Patience Pays Off

I have been scanning Craigslist for months looking for a nice used loft bed for Lily. Her room is rather small and a loft seemed like it would allow for a lot more space for her to play.

Then, a few weeks ago, I saw the Holy Grail of beds had been just been posted by the Bloomington Habitat Restore. It was a Pottery Barn loft with desk area below. This was exactly what I had been looking for, in great shape and at a very reasonable price. Corey and I drove straight there and I practically flew up to the counter to hand over my money in exchange for the "SOLD" sign.

It was very difficult keeping the secret but we kept the disassembled bed in the garage until Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Corey and I tried to work as quietly as possible to assemble the bed while Lily snoozed in the basement (we told her she might have a glimpse of Santa that way, since he obviously would come in through the chimney of the wood stove). Being obsessed with all things medical, I created a little doctor's office below by making some curtains out of bed sheets, and adding a little plastic drawer set filled with bandages and first aid supplies. I printed out a handful of x-ray images I found online, an eye chart and some signage for her office. I punched holes in the signs and they are hung on tiny command hooks I installed. She can switch out the x-rays and change the "open" sign to "closed". We also added some inexpensive light bars from Ikea to the underside of the bed so that there is ample light, even with the curtains closed.

The bed was a great success and she has been doctoring everything in sight. Such a lucky find and I think I might love it even more than she does.

The new Lily

Shockwaves hit the Rieman household last Thursday when Lily made a split-second, yet drastic decision. She decided to cut her hair. My lovely friend Leslie was planning to just take a few inches, but after the hair started hitting the ground, Lily made a chopping motion to the back of her neck and said "Cut it to here". I thought she was joking because we talk almost daily about cutting it but she always insists on keeping it super long. Her nickname could have been "Lily Long Hair". It soon became apparent that she wasn't joking and I had to fight the sudden urge to cry. I know that I threaten to cut it whenever we fight over brushing, but here she was, saying she was ready and I wasn't prepared. Within minutes, the deed was done and Lily was over the moon with her new look. I think it's pretty darned cute, myself.

The anticipation…

Her first look…

We like it.

The Milking

This morning I slipped on my Mom's coveralls before heading out to take care of the rabbit and chickens.  The familiar fabric and smell of the coveralls flooded me with memories of my Mom. As I knocked the ice out of the chicken bucket, I felt transported back to my early years. I was sitting in the patched up lawn chair, scratching a cat and chatting with Mom as she milked.  As we talked about life and the world, the metronome "splat… splat… splat" of goats milk hitting the metal pan kept pace. I remember the smell of the udder wash, the rag from one of Dad's old t-shirts and the steam rolling off the washing bucket. I remember the way her steady, powerful hands could express twice as much milk as mine could in the same amount of time. I remember the gentile and loving way my mom stroked the goat's neck to tell her she was "all done". We had some deep conversations in the milking room. Some of my very best memories in that dusty, cobwebbby space. As a kid, I took all of that time for granted. Now I look back and realize how special it really was. Two times per day for 20 years, I knew I could find my mom and have her (almost) undivided attention. In that room she taught me who I was, and to be strong and brave and how to be a good person.

So now, as I wear these coveralls, I try not to be sad, but to be happy - for the wonderful life she gave me and the memories I like these that will always keep her close.

Kitchen Remodel

In our home as in many others, the kitchen is the "hub" of activity.  Corey and I love to cook and the walls of the kitchen were pretty confining and there was little room for seating.  Dinner parties meant a few people in the living room, and others in the kitchen.  We have always said that the one thing we would love in a house would be an open concept kitchen / living area. A few weeks ago, we realized that this was actually a real possibility in our current place.  The wall between our kitchen and living room was not load-bearing, and a row of upper cabinets could be moved to another area without any loss of storage space.  Bye bye ugly blue countertop!

In just a few weeks, the transformation is almost complete!  We also added a bar for extra seating. I can now see the lake while cooking breakfast and talk to Lily while she plays in her room!  Here are some "Before and After" photos.

 There is room to seat 5 or 6 at the bar. Woohoo! Party time! Excellent.

Big Woods Brewery

The word "shy" would not be included in any list used to describe this kid.  I wanted to share a few photos from our recent dinner at the brewery in Nashville.

Lily really liked the man playing guitar.  In return, she had to do a little performance of her own.

Next, she chatted up the guy behind the counter.

She loved the dough they gave her. 

Good times!

Everyone always asks, the dress is from http://www.betterwithabow.com She makes amazing things! This one is a little too big for her, but she insists on wearing it nearly everyday, anyway :)

Senior Video

For those who do not follow my business blog, I wanted to share this Senior Video we created a few weeks ago.

Brook Rieman Photography Senior Experience from Brook Rieman on Vimeo.

Unsettling

Last night Lily slept in our bed. She's started getting more fearful of the dark and last night she had a rough time getting to sleep and wanted to be with us.

At 3 in the morning, I wake up to quiet giggling. Then maniacal laughter while she is still fully asleep. Then, in the happiest voice imaginable, she sing-songs "Dad-dy got a base-ball, Dad-dy got a base-ball".

Next, she says "Mommy! It bounces!! It flies!!!". Then she rolled over and finished sleeping. Too funny.