Wednesday, March 25, 2009

House Update...

Time is quickly flying by... in just two days, TWO DAYS, my brother Trevor and his fiance will be united in marriage! Wow! It seem like just yesterday they became engaged... now, three months later, we are almost to the 'finish line' in regards to wedding preparations and Trevor's house! It has been a very busy time, but a very rewarding and fruitful time. Some terrific memories have been made between 'us gals' (Momma, Thelma, and I) and we've learned allot together.... mainly about sewing!

"From the top of the driveway"
The past several weeks have been a beehive of activity at "Trevor and Thelma's house". Three sides of the exterior has been painted, the inside has gone from just dry wall and mud spots to dry wall with several coats of paint on it, light fixtures and ceiling fans have been put in, lower cabinets (in the kitchen) have been put in, porch railing has been constructed, a septic system was put in, and many other things have been finished! It has been a very exciting time!

"Don't you love the color????!"
This lovely shade of green is the primer... thankfully the house isn't that color! You can see where the painter has 'cut in' with the exterior color... it is quite the contrast isn't it?! :o)
Since taking these pictures, the 'siding guys' have been out to out put in something on the part of the roof that hangs out over the edge of the sides of the house (you can see bare wood in the picture), and, the gutters have been put in!

"The Interior"
Inside, everything looks so good! The walls are a 'khaki' color and the trim is a glossy white; add in the freshly finished floors.... Ohhhhh, it's simply breathtaking! It looks soooooo good!

"Measurin' and Thinkin'"
Trevor was able to get a good deal on lower cabinets last Thursday or Friday, so he and Thelma spent an evening staining them so they could be put in over the weekend. The actual installation took some thinking through as he had failed to think about the depth of the cabinets... he finally figured it out though! I hear he has counter-tops on them now....

"The Kitchen"
Sawyer and I took a trek out to Trevor's place on Saturday. Sawyer wanted to take his tool-box, which was filled with various kitchen tools at the time, so that he could 'help' Trevor. I'm not sure how much 'help' the garlic press and egg slicer he was toting around were, but he sure enjoyed 'helping'!

"Painting..."
Daddy has been spending much of his free time working on the small painting projects that Trevor has. Daddy and Collin both have been working really hard on this most every free moment this week and I know Trevor, and Thelma, appreciate it!

"Creative Juices are flowing freely!"
Meanwhile, on the home-front, a creative genius has been at work! Now, the picture does not do the floor of the sewing room justice.... imagine most every part of the floor covered in some form of sewing paraphernalia; thread, pins, fabric, pattern pieces, you name it and it is most likely on the floor! Momma has been sewing up a storm for a week now!

As the wedding gets closer and closer, our plates become fuller and fuller! We are in charge of the rehearsal dinner, so a part of tomorrow and most of Friday will be dedicated to cooking/preparing for it. Friday evening is the rehearsal and the Saturday is the wedding! Wow! How the time has flown since Christmas Eve (which is when Trevor proposed).

I know that Trevor and Thelma would appreciate your prayers as they begin a new life together!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Hymn for Sunday

I Sing the Mighty Power of God

Words: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Music: From Gesangbuch der Herzogl, Wurttemberg, 1784

I sing the mighty power of God, That made the mountains rise;
That spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command, And all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with His Word, And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, Where'er I turn my eye:
If I survey the ground I tread, Or gaze upon the sky!

There's not a plant or flower below, But makes Thy glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, By order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee Is ever in Thy care,
And everywhere that man can be, Thou, God art present there.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Success!!!

At last I have the joy of reporting that the bridesmaids dresses are finished!!!! :o) Momma and I have have spent the past several days buckled down in the sewing room desperately trying to get these dresses done before the weekend.

"Finished Product"
The picture shows the dresses much much greyer than the fabric really is. It's a beautiful sage green that 'shimmers'...

This weekend will mark two weeks before Trevor and Thelma's wedding which is why we wanted the dresses done by then (we are cutting it close as it is!). There is still a bit of hand work to do; several hems need to be put in, a ribbon put where the skirt and bodice meet, and a few hooks and eyes need to be placed, but these are things that can be done in the evenings while catching up on the days happenings with everyone.

What sweet relief and joy it is to have the major part of this project behind us! I cannot wait to see what everyone looks like in their dress...

"Planting Rose Bushes"
So what does Ashley have planned now that she has a little more free time these days? Gardening of course!!!! I have seeds started, seeds to plant, weeds to pull, and garden stuff to pull out of hibernation. What fun this shall be!

The window here beside the computer is open which is letting in a wonderful breeze... spring is officially here (never mind the fact that we received four inches of snow a little over a week ago) and several of the trees are beginning to bloom! The frogs have come back to life, the birds sing constantly and flit from tree to tree, the grass is greening up, and new life and hope is alive where ever you look! What a wonderful time of year!