Where do I begin???

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS to the Dancer's Pointe for such a WONDERFUL production last weekend!!! It was so nice to be there to see you all as you performed for and entertained the masses. It was so very comforting to see all the familiar faces and get all those fantastic hugs from everyone. Thank you for such a warm reception! I was sad that the trip so was FAST as I didn't get time to visit with everyone like I would have liked to ... but I'll settle for SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE and WATCHING (!) the show for the first time ever! Thanks, Susi, Kelly and all the teachers and staff! You sure do know how to put on a production!! Also, thanks to the family who hosted my stay ... Valerie and Dan for taking such fabulous care of me and providing the best food and beverages ever ... and to Sam and Vanessa for letting me sew their costumes and take care of their eye lashes and such (and HUGE thanks to Samantha for surrendering her bedroom - THANKS!) And to the kitties for letting me stay in spite of being a stranger. You guys are the best, thanks so much! I seriously recommend staying at the home of a chef who is off of work and preparing for a bash! Great fun!!! Great food!!!

REMEMBER when we were scrapping the horrible cardboard wallpaper off of the guest room walls? Well ... we are doing it again!!! But this time it's in the "bunk house" where we are creating the boy's room! The previous dwellers decided to also add some acoustic tiles to the mix. So you see stacks of tiles that I think we will put on our office ceiling! There must've been a teen age boy in that room ... posters of motocross and such gave it away. I can't decide if he was going for sound proofing ... or not freezing to death. But once again the beautiful tongue and groove wood from the original build out was covered with very distasteful stuff. So, we're doing our best to uncover the grande beginnings and restore what we can. There is an obvious need for some finish carpentry ... but my gosh what a diamond in the rough! THE GRANDSONS ARE ARRIVING on Saturday night (week from right now!) and being the master procrastinator (Paul) ... well, we are now working on the room quite intently!!! It's a HUGE mess ... as you can see by some of these photos. But before pics are always fun to look back at AFTER the fact (we've discovered that in this house for sure!) ... sorry about the pics that are sideways. I forgot to rotate them, and on blogspot, if you delete one pic, you delete them all ... so please just tilt your head sideways and forgive my oversights! (thanks!) We will update these pics ... the boys arrive next Sat. night. ... so the room HAS to be in "occupy" shape soon!

Meanwhile, we're getting ready for recital which is next Fri and Sat night, with tech and dress being Wed. and Thurs. of this coming week. We're busy getting costumes together, painting surfboards, and etc., etc. The dining room looks like a factory for making a mess! But, things are getting done, that's what counts! I am single handedly doing props and costumes as Paul is so distracted with work and flea markets, and all things treasure related!!!! He did find us a cart to use as a prop for the "Be Our Guest" bell hop ... so I applaud his effort!! Someone asked me if he had any starring roles in the show ... he's the lead in "Be our Guest" and also is the assistant in the Ballet 1 piece for about 58 seconds. So he is getting his stage time, thank goodness!!!

The beautiful clawfoot tub is now painted and ready for the pedicure. Then, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will FINALLY get off of the front porch and into the bathroom! It would be LOVELY to take a bubble bath again! I just cringe to think what is going to happen with the "old" one ... I consistently visualize said tub making it's way to the re-store (as opposed to the front porch for flower box purposes or something equally as "deliverance"!). As you can see, we are slowly but surely getting some REAL flower beds put together. Things really are starting to look like home ... and it's great fun to watch it all sprout and blossom!

I wanted to include the picture of "Lawnmower Boy" for those of you who don't believe he actually is mowing and happy about it! We got a basic push mower and take turns having a go at the acre or so we have here. It really is therapeutic, and great exercise! (that's my opinion)

My friend Beth is a home caretaker for a woman named Hazel, (for 1-1/2 years now!) who has been assigned to Hospice care and is working very hard to "pass" through this life and on to the next thing. Please say a prayer and send good thoughts for Beth and Hazel and they work through this time together. It's so nice for both of them to have extra support at this time.

We have so much more to share, but enough for now! After all, tomorrow is another day! Ya'll take good care and be happy! It's finally warm! Yippee!
Paul & Cheri