Edible Fun

Over Thanksgiving the boys got to play with this really cool stuff, cookie play dough. It looks just like play dough and they can make stuff out of it and then bake them up and eat them! They LOVED it and it kept them entertained at the end of the weekend when they were pretty frazzled.

Mr. Golden Curls tries to decide which beautiful color to use first.

Lil' Spitfire digs right in with the cookie cutters.

Of course Mr. Golden Curls picks the set of train cookie cutters, he's a boy obsessed when it comes to trains, thanks a lot Thomas!

Lil' Spitfire just wants to play around in the dough but he actually gets pretty good with the cookie cutters for a 2 year old.

"Are they ready yet?!" A watched cookie never bakes!

The beauties all baked up. The one in the middle was what most of Lil' Spitfire's cookies ended up being.

Mr. Spooky Brains

As my boys get older we have the strangest conversations. While driving home the other night Mr. Golden Curls and I had this conversation:

Mr. GC: "Mamma, I made something up, it's Mr. Spooky Brains."

Me: "Ohh, that sounds pretty spooky."

Mr. GC: "Mr. Spooky Brains has a brain for an eye. Here he comes, run away!"

Everyone: "Ahhhhhh, Mr. Spooky Brains!!!!!"

Mr. GC: "Mr. Spooky Brains has an eyeball for a car."

Everyone: "Ahhhhhh, Mr. Spooky Brains!!!!!"

Mr. GC: "Mr. Spooky Brains' eyeball car talks."

Everyone: "Ahhhhhh, Mr. Spooky Brains!!!!!"

Mr. GC: "Mr. Spooky Brains is nice, here he comes. Hi Mr. Spooky Brains!"

Me: "Hello Mr. Spooky Brains."

You Don't Say

I sent a thank you email to the pug rescue group that allowed me to adopt my new pug through the shelter (you can read about that here). I wanted to let them know that what they did was a big deal to me. The shelter told me the rescue was familiar with this particular Pug and I've discovered some new information! My supposedly 7 month old is actually somewhere in the 3-5 year range. I've been kind of wondering why I haven't had too much trouble potty training and why he didn't have all the puppy mannerisms I'm used to, like roughhousing, nibbling and chewing into oblivion anything within reach. I'd just decided it's because I've never owned a Pug. His age does not at all lesson my happiness over Mr. Cash Pugface, if anything I'm excited to know that he isn't likely to get used to us and turn into a crazed Piranha-like poo machine! I also learned that he came from less than stellar circumstances and that makes me even happier to have him in our house!

Mr. Cash and I try on our silly pug faces, have I mentioned I'm a bit of a goob?

I also want to add to my previous posts a disclaimer. I would never want someone to see me gushing about a particular pet of mine, think they look super swell and run out to acquire one of their own just to realize later it wasn't such a good idea after all. If you're considering a Pug, or any other pet, PLEASE do your research! Pugs aren't for everyone, they're super adorable and lovey but they are also noisy breathers, grunters, snorers, clingy, they have bad gas, are prone to serious health issues, and they're notoriously difficult to train, especially in the house breaking department!

Pugvillage.com is a great place to start your research. Read everything in their side bar and you'll be educated indeed. Their Don't Get A Pug, and Meet The Pug articles are a good place to start along with the Pug Profiler that can help you determine if a Pug is right for you. Pug Village also has a forum for asking questions, just click here.

If you do decide on a new pet please consider a shelter animal or if you're wanting a specific breed then research breed specific rescues in your area. Not only will you get a pet you love but you'll have the peace of mind knowing you gave a home to an animal in need. And dismounting soap box.

I may not have my pug face down yet but I seem to have the pug neck wrinkles!

The Bohemian Buffalo

My husband finally collapsed to peer pressure. You can read his new blog, Bohemian Buffalo, here. Lets hope it lasts longer than his first attempt! You can also see a goofy picture of me burnt to a crisp in Florida but proud of our little jewel's new blingin' sparkle paint job.

Welcome Home

Where have you been my whole life Mr. Pugface? I'm completely smitten, it's puppy love at first sight! After a very long 4 hours drive, made even longer by the fact that my weather proof car with a heater is in the shop and I had to drive the heaterless '68 bug in the 40 degree, sunless weather, which is kind of like driving a colander down the highway at 70mph, I was at the shelter. I arrived frozen solid and shivering. I made the difficult decision to stop by Walmart before going to the shelter to finally see my baby, so I could buy a bunch of blankets and make sure I didn't return home with a Pugsicle. I also bought him a doggie coat. I plan on being a 100% total goob with this dog, clothing and all. However I didn't realize when I grabbed this particular doggie coat that it matched my coat so well until we pulled over at a rest stop full of truckers so I could walk him around in the grass. Kind of felt like a Paris wannabe but we were totally stylin'! The 4 hours home were just as cold but tolerable now that there were blankets.

I've never had a pug before, nor have I owned a dog this small, what a funny little guy. I've read up on them so I'd heard about the snorting and grunting and snoring but he's always making a little noise, like a Pug purr. He's very polite for a puppy, he's 7 months old. He isn't nippy or chewing on things. I know he's the new guy so his personality may change a bit as he gets comfy and he just got his buddies snipped off so he may still be recovering a bit from that as well, but he's one mellow, laid back dog! And what a love, follows me around and as soon as I sit down he's cuddling. It's hard to tell if he likes or dislikes anything, his expression is always the same and when he gets excited he just grunts louder, like a little piglet! Pugs also don't really bark and when they do it's muffled by their lips, too funny! We got to hear one of those last night, hysterical!

I was concerned that after all this driving I would get him home and our current dog or cat would have such a problem with him we wouldn't be able to keep him. I was sure our dog Maya would be fine but Annie is another story. She's getting a little old so I wasn't sure she'd be willing to put up with this new change but she really doesn't seem to care.I think we've come up with a name. He couldn't completely shake the Mr. Pugface that was supposed to be a temporary name. It's tough, we've been using it for years. But I wanted him to have something that was just for him. I had a stroke of brilliance and decided to name him after the man in black himself, Mr Johnny Cash. So officially my little pug's name is Mr. Cash Pugface but I'll probably call him Mr. Cash. He's going to have many names I fear. The Bohemian has been calling him Mr. Pugface, and the boys have been calling him Captain Pugface, which I actually think is a pretty good Pug name.

Let the Pug adventures begin!

PUG DISCLAIMER

I would never want someone to see me gushing about a particular pet of mine, think they look super swell and run out to acquire one of their own just to realize later it wasn't such a good idea after all. If you're considering a Pug, or any other pet, PLEASE do your research! Pugs aren't for everyone, they're super adorable and lovey but they are also noisy breathers,grunters , snorers, clingy, they have bad gas, are prone to serious health issues, and they're notoriously difficult to train, especially in the house breaking department!

Pugvillage.com is a great place to start your research. Read everything in their side bar and you'll be educated indeed. Their Don't Get A Pug, and Meet The Pug articles are a good place to start along with the Pug Profiler that can help you determine if a Pug is right for you. Pug Village also has a forum for asking questions, just click here.

If you do decide on a new pet please consider a shelter animal or if you're wanting a specific breed then research breed specific rescues in your area. Not only will you get a pet you love but you'll have the peace of mind knowing you gave a home to an animal in need. And dismounting soap box.

My Best Friend's Wedding

The true reason we went to North Carolina wasn't for a needed vacation, though it did end up being that, it was to see my good friend Billie get married. Billie and I have known each other since we were 12, when my family moved to Fredonia, NY, and we've been friends ever since. My family moved again about 5 years later, this time to Arkansas. I have made other fantastic friends over the years but Billie and I are just so much alike. I'm always amazed that when we're reunited after years of not seeing each other, hardly calling and only communicating spottily over e-mail that we come together again as though we'd just visited the day before.

I was so excited to be at her wedding, to get to know her husband-to-be and to be a participant, I read a poem during the ceremony. It was also wonderful to have a chance to visit with her and her family, I'd forgotten how much I miss them!

Father and daughter making their way down the aisle.

And they're wed!

The Location of the wedding was Claxton Farms in Weaverville, NC. The Bohemian and I soaked up the view the whole time, it was a gorgeous setting for a fall wedding.

The reception was held right there in the old tobacco barn. I have to say when I first heard the wedding would be at a farm I was doubtful but this was beautiful! We also feared the cold but with heaters, hand knit shawls and dancing we were just fine. There was even a bonfire with marshmallow roasting supplies!

The reception tables inside the barn.

The old rafters, where tobacco was hung to dry, were strung with lights.

The beautiful bride and I. I'm wearing one of Mozzy's shawls. The bride's mom knit two baskets full of shawls for guests to don if they got too cold.

This isn't the best pic but I really like it. It's of the bar at night. The groom is up there in the darkness somewhere.

These pretty twig globes hung from the tent.

The barn and the bluegrass band, too much fun!

Such a beautiful wedding gown, she looked just like a princess!

The bride's dad sat in with the band playing banjo for the bride and groom's first dance, I'm impressed!

Dreams Really Do Come True Mister Pugface

For years I've been wanting a pug, specifically a black one. I have even given him the generic name of Mr. Pugface as a way to refer to him in my daydreaming and "subtle" nudging of my husband. I don't like the idea of purchasing dogs because there are plenty of shelters and breed specific rescues full of sweeties that need homes. I have been eyeballing the rescue websites and such recently but I haven't really felt we could afford to pay the adoption fee for a rescue yet, it's higher than a shelter fee. Today I was brousing petfinder.com and found this little adorable guy who's in a county shelter 4 hours away! When I called and asked my fantastically spectacular husband, who loves and spoils me immensely, if I could get him he said "yes".

I called immediately to see if he was still available and if they'd adopt out of town and got "yes" to both! I was so giddy and hung up to find an online application and make this baby mine. I found out I could apply over the phone so I called back and answered all the questions, was told that my app. looked fantastic but was then told that a pug rescue group had applied for him and was coming to pick him up the next day! "You can still adopt through the rescue." My heart sank and I asked if there was any chance I could still adopt through the shelter since I couldn't really afford the rescue's fees and they were a rescue after all and presumably wanting him to have a home. She apologized and said she just couldn't. I understood, I wouldn't want someone adopting a dog I'd adopted.

I got off the phone and was way more disappointed than I probably should've been about a dog. About 10 min. later I got a call from the lady at the shelter "I called the pug rescue and they would be willing to let you adopt the pug through us." "You're kidding?! Oh, I'm so excited!" I practically yelled in her ear, poor lady, and thanked her as though she'd just allowed me to adopt a child. So, Saturday morning I'll be heading off on an 8 hr. round trip to pick up this little cutie! Part of me is nervous though that I'll get there and he'll have been adopted out to someone else anyway or there will be some strange barrier keeping me from my dream dog. I'm optimistic like that.

I can almost hear my mom reading this and saying "Oh, Sunny, why do you want to be getting another dog?" Don't worry mom, I'll share him with dad so he won't want one of his own anymore! :)

Obnoxiously Rich For A Day

On the road to the Biltmore

As soon as my mom realized we would all be heading to Asheville, NC her only request was that we take a day to go visit the Biltmore mansion and I'm so glad we did, it was amazing! It's the largest home in America and was built in the 1800's. Large doesn't even begin to describe it. The tour of the inside of the house alone took about 2 hours and they don't show you everything. Then there were the gardens, the greenhouse, the trails, the winery, the petting zoo...wow! It really took the entire day! The boys were so amazingly good, I can't believe they survived the whole day without a meltdown.

First stop: McDonald's! But this was no run of the mill McD's it was decked out and topped off with a player piano! When the Biltmore mansion was built they also built a matching community, Biltmore Village, at the entrance. No there wasn't a McDonald's there back in the 1800's but they now have to follow strict architectural/design standards so it was pretty stellar!

The Biltmore's exterior, I couldn't fit it all in the frame from so close up! Somewhere in there is my husband and the boys! No photos were allowed inside, sorry, so we came out for a lunch of mini cakes in the outdoor plaza then headed to the side where the gardens are.

Lil' Spitfire was happy to run a bit, the inside tour is tough on little boys!

The view over the wall of the side gardens

Now this I could take home with me! The most incredible greenhouse I've ever seen!

Lil' Spitfire outside the greenhouse, which he loved too. He's already starting with the fake smiles for photos, isn't he too young for that?

On top of the formal gardens, the rose garden, the Italian water garden and the greenhouse there were the trails that took you around the pond, boat house and water falls. It was quite a trek!

I spy with my little eye a really cool fountain, some little boys who are getting tired, and some adults who are looking forward more and more to the winery part of this visit.

Ah, that's better! After the winery the boys get to run to the farm/petting zoo. The winery was really cool, it was my first wine tasting experience.

The petting zoo was just closing as we arrived but the boys didn't mind. They peeked through the slats at the animals and played on the tractor and that was just fine with them.


Then it was time to head back to our cabin. On the way back we had the most wonderful pizza and live blue grass music at Blue Mountain Pizza in downtown Weaverville. It was a tiny little place jam packed with people but so much fun.

Surprise!

When we came back from North Carolina our house looked just a little bit prettier. The builder decided to go back and put shutters on all the houses, even the ones that had sold, like ours! This was on our list of things to do to cutesie up our cookie cutter house and we got it for free, AWESOME! Even though the whole street got the same shutters they've helped show that each house is actually a little bit different. Now it's time to get some pretty iron work flower boxes for the windows and maybe get brave and hang the iron work wall art thing we bought a few weeks ago for the large, empty expanse above the garage.

This is a welcome mat I found at Target and just love. It's made out of recycled rubber! It fits right along with my idea to make this cookie cutter into something more italian cottage-esque.

Below are pictures of the decoration for above the garage. We got it at Hobby Lobby when they were having their half off metal decor sale. I can't decide if it would look really cute or really bad. Either way I suppose it would make our house different than our neighbors'!