MY BOYS

So apparently, it is difficult determine the gender of young kittens. They all look the same until suddenly...they start to develop. Change. Blossom. And then you're left feeling foolish and holding a boy cat named CC. 

It was about a month ago that the area under CC's tail began to appear suspiciously...manly. Andrew and I researched online, comparing poor CC's private parts to awkward photographs on websites until we finally, conclusively, and shamefacedly proclaimed CC to be a boy. 

One website said that breeders even get it wrong sometimes. So don't judge us. 

In the meantime, our family is working to make a difficult paradigm shift. Despite this revelation, our minds seem determined to keep CC as the familiar pretty kitty we have always know her to be. Half the time, I address the cat using feminine pronouns. The other half, I consciously try to land on the masculine ones but usually only get as far as...it.  

Where's the cat?

It's napping under the boat. It is tired from hunting grasshoppers all day and its fur is making it hot. 

*sigh*

We have kicked around the idea of renaming it...I mean him...with something less embarrassing. Caesar seems to be the front runner. It sounds similar and isn't so sissy. The only problem now, is that CC knows the name CC. He responds to it. His ears perk up and he comes running when I call him. Not to mention Moose knows that CC is his little furry friend. Who the heck is Caesar?

So now, everyone is confused. 

Severely Mistaken and Outnumbered,

Rachel

2 INGREDIENT PUMPKIN MUFFINS

I just had to share the good news of these muffins I saw on Pinterest. Easy, tasty, and healthy.

I made a batch to take on the road to the Oregon Coast and they were a huge hit with Andrew and our friends.

Take a yellow cake mix. 

Mix it with a 15 oz can of pumpkin (I only had a 29oz. can, so I used half and froze the rest).

Pour the batter in a muffin pan.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. 

That's it.

Maybe I'll experiment with a spice cake mix next time. 

Our friend questioned me several times about the truthfulness of my 2 ingredient boast:

"There are no eggs?" 

"You didn't have to add oil or water?"

"How did they get so moist?"

Let's count the ingredient together, people. One. Two. 

I'm not lying. 

Okay fine. I used three ingredients if you count that I added chocolate chips. But those are optional. The muffins are seriously tasty enough without.

And I was surprised to read that this is a weight watchers recipe with fewer than 100 calories. Not that I am a calorie countin' kinda gal...'cause I'm not. But I thought I'd share anyway for those who care. 

All the rest of you non-calorie countin' folk might try it with cream cheese frosting too.

HOUSE TOUR {Dining Room}

We've seen the entry/front room and the great room. Let's continue through to the dining area.

I know that people usually photograph their dining rooms with candles and table settings carefully laid out....but I'm not even near that point in here yet. This room still needs a lot of work, and you're gonna have to get it as it is.

This was a long time ago.

Here, the walls are textured and we're experimenting with paint colors. 

We eventually settled on Sherwin William's North Star paint. 

The pallet ceiling is going to have entire posts dedicated to it in the future...

We are still working on it. My lovely scribbles illustrate what will soon be added to finish the ceiling off.

(Did I mention this ceiling was FREE to build?)

Here, are the beginnings of the wood floor and baseboards...

...And the room with our furniture and new IKEA rug. 

But actually, that table is not even ours. A friend is loaning it until Andrew can build a new one. (You may remember the bed, nightstands, and coffee table he's already built.)

The table in our previous home fit approximately two and a half people around it. We decided it's time for an upgrade. 

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Behold, our table construction inspiration. I love the colors on this one...but not the ornate froofiness of the legs. 

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I prefer straighter lines. But chunkier than this. 

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Benches would be easier to build than chairs, but I'm concerned they'd get uncomfortable. 

Now the heirloom hutch came from Andrew's family. Please excuse the clutter. It is where the possible decor items for this room have gathered until they have homes or get donated. 

You get to see this room as it is, remember?

This is how I've decorated inside the cabinets. I'm thinking that in the future...a long time from now...maybe refinishing the hutch. At this point, the thought just makes me feel tired. 

But the inside of the cabinet is so dark, and in the meantime, I want the contents to pop out more than they do. 

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So I was thinking of applying what I've seen with fabric, wall paper, or vinyl designs like this on the backs of shelves or cabinets. 

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It could be the non-permanent, cheap, easy upgrade I'm looking for...though I haven't made any decisions on color or design yet. 

As for the opposite wall, I have other plans. 

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I want (Andrew) to build two shelves like this...but again, chunkier and with cleaner lines. 

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I'm sure many of you have heard of the House of Smiths blog. They have these shelves in their home that they can easily style to match the season. I like that flexibility.

I love Shelley's decorating style. It is how I want to decorate when I grow up...

I couldn't not share a few of her lovely displays.

So far, the only decoration I've finished in this room is this. 

Using left over sand from our concrete counters, I filled the pitcher 1/3 of the way. Then I stuck in my flower sprigs. The sand allows them to stand up tall in the shape I want. 

Maybe one day, I'll spray paint the pitcher a different color, but it'll do for now. 

Every room needs some greenery, in my opinion. 

There you have it. Stay tuned for the next room in our tour!

OREGON COAST INSTAGRAMS

What a trip! Lots of driving with lots to do and see. The only thing I failed to capture was the horseback riding. :( 

Photos with a real camera to come later. 


Wiped Out,
Rachel

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.

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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.