hasta la vista grass

Sod cutting was a success! now it's time to level that dry, dusty mess. gracie immediately found the hot, dry dirt to lie in.

good doggie. maybe I can get her to rake it nice and even!

Garden projects

We finished building the beds last weekend. Now we have to dig out the grass, level the spot, dig the corners into the yard, level the beds and get soil. then we can plant!

But behold. step 1 is done. See how enthused the dogs are?

The first weekend we only got one bed made b/c the lame ass home depot rental saw was so dull it burned all the edges of our boards. After nearly smoking out the neighborhood, we stopped using the rental saw, and borrowed one from our neighbors. We returned the home depot saw, got our money back, and used the neighbor's saw to cut the rest of the wood. Built one bed and called it good. During the week, our car died for a second time, and Dan pulled his back pushing the car out of the street. so we had to wait a few days for the back to heal, but this past weekend, we were able to finish up and now have 5 great beds for planting!

Constitutional Quiz

The 10th annual constitutional quiz on July 4th was quite the success. See for yourself.

Thursday night at the Red Hot

dogs were okay, not fab. and no dill relish-which is criminal in my book. but we did manage to enjoy ourselves.

IDAHO

We're off to Idaho for a few days of hot sunshine, R&R, and wedding celebrations. The first 2 weeks back at work after a month off has been brutal. Things should get back to normal with more posts next week.

Westward Ho

We've made it to Wyoming rather quickly, as we really want to get home. We should hopefully be home in a couple more days. In the meantime, we'll watch the final primary results and eat cowboy steak in Sheridan. We were a day late to Mitchell-Obama spoke there Sunday night. And we missed Hillary in SD too. Just one step behind them!

Here's some pics from the trip so far

Chicago skyline from Sunday morning on an empty Dan Ryan Expwy. We've never gotten through the city so quickly. I guess everyone was sleeping early Sunday morning.

Dan stocking up on supplies at our old neighborhood fave, Holy Land. After a night in Minneapolis with our dear friends Chank and Heidi, we hit the road well stocked from Holy Land

Scenic Southwestern MN

Obama Headquarters in Mitchell, SD, Monday night before the primary

Corn Palace--my fave

the last DC hurrah

Congratumalations graduate!

here's to my last night in Oly!

I'm packing up my stuff. It's my last night in Olympia before I go back east to DC on Sunday. I'll miss the 10-minute commute home and the nice dog that's kept me company at my strange rental, but that's about it. It's been difficult living apart from Dan and the dogs for 4 1/2 months, and not seeing each other much at all. We are both looking forward to resuming our life together, just a few more days!

Fence be gone

Day 1 of homeownership - Giles and I got most of the fence down today.

Uncle Giles hard at work


After the fence is down, the front lawn is free. My neighbor even offered to weed whack the yard!


Pile O'fence

celebration of the keys

got the keys to the new house last night!

Plotting plodding through the garden

I've been trying to make mental maps in my head of how the new yard will look. I think once the hedge comes down and the fence gets moved, it will be easier to figure out. That, and just living there will help too! But I want to make space for veggie beds, patio area, shed for garden tools, doggie green space, plus loads of plants. Not sure where it will all go right now, but I'm sure the plan will materialize.

Bloomins

Tulips at the Capitol. I get to walk by these every day.

Taube-san

I spoke to my good friend Taube last night.


She and her husband Julian are living in Japan for a few years, and we were lucky enough to visit them last May for one of my most favorite vacations. I think Taube was a travel agent in a past life, because she plans the best vacations!

One of these days, I'll get around to putting pictures up from that trip, but Taube has some right here since she's not quite as lazy as me!

It's kinda difficult to find the right time to call the other side of the world, but I realized last night that it was the perfect time, and we got to catch up a bit. Hopefully we will be able to visit again next summer, since they are staying another year. Thank god I'll be able to eat ramen again!

Lockers as storage?

I think that school lockers would make great storage in the house somewhere, although now that Danly will be surrounded by lockers every day at whatever school he works at, I'm not sure he will enjoy seeing "work" furniture at home! Maybe I can convince him!

It pays

It pays to read assloads of design blogs. How else would I have found out about the Kyoto Art and Antiques Warehouse Sale in Seattle that's only for 10 days, RIGHT NOW!

This is good incentive for me to write my irritating policy brief tomorrow that I have been putting off for 2 1/2 weeks. If I can't finish my report, I can go next weekend to the sale, but it will be the end of the event, and people will be desperate and cranky. I should go this Sunday!

Hurray for Japanese furniture!

Side note - 15 more days till I go home, thank goodness.

Kickin some ass!

I got a new piece of art in the mail today. The artist is Martha Rich. I'm so excited to get it framed and hang it in my office across from my desk at work! That is until the legislative ethics board, or someone else at the office tells me to take it down! But until then, I will smile up at this ass kickin lady daily!

things to round out the new house

We close on the house next Friday and I've been interviewing the first round of contractors to do floors, tree removal, etc. But I'm really just making lists in my head of things to plant in the garden and furnish the house. Maybe this shiny new "old" fridge will be added to the list. It would look great in the 40's architecture, say minty green?



or maybe one of these?


or these?


so many options, SMEG, Big Chill or Elmira Stove's Northstar? It will be a while before we do the kitchen, but I can dream!

happy pups

3 more weeks till I get to be home with the pups! Happy photos will have to do for now.