Sunday, Sunday

 

We went out to put some gas in the car, and decided to run by the old house. It's been three months since we left, and we wondered what they've done...

 

Argh !!! They chopped down all of my beautiful landscape. They even hacked away the Japanese Maple !!!  Why would you do that, except for ignorance.

 

 

Ahh... that's how I left it. I still have my pictures.

 

Dappled Willow, Euonymus, Spirea, Boxwood, Creeping Juniper, Dwarf Korean Lilac, Red Leaf Barberry, Sweet Almond, Japanese Maple.

 

Every plant carefully chosen, carefully planted, and carefully tended, to have a natural but controlled effect. Covering ugly parts of the house, and showing off the best.

 

Oh well, this isn't the first time I have left a nice landscape, only to gasp at what the new owners deem as "nice".

 

He came in for a hamburger, and disappeared again. I'm afraid I have lost my schmoopsie forever. He is out in his new garage ALOT.  

 

I screamed for him from the back door.

 

We need an intercom...

 

He's been working hard on a workbench, and places to hang everything. It's looking good. Still on the to-do list...

 

We have a scrapper coming for the radiators (still taking up room in the garage),

and need estimates on new garage doors.

 

*

 

Update on the fencing...

 

E-mailed Lowes customer service and received an apologetic response and the promise of a call from senior management tomorrow.

 

We'll see what happens.

 

 

 

 

Wonton Soup and Other Things

 

Until I am ready to gut this whole kitchen, I must find ways to make it more user-friendly. It's so tiny in area, but so tall. The counter space is limited, and the cabinets are so high that little old me cannot utilize the upper spaces without a step ladder. So,Terry built me a shelf today, for spices and things that I like to keep handy. I still need to paint it, or stain it; not sure which...

 

I wandered around the house this afternoon, hanging up pictures, and mirrors, and doo-dads that have been sitting in the dining room since we moved in. The plaster walls do not like to take nails, but I have figured out the secret. Fat nails with big heads, and you must hold the nail while hammering.

 

When we took down the outdated ceiling fixtures, in the upstairs bedrooms, to hang ceiling fans, there were large rings (blackened, crusty, chipping) left around the mounts. We could have bought the stupid plastic rings to cover it up, or we could have scraped, and sanded, and painted... 

 

but Robin saw an artistic opportunity calling her. I got out the paints, and had some fun, although I may need a neck brace after craning my neck for so long.

 

Funny story... my lease car has to be turned in soon, so I need to decide on a replacement. I have been hating on Ford Fusions, and planning to get another Chevy Malibu. While we were sitting in the car waiting for our take-out Chinese order, I spied this beauty. Guess what?... it's a Fusion. So now, we will be visiting the Ford dealer to check them out...

 

And there it is... what's left of Sesame Chicken, Almond Chicken, Fried Rice, Egg Rolls, Pork Chop Suey, and my favorite thing...

 

Wonton Soup. I love it. It comes with a side of crispy fried noodles. Yum.

 

Anyhoo... dinner over, and back to work. Terry cemented in the posts for the gate behind the garage.

 

I am still sad, and mad, about the fence delay, but we will...

 

Carry on...

I'm Such an Idiot

 

I waited all day for the fence materials to be delivered. The lady called last week and confirmed that the materials would be delivered on Wednesday and the fence install would be Thursday.

 

As the day wore on, with no big truck showing up, my enthusiasm dwindled, and I just knew in my heart that my balloon was about to be burst. We called Lowes service department and the girl on the phone said, "Oh, your tentative date has been moved to the 30th".

 

Okay. No communication from Lowes, or the installer (left a message for the installer to call us).

 

Tentative date? What the heck is that?

 

So, the old tentative date has been moved to a new tentative date. I wonder if that tentative date will be moved too.

 

The installer actually called us, at 8:00. He blatantly lied about waiting for permits and needing to call Miss Dig. He threw out rehearsed lines meant to fool the customer. He was an idiot.

 

I am so mad. I am so tired of poor service. I am an idiot.

Robin Wants a Fence !

 

Preparing for the privacy fence.

 Once they erect the privacy fence and remove the old cyclone fencing, there will be a gap behind the garage that would lead out to the open road. It's just a small 3 foot opening, so Terry is digging the holes for posts, and he'll wait to see if there's any scrap fence pickets to seal up this opening.

 

Here is the view from the back door, toward the street. This view is going to change dramatically...

 

1 DAY TILL PRIVACY FENCE !!!

There's a Kind of Hush

 

There really hasn't been much going on here, the last couple of days. Terry and I finally found a small, but efficient, ceiling fan for the second bedroom upstairs.

 

We worked out in the yard this afternoon, getting rid of piles of leftover debris (sticks, rocks, pine cones, roots, etc.). Took out lots of garbage, and started trying to level the land, and move pine tree mulch to the back of the yard.

 

2 DAYS TILL PRIVACY FENCE...

 

 

Shorty caught a mouse in the wood pile. I've never heard a mouse squeal before, but she made him...

She nipped him in the butt. Good dog.

 

 

 

 

Wedding...Part 2

 

My two favorite guys... What are they looking at?

 

Greeting new arrivals (security dog).

 

Ahh, my sister and my daughter. Great picture.

 

She said it was awful, but it's funny... she drank the whole glass of champagne.

 

Bride and groom had cheesecake !!!

 

Sue's crying again (due to the father/daughter dance).

 

Father of the groom dances with the bride (very cute).

 

Congratulations to Ryan & Kim.

Wedding...Part 1

 

Brother Bob... "Father of the groom". He just seems to keep getting better with age. Love him.

 

Sister Sue, and hubby (of 25 years) Ken. Flew in from North Carolina, for the wedding. She's aging pretty nicely too. Love them.

 

 

The groom... Ryan (he's so cute).

 

Kim... the bride. Nothing more to say, except she was beautiful.

 

Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Wills.

 

Three siblings. Mike, Doug, and Sandy (grandmother of the groom).

 

Around the table (from left): My schmoopsie Terance, Uncle Mike, Aunt Kathie, brother-in-law Ken, sister Susie, My mom Sandy, and my favorite daughter, Sandy.

 

Doesn't get any cooler than bridesmaids in cowboy boots !!!

(the professional photographer was shooting a dramatic scene here...)

 

 

Ahh, there's nothing like some drinks, a D.J., disco music, and a portable dance floor.

 

It was a beautiful day, lovely ceremony, and so nice to see all of my family.

 

Well, most of the family...

 

 

 

It's a Whole New Backyard

 

This giant cement block box was removed...

 

 

Here's the after shot.

 

Three giant pine trees removed... three truck loads of broken cement pieces... three truck loads of rocks, bricks, and debris.

 

Three more pines removed back here. The yard seems so much bigger.

 

Everybody's happy...

Random Day

 

We would call today random.

It started out with the landscapers showing up at seven o'clock in the morning to level the

yard and take away rocks and debris (more pictures later).

 

Sandy and I went shopping for dresses (wedding this weekend).

 

*

 

Terry and I ran over to mom's to do a couple of errands for her.

 

Stopped at Sonic for a Pretzel Bacon Cheesy Hot Dog and a Raspberry Slushy...

 

and ended up at Kmart (sounds like another date night for Robin & Terry).

 

 

Random occurrence. Shaving cream exploded. Hmm...

 

I'll clean it up tomorrow.

 

Bought a ton of candy for Halloween.

 I have a feeling that my new neighborhood will be very active (lots of kids).

 

Terry needed a belt, but he got a whole new outfit. This is a big deal, because he never gets anything for himself. But... the General was there to make him.

 

Big wedding celebration on Saturday. Our nephew Ryan and his fiancé Kim are getting married at brother Bob's estate up in Fowlerville. It should be a perfect day, and I can't wait to see my big sis.

 

Random stuff. 

 

 

Cut Down a Forest

 

There he is... early start, and a long day for "The Tree Guyz".

 

Tree number one came down...

 

Tree number two put up a fight (but it was extra big).

 

She came down with a thud that shook the house.

Three, four, and five, went off without a hitch.

 

Wow, the yard looks a lot different now, so much bigger.

 

Cannot wait for the privacy fence !!!

 

We have a lot of clean-up to do, but we are definitely making a difference in this yard.

 

Can't say enough good things about The Tree Guyz. They are amazing professionals.