My Chitlins – Page 4 – Dust Bunnies and Dog Toys

A New & Improved Doggy Door

Published on October 29, 2014October 26, 2014 by Jenna2 Comments

When we first moved in we installed the sliding door doggie door insert we’d used while in Kodiak. It worked fine, but we could never seem to get it seal well against the slider door sine it was shorter than the door opening and it reduced the width opening to the deck considerably, which was a pain when the hubs was going in and out to grill on the deck. So we decided to install a new door in the wall.

The hubs picked out a double flap model to improve energy efficiency. I’m hopeful that it will keep the outdoor debris at bay a bit more as well. Because it sits a little higher, we don’t have an issue with water seeping in when it rains like we did with the old door, which should also be handy when it starts to snow.

We originally planned to hire a handy man to do this installation, but the hubs’ co-worker convinced him that he could do it, so I dug out the pictures I’d taken of the wall during construction to make sure we knew what he’d encounter inside the wall (I’m so glad I documented every step for this exact reason!).

We knew there was electrical wiring to deal with because of the outlet and light switch nearby, but the pictures showed us where the wire ran so he made sure to watch for them and then just tucked the wire to the side of the opening once he had the hole cut as you can see below.

Thankfully I wasn’t around for most of the install process due to a photography session, so I missed out on the messy “in-between” stages, although I’m sure they looked similar to the scene above. The hubs did say he reframed a bit around the new opening since he had to cut the stud that was in the middle of the opening and he added spray foam insulation behind the interior panels that make up the portion within the width of the wall.

We’ve had a couple of windy days since it was installed and it seems to do better at staying closed than the slider insert door did, so I’m very happy about that. And because there are two flaps, even if one doesn’t catch all the way the other keeps the opening closed for efficiency. The hubs still plans to add a bead of clear silicone around the entire opening on both sides, but overall it seems much more weather tight than the old door was.

We did have to relocate the dog’s water bowl since this is exactly where it was before the install. For now we’ve just moved it down the wall a bit, but I have plans to incorporate it into raised feeders for all three of them very soon. It took everyone a bit to get used to the new door. Both Bacardi and Stoli kept going to the slider door and pawing at first, but after a few times they’ve got it figured out. And even Luna has adapted, although it did take a gentle push through the first time. 🙂

Our New Barstools

Published on September 7, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

While building our house I planned to use the extra chairs from our bar height table at the kitchen island bar so they’d be within easy reach if we needed to add a few seats. Unfortunately, we soon realized that they weren’t high enough to be used at the bar unless we wanted every adult to feel like they were sitting at the kiddie table! So the hunt began for a set of barstools. I found an option at Target that I liked and purchased one to bring home and test out. It turned out to be the perfect fit and was pretty darn comfy, but with a price tag of $117 each (Alaska price) I wasn’t about to buy all the stools at once. About a month later the chairs went on sale and I found that the store would price match the website, so I picked up another for around $90. That gave us two spots to sit at the bar, which was enough for us, but it drove me CRAZY having just two stools in this massive space for MONTHS.

A few weeks ago the stars aligned. I found a Cartwheel coupon for 25% off bar stools which could be combined with a store coupon of $10 off a home purchase of $75 or more. Added to the website price match and my 5% off for using my red card I came home with another three stools for under $75 each! And they even loaded them in the truck for me! I think I sang the happy song the entire day! Those of you who follow me on Facebook probably saw my ode to Target that day.

The hubs assembled two and proclaimed that four was the perfect number of stools. I thought he was saying that just so he wouldn’t have to assemble the final stool, but when I looked I had to agree. You read that right. My husband was right. Five stools would be too crowded. So not only was he right, he saved us almost $75! I knew there was a reason I married him. 🙂

But the most important reason these chairs are perfect is that they sit just high enough that when Luna sits in one she can see over the counter. I haven’t been able to get a picture of that in action, but trust me that it happens and it’s hysterical. Just imagine a little kitty face peering over the top of the counter in this shot…

Ready for a Siesta

Published on August 6, 2014August 4, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

A while back I shared a little about the dog bed that the hubs had built and I’d ‘fluffed’ along with our plans to build a few more for other spots around the house. That plan changed a bit when we found a couple of pretty nice dog beds with removable covers during our recent trip to Portland. Removable covers are a huge benefit for me, since I’m actually allergic to both our dogs and cat, but refuse to give up family members for a few sniffles and a headache or two. That means that I need to wash their bedding – and all the other household linens – every week.

I spotted this large bed at Home Goods for $30 and knew it would work well in the spot where the bed we’d made was in the family room. At first I thought about just using it inside the frame, but it bothered me that the frame covered part of the return vent behind the bed, so I decided to try out the bed on its own without the frame. Not only did I like how it looked and fit below the vent, but the dogs took to it right away. Win #1.

I also found this round bed at Home Goods for $25 and knew it would work perfectly in the corner of our bedroom. It wasn’t quite as cushy as the other Home Goods find, but I figure we can add to the padding later on if needed. It’s the perfect size for this spot, allowing the hubs room to still move around the bed on his side, but large enough that two dogs can snuggle together on it. Plus it replaced a non-removable cover donut bed that harbored dust and hair. Win #2.

Just before we left Portland, we found this bed at CostCo for something like $30. I envisioned it taking the place of the non- removable cover donut bed that was behind the chair in the family room. The replacement fit just right and has become a favorite spot for all the dogs since it provides a good vantage point of what’s going on in the main area of the house. Win #3.

We tried moving the bed frame we built into our bedroom, but it didn’t fit well in either spot we had left, so I decided I’d check the CostCos here and see if I could find some more of the round bed we’d placed in the family room.

The first CostCo didn’t have any of the round beds, but they did have this memory foam bed for about $40 that I was sure would fit the corner of the bedroom by the bathroom. It did, and adding the body pillow from the previous built bed on the back against the wall made it look like a little sofa. This seems to be Stoli’s favorite spot since he can snuggle into the back while still stretching out. Win #4.

The other CostCo in town did have the round beds, albeit for a bit more than we paid in Portland – but we’re used to that here in Alaska. We picked out a different pattern that fit better with our bedroom colors and placed it in the corner on my side of the bed. It fits just right and like it’s cousin in the family room it’s enjoyed by all three dogs at different times. Win #5.

If you’re keep count, that’s about $170 in dog beds. It sounds pricey, but considering we would have spent more than that for materials plus our super valuable time if we’d built beds for each spot it actually ends up costing less. I was also able to sell the pads we bought for the bed frames and the old donut beds so that brought the total down to around $100 for all five. The fancy pillows I had made will be used elsewhere and that nice wood frame has since become part of the top that will be used for our office desk built in, so it didn’t go to waste either.

The pups are happy, momma’s happy and dad’s happy he doesn’t have to build another few projects. Sounds like a win-win-win to me!

And here we go…

Published on June 24, 2014August 6, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

Sorry for “going dark” recently, but we’ve been traveling the AlCan to Portland and back to visit family and bring home my prized 1955 F-100 pick-up. I’ll be posting about the trip soon, but for now I’ll get you caught up on a few projects I didn’t have time to share before our trip.

The biggest was the installation of our first landscaping, two flowerbeds out front! After waiting weeks for the builder to grade our lot without resolution, the plants that had been sitting on my porch in anticipation were in desperate need of a permanent home. So we purchased top soil, mulch and weed fabric and set to work.

I marked out the shape I wanted with the hose as a guide. Then the hubs helped me till and level the area.

We added a layer of top soil on top of the tilled ground in the area where we planned to plant.

Next, we put down the weed fabric and used some large metal staples that came home in a bucket the hubs found for me as pins.

Then we put a section of pea gravel on top of the fabric along the house so when the rain water runs off the roof it doesn’t pool in the bed. Luckily, the hubs was able to get a free supply of gravel that worked out to be just the right amount for this project!

We also placed large rocks from around the yard along the border.

After that, I laid out the plants to decide exactly where I wanted everything. It took a little rearranging to get everything just right, but it was fun trying out different groupings.

Once I was happy with the layout, I cut holes in the weed fabric to plant each. The hubs filled in mulch around each plant as I moved on to the next plant.

We also did a small bed between the porch and the garage, which included a walkway to the hose spigot on the wall. The pavers were a bargain find on a local buy/sell page for just $2/each, so we picked all we could and have a healthy stash for other projects.

We followed the same process as the larger bed, but included spots for a rain barrel, hose rack and fountain.

The rain barrel and fountain still need some work, but at least they are in place and prepped. Watch for posts about those and the hose holder soon.

The entire process took about two days – much longer than I estimated, but it was well worth the effort and looks great! Although the kids played most of the time we were working, they did take a few breaks for naps on the pea gravel which they apparently found quite comfy.

In retrospect, I probably should have skipped the weed fabric since everything we planted are perennials – hosta, iris, lilies, phlox, dianthus, peony, pincushion flower, lavender and salvia – which will spread with each season, requiring I cut a bigger opening to allow that process. I’ll leave it in place for now and see how it goes. For now, I’m just giddy to have our first plants in the ground.

Now I just need to get the rain garden, lawn and veggie garden going! Let the madness of planting begin!

A Quick Fix

Published on May 30, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

When we first brought Luna home, she took out her anxiety on my storage bench in the Master Closet. Since my other chitlins had somehow stained the seat while we lived in the rental house I wasn’t too upset about it.

But now that we’ve passed the “settling in” phase and she is secure in her role of ruling the DB&DT household, it was time to fix this little blemish.

I dug through my fabric stash and decided a tan microsuede remnant was the perfect match for the master bedroom decor and was just the right size for the project. Apparently, Luna felt a tad bit guilty about her role in creating the problem, so she wanted to help by taking her bath right next to the board as I worked on it.

A few staples and snips later, it looks better than new!

So good in fact, that the Princess herself came to give it a royal approval!

And then pause to appreciate how pretty she was after her bath!

Hopefully, she has no plans to tear up her new throne now that it’s been upgraded. 🙂

The Princess and the Pea?

Published on May 30, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

It’s well known that our fur babies are spoiled, but our cat, Luna has recently been taking things to a new level at bed time. She’s the only fur baby allowed to sleep on the bed with us, due to her size, and the fact that she doesn’t take over the bed like the dogs do.

When she does sleep in the bed, she usually sleeps next to me. Sometimes curled up in a ball behind my knees but often she’s stretched out down along side me.

But being ON the bed isn’t enough for her. Apparently she LOVES being under the covers. At first it started out as a cute “tucked in” thing, where she’d snuggle herself up under the blanket.

Then I’d come in the bedroom to find a purring lump in the bed, or a nose protruding from the blankets when the hubs hadn’t made the bed.

But her newest antic is pestering us to be let under the covers, where she claims a spot next to me. No doubt about it. She’s a princess. And I’m certain there is no pea under our mattress, but I’m sure she will continue to want to insist she sleep there to prove it!

Luna, the Explorer

Published on May 7, 2014June 1, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

When we brought little Bacardi home, the hubs made the doggie door go all the way to the floor so it was easier for her to learn how to use it. That change also provided Luna the opportunity to start using the exit as well now that she didn’t have to jump over a glass panel at the bottom. This new-found freedom turned her into quite the explorer, much to my concern.

I’ve always had indoor/outdoor cats and hoped to eventually get Luna to that status one day as well (mostly so we can eliminate the litter box!), but I was nervous since she’d always been an indoor cat and had only been outside with supervision before this. She had just recently started going out without her harness and leash, so she was probably feeling quite liberated. Granted she does have her claws and is pretty good at defending herself with the dogs, but Alaskan wildlife might be a different story. Also the cats I’d had in the past began life outside and migrated to becoming part-time indoor felines, so I never worried that they had the skills to find their way home safely.

At first she stayed pretty close to the house, scouting along the walls, but she soon grew bolder and started wandering out into the trees. Then she would disappear for several hours at a time. This included a couple overnight explorations on very chilly nights, which was worrisome for me.

But she kept coming back home to her food bowl and belly rubs while snuggling on the bed with Mom & Dad. So my fears have subsided, although I still worry when I haven’t seen her for a while. It’s just a Mommy thing. But I’m also proud to see her be independent.

Unfortunately, she also still seems pretty tied to her litter box. In fact, we watched her come inside, eat a few kibbles, go potty and then go back outside. I’d get rid of the box and force her to go outside, but I feel think that might be a cue to go a little too independent. Plus I’m fairly certain that her outdoor adventures will subside come winter since she’s not a fan of the snow. So I guess scooping the box remains on my to-do list for the time being.

Down at the Riverbank

Published on May 4, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

Sorry for being MIA last week, it was a tad bit busy around here between work and appointments. Because of that I decided to make sure we had some fun with the kiddos this weekend which included a trip down the trails in our side-by-side to a nearby river. This was the first time both Stoli and Bacardi had been to a river so I was excited to see what their reactions would be.

As soon as we arrived Tequila was ready to jump in, but Bacardi and Stoli weren’t as sure. They stayed well on the bank checking out this new environment.

So while their big sister was bounding through the chilly water, they decided to cautiously approach the edge. Stoli’s approach reminded me of Tarzan’s elephant friend, Tantor.

Although they never did go in the water, they did seem to enjoy exploring the riverbank while watching their big sister play in the deep end as she crossed the river again and again without hesitation.

Eventually, Bacardi decided to hang out with Daddy while Stoli, Tequila and I ventured down river a bit to a very picturesque spot!

Then I had the hubs call Tequila back so she would cross the river again, much to Bacardi’s delight.

And before we left I stopped to snap a few shots of Bacardi in the sprouting grass, since she’s growing so quickly and I don’t want to forget how little she started out.

But my favorite shot was of her showcasing her tiny attitude along the riverbank. 🙂 She’s definitely the perfect fit for our family!

Welcome Home Baby Bacardi

Published on April 18, 2014December 4, 2014 by Jenna2 Comments

Last night was our new fur baby’s first night at home. She’s fitting right in, playing with her siblings and checking out her surroundings.

She’s already bonding with the hubs and I as well. We seem to have another snuggler on our hands, which should prove interesting when she’s full grown!

Everyone is getting along pretty well and both Tequila and Stoli are already protective of her, although they’re not so sure about sharing things all the time.

She’s also met the cat, which although it was a brief encounter, went better than we anticipated. Perhaps Luna wasn’t sure what to think of someone smaller than her!

Of course there are plenty of teachable moments like nipping and a couple of accidental tinkles on the floor, but that’s to be expected. We’ve directed her chewing toward the bevy of toys available, and she’s pretty keen on tennis balls. So much that she threw a fit when hers went under the couch and she couldn’t reach it!

She does love to be outside, but she’s not too keen on the doggie door just yet. Instead she likes for Tequila or Stoli to open it for her so she can sneak back and forth underneath them! Smart cookie. And when they aren’t willing to do the work for her, she attempts alternative methods.

But all that adventure makes for a tired puppy. She tries so hard to fight it, probably thinking she might miss something fun.

But eventually she gives in and finds a comfy spot to rest, even if that means claiming the biggest dog bed in the house all to herself. 🙂

Bringing a Little Bacardi to the Party

Published on February 28, 2014March 11, 2014 by Jenna2 Comments

Our little family will be growing by four more feet in a few weeks when we adopt a new baby blue heeler! A woman we met through a local buy/sell page had a litter of blue heeler puppies and was expecting another, by accident.

We contacted her about the dogs and got good feedback so we made arrangements to meet the expecting momma dog and see what her personality was like. Although she wasn’t very social with our dogs – who could blame her a week from her due date – she was well behaved and definitely people friendly, especially when those people gave ear rubs.

The woman who owned momma dog was excited to hear that we had a Rottie as well, which is the other breed in their home. She also liked the fact that we are previous heeler owners so we know what to expect and have plenty of space for such an active breed. She liked us so much that she told us we had first pick once the litter was born!

A little over a week later she emailed me to say there had been 3 boys and 3 girls born the day prior. We knew we wanted a girl, so she sent pictures of those three. One was all white with just a snip of black on the tip of her ear. Another had a black mask on her head, but no other spots. And the runt had a black mask with several body spots. Including one shaped like an upside down heart on her side.

We discussed it and unanimously agreed we wanted the runt. As you can guess by the title of this post, we decided to continue our alcoholic theme and name her Bacardi.

She will be ready to join our family in mid-April and we’re excited to see how everyone reacts to her. Baby momma’s owner says momma and the pups are all doing well and although little Bacardi is by far the smallest, she’s a fighter and does get some one-on-one time with mom. Sounds like she will fit right in around here.

Hopefully, the Alaskan spring will appear soon after she comes home and we can get the yard finished so everyone has plenty of space to romp. Regardless of weather, I foresee many puppy photos in the near future! 😉