Picture it--North Carolina--summer 2010

I usually write about my flowers and today you will learn about DIY! Due to a broken water pipe I have been for three weeks now demolition and remodel of kitchen.
Today I was working on staining doors for new cabinets. It is a stain polyurethane combined. After completing the doors, I kept looking at the cut out from the counter where the sink is now placed. I am not one to let materials go to waste. The ol' gray matter is swirling in my brain. I decide it would be ideal for a cutting board, but decide to use my stain mixture on the back side to protect my new counters.

Now comes the fun story.

I finish the back and sides of the cut out from the counter and had decided to use a paint roller for a fast smooth job. I go out side to trash barrel, with paper towels and roller in hand. Of course when you apply pressure to remove said stained roller, it will always drip. Unfortunately it had to be my toes that were on the receiving end of this dripping stain. Very hot and humid here today so the toes are now sticking rapidly together. What a great time for the phone to ring! I am hopping through kitchen, dining room and living room to get to the phone and leave no toe prints in my wake!!! I explain to caller my predicament and hang up. Naturally there was not a drop of paint thinner in the house. I retrieve a bottle of rubbing alcohol and apply with paper towels to get toes unstuck. The bad news is, I have a new two toed nail polish which I don't wear nail polish at all. The good news is, I didn't leave any toe prints any where in my path.
The picture is of the new cabinets where I cut the hole to fit over the new water pipes. That took me a while to get brave enough to cut the hole because I didn't wish to ruin my new cabinets with a mess around the pipes. I will say I am proud of my job so far, but I am far from finished.

Did I say Auction???? How about a fire sale!!!

Well here I sit trying to figure out what happened and why... Approximately 10:00 I decided to take a quick peanut butter sandwich break from all the sorting and cleaning for the items that are to be in the auction. After eating the sandwich I felt the need to speak to my son in Michigan.... I couldn't reach him and found out today that my first great grand son had been hit exremely hard in the head with a base ball bat... I had tried to reach a couple of other people as well and then started out the back door to continue on with my sorting of the tools. I had picked up the phone to see what time the auction people were to arrive and as I looked at the garage I seen what looked like a pillar of fire from the floor to the roof of my wood working shop. As I ran toward the garage dialing 911, I was headed for the water hose at the garage door, when the fire seemed to disburse in all directions at once.... I changed my progress direction and as I was giving my information to 911 operator I broke into a full run to the fire station next door... The phone had a funny sound and I couldn't hear the operator any more... I found out later that the phone line in the garage had been burned and my phone was left in an open state...The firemen were out on another call and headed back in as I heard paint cans exploding.. Two paramedics were headed out to my place and backed up to get out of the way and get the rest of the information and let 911 know I was O.K....
Two and a half hours later all I could see was a complete disaster staring at me from my garage.... Everything lay blackened and in gobs of melted masses of plastic and chared wood.. The tears flowing down my cheeks were hot as the raging infurno had been earlier... My hopes and dreams were lying in rubble...
This was on Wednesday, by Thurseday I was going through the motions in a dazed state trying to contact the right people and figure out what to do next... The phone company took a whole day to get out there and get my phone working... Then the sissy man was afraid to go under the house for fear he might run into a cobweb.. I told him there was more of a chance to get cobwebs in the main house than under it.. Now a snake would have been my fear.. The fire chief came and took pictures and went through the whole mess and it indeed was the fan.. For some reason which we can't figure out, the cord over heated and caused this horrible disaster...
This morning crews arrived and everything started to fall in place.. By this evening I had a much more possitive out look and many of the tools were still intact... Plus two chaplains and a grief counselor had talked with me, the insurance company arrived and the auction will go on.. Minus many tools but with many that were under the clutter of the burnt building..
I shall continue forward, maybe at a large loss but I will survive for I could have been in the building when things started to explode.. I have my life and I will live..I also hope my dream for my art gallery will also live...

Rain and sun makes for interesting weather

I remember Grandma always saying, rain and sun shining would mean bad storms. Well I do believe it is time to batten down the hatches. We've been receiving some of the rain and my flowers are really coming along in happy fashion!
My Azalea bush will bloom for my birthday, so I know everything is on time this year. I know the blooms won't be as full and beautiful as last year, due to the beetles that attacked last year.
I am anxiously awaiting Saturday evening, my friend I grew up with will arrive for a long over due two week visit. All I can say is, "Northeast North Carolina" will never be the same! News must travel fast, because so far I have received phone calls from my oldest brother, my friends, boyfriend and if I see my sons phone number come up, I am NOT answering the phone. I already received a lecture on being out at my age after dark. I do believe I gave a similar lecture 30 some years ago..
Trixie is on her way to New Jersey. I hope she arrives safe and sound!

My birthday wish is:*************************!!