Pool Progress

It's been a busy week here with lots of action in the backyard.  It's not every morning you wake up to this:

Or this:

I can't believe how fast it all went in.

Imagine a patio where you see the stone.  It will be stamped concrete to match the patio under the deck.

After the patio goes in, we will be putting sod where you see dirt.  Our plan for this year is to decorate with more containers and flowers, so the next week or so should see a more finished look.

Can't wait to spend some summer days back here.

But, I'll leave you with a bit more "finished" part of the house in the front. I found that Boston Fern on sale and thought it would look nice on the shady porch.  Someday I think a pretty white rocking chair would look nice there as well.

Have a great weekend!

I know it's here somewhere....

Sometimes we lose things, and sometimes we have to dig for them....but this??  Really?
Perhaps Citylogger has gone a little too far...

Or perhaps he was thinking about this....

Why yes, now it makes sense....can you tell?

Think of this:

Source

Stay tuned!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race...

Spent some time this weekend helping Dan with the new house.  He is doing everything himself, along with lots of family and friend's talent and support.  From painting, to trim, to switching the old outlets to fresh new white ones, to installing hardwood flooring.  He is eventually planning to refinish all the cabinetry as well.  But when you work full time,  it means nights and weekends are precious time.  Coming along:

I can't seem to capture the true color of this wall, but it's not the red you see - more like burnt orange.

new outlets and switches

going around the fireplace hearth and a corner with a dip in the floor

And just a reminder of the upstairs:

office

The Office is storing the furniture for the downstairs right now, however, he made a gallery wall of his educational degrees and certificates and  - Dan says, "It's the most expensive wall in the house!"

stairway and new carpeting throughout the upstairs

master bedroom and Ikea furniture

Here's a checklist of things accomplished so far:

Move everything from old apartment

Patch and repair walls

replace outlets and switches

Paint everything except the two bathrooms

Take out all old carpet and linoleum

Have new carpeting installed

Have new heating/ac installed

install new bamboo floors - in progress...

install new lighting in master bedroom

drive to Canada, purchase furniture and assemble!

So Dan, if you think you're not making progress...think again!

Those of you who DIY know how much time things take:)  It's a labor of love!

I'll be sure to post  more finished pics when the time comes.  For now, keep going Dan ~ and thankful for a family that embraces a team spirit!!

Mini Kitchen Garden

I've been wanting to do this for a while and the time has come - a mini kitchen garden! Citylogger and I were out and about running errands and I came across this at Home Depot.  We were considering building a box, but when we saw this, and the price....well, it hopped into the cart and asked if it could come home with us!

We added some gravel to the bottom, for drainage.  There's a patio below this so we didn't want mud!

Lined this with a weed preventer fabric.

And voila!  A little basil, cilantro, parsley, sage, and cherry tomatoes.  I am so excited about this.  I'll keep you posted as to how it does as summer goes by. We had a larger garden at our other house when our kids were small.  It was some work, but so fun for the kids to be a part of!  I'd love to plant something bigger here, but we have many furry creatures that would love to eat these all day.  This is up on the back deck, so it should do well. What are you growing?

What We're Growing

So glad to have a long Memorial Day weekend to do some planting, relax, and enjoy all that's around us. Here's what's growing in our neck of the woods:

"Million Bells" petunias

pretty pansies

Lantana

Zinnias

Gerbera Daisies

Sweet potato vine and Dahlias

I decided to go for a walk to capture what's growing along the trails:

Daisies

Check out all these wild blackberries!  We did not have this many last year.

Growing everywhere - on both sides of the trails!

phlox

pretty petunia basket

And look at this mama!  She was digging to lay her eggs.  We also have a baby fawn, but have yet to snap a picture.  We'll keep trying though.

Hope you have a happy Memorial Day weekend!

Naming Trails

We now have quite a few familiar spots on the property, and it's really beginning to feel like home.  I often say that I don't know the statute of limitations for how long you can say, "We've just moved".  But those of you who have, know that it takes time to make a house a home.  We are now beginning to find our way around these 72 acres and Citylogger has blazed many trails.  It's fun to come up with names for them - especially now that we have seen them through all four seasons.  This spot below is as you turn into our driveway.  I've mentioned before, that during construction, this was where we would meet contractors.  That familiar meeting place became, "The Landing".

This is a hill that has a big, beautiful tree that would look great with a swing - that and a good book, and I could easily while away a summer day.

Hoping to put more signs up soon, and when we do, I'll be sure to share.  It's an easier way to show people around as well....Meet you at the corner of "Tired and Exhausted" - that's what some trails feel like on chipping and shredding days!

No really though -  just kidding!  Seriously considering "The Ridge" for along the back of the property, and "The Danny Pond", for the pond that Dan and Andy dug out last summer.

I like the "I Quit Split" for where Kristen and I sat down in the snow one time when we were completely lost.  Stay tuned!

Hope you are having a great week!

Have you seen these?

I've been feeling a little under the weather today with a sore throat and headache...no big deal, however I was meandering around the internet and found these:

Source

Look closely at the names of the scents......."Man Candles"

That's right!

The warm, unmistakable scent of freshly planed wood and sawdust evokes a sense of confidence and quality.

This is called "2 x 4."

                          

Hot sun. Cool breeze. And the intensely summery scent of freshly cut grass.

This is called "Riding Mower."

Now, I know that the guy in my house is very tolerant of the candles and scents that I have around the house....but these, well these are clever!  We may have to check these out, if for no other reason to see if they captured these scents in a jar.....hmmmm...

One small step for man, one giant step for mankind???

Certainly makes me curious!

Spider Dan!

He did it!!

Beginning his descent.

Dan said he could see the reflection of the city in the windows as he went down:)

A shot from further back ~ he looks so small on that building.

Almost there...

This mama is so glad his feet are on the ground, but so proud of him!  Time seemed to stand still as he did this, but if I had to guess, it took Dan about 10 minutes to descend 21 stories.  We screamed and cheered him on...and we screamed and cheered on others as well.

Afterwards, we went back to his new house and had a wonderful barbecue dinner prepared by Dan and his girlfriend Sarah.

Tomorrow is more painting at said house.  For some reason this looks red, but it's really a burnt orange. It's going to look really nice when the new flooring, furniture, and accessories go in.  He picked very bold colors...to "awaken the senses", is what he told me:)

I'm awake....yup....I'm awake:)

I'd say this was a good day ~ nice job Spider Dan!