Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Introducing.......PEPPER!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we now have a new addition to our home. Making his grand debut to the world, is Pepper!!
pepper arrived on our door step exactly 2 weeks ago today. Jonathan and I were up getting ready for work when we heard a cat in the front bushes. We went outside to find a small kitten popping out of the bushes. He seemed to be crying like a baby. I couldn't help but fall in love with him. Jonathan new it was over right then and there.
Jonathan has never wanted animals in the house (country boy) and I have been pondering the thought of a cat for a while now.
Later that day, after Jonathan and I talked, Jonathan said he would let me decide if we were going to keep him. I tossed around the idea for a few days while I was feeding him on the front porch everyday. I knew we couldn't keep him as an outside cat because our road is way too busy. So the only options were to keep him in the house or take him to the animal shelter. I decided to keep him.
That Saturday I took him to the vet. We found out that he is in perfect condition and is 8 weeks old. That was the day we brought him into the house.
He has been so much fun. Although we are literally counting the days until the claws can be removed. Jonathan and I both have battle wounds all over us. Also hoping the furniture can make it another 1 1/2 months.
I know Jonathan was a little leery of having him in the house, but as predicted, they have now become buddies. I have to say, I think he is quite personable. We get the biggest kick out of watching him play. His own tale can entertain him for quite a while. Instead of scratching his scratching pole, he climbs it then spins around and around. I seem to call him Turkey more then anything when he is being ornery.
I guess I could tell a few more stories, but I will just let the pics do the talking.


Here he is!!!!!!! What a turkey.
Pepper thought this would be a good place for his next nap. On the news paper while it's being read.
My two best guys.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

A Very Busy Weekend

This weekend has been very busy for us.
If you have ever driven by our house, you have seen the hideously large bushes in our yard. We had 7 of these in our back yard. One fell down with the ice storms we had last winter, and the others we cut down this weekend. Jonathan started with the chainsaw on Thursday and then rented a chipper on Saturday for he and his dad to run everything through.

On Sunday I threw my sister-in-law, Betsy, a baby shower for my new nephew, Max, on the way in less then 3 weeks.. Due to space, we had the shower at the Holiday Inn, which really ended up working out pretty good. They made all the food for us and did all the prep and cleanup. Only thing I had to do was decorate and bring the cake.
I also gave Betsy the baby blanket that I had made for her. All those weeks that Jonathan was working out of town, I spent at Jonathan's parents house. I had the idea and did all the prep work. Jonathan's mother helped me sew it together. I hadn't touched a sewing machine since I was 13 and a Girl Scout. I was definitely a little rusty. I sewed it together and Jonathan's mother fixed all the boo boo spots for me. Pics are posted below.

I also have an updated picture of our garden which seems to have exploded the past few weeks. I have a pic posted of the first cucumber picked on Saturday. We invited Jonathan's Mother over for lunch since the guys were still chipping up the bushes. We all got a taste of the first pick of the season. We also noticed the Roma tomatoes finally starting to come in. The corn has the silk, but the beetles seem to be getting there way at the moment. I think we will be spraying this week to keep the pests off. Hopefully the corn will make it. I think the corn might only have another week or two left.

Look Out!!! Stand Clear!!
Timberrrrrrrr!!!
Running everything through the Chipper.
Baby shower cake that says "Baby Max".
Betsy received a Onesie that said Australia from one of my cousins. She just got home from Australia after three weeks, on Saturday. She managed to bring this back for Betsy's shower.
This is the baby blanket that I made.
Garden check. As you can see, things are a bit crowded with the cucumbers having there way.
First pick of the season before we cut into it. I haven't quite figured out why they call them Straight Eight Cucumbers. Judging by the look of things, we will have plenty to share!!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Niagara Falls

Last weekend, everyone knows we went to Niagara Falls. I have to say, Jonathan and I had a really great time. If you haven't been there yet then it needs to be added to your list.
We ended up renting a car for the trip to help ease up on the mileage on our car. We paid for a full size car hoping to get a Dodge Charger. We ended up getting a Jeep Compass. To me, it definitely did not seem like a full size car. It was an SUV that was smaller then our car. Luckily it was just my size for driving. I think it even grew on Jonathan along with getting decent gas mileage.
We arrived on Thursday about 2pm, about an hour ahead of what we predicted. We just kinda took it easy that day since we had been driving so much. We first headed to dinner at The Red Coach Inn. The menu was VERY expensive, so I ended up with a Cheese Burger and Jonathan got the Fish n Chips. They had to be the fanciest Burger and Fish I had ever seen. We then strolled down to the falls. Luckily, our hotel was within walking distance of most everything important. When we got back to the hotel that night, we got to watch a spectacular Fireworks display over the Seneca Casino that we could see from outside our hotel.
On Friday, we decided to join a tour that picked us up at our hotel. The bus took us to all the important sights and definitely saved us a bit of gas and driving frustration. Since it was the fourth of July, everyone around the world was also there. We got to stop at Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Goat Island, The Whirlpool, Thunder Theater and a few other places that I can't remember what they were called. Jonathan and I really loved the Maid of the mist and Cave of the Winds. We got to take the boat all the way up to the falls in Maid of the Mist. In Cave of the Winds, we got to climb to the side of Bridal Veil falls while letting the falls come down on us. We got a few pics of m\Maid of the Mist but couldn't get any of Cave of the Winds. That night we watched the Fireworks displayed over the falls.
On Saturday, we just did our own thing. We walked the streets and the falls again. At night we headed to the falls again to see the Illumination at the falls. They light up the falls most every night and everyone migrates down there to get the best pictures.
On Sunday, we started home. When we got to Erie, PA we decided to stop on Presque Isle. This is a peninsula that goes into the Erie Lake from Erie. Presque Isle is a heavily wooded Park that was filled with campers, boats, fishing, biking and everything else needed for a great family destination. It also had a really great view of the lake.
We finally made it home about 6pm on Sunday.
Jonathan did take some videos while we were there, but we still can't figure out how to get them on the computer. Anyway, hope everyone likes our other pictures




The Trolley we took the first day that took us all around for $2.00.
Bridge over the Niagara River that goes over to Goat Island
Us at the Falls
Fireworks at the Seneca Casino
The biggest Firework we saw over the Casino. Probably the biggest I had ever seen.
One of the bridges that leads over to Canada. What you can't see is the long line waiting to get across the boarder.
View of the American Falls From Maid of the Mist
That's me wearing the rain poncho for Maid of the Mist
View of Horseshoe Falls

View of American Falls from the Observation Deck
Our goofy shoes given to us as part of the Cave of the Winds tour, so our sneakers wouldn't get wet.
Sunset view of the Canadian Farris Wheel
That's us at the Illumination on Saturday.
Presque Isle Fishing Pier and Lighthouse
That's me at Presque Isle Lagoon


Monday, July 7, 2008

What were you doing one year ago today??


One year go today, actually to the minute, Jonathan and I were getting married.
Above, is a picture of our anniversary cake. This was made buy the same lady that made our wedding cake. To make sure everyone got a piece of cake at the wedding, we decided not to keep the top layer of our cake. Instead, she offered to make us a fresh 1 year anniversary cake. Since Jonathan and I had both taken today off work, we ventured down to Dayton to pick up the cake.
So tonight we are cookin out and having cake for dessert.
I will have our Niagara Falls pics posted soon. I need a chance to sort through them and make sure we got some good shots. Also, does anyone know how to post videos on the blog? At the moment, we can't figure out how to get them out of the camera. We got a new camera before our vacation and now we can't figure how to work it. HELP!!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Almost 1 Year!!

To celebrate our 1 year anniversary, we have decided to take a little vacation. Many of you already know we are heading off to Niagara Falls.
We are up an at'em at 4:30 am tomorrow morning. Instead of flying this time, we are taking on the open roads. Yes. This is the first road trip that Jonathan and I have taken by ourselves. We have taken long trips before, but usually with 1 or 2 others in the car. I am usually comfortably sleeping in the back seat, but this time I actually get to help drive. We are expecting about an 8-9 hour trip, weather/traffic permitting. Unofficially, I am going to attempt the drive to Cleveland then help Jonathan navigate through Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
We are renting a car this time to help alleviate the mileage off our car. Jonathan is pumped because we may get to drive a Dodge Charger (we'll see). That will probably feel like a tank to me, since I usually drive small cars.
We will be staying on the New York side, since we weren't sure if we could get into Canada. (Does anyone actually know? We have gotten so many different answers) I guess we will wait and see when we get there. I'm really hoping to see a great fireworks display while we are there.
Anyway, I will fill everyone in upon our return! Stay tuned.......................