What's in YOUR X-Mas Wreath!

I decided to leave my Christmas wreath up on the door because I thought it looked festive. I looked at some 'Spring wreaths' but didn't feel like forking out the mula. So here it still sits ...when one day Kasey said something was living in it!

Heres a view from inside the house, looking out the window at the top of the wreath. WHAT could it BE!

And again, another view. If the height and the twigs don't give it away, keep scrolling down!

Heres the outside view again. Look at all those twigs! It almost looks like part of the wreath, its so well hidden! I can't even see if from the front. I had to hold the camera above my head to get these shots.

Its snuggled so close to the door. These things I always find so amazing!

Awww! How cute! And my taking these pictures didn't even bother the mother bird at all! She still kept flying back and forth... bringing MORE twigs!

I don't know if you can see the feathers but the inside of the nest actually looks soft and cozy. How do they do that! These nights have been so cold lately, I wonder if these guys will really hatch!

I still can't believe it. And while I was typing this up, my husband didn't believe it either. So he had to go look for himself. And when he saw the mother bird fly away, he finally became convinced. Now, how do I get these guys to pay rent!

In case you were wondering

I'm not in the ER.

Today's random links

Okay, that last post needs to be scooched down off the front of this blog, so here's today's random links.

First, a charming series of photos of a boy and his bear growing up together. Casey and Brutus.

Next, a video of a red fox diving for mice under a snow drift.

If anyone else has any interesting links please post them so that dang photo goes away. Sorry, Lauren, I don't recall that photo. I suspect it was digitally altered to make it appear as if I was once dressed up in an ill-fitting tiger costume...

Couldn't resist

I was going through some files on my computer today and came across this photo again. It always makes me laugh out loud.

It is FINISHED! My own in-home SALON!

Before the new tile was placed we had to rip up the carpet and a small area of tile by the back door. It took Brent one whole afternoon just to take the cement off the floor from the original tile with a tool he rented from Home Depot. Cement dust showered through the whole house. It was awful! Stig (B's father-in-law) layed the tile while we were in California, but I had to finish most of my texturizing and painting on the walls first. (He did not want paint on the floor!) This picture shows I still had some glazing to finish after he got all the tile down. (With no mess too!)

Here it is finished with all the furniture in. We put in some new lighting, (as well as plumbing for the sink), and the mirror is framed because it cracked slightly...thats a story for another day!

Ladies, I'm all stocked up! Get your orders ready! We're open for business! Its so exciting to have this finally done. I feel a huge sense of relief after all the work we've put in over the last 2 months! The walls have a lot of time put in them but I love the textured result. Finding the right furniture took just about as long, but it seems to have worked out all right.

You can see the texture on the walls better here. I didn't use plaster, but a thick/texturizing paint that I scraped on with a putty tool. Then I had to repaint over all of it, and then "wax on/wax off" with the glaze. What a project! But I couldn't be more pleased! Yeah for me!

There are still some last minute details to finish. We need to add more lighting over the sink because there seems to be a shadow on that side since the chair is so close to the sink and wall. Theres always little details you have to tweek in the end. Glue dripped all over the mirror as I tried to frame it. You can kind of see a spot at the bottom right were I need to reglaze the wall.

Originally I had the dryer sitting where the dresser stands but I needed the dresser to use as a countertop, as well as for storage. Logic kicked in when I realized the dryer is on wheels and I could always roll it up to the salon chair if I needed to use it on someone, so here it sits in the back corner, ready to be used. The waiting chair was an ingenious idea and pulls it all together.

This bookshelf (thanks IKEA!) was to originally be used as my station in front of the salon chair but failed as a great idea because the styling chair is too close to the front wall. I didn't like it against the back wall at first but its grown on the me, and I think the room is more complete with it than without it. I like the red accents which happened on accident - nice coincidence!

I like this shot because you can see the tile better. The colors are still really light. We were afraid the room might get too dark, but everything works well together while still feeling comfortable. Kasey even mentioned she thought it might be weird having the salon in the middle of the basement but we've all commented that it doesn't feel out of place at all. I am so pleased! If someone had told me a year ago I'de be happily married along with my own in-home salon, I would 've thought they were nuts. What a great feeling it is to have so many dreams come true!

Grandpas' California Bay Laurel Platter

OK, somebody said I should post this.

My friend Armond came to me a month ago with a big round burl cut from the side of a California Bay Laurel tree trunk. He asked what I would do with it. I said, "make a platter". But it was quite irregular and I said I would use a special router setup to do the cutting instead of regular lathe cutting tools. He asked if I would do it for him. I agreed; but only if he would let me enter it into the Orange County Fair this summer. So, I spent a month working on it and then entered it into the monthly challenge at our club. There were some pretty awesome pieces in the competition this month but the California Bay Laurel Burl was judged best. Yahoo!

All of the gold is filler made from automotive paint "metal flake" (a powder) and epoxy glue. The rest is mother nature.

Musical Instrument

I was watching the History channel and saw this musical instrument - very cool. Go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WZExmtIJkI

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday, Adam! You Rock!

Photo

Adam linked this to me today and for some reason I can't stop giggling.
Maybe it's too late in the day...

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to Lynne!! Hope your day is a cheery one!

California Vacation - Dad's House

In case some you haven't seen these people for a while: here's what they look like!

Someone pinched me when we were taking this picture! But they both were thinking the same thing! I think they exchanged a 'high five' after the picture was taken! Scoundrels!

See! Dad can be a pretty good photographer! Aren't we a great looking bunch! bwah ha ha!

Suffice it to say, my kids had a ROCKIN' time at 'Gran'pa Ross's' house! They made car toys in the work shop and played with all the spinning tops and kids toys (that he strategically had sitting out) probably to advert attention from the more 'special' wood pieces (which they still inadvertantly turned over and put on their heads as hats! Yikes!) ...and they climbed up the trees (Kathy won the bet on that one!) But all in all, we had a great time at dad's house! (Check out my blog to see more photos of our trip to Disneyland and staying at Aunt Leslie's for Easter!)

It's just so cute!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyuYiOrJiLU&feature=player_embedded

Today's random videos

Okay folks, since Breanne's out of town, it's my job to keep you entertained with random videos.

First, we have Cat Ambush


Next, we have "Chicken Police" (coming soon to a barnyard near you)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BREANNE!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeypOvsY91Q

Lauren's facebook wishes made me want to do something, too! Hope you have a great birthday!!!