Projects Done

Happy Memorial Day!  Thank you all who have served in the military or who are now serving, and we never forget those who gave their lives, the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

It has been a fun filled weekend of projects around my house.  So, I had to find my Happy Place first.  On Thursday, I went for a manicure and pedicure, it is so relaxing!

I asked for a design on each ring finger.  The male(!) manicurist I go to free-hands the design, he has incredible talent.

After leaving my Happy Place, it was time to discuss and tackle the weekend projects.  I've asked John to install those pull out drawers in the lower cabinets in the kitchen.  Since my knee surgery, it has become more difficult for me to kneel down and try and pull out pots and pans.  The opposite lower cabinet I have chips, lunch snacks, odds and ends stored.  The product is Rev-A-Shelf.  John did a great job, it took him about ninety minutes on Saturday afternoon.

The Before 

The During

 

The Finish Line

 

Everything fits perfectly.  Honestly, I really have more space.  So much easier just to pull the drawer out than get down on my knees and dig for what I want by pulling half of the stuff out and putting everything back when I find it.  Check, project done.

 

Next project is the garden.  We've been waiting for Mother Nature to cooperate to plant our garden.  It has been cold most of May.  We're late, but better than never as they say.  Saturday and Sunday were sunny and cool with temps in the low 60s and very windy - winds about 25-30mph.  Finally, today was promised to be the best day of the weekend.  Off we went to get tomato plants and whatever else we discovered.  Here's what we ended up with.

 

Three tomato plants, corn, cucumber and melon



Blackberry and Strawberry plants

Now, for the planting, we had to re-till the garden as all the helicopter seedlings from the trees had fallen since last tilling in April (planting time had Mother Nature cooperated).

John is smoothing out the dirt from the seeds planted in the front empty area.

 

Taadaa!!  The finished product, all the tomato plants, the corn, cucumber and melon plants!

 

Due to lack of garden space, the blueberry plant went in the planter.

The strawberry plant was placed at the end of the garden.

The birds are use to having their restaurant behind my house open in April.  They've been wondering if we shut it down.  No fear, it is now open!

Look, here's the first customer!

I've had to pinky swear I will water these EVERY DAY (that it isn't raining)!

Check, all projects done.  With all projects completed, it was time to break out the grill on this Memorial Day 2013.  Unfortunately, good 'ol Mother Nature had other plans.  It began to sprinkle, there was rain on the radar.  No grilling out today.  Food will keep a few days, maybe later this week.  Hope your Memorial Day weekend was enjoyable!

Coming this week...a new roof, here's a sneak peek!

 

Oops, I Missed a Week

It got a little busy last weekend, Mother's Day weekend.  Saturday, we grocery shopped (yes, two grocery stores!) for our Mother's Day BBQ for Mother-in-Law (MIL).  John was with me as he wanted to spend his bowling cash award.  His team took first place of 12 teams.  Each bowling team member got a $500 cash award.  He bowls on a mixed league with two couples, three men and two women.  I haven't bowled since 2000 when I broke my elbow falling on the front steps of our former house leaving for work.  Unfortunately, I can't lift anything heavier than ten pounds max.  I am very afraid or re-injury as well (same with my knee).  Anyway, MIL picked the menu of hot dogs and hamburgers for BBQ.  Of course, we shopped for all the go-withs.  Unfortunately, it was in the low 60s and windy.  We had initially planned to dine on the deck, however, changed the plan to indoors due to the cool temps and wind.  MIL enjoyed the company, food and her day.

Hubby & brother grillin and chillin

 



Hubby, his brother, and his mother = Mother's Day 2013

 

Needless to say, after the goodbyes and clean up, I was too exhausted to blog, I know you understand.

 

Thanks to the cool, rainy weather, we have not planted the garden yet.  It was on the agenda for this weekend.  However, Mother Nature delivered a rainy weekend.  We're ready to go, we have the seeds, just need to buy some tomato plants, and John has tilled the garden.  It may need another quick tilling before we plant to clear the helicopters (tree seedlings).

 

Too many tree seedlings, another tilling needed

 

I joined Weight Watchers Online in April (no meetings).  Hoping for better results than I've been getting.  So, rather than counting calories as I was, I'm now counting points.  I've been up and down in the past month.  I lost two pounds and gained them back the following week (probably celebrated with a little too much dark chocolate :).  Gained and lost which seems to be the yo-yo I'm on.  This week, I've lost a pound.  I'm going to try to be good and keep it off, try to add another pound to that loss this week.  I've been walking daily at work.  I get extra points for activities, so my elliptical workouts and 30 minute/day walks add to my daily point allotment (woohoo!).  I record everything - the good, bad and ugly.  My weekends are full with chores and errands.  This week because of the rain in the forecast, I did the grocery shopping on Thursday and didn't hit the elliptical when I got home two hours later than usual, exhausted.  I did have good steps on the pedometer for extra points for the grocery store walking.  I'm hoping it all balances out.  I've stocked up on the fruit (0 Points for all fruit!), and cherries (my favorite) are now in the store (I'm planning another trip back before the sale ends this week).  I soak my berries in a water/vinegar mix (1-10 ratio), they don't get fuzzy and get rotten.

 



Cherries are back!

 

 

Berries soaking for 30 minutes

 

I'm addicted to oranges for my lunch and sometimes a night time snack

 

Strawberries ready for lunch packing this week.

 

Of course, a little Sangria helps with the fruit cleaning process ;-)

 

Spring continues to spring at my house.  My last blooming Azalea is in full bloom and very pink!

 

 

The Black-Eyed Susan's are popping too!

 

The Hostas in the front porch area are at full growth and the Azaleas are done with very little bloom left on them.

 

I bought new seat cushions for the front porch chairs.  Also, put the Citronella plant on the porch for the summer.  It is difficult to keep this plant alive all winter, it is very finicky.  This one survived another winter!

 

We had the local contractor come take a look at our roof and give us an estimate for replacement.  We were told the roof was 10 years old when we bought the house in 2003.  John was on the roof last week cleaning the "helicopter" tree seedlings from the gutters with his blower and found soft spots in the roof that were getting worse and shingles coming lose.  The estimate has arrived, new roof is $15K.  If we had the roof replaced three years ago after the two years of back to back snowstorms (2009 & 2010) when the soft spots first appeared, the roof would have cost $9K then, bummer, oh well.  This roof has a 30 year warranty, so it will probably outlast us both.  This is our "before" picture.

The new shingles will be delivered this Friday and placed on the roof (stacked ready to use).  On Tuesday or Wednesday (after Memorial Day), the roofers will arrive and spend the day, tearing up and disposing of the old roof, replacing and repairing necessary boards, adding the waterproofing and new shingles, will be all in a day's work for the roofers.  I can't wait to see it finished!







High School Get Together

I had another fun filled, memorable evening with my fellow classmates in Bowie, Maryland.  The past couple of years we've been getting together annually, just the locals mostly.  Those who have moved away, try to make it the Reunions every five years, we have one scheduled for next year.  We all stay in touch, thankfully, through Facebook.

Remember in my last post I mentioned that I had something funny happen?  Well, truth telling time....In preparation of the upcoming get together and hoping for nicer weather, I decided to give myself a spray tan.  Yes, with tan-in-a-can.  It has been years since I used a product like this.  Remember Q-T (QuickTan) in the 70s?  It's been about that long since I last did this.  I figured products had improved since then - wrong!  EPIC fail!!  I bought exfoliating gloves and a pumice stone.  I scrubbed for two days and got most of this off.  Lesson learned - again!!!
 



Another stop was the nail salon.  I get the shellac treatment, worth every penny.  I'm pleased my nails looked good, no fail there!

Finally, Friday has arrived.  I head to the gas station and fill up the gas tank.  Time to get on the road.  Not a bad drive, about an hour.  Over the WW Bridge I go.  I start seeing signs of my old hometown.

Signs are looking familiar, I'm getting closer...anticipation!

 

Arrived safely at the local hotel, The Comfort Inn and checked inn.

 

 

I get unpacked and start getting ready.  I get a phone call from best friend, Colleen.  She is getting a ride from her sister, they're both coming from Annapolis, Maryland, they'll meet me at the hotel.  Wonderful friends and classmates, Roger & Kathy have agreed to pick me up so I don't have to drive.  It turns out we have a caravan, Sharon, Sal and another classmate, Donna also following along.  As we drive through Bowie, I see some old familiar places that bring back memories.  Sadly, Bowie isn't the town it was 40 years ago, it has changed, but I still have my memories!  It's great to have these friendships last 40 years.

Good friends, good times, great memories!

 

One of my best friends, Colleen and her sister, June.  We've shared good times and bad.

Sadly, the night comes to an end and we say our goodbyes for another year.

 

Heading home, reality strikes, a traffic backup as far as the eye can see. 

 

Finally, a sign of home, almost there.

 

 



After sitting in traffic so long, it's nice to finally be home, I'm exhausted.

I'm glad we do these get togethers, it's great to see everyone.  I look forward to next year's 40th High School Reunion, see you then classmates!