proper landscaping

i had a much needed conrad time. a few nights ago. i haven't had him over since the first of may and then life gets going. a few years ago, paul bought me legos (which i love) and conrad found them. he lets me build the houses, but he won't let me put the trees, flowers and bushes in. apparently i put them in the wrong areas. i had no idea they belong inside the house. it was actually pretty fun to take a tree out, while he put another one in. i would stick it down, and then he would look at me and say "no lala..in the house". funny boy who i love...
-ash

reaching perfection

last night was perfect...just perfect. after getting a few things done in the yard...
-spending the day at work
-mowing the lawn
-weeding the garden/planter beds
-eating dinner
paul asked me if i would like to go on a walk with him...of course, then he asked how long of a walk i wanted and i looked up at him and said (with a huge grin) "anywhere you go i go". he wanted to take a walk down to rocky mountain chocolate factory, get an apple and share it on the way home. i believe tears gathered...i love spending time with paul and to just be with paul...an answer to prayer. it was heavenly...
-a clear blue sky
-hands intertwined
-talking about the future
-planning the future
-counting our blessings
-telling the funny stories of the day
i love being married to a boy who loves simple things just like me...(topped with his favorite apple doesn't hurt)
-ash

finally!

almost a year ago, pebbles had a main water line issue...frustrating. on saturday, paul had some extra sod and before i knew it, the lawn no longer looked sad. it looked so much better and almost ready for a picnic. i had a cold, so i spent most of my time inside taking care of my nose and watery eyes (blowing my nose of course in private). every once and while, he would tap on the window and motion for water, which was done promptly i might add. i am so glad paul is a "let's do this now, instead of later" boy. me/pebbles is lucky!
-ash

not as scary...

i knew it was coming... i could feel it... and i was not happy! i am not supposed to get sick, and i took every precaution to stay away from those who were, but i guess getting my darn spring cold is inevitable.
you see...when i get my spring cold, it isn't a normal cold. only 1 side of my face has issues and then it moves to the other. my left nose will be closed off and then it will tingle. followed immediately by watery eye, which i will fight and pretend is not watering. then another tingle, followed by a huge sneeze. tears fall and little spots of mascara on my cheek. miserable, that continues until it moves to the other side. that is when i know the cold is almost done.
last night, i was up most of the night. i couldn't breath and yet my nose was running. then i remembered a friend of mine who bought a netipot and loved it. i was tempted at 2:15am to run and get one, but i knew i could tough it out.
this morning, before work, i ran to good earth and bought a pot and some salt. i was so nervous to try it. i don't like water up my nose, and this is a lot of water up the nose. i got to work, got out the instructions and watched the tutorial online (the lady on the tutorial was collected and acted as though it was a completely natural thing to do, i was not collected). prepared, i went to the bathroom and began. it wasn't that bad. it felt so nice so clear out the nose, and i did get better and didn't have many "tingles" after that. i did it a couple more times during the day, and felt so much better.

simple life...

we use wood and coal in our stove to heat our little home. call me crazy, but i love the simple life we live. i love our country home and know that the ingles family would be proud. i love coming into the house with the smell of our stove. it is comforting to me. this last winter lasted a long time. last year we stopped burning in march...this year, we have gone into may. what is mother nature thinking? of course we haven't burned everyday, but a few days here and there to keep the house warm.
so naturally all summer long, we gather wood. paul is so meticulous with his wood. he has a pile of green that is drying out, a pile of dry that needs to be split and a pile that is ready. and of course, they are piled just right. one summer, we moved the wood pile (again), and i wanted to help paul while he was out running errands. i thought i would do the bulk of it and when he would get home, he would be so tickled...too bad i didn't stack it the way he liked. he said thank you, we went to a movie and over the next few days, i noticed the pile looking different. well, i tried and by darn, i will try again!
i love my country life and always think of my little family. what we are missing now are elk, chickens, beautiful berries, way more than a home cooked meal and of course them.
-ash

my birthday

this year, more than anything i wanted to hike to the 'y'. i have lived here my whole life, and never ventured on that hike. paul asked me what i wanted to do for my birthday, and it wasn't hard to decide. i want to hike the 'y', play speed, play card games, be with those i love, eat good food..just be really active. i am so lucky to be able to say i was able to have all those things. the weather was a little overcast, but i thought so what...i'd rather hike in the cold than in the heat. i think lindsey and katie would disagree.
those who were able to go on the hike met at dad & moms. i loved the whole thing.
-i love how conrad tried to kick each and every rock on his way up
-i love how those behind would catch up and we would start again without letting them rest
-i love being with family
-i love the view
-i love the billowing clouds
-i didn't love how darn steep some parts were
-i love how no one thought it was dumb
-i didn't love coming down...my knees
-i love how we forgot the camera in the car, and tyler offered to run down and get it
-i love hearing dad's memories from when he was younger hiking it
-i just loved the whole thing
we got up to the top and it started snowing. not too bad, but just enough that paul's glasses had spots. he asked me to clean them and all i did was smear the water...hehehe then we had a nice little picnic and conrad went from person to person eating their food. katie brought the best food, and even shared some delicious fresh pineapple with me! we took some pictures and then made our way to the top of the 'y'. incredible view.
when we got home i walked into the kitchen and there was the most glorious sight...cereal, m&m's and chocolate milk!!! i was in heaven. mom stayed behind from the hike to set it up. geeze i am lucky... (i was told because my actual birthday fell on easter, i would not be able to choose a cereal bar for dinner...plus grandpa and grandma were coming for dinner) i was so surprised and excited to eat at least 6 bowls. too bad it was only 3:30pm...
it was still raining, so naturally we all went outside and played speed until we were soaked. i thought "because it is my birthday, i will be unbeatable!" paul did not get that message.
before i knew it, it was time to eat. it was blissful! linds thought it would be a good idea to have something a little more substantial, so she made little breakfast burritos. tasty.
we played a bunch of card games...lucky unders, canadian salad, etc. and we ended the night with the best...chocolate malts!
i am so lucky to have my family. i am so glad they are around to build me up, support me, and watch me grow older...until next year.
-ash

easter cupcakes

my sister katie and i wanted to make something fun and creative for easter this year. i see cupcakes and pops that are adorable, but not practical. katie showed me this one and i loved it. i love how simple and makeable it is. in the original, the bunny tail is actually a little puff of cotton candy. after searching most of the stores around me, i came up empty handed. i was truly bummed. i was looking at macey's and realized i had to make a decision. so i grabbed my favorite...a bag of peanut m&m's (easter style) and thought we could use the pink ones. what great tails they made, plus, i like them so much more than cotton candy...
-ash