Sunday "Fun"

My weekend plans weren't going well.  Friday night I was ready and waiting for a friend to pick me up to go to the concert in the park.  She flaked last minute.  Then, my Saturday evening outdoor photo shoot had to be cancelled due to a sudden rain storm (Hello, it's the end of May!). 

Today's incredibly sore body is evidence that something actually went right. My entire day was spent working on the new succulent beds. 

The endeavor started a couple of weeks ago, although I had wanted to do it for quite some time.  The enormous bay tree that canopied the former succulent bed drops a billion seeds, all of which want to become trees.  After picking a trillion of these bastards I finally got the brilliant idea to stop fighting that mother.

So, ten buckets of sandy soil from my neighbor mixed with the old soil (sifted and free of seeds), removal and relocation of plants, a rock border borrowed from around the yard (ditched the concrete idea), and the new space is ready.  Now, the fun part, making it look purdy!

Birthday Flowers

May Showers Bring?

I had spent as much time as possible the last several weeks preparing for The 4th Annual May Birthday's Party we host.  I finally conceded that not everything I'd wanted to get done would get done.  No window cleaning, no mopping, no candles set about but the backyard looked lovely! 

Last Saturday we had friends and family and birthday folks enjoying the outside, but, the kitchen, as usual, was where most gathered around the pot-luck extravaganza.  We built a fire in the pit as the sun went down as it had gotten quite nippy. 

Many people who had never been to our house were full of compliments.  Some even asked what I called my style.  Eclectic? Garbage Chic?  Scrounge Style?

We called it quits at about 3am after having some great conversations around the fire.  I was too comfie with my Mint Juleps or Sangria to break out my camera to take photos.  I am hoping that some friends will pass some on.

Today, between showers, I slipped outside to take some shots because it always looks more beautiful after a storm. 

The plan for this weekend was to start a new bed for my succulents.  The snails and slugs are taking their toll and I will have to use pesticides for the first time.  I hate killing things but there are too many now to throw over the bad neighbors fence. 

Yesterday we picked up a ton of free concrete test cylinders I found on Craigslist.  I am going to use them as a border for the new succulent area.  Then we went yard saling where we found lots of cool stuff including black bamboo, jasmine, and old brass rimmed table top and a very old mop bucket on wheels, soon to become a planter.  Lots of new projects, won't happen today, too much rain, gotta be patient!

Hmmm.....how many months ago did we start this re-model?

The new toilet went in this weekend.  Of course, nothing is as it should be with such pprojects.  There are always unforeseen troubles.  This one involved many years of leaking which resulted in rotted joists among other issues that required multiple trips to Home Depot.  

To come:  Build custom vanity
                 Build custom medicine cabinet
                 Get "new" bathtub (wish I had $4000 to buy the solid travertine one on Craigslist)
                 Vault ceiling
                 Drywall
                 Venitian plaster
                 Tile
                 Find cool old light fixtures
                 Hang cool old light fixtures
                 Address other unforeseen issues          

I think we're on a roll now, shouldn't take more than another 2 years!