Ahhh Fall.

Well, this  year has definitely had it's challenges.  8 months of house hunting, moving in March and now over 2 months of trying to close on a house.  We're ready to have a home of our own!  Della will get her kitten, I'll get my sewing room and Greg his garage workshop!  After our second bid - on the same house, it looks like we'll finally get it.  We have a lot of work ahead of us, but it will be ours and will be so fulfilling to accomplish.
It was nice to have a mini trip alone to focus on beekeeping this weekend.  Greg and Della surprised me with an extra alone day for me to accomplish cleaning/organizing and also some me time.   They headed to the Lincoln Park Zoo.  I'm a bit jealous, because I love going to the zoo, but there's a showing at the condo this week and I must lasso our latest explosion.   So I must stay focused on the present and use that timer to remind me that my alone time outside is equally important to the time I need to spend cleaning today.  FLY

Still Searching for a Home!!!

The little house we'd like to buy

It's hard to believe that it took 8 months of house hunting to find one we really wanted to put an offer on and now it's been 2 months of trying to buy it.  HUD is unbelievable.  You would think they would want to sell these houses they're acquiring from foreclosures, but really they could care less.  We're still squished into a 1 bedroom condo.  3 people, 2 cats, 3 fish.  I'm ready to lose my mind.  I must try to remain positive though.  Starting to lose hope of ever having a home.

Happy Halloween!

Ariel & Scooby Doo

Whew- Halloween is over and it was loads of fun.  We kept in tradition of trick-or-treating with Marrin, Pam & Glen.  This year one of Marrin's friend's (Maddy) from school and a neighbor joined us.   It was perfect weather!  I hope we can keep the tradition.

Sugar Buzz

Marrin is staying with us until Thursday and so I decided to plan a fun day.  We started off the morning with fruit loop / rice crispy treats (layered), Music/Story Time in the woods, Then lunch at the train restaurant, nap (sort of), snack, dinner, then smores at Donna's house!  Those girls crashed!  They were up til midnight yesterday, but I haven't heard a peep in a while now.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow!  Must rest now.

A first for everything

Well, there are two firsts today.  I never really thought I'd start a blog, but here I am at 1:30am typing up my first entry.  I guess I had considered it a good way of remembering all the things Della does, so I'm glad to finally get started.  The other first, was Della's first lie to me.  I was lying on the bed petting Miette.  She very clearly didn't want to be bothered.  Della approached climbed on the bed and started to pet her too.  I told Della that Miette wanted some space and to leave her alone.  Then my phone rang.  I went to the living room and a few minutes later, Della came out too.  She had dried blood on her cheek.  I asked what happened and she said it was food on her face.  We had been eating strawberries, but this definitely looked like a scratch.  I started to clean her up and I asked if Miette scratched her.  She said no.  I told her it wasn't food, but blood and asked again.  Again, "no."  So, I asked if she scratched herself on the couch.  She said, "YES, it was from the couch!"  However, it just didn't add up.  Della always over-reacts when she's injured.  If she scratched herself on the couch, I would have heard about it.
So, one last time I asked if it was from Miette, but I began by saying, "Della, I won't be mad at you if it was Miette.  Did Miette scratch you?"  And she let out this sigh of relief and said "Yes, it was her!  She said "Leave me alone (HISS) and then she scratched me" like that."  I was so happy that she was honest with me.  I really think she was scared she'd be in trouble because I had warned her to leave the cat alone.  I hope we will always have open communication! 
Well, this is enough of a beginning.  I need to get some REST!!!  I have a hike to go on with two girls in the park!