We've Been Framed!

I am standing in the living room. The kitchen is behind me. The spare bedroom is to the left and the laundry/utility room is to the right.

master bedroom

walk-in closet

kitchen

Jeff in the shower checking to see if there is room to pick up the soap (seriously)

view of living room and master bedroom (toward the back)

second bedroom

Yes indeed!

Wheelbarrow

This wheelbarrow has been working very hard for us. It has moved trash and items to the garage attic. I didn't know how much I could appreciate a wheelbarrow and how handy one could be. Thank you, wheelbarrow! As your reward, I will hook you up with the HOE for the evening!

The Man Cave

We spent last weekend clearing out the basement so we could start the renovation. We built a shed to store the lawn mowers and tools. I have never seen a man so excited to have an outbuilding to call his own where he can hammer nails, saw things in half and just hang out with beer in hand. Jeff plans to decorate with liquor mirrors that he acquired while managing the liquor store (in 1980). It will be painted white.
Jeff keeps joking that he will go there when he's in the "dog house". I told him to hang out there as much as he wants. He has a mini frig, a fan and a new radio. All he needs now is a comfy lawn chair and he will have a hang out to rival Bob Pulley's.

The following pictures are of Jeff trying to get down from the loft in the shed. Lindsay ended up in the yard rolling around, laughing hysterically and I just about wet my pants.
The poor guy was just hanging there helpless. I finally got my composure and helped him find his footing.







This picture was taken by Lindsay after our long day of heavy lifting and moving. I can't believe we didn't get any pictures of Lindsday. She was such a huge help. We wouldn't have gotten half done what we did without her.

Soon to be Cellar Dwellers

I have decided that I am going to document every step of our basement renovation.
Jeff, Lindsay and I have spent quite a bit of time "down there"doing everything from trying to work out a floor plan to arguing about where Jeff's recliner is going to go. He insists it has to be by the window. I told him I would try my best to accomodate him. I'm sure there will be more on that later.
So...here are the before pictures. Work is going to start January 24. James, the contractor has already built a shed in the backyard to house Jeff, I mean the lawn mower and tools.
Picture 1-location of bathroom and shelving that will have doors

Picture 2-long view from bathroom area to kitchen area

Picture 3-shorter view from bathroom- spare bedroom in the middle and kitchen at the end

Picture 4-master bedroom-ends at door where there will be a wall

Picture 5-living room starts on other side of the door

Picture 6-Sergeant Leasa in the utility room

Picture 7-a picture is worth a 1000 words

Guac My World!

I am in love with the avocado. It took years for me to muster up the courage to try guacamole. And now I crave it daily. Just this past week was my first time to eat an avocado not made in to guacamole. Luckily, I picked a perfectly ripe one at grocery store. (the avocado actually had a "ripe" sticker on it)
I cut it in half, got the pit out and scooped out the avocado just like I had watched them do on the Food Network. The avocado taste was subtle and creamy and just as yummy as could be. It made my salad extra special. I am going to try it on a turkey sandwich and anything else I can think of.
Yes, dear avocado you are "guacing my world". Muah! Love ya!

I've Got the Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay Down in My Heart!

I vividly remember waking up from a dream at 710 South Main when I was nine or ten years old and thinking, "I'm in love". It was a dream about the Osmond Brothers. I don't remember many of the details but I do remember they were in their Elvis-style white costumes running from a horde of girls. Jay stopped, turned around, put his hand out and told me to come with him. I had a lovesick feeling in my stomach for a very long time after that dream. I loved all the brothers but Jay was my favorite.
Tresa emailed me a few months ago to let me know Jay, Merrill and Wayne were going to be in concert at a small venue in Marietta.
I dragged poor Lindsay with me and reminded her a few times that when she's fifty, I would go with her to a Backstreet Boys concert. (And I took her to get a milkshake afterwards) I was happy. I smiled so much my face hurt. They came out after the concert for a meet and greet! Ahhhhhh!!!. They were genuinely nice and still focused on being the best they can be. The Osmonds didn't disappoint. Of course they didn't; they're the Osmonds!

PS When we were waiting in line with a mostly over fifty, pushing sixty year oldish group of women, I asked Lindsay if I should tell Jay about my dream. She replied, "Probably not". :-)

Trippin'

I tripped over snow boots at the back door. I can't remember the last time we had our snow boots by the door and in use. We heard about the snow coming for several days from the weather man so it was much anticipated that Friday might be a snow day. The snow was later predicted to come in around 1:00pm so we had school. The snow did start around one and by three o'clock we had a nice covering. The kids were already hyped up with Valentine candy and the talk of "Snowstorm 2010". Everyone was hoping the snow wouldn't stop until after the end of the school day so we could at least catch a few flakes. Around 3:00pm, (school day ends at 4:00)the fire alarm went off. My first thought was, "I wonder if the kid who pulled the fire alarm knows there are video cameras everywhere". I stayed behind for a minute to make sure the library was empty and headed outside. By then,there was pandemonium. Kids were laughing and screaming and snowball throwing. Turns out no one pulled the alarm--there was a malfunction and there couldn't have been a better day for that to happen.
I got home and immediately went in and put on my twice worn snow boots and ran out the front door just like a kid. Jeff and I took a walk and brought the dogs out for a good romp in the snow. Gage was a little freaked out and kept eating the snow. Maggie was oblivious to it. We ended up getting around 3 inches. The next morning the sun was shining and it really was a winter wonderland. It didn't take long for the snow to start melting and today (Sunday) it's almost all gone. Every time I had to take the dogs out, I did have to pull the ol' snow boots on. I have to say that got old pretty quickly and I was was starting to fuss about it a little so I'm glad this is a once a year or so thing. Sorry Indiana-I can't imagine how sick of the winter weather you must be. I got my snow fix and I'm ready for spring. I had planned on putting the snow boots away this evening but just heard we may have one more blast of winter weather in the morning. I guess I'll be trippin' a little bit longer.