Weekend Projects

I have a tendency to do multiple things at a time. Why? I have no idea. One of the things I've had to work on is to COMPLETE each project! Today has been one of those days!

I've had "clean out closet" on my to-do list for a couple of weeks.

Yesterday, I took everything out of the closet. I'm actually too embarrassed to show you EVERYTHING that was crammed into this closet.

Once it was empty, Mark vacuumed the floor and baseboard for me so I truly had a clean slate!

The closet sat empty until this afternoon. I did laundry, ran some errands, went to Home Depot for some crates and a small shelf and sprayed a coat of paint on a bench (see below).

Everything now has a place and we took a load of coats and stuff to the Salvation Army. This is a "junk" closet - there are coats on the bottom left, wrapping paper in the middle, blankets, tablecloths, extra sheets, etc. in this closet!

We've had this little red bench at the foot of our bed for a couple of years. I bought a new duvet cover from Pottery Barn last week and the red just doesn't add to the room.

The paint is Chiffon Cream. I painted two coats and you can still see the red in a few spots so I've got to buy some more paint.

I need another hobby, too, right? I've always wanted to be able to write fancy letters. I thought about taking a calligraphy class but decided to start off learning about lettering styles. I read a book this weekend, too.

I have a tendency to do a little of one thing and then do a little of something else and then go back and finish the first thing. Anyone else do things like this? Jump from one thing to another?

In between projects, I put together the little wire rack/shelf that is now in the bottom of that closet. While I was doing my projects, Mark was busy with projects, too - from cutting the grass to putting out new bark chips around the plants.

What kind of projects do you do on the weekend?

p.s. The next two things have NOTHING to do with projects but I have to throw these pics in -- Vacation Bible School happened this week. We had record numbers of children and I loved the theme - Shipwrecked!

I just so happen to work for the most fun man . . .a senior pastor by day who turns into the friendly pastor pirate Brian during VBS.

Last but not least, we tried a new cheese on Friday night - it has blueberries in it! We were in Whole Foods and started talking to the cheese guy and ended up buying a tiny piece of cheese for $10! It is delicious and it is so rich!

Because we could

This weekend, we took a mini trip to a city that is about an hour and 45 minutes north of here and stayed in a hotel - just because we could! We ate out. We walked. We enjoyed each other's company. We met friends for lunch. 

Let me tell you about the very first thing we did - we drove over a VERY curvy mountain road (I get motion sick, remember??) to a place on the Sipsey River about 3 miles above the Smith Lake dam. Mark is interested in buying a NuCanoe and Riverside Fly and Float trips is one of two NuCanoe dealers in the state of Alabama. While Mark looked at ALL the stuff and talked to the "man", I spent some time looking at the flies.  I have always been fascinated with hand tied flies - maybe I need to take up that hobby! Aren't they beautiful??

We left the fly shop in Bremen, Alabama and WAZE told us a different non-winding route (thank goodness!!!!) and we drove to Decatur. We did a walking historical self-guided tour and enjoyed seeing a beautiful garden and some cool OLD homes. One of the owners even came out to talk with us and she informed us that the brochure was incorrect. She went on to tell us that the original owner didn't transplant plants from the Sipsey wildlife area . . .she said that she did all of that work. I wasn't quite sure how to respond.

This garden was open to the public and it was lovely. We are always on the hunt for plants for our yard and there was a large variety of plants to admire!

We left Decatur and drove to Madison and our next stop was the Old Black Bear Brewery. I wrote about this place a year ago. Mark loved it so much that we had to return.

Mark loves dark beer and I love a good Moscow Mule. The brewery even makes their own ginger beer and their own vodka!

We ordered an appetizer and it was delicious. It was a huge chicken quesadilla.

We met our friends for lunch on Saturday at Rosie's - a restaurant recommended by a co-worker. He said they have the best Mexican food in THE UNIVERSE! I must admit it was quite tasty and the décor in the restaurant was awesome. We spent 2 1/2 hours laughing . . .and laughing . . . and laughing!

I ordered a yummy chicken dish with black beans and corn and pinto beans. This was the lunch portion - it was huge.

After spending two hours at the table, we realized there was a line of folks still waiting on tables . . .and it is a big restaurant. We moved out to the courtyard to hang out with the Mariachi band! Hayden decided to play along.

We are thankful for a day filled with sunshine and good friends and good food!

I spy with my little eye . . .

This morning I kept thinking of that phrase "I spy with my little eye." I took a couple of days off from my job and this morning I was able to go on a long walk. What did I spy?

We live in a neighborhood with several parks and trails. I spy with my little eye . . .sunbeams and shadows.

I spy with my little eye crape myrtle and blue sky

I spy a park bench by the pond

In JULY, I spy some orange leaves - what's up with that???

I rarely take selfies because I'm not good at it . . .but I spy a red and sweaty face! It is so hot here!!

I spy a neighborhood library - isn't it cute? I didn't find a book to borrow but I'll keep checking.

What did you see today? anything interesting?

Blogging about the 4th . . .on the 10th!

Most families have traditions and one of our family traditions is to celebrate the fourth of July on the lake as guests of one of Mark's cousins. We've been celebrating together since our kids were little bitties . . .and now our kids have spouses and some of our kids have kids!

We relax and talk and eat and soak up sun.

some of us even soak up some shade!

our sweet girl ended up being the only little one this year due to scheduling conflicts but she had the best time! There were plenty of new to her toys to play with and plenty of outside fun to be had.

I had thought about getting into the little pool with her but within moments the pool was full of dirt and twigs - not my jam.

The weather was spectacular!

There was even some fishing going on . . .not sure how much "catching" was happening.

Some folks went swimming!

sweet girl even got her pops into the water!

Even the dog went for a swim!

He was in the pool as much as our girl!

I imagine this picture was taken during the homemade ice cream eating time!

When we got out to the car, our sweet girl (or her daddy) had left the mermaid barbies in our car doors so they could come home with us for the pool bag!

We only have one picture . . .and this is a screen shot . . . of our little family together. Mark was going to take the picture but it was on video so I grabbed this screen shot!

I am so very thankful for family, for freedom, and for traditions! I'm actually thankful for baked beans, too . . .because I love them and I'm thankful they are always on the menu for the fourth!

Friday Photo dump!

As my hubby said, "this week, we have a Monday and a Friday . . .and a Monday and a Friday." Yep - after a day off, today seems like a Monday again - thank goodness I love my job!

I haven't done a photo dump in quite a while -- So here is the photo dump from the last week:

Last Friday night, we went to our supper club and watched the sun set together. 

We all have glowing eyes! Much fun was had by everyone.

On Saturday night, we went to a party where I knew no one (except for hubby, hubby's twin brother, and sister-in-law). The host cooked a million pounds of beef brisket and I must admit - IT WAS DELICIOUS! Some folks had jello shots! These two folks just happened to be in the band that played all evening. Just in case you are wondering - I still haven't tried a jello shot!

On Sunday afternoon, I went for a much needed pedicure. Yes, I'm spoiled because I get pedicures. I know it and I admit it. I took a picture because I was texting the colors to daughter . . .I need approval - what can I say?

On Monday night, we had a treat for dinner. Our friend went deep sea fishing and shared his bounty - we had grilled red snapper for dinner. I had shrimp from Costco and I made a big spinach salad with strawberries and blueberries and feta - yummy!

We were able to leave work about an hour early on Tuesday before the fourth! I had my suit in the car and stopped at the pool on the way home. I paddled around for some exercise and then sat in the sun to dry off . . .and then a black cloud floated over and rained on us -- look at that blue sky? How could one black cloud appear from out of the blue (literally!)? Speaking of blue . . .look at those blue toenails!

We had a fun day on the fourth but I think I'll write a separate post!