my father's day gift to my husband

My husband has wanted to cut a certain tree in our backyard down since the first day we moved into our home.
I have not wanted him to cut it down.
He has been so unwavering with his desire to cut it down . . .
so for Father's Day, I gave him my blessing.

It will make me happy to let him cut it down even though I really like the tree.

I am actually kind of excited to see what I can do with the empty space.

I don't have a great "before" picture.

Here is one . ..  the tree is on the left of the pool.

I'm sure the tree will be coming down very soon .. . before I have a chance to change my mind.

Not that I would do that . . .

:)

please pray for pinny

A friend of mine from college has a beautiful niece named Pinny.
Pinny needs your prayers.
Please check out this blog and join me in prayer for this sweet baby and her parents.

Thank you.

"…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).

Tuesday Randomness

A whole lot of this has been going on lately . . . travel baseball.
So proud of this boy.

I found this book at a garage sale for 50 cents . . . I'm so excited to learn more about how to use my camera!! 

I'll share helpful tips with you.

This little guy is going to be finished with Pre-K tomorrow.
Time sure does fly. (sniff)

Sweet Caroline has been loving painting fingernails lately.

She likes to paint my nails, her friends' nails, her nails,. . . 

. . . and even little boys at baseball games' nails.

It's 1:00 am and I am still up making teachers' gifts.

I work best under pressure.

Good night.

Thanks for stopping by.

~cheryl

weekend garage sale finds

Now that the weather is cooperating, garage sales have been "springing up" everywhere!
I had forgotten how much I love the thrill of a "good find".

I had to buy this creamy pitcher.
I love the color cream.

And I couldn't pass up this little guy for 50 cents, could I?
Again . . . cream.

I knew I could put this to use somehow . . . I'm thinking about putting some creamy colored dried hydrangeas in it.
Have I mentioned I like the color cream? ;)

Well . . . I had to buy something that wasn't creamy colored.

Luke was thankful for that.
(do you see the brown cabinets in the background?? Guess what color they will be in a few weeks . . . cream)

p.s. I love this boy and all of his garage sale LEGOs.  He couldn't stop telling me how special they were to him.  Gotta love a good garage sale. :)

Tuesday Randomness

Even though the weather is cold, we have been getting the pool ready for the day when it is warm enough to swim.
I bought a new solar cover to heat it up without the pool heater.
(our old one has seen better days)

I cut it to fit our pool's shape. 

The pool is now 70 degrees . . . warmer than the air at least!

Do you see the tree at the left of the pool?

I have been trying to save that tree since the day we moved in the house . . . my husband wants to cut it down so badly. 

What do you think??

Should I let him?

Sweet Caroline potted some new flowers for me.
Poor thing has been suffering from seasonal allergies . . . thank goodness for Claritin.

My brother is selling these cute Vizsla pups.
Want one??
E-mail me at FiveKoz@sbcglobal.net .

I'm making this for dinner tonight.

What will be on your table?

I'm always looking for new ideas!

Have a happy Tuesday!

Thanks for stopping by.

~cheryl

waiting

Spring is just not wanting to visit Chicagoland.
We had a little tease last week,
but it feels like Fall now.
Could it be possible that Spring will never come??

I keep looking out the kitchen window at the pool dreaming of the days where we will all just hang out with no cares. 
And to be hot . . .not freezing!!

Our heat is running.

In May.

But I'm not complaining. (am I?)

Spring will come.

And I will be happy.

Until then, I will keep happy doing things inside.

Like painting our master bedroom.

I needed to write that because now I will actually do it.

I hope.

I will post before and after photos soon.

I hope.

I need to go make some hot coffee.

brrrr . . .

Question: What is your weather like and what do you do when it is cold and rainy and plain old yucky outside??

Rainy Day

It's raining,

it's pouring.

It never

ever

stops.

But that's OK.

I've been keeping busy inside. . . .

washing all those plastic eggs for next year(because I'm crazy like that),

looking up interesting websites like TheWritingFaculty (because I'm interested in stuff like that),

waiting on two sick kids (because I love them so),

doing lots and lots of laundry (because, well . . .that's what I do),

and missing this little guy (because he's been at school and a birthday party all day).

We're hoping for some sunny days here in Chicagoland real soon . . . until then, I will keep finding things to do inside.

How's your weather???

how to tell if an egg is fresh

Since it is Easter season . . . I have eggs on the brain.

source

I just learned (from my trusty Better Homes and Gardens Magazine) how to tell if an egg is fresh or not.

Gently place the egg in question in a bowl of cold water.

If the egg is really fresh, it should drop to the bottom of the bowl and lie on its side.

If the egg is somewhat fresh, the egg should stand on end and bob about in the water.

Eggs that float should be tossed in the trash.

Good to know!!

Also . . . check the "sell by" date. The eggs are usually good for up to two weeks past that date. 

(the number before the "sell by" date is the day of the year the eggs were packed . . . the carton below was packed on day 267 ~ Sept. 24) I learned that here.

source

The kids and I will be coloring some eggs in the next few days.  I'll make sure to use fresh ones! ;)

good, clean fun

Don't you just love spring??

I sure do!

I hope you can find a way to enjoy some good, clean fun today!

Proverbs 15:13 - "A happy heart makes the face cheerful."