white christmas

I don't know why people wish for a "White Christmas".  It seems to me that more people are travelling for Christmas and a "white" one means lots of travel delays, setbacks and cancellations.  For me, growing up in MD I've seen enough snow to last me a lifetime, and if I never saw it again I can honestly say I wouldn't be sad.  I don't like being cold.

That being said, the first Christmas at my parents new house, and it being our first Christmas together as a married couple, it was pretty magical.  That's not cliche is it?  The dogs LOVED it, and I couldn't resist trudging out in the sow to get pictures of them in it.  And I even participated in some sledding!

The Perkins Ranch

 Jack & me on the sled

 Win & Pat on the sled

Jack romping in the snow

 Win galloping through the snow

So even though I never dream of a white Christmas, it was enjoyable.  But I think I'm set for a few years...

mid week love

Patrick and I tend to spend our days going through the motions.  For him, it's up before the sun, drive to work, work all day in a building with no windows, and head home after the sun has gone to bed.  For me, it's a lot of housework and a little bit of nothing, oh and playing with the pups from time to time :)

Yesterday Patrick got home from work early (hooray!) and we were able to hit a matinée show at the local movie theater!  We are fans of the "Meet the Parents" series, and have been dying to see the newest one since we saw previews for it months ago.  Well "Little Fockers" lived up to our expectations and was fantastic!  But what made it even better is that it provided a mid week date night for us.  Something a little new and different.  So thanks for that, hubby!  Love you!

This photo was taken the day after the Christmas snowstorm in Winston-Salem.  More pictures to come!

joy to the world

In keeping with tradition, I staged a Christmas card photo shoot with the pups.  The first year I did this was 2008 and Winston was still the size of Jack!  They were both wearing holiday sweaters, but I can't find a picture of it.  I'll work on it.

This year I knew it would be hard to follow up last year's card, but I gave it a shot.  Drum roll please...

"Hoping you are blessed with many 'gifts' this holiday."

Pretty good if I do say so myself.  My favorite parts are the Christmas themed dog toys (which are some of their faves), and the homemade garland on the tree.  My mom asked how I get them to stay so still for pictures.  Easy.  One word.  Cookies.  Whenever you say it they are standing at attention, waiting for their treat. 

Please enjoy our holiday card, and have a very merry everything and a happy new year!

duty is exactly how it sounds...

So, Patrick is on duty tonight.  Duty is super fun for me, probably just as much as it is for him.  Which is a bold statement considering he has to get up an hour earlier work all day, is on duty all night, and then has to go straight back to work a full day.  Count 'em, that's a solid 38ish hours he is at work.  So you can see why it is brazen for me to say I'm suffering just as much.  Here's why:

These two little gems, here shown in their attire from last year's Christmas card photo shoot, turn into different dogs when Patrick isn't around.

They somehow know when he won't be around for 38ish hours, and they go into psycho-dog  over-protective mode.  They bark at everything and nothing.  They make me SO incredibly paranoid.  Tonight for instance, Jack jumped off the bed, ran out of the room, down the stairs (Winston and I followed) and he went straight to the front door and proceeded to pace back and forth while doing his high pitched squeal.  WHAT?!?!  Then he jumped on the couch and continued pacing and squealing while Winston took over front door duty with his nose pressed firmly against the crack between the door and the floor sniffing away.  They bark all night and don't let me get any sleep.  

Issues with the dogs aside, even mother nature knows when Pat is gone on duty.  It is ONLY on the nights that I am home alone that there is a terrible storm.  Last time we got approx. 10 inches of rain in one day with 30 mph winds and our grill blew over and I had to bring everything inside as if there was a freakin' hurricane!  This time is similar, minus some of the rain, add a lot more cold, and so much howling wind the power as been flickering all day.  Oh and there's the thunder.  We're in for one good night.  Thank goodness for TV on Demand, right?

PS:  The dogs don't care when Patrick is left alone.  We discovered this when I was "nest sitting" for a turtle nest down the road.  I left for a few hours, came back around 9 pm, and Patrick was asleep.  I unlocked, opened, and shut the front door; silence.  Stomped my way up the stairs; silence.  Opened the bedroom door to a snoring husband and 2 puppy faces smiling up at me with wagging tails.  How does he get to be so lucky?!

PPS:  Minus all the barking antics, they are the best snugglers I could ask for.  Love them.

if you could smell words

Then these would smell phenomenal.  After my last unsuccessful attempt at baking I tried my hand at it again today.  This time with a loaf of banana bread; perhaps a little riskier than sugar cookies...

Here are my little kitchen helpers:

And here it is... !        

Hopefully it's cooled enough so I can taste it, and hopefully it's delicious!

*update: it's phenomenal!*

spoiler alert

My apologies in advance to my niece, Ms. Mackenzie, but you're still 1 so hopefully you're not surfing the web just yet... While the following video does showcase one of your Christmas presents, it also shows how you might have to fight Jack for it.

As I picked up the last present to wrap, it began to laugh and sing.  This intrigued Jack, and he cocked his head not ever so slightly, but as if he were an owl.  He wasn't quite sure what to make of this giggling box, but as we kept pressing buttons and getting a good laugh in ourselves, he got more and more comfortable with the toy.  Even sitting here now, he is just laying on the bed, staring at it.  I think it will break his heart (and mine) when I have to finish wrapping it.

Here is some video footage of Jack (and a little bit of Winston) admiring the "Fun Shapes Jewelry Box" brought to you by VTECH.  Enjoy.

My favorite part is when he hits a button with his nose just before pulling it over.  Oh, and the high pitch squeaks aren't from the toy, that would be Jack.  And the hen-esque clucking whines, well that's just our chicken Winston.

PS:  it took me 15 minutes to type this as Jack refused to stop licking my hands, thanking me for bringing this box of joy into his life.  He hit the caps lock key about 7 times.  Cue:  backspace.

puppy love

Yesterday was a great day for puppy love.  My boys were being so cute and silly they had me laughing into the wee hours of the night.  It all started when we brought them home 2 new toys the other day.  The new raccoon AND a hedgehog!  They adore them.  They squeak not only when squeezed, but also when released.  Jack, not surprisingly, hoards them and just licks them.  Winston however walks around with them in his mouth all day squeaking away!

 Notice: laying in the sliver of sunshine, as usual...

Since Jack was being a hoarder, Winnie carried around his go to fave - the Piggy with the OJ bottle inside.

Disregard the broken dresser (a new one is on the way!)  but focus on those cute faces, particularly the adorable freckle on Winston's nose.

And after all that play time all day long, they were tuckered out.  This is how I sleep at night, Winston on my pillow and me resting my head on his belly.  Until he starts snoring like he did when I took this picture.  What you can't see here is his hound dog flappy jaw hanging open for maximum snore sound.

And then there was Jack, who was laying soundly on his back until Patrick rolled on top of him.  A funny thing happens when Jack sleeps on his back, his lips roll and his gums get dry, so when he sits back upright he looks like he's snarling.  Love it.

This is me.  Every. Night.  Wouldn't trade it for the world :)

where'd you get that?

Now when I'm wearing one of my flowers out (advertising for myself), and someone asks me this... I can not only tell them about my shop but I can show them!

Check out my new business cards!

Thank you to VistaPrint, who sent me 250 of these beauties for only $9! Free shipping and I got to upload the photo myself and do all the designing. Sweet! Can't wait to start handing them out!

this is what i would call a valiant effort

So last year my mom gave me some fancy Williams-Sonoma cookie cutters. In an attempt to be domesticated and Christmasey all at once (I tried this yesterday with cleaning AND decorating, but he house ended up messier then when I started) I decided to make some cookies!Well the recipe called for a lot of waiting. Like make the dough, refrigerate it for 3 days, then let it stand for ten minutes then freeze it. Crazy. So me, being the impatient person that I am, decided that I would blow off the waiting and power on through.
Especially since my apron says "Grill Instructor" complete with the EGA and everything. Well I came to find out that the cooling part of the dough making process was to make the dough easier to work with. Hence, it took me 30 minutes to cut out 8 measly cookies.Then on top of that, I forgot to account for the non-stick pan I used and burnt the snowflakes. One was semi-edible and I ate that, but the one in the front is missing a nubbin and that's because I went against my better judgement and ate that piece. Ew. The ornament shaped ones came out much better after I turned down the oven temp.

The rest of the dough is resting peacefully in the fridge, until I feel like trying again tomorrow. Wish me luck! Merry times, right?!

brotherly love

As I sat down to blog about what will be in my next post, my two boys got snuggled in right next to me looking as cute as can be so I had to take an opportunity (because they are so rare... hah!) to snap some photos.

Jack brought Winston's favorite toy to play with

Jack giving me the face that says "I know you want me to sit still Mom, but I really want to play with this toy"

And Winston goes in for the kill, either to say "Hey you, get off my toy" or "Listen to Mom and hold still". Probably the former, unless the "hold still" was followed by a "so we can get this over with quicker"

Jack now uncaring, and unfazed, goes back to playing with the toy.

I know, I know, I'm a crazy dog person. But they are just so darn cute! PS don't you love our new bed spread? I know, the sheets don't match, but it's for our king size bed that is on its way. I just couldn't wait any more. Oh, and on that note, I officially hate duvet covers.