Spring is DEFINITELY Here!!!

Quick post b/c I'm running out the door -- our house is surrounded by babies!!! Bird's nest with 6 eggs in the fern on the front patio & Reese discovered a bunny nest in the backyard. Too cute!!! The bunnies seem to be alright...not going to worry too much...just going to keep an eye out just in case. I did some research so I'm going to be the Bunny Watcher for the next little while to make sure our babies are ok!!! Too precious!!!

Sorry for the blurry pic...it's from the cell...

My New Bud

I bought the mother plant, a zamia, when I was a junior at LSU. I always went to the Horticulture sales since they had great, cheap plants & hell, we were an A&M school...there are damn good plants!!! I always wanted low maintenance plants since I have a tendency to forget sometimes so it was key that my plants needed to be really hard to kill.
So, the mother plant got real big over the last 7 years; I divided it into 2 different plants & they both got big. Then we moved.
When we moved, I put all my plants outside to bask in the fresh air instead of their normal apartment conditions. They stayed out a long time, deep into fall, then I brought all of them in. But some of them I forgot about, don't ask me how, I just did.
The mother plant died after the first real freeze. But I had a little bit of her left. I had one bulb with a small stem coming off. So I planted it...it got broken in half. The stem was maybe 4 inches & I knew that was the end of that plant. There was no way I was getting any type of regrowth.
But I was wrong.
I left the pot where it was...next to the fireplace. And just forgot about it (seems like a common trend with me). Yesterday, I was watering all my plants (which are thriving in their new abode with the am Southern light) & happened to look at the single pot...and there was a new growth.
YAY!! I didn't completely kill it. Ok, I know I'm thrilled about a damn plant but hey, the simple, small pleasures thrill me the most.

The Old Snowy Mill

Snow at The Old Mill

Here's some video of the front yard after a couple hours of snow.

Reese had a blast!!

WHAM!!

Perfect Shot!!

Jackpot!!

SNOW!!!

IT'S SNOWING!!!

THE FIRST SNOW IN OUR HOUSE

THIS ROCKS!

Reese is walking around eating the snow as it falls.

I just built a fire.

I'm wondering if I'll have school tomorrow...I would love to have at least a 2 hour delay so I can sleep in a bit more than usual.

Nonetheless,

IT'S SNOWING!!!!!

A Night By the Fire

Reese really loves that buffalo throw rug toy. You can see how transfixed she gets...

She even sleeps with it...

Have a warm fuzzy evening!! If you have a fireplace at home, you need to get some firewood & build a blazing fire. It's amazing how therapeutic it is to just lay next to a warm, crackling fire!!

I am now officially a FlyBaby

I have become overwhelmed with all the new responsibilities in my life when it comes to maintaining a full house, working full time, trying to plan a wedding, dealing with the MASSIVE amounts of leaves in my forest of a lot & never seeing my fiance due to our COMPLETELY OPPOSITE work schedules. I've never been a "clean freak" but I have gotten much better over the years but I needed something to help me organize it all and give me tasks for my days. So I wanted to give FlyLady a try.

I'm on Day 5 & so far so good. The beginning phases are just introductions into making routines for yourself. Everyday is another little something. I am supposed to be working myself in easily with no additions but I am slowly entering into Zone Work & Decluttering. I have to admit my house doesn't have much clutter but I have some areas that need some help so this is helping me get to them a little bit at a time -- 15 minutes of work is a lot less daunting than taking on a huge project all at once. I'm actually really liking this & I'm seeing a difference in me & my house.

I've also taken it another step too. I've become the Mission Fairy for some of my friends at work; some of the ladies are in need of some motivation. Every now & again when a good mission comes in from the 10,000 e-mails I get daily from FlyLady, I cut, paste & distribute among us. For example: "Put 5 minutes on your timer (every teacher has a timer) & tackle the clutter on your desk. Throw stuff away, organize, don't look back. " I've given 2 missions this week -- one for work, one for home. Every one LOVED it. They all admitted they needed something to give them a push.

So, we'll see how this works. Tonight I've already wiped down my kitchen, emptied the dishwasher that was freshly washed (that's amazing for me!!), swept the Reese/Big Daddy tracks, de-cluttered for 15 minutes in my Hot Spot, designated a "To Donate" box & I'm about to start my Zone job for the day...dust the hard-to-reach spots in the living room (but only for 15 minutes!!!).

Fly Baby Fly!!!

It's been a crazy week.

I turned 28 this past Wednesday -- good feeling. I'm liking 28 so far.

We closed on The Old Mill on Wednesday as well. Nice to get that all over & done with. All the papers are signed & Big Daddy& I have a home. We've lived here over 2 weeks and it felt different walking into the house knowing it was all official.

Big Daddy's parents bought us our wedding present (WAY early, but no complaints!!!) & we got a bedroom suite. It's awesome -- sleigh platform that has leather panels in the headboard; we get a 40s feel off the whole thing. It's the Legacy Chateau Louis. The picture doesn't give it justice but it's real nice!!! Me very happy!!!

The bathroom renovation project I took on is almost complete. I put a coat of our colored paint on tonight -- have to do a 2nd coat & paint the cabinet then I'm done!!! Looks good for a woman's handiwork. I've also been in the process of painting the bedroom as well. I want it all done before Monday since the furniture will be in. The bedroom color is Serenity & the bathroom & closet are Moonbeam (a lighter version of the Serenity).

So yeah, I've had a lot on my plate this week. Next week, I start back to work -- actually looking forward to it too; I'm glad I like my job!!!

Later.

New Home Bliss

We've spent the night at The Old Mill for the last couple of nights. It's been great to have a house, a roomy kitchen, & above all, SPACE!!! Downfall to the new house -- major allergy issues. The carpets are supposed to be cleaned soon & that should help out, but Lord, it's killing me!! I actually had to get out of bed this a.m. b/c I couldn't breathe; the same closed up lung feeling that I used to get at Poppy & Gamma's. That aside, this house schtuff is great!! Yeah, I have tons of projects to complete but it seems less daunting knowing I have time.

No worries though -- even though I had to wake up due to earlier stated lung issues, I've brewed myself some coffee, messed with bills & such, figured out finances, e-mailed our mortgage lady, & I'm watching those morning shows I never watch; all this & it's not even 9:30am. This is pretty nice!!!

Rambling

It's Friday night -- Big Daddy is playing Halo 2 & I'm relaxing with the computer. Life has been hectic lately; we're packing & moving the apartment (soon to be scrubbing) & cleaning the Old Mill (aka. our first house). I've spent the better part of 2 days power washing the place & all the concrete; it's amazing to see the schtuff just come off. I really liked the satisfaction of cleaning the walkway & driveway -- it's amazing what powerfully pointed water can blast off!!

Tomorrow I have a FULL day! Start the morning early at the Old Mill & proceed to blast more dirt. This time I'm cleaning the back patio -- it's brick enclosed (pics will come soon, promise!!). Then after a good 3 maybe 4 hours of work: go home, get clean, finishing packing the small stuff & head to Isle of Palms. Can't wait to see all the family, it should be a good week & I'm going to RELAX & not stress. I've been doing too much of that lately.