Our New Yard

Before we started on our yard, we decided that we needed a "blank canvas" to begin, so we cleared EVERYTHING out of the yard....all the old bushes and shrubs.  We decided to build a fountain in the corner of our yard because we LOVE the sound of running water.  Frank's middle son, Ian, spent a couple of weeks with us in May and he did all the REALLY HEAVY work....digging, hauling rocks, rocks and more rocks, brick, dirt, etc.  He got the new fountain started and his work was GREATLY appreciated!!!  The fountain is still a work in progress but we're almost finished with it!!!  We have some new trees and bushes planted, a new little walkway by the back gate (thanks, again, Ian) and we are LOVING sitting out on our patio and enjoying our "new yard"!!!!!  BTW....I woke up one morning in July to find the cutest little sign hanging on a hook on the patio that says "What HAPPENS on the porch STAYS on the porch!!"  Thanks for that, Lydia Blevins!!  So true, so true!!!

The Guest Bathroom

The guest bathroom had a heavy texture already on it and there was something about it that I liked.  After talking to Karen McDaniel, daughter of my sweet friend, Lydia Blevins, I decided what I wanted to do.  Karen's business if painting, antiquing, re-texturing, and after looking at HER house, I decided to have her repaint the existing texture and then to lightly antique it.  We changed out the hardware in the room, replaced the lights and mirrors and put a cute "Loo" sign over the toilet.  We still plan to put a new cabinet top in and a new sink.  We're enjoying the new feeling in our "Guest Loo"!!!!The guest bathroom had a heavy texture already on it and there was something about it that I liked.  After talking to Karen McDaniel, daughter of my sweet friend, Lydia Blevins, I decided what I wanted to do.  Karen's business if painting, antiquing, re-texturing, and after looking at HER house, I decided to have her repaint the existing texture and then to lightly antique it.  We changed out the hardware in the room, replaced the lights and mirrors and put a cute "Loo" sign over the toilet.  We still plan to put a new cabinet top in and a new sink.  We're enjoying the new feeling in our "Guest Loo"!!!!

The Utility Room Sink

This area of our utility room was in need of something on the wall. We found a great mirror that was PERFECT for this area!!! Frank was going to hang it, but.....well......I got a bit antsy and, one thing led to another, and my friend Judy "volunteered" her sweet hubby, Steve, to come over and hang it for me!!!! Wasn't that sweet? Well, Steve probably didn't think so!! It turned out to be quite a project....removing bolts, filling holes, measuring, drilling....UGHHHH!!!! Poor Steve.....and he did all of this while suffering with BAD back problems!!!! Steve...WE OWE YOU BIG TIME!!! Thanks so much!!! Frank especially owes you.....because he came home to find that particular "honey do" already done!!! We love it and are proud to have your "stamp" on the place!!!! Thanks, Judy, for loaning us your husband!!! Love to you both!!

The Fireplace

We gave the fireplace a lot of thought. The rock fireplace might be a little "dated" but we really liked it and decided we wanted to keep it as is....but just update it a bit. That's when we decided we would install a new mantle!!! It was the DIRTIEST job!!! Frank had to chip away at that rock to get it somewhat smooth so that the back of the mantle would have a snug fit!! You've never seen so much junk...rock chips, dust, dirt....THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE HOUSE!!!!! It was worth it, though, because we now have a beautiful mantle.....ready for all those Christmas stockings!!!!!!

The Living Room

The Living Room is BIG....long and very spacious!!! We painted all the walls, changed the ceiling fan and finally bought some furniture!! Martha and Stanley were so sweet to leave us a couple of VERY comfortable recliners to use until we were able to buy some things of our own. We love the soft warm feeling of the colors we put on the walls. We are going to be doing the same thing we did in the master bedroom....add crown molding to the tops of the walls and put new, wider base board at the bottom. I'm currently busy trying to get all these pieces of wood painted so Frank can put them up!! (Thanks, Steve Myrick, for the good tools to do this!!)

The Office

The office originally was the dark wood and light colored walls. We decided to do something a bit "dramatic" so this room would "POP" because it's such a bright and well-lit room with the big skylights above....so we painted all the walls a dark chocolate brown and the woodwork we painted an off-white (I know the walls have a slight purplish color...but they aren't...they really are chocolate brown). Frank changed out the closet door to a white door. We are in the process of having the white woodwork "antiqued" and I think that'll will give it added depth. Our plan is to eventually take up the carpet in this room and put in wood flooring. The room isn't decorated yet (actually NOTHING in the house is at this point) so the things on the shelves and on the floor....well, nothing really belongs anywhere yet.

Master Bedroom

The Master Bedroom is a pretty big room. We started out painting the room a very soft blue/green color. Frank ran completely new wiring through the entire attic down to this room and he installed a beautiful ceiling fan!! He also put up crown molding at the top and new, wider base board. He replaced new doors at the entrance and to the closet and bathroom. He did a BEAUTIFUL job!!!!