Project complete

So we finished (almost) the aquarium. I still have one more "top" to finish and then add some more fish next month when these guys are all settled in.

FYI- its very very hard to photograph a fish tank indoors! I will try to get some better photos when its brighter outside.

Current inhabitants: Gold, blue, and opaline gourami.

Tiger, yellow, koi, black, and lace wing angel fish.

A fancy featherfin catfish.

A giant ghost knife.

A ropefish

2 Brazilian puffer fish

A half beak gar-type fish.

Some zebra danios.

And one black neon.
I obviously included some example pictures just so you can see...
OH! And several species of live plants! Yay me!

In the process, the snakes also got their new home...

Wedding planning news:

We have our florist. Joyce Graham works from her home in North San Antonio and was so wonderful to deal with that we booked her right away. She has promised to make it beautiful and we know she can. The flowers will be browns, rusts, blues, and some very pretty roses!

Also we have lots of other accountrements gathered for decoration purposes and the dress is finally in! Hopefully this time it will be right enough that the local girls can alter it for relatively inexpensively.

Cake tasting should be this week sometime and tux selection will be Saturday.

The BIG project

As though Jason and I didn't have enough to do...

About a month and a half ago we purchased a HUGE aquarium. It started a very light color which matched no stick of furniture we have so we decided to refinish it. Lots and lots of work later its a very pretty cherry mahogany.

By the way, HUGE means 150 gallons.,..

This is the color of the wood before we started.

This is what happened after we chemically stripped and sanded the whole thing...

And more sanding pictures....

And finally some midstaining pics:








And last pictures so far: We've finished it and put it back together... Next clear water and then fish!

Pictures from the house

I have some new pics to post: Just thought I would share.

This one is of Sam and Leo. We jokingly call Leo "Bad Dog Leo" as he is always making the wrong decisions! I believe you can see in this loving photo of the two of them, Sam is whispering the things he SHOULD do. I would never beleive Sam would stear him wrong...

The next two are of the ninja cat: Boton. She is getting her full haircoat back from her shave job and you can see the lovely colored patches that make her so unique! Seal/tortoishell point snowshoe! Isn't she the cutest?! Except when she is jumping up on things, climbing the door jams and sharpening her claws on my jeans. While I am in them....

And finally the "new addition" (isn't there always?)

The Timneh African Grey came into the shelter with a sad sob story. He/She is a very nice bird and while she is in quarantine from the other birds at the moment, I think she/he will benefit from their company! Can't wait to introduce them. Birds are fun. You don't have to walk them or particularly take them out and love them IF you have a large place with lots of stimulation, good food, water and company. They do enjoy human company and all ours come out at least 3 evenings a week to sit with us.

Woofstock at Waterloo

For anyone who enjoys their dogs and likes to take them out into public, consider going to Austin on May 2nd!

http://www.woofstockatwaterloo.org/index.html

Ok, some of the picture highlights!

Thanks to Jill for taking them even though it was cold and wet!

And thanks to Jase for loving me enough to want to do all these "silly wedding things", and make it so obvious that you love me.

Engagement Photos!

LOL, ok so you'll notice that there aren't any posted yet.... We did take them yesterday. Jace and I went up to Austin to the botanical gardens. Beautiful place! Jill took the photos using a combination of her new camera and my oldie but goodie. They are both digital so I do HAVE the photos, but I haven't really gotten to look through them well enough yet to decide what I want to use for what. I will post a few as soon as I get a chance...

Oh, and God was really with us on the weather. It was rainy, drizzly and cold when we got there at 9:30am. That kept all the regular crowds at the Zilcher Botanical Gardens away and left us to take some very nice shots! It cleared up by 10 and we had great sunshine. One problem was the temp! It was chilly and windy!!!!
But who can complain. When I took Jill and Brandon's engagement shots several years ago it was so HOT we were dying and melting and all that goes with a normal Texas summer at the San Antonio art museum. We even have a shot of us all three sitting on a air vent outside trying to get cool!

The website

I just created a new wedding website!!!
To RSVP etc and see our story please go to:

http://www.mywedding.com/hurstbridgeman/index.html

Oh and might I take but a brief moment to say that I will be sending out proper invitations to those that should come. Jase and I are having a small ceremony and do not wish to make anyone feel excluded but being poor ex-college/ lack o college kids we are somewhat on the poorside at this juncture of our lives! So believe we love you all even if we only get to exclaim over pictures afterwards together! :)

Cheers