Boot

I have started to wear an orthopedic boot and it is really helping my foot. I went to the doctor today and he asked me where my foot hurt. My foot really didn't hurt very much and I had to feign pain. This could be a good sign, right??? It is starting to be gorgeous outside and I am aching to exercise. Being injured is so inconvenient!

First Rag Rug

This is my very first rag rug. I think it looks cool. That is really it's only positive quality. The rings aren't even, and it is extremely wavy; it doesn't lie flat at all. Actually, I think it probably makes a better hat than it does a rug! Also, it is probably only about a foot across. Middle two colors are scraps and pajama pants. The reddish color is a sheet of fabric from my mother-in-law. The outer ring is just an extra bit of fabric.

Fabric Scraps into Strips

Since I have a bum foot and I am not exercising, I have extra time and I've started a rag rug project. I googled how to make rag rugs and I found a good website that gave me a good jump off point. With a few generous donations of holey clothes and old fabric that no one wanted, I have started my rag rug project. I spent about two weeks turning fabric scraps (or sheets, whatever it was) into strips of fabric 1 1/2 inches wide and rolled them into balls. So here they all in a lovely crate lined with some fabric. Doesn't it look picturesque? I am excited to get started actually making a rug!

Apple Pie

I made my first all homemade (crust and everything) apple pie this week. I can't say that I loved the crust; I thought it was too dry. But the inside was sure tasty! I heard that it takes five pies to really get comfortable making pies, so this is attempt number one. One down, four to go! I think I might make my next pie cherry or peach.

Our New House

Over President's Day weekend we visited our house, which as of today has been ours for 19 whole days! We cleaned and repaired and just made a good ol' fashioned mess. At first I wondered if we had made a good decision, if we had gotten a good deal. However, I left with a confidence and love for my new house. I want to move there!

What did we do exactly?

• We met the new neighbors - I really like them. They were very friendly and neighborly
• We tore out a bedroom door, frame and all and put in a new one.
• We replaced the blinds to the sliding glass door in the den
  
• We tore out loose nails and screws and filled in holes with putty
• Cleaned some floors. We didn't really need to clean much as my in-laws had done most of it.
  
• We (well mostly Steve on this one) replaced the gate to our backyard fence.
  

I have many things I want to do to the house when we finally move - such as painting the trim! I am not sure I like that green trim very much. And I will make curtains.

An aside on the metal screen door... Our new house is on a busy street but we live don't live in a bad neighborhood. The screen is nice because gives a little protection, you can't see into the house if it is closed and it also locks so you can leave the front door open and nothing can get in - or out!

2009 in Summary

Many of life's ultimate details are decided during what I'll call the shaping years. I suppose they start in high school but they really develop after leaving the nest because of increased ability to exercise your agency. So I wanted to share a few summary points of 2009 in case not everyone knew.

Suzanne worked the entire year at SirsiDynix. (Bug her about posting about her work if she hasn't already.) She took a pottery class and has enjoyed making good use of the public resources at the library.

I got into the Masters of Accountancy program at BYU and am into my second of four semesters here. I interviewed heavily in October and got an offer to internship with Deloitte in Fresno this coming summer, which will likely lead us to moving there after graduation in April 2011.

On January 29 we finally closed on a house in Fresno. This was following a 7 month process: 6 months to get bank approval on the short sales and then < 1 month to do all of the escrow stuff. We're heading out next weekend to get some things fixed and cleaned, then coming back to Provo on President's Day.

Wow, funny to think that you could fit a whole year into such a small space....

--Steve

P.S. please boycott Kirtland Signature mac'n'cheese and write in to them to bring back the Kraft blue box mac'n'cheese. I was sorely disappointed with that product.

Just Because

So I have been thinking about starting a blog for awhile. Honestly, I see everyone else's cute blogs and I think "That is such a good idea!". So here we go! Will this blog get turned into a scrapbook? Will it last a year? A month? A day?? To be honest, I mainly decided to make a blog because I wanted to be like Julie in "Julie & Julia" where Julie decides to take charge of her life and blog about it. I wonder how many blogs have been made just because the author saw that movie...