Dreams

I've been dreaming.  :)  I can't figure out how to share all my kitchen dreams from this computer.

BUT, here are some things I found tonight...





The perfect rug!!!


And this chair:



I want this chair so bad!


That is all.  Just a bunch of wants, wants, wants.  :)

Merry Christmas!

In the midst of our chaos are reminders of how blessed we actually are.

Merry Christmas, dear family and friends!  I do hope yours is very merry and bright!

My life is a mess (pictures)

(Warning: I used manual mode on the camera because I just wasn't feeling it.  So, sorry these pics are kinda terrible.)

This is what I saw after Jack picked me up early from work Thursday, after calling to say our house was flooding.  Each of these towels squished out water.

Our insurance company said to take pictures of the damage.  (Our floors aren't shiny.  That's water.  FYI)

So, while moving things off the soaked floor and taking pictures, I looked up and saw this.  (We thought the pipe that burst was under the house, but this brought up a new theory.)

Latex paint peels off pretty easy if there's a bunch of water behind it.

Oh boy.

I went back to work and Friday our insurance adjuster and a contractor came out to look at the damage.  Jack called me at work to tell me all the things they listed off that would need to be replaced... like basically the front half of the house.  Awesome.

Here's the house tour, in its current state:

Entryway - 

Living room-

Half of the flooring has been taken out (where the white sub-floor is showing).  We have a fan and dehumidifier in here.

Kitchen - 

Our tiny, unfinished kitchen... The back blue wall has to be removed, we're told, so all the cabinets will come out, along with the fridge and oven.  Not sure what we'll do for food after that...  I guess we'll find out Monday!  :)  I am thinking since the wall has to come out, with any luck the floor does too.  haha


Hallway-

No floors, no baseboards, and the door molding has been removed around the first two doors.  I thought the ceiling in here needed to be removed, along with the wall on the right, but I'm not sure...


Guest bathroom (first door on the left) -

Yep, the stripes I worked so hard to paint in here have had their bottom half cut off.  So sad to me!  The toilet and sink are gone (notice the spot behind the sink I couldn't reach to paint? haha)  Floors gone, baseboard, etc.  I thought the roof was going in here too, but I think I'm wrong on that one.

Guest Bedroom (first room on the right) -

This room mostly makes me stare in wonder.  Wow.  wow.


"Massage Room" or second guest bedroom (last door on the right) -

Oi vey.
We built those shelves ourselves and are very proud of them.  Obviously everything from the front bedroom and hall closet ended up in here.  We have a lot of work to do.



Master Bedroom -

The rug has to go.  We have a BEAUTIFUL duvet cover that never makes its way on the bed.  To be honest, I'm surprised our bed is even made.  This bedspread is NOT our normal bedspread, which is why it clashes horribly.  This is a classic example of a room not totally affected by the water damage fiasco.  Ugh.

For example - the door to our bathroom that is still the original awful dark brown...I've never gotten around to painting it.

This is the door to the crawl space that is in the master bedroom closet (usually under my dresser).  There's a fan down there, too, since it flooded about ankle deep.  It makes our room very drafty.

So, there you have it.  Our beautiful house.  haha.  Jack and I did work really hard on it, but there are always things that needed to be finished (like painting the doors, or installing and caulking baseboard).  I guess this just gives me an opportunity to pick that motivation back up, huh?

Ugh.

My life is a mess (commentary)

Folks, I hate to write this post in light of the situation that has happened in Connecticut.  My troubles are nothing compared to what other people are feeling in this world -- not just in CT, but everywhere.  I've been joking with my coworkers that the second verse of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is where I feel I am in life -- "And in despair I hang my head/ 'There is no peace on earth,' I said,/'For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth good will to men.'"  At least there is hope.

But, in the midst of recognizing that other people have more difficult problems than me, this is still my blog and I still want to share stories from my life.  Because stories are important, too.

My house flooded yesterday.

Well, kinda.  We had a pipe burst that ran up to the swamp cooler on our roof and it wreaked havoc.  Like serious, "I don't want to be a homeowner anymore" type havoc.

Even as I type this, there are giant fans making really strange noises all over my house.  I am missing walls and flooring and a ceiling.  And it is my understanding that soon I may not have a kitchen.  (I am really hoping that our kitchen flooring has to go, but that has not been confirmed yet.)  

I took looots of pictures to share with you all, even if you don't care.  But, if you're reading this, then you probably do care.  I like that.  Thank you.  I will give you a "Tour of the House -- as it presently stands" with an understanding and hope that there may be some disaster areas NOT related to the ol' flood, if you know what I'm saying.  (Read as: Jack and I are big lazy slobs that aren't very good at keeping a clean house, but it works for us since we never have people over.)

I've always been meaning to give a "house tour" like Young House Love, and three years later I get to give it.  Though, I guess someday I'll have to do the "after" pictures as well, since these ones strongly resemble pictures from our first year married.

Why is it that everything Jack and I spent countless sleepless days and nights fixing up during our first year of marriage are what has been affected?  Sad irony.

That kitchen floor just has to go.  End of story.  

December and a photography challenge

Hey guys!

It's December now.  Thanksgiving came and went and now we are trying to make it as Christmas-y as possible.

Thanksgiving will be its own post, but here's a taste of a little hike we did with Darrell and family while down in Vegas:

Source: Uploaded by user via Danielle on Pinterest

It was stunning, to say the least.  Awesome, awesome hike.

I'm doing this photography challenge with my sister, so we'll see how we actually do.  To be honest, I'm not sure she's doing it.  But I will try.

Source: iheartfaces.com via Danielle on Pinterest

12.1 - ME!

Source: Uploaded by user via Danielle on Pinterest

This is me, taken yesterday as I gazed outside at the tornado-type wind whipping my yard around.  Lukily, all trees are in their rightful spots in the ground and there was no damage.

Should I truly introduce myself?  My name is Danielle.  I'm 29-years-old, but I feel like I'm 23 (no joke).  I work at my alma mater and love it!  But, I dream of being a stay-at-home wife/mom and gardening all day long.  :)  Oh, and living on a ranch, in a house with a wrap-around porch and plenty of open, beautiful fields. A girl can dream.  I grew up in Las Vegas, but I think I'm a country girl at heart.

As stated, Jack and I are trying to make the most of this season.  We have been listening to Christmas music and right now have gingerbread houses awaiting decorations.

This little ditty came on (one of my FAVORITE Christmas songs) and it fit today's theme.

12.2 - Elf

Source: Uploaded by user via Danielle on Pinterest

So, perhaps there will be daily posts the month of December!

bwahaha..

Yeah, I didn't believe that one either.  ;)

Fall Colors

Reno is beautiful!

My morning in status updates

Status update #1:  Gridley, I love you and your lushness, but I'm currently sporting mosquito bites the size of my calf.  Not cool.


Status update #2:  Currently heard in my house:  (Jack singing) "I want candy!"  (Jack muttering) That is so true.


Status update #3:  Snowy day and Despicable Me about to be watched = perfection.


Status update #4:  My dogs are heater hogs.


Status update #5:  I eat like a pound of spinach everyday.  (Said in the macho-est voice you can muster.)


...Pictures and explanations to come later....

I'm proud to be an American?

Some things went down tonight that concern me.  From least to most important:

1.)  Obama was reelected.
2.)  I believe people love a handout.  Even if it means bad things for them in the future.
3.)  Society/Americans/People want change, but don't create change. 
4.)  I encountered more shocking prejudice and ignorance in regards to my religion.  It never ceases to amaze me.  Never, ever. 
5.)  Even though I was/am angry, I didn't work out as hard as I needed to. 

What?  My priorities are totally legit.

At any rate, Jack and I talked tonight about how neither of us have ever felt a strong sense of allegiance to this country... i.e. the phrase "I am proud to be an American" has never meant much to us. 

Perhaps Canada is in our future?  It's awfully cold there, though.  And they use the metric system, which, let's be honest, makes me proud I'm an American.

So there you have it.

Flowers at Buck's Lake

Buck's Lake... it's one of our favorite summer locations.

Here are some pretty flowers from our last visit:

Because you can only update your facebook status so much

Sometimes life is just funny to me.

Like, hysterical.  (I think I need sleep.)

Let's take what's happening in my life this very moment --

1.  I'm too scared to watch Modern Family and Suburgatory's Halloween episodes.

2.  I'm dancing to Gwen Stefani ... and my dogs are staring at me.

Like I'm a freak.  (Maybe I am, a little.)

3.  Jack comes home from work in only 15 more minutes... but part of me is terrified he's going to try to scare me.

And I only think that is because Modern Family creeped me out!

4.  I haven't been sleeping well at night because I spend hours... HOURS... landscaping my yard in my head once I go to bed.

There.  There's everything I want to put on Facebook but can't because I've already updated my status twice tonight.

And there are rules about these things.  You know?

I think I'm hilarious.  And, well, it's my blog, so deal with it.

Source: weheartit.com via Danielle on Pinterest

Crafty time??

It's SNOWING outside!

I have mixed feelings about snow.  I hate (HATE) driving in it, but after this summer with no snow and SEVERE allergies, I understand it's necessary for the health of all.

I didn't get my baseboards done, but we did move lots of furniture around to open up our living room.  It has resolved a lot of mental anguish.  :)  In other words, I like it. 

When it's snowing outside, it makes me want to get my craft on.  Toasty house, hot chocolate, holidays around the corner.  Here's what I'd like to do, if I had all the supplies:

Source: pickles.no via Danielle on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Danielle on Pinterest

Source: wmcraftgoodies.blogspot.com via Danielle on Pinterest

 

Source: smallbirdblog.wordpress.com via Danielle on Pinterest

What are YOU working on??  Any crafts?  Home improvements?

Today

I think today, I'm going to be productive.  Once I wake up.  :)

I am going to make more applesauce, because heaven knows I have enough apples.

And I might do this:

Source: casabellaproject.com via Danielle on Pinterest

Or maybe I'll make some pillows or get some art on my walls... or figure out what to do with my very very brown living room.

Suggestions? (That doesn't involve sewing??)

Dear World

I am CRAAAANKY.  Cranky.

My laundry basket is full of whites and I hate folding whites.

My sink is full of dirty dishes.

I woke up with a bloody nose and that was it, folks.  I was done for the day.

I had a lot of desire to be productive but zero motivation.  (And I have so much to do by tomorrow!)

My husband has spent his day on the computer.  Admittedly, I think he's doing homework, but c'mon.

UUUGGGHHH.

Cranky.

Here are some pictures of my animals using Photo Booth... because they aren't cranky, so really I'm leaving this post on a positive note.  Right?!

It's kinda a disgusting ball... it's a squeaker toy that they chewed all the fuzz off of, so... gross.

And now, from about two years ago:

(There's no sound, fyi.)