Bring Out the Owls

I know it is technically not 'fall' yet,

but I've already adorned my hall console table with owls. 

They are so cute that I should keep them up all year! 

Have you heard of the blog, My Owl Barn? 

This blog has all things owl related, from owl bookplates, owl recipe cards,

and even this cute owl mask tutorial from Martha Stewart.

There is so much more...

Can you believe this clay sculpture by Portland artist, Meredith Dittmar?

At first I thought it was a cake, and I wanted it!

You can even print off your own free owl calendar,

and you get to choose the owls! 

Owl Pops.  Aren't they darling?

They'd make a perfect treat for my new kindergartner and her friends.

Are you an owl lover?

Or could you give a hoot?

the sweetest thing

They've gone and done it again,
so I am linking this post to Friday Pretties!

The ladies in my friend Shannon's family have some major talent.

It is a sure bet if you are invited to their house for an occasion,

you will be drooling over the eye-candy.

In fact, when I walked in last weekend to celebrate the baby boy making his way into the world,

I couldn't keep myself from wandering around,

lusting after all the fine details.

See for yourself...

they are lust-worthy.

Let's start from the beginning.

a fabric-sleeve invite for a hootin' good time...

and of course an owl to welcome.

The paper pinwheels by Martha...

made for a lovely entrance.

Talk about maintaining a theme!

Spotted owls in every corner!

{no pun intended}

A lovely sentiment,

handmade by Erin, Shannon's sister. 

She does take custom orders!

Susan, Shannon's mother,

found these cute "twiggy owls" online. 

I love how she incorporated the owl children's books

into her theme, too.

She is a preschool teacher, after all!

I can hardly stand how cute these guys are!

Boo!

handmade tissue paper floral arrangements

The menu was scrumptious,

and planned with the fall season in mind.

For starters:

cheese and crackers

apples and caramel dip

nuts 

baked brie!

{filled with berries and nuts}

coffee, cider and wine.

To follow:

The most delightfully cozy 

assortment of quiches, salads, and bread.

Sweets:

delicious maple-frosted cupcakes

pumpkin pie

fudge

and adorable chocolate owls

It really couldn't get any more festive, right?

Well it did.

Shannon's sister Cailin made this awesome diaper cake!

Looks like a fun project, huh?

In this game you had to guess the weight and height of the proud parents as babies.

Notice the owl table runner?

They matched the invites.

It was a perfect, sunny October afternoon,

and it was so nice to be outdoors enjoying the fall weather.

Heavens.

Erin, Shannon's sis made this.

No words needed.

Then to top it off, Erin made one of these for each guest.

It's an owl framed necklace!

(She had the chains in organza bags on the side.)

Each one unique.

It was quite fun choosing the perfect, kooky owl.

Isn't he cute?

And they receive an award right?

Susan, Erin, Shannon & Cailan.

 A perfect shower for a perfect little growing family!

Now do you see what inspired me to get

my wee collection out of the box?

Go on and check out the rest of Friday Pretties.

It is a treat!

yard disasters and an owl recovery.

Monday was rather adventurous. 

Upon returning home from the gym, I decided I would take care of a few small tasks that had been lingering about since before Husband's departure, and since the neighbor boy flaked on me, again.  I felt there was no choice but to take matters into my own hands.

You see, Husband made it quite clear in our early stages of marriage that he did not care for yard work. In fact, I've had to haul many a things out of the yard that were not meant to be "yard ornaments."  I'm just not that type.  Heavens, my Father earned himself a Vancouver Sparkles Award for his yard manicuring skills,  {Dad, where's your t-shirt?} so anything that doesn't grow with soil should not. be. in. the. yard.

period. period. PERIOD!!

Besides the attempted yard ornaments, i.e. the old toilet from the remodel, my creme brulee torch, and various tools that I've since removed and stowed away in the appropriate vicinity.  Husband is not much into mowing the lawn, either.  He blames it on his allergies. 

You see Husband is quite smart. 

{Point A} The minute he received the yard maintenance flier earlier this year, he picked up his phone and hired out our 1/48th of an acre worth of grass to the neighbor boy.  It takes the boy six minutes to compete the task, including picking up all of rocks that Asher has launched from the rock bed into the grass.  Although our lawn rates a one for simplicity, I believe the easy task has become a waste of time for the boy, because he has left me hanging for his services a handful of times recently. 

Hence, me saying, I took matters into my own hands.

{Point B} There was logic when Husband bought a $10 mower, I know it.  Something like...the older you buy, the sooner you can quit mowing.  During the summer, our lawn went almost completely dead.  I was embarrassed and hurt for our neighbors.  I finally talked Husband into buying fertilizer and a portable sprinkler to water.  "Don't you want green grass?" I asked him.  "No. Cause then I have to mow it!" 

It was then that I realized that we may never see eye to eye on yard maintenance. 

Throwing out all excuses, I decided to take care of business myself.  After waiting for all the neighbors outside to leave the neighborhood and/or go back into their homes, I attempted to start up the $10 mower, with Asher looking on.  Of course, I did so on the concrete between the garage and the car, so no one could see me attempt to start the piece.  Maybe it didn't start for me because I was on the concrete and it would have killed me, I don't know?  But I pulled and pulled to no avail.  Then I did a quick double-pull with no success.  After a few more tries, I gave up feeling like a fool, feeling insecure that even one person may have seen me trying to mow my lawn for the first time...with no avail. 

Then my kind neighbor pulled up.  She is a lawn-mowing maniac.  That woman works her yard to the max.  I knew she'd have a decent lawn-mower for me to borrow, and would probably jump at the chance to help me help my yard.  And she did.  I had to call her over to find out why it wasn't starting, but I quickly learned that you even have to pull start the new mowers.  I felt like an idiot.  C'mon.  We can push a button for just about everything else nowadays.  I think she knew I felt like an idiot.  She was kind and let me mow our small patch of grass, and now I feel like I'm keeping up with the Jones' {yard crew}.

Once I had the grass taken care of, I opened the scary garage.  Husband informed me before he left to hunt, that he saw a large mouse in the garage.  Feeling overwhelmingly determined, I lost all train of mouse- thoughts and opened the garage to let the sun shine in, and {hopefully} the mouse creep out.

I then found myself the latter, and settled it up against the shelves to begin my search.  To my surprise, one of the first boxes I laid eyes on was exactly what I was looking for. 

Remember that fine owl collection?  Here is what I recovered:

a mini owl family

 A few kooks



this sweet yellow owl

and a couple more.

I am so happy to have found this bunch!

I'm especially excited to have a collection!

And after the baby shower that I attended last Sunday,

you'll see why I think collecting owls is so darn fun!

{Look for the cutest owl shower post on Friday.}

As for the yard dilemma, for now it is solved and mowed.

We are all thrilled,

and can't wait to show Dad.