My-ORC--THE POOL

There is a trend making way into this fiesty Texas County

at one time

Hansford County was designated as the richest county in Texas

but before that

we endured the dust bowl and many other hardships

 folks came here to farm and very close to where I live, land was given away in the

Oklahoma Land Rush

there was no time for folly....these folks were 

WORKING!!

 a man was busy from sunup 'till sundown

(women too)

But something dark and different was about to be discovered...

lying beneath the parched land

(my dad)

many many people in this area became very very rich

but you would never know it

Gus Birdwell Elementary School 

Gus purchased his clothes at the Library Thrift Shop and growing up we all thought he was a hobo

turns out

he left enough money (millions) to build our school

so the trend back then was one thing and one thing only

and it wasn't fashion or frolic or fun

along comes a new generation who believes in the concept of working hard, yes!..

but living a good life along with hard work

so...as I rattle off the subject...

for years, there were only 2 private pools in Hansford County...and one of  them was dug by hand

having a pool was considered frivolous,  a waste of time and money 

and no one back then would dare even think about changing out of those oil and dirt soiled khakis into swim trunks

or lying about soaking up the sun with a hard lemonade

so when I asked, begged, pleaded, cajoled, and made promises of a 2nd job

 to the hard working mister for a pool

he finally agreed

don't you think this is a perfect spot for a pool?

me too!

but first there's always that thing you have to do that doesn't show

in this case a bigger water line to accommodate

this sight made me giddy

this one made me cringe

cringe

giddy

Are you ready for today?

well...not today...it's 21 degrees

~Inspiration~

pinterest

~We~

• Just did it
• just buckled down and made the decision to enjoy life
• JUST DID IT

~Biggest Challenge~

$$$

~Favorite Thing~

We are experiencing another oil boom in the Texas Panhandle 

there have been 15 homes built in the last year...something that, to my knowledge, 

has never happened

lots of people have put in pools...some underground and some above ground but the thing is this

Life is too long not to enjoy it

it's also too short not to enjoy it

I am surrounded by the hardest working people that you could ever imagine

and I admire them

but

I also admire a person who is able to feel no guilt for 

enjoying life and the fruits of their labors

yabba dabba doo

*that about wraps up the past renovation for 822.  I realize these posts have not really been a ORC for a few reasons...I invited myself, most of them took more than 6 weeks, and I was my own client...hope I didn't offend anyone...or step on toes...it was just all about the before and after

2015...I hope will be the year....that we really wrap it up

on the to do list is

turning the basement into a wine cellar and the ugly brown bathroom into a powder room

believe it or not...Mr PV also wants to build a shop and I want it to be a conservatory

I'm sure a lawnmower could look fabulous parked in here

pinterest

no doubt....floating a long hot Texas summer evening away 

after scuffling with daily life

will be one of my greatest pleasures that I shall never take for granted!

MyORC--THE HERB GARDEN AND VINEYARD

As the snow flies and the temperature struggles to make it into the teens

I can't think of a better thing to do than look back on the old before garden

and plan for what lies ahead in this wonderful space!

after you made your way through the fauna barrier with your machete

you came to the most charming gate leading to the backyard

seriously....I love a secret garden that looks like this...the colors in the fall were spectacular that year!

but this is where Mr. PV and I travel a different path

he likes order and symmetry 

I like wild and free

and well

he has more money than I do so...

order it is!

 I must admit...I have begun to love order too..and this is a great space for it

this fountain was a great deal heavier than they told us at the garden store

these parts alone were very very heavy

but first comes the gravel path

with the help of a few great neighbors

the stone border is leftover from what we removed from the house 

when we connected the garage apartment to the main house

we live right smack dab in the middle of the oil patch

this gravel is not widely used for gardens, but rather on rig sites

moving the fountain was going to take some careful thought

thank goodness Miss Betty was on hand for the smart part

after the gravel is down, this gate had to be removed for a moment

this favor cost me a pan or two of sticky buns!

cute carpenter man is always there to lend a hand!

(on this cold blustery day I find myself swooning over those puffy summer clouds)

~Inspiration~

(the next few photos were inspiration found on pinterest)

Are you ready for today?

(well not exactly today since it's 9 degrees)

~We~

• drank quite a bit of wine while we were discussing the space..you know...the wild/tame thing
• cleared the space
• created borders for an herb garden with the leftover luder stone
• put in plumbing and electricity for the fountain and to water the space
• put in the old world fountain
• planted our garden
• made lots of future plans...mainly for a small vineyard and a bee hive

~Biggest Challenge~

Moving that very very heavy fountain...it was HEAVY!

~Future Plans~

The vineyard space was laid out this fall

a few trial grapes started

~Favorite Thing~

Mr. PV is happy!

I'm happy

and intend to spend these cold winter days loving every single moment of planning ahead!

6 VERBS

6 Verbs

Matthew 2: 1-12

They saw

They went

They entered

They bowed

They worshiped

They gave

 So simple really

As you prepare to begin 2016 and imagine what you will do with your next 365 days...

what...

 are the verbs you will choose?

I cannot wait to see 

and even more than that...I am excited to see

your adjectives!

I hope you got every single little and big thing you wanted at the close of 2015

and I hope you get every single little and big thing you hope for in 2016!