It's all about ME!

I've never been a person to shout from the rooftops that it's my birthday but I'm thinking that should change sometime. I have a friend who's birthday was last week and she treats herself for the entire week. I'm thinking "Right On!" I should treat myself more often. So in honor of my 30th birthday, this post is all about me. Here's 30 things you might not know about me.

1. I can't whistle. I've never been able to. And don't think that you can say "it's easy, I'll show you." Believe me, I've tried, and the best I can get is some spit.

2. I cry every day. I'm not someone that most people would consider especially weepy, but I at least tear up every day. Whether I'm thinking about something that happened last week,or I'm watching a cotton commercial, I'll tear up. So if you are ever around me and you think it looks like I'm crying even though nothing remotely emotional is happening, chances are pretty good that I really am crying.

3. I talk to myself all the time. When I talk to myself my lips move but I don't actually say anything. Weird. I know. So if it looks like I might be talking to you but you don't hear any sound coming out, don't worry, you are not going to deaf, I am just having a conversation with myself again.

4. I don't like eggs. The only way I like eggs is mixed with flour and sugar and baked into cake or cookies.

5. Are you still here? You didn't honestly think I was going to write 30 things did you? I'm all out of ideas at 4. OK here's my #5. If I was reading someones blog and they wrote 30 things about themselves there is a pretty good chance I would have only skimmed it. I don't blame you if that is what you decided to do here.

Fresh Squeezed

Our new house has an orange tree and a lemon tree. We were so excited for all the fresh squeezed orange juice and lemonade but due to the fact that no one really has been really taking care of them for the last two years the crop totaled 7 oranges and 3 lemons. Well we can be excited for next year anyway. We have been watering and fertilizing and have tons of blossoms.

Disappointed that we didn't have any for ourselves we took to stealing fruit from the neighbors trees after dark. OK no not really. The HOA's all plant citrus trees along side the road so tonight for Family Home Evening we decided to make good use of our HOA fees and go pick some oranges. The bottom half of the trees had all been cleared, so John fashioned some fruit pickers and we set to work.

We got three bags or oranges and then realized that it would have been a good idea to buy an electric juicer prior to tonight. Oh well. The four of us used our muscles and got a half gallon of juice. It is a lot of work but for fresh squeezed juice, there are some things worth working for.

One sip . . . .

and the taste . . . .

Of fresh squeezed Orange Juice . . . .

WAS SO AWFUL!

"Oh I'll just add a little sugar" I thought. No,a cup and a half of sugar later I could barely gag it down. I'll be honest the smell of the oranges is still in the air and my stomach is hurting. It's that bad.

I suppose they are considered ornamental for a reason.

First Bike

Do you remember your first bike? I remember mine. I got it for Christmas when I was six years old. When I saw it by the tree I knew it was mine. Of course that afternoon I got to try it out. I wasn't very good. I kept imagining that I would be able to ride that day. Well it took some training wheels and a LONG time (I'm thinking many months), before I got it.

Hyrum got his first bike recently. We had some training wheels, but unfortunately they were meant for a smaller bike. They were useless to Hyrum. I was worried. I had no reason to be. He got it almost immediately. I don't get it. He obviously didn't get that coordination from me. Riding a bike was easy for Alan too. But every day since then he begs to go ride his bike outside. Remember that excitement. The freedom and exhilaration of being on a bike.

He makes me want to get a bike too.

Confounded

I may have been taught to play checkers once when I was a kid, but if so, I have no memory of it. I never knew how to play checkers and had consequently, never played before until last Saturday. I was at a garage sale (Horray for garage sales!), and saw a checkers game for 25 cents. I figured it would be a good addition to our game collection.

Saturday afternoon I played my first game of Checkers.


I have played 3 times since then.


I still have yet to beat my 5 year old.



(Maybe there is a reason I never played this as a kid)

End Tables

I mentioned that I also redid some end tables. I think these end tables are older than I am. My parents had them as long as I can remember and they gave them to us when they finally upgraded and we were using apple boxes for end tables.

Aren't they lovely? I know you could hardly tell that they are 30 years old. Well I HATED these tables and was embarrassed to have them but unable to go buy new ones. I figured I had nothing to loose when Kathy suggested that I paint them. So I went completely out of my comfort zone and painted them red.

Believe it or not these are both the same color. I am just that bad a photographer. In reality it is less pink then the one on the left and less bright then the one on the right. In any case the look better in person and better then the original.

My Latest Project

I always need a project. Paint the walls? OK. Plant a garden? Sure. Systematically try all oatmeal cookie recipes to find the best one? Why not? Really it's all an excuse to not clean my house. Anything but cleaning. If you've been to my house you will know that this is not an exaggeration. John has been patient with my projects but really he's holding his breath wishing I would settle down a little. Well John unwittingly introduced me to my next project.

Our friend Kathy has a great knack for decorating, but John knew that I would never ask her to come help me figure out what to do. So for a Christmas present John set up a day for Kathy to come help me with the house. Kathy gave me tons of great ideas and even showed me some great spots to go furniture shopping. She was also kind enough to hold my hand and help me though refinishing some furniture. So without further delay . . . . Here it is!

Ta Dah! Ain't she a bute! Well this is the before anyway. Sorry about the odd angle but it is the best I could do in my garage. Well are you ready for the after. No. To be truly ready for the after you have to appreciate out set up before.

Yes that is what you think it is. Our TV is on top of another TV. Wow. I confessed it. It's good to get that off my chest and out in the open. Now everyone knows how trashy we are. Or as a friend told me "You just need to move it out onto the porch with your couch." Alright now that you understand our desperate need. Here is the after.

Ta dah! I was worried for a while but I'm pleased with how it turned out. I did some end tables too but my camera is having issues and they will have to be posted another day. Now that Kathy got me started I have a long list of furniture to re-do. Thanks Kathy! And don't worry. We just moved the other TV into the cabinet so that John and I can still both watch out favorite TV shows at the same time.