To Everything There Is A Season

Spring masquerading as winter is a reality that I ignore every year, yet it proved undeniable this week. The first day of spring dawned, tentatively clear and hinting at the promises it held, the second day of spring brought hail, the third day provided an inch of snow, and then I realized that the faint chuckle I had been hearing on the wind was, in fact, winter laughing at my naive optimism. Trying to keep two active dogs entertained indoors until the weather cooperates is also an exercise in futility since optimism regarding outdoor conditions is apparently not restricted to humans.

Snow? Wind? Hail? I fail to see a problem...

Despite the bipolar weather, we decided to take on a new trail this weekend that offers views normally reserved for mountain goats. All in all it was a nice hike; the sun offset the chill of the wind and the footing was solid aside from a few muddy spots.

Bargain Buy of the Week:

After spending an afternoon in a local furniture store discovering that it would cost $2000 - $3000 to get an actual bedroom set, I happened upon this craigslist gem for $100. Even though it necessitates an update of the nightstands and lamps, it still feels like we will be coming out ahead!

"In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours."
Mark Twain

Portrait of a Long Weekend

I adore holiday weekends...

Mandatory game day attire for the Boise workplace...

Squirrel!!

Mr. Fix-It

Finally finished!!

"Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance 
but disappear when you get up close to them." 
John Shirley

In Which I Admit To Missing Oregon

It's official: I miss Oregon. Cold, grey rain and all. 

It's more that I feel a bit hoodwinked regarding Boise's 'typical' weather. Our first year here was mild: reasonable summer temperatures, a long drawn out fall (my favorite season), little snow, and an almost perfect spring.   

Currently, it's hot as hell. Only five days out of the last 37 have had daytime highs below 90*. Only one of those five days was below 85*. I'm all for summer sun, but I draw the line when anything-outdoors-that-does-not-involve-being-submerged-in-water becomes impossible and results in 2nd degree sunburns. Not cool.

There are also wildfires all over this summer, which I've discovered is apparently normal and of little concern to the locals. I, on the other hand, am in an acute state of unease when this is the view from my front yard.

Umm... at what point should I pack a "go bag"?

And let's not even start on the dust storm that rolled through yesterday afternoon, leaving Boise in a haze that lasted until late today.

All that grey sky? Dust.

All I can say is that there had better be an amazing fall and mild winter coming, otherwise the Willamette Valley just might be seeing us a few years sooner than expected. 

On a more positive note, I just discovered that Costco sells enormous dogs beds that smell like cedar for just $20. A bed that fits both dogs and leaves them with a pleasant woodsy scent? Awesome.

Pocketful of Sunshine

Summer has finally arrived in Boise! Our daytime highs haven't dipped much below the mid-80s in the past couple weeks, so bring on the sun-river-camping-hiking-biking-boating-fishing fun!

My coworkers and I have a mutual fondness of dogs and outdoor activities, so we have been doing a lot of group hikes lately. Our latest trip was to check out Military Reserve Park, which contains nearly 500 acres of crisscrossing trails. The loop that we took was quite literally uphill both ways, so the final verdict is that the park is awesome. And it kicked our butts. 

Well deserved

We also introduced some friends to Korean-style BBQ over the weekend, with great success. The only part of Korean BBQ that I dislike is the prep work - the amount of time required to prepare everything is disproportionally large in comparison to the meal itself. If it wasn't so delicious, I wouldn't be so willing to make it on a regular basis.

Obsession of the Week: I'll Bark When I Want To...
Please excuse the full title of this video, but it's way too funny not to share! I start giggling every time I think about it, and hysterical laughter ensues whenever I watch it - which has been about twelve times now. I don't want to bark anymore...

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." 
- Albert Einstein

The Beat Goes On

Life has kept me hopping lately - no rest for the wicked I guess. I worked the closing shift for most of last week, which meant that I got to experience the frustration joy of being delayed by last-minute customers nearly every day. We actually got out of the office on time Saturday, and I went home for about an hour before heading off to book club. 

Oh yeah, I joined a book club. And consequently discovered that, either due to the higher elevation or the fact that I really haven't drank for six months or so, alcohol affects me way differently than it used to. "Your body can process one drink an hour" no longer applies to this girl. Lesson learned.

Book club adjourned after discussing The Hunger Games (which was fantastic), and we headed to a bar to listen to our host's boyfriends' band play their very last gig. The notable thing about this was that the bar happened to be located in the Bermuda Triangle of downtown. This area of downtown has boggled my mind since we moved to Boise. I can't really explain why it confuses me, other than the fact that it's almost like a town within a town and I never go there alone since I'm 98% certain that I would never make it back out. Add in the issue of overly-potent alcohol and I was hopelessly lost - at which point I phoned home for an emergency extraction and called it a night.

On Sunday we hosted a BBQ with friends, and Monday evening saw me heading to softball practice since I decided to join a team through work. I warned the team captain before I signed up that my only experience with the game was making daisy chains in the outfield during T-ball; we were both relieved to discover that I am apparently capable of functioning on the field and at bat. We have a great group of people on the team so it should be a fun experience.

Soaking up some rays 

We also met a few more of the neighbors last weekend. Unfortunately some of these relationships are off to a rocky start...

"What ever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it."

- Eckhart Tolle

Misplaced Time + A New Addition

I find myself constantly wondering where time has gone lately. We've been in our new house for three weeks, I've been at my new job for almost two months, and we're already halfway through March!

I had myself convinced that I would only take one week off from posting...
and then I blinked and it was three weeks later. In my own defense, I have been working a lot. The office has been crazy, and I work six days in a row there every couple weeks. My evenings at home have been spent working on graphic design projects and yet more unpacking; I've literally been falling into bed exhausted every night for the past two weeks. Chris has been amazing though - cooking dinner on the nights that I don't get home until 7 in the evening and keeping up on the laundry (my most hated chore). He's pretty fantastic.

We've also been having random snowstorms every few days which are greeted with enthusiasm by only half of our household. I'll give you two guesses as to which half...
 

Last weekend we went on a date to our favorite little Mexican restaurant (their Carne asada is unbelievably good), attended a yard care seminar at a local garden shop (woohoo, homeowner stuff!), and then explored the park near our neighborhood. The trail system was much more extensive than we realized and actually connects to the Greenbelt trail that follows the Boise River. The weather was lovely - partially cloudy, almost warm, and very little wind.

How gorgeous is this view!?

And finally, allow me to introduce Zoë - the newest addition to our little family of furballs.

She is about a year old and a total sweetheart. She and Jake are getting on well, but the cat is understandably concerned.

"Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog."
Franklin P. Jones

Perpetual Improvisation

I went through a medical procedure last week, which means that I will be laying low until Wednesday. Since I spent the weekend indoors and at home, our weekend was very quiet and, in my case, movie-oriented. It's funny - no matter how much you might be wishing for a break, as soon as one becomes mandatory it ceases to be desirable... This probably has more to do with the fact that I was planning to be frantically diligently packing so we would be ready when closing on our house rolls around. In the meantime, I am trying to go with the flow and not stress about situations beyond my control.

Who can stay stressed with this little dog requesting more playtime?

In lieu of anything truly interesting, allow me to share a couple nuggets for my Obsession(s) of the Week:

I challenge you to watch this video without smiling - especially when he starts busting out some tiny tennis grunts just over one minute in. Victoria Azarenka would be proud.

Does anyone else own a pet like this? Imagine a large white cat in place of the dog and you will understand why we keep Moochie's water in our shower. No lie, our cat is that enthusiastic about splashing in his water dish.

Happy Accident

I was originally supposed to be laid up from a procedure this weekend, but thanks to a few miscommunications and a last-minute save I avoided both the procedure (at least for this week) and a $3,500 out-of-network bill. Phew! The next time that I am being sent anywhere for medical stuff I am confirming that they are sending me in-network for my insurance before I leave their office!

On the bright side, it was a gorgeous weekend and I was thrilled not to spend it indoors. Cold and clear with intensely blue skies - my absolute favorite winter weather. We took the pup and wandered a few of the foothill trails on Saturday morning. A couple of the trails that we had hoped to take were closed due to muddy conditions, but there were so many other options that we didn't even miss them. While there we met a gentleman who had adopted a one-year-old Italian Greyhound mix from a shelter the same year that we adopted our Whippet mix and found that they were amusingly similar in both looks and temperament. Small talk while our pups were playing led to discovering that he had moved to the area this past summer as well (from a climate similar to the Willamette Valley) and was loving the high-desert weather and Boise's charm just as much as we have been.

Glorious winter sunshine. I don't think I will ever get over this blessing.

 

In between our errands and outings I was on my computer, mostly for graphic design, but also trying to find a cookbook holder for our soon-to-be new kitchen. I will actually have counter and cupboard space once we move!! Our current kitchen is tiny, at least in the storage/counter space department, so I have avoided leaving anything other than the bare essentials on the counter. While perusing Target's online offerings, I noticed something on the corner of my laptop.

 

He's so subtle when he's demanding asking for some extra attention. Apparently snuggles on a cozy, blanket covered lap just aren't enough sometimes.

Obsession of the Week: Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
I may or may not have had this playing on repeat for the past week or so... either way I still adore it.

Achoo!!

The inevitable has occurred - the cold from hell has landed and left me reeling. What started out as a sore throat the Friday before last turned into a full-blown cold by the following Tuesday. The worst is over and I'm almost fully functioning, but still not back to 100%. My co-workers cheerfully informed me that I can expect to be sick frequently during the next few months, until my immune system gets used to the onslaught of germs. Let the good times roll...

Chris was adventurous and went skiing last Saturday; I did the "responsible adult" thing and stayed home to continue recovering. As a result, my weekend consisted of thrilling activities like sleep, grocery shopping, making split pea soup, and more sleep. Life of the party, I tell ya.

Puppy snuggles: Good for what ails you.

Bargain buy of the week. How cute will this guy be with a few coats of white spray paint?!

Fun mugs definitely improve much-too-early mornings.

In other news: Closing on our house was pushed back another couple weeks, but the extension ended up being a blessing in disguise as we are seriously behind on packing. I just can't seem to find the necessary focus to make decisions on what we need and what we can do without for a few weeks...

Weekend Wanderings

Last week was rather busy, with appointments taking up unexpectedly large portions of my time, but the weekend was delightfully low-key. We hit up a flea market on Saturday morning, where I scored an awesome sliver plated swan. This purchase was understandably puzzling to Chris. I suppose that the sudden necessity of a silver swan does beg the question, "Why would you ever need a swan?" but it should only be asked once you have molded your features into a suitably dramatic look of disbelief. My husband has perfected this look.

Ta-da!! Even Chris admitted that my swan cleaned up nicely.

I'm not usually the type of person that buys and displays bric-a-brac, but I've been warming to the idea of adding a few rather whimsical pieces to our decor. We're in the final stage of the home-buying process and my goal, once we move, is to start decorating in a way that makes our home look pulled together and complete. Our housing situation has been in a somewhat constant state of flux - always temporary - so I've held off on the details that would complete our decor. This swan marks a change in that way of thinking!

Sunday saw us heading to church (I think we've finally found one that suits us!) and then to the park just outside of our soon-to-be new neighborhood. I neglected to take pictures while we were there since it was a balmy 35 degrees outside. My hands stayed in my pockets and, despite gloves, were still freezing. The park was lovely, with well-kept trails and nicely appointed overlooks of the valley and river.

That smile stayed firmly in place for the entire trip to the park.

Yellow tulips to brighten my day. I'm married to a pretty sweet guy.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."  - Marcel Proust

Workin' For a Living

I didn't anticipate being quite so busy during the last leg of this term, but it's over now and it looks as though my efforts have paid off. I won't be taking as many credits next term because we are in the process of buying a house! We put in an offer and were accepted last week so I'm heading back to the real (working) world to help smooth the transition. We hadn't planned to get serious about finding "the" house until spring, but we happened across a fantastic deal and decided to take the plunge a little early.

But before anything else, I'm heading back to Oregon for an extended visit. Here's hoping that the sun shows up at least a couple of times while I'm there since Idaho has been spoiling me with massive amounts of sunshine. My plan for relaxation: A long run through the countryside followed by a new book and a glass (or two) of good wine, repeated daily. 

We had a little visitor last week who was pretty suspicious of the dog...

...but they eventually got used to each other.

Every Day I'm Shufflin'

Midterms. One little word robbing students everywhere of sleep...

Just kidding! Kind of... There's only one midterm that's making me a little nervous. One instructor demands a level of specificity bordering on the ridiculous since many of these "necessary" details are not directly connected to the theories of microeconomics. Maybe it's just me, but it seems a bit unfair to ask for a list of the physical symptoms of sleeping sickness rather than the economics of the situation...on a microeconomics quiz.

Don't worry though, I have helpers...

 

 

And a wonderful husband who buys me flowers.

He also bought me a chocolate cupcake, but it didn't last long enough to take a picture.

P.S. Watch this video. You'll feel better about your neighbors and hum this ridiculously catchy song for days. You're welcome.

Dear Sunshine, I Miss You.

Fall arrived in an overly enthusiastic fashion, leaving me to unhappily decode the forecasts calling for day after day of "partial clouds" (translation: heavy clouds...all day). The cat is dealing with the cold temperatures by shamelessly sneaking under whatever blanket(s) that I happen to be in possession of at that moment. Of course, I really shouldn't judge since I have absconded with a certain someone's favorite slippers...

Someone is not cut out for winter here.

Last weekend was beautiful; 70 degrees and sunshine felt amazing after days of rainy 50 degree weather. We had a wonderful visit with my parents which included touring the city, playing the rowdiest game of Monopoly ever, introducing them to Korean BBQ, checking out a new church, and thoroughly enjoying our time together.

"Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length."

- Robert Frost

The Best Things In Life Are Free

Our evening wanderings have frequently been following the canal bordering our neighborhood, partially due to the fact that it offers uninterrupted views of the foothills and sunsets, but also because it is a fantastic area for the pup to run off-leash safely. Despite regular outings, he is beside himself with excitement every time we even think about going for a walk. Maybe putting on a certain pair of shoes tips him off...

Our latest ramble took us into an older neighborhood surrounding the local golf course and we found this gem of a mailbox (in addition to some entertaining 80’s architecture).

rawr

We also attended a free airshow at the Mountain Home Air Force Base over the weekend. There were both vintage and modern planes on display along the tarmac and multiple aerial displays, including a mock dogfight. It was well narrated so those of us who were unfamiliar with military planes and flight tactics could keep up with the action. The USAF Thunderbirds were the last performance of the day and put on an impressive show, but we forgot to get pictures of it.

"Heaven is under our feet, as well as over our heads." 

- Henry David Thoreau

Settling In

The move went well and we are mostly unpacked. The weather has been warm and sunny - my tender Oregonian skin has the burn to prove it. Thank goodness for aloe vera!

We took a break and hiked to the top of Table Rock today. Great reminder of how out of shape I am... The dog is out of shape as well and has been sleeping since we got back.

Well, That Was Fast

The weekend just flew by! Packing, studying, bowling, movie, dinner(s) with friends...and right back to the grind on Monday.

Yours truly bowled her best games ever this weekend, winning the first two and losing the third by only 4 points. Which lead to me being accused of hustling my fellow bowlers (only in jest, we're all friends) as there were strikes and spares all over the place! AND I won a prize for having the second turkey of the evening. Considering my high score prior to this weekend was about 62 points, this was exciting (at least to me).

In other news, the cat has figured out that something is up and has decided that it is necessary to follow me from room to room, yowling complaints about the injustices of his furry life. The upside is that he likes to lay down on my feet whenever I stop so there has been no need to wear slippers. That and his grumpy face has been cracking me up.

Somebody Has A Case Of The Mondays

Poor little guy

We rocked our midterms and are entering the box collection stage of the moving process. Downside of living in a small college town: empty boxes become an endangered species by June.