Clint's handywork

I am so lucky - and also so cursed - to have a very handy guy for a husband. I say lucky because I get to enjoy the handy work in our yard and home without having to pay multiple arms and legs for someone else to do the work and get exactly what we want. And I say cursed because it seems there's always a project (or 10!) taking up his time. His latest two projects are our new mailbox and a new easel for his oil painting.

So talented! If you were to look closely at the photos of the easel taken in the garage, you might get an idea about all the projects he has going on. That's a 3-car garage folks, that only has room for my one car because of all the other things going on! Maybe someday he'll build his shop in the back and we will use our garage for the cars it is intended to hold. Of course, our backyard is still a "work in progress" but someday it will be as nice as the front yard...

Transformations

We are going through a time of transformation on many levels... The most obvious is the weather slowly coming out of the dismal throws of winter and trying hard to make it to spring. Of course, in Utah that means it is warm for a week and then it snows again for a couple of months before it really becomes steadily warm - and by then it is summer! There are buds on the trees and people are emerging from their houses again - no more winter hibernation!

We are transforming the interior of the house - a small metamorphosis with a large impact to Erin. Up until Christmas she had an entire wing of the house - bedroom, play room next door and her bathroom. Now, Daddy has taken over the playroom and is transforming it into a combo office/art studio. We have an office - fully furnished with bookshelves and cumbersome desk - but it is in the annals of the basement in the room now slotted to become the "home theater" room. When we got the much-anticipated and much-needed new computer for Christmas, we decided we couldn't bring ourselves to put it in the crappy office with hand-me down furniture. So, we also got a new and sleek desk to go with it and tucked it away in a corner of the playroom. The thought being the space could double as a homework/office/play room. Now, the toys have been relegated to the basement and Erin's work table has very little room for homework because it is storing as-yet painted on canvas' and paints. Clint has always had a talent for art but has fully embraced it as his most current passion. I can't wait to hang original artwork in the house and be able to tout that "my husband painted it".

I have transformed into a knitter - much to the delight of my brother who gets to tease me about being old! I admit, I made fun of the knitters at work and while my Mom and Gram have always been knitters I snubbed my nose. However, I thought it looked fascinating and I had a co-worker show me which then created a knitting frenzy. At this point, I have mastered scarves and hats - although I make more things for Erin than she can possibly wear at the same time. I have done one thing for me and it is a fabulous scarf. Erin loves her rainbow yarn - that she got to pick out - scarf and hat.

This was supposed to be MY hat but I guessed a little bit wrong on the size and it fits Erin much better. I'm just glad I did a "practice" hat before knitting it for Clint who is getting a new beanie next.

Erin is growing and growing and transforming into a big girl more each day. She has now lost 3 teeth - the last one just a few weeks ago.

As she grows older, I transform into a taxi driver shuttling her to and from the dance studio twice a week and girl scouts twice a month. She loves being involved in both and I love to see her happy even though I find myself wishing for the days of her just being content to hang out in her playpen at home so I could do whatever I wanted instead of what I need to do.

Even Sasha is transforming into not such a naughty dog and gets to spend more time in the house more often.

Next up - the yard will be transformed (we hope!) into a vegetable garden. It will be our first official attempt and we are hoping for the best.

Musical Fortune

I got this off a blog I read and thought it was pretty cool. The idea is that you can tell lots of things about a person by the music they listen to. Kind of had a fun time doing it while I took a little break from the daily grind today for some random silliness...

1. Put Your iPod/iTunes/music player/cd player/radio on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. Write that song name down. (of course, I added some comments as well!)

WHAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR PERSONALITY?
Good Times Roll – The Cars
Oh, wow, off to a really good start! I’m all about that!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
I Don’t Want Your Love – Duran Duran
That’s because I’m already taken by the best guy on the PLANET!

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Rescue Me - Madonna
Oh yeah, today is definitely one of those days…

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
God Help the Outcast – Little Mermaid Soundtrack
Look – the tree-hugger and environmental activist in me is vindicated!

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Disenchanted – My Chemical Romance
How can my iPod know this about me? I wouldn’t call it my motto though…

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Private Investigations – Dire Straits
What does that mean?!? And more importantly, when did Dire Straits get in here?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Next 2 You - Buckcherry
This is a new addition to the library and I have to admit I had to play it to see if it fit. Kinda does!

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FREQUENTLY?
Every Minute Every Day - Scorpions
Hmmm… alluding to my OCD perhaps?

WHAT IS 2+2?
The Greater Good – Nine Inch Nails
No comment.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Crown of Thorns – Corrosion of Conformity
Hmmm… I don’t think I agree.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Whores – Jane’s Addiction
What is this, a high school quiz? I’m married already!

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
When I See You Smile – Bad English
“Sometimes I wonder how I’d make it through… But then I see you smile and Everything’s all right“ pretty dang fitting!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Born To Move – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Just as long as we are talking “move your body” or “move a Nation” and not physically move my residence! I’m done with that insanity.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
We’re Forgiven – The Calling
“Well I’d like to think the world hasn’t seen that all the best is still to come” Oh yeah, watch out world, Clint and I will surprise you!!

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Man of the Hour – Pearl Jam
I always KNEW I was the favorite child!! : )

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING Anniversary?
You Can Do It – No Doubt
More like what I’ll be saying to Clint to get him to dance!

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Been It – The Cardigans
Yeah, the rate I’m going…

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
A classical piano track performed by Charles Rosen
I do love classical piano and miss playing… but not very accurate right now

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Got The Life - Korn
Shhhh, don’t tell anyone!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Serenade #10 in B Flat - Mozart
Aww… Pretty!

Mr Project

Clint is one of the most informed consumers I know and best handyman around. If we are thinking of purchasing anything he will pour over the internet and research everything about it before we decide where and what to actually buy. He is also the most ingenious about finding great deals and the best priced ways to accomplish goals; which usually turns into some kind of project for him. Like our landscaping - he worked 3 months for his buddy who has a curbing business so we could get ours for free in trade work. We have tons of rock masonry in our landscape including a courtyard and stone pillars with a connecting retaining wall and we didn't purchase a single rock to do it. Clint did the work himself including collecting the rocks using permits from the government - just like the companies who want to charge 200% more than what you can do it yourself.



His latest project is taking a trailer he bought dirt cheap that was designed to haul wave runners and turning it into an equipment/rock/toy hauler trailer. It has been amazing to watch the transformation over the last few months. He had to chop it apart and make it smaller, reinforce where the equipment will ride on it before putting the decking on, re-do the electrical (after Sasha chewed the wires up... bad dog!), and the latest piece, welding a new tongue and a new support that holds it up when it isn't attached to the hitch.



When the weather is warm, we don't see much of Daddy unless he is taking a break from a project in the yard but he is most happy doing things with his hands and we love to see the finished products. It amazes me the vision that he has to look at something and know that with a few tweaks or a little elbow grease it could be exactly what he needs.

First Item of Business

OK, how insane is it that the photo on the top of the page is the only one I can find that is a complete family photo? I have hundreds of Erin, a bunch of Clint and hardly any of me. I guess we all know who the photographer is in the family... First item of business will be to start taking photos of the entire family so there's proof that I actually exist and accompany Clint and Erin in all the things we do.