Hungry Hungry Hippo
Posted onKim sent us a hippo!
Hi
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Berries
Posted onIt’s blackberry time of the year again! Yesterday I mowed around the large bush at the end of our driveway, and came away with a small bowl of berries. It looks like we missed when the ones up on the hill ripened, or the heat got to them, since there were only dried stubs left.
On the way up from the berries today, I saw a small crushed creature in the driveway. This isn’t really an unusual occurrence, and usually they are toads we’ve run over in the early morning or evening. This one was different, though, since it apparently had these:
I don’t think we have crabs around here. I guess it could have been a crayfish, but it’s a good ways to the nearest creek that could support them. Cabol thinks a bird dropped it. I’m nervously watching my toes for rabid land crabs.
Trip
Posted onThis weekend we were in the Big Apple (well, Long Island) for my sister’s wedding. It was Anya’s first flight, and she hardly even fussed. Everything went well, although I feel Catholic wedding ceremonies leave a lot to be desired (at least the three I’ve been to have all confirmed that belief), and the reception had more food and drinks than any human could possibly consume. Little Anya got passed around to various friends and family and everyone oohed and aahed, because they’ve never seen a baby before. I think she spent more time in my sister’s arms than ours. At least until she would cry. 
Here is a picture of me getting dressed up for my new gig in AC/DC, and our little muscle baby:
Pictures of Aniela
Posted onLook, twins!
Now she’s a penguin!
And now she’s going for a bath in the washer!
Evening on the farm
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Basement
Posted onSome pictures of the basement in progress!
Before (well, after the carpet was removed):
Primed:
It now has 2 coats of paint on it, but I’m holding off taking pictures until I paint where the dresser was sitting while I painted everything else. After that, we’ll probably put a few coats of poly on it to make it withstand foot traffic. And kitty paws.
Cheap
Posted onSo when I have some free time, I like to browse (mostly the forums) on Fatwallet and Slickdeals. Usually for Staples coupon codes for work (everyone likes free gifts) and the ‘free stuff’ forums.
I really like the free stuff ones. Walmart is always mailing us samples of things, and the toiletry ones are the perfect travel size. And munchies from different places. But the most impressive so far was a ‘short survey’ I filled out for Barilla. Except it turns out the short survey took about 20 minutes while I was watching tv. Recently, we received the reward – coupons for 12 free boxes of pasta and 12 free jars of sauce!
It’s little things like that which make me happy when I get the mail.
It smells a bit like wee
Posted onTonight I started prepping our basement for painting (well, the floor, anyways). The basement is scary. It’s embarrassing. It’s why I don’t want people to visit.
Ever since we moved our bedroom upstairs, we’ve pretty much given it over to the cats. It had this horrible pinkish carpet remnant on the slab. Not tacked or glued down, just sorta of spread across it. We hated it. And the cats have done quite a number(s) on it since we stopped caring.
I cut it up tonight and hauled it out (there are no before pictures, since it was too icky to want a keepsake). Fortunately, the dumpsters for our area are just down the street, so two trips with the pickup and it was gone. Now the basement floor is airing and drying out. Tomorrow I will go over it with a cleaner, and maybe some kitty ick before I start priming. Yippee. At least I’m not tearing out walls yet like Andrea!