Happy Birthday to Me!

Today was my birthday! I am now 27, which I figure will be a good year. I'm partial to any number with 7 in it, because ages 7 and 17 went really well as far as I'm concerned! I spent the day with the Mothership and the Grandmother, "gleaning" from the garden, which I always enjoy. Then we celebrated with my favorite desert, peach pie. Yum! It was delicious...the Grandmother makes the best pie on Earth! After dinner, the Mothership and I set off for Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, where we saw our last show of the season, Church Basement Ladies. It was very funny...we were actually laughing out loud!

I also got some killer presents. First up, I finally got the present that the Mothership purchased ages ago at MacKenzie-Childs. She told me she bought my birthday present but refused for over two months to reveal what it was. I turned out to be correct in my guess that it was a rooster, but I never would have guessed it was a rooster made out of glass beads! He's awesome:

I'm so proud that I actually received a present from MacKenzie-Childs!

Seriously, how cool is this rooster?

My Aunt Paula sent me two great presents: a giftcard to PetCo, which is one of my favorite stores, and some pumpkin scented lotion that I absolutely love. It's from Bath and Body Works, but I can't find it at their online store. I'm kind of sad, because I really want the body splash too. I'll have to go to the mall tomorrow and see if I can scout some out!

And one of my technicians, Denise, brought us some tasty mini-cupcakes at work. Sadly, I have no picture to post, because we made short work of them once the package was open;)

So thanks everybody for my lovely presents. And as a reminder, there are only 364 days until my next birthday...it's coming up, you know!

Becoming a Gentleman Farmer

Apparently I am the only person who has ever heard of being a "gentleman farmer." Most likely because I love cheezy romance novels from the 60's, when there was apparently an abundance of gentleman farmers just waiting to snatch up pretty little women visiting the countryside.

A gentleman's farmer is someone with a farm that has an independent source of income, so the farm doesn't need to make a profit. It's farming as a hobby instead of a career. Which is why I will always be considered a "gentleman farmer" should I move to the country, because I have neither the stamina or the know-how to be a proper farmer, plus I actually enjoy being a pharmacist, and I'm not sure I'm ready to give up my career just yet!

I really don't want a huge farm, just 10 or 15 acres, so I can have some vegetables to freeze and fruits to can, and farm animals mainly for atmosphere. I don't envision myself milking a cow, and besides, how does one go about pasteurizing one's milk? I've always been desperate for a horse, and my grandma has decided that "we" must have some chickens as well, since eggs are getting so expensive. I have to take her word for it on the price of eggs, since I detest grocery shopping. Regardless, chickens would be fun!

And my current "livestock", consisting of Henry, Ruthie, Izzy, and Emma, would absolutely love life on a farm. Iz and Em could tear around all day, and I might even consider letting Henry and Rue outside on occasion...they're so desperate to go out I feel bad!

And yes, Mel, I do have plans for my country estate! Knowing me, they'll probably change a few times in the next 10 years, which is how long it will probably take me to get to the country, but nonetheless, this is what I'm dreaming of right now:

(image from eplans.com)

I know it's not that attractive from the outside, but as my country estate will be in the middle of nowhere, the interior is far more important, and as you can see, the kitchen is spectacular:

(image from eplans.com)

As is the deck, complete with an outdoor fireplace...I will have to find a lake for my country estate so that the deck can face it:

(image from eplans.com)

Oh, and the great room isn't too bad either, the windows look out onto the deck, so you can enjoy your gorgeous view even during the winter:

(image from eplans.com)

I suppose I should note that all my pictures came from my favorite home-plan website, eplans.com. To visit this particular plan, search for "Tranquil Living."

The Girls (and Henry) Decide to Move to the Country!

That's right, at least for the summer months. The puppies, cats, and I weren't able to stay at camp at all this summer besides driving out for day adventures, because of bathroom issues at all three camps. You see, built back in the 1940's, before there was such a thing as building permits and codes, the owners of our little cottages used whatever materials they could scrounge up. Which means in our gray camp there is gas pipe used as water lines, the green camp's toilet is unfortunately unable to cope with the sediments in lake water, and as for the red camp, everyone is a little scared to even turn the water on over there. So, as I would be unable to shower or go to the bathroom, we've been spending nights on Seward Ave.
 

(image from lowes.com)

But now we have a plan! You see, in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Lowe's started selling what they call "Katrina Cottages" which are plans for real little homes that are cheap to build, rather than those expensively sad little FEMA trailers they were trying to shove people into. Katrina Cottages are super simple designs that utilize inexpensive materials, making them very affordable. So we're going to build a super cute one where the gray camp is:
Now, if all goes well, it will be a real, finished, winterized structure, which means that our little family would be able to stay there most of the year, and rent a cheap apartment during the few months of unpleasant weather. That way, I'll be able to save lots of money, and eventually start building my "gentleman's farm" where I intend to have a gorgeous house perfect for entertaining, a large barn for a horse, cows, chickens, and goats, and some apple and peach trees. And no, Dad, there will be NO grapes. So sorry! Anyhow, even if my little farm doesn't work out, at least we'll have a place to stay on the lake with a working toilet! What a dream, right?

Recycling is Fun!

"I spend a great deal of time in the recycling bin...I love Mother Earth!"
~Ruthie, on why she likes to "blue bin" it.

Merry-Go-Round Playhouse: Little Shop of Horrors

I have to say, I was kind of disappointed by Little Shop of Horrors. The performers were great singers and dancers, and the props were spectacular, but I guess I was a little unprepared for such a strange show.

The music and lyrics were written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, so I thought this would be the best show of the summer, since they are also responsible for the Disney version of The Little Mermaid, which is my favorite Disney musical of all time! And the music of Little Shop didremind me a bit of The Little Mermaid. But not enough, so I have to say in the end, I didn't really enjoy this theatrical outing. I was glad to be going home at the end of the night. Fortunately, we still have one show left, and on my birthday, no less! I have no expectations regarding Church Basement Ladies, since I'd never heard of it before buying the tickets. So I guess the Mothership and I will just have to see how it goes!

Little Shop of Horrors is still playing for a few more days, so go see it, especially if you're a fan of the old movie...my friend Courtney apparently is, and couldn't believe that I didn't enjoy the musical!