Spring!

Yes I know that spring is pretty much passed but I still wanted to share these photos I took a few weeks  ago. We have the most beautiful dogwood tree in front of our little house and I look forward to seeing it every year. And then the lilac bush blooms and BAM! Now the rose bush to the left of the dogwood is blooming like crazy.

 Look at those blooms!

 This year we also had more tulips than usual! Last year none bloomed at all. Maybe it's because I never weeded the bed. I really should get on that....

 All the animals have been loving the longer days and sunshine too. Scampi spends a lot of time on the kitchen table soaking up the sun.

 And if I'm home I'll open up the back door and let Phyllis sit there until she is panting from the heat. 

 I'm really hoping to make this summer one of our best ones ever!

Sling Time!

It is that time of year again! When it is nice enough to take the dogs on a walk, but not so hot that they are melting within 5 minutes of leaving the house! We took a short walk with them today, and of course my favorite part is when Phyllis gets tired of hopping (about two blocks) and has to get in her sling!

I love seeing a man holding a tiny dog in a sling. I bought it from TJ Maxx when I was in there looking for a trash can for work. It is by Outward Hound and it so awesome! If you have a little disabled/spoiled dog I highly recommend it!

 It was so nice out! I say it every year, but I hope we'll take more walks before it gets super hot.

 Priscilla got a little time in the sling too! Look at that face!

 In other news, my rose bush is blooming! I was wondering if it would ever start, and in the last two days it has gotten covered in blooms! I don't know what kind of rose bush it is, it was here when we moved in. Aren't they pretty though?

 And one more of Priscilla because I just couldn't resist!

Today has been a great day. It is my first day off in over two weeks where I wasn't interviewing, or working 10 hours on a photoshoot! It was nice to have nothing I HAD to do and Travis was off too! We did some vintage shopping (I'll show you soon!) and saw The Source Famliy, and at veggie dogs at the Dog of Nashville. Now we're relaxing with the dogs and watching King of the Hill. Glorious!

It got better...

My day started off kind of terrible. I jolted awake at 4:30 this morning and freaked out thinking I was late for work. I rushed to get dressed and out the door in less than 10 minutes and as I was clocking in at 5AM...I realized I wasn't supposed to be there until 6. I'm really not sure what happened. But it just started my day off on the wrong foot. Later when I sitting in the breakroom, a friend read my horoscope to me out of the newspaper, and it said something about a mistake leading to something magical happening. We laughed and I said me being early would lead to something magical that afternoon. It kind of came true (as they always do, since they are so vague. haha.)

Travis had been home most of the day, and had mowed the backyard with his new mower. I asked him to set up his camping hammock for me, and I went outside to enjoy the perfect weather.

I brought a little friend of course. I was mean and made Priscilla stay inside. She is just too busy for relaxing in the hammock.

My view. I don't want to front and pretend I live in a quiet forest wonderland. We live right on a 4 lane road, so I could hear the traffic going by, and someone mowing, and dogs barking. But it was still really nice. I finished a book that I have been reading for what seems like forever.

I ate some of these little caramel flavored gingerbread cookies that Travis got me from a Russian and Eastern European grocery store he just found. Phyllis wanted a bite as you can see. He also brought me some strawberry syrup and sprite so I could make too sweet drinks. 

I think Phyllis liked it.  She never really relaxed, there were too many sounds to hear and smells to sniff.  They don't ever really get to hang out outside. I'm too paranoid about something happening.

I love this hammock. It is so cozy! It folds up really tiny so you can take it on a hike.I don't really want to hike though. I'll just stick to the back yard. 

I got this great package on my doorstep today too! Tiffy's mom sent me a message asking if I would like this beautiful fabric that belonged to her mother. Of course I was interested, but I couldn't believe how amazing it was when I opened the package! I LOVE it all! Look at all these gorgeous patterns!

That turquoise and red is so perfect for me of course, and those roses!
This day of the week fabric is so fantastic. I need to find the perfect project to use it on!
I love these circles. The color combo is really great.

This floral is my favorite! I wish there was enough for a dress! Or curtains! But I actually already have a plan for it, and hopefully I'll do it tomorrow! It is really just perfect! 

She sent me these bowling patches too! I think I'm going to sew the space themed one on my bowling bag! I finally thrifted a ball last week too! Looks like I need to hit the lanes! This was such a thoughtful gift. Bloggers really are some of the nicest people in the world. I am constantly blown away by the kindness of some of the people I have met through blogging. (And now that I say that, I'm sure someone will send me a mean message or something, hah!)When I came back inside Travis had gone and got me some cadbury mini eggs, and picked up a pizza. Now we're hanging out on the couch with the pugs watching tv. So the day turned out pretty great after all!

One of my favorite things about spring is seeing all the pretty flowers bloom in my yard. A new addition this year is this beautiful pink plant that is randomly growing up through one of the shrubs in front of my porch. I love it!

Our lilac bush is in full effect.

These tulips didn't make an appearance last year, but I've got three this year! Maybe this fall I'll actually plant daffodils in this side bed.  (i've been saying that since we moved in, 2010!)

And my favorite, my pink dogwood is blowing me away!
Just gorgeous.

Of course, this is how I'm spending this beautiful day, sitting on the couch with my ladies, watching Mad Men on netflix. I finally started watching it, and now I'm hooked! I'll do my best to go out later. Phyllis makes it pretty hard though.

Holga Class!

I learned how to scan film this week, so here are some of the images I've gotten with my holga! I love being able to scan them and see what I got, without having to make prints of every single one.
One of the few double exposures I haven't over exposed so far.
My dogwood tree. I like the weird focus, it was an accident.
In my backyard. I love a light leak of course.
Majestic Priscilla.
Accidental double exposure that I really like. Close up of weeds + wider shot of the back yard.
And some more dogwood. I'm getting the hang of it, and am starting to be able to predict what I'll get. Too bad the darkroom will be closed all summer. 

A beautiful day...

I feel like almost every blog I read is gushing about the beautiful weather that has been happening all over the country this week. And I'm going to talk about it too! It was perfect outside today. While Travis ran a few errands I spread out a blanket in the back yard and took the girls out to enjoy the weather.

Travis brought me home this plaid blanket last week. I love it!
I thought they might run around the yard but they pretty much just wanted to sit in my lap.
Do you read Bust? I think it is the best magazine out today. I wish it was monthly!
Miss Priscilla. Can you tell we shaved her? She looks pretty much the same.
My face, enjoying the 75 degree weather with perfect light breeze. Can you tell I got a haircut?

Oh Phyllis! How can she be so cute? That vintage doll bed in the background is a project I'm working on. I'll show you soon! I hope it turns out as cute as I'm imagining.

You can see the spots on her skin through her shorter hair.

And we left a little tuft on the end of her tail, like a sweet little lion. 
This morning I thought I had to darkroom reserved, but it turned out I had it reserved for tomorrow. Since we were already out we went to a meat and three we'd heard good things about (it was really mediocre sadly) and went to the Goodwill outlet. I had this weird feeling that I was going to find something related to E.T. and kept my eyes peeled. Then I saw it. An ET COSTUME, with a big stuffed head that you wear as a hat, and a glowing finger. Sadly, I saw it in someone else's cart. I've never had a feeling like that before when thrifting. And I can't believe that costume was communicating with me and I missed out! Our last couple trips to the outlet have been really fruitful though. I can't wait to show you what we've found!

Signs of spring!

My flowering quince bush is in bloom! As usual I am obsessed with it and have to go look at it every single day. I really think it is the most beautiful plant. I'm so happy the lady who owned our house before us planted such awesome things in our yard. I can't wait for the rose bush to bloom!

This plant always blooms really early in the season. It starts coming up around Valentine's every year. Man, I need to clean up that flower bed.

The yard is so great. Look at those pretty little flowers over Rose's grave.
You can see Priscilla is very impressed.