Cute times three :)

 

 

 

New Decade, New Hairstyle

I'm thirty ya''ll

Yesterday was my birthday, and I was happy all day long.  Hands down, this was the best birthday I have ever had - start to finish.  It wasn't any one thing in particular, just the feeling of being completely happy!!   God says it better than me..."'I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  Oh yes. :)

My bday present from my AWESOME hubby was a fancy new camera, and I can't wait to start using it.  If you have ever been with me to open a gift, you know that I take EVERYTHING out of the boxes and want to start playing immediately, but I promised to wait until Saturday to start learning the new camera so we could enjoy the evening together. I have had this little canon point-n-shoot for almost 10 years!! It's been a good camera :)

And here are a few shots from my first day using my new camera!!

Garden

YAY! I finished the garden today. And, although I have high hopes, and visions of delicious home cooked meals prepared with produce I grew myself, I am trying to keep it real and remember that things don't always go exactly as I want them to. Case and Point: Everytime I turned my back, norman would stand in the middle of the beds. Just stand there. He acted as if I gave him a new toy that he didn't think was very fun but he was willing to give it a try anyway. sheesh.  Hopefully that habit will not continue now that there are plants in the ground. :)

Norm's new house

Although I really really wanted to build a garden-top dog house for Norman this summer, after the intense fence project, we decided we had had enough building for one summer. So, after some recommendations from friends and intense internet research, I nervously bought the igloo.  Nervous because I wasn't sure how the igloo was going to gel with my backyard decor, and most of all because he has never even gone into a dog house before, and I read some dogs simply refuse.

I put one of his old dog beds into it hoping that would "trick" him into thinking it was just a bed with a top on it.

my beautiful nieces

4 days old...aren't they ADORABLE?

I love dogs

Norman is very happy to be outside, and even happier that I have been spending more time back there.  He always wants to be a part of the activity, and it's so sweet that he wants to hang out with me, it makes my heart happy.

 I have never tried to grow veggies before, so here's hoping.  Next weekend we should have plants in the ground.

These last few weeks we have had just beautiful mornings, so I have been leaving the back door open to enjoy the sounds and smells of outside.  Norman usually ends up going in and out a few times before he settles outside and falls asleep on his nap mat.  This morning, he came out of his room and was walking behind the couches, very quiet, very sneaky, almost as if he was trying to get outside without being noticed. I didn't think anything of it, and kept sipping my tea and reading. Finally I heard a familiar squeaking sound, and all that sneaking around made sense.

Here's what I found....

His tail was wagging and his expression said "oh, was I not supposed to bring this inside toy out here? Don't worry, I'll keep it on the mat."

And he did! That toy never landed on the grass once. He would squeak it then poke his head inside the door and check to see where I was, then go outside and play again.

Then finally the squeaking stopped.