points taken and made

I
on saturday we began our search for the perfect end table.  since we got our new couches, our old end table wasn't cutting it seeing as it was about 20"h and our new couch arms are 30".  little bit of a discrepancy there...  so we braved the furniture stores with their lurking (best case scenario) or pushy (worst case scenario) salespeople.  we actually had a woman say to us "my name is (whateveritwas) and i'm going to be assisting you if that's alright with you."  um, how's about you can assist us IF we need assisting.  because that would be just fine with me.  nothing like a bad salesperson to drive me out of a store.  after striking out a bit we headed back to living spaces, where we bought our couch.  before we made it to the living room section of the store, we were struck (not literally) by a kitchen table.  it was cheap.  and almost the exact dimensions we needed.  (it is hard impossible to find any sort of end table that is both 30"h as well as 40"square.)  and just about an hour later we were sitting in our pretty-much-finished living room.  (yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!)

II
as you well-know by now,  we are about as proud as proud can be about our catboys.  i might have said once that my love for them may always overshadow my love for my someday-children.  (of course, i probably shouldn't have said it to my mom...since she doesn't have much of a sense of humor...)  anyway, we discovered that our boys may have a friend...
i like to call this section, "ben&em:wilderness experts!"

allow me to introduce you to our newest friend, mr. rocky raccoon.  isn't he just adorable?!  he hung outside on our deck for a bit and the boys just sat right at the glass.  not a hiss or guttural noise to be heard.  i think they were more excited about having a friend to tell them of the great outdoors.  and maybe all raccoons are friendly but i knelt down and he came right up to the glass as if to say hello new lady, will you let me dig through your trash?  and i probably would have let him but b said no no no.  although we didn't get to the trash before mr. raccoon managed to find part of my hotdog.  i didn't mind sharing  :)

he also helped us to solve the mystery of "what the freakin heck is on our rooftop?"  a game i play nightly after ben has gone to sleep and it sounds like there are men running around on our roof.  (scary.)  so i am relieved.  phew and etc.

III

our bathroom repainting project is in full swing.  b sanded down the ceiling and the walls and spackled where deemed necessary.  on thanksgiving and the ensuing long weekend we will paint.  and it will be glorious.  i've taken some before pics and will post them with after pics (if all goes according to plan) next weekend.

while b was sanding away, i ran outside to snap this shot.  it is my new favorite.

 

it's a bit bright, but, i kinda like getting lost in it  :)