tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48622112327509571182023-11-16T10:04:38.138-08:00Calla BeeCarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-23429050959555995042015-01-21T14:34:00.000-08:002015-01-21T14:35:54.478-08:00It's a mad mad world. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am not one for change and I sure as heck don't like to take risks. Trust me, I am not the one you take to Vegas to make crazy blackjack decisions with then proceed to bungee jump off the Hoover Dam right after. I am the one who will meet you by the pool at 10am with two pina coladas and a cabana boy to lotion up your backside and bring us more pina coladas. So when it comes to gambling on the business and the future of the business etc. I tend to take the safe road every time. Besides, someone has got to stick to that resolution of intention. I guess this is why I am the bookkeeper and not the decision maker.</div>
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Here is why. </div>
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Dave and I originally bought this property with the intention that we would have everything together all in our very own little compound. Work, home, chickens, kids etc. etc.. Big huge honking decision to move out of town and "buy a farm."The one thing that sold us about this property was that it came with a 40x60 shop for Summit to operate out of. Ok, I am lying it was the barn actually for me. But seriously, the shop has been great and is home to all of the space we could ever need in addition to the outdoor corral to store materials. Our office was in the house until a year or so after I had Calla, then we recognized we needed more space. So we renovated the barn. Downstairs is still the original dairy operation straight out of the 1950's. Glass pipes, stainless steel tanks and all. Upstairs is our office. All be it a bit chilly on windy days like today, it is the perfect homey space for us to be creative and "pretend" to actually separate work from home. Then India made her appearance in this world and the girls shared a room. That was working just fine, but the 1 bathroom situation was getting old quick once she was out of diapers. So we decided after 10 years of talking about it to go forward and make our tiny 900 sq. ft. 1 bathroom farmhouse into a 2400 sq. ft. 3 bathroom farmhouse. (I am still trying to figure out how we go through an enormous amount of toilet paper each month now, but that is beside the point).</div>
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We are happy as clams, peaches, insert whatever food you choose these days. But because we are business owners we are constantly striving to make things better for our clients. Be it the experience, the process, or pretty much the whole shebang. There is always that tick in the back of our mind that says we can take it one step further. January is our strategizing month. The one where we pick apart what we did last year and tweak it to be that much more efficient, easier etc.. It could be as simple as a job work order, what color to paint the barn door upstairs, or how to get guys and equipment to the job site daily. For example, one of the things we are currently working on is merging the work/client relationship with our shop and barn. Nothing crazy, just making it a bit easier for our clients to pick out materials, and colors to help them see the big picture. More on that to come later. But every once in a blue moon one of us comes up with an idea so crazy and different from our competitors it requires a bit longer discussion to see if it would even work. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FYI the barn door is now Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze:) </td></tr>
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Let me explain how our creative process works. First, Dave and I get geared up to sit down and talk about an idea. Occasionally along the way during the process we throw things at each other. Next, we rip apart the idea. Let it go. Come back to it. Possibly go "Office Space" on the ink jet printer while discussing it. (#not it ) Throw in a trip to an Industry Convention in Denver in the middle of it all which typically motivates us, but this year actually made us question what were convinced would work. Sometimes, we talk about an idea civilly over chips and salsa and beer and margaritas. But afterwards, we proceed to throw everything previously discussed in the trash because the beer and tequila told us to. Only to have a brilliant idea come to one of us at 1 am. This is when we usually get super excited and make it happen. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Epson. He will print 13x19 color landscape design plans wirelessly in my office once I unpack him. </td></tr>
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Now you see why I don't like taking risks. Big decisions, and changes are exhausting and leave me "hung over" for lack of a better term. In the end they are always the right decisions, but damn it makes my brain hurt. </div>
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Tomorrow Dave and I are going to take that big shiny crazy idea so different from everyone else that we have been mulling over and over and roll with it. Literally….. roll with it. I am excited, nervous, and still a bit hesitant, but I know it is the right decision. Please cross your fingers and say good juju, and hope all goes well. The gentleman I spoke with yesterday said the whole thing was serendipitous. </div>
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In the meantime while I sit on my hands and wait patiently like a good little girl waiting for her hippopotamus on Christmas morning (thanks Michele), the kids and I plan to make cookies like we did last week. It is our new thing. Here's to hoping I don't nervously eat them all before tomorrow. If I do, it is because the tequila told me to. </div>
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P.S. Here's a hint! Stay tuned. </div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4862211232750957118%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D2342905095955599504%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dpostname&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-saslkOeBCzI%252FVMAi0mEUDgI%252FAAAAAAAAB3U%252FnF0g_8TwH9c%252Fs1600%252F1b6849f789d091c309b208ef0290394d.jpg%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 210px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3418px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4862211232750957118%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D2342905095955599504%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dpostname&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F-saslkOeBCzI%252FVMAi0mEUDgI%252FAAAAAAAAB3U%252FnF0g_8TwH9c%252Fs1600%252F1b6849f789d091c309b208ef0290394d.jpg%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 210px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3418px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-49905155495277962862015-01-08T09:05:00.001-08:002015-01-08T09:05:22.231-08:00Vintage Whites Market<div style="text-align: center;">
So this is happening Friday night and all day Saturday. <a href="http://www.thevintagewhitesmarket.com/">www.thevintagewhitesmarket.com</a></div>
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Dave and I are heading out to the Ranch on Friday night with pre bought tickets. Yup, taking him on a date. He will love it. Until I start buying things that is. </div>
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Who knows? Maybe it will inspire me to dust off some of the stuff I have been hoarding out in the ol' dairy barn from my previous life as a dealer of antique garden ornaments and such and get back in the game. <span style="text-align: center;">What….wasn't every new college graduate an antique dealer?</span></div>
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Oooh maybe say with a <a href="http://www.summitlawnandlandscape.com/" target="_blank">Summit</a> Barn twist thrown in for fun and good measure? </div>
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Anyway, moving on. ;)</div>
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Or, it may bite me in the butt and make me want to buy all.the.things for the farmhouse we have no room for because I have a shopping problem and we have plenty already. </div>
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Not to worry though, I am very good about justifying things and why they need to come home with me. Case in point, it is how I ended up dragging a ridiculously heavy behemoth of a vintage Fridgidare home from Denver to live in the mudroom and store things like sunscreen and dog shampoo.</div>
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Let's just say my Father still curses me for what it took to get it back to Fort Collins. Picture in your mind us shoving it into my Mother's SUV already full with 4 adults and 2 small kids, in bucket car seats and my BOB stroller. No truck of course because A. that would be too practical, and B. there was no plan to buy said fridge. (Never is for the good stuff!) It wasn't pretty folks, and I'm sure it was somewhat illegal. I blame the Fridgidare. It told me it to do it! </div>
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I want to know what your favorite thing you have ever brought home from an antique show/flea market was? Oh and, if you end up going to the show, message me and we can share a cupcake. I'd be happy to help you justify some purchases before you take them home!</div>
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XOXO</div>
Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-65606342724650243062015-01-06T20:47:00.003-08:002015-01-08T07:35:55.847-08:00New Year New Blog Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So if you haven't noticed I did a little house cleaning here on the blog this week. </div>
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I caught myself looking back on how this little blog started and also realized that India Rose will be 5 years old tomorrow. When I started the blog she was a teeny tiny baby. This is how she looks today.</div>
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WOW! (Damn I'm getting old!)</div>
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It got me thinking how much has changed since then. We have added onto our business, and onto our farmhouse. We have grown in many ways. On that note, I have declared that this year will be the year of Intention. Before you go thinking I will get all philosophical on y'all and make you question what the heck blog you are reading. Or wonder if I had some sort of spiritual awakening while on my flu meds over the holidays and then had the word "Intention" tattooed it on my arm, I didn't. (hum….tempting though!) Long story short, I want to basically cut out the crap and do things with intent. I want to slow down, simplify everything, and make things easier each day so we can enjoy it more. More intent, less running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Make sense? Also I am beginning to realizing I can't control All.The.Things! Yeah, this one is hard. But I am learning.</div>
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As far as this blog is concerned, I have come to the realization that because I can't do it all, I just won't. I don't get to blog as often as I would like, but that is ok. The posts won't be as long and rambling, and there may not be as many pictures, but hopefully this new design will let me keep things a bit more clean and intentional. (Get it? Hah!) I plan on catching everyone up with the farmhouse renovation and all the fun things we made for it like that door up there. As well as keeping you up to speed with the stories, events, and projects we have on the docket for this year. There may be some overlap between this blog, the Summit blog, and my Instagram. But hey, the more the merrier right? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xQkWBip5KqvWS-4l1Zc2_C7Mi6HAHVAia2o1qxRFMIXePnKuAPIth5JRvr-TF9GNq9RBHbfW2iuK3d1relxL5BpqmGw9Sb5t88asNDf7sd2gNM_RJu-lzUScWt3YV4pGALr-f8gM6w/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xQkWBip5KqvWS-4l1Zc2_C7Mi6HAHVAia2o1qxRFMIXePnKuAPIth5JRvr-TF9GNq9RBHbfW2iuK3d1relxL5BpqmGw9Sb5t88asNDf7sd2gNM_RJu-lzUScWt3YV4pGALr-f8gM6w/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you get a min. send me a quick message and let me know what you think of the new design and my whacked out concept. </div>
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XOXO.</div>
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Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-39826364643089797802014-05-30T08:05:00.000-07:002014-05-30T08:05:08.440-07:00If you give a dancer a margarita<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYBjGQH2lYJT78-C1ZvmSg3tSCU0_uR6f3CnmY_MlxLdNBAEoYw92S4RSRg_DlXexRvz5D9SPL21z2o5lc0fLgWbcZAgn6ID4F2eY7hZqhEzof1XFGN5vYoa0bcFl1Y9FVU_xmI3R6A/s1600/IMG_2998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYBjGQH2lYJT78-C1ZvmSg3tSCU0_uR6f3CnmY_MlxLdNBAEoYw92S4RSRg_DlXexRvz5D9SPL21z2o5lc0fLgWbcZAgn6ID4F2eY7hZqhEzof1XFGN5vYoa0bcFl1Y9FVU_xmI3R6A/s1600/IMG_2998.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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If you give a dancer a margarita, she will need some chips and salsa to go with it. </div>
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When you give her the chips and salsa, she devours the whole salty bowl and washes it down with the margarita. </div>
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So she realizes she might be a little bit hungry, </div>
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and a little tipsy,</div>
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and should just order some food instead. </div>
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But then she can't decide. </div>
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Lobster macaroni, chili rellenos, and street tacos please! </div>
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Wait a minute……what about all of the cheese? </div>
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She will remember she can't eat that much cheese,</div>
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and figures that the cucumber lime gazpacho is a safer bet.</div>
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But the gazpacho comes out more like pico de gallo. </div>
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How is she supposed to eat a bowl full of pico de gallo with a spoon?</div>
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She doesn't know, and chooses to chat with her dancer friends instead. </div>
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Suddenly out of nowhere, the waiter appears behind her to refill the chips and salsa. </div>
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The dancer has a brilliant idea. </div>
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Why not use the chips and dip them into the gazpacho like pico de gallo?</div>
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This is the perfect match, and she finishes the chunky soup with a whole bowl of salty chips.</div>
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But the salty chips will make her thirsty, and will need to wash it all down her margarita.</div>
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But then she remembers her margarita is gone. </div>
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So she will ask the waiter for another one. </div>
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And chances are good, if you give her another margarita, she'll want more chips and salsa to go with it. </div>
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Note: This is very VERY loosely adapted on the book "If You Give A Cat A Cupcake," by Laura Numeroff who has no clue who I am, but her fabulous book gets read to my kids each week!)</div>
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Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-14992177339937671172014-05-22T11:27:00.000-07:002014-05-22T11:27:29.684-07:00Teacher GiftsSo I have been struggling to figure out what to give the teachers at the girl's school as a thank you gift for the end of the year. I of course began to think about this on Monday. Last weekend my Mother and I were at a wedding in NC. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEPVi9bW7KvBIdA3x2w3iwMCUwqALkX8u0LPO4A-651UYqZDYCdKBUuB0-b8nW-Oua85DpZIWobTJILvDmgmDDYNFTpHCqQi5j8EgpoBn1-eXBvd50Bztn84VElxU4HN2wVYgzXnzUQ/s1600/IMG_2908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEPVi9bW7KvBIdA3x2w3iwMCUwqALkX8u0LPO4A-651UYqZDYCdKBUuB0-b8nW-Oua85DpZIWobTJILvDmgmDDYNFTpHCqQi5j8EgpoBn1-eXBvd50Bztn84VElxU4HN2wVYgzXnzUQ/s1600/IMG_2908.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dress is from <a href="http://rikshawdesign.com/women/dresses/ade-101.html" target="_blank">Rickshaw Design</a>. Very Very comfy in the humidity!</td></tr>
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Did I mention school is out today, Thursday! Yet again flying by the seat of my pants! Work has been crazy busy with details and such. (Not complaining, just stating!) So I haven't exactly been able to put my Martha Stewart hat on and troll Pinterest for hours looking for that perfect gift. Calla loved all of her teachers this year and wanted to do something a bit more then give a bag of M&M's and a Starbucks card. Fyi, if anyone wants to give me a bag of M&M's and a Starbucks card, I would love you till the sun goes down. But she wanted it to be more personal.<br />
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Cue last nights trip into town to pick up the small child named after a large county, aka India. A stop later at Tarjet Boutique and the liquor store and we were done. Now, when I put out there on Facebook that I was thinking of giving wine and booze to the teachers it was met with mixed opinions. I decided to take the safe road and didn't give the wine and booze to the elementary school teacher, I am instead giving it to the ballet teachers! I have completely different relationships with the ballet teachers and they are my personal friends. Some for over 20 years. After I stumbled across these cute insulated wine bags, that task was crossed off the list.<br />
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Back to the 2nd grade teacher. On the shelf next to the wine coozie thingy was a cute insulated cooler tote bag. Smaller then a giant cooler, bigger then a lunch box. The whole gift is perfect for a picnic in the park or a day at the lake……..no kids. We stuffed it full of goodies like a Godiva chocolate bar, lemon lip balm, a matching tumbler, a magazine, sunscreen, and a towel. Lastly we included a nice handwritten note by Calla, as suggested by a teacher friend, telling her how much she enjoyed having her as a teacher this year.<br />
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Sorry I wasn't able to get a picture of the bag and all of its contents but it wasn't until I jumped out of the car to let her out in the infamous drop off lane, that I thought to take a picture. I figured I deserved to hold up traffic to get my damn picture since I have spent all year fighting these crazy people who wash faces, finish homework, breakfast, you name it in the drop off lane each morning. You get the idea.<br />
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With this weekend being Memorial Day, we decided to be nice bosses and give the guys the day off. Ok, we all know I am just being selfish and want this stinkin' house final inspected. If we can get it together, we might just be able to finish off all of the nagging items to get the cert. of occupancy and get moved in and buttoned up on trim. My lovely Father has been here all week helping us finish up on the staircase. So so close.<br />
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Anyone have plans for Memorial Day? Fun plans so I can live vicariously through you? I am staying home and unburying myself from the mounds and mounds of laundry overtaking the bedrooms. It is a bit obscene. I'll spare you the photos. I also have tons of annual flowers for one of our jobs to plant. I might take the extra I order for our shop every year and get the pots planted up. <br />
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Have a great weekend!<br />
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-47074161473368586172014-04-14T10:12:00.000-07:002014-04-14T10:12:11.546-07:00Goodnight Dancers<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In the great big theater there was a performance. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And a red tutu and a cow jumping through the wings. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And there were 3 girls dancing with chairs. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And two little chickens, and a pair of silver mittens. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And a comb and a brush and a dance bag full of stuff. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And a quiet lady backstage whispering "hush." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Goodnight theater, goodnight wings, goodnight cow jumping through the wings. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Goodnight lights, and the red tutu. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Goodnight girls, goodnight chairs. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Goodnight chickens and goodnight silver mittens. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Goodnight comb and goodnight brush. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Goodnight nobody.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> Goodnight dance bag full of stuff, and goodnight to the quiet lady backstage whispering "hush." Goodnight snow. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Goodnight air. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Goodnight dancers everywhere.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The show is over. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I am both sad and happy. Sad my body won't get the skipping workout on a regular basis, and happy my body won't be doing the skipping workout on a regular basis. Calla did an amazing job, not one bobble, and I ended up with a fat lip from smacking faces with one of my partners during a fake kiss at the last show. Pretty sure my fellow dancers won't forget me yelling onstage in our twirling flying pinwheel lift, "Is my nose bleeding?!?!" Geeze Louise ballet isn't supposed to be brutal. But we all suffer for our art right? Haha! So now it is back to regular classes and helping the kids rehearse for their Spring Recital. Back to working on the house, and hopefully finishing it sooner then later. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">For those of you who aren't on Facebook or Instagram here are a couple of pics. Sorry I didn't manage to get one of the cow, or the chicken, but you can just use your imagination. Also, it appears going through my photo feed that Dave taught India how to ride the motorcycle while we were gone. In her pjs. Wonder how she reaches the pedals? :) </span></span></span></div>
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Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-1364998322323050712014-04-02T14:07:00.003-07:002014-04-02T14:07:50.533-07:00Hee Haw Train<div style="text-align: center;">
I am not 100% certain where the weekend went, except it is long gone. I am now here swamped on Wednesday with Calla at home on Spring Break and a ton of work to do. Poor child. One of these days we will take a proper Spring Break. One involving a trip somewhere like all of the pictures I see normal families doing. But since we aren't normal and neither is our work schedule, she gets to hang out with her dear old Mom in her office at home all day. All week. </div>
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Back to this weekend. Because I am pretty sure you would rather hear about that then all of us trekking it to the dentist to have our teeth cleaned. So Saturday I took a ride upon the Hee Haw Train. Meaning we got our costumes for the Gala for Hoedown and I can't lie, I am a little bit excited to be wearing gingham and lace a la Maryann from Gilligan's Island. Giant lace ruffle coming to the bottom of those blue skirts my friends! Not your average tutu here. </div>
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My head is currently swimming with all sorts of large hair ideas involving braids, multiple cans of Aqua Net and a teasing comb thanks to a late night session with my dear friend Pinterest. And of course the brightest reddest lipstick I can find in my makeup bag. It might come out looking perfect or like a drag queen in training. I realize I am skating a very fine line between the two here with this look.</div>
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Rehearsal took a bit longer then expected because of the costumes.</div>
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So we did what any other dancer, young or old, does with too much time on their hands. Took really bad selfies of ourselves. My friends made fun of me when I smiled so I told them to look goofy. Yeah they didn't. Thanks people.</div>
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Moving on. The dipshit dingo dog has found himself a new home. My Dad and Dave built the newel posts for the staircase this past weekend so everyone played outside. Rusty planted himself at the top of the dirt pile and stayed there until the girls told him to move in whatever game they were playing. Pretty sure he thought it was king of the mountain.</div>
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Found him like that the next day when they were outside too. Not playing a game this time. He didn't get the memo and planted himself up there anyway.</div>
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The staircase is almost done!</div>
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The white oak treads have been handmade and are ready to be stained. Posts are primed and ready to be painted a semigloss white. There will be an oak cap on the top of the post. FYI: there is not a table in that space. Nope you didn't see any table there. You saw NOTHING in that area we don't have a final for yet. We aren't using the bathrooms either. I mean, why would we do that, we don't have permission to. Definitely don't use those. :) </div>
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We decided to go with a white turned baluster. Bonus is they are already painted. I have NO desire to paint 100 balusters. And those are not handmade either. We are not Norm Abrams here, and since I don't have an Amish carpenter or Vanilla Ice dressed as an Amish carpenter on staff, Lowes it is.</div>
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Dave wasn't kidding when he said the staircase would be the first thing in the new addition and the last thing finished. </div>
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Picking up new baby chickens at the feed store today. Happy Hump day! </div>
Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-22942409012953220862014-03-27T11:37:00.000-07:002014-03-27T11:37:02.945-07:00Hello Spring<div style="text-align: center;">
Things are getting crazy busy around here these days. In a good way. The house is almost done so we can get our final and move all of our junk in. We still have a lot of work to do after involving trim and doors, final touch ups etc., but we are so close. I am pretty sure the kids won't be happy to loose all of their open space downstairs once furniture goes in. But…..they will live :) </div>
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Totally wish the floors were this clean again. Bwahhaaha who am I kidding! </div>
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The ballet company Spring Gala is almost here. I am getting a bit nervous since I haven't been on stage for a bit, but I am enjoying getting back into better shape just by rehearsing and eating better. Even if it does involve an extravaganza of skipping and dancing for 8 min. solid. While 8 min. may not seem like a long time, it is kind of deceiving. Just like jump roping.You think to yourself, I used to do this for hours as a kid, yet you find yourself panting after just a minute? Yeah, it is kind of like that. Besides after having 2 kids, skipping ain't easy if ya know what I mean. The piece is called Hoedown. While not the most traditional of ballets, it is a boatload of fun. Which in my opinion makes it something everyone can enjoy, even those not interest in ballet. We can be found whooping, hollering, and twirling around, even flying through the air throughout the piece. The best part of the show is that it will be the first time I get to perform on stage with Calla. There is a pre show piece showing off a group of talented dancers from the school. Calla was lucky enough to be chosen as one of them to perform. </div>
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We are also jamming along with work and are starting to book up into mid summer for new jobs and renovations. I am hoping this year will be a great one with fun and exciting projects coming across our table to build. </div>
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So that is where we are at friends. I will try and post some more pictures so you can get a better idea of how things are looking these days. Trying to get out of my box a bit and not just take pictures of work projects, and the dipshit dingo dog and his partner in crime India. </div>
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I'll leave y'all with this pretty picture. One of my favorite blogs to read is <a href="http://www.thefreshexchangeblog.com/" target="_blank">The Fresh Exchange</a> blog. It has a wonderful and simplistic tone about it. Their posts remind me to stop, slow down, and take in the world around me once in a while. The talented and creative designers, a husband and wife duo as well, have created a cute desktop background for your computer this Spring. I just downloaded it onto mine. The fresh white background with the pop of hot pink flowers makes me smile each time I open my computer. Enjoy! </div>
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XOXO!</div>
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-23047303481404142202013-12-20T12:30:00.004-08:002013-12-20T12:32:50.273-08:00Long time no blog<br />
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Long time no blog? </div>
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Si, sadly yes. But I didn't want to leave the blog this year with an angry looking picture of me up!<br />
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We really didn't send out any Christmas cards this year. Why? Well..... besides the fact I still don't have my head on straight even though it is almost the end of the year, the wonders of modern technology have allowed us to share many photos on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cara.s.doyle" target="_blank"> Facebook</a> & <a href="http://instagram.com/callabee03" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and even on this little ol' blog throughout the year. So I am considering those a virtual digital Christmas card of our everyday world. Plus, I am really bad at those kind of things and know I will not get the damn cards out before Valentine's Day no matter how hard I try, or how early I order them!<br />
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Anywhoo, Dave and I are taking some time here at the end of the year *shocking* to finish up this damn addition. Oh yeah, and because our current clients have told us that they don't want to see our lovely faces until after the kids go back to school! Thank goodness for friends who have their heads attached!<br />
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So, I'll be back in 2014 with lots of finished house pics, pics of the girls, chickens, and of course the dipshit dingo dogs. We hope to have some things figured out around here too that will allow me to blog more, and be in more of a "marketing/wannabe social media person" (new business title) position for work as well. Speaking of, come find me over at our work blog: <a href="http://www.summitlawnandlandscape.com/blog/" target="_blank">The Nitty Gritty</a> for lots of fun Christmas ideas and pictures to get you in the mood this Holiday Season.<br />
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All!<br />
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XOXO, Cara<br />
Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-63410597080997240032013-07-03T10:43:00.000-07:002013-07-03T10:43:04.373-07:00Dazed and ConfusedSo today feels like Friday even though it isn't Friday, and I still have work to do on Friday. Whatever. I decided to hack off 5 " of my hair on Sunday when she was busy covering up the gray. No I am not angry. Happy actually, because she got it to curl which I hadn't been able to do in forever. Car photos are never pretty.<br />
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It was fried and long and not a pretty long. Think Janice the Muppet stringy and orange. This morning I went to wash my hair for the first time since then, (no I don't wash it daily-too dry here,) and realized before it was too late I used waaayyy too much shampoo. Well, that was fun. <br />
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Dave has been working like a mad man to get the house finished up for framing inspections. <br />
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He did stop on Saturday to attend a friend's annual pig roast. Viva la pig. <br />
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The girls had never been on a 4 wheeler before. They also tried out the zipline before the day ended. <br />
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Work has been super busy since we are trying to finish up a couple of projects. But it is coming together. Calla is off from dance camp this week so since they were feeling deprived, they chose to give themselves a barre with a video while I worked up in the barn yesterday. Makes me uber happy. <br />
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Speaking of ballet, they just hired a new Artistic Director for the Company. Me thinks Ethel might make have to dig out the pink tights again. We will see. I gotta get this house finished and then we can talk about Ethel, tutus, and my eating habits which don't begin to even take a tutu and pointe shoes into consideration.<br />
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Last night was actually not hotter then Hades so the girls and I spent some time in the front yard just being kids. <br />
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Hula hoops, jump ropes and cartwheels. Ok, so they did the cartwheels and jumped rope. Mommy has had 2 c-sections folks. <br />
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We even taught the dipshit dingo dog to jump through the hoop. And for my next trick we will teach him how to mow grass, build pergolas and outdoor fireplaces.<br />
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I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July. We will be adding shingles to the roof and watching the fireworks from our house if there are any this year. </div>
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Adios!</div>
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-88257061757056397092013-06-24T13:47:00.000-07:002013-06-24T13:47:04.002-07:00Where we are at now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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So my Dad who has been away from the project for a bit wanted to see some pictures of where we are at in the house build. </div>
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We are almost done with framing. At least upstairs. Somewhere along the way we decided the basement is huge, why don't we use it and put our living room down there as one open space. Besides, we have this huge ass staircase in the middle of the room going down anyway so we might as well. My existing living room will become a dining room and the area transitioning between the old space and the new will just be open. Open and airy. Make sense? </div>
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Enter Cara who now has to drive her happy butt out East to the County buildings to amend the permit. See, if you want to have a finished basement you need to have a permit for that. Right now I have a permit for an unfinished basement that wants me to put a door at the bottom. Yeah, I want an open staircase to allow as much light down into the lower area as possible. A door just isn't in the plans. I have a phobia of dark split level like basements with teeny tiny windows, and that is definitely not my intention here. I want it to feel natural to go downstairs, and like it is still part of the floor plan. Not like you are entering a dungeon or cave of teenage angst where parents hide their broody children away from the world to play video games till they can be social and nice to the world again. Nor do I want this to feel like some room out of 50 Shades of Gray either. That could be fun. ;) This will hopefully not feel like a basement at all. I am not quite sure how to go about that yet, but believe me, I will find a way, and it will likely involve a lot of white paint.</div>
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We shall not talk about how high our friend is teetering up there on two Home Depot buckets like a mountain goat. The best part about house building in Colorado is there is you have friends who can set up and break down large theater sets for national traveling productions, (think Batman flying through the air.) Add in family members who have climbed very large mountains for fun and worked in rock climbing gyms. Between the two, we have a ton of gear and equipment to basically belay and harness everyone in so they are safe. Pretty sure that is not how it is supposed to be be done, but hey, it's done.<br />
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It is kind of hard to see, but we purchased attic trusses. The space up there is huge. This way if Dave decides he needs some sort of man cave, or I need a room to craft creepy dolls and wrap presents like Candy Spelling, then we can cut a hole and add a staircase outside the house to access the space. It can also be a space for when Calla is done with College and has decided she will live at home forever and take care of me when I am old. #seperationissues </div>
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One of the other cool things about building the house yourself with your friends who also happen to be your trades people is you have the ability to hide your utilities. The plumbing will be hidden as best as we can as well as the ducting downstairs. No soffits. </div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Trickiest part of the whole damn thing was tying it into the house. It looks simple, but Geeze Louise this is where those of us who actually passed geometry, figured thing out. Those of us who cheated in Geometry along with 1/ 2 the track team swept up saw dust and picked up trash. </span></div>
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The space next to the stairs is my closet. The bedroom is where the miter saw is living. Yes, I know the closet is half the size of the bedroom. Our master bath is in the back sunny corner. The pantry is where the electric box is, and directly next to it is a small powder room. I am standing in an open hallway with a door that goes out to the side garden onto a wrap around deck and in front of the large picture window with views of rolling farmland and the Rockies.<br />
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The stairs going down. Yes, the same stairs the dipshit dingo dog fell down 10 ft. Picture only a frame, no plywood, where the landing is half way down. That is what he high centered himself on. <br />
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So that is pretty much it for now. Kind of slow going when you only get to work nights and weekends on it. But we are getting somewhere. <br />
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I am back in the office today with my calves still like rocks because someone, *cough*myself*cough* decided to pretend she was 14 again and jump like it during the Master Ballet Class on Saturday. But damn, it was worth it to jump like that again. <br />
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Webpage almost done. Finally!!!! <br />
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Hasta Pasta.<br />
Me:) <br />
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-21069392301243978042013-06-21T14:59:00.002-07:002013-06-21T14:59:50.593-07:00Fashion Friday BMW F800 GS EditionSo last night this happened:<br />
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My first question is does it come with a side car that seats 2? And by 2 I mean for the girls. Not twit and twat. Although I am pretty sure they do make doggy goggles for the Dipshit Dingo Dog. I hope it has room for his ears.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.peoplepets.com</td></tr>
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My children didn't quite know what to think. Notice how apprehensive Calla looks. They never even knew Dave could ride a motorcycle. Or that when I met him he picked me up for our first date on a motorcycle. Chances are I was wearing something like this, but with shorter shorts. <br />
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Damn we were cute. And this was pretty much the same look India gave me when I tried to put her on the back of the bike and replicate the picture last night. By the way there is no retro f'n filter on that last pic. That is pure 70's baby. <br />
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Also, I was told if I wanted to ride on the back, I now needed to wear boots, and a jacket. Well duh...No one, and I mean no one, wants or needs to see the ba donk a donk in daisy duke cutoffs and a crop top and flip flops these days on the back of a motorcycle. Besides it is a BMW and not a Harley therefore fringe is out of the question. It is just not acceptable. Joan Rivers would not approve. God forbid. I could do a Harley outfit. I own fringe and a black concert t shirt of some sort involving an 80's band with long hair.<br />
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Lord help us all, and my wardrobe as I dig out the Frye boots from the depths of the closet and something resembling a technical jacket. Because my snowboard jacket involves fur and paisleys, and not neon or leather. <br />
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I did however find this. It matches the boots but not my checkbook:<br />
<a href="http://www.coloradoeuro.com/eshopprod_cat_8007-87103_product_1501468.HeritageLadiesLeatherJacket.htm">http://www.coloradoeuro.com/eshopprod_cat_8007-87103_product_1501468.HeritageLadiesLeatherJacket.htm</a><br />
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Told Dave just to pick it up for me as a belated birthday present when he gets some parts. He looked at me like I had 4 heads and said buying a jacket and helmet isn't like buying a t-shirt and a frozen pizza at Target. Evidently he doesn't shop like I do. Also, it might have something to do with the fact that it costs over $20, and he knows it. <br />
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Since this is more of an "Enduro" type bike vs a "hog" chaps are not necessary. But you didn't think I would write this post without finding me some chaps:<br />
<a href="http://www.jpcycles.com/product/634-224?utm_source=PLAs&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CJXazLyQ9rcCFc5DMgodIUkAwA">http://www.jpcycles.com/product/634-224?utm_source=PLAs&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CJXazLyQ9rcCFc5DMgodIUkAwA</a><br />
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Just don't Google ass less chaps. Do me a favor, just don't. Chaps is fine.<br />
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But this...... Holy Crap. This just takes the cake. Someone buy these for me ASAP:<br />
<a href="https://www.denniskirk.com/328051.sku?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&gclid=CPXvnZuE9rcCFaVFMgodoD4AWA">https://www.denniskirk.com/328051.sku?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&gclid=CPXvnZuE9rcCFaVFMgodoD4AWA</a><br />
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Just call me Motorcycle Barbie. :) <br />
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House building and a master class with an Artistic Director candidate for the ballet company this weekend. Please pray for me as I squeeze into tights and a leotard. Something tells me the chaps would be easier. <br />
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Any fun things for y'all this weekend? <br />
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Buenos Noches. Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-20044020293869056892013-06-20T08:29:00.000-07:002013-06-20T08:29:06.515-07:00Where's the beef?So Tuesday afternoon I was at the Post Office downtown with the small child named after a large country. We were headed to pick up Calla at her day camp when I received a call from an old friend asking me what I was doing in approx. 1 hr.. Well, headed home to make dinner and bathe the stinky children. Same thing I do every night Pinky. He wanted to know if I could help him out and attend a focus group for our age at a super popular local breakfast place to discuss and give my opinions about food. Um.....So let me get this straight, you want to talk about food, and after I am done you will give me a gift card to said popular breakfast place for my trouble? My first inclination.......What's the catch? Then it was......wait, this involves a time share right? No way Jose. Nope, none of that. We went into it thinking we were going to discuss new menu ideas, oh yeah, and they would feed us. Ok, I was curious. So I dropped the kids off with Dave to have a picnic in the living room and booked it back downtown to discuss what I thought were pancakes and all of the unique flavors they serve. <br />
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Once we walked in there were about 10 people sitting around a round table. (Cliche, I know.) I was handed a plate of hash brown casserole the size of my head and a notepad, and told to give my honest opinion about the questions but they couldn't let us know who they were from until they were done. <br />
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After that they began asking us questions about why we liked coming to the restaurant and then asked us questions about grocery stores and which ones we shopped at and why. First light bulb that goes off in my head says ding ding ding, you guys aren't from the restaurant. Maybe you are from Trader Joe's looking to see if Ft. Collins would be a great location for their store. Nope. Damn! More questions about local vs organic vs humane etc. etc. followed. There were no wrong answers, but at the same time you were trying to figure out who they were with so you could answer the questions a certain way even though you weren't supposed to. Make sense? <br />
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Needless to say I found it all very fascinating. Since I do a lot of the marketing, ok all of it for our business, they had my attention. There were 3 other people fast and furiously taking notes in the background from the mystery company. We were also handed color ads and told to put them in order of our favorites based on layout, the claims they were making, and what we would purchase. Turns out we all pretty much chose the same 2 as our top two for various reasons.<br />
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At the end of it all, we found out they weren't with a large grocery store, but with a Co-op that represents 700 farmers across the US. The farmers adhere to a strict set of guidelines in order to sell their meat and eggs and have them represented as such in grocery stores nationwide. What I did respect about them was the help they give small local farmers to get their product in the hands of people who may live in a large city and really want to have that kind of food lifestyle, but aren't as fortunate as myself to have a chicken and pig farmer who butchers 3 miles from my home and gets fresh eggs daily. I am also pretty sure rainbow fruit flavored cereal is not on the approved list of standards for feeding chickens. Mine would probably starve or protest. <br />
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While this story has absolutely nothing to do with what I am usually up to, I thought you might find it interesting. Besides it beats me telling you about how I was going to make a box of Mac and Cheese and watch the girls float in the bathtub like mermaids. <br />
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In the meantime, the children and I have a new craft project. I'll give you two clues and get back to you after we are done. It is hard taking pictures of someone's booth at an antique fair so it doesn't look like you are stealing their ideas. Ok, so I was. But only because I don't have $175 and I won't be mass producing these things on Etsy for a living. I would also like to stay married, and if I spent that much on a doll, Chucky the tin man and I would be sleeping in the chicken coop. So far we have a bunch of found bits and pieces and only $45 spent. The girls are having a ball trolling the flea markets for materials. It is like a scavenger hunt.<br />
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Adios. Back soon. :)<br />
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-70377583970863488742013-06-18T12:18:00.001-07:002013-06-18T12:18:12.970-07:00When last we left off.....When last we left off I had no heat, a spring work rush, and a dipshit dingo dog looking for ways to get his happy ass down the 10ft into the hole beneath him. I am happy to report a lot has happened since then. <br />
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<ol>
<li>We have heat as well as AC (yipee!)</li>
<li>Work is insane, but only going to complain about that for a sec. in case I jinx it and it stops.</li>
<li>The house addition is almost done being framed and ready for roughing in thanks to a lots of hard work from family and close friends.</li>
<li>We took a trip to visit a dear friend in St. Louis.</li>
<li>The girls each had a ballet recital and were beyond cute.</li>
<li>Dave had a birthday, I had a birthday, and we are both in denial about our age.</li>
<li>We lost a chicken, but the ones that are left are learning to like watermelon and various other good for you foods. They are still pooping artificial colors and rainbow fruit flavors, but since I have the new Gwyneth Paltrow cookbook, they are growing accustomed to a more vegan lifestyle. We are not, but that is besides the point. I just bought the book for the pictures, but some of the recipes aren't bad actually.</li>
<li>Calla can read and India can write her name.</li>
<li>Speaking of India she has become quite opinionated these days. Not sure why I am surprised. She is Dave's child and not the UPS mans (he is quite passive.) She wants us to refer to her now as "Sugar Baby or Bug." Just like her outfits it isn't worth the argument. </li>
<li>Calla is headed to the 2nd grade in the fall. Note: see # 6</li>
<li>The website still isn't done but getting there.</li>
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And because I can't sign off without filling you in on the dipshit dingo dog and whether or not he finally made it into the basement. He did. The hard way. <br />
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Dave's Dad showed up to help us one Saturday, and Rusty was so excited to greet him he forgot the hole down was there. He realized too late when he missed the corner and fell down the 10 ft. and high centered himself on the frame for the stairs during the fall. He is ok, but now has some serious PTSD and refuses to even go near the stairs up or down. Since the living room will be downstairs we hope he gets over it when the time comes. Nothing appears to be broken or damaged, so he is lucky, but every once and while he gets stiff and has trouble getting up. We give him some pain meds and it appears to help him not look so much like Quasimodo. Not sure if dogs have 9 lives like a cat but his punk ass is def. down a couple. Idiot. Gave me the fright of my life. On the plus side, he appears to have mellowed out a bit. A little bit. <br />
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As you can see, the clouds are rolling in. Off to batten down the hatches before the golf ball hail and possible tornados come rolling in. <br />
<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-8538022212390269052013-04-08T14:08:00.002-07:002013-04-08T14:08:43.720-07:00How a Chamorro packs to go to Grandma's house.Hafa A'dai. I am beginning to feel like our house is becoming a bit of a sacrificial lamb. Dig a giant hole in the ground, it will rain. Have the blower on the furnace conveniently go out before starting any HVAC work, and it will snow and become a blizzard. As usual, we will see, but since we are not done backfilling the foundation, me thinks it will. We could technically fix the furnace, but it really isn't that energy efficient and will be replaced with the new duct work and hopefully with air condition capabilities. Not a problem when it is in the 60's like it has been. <br />
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In the mean time we are plugging and chugging along. We have a basement with real concrete walls and a concrete floor.<br />
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Rusty: "Hummm. (contemplating to self) Let's see, how do I get my punk ass down into the hole? I can't jump, but there has to be a way."<br />
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"They have figured out a way to get down there."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkFUkRcDuQ70g-bT23oAnYUgMwFAc2Uhyphenhyphen7-aeu5DsYiYwvuN9Yr8IYJBiVMVpTOZSWcIuQ2nV2N-wyjesJtz3rNcrt4y9z1SyEa8k56cD4rCU16vqtYf2r8cGZ0UG9OUviPf9HJMlVA/s1600/IMG_1612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkFUkRcDuQ70g-bT23oAnYUgMwFAc2Uhyphenhyphen7-aeu5DsYiYwvuN9Yr8IYJBiVMVpTOZSWcIuQ2nV2N-wyjesJtz3rNcrt4y9z1SyEa8k56cD4rCU16vqtYf2r8cGZ0UG9OUviPf9HJMlVA/s400/IMG_1612.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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"I'm getting closer." Yo Mattie, wanna join me?"<br />
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"Ta Da! Success!!!! Houston, I have landed in the hole. Now how the heck do I get back out? Doh!!"<br />
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Whether it decides to snow or not, it is still going to get cold. That is just what is does here in Colorado. 70 degrees one day, 13 degrees the next. <br />
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So I have compiled a list of what it takes a Guamanian girl to get herself to Grandma Nene's house. Because Nene's house has heat folks, and like I have said in the past, this ain't the Little House on the Prairie, and I am not anywhere near resembling Caroline Ingalls. More like a Real Housewife meets a Dance Mom. Ok, maybe not that bad. <br />
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Step 1. Clean the house. No one wants to come home to a dirty house.<br />
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Step 2. Go grocery shopping for lots of munchy foods. Because as we all know the husband who you have left behind to make sure the pipes don't freeze with a space heater or 3, is not going make anything more then a homemade bean and cheese burrito and a Totinos Party Pizza. Especially after a long night of snow removal.<br />
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Step 3. Grab your nearest laundry basket and stuff it full of as much crap as you could need and then some. Including snow boots, bibs, mittens, hats, long underwear, sunscreen, dolls, water bottles, and book bags all for school. Assuming they don't cancel it. Why a laundry basket? Because that is how we roll. Pssshhh suitcase. I laugh. <br />
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Step 4. Grab another laundry basket because you realized you haven't packed anything for yourself besides the sweatsuit you are wearing. So pack 3 more pairs of sweat pants and some underwear. No bra needed. You work from home after all. Make sure you pack the rest of your important necessities. You know the things you can't live without.<br />
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*Coconut Butter spread - The island is in your blood and it likes coconut. <br />
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*Your own soy sauce - It is like Vodka. You like what you like.<br />
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*Speaking of Vodka, Vanilla Smirnoff - Because Nene is not of the old Guamanian guard and doesn't like martinis, so there is no vodka. She is however partial to frozen margaritas. You don't do tequila on a school night, and it is best to be prepared in case there is a snow day, and there is no school. Take some of Grandma's Coke, and mix it with the Vodka, and you are Happy Happy Happy.<br />
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*Brussel Sprouts, Fat Free Greek Yogurt, And Kombucha. Because you are a Nuevo Chamorro, and take more after the California side of the family vs. the East Coast side. <br />
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*Sticky Rice, because again, Grandma prefers Jasmine. Rice pot will be provided upon arrival. No need to pack. Hers works just fine. You know this because she made sure you registered for one before your wedding. And well would you look there, you received two rice pots as gifts when you got married. No need to return the other one. To which she promptly stole the one she liked best.<br />
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Step 5. Pat yourself on the back because you remembered dog food and lotion. Still didn't bother to pack a bra, but 2 pairs of Uggs and 1 pair of Sorel Joan of Arctic boots with lots of fur have made their way into your basket. <br />
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Step 6. Pile all of your crap in the car including your 2 stinky children and their even stinkier 4 legged friends. Can't leave the dipshit dingo dogs behind. If you time it right and return home after the storm, the mud will have dried and the house will still be clean, (See Step 1) because there will be no dogs dragging it in. Brilliant. <br />
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Did I mention we are only leaving for 3 days? 13 miles from home. There are a total of 3 laundry baskets in that trunk, and another bag of food and toys in the front seat that you can't see. <br />
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Step 7. Check the chickens to see if they have enough food, water, and their favorite rainbow fruit flavored cereal like Trix or Fruit Loops. They aren't particular and will eat generic, but it must be artificially fruit flavored and rainbow colored. Don't try and fool them with the organic beet and spinach colored ones either. Believe me, they know the difference. They are not Nuevo Chamorro, they are just picky bitches. Make sure you leave a note for your husband not to forget about the chickens while you are away. Because in his sleep deprived over worked state he may forget he has a name let alone 12 chickens. <br />
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Step 8. Kiss your husband goodbye and head over the river and through the woods to Grandmother Nene's house. <br />
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Adios mi familia. <br />
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Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-80529833289703922542013-03-22T11:46:00.003-07:002013-03-22T11:53:45.562-07:00I'll believe it when I see it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">We are scheduled to get 7 inches of snow starting late tonight. So far every blizzard/ large snow storm that has been predicted and called for this season has either missed us, or just didn't produce more than an inch or two. And as the title goes, I'll believe it when I see it. We will be dutifully ready with plows mounted and shovels and ice melt stocked, because that is what do every time Pinky. Try and take over the world of snow removal. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">This morning was the start of Calla's Spring Break. Both her and India celebrated by getting up a 1/2 an hour earlier then they normally do when I have to drag them out to get ready for school. WTF, sleep in, enjoy it. Somebody needs to besides this lazy piece of work.</span></div>
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When Dave gets up, Rusty moves out of my crotch to Dave's side of the bed, and promptly falls right back asleep. El Dipshito Dingito must have had a rough night last night, because he was seriously passed out. All I remember last night is he was pissed I wouldn't spoon him with his head on my pillow, so he went sulking off to the living room. Only for me to to wake up this morning to him curled up in ball in my crotch. Between having kids and this damn dog, I honestly can't remember the last good night of sleep I have had. </div>
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Speaking of crotches, after I dropped off India at school and Calla with my Dad, I had a 1/2 hr before the inspector was due at our house to sign off on the foundation before they pour the concrete on Monday, (you know Monday, Easter week, possible 7-10 inches of snow?) so I went running along the river. Well, as best I could in windy damp feeling air for 2.5 mi. </div>
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The only problem was I kept having the worst camel toe, and I just couldn't get warm. 1/2 hr isn't that long and towards the end I was starting to get warm, but my pants were pissing me off. But as I plugged and chugged along I kept thinking to myself, "no one is out on the trail to see your lady bits, just keep running." Ok, lets get real, not running but jogging here since I couldn't get warm enough to get fast enough to actually run. I felt like I was running through that sticky bubble gum crap they made those people on the Biggest Looser run through this year. I did see 1 eagle, it was a nice flat trail, and I actually got out and burned some calories this morning, so I can only complain too much. But damn it was just hard. I know some days are like that. Since I have no ballet class tomorrow, and loads of laundry to do, I am glad I was able to get something accomplished. </div>
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Well, I hope your weekend is a good one. I also hope you get lots of sleep and there isn't a dipshit dingo dog tucked up in your crotch for 6 hrs at a time. And now since I have officially mentioned the word crotch more times in this post than one should in any conversation, I'll be on my way. </div>
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Hasta!</div>
Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-13927225398234344652013-03-20T14:42:00.000-07:002013-03-20T14:42:30.644-07:00Life vs. GiselleHad a meeting this morning with the incredible <a href="http://rocketjones.com/">Rocket Jones</a>, about our new website. I am completely overwhelmed, but in a good way. This thing is going to be the bomb and bring us into the year 2013 for sure. But at this point, the work is on me to get the content and pictures in there. YIKES!<br />
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It is also on me to manage our landscaping and maintenance clients, my children (both small girls and employee, ) do the daily office dance with accounting and such, and manage our family household. Pretty sure they would like clean clothes and something other than Cheerios for dinner. FYI, I like mine with unsweetened almond coconut milk and a large spoon. Thank goodness the house addition is at a point where I am not the one setting concrete forms, and it is in someone else's hands for right now. We are scheduled to get a rain/snow storm this weekend. I'll believe it when I see it, but I am pretty much the only person in Northern Colorado that doesn't want it to precipitate in some form this weekend. I know it is selfish and we need it so bad, and fires in the area have already started, but with an over excavated hole cut too close to our foundation (not getting into this now) we kind of need to pour those walls this week! <br />
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It is times like this I really wish I could check out for a bit. Actually hand Dave the bottle of milk and box of Cheerios, tell him dinner is on him, and head to ballet tonight. Ballet and any exercise in general tends to clear my head and give me the clarity I need to focus and get my stuff done. I stumbled upon a blogger the other day, <a href="http://www.dancingforfood.com/">Melissa</a> who is doing an amazing job balancing life and ballet. Girl just ran a marathon too! It gave me some perspective and made me sit up and realize that this year isn't going to get any slower, so I need to find that healthy balance of work, being a mommy, house building, ballet and any exercise (even a video) I can get. So this evening I am going regroup and take the time and actually write out a day to day schedule instead of just flying by the seat of my pants. Who knows, maybe I'll stick to it for longer than a week. <br />
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In the meantime, because it is Spring Break at the studio and I can't head to class even if I wanted to, let's enjoy some "old school" Giselle pictures shall we. A trip down memory lane for sure. Thanks to the amazing Greg Hughes for letting me steal some of these as usual. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtZ3YM9PsBjGpX9UVZKNaQYDe3rYSBSvgaGddrzBPw7hGA6UFhNPGYFgUJ-ri3Eo2eMVjjT4ZsDOVcyamkhynbpa-1fjOTwOx5KxSx-qwVKsv3X_MFMscIn-xcs_MWfswBiXyOiMMKg/s1600/giselle+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtZ3YM9PsBjGpX9UVZKNaQYDe3rYSBSvgaGddrzBPw7hGA6UFhNPGYFgUJ-ri3Eo2eMVjjT4ZsDOVcyamkhynbpa-1fjOTwOx5KxSx-qwVKsv3X_MFMscIn-xcs_MWfswBiXyOiMMKg/s400/giselle+1.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peasants with empty baskets </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mazurka anyone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gus and I about to get our peasant pas on</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willis </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiQsXqFWt664CB4fNUx8sRMH9WAr7q7DNxFdrUXxJXZwPUt0ayJXhpxRaouiCEP7NI7aryB6YcQLTSNyKFH4MjWqLBK5q8goO3jGdImkBwIBlF0tFWi5WA136uarvHCK-Y88segzVnQ/s1600/254960_10150216668047721_7927161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiQsXqFWt664CB4fNUx8sRMH9WAr7q7DNxFdrUXxJXZwPUt0ayJXhpxRaouiCEP7NI7aryB6YcQLTSNyKFH4MjWqLBK5q8goO3jGdImkBwIBlF0tFWi5WA136uarvHCK-Y88segzVnQ/s400/254960_10150216668047721_7927161_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hauntingly scary bitches we were</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dear friend, the gorgeous Kary</td></tr>
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-40614596919534379162013-03-13T15:44:00.002-07:002013-03-13T15:44:51.021-07:00There's a hole in the ground Dear Liza Dear LizaJust wanted to show you sneak peak of what I have to deal with around here these days. Believe me I am not complaining, but man oh man lets just say having the laundry folded and put away, and a clean house are a thing of Christmas past and present. <br />
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There's a hole in the ground with no green grass growing round and round.<br />
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I am able to report no dead things were found during the "Big Dig." Sorry, but it is probably for the best. Lest we have a Poltergeist situation, and have to bring in the big guns up from the Springs to deal with an old Indian or any animal burial ground for that matter. Still not sure what went through there. It could have been an old well, leach field etc. ???? I am just glad it is done. <br />
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Let's just say there were times when they came really close to the house.</div>
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Really Really Close!</div>
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And of course as soon as you disturb said ground, you will summon and awaken the weather Gods and it will snow. <br />
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And we all know what snow turns into when it melts...........<br />
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Mud mud and more mud. Only about 1/3 of a big ass pile of dirt. <br />
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Any one need dirt? We got plenty.<br />
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The blue hose is our temporary water line. Water now tastes like a plastic hose and the pressure wasn't what it used to be, but I am told it is still better then most folks have in town. See that tiny clay colored hole in the center of the back wall? Yeah, we found snakes in there. Alive and pissed because Spring just came early for their hibernation spot. <br />
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See that other clay colored tiny spot down next to Dave? That's Rusty. He went ripshitzing around the corner today to chase some bikers and lost 1 leg and almost the rest of him down the side of the wall. This picture was taken before they finished digging and there was still a way out. Anyone want to take bets who falls in first? Rusty, India, Me? <br />
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Building materials arrived and are everywhere.<br />
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And in the midst of building, the daily operations are still transpiring as usual. Why we didn't start this last August is beyond me.<br />
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We have bitchy spoiled chickens who now demand (very loudly I might add,) to eat hand steeped oats and barley. Or as my good friend who brews the beer, calls them. Los Pollos Borrachos. The drunk chickens. It isn't fermented, but don't tell them that. We'll just call it the placebo effect. <br />
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Yup...... damn bagel still there.<br />
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And to close, we have a fine example of a Dipshit Dingo Dog who doesn't have any boundaries. Whatsoever. He has come to the realization that if he sits on Dave's desk that he might be able see out the window. Homeboy is still too short. So he just sits there and barks anyway. At the wall......<br />
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Rusty - "You talkin' to me?" *Said with best De Niro Guido accent.*<br />
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Rusty - "Are ya feelin' lucky, punk?" "Go ahead, make my day!" *Said with best Clint Eastwood accent.*<br />
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Me - "Get off the damn desk and let me get back to work!"<br />
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Adios Muchachos. <br />
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-31474001484193294582013-03-08T13:17:00.003-08:002013-03-08T13:21:39.964-08:00This ISH just got real!Came home today from running errands to find this parked next to my house. <br />
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Just to give you some perspective, This is my tiny house next to the very large backhoe loader thing a ma bob. My inner 10 yr. old boy dies laughing inside every time I say the word backhoe. </div>
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And to give you some more perspective of how ginormous this thing is, this is a Dipshit Dingo Dog on top of the thingamajig. </div>
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Sit Ubu sit! Good dog. :) I swear I want to name a dog Ubu one of these days, just to see if anyone gets it. I decided yesterday after watching some cartoon of India's, I am going to name the next batch of chickens after pastries and breads. Preferably those made with lots of eggs and butter. The yellow ones shall be called Challah, and Brioche. I will get another funky one like Birdie and name it Pan Perdu. Mmmm Pan Perdu. Git in ma belly!</div>
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Well then.... moving on. With snow coming in this weekend to the tune of 1 ft. - 1 ft. 1/2, I guess I know I have the ability to dig myself out for Calla's birthday party on Sunday if need be. Too bad we couldn't talk her into having a Bob the Builder party. I could have decorated around the track hoe, (no better of a name by the way,) and used it for picture opportunities. Everyone could have gotten a hard hat, and taken rides in our skid steer. Damn, that is an unfortunate Pinterest party opportunity missed. Although we all know it would have turned out more like a Duck Dynasty or Honey Boo Boo episode vs. a pretty party idea found on Pinterest. Who wouldn't have wanted to play horseshoes with toilet seats? Besides, I could have finally had an excuse to make the white trash tater tot recipe I have hiding somewhere. </div>
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Alas, Calla is a little girl turning 7 instead of a little boy turning 3. So crafts and cookie decorating, with a side of sledding it is. Since I knew we would most likely have snow and a 9ft. deep hole in the ground x 800 sq. ft., we opted for having it at my parents house. This way we didn't need any liability waivers to be signed before dropping your kid off, so your kid doesn't accidentally fall in my hole. In the meantime, if you come a knocking, you best bring yourself a hard hat. Ooohhh, I wonder if they make them in pink??? Maybe Calla and her friends can bedazzle me one with rhinestones this weekend as part of their craft projects. </div>
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And for my Mother who is most likely stuck in an airport somewhere in CA trying to get on a plane home before they shut the airport tomorrow, a promised picture. </div>
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For those of you who have school age kids, there is nothing more precious then watching your kids perform. For those of you who don't, don't worry I don't like watching other people's kids perform. Heck, I don't like most other people's kids. There are a couple these days I adore, and I am slowly becoming more tolerant in my old age. </div>
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Calla is the midget in the center with her jazz hands high in the air wearing a hot pink polka dot dress with sunglasses on her head. Front row for shorties like us of course. So stinking cute. </div>
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Afterwards we took her to get frozen yogurt with her cousins for a job well done and ran into her good friend and her sister. It was a happy coincidence on a cold night, but she was super excited. India just wanted to be at the big girl table to soak it all in. </div>
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Back next week with birthday pictures if we aren't buried alive in snow. We might need to get Dave some Red Bull cocktails in order to stay awake at the party after plowing all night. Too bad we don't live in a resort town where everyone could go skiing and boarding. Wait, that probably has a liability form to go along with it too. Never mind. Bowling it is next year. </div>
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Happy Friday. Stay safe my friends. </div>
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Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-35661923542306682392013-03-06T15:30:00.000-08:002013-03-06T15:30:52.320-08:00What the truck?Well, the poop truck is back. <br />
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The effin field is almost completely covered in black gold. ie. compost. Everything just stinks. The dipshit dingo dog is obviously not phased by this anymore. He has moved on to better things like harassing me while I am working by standing on Dave's desk across from me.<br />
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And in general being a lazy overqualified unemployed animal. <br />
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The porta potty and the trusses for the addition arrived. I'll spare you a pic of the porta potty. CDOT finally let the truck down from Cheyenne, WY. I guess when it is snowing or the roads are wet, they won't let any oversized vehicles travel on the road and cross the border. Good to know they don't like any commercial vehicles including me. Dave was gone, so therefore it was up to me to "receive" the order. Not sure how much checking over the order I did considering they are custom made and I didn't exactly get out a measuring tape. Besides remember I am not the brightest bulb on the geometry tree. <br />
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It was also up to me to determine where they were going. Who wants to play how and where can we shove an oversized semi on Cara's property?<br />
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Made it through the front gates. If you notice, all of the chickens are out in their yard wondering what the hell is going on. <br />
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Made it through the second set of gates into the corral. Barely.<br />
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Naturally I made him back it in somewhere. Couldn't just make it simple and drop it in a straight forward manner. Besides this way they are out of the way of all of my trucks and trailers so no one accidentally drives over them when they are buried under a supposed ft. of snow this weekend. <br />
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After backing forward and back 30 times to line up next to the garden fence, they unstrapped the trusses. The next step was to tilt the long bed, pull forward like a bat out of hell, and just dumped the damn things right there on the ground. <br />
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And........within 1 inch from the gas tank on the underside of one of my work trucks. :) Well I tried to move it, but the battery was dead. So the trusses actually hit the inside of the back dually tire sliding off, but then bounced forward. Good thing I made sure the truck in park because if it had been in neutral it would have shot through the gate down to the lower corral. I had hoped for them to be a bit closer to the garden on the other side of that fence, but beggars can't be choosers and they are far enough over that they are out of the way until we need them. I'm not moving them, and everyone is Happy Happy Happy. <br />
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Tonight we are headed to a musical performance at Calla's school. They are supposed to dress for an underwater / beach theme. Not sure who's idea this was in March, but as you can see that there is still snow on the ground. The options in her closet are an aerial mermaid costume, or a tank top sundress with a large flip flop on it. We are going with the sundress, but even I drew the line against flip flops.<br />
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Don't worry I'll take pictures. <br />
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Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-243646164099283832013-03-04T13:08:00.004-08:002013-03-04T13:08:37.519-08:00Goats and GirlsTake 6" of snow earlier this week and add in 60 degree temps this weekend, and you have a recipe for a muddy sunshine filled mess. <br />
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We started the day Saturday by playing outside and soaking in the sunshine on the play set before ballet. After ballet we helped some dear friends and neighbors do some spring cleaning. <br />
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To sweeten the pot, their goats had just had babies. Like 2 days ago old. Since I put the picture on FB people have asked if those are my goats. As much as I love goats, I believe I have struck a happy medium with myself. I get to cuddle them for as long as I want, but then at the end of the day I get to give them back and let someone else raise them and deal with the poop. Brilliant. It works fabulous with livestock and other people's new born babies too. Cause I don't know nutin' bout birthin' goat babies. Not to mention watching them nurse really hard on their mothers quickly snaps you right back to reality and makes my boobs tingle just thinking about it. <br />
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But damn those babies are cute. The goats too. ;) <br />
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Peek a boo! I see you. You can't hide from me little brown goat. <br />
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Come back! I just want to play. Ok, I really want to hug you and kiss you and love you forever. <br />
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Enough about the goats. On Sunday we celebrated our annual America Girl shopping and lunch out for Calla's birthday. Baby girl will be 7 and yes, I am crying inside. Pretty sure the damn doll now has a better wardrobe then me and a much more exciting life as well. We survived the masses at the mall, and everyone came away with something fun. The weather was so pretty at 65 and sunny. Almost forgot it was March.<br />
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And as I sit here and type this, the weather is back to 38 degrees with 30 mile an hour wind gusts, and about 1/2 " of snow on the ground. So basically anything that dried out over the weekend in the glorious balmy spring weather will be right back to its muddy mess in a day or two. Dave celebrated the weather by heading to Vail at 5 am to jump off a snow covered cliff on skis, and I am supposed to be typing up maintenance contracts. But seriously, I am pretty sure no one around here wants to even think about mowing grass right now. We'll just work on those later. After all, tomorrow is another day Scarlett. </div>
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-53621931725539855932013-03-01T14:50:00.001-08:002013-03-02T18:31:23.662-08:00Pole DancingHAHA! Gotcha. You wish. If you think I am the one pole dancing you are sadly mistaken. I will probably get some hits from Russia for that title. Seriously, no one wants to see that. That would be ummm.....awkward to say the least. Not that coordinated, and besides the only pole I want to dance with these days is a cinnamon churro stick from Taco Johns. Yum!<br />
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In the same light just this morning on GMA my Dad and I witnessed a new class in the gym world. Well, in New York gyms that is. High Heel Aerobics. Why in God's name would you want to do aerobics in high heels? I can't even walk in them, let alone Jazzercise in them. I'd rather do it in pointe shoes. I am pretty sure I'd blow out an ankle or 2 in the cha cha shoes during the warm up portion, and look like my 3 yr old doing it. Not graceful, and definitely not sexy.<br />
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Anyway, back to the pole. While I was at Target buying Easter Candy and getting reminders from the tracking system printing coupons to buy protein powder and produce instead of Peeps, the lovely folks at Poudre Valley REA came out and removed the power lines and pole that were in the way of<br />
"The Big Dig." <br />
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After a 30 min. coffee klatch in a circle with my guys, they got down to business. From what I am told stories about fracking, fishing, and oh yeah..... the large pole in the middle of my yard were exchanged. We were down without power for about an hour and a half. Brilliant thinking on my behalf to come home with 20 cartons of yogurt, that needed to be refrigerated. It was cold enough that I just left them outside in the snow. Gotta protect the Noosa folks. <br />
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The early part of next week Larry the Excavator comes to dig the 10 ft. deep hole for the foundation and pluck out the old cistern. *humming Darth Vader march music* <br />
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Stay tuned so we can finally find out what is buried beneath and causing the weird 4 ft. deep sink hole next to my house. Old outhouse? Busted water line? Dead things Mikey, dead things? I asked Larry the Excavator the other day if he has ever dug up any "dead things" before? (Because I have no shame of course, and yes his name really is Larry.) He replied he has only run into a horse that the owner forgot he buried 9 months earlier and thought was buried on the other side of his property. Whoopsie. And this is why Dave likes to do the talking with the Contractors instead of me. :) <br />
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Taking Calla to American Girl shopping for her birthday. Wish me luck. Those little girls and their mothers are ruthless in that store on the weekends. <br />
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-35393868550432218782013-02-28T14:01:00.000-08:002013-02-28T14:01:36.539-08:00Compost happens<div style="text-align: center;">
This is a semi load full of some sort of animal compost across the street from my house. Aka a poop truck full of stinky "fertilizer." </div>
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This is a dipshit dingo dog (emphasis on the word shit!) who showed up at my back door covered in said "compost" 5 min. after I let his punk ass out. </div>
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Hope your day is less messy and stinky than mine. :)</div>
Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-86704352174312577382013-02-08T14:21:00.000-08:002013-02-08T14:25:28.421-08:00Bye Bye Birdie<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Bye Bye Birdie</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Im gonna miss you so</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Bye Bye Birdie</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Why'd you have to go?</span><br />
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Crap! So I totally jinxed myself and shouldn't have mentioned chicken taxidermy in my last post. Birdie kicked the proverbial KFC bucket last night. Not sure exactly what happened, it doesn't appear that a Chupacabra came and got her, but Dave found her perfectly stiff and asleep. So I am sad and a little pissed today. She was so pretty. Prissy as all get up, but pretty none the less. I totally passed on ordering any new chickens from the feed store earlier this week, because there is no way I can keep baby chickens alive during this renovation. Someone is going to have to go buy food for a bit, because if I head in there I am going to come home with 15 or so new Birdie chickens with no intentions of eating any of them. <br />
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Anyway, moving on. Hi there! Long time no speak. My brain is a bit fried so I am just going to numerically list off all of the craziness that has happened since oh....the middle of January. <br />
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1. Went to ProGreen. ProGreen is a large landscaping convention in Denver that we attend and take classes at to better ourselves and our business each year. This year Dave took and passed the 1st half of a hardscaping certification. He has a hands on test later this summer to complete, but unless he forgets to put on safety goggles or something stupid first he should do fine seeing as that is the stuff he does everyday. My mind was on the marketing and internet search engine optimization track. Good God, I had no idea all of the junk I should be doing and what it can do to make the phone ring. I mean I did, but to hear about what everyone else around me was doing, and my lack there of, made me feel like I was hanging with Fred Flintstone when I should be BFFs with Judy Jetson instead. I guess having babies and weathering a recession were not excuses. But in all fairness, Fred Flintstone does work with rocks and hardscaping too. Needless to say our entire website is getting re- done. This leads me to # 2.<br />
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2. Redoing the website on top of all the other crazy spring startup tasks. I am so glad I am doing this, however I had no idea what it would take workload wise. Thank goodness we are working with an amazing company, Rocket Jones, to help us build a content management system. This platform will allow me to make additions and changes to the site with new pictures, and content on a regular basis without having to pay a designer to do it for us. I will also have a blog though it that will allow me to post fun job construction pictures and articles. It will also have a link to all of my Pinterest board ideas for clients. Now I just need to start a new account and get them off all of my boards named "crap." Rocket Jones has also hooked us up with a really neat designer, Launie Parry at Red Letter Creative, to help me get the overall design changed using our existing circle mountain logo. Yes, I showed up with an entire Pinterest board aptly named "website crap" full of ideas to try and help get our design ideas across. <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/callabee">www.pinterest.com/callabee</a> Feel free to log on and see if you can figure my brain out. We have such a neat property out here with our home and shop, and office in the barn, that we have decided to focus on relaying that feeling to our clients and giving it a bit more of a "local" homegrown feel vs. a stuffy I am trying to be the best most expensive landscaper in town. Make sense? I promise I will share things when they get developed. <br />
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3. Plans and permit went to the County for the house. Yipee!! The next day we decided to change things. Of course we did. :) But for now we are sticking with them. Some are internal like swapping the location of a toilet and closet and don't really make a difference to the County, but we decided to wrap the deck. Technically if we change the deck we need to resubmit a new engineered plan, and entire permit with all new drawings. F' that. We'll just deal with it later Scarlett, because tomorrow is another day, and if we mess with it right now the dan thing will never be built. <br />
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4. Chances are good the girls and I will be living with my parents throughout this whole shebang. Dave will live at home because he can deal with a jug of water and a port a pottie. Not to mention it is easier to mobilize work stuff from our house esp. if it snows. He'll have a bed, Direct TV, and electricity, so he won't be exactly suffering. The idea of taking Calla out to the port a pottie at 3 am in 2 degree weather is not that appealing to me. Call me a princess, but I really don't feel like channeling my inner Laura Ingalls at our Little House on the Prairie to do this. If I had no kids then sure, I would rough it with the jug and basin, but with Cinderella and Tiana over here, it ain't happening. I will still be coming out to work on a daily basis, and will just refill a laundry basket each day with stuff I need. Technically it is closer to take both girls to school from my parents house anyway, so it won't be bad at all. <br />
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5. India started ballet for the first time. Oh my stinkin heck she is so little and cute in her tiny shoes and ponytail. Sadly, I don't have a picture but I will get one. I am having a hard time remembering Calla to be that little. I cried internally for a day or so about how big she was getting until she called me a "honkey" on the way to ballet this Tues.. Well.... that was enough to shock me back into reality. Later that day I caught her repeating the words, "Is that your grandpa's coat..... honkey?" over and over again. We had a little talk about how that is not a nice thing to call people, and Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" went onto another playlist. I guess that is what I get for having attentive children. <br />
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I am sure there is more to discuss, but I am tapped. I am spending the weekend cleaning out the basement so everyone has space to work on mechanicals down there. It looks like Mr. D will be plowing snow Sunday am. Saturday into Sunday snow work is about as ideal as one can get in this business. Not as many people out and about, and the stores open late. <br />
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Have a good weekend and stay warm if you are expecting snow this weekend too. :) <br />
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<br />Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862211232750957118.post-67888668109677805232013-01-17T19:49:00.000-08:002013-01-17T19:49:01.932-08:00Coincidences<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday all of our ideas for our house addition went to the Structural Engineer. Can I get a whoop whoop! </div>
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I dropped everything off at his office late in the day and had me wait in the lobby for a few while he finished up a couple of emails. Instead of getting on my phone and zoning out in email land, I started looking around his office and checking things out. He had all of the typical things one would find in an office. Desk for the wife out front. Workstations for other Engineers to work in the back. Large printer to print 24'x36' plans out on. Pictures of his kids and various trips. Picture of my Parents house????? </div>
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Say What!!!! So not kidding. </div>
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Once he was done with his emails, he came to find me gaping at the picture on the wall. I said, "Wow, that's an old picture!" He looked at me puzzled since 1998 wasn't that long ago. So playing with him I said, "It looks like you have won some awards?" He explained it was actually the Contractor who submitted the project and won him and the others involved that particular award. He had no idea he had even won until he received a call from ACI asking him if he would like tickets to attend the awards banquet or to just send him his plaque? </div>
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The house was built using a specific concrete filled panel system that was pretty much an unknown technique at that time. I remember my Dad, the Contractor, and even my Grandfather all had to take classes and get certified before anyone could touch the panels on the job site. </div>
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It was the last thing I had expected to see almost 15 yrs. later hanging over the desk before me. Pretty sure my Mom has their plaque stashed in the basement somewhere. I think at this point he was wondering why I was so interested in that particular house because it is the polar opposite design wise from mine. So I piped up and said, "That's a great story. Especially since that is my parents house." </div>
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He looked at me shockingly and said "WOAH!! SERIOUSLY?" </div>
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"Yes Sir Ree Bob, even I can't make that up." </div>
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After I left and started to process things in my little brain, I realized I was a bit freaked out because once the plan is in place it isn't something that can easily be changed. We are getting a basement with 9ft. ceilings. Which is pretty much a luxury in a 100 yr old farmhouse. We have 9 ft. ceilings throughout our house now which makes it feel more spacious then it actually is, since my basement cellar is barely 6'3 tall. But with that existing cistern having to come out and buried 9 ft. deep, it didn't make sense to add fill. </div>
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The other cool thing is that the attic trusses we have chosen allow for us to have an upstairs after all. This means when Mr. Doyle is 65 and needs a man cave to hide in so he can study star charts or whittle duck callers, he will have a place to hide and do that. That is unless I steal the space first, and turn it into a place to craft with washi tape and or a dead dingo dog and chicken taxidermy display room. :) </div>
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What.....like you thought I was going to say quilting or scrapbooking? Right. </div>
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Next step.....Permit. </div>
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Carahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815548075919666011noreply@blogger.com2