8/18/12

Summer time...anniversary, wildlife, fun times!

16 comments
Hi friends,
This fellow has been visiting me a lot lately.  Isn't he a beauty?  We see deer in our yard on a daily basis however usually its the Mommy deer and their babies.


Such as the duo above.  
Summer seems to go by in a flash and I can't believe were starting to wind down a bit already.


I did manage to get a few gladiolas out of my garden.
With the heat and the drought things really took a beating around here this year.


Dan and I celebrated our fifteenth wedding anniversary this week.  A second marriage for both of us that also brought together 3 kids, two dogs and two houses.
And fifteen years later we are still going strong and now have 2 darling grand-daughters as well.
Speaking of little darling grand-daughters Dan and I took Addison to the Mall of America and the zoo this week.
She loved it...and it was fun to see it through her eyes.
This grandpa loves playing with this little gal!  And she loves him too, they have a very special bond.
She absolutely loved this little bus at the Mall of America. 
A good place to play peek-a-boo with Bampa!  (That's what Addison calls him)

 And our other special little gal little Miss Calista got her first set of wheels this past week.  Oh how I miss this darling and can't wait to get back and see her.
It's hard having a far away grand-baby but maybe someday they will be able to move back closer to us.
Or we will be moving closer to them!  Either way, I feel very blessed.
Well that's about it for me folks.  I am trying to get caught up on my blog visiting too.  My Mom has Parkinson's and she has had some hard times this summer.  So between taking care of a toddler full time I've also been helping my Mom.
I do feel like the sandwich of generations many a day.
I hope your all enjoying your summer!
Cindy

I am joining the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer.

8/5/12

Calista's 1st birthday, my fair entry and h.s. student house update!

30 comments
Yesterday was little Miss Calista's first birthday party!
She turned the big one on August 2nd.  I felt so bad that I couldn't fly out to Phoenix and celebrate with her. However here she is wearing the outfit I made for her.  I think she looks so adorable in it!  My brother and his wife who live in Flagstaff were able to attend.  And Calista's other Grandma and her auntie Peyton who is only 18 are visiting for two weeks.


With some of her buddies who came to help celebrate!


Today is the last day of our County fair. I love the fair!  I grew up as a farm girl and a 4-H member from age 9-18.  I still try to enter a few things each year.  This year was tough because I have been babysitting little grand-daughter Addison and she is an on the go toddler!
I made this tea-pot bouquet and you can imagine my surprise when is was picked best of show in the flower arranging category!  




And here's that little Miss busy herself enjoying a ride at the fair!  She literally squealed with delight when the ride finally got going.  I didn't think she was going to stay on because she was a bit scared acting.  However after finding a new buddy she was good to go!


I wanted to update you on the progress of the student built home.  My hubby has been working alone on this since school ended.  The homeowner has hired him to finish up the house.  Usually students are able to complete or come close to completing the home.  However there were delays on getting this one off the ground and the students were unable to begin until well into October.
I will let my hubby fill you in on the rest.


The exterior of the house is complete except for the ceilings on the porches which will be bead board and the stairs leading to the front porch.


The view of the house as you drive in with the river in the background. The river is quite wide and deep here with pontoons, water skiers, canoes, kayaks and fishing boats cruising by. The lot has a perfect spot to build a dock with easy access to nature's playground.


Looking from the living room into the kitchen, the skylights flood the area with natural light and the peaceful rhythm of raindrops against the glass when we are fortunate enough to get rain. The past 2 days we received over 1" of badly needed rain. 


The cement board has been installed throughout the house in preparation for floor tile. This knotty pine bedroom brings the feeling of being surrounded by wildlife and nature's beauty. Fresh deer footprints are plentiful each morning when I come to work.




 With the interior being filled with cedar and knotty pine walls and ceilings, the owner decided to put floor tile throughout the whole house. Small natural stone tile is being installed in the entryway with much larger earth tone ceramic tile throughout the remainder of the house. The main level bathroom will be tiled with a mix of the ceramic and natural tiles. 


After tiling is complete I will work on the porch ceilings and interior doors.  Then the bath, kitchen cabinets and casings and baseboards will be installed.


Well that's about it for me friends!
I am back to the fair for it's final day and our weather is just beautiful.  We got some much needed rain,  the really hot weather is gone and it's only getting into the upper 70's!  Gorgeous weather!
Have a great week!
Cindy


Adding on to some fun blog parties!


Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper
Met. Monday at Between Naps on the Porch