Today was very productive. The guys took down the cabinet over the peninsula - what an amazingly improvement. Then they took down the upper cabinets to left of fridge. It was quite the challenge. Who knows when they were installed - a very long time ago and they were all nailed in. However, my guys don't give up and they got it down - all in one piece and the wall pretty much in one piece. Life is good. They mowed both houses - I'm a very happy girl.

I'm going to see if I can download more pictures from May. I ran amuck on my last post.

Ray's favorite tools he couldn't live without

Cabinets had no intention of coming down - ever

Hmmm, what to do? Why won't they come down?

Figured it out and down it comes

Seriously, WHAT a difference!

The space is all open - looks twice the size

Next challenge: cabinets to left of window

It's down. Let the clean up begin.

Ray thinks 109 years of gunk

May Adventures

Dortmund in all it's glory

Oh my, where to start. It's been a crazy month. Two long trips to Fayetteville to get the house ready to go on the market. Things are looking swimmingly there. I have a few pictures, somewhere....Cody has just been amazing. Once we kicked into gear, got rid of the truly obnoxious roommate, and got our groove going there was just no stopping us. Announcement: Cody Culpepper DID graduate, WE THINK, LOL! We are SO proud of him. We have a landscape architect in our mist. Poor Ray. Cody has BIG plans for the two acres. Back to our amazing Cody. He sodded the back lawn - 3.5 pallets of sod, bless his heart. Created several lovely garden beds and spruced up many more. Can't keep count of how many trips to the garden dump he made. SO many. We learned if need be, we can weed eat the all the lawn, LOL! It works until Ray brings the mower.

We had dear friends drop in for a quick visit. Lizette and I were pregnant together, many candy bars shared, HA, who am I kidding. Anyway, what a treat. We got to show off Haven House. They have gone through more renovations than we have and far more experience and had excellent advice for us. I MUST find an architect, SOON. I must get a surveyor out there immediately. Ray is eager to sell Covey and I'm eager to have a working laundry room and fenced in yard before we do.

We have started foundation work - last Tuesday. Very exciting. Put in 14 jacks and you just won't believe this but need to add 6 more. We had to remove the duct work so they could work. So it's June now, HUMID to the extreme, and no air conditioning. They are coming back on Wednesday to finish up, we think.

Cody did get many plants moved. Boy oh boy, are some of them mad at us! Then with me being gone it was tricky getting them watered. Thankfully Susan and Ray took over for me. Once I got home I started dumping huge amounts of water on them and I think we just might save them all. It started raining on Tuesday and it hasn't stopped which is most likely the game changer.

Susan is AMAZING! All of the downstairs wallpaper is gone, gone, gone!!! Still has a bit left in the entry upstairs which she will do once I can sit still and keep her company. I will take pics today and post. We are also getting a bit ahead of our selves and pick out wall paint. Susan is going ahead and paint the guest bedroom and trim. Ugh, I hate painting trim so thankfully Susan is doing all that for me. My go to color BM Crown Point Sand and White Dove. It's such a beautiful room and I'm sick of the blue that's everywhere. Very eager to get it gone.

Ray and I added a few garden bed for veggies and herbs. I'm certain I'll pop in a few flowers too. We have truly lost our minds. Many beautiful rocks have found their way to Haven House from Fayetteville and Covey. We love our beautiful stones.

There was a large bed of nandinas right at the entrance of the driveway at Haven House and now there isn't. YEAH! Cody took a truck load to Fayetteville and planted them there, Lara took several, and now I can move my Valentine roses to their new home.

I have big plans for today. Ray and Cody are going to take down the kitchen upper cabinet over the peninsula and most likely remove the uppers to the left of the kitchen window. That will really open things up in there. Planning re-purposing the ones removed in the laundry room. Would also like to move the roses to their new home while it's so nice and damp. It's going to heat up the end of the week and be dry and to remind you all I'm the sprinkler system until fall. We feel like we've missed the window with summer knocking and not exactly certain what we need just yet.

For a man who doesn't want a pool, Ray certainly has been taking care of this one. We have toad frogs galore AND zillions of frog eggs. Pool guy is suppose to be at the house this morning to tweak it a bit more.

One thing that we need to do better. We have excellent plans, but don't always follow through with them. We have to do better staying on task and doing what our gut tells us instead of taking short cuts. We will work on that, meaning I will work on that.

Cody is zipping up to Fayetteville tomorrow to do a few more honey-dos. Ray and I will be busy getting ready for more company!!! YEAH YEAH YEAH!!! Wendy and the girls are dropping by on their way to Destin - just a slight detour. They saw Covey in total disrepair. Can't wait to show them what all we did and to show them Haven House of course.

I know there's more....Hope you have a great day!! Stay cool!

The nandina bed that is no longer

WHAT A DAY!

Actually started with Friday. Ray has a new toy. A new zero turn lawn mower. He was zooming all over the place and it still took him an hour to mow. I managed not to crash it too so it was a good day. 

 

Saturday morning we were at the house early and stayed late. I had almost 18,000 steps on my Noom walk. I think Ray had 13,000 but he was up on a ladder for a lot of the day or hauling debris the dump - 4 times. We pulled weeds, burned weeds, trimmed trees and shrubs. Broke the pole saw once. Lost the chain somewhere between houses; had to re-step steps but he found it. Seriously, he is amazing. Several neighbors and friends came over visit and say hello. Gave two tours. It was a great day. A great, exhausting day. I had to re-coop today now I'm ready for another big day tomorrow. 

I have to do better with before and afters. This is before and now pretty much weed free

Ray pruning suckers off tree out front. He could reach all but one.

Before, ready to have Ray move it, HA, you can't tell but it's a big tree.
Ready to take down the TV satellite too. 

After, I LOVE this! This I can live with. 

Just need to add some more azaleas around the tree. 

Putting out new flag

Ray added a spot light too for the flag so it will stay up 24/7.
Can't wait to have Steve fix the sidewalk (I hope) and put in brick steps.

Foundation repair

With a 109 year old house there are some big issues to tackle and the foundation is one of them. We got an estimate from some good old boys in town, tried to get more but a couple guys never showed up. Then I got on the computer and house a highly rated company out of Memphis. The difference is night and day and the price point is just about the same. We are now scheduled to get the house jacked up so to speak in June. I'm so pleased that is scheduled. Now I need to get the plumber and the electrician out there and we'll be ready to rock and roll. Oh the surveyor too - need to get started on the fence.

I just can't wait to tackle this area. I'm in move mode at the moment and eager to get into garden mode. I might just clean it up and mulch it for the time being. I'm not certain how much sun it's going to get with that magnolia there. On the garage Ray is going to build a trellis and he want to doctor up the doors a bit. We saw this at HD for a quick fix.

Has anyone used these on your garage doors?
I need a nap. Didn't get my 12,000 steps in today.

Monday after the storm

The state of Arkansas was rolled through by tornadoes last night. It's devastating to see it unfold on the news. We are so thankful they missed us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones, suffered injuries and had property destroyed in last night's severe storms and tornadoes in central Arkansas. 

I took 3 truck loads over to the house yesterday. It is so great to unload this one. I think perhaps we have TOO much stuff, wait, that just can't be right.

Yesterday afternoon I took Oscar and Daisy over for a visit. Ray joined us and we took a walk around neighborhood. When we headed home, the dogs and I, there was a critter in the middle on the road right past the house. I could tell it wasn't a cat AND Oscar was in serious patrol mode. I was talking to my cousin, Lee Ann, so I didn't a picture quick enough - it was a RACCOON!!! I kid you not. A BIG one! Went right down into the sewer line. I was amazed and Oscar was EAGER to chase!

All this moving around is good. I've gotten almost 12,000 steps a day since Saturday. I'm a Google girl and use Noom Walk. I LOVE to out step Ray and Cody. I don't think I would ever out step LM. 

I've decided to make this area right behind the garage a garden. Going to move that Abelia ( had to go and find my Howard Garrett Plant's for Texas book to remind me of the name) somewhere. There are many options, and make this a new garden. I'm thinking trellis, a few Zephirine Drouhin climbing roses from the Antique Rose Emporium, and then vegetable and herb garden mixed in the fray, with stones surrounding it. That is the zero-turn lawn mower garage. Very clever. Don't know if I would have thought of that!

1st Purchase today, 3 trips to Home Depot and 1 to Lowe's

I don't have a firm handle on this blog business yet. It will not let me put this picture on the bottom.
These are the new Kimberly Ferns and pots

It's late Sunday night. There are storms and tornados all around us. Today was a good day. Made our first purchase for Haven House. We were unloading the truck in the garage, still thrilled to even have a garage, and Ray decided he would like ceiling fans in the garage. After figuring out how to resent the garage door openers, thank you YouTube, we headed to Home Depot.

Today was a 3 trip day to HD, one to Lowe's, and at 5:55 p.m. RAN into Sam's Club, woo-wee they weren't happy with me (close at 6). I left promptly at 6. I was on a mission for pots for the Kimberly ferns I had bought earlier at Home Depot with Daisy Belle. 

Mama called this a photo op. She said I cooperate 'bout as much as my big brothers when it comes to picture taken.

Today after our first purchase was our first road block. Ray went to install the new ceiling fan and the electric box (not certain that is correct lingo, didn’t think I should call it an electric thingie) wasn’t standard as in it was tiny. Ray, that handy soul, fixed it right up after a few choice words and mumbling about 109 year old houses. 

Happy Days are here again!!! We got keys last night!

It has been a very exciting couple days. Last night we unexpectedly got the keys to the house, the previous owner moved out early, YEAH! AND she had the lawn mowed for us, YEAH! YEAH!

Our sweetheart real estate agent, Connie Lindemann, had the sweetest gift waiting for us when we arrived. It was just a great night. The house, our new home, just feels SO right! We walked around, room to room, making our plans, changing our plans, anyone who knows me well knows I went around opening all the blinds so it was full of light this morning when we walked in. I love window treatments but I want them all open.

I was so wound up last night I hardly slept a wink, literally. We were up fairly early loading up the truck. It was a very Beverly Hillbillies moment - four of them actually. We need a bigger truck. Still it all worked. We left our movers at home to hold down the fort.

We only went to Home Depot once today which is just odd. Normally on days like today it's at least a HD and Lowes trip. Very thankful for a quick Sonic breakfast. Back and forth between the houses several times. Got everything unloaded and put up. You just can't understand how much we are appreciating having a garage again. It just makes me smile to pull into that garage.

Ray is a GRUMPY bear after working all day. After our three trips this morning we came home and pulled weeds - Creeping Charlie. He sucks, I'm just sayin. I had to get cleaned up for a neighbor's daughter's baby shower - he didn't recognize me with hair, makeup, and real clothes on. How sad is that? Tshirt and tennis skirt is my uniform.

Ray and I took the dogs to Haven House this evening to introduce them to their new home, and drop off our 4th load. They were very eager to check things out. There are squirrels and cats just everywhere. Oscar might have the big one. Just not certain he can handle all this excitement!

This is the delightful gifts Connie left for us last night!

Hillbilly Central - trip one

Still haven't figured out how Connie did these pictures of the house. So far she hasn't shared. 

Not to worry I'll wear her down. 

 I added the ferns. Need to find some Kelli approved hanging baskets. 

 2nd load.

 Our movers. Just SO much help!

I didn't take a picture of the third and forth trip. It's been a very productive day. 

So, not certain where to start. There is A LOT to do. The kitchen is just killing me. The heart of the house needs a new heart. There are so many big projects to do that have to be done. Foundation, plumbing, tons of mortar work, electricity. The kitchen has to be done but can I live with it for a year? I thought yes and after being over there and opening all the drawers I'm thinking absoluting no way. 

 How appropriate is a garden spade for a door knocker for me? 

 This is a table our dear Linda gave me years ago. 

It's been all over with us and now it graces our front door. 

This are pictures of what we are calling the bar in the family room. We are removing the uppers and having new ones made that go to the ceiling. The below pic - replacing standard sink with bar/prep sink, faucet too, light that you can't see. Sink cabinet will most likely need to be replaced. We are going to make the L shape bar to a U shape and it's going to be tight but it should work. Need to get it on paper.

That's all for now. I easily had over 10,000 steps today. Wahoo! I have more pictures. Somewhere...