Fiddling Around

For Christmas, my grandfather Buckie bought me a violin at my request. Some of you may be shocked. I was too as I began this adventure. Sarah, one of my good friends, convinced me that she could teach me how to play. I was very wary, but I thought "why not?" My first lesson was less than 2 weeks ago. I have now had 2 lessons and less than 2 weeks of practice. I apologize ahead of time, but this is where I am currently....

A New Constant: Snow

I am not really sure where I am living anymore. I am now experiencing my 6th snow day of the school year. I have seen more days of snow this winter than I think I ever have in the past. The interesting thing is that I really like it. Most people here in Nashville are cursing it, but I think it is beautiful. I especially like it when the roads are mostly safe and I can get out and do things. That does cut down on the sledding though since we pretty much only sled on the roads here.

In addition, Zach and I also saw snow in Birmingham on Christmas Day and then lots more on our drive from Birmingham to Peoria. It has been a wonderful winter wonderland everywhere we have been this winter. Here are some pictures of the fun we have had.

Zach sledding in the neighborhood in our new sled "The Beast". Thank you Barkley and Matt.

Christmas Day in Birmingham. Standing in the snow on a White Christmas!

Sledding with the Peoria gang. Thank you mom for the 2 new bottom sleds!

The snowman that Jake, Bradley, Zach and I built.

The Bathroom

I can't believe that I have not updated about the bathroom. Between the bathroom and holidays, I just didn't have time. I had intended on keeping you updated throughout the process, but that just did not happen. I would come home and attempt to clean up the mess from the day and then distract myself from the mess that I could not do anything about.

Here is the before:

Here is Zach's handiwork in taking apart the entire bathroom besides for the tub. We ended up having to do a lot more plumbing work than we thought.

One day while showing the progress to friends, sewage backed up into the newly laid sub floors. That caused a stop to progress for a couple of days, but finally this is our finished product:D

About Time

A blog post has been long over due. Lately I have been wanting to write blogs but feel overwhelmed by the backlog of blogs that I need to catch up on. I don't know if I will ever write another blog if I try to catch up, so I am just going to write a current blog...

Our precious little kitty is currently wearing the "cone of shame" as coined by my friend Erin. This seems way more appropriate a term than Elizabethan collar as the vet calls it. That is like pretending there is some dignity in wearing the thing.

Mia went in to get spayed on Wednesday morning. It was so sad having to take her that morning. I woke up and she was asking for food just as usual besides for I couldn't give her any food. Not only could I not give her food, but she was going under and didn't even know it.

When I came home that afternoon, there was Mia half drugged staggering around the house with the "cone of shame". At that point, I felt half bad for her while also getting a kick out of her running into walls, etc. Since then, the funny parts are when she is attempting to clean her self, but really just licking the cone. Or when she is "scratching" her ears through the cone.

For your enjoyment, here are some pictures of Mia in her Elizabethan collar.


Attempting to clean herself:D

Busy, Busy

Several weeks ago now, Zach and I took the leisurely path to New Orleans by driving the Natchez Trace. This is a beautiful road! It was made to drive. It has soft curves and up and downs. It is just enough to keep you interested, but not enough to make it hard to drive. The leaves were changing. We camped out the first night and stayed with my Mississippi cousins the second night and then we were in New Orleans.

Zach had only been to New Orleans one time previously and that was on a mission trip to help clean up many months after Hurricane Katrina. We were there to go to one of my friends weddings, but we also got to hang out with one of Zach's really good friends. We had a great time eating, hanging out in the French Quarter, going to a Jazz Club (which also had people doing the jitter bug to the music), hanging out in the City Park and thrift store shopping. It was all a blast and the wedding was beautiful. This is a picture of us at the wedding reception.

Following this trip, Zach demolished our bathroom in just 3 days. It is stripped to the studs! Then the Farewell Drifters took off on tour again. I caught up with them in Birmingham for the weekend. Zach will come home tomorrow and the bathroom will begin to be rebuilt starting Monday.

What is Happening In and Around the House?

A Lot!

Fall has come and then left for a week and now is back. The cool weather came in and inspired me to get out my Halloween decorations. Unfortunately I was not able to get it up before the hot weather came back, but I got it up just the same.

During these changes in weather, our mums have bloomed! They are so beautiful and welcome me home everyday:D

Mia has taken a lot of changes. I have never been in charge of an inside kitten. She is either wanting to play, sleeping (on Zach or me) or pottying. All of these involve Zach or me. She takes a lot more than I thought she would. It seems that Zach is falling in love with her.

Take a look at those eyes!

The biggest thing that is happening is....we have decided to redo our guest bathroom. We have been spending any free time talking and looking at tile, toilets, mirrors, sinks, etc. Tonight I just began the destruction. I took the medicine cabinet out and made my first hole in the wall. So much more to go...

A Visit from a Friend

My friend Andrea, one of my bridesmaids, came to visit after living in India for 2 years. I was so excited to see her and catch up on her life abroad. She arrived Friday night and we stayed up until around 1am looking through photos and chatting. We talked a few times while she was there, but it was not nearly the same as having her right here in my living room. I cannot describe how great it was to just be with her.

On Saturday, we headed out to experience Nashville. Andrea has been here 2 times before (once to surprise me for my birthday and for the wedding), so she had seen the classic Nashville tourist scene. So Saturday was filled with more unique sights and sounds and in PERFECT weather (mid 70s and sunny).

First we headed to Celebration of Cultures in Centennial Park. There were several areas. There was an area where there were different tables for different countries. Andrea was able to assist me through these areas, as she is much more cultural aware than I am. It was almost like traveling around the world in just 30 minutes;) The picture below is of me trying on a Vikings hat at the Norway table. You can see a ship in the background that the kids were able to play in. The other areas were goods from around the world, food from around the world (even though Andrea got a BBQ sandwich), and some dancing/music at different stages. All in all, a fun time and free.

Then it was off to Cheekwood to see the Chihuly exhibit. I have been wanting to see the Chihuly exhibit at Cheekwood for a while. A friend informed me about a week ago that I could get in free with a Bank of America card, which Andrea, Lisa, and I happened to have. I really enjoyed walking the grounds and seeing Chihuly's pieces intermixed with Cheekwood's well known landscapes. I am pretty sure I loved it most because it was free and PERFECT weather to be outside.

An amazing weekend had by all (or at least by me:D)