DIY

Hi there!

I finally have something to post about after a long absence. I am putting up a tile backsplash behind our stove. DH and I are not DIYers (for others who are not DIYers, it means "do it yourself), but I like watching those shows on HGTV and tiling always looks to me like something I might like to do. I react to the idea of it in a similar way that I reacted to the idea of working with clay. So, we decided to give it a try on this small project. I am taking photos to document the process and will post when I am finished. Three things I have learned so far: 1) make sure all the tile you buy is the same kind (we realized 2 packs out of 6 were slightly different once we got them home), 2) be careful when pouring the liquid sealant into a container--that is the time when it might splash on your face (just a little drop), and 3) when it is incredibly hot outside, take the plastic wrap off of the tiles while you are in the air conditioned house rather than taking them all out onto the deck first! Here are some pics of the start of the project:


Oh, yes, but before I move on to more tiling, we did do one other project this weekend. DH replaced the chandelier in our dining room. We didn't like the one that came with the house. I saw an ad in the paper last weekend, asked DH, "how about this one?" We went to see it, bought it and, after quite a bit of effort, DH got it hung and working. We stepped back to see the effect. Ugh. . .we don't like it! Now that it's in place, we can see that it is too big, too dark, and too rustic for our furniture. Why couldn't we see that before we put it up!? Here are some pics:

Happy Birthday Dear Hubby!

DH turns 63 today. We had a birthday brunch on Saturday because he is on a business trip in Gatlinburg, TN today. I didn't get him a present other than taking him, his mom, and a friend out to brunch on Saturday. Do you think that counts as a gift? His real reward for getting older is that he is planning on retiring from his current position at the end of October. The current plan seems to be that from then until the first of the year he may do some consulting for the company. After that, who knows?

Nutmeg

I was debating what to write about--my troubled brother or DH's retirement plans. Both seemed weighty matters that might take some time and thought and I wasn't sure I was into it. Then it hit me. . .post some cute photos of Nutmeg (Meg)! This is a series of photos taken at my parents' house last Christmas. It shows Nutmeg coaxing their miniature dachshund (Brat) into playing with her. After all, Harry got the spotlight a couple of weeks ago. Have to give your "children" equal time.

Here's to Possumlady

Happy Birthday Possumlady!! (tomorrow; had to post this before bed on Thursday so I wouldn't forget! Hey wait a minute; I just realized tomorrow is the 24th. B-day's not till Sat. Oh well, better early than late.)

Here's to a great friend and a wonderful human being. Loves animals, good food and wine, socially liberal, great sense of humor--what more could one want? We're getting awfully close to 50. Who knew we'd be so young at this age!

I give you a virtual gardenia! Do you smell the fragrance?

R.I.P. Rocket

Sadly, the Eastern Box Turtle that showed up in our yard about a month ago has passed away. She had been lethargic for the past week or so--no longer interested in blueberries and spending all of her time in the pond. Today DH took her out of the pond and put her on the side of it and she barely moved. When he came home at lunch, she was dead. She is now buried in our yard.

Unfortunately, this past weekend when DH took the dogs for a walk in a neighboring woods, he found another turtle in a stream there. For some reason, he thought it would be fun to bring it home (I guess to see if the 2 turtles would interact!). So, he put the turtle on the ground near the pond and we haven't seen it since (actually, I never saw it). He now realizes that it was a dumb thing to do and wants to return it to the stream, but we have no idea where it is. I hope it is surviving this heat. Men!

Misc Photos

I don't feel much like writing a post, but don't want to let another week go by without posting something. It seems I only get to this on the weekend. I've had a very low energy weekend (translation--I spent most of Saturday sleeping). So, for my post, I've searched for some old photos and new to share.


We bought this pot several years ago. I love the relief carving. I had always intended to put a plant in it but did not do it until last weekend. I selected a combination of 3 types of houseplants. I hope they do well.

This is a photo DH took years ago (5?) at the Shed aquarium in Chicago. I can't believe how well this photo turned out given that it was taken through glass. The one below of the Dolphin was also taken at the Shed. Doesn't it look so cool and peaceful?

I took this photo of an iris several years ago while visiting a Japanese garden in Portland.
This is a beautiful sunset that we saw while on vacation in Nags Head, NC. Also several years ago. It's amazing how the time flies by.

A little peek into our home. The painting above the mantel was done by DH's mother and the bowls were made by DH.


This recent photo is of the first Mexican Sunflower to bloom in our yard.

This photo of the Morning Glories was taken just a few days ago. They are the first flowers to appear on these vines, which were planted in May or June. The vine grew and grew till it was about to take over our deck before we got the first flowers. Now we get about one a day.


We were in Jamaica in 2005 and DH took this photo of a dramatic sunset. I worry that they have suffered much damage from Hurricane Dean.

Harry During a Rain Storm

On Friday we had a very minor and fleeting rain storm. We've had some much more ferocious ones during the past couple of weeks and I guess that has Harry on heightened alert. Usually a cool character, he doesn't like thunder. He usually does not get up on the furniture. We allow him to, and actually encourage it, but he has arthritic hips and is usually self-limiting. The exception is when we have a storm. Then he wants to be very close to one of us and seems particularly comforted by being on the sofa or the bed. However, we had never seen him get up in this relatively small chair before. As you can see, DH was sitting in the next chair and Harry decided he wanted to be near him, even though I was on the roomier sofa and beckoned him to come sit by me. He quickly and gracefully got up in the chair. At 80 lbs., he barely fit!


He managed to turn himself around till he was facing backwards over the chair.

Then he laid down with his back to the rest of the world. I had never seen anything like this, so I had to take some photos!



At a certain point he decided to get off of the chair. I thought he was going to fall over backwards, but he managed to turn himself around without falling off. Then, a moment later, another distant rumble of thunder and he was back on the chair. This time facing forward. Meg gets a little apprehensive, but you can see she was content to stay on the floor. That is until Harry got off the final time. Then, she had to jump up on the chair and smell where he'd been!Just another Friday night at home. . .