tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135802212024-03-07T14:05:31.752-05:00Otters LifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-49944780025815919432022-02-22T10:25:00.002-05:002022-02-22T10:25:35.988-05:00Bringing it back to life<p> Okay, I have been feeling the need to resurrect the blog. It has happened sporadically the past few years. So much has been going on that I did not have time to sit down and try to make a post. Now I have to relearn how to do this and post pictures. Pictures will be posted after I download them from my phone. </p><p>As a matter of fact, it had been so long since I last posted, that I did not have this site on my favorites list. That has now been remedied. But right now, spring is peeking out and I have the itch. Especially since I toured the backyard yesterday and found a bluebonnet blooming already. Got to get the pond cleaned up and ready for a new season of fighting algae. </p><p>So hang around as I get my sealegs back and start posting more often.<br /></p><p> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-28285186388679789332020-09-10T11:45:00.000-05:002020-09-10T11:45:52.861-05:00In which I update on the craziness going on...and good stuff<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Well hello there. Things have been happening around here. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">First off, I went back to my Pain Specialist with the hip pain and tailbone pain. It was getting out of hand and constant. It was very hard living on only a couple of hours of sleep at a time and maybe racking up 4 hours a night. I got tired of spending my nights on the front porch rocking or pacing. He thought it was still my back and recommended another round of steroid. After the good results with the first round, I was all for it. Yep, before I was through my 6 day pack, the hip pain was almost none existent. Who knew. Well, except for the doctor who could read the subtleties of an MRI report.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now if someone could just figure out the electric shocks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Oddly enough, I found a pain medication that gives me relief on the worst of nights, like when a front comes through or I am flat worn out from not sleeping. I had gone to my peridontist to get prepared for my implant. The bone graft had taken, so he drilled into it, put in the post, and added more bone graft to cement it in. I should be getting the temp at the end of October. He had put the post off for a few months to make certain it had taken well. Turns out it took really well and he likened it to drilling in granite. He sent me home with Tylenol #3 (with codeine). There was two nights I took it to make sure I did not wake up in dire pain. I ended up sleeping like a log those two nights. Light bulb moment. Since then, I have experimented with take half of one a couple of times a week. Works a charm. I think my body had gotten used to the half an Ultram and it no longer worked as well. This is a good change out to try to undo the resistance to the Ultram. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In other news, my youngest wanted me to get a book for him to use when he got home. He had heard about it on the Christian radio station he listens to. It is Clutter Free Home by Kathi Lipp. I started reading it when it got here and something about it clicked. There was none of that put everything in a pile to sort, or crazy schedule they want you to adhere to. Clean, simple terms and ideas that I can take a bit at a time as it comes to me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In doing the purge and organize, I have a few strikes against me. First is the past year mending a broken right wrist and the limitations of it mending wrong along with it being a couple of years before I can get it repaired properly. Next is the year I have spent in so much pain with my back and the resulting lack of sleep. I have to take it slow and build up my stamina again. And last but not least, my ADD brain that gets shorted out when I try to puzzle anything out too long. I have to sort one thing, one drawer, one cabinet, one area, then let my brain rest and reset. Too much at once and my brain shuts down in confusion. Too much info will short circuit my brain. Small bites works. This book gives me that space. I also have a spiral journal that I write down notes, prompts, and areas I think of to work on later so that I can go back to it when my brain is rested. I can also tear out pages as I am done with them. Sure I have no record of what I have done, just a neat, organized home where I can find what I need. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Case in point, when I had the kitchen totally redone two and a half years ago, I had one section of base cabinets set a few inches shorter than the norm because I am short. I wanted an area I felt comfortable working at, like kneading bread, rolls, pizza dough. I had stuck most of my baking ingredients in the cabinet, but other things had snuck in there in the rush to get the kitchen back to working order. Some of my ingredients were in a cabinet in the coffee room. I was wasting valuable real estate and steps. I have been in the process this week of sorting all of that out. Combining containers of flour, sugar, etc into one container and clearing things out that were not baking ingredients. I also have some top cabinets that I can only access by my footstool that are almost empty. I will put infrequently used things up there. Things only used once or twice a year will go into the back kitchen. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And then there is the Salad Shooter saga. I bought one when they first came out and used it to the ground. Already had to order a shredder cone to fit it when I broke the other. Now the new one is broken and i realize it is over 15 years old. In clearing out the back of a base cabinet in the coffee room, I found a brand new one I had maybe used once. I pulled it out and stood there staring at it. What a dweeb. I had been using the old broken one when I had a brand new one I had bought well over 5 years ago. Old one was tossed in the garbage and new one went in a top cabinet at eye level. This is what I am up against. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It will be slow going, but things will be easier to find when I am done. And every so often I hit another unorganized spot and make sense of it too. If I spend too much time in one area, I risk brain short circuiting again. So I try to mix it up so it is all fresh again. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That book may not be for everyone, but it works a charm for me. Hubby asked me about one area, and I told him it was on my list of places to hit, but had to clear out a place for what I will keep after I weed through what I don't need anymore. As long as I am making progress everywhere, I think he will be patient. The last thing I need is to overload myself while I have the vision of what I want and need to do. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So watch this space. Good things are coming, I just know it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Laters </span> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-5734267494654498372020-07-03T17:11:00.001-05:002020-07-03T17:11:46.390-05:00Test resultsEarlier in the month I saw a Pain Specialist that my Chiro got me in to. This doctor ordered an MRI. It was a week later that I had the appointment to find out the results. Well, pinned my ears back. But the most important part of the report was that I had a small tear in between two lumbar vertebrae. One option, which was a last resort on my part, was an expensive and painful steroid shot in the disk. Cheaper and easier first try was a steroid pack taken daily. The first day was about 6 pills and declining after that to the 6th day taking one. After the 4th day, I was almost doing a happy dance because it was working. I am done with the pills now and feel so much better about things. The tear seems to have mended.<br />
Which gave rise to the second problem. Arthritis in my back and hips. I now need to find out from my Primary what will help with the arthritis. I can't get off the painkiller yet because my hips are in agony all night. Back to the 4 hours sleep I manage to catch.<br />
Last night might have ended up with more sleep...cuz painkiller and all....but Fred the giant cat had a bellyache or something and laid at the foot of my bed whining all night. It might have been that bug I saw him eat yesterday. At 25lbs, he is like a toddler in that everything goes in his mouth.<br />
Of course, if I try to take a nap and neglect turning my phone to silent, I start getting scam calls in the afternoon....just as I doze off. I don't answer them, but that does not stop them from trying to scam me anyway. The other night I got a text at 1am. The next morning I found out it was a "Nigerian Scam". By text! Only difference was claiming to be from County Down Ireland. Right. Still bad English and sentence formation.<br />
Today I got my hair cut. It was my regularly scheduled appointment and I was starting to get a bit shaggy. Now that I finally got the nerve to cut my hair off this year, I have gotten spoiled at how much cooler it is.<br />
Oh, and hubby figured out he had made a slight mistake on his unemployment application. So he has sent in an amendment. Now we wait. With no money coming in, it's getting scary.<br />
And the heat has hit with a vengence. At least the dust has moved on for the most part. But it did not take the humidity with it. I hate this time of year. And they have banned anyone from cooling off in the lake, rivers, or pools...unless it's a private pool. I am sure they will figure out a way to ban private pool usage soon.<br />
Have a wonderful 4th, if possible. The city closest to me had a news article about fireworks sales being up due to people choosing to stay home. Choosing? Strange choice of word for being ordered to stay home and not even look up in the sky in the same direction to enjoy fireworks from afar. I don't think anyone was given a choice. But the rant about having all our Rights and Liberties taken from us is for another time.<br />
LatersUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-57013736006518683272020-06-29T05:25:00.000-05:002020-06-29T05:25:01.949-05:00Let's try againIt's been a couple of years since I touched this page. There have been a few things going on that I could not, or cannot, bring myself to talk about. Painful family things. I have often kept a journal and have not really even touched that even. This will be my attempt to catch up on some things.<br />
One of the dominant things is my health. Right now I am on a steroid to try to heal my back. I am praying that this round of meds does some good. We cannot afford to go further in treatments. I have a small tear in one of the disks in my lower back. One little tear that causes me exquisite pain. Of all things, my chiropractor got me in to see a pain specialist, who ordered an MRI. This led to an avalanche of problems setting up.<br />
So, first up is to try to cheaply and easily alleviate the tear. At night I take 1600mg of Gabapentin, plus half a dose of Ultram, and a muscle relaxer. Sometimes this helps. I get more sleep with this combo than otherwise. Nothing worse than being up all night with pain, then trying to carry on a halfway normal life in the daytime. It wears you down. Now I have even more sympathy for when Kim had two disks blown almost 20 years ago. He had to have cages put in to replace the disks. We had insurance back then. Not anymore. That is a long story that I will not get into because it leads to finger pointing and hurt feelings. I have learned to just let that go.<br />
No job because the oilfield crashed in an unprecedented way this year. We are two years too young for Social Security or to start drawing from our 401's. Kim has applied for unemployment, but that branch of the government is just as screwed up as the others. We got 4 letters in the mail...two for each of us. One letter said we qualified. In the same envelope, another letter said we didn't make enough money to qualify. What? How is that even possible? Without going into details, that is totally impossible. Of course, they do not answer their phones at the unemployment commission. They have an automated system that sends you down a rabbit hole. Kim has not only faxed a letter to them, but for a month, takes the time to dial the number 20 times or more. Every day for a month! They refuse to answer the phone. Guaranteed that if he spoke spanish, they would answer. The incompetence is astounding. Luckily for us, Kim had been saving some cash over the past few years because he had a bad feeling about things and tried to prepare. I have no clue how we are supposed to last for two more years on this stash, but that is what is expected, I suppose.<br />
Anyway, that is the tip of the iceberg right now. I need to work on inserting pictures into the blog and relearn how to use it. On top of that, they want to change everything. So Old Dog, New Tricks. Ugh! Sometimes I hate technology. I need to go sew and escape from the world. Lord knows I can't buy any clothes that I need, so to the sewing machines I will have to turn.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7gQe0o_O_BcRfIK5gII56OCe8JuTF-W2w-57evZxWCqB7MRn1T43LYhCw2OurxEojMMzCuc-aWwEty8z17xqeSa2q-2JzWagrHxjEudp7g18LlQ37IAO1o45QnACtDGP_FQ/s1600/front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7gQe0o_O_BcRfIK5gII56OCe8JuTF-W2w-57evZxWCqB7MRn1T43LYhCw2OurxEojMMzCuc-aWwEty8z17xqeSa2q-2JzWagrHxjEudp7g18LlQ37IAO1o45QnACtDGP_FQ/s320/front.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Ahhh...a picture loaded! This is a ring I had made before everything went to hell in a handbasket. I love how it has a Medieval look to it. It is white gold. The blue stone in it is a blue star sapphire I got when I was 15. You can't get them anymore. To each side, in a gold cage surrounded by wee diamonds, are two Thames River garnets. They were sent to me by a wonderful man in London, Simon Bourne, who picked them up on the foreshore. They are not native to that area, so no one knows how they got there. But being as a tidy sum of my heritage comes from there, plus that is my birthstone, they are very special. They are rough, not cut, thus they are in gold cages. I am very pleased with how they turned out. A matching pendant is being made with the remaining garnet that I will post a picture of when I get it. My last hurrah from when we had an income.<br />
Anyway, now I will see how this looks posted and work on tweeking it to be more readable. Thanks for looking in on me. I will post more later. I have thought about this blog the past couple of years and needed to revive it. Here I am.<br />
Stay tuned.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-26875642157191652702014-09-07T17:10:00.003-05:002014-09-07T17:10:48.828-05:00Lost and Foundhello Blog. I lost you in a nasty computer crash. I am hoping to revive you. I missed you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-30320783511669067372011-02-19T21:28:00.001-05:002011-02-19T21:55:45.711-05:00Spring has sprung!We had a rough week with subfreezing temps and a dusting of snow, but then it warmed up until it has been in the 70's and even low 80's this week. I am pulling plants out of the house and starting to dig in the ground. It's exciting to watch what comes up around here. Like this little surprise...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirS0WI7hL83XUjOEQiqXrzY5NZaW2JPXEa-6w8bGg8yQOxqqcuCJHBf7q3-qO3OVU9cv3dTq_teEJnGrGJw-uiQ3tzk0fJXGUM-oesSMFqlD3R3m-V2Wr780g_pjLKpUfHSmA/s1600/Daffodil+bud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirS0WI7hL83XUjOEQiqXrzY5NZaW2JPXEa-6w8bGg8yQOxqqcuCJHBf7q3-qO3OVU9cv3dTq_teEJnGrGJw-uiQ3tzk0fJXGUM-oesSMFqlD3R3m-V2Wr780g_pjLKpUfHSmA/s320/Daffodil+bud.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>There are eight to ten of these sprouting in the back bed. I may have to get more. I didn't know daffodils would grow here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LrQTInbHZLGGxodtSvCjhOWZWqTs1RnUrYaqEfgzKp2VnTtgWmJPbS0obciATPNz0OuH4y-PTgVPtbj5Z4tD1yxhjD-3R2JMoVMGEmeNZHKa0PFGSbTKDekjt9L6XqWyOOE/s1600/Aggie+maroon+bluebonnets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LrQTInbHZLGGxodtSvCjhOWZWqTs1RnUrYaqEfgzKp2VnTtgWmJPbS0obciATPNz0OuH4y-PTgVPtbj5Z4tD1yxhjD-3R2JMoVMGEmeNZHKa0PFGSbTKDekjt9L6XqWyOOE/s320/Aggie+maroon+bluebonnets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> These are the Aggie Maroon Bluebonnets I planted this fall. They made it through winter. I can hardly wait to see them bloom!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARFEQ8UeRJeP_cy3E8AIsI1RcaYYa4SjJ8BH0_I9dIZYoTpGNLBOuaFLSPPfsN7Ep_DadlOd1AgwpeZTnIpk9IbFCEd0WexbaWW5YM03sbm5Nt-To8gGpKmK2Jevw8IrrcRc/s1600/autumn+joy+sprouting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARFEQ8UeRJeP_cy3E8AIsI1RcaYYa4SjJ8BH0_I9dIZYoTpGNLBOuaFLSPPfsN7Ep_DadlOd1AgwpeZTnIpk9IbFCEd0WexbaWW5YM03sbm5Nt-To8gGpKmK2Jevw8IrrcRc/s320/autumn+joy+sprouting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> And the little bit of Autumn Joy sedum that I brought is sprouting. This is from the plant that I bought the spring after my first granddaughter, Autumn Joy, was born. I hope to get the rest of it soon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc-eCESu99C2djQDcBLCHCeN-IXcDJcyZC_DlzG1cHIQp6vtqs5qnQah153DT8SzpJvovXGu2xysuL0lZwm42RyViHpUHw2NBLt6k7MfyPs5MZgqxMhWOLjfqH-wEh543S6k/s1600/damaged+sago.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc-eCESu99C2djQDcBLCHCeN-IXcDJcyZC_DlzG1cHIQp6vtqs5qnQah153DT8SzpJvovXGu2xysuL0lZwm42RyViHpUHw2NBLt6k7MfyPs5MZgqxMhWOLjfqH-wEh543S6k/s320/damaged+sago.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> One of the Sago's I brought with me and planted seems to have had a malfunction in it's frost cover. It looks like it is still alive and will sprout when it gets warm enough. It's just going to be smaller for a while.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-E_VGQzNJAtcXI4hZfWtPIsvdAoeTVtGsL-rLRtT89czK3CkgFBluoREagVFDz3BcaM1BU_ioK7T0De4F5BXMkN_k1lgn0yWG4vmUi90w11o_dOUuHlOwEXLUW4EUFFJtQPg/s1600/bluebonnets+and+mystery+blades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-E_VGQzNJAtcXI4hZfWtPIsvdAoeTVtGsL-rLRtT89czK3CkgFBluoREagVFDz3BcaM1BU_ioK7T0De4F5BXMkN_k1lgn0yWG4vmUi90w11o_dOUuHlOwEXLUW4EUFFJtQPg/s320/bluebonnets+and+mystery+blades.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> I don't know what that strappy green plant is. It's sprouting out front. I guess I will have to wait and see. But you can see little bits of green on the ground there...that's bluebonnet sprouts. The bluebonnets are coming up everywhere. Watch this space for some spectacular pictures next month!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoFcc2VScRVYa50Q6qRkbgiGBdUDpFTWl7PB8mTFV963EDQ8Fstu_oUba_OHE4h1kMPcE5VeKxRNJDOE_CLS7PbdkY_25gdAMb89osfAPeAGtbgq6nqtir5MQNoO74Zk9BxA/s1600/New+plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoFcc2VScRVYa50Q6qRkbgiGBdUDpFTWl7PB8mTFV963EDQ8Fstu_oUba_OHE4h1kMPcE5VeKxRNJDOE_CLS7PbdkY_25gdAMb89osfAPeAGtbgq6nqtir5MQNoO74Zk9BxA/s320/New+plants.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Of course, I hit a plant store or two. There are two Yews, 3 Indigo Spires, Mexican Feather grass, 3 Chinese Fringes, 2 Euryops, 2 Asparagus ferns, and a Firecracker plant, which will go into my huge Mexican pot. And the wee pots in front right are tomatoes and jalapeno peppers. I am going to grow peppers for Kim.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewFN_hauNalSKLrIphM2n0_XFFNnSWGxiFsBirSXF1oLtnyI8_gy8xZ2mObuzrNCv0wV8LcXtwmhibgNbJE_LtKM_8BgprszZL0Qu0Zt8KSMYR2Lo4OqysSt7DUJAXvdPPbA/s1600/more+new+plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewFN_hauNalSKLrIphM2n0_XFFNnSWGxiFsBirSXF1oLtnyI8_gy8xZ2mObuzrNCv0wV8LcXtwmhibgNbJE_LtKM_8BgprszZL0Qu0Zt8KSMYR2Lo4OqysSt7DUJAXvdPPbA/s320/more+new+plants.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> On this side you can see Gazanias, Gebera's, 3 Cordylines, a Joseph's Coat, a Carolina Jessamine, and a pot of flowers that I can't recall right now what they are. I nearly always get a pot of them each year. I also bought two hanging red geraniums. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhjIjoHCCup7fS2PvQqo_ycDrldohSiZdSG_N1XNdmf-U7rt46kEutrDSZgQdRPEVAfb7tEykZTVbUiTVpN7LmJYoStKg4ee4L1uGnTjmKbsuDE0SG7eMvWhpJJG8Jw9oidc/s1600/Peach+tree+buds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhjIjoHCCup7fS2PvQqo_ycDrldohSiZdSG_N1XNdmf-U7rt46kEutrDSZgQdRPEVAfb7tEykZTVbUiTVpN7LmJYoStKg4ee4L1uGnTjmKbsuDE0SG7eMvWhpJJG8Jw9oidc/s320/Peach+tree+buds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> and this is either the apricot tree in bud, or one of the peach trees. The pear tree is looking similar.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispoUq2Bz38cJgNZ5u47tmgshr90e6f0NaKaajLykkT_8yoUtMIP6M_167V7L7r9geICoDmXhjClWldKdufu4PqtZ-ChyJWDaQF3_eBo3kJfGHEWn4YrsF6t1-TU4DFOblO8A/s1600/skipper+on+pansy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispoUq2Bz38cJgNZ5u47tmgshr90e6f0NaKaajLykkT_8yoUtMIP6M_167V7L7r9geICoDmXhjClWldKdufu4PqtZ-ChyJWDaQF3_eBo3kJfGHEWn4YrsF6t1-TU4DFOblO8A/s320/skipper+on+pansy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> And I leave you with a pretty pansy face, dewey with today's drizzle, and a yellow skipper happily perched on it. <br />
<span id="goog_1248717674"></span><span id="goog_1248717675"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-15548496524618174542011-02-07T17:55:00.001-05:002011-02-07T23:34:55.838-05:00Snow in the HillsIt was iffy, off and on, and totally unknown as to what would happen last week. Somebody in south Texas was going to get snow...they just weren't sure who and how much. They said Houston could get a few inches. Houston got zip, except for ice. Now imagine tropical dwellers on ice. yeah, like that.<br />
I woke up friday morning to a quarter of an inch of snow. It is a rare occurrence in this area. They shut down schools and most business....and I-35 through town. See...the snow had an ice layer underneath, and most of 35 through town is overpasses. They also shut down I-10 through San Antonio. What was really fun was that after a couple of days of subfreezing temperatures, my water froze. Somebody intelligently put the pvc pipe from the well to the house totally outside for about 2 feet. No cover or anything. I managed to thaw it out with an electric blanket and blankets on top of that. But this is what the water looked like for hours after it thawed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhGDRGur-Zx4jrssauPmZIQg0Du2iorS_pS3hZ5_M7tGBsrQVOOt7LyJipib8rxWr-d62ygg-RljfQcikxYMd51tyn1_CB0HYzuSZbHbb-E45gN-S9vhyphenhyphenIv7fVyuXwQYRvCs/s1600/Water+from+the+tap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhGDRGur-Zx4jrssauPmZIQg0Du2iorS_pS3hZ5_M7tGBsrQVOOt7LyJipib8rxWr-d62ygg-RljfQcikxYMd51tyn1_CB0HYzuSZbHbb-E45gN-S9vhyphenhyphenIv7fVyuXwQYRvCs/s320/Water+from+the+tap.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Lovely. Also, since Father In Law's room is not finished...as in, no insulation, it was icy in there. For some reason his heat/ac unit wasn't putting out much heat. I got out two space heaters and got him warmed up in no time. Also put a fan between him and the house, blowing into the house, which exchanged warm air for cool....and dug up a very warm quilt. He was cozy.<br />
So...on with snow pictures.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iLkn8_2BXt03JxcdGN-lytiMKKA8rAXOH0-Q04mIaJ6Lna_PCZseFOXLUmjMUXC8pACoA53ZmSylIffQwO89UrvKKRBds2vxKm51oKB48vsEs6CGvtsUGhb9YFTC8sEITrg/s1600/another+of+Matt%2527s+snowman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iLkn8_2BXt03JxcdGN-lytiMKKA8rAXOH0-Q04mIaJ6Lna_PCZseFOXLUmjMUXC8pACoA53ZmSylIffQwO89UrvKKRBds2vxKm51oKB48vsEs6CGvtsUGhb9YFTC8sEITrg/s320/another+of+Matt%2527s+snowman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Matt was able to smash the dry powdery stuff together for a tiny snowman on his truck hood.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_RSbWYAJNnemSuBSsHFBOOx7occ2qxDMfXhFVBxzPleO2uQl1NcH0K_pgvrG3Up7Pw_fpf2R1lc1qO-tB7ch58czaIm02uj2MrnGgm5aZocm83BKKx5eaEFxFVARp6C2tm8/s1600/back+yard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_RSbWYAJNnemSuBSsHFBOOx7occ2qxDMfXhFVBxzPleO2uQl1NcH0K_pgvrG3Up7Pw_fpf2R1lc1qO-tB7ch58czaIm02uj2MrnGgm5aZocm83BKKx5eaEFxFVARp6C2tm8/s320/back+yard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The backyard was a snowy wonderland.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qghPcvrwvqDFPmhCpw0DEE3dqbAsXSFzoU5PClNPSeGkyrJ7YkspDvxtlR4jRtm5xlFLODby4Ziwg_ssEET_qKcqSUddSGQaEkbJrf24AF4t9ThFsjFhZXvSdXtbPeV5atY/s1600/Backyard+birdseye+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qghPcvrwvqDFPmhCpw0DEE3dqbAsXSFzoU5PClNPSeGkyrJ7YkspDvxtlR4jRtm5xlFLODby4Ziwg_ssEET_qKcqSUddSGQaEkbJrf24AF4t9ThFsjFhZXvSdXtbPeV5atY/s320/Backyard+birdseye+view.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> View out my bathroom window.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAMldsIzTcX7QE_XtdTv6WP09KWdjTTOzZhGW3FMnbFe0ZiAiKad3nKA8zdEzp6cYrrDJFYahFbTCu6TuyqeQRSbuauR38s_NIfHshGl0Hr9bA1q0sjRbqbQWh7EBfjytpFU/s1600/back+toward+the+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAMldsIzTcX7QE_XtdTv6WP09KWdjTTOzZhGW3FMnbFe0ZiAiKad3nKA8zdEzp6cYrrDJFYahFbTCu6TuyqeQRSbuauR38s_NIfHshGl0Hr9bA1q0sjRbqbQWh7EBfjytpFU/s320/back+toward+the+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> At the road, looking up the drive toward the house.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvo1KP-SWe_3VXrTMRb2NI_bnj3AY6t-9218CZEpatY4w4z72rlUEkqGB6qMEPTMDmdcYGo_xwm7dfH-IDEIco1_n_NhuORrgulAj6KtmnYggDuuVmTrRQRL_NMb1Hh7MiVYg/s1600/drive+from+balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvo1KP-SWe_3VXrTMRb2NI_bnj3AY6t-9218CZEpatY4w4z72rlUEkqGB6qMEPTMDmdcYGo_xwm7dfH-IDEIco1_n_NhuORrgulAj6KtmnYggDuuVmTrRQRL_NMb1Hh7MiVYg/s320/drive+from+balcony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> From the balcony, looking toward the road.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYtduOsovP_Zgq__FRkgYxsqxnjZTyqW53VHsz_b7vMimMGex41KrE6ds2q9owTsQbInb0poJkpKE6ICxwakdmi87ubU4yH7-EQh65wi9LLeSNbF25DWZtz9T3WqhAHQpt1I/s1600/front+from+balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYtduOsovP_Zgq__FRkgYxsqxnjZTyqW53VHsz_b7vMimMGex41KrE6ds2q9owTsQbInb0poJkpKE6ICxwakdmi87ubU4yH7-EQh65wi9LLeSNbF25DWZtz9T3WqhAHQpt1I/s320/front+from+balcony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The front yard from the balcony.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V1zAJbLwDjxGWUlR9SfrfKT-GMB_LrtqRBxh38T1E3D9m2wZp4IhBUcLTH8lLcBdFV8aS4bfjuf5gMi9LmVeacDuXzRRKLgmC-MszMC0X8Ll9iL3fTe8rWc7YwniVmMySw4/s1600/frozen+froggy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V1zAJbLwDjxGWUlR9SfrfKT-GMB_LrtqRBxh38T1E3D9m2wZp4IhBUcLTH8lLcBdFV8aS4bfjuf5gMi9LmVeacDuXzRRKLgmC-MszMC0X8Ll9iL3fTe8rWc7YwniVmMySw4/s320/frozen+froggy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Poor little froggy froze too. He usually spouts water. The pond froze over too, but the movement of the water from the pump and filter kept a section open for gasses to escape so the fish wouldn't be poisoned.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyCtQ-WshRdhgREXmQkLzN83AydLEkOWQ2G-Lup__mF3yXOhQlAl2W49EtbpDsz1kMH1FRoRLMGvMEQE4p5fXShduZ2HPI3ey9Ak1wpte0j5Zi0eeL6qgR70uTFlIhgHRGuc/s1600/house+from+backyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyCtQ-WshRdhgREXmQkLzN83AydLEkOWQ2G-Lup__mF3yXOhQlAl2W49EtbpDsz1kMH1FRoRLMGvMEQE4p5fXShduZ2HPI3ey9Ak1wpte0j5Zi0eeL6qgR70uTFlIhgHRGuc/s320/house+from+backyard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The back of the house.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0GZ4o__ALAt2moqF5iFQ0cST-A6zOQDOQqEojOPfdIXNRONKsT-05rs1aRfEHUExW1jBbJLjIk1ktod7Jjm3tpNSHCg-pDqSxmIvTc18shJ1tU-B1n68rHkkmwfjihMuECM/s1600/Snowy+February.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0GZ4o__ALAt2moqF5iFQ0cST-A6zOQDOQqEojOPfdIXNRONKsT-05rs1aRfEHUExW1jBbJLjIk1ktod7Jjm3tpNSHCg-pDqSxmIvTc18shJ1tU-B1n68rHkkmwfjihMuECM/s320/Snowy+February.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The front of the house. It wasn't much snow, I had almost a foot 3 years ago in Sonora, but it was just enough to satisfy a snow lover. It melted off the next day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-70739374752791654292011-01-23T13:03:00.000-05:002011-01-23T13:03:48.540-05:00More treehouse viewI decided that since I was doing treehouse views, I would show you how wonderful it is to sit on my upstairs balcony. Mind you, this is winter. I will have to post more pictures when spring green shows.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirM0Ym3zNDOjuXyoozr-59YK_bzKfOMt06m3Ba_Xtdr3Ov5QwV_r9dr_K1IUXM_bpZgEJDMI6O54ppZlfQUTQWfoEc4OamhQEZSG1oNOhf2vcfG03sA31-qUdBWg0bIwgKzLM/s1600/drive+from+the+balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirM0Ym3zNDOjuXyoozr-59YK_bzKfOMt06m3Ba_Xtdr3Ov5QwV_r9dr_K1IUXM_bpZgEJDMI6O54ppZlfQUTQWfoEc4OamhQEZSG1oNOhf2vcfG03sA31-qUdBWg0bIwgKzLM/s320/drive+from+the+balcony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> From the balcony looking up the drive. Lovely curving drive to the road. I love driving home. You come around the curve and see the house through the trees. It never ceases to make my heart sigh with pleasure.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbUduuTziXAsLPvMPBVpmIul5yo_2DEDhfwLSRTe3ksddedqfq3lEC2XMK_84b41UksZ3yCFItwFExFXoMzV5Ru-ddVrUmweqJouR1eCduFWYuQ-PVYJyPmWSo5tlzakcVb4/s1600/view+from+the+balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbUduuTziXAsLPvMPBVpmIul5yo_2DEDhfwLSRTe3ksddedqfq3lEC2XMK_84b41UksZ3yCFItwFExFXoMzV5Ru-ddVrUmweqJouR1eCduFWYuQ-PVYJyPmWSo5tlzakcVb4/s320/view+from+the+balcony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sitting on a chair on a warm fall day. I even have a couple of plants out to get sun and warmth for the winter. You can see part of the front fence in the lower left. I love the rustic cedar branch fence. It needs to be straightened up a bit and rebuilt some, but certainly doesn't need to come down like my unimaginative hubby said. It already has a Carolina Jasmine planted by it to cover it in spring. I plan a few more summer flowering vines on it. But I will have a battle with the smilax and wild morning glory vines. The morning glory covered everything. I pulled tons of it up, but there is more to tear down and the seeds are everywhere. This may take a few years to win.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-81276311560131432732011-01-23T12:55:00.000-05:002011-01-23T12:55:45.128-05:00My Treehouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeBrogNba9atBsbpjxy1yrBMa_7cluQ13xQVulzieXV-cDjS4ft_Z28tO9hsNeXbMIKHiAiQqzRN8uOj3TSm4g-32u7ShgKx3JtXj0Vhx2G3IYt3JKcoLWhbsbV6_tytMXV4/s1600/Backyard+treetops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeBrogNba9atBsbpjxy1yrBMa_7cluQ13xQVulzieXV-cDjS4ft_Z28tO9hsNeXbMIKHiAiQqzRN8uOj3TSm4g-32u7ShgKx3JtXj0Vhx2G3IYt3JKcoLWhbsbV6_tytMXV4/s320/Backyard+treetops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> I realized this morning that it feels like I live in a treehouse. When you go upstairs, you see the tops of trees. Above is the view of the backyard from the hall window. The gazebo needs new roofing. Maybe someone will get to that this spring.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJPbKo4JmlM4WyPLq4FfiGg19uJA3U397v9yOrS7o2sjn5pF1eENb6mrF-SsXmEXNEzHuiCo4K53qqcCM_BSVcfuKsRSb2AGlP8SW623DqWdautOJy_35alq_7NyHikQIR2A/s1600/Balcony+treetop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJPbKo4JmlM4WyPLq4FfiGg19uJA3U397v9yOrS7o2sjn5pF1eENb6mrF-SsXmEXNEzHuiCo4K53qqcCM_BSVcfuKsRSb2AGlP8SW623DqWdautOJy_35alq_7NyHikQIR2A/s320/Balcony+treetop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> This is what it looks like from the front balcony door looking out toward the road.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyTgMKKAEHEzTCrVqejBe39q52sAiUhmYCzAMAoWQttrIU6dQeFtOQPZej2GWzvOrLwfI0ivKFsYWVvv8_7izSj3fOkhsKnT9IZ0d-a3iXJQ8ldC1-Z4PY9kLisdkuoZsEZc/s1600/Corner+treetop+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyTgMKKAEHEzTCrVqejBe39q52sAiUhmYCzAMAoWQttrIU6dQeFtOQPZej2GWzvOrLwfI0ivKFsYWVvv8_7izSj3fOkhsKnT9IZ0d-a3iXJQ8ldC1-Z4PY9kLisdkuoZsEZc/s320/Corner+treetop+view.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> This is the front corner of my bedroom. No, not decorated yet, but look at that view when the blinds are opened!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoXI_vsQlac3_DAAdIudsJRd2Uk_n2NPpdbwMYe4KpGze6OWg6NF7yzCspDaRPjPcGe73WXy11xvZJqVyRrpUcHQOZHuXYZK0pkwo_p8bjo5MlYNa_Z8mPvMxCNoymwf3fcY/s1600/Sewing+room+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoXI_vsQlac3_DAAdIudsJRd2Uk_n2NPpdbwMYe4KpGze6OWg6NF7yzCspDaRPjPcGe73WXy11xvZJqVyRrpUcHQOZHuXYZK0pkwo_p8bjo5MlYNa_Z8mPvMxCNoymwf3fcY/s320/Sewing+room+view.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And this is what I see at my desk in my studio room. I love being able to look out at trees and treetops. A lot of the trees are taller than the two story house. I paid my dues spending many decades in horrible near-treeless barren wastelands. Now I reap the rewards of living where I don't have to plant a tree. I will though. I am planning on some beautiful red Japanese Maples in a part of the understory.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-5424898410342959432010-08-29T08:09:00.000-05:002010-08-29T08:09:11.320-05:00Tomorrow and YesterdaysI have to get up and get going early tomorrow. Father-in-law and I need to leave town before 8am to make the closing at 11. We will meet Kim there, sign our lives away, then take possession of our new home. This whole thing has been very rough. Not just all of the work involved with buying a house, but the details of changing addresses, utilities and such after 20 years in one place, but also of packing up our lives single-handedly. I am so very thankful that Kim will be here next week to help. He has a lot of stuff to pack himself, go through, and help his dad pack.<br />
I have been thinking of our 20 years here. Of the home I loved until it became no longer my solitude and escape. When the trash moved in and claimed our life, making it impossible to live here.<br />
I will miss watching snow or rain fall on the distant landscape.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROcFOXjdFWr6_fJMhMcmXnmKroZpwbptMUJ-vqyzqm9eKpdEapnkC0Oe3XY4t-3x9ZiMtziACd0LxCd580p-zCXTIVFjRKI5uhAl3gArKXFCdN87WHgCUnHF9VRSe0zgzFYk/s1600/Pasture+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROcFOXjdFWr6_fJMhMcmXnmKroZpwbptMUJ-vqyzqm9eKpdEapnkC0Oe3XY4t-3x9ZiMtziACd0LxCd580p-zCXTIVFjRKI5uhAl3gArKXFCdN87WHgCUnHF9VRSe0zgzFYk/s320/Pasture+snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I will miss spring, watching everything come to life, blooming, and deer wandering in the bluebonnets.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SjiqAyrXWbNFPqjRSu3HZII6AA2PWpXVXCEJzJgnsNcDQ2lRSIwIaIqS6-oI52BSs7JeG8PbDevqJHOQ_hUfi8zsFrdpW6Hpn3b0ynRFRAYjjGs2-D8aRjzUPTnMG3qSIoQ/s1600/Does+in+the+pasture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SjiqAyrXWbNFPqjRSu3HZII6AA2PWpXVXCEJzJgnsNcDQ2lRSIwIaIqS6-oI52BSs7JeG8PbDevqJHOQ_hUfi8zsFrdpW6Hpn3b0ynRFRAYjjGs2-D8aRjzUPTnMG3qSIoQ/s320/Does+in+the+pasture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I will look through pictures of my garden before the neighbor made it a dump/junk yard and hope that I can make my new yard bloom as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UcJVxfzJI9cU9o-iHKdmxGyfQGUs46Agw3cmYNra6G9tHCdI8XvWU8HVgVVyJkuHjkCMrSsAvwgLecjQskv52pSmKebXhan-yCGr-fD3vXnfwgYAIL_jUANzlCwaTFa2Q6Y/s1600/august+golden+showers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UcJVxfzJI9cU9o-iHKdmxGyfQGUs46Agw3cmYNra6G9tHCdI8XvWU8HVgVVyJkuHjkCMrSsAvwgLecjQskv52pSmKebXhan-yCGr-fD3vXnfwgYAIL_jUANzlCwaTFa2Q6Y/s320/august+golden+showers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dFWpvh35z8Ect78K93TvjeGSUeuEwme_1yWOWceKnwXZUqpc9uP26DSbimohLpNPToO_8h_xhMWA2AaKPnf6bJqrGtPMft4EZyimzy_zqazDg240SDMYLZp2Q4y_Oz14a54/s1600/bb+and+verbena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dFWpvh35z8Ect78K93TvjeGSUeuEwme_1yWOWceKnwXZUqpc9uP26DSbimohLpNPToO_8h_xhMWA2AaKPnf6bJqrGtPMft4EZyimzy_zqazDg240SDMYLZp2Q4y_Oz14a54/s320/bb+and+verbena.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUPUGbS-xNJE8aAOdjt82m8KGK3WEhf9Rqzhn5bMfc7sDseIRq0DYxbBrTxsIwvN8dSBwr7P1-8HY3P810hdGGLsIXDzfH9eTr7m2ju2Mn7SXheAvKLG2LPYnA5bEiUirwz0/s1600/cactus+flower+bouquet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUPUGbS-xNJE8aAOdjt82m8KGK3WEhf9Rqzhn5bMfc7sDseIRq0DYxbBrTxsIwvN8dSBwr7P1-8HY3P810hdGGLsIXDzfH9eTr7m2ju2Mn7SXheAvKLG2LPYnA5bEiUirwz0/s320/cactus+flower+bouquet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But I won't miss the dried up desolation of summer. The season that I battle to keep things alive. I will take a large portion of my plants with me. Moving so late in the summer is good in that I can dig things up and they have a good chance of surviving. Heck, if I can make things grow in this little bit of clay over rock, I shouldn't have a problem transplanting to better ground.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-21741553221350148812010-08-15T18:29:00.000-05:002010-08-15T18:29:27.491-05:00Finishing the house tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhzLq-q5XQoNWqTCMffYsJb9rYzHEU6cr4h9a7xnGkrxlppxLPihs8XSM4KbzGLdUrJIw8Do4T3_msQeHBT6yl-JmypIz07dTldqB_QkcZPt0e4wS7hcwLUGUas3UCF9SwN0/s1600/Aaron+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhzLq-q5XQoNWqTCMffYsJb9rYzHEU6cr4h9a7xnGkrxlppxLPihs8XSM4KbzGLdUrJIw8Do4T3_msQeHBT6yl-JmypIz07dTldqB_QkcZPt0e4wS7hcwLUGUas3UCF9SwN0/s320/Aaron+room.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is the huge master suite that will be Aaron's apartment (Kim's dad). The open door on the right leads to a huge walk in closet. To the right of the picture is french doors to the deck.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWc25W2APf7QBO8kMYFxLc9ZT6IiJpurPUiQQUfpmXcV1x9RnUtnArH6JXOPLxTVsnWRIlUfo6NratVfxU_QZlKMWj3E_6KXXh25VRogW6TKsE4eFNW-1r_yd8FK6G8si8QU/s1600/Aaron+bath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWc25W2APf7QBO8kMYFxLc9ZT6IiJpurPUiQQUfpmXcV1x9RnUtnArH6JXOPLxTVsnWRIlUfo6NratVfxU_QZlKMWj3E_6KXXh25VRogW6TKsE4eFNW-1r_yd8FK6G8si8QU/s320/Aaron+bath.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is his bathroom. Very elegant. At the right is a very nice shower and the vanity is behind the wall.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5CMoOR1OQ-FiQKs5s6mVlHXsZKQVzZhfXGU3nSVV-SsE2pGJm5Ke8vkKh3iY4qGq6lNO4Znbz7AhctlwUYZlqgXttiduyMB9MXlYpxS24pP3Sew_t8TlR1cwLKOJBeYXdnM/s1600/Aaron+kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5CMoOR1OQ-FiQKs5s6mVlHXsZKQVzZhfXGU3nSVV-SsE2pGJm5Ke8vkKh3iY4qGq6lNO4Znbz7AhctlwUYZlqgXttiduyMB9MXlYpxS24pP3Sew_t8TlR1cwLKOJBeYXdnM/s320/Aaron+kitchen.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is what sold us on the house. To the left of the bed, opposite the closet is this room. Sink, storage, set up for microwave, and on the left side is enough room to put him a refrigerator and apartment sized stove. WIN!! He lives with us, but separate in his own little apartment!! He is excited. I can hardly wait for him to see it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPso5Zd8SesPa9_Y-UfNw1W2f_lvJBl5cpqw69rONxprbryOOXpPmpiaa3qP64zhidmGJF7XSNxHNg7aGtaj9oZUwciqid0e2IUtqCOcjKX1oHksAkS_a4A_rBn1pgNZPIahI/s1600/Aaron+deck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPso5Zd8SesPa9_Y-UfNw1W2f_lvJBl5cpqw69rONxprbryOOXpPmpiaa3qP64zhidmGJF7XSNxHNg7aGtaj9oZUwciqid0e2IUtqCOcjKX1oHksAkS_a4A_rBn1pgNZPIahI/s320/Aaron+deck.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is his own little porch deck. That is his door outside. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV5vFYxD8qpJlyXh-dYAdgmIRM88V1ZqoUfg3QGr98IHBiNzB-FJ3qLw8-ctSFIRxDE12RT5VptVkAbzI0BJ9pDSKX5nq0sdrw67ydyHQGNpFFdO4nmQupk0BAVqLdtRU4ro/s1600/Fr+door+up+stairs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV5vFYxD8qpJlyXh-dYAdgmIRM88V1ZqoUfg3QGr98IHBiNzB-FJ3qLw8-ctSFIRxDE12RT5VptVkAbzI0BJ9pDSKX5nq0sdrw67ydyHQGNpFFdO4nmQupk0BAVqLdtRU4ro/s320/Fr+door+up+stairs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is what you see when you go through the front door. The stairs. To the left is the office and half bath. Not sure about the intense blue of the stairwell and the upstairs hallway. We'll see.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCkfsCklPuTNgHaM7fgAUunkygaf2OOuwykayHito7qtHsr5okQzzDaS1aSiu-Z45ML6v4mYPo78akehIzC4mwgux8vm_iCeZv7OTK7FiEfOdsHXXLezTGN338bKkyzG-eHw/s1600/LR+to+kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCkfsCklPuTNgHaM7fgAUunkygaf2OOuwykayHito7qtHsr5okQzzDaS1aSiu-Z45ML6v4mYPo78akehIzC4mwgux8vm_iCeZv7OTK7FiEfOdsHXXLezTGN338bKkyzG-eHw/s320/LR+to+kitchen.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is in the living room looking toward the kitchen and the backdoor. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-cDZZOb_toZmmspZ9I8832PzZuXlRLcaxbr8ZoyzfwpP_KmL0uj3gAyRl4r6sfDMMTXh5DHTHTnFFHfbBu4C-dOnS3UWbaUgwgvRgcnTlRCXNhtZCfEboKfERJrirST-CRA/s1600/Living+from+dining.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-cDZZOb_toZmmspZ9I8832PzZuXlRLcaxbr8ZoyzfwpP_KmL0uj3gAyRl4r6sfDMMTXh5DHTHTnFFHfbBu4C-dOnS3UWbaUgwgvRgcnTlRCXNhtZCfEboKfERJrirST-CRA/s320/Living+from+dining.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> And looking from the kitchen wall toward the living room. I do not like the green in the room. Will be repainting it first thing. It was originally the same color as the dining room.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYBleIx03BZ83s8zSAanvq2c98vGFJKO7pYZh4V_uVdGHVjqdNKxFO3HOi1tvF6dmiMWpoM6N3ruSLsFpt4hF9K0N4yOFO_VBYtZBD5cGNZBNlQF_hGdmlJzvGFuxs9oQDLI/s1600/Office.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYBleIx03BZ83s8zSAanvq2c98vGFJKO7pYZh4V_uVdGHVjqdNKxFO3HOi1tvF6dmiMWpoM6N3ruSLsFpt4hF9K0N4yOFO_VBYtZBD5cGNZBNlQF_hGdmlJzvGFuxs9oQDLI/s320/Office.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is the office to the left of the stairs. Nice storage closet. I can see my desk in there and books lining the walls. The red will have to go...it's just that one wall and is a bit jarring.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpXHCjXaRWQ65vu5m3svu-S7U_PRhdhYfc2HfgJ4YVNvo-35wK3n7yBerxBMHx539xv2FQ2kO6hP5V7utsYs6nMdrlZ4rOSP3YwOpV4dBI19BYaJoWE4UsH98GomOGWaDE5M/s1600/Front+bedroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpXHCjXaRWQ65vu5m3svu-S7U_PRhdhYfc2HfgJ4YVNvo-35wK3n7yBerxBMHx539xv2FQ2kO6hP5V7utsYs6nMdrlZ4rOSP3YwOpV4dBI19BYaJoWE4UsH98GomOGWaDE5M/s320/Front+bedroom.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Sadly, this is the only spare room until Matt gets to move out. This will be my studio, but I am sure family will want me to make it a guest room. sigh. It's not very big. Closet is decent sized, but nothing like I need. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQXxVcrw3Z-MUK8QZaUUUjtDFaf7Q0V0e75SawB2jTtoBhtv1emIIbY04a2wC08JVtGQnTy69-PT1XvyCxVPCS8B8AapUnYq9egK7e85O7SDevKwDGzpm9TQTtP7G9cJpSf4/s1600/Matt+bedroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQXxVcrw3Z-MUK8QZaUUUjtDFaf7Q0V0e75SawB2jTtoBhtv1emIIbY04a2wC08JVtGQnTy69-PT1XvyCxVPCS8B8AapUnYq9egK7e85O7SDevKwDGzpm9TQTtP7G9cJpSf4/s320/Matt+bedroom.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This will be Matt's room. It's larger than the other room and I can't talk him out of it. There is another small room off of it. I already know he will want to paint it a different color.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pZRle-nERdnp8aeytsK8yELUFSRJIzGnCBhf6bvHtt4QqZniMfZpF5kyqW2c0scFDoV9CkkyqimnnoOdda3NBWxAOYbDmbXl4NqUYKyhADAHVyMV99WDvmIEYmjk2IwNrf0/s1600/Up+master+south.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pZRle-nERdnp8aeytsK8yELUFSRJIzGnCBhf6bvHtt4QqZniMfZpF5kyqW2c0scFDoV9CkkyqimnnoOdda3NBWxAOYbDmbXl4NqUYKyhADAHVyMV99WDvmIEYmjk2IwNrf0/s320/Up+master+south.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is a view of Kim's and my bedroom. It is set up as a nursery right now. The living room color can wait, I have to paint over this pink! I love how the small tray ceiling is trimmed out with decorative wood! It has a bathroom off of it. Nothing to write home about.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_jP_QxtP57EWY1DEE00ayR57T1h-_twTim7MgATGryH8QHJ80ITPu28XlwqAH7awnrS2n8Qm0f30TxFO2RXTOleQlKkv2Ns4Dk53ZWOseBD1DgWbFTen0-JM0xBIj9cKFF4/s1600/Toward+front+door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_jP_QxtP57EWY1DEE00ayR57T1h-_twTim7MgATGryH8QHJ80ITPu28XlwqAH7awnrS2n8Qm0f30TxFO2RXTOleQlKkv2Ns4Dk53ZWOseBD1DgWbFTen0-JM0xBIj9cKFF4/s320/Toward+front+door.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And I leave you with a view of the front door. I am crazy about the decorative wood beams and that fab door! In less than a month from now, I will be living there, trying to figure out where to put my furniture. I can hardly wait!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-16904471437470748912010-08-15T18:06:00.000-05:002010-08-15T18:06:24.599-05:00More of the new house<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswMUT_JlcSiysvjZopKJMT90cOvi_nIrxmZmyCFYoRgpk-TO3m8bZkKpqcpkhQrKUhjHQPhAYPE2lB0_KH5BZGgKAQLfyD-P703VOoxUZgmzCEIBuWdID0Y4QOH5nH4Lv4TY/s1600/Back+deck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswMUT_JlcSiysvjZopKJMT90cOvi_nIrxmZmyCFYoRgpk-TO3m8bZkKpqcpkhQrKUhjHQPhAYPE2lB0_KH5BZGgKAQLfyD-P703VOoxUZgmzCEIBuWdID0Y4QOH5nH4Lv4TY/s320/Back+deck.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> I thought I would show you more of the outside of the house before I show the rest of the inside. I love the outside. Above is looking at the back of the house. Nice large covered porch off the kitchen and dining room. The wood clad part on the right is the laundry room which leads to Kim's dad's private space. I love the rustic supports. That's Kim looking around.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sSDtzU0bwQHBgwz5uN6BY6XdfQzowodsrcE5SAcMZ0-3jh9n36u0ZhWmgbOElrI3tbFPfif7wGapRrcSz8k6kluDKEc9R7w6EVY-bEkrSe3caFRGyF47-9gKBOIgvOtlda8/s1600/Balconey+to+parking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sSDtzU0bwQHBgwz5uN6BY6XdfQzowodsrcE5SAcMZ0-3jh9n36u0ZhWmgbOElrI3tbFPfif7wGapRrcSz8k6kluDKEc9R7w6EVY-bEkrSe3caFRGyF47-9gKBOIgvOtlda8/s320/Balconey+to+parking.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is the view from the front porch balcony. You can see the large shady treed area and the covered carport in front of the garage. This is where you park when you drive up. From the carport, the drive circles back around to the front.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gA4T1woWkW583TtiXAf8K87JJ0W8GU8S6SZPH-XoOwy4EzUKlAD4eTHT3_-thxvHSJQxIIo7iY7g6HOWQht_ZzcTXq9P1iWoC-j83ZBgGtM58LvCmMR3oGctNBZwuzK-vdg/s1600/chicken+pen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gA4T1woWkW583TtiXAf8K87JJ0W8GU8S6SZPH-XoOwy4EzUKlAD4eTHT3_-thxvHSJQxIIo7iY7g6HOWQht_ZzcTXq9P1iWoC-j83ZBgGtM58LvCmMR3oGctNBZwuzK-vdg/s320/chicken+pen.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is at the side of the garage in the backyard. The cement pad has a drain. I suppose it's for washing your 4H animals. That covered fenced in area behind it....chicken coop! I can have chickens again!! You can see some trees to the left of the pen...that is fruit trees. This yard is so set up for me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zZiGSlAigtNXgHOI_WkatbOTEFHru4Sul38WAZT2zFg1avURFna5jwl_kuwhnAix4KyGzZzP1w2RW97s4vlbjoAKlcapNGxcBBb99LcquREWcnzoRE6uccf_rGp3prHVrTw/s1600/east+front+porch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zZiGSlAigtNXgHOI_WkatbOTEFHru4Sul38WAZT2zFg1avURFna5jwl_kuwhnAix4KyGzZzP1w2RW97s4vlbjoAKlcapNGxcBBb99LcquREWcnzoRE6uccf_rGp3prHVrTw/s320/east+front+porch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is the front porch. It even has it's own swing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR9WhHr4ERiOUk9hxZJXNv2BqHY5lBhmPN4AOcHXlCyt56biAkbNAscZpPaMwKeOjXddXCgmrtGTBMJ7LBoWD69PZ7KLXPLGp9K2ZALVliWjMW2qea4ZIN31bzLBuknp9zo4/s1600/East+upper+balc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR9WhHr4ERiOUk9hxZJXNv2BqHY5lBhmPN4AOcHXlCyt56biAkbNAscZpPaMwKeOjXddXCgmrtGTBMJ7LBoWD69PZ7KLXPLGp9K2ZALVliWjMW2qea4ZIN31bzLBuknp9zo4/s320/East+upper+balc.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> And here is the upper balcony porch. The door out to it is in the hallway, so you don't have to go through anyone's room to get to it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wnzXatFz3cqDEpDjjYeNVVboh3EZj2Vuvi7E8J_-eMlffDLZ8iaN7dX_a-l1tuo1guOXTjn3Pt5KahgcCEhmORzjqVivSd_Xkb65WvZ4vONDZWD0ugd1e3XwMkkloBpdcAc/s1600/front+yard+from+balc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wnzXatFz3cqDEpDjjYeNVVboh3EZj2Vuvi7E8J_-eMlffDLZ8iaN7dX_a-l1tuo1guOXTjn3Pt5KahgcCEhmORzjqVivSd_Xkb65WvZ4vONDZWD0ugd1e3XwMkkloBpdcAc/s320/front+yard+from+balc.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This lovely view is from the balcony to the front entrance. Too cute! It needs some finishing up. I love the cedar fence in front. Just decorative. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VuSreTW-MHQDa3qQmtNZSNHjTy8eZXiGHU6AgDzOZGqbTwm22Espvbas2FSiRYKjZLl_RqBD_TInSa7fULpPPXuzyF-Xgyb0d6g8BwkxLnkPrrw0YhHTKXL5dFhkRjqj_oE/s1600/from+garage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VuSreTW-MHQDa3qQmtNZSNHjTy8eZXiGHU6AgDzOZGqbTwm22Espvbas2FSiRYKjZLl_RqBD_TInSa7fULpPPXuzyF-Xgyb0d6g8BwkxLnkPrrw0YhHTKXL5dFhkRjqj_oE/s320/from+garage.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is looking from the garage to the back of the house. Swing set not included. You can see the covered deck that leads to the master suite that will be Aaron's.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wQQPA62KnN94x-0SToHKcYXqicKVTVtJBkOkoB_y5CN9htTXSK2suj03rbia24J8An87WXysGdcA4GWDkNVl3A_IdUXZALdk0nZtckKSrTm0IMKj1ufks9jd1aDgYiHJym0/s1600/Garage+front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wQQPA62KnN94x-0SToHKcYXqicKVTVtJBkOkoB_y5CN9htTXSK2suj03rbia24J8An87WXysGdcA4GWDkNVl3A_IdUXZALdk0nZtckKSrTm0IMKj1ufks9jd1aDgYiHJym0/s320/Garage+front.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And this is the garage. It is begging for a barn red paint job! The left part I suppose you could park a car in, but it has a decked out workshop that will be put to very good use. The right side is definitely large enough for a vehicle, but will be storage for now. There is a nice set of steps inside that lead up to the loft area...more great storage. Behind the garage is an open shed that is very large. It houses the chicken house and tons of storage area.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-26602921172569216232010-08-11T09:01:00.000-05:002010-08-11T09:01:29.672-05:00New HomeThis has been quite an adventure so far. Drama, heartache, physical pain, emotional pain, joy, a thrill ride. We found the house of our dreams. Well, honestly, we never dreamed of finding a house like this. It is what Kim and I have always loved. The story of it is long, so I will just do a digest of it right now and give you pictures.<br />
We found it in the Hill Country, just a couple of miles outside of New Braunfels. It is in a subdivision called Pleasant Valley, on a road called Pleasant Lane. Perfect. We just got the inspection on it, which of course, showed problems that we now have to work out with the seller.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82lPDUwws_sOPHSuxjVd0noSV5gOmnlvSdGhy_-Xh4g2ILEeBFB3qGDUr1VlpW0PNEnwiU6G-mdRJI4PmPatYG1OjNsuJvoV2gyE0HIe2S804uaZSms7pearFx1hY5E3Pcfg/s1600/Pleasant+Lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82lPDUwws_sOPHSuxjVd0noSV5gOmnlvSdGhy_-Xh4g2ILEeBFB3qGDUr1VlpW0PNEnwiU6G-mdRJI4PmPatYG1OjNsuJvoV2gyE0HIe2S804uaZSms7pearFx1hY5E3Pcfg/s320/Pleasant+Lane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Welcome to 151 Pleasant Lane. It is built in the typical German Texas style with limestone and rustic posts. There are lots of large trees and tons of cute details.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQekjvEFZofXvRf-Pn_coDHsINNM0-aOZiv24Fhp8tY3uMl6DLqww1c1Kv4zxO-lQZdPNGBIFVVYSIlGNO5F7Y9nrVXtUdK9WGXAKD7N3YKvemlAUat-4TB-MEDco7hvlMvQ/s1600/from+front+door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQekjvEFZofXvRf-Pn_coDHsINNM0-aOZiv24Fhp8tY3uMl6DLqww1c1Kv4zxO-lQZdPNGBIFVVYSIlGNO5F7Y9nrVXtUdK9WGXAKD7N3YKvemlAUat-4TB-MEDco7hvlMvQ/s320/from+front+door.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> When you walk in the front door, you see the living room, dining room and around the corner is the kitchen. Right in front of the door is the staircase which will be in another post. To the left of the stairs is an office and half bath.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTahg9fYO3qMzIdSneOD4LrBpdJXeJQDtUHPbLebGJ30KXrv9aVRbS5Ai1FB4U6bMeOe53nChOSgMNWp50ELyTAVNqCA0KycM0GTv4KUQ0mRglykLDBRkAF4mFrmDxoyoWvc/s1600/Dining+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTahg9fYO3qMzIdSneOD4LrBpdJXeJQDtUHPbLebGJ30KXrv9aVRbS5Ai1FB4U6bMeOe53nChOSgMNWp50ELyTAVNqCA0KycM0GTv4KUQ0mRglykLDBRkAF4mFrmDxoyoWvc/s320/Dining+room.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is the dining area. I love the huge windows and wood clad ceiling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHvlHYCpHYn5C0gtu7PYn1pVCmIn64gRgRlDlXXu93mg20IKbl-I2-GIELKK3slgyIcBDYowe9bgQD2m4G2ykuMV9JVsitlZShnHtJ57YEDSrUCSU7-YrtN62HEK7era-fEg/s1600/Kitchen+from+dining.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHvlHYCpHYn5C0gtu7PYn1pVCmIn64gRgRlDlXXu93mg20IKbl-I2-GIELKK3slgyIcBDYowe9bgQD2m4G2ykuMV9JVsitlZShnHtJ57YEDSrUCSU7-YrtN62HEK7era-fEg/s320/Kitchen+from+dining.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The kitchen is fantastic. I like that the cabinet doors are beadboard type. The door at the far end is a very large butler's pantry with plenty of storage. And the kitchen isn't cut off from the rest of the house. Hurrah!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiZ0Daimfbj0NX_gdkyHWigq42Fe3M9i4S7Qz3g-Gyy6FKyHSCmTY6HgtVXEcnTgsxqx-uk5C1bCee3GMvlaQi6azZflKUdBlwYC6ZJIvJVARqk9gjmOYoSLnvS5PqR_huDs/s1600/Back+door+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiZ0Daimfbj0NX_gdkyHWigq42Fe3M9i4S7Qz3g-Gyy6FKyHSCmTY6HgtVXEcnTgsxqx-uk5C1bCee3GMvlaQi6azZflKUdBlwYC6ZJIvJVARqk9gjmOYoSLnvS5PqR_huDs/s320/Back+door+view.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Just outside the door of the dining room is a covered patio and gazebo! I can see drinking my morning coffee on that gazebo.The yard is a dream. As a gardener, I am going to have a blast here!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZxl4lFJOGeGFhFRhnWjvUKxGk30XGbEbdKSX9V-uJhGaicAwdQJayLQquAM4nzELJ5csQH0Ma_kufhHT1aQmxOgktHZMJC0EqPYLAK8tiwIjhZddhZgAs3GA1cbPIz8rkJ8/s1600/Deck+and+hot+tub.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZxl4lFJOGeGFhFRhnWjvUKxGk30XGbEbdKSX9V-uJhGaicAwdQJayLQquAM4nzELJ5csQH0Ma_kufhHT1aQmxOgktHZMJC0EqPYLAK8tiwIjhZddhZgAs3GA1cbPIz8rkJ8/s320/Deck+and+hot+tub.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Look to the left of the previous picture, and there is a hot tub. Divine. The swing you see overlooks a small pond that is full of water lilies and frogs. I will have to get some koi to keep the pond clean. The deck edge you see on the left is off the added on Master Suite that will house Kim's dad. It is perfect for him...large and with a room set up to be a kitchenette.<br />
We are set up to take possession on the 27th of this month. I hope all goes well. I think we will be very happy here. More pictures will be posted later, but I wanted to get some highlights on here now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-90445627376484641802010-07-31T19:10:00.000-05:002010-07-31T19:10:51.491-05:00I had a house and lost it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZG9Zu0rWnTRLUXDKGEVMr00ApGBrLKlIqqjGFqxrXTM7nMnZyyMKF633sGBAidODMYDNFDldl-HvX0dabJNph4L7uQuFEGcheabjb_xMXUSxafnMweDAaQXe1NInaSfU-Ig/s1600/1Front+of+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZG9Zu0rWnTRLUXDKGEVMr00ApGBrLKlIqqjGFqxrXTM7nMnZyyMKF633sGBAidODMYDNFDldl-HvX0dabJNph4L7uQuFEGcheabjb_xMXUSxafnMweDAaQXe1NInaSfU-Ig/s320/1Front+of+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I want out of this stinking hellhole...badly. I love my house, but neighbors have made it stressful to live here. So after discussing it with Kim, I started hunting. My sister found this one. It has 6 bedrooms and over 6 wooded acres, just a few blocks from a lake. The house is huge, the yard is wonderful. It needs painting inside and out, a few fixups, and the yard hasn't been touched in a couple of years. It was priced over 50k under what it would be valued at if it were in top form. Two problems knocked me out of my dream home. Hubby balking, and the bank ignoring me. The bank said we were approved for a loan on the needed amount, but I couldn't get the prequalifying letter from them. I picked the loan officer that was too busy and had her head too far up her behind to be bothered to do anything in a timely manner. She never would return my calls and despite telling her exactly what I needed, she still questioned me.<br />
So now we are a back up bid in case the other one doesn't go through. I will not say anymore about how I feel about this except that I am heartbroken. I found the home of my dreams and it was taken from me. I really resent people who tell me that something better will come along. I don't believe that for a second. I am stuck in this hellhole, the butthole of Texas and if I don't stop now I will be crying again.<br />
Oh, and right now there is yet another Mexican Polka party going on. Going to be a real peaceful evening, I can already tell.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-53260684658864197692009-08-24T18:27:00.002-05:002009-08-24T18:59:32.200-05:00Baby turkeysA few weeks ago, a turkey hen brought her wee brood too close to the house. Dogs scattered them and momma lost them. I heard the babies and slowly caught them one by one. I kept waiting for the mom to come back for them, but the hen that showed up didn't seem interested.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fi5v30-OFx80Dm6E2HlpPGXXr0mdLd6zCwVvrTC7Xl13XfTa5S9wdOGcG4y6tfvAs6GS-6lALTU54pTcOaaGux2RXjoDOy83qSSLvi6lSu1y-BWxez2-K_vyOHULqn_Xf34/s1600-h/babyturkeys.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373677227455526466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fi5v30-OFx80Dm6E2HlpPGXXr0mdLd6zCwVvrTC7Xl13XfTa5S9wdOGcG4y6tfvAs6GS-6lALTU54pTcOaaGux2RXjoDOy83qSSLvi6lSu1y-BWxez2-K_vyOHULqn_Xf34/s320/babyturkeys.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_ifKuKMAaSdVgjuTT8Esl4y2m5rTcDnvvSrt_4StysTWytirbdcveycYrP6QeNWGn0hM5utv6x6RYC0iNpW_1k_FmyLMQ9VZv9xIAS95pAI-EZJaY7S3dmPmWCOWKKKof8s/s1600-h/turkey2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373677191093330434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_ifKuKMAaSdVgjuTT8Esl4y2m5rTcDnvvSrt_4StysTWytirbdcveycYrP6QeNWGn0hM5utv6x6RYC0iNpW_1k_FmyLMQ9VZv9xIAS95pAI-EZJaY7S3dmPmWCOWKKKof8s/s320/turkey2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE8e7DU4vdUdmxCHPMyquKBri9uzbSfZLrIwHRBU1OKpzNPzxVY8YFg_w-wuRfdV1ybTmJxQh5JLybBbZL5Vto5S4Adc-jlqIvKTLPw1diFB4qNo60FO2760qlnZ7I3-SNuo/s1600-h/turkey3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373677044223859298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE8e7DU4vdUdmxCHPMyquKBri9uzbSfZLrIwHRBU1OKpzNPzxVY8YFg_w-wuRfdV1ybTmJxQh5JLybBbZL5Vto5S4Adc-jlqIvKTLPw1diFB4qNo60FO2760qlnZ7I3-SNuo/s320/turkey3.jpg" /></a> Aren't they precious? The next afternoon I called the vet and he gave me the name of a couple that raised birds. I called and they were thrilled to have them. Turns out, they had been thinking of trying to find a nest of them. They had them before and had only one hen left. So babies went to people who knew how to raise birds. There place was fantastic! There were the show chickens of all kinds, ducks, the fatest geese I have ever seen, and pigmy goats. I left the babies in very good hands. I need to go out and check on their progress soon.</div><div>There is always something going on out here.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-32125055909560719322009-08-20T17:38:00.002-05:002009-08-20T17:45:37.757-05:00Why is he here?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzTqtcZQoNf4Wo9CMWm97Q3WVKvgj3vptgmqGri2WvzvnOYHr-yz9x4XUU15X_Xl_k4EcDzNa5MiDb_inazf1tFn-Z5G03-hKpQALf4oojJ0LrtMsv8VqFgj5D3vhSTfZuJk/s1600-h/Ruby+throat.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372179777999977106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzTqtcZQoNf4Wo9CMWm97Q3WVKvgj3vptgmqGri2WvzvnOYHr-yz9x4XUU15X_Xl_k4EcDzNa5MiDb_inazf1tFn-Z5G03-hKpQALf4oojJ0LrtMsv8VqFgj5D3vhSTfZuJk/s320/Ruby+throat.jpg" /></a> See that guy? He is a Ruby-throat hummingbird. First, this is not his territory. We have black-chin hummers here. Second, this isn't migratory time. That comes in at least another month. So why is he here running off the locals? Pushy little bird!<br /><br />I am back to updating my space here. It's been a wild ride the past couple of years but I will try to keep up with things now, so lots of updating to do. Tomorrow.....turkey babies.<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-16518198739516574612007-07-13T19:57:00.000-05:002007-07-13T20:39:51.899-05:00What it looks like nowI am trying to load my room now. I have a ton of stuff in there now and need to start organizing. But I stand in there totally confused as to what I should do first. I keep having to walk away to clear my head. So, now for the tour and you can see the reason for my confusion.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtxNCWHhArVu1tyJmAc9I6RujLEyNT67vI_nyjW7SwG66jnnG72F8PZSvjM7OjI8rbbpuKBwHbb3aSbn7Mfp8-b1zyS5UK_5XflFtGuwqiDvkFAGOB7QywXiXogdvHev40Vw/s1600-h/East+wall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086855199005589106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtxNCWHhArVu1tyJmAc9I6RujLEyNT67vI_nyjW7SwG66jnnG72F8PZSvjM7OjI8rbbpuKBwHbb3aSbn7Mfp8-b1zyS5UK_5XflFtGuwqiDvkFAGOB7QywXiXogdvHev40Vw/s320/East+wall.jpg" border="0" /></a> You walk in the door and turn to the left, as before. I managed to get the wardrobe in there, but the pie safe is coming apart and we have to put it back together before I can do anything with it. In the corner is part of my fabric and sewing stash. A minor part.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2maT9_xC4f7sLNkqwGynHPecGJQaQZX5_ujc5QC65ZDV9KhUEryd6b9LmMQ82x3RoN3j_vs-YevOYcEGvODx3utTMN8naXDvCJLPMAKlRsnThyphenhyphen2xtjgYZsTOdGec6rRNIPU/s1600-h/West+wall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086855203300556418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2maT9_xC4f7sLNkqwGynHPecGJQaQZX5_ujc5QC65ZDV9KhUEryd6b9LmMQ82x3RoN3j_vs-YevOYcEGvODx3utTMN8naXDvCJLPMAKlRsnThyphenhyphen2xtjgYZsTOdGec6rRNIPU/s320/West+wall.jpg" border="0" /></a> Now turn right. This is the west wall where the machines will be set up, except for the back wall which will be storage cabinet. The corner is stacked with yarn. There is a large table hiding behind the cart. It will be my cutting table that sets in the middle of the room.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWC072Xf2TDL06dxiZS3v6D4ZdmDIwOyJKXRw-DDihVs2C3RyfEM2NJ6_RMPHdOYuEiLHZpkLpBGpwgEDPFnXJR2c-LgZCeNAeWqOvconVRug6v1frGVTsIMXc0GG_4dsLVc/s1600-h/Machine+wall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086855211890491026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWC072Xf2TDL06dxiZS3v6D4ZdmDIwOyJKXRw-DDihVs2C3RyfEM2NJ6_RMPHdOYuEiLHZpkLpBGpwgEDPFnXJR2c-LgZCeNAeWqOvconVRug6v1frGVTsIMXc0GG_4dsLVc/s320/Machine+wall.jpg" border="0" /></a> Turning right again....the north part of the machine wall and the north wall. You can see my fabulous air conditioner set in the wall. I love my A/C. Behind the rocking chair is the cedar trunk I made in Jr. High. It will be the pet seat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJXp0e1Pm1U8yMyCqySd9wuTYY6azTBoJoPyrs7GI3CXgu1AN4GA5TAnosSW2XqzCwwP7kNCkUp-lKPjlhs0IMsfcaknBaVm3lNroe5o7cfpoWDhcD_6jnrkbI3fTT2Xnnzw/s1600-h/Yarn+corner.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086855216185458338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJXp0e1Pm1U8yMyCqySd9wuTYY6azTBoJoPyrs7GI3CXgu1AN4GA5TAnosSW2XqzCwwP7kNCkUp-lKPjlhs0IMsfcaknBaVm3lNroe5o7cfpoWDhcD_6jnrkbI3fTT2Xnnzw/s320/Yarn+corner.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is back toward the door. The door looks black, but is a deep eggplant. I was going to paint the room some light color of lavender, but fell in love with the pale creamy yellow, so had to have purple somewhere. The corner with the white bookcase is my yarn corner. I hope to have it set up with yarn, books and magazines, and the rocking chair to knit or crochet in. You can see the ironing board cabinet opened up<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiGmEIAdR_OgtzO4YulPRkmUHYvAjl-wA28ySBPndyFlQI7sh_mtcn5SkG73cxpDrUoUyDSt0JGGl9vl03lEuNm90YcJ_o-5_s8U76qrH4XbcMRGWa7bS_jFfMP6drG3X_Nk/s1600-h/Missy+found+her+spot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086855220480425650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiGmEIAdR_OgtzO4YulPRkmUHYvAjl-wA28ySBPndyFlQI7sh_mtcn5SkG73cxpDrUoUyDSt0JGGl9vl03lEuNm90YcJ_o-5_s8U76qrH4XbcMRGWa7bS_jFfMP6drG3X_Nk/s320/Missy+found+her+spot.jpg" border="0" /></a> See....told you that was the pet seat. Missy has already moved in. She loves the peace and quiet in there right now, sleeping in the sunshine.<br />Well, that's the room as it stands right now. I have tons of work to do. One thing is the trim you see around the windows. It has flower embossing that you can see partially painted in the cat picture. I found my paints, so need to finish painting the flowers. Then I will put on a coating of white wood stain. I need to get out a piece of leftover trim and decide if I want to sand it a bit before putting on the stain, or not.<br />I still have a storage room full of tubs of fabric and still furniture and bookcases with fabric to put in.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-69518932191251146492007-07-12T10:33:00.000-05:002007-07-12T11:01:17.615-05:00The Room is Finished<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhKyZgyvynD0U-63YRq9XLHgMm42oOpWSi3Hv8OJ_ZJm48CPmD0QxmSofobdqehyphenhyphenG_GQA4wXkVVNoUhYIXtbXZm4nfG5WDveogVwyUbIYOKlGnpBH0tsRMlaezaXwCLrSz74/s1600-h/Southeast+wall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086338097828052530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhKyZgyvynD0U-63YRq9XLHgMm42oOpWSi3Hv8OJ_ZJm48CPmD0QxmSofobdqehyphenhyphenG_GQA4wXkVVNoUhYIXtbXZm4nfG5WDveogVwyUbIYOKlGnpBH0tsRMlaezaXwCLrSz74/s320/Southeast+wall.jpg" border="0" /></a>First, you walk in the door...to the left and turn east, or left. The walls are a color called Contentment. It is the color of sunshine against the wall. The east wall will house my antique cabinets, the wardrobe and pie safe that were my great grandparent's. The short wall is on the south. It will eventually have a huge storage cabinet built in from wall to wall...floor to ceiling.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZmgSlwpyOPn3MwjlmV0hdgynTA9FBlhUQSWyrdOxFo-VMjsG-ESZGHHGvnNxLw7j47WbU-B-1646OkEhhjVAd1_VwJSGGepGGCSuzhJ06KGtyGOlgZh4ZNilXdKc-tSOgfM/s1600-h/Southwest+wall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086338102123019842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZmgSlwpyOPn3MwjlmV0hdgynTA9FBlhUQSWyrdOxFo-VMjsG-ESZGHHGvnNxLw7j47WbU-B-1646OkEhhjVAd1_VwJSGGepGGCSuzhJ06KGtyGOlgZh4ZNilXdKc-tSOgfM/s320/Southwest+wall.jpg" border="0" /></a> Now you turn to the right. That is the storage cabinet wall to the left. This is the west wall. It has an outlet strip almost completely across it. It will house all my sewing machines and sergers. These pictures were taken before we got the windows trimmed out. How about that floor!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZUp4rEnha5i2nq0WKkEOdNo9Bx7phIKX9nOxFhayypE_aL9Ygypa1v3VFrbCCJw_fLfwB5Q0vVTZTcGJxs4d9QmZxaD9kQcpF6IaOnvDiVGgBqOR1mOaQIS6keFBIdDQSa8/s1600-h/Northwest+wall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086338115007921746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZUp4rEnha5i2nq0WKkEOdNo9Bx7phIKX9nOxFhayypE_aL9Ygypa1v3VFrbCCJw_fLfwB5Q0vVTZTcGJxs4d9QmZxaD9kQcpF6IaOnvDiVGgBqOR1mOaQIS6keFBIdDQSa8/s320/Northwest+wall.jpg" border="0" /></a> Now turning right again, this is the north wall and the northwest part of the west wall. The window on the north wall will be set up for the cats and dog to watch out the window.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nSmrth3cbUTSLWCwNKwoMCqt2m7TZEpla5QLRYYdkJfZ7c94ys9kmPOmCMzj_55ioGXeUY5e5mHcywvRhWaZ29_Q0YqwWhLmnw806gyy9EJQBQX36ZLHefqAgUHI4lypaFM/s1600-h/Northeast+wall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086338132187790946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nSmrth3cbUTSLWCwNKwoMCqt2m7TZEpla5QLRYYdkJfZ7c94ys9kmPOmCMzj_55ioGXeUY5e5mHcywvRhWaZ29_Q0YqwWhLmnw806gyy9EJQBQX36ZLHefqAgUHI4lypaFM/s320/Northeast+wall.jpg" border="0" /></a> Now we turn right again and are back at the door and the east wall that is the house end. You will see the ironing cabinet mounted in the next set of pictures. Also, the door is painted eggplant now. In this shot you can also see the track lighting. I love this lighting setup. The track is flexible and the lights can be aimed in any direction. Also, I can add more lights to the track.<br /><div>But now starts the hardest work of loading everything in it and organizing it. The next day, when I started putting my stuff in the room, Kim walked in and said "I can already tell that I made the room too small". Ummm, yep!</div><div>Next post will be of the total mahem in the room.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-85014861377764475722007-04-23T22:38:00.000-05:002007-04-23T22:48:02.690-05:00Back AgainWell, that was frustrating. I tried to log into blogger and I needed to change over to the new blogger. Problem was, it wouldn't let me log in.<br />I will post pictures in the next couple of days. I have lots of garden pictures to post. It seems everything survived the Easter Ice Storm. I have a wisteria along the back fence that had buds on it.....ready for a big first bloom showing. The buds died from the ice. Now I have to wait till next spring and hope it tries to bloom again.<br />A Dahlia got nipped down after it got a couple of inches tall, but it is already back again.<br />As I said....lots of garden pictures and I will try to start posting them tomorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-1175996046453453302007-04-07T20:08:00.000-05:002007-04-07T20:34:06.463-05:00Spring DelayedI was going to show pictures of the yard that I have worked so hard on for the past month. Things were greening up and blooming. But then this freak spring freezing storm came.....<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/295372/Frozen%20plum%20and%20rose.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/195187/Frozen%20plum%20and%20rose.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/181103/Frozen%20back%20yard.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/118533/Frozen%20back%20yard.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I co ered up what I could, but there is about an inch ice coating everything. It was 29 degrees before nightfall and expected to get colder tonight with more ice and sleet. I don't know if I will even be able to make it into town in the morning for Easter church services.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/491592/Frozen%20front%20roses.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/865177/Frozen%20front%20roses.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I had bought some warm weather plants. Strictly tropicals that don't survive in cold weather. Guess I wasted some money. This hasn't happened in 10 years and I don't think it was this bad last time.<br />Now I wait till it thaws sunday afternoon and see what survived.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-1169147308567507872007-01-18T13:36:00.000-05:002007-01-18T14:08:28.653-05:00A Walk In The Snow<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/730975/across%20the%20cattle%20guard.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/749129/across%20the%20cattle%20guard.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Welcome to Foxdraw Acres. This is the view from just past the gate, over the cattle guard, toward one of the houses. Our house is behind those trees to the left.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/140842/Batchelor%20gate%20in%20snow.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/174148/Batchelor%20gate%20in%20snow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the gate we just passed through. Kim wood burned the name sign from a piece of the vertical cut bamboo that we laid on the floors. I bought him the star at our local craft fair. It was pre-rusted and ready to hang.....so he spray painted it gold. He doesn't keep up with the trends. But with the gold flaking off in the weather, he is being trendy whether he likes it or not.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/797736/View%20from%20the%20drive.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/772450/View%20from%20the%20drive.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And here we arrive at the house. It's beautiful with a 4 inch coating of snow. Sure beats the dust and dead grass of the past year.<br />I will compose another post later with shots of the trees and pasture covered in snow.<br />When I was outside earlier this morning, I heard trucks on the interstate, so apparently it is open in my county. There sure were a lot of trucks parked in town yesterday that needed to get somewhere before the next storm hits this weekend.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-1169053457278619822007-01-17T11:40:00.000-05:002007-01-17T12:04:17.400-05:00Wednesday Morning Snow<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/268263/Jack%20running%20in%20snow.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/3319/Jack%20running%20in%20snow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Jack and I went out playing in the snow this morning. I am going to post a couple of pictures for now. Aaron and I are going to take a drive into town to see semi's parked all over town with the interstate closed. The highway running north and south are closed also.<br />Jack really enjoyed playing in the snow. He hopped through it like a rabbit.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/947778/Backyard%20wed%20morning.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/467359/Backyard%20wed%20morning.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />this is the backyard. It looks like we got about 4 inches piled up out there.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/631837/House%20in%20wed%20snow.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/801047/House%20in%20wed%20snow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I will post pictures from the walk Jack and I took up to the gate and back.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-1168983260152552382007-01-16T16:20:00.000-05:002007-01-16T16:34:20.183-05:00Snow Event<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/531821/The%20drive%20at%20three%20pm.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/785196/The%20drive%20at%20three%20pm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It started up again with big fluffy flakes. This is taken about 3 in the afternoon. This will probably be the last pictures of the day, as it will start getting dark soon.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/604950/Coming%20down%20again%20at%20threepm.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/314969/Coming%20down%20again%20at%20threepm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I know these are a lot of pictures, but snow events this big only happen down here every few years, not yearly. It should be interesting to see what things look like in the morning if the snow keeps coming like they predict it will. So, I will leave you with these for the day and post more tomorrow.<br />Weather channel is saying a break from this thursday.....then back to ice mix thursday and friday. Oh joy......I love the snow, but could do without the ice.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-1168981311700298682007-01-16T15:38:00.000-05:002007-01-16T16:01:51.760-05:00Still Coming Down<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/928491/after%20two%20snow%20in%20hills.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/296540/after%20two%20snow%20in%20hills.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The snow dwindled down to almost nothing for about half an hour, then started up again with big fat flakes. The top pic is pointing northeast from the front porch.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/83365/snowy%20cedar.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/406508/snowy%20cedar.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This one is from about noon. The cedars by the goat pen.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/717216/I"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/463058/I%27ll%20watch%20from%20here%20mom.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Can you see him? Jack had enough of playing in the snow. He was cold, so watched me from his perch in the window. Tigger takes over that perch sometimes....and doesn't share.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/444930/up%20the%20drive%20aftter%20two.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/459696/up%20the%20drive%20aftter%20two.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is showing up my drive. The interstate is closed from here to almost San Antonio. This isn't expected to let up till tomorrow sometime. A snow lovers dream!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13580221.post-1168971658744931282007-01-16T13:01:00.000-05:002007-01-16T13:20:58.803-05:00Magic Fairy Dust Falling<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/923865/Backyard%20at%20eleven.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/828792/Backyard%20at%20eleven.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/1600/288333/Snow%20at%20eleven.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5940/1199/320/385920/Snow%20at%20eleven.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Fairy dust......rare as hen's teeth. It has been falling steady since before 9am. NOAA is saying maybe up to 7 inches by the time it's over with tomorrow, but that much snow is extremely rare in my part of Texas, so we will see.<br />It has been wonderful for a snow lover like me. I go out every hour for pictures. Jack goes with me, but goes back in before I do....very disgruntled. Tigger, the giant cat, has gone bonkers. Guess too much stimulation. He went around the house slapping dogs all day yesterday. Today he is running around like he has drank too much coffee. Needless to say, the dogs are avoiding him. Having fur like a Chow-Chow gives him the attitude that he can rule. Since he is bigger than all but one dog, he lords over them. I hope I don't have to smack him off the other cats. Speaking of the other cats, yesterday I gave old Missy some aspirin. She hasn't started growling with pain yet, so I am hoping to keep her comfortable during this cold weather.<br />It's time to go out and take more pictures.....to be posted later.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0