Forced shuttering

For more than a month now, the shutters for the dormers have been ready to be put up. We had the hinges, the latches, they were painted - but there was no time. Last weekend there was really no time either BUT Saturday it happened. It had to - or we would have had to spend time buying, cutting, and putting up plywood. Instead, despite my doubts, Mike pulled it all together. I picked up and put away things in the yard; emptied the fridge & freezer; packed important papers and clothes. By 5:30 Sunday morning we were ready to leave in front of hurricane Gustav. It felt good to leave this house all ready. They were made just for this!

If you want to see something about the fun we had with Gustav, check my other blog here.

Finally - another post

I haven't been posting because we really haven't had any work going on the house. These are my flowers pics. First I found a nice little shelf in a garage sale and have put some of my plants in the upstairs, Kerlerec side dormer. That incredible orchid I got for my birthday is still alive, and I have added a few others since I took this picture.

Yesterday at the office, just as I was about to leave, a box came for me - roses from Mike!! These are called petite roses and there were bunches of them. Many years ago, our first few months in Cairo, Mike rode off on his bike to practice Arabic and came back with 12 DOZEN Egyptian roses, all packed together in one bunch. That's what these reminded me of. What fun! I have them in three places in the house and they are really even prettier as they have opened up a bit more.



About 3 weeks ago, leading up to my birthday, we tried to get the shutters up on the dormers in case of a hurricane. Mike dutifully climbed out the window and painted and I got the shutters painted. Umm - then my extended birthday celebration surprises began happening and Mike started traveling. However NO hurricane has come near, so we're safe so far. Soon our renters will leave and we will try to get some help in to actually get some more work done on the house.

O me of little faith!

I think it was the cry-wolf syndrome but I really didn't believe we'd get a driveway today. Much less a signed driveway with a cool little decoration. I think Autumn and Vicki may be somehow related 'cause I can just see you doing that, Vicki. Anyway, WHOO HOOOOOO!

Decoration in upper left

I love the little fleur-de-lis

Autumn's name is above Kimo's

Current doings - no house stuff

Well, we have promises made for Monday but I'm not holding my breath so I won't tell you about it again. In the meantime, Sydnie came and stayed a few days - but we made her work for her stay. Talk about "making your bed", the poor kid had to blow her own up. But we rode the streetcar and had a picnic at Audubon park and played lots of Slap Jack and War. Fun was had by all!! Then yesterday was my mom's 82nd birthday. Her cook-out was only a slight surprise but it was fun too.

Keep going kiddo.

She really didn't seem to mind. She'll do floors next time she comes!

My brother loves doing strange things with his animals.

Birthday girl blows out the candles. Daddy will be glad when he can get his new glasses!

Sydnie and Stella, apart for 3 days, were inseparable at the party.

Mama, Daddy, Sydnie, Rachel, Aunt Bobbye, & Ray

Ray & Mike contemplating the festivities.

Alice's hyacinths stand up tall and smell wonderful!

Happy Easter!!

Alice's hyacinths

Spring!!

Well, we have no driveway, gate or fence, but . . . In the dead of winter Alice gave me hyacinth bulbs which I had sitting in my fruit bowl for many weeks. Finally, a few weeks ago I threw them in the ground - along with some irises from Mike's mom. I did nothing right with them. I planted too late; I was too lazy to dig well and move all the mulch away; I wasn't even sure they were in a spot which got rain. Looks like it doesn't matter. Spring comes anyway!! Click on these to enlarge them if you really want to enjoy them. Hopefully I will fill you in on progress later.

Bits n pieces

Life is leaving little time for work on the house, but bit by bit we're still working. Hopefully the renters will also be working on Monday on the driveway/gate. I painted a bit of trim today, but most of it is hidden behind furniture. Mike put up shelves for my glass bottles - makes me smile.

This is where you can see the difference.

The bathroom door has improved.

Ahh-h-h good to get them up.

You have any ironing??

It's been a while, huh? Well, while Kimo and Autumn worked on the fence today, we went shopping for doors and Mike fixed one on my ironing closet!! It's so exciting to be able to iron without bending over the bed to do it - send me anything!

The fence - and Kimo's boat - from Madelon's

I love the big wide planks. Creole fences had these horizontal boards.

It needs paint and a doorknob but it's in!

The board hangs on a hook here.

I fold it out and hook it the other way. FUN!!

More inside

We have spent the holidays doing little things such as lights, doorbell, straightening, taking down the tree, etc. Today was freezing, clear and windy, and the morning was spent tearing out concrete for a driveway on the rental side. Pics of that when we get a bit further. In the meantime, I feel like we're really in a house - without some closet doors, with gaps for wind to get in, and with a few other problems, but a real house. In particular, I have loved being in my kitchen. Christmas Eve, I decided that we would have cinnamon rolls for breakfast the next morning. About 9 AM Mike got on the phone and went out knocking on a couple of doors and we had 7 neighbors in for a quick bite before we all headed out for our Christmas plans.

View from the front door

From the kitchen - look, no tree!!

View toward the kitchen

Finally found the spot for the shadow box; makes me happy just to see it!

There's the Turkish light!

Looking up the stairs.

Christmas morning. Kimo, Autumn & Bill look toward Mike.

Bill, Autumn, Kimo, Madelon and Mike

Our Jewish med student neighbor stirs gravy. Ben says any holiday with cinnamon rolls is good for him!

Courtney and Joe in intense conversation.

What a surprise!

Well, for about 10 days now, we have done almost nothing on our house - on purpose!! It was about then that we got renters for our unfinished apartment. A very smart friend put two and two together when he met a finish carpenter who wanted to be in our neighborhood. As soon as they signed papers Kimo and Autumn moved in and will begin working on the place in lieu of part of their rent. What a wonderful relief! How much fun it's been to be able to hang a few pictures, empty boxes and otherwise get our side of the house in some sort of shape instead of always needing to go to the other side and get things finished. This means our side will wait on paint and finish details, but it's great. I said to Mike they seem to be an answer to a prayer I would have never thought to pray. So, I have taken the advice of our girls and hung some of our pictures - pretty much as they showed me - and I've been able to clear away bags and bags of old paperwork and share some what-was-I-thinking clothes. So while Mike has a bit of a break from school, he can get Kimo working and we can get truly settled. So, see what's up - yes, girls, drawing the eye up to the great old ceilings.

From the stairs - it's not chiming yet but it's there!

I stole one of the embroidery pics for my office.

Masri is up - that makes us home, right?

Maybe not quite as you had 'em, but close

STEPS!

This is belated - and not nearly as beautiful a shot as it can be - but here is where we have spent some minutes and will spend many hours. Gorgeous, huh?! Thanks, Courtney!!

Mike at the end of the day.

Great place to sit. Can you see "NOEL" in the window?

Furniture!

The steps are finished and are great - but unfortunately I haven't taken any picture of them because other things began happening. First, we brought in our furniture, and then almost immediately the girls and their guys began to arrive. So we spent Thanksgiving visiting with my parents, opening some boxes, getting advice from the girls about wall art placement, and sitting around our own table. So much of what we have has been packed for many years, and it was as much fun for the girls as for ourselves to sit on the rattan stool, around the old table, using the Cairo glasses. The day after Thanksgiving we decorated our tree, so in the middle of the chaos we have some beauty! No, we're not done with everything. But it is so good to be at this stage.