Dana Burland

Remember when we had all that construction done to build an addition where our deck used to be? Man, we love the indoor space SO much. It was 100 times worth it, except... now we have no deck. Should we blow this room up for outdoor space? lol. Soon we'll be getting a patio poured. Try living under that like you did with our deck, neighborhood raccoons! I shouldn't taunt or challenge them... they're under our shed, even going as far as to hoist up a sophisticated concrete step barrier I built up. I suppose I should respect the determination. Anyway, patio.  It'll be just big enough for an outdoor table/chairs and grill. Nothing fancy but it'll be nice to enjoy cookouts outside again.  My brother was SO helpful in getting the temporary wood steps off the house this weekend. We're pretty prepped now, just waiting for a day of concrete pouring! After that we'll have some steps/railing fashioned.  

Want to hear a funny story? About a week ago I saw a post in our neighborhood's Facebook group--a college student home for the summer offering up very reasonably priced family photos.  Great idea. It's been awhile since we've done those. Booked. A few days after I saw a bump/blister pop up on my leg. Odd, but fine. Then another. And more spread across my body.  Ugh. Who has time for this! I put some cream on my dermo gave me for something else a year ago. It did nothing. Shingles again, I convinced myself. Yep, your girl already had shingles once.  With the bumps spreading, my homemade remedies doing nothing, and pictures approaching--I showed up randomly at the dermo's office. An ambush if you will. I said--it's shingles again, probably. The dermo said--it's poison ivy/sumac.  Whew! Except the prescription cream was about $1M, and surely wasn't going to clear. up the rashes before picture day. Thank God for Photoshop, and a lightweight stylish summer kimono...

…you just finished 2nd grade, and feel like king of the world. …you’ve got 1.5 adult teeth in, and so many loose they may all fall out at once. If gappy-front-tooth-C was cute, half-adult-front-tooth-C truly screams BIG KID. …you made a club soccer team, showing immense determination, skill and grit at tryouts–including dusting yourself off and back in scrimmage after a friend’s clete to your ankle drew blood. …you’re diving head first into rock music: The White Stripes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Def Leppard, Foo Fighters, and wow is it fun to sing “Steve’s Lava Chicken” with you. …you got in trouble for something I won’t publicly broadcast on the internet, and experienced a first real consequence. Yeah, you weren’t happy, but also you understood and didn’t make excuses. …your summer freckles are popping out–most notably on the bridge of your nose and on your cheek. You still remember your first one on your ankle, the one I told you is how I knew you were mine–freckle to freckle. …y...

Weee, another Sprint Tri in the books. Yesterday was the Grand Rapids Sprint Triathlon--a favorite race of mine.  My goal was to prioritize fun over fast. I've been recovering from a badly pinched nerve, and trying to respect as I get older I can't train as ruthlessly as I used to. I wanted to prove I could "behave", and also feel accomplished. And I did.  It's been so cold I hadn't trained in open water once, but during the Thornapple River swim, I felt just fine. My pace was relaxed, I felt good.  Good lord do so many people fly past me on the bike. I'm an above average swimmer and below average biker and it is hummmmbling to see so many incredible athletes fly past me like I'm walking. Still, I kept a steady, challenging but appropriate pace the whole ride. The run always feels like a slog, but this year even more so. It was tough to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I kept a consistent pace and backed off a few times when necessary. Even...

Our peonies opened on Friday. Peonies, in the backyard, of our second house, the one we were out growing, and grew, to fit our two growing boys, and their friends, and their family who have become our friends, and extended family and the busy comings and goings of it all. There are SO many busy comings and goings, and it’ll stay that way. In the backyard itself–soccer balls fly haphazardly in the air, the playful “ATTACK!” screams of 7-year-old neighbors reverberate across connected yards, and smoke from fire pit s’more nights wafts around. Still, the peonies quietly bloomed. It’s a shock they grow here. Not only all ^ that, but I have so little attention to give them. Each year I muster up enough time to put cages around them (tomato cages this year: the wrong kind), and have so far kept weeds at bay. Not only did our wedding flower bloom, but they did brilliantly, in the backyard of this busy house and busy life we’ve built together, on our 10 year wedding anniversary. And no...