So the rent-in-laws are out of town...

...we are cat-sitting for them, and through a happy turn of events, we are also in possession of their big ol' dualie truck for the week. (I love this truck. It's like driving a tank, and it has taken us safely to many, many places, including from our wedding to our reception. To ride in it for me is to feel, on some level, like I'm on vacation. I think I may weep when it dies...) It has occurred to us both that our list of stuff-we'd-get-done-if-only-we-had-access-to-a-truck has suddenly entered the realm of possibility...for the next 5 days.

So now I guess we see if we've got the energy to get it all done. There's a lot of junk we can get out of the garage now, and I need to remulch my garden, and we need to take Uncle Robin's tree trimmer back to him in Oakley, and I might just use it to haul all the prairie plants that I bought for the Heartland Gardens from home to work. I get a little tired just thinking of it all...

So we had an anniversary yesterday...

...9 big years. I googled the traditional gift for a 9-year anniversary, and apparently, you have your "traditional" traditional gifts and your "modern" traditional gifts.

"Traditional" traditional 9-year gift = pottery
"Modern" traditional 9-year gift = leather

*giggle*

The web authorities on anniversary gifts, however, seem not to be aware of Fulla-Grabb house rules. Traditional/modern gifts for any event at our place always = electronics. We decided this year to get each other a GPS unit for the car. After using Mom and Dad's Garmin on vacation this year, I decided we really needed one for ourselves if for no other reason than it would be nice to have the GPS ladyvoice to back me up when Jeff says "Are you sure that's the right one?" just before we speed past our exit. We have yet to purchase the little gizmo, but that's the plan.

The weekend fast approaches. Activities will include: makin' wings for Chris Friday night, Krall cousin wedding Saturday night, dinner with Dave and Bekah Sunday night. Busy, busy.

-MF

Christmas is OVER...

...and so life as we knew it can resume again. Ahhh. I should note, while 2008 was lacking in many respects, this was the first holiday season which didn't find Jeff and me locked in endless argument, and for that I am truly, truly grateful.

As for 2009, we're off to an exciting, if frigid, start. Jeff teaches his first class today in about...5 minutes. How exciting is that?! He'll be teaching a class on podcasting basics for the Fine Arts Technology program at ISU for the next 5 Friday afternoons. The class meets for 3 hours each time, which sounds a bit grueling to me, but then I guess that's why he's the one teaching it. I know he can do this and do it well, and so I am anxious to hear his report of how it went today. Oh, to be a fly on the wall...

I'm afraid I don't have any news near as exciting as Jeff's. For my part, I'm just happy to have time to get back to being crafty again. I'm in the process of trying to teach myself wirewrapping beadwork and doing reasonably well; though, I think I will still see if I can't set up a class with the Garden of Beadin' folks so I'll know I'm doing things correctly and maybe learn a few tips and tricks of the trade. I would hate to put this much effort into it only for my creations to come off looking amateur. Can't stand amateur. If nothing else, my cats think everything I make is AMAZING...which might have more to do with the stringy wire and rolly beads than my own talent, but for now, I'll just assume that their wide-eyed attention is an expression of their feline appreciation for my art.

On my wishlist of things to do for spring is this bus trip to Chicago for the Flower and Garden Show offered through the Community Ed department at Heartland. They're supposed to have over 20 theme gardens and over 100 workshops to attend. I'm thinking, if Jeff won't go with me, I may ask one of the moms (or maybe even both, why not?) to come with. Sounds like a good opportunity for some old fashioned gardeny bonding to me.

-MF