Hole Digging, Light Hanging, and a Bird Becomes a Woman

Once upon a time, we moved into a rental home, and it had this dilapidated, decaying, former patio in the back. Once upon a time, Burley and I moved all of the bricks from the top of said former patio, to a stack on the side of the house. Once upon a time I was sweaty and angry.

But, to redeem the situation, I woke up on Saturday and felt the chill of a soon-to-be fall day, and immediately sprung up to make coffee and plan out the backyard's fall makeover.

Burley was integral in this process, as I needed him to dig a hole, like all Burley men do very very well.

So he did. And he used these clay pieces to line that hole. And he made the world's greatest and cheapest fire pit. Because it was free.

Isn't she beautiful? Took that Burley man about an hour and a half to soak the ground, measure the hole, dig it, and line it with these beautiful and free clay pieces.

Meanwhile, I raked some leaves, hung some lights, strung some lights, and cleaned up the yard a bit (OK... OK... his job was harder).

And then we invited friends over, grilled out, and tested out the masterpiece.

Gosh. She is beautiful. A force to be reckoned with. A prize to be one. The fairest among f....

OK. I know it's just a fire. But I am kind of obsessed. And just think... All of the fun times... All of the chilly nights... All of the good talks... Yea. I know you want one too, now. It's OK that you made fun of me earlier.

Last, but not least... We have some very important business to take care of!

Remember this girl?

Yea me too. She walks around outside my office window every day screaming... "NAME ME!... NAME ME!!"

And you guys helped me on this long and hard road, last week.

And now... It's time.

This decision was SO freaking hard. You guys submitted almost 40 requests for NAME. THAT. BIRD. and all of them were stinking hilarious. And very fitting.

First off. I am going to name some of our favorites. Because you deserve credit where credit is due.

Linda - Mae
Blanche - Jen
Genevieve - Gentri Lee
Mertle or Petunia - Melissa
Eleanor Fuzzlebottom - Kristin
Vivanne Joan Abott Walker III - Megan 
Mother Clucker - Marie S.
Penelope - Missy (MIL)
Bacon - Debbie
Gertrude Stein - Andrew
Penelope Clearwater - Whitney

And... The winner is...

Piccata

Get it? CHICKEN piccata? HAHAHAHAHA. love.

Now. I do have to tell you. Missy and Whitney were SO close with Penelope. I thought that it was PERFECT. But, I happen to have had a dog named penelope for 15 years (RIP), and this just didn't seem right, or happy. So I couldn't do it. And since then, I have really enjoyed stepping out into the coop and teaching piccata her name (birds don't come when they are called, it's more of a formality of sorts).

Thank you guys again for being hilarious and awesome. YOU ARE ALL WINNERS IN MY HEART!!! But Sue and Steve are the winners in real life (and they are my AWESOME aunt and unk, so, they really win all around).

You guys are the best. And congratulations if you're still reading this. That means that you are even MORE the best.

Happy Tuesday.

TTFN,