The Cedar Loft - Update #2

Everyone probably knows that the one thing you need to plan on when tackling a home improvement project is to plan on something not going as planned.  :)  That was definitely the case week before last when Jason was on vacation.

First of all, Jason was going to rent a ditch witch to dig the trenches for the gas pipe running to The Cedar Loft.  The day he was planning on it - Tuesday - it rained.  So that task was moved to Wednesday.  But Jason was thanking the Lord for that awesome piece of equipment. 

Ditch Witch....a wonderful invention!  

Digging that by hand would not have been pleasant!  He dug and I kept him hydrated!  Boy was it hot!  :)

When Uncle Jesse got here on Wednesday that week and they started to work on the a/c, there were several delays that required extra trips to town for supplies.  Then at the end when all the duct work was in place and the a/c installed, it didn't work.  After several frustrating hours, it turned out to be a fuse!  So now we have air!  

See that?  76 degrees......76 wonderful degrees!  :)  It is wonderful because before turning on the a/c, the temperature up there in Cedar Loft showed 120 degrees! 

That's the a/c unit in its little closet and you can see some of the duct work there too.

Another big accomplishment is that the insulation is in place.  It's beginning to look more like a living space instead of a framed skeleton of a room!  It's amazing what a difference the insulation made - giving it a defined ceiling area.  It really grounds the room.  It helped me get the "big picture".

The kitchen area with the little laundry area and bathroom in the corner.

The little living area with a partial view of the bedroom area.

A view from the kitchen looking over into the bedroom area and the little dining nook.

The next big step is installing the corrugated tin on the ceiling.  We hope it is delivered today and that we can begin hanging it this evening. 

So the rest of this week, while you're chillin' out and relaxing after supper, you can think of us.  But.......at least, we have air!  :)

A Little Luke Entertainment

It's next to impossible to get Luke to "perform" when we pull out the video recorder.  He sings, counts, recites.....entertaining us all the time.  There's never a dull moment with him.  But....get that camera rolling and he'll act silly, or just stop completely.

We were really trying to get a mini video to send to China to his orphanage and foster family to share an update with them.  Well wouldn't you know it, he did sing and count, but he did is own "new version" of ABC's (he did well until he got to the end...then he just added his own), then he only counted to 8 and stopped (he can go to 20 something).  Then in the middle of the Barney song, he discovered his bandaid was loose.  So, needless to say, it wasn't the video I planned to send, but then....That's Luke.

And he's memorized the book, Thomas the Tank Engine's The School Trip.  He "reads" it so quickly that he's hard to understand (especially to others).  Of course, we're used to his version of English, so we don't have a problem.  I'm so glad I captured this on video.  I know we'll treasure it for a long time and I can't wait to show it to him a long time from now!

At the end of the reading video, he proclaims, "Give me some ice cream".  That's how his mind works.....That's Luke.

Enjoy!

Faithful Friday - "Taking Control of the TV"

After today's Faithful Friday post, you may decide that we are a really strange, radical, or extreme family.  But that's okay.  Because in fact, I guess in many ways, we kind of are, especially when judged from any worldview other than a Biblical one. 

Today I'm sharing what's on my heart and if you do things differently, I want you to know that I'm not being judgemental.  I know every family's convictions are different.  I'm just sharing what's on my heart for our family.   This is just what we've found works for the well being of our family as a whole.  We haven't always been this way.  It's sort of come over time, especially as Hollywood's standards and morals have declined (and society's in general too).

We can't control what movies Hollywood puts out or what TV shows the networks air, but we can control what we allow into our home.  Over the years, we've filtered what types of movies/shows we watched but as time went on, we've found it more and more difficult to find appropriate ones.  Sometimes objectional material was just right-in-your-face, and then sometimes, and more often times, more subtle, but still not what we wanted coming into our kids' minds (or ours either).    After all, whatever you think on gradually becomes the accepted and normal. 

Five years ago, we cancelled our Direct TV leaving us with local channels only.  I thought we'd really miss it, especially me and my HGTV, but we didn't.  (Well Colt might disagree a little with that).  If we could have chosen three or four channels and pay for only those, we probably would have opted for that.  We've suggested that to the company, but so far Direct TV hasn't offered that option.

For awhile, we just rented movies (that met our approval), then we tried Sky Angel, but found there wasn't enough channels on it that we really watched to warrant that monthly expense either.  So...now we get one local channel (which we basically only watch when we need weather updates).  The extent of our movie watching consists of Netflix instant views and DVD mailings of our choice.  This has worked best for us, since we are in control of what comes into our home.

We have three TVs in our home - one in our living room (behind the doors of this cabinet)....

One in our bedroom (behind those doors)....

And Colt has one in his room.  Sorry no picture of that one....it was too dusty!  :)

But honestly, we don't even put that much importance on even DVD watching either.  Luke likes a few DVDs - Bob the Builder, Barney, and Caillou, which he watches off and on.  Through Netflix, we enjoy family movies, documentaries, inspirational, and educational movies.

Unforunately, we live in a  society where we are constantly confronted and even hammered with values and issues that we don't want in our lives.  As Christians, it is important that we take charge of what we allow in our homes.  After all, if we don't decide or define our bounderies and values that we desire for our family and home, we'll fall prey to what society calls "normal" and it will be decided for us.  As Christians, we aren't supposed to conform to this world, but are to be set apart.

Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

1 Peter 3:15:  "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."


It's definitely not easy.  We have to be constantly on our toes. (At least that's how I feel).  We're always emailing or calling about issues that arise that AFA (American Family Association) calls to our attention concerning what's being aired on TV and flooding into our homes.  But it's worth the trouble and effort.  I pray for wisdom for our family and yours.  May we always strive to be set apart as Christian families living for the glory of God in all we do.

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If you have something you'd like to share for Faithful Fridays, please visit Joy's blog, Doodlebug, and let her know in a comment that you participated, so we can visit!  

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Have a great weekend!  :)

A Good Day at the Antique Gallery!

The Antique Gallery is one of my all-time favorite places to shop for my home.  I could stay in there for hours! Primitive and Country shops are few and far between in this area, but there are several booths in the Antique Gallery that I especially love.....and then some that occasionally surprise me with a great find.

On my last visit, something red caught my eye.  It's my favorite color so I already knew that red would be (at least) an accent color in The Cedar Loft (the backyard apartment/pool house).  So, when I saw this red clawfoot table and chairs, I knew it would look great in there.  I just wasn't sure if the space could handle a 48" table.  I quickly called Jason and he said it would work fine.  My heart did a little flip.   :)  And since it's important to me that Jason and I are in agreement on "big" purchases like this, even though he does leave the decorating to me for the most part, I still wanted to know what he thought of it, so I quickly sent him a picture via the cellphone.  He gave it his stamp of approval, so it became ours!  And for $250!  Since we're not ready for it just yet, they're keeping it at the Antique Gallery for us until we can bring it home.

This picture of it (still at the booth) was taken with my cellphone (I should have learned by now to take my camera with me to The Antique Gallery).  It's not the best quality, but here it is:

There has also been a red plaid/checked couch at The Antique Gallery for quite awhile that I've always admired.  This particular day, there was a sale which gave the couch a very attractive price tag of $112!  After a trip back over there for Jason to see it later, we also claimed it for The Cedar Loft!

Sorry for the poor quality....taken with my cell phone.

As The Cedar Loft is progressing, I can envision the red dining table and the red couch in their spots.  It's a very open plan and will all flow together.  It's exciting to see it all coming together!

Another bonus.....I couldn't pass this up either - a quilt!  And after 60% off, only $60!  This will be on the bed in The Cedar Loft too.  Notice it has that punch of red too?

Anyone know what this pattern is called?

It was one of those days when it just all came together.  I loved them; Jason approved; And now we have our inspiration pieces!

Oh, and these items came home with me as well:

The bee skep has a new home on the sunporch.

The grater and the sifter have a home in my kitchen.

And this, well I had to have it for the bar in The Cedar Loft, just because it was the exact same red color as the table and chairs (from the same booth).  I'm thinking I will replace the glass dome with a shoo-fly screen.

Before you think, wow, what a spender, let me just plug in here that this was definitely not a typical shopping visit (for me) to The Antique Gallery.  A typical shopping day mostly consists of "window shopping" and perhaps a small item or two comes home with me.  And I'm always excited about those too (things like the bee skep or sifter).  So that's why this day was especially exciting!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  :)

 

The Price They Paid - A 4th of July Story

I've read this before and recently received this again in an email and I thought I'd share this today in honor of the men who paid so much so we can enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today.....freedoms that we will quickly lose if we don't stay on our toes and stand up against the declining morals and values and speak up for the freedoms in our great country. 

I wonder if we would be willing to pay such a price as these men paid? 

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?



Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.


Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.


Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;


Another had two sons captured.


Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. 


They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.



What kind of men were they?


Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.


Eleven were merchants,

Nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated.


But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.


Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.




Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton.


At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire.


The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.


Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.
The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.


John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying; their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.



So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots.




It's not much to ask for the price they paid.




Remember: freedom is never free!




“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.” - Thomas Jefferson



"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance." 
Psalm 33:12

Summer Cousin Fun

Summer is the season for cousins to visit.....and this summer we've had three consecutive weeks of cousin visits!  Joy and Luke are a little disappointed that they're all gone now.

The first week my nephew, Trey (who is Colt's age), and his wife, Shauna, came.  Of course Luke enjoyed all the attention and Joy had swimming companions while Colt was at work.  Colt and Trey have always been very close, so the four of them - Colt & Amber and Trey & Shauna - had a good time hanging out. (I just realized I didn't get any pictures of them while they were here).

Then the following week, Kemper and Laci (that's Trey's brother and sister) came to visit.  These three belong to my brother, Richie, and sister-in-law, Missy.  Joy and Luke had a great time with them.  Not surprisingly, they spent alot of time in the pool.  Kemper also enjoyed a fishing trip with my dad.

These four are very close and see each each fairly often.

Joy & Kemper

Even kids need to relax....

The girls.......Joy & Laci

And this past week, we had two cousins that visited our home for the first time.  We usually only see them at family reunions or other family gatherings.

This is Ms. Emmalee from Delaware.  She is soon to be 9.

It's really funny.  We've come full circle because Emmalee's mom and I used to have summer visits too.  I remember riding her mom on the handle bars of my bike (and having a little wreck over a speed bump), as well as sleep overs.

And this is Ms. Jessica.  She just turned 11.  Jessica is from Alabama.

We see Jessica more often.  She was probably getting impatient with me because I kept calling her Carrie.  (That's her mom's name...she looks just like her).  It's so strange that these kids should be this old.  And by the way, how old does that make me?  :)

Again, they had a blast in the pool!

How many girls can you fit on one small tube....3 for about 3 seconds! 

And when they weren't doing that, the girls were creating and performing plays together.  

Now the cousins have all gone home and they will be missed BUT they don't have to wait very long to see each other again.  Next weekend is the family reunion and they will all be together again.  And this time they'll be wading and swimming in the creek!

Ah....the joy of cousins in the summer! 

And why can't I get a suntan like this?

The Cedar Loft - Update #1

The Cedar Loft.  Calling it the pool house/garage apartment just didn't seem adequate.  We discussed names for it like The Cabana (sounded too tropical) and Timbertop Retreat and more, but in the end we agreed on The Cedar Loft.  Cedar Loft to go with our Cedar Haven.  :)

Every spare moment on the weekends, and some week nights, Jason has been steadily working on this project, with Colt and my daddy helping on the weekends.  So I thought, I'd share an update on the progress.

The covered porch is complete.  Yay!  It's so nice to sit under the fans perched high above the pool and watch the kids (if we're not in the pool or if there's no shady spot on the lower pool deck).  We still have some staining to do there, but for the most part, it is done!

Looking inside, you probably can't see the progress.  But it's there!  Well, maybe you can if I show you a couple of before pictures.

This end is becoming the kitchen, laundry room & bathroom.

And this end is the bedroom/living area.

The framing is done for the bathroom and laundry room.

The bathroom is tucked into the corner where one dormer window is located. 

The plumbing and electrical is in place now.  That's not anything pretty, but necessary.  :)

We've bought the tub/shower unit and it's in place, as well as the hot water heater.

The framing for the kitchen bar and countertop defines the small kitchen space.

Over here will be the open loft or studio style bedroom area.  It has closets on both sides tucked into the knee walls.

This area will be the small living room area.

Tucked behind here is storage space (for all our tubs of seasonal decor), and more.  To the front of that door, is room enough for a table and chairs.

This week, Jason is on vacation (a work-at-home vacation) and my Uncle Jesse is coming from Alabama for them to put in our a/c and heat unit (Uncle Jesse is a retired a/c and heating man). Joy helped Jason mix and lay the concrete pad for the outside a/c unit.

Hopefully at the end of the week, the insulation will go in also.  

Then comes the part where I will be helping more - the ceiling, walls, floor, painting, cabinets, countertops and then the really fun part.........decorating.  :)

It's coming together though.  It probably comes as no big surprise that the decor will be rustic/primitive/ country style. 

We're trying to do this as low budget as possible, searching out the most cost effective approach for each step.

Here's the plan:

The ceilings will be corrugated tin.  For the interior walls, we will be using exterior knotty barnside masonite siding (with cedar stain).

For the flooring, we decided to go with vinyl since it will be used as a pool house.  Although it probably wouldn't have been my first choice, it will hold up well to the water and we liked the price.  We found this rustic one at a local surplus warehouse.  I love the look of it with its wide planks and knotty holes!

A little closer view

Jason is going to build wooden countertops.  I was inspired by a couple of my bloggin' friends' homes and again, we liked the price of it.  That's alot of wood but guess what!  I get painted cabinets in here!  Yay!  We'll get contrast with the cabinets.  We're leaning toward using the distressed color of the TV cabinet in our bedroom.

Oh and here's the really ambitious part of the plan.....we'd like to have it all done by Labor Day.  Are you laughing?  My daddy did.  So we'll just have to see how far off we are!  :)

And there you have it......update #1.....and the plan.  I'll share again when we get a little further along.  Hopefully we'll have a productive week!

And I'll leave you with a snapshot I captured from the porch of The Cedar Loft yesterday evening.  I thought it was pretty with the sun going down.

    

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!  :)