So, we are buying a house. We are buying the house we are currently living in. We are buying a home. It still seems surreal to us. We’ve picked out paint colors and have purchased a couple of things. I’ve drawn a sketch of the living room and how I’d like it to look. I’ve picked out some pictures I’d like to print out and frame, because I can do that now. I put things on the walls. We can have a place of our very own.

And it feels good. It feels good to finally, after all the struggle and unsure and hem-haw, to finally have a place of our very own. A home and not just a place we are occupying in this moment. The other day I looked at Chris and said “We will put up a Christmas tree in our house”. I realize it’s not the structure that makes a home, but the people in it. But now, all those ideas and “if we had a place we’d do this” can happen. I am living in a moment were we can make really good things happen. It’s a nice change of pace.

You don’t know how hard it’s been keeping this “secret” (I’ve already told some people, because it was too much of a secret. Chris didn’t want to say anything until closing, but he gave in too). Happy Love Thursday!

We’ve got cucumbers! Lots of them! We’re just going to eat refrigerator pickles all summer long. And kale. Poor Chris is getting really tired of the kale. We eat it in just about everything. We will have kale until forever. It’s the new spinach. The squash has me worried. We have lots of baby squash, but they turn black before they can get big enough to pick. So far we’ve eaten one good squash and I picked another one yesterday. But the plant is loaded with baby squash. We should have squash coming out our ears by now. I’ve got to do a bit of research and head out to the garden center for some help or there will be no squash casserole.

That’s the only plant giving me grief right now. We’ve got tomatoes. They’re so cute; I’ve named them Princess tomatoes (I have no idea what kind they are, heirloom from the farmer’s market) because they look like tiny princess pumpkins. Instead of a carriage, I’m hoping my fairy godmother chooses to turn into a big ripe red tomato. Everyone has been sprayed for bugs and Dipel dusted. Chris read somewhere that Bounce dryer sheets will keep bugs away. I’m thinking of tying a few out by the tomatoes ad squash. I’ll let you know how that goes. If any thing they may just look like white flags of surrender blowing around in the garden. I like that.

I’m not saying that every single person we dealt with during this ordeal was a peach, but for the most part everyone was so nice and understanding. The first pair of P&L guys that came out about the downed power line told us that it would have been better off if they hadn’t come because when they saw the damage they new they’d have to turn off the power. They new that everything on the outside of the house would have to be replaced by an electrician. Our landlord couldn’t even get an electrician to call him back until the second day. Oh, and our landlord? Nicest of them all. He was fraught with worry. He offered to put us up in a hotel, but we declined because we knew Hooper would be miserable there. He brought over an ice chest of beer and water. He brought over a heavy duty extension cord to run to the empty house next door. That helped a lot actually.

But that guy up there in the picture? That guy? He’s my favorite. Not only did he get out power back on, but he totally agreed to pose in my 365 day picture. And that’s why he’s making it into a Love Thursday entry. He had no idea what he was getting himself into and I’m pretty sure he thought we were crazy. Yeah, well, that’s what 10 days without electricity will do to ya.

I feel like things are right on track. We’ve been to a few Farmer’s Markets lately that specialize in local produce. The only things we’ve walked away with were eggs and bread. All the booths had things that we were already growing in our own garden. It was a nice feeling. When I need lettuce for a sandwich or a salad, I take a pair of scissors and cut off what I need from the garden. Last week I made a stir-fry with asparagus, green onions, and kale. All but the asparagus came from our garden.

Last night Chris helped me hook up the garden hose to water the garden. There’s no back faucet so we have to hook it to the front and run it through the garage. We haven’t had to do this very often because of all the rain we’ve gotten here. But yesterday we needed to water the garden and that was about it. I pulled a few weeds. Sprayed everything down with soap. Sprinkled leafy things with Dipel Dust. And that is the extent of this weeks work in the garden. Some times I’m still surprised and amazed at how easy all of this has become.

Two items that are for sure staying are the elephant tumbler glasses and the beaker with the handle (can’t really see those in the picture). The thing I’m on the fence about is the cocktail set. It is a complete set, with numbers 1 through 8 on the bowl and pitcher and all eight glasses (1-8). The thing is, when I bought them, I could totally see them in my future home. Still can. But do I need them? Would I use them?

So, internet, what do you think? Want to help me decide? Keep or EBay? I’ll review all sides of the argument and post my final decision on Friday.

You see, if you were to ask me what’s the one thing I remember the most about my best friend, it is that she twirls her hair. Every class we were in together it was a guarantee that I could look over to my left or right and Steph would be sitting there, a pen in one hand and a finger tangled into a lock of hair. Some may say that this habit is a nervous twitch, but I find it to be soothing. It could also be said that Cati’s habit of twirling her hair is a learned behavior, but I choose to believe it’s a hereditary trait. Cati is so different from Steph in personality. She could give Carrie from Sex and the City a run for her money on the shoe collection alone. She is a girly girl, where Steph was more just girl. The hair twirl though, that’s the clincher.

Now that my hair is getting a little longer (OH MY GOD IT WILL NEVER BE LONG ENOUGH TO DONATE!), I have taken to the habit of twirling my hair. It is calming, but that’s not why I do it. I do it because every time I start, I think of Steph. It’s a simple way to keep them close.

Happy Love Thursday!

We were unprepared for the size and scope of the plant sale. We got there kind of late, it was crowded and parking was a bitch, but it was worth it. I think we could have spent all day there. There were a couple of things I wanted, but didn’t get. One was this beautiful hanging chenille plant. We saw a guy walking with it and asked him where he got it. He told us he’d taken the last one. He was buying it for his 90 year old mother. I think she deserved it more than me. The other thing was a miniature olive tree. This I could go back for and just might have to.

It was a good day. And since I don’t have pictures of the garden, I leave you with these mushrooms that have popped up in a bale of hay we had sitting in the backyard. It’s given me an idea. I think I can grow mushrooms in the basement!

Also, the spinach I planted isn’t doing so well. I have three plants out of a whole row of spinach come up. To fix this, I planted some chard seeds. Maybe I’ll have chard and spinach. Either way, I think we have our greens covered.

Still no animal attacks. I’m seriously considering a FURminator for Hooper. Not only to help with the tons of hair balls we have floating around the house, but to tie around the garden. I’ll make my own voodoo talisman against vegetable predators.

After the service, Chris and I walked up to visit J’s site. There’s a tree next to it and Katrina has hung all of these wind chimes and whirl gigs from the branches. Those weren’t there the last time I visited and a bubbly sob of laughter burped out at the perfectness of those things. Then Chris and I cried and held each other for bit, taking some time to grieve. We moped ourselves off and headed out for our own goodbyes. I am thankful that we had this moment.

I am thankful that we made it home before the worst of the storms hit our area. I am thankful that my friends and family survived the storms relatively unscathed. I am thankful for a snooze button. And I am thankful that my cleansing diet is over.

So say we all.

And thank you to The Force.

We are exhausted today. Chris picked the dog up from the vet/boarder/groomer’s and the dog is exhausted. I can’t even remember where this entry was going. I’m that tired. The house is a wreck. We’re in desperate need of some groceries. But I really don’t care. ‘Cause you know what? V is parked right out there in our garage. And right now I am not sitting on an air mattress. I am on a real live couch.

And now I’m going to bed. At 8:00. Don’t you judge me.