Winter wonderland

The snow began about mid afternoon on Christmas and while we ate and opened presents the yard turned into a winter wonderland. Never have I seen a prettier scenario. 

The quad is equipped with a new battery but where are my waterproof pants!  I finally located them but I did have to pour hot water on the ignition to get it to turn and away I went. Zoom Zoom!

Kay spent quite some time building this snow lady!

I wasn't sure why Flave was sitting by the pond watching instead of helping but he had no idea that Reid was sneaking up behind him.

There was plenty of space to run and gather snowballs. Nothing like two baseball pitchers throwing snowballs! I stayed out of the way.

Lola had the right idea!

I was so prepared after my trip to Aspen last year. I think I had enough boots, hats, and gloves to outfit the entire crew! My feet stayed cozy warm!

Jeff had a great plan and enlisted the boys' help. The plan was for the snowball to roll all the way down the hill but it didn't go quite that far.

Fun on the hilltop as always. Just couldn't get the sleds to do much. 

Always time to warm up inside!

Finally we went over the hill and Leon trimmed back some limbs.

 This hearth, snow ice cream,  and hot chocolate reminds me of past winters. I was tickled pink that Kay and her family got snowed in. Our electricity was out for one day and Flave gave up his vacation to go work 15 hour days. One week later almost everyone has electricity again and he will soon get to return home.

Reid and Flave were happy to eat at La Hacienda twice and we enjoyed some meaningful conversation.

After several fun-filled days two boys and a dog loaded up and headed home. What a wonderful holiday it was for me!

our white Christmas

What an exceptional Christmas this turned out to be!  I worried that Kay and her family wouldn't arrive due to deteriorating weather conditions and that Will might be stuck in NWA but my worries were for naught.

We all gathered around the table for an exceptional dinner. Jeff baked a mighty fine ham and has become a corn souffle expert.

Reid and Kay took Lola and Deacon out for their evening walk as the yard turned into a winter wonderland.

Next time I see young Flave he might even be the taller of the two. 

There is never a shortage of elves and we gathered in front of the fireplace for the long awaited moment.

Will will agree that you are never too old for Lego! I guess it helps that he is a WW II buff.

 A little slippin' and slidin' was going on outside even in 4 wheel drive!!

Reid gave the seal of approval for my chocolate trifle! 

What could be more fun than to head outside and play in the snow on Christmas night. Had I been a little smarter I would have washed dishes first. It wouldn't be long before we lost power and I washed dishes by candlelight. Just as we lit the candles the next night the power came back on. Thanks, Sr.

Garvan Gardens 2012

Our annual visit to Garvan Gardens for the Christmas lights was special this year as our friends Ed and Becky joined us.

How fun to watch the animation set to music on this new addition. 

Leon and Ed stroll the candy cane lane.

I am glad we went in early December. The weather was quite pleasant. 

The next morning Lisa, Becky, and Ed joined us for the first breakfast in our new dining area and the last meal cooked in the old kitchen! What a great visit we had.

Another septuagenarian

We indeed enjoyed another in our group turning 70 in early September. It was time for a celebration at Chris' house. Good times and good conversation. Most of us are now septuagenarians, but we will have to wait awhile for the last two to catch up! Great friendships!

Remodel update

This may not look like progress to some but it sure was to me. The cabinets have all been torn out except for this little mini kitchen. It seems simplicity isn't all bad. I realize I have almost everything I need right there.  A few tiles left to tear off and boy, I had no idea what a good job I did of adhering them to the wall when I put them up.

I had no clue my refrigerator was leaking until I pulled it away from the wall. Who knew that Entergy would send you $75 if you participate in the haul away plan with Lowe's.  I did manage to get in on the Black Friday sale for the new fridge. 

Then when part of my ceiling was torn out after I took down the soffets, it rained on my stove. I hope the hour I spent on the roof with some roof tar will take care of that because my new sheetrock ceiling sure looks good. And yes, I have painted the ceiling again...once before and once after...never start a project in the middle!  One step forward and two steps back! 

I am now waiting patiently while Anything of Wood builds some cabinets, the electrician works some magic with my wiring, and the plumber runs me a gas line for the stove in the carport.

 My idea of patient:  help build a shed/shop up the hill, strip paint from old cabinets just to see how they used to look, paint crown molding that I will soon learn how to install, patch the floor where 6 pieces of tile are now needed and lay tile, fill in the spaces where the fridge and stove will go, touch up paint after the ceiling and wall texturing, sweep dust, mop dust, vacuum dust, wipe off dust, sweep dust, mop dust, etc!

My Lowe's rant

Well SIX weeks after the initial fiasco with my new front door, Brad, the second installer from Lowe's, returned to put in the extended jamb that should have been used the first time. He and his two helpers were almost like Santa with a couple of elves. The door worked quite nicely when he was done.

He did not have quite as much luck backing his trailer and truck up after he pulled off into the woods. Leon to the rescue!  The storm door was replaced in a better fashion but I was not overly excited to have gray deck screws on my camel colored storm door that I had bought from Wilson's 1 1/2 years ago for more than just a little bit of money.

I decided to give Wilson's a call and buy some camel screws.  Also, the door handle had broken and maybe they would replace it. Within 3 days someone arrived to take care of the problem. They also noticed that the bracket for the hinge on top of the door was in the wrong place. No wonder the storm door would not open wide enough. And when Lowe's put the bracket in the wrong place they drilled some more holes in the storm door and relocated those screws!

I was quite surprised that 1 1/2 years after Wilson's installed my doors and windows that they would come fix little problems. However, he noted on the phone that if the door handle broke they must not have put the screw in the bottom and sure enough. He also put a new rubber strip on the bottom of the door as the first one was cut 1/2 " too short. The screen door on the patio slider did not have a latch on one side and that was added also.

I think I am done with doors for awhile but if I ever buy any more doors I will call Wilson's Home Improvement first. I guess you sometimes do get what you pay for!

Where did November go?

It has been a beautiful month and we have spent most of it happy to be at the end of this dead end street. Gunnar left after an enjoyable monthlong visit and we probably had the stove and oven in the carport before he got to Oklahoma. We have demolished all the kitchen cabinets except for one holding the sink. It is sorta like we are camping right here at home. We have new LED lighting, a new ceiling, another coat of paint and appliances ready to go!

Just to keep from being bored I have spent a lot of time up the hill helping Jeff build a new shop in his back yard. Hopefully it will be finished in time for him to make me some new glass Christmas ornaments. Now with all the new knowledge I can't wait to build a garden shed on my property.

The leaves this year were gorgeous and put on a real show with the many shades of orange, yellow and red. My maple in the front yard might be small but it glowed profusely one day and the leaves blew in every direction the next as they fluttered silently to the ground.

The nights have been short and the days long as my sleep habits have gone downhill. I think it is just the excitement of each new day and I can't wait to get started.

Thanksgiving eve was to be spent in Searcy with Kay and her family but I got a one day mini bug just a day before and we cancelled. Jeff came to the rescue and fixed a fabulous holiday meal. It was nice to go over the river and through the woods to his house.

It has been a most rewarding month and I am reminded daily of how much I have for which to be thankful!



-Susan

Zippety doo dah...

My, oh my, what a wonderful day. We ventured to the recently opened Zip Lines  so I could mark one off my bucket list.  The fall colors in the trees made it an excellent time to visit. First, Leon gets help getting suited up.

Big Bear was the first of seven zip lines. The valleys in the rocky hillside made for an excellent location. At each line we would ascend a sturdily built platform before gliding across the valley to the hill on the other side. Big Bear is 120 feet high and 1,107 feet long. 

Gunnar is all geared up and ready to go! He knew from the beginning he would do all seven. The rest of us weren't too sure.

Cindy hooks each of us to the line and sends us off.

Next it was Jeff's turn. He makes it look easy. I could never get myself turned around and was always backwards.

I think it is obvious we are having fun!

Bruce waits to put on the brakes for Jeff as he comes in for a landing.  It felt good to know that a doctor and a nurse were accompanying us!

Gunner zips across.

My landings are not so graceful but the hillside is usually sloped.

Jeff zips on in. He is ready to go again!

Tear down that wall!

Remodel Phase II began when I found the contractor to tear down the living room wall adjacent to the kitchen. I have always wanted that southern winter sun to shine into the kitchen and soon it will! But first to get rid of some furniture.  Leon was kind enough to hall this desk up the hill and Jeff was kind enough to find a spot for it. France circa 1860s is no longer welcome in my new dining room!

Joey wasted no time in getting started. Jeff and Leon marvel at something!  

I do like to reuse things if possible so I pulled some nails out of the cedar studs to be reused in our future shed project. Why buy 2x4s if you already have them?

Joey and Rocky didn't realize they were teaching me how to replace and add flooring. 

I can now walk into the dining area and see into the kitchen, but now I also see those soffets all too well and they have got to go!  I soon realized that the ceiling did not extend to the wall.  It seems like I began this project in the middle.  I know, I could get new cabinets to the ceiling but I don't plan to replace the one over the counter. At last, it is time to put up new sheetrock on the ceiling. I have wanted to cover those tacky tiles forever.

But first...

The contractor tried to ease his way into doing this job also but I caught onto that in a hurry. Why would I want to miss out on the fun.  I am not sure Leon would agree with that theory.

OK! Time to take a break and figure out about gas stoves, can lighting, LED lights, and what kind of cabinets I want. I don't mind living like this at all! I am multi-tasking and have another project to begin before cold weather sets in.