Summer means many things to many people. To me, it means not sitting down at the computer to post pictures of what's getting done around here.
Obviously.
Over the months of June & July, the back wing was completed. I, for one, will not miss the white tyvek-paper that proclaimed we bought it at Lowes. Instead, I will regularly get a happy kick from seeing our beautiful stained hardwood siding.
It was a labor of love, let me tell you. Each piece of siding was hand-routed by the Lord of the Manor (LOTM, remember?). He rules my kingdom.
At this very moment in time, I am enjoying the finished screened porch. I have a great view of the waterfalls from the table here. We were very careful to make a smooth transition between the old stone of the original house and the wooden addition. I hope we were successful, because this porch STAYS.
Around the other side of the house, one can see the edge of the upper driveway and a make-shift stone path which lead to the back door. Before winter, we need to have a permanent walkway. Stay tuned for that!
Let's not forget the garden, where one can find me most mornings wiping mud off my hands onto my jeans.
Sometimes one can find me dragging a sprinkler around, lugging produce into the house, pulling stubborn weeds, or admiring my eggplant -which are almost too pretty to eat.
But mostly one can find me wiping mud off my hands onto my jeans.
Down in the lower driveway, the minions have been as busy as bees working on "The Cottage". We are not allowed to call it "The Garage" anymore. Orders of the LOTM.
One of my personal-fave minions is cutting sheet-rock while wearing a tool-belt. Presently, he is in far-away Uganda wearing
a steadicam. Ask me later & I'll tell you all about it.
I miss him like crazy. I may start a whole other blog about how much I miss him, but after about 4 or 5 entries, I don't think anybody will read it.
It's kind of the same old thing over & over & over.
Oh you may think we are hardly doing ANYTHING around here, but you would be dead wrong. BECAUSE:
Over on The Town Square, the minions have been overhauling one of our apartment units. In deference to my blog-audience, I shall discreetly leave out the details of this particular overhaul.
-but I am compelled to mention that one of the bedrooms was "affectionately" dubbed The Cat-Pee Room. And one of the other bedrooms had been housing
chickens.
You read that right.
And might I add one last thing: there was no affectionate name for that room.
To quote Forrest Gump: "-and that's all I've got to say about
that."
From the front window there is a great view of the town square, where one can spy on the Amish when they come in to town.
P.S. they buy chewing tobacco & powerade.
We also own the house on the end of the square. I have never seen the inside of it. I'll bet they are housing piglets.
Just kidding. They are nice people who read the fine print of their rental agreement.
Inside the Big Yellow House (as we call it), we find Geoffrey who does not have a friend-number. He deserves one after all we put him through. He claims, and I quote:
"This apartment has
sucked my soul." He was fed well & comforted daily while he was working with us. Poor guy.
I don't think he was overcome by the fumes here, I think he was merely adjusting his equipment. -At least that's what he told me.
As I was departing the upstairs apartment at Big Yellow, I came upon this. I was rendered speechless.
Don't worry: it was summarily scraped off & painted over with Navajo White.
Two coats.
Perhaps if I follow up that last image with something stunningly beautiful, you will forgive me. This is a shot from the back window of The Cottage.
One last thing. Clever Tommy was able to install the mad-cool lighting on the porch. These are IKEA candle lanterns which he wired for us.
After installing them, he did what all clever people do: relax on the porch while taking in the view.
Over the months of June & July, the back wing was completed. I, for one, will not miss the white tyvek-paper that proclaimed we bought it at Lowes. Instead, I will regularly get a happy kick from seeing our beautiful stained hardwood siding.
At this very moment in time, I am enjoying the finished screened porch. I have a great view of the waterfalls from the table here. We were very careful to make a smooth transition between the old stone of the original house and the wooden addition. I hope we were successful, because this porch STAYS.
Around the other side of the house, one can see the edge of the upper driveway and a make-shift stone path which lead to the back door. Before winter, we need to have a permanent walkway. Stay tuned for that!
Let's not forget the garden, where one can find me most mornings wiping mud off my hands onto my jeans.
Down in the lower driveway, the minions have been as busy as bees working on "The Cottage". We are not allowed to call it "The Garage" anymore. Orders of the LOTM.
Oh you may think we are hardly doing ANYTHING around here, but you would be dead wrong. BECAUSE:
From the front window there is a great view of the town square, where one can spy on the Amish when they come in to town.
We also own the house on the end of the square. I have never seen the inside of it. I'll bet they are housing piglets.
Inside the Big Yellow House (as we call it), we find Geoffrey who does not have a friend-number. He deserves one after all we put him through. He claims, and I quote:
As I was departing the upstairs apartment at Big Yellow, I came upon this. I was rendered speechless.
Perhaps if I follow up that last image with something stunningly beautiful, you will forgive me. This is a shot from the back window of The Cottage.
One last thing. Clever Tommy was able to install the mad-cool lighting on the porch. These are IKEA candle lanterns which he wired for us.
After installing them, he did what all clever people do: relax on the porch while taking in the view.
The summer started quietly. After all my commitments at Crane were behind me ( concerto auditions, German Diction, recitals, etc. etc.), I had a glorious week or so for twiddling my thumbs & planting my garden.
My Saturday Friend & Constant Companion. I am blessed beyond measure with her steady company.
For weeks on end our yard was full of sawhorses & busy guys. The whole back wing is DONE now.
This was the view from the roof where I sat to converse with #1 Son as he caulked. By the way, #1 Son packed up his stuff & moved home from the Big Apple for 3 weeks, only to leave us a few days ago for a month in Uganda.
This was the driveway. Please note the person in the doorway of the RV. I love when the Eastmonds live in our driveway!
One week we had a young visitor staying with us from Madrid, Spain. She walked on our roof for fun. She begged for piano-advising sessions. She saw fireflies for the first time ever. She read books whilst curled up in the porch on a wicker armchair.
I love this shot because of the blur Joe's hand going for the rolls. It is a typical scene & it wouldn't be summer without it.
Somebody around here owns too many guitars.
Lunch on the screened porch is a daily event. Even strangers line up for a chance to eat here. I have checked the front porch for hobo-signs just in case. The "talk religion-get food" sign particularly works around here. Just sayin'.
Starving musicians were busking for cash. They really need cash. I mean, look at their clothing!
We took time out to watch a bed race. I'll bet you haven't done that lately.
Again, lunch on the screened porch. Many jugs of Iced Rooibus Tea were consumed.
I never sat on this deck. I only wished I had.
Dessert of the Day: cupcakes. What's not to love?
Crafty friends on the porch. On this day, we painted rocks. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Our old stone home. Come & sit for a spell sometime.
Although the Blog-Writing Muse has not graced me with her presence very much lately, the Garden-Muse has. Every morning, in fact.
It takes only a small thought for beauty.
I haven't accomplished very much today.
-But was you can see, it is entirely not my fault.
But here it is in all its dirty glory. Please note the river in the background. It makes everything so much more beautiful with its sparkling cheer and its constant presence.
This is the view from the front porch. The LOTM's stone wall is holding up nicely, and now has some sort of resident creatures that tunnel in & around it. I predict chipmunks, at least to myself.
With the help of #1 Daughter, I snagged a few wheelbarrows full of straw from the loft of the barn. It is antique straw, which means it is good for nothing else but mulch. I have about another 8 - 10 years of supply up there.
Speaking of flowers, I bring you this pic of the most treasured flower I have. She is such a beauty it takes my breath away.
