Pantry Renovation

It's always the little things that make us crazy, right? This pantry was on the long list of little (&big) things in this house that made us crazy because it was divided into these bizarre, inefficient spaces.

By the time I realized that I wanted some photos of this project, Rich had already removed one shelf; you can see the line where it was attached halfway between the top and the (formerly) third shelves. The bottom three shelves had those wire baskets attached.

Problems: there were only about 12 inches between shelves so there were many items that would not fit; the wire baskets were hard to pull out and squeaked loudly; it was impossible to clean crumbs and stuff that had fallen under the wire shelves; with the pantry door hung on the right side, the remaining area was only about three inches wide so nearly inaccessible; and it had never been painted.

Solutions: Rich removed the second and third shelves from the top; the second shelf was discarded; the third shelf was re-positioned a few inches higher; now we will have four functionally sized shelves; he designed three shelves that will pull out and installed them on top of the existing shelves; he removed the new pullout shelves; and painted the inside of the pantry.

After the paint cures in a day or two, he will re-install the new pullout shelves and we can restock the pantry. Bella was this close to one or the other of us all day, here she's supervising the painting. Dora observed from a safe distance.

After using the kitchen for a few weeks now, I finally decided which drawers would hold which things. Most were in good condition and only needed to be washed when we moved in but others I had not used because I needed to line them. In the process of doing that today, I had this center drawer hanging loose so that I could reach all the way to the back to put Contact paper in when it slipped, fell on the floor, and the front tore away from the screws. The outcome of this sorry tale is that Rich got to repair my mess in the midst of his awesome project...geesh...even when I try...

After that fiasco, I just tried to stay out of his way, fixed lunch, made a supply run, and let the girls hang by me since they get a little nervous when we're working on projects. Here's a short movie of them playing this evening.

Lovin' Life ~~ And Home Improvement Projects

Spa Day & Halloween

Spa day for the girls that is! Tuesday was their first grooming since Bella's surgery. In this first picture, taken in the parking lot at the groomer's because someone lost track of the time again that morning and forgot to take some at home...harrumph, who could that have been? giggle You can clearly see where her entire belly was shaved for surgery Sept. 16th.

While they were at the groomer we ran some errands then puttered around the house. This pot sat on the patio outside the kitchen door with some kind of plant in it. I don't do plants that require care so it had died over the summer. Rich loaded it in the yard cart that he and the kids assembled the weekend of his birthday and hauled it out front.

On our way, I stopped to shoot this gorgeous bloom on one of our ocotillos.

Rich placed the pot at the front corner of our place where he and our grands had constructed this sculpture they named KJJ (King Julian Jr).

KJJ is our greeter and this is his domain, complete with Tiki torch!

Now that the brush is all cleared we are discovering interesting cacti and plants that we had not noticed among all that overgrowth. I love this for its multiple gnarly trunks and long thin leaves. However, I have no idea what it is and have invested way too much time on Google trying to find out, to no avail. Do any of you know?

I did think to get some shots of the girls after we brought them home. We still keep in touch with Bella's surgeon and she was happy to get a few pictures of a healthy, freshly groomed Bella! The brown area on her back is dark brown hair growing back where she suddenly lost hair a few weeks ago. No explanation and she has been just fine all along.

Rich continues painting the ceilings & woodwork, where the previous owners slopped paint. I've mentioned before that no roll of painter's tape had ever entered this house when they lived here. We got lucky with our selections and have paint that very closely matches the ceilings and woodwork. Still it is an enormous amount of work because every foot of ceiling edges and woodwork have to be taped and then carefully painted to blend into the existing paint...whew!

Late afternoon on Halloween we went to the kids' house bearing pizzas and Rich's Sangria. The kids were just putting finishing touches on their costumes; Dexter was already wearing his!

Note: Dylan's pumpkin sports an I-Pod and ear-buds!

Note: Shelby's pumpkin has peace signs for eyes!

Note: Jackson invested two minutes drawing on his pumpkin...such a teen!

Shawn had carried some of their patio/pool furniture out to the driveway so we could all enjoy the festivities. Dylan and Shelby each trick-or-treated with friends. Jackson stayed home and hung out with his folks and us. Sandee had prepared a huge basket of candy, pencils, candy, bubbles, candy, stickers and everyone got to pick their favorites. She and Shawn had lighted the pumpkins and other candles for a really cool table of treats. Dexter claimed his front row seat early and never relinquished it...he was the hit of the evening for lots of the kids!

This shot was taken with flash.

This is what it really looked like when the trick-or-treaters came by.

Usually big kids are not in costume or very unimaginative "costume" anyway so are not at all appreciated. These guys though were among my favorites (with some precious little children taking top honors of course!) because they were polite, having fun, and wearing these fabulous costumes.

Like I said to Sandee B in an e-mail earlier, "We all sat outside and enjoyed the hundred or so kids, with many parents in costume too, who came by. It reminded me of Halloween evenings when my kids were young and the ones when we lived in CA. As you know, that is the one thing I've always missed in Carillon."

Oh yeah, we enjoyed the pizza and glasses of Rich's fabulously drinkable Sangria too! Let's bring on November and continue celebrating!

Lovin' Life ~~ Here With Our Grands

Our Grands

Sunday afternoon we went to the kids' to celebrate Rich's birthday. When we pulled up, Shelby and Dexter were sitting in the back of their car, waiting to greet us.

We got to see Shelby's and Jackson's newly arranged rooms but then we all hung out in Dylan's room chatting and watching Dylan and Jackson play "football."

Sandee grilled chicken and we had brought pasta salad and Rich's special homemade salsa. After dinner it was time for presents!

Sandee had baked brownies in a sheet pan so they could be decorated and we also had Cheesecake Factory cheesecake...both were so yummy!

Dylan got to light the candles on his Gpa's brownie cake. It still amazes me when something like this occurs...Dylan handling matches...he shouldn't be old enough, yet he is.

The kids all came home with us to spend the night. They raced through the house checking out all that we have done in the last week; there have been a lot of changes. They all love their rooms, especially now that they have beds! I had bought glow sticks at the dollar store, we turned out the lights in Shelby's room, and for nearly an hour it was total bedlam with them leaping on and over the bed sword fighting in total darkness with the glow sticks. I sat on the window seat with my camera and here are a few of my favorite shots. They've all been cropped, some of them have been brightened...I love them all!

While I uploaded photos, Rich and the kids played a fun new train board game called TransAmerica, which he got for his birthday; we all played it again today.

After Rich went to bed, the kids and I stayed up until nearly 12:30 a.m. playing that great new Monopoly game we got; we played it again today too!

I don't have any photos of the boys here on Monday. They slept late, had breakfast and then Sandee came. She and I went to that restaurant supply store so she could check it out and I could pick up a few more things. We barely got back in time for the boys to load up and her drive Jackson to football practice at 2:00; Shelby stayed with us, then I drove her home that night.

While we were shopping, Rich and the kids assembled the new yard cart, filled it with rip rap from the dog run demo and dumped it in the shallow ravine where rain water runs through our property. They also hauled concrete blocks and bricks up to the road end of our property and constructed this statue of King JJ (a running joke among the four of them about King Julian from the Madagascar movies)!

Shelby and King JJ

Jose finished clearing and loading all the brush Monday morning which has been quite a job for the past several weeks. I love it now that we can walk all over and be able to see if anything is slithering nearby...haha That is the peaked roof of our house behind Shelby.

Rich took the motorhome to get propane filled for our trip to CA and Shelby and I completed a little craft project for her room.

After we hung the framed flowers, she posed in front of the opposite wall so that it would look like butterflies were landing on her arms...

...and in her hands.

Speaking of Shelby's room, Bella seems to think it is hers. After finding her napping on the bed in there, I covered the bedspread and pillows with a sheet. Then, the other night when I told The Girls it was time for bed, they both started down the hall in front of me but Bella turned right into that bedroom until I called her back to go to our room! Apparently the kids aren't the only ones who are happy to see beds in those rooms!

Lovin' Life ~~ Every Day!

A One Day Vacation in Roswell

It's no secret that we LOVE Roswell. That's been well documented here on previous trips. Last night Rich found the most incredible radio station, you can stream it online at http://www.q971fm.com We stayed up so late reading, singing along (me), and talking while listening to the great music selection of old hits. We love the museums, the restaurants, the UFO kitsch, the shopping, and lots of other activities in Roswell. Something about the place, we always have such relaxed fun while here.

Of course we always visit the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, our favorite small art museum and we have seen a few on our travels. I've posted favorite works here before so took broader shots for you today.

See why we love this museum? For grins I'm going to also post a few special pieces...

This is a new piece titled "V-8 Hot Tub". The V-8 engine being fueled by gasoline from the military-style gas can to warm and pulse the water entering the tub, which is missing one leg so is supported by a concrete block. Totally amusing; we loved it!

I've never posted this piece in its entirety but any of you who have used the guest bath in our home within the past year will surely recognize one section of it!

This one had me laughing out loud. It's a hug pile of polyester-filled felt tubes. Here's part of the description on the artist card, "It is about materializing the...physical digestion...that make[s] up the cycles of daily life." Have you figured it out? It cracked me up wondering if Bella was trying to create a work of art by digesting all that "stuff" of her daily life.

From there we did a little shopping, then ate at what might be our favorite smoked meats restaurant, the Rib Cage. Yummm...they know how to do meat! I didn't even pick up my camera when the plates were set before us. I did take a photo of this though. Rich uses that phrase "Pie-Hole" so it was funny to see it on a table menu. That Blackberry Cobbler was delish too!

What would any visit to Roswell be without a few photos of the aforementioned UFO kitsch?

Lights along Main Street

We're out of here at the break of dawn tomorrow morning for the next to last day of travel...

Good night all!

Lovin' Life ~~ And Light Days of Laughter with MOAO