Glazing progress

Here is an updated pic of the front of the house. Remember the bushes we cut down to about 6 inches? They have grown back and I actually like the way they look now. It doesn't remind me of a cattle chute anymore! The two pots on the front porch have a fun story. Several years ago on one of our annual Round Top antiquing trips, my friend Cindy and I found these great huge urns. There was a pair and neither of us wanted two of them so we each bought one and both of us have used them for table bases. Cindy lives right across the street from the new house. A couple of weeks ago she called and said it was time to reunite the pair and my front porch needed them. It is her house warming gift to us! So.....Friday night we decided to move them. They are so heavy that it took two adult women and her 19 year old son to move them. It was a great time and will always be a special memory. They look kind of tacky right now because the plants are small but I will take an occasional pic as they grow up!

Diane working her magic on the front door.

Done...!

We are debating whether or not to take the screen door off. When it is open, the detail of the surrounding brick seems to "pop". We may put it back up in the fall when we can actually use it. At 100 degrees, not so much!

We are so dry down here and no rain in the forecast for the next 8 days. These two robins were so cute bathing in the sprinkler water yesterday. They aren't picky! When you've gotta bathe, you've gotta bathe!

I was at Sams by 8:30 yesterday. This is a baby bird that was in the cart return corral. He didn't budge when I got close to him and I could just hear him saying, " If I don't move she won't see me...she won't see me...she WON'T SEE ME"!!! I knew he was the first to get kicked out of the nest when I looked up in the tree above me and saw his two siblings sitting on the branch.....

I think they were saying, " YOU go next.....NO, YOU go next....Look at HIM, he jumped and now he's NOT MOVING. I'm NOT going!!" Whatever...it made me laugh! Such life lessons there, yes? I am off to bed! Later!!

This and That

I tried to find a pic of the front of the house with the old lamp posts and no carriage lights on the house but I couldn't find a good one. We took the posts down and put up these lights. I think the scale is much better for the house.

OK.....here are the first pics of the painted cabinets. The final coat is now on and they are starting on the walls....yeah!! The counter tops are now in but I couldn't get a pic because they covered them up almost as soon as they were installed. They are BEAUTIFUL!!!!! It is a Calcutta marble and if you have ever used marble in a kitchen, it is not stain friendly. Well, it already has a 4" stain and we didn't even get to make it ourselves! It is kind of like getting a new car and getting your first ding....now it is over and we don't have to wait for it! I really do have the attitude that each stain will just be a memory and lots of memories are great!

OK...I searched and searched for my dining room chandelier. I finally found one and it took 3 weeks to get here. This was the condition of the box when it was placed on my front porch! Notice the "Handle with Care"!!! Ya right! Who in their right mind would actually deliver this to someone? Needless to say, it was NOT in one piece when it arrived and has been sent back so now I wait for the new one to be shipped. Hopefully this one will arrive in better condition.

Broken post....but you can see the finish on the light.

Remember the "Before"? Here is the "After". Bob did such a great job!!

We finally made the very difficult decision to age the dark woodwork in the house. We debated back and forth because it really is such incredible wood. Bob was really the one dragging his feet a little more than me. You know how men are about painting wood! We finally gave my friend Diane the go-ahead and you would not believe the change. Bob LOVES it.....really LOVES it!! It just softened and updated the house. This is Diane's business and she is so talented. I have LOTS of talented friends! Thanks Diane!

Now I am switching to something even more near and dear to my heart! My sweet family! Halie had her first dance recital last week. It was a hoot!!! She did so well and most of all, she had a great time and wasn't nervous in front of all of those people. She did NOT get that from her Nana!

It was also Halie's 5th birthday and she and some of her friends went to a salon and got their nails done. It was so much fun....the adults just watched but I really needed to take a seat and get a little work done on mine. Every week I think I will get that done but as of now it just hasn't happened!

Avery came to town for the party. She idolizes Halie and it is the sweetest thing to watch them together. There in NOTHING that beats being a grandparent!

Austin was content just to sit in the foot tub and play with my iphone!

Yesterday I had a blast! I got to have BOTH of the girls all day! We painted, had a tea party, played in the garden hose (it is still HOT here!) and went to the squirt park. They LOVE crafts of any kind and I love to watch them be so creative.

Mollie is just waiting for a stray goldfish!

Last but not least....playdough cookies to finish the day!

Have a great week!!!