Saturday, May 15, 2010

the new driveways

This was the view from our bay window yesterday morning. The lower driveway was positively teeming with construction workers and their lunky equipment.

They started right in with their favorite activity: making noise.

First, they worked on the lower driveway.
Then they lugged everything big up the road apiece to the upper driveway.

Hubby is presently on the runway at JFK, eagerly anticipating a look-see of the final product.

He can't bear to reach the Dominican Republic without a survey of these photos.

And so I oblige him! Have a great trip, dear!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

sketching out the plans

The LOTM (Lord of the Manor, for the initiated) stands on his domain. He pounded this turf into meek submission with a roto-tiller last week.

This freshly prepared patch of smelly dirt is our new garden. There was never a garden here before. Actually, in days of yore there was a house here. It was the oldest frame house in Madrid when it was torn down decades ago.

The harvest table is a very appropriate place to sketch out the garden bed, don't you agree?
This is certainly the largest garden I have ever planned. Although the size is a bit daunting,

I AM RARING TO GET A-PLANTING!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

catching up

It takes so very little work to download a few pics, it is a wonder that I haven't had the inclination to do so. But it is only fair to keep my house-blog readers up to date, so here we go:

Welcome to my back yard where we had snow last week.

The Lord of the Manor had spent the previous day putting in grass seed and spreading straw. Never you mind that rusted tin barrel that is on the right. It's days are numbered.

See that black thing sticking up over the edge of the hill? It is the tip of a fallen tree. Every time I glance out the kitchen window, I think there's a man down there. An interloper.

I may have to go out there in my apron and chop it down.
-but not while it's snowing, for goodness sake.


Here is a random picture. Our Korean friend, Song, invited 12 of her friends over for dinner at our house. The way it works is this: we provide the kitchen and she provides the food. Korean food, of course!

After dinner, we gathered in the front room for dessert. (American dessert, that is. Chocolate cake, if you simply must know.)

A little night music helps the chocolate go down.

In other news, our sidewalks were poured today.

This one is in front of our house. The public sidewalk is across the street.
This is our "private" sidewalk. You must ask permission to roller-skate here.

I stepped out of the back door to see this scene. It is a real thrill to see a work crew knocking themselves out in our yard. It makes me want to put my feet up & drink iced tea.

Please disregard the porch swing. It has been patiently awaiting its final destination for almost a year now.

Now that the sidewalk from Grandma Jean's door to the driveway is poured, maybe we could hang that swing. I'm hoping!

Remember the new kitchen. I sure as spit-fire do!
I posted about giving the island a zap of color -and as you can see, it got one! I call this shade "Saffron". I think we'll keep it.

From the bay windows, this is the view. I love love love the industrial-style lights!

I also love X3 the hood vent. It is an Italian model that was on clearance at Home Depot.

Can someone tell me why my counter-tops look curved? In real life, they are not so.