Hubby Strikes Again

Not sure just what it is with Mark and plants, but a green thumb he is not. He has every good intention-- but oh, those poor living creatures.... His latest victim:

We planted a row of these lovely grasses, and heard that you should/could burn off the dead stems in the spring. That's great, and it worked great. Except that Mark decided he needed to pour gasoline on them to accelerate the flames. Here's a scientific lesson for all... gasoline and plants don't mix. That's why this poor little thing only has but a few stems. They are the one's that escaped his fury. Hubby's claim: "hey- there's still green and that means it's still alive!" AGHHHH!!!!! I really do love you.....

Now, onto our remodel saga----

The roof is coming along just fine. We are water-proof and that's a good thing. But, the back of the house is still wrapped with pretty blue tarps-- and the front almost done. The joke around here is: "only we can have a little roof that should take one day to take off, and one day to put on, and here we are almost 2 weeks later.... with rain forecasted every day this week yet again" :)

But-- progress is progress!! :)

Domino and Wilobee

Sunny days at the horse ranch~

Miss Elizabeth and Wilobee~

Miss Lydia and Domino~ Mr. Elisha and Mr. Jacob wishfully thinking~ :)

Smile!

roof part one

Did ya ever wonder that maybe you just were meant to be somewhere else? It goes something like this-- if you have a perfect, beautiful weekend to finally work, you end up in a ball on the living room floor with a bowl to throw-up in. If it's not snowing, the monsoon rains come. If it's not raining, it's the windiest weekend on record. You get someone lined up to do work for you and they have to cancel because their mom is sick... need I go on?

Surely things can't be as difficult to get done as they seem, right? I'm not complaining here, just letting anyone who cares into a little glimpse of our remodeling events.

We're not even building a 'new' home- but I can now understand why they say new construction can be one of the most stressful in someone's life. Our saga continues...

This is a roof--- not just any roof, but our ugly roof. Our ugly roof that's just slightly over the legal limit for asbestos. If you know anything about that, you know that it can be quite difficult, not to mention extremely costly to get rid of. After 2 years of trying to find someone with accountability, who would also tackle the removal job legally and with a reasonable price, off it came!

Extra special thanks to Norris Environmental Inc. for a SUPER JOB! FINALLY a company with character and accountability!

Doesn't that look much better on the ground? Elisha just whittling away as he watched -- until he got 'shoo-ed' out due to safety issues :) And here we have a clean roof. With a pretty blue tarp. Kind of matches the Lowes paper, doesn't it? I still think Lowes should pay us some kind of advertising commision. Yes-- the weather is beautiful. And VERY windy. Tarps aren't quite made for wind-- need I say more?

But never fear-- new shingles will be pounded on next week. No sweat. That's if we get the shingles that were supposed to be here yesterday. They do say they are ready for pick-up and the roofers will do just that on their way here-- but I think we've all learned to believe it when we see it :) Had to throw this one in--- What's Elizabeth been doing? Making PapPap really happy with a colorful driveway-- he just LOVES sidewalk chalk :)

Oh-- and what were today's adventures? More demo with dormers coming off. And falling into windows. Mark said it was either him or the window-- so he chose the window. Good choice.

And yet more construction-- some day it will all be finished-- right?? :) I'm thankful for my hard working men around here! I couldn't have it any better! What is this up in the trees? The deck off of the upstairs bedroom. And Mark's back-side :)

OK-- just one more picture for anyone following our twitter updates-- when I say I'm soaking in the sun by my red-neck yacht-club-- 'mud hole'--- I'm being quite literal! :)

Until the new roof appears... enjoy that GORGEOUS weather!

girls' dreams come true

On a snowy spring day a few weeks ago, the girls started on their dream adventures of horsemanship lessons.

In the middle of nowhere on over 4,000 acres with 100 plus horses, peace and serenity abounds.

Lydia met 'her' horse. Domino, and Elizabeth met 'her' horse Willobee. Quite fitting :)

What horse farm is complete without a few peacocks hanging around?

Let's not forget the farm cats.

Jacob loved every minute.

Let's just hope the rain clears out so lessons can resume this week...