We almost have a walkway

Since we have been in this house we haven't had a front sidewalk. When people come to our house they don't know which door to use and we aren't much better since the garage is full of tools and parts off the boat, as well as the boat itself, and the back door has new sod I don't want anyone to walk on much yet. So getting in to the house has been an adventure. But husband who always does such excellent work has laid out the forms for the new sidewalk and boy does it look great. It should be poured in the next few days. I only half jokingly commented that it will add $10,000.00 value to this house.
This weekend is going to be an organization weekend. I can no longer live not being able to get in the garage, having tools and papers all over the house, and not being able to find important things. This organization will take much stress off both Husband and me. I don't even mind the work because of the great payoff. Our dog is shedding and the house has to be vacuumed every day or every other day and we just don't have time. So Husband and I are going to put a top on the pen so she can't jump out. She would rather be outside anyway. Instantly we cut down on a huge amount of work!
This next week is very busy but I will be finishing up several important projects so I'm excited about getting so much accomplished. It always feels good to get things done. The Parade of Homes starts next weekend so I will be setting up the show house among other projects.
I hope Husband and I can find a little time this evening to go see a movie or go to the Bluegrass festival In Fayetteville.

It's Septemberrrr

In a landscaper's life, September is significant. That is when the weather changes and everyone's thoughts turn to spending more time outside. So we all get really busy this time of year. I wish I could personally encourage people to get their landscape designs done in July and August so they could get started on their finished product when the weather turns. Bottom line here- I'm very busy. And I wish I was always this busy. It's fun being all over town and meeting with great people and being creative and filling the coffers after a very dry and hot summer.
I have one job going in particular that is going to be a showcase and they are the finest clients one could have. I wish I could post the design on this site. It's very impressive if I do say so myself. I already have another job referral from this one and I officially present it today at lunch.

Next week is the week before the Parade of Homes and I will be busy excepting deliveries and setting up the house. I'm really looking forward to seeing the whole thing done. I have bought this without that and not having seen this for weeks but still making decisions. I'm sure it will look great. I just want to see it. I have a client of mine who does beautiful black and white photography and he is lending us some for the show house. Thanks Ford!

Husband and I are going to Oregon on the 6th to see my daughter and I'm very excited. We need a vacation in the worst way. We have had a lot of stress on us the past couple of months and I think a decompression time is just what we need. We are talking about going to Mt. Hood and spending some time up there.

The weather should change tomorrow and we hopefully will see some rain and cooler days. You notice I talk a lot about the weather. I live by the weather so it is important in my life. It is so dusty here that all of us are having trouble with our sinuses and I was officially sick for two days so it will be nice to get some clean air.

Got a call from my son and he is quitting his job to take care of his dad's mini ranch until he goes into the service. My ex husband asked me to do a design for the yard for so son can implement it. Good for everyone. I'll get to it when I can. There are plenty of fences to mend or whatever until I get there.

Off to Oregon we go

We bought our tickets to go see my daughter and son-in-law who are in the Coast Guard. We are leaving October 6 and staying the week. Now we have more responsibilities with our crazy dog and a daughter to make sure are taken care of.

The crazy dog got out of her pen yesterday and was standing in the middle of the road looking for which we went when we left . Thankfully our neighbors who are avid animal lovers took notice and took care of her until we returned. She jumped the fence. She's a Great Pyrenees. Who would have thought she could jump like that? Anyway, they told us she was completely traumatized and wouldn't even drink water until we returned. Then we found her at a dead run running toward us with the hook off the barn and a leash dragging behind her. I think she likes her family. We are going to have to start using the shock collar. It is better than getting run over in the road.

Our counter tops and back splash look beautiful. I will finish the grouting on the last stretch today and this project will be complete.

Last Friday my friend and I went to Franklin, Tennessee for a day of shopping. It's just far enough away to feel like you have gone somewhere but close enough to be convenient. We had a great time. I didn't buy anything. I don't know why, Just didn't see anything I couldn't live without but I had a wonderful day.

Progress?

We think we are moving forward in our projects around the house and something always comes up. We picked up our countertops and I picked up some Italian tumbled tile for a back splash and when I got it home the color was terrible in the house. I was trying to save time on Saturday but that didn't work out. Back to the box store. We picked out another one and Husband decided we needed a new kitchen sink. But he forgot the Baskets (?) for the sink. So we have that figured out. We have gone from putting in new counter tops to adding a new sink, tile back splash, and faucet , (I'm so thankful for that!) and I believe we will have a very pleasurable space to work in. I'm going to do the tiling since I want to learn. I really must learn how to add pictures to this website.

We have one of the most beautiful workdays imaginable today. It makes the minor setbacks bearable. We also picked up a new shop vac today and wow is that thing pleasant to use. I cleaned up the sawdust likidly split. You'd think we would have every tool and gadget available but there are yet more to buy.

I'm feeling sleepy today and I think I need a quick nap. Maybe I will make better sense after the nap.

What a gorgeous day!

Well, the hot weather has finally broken. We got a little rain here yesterday. Still less than the communities around us, but it really feels like fall now. The air is clear and clean and I have the doors open, airing out the house from a long dry summer.
Yesterday I finished the bed in the new retaining wall and it looks good. I need to learn how to post pics to this email site. I'm trying to finish some work and have to measure a big job in Blossomwood that I'm looking forward to working on.
My seminar went very well at Across The Pond on Saturday. The turn out was better than I could have ever hoped for and all seemed to have left with more knowledge. I hear there were requests for more seminars. I think they are fun and I enjoy doing them.
My daughter and son-in-law has lost their pet to antifreeze poisoning this past week and they are are understandably very upset about losing Spike. My heart goes out to them. The next day Mike broke his right hand. But all this stuff is going to stop. We've prayed and declared and things are going to straighten out for them.
I guess this is just a catch up blog since I haven't entered in a while. Things are going well and except that Husband took his mom to Ohio for a visit, not much has been happening.
Oh, our new counter tops will be installed this weekend and I bought a new faucet since the old one was too low and I couldn't get a pitcher under it. Pictures are soon to follow.
The boat is still in pieces but we are making a little progress. We don't want to start any new projects but we have so many old ones it's taking us a while to get them wrapped up.
Thanks for keeping up with me on my blog. I enjoy being part of your life every once in a while!

My Husband the Preacher

My husband has turned into quite a preacher. He has been preaching at our church often lately and I am astounded at how good he is at it. He truly has the leading and the annointing of the Holy Spirit on him and he speaks the truth with both wisdom and passion. I believe his word is changing lives. When I watch him preach I think 'Jesse DuPlantis or Myles Monroe has nothing on him. He truly is good enough to be on television. He is clear, doesn't back down from the truth and is very entertaining. More people should be exposed to his preaching.

My seminar at Across The Pond is this Saturday and I'm getting excited about it. I have to do some research on taking care of different types of grasses for overwintering and I will do that today. Work has also picked up and I am very thankful about that.

Meghan (Husband's daughter) who just came to live with us is getting her braces off today. Big day for her!