Fence Post

OK, so, Daddy and his..."four person team," are slowly but steadily fencing in the upper field. 

Actually, right now we're just at the post-digging stage. But it's neat to see the outline of our future fence coming together.

Emori and Maura

Dropping the corner posts (actually, these are recycled telephone poles, cut into eight foot lengths...Daddy found a great deal).

Measuring between posts.

Daddy, marking the spot with his Ph.D.

We had to chop through this area with our bush axes and machete. Reminded me of "Mosquito Coast." (Anybody seen that movie? You know, where the crazy scientist clears a jungle village and builds an ice machine? Weird movie, but educational. Anyway, moving on...)

Emori, tractor operator.

Startin' to look like a fence line!

Okay, that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Yours,

Callie

Daisies

Here's another tin ceiling tile project (those things are so neat to paint)!

 This one is for Mamaw's outdoor room, (hm...maybe that's better termed a "veranda"?) and she wanted white daisies painted on it. Mamaw's a daisy kind of person.

So here's a brief step-by step:

After sanding and wiping the surface, I start on the fun part. I set out my paints, dial the radio to "Rick and Bubba," and get going!

 I sketch out the daisies and apply the first coat of paint (white with a tad of black and yellow mixed in).

Then I spot in the centers, leaving some "empty spots" so that the color of the tin can create a shadow illusion. The stems I outline in black first.

Then I start adding green to the stems,

As well as a few leaves. I highlight in yellow and white. 

This isn't a very detailed picture, but what I did to finish this was to touch up the petals with white and yellow, then add some shadow to help define. 

The ridges I painted black, just to frame the daisies a little. So, that's it.

Except that...well, I wasn't able to spray my transparent protective coat over it because my spray can ran out (downer). But not to worry. Mamaw said, "Just bring it anyway, honey! I can get some and paint that myself."

Just like Mamaw.

Thanks for viewing!

- callie

May day

 God's blessed us with another year together. I'm so glad I have such great sisters!

Katie is now twenty. Yep...I'm still in shock.

As usual, we pooled our back-to-back birthdays (4th and 5th), and celebrated them both on a cold, rainy May day. 

 

Without, it is cold and dreary...

 ...within, it is warm and happy.

 Maura made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Wish you could eat this picture? So do I.

The power briefly went out that morning ("Ahhg! What to do? I miss my computer!")

I got out my notebook.

Mama got out baby pictures. Of me and Katie. Yes, we were that cute.

Not like looking at baby pics wasn't fun...but we girls opted to play Wist and Nertz, while consuming this amazing trail mix Maura made.

"Oh, tea and cards. How proper."

"I'm diggin the tea."

Adding up the Nertz score. Why am I always last at this game?

Opening presents.

Maura said I was constantly folding up the wrapping paper while we opened presents. Well, somebody's gotta do it. Right?

 Emori, enjoying life.

Ice cream cake a la Maura: Seriously. The best. Cake. Ever.

Old Friends

So, earlier this month we finally had our dear friends the C's over to visit. I've known Mr. Wallace and Mrs. Nell for...pretty much as far back as I can remember.  

We'd been after them for years to come visit, because actually...they helped build our house. Yeah, Mr. Wallace is an electrician, and he was kind enough to aid in the wiring process year ago.

Well, anyway, I could go on and on about these folks! But I'm sure you're busy, patient reader. So, on to the pictures:

 

Yacking.

A beautiful couple, stopping to smell the...

...roses.

They went with us to spring luncheon at Mamaw's Church. Here's the fellowship hall before it started filling up.

Aren't those pretty settings?

Hey, Maura.

"Dear me, when shall the guests arrive?"

Following morning, Maura and Katie made a delectable send off breakfast.

I, well, contributed the table decor.

Biscuits'n eggs. God is good!

"Come and get it!"

Oh, here's a picture of what the sky looked like that morning. So neat, huh?

We really enjoyed have you, Mr. Wallace and Mrs. Nell! 

Breaking it In

Okay, so the patio's done. Now what? 

Oh yeah! Perfect excuse to invite the E family over!

Oak fire in the tire rims. Good times.

Hmm. Okay, the Dewalt drill is really irrelevant to this post. This is just a nice pic of Maura.

Mama and Daddy, posing with the soon-to-be-painted metal furniture. (Actually, as I write this, the furniture has already been painted...but it ruins the illusion to say so. So I won't. Wait a minute...)

Katie made banana pudding. Oh, and see those peels in the forground of above photo? The secret to her recipe is taking those peels, grinding them up really fine, and sprinkling them in among the vanilla wafers.

 Gotcha ;-D

Daddy and Mr. Kevin

Maura asked Hylla if she would mind playing with the E kids. Hylla was like, "Whatever."

But soon, she was more like, "That feels so good! A little higher!"

And soon she was the center of attention. Great for her ego.

 Elam: "Can we go farther?"

Ezra: "Can we go farther?"

Hylla: "Can we go farther?"

Barrel racing. Around the debris trailer.

Evie, a beautiful big sister.

Maura: "Man's gotta take the reins sometime. Ride'em, Cowboy."

"Hi ho, Silver!"

Ewan spent that afternoon supplying the ladies with corsages. 

Isn't Edith so precious?

"Help! He's on my horse! He stole my horse!"

Emily and Hylla.

Ah...lemonade. And Mt. Olive water.

"Making a sandwich is man's work, darlin'."

"I need me some more meat!"

"Do I have something in my teeth?"

Cutting barbeque is serious business.

"Oh! Fireworks! How lovely, haha!"

 

It was so fun having y'all!!!

*   *   *   *

Mamaw, who was here for the E family's visit, tarried a night. 

Next day we went a'shopping in town, then went to the Wal and bought picnic stuff.

Yes. Sooo good. Samiches, chips, Teddy Grahams. What...you don't know what Teddy Grahams are?

Mamaw's pimiento cheese sandwiches are sublime.

We so enjoyed havin' you, Mamaw! 

And we enjoyed havin' you stop in, dear reader!

 Yours, Callie