Christmas Geese

We had two very special visitors over the Christmas holiday.

I would like you to meat Larry and Eugenia 

Oh yes my mother did!

She bought me the supper tacky plastic geese that you dress up for the seasons. I LOVE them. Don't worry she bought them both sweaters to wear after Christmas.

Mr. B says it's official I am now the crazy bird lady.

Blizzard Draco

Did you know they started giving names to blizzards? A few days ago we experienced the wrath of Draco. It wasn't fun, but the acres does look beautiful with a fresh layer of snow. 

We got over 14 inches of snow on Wednesday night into Thursday afternoon. It blanked everything. 

The snow was heavy and wet which was not nice for the We have some saggy pines and one of the oaks lost a limb. 

But it was the perfect snowman making snow. Instead of plowing out the drive on Thursday morning, we built a snow man. Our little ATV and plow wasn't making a dent. We decided to wait for the carvery and his John Deere. You can see Frosty in the bottom left of the picture. He is as tall as me. He still needs arms and a face though.

Thursday night it started to blow and drift. Our yard is very ascetically pleasing in the spring and summer. In the winter there is a wind tunnel effect by the drive way. It drifts, bad. I couldn't get out of the driveway Friday morning. They were up to the hood of the Jeep. 

  

Once again we had to wait for the carvery.  We have to have some of the nicest neighbors ever; I don't know what we would do with out them! Unfortunately since the ground was not frozen yet the blade on the tractor did a number on my yard. See that hunk of brown in the snow bank, yeah that's dirt and sod. 

That's just one pile. There are more all over the drive. Spring is going to be a lot of work next year. But I'll worry about it in a few months. For now we will enjoy the snow and a white Christmas. 

I Got My Craft On

A few weeks ago Mr. B was working nights. That meant I had the house to myself in the evening. I got to eat pineapple and tuna salad for dinner (two things he dislikes). Gus and I snuggled on the couch and watched chick flicks. I also got in touch with my inner craft goddess. I made somethings to make the living room feel more warm and cozy this winter. 

New covers for the pillows. 

I've been seeing sweater pillows all over pinterest. I knew they would be perfect in our living room. When I was at Target the other day I saw a small one in the holiday decor. For the price of one small pillow I made four huge ones for the couch.

I found some thrift store sweaters and hacked off the sleeves and sewed them up. I just covered the pillows we had on the couch. I figured in the spring I will just carefully open the seam and take out the pillow to reuse the sweater for next year.

I have also saw some giant snow flakes while perusing Pinterest. They make the perfect seasonal wall art for be hind the couch.

They were supper easy to make. Hot glue, Popsicle sticks aka craft sticks, paint and some ribbon. And I didn't even burn my fingers with the glue.

Upgrade

Over Thanksgiving Mr. B's sister came to visit. And have the best baby shower evah! While she was here she laid claim to something that was hers; or so she claims, but we aren't going to get into that.  She took Gus's orange chair back to Mississippi with her. 

It was traumatic for Gus. He didn't know where he was supposed to take his pre-nap-nap and his nap and his post-nap-nap. Not to mention where he was supposed to sleep at night. The couch is off limits and the bed has been too, shh Gus has had fleas. They are gone now but, for a time I was leery of letting him sleep with me.  Needless to say Gus was lost without it.

This weekend we decided to get Gus his Christmas present a few weeks early. A new chair. We drove to the big city to check out some furniture stores. We came home with this. 

A new, get this leather, chair for Gus. Yeah he's a tad spoiled. But hey we got a steal on it. I think it's quite the upgrade from the old one. Gus isn't so sure yet. The other one was well broke in, it smelled like Grammy's and him. 

I think in time it will be his new favorite spot. That is if he can keep Mr. B out of it. The past few nights it has been pulled out of the corner. It has been moved to the middle of the living room so Mr. B can sit in it and save the world. (He got a new video game when we took our trip to the city.) He has already told me that someday when the command center/man cave is up and running it's going up there. 

Poor Gus always loosing his chairs.

12-12-12

Today in Wisconsin it is Aaron Rogers Day. In case you didn't know he is the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, only the best football team around. (no I'm not biased)

Yes it is 12 - 12 - 12, Aaron's number is 12. Get it? OK. Just making sure. So any who the Governor made it official, Aaron Rogers Day. And in honor of this special occasion I made cupcakes. With green and yellow sprinkles, GB's colors. 

I took them to work. They boys always appreciate sweeties. They are nom-nom monsters when it comes to cupcakes. 

I'll let you in on a little secrete I wasn't always a football fan. Growing up it wasn't a big deal. But I married into a family of football fanatics. Season ticket holder fanatics.  Between you and me and the fence post, I've seen my MIL cry when the Pack lost a play off game. Yeah it's that big of a deal. So by marring into a football family and working in an all mall environment where sports talk rules the lunch room, I have been converted. 

If you can't beet 'em join 'em.

And make them cupcakes. 

First Snow Fall

It was snowing out this morning when I woke up. The first real snow of the season. None of the gaggle has experienced snow yet.

When I let them out this morning they weren't so sure.  

It took them a few minutes to decided it was OK to go out, and the white stuff was fine to walk on. 

Geese are a resilient bird and can handle the cold just fine. Don't worry we won't have to buy them snow boots. 

Unfortunately their kiddie pool freezes and we cannot get a heater, the gaggle is extremely inquisitive and have already destroyed at least one power chord. So during the winter they have to make do with smaller buckets.

The smaller buckets do make for an interesting bath time when they argue over who's turn it is. 

One Fish, Two Fish, New Fish Baby Shower

Last weekend I had the honor of throwing a baby shower for my dear friend and sister-in-law. Her and her husband were visiting from Mississippi for the holiday. I wanted to go with something bright and cheery, not the typical pastel, it's a boy theme. (yes they are having a boy!!) After getting some inspiration from Pinterest, I decided to go with a Dr. Seuss theme.

I found these adorable invitations. They set the tone for the whole shower. In case you didn't know I'm all about themes and being mathcy-matchy. I blame my mother.

With the theme set it was time to figure out a menu. Keeping with the Dr. Seuss theme we had the following:

Roast Beast - hot beef sandwiches

Who Hash - cheesy potatoes

Yot in a Pot - calico beans

Green Eggs - deviled eggs

Truffela Fruits - fruit tray

Fish Cakes - cup cakes

Yink Ink Pink Drink - pink punch 

Funny story about the green eggs. I died the yolks to make them extra green and pipped them back into the eggs. We gave one to my niece, she's two and is crazy about cupcakes and frosting. She was all excited and grabbed the yolk first thinking it was frosting. She put the whole thing in her mouth at once. You should have seen the look of betray on her face. Priceless!

Not to worry she did get a fish cake, and a few to take home.

For the table decorations I made Truffela Trees, you know from the Lorax. An easy and inexpensive decoration. I used Martha Stewart's tutorial on tissue paper pom-poms. I made them smaller by cutting my sheets of tissue in to quarters. I then hot glued them to some stick and stuck them in mason jars with "grass" (green tissue). They were a big hit.

Especially with all the little girls who ran around playing "cheer leaders" with them.

I also purchased several other printables from the same Etsy vendor that made the invitations. We had signs to put up, labels for the bottled water, and advice cards for the guests to fill out. My printer got quite a work out! 

 We had to play some games, it wouldn't be a baby shower with out them. I found a Dr. Seuss trivia game that we printed off to play. We also did baby shower bingo, of course on Dr. Seuss bingo cards!

All in all it was a great afternoon celebrating. The mom to be had a wonderful time. Now we just have to wait till the little man gets here!

The Table

As promised.

The other week, while I was being the snot monster, Mr. B was building me a table. Yes a table. What started out as drawing up plans to build a bench for the mud room ended up with plans for a table and two benches (one for the mud room and one for the table) and a trip to Menard's for the lumber that evening at 8:00. Nothing like closing the hardware store. 

Once you get Mr. B excited about a project there is no stopping him. He is also a slight perfectionist. It took him several evenings and one smashed finger to get the legs and apron to his standards.  

We modeled our table on a combination of the Solomon Table from Pottery Barn and plans from Ana White's website. I wanted something big that would take up the space and fit my family when they come for dinner. (or, as my MIL hopes, if we have an army of children) Well I got my big table, it's monstrous 4' x 8' and heavy. That table isn't going anywhere. The table top made up of 2x10, what you would use for floor joices in home construction. 

When we were devising our plans we decided that we would need to be able to easily detach the legs. Some day soon, as in this spring, we are going to refinish our wood floors. It would be necessary to move the table out of the room. Mr. B was all fancy and made an angled piece that the leg bolts to, pulling it tight to the apron. (we studied the table we had to get this idea, so no he isn't a complete genius)

I sanded the table. I got to use a belt sander for the first time, talk about an upper body work out. Mr. B also bought me a new orbital sander. Having your hubby buy you power tools is by far one of the most romantic gestures. My mother and I stained the table and I put two coats of poly on top.

I love the way it turned out!! And for $120 you can't beat it. Now to convince the hubby that he should build me a new buffet. The one we have is only three feet long and looks disproportionate compared to the table.

Nappy Dog

Someone had a long holiday weekend playing with all of his furry cousins. Good thing his Honkers makes such a nice pillow. 

Gone but Not Forgotten

He broke his wing. He must have tried to fly around the house with the other geese and just lost control while in the air and crashed into something. He smashed his wing beyond repair. There was nothing that could be done, besides amputation. And his recovery and quality of life would be questionable.

I made the hard decision to end his suffering. He is buried out in the yard near Charlie and Gertrude. 

I will miss my sassy boy.  

Thanksgiving Pie

Happy Thanksgiving! 

We are off to my Aunt's house to celebrate with family. 

And eat. Lots of good food. This year I was asked to bring pie. I decided to try my hand at Pecan Pie. 

Last week we saw an episode of Cook's Country were they made old fashioned pecan pie. Pecan pie without the corn syrup. I knew that it was something I was going to have to try. 

I couldn't just make one. I had to make two. 

Don't they look delicious!

Let's hope they taste as good as they look. 

See what they are sitting on. Last week while I was the snot monster, Mr. B was busy building me something. But more on that tomorrow.. 

Snot Monster

Last Monday I came down with a cold of epic proportions. I spent all of last week feeling miserable. I went though two boxes of tissue. I was a snot monster. It was gross. I felt gross. I probably looked gross, with my raw nose and tissue 

permanently in hand. 

Then Mr. B left for the weekend. Traditional male bonding, let's go shoot things and put meat on the table kind of bonding. It was the opening weekend of the gun deer season here in Wisconsin. So he left. Gus and I got some much needed snuggle time in. I got to watch chick flicks and eat popcorn and ice cream for dinner. Apart from being sick it was great.

I watched on of my favorite movies of all time. A supper cheesy take on a classic romantic drama, made in to a musical... Bollywood style. 

The Bed

Mr. B and I had a specific look in mind when it came to our bed. We wanted something simple and sturdy and in expensive. I searched Craig's list for months and couldn't find anything that we both agreed on. I did find these plans from Ana White, we would keep coming back to them. Finally we decided to take the plunge and build it.

We did modify the plans slightly. We made the headboard shorter to fit under whatever it is sticking out on that wall. I attached the frame slightly differently from the plans. Originally I had planned on painting it white to match the dressers. But thankfully my mother talked me out of that and convinced me to stain it. It would have been too much white in the room . Staining it makes the bed stand out.

I am so happy with they way it turned out. It has to be my favorite piece of furniture in the whole house. I am glad we decided to build something we both liked verses settling on buying something that was so-so.

Honkers the Fourth

Gus has one stuffie. It is his most favorite toy it also doubles as his pillow. A hedgehog that honked, not squeaked  Mama can't stand the high pitched squeakie toys. We nicknamed the stuffie honker. Over time it has become his security blanket. Over the  years we have gone through four hedgehogs. 

The first one we got him lasted about a year. He obsessively liked on spot on it's rear to the point were there was no fur in that spot and the stuffing started to fall out. Being the doting parents that we are we got him a new one. The same exact thing. This one was lost in when we moved from the apartment to Shady Acres. Once again we got him a new one. Honkers the Third. 

When we where fighting the infestation this weekend we decided rather that try to wash Honkers and his bed would just burn them. Sad, I know, but it was simpler than trying to deal with the flea eggs that were probably living in them.

Yesterday we went once again to the pet store to replace the favorite toy. We now have Honkers the Fourth. You can't tell from the picture but my baby boy was so very excited to once again have Honkers. This one even made noise, over time they wear out. He has been dutifully breaking it in, slobbering on it and shaping it to make the perfect pillow. 

MSB Sandwhich

Around here we love our sandwiches  We aren't talking your typical PB&Js. They are becoming more of an art form. 

Tonight I wiped up a beautiful combination. 

Mushroom, swiss, and bacon on sourdough.

Oooey, gooey, shroomy deliciousness. Next time I think I will add some mustard. It was good but needed a little tang. 

On a side note, I have eight different cheeses in the fridge right now. I might have a slight problem. It's OK we are from Wisconsin. 

Infestation

Friday night we were sitting around talking just before dinner. Mr. B was giving Gus a belly rub. What dog doesn't like a good belly rub. Gus is no different. And lately he has been really itchy and it's so easy to get both his kickers going. We assumed he was shedding and had a mild case of allergies. I was giving him Claritin for the itchiness and was going t make a vet appointment for early next week. 

Well I don't have to make a vet appointment. Gus doesn't have allergies. Gus has fleas. You heard me right F-L-E-A-S. As in the nasty creepy crawlies that bight and make you itch and lay eggs in everything. Yes we have an infestation of fleas at this house.  Mr. B found a few of them on his belly during the belly rub. 

Neither of us made the lovely ham penne bake that I was making for dinner. There was no time. It was 7pm on Friday evening and we had to plan our counter attack. Mr. B would drive to the big city to find some shampoo for the dog and something to treat all the furniture. Unfortunately we Gus thinks he needs to take his afternoon naps on our bed or the couch. I would take everything that could possibly be contaminated and could be washed to the laundromat. That was allot of stuff. All the bedding all the dirty clothes, we let them pile on the floor in the corner of the room and the dog sometimes sleeps on them, all the rugs that could be washed. It was a car full! 

By the time we made it to bed four hours later I think we had a good start on controlling the out break. The dog had been bathed, the furniture and large area rugs had been doused in spray and vacuumed  Everything had been washed in hot soapy water. Thank goodness we don't have wall to wall carpeting in the house anymore. I can only imagine the army of eggs that would be living in that. 

Yesterday I applied Frontline to the dog. I know I should have been doing that all along and we wouldn't be in this situation. I think I have learned my lesson well. From now on Frontline year round. I do feel like a horrible mom for letting this happen to my baby boy. I thought that now that it was getting cooler out we would be in the clear. I guess not. I also feel like crap thinking he had allergies and was itching himself raw in some places. The thought of fleas never even crossed my mind. 

I think the main battle is over. For the next few weeks we just need to be diligent in bathing Gus and spraying down the house. We need keep the eggs under control till the risk of them hatching and rising up against to avenge their parents. We should be in the clear in time for Thanksgiving. Sorry to say our house is in quarantine right now and none of Gus's doggie friends will be allowed over to play. 

New to Us Dressers

Remember when I showed you this. I told you I would finish them in the next six months.

  

I beat my deadline!! They're done. Told you we have been busy.

 I took two beat up dressers found on Craig's list. ($100 for a matching pair of solid wood dressers, you can't beat that)They when from looking like this.

With a little paint and some TLC they now look like this.

And this. 

Remember matching pair. 

Mr. B installed new drawer slides on all thirteen drawers. The existing ones were a tad beat up. They slide much better now. 

(He used the heavy duty ones for kitchen cupboards.) 

Rather than buying all new hardware we just updated the existing brass looking ones. Spray paint. Much classier in the dark brown. 

They now reside in the master suite, full reveal coming soon I promise. For the first time since he was eight, Mr. B has a dresser for his clothes.

Crazy, I know, but we aren't going there, 

Dispatching of the Ducks

It's been a while. Like over a week awhile. Don't worry all is good, we have been super-duper busy. I have so much I want to show you and tell you about! But first I need to tell you about the not so fun part. The ducks, all fifteen of them, no longer wonder around the yard digging craters and munching on bugs. They now reside in neatly packed food saver bags in our freezer. 

Mr. B's parents and brother came down Friday afternoon and helped us with the deed. It isn't something I would like to do again any time soon. Let's just say I had some not so pleasant images of bloody decapitated duckies that night when I went to bed. My poor babie birdie wordies.

Thank goodness we had people there to help. I didn't have to do the deed myself or clean them, thanks Rick and Andy! I just had to dunk 'em in the hot water and pluck the buggers. Have you ever plucked a duck? It's not a fun task. (there are some amazing step-by-step tutorials out there if on home butchering in case you were wondering. I studied up before D-day.) 

It needed to be done. We couldn't keep all twenty-one birds over the winter. We just couldn't; the food and water supply isn't there. We hadn't planned on all of them making it to the fall when we got them. Last year our survival rate was less than a third. When we ordered the babies in the spring we had planned on mother-nature doing more of her thing, you know, survival of the fittest.  She didn't so we needed to. 

Mr. B and I had a long discussion about who would stay and who would be sacrificed for the good of the many. We were going to keep a few ducks to hopefully replenish the flock in the spring but after some research we learned that runner ducks aren't the greatest at hatching and raising their own young. So after much consideration it was agreed on that they all would go. Then it came time for the to decide about the geese. We even went so far as to sex the geese to make sure we had a good ratio of males to females. We picked out one. We named him Christmas. 

Funny story about Christmas. We had dispatched all of the ducks and it was Christmas's turn at the chopping block. Andy, Mr. B's brother entered the run to catch him. We had kept the chosen few in the run for the morning to make it easier to ketch them. So any way Andy is chasing Christmas around the run and that silly goose gets up some speed, flaps his wings, and flew the coop. After that I didn't have the heart to have the boys chase him down. We let him live. No Christmas goose for us this year. 

So that is that. We offed all of our ducks and kept the six geese. Now if any of you have some good recipes for duck don't hesitate to share. 

A Pair of Baby Quilts

A good friend of mine is having a baby in a few weeks. Actually she is having babies. The new mom and dad are going to have not one but two little boys to love.

As a welcome baby present I made..... you guessed it, a quilt for each of the little munchkins. Since they are twins I just had to do something matchy-matchy. Each little boy will have his own quilt in the same pattern as his btother but in a different color schemes, one in oranges and the other in blues.

I was able to whip these two quilt tops together in an afternoon using fabric from my stash. 

The quilting took a little longer. Both are hand quilted with white thread, using a simple cross hatch pattern.

I found the cutest flannel for the backing keeping with the monochromatic theme.

(Monochromatic is a big word meaning all one color, makes me look smarter don't you think?)

These two will be off to their new homes were I hope they will be well used and loved.

Mud Room Progress Part II

Just wanted to give you an update on the mudroom. Remember how Mr. B had drywalled and put down the sub floor a few weeks ago. The plan was for my to do the mudding myself, I even borrowed the proper tools and got a crash course from a friend who used to do it professionally. Well the room sat for a while with nothing being done. We have been busy working on the "master suite". (The big reveal is coming soon I promise.) Any way we have been working on a gazillion other projects around the house and the mudding got pushed to the back burner.

Two weeks ago Mr. B suggested that we just give in on this one and hire someone to do it. It would save us time and it would save my sanity. Seriously, there is always so much to do around here and too little time! I called around and found someone who could do it without braking the bank.

I think it turned out wonderfully. I do feel a tad guilty for not doing it myself but it was so liberating to come home last night and have it done. Now all I have to do is find time to prime and paint the walls and lay the flooring. And get Mr. B to put up the trim and baseboards and make me a storage bench and hang coat hooks and get a work bench..you know the easy stuff!

For now let's just relish in the fact that it is mudded and looking great.