Did you read this?

One of my blogs several months ago suggested reading some of the stories written in a blog called From Under My Hat.  It is linked at the right side of this page under My Blog List. 

Whether you have or have not read Kevin's stories before, now would be a good time to do so.

I cannot imagine you won't enjoy the story: A Shed Full of Memories

Sidewalk

This fall & winter has been busy enough that when I had time to blog I just didn't feel like it.  So here is a bit more in the way of catch-up.

After adding a new entry, two sidewalks became obsolete and needed to be removed.  The sidewalk to the drive/garage needed replacing.  So with a rental jackhammer in hand, I and every sidewalk on the place took a beating.

Sunny Lane sidewalk ready to be hauled away.

Sidewalk from the front porch to side porch also is ready to be removed and will be replaced with landscaping this spring.

This version of sidewalk was in place for a few months.  Thanks to all our visitors who tiptoed to the
door without complaining.

We spent some time deciding what we wanted to do for a replacement sidewalk.  Then more time deciding exactly which materials, design & such.  A week before Christmas, a local landscaping company showed up and...  24 hours later it's done.  We're not use to that kind of start-to-finish time frame around here.  It sure was nice!

 

Update from last March

Last winter/spring I posted some photos and updates from the new entryway.  In March, I did a blog showing some photos of the exterior in its final construction stages. Entry from outside

The interior views never made it into a blog.  Perhaps it's not too late to remedy that.

Above is a daylight view and below is later in the evening with lights on.

The blue trim on right side of photo and partly across the top is where the exterior wall was located prior to the remodel.

We wanted to avoid making the 9x12 addition look like a box thrown on the front of the house so we

installed 6 windows.  This corner lets in morning light and gives us a view of Main Street.

Opposite is another nook that holds a couple windows and lets in afternoon sun.

Code name? Project Complete!

Without discussing just how many nerves have been frayed, this project is done.  Brenda and I have agreed (for different reasons) we are done remodeling.  :)

Here is how it looks...

It's time for another project.

Whenever someone visits our house, it seems there is always one room which has a closed door because we're working on it, about to work on it, or some such excuse.  Just short of 2 years ago, we remodeled the basement living area.  The bathroom however?  Its door remained closed and has been totally out of commission.  The only thing you would see if you opened the door would have been debris. 

Finally, the fix has started.  I have some photos of the progress.  Perhaps it's just as well I don't have any "before" photos.

Shower will be here.  But floor drain from old shower doesn't line up with new shower and the lavatory will be on a different wall.  So cut out the floor to place new drains.

Entry.  The wall to the right of the door was moved back into the laundry room about 16 inches to allow for this sitting area and an area for shelves as seen in the next photo.

I'll have about 43 inches for shelves in the area where the chair stands.

The old lavatory sat below the window, but the new one will be on the wall to the left of door. 

Back to the sitting and shelf area.  The wood is going up.

Shower surround is in place and drywall will soon be ready for primer & paint.

Paint is now on, so time for the tile to go down.

Shower glass installed and trim is going on... one piece at a time.  Cut it in the garage, make the trek into the basement.  If it fits, nail it.  If it's a 1/16 inch too long, walk out to the garage and cut it again!

Shelves are in place.

As soon as I finish a couple more things, I'll shoot some more photos and show the finished project.

Deer Season

Where were all the deer this year?  Well, this one is in the freezer but the others eluded Kyle & I this season.  The statewide deer harvest was up slightly this year.  But the number of deer we saw was down.  I may have another hunt opportunity during the late season.  My wish is that Kyle could have another day or two in the woods but living in OK doesn't exactly make it easy.  We did have a great time together though. 

The Wedding

The town of Pawnee sits in the northern part of Central Oklahoma with it's 2,190 residents. (when they are all home)  Folks unfamiliar with that area of the Sooner State may never have heard of Pawnee, but those who are serious fans of Dick Tracy might know the cartoonist who created that comic strip, Chester Gould, was born there.  Which is why Pawnee is home to the world's largest Dick Tracy mural.  And maybe the only Dick Tracy mural for all I know.  Also born in Pawnee was Chief Yellow Horse and if you know that he was the first full-blooded Native American Indian to play professional baseball, you win today's trivia contest.

As of June 9, 2012, Pawnee is also the wedding site for Kyle & Kalynn.  The Pawnee Bath House & grounds (a 1939 WPA project) was the venue.  The weather was great, the wedding was terrific and the couple are favorites of ours.  Here are some photos.

 Brenda and Delaine with lighted candles 

and three handsome young men in tow are ready to start the ceremony.

Kyle awaits.

All our eyes are on Kalynn & Dan

 Diane shares some thoughts for all of us.

 Kaloni, Joseph, Carly, Kalynn, Wayne, Kyle, Parker, Tyler & Karmen

 Wayne performed the ceremony.  Very nicely, I must add.

 Katia, Kamela, Ashley & Karmen sing "We Have Chosen One Another"

 The Kiss.  Wayne approves I think.

Mr. & Mrs. Kyle LiaBraaten