Counting down the days

We were treated to the loveliest late winter day yesterday. It was 56 degrees and sunny and I insisted that we all go for a walk to soak up a little sunshine.

We truly are counting down the days--only five more until the most exciting thing ever: we're getting a puppy! We made the trek to Willamina, Oregon, a couple weeks back to choose a pup from the litter of yellow labs. This gal was playful (but not too playful) and relaxed (but not too sleepy) and when she sat right at Alex's feet that sealed the deal. She wasn't quite ready to leave her mama or seven brothers and sisters, so we've been patiently waiting until she's old enough. We are still agonizing over the perfect name for her.

We have been busy preparing for the big day, gathering supplies and refreshing ourselves on puppy training. Oh boy, what are we in for!?! I converted Ole's old crib into a crate for the pup. I know it's maybe a little pathetic and symbolic, but it also turned out pretty cute.

In other pet-related projects, I decided to tackle an ugly corner of the upstairs. This curtained closet houses the litter boxes, raised up on a make-shift table to keep Pepper from snacking--gross! It's stinky and kind of a big leap for our older cats, so I aimed for something more contained.

Apologies for the blurry photos. I realized far too late that I'd forgotten to switch my camera lens from manual focus to auto focus resulting in dozens of blurred shots, including a bunch of puppy shots. :(

I found a used bathroom cabinet and sheet of laminate at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. For some reason they were having a sale, so my grand total came to $3! I cut a fat cat sized hole in one side and gave the whole thing a couple coats of paint in our upstairs trim color, "Popped Corn." And voila! I love how it turned out, and hopefully it will be less stinky. Next I'll tackle the closet's flooring and try to find something that matches the rest of the upstairs, and maybe someday the whole closet won't have to hide behind curtains.

And I'll end with an evening shot in the yard. I just love the lighting of late winter afternoons!