Hello, hello, hello!!

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted anything. Been busy with school mostly. But... one more week of these classes and then I start my very last class before getting my degree! YAY!!!!! I'm taking an advanced writing class. It's been challenging and fun. So far I have had to write two poems, a fable, a realistic short story, and a one act play. Everything that I write in the class has to follow the same theme... which is love. The play has been the most challenging so far but I think my upcoming assignment is going to top it. I have to take some of the pieces I've written in class so far and write a stage adaptation of them. We'll see how it goes. Here is one of the poems I wrote. I figured it would add a little variety to the blog. :) Hope you enjoy!

Amore

Two lanterns shining bright

Against the stars

Of the falling darkness

The warmth of the flames

Consumes the heart

Pounding, burning, radiant

The lanterns touch

Flames burning brighter

Caution guides them not

To ignite the other

Restless winds carry them

Far into the open air

Freedom; sweet abandon

Pray they never fall

So, we've done a couple things. Joe has cleaned up the yard. Enrique helped with one of the flower boxes... he did a pretty darn good job too. Joe had to finish it up though. :) I've started painting the kitchen and Joe is painting the bathroom. He already painted the base boards and trim in the dining room. I really like the color.
 I have made curtains for Gabriella's room and am about to make some for our bathroom. Got some really pretty curtain rods to go in there, only to find out they won't work. :( I guess I will just have to find another room to put them in. Ha ha!
I took some pictures of some of the animals we've seen around here. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the baby snake Joe found. He was pretty cool (even though I don't like snakes at all). Oh, and the huge flippin' spider that he found too. We saw another one today when we were putting the cover on the pool. The thing looked like a flippin' tarantula. Crazy! Some of the things I did get pics of were a bat that took shelter in the ceiling of our upstairs balcony, a salamander that Joe found, some deer crossing the road, and a groundhog/beaver thing. It's very cute but I don't know exactly what it is. I still need to look it up. :)
Anyway, here are some pics of the yard, house, and animals. :)

Here's the little bat that was in our upstairs balcony.

He was sooooo cute!!! :)

Here's the little groundhog guy. Sorry it's not the greatest pic. :(

Some deer that had crossed the road. It's a little fawn and his/her mommy. :)

I actually rolled down my window and yelled, 'Turn around!' so I could get a shot of his face. Ha ha!

Here are some before and after pics of the yard. Joe is amazing! :)

Here is the mess that was on the side of the house. 

Here it is all cleaned up :)

It looks soooo much better!

Remember that crazy cactus?

Well, it's all gone now :)

Now I just need to fix the bird bath :)

It's hard to tell what's even in there. There's so much green! 

Wow! This is definitely my favorite flower box. :)

Weeds!!

Again, I need to fix the birdbath :)

Now, this is the one Enrique took down. He wasn't happy about having to do it at first but was extremely proud of himself afterwards. Joe disposed of the wood and leveled out the dirt.

Gabriella said it didn't even look like it was the same yard. Ha ha ha!

Well, that's it for now. I will post some pics from the State Fair that we went to this past weekend. :) Hope you enjoyed everything! And, as always, feel free to comment (or follow)!! :)