Perspective

Isn't it funny how when life is going really "well" we can let one experience "ruin" our day, our perspective? This is where I am. Don't ask me why I'm letting the negative outweigh the bad, but my attitude at home has been...well...less than pleasant the past week. I don't know if I can pinpoint the attitude on one thing, but I know it needs to change.

I'm been running a mile a minute lately and pushing the kids beyond their boundaries which makes everyone a bit on edge. I find myself yelling for no reason (really...if I stand back and think about it) and experiencing head aches I think honestly are from my own poor attitude.

This morning I got down on my knees and spent some time in the God's word to "realign" my attitude. I called out to him to soften my heart and to find joy in the daily duties of being a wife, mother, sister, friend, and co-worker. Knowing God was leading my reading, I was not surprised to find myself in Psalms.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Psalms 40:1-3

So in the midst of disciplining children, making lunches, getting ready for work...I am singing a new song...a song of praise for the day. The sun is shining. God is repairing my "grumpy" attitude. I will find the good in the day this day that the Lord has made.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Thursday Thrifty Tip: Acquiring Plants and Flowers

Take one walk through your local nursery and you'll discover plants and flowers aren't cheap. Over the years I've acquired all of my plants and flowers for free or nominal fees. I know you probably aren't shocked since that is just how The Little Blue Bungalow works...on the thrifty side. So in the spirit of Spring...I thought I'd share with you some tips on acquiring plants and flowers with limited resources.

When I first moved into the bungalow over three years ago, I was dumb founded as to where to start. Our house had been "flipped" and instead of leaving the existing mature bushes and plants in my flower beds they literally had been stripped bare. I was started from ground ZERO. No plants and no money to make a difference. What in the world was I going to do?

My first step was to determine what was even in my flower beds. (Tricky for a Midwest girl now living in the Pacific Northwest!) Even though they had stripped most plants out a few bulbs managed to poke through the first sight of spring and something was trying to grow on the west side of the bungalow. I nursed the plant back to health and discovered I had a beautiful pink climbing rose. Now I knew what I had, but I needed more...lots more.

My first step was networking...Who liked to garden? Who had a garden? Was there a gardening club in town? I was excited to discover that year our church (The Rock Church) hosted a Gardening Gals reach team. From there, I met our fearless leader Jane and other ladies who loved to garden willing to share their plants with me. I was in heaven. Every time we met someone came with their car loaded with "splits" and "starts" of bushes and flowers for me to plant for absolutely FREE.

These experienced gardeners were happy to share their plants knowing they in turn were containing their own plants and making them healthier by splitting. (Just like I'm happy to share if anyone needs some plants!) Honestly, I didn't care what color it was or the type of plant as I was building a base of flowers at my own home. Over the years, I've rearranged and moved these original plants to my desired liking...something I never really knew about gardening. If you don't like it there...MOVE IT!

In addition, to my gardening group I befriended my neighbors gaining a variety of bushes, strawberry starts and other flower starts. I also went to the annual town's gardening club plant sale where I bought flowers and plants starts for only a few dollars per start compared to the $7-10 I would have paid at a nursery. During peak planting season I also check local nursery clearance areas as sometimes I find a plant that got a bit damaged by cold weather or smashed by a heavy object. These stores usually mark these plants down considerably since they don't "look" the best, but as long as the root system is intact you'll have an amazing plant next year...definitely worth spending a few dollars for a big gain next year.

In the Seattle area we are very lucky to have the online networking system called CraigsList. Through CraigsList, I often see many plants and flowers listed for FREE if someone will come and dig them off their property. If your careful most plants can be transferred easily even roses. Last year I picked up three rose bushes off CraigsList and I'm happy to report they are doing great. I pruned them heavily after transplanting as well as giving them a nice cup of organic rose fertilizer. In turn, I had three happy rose plants that produced many rose buds for me last year. With mature rose bushes costing easily $25-$30, transplanting these bushes for free was a great deal.

So...in closing...the big key to being thrifty in acquiring plants and flowers is NETWORKING! Get out there...meet the gardeners...share your plants...and enjoy the the beauty of God's art.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

Favorite Weekend Pictures...
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Fiona's Point of View: Seattle Aquarium

All photography done by my super four year old, Miss Fiona.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Patio Sitting

Dear friends and family,
I just wanted to let you know I'm taking the next few days off from blogging as my parents are visiting from Iowa. We are enjoying the time together and even took in a bit of "new patio sitting" tonight.
What a blessing to have them here...I'm sure I'll have more pictures and adventures to report later.
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Luck of the Irish

Cead mile failte...a thousand welcomes!

The Little Blue Bungalow is all a stir tonight as we prepare for one of our favorite holidays...St. Patrick's Day! Green outfit. Check. Shamrocks clings attached to windows. Check. Corned beef simmering in crock pot for tomorrow's dinner. Check. Green beaded necklaces. Check. Irish soda bread sitting on the counter ready to eat. Check and double check. (Yeah! I can't wait!)

Actually...the kids, Grandma Bonnie, and I begin our St. Patty's Day celebration this weekend at the Irish festival downtown Seattle. Poor Drew had to proctor exams while we enjoyed the festivities. (Sorry babe.) It was a fabulous weekend complete with Irish dancing, music, crafts and a parade. Tonight the family got into the spirit a bit early by enjoying a shamrock shake from McDonald's (delicious!) in honor of the special day (as well as to pat Drew on the back for making it through the first day of finals...ALIVE!)

In the past, we've celebrated St. Patty's by hosting a feast in our home, but the logistics of this week made it nearly impossible. Drew is working late (and early too) for finals week, my parents are arriving from Iowa on Thursday, and I'm preparing the house for guests, watching the kids, and working at the YMCA (and of course "working out").

So instead, we'll tip our hats to you as we say an Irish prayer over our delicious corned beef, cabbage and Irish soda bread tomorrow night. Many Irish blessings from the Little Blue Bungalow this St. Patrick's Day...and don't forget your green!


From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Too Cute

How in the world does a parent get upset with a look like that?

Here is Keegan sporting my new bra from Victoria's Secret as a hat. And no...I didn't punish him, in fact, I laughed and ran to get my camera. Sometimes kids are just too cute. Too cute indeed.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Thursday Thrifty Tip: Recycled Brick Patio

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it...no...no...no...

Sorry folks, I can't resist sharing some pictures of our almost completed recycled brick patio. Our friend John has done an amazing job putting this puzzle together to create our patio.

If you remember last week I shared about reusing building supplies as a thrifty tip...recycled bricks being one of them. So...look away with envy. This is a character patio in the making with little investment.

Next week, I'll promise a photo of me sitting on my patio with diet coke in hand. I can't wait and I wish you could join me. (Hey...if you are local...maybe that isn't a bad idea?)

Let me know via comments if you'd like to join me on the new patio for a cup of tea or diet coke and I'll try and arrange something. I'd love to have you visit the Little Blue Bungalow. It would be my pleasure...so just type the words.

Remember for other great thrifty tips, be sure to read Tracy, Genny and Anisa blogs.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

I'm so elated...my recycled brick patio in progress.
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Living a God-Filled Legacy

Four years ago my husband lost his father, our daughter lost her grandfather, and I lost my father-in-law. Kent Britten was an amazing Christian man with an incredible laugh and a love for his children as well as those around him. Sometimes I can't believe that he has been celebrating with Jesus in heaven for the last four years because I am reminded of him often through the people he touched. He left an incredible legacy.

People often shudder when they hear the series of events that led us to Washington, but I know it was God's plan. Life was wonderful for Drew and I...we had a great church family, beautiful historical home, a new 7 month old daughter Fiona, amazing family and friends, money in the bank. Throughout the time in LaCrosse, WI we had really begun to dig into our faith and grow, not realizing that God was preparing us for a major faith walk.

The last week of February 2005 began a turn of events that I will always look back with amazement. Due to state budget cuts, Drew had lost his job. We were shell shock, confident, scared, and trusting God for answers. As always, Drew was confident that God had great plans for our family and I was a nervous wreck...What in the world was God doing?

Nearly ten days later, Drew called me to say his father had collapsed at the Iowa State Capitol and we needed to rush to the hospital. Two days later surrounded by family we sang, laughed, and celebrated Kent's life as he met Jesus. Though we were all so deeply saddened to lose this man, we know actually where he was celebrating...he was in heaven. His legacy a constant reminder of the way we should live our life...to the fullest, truly making a difference for Christ was something he had instilled in all of us.

To this day, I will always remember Drew turning to me in the car as we drove away from the hospital after Kent's reunion with Jesus. In a calm voice, he said, " I guess I know why I lost my job now." Not fully understanding I said, "What?"

Drew said, "Without my job, I can help my mom. God knew all of this was going to happen."

Drew was so right...I just needed to accept all of this. Four months later, we packed our belonging into a U-haul for the journey to our new apartment in Washington. Behind us we left our unsold home, church family, and family, but this was part of God's plan. We only needed to trust God, take the faith walk he had prepared for us. In some senses, we were morning so many loses and continued to do so for quite some time, but God was pushing us to Washington...for what we didn't know.

Four years later, I can't believe Kent has been gone that long because, in so many ways he is still with us. His legacy is here with my husband, his wife, and sisters. I know I see it in their actions, words daily. What does your legacy look like? My hope is that you can build your own legacy in the foundation of Christ just like this man, Kent Britten.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Under the Weather

I have lots of fun and interesting things I'd love to write about tonight (my garden, our high chair, Fiona not sucking her thumb anymore), but I'm just not feeling the best. I've been battling a cold, cough and congestion all week. To be honest, most of the week I didn't even have a voice to speak. It has been a rough week for me.

Today, my dear hubby finally drug me to urgent care declaring "he wasn't going to put up with me coughing all night AGAIN". (Ahem...ok...I get the point.) Anyway, after being sent home with several drugs and being told I have bronchitis...I'm going to close down early for the evening, take my cocktail of prescription drugs and rest.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Thursday Thrifty Tip: Reusing Building Supplies

We (actually I should say a good friend) are in the midst of preparing and laying a brick patio next week and I don't know who is more excited me or me. (Did I mention I'm excited?) I've been dreaming and planning my brick patio for almost three years, carefully stacking bricks off to the side in preparation of this big reveal.

So in honor of my excitement I wanted to talk about reusing building supplies for my Thursday Thrifty Tip. As we all know, taking a trip to the local hardware store or Home Depot can be a costly trip when you are dealing with building/construction supplies. So...when I found a listing off Craiglist (a free Internet site) for free antique brick from a demolished chimney over three years ago I jumped into the car to grab over a hundred bricks.

The bricks did need mortar knocked off, but the price was FREE so I wasn't complaining. However, in order to make a big impact I needed more bricks for my patio. This was a big project so I was prepared to wait for the right, FREE resources. The next year we torn down our own chimney and instead of dumping the bricks I carefully, stacked, sorted, cleaned, and chipped mortar off each brick for my patio...with an additional 300 bricks, I was ready to begin my yard transformation for the cost of only my time and labor.

In addition, to purchasing supplies disposing of used building supplies can be just as costly. Not only is there a cost involved when you go to the dump, you are adding to the waste we throw on our Earth daily. So when disposing of used building supplies you need to ask yourself, could someone use this...could it find new purpose?

For example, last year when we tore down our deck we reused every thing we could but still had a pile of used wood boards, a bucket of used nailed (unusable), and four cement piers. Instead of dragging it to the dump we listed it on a free Internet service called Craigslist. And...within 24 hours most of the wood and cement piers were gone. We are very fortunate to have this service in a larger metro area, but if you don't have this service available try a company newsletters, local newspaper, or word of mouth to let folks know you have some usable materials to be given away for FREE. The remaining bucket of nails/hinges were given to a local metal recycler who gladly recycled the items, but didn't pay for these items. Honestly, we didn't care as it saved the nails from being dumped on our local landfills without the costly dump fee.

In the Seattle area, another unique place to find repurposed construction supplies is to visit the ReStore in the Ballard and Bellingham area. These stores offer a great supply of items from unique lights, doors, windows, door knobs to landscaping bricks taken from buildings slated for demolition or remodels. The store operates as a non-profit with it's sole purpose to save these items from the landfills and find new purpose in people's home. I recently made a trip to the ReStore this week in the search of 75 more solid red bricks to complete the brick patio. (Go figure after all those years of saving I was still short some bricks.) I was thrilled to find a great supply of antique red brick for a mere $.25/brick. Unbelievable! Several volunteers helped count and help load them into the car...now that is service!

So in the next few weeks I'll be posting some pictures of my repurposed brick patio. Being thrifty is fun, but sometimes there is a wait involved for the final project to reveal itself. For me the wait, makes the the end result so much sweeter! For other great thrifty tips be sure to check out the following blogs: Tracy, Genny, Anisa and Crystal.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Writer's Note: Please note that not all construction material can be reused, if you are unsure if something can be reused please consult an expert or purchase new materials.

Wordless Wednesday

(...plus a couple of words.)

Last Thursday morning we woke up to a little dusting of snow. As I laid in my bed not wanting to wake, Fiona declared, "It's Christmas again Mom!"

While I fretted over my three yards of mulch now covered in snow, Fiona played in all of the snow's glory. Of course, it was gone by mid-morning and the mulch went out the next two days. My flower beds are now ready for Spring.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Ch...Ch...Changes

One word...Kindergarten Round-Up. (Is there an echo in the room?) I'll type it again for every mother to get the full effect of the word...Kindergarten Round-Up. (Ouch.) Today is a day met with mixed emotions. Yes, apparently I'm soon-to-be a mother of a Kindergarten and my baby is growing up.

After much family debate we've decided to let our Miss Fiona join the ranks of the public school system shortly after her fifth birthday. Honestly, I think she is ready, but the real question is: I am ready?

How do you prepare yourself for watching your children change, grow, and develop right before your eyes? I don't know, because I feel like I'm fumbling when I give her "more reins". Maybe the answer is that you don't. Life as a parent is truly a season. You enjoy each year, month or moment for what it is.

Every time I get annoyed at a clingy kid, I remember there will be a day I'm begging for them to even acknowledge me at the dinner table. When I'm frustrated with buckling and unbuckling kids out of car seats, I remember one day they will be driving me around town on their driver's permit.

Parenthood is a season...I'm not sure if I'm in Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, but I'm enjoying the season I'm in. Tomorrow I don't know what the winds will blow in, but I'll cling to the fact that being a parent is enjoying each moment for what it is even if it is Kindergarten Round-Up.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean