WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY

Even though hubs has 4 weeks of vacation he rarely even takes a day

this year will be an exception

It is very hard to be gone 7 days from home

I'm not very good at it..my timeline is more like a long weekend

and it's also pretty hard to let go and be gone when you have such a major project in the works

These are the things that happened while we were away

hmmm...or DID NOT happen...we've been waiting on that stone mason for

4...yes FOUR weeks

but...on a sunnier side...this is the 2nd big pile of sand for the pool

and the plumbing is in

almost ready to continue with the good stuff...like water!

clean-up on isle 1

primed and ready for rock

the porch overhang can't be done until after the rock

(the new door will be utmost cool!)

waiting, waiting, waiting

one major window fiasco

we have now ordered these windows 

4 times...yes I said FOUR

what is it with 4?

I've even considered giving the measuring a whirl..I think I could handle it

but I'm kind of scared..what if it's jinxed and I mess up too

I could never get over something like that

so I just gripe

texture

number 2 knockdown..check!

art niches coming along nicely

so...we do have 2 windows that were somehow miraculously measured correctly and installed

ooopsie

art studio coming along nicely

I may need an elevator by the time we get this closed in with those dang windows

it's going to be a great space to paint though

another chapter to the window fiasco

a very very bad job of caulking them in

BLANCO?

it made the miller faint!

and yes...I griped

I still can't get over this

barrel ceiling looking good

lavender in bloom!

forgot to get someone to water the pots

oopsie

but the shrub that I forgot the name of must have grown 2 feet

hmmm???...no really...we love Jim

one of the best decisions I made

flower box is a little puny on one side though

no bills for me

the only people who know my address are those who read this blog

and I'm ready for you to come visit

we will sit upstairs in the art gallery and drink a glass of wine 

and gripe about the windows

1700 MILES OF TEXAS

We begin in the driveway of 822

armed with books, music, blanket and snackipoos

I have forgotten how complicated car seats can be

photo stop at Clarendon where my dad was born and raised

this was a bit of a history trip

in Quanah where her Honey was commissioned by TxDOT to

create two Native American displays at the rest areas

at little pool break at Aunt Kim's

Aunt Tracy was working

Fossil Rim Wildlife Park

like a real life African Safari

She got many surprises along the way

here a necklace that said Betty

she said, "I don't know how they knew I was going to be here or how they knew my name"

She also got a near lifesize pink giraffe

she named her Vanessa

she needed her own car seat as she was very wild and kept trying to get in the front seat

The birthplace of Lyndon B. Johnson

well....Betty for President 2060

climbing the same trees LBJ did

Most girls want jewelry

The Alamo is so much smaller in real life

this kept her attention for about

5 minutes

so glad I have meandered through this marvelous history more than once

Port Aransas Ferry

Oh the shark has

pearly teeth dear

Finally...the beach

two days...the best beach in Texas

fine sand, warm water, hardly a soul

Have you been to Luckenbach?

We had a Modello, a Stella and a sasperilla 

many a famous man has been on this stage

and now the president of 2060

Back through to Lubbock to visit the newlyweds, don't you know they were excited?

In all...from tip to tip (actually we could have gone down south 2 more hours)

7 days

1700 miles

lots of adventure

lots of laughs

next year

The Red Wood Forrest!

PACKING A BASKET

If you don't mind being a bit un-swank, and you're going on a road trip that will be a bit like a camping trip without a tent...

consider packing in a laundry basket.

I came across this laundry basket idea out of sheer serendipity.  We have been living a nomad lifestyle since we moved into 822....moving from bedroom to bedroom as we have renovated them.  Hubby has a professional job, so his nice suits, starchy shirts and ties have remained intact in a closet in the upstairs bedroom, but I have kept mine in a couple of laundry baskets here and there because my real job is in front of a computer and I might be in my jammies.

We have taken a couple of road trips and it's just so much easier than trying to locate the suitcase...and out of probable laziness...I find it just easier to pack the basket.

I really like this laundry basket idea--for 2 reasons.

1.  Practicality, in that you can put your dirty clothes in it each day and be all ready for washing when you get home
2.  It doesn't take up space in the car..you can stack other stuff right on top of it...like a 32 pack

Another thing I like to do is pack my crappy clothes on a trip and just leave them behind.  This can make way for all the important stuff you come across on a trip that you can load up in your laundry basket instead.

1.  No dirty clothes when you get home
2.  New stuff when you get home that you really want besides faded boxers and hole-y socks

Now, before you go thinking I'm un-swank through and through, I do have an elusive suitcase or two and I do pack like a normal person when I fly.  I have even been complimented on my outfits, hats and gloves.

But this week, when we take baby bo peep across Texas, driving from the top to the bottom and stopping at all historic points in between like the Alamo and Fossil Rim Wildlife Range...ending up at the beach...I will have all my sundry items in a large laundry basket, stashed in the back among wedding presents that will be dropped off to the newlyweds on the way back home. (32 pack...as in glasses...see how you are!)

And there is a very good chance there will be few clothes making the trip home..but more like

1.  sand and seashells and I'm looking for a great piece of drift wood
2.  a sword from the Alamo

and maybe a giant stuffed ostrich from Fossil Rim~

Another thing I'm doing this trip...I got a camera disc just for this occasion and intend to purchase one of those photo show frames just for Betty.  It's kind of like watching tv...only YOU are the star!

WAR AND PEACE

Peep told me my yard looked like a war zone

Do you remember a while back that I was going to carve my self a bit of

space so that this war zone would not get to me?

I love old rusty things

this bamboo was already here, I added the trellis for a backdrop

Remember my hubby thinking my sundial needed sun?

I may have too much shade for roses..they don't seem to be blooming 

maybe they don't like 106 degrees

always a rock cairn

these are from spilled sunflower seeds

4 things you must have for a bird habitat

food

water 

shelter

space

the bamboo is spaced evenly on the other side of the space

marigolds are just the best

I looked down today and had a tiny praying mantis on my arm

they used to scare me to death, but I love them now

lots of butterflies and moths too

facing the wall

my Hobby Lobby lanterns I got on the day I was supposed to be shopping for my 

mother of the bride dress

a little gnome peeking from behind the knockout roses

petunias in my window box

yes...a teeny tiny little space over in the shady corner

dang the reality

POOP!  

I don't have a dog so this makes me real mad!