Favorite Parts of Spring

I love spring!  It will probably be my favorite season in TX since summer will be so hot and humid (fall and winter aren't even in the running).  So here are my top 5 reasons for loving spring:
1.  Baby animals- I love driving in the country and seeing baby cows, goats, sheep, and horses.  They are all so stinkin' cute!
2.  Flowers and trees- I don't have allergies, so I thoroughly enjoy the blooming trees and flowers.  Plus, I am married to a botanist, so I get to learn all kinds of interesting facts about them.
3.  Warmth- I am extremely cold natured, so I am always happy to see winter leave.
4.  Open windows- I love the times of year when you don't need the heat or AC.  Fresh air flowing through the house is so wonderful.
5.  Thunderstorms- Oh, how I've missed thunderstorms!!  I was having thunder and lightening withdrawals in WA.  I love lying in bed and listening as the storms roll in.  I also love watching the weather reports in the middle of the night- yes, I'm a nerd. 

So, I'm curious, what is your favorite season and why?

Cookie update

Well, a couple of weeks ago I ran out of my "better-than-girl-scout-cookies."   I decided it was time to try the Walmart version.  The verdict?  Not bad at all!  I was pleasantly surprised.  So if you really need a Tagalong fix and can't find the Keebler version, this is the next best thing I have found.
Enjoy!
(Notice they still don't have a great name.)

We have frogs

We have had a lot of rain around here since last Thursday, and boy, did we need it.  Sometime in the last week we noticed a new sound coming from our pond- frogs!  I should know more about frogs, but I need some help here.  First of all, where did these frogs come from?  Have they been here all along?  When we moved in, the pond was bone dry.  It has now had water in it for several months, but we didn't hear the croaking until last week.  I've thought maybe they only croak during mating season, but I just don't know.  Does anyone out there have any ideas?  Of course, I don't know what kind of frogs/toads they are so that doesn't help much.  I've tried to catch a peek at them a couple of times, but they get quiet when I get to the edge of the pond, and I've only seen a quick glimpse as one jumped into the water.  I'm just curious about when they arrived, where they've been, and why they've been so quiet.  Either way, it's a nice sound and makes me smile.**
While I was laying in bed last night listening to the frogs (they're loud enough to hear from inside with all the doors and windows shut), I began thinking of all the animals we have seen around here since we moved in 8 months ago.  I thought it would be fun to make a list (because that's what I do).  So here you go- here are all the animals we have seen, heard, or have evidence of on or near our property this year:
skunks, raccoons, porcupines, possums, coyotes, wild pigs, armadillos, squirrels, mice, rabbits, moles, scorpions, 4 kinds of snakes, lots of bugs, frogs and at least 20 species of birds including owls, wild turkeys, cardinals, blue jays, bluebirds, towhees, scissortails, doves, quail, crows, robins, etc. 
We also have some domesticated animals that share our fence line:  goats, llamas, cows, horses, a donkey, cats, dogs and kids (which are the loudest of all sometimes).  
Who needs a zoo when you can come visit us?!?

**Since posting this earlier this morning, I found out from a Biology professor that these frogs probably have been here all along and were just buried down deep when the pond was dry.  Also, these frogs croak during mating seasons and this is brought on by rain.  

Bathroom reveal

Just a reminder of the BEFORE...

Icky tile walls on bottom half and tub surround, weird linoleum stuff on top.  Tile countertop, gold accents

And the AFTER...

New pretty vanity and sinks, silver accents.  The vanity is higher than our old one by a few inches.  A few inches can make a huge difference!

New solid surface tub surround.  You can't see it, but it has dark brown and white speckles that match the vanity and sinks.  Also the shower head has been raised about a foot- now we can actually stand under the water!

New light fixture
In the reflection you can see our new toilet paper holder.  It's one of those new ones that is just a curved arm with no "springy" bar.  I love it!  

New flooring- it's just vinyl, but I think it's pretty.







The walls are a little bare and the paint color isn't exactly what I thought it would be, but I still love it.  Thanks for sticking with us!

Living room after

Well, I spent a lot of time cleaning this weekend and finally got things in livable conditions again.  I'm only going to show the living room today because the bathroom lacks one little detail that will be worked on tonight.

My new chair- matching ottoman will be here in a few weeks

Josh's new chair

The view into the living room through our new opening in the wall!

I think we need a rug in this room and we're working on a new picture for the mantle, but it's getting there.  Of course the red, blue, and pink carpets will be gone someday too.
We also spent a little time outdoors this weekend.  I love that Josh has to take his plant classes on mini field trips because that means we get to explore potential locations.  On Saturday we visited a state park and our closest lake.  The bluebonnets (TX state flower for those of you who don't know) are amazing right now, so of course we had to get pictures.

Fort Phantom Hill

Titus and bluebonnets

The yuccas are also in bloom

Check out our photo page for more pictures from our weekend and some videos of Titus swimming.
www.flickr.com/photos/jbrokaw

Ahhhh, no more plastic

We have been walking on plastic for a couple of weeks and went through a period of walking through plastic for a while too.  Last night we got home from church and walked on carpet.  Ahhh- it was so nice and quiet!  Titus knows the difference too.  He got his moose toy out last night and starting running around in circles.  And again this morning.  I think he's been missing his indoor play times.
So our house project is done!  The changes seem huge to us, but I think it's because we are comparing the finished product to the demolition stage.  Most people will just be comparing outdated to updated.  I'm saving pictures for Monday so that I can have the weekend to clean and get things in order.  The bad thing?  Seeing it all completed makes me want to do more.  My head is spinning with ideas!  We have 2 more bathrooms that are all tile and a kitchen that is stuck in the 60s.  Of course there's also the 3 different carpets and 3 different vinyl floors on the 1st floor too.  Sigh...  we are only just beginning. 

Construction freak-out

Well, it happened again this morning.  Titus had one of his lovely freak-out moments.  This time, the camera was close and I was able to catch most of it on video.  What is this freak-out all about?  A small piece of paper used to protect our carpet during construction was torn and sticking up in the air.  Seriously, a big dog bothered by paper.  My goodness.
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbrokaw/4493515688/

I'm sure you've all been wondering about our pet scorpion too.  Well, he still lives in my office at school and loves to eat crickets.  I came in one day last week and he was just posing for this picture.

Progress

Plumbing mostly done, ceiling patched, "popcorn" gone, doorway into living room started















The bathroom has walls and the popcorn has also been removed from this ceiling!

The demo conintues...

Bathroom demolition- no walls, floor, vanity, sinks, toilet.  Just a tub and part of a light fixture left!

Before and beginning pics...

If you don't know what this post is about already, read the previous post.

Bathroom before- notice tile walls, countertop, and tub surround

 Beginning of demolition- living room