I am feeling an overwhelming need to get a plastic slide/climber thing for our backyard. I suggested this last year and Joel poo-pooed the idea because he didn't want a hunk of junk in our backyard.

But this year Rosemary is so much more independent, and I am feeling hopeful that we can actually keep our garden up and paint our house and do other outside work while she's awake. And Joel agrees that a climber thingy is a good idea.

So, I've been watching craigslist like a hawk. And every time I email an inquiry, I get a response like this: "I have had an overwhelming response. Thanks for your interest."

This means that I will either have to buy new, which I'm not sure I can do in good conscience. Or buy from a garage sale, which I'm not sure I can do. I don't know ... how do people who work full time, have children, and umpteen home projects find time to go to garage sales? I sure didn't ever find time to go to any last year.

I might have to put all of my Minnesota friends on alert for a nice plastic swingset/slide thing. You'd all be happy to do that for me, wouldn't you?

I posted some pictures of my new blinds over on my other website, Coming Up Rosemary. It's easier to give you a link than it is to repost the pictures here. So please mozey on over there and tell me what you think. When I first hung them, I thought they looked a little rough and I thought they might need some drapes or a valence. But now that I'm getting used to them, I am not so sure. I haven't wanted to do drapes or valences because they just cover up the woodwork. I'm asking for honest opinions ... so opinionate away!

We have had a lot of rain this week and I guess we're going to get a bunch more. The ceiling in our bedroom was leaking a little bit last night. :-( We know why and hopefully it won't be a big deal to fix over the weekend.

We also got a little water in the basement yesterday. Boo, hiss. This happens rarely, but there was so much rain and it came down so hard and so fast.

Tuesday night I took Rosemary out to play in the rain (there was no thunder or lightning and it was a slow, steady rain). We splashed in the puddles, it was so cute and fun.

The child can talk like nobody's business. If she wants to say it, she can say it clearly. I was just telling Joel it's no fun that she doesn't say things like, "Peet" for feet. I really enjoyed it when my niece talked like that. I guess Rosemary does say Melmo instead of Elmo. Oh yeah, and she doesn't pronounce her "H"s. She says "ot," "at," and "ome" (hot, hat, and home).

The other day she ate an entire 4" subway sandwich. That's the most she's ever eaten in one sitting. I wish I could record every moment right now. She is changing so fast. This is by far my favorite stage.

It feels so good to be outside working on the yard. Last year we just did not have the ability to spend much time in the yard. Our house was nearing the end of the most stressful remodeling project ever. Rosemary was new to the world and she spent the first few months of her life making us pay for bringing her into the world. I was stressed out because my baby cried all the time, refused to nurse, and oh a myriad of other things.

I do sincerely hope that when I'm done having kids, I can say Rosemary was the hardest baby. I know they're not all like that. I've seen many examples.

Tangent aside, Joel strapped Rosemary in the kelty this morning and went to work raking and then seeding the back yard. I pulled out my trowel and some fertilizer and went to planting. Last weekend I bought a Gerbera Daisy plant, a whole bunch of zinnias, and this orange daisy-like plant with a purple center. This weekend I got to work planting them. I'm not kidding when I say I bought a "bunch" of zinnias. I think I bought 24 ... maybe 30. I have visions of great flower bouquets on my coffee table.

I'll have to get some more annuals to fill in where the tulips are (since they have finished blooming and the green will go away) and then I have to worry about the gardens in the front yard a bit.

Ooooh. Worrying about gardens, sounds like fun!