my new 'Type A' personality

We're so thankful for our new house. It's been officially ours for 3 months now, and the longer we stay the more we love it.

I'd be posting pictures all over the place if we weren't so far behind in getting everything put together. We are notorious procrastinators, especially when it comes to cleaning and organizing.

Which is why I'm on a mission to become OCD about all things clean and organized. I realize that this is a huge change (for the both of us), but I'm really excited about the possibilities. I actually get quite giddy when thinking about a future when someone asking to 'stop over' doesn’t send me into a panic. And as with all big projects, certain tools are helpful. 

This is where I share what I’ve found to be invaluable in my quest for clean.

Method's Lavender All Purpose spray. Smells wonderful and is the perfect clean and green cleaner.

Scotch's Fur Fighter sweeper. With so many animals, fur is our #1 problem. This has replaceable felt-like sheets that grab fur like no other. Ever try to sweep up cat hair with a regular broom and have the fuzz fly everywhere or get stuck on the broom bristles? Never a problem with this baby.

A well stocked and organized cleaning caddy (doesn't hurt if it's super cute too). Ours is stocked with non-harsh, environmental friendly, no-animal testing products.

The best in class, dreamy Dyson dc28 Animal Vacuum. This thing is a beast and has been on our wish-list for a very long time. And it's now ours, after help from a wonderful anniversary gift and some bartering at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I've never been more disgusted yet satisfied as I was when emptying out the collected dirt/fur after one round of vacuuming.   

I'm sure once we get this under our belts, a baby's going to show up and we'll have to start all over again from square one. Or learn to deal until they're out of the house...

Does anyone ever really get this down perfectly?

B

high living at the county fair

Maybe it’s because I’ve been so overwhelmed with the adult world.

Or perhaps it’s because my recent return to journaling has made me incredibly nostalgic…

Whatever the reason, I can confidently say that today is one of my favorite days of the year.

It’s the opening day of the county fair.

Why do I love the fair?

Because I can see it from the front yard of our new house.

Because I can talk to people who know chickens. And Jersey cows. Which is important, because we will someday have chickens, and a Jersey cow. And it’s never too early to start preparing.

Because I can disappear for hours at a time in the horse barn, fantasizing about my return to riding. Admittedly, I struggle with jealousy as I watch little kids prepare their horses for show. I hope they know how incredibly blessed they are. They say memories are most closely tied to your sense of smell; the smell of a horse barn moves me like nothing else.

Because I can spin myself nauseous on the craziest of rides.

Because of funnel cakes.

And because of cotton candy, my favorite food in the whole wide world. Look at this fatty – he’s with me.

Don't take my word for it;  take a trip down memory lane and listen to this sassy goose.

It’s refreshing to spend time with ‘normal’ people. By normal, I mean salt of the earth. And by salt of the earth, I mean people who appreciate honest living and simple pleasures (I’m not counting the completely different type of ‘earthy’ people found at the DMV and dog fights…). The wealth and sterility of the suburbs can be mind-numbingly exhausting. Give me greasy food and manure to cleanse the palate from Escalades, 2.3 kids and Jimmy Choo’s.

All this to say: After 3 years of St. Charles living, I’m happy to report that there are indeed places to find anti-suburban activity. They’ve been difficult to find, but so totally worth the effort.

And for the record, I’m not saying I’d turn down a pair of Jimmy Choo’s….

B

crazy cat lady

Our four cats are jazzed about the new house.  They are excited for the extra space to run, the stairs to chase each other up and down and the big bay window where they'll spy on birds.

I'm excited for the chance to make our new place (even more) animal friendly.  I hate traditional animal supplies (ugly litter boxes, awkward cat trees, sloppy pet beds, etc etc).  It's been a challenge keeping so many furry babies happy while maintaining any sense of interior decor.

On my wish list (were budget not an issue....which it always is, but I still like to look)...

(This scratching post looks a million times better than the normal towers.

In fact, I would get it even if I didn't have any cats--he'd look so cute by an umbrella stand)

(With multiple cats it's important to think in three-dimensions.  Don't limit cats to the floor.

These perches give kitties a whole new world in which to play )

(Husband is incredibly handy...I'm thinking this could be a fairly easy project.

Plus, in the right color, it could be a fun addition to our wall art)

(A great way to hide the messiest bits.  

No one ever needs to see the litter box again)

It's loads of fun planning creative solutions to pet problems.

(Although, sometimes all you need is a good paper bag.....just ask Tennyson)

B

where the heart is

We bought a house!

Well, we close April 29th so it's not officially ours yet.  But that hasn't stopped me from planning ahead. 

Unexpectedly, instead of having every detail of the interior plotted out, I've been obsessed with the outside.  With the beautiful, big, privacy-fence-enclosed backyard to be precise.

First our collection of fresh herbs (because the dried stuff you buy at the grocery just can't compete with the fresh stuff).

Then our vegetable garden.  We saved probably $100 on tomatoes last year by planting our own (yes, tomatoes are ridiculously expensive to buy and yes, we eat an insanely large amount of them).

And then our backyard chicken coop. 

Although this chicken coop is just too precious:

We've been buying farm fresh eggs for years.  The only thing better than that are eggs from your very own chickens.

And we can't forget--

(although these rascals might be a few years down the line....)

B

Westminster Dog Show

We were so happy to hear about 'Hickory', a Scottish Deerhound, winning Best in Show.  Despite the Terrier bias that Westminster tends towards (as well as many other dog show organizations), this gentle giant came from 60-1 odds to take it all.


This breed is a close cousin to our dream dog--

 

Irish Wolfhound. 

 

The cutest thing ever.

We're rather tall people so we figure we need a rather tall dog (which is why of course we currently have a 2.5 lb chihuahua).  I guess you can't press that logic too far....

Here's a beautiful sideshow of the dog breeds at Westminster.  It's amazing to see the variety within domesticated dogs.  A dog for every man.

 

What's your favorite? 

T&B

things that make me happy

1. The 2+ feet of snow outside.  No work for either of us today--snow day.  Last night, in the heaviest part of the storm, we drove around in Tom's truck with 4 wheel drive.  It was us against the world.

2. Having four cats that love to purr and snuggle.  Our heater could have stopped working and we'd be none the wiser.  It's amazing how warm four cats can keep you when they're dispersed all about your bed (under the covers, on top of pillows, squashed in between us etc)

3. Officially registering for this conference.  It's taking place at Saint Micheal Orthodox Church in Louisville, Ky.  Quick overview of the highlights:

*Lectures by Brad Birzer (wonderful Hillsdale prof) and John Granger (author of Unlocking Harry Potter), among many others

*Topics like 'The world of Dostoevsky and the Freedom of the Person',  'Raising Humans in a Post-Human World' and 'The Fly and the Bee: What if Beauty, Love and Christ Were All That Mattered?'

*My hometown of Louisville...enough said.

4. This 'breakthrough' in the fashion world:

It's like a bad car accident--I can't stop staring.  I was at the gym when I saw the commercial and thought it was a joke (in the same genre as Mom Jeans).  Buuuuuut, it's not; it's very, scarily real.  In fact, you can buy your own for the low, low price of $39.95.  A great price and with the free t-shirt they throw in, very tempting.  But ask yourself if it's worth the ridicule?  Because I will be first in line for the ridicule.  Also I will defriend you on facebook.

To be honest, this point in my blog post doesn't actually make me happy per se, but it does make me laugh an awful lot.

B  

The World of Dostoevsky and the Freedom of the Person

"He prayeth well who loveth well both man and bird and beast"

We've been planning to write about the zoo in which we live.  Recent developments, however, have inspired us to focus in on the newest addition.  Rather than a wide introduction, we jump right into the tiny details.

Last night, while going to look for pet mice at the local pet store (don't ask), we ran into a little girl carrying around a bundle of rags.  Because I (B) am a nosy parker curious, I inquired about the bundle's contents.  It was a kitten, a tiny kitten.  2 days old we thought.  The family had found it in their backyard, with no sign of the mother.  They waited and waited, hoping that the mother would come back and retrieve it, but nothing happened.  They called every shelter/vet office they could think of, and no one would take it.  We offered to take the kitten.

Which brings us to now...after taking her into a 24-hour emergency vet to have her checked over, we gave ourselves a review on bottle feeding.  We've been sleeping in shifts, feeding every 2-3 hours.  Oh, and did we mentioned that newborn kittens aren't able to eliminate their own waste?  We've been massaging that out every shift too.  No bigger than a hamster, she still has her umbilical cord attached to her tummy.  Eyes and ears will open up within the next 1-2 weeks.

The bad news that we're bracing ourselves for is that she may have something terminally wrong with her (mother cats can sense this early on and are known to abandon the kittens that won't survive).  But so far, she is slurping down her food and getting stronger/louder every hour.  And it's worth it.  So SO worth it.  If she is to die, better to go with a full belly and warm box than to slip slowly away outside, left to the elements.

We hope to give this life a measure of dignity, no matter how long it lasts.  But there is a fight in her, a drive towards life that we will nurture as best we can.  We are fortunate in our ability to care for her, and blessed beyond measure to have a part in working against the fallen state of nature (red in tooth and claw).  Pardon our lack of pragmatism but we find it hard not to melt into sentimentalism while caring for such a little one.

T & B