free moment and he didn't think he was missing out on anything too fun. It was pretty hot, but he truly was not bothered by it like we thought he may be.
Check out how cute he is in his life jacket. He loved going for rides with us. Always with his life jacket on even though we now know he can swim. We won't take the chance in the boat.
And here he is getting ready for a dip in the lake. He just gets more handsome every day. I swear I took more pictures of him than I did the kids. The kids are moving and playing so it is hard to catch them sometimes. Bruno is as slow as a little old man and therefore easy to capture on film. He pretty much slept the whole way home after all the excitement at the lake. Everyone ooohhhs and ahhhs over him and he didnt want to miss a moment of it.

Eureka!!!! .........California

We took a little side trip here and ate lunch here when we camped at Patricks Point in Trinidad, California. It was a gorgeous day and we even had some seals come out for a visit in the marina. I got a few good shots I thought I would share.

Ahhhhhh.........Vacation

This is how Hubby and Bruno spent their mornings while we were camping at Whiskeytown lake. Do you think they like eachother a little bit? These three are all starting 2nd grade and they are all cousins. Talk about having fun together. And they finally are old enough to not require a lifevest at all times. That was a true bonus this year for them.
Just a cute shot of Mia with her cousin in the lake playing. The lake is actually really beautiful and clear when the kiddos are not stirring up the muck from the bottom.
We took the long way home and visited the Northern California coast along with the Redwoods. It was magical.

As for me- the girls start back to school on Sept. 2nd so I will be back in action on the computer and in my creative mode also. I just had someone buy all the inventory in my store downtown so I must get to work and begin again. I am very excited to get back on the school/ work schedule and to be back on my daily blogging. I have missed it terribly.

We have made many updates and changes to the new abode that I will share along with more misadventures on our vacations. I look forward to seeing all of you and catching up. I have many pictures to share.