10 on 10 :: November :: 2011

A Garden Tour

Happy July everyone! I can't believe June has come and gone and that summer is just now starting (but feels like it's already over). I'm trying to savor each day...back on gluten (but second guessing that choice since I'm exhibiting head and stomach aches), enjoying 2 eggs layed everyday (Josephine started gracing us with her chocolate brown beauties), and harvesting from our garden which is well underway (Thanks Uncle Jerry & Aunt Pam, this has been so rewarding this year!)

I wanted to share some photos before we've eaten it all up.  Actually, the only thing we've plowed through are the radishes and boy were there plenty (I don't think I'll plant as many next year).

Upper left are 3 artichoke plants with a field of kale underneath.  Then we have a big gap where the radishes were and you can't see them yet but I've planted some potatoes in their place and have enough room to grow something new...I was thinking about arugula but I know it doesn't like the sun.  Any suggestions?

Moving from the big gap you'll find golden beets, fennel, cucumber and broccoli...I think we're going to have a space issue once those cucumbers really start coming in but maybe by then the beets will be gone and they'll have more room.  Gee, gardening is an adventure!

Our second raised bed is home to a row of corn along the top and then starting from the left we have rainbow chard (I added some to a smoothie this morning), onions, and red beets.

Next you'll find carrots which probably need to be thinned out if I want them to get bigger (I completely over seeded but I wasn't sure how many would grow, I guess I found my answer...all of them),  lastly we have a little mix of more cucumbers, cauliflower, a bell pepper plant and 3 ever-bearing strawberry plants.  Fun, fun, fun!

 Here's a close up of the bell peppers...I had heard these were hard to grow but if they turn out I'll be super excited because we sure do eat a ton of them.

We've got quite the urban farm going and I couldn't be happier!

I'll be back here with a couple of posts this week...I've been delinquent on sharing some special events that have happened around our home.  Hope everyone had a safe and delightful Independence Day, the weather could not have been any more perfect in Seattle.

A Nursery Tour

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic, I think the fact that we're still not pregnant has really got me freaking out a bit.  Not to mention that in a few short weeks Wes will be 2 and a half- certainly he's getting too old to have his bedroom referred to as a nursery so my delinquency in documenting what became his "nursery" has allowed me a moment to savor his "baby-ness" and I hope you're ok with indulging me as I walk you through some of the details.

The view from the doorway...we went bold with the rug, a vibrant orange which I love! Wes was also lucky enough to receive many handmade treasures (and I was delighted to have a little one to finally spoil with my own creations).  The quilt hanging on the chair was made by me, I've made one for each of my nephews and nieces and it's a tradition I look forward too with each new pregnancy (which has happened every year in our family since 2006- sometimes twice!)  The bunting hanging above the windows was created for my friend Katie's baby shower...our boys are just 4 days apart and as the color scheme didn't quite fit her nursery she kindly returned it to me and I think it suits Wes' colorful room...and it makes me think of her sweet Isaiah which is an added bonus.  The very same Katie created a simple quilt for Wes and it's the yellow one hanging next to the window.  The yellow curtains and teething rail (created out of necessity) were made from incredible fabric I scored off of etsy, it has a Japanese import vibe.

The view from the chair...I spent so much time here nursing and rocking my sweet babe...now we read books and sing songs before bedtime.  Sitting on the dresser is a fabulous vintage Sesame Street lamp that I begged my brother (he had it growing up) to let us use until he has a little one of his own...he finally caved in December and then announced that he's expecting in January.  We will have to give it up soon...but we couldn't be more excited about the reason...it's a boy and due in September (guess I'll have another quilt to make this year)!  Above the dresser are three framed prints from THIS artist and I fell so in love with these little hilarious critters that it turned into the inspiration for Wes' 1st birthday invitation, seen below.

 

Wes' view from the crib (sort of).  The Gough family is a big fan of the magazine rack- in fact, we have two (one downstairs too). Both were generous gifts that are so useful and fun...the perfect addition to any nursery or playroom.

And last a little close up of the bunting and curtains I made as well as one of the original Jonas comics from Wes' Uncle Bryan.

A special room for a special guy...I know soon we'll be changing him to a big boy bed and making things a bit more grown up but for now I still love our nursery and I'm not quite ready to have Wes grow up just yet...

Yard Work

I've been trying to get the yard out of "we're remodeling the basement so I don't want to waste my time fixing up the garden if it's just going to get ruined" shape....seeing that we're no longer remodeling the basement and all. :(

I wish I would have stayed on top of it BEFORE I got to be 6 and 1/2 months pregnant. But my yoga instructor says it's good for my hips to squat- can someone please explain that to my back?!

Here's some of my progress. I still have a LONG way to go and I'm hoping my good friend Jane (arriving this Wednesday) will be interested in helping. ;)



See what I'm up against on the right?

I am also contemplating doing the dishes before I settle down for the night...but then- what will I do tomorrow morning when I wake up at 5:00?

Want to Move to Renton?

Or know someone who does? Our house is back on the market and this time we're listing with Redfin!

Farmhouse Charm

Separate Dining Room

Social Kitchen with Desk and Tons of Storage!

5 Piece Master Bath with Soaking Tub

Large Family Room

Please visit our MLS listing and take a look for yourself. We will also be hosting an open house TODAY- Sept. 6th from 1:00 to 4:00 so if you're in the neighborhood feel free to stop by. There will be cookies (for free)...and a house (for sale).

We Have a View

From our back deck! One that was discovered a little while back during our first peak of sun back in May. We didn't know it was there when we bought the place and I'm kind of shocked it wasn't in the houses write up...but it's there and it's visible when you layout on our double chaise lounge. Anyone want to join me this summer? I'm seriously working on my tan. ;)


Look closely, you can see the Space needle AND Mt. Rainier!

Before & After

Before we left for our trip the yard was dormant....After we returned, Spring had reared it's glorious head...and our grass was knee length!

Before

After

I was also pleased to find (not that I was too pleased about the grass) the tree in our front yard had sprouted leaves and although they looked deceptively like a Japanese Maple I quickly learned (thanks to the tag that I hadn't noticed before) it is a Worplesdon Sweetgum- it still turns magnificent colors in the Fall so I think we'll keep her!


Did I already mention it's good to be home? We are reminded daily how blessed we are...for family and friends and this sweet little house in Ballard!

I'm looking forward to the sun sticking around awhile- June Gloom and all that- blaah!

We're not in Renton anymore...

I guess it's true what they say "you can take the girl out of Renton, but you can't take Renton out of the girl"- not sure who THEY are, but that sounds about right!

Yes, Jeff and I have found a lovely home in Ballard and officially moved there on Sunday. We are absolutely overwhelmed by our many blessings and feel so fortunate to have found a place TOGETHER! This is technically our first home, since Jeff owned the Renton house before the two of us were married.

I LOVE this house..I love it's quirkiness as well as it's newly remodeled features (this is so very Jeff and I..I think we like the idea of fixing things up but we never really have the time, so this is the best of both worlds...a unique house with most of the remodeling done for us!) I'm so excited about our life in this new neighborhood...though I'm sad to be leaving Renton- both our parents live there as well as the Prathers (thanks for helping with loading up the moving truck) and the Farrells (thanks for all the Heroes and Lost nights..and of course, the "adult corn," popcorn with Johnny's Seasoning Salt). I know we will still be in Renton often, there will always be a place in my heart for the town that raised me. It takes a village, right?

This post also marks my 100th entry! So, I will post a photo of our 107 year old house! Doesn't it look cozy?

Also, don't forget to read the below post...two posts in one day, I know! It would be easy to miss.

Hello New Guest Room!

After getting such positive feedback on the bed (BTW, I LOVE this bed..I saw it at the Street of Dreams several years ago at the "Costco Home" decorated house. Who cares if it was in the little girls room? I had to have it!) I wanted to let you know it's still getting good use taking up 5/6ths of our guest room- this bed is seriously HUGE. Another interesting fact: I purchased this bed at Costco Home and had to return it immediately when we discovered it wouldn't fit in my brothers HUGE truck. I had kind of an "I want and Oompa Loompa now!" moment, and my Mom had my Uncle surprise me by picking it up the next day. Thanks Jerry!

We've already had a couple of guests since we put the room together: Scott and Bri, while they waited for their moving truck, and Jocelyn, who was interviewing at a Seattle based Ad Agency. Jocelyn will actually be staying again next weekend (is it weird that I haven't washed the sheets since the last time she stayed?) because she got the job and is moving up from Los Angeles! So exciting. I think it honestly might have had something to do with the bed ;)

Man, talking about this makes me want to curl up with a good book- any recommendations?- and take a nap. What is up with the weather lately? This is NOT what I expect from Seattle Summers. I'm just hoping it's nice this Saturday for a certain special baby shower I'm co-hosting...I'm getting really excited for it!

Oh, and while we're at it. Here's another bed in our house. This is mine and Jeff's room (can I just say that sometimes thinking about being married makes me absolutely giddy). I bought the curtains at IKEA over a year ago and was inspired to make the blue door headboard (still sitting in the garage). I bought the duvet cover at IKEA last month because I thought adding orange could be good and figured if we didn't like it I could always use it for the fabric because it was so cheap! I think it's starting to look a bit too bohemian, but I'm ok with it for the time being.

Goodbye Old Life...

Several weeks ago I finally bit the bullet and removed all of my belongings from my parents house. I thought I should take a moment to reflect on what that house has meant to me.

For 26 years of life this house has been my only permanent address. I have lived in 3 of its rooms, which means I've occupied more rooms than any other family member. My final room, pictured below, was created for me when I decided to move back home after college. It was a room we never used, it mostly gathered junk and spiders- so the thought of moving down there for more space AND my own entrance was exciting but also challenging. Together my Dad and I covered the cement foundation- yep, I lived in a basement- with drywall. We mudded, taped, painted and hired someone to lay the tile. Here's an interesting fact: we had two different people do the tiling downstairs and my room is about 2 inches higher than the rest of the basement which is not only evident at the entry points but also by the # of stubbed toes it has created. I like to think of it as my own little booby trap. Can I say "booby" on a blog?

Anyway, it was a good little room. Kind of like my own studio apartment but without the kitchen. Perfect if you ask me...who doesn't want their parents cooking for them until the ripe age of 26? Thanks Mom and Dad! It was intended to be a temporary home while I got on my feet, found a job, made friends, etc. I had thought about buying a condo but then I worked at KJR FM selling radio advertising which was 100% commission and then I quit and decided to work at Costco where I was paid hourly and couldn't afford to move out. Thus entered plan B- don't move out until I get married! Brilliant. So, in the basement I stayed from Oct. 2002 to Mar. 2007, my how time flew. And it only took me 5 months to move out after the wedding. Now if only I could get around to finishing those thank you notes...