Backyard - Phase One

I think the pictures will tell the story.

More to come.

Hugs!

Palm tree and other random things

Oh what a week we had!  

We started the week with the landscaper showing up - on time, I might add - to take the large palm tree out.

As you can see, this was a pretty big tree and while we loved it - we knew it was going to have to go if we were going to put in the patio.

So, after a couple of hours, palm tree was lifted out of the ground

and on it's way to the nursery so it can find a new home.

Then, we had a real treat!

Lorelai spent the night with us!

Yahoo!

Her first night away from her mom and dad.

Why at only eleven months did my sweet little one stay the night?

Well, it was very simple, really.  Her mom had a EARLY morning meeting in Sebring (she had to be there at 7:15) which meant she would have had to wake the baby up around 5:30 to get her here in time to make her meeting.  So, the best solution was to let the little one stay here.

She (and her gran pee Dan) did great.  Truth be told, I was a little tired when Melissa picked her up Tuesday afternoon - but it all turned out okay.

The rest of the week was pretty normal - golf cart rides a couple of times a day (that little one sure does like riding on the golf cart) and playing with the pups and tennis balls.

Saturday we had to do some shopping at Walmart.

Sunday was church.

I think we have finally found our new church home.

We have been "shopping" for a new church since we settled here in Lake Placid - but for some reason - nothing felt "right".  I think we were always trying to compare the church to our church in North Carolina which we loved.  However, we don't live in NC anymore, and we really needed a church here.

A couple of weeks ago we visited the Nazarene church here in Lake Placid, but the pastor was not there - he was at the leadership conference.  While we enjoyed the small congregation we couldn't know if we would like the pastor.

Well, to make a long story short, we went yesterday and enjoyed the service very much.  WE feel like this is the right place for us.  So, no more "shopping" around - we have a home.

Today, Little Miss had something new.

A homemade Popsicle!

(Frozen pear juice)

Can you tell she really liked it?

It's such fun to introduce her to some new things.

I think I'll have to see what other Popsicle I can invent.

Gotta run -

Have a great week!

Hugs!

Pretty painted house

This week was a different one.

 Monday the painters were here bright and early to paint the house.  I spent the day at Melissa and Justin's house.  We didn't want Little Miss to be in the paint fumes, or to be in the paint.  (Really we really didn't want her in the paint. LOL!)  Honestly, it would have been very difficult for the guys to paint with the little one crawling around.  It just made more sense for me to keep her at her house for the day.  So, Dan dropped me off at 6:45.  We had a good day, but I think she was a little confused why she wasn't at Grampie and Nana's house.

The two guys that came to paint the house did a nice job - and finished when they said they would finish - they painted the entire house in just one day.  I haven't taken pictures - but I'll take some in the next few days so I can show you.  I think the colors turned out pretty well - and we are happy with the way they turned out.

Tuesday afternoon I had a doctor's appointment in Lakeland.  So, Justin took off work early and took Little Miss for the afternoon.  It was just my yearly with my Gyn - nothing special.  Now, I do have to go back on the 28th and have my mammogram  and I'm also going to see a dermatologist.  There are a couple of moles that need to be checked out, but I don't think they are anything to worry about - they just need to be removed.

While we were in Lakeland we decided to do a little shopping at places we don't have at home.  So, we went by Hobby Lobby and picked up a picture frame and then over to Stein Mart.  I wanted a cream wash cloth and hand towel for the guest bathroom - which I found.  We also found the comforter set that I had seen at Home Goods down in Ft. Myers.  So, Dan bought it for my birthday.  It sure does brighten up the bedroom.

Wednesday and Thursday we were back to our regular schedule - although I worked on cleaning the house around Little Miss.  That is a trick in itself - HaHa!

Friday, Dan hooked up the travel trailer and took it up to Sebring to the consignment lot.  We are hopeful that it will sell quickly.

Friday afternoon Melissa and Mom came over - picked up Lorelai and then we all went into Sebring to meet Justin for my birthday dinner at Outback. Yummy! 

You know it's pretty bad when you have to have three vehicles to get five people and a baby to town.  Now, one of those five was coming in from work - but still three vehicles for all of us it pretty bad. 

We definitely need a bigger vehicle. 

Saturday, Dan and I went out to breakfast then up to Avon Park to the grocery store.

Today I started the day with a nice long telephone conversation with my oldest daughter in Nashville.  It was so nice to be able to talk to her for a long time - I miss us doing that.  I will look forward to seeing her in a few weeks.  

Then we had everyone here over for a Mother's Day Lupper (lunch and supper combined).  Dan grilled country ribs and chicken - of course, it rained on him.  I don't know why - but it doesn't seem like Dan can grill if it isn't raining!  I fixed some potato salad, baked beans, and fresh sliced tomatoes. Everything turned out really good and it was nice to have Mom, Melissa, Justin, Lorelai, Dan and I all together for a meal.  Little Miss even ate some boiled potato that I saved when making the potato salad.  She is getting better and better at feeding herself - of course, she isn't using a spoon yet - but those fingers are good for now.

Now, next week we have some things planned too.

Monday the landscaper is suppose to be here to take out the big palm in the back yard in preparation of pouring the concrete for the patio.  Then we will have to have the irrigation man here to move some irrigation lines.  We shall see what else the week holds.

I wish all you of you that are mothers a very Happy Mother's Day!  I hope that you had a wonderful relaxing day.

Have a nice week ahead and I'll talk to you soon!

Hugs -

Carol

Slowly but surely

Things are getting done around here - slowly, but surely.

A week ago Monday we were SUPPOSE to have the air conditioning people here to give us an estimate on having vents put in the family room.  Notice the word "suppose"?  Well, we waited all day and they never showed up.  Tuesday morning came and went - not even a phone call.   So, Dan got in the truck and drove down to the office Tuesday afternoon - no one there.  Office was locked up tighter than a drum.  Wednesday morning, we still haven't heard a word from these people,  Dan drives back down to their office - still no one there. 

  

Enough is enough.

He goes around the corner to a different A/C office and gives them our name and what we want.  Within fifteen minutes of him getting back home - we have a phone call from the office setting up a time for them to come give us an estimate - Friday between 2:30 and 3.  At 2:45 the gentleman is here - looks at everything - gives us an estimate and we come to an agreement on price.  He told us that the office would call and set up a time for the guys to come and install on Monday.  

Not only did they call and say when they would be here - they were actually early and had everything installed and working within two hours.  They even wore those little "booties" on their shoes so they wouldn't get the carpet dirty.  We are very satisfied with their work - and it has made a HUGE difference in the comfort level here in the family room.  Woo!Hoo!

Thursday was my mom's birthday - so we all went out to dinner.  Dan, Lorelai, and I went over and picked mom up and drove into Sebring where we met Melissa and Justin. We had a nice dinner and the kids gave her a couple of picture frames with shots of Lorelai in them.   I think everyone had a nice time and mom enjoyed her night out.

Saturday we went up to Avon Park and looked at a couple of "new" vehicles.  We are still thinking about getting me a car - I just don't know if it is really necessary - other than the fact that I don't like driving the truck.  I can drive the truck, I just don't like to.  Anyway, we have been kicking around the idea of me getting a car - but so far, I haven't been convinced that it is a necessary thing.  If I were working - then yes, I would need a car.  We sold the car I had when we first moved to Lake Placid because it sat in the driveway and was never used.  So, why would I need a car now?  Just seems like an expense we can do without right now.

Sunday, we went to church at the Nazarene church here in town.  Since we have moved here we just have not been able to find a new church home.  We loved our church in North Carolina so much - and the pastor there.  However, a couple of weeks ago we found out that our pastor at our church in N.C. died.  Dan and I have had a very hard time with his death - you see, he committed suicide.  We don't understand why he did what he did.  We have seen and read the open letter he left to the church - but we are still don't understand. 

 At church on Sunday the pastor talked about people needing a friend - how at one time he had been very depressed and he leaned on a person at church who ministered to him - he needed and leaned on a friend.  Dan and I both wish that Eddie could have reached out to a friend - but he didn't - and now he is gone.  The church doesn't have a leader, but more importantly, his family has lost a husband, a dad,and a grandfather.  

I pray that Eddie is at peace and is singing in heaven today.

He will be missed by many here on earth.

After church we went out to lunch with some people we met that morning.  What a nice way to end your first visit to a new church.  We will be going back again - we may have found our new church home.

   Then, later in the afternoon, the kids and the baby came over.  Dan and Justin went fishing while Melissa, Lorelai, and I just hung out at the house.

Oh, and Sunday night, we get a call from the first A/C people.  

A little too late wouldn't you say?

Now, on to this week -

The new vents were added on Monday - as I already told you.  

Tuesday was a pretty laid back day with not a lot going on, other than keeping Little Miss.  I did balance the checkbook and set up the monthly E-payments.  Not too much excitement.

Today, we had someone come in and give us an estimate on painting the inside of the house - living/dining room, hallway, guest bedroom, and kitchen.  The price was really reasonable and included him buying the paint - so, this coming Monday we will have the interior of the house painted.   I'll keep the baby at her house on Monday.  Don't want her to be around paint fumes.  Plus, with her getting around so much - certainly don't want her in the paint! LOL!

 That will only leave the two bathrooms to be done.  We will do those ourselves, as I have already gotten the wallpaper for the guest bathroom and I'll probably work on it in a couple of weeks.  We still have not decided what color we want to paint the master bath or what we want to do with the vanity - just replace hardware like we did in the guest bathroom or replace it, so we will just wait on doing anything with that one for awhile.  

Once we get this done, pretty much everything that we wanted to do inside the house will be complete.  There are still some window treatments that we want to change out - but those can be done later.  (Oh, and maybe some shelving)

Also, today, the wall mount came for putting the television in the master bedroom up on the wall.  Dan has already installed the mount and the TV is up.  We will have to do some "tweaking" as we will have to hide all the wires - but I think it will be so much better with it up on the wall instead of on a cabinet in the corner.

Well, that pretty much catches everyone up on what is happening around here.  

Oh, we have been getting rain for the last couple of days - they started on Sunday evening with a good rain, then we had a huge thunderstorm yesterday, and it is currently raining. We can certainly use the rain, so we are NOT complaining! 

(Just in case you are wondering, Melissa picked up Little Miss early today - so I was able to write a post.)  

Hope everyone has a super rest of the week!

Hugs -

Carol

Updating some stuff

The week just seems to fly by.  On Monday I think the week is going to take forever - then the next thing you know it's Friday (or Sunday)!

Last Saturday we went down to Ft. Myers.  We went to Hobby Lobby to pick 

up some picture frames then went to Home Goods and found some items for the house.  Sunday was spent cleaning and laundry.

This week didn't have too much going on during the week - 

we went out to eat Friday night and then

went up to Lowe's to pick up some things that we needed to

complete some of the projects we are working on.

Saturday we went down to the farmer's market in Okeechobee.

I guess I really didn't realize that it is as close to go to

Okeechobee as it is to go to Avon Park.

Anyway, the farmer's market there is a nice market and we were

able to pick up a lot of fresh vegetables and fruit.

Today, I went over and visited with my mom for a little while.  Then I came home and cleaned house and did the laundry.

Dan hadn't been feeling well this week - a bad cough - but 

he did go fishing twice during the week, and he is 

out fishing now.

He is really enjoying being able to just walk out the back door,

walk across the yard, lower the boat, get in, and away he goes.

I listed a couple of things on Craigslist, but haven't gotten any "hits"

on them - so, we will probably just donate them and take the

tax write off.  That's okay - it will all work out.

The main thing is getting the stuff out of the garage.

To give you a little update on our projects:

There are some things that we want to do - most of these are outside - so, we have been getting some estimates on the work.
So far, we have not decided which project we are going to do first.  That will be decided after tomorrow, as we are getting an estimate on adding A/C vents in the family room.

The family room was, at one time, a screen porch.  It is under the roof of the house - not an add-on - and the former owner had windows installed to make the family room; however, since they were only winter residents they did not have a/c vents put in.  Well, there is a marked difference in the air temperature between the living room and the family room.  So, an a/c man is coming tomorrow to see if we can add the vents without having to get a larger a/c unit.  Depending on what they say (cause we have GOT to have air out there) will determine what else we will be able to do - as we are paying CASH for what ever we do!  (If we can add the vents WITHOUT having to

upgrade the A/C unit we will be able to do at least one of the 

following projects)

Some of the other projects that we want to do are:

1) the vents in the family room (first priority)

2) add a porch all the way across the back of the house - 

not all of it will be screened - but it all will be under roof.

This project will have to be done in stages - 

with the concrete slab going in first - 

then the roof over - 

and finally closing in the screen room part.

3) fence the back yard

(I think that is more important than the porch since Little Miss

will be playing in the yard this summer and I don't want to have 

to worry about her and the canal)

Those are the big projects that we want to do - of course, we will be

painting and doing updating in the house, but that doesn't count as these won't be MAJOR expenses.

Here are some before and afters of the house so far.

(The before pictures were taken that first Saturday we 

took possession.)

 Living Room Before:

 Looking from family room to front door

From front door to family room

Now:

From family room to front door

Front door to family room

Looking toward the Dining Room before.

Dining room now

Master Bedroom Before

Master Bedroom now

Guest Bathroom Before

Guest Bathroom now

This is the room we have been working on this week. 

Changes so far include:

New shower curtain, towels, rug

(from our Home Goods trip)

New hardware on vanity

New light fixture over vanity

 The pictures, lamp, and decorations in here

we already had.

I've ordered the wallpaper we are going to use in this room

 (It is a paintable bead board wallpaper)

and we have settled on the paint color 

we are going to use above the wallpaper

 and on the wallpaper itself.

So, this room is a "room in progress". 

(and it will probably be the first room "finished")

Guest Bedroom/Nursery Before

Guest Bedroom/Nursery Now

and

finally

Kitchen Before

Kitchen Now

So far, we have made the most changes to the Kitchen -

New Stainless Steel Appliances

(the only large expense inside the house)

New handles on cabinets

New curtain

New rugs

(still need to change out the dishwasher but that will have to wait)

So, as you can see, we have been making steady progress but there are still projects that we want to accomplish. 

(Can anyone say PAINTING!)

We are going to get estimates on this too, since Dan has 

decided that he doesn't want to paint the whole house. 

However, I don't think we have done too bad 

since we have only been in the house a month.

Now, of course, I have to leave you with some pictures of Little Miss.

These were taken this week - hope you enjoy.

She is getting "SO BIG!"

Gosh, her Nana loves her "SO MUCH!"

Hugs -

Carol/Nana

P.S.  I am still thinking about the other blog.  I'll let you know IF I decide 

to tackle another one.

Happenings

Wow!  Has it really been almost two months since I did a post (other than the notification of comment verification being put on the blog)?  That just is amazing to me - I don't know if it is because I have been so busy, or because I don't have anything to say.  Well, a lot has happened so it can't be because I don't have anything to say - so, I'll just blame it on being WAY to busy.  Let me see if I can get you somewhat caught up.

We closed on the house on March 13th - after a lot of drama the preceding couple of weeks,  the closing went down with no problems.  Now, while we closed on Wednesday we did not get possession of the house until Saturday, March 16th.  I actually think we were turning down the road to the new house as the previous owners were turning on the main street out of our subdivision - Dan was that anxious to get here.

I think I told you guys that we bought the house furnished.  However, there was very little that we wanted to keep.  So, we arranged for a consignment store to come in and they bought all the furniture.  The only problem was - it took them a few days to get everything out, which meant we could not move our stuff in.

Dan did paint the master bedroom while we were waiting to get all the old stuff out.  With the help of our fantastic SIL we moved things in every night for a week - then on Saturday the 23rd we FINALLY had all our furniture in the new house.  I guess I should qualify that statement - we had all the our furniture that will FIT in the new house.

There are just some things that won't go in this house because this house it just too small.  However, I'm not worried about it - if it doesn't fit, it's gonna be GONE!  We are planning on a HUGE garage sale and just get rid of all this stuff.  (I am determined to make THIS our forever home - so if it doesn't fit in this house I'm not going to pay storage to keep it!)

We have been making some slight changes  in the house already - I'll show those pictures in future posts.  I'm just excited to make this house a home for all of us.

Little Miss is doing great - growing so fast.  She is standing on her own more and more, but still not walking yet.  I'm sure it won't be long - but I have a hard enough time keeping up with her while she is crawling - don't know what I'll do once she is walking!  (I guess there will be more doors closed than what I normally like.)

I'll give you an example of what I am talking about.

We put a baby gate up going into the laundry room to keep Little Miss out of the dog food and water.  I had to leave the gate up off the floor so the pups could go under to get in.  Well, the pups kept going in and out, showing Little Miss how to get in - well, about two weeks after we moved in I missed Little Bit - and this is what I found

Well, we don't worry with the baby gate any more - it doesn't do any good.

I so wanted to get a video of her going under - it is so cute - but every time I got the phone out to video her - she wouldn't go under.

This one was taken a couple of weeks ago too - Grampie Dan with all "his" girls.

I've been trying to get back into the swing of things - but I don't know why it's a lot harder this time.  Anyway - I'll get my mojo back soon - I'm even thinking of doing a different blog for the stuff we do to the house and just have this one as a "weekly" diary of what we are doing.

Just something that is going on in my head - the other blog would have the DIY projects, menu's, cooking ideas, maybe some stuff about our diet efforts,  and, of course, stuff about Little Miss.  I know that some of you that read this blog don't want to hear all the other stuff, but I find that is what inspires me to write.  So, I'm thinking that if I get into that - this will be the diary of our everyday life - with posts on Sundays.  The other blog would have posts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  So, what do you think?  Think I can handle that?  Like I said, just something I'm thinking about.

Well, gotta run - think Little Miss is up from her nap.

Talk to you soon!

Hugs -

Carol

Putting up Comment Moderation and Verification

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in awhile.

I will explain in a later post, however, I wanted to let you know that I have been forced to put comment verification onto my blog.

I have been over run with spammers and I am so over it.

So, if you want to get in touch with me, and you don't want to do the verification (and believe me, I don't like it either) you can reach me via my facebook account.

Sorry guys, but hopefully this will stop the spammers.

If not, I will delete this blog, which I hate to do because it has all the records of our time on the road and the remodeling of the old house, but I will do what I have to do.

Hugs to my friends!

Carol