AfricanKelli

People stop me regularly to ask what Nelson’s breed is. Apparently, “Cute” doesn’t cut it. This past weekend I attended an dog agility event with my friend Sheila. There were dogs galore, including this beauty, Pia:

If I were going to have another dog, she would be it. Her owner was so sweet. We stood outside talking about dogs for a few minutes and she firmly decided Nelson must be a wire fox terrier, like Pia. Let me be clear, I couldn’t care less what Nelson’s breed is. He’s a pound pup who I adore. He could have horns and be purple and he’d still be perfect. That said, wandering a Boulder hardware store this weekend, I ran across the following Welsh terrier calendar:

This is Nelson, kinda. In truth, I think he’s likely Welsh/airdale/wire fox terrier mix — a Euro mutt, just like me. Regardless, I miss the little terrorist and can’t wait to be home with him soon.

~K

With this much work travel on my schedule, it feels like therapy to have the time to stand in my own kitchen and cook a meal.

This week: New Orleans.

Next month: Indiana, Texas, and likely Texas again.

Thank goodness I’ve got good folk to stay in my home and care Mr. Nelson — who makes the most adorable and heartbreaking yip when I come home from a long trip.

~K

Sunset bbq with family:

For the mom who doesn’t want any pastels for her baby shower:

How about some gender neutral bright dog onesies and an African wax print tag blanket?

Done.

~K

Bonnie, Clyde and Pearl will be coming home to roost soon. (Technically they have hatched. So I am counting them!)

~K

I’ve been trying to talk myself into doing some larger patchwork projects. Not quite a quilt, but I have several larger projects in mind I’ve been plotting. Also, I have a growing pile of scrappy pieces of cute fabric that need a good home.

Sometimes I go long enough without doing something, I’m afraid I’ve forgotten how. Also, I regularly talk myself into projects that are far too difficult. So, as a test run this weekend, I whipped up these patchwork pouches:

Enough stammering over the larger project. Time to get busy.

~K

How many of you have heard me say, “I just want a couple chickens?” Most, I’d guess. For years, the story went a bit like this:

I want a garden, dog and a couple chickens. Also? I’d like to live closer to my brother.

Well. Chickens are all that remain. After this weekend, I’m quite a bit closer. I’ll be living in a new home in Golden in a few months. The owner, a good friend of mine, is fully supportive of my gardening and small animal husbandry dreams. (She actually suggested a goat, which doesn’t sound that crazy all of a sudden.) The two of us, her sister, and her her far-too-kind-and-extremely-hard-working-boyfriend, transformed her backyard this weekend into my future mini farm.

This included filling a dumpster full of debris from her backyard. A few photos of the progress:

8 am:

10 am:

Noon:

Salvaged shed —> chicken coop. Raised bed cleared. Compost head cleared. Arms on fire.

Old trees, cleared. Debris from former fire pit, gone.

Dana and Jeronimo rocking out

Dumpster = full

A contemporary American Gothic.

Old McDonley had a farm…

~K

Dear Kara,

Your suggestion at “brights” for our March fashion blog had my heart rate up. I am not a “brights” or a “tights” kinda gal. Those Forever Underage stores? Make me want to run toward Chicos with all my credit cards out at once. (You, however, look freaking adorable in that yellow jacket. Love it. And your haircut!)

To put it mildly: I am not up with the trends. I very happily could wear shades of blue and bright whites for the rest of my life. Pearls! Kara, I love pearls.

Maybe a little purple, gray, or garnet if I wanted to get crazy. This, for example, is my typical everyday uniform:

Comfy dark jeans, Patagonia top, dangly earrings. Done.

This, however, is what I wore out for St. Patrick’s on Saturday — which took just about all the fashion courage I have:

Bright green! Short! Fun! (And apparently a little see thru. Lord.)

I know. It’s still pretty basic. But it is a step toward the more adventurous. These after all are still some of my favorite shoes:

So challenge me, lady. What will we do for April?

xo,

Kelli

The Chacito is WNM’s best friend. Even if they can’t agree how to share toys. Or the couch. Or the bed. Or kibble.

~K

Standard chocolate chip cookie recipe + coconut + cashews and almonds + cardamom + cinnamon.

The Everything Cookie, to rave reviews

~K