Projects Galore

Road trip to NOLA! As soon as Collin and I could get in from work, we headed to New Orleans last Wednesday to spend the remainder of the week with Micah and Rhyne. We were on the road by 5 and arrived about 11:30. Our greetings were short as we were exhausted after working all day, driving seven hours, and just plain being old and in need of sleep. Micah had our bed ready and we knew the way to the guest room promising to be ready to visit and catch up on the latest news the next morning.

It's always a pleasure trip to see your children and this was no exception since we hadn't seen them since Christmas, but there was more on tap than just casual visiting. Micah had a plan--a landscaping plan and several other house projects which required some help from Dad and his tools. We went with shovels, hoes, small gardening implements, gloves, drills, and other tools. Whatever the task that lay ahead, we were ready.

Thursday morning dawned to a beautiful day and we enjoyed breakfast and conversation with Micah. Rhyne had headed out very early to his office. We headed outside to assess the landscape situation and decide what to do. The house had been unoccupied several years and most of the shrubbery had died and all the beds were in need of replacement and repair. Unfortunately, I didn't make a photo of the before, but I have quite a few of during and after.

We began digging and pulling up all the dead stuff, begin making a mental list, and headed to Lowe's to begin getting shrubbery, flowers, and mulch. The project was on the way. Here you'll see the cleaning. . .
putting down the bed edging. . .

and putting in the shrubbery and flowers.

We were also able to get mulch into the left area of the porch, but determined readily that we would need to make another run to Lowe's. Now, I didn't spend all my time making pictures--I was in the middle of this project, but I never quite seem to make the pictures. Oh well.

We quit work around 4:30 or so. Rhyne and Collin were going to the annual crawfish boil complete with potatoes and corn on the cob at 5:00 that is held on the seminary campus. Collin loves this type of thing so he had been looking forward to the occasion. Micah and I opted for some other type of outing. We ended up at this restaurant and had a great burrito. You choose the fixings and make it to your desire. It was delicious and I inhaled it as I was starved. We made a Wal-Mart run to pick up some necessary project items, called it a day and headed home.

Friday was pretty much a shopping day. We went to our favorite shopping spots and hit another great restaurant find--Phil's Grill. We had a fantastic burger, and once again, you build the burger to your liking with different fixings. After getting home, we watched various TV specials recapping the Royal Wedding. Before leaving for the day on the town, we had already watched some of this history in the making.

Saturday, we had to get busy again to finish up all the projects. We headed back outside to the landscaping. Rhyne tackled the grass and mowed the lawn. While Collin began watering and some other things, the rest of us headed back to Lowe's for the final purchases of mulch and flowers. What follows is the final result. Not to shabby for amateurs.

We pruned the gardenia bush, added caladiums and marigolds, and Micah bought and planted geraniums in flower pots that I gave her for Christmas.

We finished up by noon and Rhyne ran to Popeye's and brought us chicken strips. Then we started again. Micah had seen this idea on a blog and wanted to hang lanterns on her patio. Dad beginning drilling, and they began hanging.

And, wa-lah. . .the finished effect.

Dad placed curtain rods. . .

and we hung curtains.

We hung the TV on the bedroom wall. . .

planted some glads on the back fence. . .

and cleaned up for one more run to town.

Micah and Rhyne wanted to put a sheer over their front door which has a large oval window and we headed to Wal-Mart to find two rods and a sheer. While we were gone, Rhyne made jambalaya for supper, and once we ate, we finished the final project. Everything was done. Micah changed out the flag. . .

and this is the stepping stone that we brought them as a host and hostess gift which she added to the finished project.

Unbelievably, three days had passed and it was Sunday morning and time for us to head home to Arkansas. They were ready to leave for church and it was time for our goodbyes.

For all the work and as dirty as we all were at the end of every day, I think we clean up fairly well. We had a great time and we'd go back and do it all over again. Anything for your kids. And you know what, I bet another time in the future, there will be another project to tackle. We can hardly wait.

Marcia