PUPPIES!

Guinness, looking distinguished... Well, as distinguished as a fluffy puppy can look.




Murphy, he looks so sweet when he's like this.

My Own Backyard

Horses

Horses

Josh and the horse

Lizard changing color

Pretty

Super gross web filled with super gross worms. They freak me out.

Man Eater Update

Josh wanted to re-emphasize how freakin' tall this thing is.

Weekend Project

I know, I probably shouldn't need a pattern, but in my experience, it's always a good idea for me to use one anyway :)

There's No Place Like Home

Josh and I had a meeting with his recruiter today. Josh is leaving for COT at the end of August, and he's supposed to be reporting at Andrews at the beginning of October. Seeing as how this is our first move with the military, we have a TON of questions, and we were hoping to get some of them answered. Sgt. Ketchum (Josh's recruiter) was able to answer a lot of our queries, but since Josh hasn't officially been sworn in yet, it's mostly just a waiting game right now. We're hoping that he gets sworn in by the end of July so that we have a little time to contact Andrews, figure out some housing, etc. We're really hoping to live on base, which means that we probably need to get on the waiting list (as well as figure out how long the waiting list is).
So anyway, all that to say, there's still a lot up in the air, but I'm not really too worried. I kinda enjoy flying by the seat of my pants. I'm definitely ready to get this new adventure started. I've grow accustomed to not being stationary for so long. Today, as I thought about moving, I realized that I haven't lived in one place for more than 10 months since I started college five years ago. I mean, I guess technically I lived in the same building for the three years that I was at Southwestern, but I was in a different room every year, and I had to move out at the end of each year. And then I was in Rome, which in some ways felt more like home than Louisiana ever has, but even as comfortable as I was there, I was only there for four months. By the time we move, I will have been in this house for a year and a half. I am definitely comfortable here in many ways, but due to all the family drama surrounding our home here, it's never really felt like %100 ours. Plus, I'm definitely a city girl at heart, well, at least a suburbia girl at heart, and that is not to be found here without a solid four hour drive. Needless to say, DC looks amazing to me right now :)
Anyway, if anybody out there has advice for the first military move, I'm craving a little experienced advice :)

This is the Chinese Pizzeria that was accross the street from my apartment in Rome (this picture was taken from our kitchen window). I will always associate it with home.

Wordless Wednesday, With a Twist

Ok, so, as a first timer, I am delighted that I immediately knew the perfect item to photograph for this week's theme of "vintage". It just so happens that the house in which I currently live is the house that Josh's grandfather built 50 years ago. As such, there are many little quirks and novelties throughout. The two that I decided to share today are certainly my favorites.

This the oven in my home. It is a white 1950 Chambers Model C. I love it (even if it took forever for me to get the hang of baking in a gas oven.)

This is one of the many original door knobs throughout my house. Though the locks don't really work, and most of the knobs take a special touch, it's these little things that always make me smile.

Lame...

Ok, I know that I haven't updated in a while, but the truth is... my life has remained a mostly boring heap lately. Work is going great. I'm finally getting enough things to do that I feel like I'm actually earning my paycheck. Josh always jokes about wanting to get a job in which he does the least amount of work for the biggest paycheck (this, I know, is untrue, the boy is something of a work-a-holic and is never happy for too long doing nothing). Anyway, up until about a week ago, that was exactly what my job was. I went to work, and though I was there for a solid 8 hours, I never seemed to do anything. So, all that to say, I love that I finally feel like I'm contributing and being helpful. I've recently been re-energized to attempt to maintain the cleanliness around my house a little better. It's always so difficult for me because somehow between Josh and the puppies, nothing can remain clean for more than half an hour. Add to that the fact that we live in a fairly rural setting (lots of dust) and the climate is super humid (lots of bugs) and it's like a joke that I even attempt to clean. Anyway, I'm trying to get better.On that note, I'd like to introduce you to the giant beetle who attempted to eat my house (and by that I mean he was like two inches long, super fat, and laying underneath our carport).
Other than that, I fill my time with frivolous, guilty-pleasure tv watching or reading. I re-read Harry Potter every summer, so I've begun that, and I'm pretty thrilled. I love reading familiar books. There's just something so comforting about it. I know it's kinda lame, and I love new books too, I just can't help myself :)

Cupcake Happiness

Sometimes God uses the simplest things to remind me to choose joy...

He's just good that way :)

Apparently this is what happens to me after 7 strait hours of building in Access. I love how challenging my job has suddenly become, but after a year and a half of not using my brain for this sort of problem solving... I'm having to remember the ways in which I function best. I'm slowly but surely remembering, and it feels good. I definitely enjoy the challenge.

Man Eater Update

Just a little update, What we have here is a three week progession tracking the blooms. Fascinating, I know...

In other news, I thought that I would add a photo to once again reiterate the enormity of this beast-plant.

My Name is Lauren, and I have a Problem.

I have recently become hopelessly addicted to chocolate covered cherries. My only hope for recovery is the end of cherry season.

Puppy Love

I'd just like to take a minute and say, "How sweet is Murphy when he's asleep? With that ear over his eyes?" Sometimes I wish he would just stay sleeping all the time. And then I remember how funny he and Guinness are when they're awake and playing together. Goodness, for as much as I complain about these puppies, I sure do seem to like 'em a lot! They're definitely more fun for me than Sophie was. (Meanwhile, I always hate saying bad things about Sophie. I mean, she was one of the sweetest dogs ever, super smart, wouldn't hurt a fly. She just brought out so much negativity within me. And, though I knew she would never hurt me, I was kinda afraid of her. She never really viewed me as a "master" and she was as big as I am. Plus, I've been on the recieving end of a pet freaking out and turning on you, and I did not want to experience that with a 70 lb pit bull. So I try to avoid negative Sophie comments, but at the same time, I would be lying if I said I wasn't completely and utterly glad that we found her a better home.)
Ok, that's all for now. Have a happy day!