Le Pergola!

Day One:

Before

Hole Digging

Mr. Haire wins an award (to be determined) for digging these holes on his own. They are 2 feet deep and that is AZ soil you see. Basically concrete. 

Posts are in! 

(note: my cement carving did not last the next morning)

Day Two: The Dudes Arrive

Tools with Coffee...

These guys rocked that pergola. Pat almost lost a thumb to Richie's drill, but there was nothing but laughter, advice and good ol' chummin' that happens when hungover guys start on a project together.

Working hard for their beer

Mad props to Jackie and Megs for coming over and helping me make MASSIVE sandwiches for the guys, and helping me supervise and drink some booze. 'Cuz that's what you do on a Saturday afternoon at the Casa de Haire. 

Tools with Beer...

I am so thankful to have friends that will come over, kick some major lumber ace for a sandwich and beer. I hope we can repay everyone that helped with a similar act of kindness! Watts, your next!

No Longer Waiting...

I feel like we wandered into this new year, hoping for everything to change for the better. This includes our quality of life, reaching our goals, creating new goals, improving relationships with each other and our friends & family and everything in between. When we entered with all these hopes and dreams, we realized the only way to reach them is to stop waiting for them to happen and start making it happen ourselves! If people join in and help along the way, great!
So, to get to the point, we love to spend time outside, however, in the summer, the brutal AZ sun can prevent that from happening... unless you prune up in the pool the entire day slathering on SPF 90 and drinking cervezas (that actually doesn't sound so bad right about now she says at 9:19 am). So what are we going to do about that? How are we going to improve our quality of life? We are building a pergola this weekend and expand our living space 10x12 feet! We have been talking about this for over a year now... since we have moved into Casa de Haire really. So, finally, we jumped in feet first and started the project! Lumber was purchased, holes were dug and we already have the way too tall posts cemented in the ground. We are rounding up the troops to complete it this afternoon! Hopefully these tough dudes have it completed in enough time to enjoy the shade it will be creating, and maybe a celebration beer or two.

For right now though, I will share this little gem. It will be covered eventually I am sure, but we will always know it is there.

(note: this was destroyed the next morning by one Joe Watt. Thanks.)

Our new spot...

My dear sweet parents bought the Mr. and I a wine club membership to a local Wine Bar just a few miles away, Vine Expressions. The first time I visited this little spot was with my parents and I could not wait to share the awesome experience with Pat! The guy that helped us each time was VERY knowledgeable and allowed us to try some wines before we made decisions on buying bottles or drinking by the glass.

The atmosphere is pretty great, couches galore that create little semi private living rooms suitable for large groups or couples. The coffee tables offer reading materials and snugly blankets if you like (I have not used them... kind of freaks me out). The outdoor space is very nice with gas fueled fire pits and cozy seating too!
The wine selection is wonderful, they feature AZ wines too, but I have not had the opportunity to try one yet.

The food there, from what we have had (CHEESE) is good. We did order the Italian Flatbread, and well, not anything to write home about. The the "flatbread" was whole wheat... which was strange, because if we are drinking wine in excess and eating massive amounts of cheese, health is not at the forefront of my mind.

The last time we went we were more than a little disappointed with the slow service. I think if we had ordered a bottle of wine, and enough cheese with extra bread, we wouldn't have even noticed the lack of attention we were receiving because the live music was wonderful.

We left a little cranky, but I know we will be happy to go back and give it a go for a 4th (or is it 5th?) time.
I would recommend checking it out, but don't go with expectations of a fast meal, go to take your time, relax and buy a bottle!

New Year: Resolutions

I am not one to make New Year Resolutions because nobody ever keeps these resolutions, right? Well, I have decided to have a few, just for some motivation and hopefully start some habits. If I write it down, perhaps it will hold me accountable!

• Create crafts at least once a month
• Finish my afghan
• Finish my cowl 
• Start an Etsy Store - products to be determined
• Eat Cleaner and Healthier
• Workout more regularly / including yoga 2 times a month
• Blog at least 2 times a week
• Stick to a budget
• Answer my phone more often

Seems pretty easy right? 
Stay tuned.

Looking Back: Christmas 2011

Christmas came and went in a flash. Pat and I not only had both sets of my parents here, but also his cousin and her boyfriend came to visit. My sister and brother-in-law traveled to the Virgin Islands on holiday, and we were left with their pup, Abby.
Mostly I enjoy Abby. She has more energy than I do, which can be challenging at times, but usually can be diminished with a few sprints in the back yard. Last Thursday this was not the case. She kept me up until 2 am... Pat slept on the couch. By the time she had brought me to tears I decided to wake Pat in hopes he would know what to do. He didn't. She finally nested herself in a beach towel and fell asleep. Separation anxiety, gets ya every time.

My mom and John got here Thursday and stayed with us Friday. It was a blast. We drank wine until the wee hours of the morning, or so it seemed. And on Saturday, my dad and Lisa arrived to spend Christmas eve with us.
I made a terrible frozen Lasagna for dinner (which stayed cold) and I burnt the bread. I would say, besides the wine and salad, I ruined Christmas. It is so unlike me to not have a Christmas Eve dinner planned, but I could have never planned for this Christmas. I never have felt this behind and chaotic. Still, we watched The Muppet Christmas Carol as I always do on Christmas, much to everyone's chagrin, and drank champagne and had Christmas cookies. Pat and Dad fell asleep. Lisa tried to be enthusiastic as I recited every line and lyric.
However, Christmas was as Christmas should be, a time for family and love. We awoke Christmas morning and had mimosas (thank God). Once I had less of a hangover, we spent the afternoon with Pat's family and the evening with my Mom, John and Grandparents. A traditional ham dinner was shared and love was in the air.

Although I can't wait for 2012, I am eager to hold on to this Christmas, as I feel it is the last one of its kind. Children are coming, whether they are ours or nieces and nephews and I will no longer be the only one looking forward to Christmas jammies, traditions, Santa, carols, decorating trees and houses...

so merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Appreciate

I would like to say I learned to appreciate simple things like a fine red wine, or how I can make a mean garlic dipping sauce for bread, but let's get real, I already appreciate those things. The one thing I really learned to appreciate this year was my family (friends included, because I only have very close friends).
Now, if you belong in this "family" group, you may be saying to yourself, "If you appreciate me so much, why don't you ever answer you g.d. phone?" Well, I am not going to lie, I am still working on that. But through out this year I have really learned what it is to be family, an how my family supports my little family here in Casa de Haire. From the wedding to being unemployed, people jumped on the band wagon to help where they could, and that is what it is all about...

PS In 2012 I PROMISE to answer my phone more!

Healing

I can't say that healing has only taken place this year. Pat and I have both had to overcome struggles, both very different, in our lives. But one thing is for sure, we have started healing each other since the day we met. Just this morning we were reminiscing of our first date. We talked about all the things you aren't supposed to talk about (politics, religions, finances) and then 4 months later we moved in together. We knew the first month, maybe second that our relationship, our love was a force to be reckoned with. 3 months into our relationship we passed through Vegas to get to my home town for a visit and we seriously thought about eloping. Then we seriously thought about the consequences from our family. Although we have reached the result, I am so glad we waited. We needed to experience a few more things together, and REALLY be able to celebrate our love.
In the beginning, the impact we had on each other was, first and foremost, a healing one. He, being a few years older and quite the handy man, had many impressive qualities that any girl would like, but there were also things that, when I dug deep enough, were difficult, even on my man of steel. Together, in our first two years of dating, overcame things that were haunting us for entire lifetimes. We were able to discuss things that have never been discussed, feel things that have never been felt, and ultimately heal the things that were unable to heal prior to "us."
I truly believe that when you find someone that can do that for you, make you feel like you were never injured, physically or emotionally. That is when you need to sit back, take notice and realize that is the person you need to have in your life forever.
Fortunately for me, I get to have this man as my husband, the future father of my children and best friend forever. However, if you find that person in any form, keep them close. They are an important piece of your arsenal... and not many people come by that piece armor.