mostly swans...

 but i have gotten some work done today.  my homework list has a few checks in it.  i had done the original stencil last night.  this morning i covered the 4 stenciled areas with mod podge...i put one on each end on both sides of the beam.  i had debated doing more of them or putting the big dipper stars in there but i opted to keep it simple. 

 today i selected a stain, Chocolate Chip, and stained over the stencil. it will look really nice once i have better lighting installed.

 overall, i am quite proud of how it turned out.  not sure if others have done this.  i couldn't find examples on my little internet searches. i think it's cool though. probably would have been cool to go all the way across with the stencil.  i think this will be enough.

 also bought a dishwasher while i was at Lowes. that will get delivered on Tuesday.

 so i am checking a few things off the list.  i worked a bit on the sub floor, but it is not giving up easy and i have to be down on the ground..i can only do that for bursts and then i move on to some other task. 

 these are of the swans out at University Lake.  seems they have been coming through all week now.  different birds i guess flying in and out.  I'm sure migration is a bit late this year due to all this oddly warm weather.  there is snow creeping down the mountains.  it looked beautiful today.  i debated looking for moose, but for the next months the kitchen remodel will be the priority i think. 

 do what i can.  having the beam done does give me some peek into the future and it will all look pretty sweet when it's all done.  there will be 3 pendants hanging down from the kitchen side of the beam over the attached island. i think that will look nice, though it may sway a lot in a big quake....

 went walking with MT today, happy birthday, thanks for walking with us.  the pups all had a great time and i think got mildly tired out.  hers got tired out, mine had naps and then were ready to run again. 

 starting on a little side project to put organize my passwords a bit more.  it gets ridiculous looking through a million bits of paper looking for them

 these swans put on an impressive show.

 at this point they were close to the bridge there so super close for picture taking.  also close for dogs to bother them though. 

 i would snap a few pictures and then toss the tennis ball.  thankfully, my pups are generally more interested in the tennis ball than anything else.

 i think Ivy is not happy with the extra noise but she isn't freaked out.  Tusker seems to just sleep through it.

 thinking today that i really do need to get the new phone.  want to get into the cloud on my computer first and make sure i have pictures there.  everything is falling apart at the same time.  the TV turns itself off and on randomly...my pet sitter thought it was a ghost, i think they just don't make crap to last at all anymore.  it's a throw away world....it's pretty sad.

 sadly, we toss aside humans as easily as we toss aside our old phones and TVs.  everything is best new and shiny in our society...probably more and more in other societies as well. 

 above you can see the puppies run across with their tennis ball in front of the 4 swans that were out there

 i am at that age where i suspect i am mostly invisible.  i was never much of a bright light, but now I'm just some middle aged woman moving through life.  i guess that has some advantages.  i don't get hit on and pestered to "smile" or whatever.  that was always annoying.  like you were supposed to put on a show for every guy you crossed paths with no matter how old or gross they were.

 i think here, Ivy has begun to really notice these large birds

 quite  a few other dogs out there playing

 the birds went about their business....conserve energy, they have a long flight ahead of them.

 this dog was a bit more determined than most

 another cute doodles. so many doodles out there now.

 kept busy with my tasks i guess today.  doing laundry as well.  always love fresh sheet day.  the duvet cover is heavy and takes forever to dry but i love it...thanks Jeff and Wils!!

 had one "my cat from Hell" as i worked on kitchen stuff.  always love those shows.  those and shows about remodels or house buying.  even though most are staged i think, still fun to watch transformations and see what is possible.  makes me think of all the things i could do at my place to make it better. I'll start with the kitchen though.  no doubt once that is done i will be forced to do more to make it all look more upgraded. 

 want to change out lights for sure and hopefully the counters and sinks in the bathrooms.  we will see how much this kitchen remodel runs me.  i still have counters to buy.  otherwise much of the stuff is bought, it's labor now.

 I'm still looking at colors as i know i will need to repaint soon.  the carpet on the stairs needs to go as well.  that looks pretty bad. 

 enjoyed all the swan stretching out.  such amazing birds.

 felt bad as i asked this co-worker in PCU her name and she totally knew me and mine.  i get that a lot.  i think working float pool it's tougher to remember names as you are all over the hospital and admittedly i am not good at remembering names at baseline.

 when did it become 11pm!  i slept in today but not bad.  met my friend for a walk and hit Lowes.  I'd seen some dishwashers there.  my fridge and dishwasher are both a slate color i think and GE.  can't recall what the stove is...but it is a darker color as well. it's behind all the cabinets at this time....along with my tool box...

 hopefully, i can get the garage more organized after the kitchen is done...and be able to park out there for at least part of the winter!!  won't that be fun...can't wait for that. this is the best perk to losing the pool table.  indoor parking.  that will be so odd. 

 then clear out the guest room and spring clean and hopefully i will be ready for any visitors that wish to come up.  my old Marine Biology professor has retired and is thinking of coming up...will need to plan a paddle while he is here, he'd totally love that.

 haven't heard any rumors of any family wanting to visit. i have a cruise in March and i am thinking i will plan a trek to Boston and back east in the fall next year so i can enjoy fall colors and family at the same time.

 my sister is going to be moving to Utah so it would be fun to visit her there at some point after she is settled in. lots of great parks around that area.

 still need to start looking for a trustworthy dog sitter..always the worst bit about travel.

 leaving the pups behind. 

 these guys are a pretty big part of my existence. 

 there is Ivy Rose tearing off after those swans....

 she stopped short and just looked at them and came back to me.  silly girl.

 they can both go from zero to 90 in a second.  they do love to chase the grouse and squirrels...smaller critters are a bit safer.

 those big birds have big beaks. off to look for the cloud and figure out how that works.  just want to make sure i have all those photo's/videos of Blossom and Rio and Pogi before i risk losing them all in a trade in.

thankful for: A.  my newly expose beam B. old people and the stories they tell C. ice cream