August 3, 2016

Wow-almost a month since I posted!  We have been quite busy and I have been struggling with technical issues with my phone. But got that fixed and ready to roll again. I hope that next time I post, I will be ready to change the page to "New House"! The plans are done, we are looking at the final placement of all the lighting and the builder should be applying for the building permit this week. Yesterday we were over at the lot and discovered that a HUGE tree had fallen on the lot next us! The guy who owns that lot-and doesn't plan to build on it-is not going to be happy to hear that he needs a tree company to come clean it up!

July was pretty much the same old same old. Church, prayer services, piano lessons, Oliver's colonoscopy and morehouse planning. We were happy to welcome Libby and Dave and the girls here on Monday. They are on their way to Orlando to meet up with nancy and Nick and Sarah and her family, and stopped here for a couple of days. They got here at about 5 and the gilrs were almost immediately in the pool!They swam until 7"30 and we had a very late dinner! Yesterday they were up and backout at the pool first thing. After breakfast they swam again and then got cleaned up, had lunch and we headed into town to take a horse and buggy ride.Molly slept through the whole trip but Erin enjoyed some of the sights She especially liked feeding our horse, Rocky. It was really hot so after the ride westopped at the lot to show them  and then came home and all jumped in the pool. Erin was in until after 7 so again we had a  late dinner. After we ate, Oliver built a fire and we toasted marshmallows for s'mores. They were up and out early this morning, headed for Mouseland! We think we have convinced them to come back soon!

Erin and Molly just LOVED Skipper. The first thing Molly said this morning was "where's Skipper?"! He was the best little boy ever-they were all over him, even following him under the table when he  went for a little "alone" time! He took a liking to their plastic inner tubes and arm floats and barked at them every time they jumped into the pool so it was a bit noisy-Skippy barking and the gilrs screaming! We had a great time though.

Skippy-where are you?

Shortly after arrival

Libby and Erin waiting for the ride

Erin feeding Rocky

Sometimes a girl feels like skinny dipping!

And then having a little snack

 

July 8, 2016

We have had a great week with the family here!  Whit, Alex and Jace arrived Monday afternoon after spending a couple of days in Savannah and then Bunny, John and Spencer arrived in the late afternoon. We spent some time at the pool before having dinner and a nice evening. Tuesday was pool day with a couple of rousing games of beer pong before dressing to go to dinner downtown at Plums. Bennett arrived about 11:30 that night, in the middle of our card game. It was a beautiful evening and a great meal. When we got home we played hearts before going to bed. Wednesday was another hot and sunny day and we spent almost the whole day in the pool. We found a new drink recipe-pineapple juice, lemonade, sprite and cocount pineapple rum-yummy!! Yesterday Oliver took everybody out for a boat ride while I was at Summit Place. One of our patients was not doing well so I stayed after the service and called one of our priests to come over. By the time I got home, they were baxck from their ride. A littlemore pool time was followed by showers before we headed into town. We ladies visited the toy store while the men, including Jace, went to Luther's for drinks. We joined them and then went to Old Bull Tavern for dinner. We were up late playing cards again so this morning was a slow start. Whit and Bennett needed to go buy ice so we gave them some money to buy lottery tickets-we're pretty sure we will win and we will all be celebrating tonight!! Eating at home tonight and no doubt another card game!

Our welcome cocktail

Jace enjoying the pool-he seems to love floating around

He is a chick magnet for sure. This is downtown at the park

The boys hit the bar

 

I wasn't going to post until I had some pictures but decided to do a short one without. I will be very busy over the next week with Bunny and family coming sowon't get a chance again til after it calms down. We've been busy with house stuff and think the plans are finally final-except if they're not! We have the best architects in the entire world and they are very patient with me-like when I texted Jeff last Saturday and said I thought I needed an extra foot on the screened in porch and he sent back a rendering that included the outdoor kitchen and the fireplace and furniture and said he was making it TWO feet bigger. He laughs at how big my cloest and the porch are but he totally gets how important those areas are to me. Every time we see them they have a little "surprise" for me. Week before last when I showed them the layout I had configured for the outdoor kitchen they said, oh too bad, I guess we won't be able to use this 16 foot sliding glass door we found! I was thrilled and we immediately reconfigured the kitchen to accommodate. I had said early on that I would like a great big expanse of glass and at that time they couldn't find one with impact resistant glass-which all of our windows will be since we are in a hurricane zone-so I had forgotten about it and gotten used to the french doors but they found a supplier so I will have the doors I want! Ialso mentioned-just once-that I liked tray ceilings-and now I will have one in my bedroom. Love these two guys to pieces. Hope I will still be saying that next year!!

Oliver spent the day today at the Rectory with his 2 church work buddies replacing the steps up into the attic. Tomorrow he has to go mud some drywall they replaced. He enjoys that work and it is a great service to the church since we don't have to pay to have it done! I went grocery shopping while he was gone, and played the piano and went swimming. Tomorrow is housecleaning day since the group arrives Monday. Can't wait-we have so much fun when they are here! I'm sure I will have a lot of pictures! Speaking of which, I am going to have to negotiate another deal with my blog server-I have only 100 pictures left of my 3000 allotted and I am sure that when the house gets started, I'll use those up quickly!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Fourth!

Here's the screened porch-except it will be two feet bigger

    First Floor Plan     Click Here   type the document 2 name here     type the document 2 name here     First Floor Plan  

 

 

 

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Almost another month gone! Time flies when you're having fun...and even when you're building a house! We have spent hours every day working on the house and the pool buit we hope this week to be pretty much done with the plans. Tomorrow we meet with the pool designer to try to finalize those plans and then the architect should be able to finish his plans by Thursday. we hope to break ground in mid-August and be ready to move by mid to late April.

Our landlords were here this week. they brought us a bottle of very nice champagne and were so appreciative that we let them visit THEIR house! They also went and looked at a 55 acre parcel of land that has a greass landing strip. He is a very interesting guy. He is in the Broadcaster's Hall of Fame for thework he has done in designing video cameras for all kinds of sports-football, baseball and he has been to 11 Olympics. He also owns a model airplane hobby business and flies his own plane. We areglad we  like them since not only are they our  landlords but will also be our neighbors!

The weather here has been beautiful. I am doing lots of swimming when not busy with all my other activities-still working hard on my piano and have takenon a few other jobs at church  so I am there a couple days a week. oliver is  all involved with  planning for the annual church faire and bazaar in November, and of course also with house plans and working at the lot. His newest toy is a commefcial sized wood splitter. There are lots of trees on the 12 acres-another one fell this week-so he and Mike plan to make a woodpile for our two fireplaces!

For those of you not on Facebook, I had a pneumonia vaccination this week and it caused me such excruciating pain!!! I thought I would never get over it but after 24 hours it started getting better and now I'm fine!

Got to run put my birgers on the grill. Soon I will start a new blog page for the house. I will need to negotiate with my blog host-I am within 100 pictures of my 3000 picture limit!

Here's Oliver's new toy before he assembled it!

 

Friday, May 27, 2016

Happy Memorial Day and blessings to all of our veterans. Things have been busy since I last posted. We closed on our house so we are now renters! It seemed a little weird to sell the house but then not move. We are supposed to meet with our builders this coming week to see what they have-and how much it will cost!

My piano lessons continue going well-I am now practicing pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Grieg!  Also continue with my prayer services at Summit Place-on Thursday we had 20 people!!

This week we went to Charlotte to visit Phyllis and Bobby, our friends of over 35 years. We always have a great time  with so much laughter our faces hurt. On Tuesday we went to the Billy Graham Library. He was born in Charlotte and when this library opened in 2007, Presidents Clinton,Bush 41 and 43 were all there. It is the number 1 visited place in Charlotte and we could see why! It's amazingly well done, with many exhibits, lots of videos, beautiful music and peaceful grounds. We were there for over 2 hours and could have stayed longer. Ruth Graham is buried there and Billy will be there as well. His childhood home was moved to the grounds also.

When we got home, we spent a long time watching the chickens. Phyllis has 5 grown-up girl  chickens and 3 babies. They are so cute and such fun to watch. I am not a bird fan in general but couldn't take my eyes off these little ones, especially the little black silkie. Her name is MaVa but I call her Muppet-she reminds me of Big Bird. Her little feet are just covered in feathers!

Had a good trip home yesterday and we are planning a quiet week-end. Thanks for stopping by!

The front of the Billy Graham library

Here I am at Billy's podium, with him watching over me!

Cute muppet. She's only going to weigh about a pound when she is full grown!

 

 

 

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Sure has been a long time since I wrote anything here! We have been busy, busy, busy. Lot of the same stuff-piano lessons, church, nursing home visits, etc. The plans for the new house are coming along-we met with the architect out at our lot a couple of weeks ago and then we met at his office yesterday to see his initial drawings. We are pleased with what he has so far. We have the drawings tacked up on an easel on the porch and we are "living with it" to see what changes we might want. Not too many, I don't think, so we are anxious for him to move ahead with the final drawings so we can get started building!

We close on the sale of this house on Thursday! It will seem weird to be renters-for the first time in 45 years!  It would be sad probably if we were actually  moving but since we will be here for about another year, no problem!

Bunny and John, Spencer and Bennett and Alex, Whit and Jace were here for a couple of days. We had a great time-spent time in the pool on Wednesday. Baby Jace wasn't too sure about it at first but he seemed to get used to it after a while and I think he kind of liked it. On Thursday, Spencer and Bunny went with me to Summit Place for the prayer service-Spencer read the psalm for me. When they come back in July, we have promised to bring Jace with us-they would love to see a little baby! After lunch, they all loaded up into the boat and went for a ride. It was windy so a little rough on the river but nice and calm in our creek. Since Thursday was cinco de mayo, we had an all-Mexican day. We started with a Mexican breakfast casserole, at lunch we had a Mexcian cornbread salad and quesadillas and for dinner we had chicken enchiladas, mexican rice and refried beans, followed by a giant taco ice cream cake that I  made. It was awesome!  They all left yesterday at noon to go over to Hilton Head for a couple of days.

Today was my piano recital. I had practiced SO much-Oliver said I over-practiced. There were about 12 of us who played and I was about number 8 so I had a long time to be nervous-and I WAS!!  Oliver said my hands were shaking so hard he could see them but I did pretty well. A couple of minor mistakes but I kept on going and didn't say Oh Crap-like I usually do when I make a mistake. good thing, because the Bishop was there-his 2 granddaughters played. They are immensely talented for 13 year olds-one plays the violin and the other the piano. There was a reception afterwards and now we are home drinking and getting ready to eat leftover enchiladas!

Pool baby

Jace looked like a little hot dog in his life jacket!

Pretty sisters

Taco ice cream cake!

 

Playing at the recital. the audience is riveted!

 

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Things are moving along nicely with both our house sale and our house build. The home and pool inspections were done this week and we passed with flying colors-just a couple of minor repairs to be done in the house. The design and build contract is signed with our builders and they are cranking up to get the initial designs drawn. The tree company was out on Thursday and Friday to cut down a couple of dead trees and the brush on the bank, and they will be back tomorrow to cut some trees on the common property. Yesterday was very windy and one of the trees that was scheduled to be cut down fell over! It was a 60 foot pine tree and had been leaning over quite a bit-we had warned people not to walk under it! My neighbor called to tell me that he had heard a tremendous noise from towards our lot so we went over and there it lay! Fortunately it fell sideways and only a few branches fell on the road-if the tree had come down on the road, there would have been major damage!

I have been so distracted that I have let my piano playing lapse and my teacher gave me a gentle scolding, so this week I have been working hard. I told her that the other night Oliver gave me a stern look and said "Turn off that TV and go play the piano!" She said she was going to hire him to get her other students to work harder! I have a lesson tomorrow and then have to prepare some sandwiches and cookies for a funeral at church on Tuesday morning. The past 2 Thursdays I have had to do the prayer service at the assisted living facility all by myself-my helpers never showed up! So I lead the hymns, read the psalm, scripture and Gospel, do the homily, and read the prayers. Not sure if the residents get tired of hearing my voice but I sure do!!

Had a nice cocktail hour at our friends and future neighbors, Mike and Jeannine, and we really needed the rest. Today was fairly quiet, with church, a trip to 2 different hardware stores, grocery shopping and walking the dogs. Watching the Masters now and then having spaghetti and meatballs.

We saw this little gator in the pond this week.

Here's the base of the big pine that fell. Oliver went and looked for bodies but there weren't any!

And here's the top

The lot looks nice with the brush cleared away

We can actually see our boat now

 

Friday, April 1, 2016

We sold our house!  April Fool!! Nope-not April Fool, it's really true!  We signed a contract with the realtor on March 23 and she put the sign up last Wednesday. On Thursday afternoon I was out watering my plants on the front porch when a car pulled up and the people called hello. So I walked out and they asked if the house really had just gone on the market-I didn't even know it had gone live on the MLS but she showed me a picture from Realtor.com-it had JUST gone live!!  We chatted for a while-she said they are from Pennsylvania and wanted to buy a house somewhere near Hilton Head, where her sister lives. He said they didn't really want to move down here just yet-wanted to find someone who maybe wanted to lease it back! He asked if the whole yard was fenced in because they have 2 dogs-I said we have 2 dogs so it was totally fenced in and very dog safe. She said she wanted to live some place where she could make friends easily-she's an artist and this is a VERY artsy town-we have like 12 galleries here and art shows about every month. She asked how much notice we needed to show the house and I said no notice-just call your realtor. So they left and then I called my realtor and told her about it. That night she called and said their realtor had called and they wanted to see the house on Friday. After several calls saying they were running late, they finally showed up at 4PM. We took the dogs over to our lot where we could peek through the trees to see when they left. They stayed over an hour-we were REALLY wanting to come home for cocktail hour! Our realtor called us on Saturday and said she really thought theymight make an offer. Sure enough, on Sunday night late our realtor called with an offer. We countered and they countered our counter and we had a deal!  It is absolutely perfect for us-we can stay in the house for 10 months after closing , and then month to month after that if necessary, they are paying cash,so no financing contingency, they want a quick close (May 12), we don't have to find a place to rent (which is almost impossible in Beaufort and especially with two dogs), we don't have to pay for 2 moves, they want to buy some of our furniture, and we can walk over to our lot and supervise the building of our new house on a daily basis!! Couldn't be more ideal.

So today we met with our builders and talked about the floor plan, where the house would sit on the lot, and a million other details. We will sign the contract Monday and they will get started right away! The plan is to have it finished by March-hopefully.We're very excited. I love my house but hopefully we are going to build one I love even more!!

Here's a picture of the creek, taken from the house 2 doors over from us. The blue boat in front of the sailboat is ours, right in front of our lot.

This is looking the other way up the creek

 

 

 

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

We have been SO busy since I  last posted. Hopefully we're going to get a bit of a break next week but it seems every timeI think that, more things come up.

We've spent quite a bit of time with realtors over the past couple of weeks. Having made the decision to sell the house,Oliver has been very anxious to get it on the market. We decided on a realtor, signed the listing agreement and today the photographer is coming to take the pictures so we should go live on the MLS by Thursday. We've been working like crazy getting ready-Oliver has been painting the fence, power washing parts of the house and stairs, getting the pool furniture out while I have been planting some flowers and arranging for the house cleaners and pool cleaners to come this morning. It's supposed to be a bright sunny day so the pictures should be nice. I dread this whole process so hope someone comes  to buy it right away! Not too likely but maybe we'll get lucky.

We went to Atlanta for baby Jace's baptism and had a wonderful time. Saturday night we celebrated John R's birthday with his favorite dinner-his Dad's cheesy eggs, his Mom's rice cakes and my personal favorite, German chocolate cake. Sunday morning was the baptism in the church where the kids were all raised and where Alex and Whit were married. After the service, we allwent to Whit and Alex's for a big brunch. It was a beautiful day and we had a nice time. We left at 6:30 Monday morning but the traffic was terrible in Atlanta so it took us til 1:30 to get home!

Our Newcomer's Coffee and Dessert at the Vicarage went very well. We had about 30 people there and I  spent quite a bit of time making the desserts-I had a nice selection of cookies, little key lime tarts, lemon bars and a few  other things. Oliver went with me as theofficial photographer. We were home by 9:30 but I had to be at church by 8 the next morning so it was a short sleep! I have joined the Altar Guild and Saturday was my first day. As the newbie, I was assigned the tedious task of polishing the brass altar rail. It took me 11/2 hours and my arms are still sore!

On Sunday we went to brunch after church with our Foyer Group-a small group from church that meets once a month for food and fellowship. We generally meet at someone's home but when people are real busy, they often schedule it at a local restaurant so we went to one of the local golf clubs. It was quite nice and a couple of mimosas plus a great omelette did a lot to relax me!

This is a busy week.Besides having the house cleaners, pool cleaners and photographer here, I also have my Thursday prayer ministry at Summit Place and then the bell choir is playing at Maundy Thursday services, Good Friday services are at noon, Saturday we are going to John and Jeannette's house in Savannah to celebrate their anniversary with a cook-out, and Easter Sunday the bell choir plays again! I have had no time for my piano so haven't had a lesson in two weeks but I hope to get back to it next week.

Hope everyone has a blessed and happy Easter.

On my birthday, we ate downtown and one of the beautiful jets from the Marine air base did a flyover.

Baby Jace was a perfect angel for his big day!

This big alligator lives in the pond across the street. We think she is the same one that was here last year but she has grown!

 

Friday, March 4, 2016

We are finally all recuperated and caught up from our Cuba trip!  We've been really busy since we got back - both dogs have been to the groomer, as have both Oliver and I, I have docented at church, done prayer services at Summit Place, been to bell choir practice and then the bell choir played at church last Sunday, taken a piano lesson, went out to dinner with our frineds (and future neighbors) Mike and Jeannine for their anniversary, met twice with the builders we think we are going to hire for our new house, and met with a realtor. Also, Skipper had his teeth cleaned, I had my teeth cleaned and somehow I managed to scratch the cornea on my right eye so went to the eye doctor twice! Other than that, not too much going  on!

The upcoming weeks promise to be just as busy. I have agreed to take over the leadership of the assisted living ministry and have also agreed to join the Altar Guild-that is the group responsible  for taking care of all oour altar and communion ware and setting up for services. I have also agreed to co-chair our hospitality committee for our newcomer's dessert and coffee receptions. These are held at the rectory or vicarage and we are responsible for catering, serving and cleaning up. The first one is March 18th and Oliver is going to go with me and be the photographer, as our regular photographer is not available. Also trying to keep up with my piano lessons so I don't have much spare time!

We met with the builders a couple of weeks ago just to meet them and look at a few houses they are in the middle of building. We both liked them so much-they are youngish and both of them have degrees in both architecture and construction management, so they do the entire project from conception to completion. Oliver thought the houses we looked at were extremely well built-I just thought they were pretty! Then the other day, the "builder boys" as I call them came over to the house to look at the things I both like and don't like and to get an idea of our style. I had a couple of houseplans for them to look at and then we went over to the lot, so they could make sure they could build what I want there!  And we can, so now we just plan to list the house and see what happens. Stay tuned and I will post a couple of the floor plans I'm looking at.

Here we are at dinner with Mike and Jeannine-they own one of the other 3 lots where we are going to build and they are in the design process as well.

Oliver got a new woodchipper so off he went today over to the lot to chop up some of the brush and trees he had cut.