finally has a name for her puppy.

Thank you to all who participated in the online polls. Our puppy's new name is:

Paisley!

That's all there is to report except that she has peed in my room about four times. But I still love her.

got a new puppy!

My mom brought home a new little English Springer Spaniel puppy from Idaho this weekend! We are already in love with her. She brings back so many memories of our dog Brittain. We haven't named her yet, so please vote on a name (the name we choose may or may not be from the poll).

Here are some videos of the new puppy:

took another pointless survey.

Note to reader: this quiz only has 49 questions.

50 Questions To Really Get To Know Someone
1) Are you a morning or night person?	Night
2) Which do you prefer, sweet or salty foods?	Salty
3) Ninjas or pirates?	Pirates
4) Ninjas vs pirates, discuss.	I just don't buy the facemasks. I prefer tattoos.
5) Autobots or Decepticons?	No idea.
6) What was your favorite childhood television program?	Sesame Street
7) Are you a collector of anything?	Shoes and books
8) If you could be any animal, what would you be?	A robin
9) If you could have any superpower, what would it be?	Instant teleportation
10) What is usually your first thought when you wake up?	I wonder how my missionary is?
11) What do you usually think about right before falling asleep?	See previous answer.
12) What's your favorite color?	Red
13) What's your favorite animal?	Dog
14) Do you believe in extraterrestrials or life on other planets?	Not in the creepy alien sense.
15) Do you believe in ghosts?	Yeah, also not in a creepy sense.
16) Ever been addicted to a video/computer game? Which one(s)?	The Sims *hangs head in shame*
17) You're given 1 million dollars, what do you spend it on?	A restored farmhouse
18) Have any bad habits?	Sure
19) Which bad habits, if any, drive you crazy?	Messy eaters
20) List 3 of your best personality traits:	Outgoing, sensitive, intelligent
21) List 3 of your worst personality traits:	Moody, critical, lazy
22) Have any celebrity crushes?	Not real crushes, but I love Jamie Oliver!
23) List 1 thing you wish you could change about yourself:	I wish I didn't have student loans.
24) Any tattoos or piercings?	Ears pierced, that's it.
25) What's the first thing you notice in the opposite sex?	Eyes, then ability to make conversation.
26) What personality traits do you look for in a partner?	Kind, intelligent, personable, interesting, handsome, funny, spiritual...
27) What personality traits do you dislike in other people?	Mean, ignorant, aloof, boring, unattractive, not funny, vain...
28) Are you mostly a clean or messy person?Do you see yourself getting married in the next 5 years?	Clean, yes.
29) Are you mostly a clean or messy person?	Clean.
30) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?	The Northwest.
31) If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?	Spain. ;)
32) List 5 goals on your life's to-do list:	1. Marry a good man 2. Have a family 3. Restore a farmhouse 4. Write a book 5. Have a job I love
33) Name 1 regret you have:	Not sure I have any.
34) Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid:	Easy school.
35) Name 1 thing you love about being an adult:	Thinking more clearly than before.
36) What's your favorite song of the moment?	"Somewhere only we know."
37) What's your favorite song of all time?	Impossible to say.
38) What's your favorite thing to do on a Saturday night?	Quilt.
39) What's your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon?	Sleep.
40) Have any hidden talents?	Yep.
41) You're about to walk the green mile, what do you have as your last meal?	Fried chicken.
42) What would be your dream job?	Write books and also work as an editor for other books.
43) Which would you rather have, 100 million dollars or true love?	True love.
44) If you could have 3 wishes granted, what would they be?	1. To score well on the GRE 2. To get a good job 3. To have my dog Britty back
45) Ever wish you were born the opposite sex? If so, why?	Kind of, but not enough to do anything about it.
46) Name 1 thing not many people know about you:	I wear lavender deoderant.
47) If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?	Nichole 2
48) Do you believe in the afterlife?	Yes
49) On the topic of abortion, how do you feel about cookies?	Love cookies, dislike abortion.
Take this survey | Create your own survey | Daily survey
Explore Thousands of Life Experiences.

is almost ready.

I've been gathering up fabric for a month now. I think I'm almost ready to start my quilt.

Look at all this beautiful fabric.


I just can't bring myself to cut them yet. I think I need to take a quilting class first.

wants change... the right kind.

I have been disillusioned with the recent pre-election atmosphere in America because the choices felt restrictive to me as a voter. Of course, it always comes down to two major candidates, but I dislike the idea of having to vote for "the lesser of two evils." I don't believe that one party is evil and one is good. That is not the basis of this political struggle in America. But I do hold certain values close to my heart and I try to pick the platform that best represents my own value system and what I, as a citizen of the United States, believe will benefit my country.

So, with Palin as McCain's running mate I have a renewed sense of hope for the future of America and I can vote with greater confidence. I am not simply resigned to voting because of duty, for once I feel energized and ready for this opportunity to vote.

Let me tell you why, in a simplified way. Sarah Palin has the perspective that our nation is in need of. Not just because she is a woman, but I do believe that having the perspective of a mother is unique and will be a strength to her. She understands the struggles of raising a family. She governed a state that perhaps is the key to dealing with the "energy crisis" that has been such a hot topic lately. She made smart economic decisions and cut unnecessary spending in Alaska, something the nation as a whole is in dire need of. As a Christian, she stands up for issues that other candidates flounder on and is opposed to same-sex marriage and abortion (consequently, the two major issues that the LDS church has spoken out against as well).

I did not expect to see such a candidate enter the race and I am glad to be surprised by such an amazing woman. While the opposition spouts a vague but incessant call for "change", whatever that really entails, I believe McCain and Palin will make the kinds of changes that I want to see happen in America. I truly love this nation and I have faith that the right choice will be made.

can't figure it out.

My sister received this gift for her wedding (seriously!) and now there is a debate going on in my house. We can't decide what this object is:

It appears to be a pear made of glass. There's a hole in the side. The top "stem" is hollow.

It is also made in Poland.

What do you think it is? What could it be used for? Why would someone give it as a gift? I would like some suggestions for what we should do with it. This glass pear thing has the potential to be one of the best white elephant gifts I've ever seen.

went back in time.

This is me in my 1950's yearbook picture. It scares me. I look like my grandma. You should go make your own yearbook photo too so that I don't feel so bad about myself.

quilts.

I made my first quilt when I was a senior in high school.



This is the result, a tribute to Vespa scooters, which reflected my interests at the time. I still think it's a cute quilt, even if I never got a scooter. *sniff*

Two quilts later, I am trying to move beyond patchwork. It's more difficult than I thought it would be to begin piecing a quilt together.

I am trying out a more traditional quilt style called "tree of life." Here are some of my early sketches:


It's a little complicated and I have never done such intricate piecing ever. I need quilting lessons!

I am officially turning into a babushka.

is the sister of the bride.

My sister just got married on Friday. This video of my grandpa rockin' out pretty much sums it up. It was a good time. Check out more pictures on Facebook.



Congratulations Jenna and Stephen!

finished Breaking Dawn.

Hey everyone, this is a random question for any Twilight geeks out there, was your book cover on upside down? Do you think it was it on purpose or an accident? Hrm.

Strange, very strange. Other than that, I will not say anything that might spoil the ending for those who haven't finished it yet, but if you have, let me know what you thought. I will keep my opinions to myself for now...

is in pieces.

I've always wanted to know how to do one of these. Thanks to PilgrimGirl, now I do. This mosaic is a little bit of what I love:

Here are the questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you?
12. Your Flickr name?

The answers:

1. Nichole, 2. Roasted Turkey, 3. Oregon City, 4. Red Red Red, 5. Anderson Cooper, 6. Berry Smoothie, 7. Ireland, 8. Blackberry cobbler, 9. A writer, 10. My Family, 11. Ardent, 12. little chickie on its throne (Tronchik)

What are your favorites? Play along here.