Reinventing Myself Once Again

I often wonder how many times in life each of us "begin again" after leaving off at some point or other in the past.  I imagine we do it more often than we realize and I like to think it's how we keep things fresh and interesting. Although it seems like I've been gone forever, I can see now it's only been a couple of months.  But what a lot of things have changed in those months!!

Isabel's school is out for the summer, as well as Dance Class and Girl Scouts. And - best of all - Laura has returned from Afghanistan!!! 

I was beginning to think it would never happen and I felt I was aging much faster than the amount of days that were passing!  But time finally stopped dragging and she got in the evening of 6 June.  But there's more!! The week before Laura arrived home, we had International Guests!! Nigel's sister Marian and her husband Gary and granddaughter Harli were here from England!! It was wonderful to see them again and we were especially pleased because they were here with us while Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee celebrations were going on in full swing "across the pond".  And wonder of wonders, the weather actually cooperated while they were here.  Instead of the usual June heat and humidity, we enjoyed beautiful days in the 80's (Fahrenheit) with lovely breezes and occasional showers!  It could not have been prettier!

They left the same evening Laura arrived and luckily they were able to spend about five minutes visiting in the airport as one plane arrived and the other was boarding to leave!  So it's been non-stop for the past couple of weeks and only now are we slowing down and getting back into our "new" routine.

None of us realized just how much work it would take to get all of Isabel's things back to her house, as well as all the boxes Laura had shipped home unpacked, then get all of Mama's things back over here! As I said though, we're finally settled in and I have to admit, it's been a lovely Sunday.

I actually spent time in my studio for a few hours this morning, finally beginning the very belated wedding and honeymoon scrapbook I'd promised Liz and Jake, in honor of their one-year anniversary tomorrow (18 June)!  I'd actually promised I'd have it done this past Christmas but you can see how successful that's been!  I'll post some photos of it once I complete it.  It was hilarious getting started.  I hadn't done anything in so long and I was all thumbs. After 40 minutes, all I'd accomplished was to cut one piece of fabric three times!! Yes, three!!  I very carefully measured what I thought I needed (8"x9"), then realized it was off so I very carefully measured another piece and cut it (8"x10"), realized it was still off, then measured very, very carefully one more time, and finally got it right (9"x9").  Whew!  When I realized everything I'd managed to accomplish in such a short amount of time, I got tickled and spent the next five minutes giggling!  Oh well, at least I didn't get frustrated and give up!

Whoops! I've digressed! Tomorrow Laura and Isabel leave for a very special Mother-Daughter trip to Disney World!  Sounds like more photos to post about!!  Until then, here are some photos I've taken recently.  Hope you enjoy them!

 The concrete was disentigrating on this fountain! Kind of weird but there it is.  So I planted it with succulents and it looks great!

My husband has the greenest thumbs you've ever seen!! I got home from work Friday and noticed out of the corner of my eye that there seemed to be a lot of ripe blueberries ready to pick.  When I turned the corner, I was amazed!! This is only half of what I ended up picking, not to mention what I ended up eating while I was picking them!! And there's still plenty more on the branches! Now this may not seem such a big deal to those living in the foreign lands of the north, but down here in the South, getting blueberries in June is quite an accomplishment!! And they're the sweetest they've ever been!!  Yummy!!

 Fabulous hand-glazed bowls Laura brought back from Afghanistan!!

 That's it for now! I still have lots of photos so perhaps I'll be back within a few days! Who knows? There may be hope for me yet?!?

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and may God bless! Jan

Nigel's Latest "Project"

  Wanted to share with you Nigel's latest "project" - an outside courtyard that will contain a fireplace, a built-in grill, benches, rock walls, and a fire pit!  See what you think!!

The Fursdon Construction Zone (AKA: The Back Yard!)

 

 The pad - that will support the fireplace

Wa La!!  Fireplace!! (or at least the beginning of one!)

 I talked Nigel into getting a cement mixer!  He said he'd "thought about it" but decided against it.  So I took the decision out of his hands, took the Home Depot Card out of his wallet, and went and bought the thing!  Sometimes a woman's got to do what a woman's got to do!! So there!!

A close-up view of the inside of the fireplace - those "bricks" inside on the bottom are special "fire bricks", made to withstand extremely high temperatures. To either side of the fireplace is the beginning of two firewood boxes that will hold wood for burning.

A cleaner look, which also shows the wall in the back. The majority of the wall will look like these blocks. However, on the left side, which is closest to the house, Nigel will build up the natural rock wall he started so many years ago.  It will just be taller.  You can see a little bit of the rock wall on the far left of this photo, in front of the planter. This way, all his hard work, that looks so great, won't be wasted!

 

A side view, with another view of the block wall.  To the far right of this wall is my swing (not shown in this picture).

The two concrete block "columns" (one partially hidden on the far right bottom of the picture) will support an arbor overhead.  These "columns" will be equally spaced around the entire courtyard and will be covered in rock. 

Another "cleaner" view.  The two small columns of block on the middle right of this picture will support the built-in grill.  And there will be a stone floor too.

This is the back of the fireplace, showing the block wall.  In this small space of dirt, Nigel will put in layered tiers or "steps" for interest, which we'll probably plant with a few "eatables".  I'm thinking something like chives, two tomato plants, some basil, and perhaps some flowers.  This was actually my idea, rather than plant them around the side of my studio.  It's closer to the house, will provide a great spot of high impact interest, and it's very easy to keep an eye on, as well as maintain.  Isn't Nigel lucky to have me "help" him?  Poor man!  He did say, "for better or worse"!!

That's all the photos for now.  It seems like it's all gone up in record time, as Nigel only started about a month ago.  Of course he said it will slow down significantly once he starts chiseling rock to go around the columns and also start building up the natural rock wall nearest the house.  I'm still amazed though.  As I write this, I can hear the whine of the saw blade in the back yard as Nigel cuts through certain blocks so they'll fit "just right".  He's so meticulous!  Yes, I'm very blessed!  And No, you can't have him.  You can't even borrow him!!  Cause he's all MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE!!

Love and Blessings to All! Jan