It All Began With a Pond in a Box

Some of you have requested a post and since all I have to offer is a personal update, that's what you get!

Just remember, you asked for it... ;)

Three years ago, when first moving into my "fixer upper" home, I was full of energy and had all kinds of "big" ideas about what my home was to eventually become. It all started with a pond in a box, which I just happened to see on sale (only 75 bucks!) at the local Walmart. It came with a CD and promised to be as easy as 1 2 3. Yeah, right.

The liner was too small, resulting in a mud hole (for the purpose of froggy pron) in my yard and by the time my second spring here rolled around, I was too busy with other things to fool with the huge mud hole. By spring number three, I'd decided to win at any cost, and cost me it did. After purchasing a very large top of the line PVC liner, top of the line pond pump, and all sorts of expensive accessories, the pond finally looked like a real pond. So pretty! But, apparently I failed to elevate the liner high enough so the mud and mulch eventually made way back into the pond (which is now greenish black) again. Whoever said "3 is a charm" doesn't know me.

So this spring, I am starting all over. Again. Rawrr, I will win this one! I'm also building a water garden wall from either stone or treated lattice. Haven't yet decided. I'd love to go with stone but waiting to see just how nuts the pond makes me. If a meltdown is experienced, I will just add the much simpler treated lattice like that Lowe's employee person (whatever his title) kindly suggested (read: begged- I think he's tired of dealing with my "projects" but has no idea it's been the same danged one for three years). So far I've just put in the support wire and posts, and here is where I am so far. I'll be sure to do an "after" photo in a few weeks as well. Maybe. *g*

I'm also working on my own digital art/photo gallery online as well as providing illustrations for an up and coming website featuring children's literature (my mom's project). Sounds fun! OK, lots of work, but still fun. Here's a sneak preview of what will soon be my site.

Another very exciting development in uber-land involved the uber-teen and a prom. She looked so beautiful and grown up, I actually cried. So hard to believe she will be seventeen years old this June!

Hope she doesn't mind my posting her mug on my blog!

To be fair, I submit a photo of yours truly. Pushing lip gloss into the back seat and onto the uber-teen like a drug dealer while waiting on my mom to bring me the promised coffee (and lots of it) because she made me go exotic plant shopping at an ungodly hour (OK, I overslept, but only because it was way too early). I had to take the hair brush with me even. The horror... (The uber-teen claims she was taking photos to better document the abuse but I'm convinced it was really to document the gray hair I haven't had time to color lately). Ah, there's not much that lip gloss and lots of coffee can't fix. I did find some cool plants that are always sold out by the time I wake up, much less arrive (but sshhh, we shall never admit this to my mother).

Another grand event in uber-land was Franki's becoming a mom. I'd decided to not let her have kittens (because there are so many homeless kitties out there already) but a friend and his wife are crazy about her (and I can't let them have her because I've become way too attached) so they finally talked me into at least allowing her to reproduce just so they could have one of her kittens. She had three. The Crazy Precious One is Franki's sister and while Franki is a very sane and calm kitty, I do believe the kittens may have received that evil/crazy gene.

As if one blue eye and one green were not crazy enough, he's got the whole scary "I vant tu eat your camera lenz!" look going on. (This particular kitten is the friends pick, by the way. I wish them luck. Bwahaha..)

This fellow even sleeps evil. Familiar, no?

And don't let Franki's little baby girl's sweet and innocent face fool you. Check out those claws (you just know she's just yearning to sink into some one's toes)!

A new photo of the proud mom- caught drinking from the kitchen sink faucet (again).