And the show goes on . . .

Happy Birthday, Scott! It's a little difficult to wrap a planer,

but he looks thrilled anyway, don't you think?

What a mess! This thing puts out the sawDUST!

I don't think we'll ever get this place clean!

Hearing protection is extremely necessary

Ok, so I decided to use my hideous color and it
just might turn out to be my favorite room yet.


The linoleum was installed in the hall/laundry/bathroom
today - it looks so clean and new,
I can't stop peeking in at it - I love it!

We are building a storage closet in the family
room that is going to have a rusty
metal roof and barn doors that slide on a track.
A place to hide all my treasures and/or junk

Beginning of project

This is a "real man's" seam ripper. Crow bar to the rescue

What a difference a (FULL) day makes

Finally, some color! I had a different color in mind and painted a bit of it as a sample. My highly opinionated laborers all looked at me questionably and told me I was nuts. So if anyone needs a gallon of Wooden Porch Swing (sounds good, eh?) paint from HDepot, it's yours!

Good ole Dad, or should I say sore Dad after rolling the ceilings
Mr. Detail - thank goodness for steady hands and lots of patience -
Mr. J had the tedious job of cutting in at the ceiling.
Will and Scott after spraying the primer

Bring a paintbrush please!

Hmmm, choices -choices - choices. This is always my favorite part of the job. The vanity is hickory and I will stain it a medium color. The floral fabric is going to be a shower curtain - and the rug goes in the bathroom as well. I've tried to get most of the big items from Craigslist - just because I love a bargain.

Maren's room - ready for paint!
The living/great room area - oooh can't wait for everything to be done!

Spring Fever

Sten "Weld"ing. Sten got another treasure at the transfer station yesterday - a partial go cart to add to his other other partial go-cart, which will ideally make a whole go cart. Vrrooom!

Milah has officially been given the head mower's position, and Sten was all too eager to give it up. It's sure strange how this "fun" job becomes "work" in just a few months. We bought this mower used about 12 years ago, and it has mowed thousands of acres - it's not a beauty, but it keeps going and going and going -

Meanwhile, Maren is at swimming lessons - always with a big grin

Italian Night

We had some old friends over for a "make your own pizza" feed tonight. Old for sure! It was Mike A and Scott's 45th birthdays. They went through Junior High and High School together.

I decided to mimic that famous picture of those workers sitting on a beam over NYC - don't know if that's obvious or not? It was awesome to get together but we were missing a family - ahem - I think you know who you are!

Kenzi and Milah rolling their dough

Ryan, throwing his pie
Chef Boyardee

A Project Completed!

Our powder room bathroom had never been complete, until today. (what's the rush?) I had been collecting all the pieces for a certain look. The sink is an old enamelware basin, featuring rust spots and a few worn areas. FINALLY, everything is in place and I think I'll be sleeping in the bathroom tonight. Wanna come over and wash your hands?

Scott was eager to help me with this project - wallpapering the ceiling - UGH!!! Well, it's more like I helped Scott. I know wallpaper is out, but I thought this looked vintage in a good way.

The green is not as green as it looks in this picture

Insulator in the basement. Maybe I could master these stilts under
some long skirts and I would look tall and lean?!

Scaffolding in the living room. The kids are enjoying this in-home play structure. We are fixing the ceiling fan, dusting the logs, and washing windows in those impossible to reach places. Next blog post will feature casts and concussions.

Aaaah!

I stumbled onto a memory stick that contained some older pictures today . . . I guess time flies while you're busy doing laundry and wiping snotty noses. It makes me a little frantic, wishing I could just stall the clock for a bit now, and "freeze" these incredible little people (one who is taller than me) that are getting older by the day. boo hoo . . .

The puppy he had long dreamed about . . . love at first sight

One of my all time favorite pictures of Scott - he ABSOLUTELY DID NOT want a dog and we kind-of (well we definitely) went against his wishes and got one anyway. This is the first moment he held Danner and despite the gnarly look on his face, his heart had already melted.

Fun at the lake

Some cooperation at the studio - I must've bribed them with ice cream, donuts, and a trip to the zoo!

They were grumbling about this one and Sten couldn't figure out why the girls were wearing "ugly nightgowns" as he put it . . .

Old Fashioned Fun

I had the kid's pics taken from a crew that passed thru town, taking these old style pictures. I think they turned out cute - they were really dragging their feet to participate in this foolish venture, but they got into it once they dressed up . . .

The girls and I were laughing hysterically at Sten during this one, but he was a good sport . . .

Goodbye to Gramps

Scott's Grandpa Lester passed away on Thursday morning of complications from pneumonia. He was 94. He was a very special person, and we were thankful that we were in Oregon to share in his last few weeks. He is the one pictured just a few weeks ago, making the mashed potatoes. He will surely be missed, but we feel it is a blessing that he has gone on to his reward.

He founded Sweet Home Sanitation in 1947 - and the garbage truck followed the hearse to the cemetary. Some might think it odd, especially to take the picture - but it was fitting.


All of our Grandpa's are now gone - with the passing of one generation, it makes you realize that it's high time to grow up and take responsibility - those are some big shoes to fill. (a little chit chat to myself)

Forward Progress!

The construction assistant - Maren comes in from school about noon and checks on progress - she comes up from the basement looking filthy, right down to her toes.

We installed a half wall in between the kitchen and living area of the basement. Dad thinks this is a crummy idea, but he did what he was told! I'm thinking that I will cover it in rusty corrogated metal.

Maren's closet - all framed in. Mr. J built this rustic door a few years ago as part of a hair-brained project that Mrs. J and I were doing. I think it will work just perfect as her closet door. Dad was a little concerned that it was a little shorter than a standard door, but we determined that it probably won't be an issue with Maren.

Wanna come over?

In Scott's newly domesticated life, he has decided to take up bread-making. This is his first loaf and it was delicious - not a big fluffy loaf, but a crusty rustic bread. He ran into HIS kindergarten teacher in the grocery store and she told him about this no-knead recipe from the NY Times. Give it a try - it's yummy! Please note, he looks a little scruffy because he's apparently taken a grooming boycott. This is Milah, getting ready in her bathroom. Before we left for CO, she was too small to operate the shower on her own, so she is very excited to have her own space and she is keeping it immaculate. No comments please on her choice of footwear with her nice outfit.
Milah and Maren were playing school, and I had to snap this one - take an extra look at the word, "correctly".
We had a little Colorado weather here in Oregon! It didn't stick around long, but I sure hope we get some more.

You Can't Beat This!

We went to the kid's favorite restaurant for lunch today - Gramps and Wilemina's. They think she makes the best food around and she served her specialty - fried chicken with homemade chocolate cake for dessert.

Her handy sous chef - whipping up the spuds - his designated duty

Getting a lesson on the logistics of a bolo tie

The skilled hands of a 96 year old - an amazing and incredible woman. The wooden spoon she is holding in her hand is one of her treasured possesions - she thinks that she got it about 1935. WOW! I always tell her that on her death bed, we will be gathered around with a pen and paper, asking her the details and directions to all her yummy recipes.
Grandma Patty was there too, with 3 of her 10 great grandchildren.

Construction Under Way

Installing brackets around plumbing and electrical systems in preparation for sheetrock
Enjoying a siesta and a laugh before dinner. A few of Ryan and Jessica's things still hanging around. They will spend their first night in their own home on Saturday. We have had an excellent time living and working in tandem with them. We've enjoyed babysitting, eating meals together, and helping pack boxes and paint at their new house. It's going to be strange to be here without them- a little lonely I think.

Milah was having an enjoyable time as the assistant until Maren spoiled her routine. As you can see, she was pleasant and cooperative about the ordeal, and notice the determined look on Maren's face. Determined to irritate her sister as much as possible.

Grandpa and Milah getting to work

Home for Good with Load #3

After another 1200 miles, Scott is home safely. He had stretches of bad weather to contend with on this trip. To all our Colorado friends - please notice the GREEN grass!