Birthday Brunch

Erin, Connor, Jay, and I all have August birthdays and I decided it would be fun to do brunch at Commander's this year.  (Jay has to share it vicariously).  The 21st (Erin's) fell on a Sunday, so we celebrated "one for all and all for one".  Unfortunately that didn't hold true for the price.  We were seated in the Garden Room, which I love and Connor was introduced to fine dining.  Everytime he popped out of his seat to take a picture, the waiter would hurry over and refold his napkin. He ordered his own meal off the big menu although Jerry did try and encourage him to get a child's menu. 

Everyone had three choices, the appetizer, the entree and the dessert.  Erin ordered the cajun eggs benedict which looked really good, I ordered the gumbo, Connor got the fruit that you see in the picture, and Jerry ordered a salad.  The three adults ordered shrimp and grits for the entree, and Connor ordered the wahoo of which he ate every bite.

I really love Commander's, and it was a special treat to go for our birthdays. The food, the music (jazz brunch) and the overall ambience made it a perfect way to celebrate birthdays. 
On the way home, Connor took a picture of Emeril's - maybe that is where we will go next year!

Aunt Nezi Remembers

We've been planning this day for awhile now, but with everyone's busy schedules it kept getting postponed.  I have been meeting with friends once a month (or so) for almost a year now and we have been writing down our memories for our children and grandchildren.  It's really been fun and without this planned activity, most of us would never have completed the amount of stories that we have accumulated.  Usually we wait until the night before our meeting to jot down our thoughts. 

Several years ago, Etchie must have had somewhat the same idea as she interviewed mother's oldest sister, Aunt Belle, and then Dad began recording some of his memories also.  After reading these two accounts, I thought it would be interesting to see what Aunt Nezi remembered also, and I intend to add all of these to my entries.  I know some people go in for tracing their roots way back and that is a good thing, but I like the idea of having personal stories. 
So we finally picked up Aunt Nezi and bribed her with a boat ride and lunch at a restaurant and brought her to Etchie's in Slidell.  She was hesitant at first, insisting that she didn't really remember that much, but once we started talking the memories started flowing.  We recorded everything, so now it my job to listen to the tape and type it all up, and add it to dad's.
We had a great time (we always do when she is around), and as promised were rewarded with a ride in Etchie and Bill's replica of the African Queen (ha).  Yes, it was hot, but we all had a great time, and thank you Bill for being our pilot and putting up with all of the yada, yada, yada.

                   

The Playroom - It's Finished!

I realize it's been a while since I posted, but I've been so busy after returning from Colorado.  When we arrived home, the floor was installed and the work was basically completed. 

I had been looking and looking for a worktable and couldn't find anything I was satisfied with, so I asked the contractor to build me one so that I had exactly what I wanted.  I love it!  And the great thing is it's on wheels, so I can position it anywhere in the room that want. Two large shelving units hold 

all of the folded fabric. Everything is now out in the open, folded neatly, (thank you Etchie), and available.  Love the steel shelving.  Nice and Clean.

As of right now, this is the configuration for all the sewing that takes place.  I have already changed it around several times, but this seems to work for now.  I bought a new TV and had it mounted so that I can watch while I am cutting out or sewing. 

I also made a little center for art projects (feel like I'm back in school again with all of these "centers". ) The table was an old one but sturdy.  The legs were in bad shape, so I covered them with multicolored rope to cover up the bad parts, then painted the whole thing white, and put it on rollers also. I like the way it came out.

On the back wall I have a set of cubbies (school once again!), where I keep my magazines and some patterns.  The CD player and XM radio is here along with all my music.  I actually listen to music
much more than watch TV. I also have a chair and table here for reading, or just dreaming...The chair is a project "in the works".
At the last minute I decided to make a separate area for my laptop and "office" supplies etc., and this is along the side wall.  The dry erase board is handy for ideas that pop into my head while I'm sewing, or reminding myself of things that need to be done.  The large bulletin board (which is probably going to be redone and expanded in the near future) is my inspiration board and has a little bit of everything on it.  I love my room!

Oh!  And look what happened in the old narrow workroom.  At one end I set up a packaging station for Ebay and gift wrapping, and at the other end close to the door I organized the few puny tools that we own.

                                                                                

Love everything!  Now, let me go fix a glass of sweet tea, pick up a magazine, and turn on my music. Do Not Disturb!

Playroom Part 4

 

  Jerry and I are getting ready to leave for Colorado Monday morning.  Our grandson Finn is graduating from high school on Friday and we want to be there with him.  I was hoping that all of the work on my "playroom" would be finished before we left, but it's not going to happen. 

Even though the workmen have been here everyday, some days as early as 7am, there is still work to be done.  But hey!  I have lights!  The lights have been a bit of a problem.  The first time I went to get the fixtures and the fluorescent bulbs, the wind was  blowing fiercely.  I walked out to the parking lot, and the wind blew the bulbs out of my hands and they smashed on the cement.  Back I went inside to get another set.  I got these home safetly, and when the electrician went to install the bulbs, I had gotten the wrong ones.  Back I went to get another set.  But today, they are installed and working.  I love the little outdoor light - it matches the paint and the roof.  Cute. 

                                                                                              

            

And check out my a/c.  Hope it works well, because it is already hot here.  When we left the ballpark today after Connor'game,the temperature was 90!                                                                                     

The big thing that is left to do now is the floor.  We will have to repair the cracks and dips before being able to install the tile.  I chose commercial grade lineoleum in blues and whites.  I think it will be very easy to keep clean and I really like the way it looks.  If I had more time, I might design some kind of cool pattern, but as it stands now, it will probably be checkerboard.

Stay tuned for the final chapter...

                                                    

River Rising

Jerry and I took a ride to the river this morning. We wanted to see for ourselves just how high the water has risen. Usually the area from the trees to the base of the levee is pretty dry, and sometimes you can walk out on it (although I never have). The water is really moving fast and has risen up onto the cement at the base of the levee. As we were standing there, a helicopter flew over and I could see someone taking pictures of the water. A ways down from us there was a large group of fishermen. Today they were sitting on top of the levee with their chairs and rods, fishing from the top of the levee. We have seen an isolated fisherman once in a while, but he is usually down on the river side of the levee. We've seen them catch very large catfish occasionally.

As you can see from the pictures, the ships are still moving up and down the river.

Even though they opened the spillway a few days ago, the water continues to rise. Will go back in a few days to check it out again.

 

  

             

Playroom Part3

I went out early this morning before the painter arrived and took the latest pictures.  The outside is primed and ready for paint and it looks as though he has finished with the mud work.  According to "Mr. Ed", he will start painting Wednesday morning.  It took me two trips to Home Depot and six samples of paints to find the right shade for inside.  I usually go with yellow, but wanted something different this time, so I settled for a very light shade of blue called Himalayan Mist. 

 

The inside is still pretty messy, and my regular workroom is so crammed with overflow from the garage that I can barely walk in there.  Have started putting some items into the storage shed, but it looks as though I will have to invest in a few more shelving units to hold more of our "saves" from the old garage.

It seemed like rather a simple project in the beginning...

                                                             

                                                                                   

Playroom Part2

Every morning between 7 and 8 our workers arrive and get started on the day's work.  We have learned to leave our cars parked out on the street so that we don't get a wakeup call to move our cars out of the driveway.  Hey, look!  We've got windows and a door!  The electrician has been here running the wiring for the a/c as well as outlets all around the room.  He will come back towards the end to install the overhead fixtures after everything has been painted. 

Today they finally finished putting the shed together for the sideyard.  I don't think they were too happy.  It took them almost two days - they said there were over 600 parts!!  Good thing Jerry and I didn't attempt this.  Originally, I was going to order two sheds - I'll bet those guys are happy I didn't!  Still can't put anything inside.  They want to bolt it into the cement so that in the event of heavy winds it will stay put.  Hopefully, that will get done tomorrow.  I will be going to Bay St. Louis for two days with my friends. I wonder what progress I will see when I return.

Playroom

Part1

At last!  I've dreamed about it and talked about it and considered the possibility of it for so long, and now it's finally happening!  We are closing in the double garage and it is going to become my workroom, craftroom, hobby room, etc.  I have been working in a long skinny space for years now and the fabric is starting to take over.  I have run out of ways to store things and to arrange them creatively.  Have you heard the old saying, "

"If you can't build out, build up"? Well, I can't even build up anymore as every inch is already shelved.   So two weeks ago, the crew arrived and started work by tearing down a small shed that was attached to the back wall of the garage.  The shed was pulling away from the foundation and the wood was rotten at the bottom.  Next they framed in the back wall and the front where I will have two windows and a nice door with glass to let in the light.  We bought a large shed with a slanted roofline that will go in the side yard and attach to the side of the room and we will store all our paint and garden supplies here. (I hope it is roomy enough.)  I am planning on putting what meager power tools we have in the workroom which is soon to be emptied out. Yea!  This workroom will also be used for ebay packaging and mailing. 

 

To be continued....