Yardwork, Neighborhood Scenes and More

 I am a nature watcher and one of the coolest things in nature occurs here in spring. It is the live oaks and their process of shedding leaves and bringing forth new ones. They do all of it in a span of about 3 weeks while never being completely bare. The process usually starts in March and is finished about halfway through April. You will notice more leaves on the ground than usual and when you look up you notice a lighter green color and over the course of 3 weeks they completely revamp themselves. I always find it completely fascinating while there are those who it upsets greatly. My neighbor is one of those people. I will show you some pictures and you can decide where you will fall on the spectrum. 

Below is a driveway picture if not blown off regularly for the 3 weeks. At any given point during that time period, you will see lots of brown leaves or just some, and then you will see towards the end of the process those little brown seedy things. I like to call them worms, but I think the correct word for them is catkins.

Those little brown worms might be the only part I complain about because I really love the live oaks. They are truly what makes my neck of the woods iconic. Back to those worms, they will stick to you like magnets and they love pets. Then they always lose their magnetism once you have arrived indoors and then proceed to be little grains of seeds all over the floor. This part usually only lasts about a week, but like clockwork at the point where there are the most of them possible to be on the ground it will rain and they will stain your driveway, so that if you are one of those people who must have a pristine white concrete driveway then you will find yourself very unhappy. I however, am not of those people who likes a pristine white concrete driveway. I like my home to look like we have been there a while.

This is what the cut-de-sac looked like yesterday morning with the "worms" and last of the leaves on the pavement.

 The leaves aren't completely filled in on the older ones. 

In some sad news, we did lose the lemon tree. It was heartbreaking to pull it up. 

Jeff had cut most of the top of it and then used the truck to pull it out. 

We have planted a new one. This variety should be much cold hardy than the Meyer Lemon we had.

This variety is called a Harvey and hopefully it will never see temperatures like the Christmas Deep Freeze we had. It is small but the fun begins of watching it grow.

I got my pine straw out in my sideyard and planted a couple of day lilies in said side yard as well as some angelonium and vincas in my garage wall pots. The picture of the garage wall is not staged - it was taken while I was working.

I love watching the plants fill in and get big and happy. Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies. There is so much work to do, but I enjoy it. 

Pressure washing is on the list up front and there is tons on the back to do, but Jeff and I have learned to do a manageable amount each weekend.

Downstairs, I painted a table.

It was white and is at least 39 years old. It looked terrible so I painted it to give it new life. The chairs are almost kaput, so I am going to add some of the ones they usually have on the front of the store at Lowes...the canvas ones with the darker metal frames.

Do you see all the leaves, straw and catkins that need sweeping up on the deck. There is a live oak on the back of the house as well. Lots of pressure washing needs to happen too. We will be getting a new seawall soon and I really can't even imagine how it is going to look because it will be higher than the old one.

Now, remember the house across the water that was being built. It has taken f-o-r-e-v-e-r. They finally put in grass on Friday, so I thought I would share the new look across the bayou. They are still working on the landscaping, but here is the progress. 

Regular view from my deck and then a ...

zoom view.

Next door to me outside the cul-de-sac are two cottages on prime real estate. I am glad it has been left like the old days for the 39 years either we or my in-laws have lived in our present home. 

The cottages have been updated and look so cute. I thought you might like a peek.

This one was a sage green and got a pop of blue. It looks great. 

The one closest to us was changed from a bright yellow to white and cute wooden shutters were added all the way around the cottage. They removed the front door and made an entrance on the side.

They put in green doors on the white one. It really is adorable.

Both cottages are owned by members of the same family. 

That is it for the neighborhood. 

A few pictures of Lindsay's house. I won't show all just a few more of the new colors. I had already shared the new colors in a previous post and a few of the rooms.

The living room is all set again.

Here is the dining room.

Here is the master bedroom with the darker bedroom wall color.

They are proud to be back at home and settled once again.

That is all I have for today. I have been stitching and reading, so I will share more of those hobbies another day.

Happy spring days,

Sandy

Life Lately and Easter

Time is traveling at supersonic speeds these days. I am in such a busy season of life. I didn't imagine a decade ago that I would be so busy. I was still teaching and thought to myself, "I can't wait to retire from teaching, so I can slow down." I chuckle at that often. Teaching had an added stress that my busy days do not have, and I have no desire to go back. 

I was all rested from the week off for spring break. I had no grandsons to care for and Jeff and I had decided to just stay home and rest. I knew I would have all 3 boys on the Monday after, but it turned into 2 when the daycare that Tucker and Palmer attend was putting in new floors and didn't get it finished. I have no idea what working parents do who don't have a grandma to help out. The story got even crazier again.

Lindsay left here on that Tuesday afternoon to head home. When she got home she was in for a big surprise. Nothing bad like the first one, but a shocker anyway. I truly wish I had a picture for you to see. She FaceTimed me so I did get to behold the sight myself. Remember, they had new floors after a month of concrete and were now getting painting done. 

Let me back up for a minute. The insurance did come through and since Tyler works for a construction company he was able to get the most bang for the dollar. The flooring was practically free so he was able to get the whole house painted and new baseboards throughout and even add some shiplap to the walls in the kitchen and around the fireplace. 

Now, back to the story. On Monday, the painter came and they talked as best they could about painting. He was Mexican as many construction workers here are these days. She thought they were going to paint one room at a time, but these guys do big projects for the construction company, so they envisioned their normal routine. WOW WEE... When she walked into the house on Tuesday, every single thing was off the walls, the closets were emptied, etc, and all of the furniture and ALL of that stuff was moved to the center of each room wrapped heavily in plastic. The new floors were covered in plastic. If you haven't guessed by now, they would be spraying. Anything white would be first, anything that was one of the two colors they chose would be next and then the final color. In other words, you had to move out again.

Tthat evening they drove back here and trudged in to spend the rest of that week here trying to make do with little clothing. While they were on their way here, I sent Jeff to get lunch stuff for them and then I remembered Palmer had lost one of his shoes here that day. Jeff then proceeded to go to Kohl's to buy a new pair of tennis shoes, while I prepared the beds. The funny thing is I had been downstairs the day before letting the boys run around and Tyler got up the next morning early to take a shower and found the missing shoe in the shower downstairs. Palmer got a new pair of shoes anyway because the others were getting small. 

Now, in as much as all that crazy story that is just a sampling of the crazy busy life I lead, there have been many blessings too. For one, the flooring that covered their whole house being leftover in a warehouse in Pensacola from a project that all was needed was to get a trailer and go pick it up. That shaved off a lot of money and let them get the whole house painted. They chose a different color since the flooring was darker than their original.

I will share pictures when all is back in order completely. They have had so many life interruptions. The week that was all happening was the week Lindsay puts on a huge job fair for the school district. Folks, nothing is ever smooth sailing over here. I think people don't know because we are a family of doers and we don't whine, so most would never know that week was such a crazy one.

Here is a sneak peak of Lindsay's home. You can see the colors. The main areas got Sea Salt on the walls and the bedrooms got Oyster Bay. New tile around the fireplace.

Palmer's room was put back together first because it was easy and he had to go down first. The Oyster Bay is so pretty on the bedroom walls. 

Now, we can move on to other things. The weather is all over the place. It has slowed me down this year on my outdoor projects. It seems like every weekend is rainy or cool. It also seems like I have more to do this year than usual with the colder winter we had in December. Much more has needed attention. I know I will get it done eventually.

I have only managed to get straw down in the front 2 flowerbeds. There is much more to do. Notice the cloudy.

The next photograph was taken a little later than the one above and shows that the bottlebrush have exploded with color. I really thought some of them might be dead, but I finally pruned them and they just popped.

The daylilies and magnolias are all starting their shine. The magnolias are already just showing off or completed loaded with their flowers about to open. Just beautiful. The spring thus far has been cloudy so many days. If the sun pops out, Miles and I spring into action to go for a stroller ride.

I planted more roses in pots on the lower deck this year and I am already getting to have cut roses on the kitchen counter. 

This makes my heart sing with joy.

Proof that Palmer seems to like to pull one shoe off and then not know where it is.

He is our little blonde boy. 

I will save the stitching for later since this has been a long post.

I have been busy with so many things. We lead a Bible Study at our home on Wednesday evenings. We are getting ready to lead a group at church on Sunday mornings that is for those that have questions about faith. It lasts for 5 weeks, so I will lead that with Jeff and teach my littles and watch the service at home for those weeks. Easter was just amazing. 

On Good Friday, I put my phone and computer mostly down for the weekend to just soak up the wonderful thing my Savior did for me. I could almost tear up in a good way counting my blessings.

I will share far too many pictures of my family for Easter and catch up with everyone. I don't read as many blogs as I once did or comment like I should, but you know what...I can't get this time back as it flies so fast and these little boys won't be little long.

T-ball, working in the yard, church, seeing about Mama, cooking, cleaning, reading and a wee bit of stitching keep me hopping in a good way.

Palmer was not feeling the picture taking vibe.

Notice he has on one shoe:)

We used the timer for this one.

Oh and the kids took their picture together at church.

I will try and get back with a stitching post soon.

Sandy

Dog Gone Good Days

 Kids and grandkids are the focus today. 

We will start with my youngest child who has grown up, and his story amazes me so much at times. My little faith would be big in that story. Oh, he still has room to grow, but a baby coming in July will probably propel it forward at lightening speed. He and Katie have taken a little home with a giant yard and with every project make it cuter. I know to them it seems slow, but to me it is just a heartwarming process to watch.

Katie is still painting doors and adding such sweet touches. She creates ideas and I think Paul Allen is her muscle at times. This is their dining /living room. She created the mirror.

Every time I go over she has done something so cute to this little house.

They have been working on the baby room. I only one have 1 picture and it doesn't do the room justice. I promise to share more when she is finished. She painted 3 walls a gray and one room a dark green. I didn't get the combination of the walls which is just beautiful, but here is a picture of the focal wall.

Katie found the crib on FB Marketplace for a $100. She is a deal finder.

AND in looking at my pictures I do have a picture straight across from the crib. Her dad took the sliding doors off the closet and put in folding doors. He did a smashing job.

You can see Dansby, the Bluetick  giving his seal of approval of it all. You can also see the stained old doors from the 70s and they have slowly been painting all of these in the house and adding trim which I have shared before. 

They also got one of Uncle Danny's dressers and painted it white to make a changing table on top. Lots more to share.

They got some new patio furniture for their back porch. I am sharing 2 pictures but I will share more of their backyard later in the summer. They have a large backyard that I have shared when Paul Allen first got this house. The fence around it was in need of a new one but that would be a huge expense so he has been slowly redoing it. There was a county easement behind their fence and the county has deeded it to all the property owners so he has torn down the back fence and extended it 10 feet. It was amazing to see how much more it added. He has been hard a work for weeks.

Here is their new patio furniture.

Now, let's visit my daughter's home. I have stitched Lindsay several seasonal small ornament like things to hang from a knob on their TV cabinet. She stores them in a drawer. Tucker got them out and hung them all around on the other cabinet and around and told Lindsay he was decorating for Christmas. 

It is those little things like that will be just the sweetest memories. 

Y'all know I am a space fanatic and as we approach the new trips to the moon and the preparations for all that I decided it was time to raise my grandsons up right. I have purchased the first patch of Artemis for Tucker, Palmer, the one coming in July and even an extra if I have another one:) I am going to start them a scrapbook maybe or just collect them to they can frame them. I am thinking on that.

Artemis I's mission is similar to Apollo 8's mission.

Also thinking about that space love, Tucker loves my Snoopys. I have two that have an astronaut helmet and some on bookends in my little sewing room. He always notices them. I have come to realize my Snoopys are expensive. I tried to find him one on eBay like the ones I had and my stars ---apparently they are quite the collector items. 

SOOOO, I ordered Tucker a Snoopy shirt which is way too big. It was the smallest they had so he will have to wear it as a sleep shirt or beach shirt and a little Snoopy thing to hang on his backpack. I have given him the t-shirt. I am holding the backpack hanger for a later gift. He very much liked the shirt. Who knew? What is about Snoopy that makes you just love him?!

Little Palmer has learned to crawl. I had quit putting him in the walker because he was too fast for me and into things - well now, he is crawling everywhere. He got into Gus's water bowl before I could get him. I have my work cut out for me this next week.

We sent Mommy a picture of him and his waiting for his clothes to be washed.

Oh April, I am so happy to see you. The question is with Easter so late, will you behave and act like spring? I have planted my vincas in place of my pansies. Those are the only pots I change out. All my other pots have things that unless we have a once in a great while cold winter - they will make it. I occasionally have to slide them over to shelter or cover them, but mostly they survive.

They have already really hopped up since I took this picture, so I am loving that. I am waiting on all those day lilies I planted last year to pop too. They are all above ground and some with buds. I am watching daily to see which one blooms first.

I have so much outside work to do, but I enjoy that. It will get done in time. I didn't get much done this weekend due to some other obligations and I have been fighting a spring cold this week. I have not enjoyed that at all. I think I am going to beat it though without a doctor visit so I am looking forward to next week.

That is about all I have for this week. 

Hopefully enough positive and good to keep the mind off the crazy in the world.

Looking up,

Sandy

A Child's Nautical Themed Room

    I have been promising a peek at Tucker's big boy bedroom. Since they are having another boy, the baby room will stay as it is and Tucker will move in the room next to it with a nautical theme. I realized when looking back that I never really did a final room tour of Tucker's nursery. This post was the closest thing I had to one. You can see the idea. It is safari animals and Lindsay is the queen of utilizing space without it looking cluttered. Tucker's closet is the best used of space ever.

    The pictures I am sharing with you are all taken at different times. She would send me a picture here and there as she added things. I have been there several times as she put it all together. Tucker has been in on the process too. He knows it is coming. The test is coming next week with sleeping in there. 

   The bedroom set is one Mother had in her home before moving down here and downsizing. Lindsay was  the lucky recipient of it. It only has a dresser and one side table but it is perfect for the room she has. Now, I know what you are thinking...way too fancy for a kid. I think it could be for some kids. Tucker is so good and neat and while he is all boy, Lindsay has trained the activity for outdoors. I knew that Amanda at Dixie Delights (see sidebar) always had nice furniture in her boys' rooms, so it is staying and can always be changed later if needed.

The first purchase was bedding. I happened to be looking at Pottery Barn one night after she said what she was looking for and the nautical striped coverlet and pillows were on clearance. She had the navy one. Step one done! I then had some LLBean points and bought here the perfect sailboat sheets. She found an anchor lamp and I stitched his name above the bed. You can see an unclose and how it came together post on the name stitch here.

They moved his little chair in and then added some baskets above for his books.

Gus approves also.

Then we helped Lindsay pick up this little shelf similar to the other room. It is great place to add the cutsie things to carry out the subtle theme. I know she brought all of his clothes and other goodies in this weekend and fixed up his closet, but I know have the final pictures. She has had a very busy week.

His dresser got filled with his clothes this weekend and he is working really hard on potty training and doing quite well. Mimi's baby is a little boy now.

Tyler made the cutest coat hook out of boat cleats. He can hang hats or book bags or jackets or whatever as he grows.

Here is a closeup. I thought this was so clever.

Here is Tucker holding his shark that is hung above it.

That is a quick trip of his bedroom that hopefully he will move into without tears next week. The rails for his bed are here, so time to move up and make room for the baby.

I will try soon to get a little tour up of my downstairs playroom. He is coming for a little while to play this afternoon. We will see if he approves of the changes.

I will close with ---------for the first time I have not been ready to put my summery stitches out in their basket. I love summer and that is good thing since I live in a climate which can feel like the surface of the sun from May to October. 

I have enjoyed spring this year and boy did this Memorial Day weekend just sneak up on me!!! I tucked my spring items away and pulled out the patriotic things yesterday. 

To me summer comes with this weekend. Here we go!

It came in with a bang. Home insurance was cancelled and the new company is ---well, Jeff and I are still trying to digest the amount. It has been a tough pill to swallow. All those people migrating to Florida may want to rethink it.

Everyday is a blessing, so I am going to toughen up and be grateful.

Sandy

P.S. Forgive any errors or misplaced words...no time to edit.