Good Morning

Good morning one and all.  It's a new day, a new week, it's Monday morning and of course I'm up at 4:45 like clockwork.  The alarm goes off and then Clayton starts whining and pawing for us to "GET UP AND FEED ME!"  A quick walk through the gauntlet that is our backyard, once before his breakfast and once after the meal.  I have to go with him as we still have no side fence and he can escape.  It's a warm morning and will only get warmer.  I am so in a better frame of mind this early morning and ready for the week.  Not much happening except more brick laying.  They are actually getting closer and I'm happy about that.  The trim carpenter should be here Tuesday to finish (should) and then the painter.  Yes, we are on the downhill slide of the end.  Of course, that won't be the end as we will have to have the fence replaced.  We've discovered that the only thing holding some of it up is an English ivy vine.  So when the construction is done, then fence, then landscaping fixes and then WE'RE DONE!  Can't say that enough.  

Baby time is fast approaching and B's first baby shower is this coming weekend.  She has three on the horizon, before the big day.  They're still working on the nursery and nesting.  Soon our sweet little peanut will make her appearance.  

This weekend I was kind of bullied into something I said I would not do.  A group of ladies and one guy at the lake encouraged me to go ahead and finish the next two books in the Shades of Grey trilogy.  I have been toying with the idea as the first one left off with intention of continuing.  They said even though you hate the character in the first one it does get better.  Okay, okay, I'm going to finish all three but one reason is that we've all decided to have a HUGE one time book club event there and discuss the books.  Cool.  

So good Monday morning one and all.  Summer is halfway over, let's look to the fall now.  

Giving In To The Chaos

I am giving in to the chaos of construction.  Time away, even though it was only one night at the cabin, spending time with friends, laughter and a few glasses of wine, have given me the breather I needed.  I have cancelled the new book club meeting that I had scheduled for Wednesday night and I'm cancelling the house cleaning that would have taken place.  There is no point on that one.  I have opened my schedule to let the chaos rule my world.  I even cancelled my hair appointment, twice, for the gray coverage.  I am going to live with it a bit longer.  

Actually, something happened yesterday that has put a new perspective on my life and that what is going on in it is NOTHING.  An old friend of ours lost her husband and it was so very tragic I can hardly put it into words.  There was a gang related shooting at one of the Best Buy's here in town, not far from our home actually, and that alone is scary.  He was inside the store with his 12 year old daughter when a stray bullet came through the door, hit him square in the heart.  Down he went with his daughter asking if he was okay.  The last words he spoke were, "No!"  He was gone in that instant.  An innocent bystander on a Saturday afternoon excursion with his precious daughter and his life was ended by the stupidity of gang violence.  The man outside, the intended target was also killed.   This horrific tragedy makes the crap I have been complaining about NOTHING, absolutely nothing.  I can't imagine how K's life has been so tragically devastated by this.  One minute you have a happy little family and the next it has been ripped apart, smashed into oblivion.  My heart goes out to K and her small daughter and her older daughter E that is one of B's dearest friends.  I've known E for over 25 years and cannot imagine the heartache she has for the loss of her dear stepfather that she loved.  The pain that her little sister is going through now and the trauma that has befallen on her.  Senseless, absolutely senseless.  

Guest

Our little guy is hiding.  Hiding outside my closet from a fly that has made its way into the house.  

Around the corner of my chair is the guest.  The granddog is visiting for the weekend. 

Friday The 13th

Today is Friday the 13th.  Should I worry?  I don't think so.  I'm not the least bit superstitious.  My paternal grandparents were both born on Friday the 13th, May and October.  We also owned our sweet little long-haired black kitty Sasha for 17 years and I'm sure she walked across our path a few times.  Walked under a few ladders and stepped on many cracks in my lifetime.  I don't really believe in superstitions.  How about you.  I hear there are three Friday the 13th's this year.  

I have to apologize for my rants yesterday and previous days about the construction stuff.  I just hit a wall yesterday.  I think it's because I want my house back.  I haven't been able to concentrate and paint at home since this has started and I have several to finish.  ENOUGH!

The weekend is here and I plan on visiting my Daddy sometime and applying a layer of paint on a canvas at some point.  We have a going away party on Saturday night and I get to wash some grey out on Saturday afternoon.  A full weekend, sort of.  At least The Hubby won't have to spend his free time on the flip house as that is DONE and on the market.  If you're looking for a house in the 25th & Sheridan area, there is a nice one for sale.  Even have a couple in our neighborhood for sale that needs some good people in them. 

I believe this post is a ramble, can you follow the train of thought.  This is what my mind is like sometimes, kind of scary!

Have a great weekend all!

As The Mess Turns

Well, we are still in a mess here and it is starting to MAKE ME CRAZY!

See the wall on the other side of the tree.  That is progress, as are the2-1/2 columns that are done. 

Now they have started the other side of the tree, where the new fire pit will be. 

And it is where the "Kendall" sign will sit, behind the pit.  We will be able to see it through the french doors that are still not finished inside or out.   

I'm just tired of not being able to sit in my yard or let little Clayton run.  

Oh well, soon, very soon!

Wordless Wednesday

Headaches Of All Kinds

Late in writing this morning.  I have been waking up for the past four days with a sinus headache.  Ever since I had the sinus infection, which is gone, I wake up with a headache, mostly in the middle of the night.  I haven't had that problem in years.  I guess I need to be more diligent in taking the allergy med's that are no longer paid for by prescription.  Last night I woke up at 2:35 a.m. and just had to get up.  Which meant that by the time I finally was able to go back to sleep it was close to time to get up.  I called Wade and told him I just couldn't make it to workout and drifted back to sleep while The Hubby got up, fed the dog, fixed his oatmeal and grumbled because we didn't have milk.  I texted him a message on Sunday that he needed to get some milk.  He said he didn't get the text but the one I sent seconds later about having chicken gizzards for dinner, he got.  I don't drink milk and rarely use it for anything so I fail, often to notice it being used up.  Sorry guy.  Anyway, back to the head throb.  I did successfully go back to sleep and slept quietly till 8 when the hammering started, not in my head but outside.  The bricklayers are here.  They have worked everyday since Friday, and that includes Saturday and Sunday.  I'm glad they are working hard to finish, in fact I wished they worked faster but I will take what I can get.  We found a trim carpenter to trim out the inside where we put in the new window.  We have to replace some of the wood on the walls and trim around the door.  He will work at 8 Saturday morning.  UGH.  That means another weekend in town, away from our cabin.  We are also keeping the granddog this weekend which Clayton will love.  I worry that he might find a nail out in our bombed out backyard with no fence.  Have to be very careful.  Also, we found a landscaper that I think will be able to get our flowerbeds and the grass in shape when all the construction mess is gone.  On one side of the yard where the workers bring everything and walk over it is nothing but a hard dirt mound.  We also will have to replace the entire fence as it is now falling down on all sides.  Might as well get it all right the first time around so we can stop the money flow and the constant flow of strange men in my yard.  

With all this going on we also have a flip house we have been working on, actually, The Hubby has been working on.  I have done a bit of cleanup and decision making and writing checks, but that is about it. 

Hopefully I will get some inside of before and after pictures.  The Hubby has done an amazing job and the landscape guy put in some new stuff yesterday that is not pictured here.  Today we officially put it on the market with a reality company.

Construction Twilight Zone

This is going to be one of those days when I let my fingers do the talking here.  I've been relying a lot on my photos to drive my train of thought, but the camera sits today, empty of images.  

This construction stuff is starting to get me down.  I'm tired of having my living room in the dining room.  I'm tired of the mess inside of the house when the majority of the work is on the outside.  I'm tired of having male people traipsing around in my backyard, EVERY DAY of the week.  Yes, they were there on Saturday morning at 7 am and Sunday morning at 7am.  And since the bricklayers are working on the wall with the windows and doors they are constantly looking into my house.  Luckily they have visqueen on the window and door in the kitchen but that cuts out my favorite view of the back yard.  I am looking at plastic now.  I think today they will start on the brick pillars in the middle of the patio and hopefully will take the plastic down.  Plus, it is a pain to let the dog out.  Poor Clayton can't just run out the door on his own.  We have to take him to a door that we can get through, and tentatively walk on the gravel, nails, bricks, and boards that are strewn around the yard.  Plus we have to watch him like a hawk because again, we have no side fence.  I love doing construction but after a while it gets to be more of a pain in the ASS!  I think today I've hit that wall of STOP!  I know it is closer to the end than I know, but it is slow.  We need a trim carpenter inside now so we can have the painter to fix the new areas around the french doors before I can re-assemble the living room.  Next week I'm having ladies over and I would really like to have some semblance of a living room by then.  I don't see that happening.  

Oh, goodness, I could go on and on with the insane ramble on the woes of construction/remodel hell, but I must stop.  It's only Monday and I have a lot more days of it to go.  I do want it done by the time our little granddaughter is born in September.  I want to concentrate on the joy of SweetPea coming into our lives.  

This-n-That Saturday

I had forgotten how beautiful the white crepe myrtle is outside the window of our new bathroom.  Last year it took my breath away and again this year it brings the same response.

I have a bird feeder there too but the darned squirrel can't keep his mitts off of it, depleting the seed, from the squirrel-proof feeder, in less than 30 minutes. 

Paper thin flower petals, just lovely.

Friday night The Hubby insisted we attend a get together way out in the "boondocks" of a former neighbor and junior high classmate.  He had not seen her and her sister in how many years, over 40.  Her hubby rebuilds classic cars so The Hubby had to get his '49 Dodge pickup out of storage to attend.

We climbed in, and thank goodness he had A/C installed, to tool down the road south of Tulsa to meet up for chat, food and meet new and old friends! 

I thought I might take a few pic's but really didn't find anything that spoke to me, "take a picture."  I settled on the nasty wasp nest up in the corner of the garage we sat out by.  EEK...gives me the shivers.  

Window or Not to Window

Look at that big hole!  There were once windows there.

There, it is To Window!

Wait a minute, whose butt is that...I see two butts...Ah, it's the brick layers this fine Saturday morning.  They didn't get much started yesterday as the bricks didn't arrive till late so they opted to work this morning, at 7 am.  Glad I got to sleep in a bit.

Paintings Update

I've been busy and finished a few paintings, the first three here are sold and the last one of A's sweet kitty Zig  is hers.  

"Annie"

"Kuki"

"Zinnia Garden"

"Turtle"

"Zig"

Hopefully I will finish the three still lifes, the commission and another one I hope to have for Christmas cards.  

Marriage - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Mama's Losin' It's writing prompts this week are interesting but the one I chose is:

How long have you been married, and which years were the best and hardest?

This, I think I can answer that question with some authority.  The Hubby and I have been married 36 years now.  It's hard to imagine that, 36 years, living with the same person.  I don't feel that old and I don't feel like that much time has passed.  The Hubby and I met on a blind date.  I've written about our meeting, engagement and even our 25th anniversary that was so special here.  The first year was probably the best, but it was also the hardest.  We didn't have a lot of stuff or money, but we had a great apartment and each other.  Songs on the radio can transport me to that year in 1976, a cool breeze through an open window in the spring, certain smells, that year was the best, but for me it was also the hardest.  

I was 19 years old and had never been away from my family for any length of time.  Here I was, married to the guy that swept me off my feet, living in a different town so unknown to me.  I know it was only from Broken Arrow to Tulsa, but at the time that was so far away.  Growing up in a small town, which Broken Arrow was at that time, we rarely went to Tulsa.  I did not know how to get around in Tulsa, and felt so alone and lost, yet I had to be with my husband, the man that I loved dearly.  There were a lot of tears and a lot of laughter that first year.  Again we were mere babes.  We had to learn how to budget our money, manage our household, pay our bills, do our own laundry, cook our meals, grocery shop...the list was endless and never ending.  

We still drive by the apartment building and remember, and that is where we renewed our vows (here).  That was the year we began the foundation of a lifetime together. 

I don't think I could be specific on a "hardest" year.  We've had ups and downs but not necessarily in the marriage.  I'm not to be so naive to say we haven't had some bad fights but they don't last and they don't make our marriage.  Somewhere back in my memory I can remember hearing about the "7 year itch" but we didn't have that.  Actually, by that time we had one child, business was booming, I was going to school, life was good.  Another seven years and we were still trucking along in business and another kiddo.  Probably our roughest years have been when there were hiccups in the business and it made us stronger and more united.  

Marriage is not a bed of roses sometimes, but it is also where I want to stay.  I LOVE MY LIFE!  It's very hard work and if I let the first fight scare me off we would't be here today, 36 years later, two beautiful daughters, a granddaughter on the way, a successful business, etc.  It is endless.  

Wordless Wednesday

Happy 4th of July

Construction - Phase Whatever

Yesterday we had to completely clear out the living room for the next part of out outdoor kitchen.  You ask, "Why do you have to clear out the living room?"  I will explain.  See that window with the shutters.  That is going bye-bye.  We are putting in french doors, like the master bathroom.  

So to limit the dust problems everything must go.   

This is my dining room and front room, where the living stuff has gone to stay for a bit. 

We have a path cleared out as the living room is completely visqueened off so I don't have to dust the entire house.  

Last night when I got home I was faced with this scaffolding in front of the door to the back yard.  Well, how am I to take Clayton out!  The Hubby told me I just have to crawl through.  EXCUSE ME!  I don't crawl through anything.  But, I had to face the fact that it was the only way to potty the dog.  So at 5 am, I crawled out through the scaffolding.   

Fun note, last night about 5 we had a deluge of a rainstorm.  It didn't last long but dropped 8 tenths of rain on our visqueened new roof.  Thank goodness it was stuck good.  We only had a few drips.   

Visqueen! 

I told The Hubby last night that this has GOT to be close to be done, or at least able to put our stuff back because I'm having about 10 ladies here July 18 for the new book club I'm starting.  Get busy guys!

Bunnies and Flowers and CLAYTON

The weekend at the cabin was the annual 4th of July celebration that I DON'T participate in.  Actually, I sat inside most of the time and read.  I finished yet another book and am 35 books into my 60 read goal.  I finished Summer People, by Elin Hilderbrand.  She has become one of my favorite authors and I can't seem to get enough of her stuff right now, helps that she writes about the beach, my favorite kind of place, and Nantucket, where I have never been.

Yesterday I woke up early thanks to little Mr. Clayton, 5 a.m. thank you, his usual time and try as I might I could not go back to sleep.  When I let him out to do his business the air was fairly nice, not like the usual heat wave that early, so I grabbed my Kindle and headed to the screened porch to finish the book with my coffee.  It was so quiet, but about 8:19, the low drone of the cicadas started their sing-song, "It's gonna be another hot day" song.  Great.  Soon The Hubby was up and being the kind of guy that can't sit still long when he sees something that needs to be done, he's up to clip grass around the fence row and our new plants.  I was, but it's just too hot and since I'm on this medication I'm not supposed to be in the sun.  (Good excuse.)  

He started clipping and soon discovered a tiny little bunny that Mr. Clayton had a bead on.

Not one bunny but two.  There is a tall wall that separates the yard and the drive and one of the little buggers just jumped down, straight onto the concrete.  I cried out and raced down to find it staggering around.  Oh gosh, I scooped it up and took it to a nearby side of grass where it promptly jumped out of my hands.  Poor little baby, but Clayton had it in his sights.   

Soon Clayton jumped the second one out of its hiding place and was after it like nobody's business.  He watched them through the fence after that.   

At least in this heat my pretty hardy hibiscus are blooming. 

How was your hot weekend!

Tomatoes

See that blush back there.  

I've been watching two HUGE beefsteak tomatoes slowly grow and ripen.

I've lost so many to the dang squirrels and critters.  

But, I'm bound and determined to hang onto these two beauties.

One of them is as big around as my hand and bigger.

I've done everything from netting, blow up snakes and owls.  

Yesterday morning I could not stand the thought of going out to find them on the ground, eaten.  The last huge one was munched on a bit but I cut the eaten part and fried up a good green tomato.  I'm not going to wait...I picked them and now they sit on my kitchen counter to finish ripening.

Backyard Update

Things are progressing on the new patio and outdoor kitchen.

Before...

Before...

The beginning... 

Clayton and The Hubby inspecting... 

Lots and lots of dirt moving...

then the gravel went in to prevent a washout when it rained...as if...

We now have steel beams that will be covered with brick and a new roof... 

I can already feel the cool in the kitchen...