Monthly Archives: April 2010

Saving up.

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Saving up my spare change for a few things on my wish list. First thing? The Stratton Bed (with drawers) from Pottery Barn. It’s going to take a whole lot of change before that becomes a reality! Unless my handy hubby can build us something like it, after all, our current bed is being held up by books!

Second wish list item, a gym membership. Yep, I actually really love working out. Especially going to fun aerobics and dance classes. I miss having a membership, it’s been far too long. I wonder if my coin jar can hold enough change for this wish?

Oh, and my coin jar is super fun. It counts the money as it goes in, so we know exactly how much we have in the jar. As long as no one sneaks any out that is. Mine is actually pink, not silver like this coin jar, but they work the same! :)

What are you saving up for?

Pink, pink, pink.

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Hot pink geraniums, in my aqua blue pots. A perfect way to celebrate Earth day, and brighten up our otherwise boring front porch.

The bleeding hearts are out in full bloom already. I love them.

A bright pink tulip in front of our welcoming frog. It’s nice that the tulips start to bloom just as the daffodils start to fade away. They aren’t gone yet though, there are still some “pink” daffodils in bloom:

Next up, flooring!

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We are looking into options to replace our current carpet with something new. In fact, we are both so frustrated at the carpet we have now that my husband wants to just take it out and lay down some rugs. What is wrong with our current carpet? It’s cheap, it was here when we bought the house and we were so excited at the time because it was new and looked great. However, it falls apart with each vacuum, and generally looks old and matted. There are even areas where it has bubbled up and needs to be re-stretched.

Right now we have looked at bamboo, laminate “wood”, linoleum, and even cork. Our dream floor would have large planks with the hand carved look, in a darker stain. Turns out our dream floor is quiet pricey though! We want something that won’t break the budget, will look nice, and of course, feel good to walk on as well. Carpet isn’t out of the question either of course, if it’s high quality and will hold up well.

What kind of flooring do you have? Have any of you used cork flooring? We’d love to hear your input!

Book: The Lumby Lines

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I recently got a review copy of a book called The Lumby Lines. Not sure what to expect, but excited to read it, it was the first book I reached for when I finished this semester! Would it be any surprise that this book drew me in right away? After all, one of the main characters in The Lumby Lines is a plastic pink flamingo named Hank. Complete with an ever changing wardrobe. Does that remind you of anything?

This is the first book in a series, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of them. The Lumby Lines is a fun story, with quirky characters who live in a small town called Lumby, and a couple of “outsiders” who decide to make an old Abbey their new home. Here is something to pique your interest, without giving away too much of the story of course.

Nearly destroyed by fire, Montis Abbey remains a ruin on the outskirts of Lumby. Once home to a resourceful order of monks, it stands abandoned, surrounded by its overgrown orchards. Then Mark and Pam Walker, a vacationing couple from the East Coast, stumble upon it — and upon the answer to their prayers. Leaving behind their hectic lives to restore the monastery and turn it into an inn is a dream come true.

But some residents of Lumby take a while to warm up to outsiders. One of them is irascible William Beezer, owner of The Lumby Lines — the newspaper “worth the paper it’s printed on.” At every turn, he tries to hinder the Walkers’ efforts. The couple soon learns that for every citizen like William, there are many more willing to lend a hand, and that Lumby isn’t just a place — it’s a way of life.

I really liked the story. It drew me in with the funny articles from the paper, the touching friendships, and of course a bit of drama and mystery. Of course I was always looking forward to knowing what Hank the flamingo would end up wearing next too! The book even includes some recipes! Which is good, because there were parts which were giving me cravings, especially for cake. It ends somewhat abruptly, leaving the story hanging (which makes sense since it is a series)! I need to find a copy of the next book so I can find out who, what, and where. Will my predictions be correct? Or will I get to enjoy more twists and turns?

You can find The Lumby Lines online at Amazon, or anywhere books are sold. Visit your library too, it’s worth checking out!