Fridays ...

Here is what Fridays look like around our house. We try to get to the ski hill once a week to run/bike out the trails and then have lunch. Today the trails were covered with butterflies and dust. But, the lunch was delicious and refreshing! There is something perfect about a small town when you can get away like this.

Weekend Biking

Mike and I road up to the bagel shop this past weekend. Hot, smoky, but really nice!

Summer Macros.

Time Goes By.

Seems like forever since I've blogged. Guess life just gets away from me. Tomorrow is my birthday so I thought I should get my butt in gear and post something.

As most of you know we live next to Arizona where there are wild fires burning. As it burns and my lungs kill me from the smoke - the sunsets look amazing. The sky seems to be on fire!


Summer in our house means a lot of grilling and partying out back. Here is my honey having a lovely time!

Hope all is well with you and I plan to try and get a little more blogging in!

Wondering ...

Are you wondering how we are doing without Bend? We still miss him - but he has a place of honor in our house. As we walk down the hall we chat to him. Mostly "Hi Buddy - how is it going."

The Kevins - Go To Oz.

Did any of you ever watch the HBO show Oz? It was about prison (a bit violent and really made me never want to see the inside of a jail). Well that is what we are now calling this inclosure. See, Kevin's were eating my garden, digging up the grass and basically running the whole back yarn into the ground.

The fence was a serious labor of love. It took Mike two full weekends and was not fun to put up. The girls seem to be adjusting to it well though and our hope is that over time they forget about the rest of the yard.

New Dinner Item!

I got this pan from King Arthurs and the recipe. It has taken me a while to make them - but here they are. Home made hamburger buns. They taste amazing and really weren't that hard to make!

Gardening 2011

During the weekend - while trying to get the fence up - I did some weeding in the garden. Why is it weeding takes so long but has such a big impact?

Memorial Day Weekend

Around here it means bbqing and back yard work. For a white girl like me it means burning in the sun. Yes - that white spot is where my shirt was. I'm a lobster!

When The Cats Away ....

The mouse does play - she plays in the kitchen re-organizing everything.

As part of my Project 333 I'm going through the kitchen again. Thinking about what I need and what I don't need. I have 4 full sets of dishes. I have a lot of silverware sets. I have too many dishes.

So, what does one do about this? Well I apply my Project 333 criteria to my dishes. I've found that sentimental plays into my kitchen more than my closet. What I've decided to do is move dishes into a temporary cupboard until I can decide what to do with them. Live without them for a while and see what I love and dislike about the stuff that is currently out.

So my cupboard now looks a bit empty - but we'll see how it goes.

Garden veggies!

The first radishes of the season!

Geek Art.

Being someone who made coffee for a living I appreciate good coffee art. Amazing work!

Ten on Tuesday

Carol has another great Ten on Tuesday (sorry it is coming out on Wednesday). 10 Favorite Things to do Outside.

1. Just be outside. I love the smells, sights and sounds.
2. Hike/run. Traveling through the woods is a great way to relax and forget about all the crap that we seem to deal with day in and day out.
3. Eat. Back yard BBQing is one of our favorite things to do. Just good inside and eat outside is lovely too.
4. Garden. Putting seeds in the ground and watching them come to life is amazing. I like knowing where my food comes from.
5. Chicken watching. Might sound odd - but there is nothing more relaxing then watching the flock of Kevin's cruise around the back yard. We could spend hours doing it.
6. Hot tubing. We mostly hot tub in winter. But, sometimes in summer as well. In hot water, watching the stars on a clear cool night - AH ... nothing better!
7. Sparkler Dancing. In summer I like to have a ton of sparklers on hand and I like to dance through the back yard with my sparklers.
8. Biking. Something about the breeze through my hair and the peddles beneath my feet that can make any day better.
9. Spinning. I like to take my little wheel out and get some good spinning in.
10. Chess. Yep. You heard me. We have a board that we keep outside and we like to sit with a cool cocktail, listen to the rustling of the leafs in the aspens and play a good game. I normally beat the crap out of Mike - but it is fun none the less.

What do you love to do outside???

Tuesday Laugh.

For any of you that use twitter!

Moab

I love taking photos of the cats during rv trips!

Sunday - Race Day!

Sunday here - which means racing time! I spend most of the day outside being Mike's pit Betty.

Cat-tastic

The cats are missing Bend this weekend - but they are doing okay! It is going to be a while before we can RV without thinking about him.

Craft Fair Weekend.

This past weekend was the Los Alamos craft fair. I have never been do tired. A whole day is just a bit much. The fair was great though. Lots of interest in the reusable bags and bowl covers.

Geek Zodiac

Doing okay?

You might be wondering how Mike and I are doing with Bend's departure. I know we kept getting calls from people. Grief is a strange thing. For a few days all I could do was cry and now I cry at strange moments. Out of the blue something will make me think about him and I'll loose it.

I finally put together a big photo book of Bend and we get to pick up his ashes this Thursday. I'm sure it will be emotional, but the closure will be good for us.

The girls are having just as hard a time dealing with Bend's departure as we are. Methow waits for him at night and wont come to bed. Moab is super happy and likes to run around quickly.

Crazy Spring.

Today it is snowing out. Snowing on May first, what in the world is up with that? I found this massive moth on the front step of our house this weekend. I'm glad one of the cats didn't eat it (because the vomit from this large moth would have been too much for me to handle).

One More Thursday Fun!

Because You Need To Smile!

Bend - Cat of Mystery

Bend - Cat of Mystery, a photo by RocketGirl* on Flickr.

Some of you know - but we had to put Bend down on Monday morning. I haven't blogged or chatted about it because I can't stop crying when I think about him.

We had Bend for nearly 11 years and he was a cat with personality, love and attention for Mike and I that can't really be put into words. Our house is very very empty without him. He was the first to greet us at the door, the first to come to bed and always wanted to be near and around us.

Our house is a very sad place right now.

Easter Sunday.

Easter is always a fun time in our house. It is the day after our anniversary and there is always a lot of food. This year we had Japanese visitors (who had no idea what Easter was all about). We tried to explain the bunny, candy and Jesus. It wasn't easy.

This year we did breakfast burritos and loads of other food. Delicious meal!

Funny - And True.

My hubby works with Steve.

Spring.

Want to know what spring means for me?


Yes that is my shoulder and yes it is sun burnt!

Broody Chickens

Broody a video by RocketGirl* on Flickr.

Ever wonder what you should do with a broody chicken? Here is an instructional video.

Smile - Your on Camera!

New Photo Style.

Here are some images from the weekend. It was a great time and Mike kicked some serious butt.

Bend loves snuggles

Bend loves snuggles a video by RocketGirl* on Flickr.

From this past weekend. Bend sure does love RV trips.

Racing in the cold!

It is freezing out and the wind is blowing. This is what cold racing looks like!

RV Time!

It is that time of the year again. Cat RV season!!

Wednesday Fun.

SWTM 1.1, subtitles from Funny Farm Films on Vimeo.

Real Science

Real Science a video by RocketGirl* on Flickr.

Purring Kitty

Purring Kitty a video by RocketGirl* on Flickr.

Bend loves to hang out on roving and while I'm sewing.

Want to know what our weekends hold - this is what!

Error Day Again.

Another lovely one. I love the robot!

Project 333 - What Works.

Are you wondering how Project 333 is going as we transition into spring/summer? It is tough with all my summer clothing out and yet it is cold in the mornings. I've figured out something interesting though. My clothing can be categorized into three things; daily work (winter/summer), special meetings, and weekends.

I've broken down my wardrobe so that now I have ~33 items in each of these categories. I'm not including shoes, or jackets, or jewelry. But, I'm focusing on clothing. The first three months of 333 it was harder because my weekend (gardening/dying/working around the house) clothing were included. I felt limited with my work clothing.

One thing I have noticed through out this spring change over is that a) I don't buy new things each season just because they are new b) I end up buying the same looking thing over and over (and have ended up with 5 cotton blue sweaters for summer) c) thinking about what I have and what I need is so much simpler when I have so few items.

Project 333 really is amazing.

What Kevin Says.

Our lovely snacking Kevin's hit another mile marker this past weekend. On Sunday they each laid one egg (which they are suppose to but it seems like some days they take breaks).

Six eggs in one nest (they hate the other nest) and the girls got a new special treat; GRAPES. I'm sure we spoil our chickens ... but aren't they just so cute?

Garden Time!

I have a post card in my office that says, "My garden kicks ass." I plan to have a kick ass garden again this year. In my standard gardening what I've found is that when all the carrots, lettuce or radishes come in at once I'm overwhelmed with all of them. I end up taking over half of my take into work or giving to neighbors. The problem is that when you grow from seed everything pops up at the same time.

My plan for this year is simple. Only plant what Mike and I need and to do things in rotations. Since spring is here and I bet we wont freeze again I decided to go ahead. My plan works like this. Buy a few plants of the things we eat already started, plant half the seeds for those plants this weekend, plant the other half of the seeds in 2 weeks. 2 weeks after that I will plant more "summer" plants (using the same technique). This means that my garden might look a bit slim, but my goal is to only produce what two people can eat.

Better living through simpler means. More with less!!

Timing.

Spring is here. I've been talking about it - but it is really here. I spent the weekend working in the garden and yard and found myself amazed at how many plants were popping up all over the yard. Here are a couple of images for you. When I think about timing I'm amazed that spring seems to be here so soon and yet surprised at myself for missing the crocus.

How was your weekend? Is spring hitting you in your part of the world??

Box of Dreams.

Reading a book called The Answer is Yes (which isn't about two people getting married, which I thought it might be) they have a journal of dreams. I decided to use this fantastic Korean box for a box of dreams. Each drawer contains a dream. Dreams that are realistic dreams (not being the first person to live on the moon).



What do you do with your dreams?

Project 333 - Summer Edition.

Spring is here. Not coming, not soon to be seen, but already here in Northern New Mexico. I decided that wearing sweaters and close toed shoes might just be a bit wrong this week, so I did my full clothing swap out. As I did it I purged more winter clothes that I didn't wear and summer clothes that I know I wont wear. I also got rid of a couple of items that are a, "need them once in 5 years". I took 3 large trash bags out of shoes, jackets and clothing to take to the thrift store. I haven't done a full purge or counting up 33 items for spring/summer ... but what I plan to do is see what this transition is like and decide as I go. I'm down to just a few tupperwares of clothing to move around for the seasons and it feels fantastic!

Weekend Bread.

I read on another blog about this challah bread recipe and thought it might be really nice to try out this weekend. She even baked the bread with cute little eggs nestled into the bread. We decided to have it for breakfast this morning.

Pre-baking.


Post baking. The bread came out amazing. Slightly sweet and the eggs were hard boiled. Breakfast of champions!

Star Trek Always Rules

Thinking of Spring.

Summer sings fruit. Fruit tarts!


Methow likes to show her super model pose.

There is nothing like the change of seasons to put a little boost into my step. I love it when winter moves into spring (except for the New Mexico wind). Most of my bulbs have started to pop up and I'm planning the garden (and thinking about how to keep chickens out of my garden).

First Motorcycle Race Weekend.

This past weekend was the first ASMA motorcycle race weekend. Which means we load the kitties into the RV and we drive to Deming (southern New Mexico).

The cats love to go on RV trips. There is something about me being stuck in a small space with them that just makes them snuggly and funny.

Mike had a good weekend running a quick pace (especially consider we hadn't been at the track since last October) and nearly getting on the podium for a race or two.

Oh ... and I got a lot of knitting done!

Because I Love You Guys!

Project 333 February Update

We made it through January and then February. You might be wondering, where is she now with project 333. Well, let me give you a little hint.

I've purged 15 sweaters (handmade and store bought).
I've found that only 3 pairs of pants actually fit correctly (out of a stash of over 20).

I've been slowly working through my whole closet and finding that fewer than half actually fit my body or desire for style correctly.

I'm betting by April, when I move onto my summer wardrobe, I wont have to migrate summer and winter clothing any more.

Project 333 is amazing. Less really is more!

Spring ....

I can tell that spring is in the air. My allergies are kicking (I can't stop sneezing), bulbs are starting to show their heads, the winds are picking up and the cats are spending more and more time in the enclosed porch out back. What I find amazing is that the chickens have become cat tv to them. They sit on the scratching post and just watch them. I hope that we don't have issues with the cats wanting to snack on the chickens this summer.

Hawaii Sea Turtles

Hawaii Sea Turtles a video by RocketGirl* on Flickr.

Here is a video from our trip to Hawaii. This was right out of our hotel room. You have to love the turtles!

Happy Friday everyone.

The Kevins.

The Kevins.
Originally uploaded by RocketGirl*

Here are the Kevins and how they like to be pet. The spring winds have started here and they seem to be dealing with it just fine.