whatever

Blog

Category Archives: super stanley

busy summer weeks

July 13, 2016

the days of summer are just flying by!
i’m loving the sunshine and that heat… everyone likes to complain about how hot it is but the heat is SO MUCH BETTER than the freezing cold winters! Give me summer heat forever!

First of all… i’m still loving the Paperworks Kit that comes every month!
each month’s design is different and fun!
CLICK HERE to find all the information you will need about THE cutest stationary, calendars & lists.

and then i wanted to share all about the amazing fire pit area that craig made for us!!!

our yard backs up to a field that is used for crops each summer.
this year is corn which i am soooo thrilled about.
i really really REALLY hope that someday it will be sunflowers.
can you imagine that?!
it would truly be a dream come true to me.
like seriously…. that is a bucket list kind of thing!

we already had the railroad ties on the back of our lot and the landscaping stones as well.
alllllllllllllllll the flower beds around our house on all four sides were filled with this rock.
so many rocks!
i get what its purpose is but it’s not what i like in a flower bed for my garden.
first craig mowed and killed the grass/weeds where the rocks would go.
next he laid down landscaping fabric to kill and block new weeds.
then he moved this rock from the flower beds to the fire pit area.
brilliant!

i feel super loved every time i look outside and see it.
now if we could not be so busy that we could sit out there more often…

we ended up getting the chairs and cushions from World Market.

it’s wonderful in the morning and the evening!

we can watch the sunset from here every night!
it is so perfect.
i could not love it more.
.

i got to have some very fun visitors to the Craft House!
my girlfriends, Tara, Kimberlee and Amy and i hung out for a long weekend doing absolutely nothing and loving every minute of it!
we watched movies, ate junk food, painted our nails, went antiquing and even stopped by to see the chickens.

talby made it home safely from her missions trip to honduras.
everyone missed her… even the dogs!
FullSizeRender 4
we have a jungle of wild sunflowers in front of the coop!
since i only have to go in there every few days it isn’t that big of a deal.
unless it’s going to become grasshopper invested… then i will freak.

i encouraged this chicken to practice a little flying after i loved on her a bit.

i gardened like a maniac last week.
i had over 25 plants to get in the ground!
i was the sweatiest i have ever been. Literally!

FullSizeRender 7
and these flowers are on the deck in the backyard.
the bright colors cheer me up every morning!
FullSizeRender 6
scott is a life guard this summer!

our friends got THE CUTEST new puppy!
he is soooo soft and has puppy breath too.
auuuwwwww!
thank goodness we have plenty of cuteness over here so we aren’t too sad about not having an adorable puppy.

show hide 13 comments

add a comment

April R - we haven’t had a traditional or “summery” summer here and it’s been difficult at times not to be really sad about it. We are moving far from our friends and it’s been dragged out by the process of selling our house :p Soooo this post was cheerful and sweet and just a reminder of what we might build and work towards when we finally arrive at the new town/home. Thank you for sharing 🙂

Katie E. - Hey that puppy was at my house today! Super cute picture(s)!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - It looks like you are having an awesome summer! Woo hoo! BTW – So happy for your weekend at the craft house! Those people are the bestest people ever.

marcie - Lots of good stuff but Yay!! to Talby for going to Honduras on a mission trip. My daughter and I went to Honduras for the 3rd year in a row in June. I hope it was as amazing for her as it always is for us!!

Chris - I never get tired of your dogs, flowers, chickens or fire pit. Lovely to look at, always!

Kimberly Dial - I loved this post. Looks like you all are having an awesome Summer!

Gabby - Yet another reason to love you and your blog: I, too MUCH prefer the heat to the cold – and I, too want to be outside even with a blanket over my legs in the summer! Thanks for the affirmation!

Jenn N - Love, love, love, the fire pit. What beautiful post; pictures are great. Summer fun!

jennibell - I agree!!! Give me summer heat ANY day over those cold, icy days of winter.
Love your landscaping and your firepit is the BEST. . .lucky you.
Glad you are enjoying your summer. . .your pups are so cute but they are a lot of work — good for you 🙂

Carolyne Hallum - We are in the thick of Winter here so I just love the photo’s you’ve put up today… summery, bright and fun.

Lori - I never get tired of seeing photos of your home. So beautiful!

Sarajane - I will need a copy of the picture of talby and ace. They both are adorable!

Lynne - OH, your yard is amazing. The sky looked a little creepy in one photo dark clouds scary. The chicken good flying. He needs goggles. HaHa. Your beverages look great for morning and night. Do you have a labordoodle? That golden puppy was so so precious The breath I totally know the breath yeah!!!!!
Happy summer!!!!!!! It is passing us by quickly. We are in a drought so our lawn looks like a hay field. SAD You would think on the New Hampshire Seacoast we would have beautiful lawn not so much. Lets hope our garden can make it with tomato, cuke, zuke, summer squash, grape tomato, and spag’s squash. OH all most forgot the butternut squash.

ENJOY THE SUMMER NIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

a fall walk

November 9, 2015

kansas has such a beautiful fall season with the best temperatures.
but we know how soon it will change from the colorful leaves to everything dead and brown.
so we got outside this past weekend and we brought the dogs.

you’d have thought those dogs had NEVER been outside before?!
they were so happy!

of all the leaves, my favorite trees are always the red ones.

show hide 12 comments

add a comment

Andrea - GORGEOUS!!!!

Amy - Gorgeous colors!! Thanks for sharing!

Mindy - Stunning photos of the fall leaves and such cute kids and dogs : )

Kendra - Such gorgeous photos!!

library momma - What camera did you shoot with? Nice!

Lynne - Hi,

Your dogs got a very special treat this weekend. Is one of your dogs a labordoodle? We have a labordoodle and Sadie would be so happy to have gotten that great walk you had. I was also happy to see you with your children as well!!!!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - ohhhh mother nature! you win, again!!

Julie - Such stunnig leaf colours, especially against that blue sky!!

Jennifer - I love your photos and was wondering what camera you use?

Becky Fouts - your photos are stunning!! I can’t quit looking at them, thank you!

Carrie - So pretty! I always love all your posts, but I especially love photo-heavy ones!

Stephanie - What a beautiful post! I miss fall….

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

SUMMER!

June 3, 2015

it’s safe to say we are enjoying the warm weather and spending LOTS of time outside.

this was in my flower bed.
yeah…. I’m a little behind on gardening.

and then i found this snake.
i called sean from out in the yard – he was in the basement.
i said “sean… i found a snake. come get it.”

i know. i know… a lot of animals.
but hey #sorrynotsorry

🙂

show hide 27 comments

add a comment

susan - I would buy a canvas of the kittens and chicken in daisies!
Love them all. Fun!

Wendy - Love the animal pics, so pretty!

keri - pretty. so pretty!

Mj - I want the calico kitten! Can you bring it to California please?

Kristin - I should probably know this, but I don’t think I’ve ever read it here…did you study art in college, or are you just a natural? Your photos are so gorgeous. I love your composition, and wish I had your eye!

Andrea - Some of the photos with a single hen in the daisies should be offered in your shop!

Jen Brandt - Thank you for sharing your art of photography. Absolutely beautiful pictures.

Patti Mullican - Those daisies couldn’t be a more perfect backdrop for your chickadees! 😉

heidi e. - All of those animals made my day! The geese freaked me out a little bit. Geese here in Minne are mean! Can’t believe you were so close and didn’t get chased!

Maria - lol…it is a lot of cute animals…you could have named the post…chickens, the frog, the geese, and then the chickens…oh, and the kittens…lol…loved them all…especially those tiny kittens!

Linda - your life is so beautiful!

Jenny B. - love love love! are you using a macro lens for the kittens? those frogs (toads?) are funny. they remind me of my baby — all floppy armed and double chinned. ha! 🙂

Nancy Wms. - The photos of the chickens should be for sale on your site. They are really fun shots! I mean how could you go wrong with daisies and chickens?!

Sheila Pearson - I adore each and every one of these photos, Meg. You have a great eye!

Kimberlee Jost - You need to make a canvas of a chicken in the daisies.
Also, those daisies…are they different than Shasta’s?
Text me.
🙂

Katherine - What a gorgeous post! Such amazing photos. It’s like distilled 100% pure summer.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Meg! These pictures.. so, so, good.

Kathi - LOVE! I want kittens, chickens and even toads now! Do you take these pics with your iPhone or with a digital SLR? They are beautiful.

Brady - Would you stop it with those kittens?!? I’m not a cat person, but your pictures are making me want one! So cute!

jill - Meg you are an amazing photographer!!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - ha-ha! that weed could have it’s own movie!! (and i mean weed in the regular old-fashioned weed way ~ lol.)

Heather - Fantastic pix! The snake ones cracked me up.

Laura - dear moderator, see my comment above? please remove my last name- thanks

Laura Cornia - If you were to sell the 4th picture in your shop ( brown chicken in the daisies, trees in backround), I would hang it in my kitchen!

Crissy - daisies, chickens, kids, dogs and kittens… does life get any better!?!?!?

Penny - Aww, some of my best memories growing up were when our mama cat had kittens. I had so much fun with them! Your kids are so lucky to have all of those animals in their life. Teaches responsibility and compassion! Love your chicken. I am too lazy to take care of chickens! 🙂

marcie - I am a child of the South and I love it but oh my goodness your neck of the woods is gorgeous!!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

four things.

April 23, 2015

1. prom

2. invisible fences

3. birthday cake

4. His Safe Haven

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

scott went to prom last weekend!

it was cute to see him get dressed up and be nervous and then know that he a great time.
prom is such a fun night for all of them… they feel so grown up.

this is not scott’s car… but it was fun to sit in and take pictures.
there was a huge thunderstorm during what was supposed to be the outdoor “Promenade”
so the car part was kind of a bust… because it was POURING.
BUMMER.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

i have had some questions about our Invisible Fencing system we put in here at this house.

we bought the Innotek Basic In-Ground Pet Fencing System, SD-2000

51B1jgFypsL

and since we have more than one dog we ordered the Extra Collar For Smart Dog

41GMRfilJ7L

our yard is bigger than the amount of wire that comes in the kit so we ordered additional wire to go around the whole yard.
PetSafe 500-foot Spool of 20-Gauge Boundary Wire

8100tFsMOSL._SX425_

my sons and craig put it in in a weekend and it was not difficult.
the dvd that comes with it shows easy instructions to do it yourself.
you put flags up all around the perimeter of the yard to alert the dogs to the boundary.
then you train them for a few weeks in several ways that are all taught on the dvd.
our dogs caught on really quickly.
the collar beeps when they get close to the border so they know to stop.
it also beeps when the battery is dying so you know to change it.
eventually they don’t even go near the edge to make it beep.

the only times our dogs have gotten out of the yard is when the battery has died in their collar.

even dogs blink when they get their photos taken.
HA!

i HIGHLY recommend this fence.
invisible fencing has changed my days!
walking a big dog was never pleasant for me… and with two or three dogs… forget about it!
and bathing them when they ran away to find every pond and puddle they could was not my favorite.
and worry about if they were going to come back.

this fence made my life easier and kept my dogs safer.
and i like that!

it doesn’t keep other dogs from coming into your yard but it keeps your own dogs from running away.
our dogs are friendly so if a dog happens to come in our yard it’s like they just met their new best friend!

now if only it would work on chickens…

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

i made craig a birthday cake.
it was yummy and i wish i’d only made a half of a cake…. because it’s just sitting there… looking at me!
it’s calling to me from the kitchen!!!
i can see it right now!

i used this recipe from Javacaupcake for the cake.… yum.

(i could not find espresso powder so i left it out)

for the frosting i used:

1/2 cup room temperature butter
1 cup peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
3- 6 T milk

Cream together the butter and peanut butter. Then add in powdered sugar slowly and add milk a little at a time until frosting is the consistency that you prefer.

i added chopped Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups to the top.
i like the minis because they come already unwrapped!
the trick… throw the bag of reese’s in the freezer and then when you are ready to chop them up it doesn’t get all messy and mushy. 🙂 🙂 🙂 trust me… i do my research on reeses! i’m no dummy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

and saving the best for last…

These are some of the foster moms who care for the children of His Safe Haven.
do you remember a few months ago Talby raised money to give to HSH for their housing?
and SO MANY of you gave generously!!
she was able to raise enough for an entire year of housing for His Safe Haven!
THEN Christina sent this picture to Talby and said that with that money they were able to move all the moms to one location to live together!! How cool is that? Now they are a community of foster moms that can support each other! Can you imagine the joy it must bring to have women right next door to help you out… who understand the special needs of these kids? WOW!
God is doing great things with His Safe Haven!
thank you again for helping my Talby raise money for them!
i hope Talby gets to meet all these women someday. 🙂

show hide 33 comments

add a comment

Leslie - I can’t stop laughing at your chicken picture – they crack me up! I think that should go in your shop 🙂

amy jupin - a couple of notes:
1. scott’s prom date is super cute! they make such a handsome couple!
2. i think your puppers are the cutest. but the chickens scare me!
3. that cake looks divine. i’m drooling. happy bday craig!
and 4. the last pic is just awesome! awesome!

Shannon R - That cake looks so delish. My hubby is allergic to peanuts so I can’t enjoy treats like that frequently. He is out of town for the next four days. I wish you could box it up and mail it to Alabama. My kids and I would gladly eat it.

Andrea - Meg…how in the world did your son grow up so quickly. What a handsome young man….he sure does resemble your husband! I just love to see pictures of your dogs….they are all so cute, but that waffle is adorable! and wowza….your chicken looks a little testy!

Terrie G - 1. Oh, to be young again!! Part of me wants to go back…part of me would dread it! 🙂

2. Those dogs! And Chickens! I Die! Oh. My. Cuteness!

3. That cake…my Dad would love it! Maybe even my son-in-law…and he doesn’t like cake! What?! I know! Who doesn’t like cake? But he Loves cheesecake…ok, he’s back in good graces! 🙂

4. And your daughter! (well, they are all awesome in their own right!!) But So proud of Talby!! I too pray that she gets to meet those ladies someday! How amazing would that be?!

5. Look at that! A bonus comment!! Your stairs! You are killing me with all your color! Will you Please come do my house? I’ll cook for you…and I’d even help! And that chalkboard wall! Fab-U-Lous! Your IG = happy part of my day!

Hugs!

Allison - Oh that cake! I’ll have to keep that in mind for my hubby’s birthday. Yum!!

Rebekah - I am secretly glad that one of my children is allergic to peanuts, such that the presence of that cake in my house would be an actual threat to life. Because if it weren’t… oh, Lordy. Also, my husband, who adores Reece’s cups is on a low-carb diet. All the world conspires against me!

Lyndi - @Kristin S. – I’m one of the #500 too!! I love finding people who love all the same things as me – Meg’s blog, Jen’s book #FortheLove Fixer Upper…so fun!

Tanya H - So, I live very near a “highway” that is also the main road and very busy and packed and 55mph speed limit. I drive it to get my son to and from school and I pass a bunch of chickens that are free to roam who NEVER go into the highway. I finally asked my husband how on earth those people ‘taught’ their chickens to not cross the road and he thought it was the invisible fences people use for dogs. We’re both allergic to everything and not pet people so we don’t know a lot about it but….maybe there IS a way?? LOL!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - Cried happy tears when I saw the pb Reese chocolate cake . . Then REALLY cried happy tears when I saw the feedback on Safe Haven.
Thanks for the weekend kickstart!

Suz - Love the pics and am so going to try that cake for my husband’s birthday. He loves,loves Reese’s Cups and oh how divine it looks! As for the foster moms at His Safe Haven, I would love to meet them all but…..especially that one in the middle. She looks like she has some spunk to her – that face is pure joy (and mischief!!).

Tere - 1. Eeek. I see Scott and think of you and Mr. D in your dance picture from high school ….wasn’t it just yesterday?
2. How did I miss you got a 3rd dog?
3. That’s the problem with baking sometimes, I can down a cake 10x faster than my kids. I’ve got years of experience on them.
4. Talby rocks.

xoxo Tere.

Stephanie - I am so in love with the news about His Safe Haven!! Tears spring to my eyes for those women and also for Talby! Great news!!

Ellen B. - Your blog and instagram pictures are a breath of fresh air during my busy, chaotic days! Thanks so much for reminding us of how everyday life, while sometimes hard, is truly a gift to be enjoyed and celebrated.

Elizabeth gleason - Woo hoo we’ve been on the “fence” on what we should get for our yellow lab. The yard has thawed and we’ve been trying to pick what to get. Going to check it out

Ann - I enjoy your blog so much! You are a great mom & wife – we can see how much you love and support your family. Love your thoughts and posts. Love your creative ideas. I want you to come decorate my house! Hurray for Talby and His Safe Haven! What an amazing act of service she has done. I too hope that she has a chance to meet those women. How awesome would that be?

Jenny B. - YAY for His Safe Haven! Way to go, Talby! Also, I am picturing all the chickens wearing the invisible fence collars. Haha! 🙂

Lisa - Dear Meg, I will come and eat the cake with/for you and I would also like to hug and squeeze the pups, especially Waffle as he seems like such a sweet boy. Your faithful blog reader, Lisa 🙂 PS – Way to go, Talby!!!

Kim - You must be famous..someone at my office showed up with this cake today…I’m guessing they saw it on your blog or instagram. I should go find out who it was so we can be real life friends bound by reading a common blog! 🙂 Also, I want a goldendoodle sooo badly! I call every one I see anywhere “Waffle”. Even my husband knows what I’m talking about. k, hope this comment made you smile.

Debby - Great prom pics! So elegant! 35 yrs. ago for mine! Ack!! Of course, I was pretty trendy in my light blue HOOP GOWN lol.

I also love the pics of your sweet pups and those gorgeously attired foster moms! Those bright colors! So cheerful & so happy.

Did not love the picture of that sinful cake!! Made my mouth water & now I want a Reeses!!

Debby, also in KS

Routhie - That is so great for Talby and those women!

tiffany day - hi meg! I have been telling myself for months that i need/should email you and “introduce” myself! I feel a tad stalkerish! i have been reading your blog for – awhile now – i like it – i like you! i want to come to craft weekend as a helper! i follow you on instragram – i think you are funny, smart, easy going, down to earth, a girl after my own heart and someone I wish i could have coffee with! i live on the west coast! I try and blog but find it hard to find a groove. Instragram is good but it definately does not replace blogging – sometimes you need to write and share more, so I am trying!

I am here finally commenting after your instragram of the yummy piece of cake! Hope you have a great rest of the day!

xoTiffany

kelly - totally teary about His Safe Haven…what a gift to those women to have each other for community! thank you for sharing with us here.

Kristin - I thought I’d better comment, since you asked us to on Instagram! I LOVE the chicken photo! Scott & his date look fabulous! The dogs are adorable. I would be eating the cake all day long! And whoo hoo to Talby!

Heidi Durant - Love!the cake looks amazing, your son and his date were so beautiful, and your puppies? Oh so cute. I love the rainbow stairs!I showed my husband and we both agreed our next house will have stairs! Happy Thursday.

chrissi - you had me at that cake with 4 birthdays quickly approaching, but then then the photo of his safe house…..the very best thing i will see today. thanks for sharing it♥

Makila - I’m still reading every post! Keep blogging!!!!!!

Kelly S - We use the same exact fencing for our 3-acre property, and have NEVER had a problem. It works so well on our lab, Dakota, that even when the battery is dead in his collar, he is afraid of going out of the yard 🙂 He has only gotten shocked once at the start of us showing him the ropes with the fencing, and he went too close and got shocked (as hard as it was, it was needed, because he will never forget, and it works on saving his life, to keep him in his yard). It’s so awesome. Like your family, we bought extra since our yard is big (3 acres) and my husband and son put it in and it was super easy. And it was EASY to train our dog, from the DVD that came with it. I also highly suggest it. It works so well on our dog, that he won’t even chase a ball (his favorite thing on planet earth) if it goes out of his boundary. He stops cold in his tracks and barks since he can’t reach his ball. 🙂

Christi {Jealous Hands} - I so second Kelly – rainbows always make me think of Meg! That cake – fantastic! And I’m totally gonna cheat & make one tonight – but using a devil’s food cake mix. I know I’m probably missing some of the fantastic, but hey, we have baseball practice & the icing sounds so amazing I think it’ll make up for it. Loved hearing the update on HSH – that is awesome!

It does not appear that comment on blogs is a thing anymore – but I sure wish it was! xo

Robin - Complying with your IG request for comments. Cake looks very delicious – my family would have devoured it in three seconds flat! Going to look into invisible fencing – this winter with our four feet of snow made going to put the dog out on his lead AWFUL! Keep up the good work 🙂

Kelly - okay, you asked for it… 🙂

1) thank you and thank you for sharing the Hatmaker Podcast
2) I do not thank you for sharing the cake… jk (I’m printing that for my sons bday cake in October)
3) On a serious note, I never got the chance to tell you and Kimberly at HS, but I wanted you to know that finding your blog a few years back was awesome and I so enjoy it, but once IG became a deal– the snippets that you two shared of Jesus calling and the Message bible changed so many things for me and opened my eyes to Jesus and reading and trying to figure things out. I have always felt like an outsider when it comes to church and the bible and all that, but meeting you guys and being able to connect thru IG has been such an awesome thing in my life..

4) Every time I see a rainbow, I think…. Meg!!

Have a great day girl…

Brittany - Visiting from Instagram and leaving a comment like the old days 😉 So glad to hear about your invisible fence!! We have a golden doodle who likes to go tromping through everything that he shouldn’t!! I am thinking maybe this fence will do the trick. I wouldn’t mind sharing a slice of cake :). Thanks for always sharing your happiness. I recently found you on Instagram and you sure have a happy feed.

Diane - I’m going to have to try that recipe for my husbands birthday in June!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

ladies night

August 25, 2014

since we moved to this house and had the coop moved over here, the chickens haven’t been able to roam
(neighborhood dogs… coyotes… golf course… makes for rough free ranging conditions)
i do enjoy the poop free patio though!
and i realize that they are chickens and they are fine not roaming.
but i am also caring too and i like seeing “happy” animals.
soon we will have an area for them to walk around bigger than the coop but this summer was packed and it just hasn’t happened yet.
sometimes when the sun is going down and it’s just before they will naturally go in to roost we will open the coop and let them out for a bit.

the dogs are always curious…

this was the first our kitten had seen of the chickens up close.
but was also very interested in the grasshoppers EVERYWHERE.
then last night i was practicing my “caring” and let them out.
but forgot to shut the door later that night when they went back in.
blerg.
so… they all were out again this morning.
my trick did not work to toss them blueberries until they all went back in the coop.
how can their pea brain figure that out?!
so in my jammies… BEFORE coffee… i had to catch each one.
running. pouncing. grabbing. missing. grabbing again.

yeah… that will wake you up on a monday morning!
i bet my neighbors enjoyed the show.

THEN i got to have more fun by taking stanley to the vet to get his stitches removed from being neutered 10 days ago.
which required me to hold him down.
and sweat.
and get peed on.

can i start my day over please?

no?

ok… i will just go paint something instead.

show hide 9 comments

add a comment

KAREN OSBORNE - We have chickens and dogs also and I am amazed at how the chickens do not learn to stay away from dogs. Ours can fly into a fenced area around the coop (that is how they get into the yard) but when the dogs chase them they seem to lose this ability 🙁

CathyC - Too funny. Very pretty birds. The kitten is adorable.

Sue Groff - Unfortunately, I cannot see your pictures and your script because of a “Find New Roads With Your Family” ad from Chevrolet that has your picture on it. I love your blog. Please see if there is a way we, the readers, can remove the ad to view your post. Thank You

Jen - I am in awe of your photography. Stunning. Thank you for sharing your talents!

Jayme - I can completely relate. So we just finished up with our permanent coop for our 5 hens this weekend. The previous coop was smaller and closer to our house, so they became used to that arrangement (they free range during the day). Well we began the transaction to the bigger nicer coop and let’s just say I completely understand how hens do not just follow a trail of treats or allow themselves to be easily caught. Hubby and I were out in the evening for over 2 and a half hours trying to contain the ladies and can I just add that I’m 38 weeks pregnant. Entertainment at its finest if anyone could have seen it!

Janet - I love the photos! The black and white chicken is my favorite, altho the golden one is quite pretty too. The brown one looks a little cranky as if it might just peck that kitten if it came too close.

Jennifer - I love this post and can so relate! My daughter and I were chasing chickens around the yard a few days ago after a stray dog came into the yard and got one of our girls. There were some electricians working in the yard next door to ours, and I’m quite certain they were bent over in laughter at the site of us chasing these silly birds. It’s very easy to fall in love with your flock of feathered ladies. We even have some watermelon out for our girls to snack on right now.

Megan - I have so many animal questions for you, Meg.
How do you keep the dogs from eating the chickens? How do you keep them from eating the cat? How do you keep the cat from destrying your furniture? Do the cats want to eat the chickens? My new farmhouse has mice (eeek!!) and we are considering a cat to help out. But, I’m a dog person and my two big dogs have a high prey drive. I think they’d kill a cat. Perhaps it’s a lost cause for us. I also think they’d kill chickens if we ever got any. They sound vicious but they aren’t at all. Just hunters–birds, rabbits, bats…And I have no clue how to take care of a cat!

Cali Kliewer - This makes me smile. Mostly because we got a new puppy on Friday, and today was the first day I had to deal with a puppy, and two kids, and trying to get myself ready and out the door by 6:30. I may or may not have been seen in my yard, in my jammies, pre-coffee…chasing a puppy and begging him to poop. Only 4 more days until the weekend…

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

sunshine is like… the best.

May 10, 2014

the trampoline has been set up once again.
this old thing has served us so well.
annie asked “can we just get a new one?” and both sean and talby shouted “NO!!! This one is perfect! It bounces so high!!”
🙂

everyone is enjoying our new back yard.
we are hoping to put invisible fencing in SOON because i need some peace of mind with these two crazies.
can you get a little closer please?that’s better.
spanky
i pretty much said i am not gardening this year.
i just want to see what comes up… what kind of sun/wind/water this house gets….
but then the flowers start blooming and the colors start to pop…
and i find myself thinking about going to the nursery later.
all this sun and warm weather makes moods much lighter.
people stay at the table longer when we eat outside.
sponge bob is replaced by games of catch and bike rides to sonic.
s’mores and campfires make up bedtime routines instead of “just one more show please mom?”
we spend more time together we are outside.
summer is so close!
the pool opens in 2 weeks!

there was even some talk about camping this summer? oh my.
why does that make me start sweating?
i LOVED it as a kid.
so we should probably provide them with some memories like that.
i guess.
hmmmm…. still sweaty.

1. do you love or hate camping?

2. are you a gardener? flower or vegetable or both?

3. can you smell stanley’s breath through your screen?

show hide 48 comments

add a comment

meredith - Love camping! We are so excited because we are moving from a condo with no yard to a house with a big back yard. We plan on a camping night or two with the fire pit that the precious owners put in! 🙂 Our only child is 14 months, wish us luck. At least the door to the house will be close by. 🙂

Defiantly a gardener but totally understand not doing anything this year. I am going to pot some tomatoes, herbs and maybe some flowers for fun but other than that, I totally agree. Why? Wait til next year and have the ultimate plan.

I can smell Stanley’s breath, tell him it’s not too bad. 🙂

Lisa - I love camping!!! It really is so fun. All those things you mentioned about being outside and lingering at the table longer? Those happen camping. Ideally if you could borrow or rent a trailer or rv, it’s better for sleeping. But even tent camping is a blast. I’m high maintenance with my sleep so make sure you have a good air mattress or cot. Good luck!!!

Jenn - love camping
we went a lot as a kid and we just took our kids for the first time this past weekend
gardener…..veggie (sometimes) would love to be a flower gardener but they usually die

Jenn - i love camping. we did it alot as a kid and we actually just went this weekend. it was our first time to camp with our kids (tent camp at least)
we had such a great time
gardener……veggie (sort of)
would love to be a flower gardener but they usually die.

Kristin - My husband & I grew up camping, and continued after we got married. Best trip ever was to the Tetons with our kids. We haven’t had much time to family camp in recent years because my husband & son camp with Scouts once/month. I did get to camp once with them last year, and will again in June. THAT’S an experience…being the only mom with all of those males. Using the facilities (there AREN’T any) is interesting!

I garden…both flowers & veggies. Love, love, love being out in my garden.

Debby Benson - I LOVED camping as a kid. We went over every 3 day weekend and vacation. I grew up in Cali so it was usually Sequoia, Yosemite, & Lake Tahoe. Even the beach a couple of times. Nowadays, as an *old* lady, all I think about is the dirt and pit toilets lol. I’ve gotten too soft.

Gardening….I love the idea, but I’m afraid of flying buzzing things. i’m sure the neighbors would love the daily laugh of my gardening. “Hey, there’s our crazy neighbor running around slapping her head and screaming again!!” Kansas has some GIANT flying things. They skeer me.

And Stanley…I can smell his sweet puppy breath. It’s delicious! 🙂

Karina - I hate camping! Give me a few days at a rustic cottage – the shower can be on the outside, all meals can be on a bbq – but for heaven’s sake let me have a bed to fall into at night! I like having a wild garden – I will pull up the worst weeds, like dandelions and those prickly monsters that sprout under the trampoline, but that is about the extent of my gardening. OK, I came here for inspiration and now I feel very unaccomplished, at least as far as the great outdoors go. However, that photo of four of you and your husband smooching your happy face makes up for it! (Now please get back inside and tell me how you painted your banisters. 🙂 )

Tanya H - I loooved camping as a kid! It was always a favorite thing! I’ve gone two whole nights (separate nights) as a mom and um…not so much… it’s a TON of work and stresses me out. And my kids are way too old for me to be that stressed! 🙂
I’ve planted flowers but I wouldn’t say that makes me any kind of gardener… I am hoping to plant a few veggies this summer…like…this week… 😛
And really, I love that pic of the four of you all squished in and happy! 🙂

Stephanie - I loved camping as a kid! But now we live in Florida. Land of endless summers and bus sized bugs of every kind. No way would I go camping here in the summer. The late fall here is perfect camping weather and our kids have done it quite a bit in our backyard.
I am a veggie gardener mostly, but also have some fruit trees. I dream of having an orchard.
Stanley is SO cute. I have not had a dog since I was 3, but my kids are dying to have one. I think I am giving in. When I see your happy pups I think “it can’t be that bad…..right?”. 🙂

layla bb solms - love camping (never go, husband hates)
gardener – of flowers – in training
I wish I could smell Stanley’s breath! I LOVE dogs. we have a cat; I love him, but I need a dog. I would hug and squeeze and roll around in the grass with Stanley!

our trampoline has bounced its last behind; when school’s out in a few weeks, our kids will be disassembling it. the end of an era. boo hoo.

Amy Woods - 1. L♥ve camping! As long as it’s in an RV. We used to tent camp, but now I’m 41, and I want some A/C when I’m sleeping!

2. kinda both…well, mostly I pick out pretty flowers and help hubby plant and then forget about watering them. Luckily my 16 year old son is excellent at remembering to water! And the veggie garden…I’m more into the harvesting, but I help out the hubs and son with each step. 🙂

3. No…could you have him smile a little bigger? 🙂

Necole@seriouslysassymama - I love camping. We are planning something for this summer. I like to plant flowers, but living in Texas, there is always a drought, water restrictions, and everything dies. My flowers in the front flower bed are still blooming, and that makes me happy.

Jennifer B. - I love camping! My family had a small pop-up camper when I was a kid, and I begged my husband to keep it when my parents decided to get rid of it. At the time, we didn’t have a good spot for it or a car to tow it.

So now my 4-year-old son and I camp in a tent, and it’s a little more work, but I still love it. And he is growing to love it too! I keep it super simple and we only go for about 2 nights. Air mattress is a must-have for me. And I just bought us a new tent so we’ll have a little more room to spread out.

Your kids would LOVE it, and I bet they could entertain themselves while you relax/read/photograph. You might even find a place where you could rent an RV if you wanted to take a longer vacation.

As for gardening, I love the planting. Not much on the upkeep. I usually garden all Mother’s Day weekend, but we had other stuff going on this year. I just planted a bunch of container flowers to put by my front steps. The rest will have to wait. And I really wanted to try vegetables this year, but a bad sprain put a crimp in that plan. Maybe next year?

KATIE NC - what happened to Spanky’s kittens? and the chickens, when are they moving over to the new house?

Rebecca - Camping, in my opinion, is a Holliday Inn Express….Stanley…I can definitely smell your stinky breath. You need a Greenie!
I’m not a gardener either..I wish i was!

Mollie @Sprinkles of Life - What an awesome location and yard you have!! Seems so big and not surrounded by multiple other houses on top of each other!

Kristen K. - I consider myself to be “the queen of all things INDOORS” :-), but I married an Eagle Scout…so how did I think I was going to avoid camping? Our 4 kiddos are Scouts, so they camp a bit with them…but we go tent camping about 4 times / year, summer through fall. And I HATE HATE HATE to admit it, but we have made so many amazing memories by being together, unplugged, under the stars out in nature. I just wish that nature didn’t have so many bugs, poison ivy, and rocks that jump out of nowhere to trip us! You and your family are amazing, and God will be camping with you, too – I say, add it to your summer bucket list, and bail if it’s too crazy! (and bring a cot or air mattress…the ground is HARD!) 😉

Wendy - I have a vintage aqua and white trailer … kids love it just as much as I do. It is a lot a work, but makes some wonderful memories. ADVICE: Keep things simple and electricity is a must.

Meg - The last pic of Stanley. Oh my gosh. Love it! You totally need that as a print in your shop!

Tiffany - Meg, I just love catching up on your blog. You always put a smile on my face or make me laugh! Stanley is cute!

Chris - I love all these happy pics! Your new yard is so pretty.

Nikki - I have yet to camp with my kids. I loved it when I was a kid too! Except, I grew up in Colorado and it got super cold at night, that part I remember not liking. We just moved to Hawaii, though (military) and I find myself much more eager to camp here because the weather is good, even in the middle of the night. So maybe this is the year to get those camping memories going!

Andrea @ This Pug Life - I’m mostly a vegetable gardener. It still amazes me that a tiny little seed turns into a huge plant and produces FOOD all summer. I guess I’m easily amazed/amused. 🙂

Jenn - I only camp in a camper, no tents. I would love to be a veggie gardener, I’m not really a gardener at all. I plant around twice a year and that’s enough for this gal! I’m not a huge fan of the summer heat…it gets really hot down here in Texas, but I am looking forward to no homework and easy breezy nights.

Tracy - Oh no! I’m sweating thinking about camping, too!! Luckily my husband feels the same way…phew! Strength in numbers over here. Good luck with that!!

Marsha Kern - Your new yard looks beautiful! Looks like your pets are adjusting to the new place. Gardening all the way flowers and veggies both-it is may favorite, my idea of crafting. Have a great day.

Suzelle - fabulous photos !!!

Seamingly Sarah - I like camping, but camping with kids is such a hassle. They hate going to do it, yet rave about when we finally go back home. I don’t get it.

I LOVE to grow vegetables and fruit. I even got into fruit trees/bushes. We were so lucky to have bought a house with two apple trees that are young enough to train and prune properly! And we put in two blueberry bushes and there were already strawberries growing everywhere AND two rhubarb bushes!!! So excited for the fruit this summer. The only thing that doesn’t seem to want to grow for me is spinach. Go figure.

And doggy breath, yet another reason I couldn’t handle a dog right now. =)

martha - Camping is for Boy Scouts!! Only!!! 🙂

katie p - I grew up camping and really loved it and still do, BUT I really enjoy it when I can get in a good nights sleep. So if that means a camper, or an air mattress then so be it! Some say that’s not real camping and my response to that is, who cares 🙂

Lydia Davis - I grew up camping every summer with my family, and I met my (then) future husband on a big group camping trip! We just took our 7 month old daughter on her first camping trip last weekend, and she loved every minute of it! Take them. It’ll be worth it. 🙂

Laura H - Wonderful pictures filled with so much happiness!
I like camping for about the first 20 minutes, then I start to whine, and look for my Oprah magazine….
I love flowers, but they do not love me! I have been planting lots of succulents this year, and a fairy garden 🙂
Your dogs are so stinkin cute!! Also the kitties! Were these your outdoor kitties? You brought them with? That is so awesome!! xo
Happy Mothers Day to you!

Heather S. - Hate camping. I’m a hotel girl. In fact, forget the hotel and book me a nice condo please. I love to work hard and play hard all day, in the outdoors even. But then the night falls and I want a nice long shower and a cozy bed and air conditioning if the humidity is high.
Total gardener here. Flowers only. Vegetables dn’t bring me the joy my flowers do.
The breath – pretty sure it’s kitty breath I’m getting a whiff of right now, but that would be from the fur ball in my lap.

Jessica Johnson - I only camp in cabins. With showers.

And Waffle and Lincoln are twins.

Debbie - Hate camping. I’ll take Hilton over a tent any day.

Yes to gardening. Flowers and vegetables. We run our community garden after my dad started it years ago and passed away last summer. Our local rotary built a huge greenhouse on the property in his honor and we have no idea what to do with it 🙂 But there’s nothing better than home grown tomatoes!

Dog breath ranks higher than the wet dog smell for me. Ewwwww.

Great pictures and I’m loving the current Midwest weather. I’ll appreciate it even more poolside two weeks from today!

Jenny B. - I remember when Sean’s only birthday request was to have the trampoline set up at the farm house. 🙂 Your yard makes me want to move to Kansas. I do not love camping. I loved it as a kid, but now… not so much. Usually, the boys go, and then I drive out for the campfire, and then drive back home to sleep in my own bed. 🙂 I am not a gardener, but my husband decided he wanted to become a peanut farmer, so we now have cultivated earth in our used-to-be landscaping beds in the front yard. Peanut seeds (which are just peanuts, I think?) arrived in the mail last week, and he’s planting them sometime this week. So… we’ll see how that goes! 🙂

Shannon - I LOVE camping. Its my favorite! Did you know that at the major KS lakes you can rent a cabin? They are super cute, well stocked. It may be too late to get one for weekends during the summer, but I highly recommend them for your first trip! They are super reasonably priced and you get the “camping” experience without too much roughing it!

Shannon - My husband got us all set up to camp as a family two years ago when we were living in Colorado. I was skeptical….we have 4 kids (5th due any day!). BUT…after we got our routine down…and I decided to take flannel sheets, pillows & a down comforter for MY air mattress, I was a much happier camper! 🙂 And, wine…and coffee. Seriously, the comforter can roll up as small as a sleeping bag, so why not?! The kids LOVE the whole experience. In fact, one of our last camping trips was near Kenosha Pass where you had posted pics of your kids in a makeshift fort that my kids randomly happened to play in the very next day! Find a nice place with toilets nearby…and you should try it!

Laura - Love camping – not with a 2 year old though! In my heart I am a grower – in reality, not so much! I wish I could rub behind his ears! But seeing that picture of the girls on the trampoline – that is killer – it makes me wonder how long I’ve been reading, they look SO big! Putting away the exclamation marks now! 🙂

Becky - Our last attempt at camping (in the backyard, mind you :)) was fraught with disaster. Vomiting, sleeplessness, crying, coming in in at 5 a.m. We’ll stick to a camp out in the living room this summer 🙂

I wish I liked camping. I wish I wanted to like camping! Maybe someday…

Rhonda - I’ve read your blog for years, and think this is my first comment. Hi friend! I only check two blogs every day, and yours is one. 🙂 I hate camping. It’s probably my dad’s fault because he took our family “camping” in a big motorhome with every luxury. We tell our son, “Camping is for other people.” We’ve also told our son playing soccer is for other children. Living in Oregon, a mom needs to purchase a wetsuit to sit through soccer season. We love basketball. It doesn’t rain in the gym. I love to flower garden, and dabble in vegetables…enough to make salsa or pico de gallo. If you lived next door, I’d bring you fresh salsa. Happy Mother’s Day!

Julie - I love summer camping – especially when the weather is hot and sunny the whole time, and we can spend long days at the beach, swimming and boogie boarding. I don’t like midnight treks to the toilet though.
I am a gardener – flowers and vegetable – as we are coming into winter in New Zealand, I don’t get a lot of sun on my garden, so it is not as pretty or prolific as my summer garden.

Love your family shots, you always look like you have so much fun together, and are all so happy.

Ka - I do love camping, but it is a lot of work. But the memories are worth it. My wish is for a camper, so I can store my camping stuff in it. Then, just hit the store and go.

I thought about a garden, but I like Bountiful Baskets (bountifulbaskets.org) and we live so close to hutterites and they sell their produce locally. Why work so hard. HA!

Enjoy the sun. I got a sunburn yesterday and it’s raining today.

april R - lol Jenni “I only camp for Jesus”
Guess I have to do some camping to find out if I like it or if I’m on Jenni’s team 🙂

I love gardening but haven’t had a chance to try veggies yet, we move a lot.

and I can imagine Stanley’s doggie-ness bc mine does the same thing right in everyone’s face

yeah summer 🙂

Lisa - Love, love camping and our older children ADORE camping. We have found in our state (Vermont) that the state run campgrounds are cleaner, more natural and overall less expensive. Wonderful memories for kids!

Rachel S - I loved camping as a kid, now it just feels like work, which makes me feel guilty. But give me a fire in our yard with s’mores any night and that kinda feels like camping. 🙂 I really wish I had a green thumb. I love looking at everyone else’s awesome landscaping and dream of someday having that. Today is our first REALLY nice day here in northern Wisconsin. Spring was so late in coming – and now I’m ready for summer! Two weeks till I host our first graduation party. Tell me I will survive and it will all work out!

Barbara (WA) - I hate camping. Mostly a flower gardener. I’m a cat person so I love the photo of the kitties 🙂

Jenni - I told my husband yesterday, “I only camp for Jesus”. For real, the only time I can do it is for a big purpose, like a mission trip. Otherwise, book me a Marriott!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

stanley at sunset.

January 15, 2014

this puppy has been so much fun already.
he also is exhausting.
but all puppies are that way… chew up stuff… pee every where… bark bark bark.

he’s worth it for sure.

the kids have all stepped up and take such good care of him and i LOVE that!

last night he slept all night.
i wish i could have enjoyed it… but i woke up every 30 minutes wondering “is the dog awake?”
like when you have a newborn and you can’t believe they are still sleeping and you check their breathing constantly.
i never checked on him but i did keep waking up.

i hope he does it again tonight.
because i like sleeping.
i have missed it since christmas.

show hide 12 comments

add a comment

Sara - Your photography is great! I love the one of Stanley tilted sideways carrying that branch. I salute you for being willing to raise a puppy after going through sleep deprivation five times with your children!

Bobbie - Oh the pictures of him trying to carry it are just too adorable!

BeckyKindel - I love that it looks like he’s grinning in the last pic.

Routhie - Is he as velvety soft as he looks in your photos? He looks like fun!

Bethany - I love it when puppies try to haul around the biggest stick they can find. So cute!

April R - Wishing you all sweet dreams and peaceful sleep
thanks for being honest about the tough parts
it’s a beautiful balance to all the “puppy bathed in golden cuteness and stick fun”

Elizabeth - He is sooooooooo CUTE!!!

Kathie - Way too cute!! Love the photos, at that amazing time of day!! <3

Melissa G - He’s so sweet! Puppies are sure good at making you rethink your decision more than once or twice 🙂 How’s Waffle adjusting? I love him!!

Lisa - Dear Stanley – You are a beautiful boy. I can see that you like your sticks. Please play a lot today so that you sleep well tonight. Your mommy likes it when you sleep all night. She told the Internet as much. 😉

Heather S. - Those puppy eyes are heart-melting!

katey - Puppies and sticks. They just go together. I love that last picture. Precious!! Enjoy!!!!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

search

Search for:
Instagram
Categories

Categories
Archives
Archives

Category Archives: super stanley

search

Instagram

Categories

Archives