Spring has somewhat begrudgingly arrived in Sioux Falls, so this last weekend when it was sunny and nice, I splurged at the lawn and garden center and blew way too much dough on plants.

My number one task was to get our window boxes filled with something better looking than dirty and leaves. I decided on geraniums since they're bright and hearty, and then added in some dangly filler plants to make them look a bit more dimensional. Now I've just got to remember to water them everyday since they seem pretty sheltered under the overhang.

My next project in the yard was to find a spot to put all the flowers I had left from my window boxes! I had completely overestimates how large they were and had to find a spot for the rest. So, I decided to weigh my options.

Whoever lived here before evidently loved their bushes so much that they dug them up and took them with - as evidenced by the random holes in areas that would ideally house a bush or shrub. The most obvious spot was by the front step where some hostas were attempting to grow. Using random bricks I found in the back yard (which believe it or not was the perfect amount), I made a little flower bed in the front yard.

Best of all, I got to put out my little frog: he has batteries and makes croaking sounds whenever the little sensor in his mouth sees movement. Makes my day.

One weird thing I found looking for bricks was this one random one, painted white with the word "Salamander" on it. Besides just being random, I thought I'd check and see if there was something to this strange duck. I looked online to see where on earth a brick like this would come from. Aside from lots of pictures of salamanders, the closest thing I could find was that there was a Salamander Brick Company operating in Woodbridge, NJ at the turn of the 1800s. I don't know if this brick comes from there or not (no other markers), but I made sure to include it in my flower bed arrangement! If you can find anything further about said mystery brick, let me know!

Anyway, next step on the home-make over process it to work on the next big project: the kitchen.

That's more like it: we've finally reached the point where we've got artwork on the walls, so it's starting to really feel like home now.

I felt bad for everyone who came to our open house last weekend since we were still kind of unpacking and putting stuff away (if I recall, Dusty was still putting blinds up in the living room when people stopped by!). Regardless, we had a great turn-out and an even greater time partying with our friends: who could forget a night full of the Riverside buffet bucket, a human pyramid and a bacon bikini. Coolest. People. Ever.

Today was my first weekend that I actually was able to roll my sleeves up and work on the house. Dusty spent the week working on some plumbing issues (like our whimpy shower) cleaning the floors. So I decided to tackle our scary-looking yard.

Aside from all the branches, leaves and pods in our yard, there is also a strange growth of numerous plants that I'm uncertain are weeds or decorative plants. Thankfully, the one thing that appears to be growing like crazy are the ferns. In face, there are so many sticking up their curly little leaves that they are pushing through the walkway and bricks on the little patio.

That being said: if anyone wants a fern, let me know and I'll dig one up for you ; )

After mowing and raking and picking up a 100 branches and sticks, I decided to celebrate my hard work by purchasing a little portable fire pit with some of the gift cards I was given at our house warming party (thanks Cameron, Val, Dale and Nadine!). It's not the best thing ever, but I know that I'll get to have some sweet revenge tonight on all those pesky sticks I had to pick up today as I roast marshmallows over them!