Frankly Mr. Shankly

Jasper was photo bombed by a stick!

This is was our little Jazzie...he was 14 years old when something suddenly started to go wrong.  One day he is running freely through the yard, the next day he appears to have some pain in his hips, within 5 days he can no longer stand up on his own.  He stopped eating and drinking...he had a high fever...we knew it was time to say goodbye.  He was a great dog and is sorely missed by many.  

la, la, la, la brotherly love...

He is missed by kitty...and he is great missed by his 2 mommas.  

Then this happened....

Oh Hinkly...

We swore we weren't even going to look at other dogs...not even think about getting another dog...but we are dog people.  If there is anything dog people know, it is that a house is not a home without a doggie beast.  I saw this pic on facebook.  "He needs rescued" it said..."he is tiny" it said..."he is blind" it said.  I forwarded this to ol girl and she was filling out the adoption papers within minutes.  One week later, we were off to Chicago to pick him up!

His name is Hinkly (not Mr. Shankly, but I can't help but think of that song when I say his name) and he is tiny and he is blind and he is rescued.

Oh and Budge the big big kitty is really working on accepting that he has a new brother...

Welcome to the family Mr. Sh...oops!  Hinkly!!

Lighting

It has been a while since have paid attention to my old pal, blog.  We have been busy bees around the FC.  I would like to dedicate this post, however, to some new lights we were able to acquire.  First up, the super cool sphere cousin Lenny had laying around.

Look at this beauty!  My brother-in-law and niece hung it above the dining room table.  I stayed back and admired it.  It has 6 bulbs in it and is dimmable.  We really love it.

Next up is this tension pole lamp.  I was dying to have one of these blasts from the past.  I found this one on Ebay and broke some budget rules to buy it.

It works perfectly in the living room. 

Love it!!

The Hurt Locker

So, I thought of a great idea for a movie.  It is based on the true story of 2 girls...grown women really...who over come great obstacles.  They make herculean (never ever wrote that word out nor have I said it with my mouth...maybe it needs to be capitalized?) efforts to conquer some of life's biggest challenges.  It would have to be rated R due to extreme foul language and adult content.  In the end, 2 great friends come to the rescue and save the day.  A very happy ending.  It would be called The Hurt Locker.....II because I hear there is a movie with that name already.   I will have to watch it.  

This is a locker (that's right, the one that caused great pain and really drew out a string of bad words I did not think myself capable) that my mom found in a flea market type place in Kankakee.  It is super cool and it only cost $120.00.  Nancy likes to corral my shoes.  I prefer looking at them in a pile day after day, but, the locker is cool so that is where I put my shoes.  That mofo was HEAVY and awkward.  We finally managed to get it in its spot - it will be here forever and will some day be sold with the house.  Our great good friends, Suzie and Danielle came over and helped wrangle this beast.  They saved us from divorce, really.  Anyone else find the most extreme parts of their personalities when moving heavy objects?

Chickens in the hen house...

Is it "chickens in the hen house picking out dough"?  Wait...I think "chickens in the bread box picking out dough".  I don't get it...but I don't have a bread box...maybe that's why.  Anyhoo...a couple of updates for you.

Remember these little fur balls of softy cuteness?  Well, they grew very quickly and with growth comes bad smells and big messes.  Isn't that true with all living things?  Trees, hippos, teenagers...all true.  

They got bigger and so did their yellow feet.  They needed more space than a spare bedroom and their tireless caregivers needed them out too.  

A shed kit was purchased from the Lowe's.  3 clever ladies were on a mission.  Read directions and build!

It wasn't like a good old-fashioned barn raising.  Neighbors didn't come from far and wide.  Believe me, I kept out a hopeful eye!  

Ol girl really got into it.  She knows her way around a took kit.  

The adorable yellow-footed ladies have a new crib!  They love it!  Little do they know that soon some roundy bits will be coming out of their backsides and we will steal them and make things to eat.  Welcome home girls!

Spring (Gimme a) Break

Remember this show???

This post actually had nothing to do with the show.  I thought it was funny and I love me some Nell Carter.  Wanna know what Spring Break '13 brought this year??

That's right...a frickin' snowstorm!!  The worst snow we had all year.  Almost a foot of the powdery devil...with its blustering and blowing and drifting.  We know what to do in these situations...

 

Move that crap aside, build a fire (in a container that may or may not be approved by the local fire authority), put some beer in the snow cooler, and invite some friends over.  Take that stupid snow!  We did consider if we were more like Coloradoans or Kentuckians...we settled on Colotuckians.

We also hosted some family members, who (poor souls) got snowed in a bit longer than they likely hoped.  We know what do in those situations too!!  Put 'em to work!

 

Ceiling fans needed to be replaced, for heaven's sake! (the one on the top was replaced by the one on the bottom to eliminate any confusion)

doorway closed in 

wall painted and new closet set up

hard working family members...thanks guys!

Gliding closet doors needed to be put up!

It isn't quite finished.  We still need to spruce up the wooden door.  We bought the classroom door at an architectural salvage store in Champaign, IL.  The door was from Lincoln Hall on U of I's campus.  We bought the box rail and fittings from a local Tractor Supply store. (not even kidding you)  The whole kit and caboodle cost around $100.00.  We like the look...it is not for everyone.  That may be what Jasper is thinking...or he finds the whole thing mundane...or he is wishing the monkey in the beer can cap would stop looking at him.  You pick... 

  

Just let your love flow...OK?

I am a central Illinoisan.  We can find beauty in each of the seasons.  Ask nearly any one of us what our least favorite month is…I will bet it is February.  I am convinced that is why it is the shortest month. 

 Poor Feb is so dreary and cold.  March usually shows us some hope of warmer weather.  Not this March.  It is March 21st and it is 20 degrees outside.  The sun is taunting us out there making us believe it is warm.  Not cool, sun…not cool.  

  I was driving to work the other day with nothing but negativity on my mind…you know, man I hate getting up early.  Man I hate that dumb yellow line.  Man that stupid naked tree is making me mad.  Stuff like that.  Looking for inspiration or simply a change of pace, I turned from

 the usual public radio station to an oldies station. 

The Bellamy Brothers were playing – Let Your Love Flow.  The first 2 lines grabbed me and didn’t let me go for the rest of the song.  

The sun came out in my dark cranky soul and hasn’t set yet.  Isn’t it funny how a song can do that to you?  I have listened to it a dozen times since then and it is still making me feel warm…from the inside. 

Bellamy Brothers - Let Your Love Flow

Go ahead…try it.

Canisters and chairs for your can...

 Why did people ever call one's back side a can?  Maybe it was just a Duff/Phlaum family thing.   I have a few good guesses, but I will not go into that.

Anyhoo...here are some vintage canisters we bought from Furniture Lounge in Champaign.  If you ever find yourself in that area, check out the store and say hello to Amanda!  (and eat at Papa Del's - yum!)

back of chairs...do not judge this unfinished floor.  see the canisters in the background...and the whiskey?

can side

Here are the chairs we bought from West Elm.  I love these chairs.  I worked many extra hours at games to save for these chairs.  I think that money bought 1 of them. The rest of the money came in the form of a gift card from a dear friend.  She has 3 different chairs in which to rest her can.