DIRT

I am beginning with a prehistoric lawn. Weeds and weeds ..... and it slopes from north to south and from east to west.

My goal is to camouflage all the venting that goes with the septic system. I also hope to create a level area on this slope - just a little one so that I can pretend I have a garden.

and then there are the veggies.......







I am sad that I didn't have anything in this photo to give you a sense of proportion - I would guess that mountain was about 6 feet high and 12 feet long and 8 feet wide..... it was huge.







It took me two days to move this dirt to my "landfill" area. Me, a wheelbarrow, two buckets and John with his Radio Flyer.

A literal "drop in the bucket".

This was hopeless









so I had to throw in the towel and bring in the big boys









and P.S.

why do I have to put a blanket over my tomatoes in MAY !??!!

EXHAUSTION

I know this will be boring for some of you - but I have been in the garden for weeks and am finally having some results.


I am dealing with a pre-historic lawn.
Dinosaurs walked on this slope. I have dug up patches of crab- grass, crack- grass ...whatever you call it for WEEKS. I am my own landfill.



Tonight I can barely move my arms - but just want to tell you I am alive and this weekend will bring a bit of rain and force me inside.

One day we did have just a light mist....but I kept on with the good fight. In the words of Bill Murray in Caddy Shack ...I said to my neighbor " I don't think the heavy stuff is coming down for a while yet" !!

Manana

WINDOWS ON MY WORLD

Sometimes I spare you a post of my progress because it's so BORING -
All my lower level rooms have these glass block windows and they are a mess !! Each one has to have all the cruddy old concrete - or heavily sanded grout - chiseled out.











Then I fill all the sides with foam insulation. This expands and cures over 24 hours - I then go back with a razor and trim all the excess.









Next I cover all the edges and old grout joints with white latex caulking.
After another 24 hours - back again to trim all the excess..........








I then paint....this was a sample color of blue which I am NOT going to use in the studio....but I figure the windows will need two coats so I am using it as a base coat.
Very boring, I know, and THAT'S why I haven't posted
(and of course - when the sun shines - you know I'm in the garden)

IN THE GARDEN

Yeah - that's me
I encourage you all to spend the month doing the same

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg4YrOlAkds&feature=PlayList&p=8503758C2061F58B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=64:

PROGRESS REPORT

Some of you may remember last July my girls came for a visit. They were great help! Here, Carrie is washing the old upper cabinets from the Church Ladies' big kitchen. I commented that I didn't have time to paint them but it really didn't matter as it was just my working studio - no one would see them. WELL..... now that has all changed and it is going to be my hat shop ....so now I am trying to make things a bit prettier.










I found this green print that I used in my last shop and I decided to skirt all those shelves - hiding all the crap - I mean, wonderful inventory.
I LOVE this print - it is so perfect with Grandma's dressing table skirts. And also found this wonderful stripe which will go on chairs.
When I say "found" I mean found in my closet
(Yeah...kind of a fabric junkie)






Yes - Ladies and Gentlemen - 22 lineal feet of shelving now skirted with fabric ...washed - starched and ironed - hemmed and gathered and hung on cafe rods.


Maybe next you'll see the TOPS of the shelves














But I am making headway - Decided to hang all the photos down here - they make me smile and keep me company

My children are my tonic.

I'm on a roll !!

MIA

Some of you know that I was in Chicago for some days and I found a great source for used art........ they liquidate hotel furniture. I don't want the art - I just want the multiple frames - it was perfect!!

And had to hit Ikea on the way home





Well, the natives are getting restless as I have been MIA. It is that wonderful time of the year - banks, appraisers, taxes, etc, etc. I have also been spending many hours preparing my soon-to-open Etsy shops. I need to get working so I can adorn St. Mary's in a manner to which she plans on becoming accustomed.



I am building the vanity in the guest bath and though I know conventional wisdom says "NO THEMED ROOMS" I'm doing a bit of that anyway.......... as many of you know - I lived part-time on the island of Anguilla - it's in my blood.





Besides - it's not like this is a normal home anyway !


Right?


Stay tuned

HAPPY EASTER WEEKEND

However you choose to spend your holiday

Mr. Wiggs and I send you our best wishes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1tf2TPheE8