LAWN BOY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD

I don't know what got into Mason today, but he got up at 7 and not only mowed our lawn but our neighbor next door and the one across the street.  He used his weed eater on our back and front and side yard and moved some posts from back to front yard.  Our yard is one of the prettiest and best kept in the entire area.

new toy (gas weed eater)edged so nicely

See how manicured it looks

view from the front

He finished about noon and after a shower and lunch, took one of the shortest naps of his life - only 1/2 hr.  I tell everyone he is like the energizer bunny, keeps on going and then his naps keep on going - thats why I'm surprised he only took 1/2 today - when he needed more today than ever.

BABYSITTING TROY

TODAY I GOT TO BABYSIT W/MY GRANDSON, TROY WHO IS 2.  He is so much fun!  He loves to play "hide and seek".  After I got tired of hiding or seeking, he started hiding his stuffed animals:  Elmo, Mickey and Bear.  Then he'd close his eyes, cover them with his hands and count to 12 then go look for them.  He'd get so excited when he found them and squeal with glee.  I didn't get much done around the house after he got here but I had the time of my life.  We read books, played outside on his plane, threw around a paper plane, he helped me cook and we laughed alot.  He is just a blessing in my life and brings me so much joy.  I miss being around all my other grandkids and God has made sure I have at least 2 of them in the same town as me. It is such a priviledge to be able to take care of them every once in a while.  The other night, both him and his sister, Kaleigh, had a sleepover and we loved it and so did they (so did their mom and dad who got to go see a movie and have a "date nite".

SQUIRRELS AND BIRDS

Every day Mason feeds "his birds" with left over bread, chips, fruit, veggies, cooked rice and cereal.  He sometimes even gives them fresh bread.  Now he has me buying cereal for them.  We now have a resident squirrel who is so cute.  He is very careful to sneak up and not scare the birds.  They all share the loot.  Last nite we had leftover watermellon and he was in heaven.  We named him squirt.

Laid back weekend, Harvest and flowers

Mason had extensive oral surgery on Friday to remove 2 molars.   He has been in bed till today, Monday, due to the pain and swelling.  He got up a few hrs yesterday and again this morning.  He is doing so much better.  We just laid low and got some much needed rest.  This morning we got up to see a profusion of blooms on our sage in the side yard and tons of red habaneros.  Mason gave away a bunch to a friend before we were able to take a picture of them.  Our tomatoes are doing OK - we get 1-2 a week.  Our herbs are out of control!  Looks like I may have to make some pesto really soon and share some of my mints:  chocolate mint, lemon mint, peppermint, spearmint, orange mint with all my neighbors.  I use the peppermint a lot as well as spearmint in the sun tea.  I may have to experiment in using the chocolate and citrus ones in my baking.  The stevia is also doing well (sugar substitute).

CROWN MOLDING FINISHED

HALLWAY INTO MASTER BRLooking from kitchen to front doorNew kitchen fan and lighting box

Nothing is put up yet (knicknacks, some wall hangings) but we had to post the pix of the new crown molding and new lights.  Now comes the hard suff--  putting things back together and getting rid of a few things.  It took 3 days for the painting to get finished because the painter had to put putty in the nail holes in the molding for the 7 rooms and the sills for the 9 windows and also to calk all the moldings top and bottom then prime the "raw lumber" and paint all the wood.  It makes the house look richer and we are really happy with the outcome.

CROWN MOLDING

We had crown molding put in all around the house - every room except the bathrooms - what a difference and we added a fan and a frame box for the flouresent lights in the kitchen.  Just need for the painter to finish painting and will post after pictures.

More Yardwork

 beforeafterbeforeafterbeforeafter

Because we were unable to travel due to heavy loads on flights for this holiday, we decided to work on our yard and to have our entire house crown molded and our windows sills refaced.  Its quite a feat but it makes such a difference.  We went out and brought a "flat" of flagstone and redid our walking "stones" and made them a walk"way"