Footers Day 1

Today the foundation crew started. Gary spent this morning trying to pick up some more of the saw dust and tree shavings to put into the burn pile. Marshmallows anyone? I'll make sure to let you know when we are going to dispose of the pile so you can watch for the signal lights!!

Jesse really likes going to ground. Most of you know that he is fearless. When the tractor was here, he hopped into the bucket to see what was in it. This evening he got down into the trenches to see where they went. He is such an intrepid explorer.

House, Before & After

Weekend Fun

The weekend has come and gone and seen much action here. Friday, it was decided that a large tree stump and another tree needed to go. So my man of action was working the tractor/backhoe. He and Dave pulled out the stump and did a lot of other work in the yard. We spent today loading up tree roots and cut up tree into the tractor bucket and dumping it onto the burn pile. Isn't it nice to live in the country?! The yard looks so naked. Did I mention how HOT the sun is now that there are no large shade trees in the middle of the yard? I believe in global warming now. In the absence of trees only!

House Demo Pics

Here are several pictures from earlier in the week when the house was being torn down.

Trees Out

Now the trees are gone! We had numerous large oaks and a sycamore tree in close proximity to the previous house and the tree guys have cut them down and taken then away. Tomorrow is stump grinding day. The concrete footer dudes come tomorrow also. Things are really moving quickly!
I spent the afternoon hanging around the camper just in case the tree guys needed something...with no shade from the trees it gets really hot!! Plus, with them working where they were I couldn't have the "right" electricity so I had no A/C in the camper. Everything else works but that. Mom and dad came out to see the progress and stayed for dinner with us. We've taken to eating out on the "porch". Once the intensity of the sun wears off and the trees that are left shade things it's comfortable outside. It's really nice to sit outside because there is no TV, we only have cell phones and they're inside, it leaves time for conversation. Conversation is a lost art.
The pups are pooped. They hung out in the heat of the camper with me, ran like crazy around the yard. Once the tree guys are done we "rig" the front gate closed and they get all 2 acres to run on. Sue really stretches her legs and runs a lot. She keeps the squirrels on their toes.
More tomorrow.

Gone

The house is gone. Yes, completely gone. There is the block wall around the porch in the back and that is it. The dumpsters are gone and the dirt is smoothed out. I do have pictures that I will post eventually, but right now it's work, and more work. Get home and eat, then it's time for bed. I'm really wanting a day off of work but it will be awhile yet.

Demolition

Finally!! Demolition has begun in earnest on the trailer. Gary & I (plus pups) have been in the RV for 1 week. We spent our first night here last week Sunday. The demo guys came out last week and tore off the concrete porch from the front of the house and discovered how wet and soggy our front yard is. So, they waited several days for things to dry out. This morning they brought out several loads of clay and spread it out and then dozed the trailer down. Very weird to come home from work today and see it that way. There's nothing there but a pile of wood, junk and the twisted frame. Pictures coming.

Bug Repellent Recipe

Most of you know we live in the woods. Woods have bugs and creepy crawly things. Our dogs frequently get fleas and ticks. Yuck!! Jesse had a tick on him this evening and I removed it with the essential oil of citronella. You say, What?? Honest. I dabbed some citronella oil on my finger tip and touched the back side of that tick and out he popped. Then I promptly lost it on the brown carpet. Nice move.
I've been using a blend of essential oils that I spray on them daily. Except I did not spray Jesse today. Go figure. It's great to use a more natural and NON toxic spray on them, and on me, plus it works and smells good. It must be pure high quality essential oils.

Here's my recipe for bug repellent:
1/2c water
several drops of dish soap
10 drops citronella
10 drops lavender
10 drops lemongrass
10 drops rosemary
Shake before use. Spray on before going outside and reapply as needed. I usually spray 1 to the chest of our small dog (12 pounds) and 2 sprays to our larger dog (40 lbs, 1 to chest, 1 spritz to belly). Like I said, I use this on myself. It keeps the no-seemums off of me too.

Craziness

So, here's our life the last 3 weeks. Jesse, my wonderfully cute, ADHD little dog had lot's of teeth removed. He's fine and back to eating bones again. I'm trusting that will keep his remaining teeth healthy.
I've been to 2 bee classes. I'm thinking of getting some bees, but want to work with some "old guys" first to see how they do it. They are very interesting creatures, not to mention the side benefit - honey! Yum-O.
The house, actually mortgage issues, has stalled. But, is now back in full swing. We signed on the loan Thursday afternoon, April 2nd!! Now, the real fun starts. We're packing this week in earnest. Our storage pod comes tomorrow and I've started cleaning in the 5th wheel where we'll be living while we have no house here. Let the insanity begin! Please pray for us to have the time, in between work, to pack and the back strength next week to get it all out into the storage container.

More Car Shots

Here are several more car photos from last weekends Train Festival in town. I do love dogs so the one shot is a no brainer. The moose one, well, it was just plain fun!

Hood Ornaments

Here's some really cool shots from the vintage cars at the Train festival in Green Cove this last weekend. I'm very intrigued by the whiskey jug holder thingy?? Wouldn't that get the jug really dusty? Or is that just for when you're parked and hanging out? Who knows these kinds of things? The eagle and bird (Gary says it's a sparrow, looks like a duck to me) are sharp.

Old Jail

Imagine this saying being in a modern jail?!! It should be, but no way would that happen. They had the old jail open for touring...not a place you would want to be. Very cold, dank and depressing. This was on the inside of a cell over the door. The cots they slept on were metal bed frame attached to the wall from a chain. The mattress was laid over the metal frame. Not the most comfy.
The old police car is really nice. The thing was huge, but then old cars were that way. There are several reflections on the fender, myself, plus a modern police car. Interesting!

Train Festival

Saturday, the family all went to Green Cove for the Train Festival. They had the old museum open, food, vintage cars, and numerous exhibits. Here's Dave checking out the train station. Green Cove was a thriving tourist town with an emphasis on the sulphur springs and their health properties. During World War II, we had a large naval base here and a lot of ships.
The weather was gorgeous, and people were very talkative. The vintage cars were really neat to look at, I'll be posting some pictures from them this week. I was very intrigued by the radiator caps they had, everyone was different and they were small works of art! Gives a personal touch to the car.

Highland Games

Where else can you find dogs in plaid and men in kilts? The North East Florida Highland Games here at the fairgrounds. Bagpipes, kilts, sheep herding, battle axe tossing. So many things to see and do. Food, that's another thing. We had shepherds pie and meat pasty. My shepherds pie was really great, the crust was fabulous! It was really sunny, windy and HOT. We both got a little pink as in sunburned. Today it's windy and a light freeze tonight. Go figure, only in Florida. So, enjoy the pictures and more coming soon.

Just for Fun

These pictures are here just because I like them. The pink ones with the butterfly is wild azaleas. They are just starting to come into bloom here. Another 2 to 3 weeks and they will be in full bloom. The wild ones out in the woods are very delicate looking and are actually fragrant, unlike the cultivated ones. The front of our yard has azalea bushes that are 6 to 8 feet tall. Some one has not trimmed them in a long time...me. Gary's idea of trimming is with the chainsaw and cutting them off at ground level.

With the gorgeous spring weather there will be more flower pictures coming soon.

What is Love?

What is love? I've really been thinking about that today. Several things come to mind right away.

The first is from the Bible, I Corinthians 13:1-13, NASB. It talks about having several different public ministry gifts, having faith to remove mountains, giving away everything to help the poor but ultimately without love what is it?

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears[Or covers ] all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy[Lit prophecies ], they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest [Lit greater ] of these is love.

I think that mostly speaks for itself. One of the greatest examples of love I have has been my parents. They have been married for 60 years. They are not perfect, nor have they claimed to be. My mom took care of us during the early years while my dad worked. Now that they are older, and my mom has cancer, my dad is taking care of my mom. He is not complaining, just doing what needs to be done. He's setting an example of love by being patient and kind and caring for her needs. Thank you dad!

My father in law was here recently to help my husband on a wood working project. Another form of love. Teaching and showing your children how to do something. Did you ever wonder about the furniture that Jesus made? He learned his trade from Joseph, his earthly father. Children learn from example, watching and absorbing what their parents say and do. Mostly by what they do, or their actions. Watching the two of them work together made me think about Jesus and Joseph. Working side by side in someones home or working out in the court yard to finish a project. Countless generations of sons have learned by working alongside their father. Thank you Gary Sr for helping my husband make this project be the best possible because of your vast knowledge base!

Closing?

It's probable that we'll be closing on the construction loan to start the house this week. We have all of the colors, carpet, and tile chosen... just waiting to sign. Once we sign, they'll let us know how long it will take to build it. I'm not sure if I want 2-3 months to build up some money or 3 weeks and have it over?! It will be what it will be. I'm learning to trust in the Lord and not fret over things I have no control over.

Gary's parents were here on Saturday and Sunday. (The picture is of his dad and their "puppy") They came up to see the house and for his Birthday. We had a really nice visit and it was fun to show the model home to more family! We are really excited to get into the house and start having some cooking parties, olive oil tasting parties, who knows what else.

Crazy Gary

It is true, I have a wacky, zany husband! The house thing is a bit stressful on us, so today's post is a fun one. Before the house thing, all the pictures on my cell phone were of Gary in a store trying on costumes at Halloween, rabbit ears at Easter, elf head bands around Christmas. Are you beginning to get the pattern? Here's us out in the woods after finding one side of antlers, how cool is that! Posing with Jesse, in my mom's wig. He is crazy, but I love him. He's all mine.

Valentine's Day

Chocolate and roses are synonymous with Valentine's Day. Roses are pretty to look at, but you can't eat them. My wonderful husband got me the BEST chocolates.. from ETIQUETTE of CHOCOLATE in Orange Park. The quality is phenomenal and the combinations of fruits with chocolate is scrumptious. The first picture shows their amazing creations. Very dainty looking. The second heart is filled with candied ginger dipped in chocolate. Naturally a good cup of coffee to go with the sweets! I really love a great cup of "Joe" and no one makes better coffee than Gary. We use Naviera Cuban style coffee. It's a dark roasted coffee with chicory. So enjoy some decadence today, Valentine's Day only comes once a year!

Birthdays

It's true, my brother just had a birthday this week and my dad's birthday is today. He's 82 years old. Dave threatened me if I published the picture of him with the sombrero (from the Mexican place) so instead I have one of him and his antique tractor. We have not celebrated dad's birthday yet, so his birthday picture will be coming soon.