Percolating ideas

We should know soon how much longer Keith will be working in Montana. We're hoping for extremely short-term and I am trying to be less whiney about him being gone.

So let's focus on something positive - like when he gets back we will have money to finish some of our tiny house projects! Kitchen and bathroom are at the top of the list. I've been slacking reading many of my design inspiration blogs, but I am still pinning plenty on Pinterest. It's addictive!

Here's my tiny house pinterest. You'll notice a lot of pallet-reincarnation, rustic spaces, upcycled goods, etc. Obviously we won't be incorporating all of these into our house, but they're just images I refer to when we're working on a project and/or wishlist items...

I've also been watching a lot of movies and reading (though less than usual since movies are easier distractions). 

Good DVDs as of late: Best of The Larry Sanders Show, Bored to Death (my favorite find of the year! Schwartzman, Galifianakis & Danson slay me), 50/50, Midnight in Paris... 

Good reads as of late: 1Q84, The Paris Wife, Memorial...more on my Shelfari

White all over

Early last week we got our first significant amount of snow for the season. It's mostly melted and mucky mud now, but it made everything nice and white for a few days.

We're still missing Keith. Not sure when he'll be home, maybe a couple of weeks. This weekend is his birthday, so we sent him some goodies in the mail. I made a mix CD that included the song "Stormy Weather" by Etta James. 

Don't know why /There's no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather /Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps raining all of the time

Oh yeah Life is bare / Gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather, stormy weather
And I just can't get my poor self together
Oh I'm weary all of the time /The time, so weary all of the time

When he went away / The blues walked in and met me
Oh yeah if he stays away / Old rocking chair's gonna get me
All I do is pray The Lord will let me / Walk in the sun once more

Oh I can't go on, can't go on, can't go on /Everything I have is gone
Stormy weather, stormy weather
Since my man and I, me and my daddy ain't together
Keeps raining all of the time / Oh, oh, keeps raining all of the time
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah raining all of the time
Stormy stormy /Stormy weather /Yea

My Daily Zen

(A warning: this is a dog post.)
Mornings are still too cool to get in any effective exercise for the doggies, so since Keith's been gone I've been taking extra-long lunches and the pups and I walk to the river and they wrestle and eat/smell various and sundry things and I enjoy the quiet and try not to think too much and just breathe deep. 

We're very lucky to live so close to a really great unofficial dog park.

The winter has been so mild so far. It's hard to believe this is January. There were three boats on the river today, fishing.

This is what distraction looks like, waiting for husbands to return.

Lazlo, Brown, Buster

Mia, Pia

Mixed Canine Arts

And...rest...with tongue, of course.

distraction

Keith's gone to work in Billings for a few (6?) weeks, so the doggies are helping me be distracted. Otherwise my heart starts to break a little. We're not good apart, but this is temporary (I have to keep telling myself).

Part of my distraction plan is making sure the dogs get enough exercise. They're used to Keith being home most of the day and their routine is now all up to me. So we're going for walks each morning. Good for everyone.

I am working almost 5 days a week since we have a big project at work and that helps me stay distracted, too. It's the nights and weekends that are hardest. 

Translation: We miss you, Keith!

It's 2012 now and how are we going to better and happier this year? Stop setting goals. Sounds strange, yes? It's more about opening yourself up to what you really want. "If you want to make your new year count, you’ll need to be intentional — not by setting goals, but by making space in your life for what really matters." How? Read it here. More on what this means to the tiny house occupants later...

here's to the good times, which are happening now

Over the river and through the woods... our Sanity Break 2011 happened Friday night (NYE eve) in good ol' Missoula. We love thee. Not much snow at the pass, around 4'. At the end of December...

We wandered around town during happy hour trying to decide which overcrowded restaurant we wanted to squeeze into/wait in line for a decided to ditch it for the Good Food Store where we bought delicious sandwiches and desserty things.

We found a decent deal on a nice room at good hotel and fell in a trance in front of the huge TV and under unlimited hot water.

The view was pretty good, too.

Of course no trip to Missoula is complete without at least a once-through at Home Resource. We debated about using one of these slabs (CHEAP!) for the outdoor kitchen counter, but found a great deal on some red formica instead. 12 bucks, baby!
 

Made it back to Idaho safe and brought the puppers a new bed. Everyone's ready for 2012.