House Update!

Things have been moving right along at 126 Poplar Grove. The living room has been painted--I LOVE IT! Here's the before:

Here's the after : Hopefully this week, we'll get all that paper off the floor and get the room cleaned up and I will post a totally done pic. Things with the kitchen are progressing along, we should be seeing some base cabinets sometime soon. The tile for the bathroom has been ordered this week, so that will be here in about 2 weeks. The swing set hasn't progressed, much to Shane's sadness, anymore since the last post...This past weekend, Rob worked hard on getting the living room painting done, but he also painted the shutters. Here's the before: Here's the after: The guest bathroom was another project that I love the results of. I painted the vanity and LOVE how that turned out. I replaced the hardware on the cabinet doors with some fancy little starfish and seahorses. The vanity top was also replaced. Rob pulled up the tile that was there and replaced it since it appeared it had not been properly installed. He did a magnificent job. Love the way this turned out--we still need to install the white tile above the shower, that's why we didn't paint that part of the wall. Here's the before:

Here's the after:

Sandpiper & Swing Sets

Another weekend is gone--this one was a good one. Friday after work, I picked Shane up and we met up with Rob and went to dinner at Sandpiper Reef. It was really good! It's the first time we'd taken Shane there and he loved it. It was nice to sit down with my family with no TV, no phones and have a nice meal together. After we got home, Rob & I watched Breaking Dawn Part 1...I was so mad when it ended--I cannot believe they stopped the movie at that point and will now make me wait until November to feed my Twilight habit...Saturday morning, Shane had soccer. Rob, my Daddy, and Chris (he works with Rob) met up at the new house and started building Shane's new swing set. Apparently, building one of these things is much more complicated than erecting the Golden Gate Bridge....Six hours and a few hot dogs and beers later, the swing set is still not complete, but they got a good start on it.

After the swing set building session, Rob & Shane took DD over to Tappahannock to Minter's Golf Carts to help him pick out a new cart for Bavon....of course, Rob & Shane came home with a new one too---may I introduce, The Incredible Snake....

Shane picked it out because it has purple eyes and purple is my favorite color, so he thought I'd love it...

Things at the new house are moving along. The base cabinets in the kitchen should be ready in a couple of weeks. The sheet rock in the master bath is done, now waiting on tile for that room. Rob painted in the living this past week, LOVE THAT! I'll try to post some pics from the house this week.

Words I Need To Live By....

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.