Snow

I didn't think this post needed much more explanation in the title. Although we have not had as much snow as Washington DC with the most recent storms, we have had our fair share in the past week.

(Where's the pond/waterfall?)

(Firepit on the patio)

Some of this is residual from the storm over the weekend, but a good portion of it fell today.  Storm totals between today and tomorrow are expected to be anywhere from 7-10 inches.  It seemed like we already had 2-3 by 9:00 this morning. 

Birthday Celebration #3

For the past several years, Tom and I haven't really made a big deal about birthdays and holidays, partially because money was tight, and partially because we figured that we will just get things as we need them and just enjoy the time together.  This year, however, has been a little bit different.  Thus far, I have had three "birthday dinners" and enjoyed a concert tonight as my birthday present. 

Around New Year's, Tom purchased tickets for us to see Richard Marx, and this evening we were able to enjoy my birthday present!  Really, I had forgotten just how many of my favorite 80's songs were sung by Richard Marx.  Angelina, Endless Summer Nights, Don't Mean Nothin', Right Here Waiting, Hazard (which I never liked), Children of the Night, Now and Forever...etc...etc.  I found myself singing along to most of the songs once he reached the chorus, but that was the extent of my participation at the concert.  He sang with the Toledo Orchestra, which offerd a very nice accompaniment to most of the songs.  The crowd was an intersting mix between people there to just see the Orchestra, and those just there to see Richard Marx.  There was the elderly crowd that has season tickets to the Orchestra who I overheard in the restroom saying to one another,"Do you know who the young man singing is?" to which none of them had an answer to, and then there were the women who were his original groupies.  And of course, there is always the one crazy stalker fan, who yells out "I love you!" repeatedly, tries to make her own requests by shouting them out between songs, and is the only one standing in the seated theatre, dancing and swaying to every song regardless of the rhythm. 

Overall, I had a wonderful time, and now regret that we didn't bite the bullet and buy tickets when Peter Cetera was in town with the Orchestra.  We hope to be able to attend more concerts in the future, and possible some plays as well.  Wicked is coming to town in a couple of months!

Ohio Winter "Wonderland" Pictures...

Backyard blanketed in snow.

Cardinals and Blue jays make a winter home in the cherry trees.

Tala and Rusty like to eat the snow.

Nighttime christmas lights picture of the front of the house.  Three trees with lights.

Yes, I Am a Child of the 80's

You know you're a child of the 80's when....you geek out over Richard Marx....and really geek out when your husband buys you tickets to see him in concert!

Home project updates...

Stef and myself are still plugging along with renovations to the master suite downstairs.  You may recall this picture from one of our previous posts; mid-deconstruction. 

Here it is thus far.  Walls are now refinished, sanded, primed and painted a light blue.  We stenciled a diamond fleurdelis pattern on the wall where the bed will go.  We'll probably go with a white rod-iron bed setup.  Ledge is painted semi-gloss white.  Wainscoting and trim are starting to go up around the room.

Here you can see an in-room sink outside of the bathroom and walk-in closet.  Doors will be painted white.  Stef is in the midst of refinishing the sink.  Slowly coming along.

Here you can see the door-way (behind the lamp), which leads to the den where the fireplace is.

Annual Ginger Bread Project...

Layout of the Ginger Bread Farm House and Barn.  Card stock cut to size for ginger bread outlines.

Making a ginger-bread roof, grain silo and reindeer.

All the pieces of the farm are complete and cooling waiting for assembly.

Basic structure of the Farm is put together with Royal Icing.  Jolly ranchers are melted down to make windows.

Roofing added to structures.  Red ropes on the barn, and rolos on the roof.  Mike and Ikes on the Farm house, candy-cane porch, hershey kisses on the roof.  Andes Mints on the side of the Silo, redhots on the roof and hershey kisses hidden inside.

Stefanie making peppermint bark.

Pouring the peppermint bark into tile moulds.

Placing the peppermint bark tiles on the roof of the farm house and barn.

Base of the board is covered in royal icing.  Frosted mini-wheats, crushed, and sprinkled in the field to look like furrows of chopped corn.  Stef made a mould of a Truck for the Farm out of peppermint bark.  Reindeer have piped Red royal icing around their necks with gold sugar balls.  9 deer, one with red nose.

Final project.

New dogs...

Freshly minted graduates of doggy behavior reform school. Complete with corrective implements attached.

When we adopted Rusty back in April, we didn't realize he came along with a bit of a stubborness, growling and biting habit when he didn't get his way. It reached a bit of a pinnacle in August when he bit the groomer at Pet Smart and drew blood. Not acceptable. We brought him in to the Vet to see what we should do. The vet could not find any physical/chemical findings wrong with Rusty that might explain his behavior. The vet recommended Kelly, a behavioralist that trains the K-9 units for the NW Ohio area.

We made an appointment to have both Rusty and Tala evaluated by Kelly. We added Tala in because we really hadn't had any training for her before and she did have a bit of a confidence and anxiety problem. After the evaluation, we decided to enroll Rusty and Tala in a 12 day intensive course on appropriate doggy manners. The house was so empty for the 12 days.

Tonight was our first night back with the dogs in our house, and oh boy is it different. When you walk with them on the leash, they no longer pull and they walk at your left side. They stop when you stop, they go where you go. When I left the house to go out front neither dog barked at me while I went out the door. The dogs are no longer allowed to be on the couch now unless invited. No jumping or paws are allowed on the legs. It is much different now the dogs are much more subdued, and pay more attention now to commands.

Tonight we had our first hour long class learning how to use our new dogs. We learned appropriate dog walking technique, and appropriate corrective measures to modify behavior using a choker-chain and leash. You want to achieve correction, not inflict pain. If they exhibit a wrong behavior they get a firm no with a Snap to the leash for correction.