a weekend at home

Even though it was still a bit dark outside, we were all up extra early Saturday mornin'. Trevor was off to Austin and Miriam and I were up making coffee for the workers. T had "gotten a good deal" on some trees at work so a few guys arrived ready to get 'em in the ground. I figured some hot jo would be extra incentive to do a good job, plus Moosh loves to help my pour coffee beans in the grinder and push the button. She's very helpful, minus when she dumps a scoop out on the floor.

After breakfast we headed out to Plano to pick up a stroller. And why a new stroller you may ask? Because some jerk stole ours off our front porch. Yeah, I know I shouldn't have left it out so really it's my fault, but boy was I mad. So, we pulled up to a not so nice neighborhood and I started to think, hmmm, is this such a god idea to be in a strange neighborhood alone with my toddler? But of course I ignored my gut and knocked on the door anyway. Sure enough, there was an identical Bob waiting for me. Who knows, maybe I just bought my original one back!

We stopped by a new lunch spot on our way back called Start. I ordered baked chicken nuggets + sweet potato tots for Miriam, but she ended up wanting my spinach & veggies wrap, which means I ate the chicken & tots. Typical. I'd totally go back though. Pretty inside and just a refreshing concept to fast food. The rest of our girls weekend was spent snuggled inside. Heat turned on for the first time and I went digging for jackets and sweaters in the closets. We read books in my bed and watched our "favorite show", a DVD of Busytown. Do you remember those Richard Scarry books from childhood? I remember pouring through them and all his tiny detail in each scene. The pickle car was pretty cool too.

There was also an acorn hunt outside for the squirrels, some breathing treatments (just 'til this cough goes away), dressing up in our Halloween costume, a visit to Half Price books (major scores here), eating leftovers for dinner, watching chuck's day off on dvr, laundry, making my own vanilla creamer, and a grocery run for a Sunday evening roast. It can make a for a really long weekend to be on your own sometimes, but it's also mighty special to have a little shadow following you around saying, "I hold you mommy" when she wants to be picked up. By Sunday evening, little nugget was also pretty stoked to see daddy come home though and so was I.

october tunes

I love music. Since I work from home you can bet there is something playing in the background pretty much all the time. It instantly lifts my mood and makes the house feel alive even when it's just me. Music while I'm cooking, music during dinner, and music while I work. A lot of time it's just Pandora, which is amazing, but I'm also listening to new tunes I've downloaded or my new favorite radio station KXT. Dallas has some seriously good radio. I like to think I'm pretty on trend and in the know about new bands, but since I am rarely going to shows anymore, my brother is usually my go to for what's cool & new. Our parents passed along their love of music and you can always count on Momma to have her ipod playing in the house. I'm hoping to pass that along to Miriam as well and that time can't come soon enough, because the toddler tunes cd's on heavy rotation in the car are wearing me out!

Some I've bought, but a lot I've gotten off Noise Trade which sends you emails with new artists. You can listen to sample songs, then download the whole thing for free! Also, Bearings, which is really a mens guide so maybe I like boy music - ha, but they always suggest some great small band with their newsletter. And finally, Rdio is kind of like Pandora, but shows you what's popular in various genres - love this. Here's what I've downloaded lately…

The Deep Dark Wood
Futurebirds  (athens band)
Shovels & Rope
Avett Brothers (always a fave)
Buddy Miller (love his cd with his wife)
The Kingston Springs
Alabama Shakes (heard at AMA & they're blowin' up)
Edward Sharpe (entire new CD is great)
Andrew Bird
Amos Lee (mission bell cd)
Escondido (small EP)
Jason Isbell
Kopecky Family Band


and if you missed Mumford & Sons + Emmy Lou belting out their music together, believe me… it is so worth watching!

rain, rain

Heavy and strong, the rain came on Friday and didn't let up for two days. This time, thankfully, it did not come pouring into the house as well. Roof and chimney tight - whew! It was lovely really. The plants all came alive when it was over and the sky was that deep blue with a tinge of coolness in the air. I spent Saturday at a nearby school for my Jr League project. The weather didn't cooperate, but as our leader said, we were grateful for the rain, which lets the garden grow. And I know Miss Miriam sure didn't mind watching extra cartoons all afternoon.

Then, yesterday afternoon, I ran around the house straightening up and getting the house presentable before an important visit from a yellow gal. Cooper dog left us the week before Miriam came into this world. The timing was surreal and heartbreaking. It was one of the worst days ever and I still get queasy just thinking about it. The best big buddy I've ever known. He didn't live nearly as long a life as he should have, but he was ready. Maybe he knew we would be so filled with love from our new baby that it would help us heal. And it did. We still talk about him all the time though and Miriam loves to look at his pictures and talk about what a good boy he was. And so now that we're settled in Dallas, it's the right time for our family to grow. We met our 3rd "candidate" from the local lab rescue and she was sweet, but not the best fit. I've been trying to lower my expectations because no dog will be quite like Coop, but I am totally hopeful we can find the perfect dog for us. Right now we're 0 for 3, but the yard is set and we are so ready. Keeping fingers crossed another big buddy will soon be curled up in our home.

not quite fall

I'm ready for Fall. Got my boots out, sweaters down from the closet, and made some pumpkin bread this morning. Now, if only the weather would cooperate. It's like a high of 94 today and my feet are practically getting a tan underneath my desk window. Durn.

It's fine I guess. At least last week was better and we were able to step foot outside and enjoy our new patio. Oh, except that we don't have any patio furniture.Whoops. So, since we couldn't exactly sit and relax outside, not that we could do that with a 2 year old anyway, we decided to finally clean the garage. It was one filthy, messy thing. So we pulled everything out, swept like mad, and even decorated her a bit on the outside. Old girl is feeling mighty fine now! You know, there is some real satisfaction in working on a house. Our list has seemed so long and daunting, but you just gotta chip away at it and boy does it feel fabulous when you do cross something off. I even got around to filling all my Ikea frames with stuff, buying a front door fern, and fluffing up the place a bit. Now all I need is some visitors. Hint, hint my friends :)

going home

I know Dallas is technically my home now, but I visited my real home last week and had the most jam packed, wonderful, working, wild time. That's how it is every time I go home. We rolled in Wednesday afternoon to cool temps and heavenly blue skies. I swear, it's like the air is just a little bit sweeter there. I know, I know distance makes the heart grow fonder! So, we rolled into the farm and dropped Miriam off so we could scoot downtown for the Americana Awards show. It's just about my favorite thing all year. Always great bands, always great vibe, and always at the The Ryman. It was also a reunion of sorts for me and Currier. We talk every single day, but hadn't seen one another since April so we were chatty-chatty all night long, just having us the best time. Our excitement carried us on to Broadway where I found myself snapping pics of Broadway like some tourist. I seriously have no idea what got into me, I was just so thrilled to be home.
For the next couple days Miriam got right back into being a farm girl. Feeding the donkeys carrots, riding the tractor, the jeep, 3 dogs, the golf cart, a new mr potato head… endless entertainment and I think she was ready to move in permanently. Life is good there.
Lately I'd been really  missing all my friends so this trip was pretty great timing. We talk and I see pics online and email, but there is something about that face time that's irreplacable. Plus, I was dying to see all their sweet babies. They're changing so fast and I feel like I'm missing it. It's the most amazing thing to see someone you've known your whole life become a mother. You get to witness the pure love that's grown between them and that baby. It's big I tell ya!
We had a small play date at Parmer Park and wouldn't ya know it, the toddler of the group, Miss Miriam, was the big baby. Reminder not to wake her up from a snooze, even if that means you're going to be late to the date. I repeat, do not wake up from nap. Oh well, gotta roll with it so we sat on a blanket and caught up and gossiped and talked "motherhood" until it was time to head home for supper. I could've stayed much longer squeezing all those baby legs.

One thing I made sure to plan was some all important cousin time. Momma and I went over to Laurens Friday afternoon for some champers and watched Charlie & Miriam run around like crazy chickens. Little legs flailing as they ran up and down the driveway giggling. They were hilarious and so were the grand-mommas scooting after them. I loved just observing them together, because we talk about one another all of the time. Charlie says prayers for Mimi and Miriam says prayers for Charlie. Sigh. Two peas in a pod those little nuggets. And of course I can never get enough time with my Lauren. Can I just teleport you here please?! She's also looking mighty fine lately. Girlfriend has been doing boot camp and I'm so impressed. Now, if only her motivation would rub off on moi.
The final hurrah came Saturday night when we had a small penthouse party. My brother was out of town, so Trevor and I invited a few friends over to his place to watch the big UT/Florida game. UT was completely pitiful and depressing, but I didn't really care and we had the best time ever. It was the first time I've hung with my best buds without kids in… I don't even know how long. It'd been a while and we certainly made up for lost time. The tunes were flowing and there might have even been a late night dance party happenin' in the wee hours. The perfect send off to hold me through until my next visit back home.

a little feature for the hens

Tenn Hens was featured over at Once Wed with a photoshoot by my lovely friend Brooke Boling. It was a fun collaboration and her images are so dreamy. Kinda makes ya want to get married again, huh? Hope you'll take a look!

end of summer is near

Two weekends ago we had a wonderful recent visit with my mother-in-law. Her stay came just when we needed a familiar face and hug from family. Miriam takes a couple days to totally warm up, (it's hard when you only see them a couple times a year) but, it was all about grand-mare after that. Lots of tea parties, reading books, playing nigh-night, and park dates. Oh and we ate a lot! Cooked up a big meal, toured the neighborhood, and just did things around the house. Finally hung a laundry shelf and attempted to hang a light fixture in the kitchen, but aborted once we realized an electrician we were not. We didn't do anything particularly fancy, but I've realized with Miriam just being together with family is enough. Trevor's mom is one of the kindest, most welcoming ladies and we've always been blessed with a really special relationship. Just bring on the vino and our chatty-chatting begins.

Summer is slowly coming to an end on the calendar and even Mother Nature is catching on. Saturday was beautiful here and it seemed like everyone flew open their doors, flocked outside, and finally took a big exhale like they could breathe again. Amazing what the weather can do to your soul. Just lights a fire and makes ya feel good. I actually spent the entire day outside gardening at a local school as my first foray into Junior League. This is my attempt at stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something I normally wouldn't do. Ha! That and I'm desperate to make some friends. We shall see.

In other news… football has begun. What that means around here is there's a neon orange and white flag flying nigh from the new abode. Can't say I'm lovin' it, but it sure has gotten the attention of some neighbors. A guy at the park said… "oh yes, you're the people with the big UT flag"… yes sir, we sure do love us some Tennessee 'round here. Oh well, you gotta pick your battles and seeing that flag makes the husband real happy.

Miriam started back to school last week and after some rearranging she's settling into her new class. They put her in a class with 12 boys and didn't bother mentioning she'd be the only girl until I showed up for "meet the teachers" day. I didn't want to make a fuss and thought maybe I was over reacting inside, but the truth is I thought it was really weird. After consulting my buddy Mols (momma to 2 girls) and my own momma, I spoke with the school and they apologized (kinda) and moved her to a different classroom. What they failed to tell me this time, and I had to find out on my own the first day of school, was that the new class was full of 3 year olds. I only realized it after getting two birthday party invites the first week. Nice communication right? I swear I should start a day-care and I would do things so, so differently than what I've experienced. Anyway, I think she's going to be just fine and honestly, she seems much happier in this classroom than the summer program. My mom reminded me of the old schoolhouse days where all the kids were piled into one room no matter the age. My little Moosh will just be extra special and probably the only one wearing a bright orange bubble!