BUDS

Look at Andrew, working so hard to finish the many little details left on the house!

Oh wait. 

Our lovely little distraction is growing fast. I swear, she's already twice as big as when we got her. And her grasshopper prey are getting bigger everyday too...and more disgusting to watch her eat.

In case you were wondering about how CC and the pup are getting along...they're best buds. In the beginning, we'd force Moose to lay on his back while she was around. This way, we could make the introductions without violence.

It took  a few days to convince Moose that our kitty is not something to eat. And about that long to get the kitty to stop hissing and spitting. Now they follow each other everywhere.

See the two rascals roughhousing in the field? They love to chase and pounce and wrestle each other in the weeds. She'll catch a grasshopper and Moose'll steal it away and eat it. She'll walk under him affectionately, and he'll obliviously sit on her...pinning her mewing to the ground. Then she'll sit calmly looking in on him in his kennel, and Moose will get in trouble for whining. 

They're quite a pair. 





P.S. I'm sorry about all the pet posts. This is the last one for awhile, I promise.

P.P.S Until the next time they do something cute, that is. 

END OF SCHOOL YEAR BULLETIN {freebie}

I was in charge of decorating the office bulletin board for the month of May. This is what my kiddies and I came up with.

{source}

My inspiration came, from all things, a party invitation I found on a blog. I just took it a step further. 

I created a letter template in Word to match the theme and assigned my 3rd graders to write to the upcoming third graders. 

• What do 2nd graders have to look forward to next year?
• What advice do you have to help them be successful in Mrs. Ashmore's class?

I wanted to make the candy wrappers/that's a wrap idea more obvious to viewers, so I handed paper plates to a handful of early finishers in my class with the instructions to paint giant candies.

They were happy to oblige. 

I wrapped the painted plates in cellophane and tied two ends with ribbon. 

Not bad for 5 minutes of my time. 

The 2nd graders had fun reading through the letters while they stood in line for lunch, my students got practice with letter writing and cursive, and it was a fun way to end the year. 

A free download of the template is yours below for teachers who are interested. 

That's A Wrap letter writing template

THE PUP

Meet Moose. The newest member of our family.

When Andrew asked what we should name him, I asked how his family had come upon the name Buster for their dog. Apparently, they were all fans of Peanut Buster Parfaits from Dairy Queen. We then thought carefully about what he and I are both fans of...something that might inspire a name for our new pet. 

"Moose Tracks ice cream!" I exclaimed. 

We both knew instantly that it was perfect.

Imagine our shock and surprise when we were informed that the previous owners had already named him Moose...after his large, chocolate lab of a father. What are the chances??

I think it was meant to be.

I am, however, still often wondering what I got myself into. What did I agree to? Don't get me wrong. I love his cuteness right now...please note the soft, green eyes and gargantuan paws. But this is going to be one big dog!

And I don't particularly enjoy 3AM puppy potty breaks, cleaning up after accidents, or disciplining him for crying in his kennel...especially when Andrew has to leave town so often for work and his church calling.

I do take comfort in several things:

1.) For a puppy, he is relatively chill. He learns fast, will be easy to train, and isn't the terror that was Marley the yellow lab.

2.) Andrew is happy. So, so, so happy. You should see the way these two look at each other. This alone makes it worth it.

HOUSE TOUR {great room}

Alright. We left off in the entry way...let's make our way into the great room. 

This is what it looked like a few days ago. 

This was a looonng time ago. I'll do a time progression from here.

An entirely white room.

With repose gray SW paint and the beginnings of the built-ins. 

Counter tops being installed. 

Andrew's beautiful stained tops.

Installing upper shelves over top of the wood counters.

Carpet, the rest of the shelving, and two-thirds of the blinds. 

(The fireplace mantel is resting on the blue blanket in the foreground all ready to mount.)

Andrew attaching two 2x4's to the wall as a brace for the mantel. 

(I started decorating the built in shelves at this point. I think I've rearranged the shelves fifty-seven times since then...and it may take another fifty-seven times before I'm satisfied.)

Mantel bolted in place and scratch coat applied in preparation for stone.

Hearth covered with slate tile and pallet wood around the base. 

I like that the rustic look matches the dining room ceiling. 

Finished stone. We used leftovers from the exterior. 

Isn't the sectional couch fabulous? Andrew's parents gave it to us for free, feigning excuses like it's not good for mom's back, and it's getting really worn out, feathers from the down cushions are pokey...yeah...whatever.

Don't think we didn't see through it all to the simple fact that Joel and Rhonda are incredible generous and awesome. The couch still has tons of use left and in the meantime, we spend more nights on the couch then we do in our own bed...it is sooooo comfortable. 

I need all you talented people to come over and provide me with some of your shelf styling input. 

I am going bonkers from staring and analyzing and changing things over and over and over...

I threw some old windows up on the mantel I salvaged from one of Andrew's remodels. I haven't decided yet how I feel about them. Maybe wreaths over top of them would help?

Finishing touch of trim around the hearth...a much cleaner look. Grout is all that's left.

The big questions now is: What the heck do I do with this gigantic blank wall?

{source}

Our plan was a computer table up against the wall similar to this. We liked the computer in a high traffic area in the same room as everything else. 

But after we we put wood and carpet down, we could see it wouldn't work. With the way the flooring defines the sitting and walking areas so distinctly, a desk would block too much of the wood path to the bedrooms. It would look awkward and force people to walk on the carpet instead. 

So now what?

{source}

The only thing I can think of is a gallery wall of sorts. But I don't know. My thoughts are: 

• Wouldn't it make the room look too busy to have it on a wall adjacent to those crowded built-in shelves?
• Would it look less busy to have it all white like this?

{source}

• A narrow hall table would fit in this space...
• But is a gallery wall going to drive my OCD self crazy with frames that aren't exactly straight and go crooked at the slightest bump?

{source}

• Is this kind of project just a lot of work and effort for something I might hate?
• Would it look all that bad just to leave it blank?

{source}

I like the look of the wall arrangement behind the stairs here...it's not too busy/crowded/cluttered like some can get. But that could be because there are no pictures in those frames, and I doubt Andrew would be cool with empty frames on his wall.

{source}

Have you created a gallery wall before? What did you learn? Was it worth it? If I need to buck up, just do it, and stop being a crybaby about it all, let me know. And if not a gallery wall, what?

Thanks,

Rachel

PET OWNERS

Meet CC.

Her full name is Communal Cat...but that doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

The name stems from the fact that we are sharing her with another couple who happens to be in the process of building near us. We are only caring for her until their home is finished...which is a cool arrangement because we get her during the most adorable stage of her life. Ever since I learned I'm NOT okay with a smelly litter box in my laundry room and moved her into the garage, we've gotten along just swimmingly.

We all hope to eventually benefit from her mousing and snake hunting skills in the fields surrounding our homes. In the meantime, she is is getting very good at catching and eating grasshoppers.

This evening, we are awaiting the arrival of our first puppy. A chocolate lab coming from Boise we have already dubbed: Moose. 

*sigh*

I can't believe I agreed to this. My stomach literally knots up when I think about meeting him, and training him, and cleaning up his poo. The smells, the barking, the fur! Luckily, Moose will be an outdoor dog. Andrew has a fancy shmancy half-kennel, half-tool shed in the works.

{source}

I'm also anxious about putting both pets out there together. My visions of puppy and kitty snuggling together may be a bit idealistic...but at the very least, I hope CC is kind to him.

Pray for us all,

Rachel

HOUSE TOUR {entry and front room}

It's easier to tour the house a couple rooms at a time. Any advice you have on the decor would be much appreciated. We'll start in the the entry way and front sitting room... 

The last time you saw the entry, it probably looked liked this.

Here's Andrew beginning the wood floor...and kindly flexing his forearms. 

And this is the final result as of a couple days ago.

Since then, I have sold the ugly table and have different plans for the wall.

{pinterest}

We could build a prettier table and display something like this.

{pinterest}

But I will probably end up doing something like that white shelf with hooks for coats. More practical.

{pinterest}

Or a shelf like the white one in this picture (but with no bench), and  I'd have Andrew make it real nice and rustic with a lot of burn through. 

Now moving on to the sitting room...you probably last saw it like this. 

Here is what it looked like on moving day.

Second view.

And this is from today. 

You'd think it would be more put together after a month. But out of necessity, this room has become the gathering/storage room for all things decorative that I have no idea where to put yet. But I'm working on it!

And I'm gathering inspiration. I'd like to hang something big over the couch, get a light colored area rug with some pops of fun color, and maybe some sheer, white drapes. 

{source}

This room conveys the calm, comfortable feel I am hoping for. I like the rug, the wood, the big pillows, and the fun pops of color. 

{source}

From this room, I like the neutral feel: browns, grays, whites, and wood. And the size of the canvas above the couch. That area above my couch is screaming for something similar in size. I can use a mirror, a framed vintage map, or slap some paint on a large, blank  canvas I have stored in the closet.

{pinterest}

This would be an easy DIY painting idea

{source}

Or something like this...in whatever colors I chose.

{source}

This quilty looking canvas is fun. It would be easy too.

{source}

What about a map made from paint splotches? Love this.

{source}

Abstract art with paint and tape. Though I wouldn't make it metallic or quite so bold. 

{source}

Instead I can make use of the pile of pallet wood leftover from the dining room ceiling. I like the painted map but I could also paint words or a deer head silhouette??

{source}

I even have my vintage door propped in the garage waiting for inspiration to strike me as how to use it.

So there you have the entry and front room...with my ideas for the future that I'd love your input on. More tour coming later!