the search

We are officially on the hunt for a new place to live.

It is a trying experience, and is keeping us busy. It's eye-opening, you know? You have to look at your finances, you have to look at them again, and again...and then when you come up with your price range, you see exactly what you can get for the money.

So you raise your price range.

We had a funny, eye-opening experience yesterday. Our price limit was putting us in shady neighborhoods (bars on the windows, dead-bolts on the fence gates, you know) and when we finally decided to look at one of the duplexes, we realized that I'd been duped by the photos online. It was falling apart.

So here are my tips to anyone looking for a place to live.
1. Do not believe what you see online. They have purposely taken lo-res photos to disguise the mold in the bathrooms, cracks in the walls, dirt on the carpets, and holes in the backyard.
2. Drive around and figure out where you really want to live. Don't budge. I tried to budge and Ryan wouldn't have it. I'm glad he has stood his ground. It's for my own safety!
3. Be realistic about what you want and what you can afford. Don't be like me. Don't try to live the dream. We'll have our dream home someday...but for now, it's putting money at the feet of the rental dieties.
4. Use a realtor or a locator to do the hard work for you. They can call about pets, etc. They are your friends.

I still want my home to be out in the country, with my big kitchen and backyard that overlooks a pasture. But for now, we will see what we settle for. Hopefully we'll find something this week. We have to be out of here in a month! Yikes!

It's going to work out just fine, though. :)

ready!

I am so ready for a vacation!

My brain is this close to shutting off. I cannot remember the last time I took a few days off just to enjoy things. I am going to kick it off with fish tacos & beers in some great company. Then, I'm going to wrap up an article for Radiant (got a great interview this morning!). And tomorrow, we're dropping off little Finley at her aunt and uncle's house for a couple of days. :)

Most of the vacation will be doing stuff in town that we never get to do. Once we're back, I'll post some good local ideas for anyone. That way you can enjoy it, too.

I am about to burst with excitement. I'll try to post between outings, but I make no promises in "vacation mode."

gearing up

A year ago, Ryan and I took a mini-vacation. We hiked up Enchanted Rock (before the sun came up) and had it all to ourselves for an hour or two. I snapped this pic just before my batteries ran out. It's one of my favorites of him.

I wanted to post it because we're going to have another mini-vacation this week, almost to the day of last year's. We are really looking forward to having some time off, but we're going to do things a little differently this year.

Spent the weekend out at the farm. Fin made us proud--she jumped up onto a 5-1/2-foot-tall haybale by herself, and then lept down. She also had a good swim, and acted like a real sweetie while she was at Annette's. She is growing up! What a sweet puppy, though.

Ryan is having to reset the airport base station for our internet. Lucky for him, one of my smaller knitting needles was on the desk--he used it to press the button. This is one of the many small ways our worlds collide into funny little bursts of perfection.

Looking forward to one more day of work before the mini-vacay. Tomorrow is like Friday!

inspiration abounds

today has been a great day.

First of all, it's Friday.

Second, I came up with this name and logo for my crafts--jewelry, collage, and hopefully someday soon photography and painting. Once I get an etsy shop set up, I will post the link here.

I came up with this name for several reasons. Of course, as I have mentioned before, red is my favorite color. It is the color that inspires me. Inspired also has a spiritual connotation; I believe that I am inspired by my Creator, Redeemer, and Provider. And, I love using words creatively. I think the logo speaks to that. Plus, it's all-inclusive. It does not limit me to one kind of handmade craft.

Everyone was in a great mood at work today. That's always fun. We talked about artists, and cake decorating, and knitting, and our dogs, and music, and laughed a whole lot. We worked hard, but let loose a little on account of our good moods.

And to round it all out, we're headed to McGregor this weekend. It's time for the Baylor/Texas State blowout with Ryan's family. Fin will have a blast--we're staying out on the farm, so that means tank time for her!!

I am working on a few articles for a magazine and will start blogging for the same mag soon. Once that comes to fruition, I'll post a link.

Today is a great day.

dancing in the shadows

Two posts in one day! What am I thinking!

Well, I was outbid for the camera. Oh well. Someday when I actually have the money to spend, the right digital SLR will come around.

Ryan and I just watched "She's The One." One of his favorite movies. I must say, I did not like it the first time I saw it. But I gave it another chance and it was pretty great. I actually enjoyed it.

Finley has been crying all night. I think she is bored...we went on a walk, but I don't know how to explain to her that some evenings she just has to play with her toys. This weekend she'll get farm time. That means hay bales, tanks, doors to scratch, and just a lot of lovin' in general. She'll probably even get the queen's treatment at Ryan's aunt's house.

I took this photo because I really like frosted lights and I think our miniature art dude is so funny. I enjoy putting him in disco stances. When we got those shelves, they really were a mess. But now, we have them organized and decorated very simply. I think it's nice that Ryan and I have been able to mesh our styles together.

For me, the hard part has been giving up trinkets. I love little things, artsy things in earthy tones or in red. Red is my favorite color. It makes me feel inspired, and I think that's one of the most important things a color can do. Of course, the blue of the sky and the colors of the sunset are also inspiring; but when I see red, it's as if my brain turns on and that's when creativity begins.

Ryan has let me give in to my red obsession some--he even feeds it a little. I have started collecting red cookware. My french-style rolling pin, my stoneware, my wine opener, etc., etc. are all a deep red. Someday I'll have the red KitchenAid mixer!

But first, I'll opt for the digital SLR.

In the meantime, I'll try to post photos and words every day. I think this is the beginning of something good.

Dance on, disco man, dance on.

"i like the in focus ones."

I owe my blog an apology.

It has been wrongfully neglected for almost a month now. Problem is, I feel like I have to have something lengthy to talk about when I blog. Something about simplicity and creativity.

Well, writing is creative by its very nature. It also happens to be quite a simple means of expression.

So, no more with this "must have a topic to blog about" phobia. I'm going to post what I feel like when I feel like it. Thanks to Ryan. :)

Here is a photo of our puppy, Finley. She's almost a year old, and is as sweet as can be. Fortunately for me, she doesn't mind having her picture taken too much. What you can't see is that to get her to give me the "come on, mom, I'm cute enough" face, I was juggling a very expensive camera (borrowed from a coworker, and it was awesome) and cheese.

Fin will do anything for cheese. Luckily, the camera had great shutter response and I was able to snap quite a few keepers before she got bored with sitting and waiting for the cheese. Poor thing. I hold her hostage because of her cuteness. But do you blame me? Look at that heart-shaped nose, those dark honey eyes, that...face.

I hope to take many, many more photos. I think I am getting better and braver with my photography, though I will rarely approach a stranger or take a camera into public. But, I spend less time composing single shots and just click as soon as I like what I see. I don't worry so much about what others will think of my photos--instead, I have learned to shoot what I think is beautiful. Sometimes, though, it was much prettier in my head...

I am bidding on a digital SLR (body only) on ebay. I really hope I win at under $100! I have already gone above what I promised myself I'd stay under...but I probably won't win it so I'm not too scared. Money is too tight for me to try to buy something I don't need....just something I'd really like to have.

However, if I do win the camera, I am looking forward to many more successful photoshoots with Fin-bear, and move beyond home-bound still lifes.