Here are my favorite things about the back yard.

My plants! 
The spider thingy from my in-laws, 
because someone decided to steal my beautiful ivy 
that I kept outside to get better sun. 

I've lost about half of the creeping spider from the heat 
and not knowing how much to water. 
I so do not have a green thumb.
But I think I've got it down now. 

We also got a sago! Thanks to my boss. 
We're going to keep it in a pot, a very pretty large pot, 
that we do not have yet...

 We're trying to grow grass. 
In the backyard, and in the front yard. 
It's so cute.
And a lot harder than it looks!

I have a mat now! 
So that I can wipe my feet and not track dirt into the house...
it's an ingenious invention.

I love my wind chimes from our honeymoon in Mexico...

Here's something else I've been working on.

Sewing. My first project!
I sewed a curtain for the garage, 
and I have no idea how I screwed it up. 
But both ended up too short, 
and then one shorter than the other. 
It took me a couple days to finish it, 
and it still ended up wrong. 
I was so sad.

Lesson learned: measure once, twice, three times, 

pin, measure again, cut, measure again, cut again if necessary, 

then sew. 

Ta da!

Housewarming Party

We had a great housewarming party. 

The food was great, a lot of my family helped, 
and almost all of our family was there. 
What more can you ask for? 

Robbie said I need to learn to make my Grandmother's beans, 
and my mother's pasta salad and ice cream. 

It was that good.

We also got a lot of great gifts, 
which I wasn't expecting but am very grateful for.

I have no idea what this is called, 
but it's the best pie from Marie Calanders I've ever had.

Flowers and bottles. My two weaknesses.

These are the centers I made. 
I only had 5 glass jars, all of varying sizes.
There's Alex. Good old Alex.
And basil from my new neighbor!
I'm hoping to make pesto, but I'm a little intimidated.

The house feels all warm now.