June 2014

A back yard renovation

Uncategorized

 

 

Git 003

The construction was delayed. Then delayed again. That was after we ripped out the deck and were at the point of no return.

Git 004

After years of dealing with mole holes, weeds, and chair legs that sank into the mud when someone tried to sit down, I was ready for a concrete pad, and thought I started the process plenty early to get it finished before Birdsong.  

Git 005

Finally, weeks later than I had thought it would be, the digging began.

Git 006

I was thrilled to get it started, but it was just a little more than a week before the party!  Thunderstorms were forecasted every single day. And now NONE of the yard was usable.

Git 007

Luckily, the storms held off and in just a couple of days, the whole thing was done.

Git 014

The guys we hired were just wonderful. Friendly, helpful, fast, and good at what they did.  Matt helped Sugarwings put her hand print in the wet cement.

Git 015

Dewdrop was a little shy and wanted me to help her.

Git 008

I did some imprinting in wet cement myself.

Git 010

Once the guys were done, then our work began. 

Git 011

AT&T and Directtv had moved the wires that used to be under the wooden deck. Those had to be cammofluaged with white paint.  While I was at it,  I scraped and repainted the walls from about 3' up, then went all the way around the whole house, scraping and touching up where needed. I've found that patchwork painting keeps the peeling under control and we can go much longer between paint jobs. 

Git 021

We also needed a retaining wall to make a transition between the levels.

Not to mention all the landscaping and clean up that had to be done.  Plus the intire house needed a power wash to get all the concrete dust off, from where the guys had to use a saw to cut out old cement.

 

More gifties!

bird song art event

Bsclenauup14 013

Mitzi is someone I met online, and whose blog I really enjoy. She knows her antiques and is interesting to read.  I've not met her in person yet, but I hope to. I already know she is a generous person, each year she has donated to the "tweet" bags for Birdsong.

Bsclenauup14 011

Darling Linda, also sent some goodies. Each is wrapped with this cute tag she made from her photo taken last year at Birdsong 3.

Bsclenauup14 012

Her gifts are hand made tussie mussies each filled with a sweet bird. Dozens of them! That is devotion, isn't it?

  10388132_10203699615512488_8590587301211226033_n

Kim has put together these caged beauties for us too. I can't wait to peek inside to see all the goodies.

Git 001

 

Marriane sent these wonderfully wrapped bundles. I have no idea what is in them, but the packaging itself will make fun crafting supplies.

Securedownload (2)

Aren't these old butter boxes cool? Pam Perilla sent these.

Git 035

Tami dropped by to visit and dropped off her gifts.  It made me even more anticipatory for our party to begin, after having a visit with one of our "Peeps".

She made these switch covers from decopaged napkins! I don't think I'd be able to get so many so perfect, those flimsy napkins are hard to work with, she did an admirable job with them.

Very pretty!

Git 040

She also made this pretty teacup nest for me!  

Git 037

And brought dress up clothes for the grand fairies.

Git 018

I've already mentioned that Gwen has gifted the "Birdsong Ladies" (as Sugarwings calls them) with $50 worth of gift certificates at Bottom's Up antique mall.  To draw the names, I thought I'd Wonka it up. I made of list of how many were going to attend that day, then posted the list a few times to make sure no one was left off. 

Then, wrapped up 25 mini candy bars (if the ladies wonder why there were no Krackle bars in with the others, it is because they were quite delicious.)   Inside the wrappers of 3 of them, I wrote notes  in gold ink to create the Golden Tickets to use as prizes, then mailed them all to Gwen.  When the Birdsong Ladies arrive to shop, each gets a sweet treat and 3 of them will get gift certificates.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the bags and the drawings.  Their generosity and kindness makes the party even more special for our guests.

 

And so it begins

Books, Sugarwings

Bs sponsorgifts leelee school 006

School is out, and Sugarwings was sorry to see it end. I've decided to do what I did last summer and take some time off with the girls for summer activities.  Lots of painting, zoo time, movies, etc.

Before first grade was over, we were invited to an Author's Tea Party in the classroom to see the books each kid had written and illustrated. Since Sugarwings' illustrations are always unique (like her self portrait, above), I knew her book would be a fun one.

Bs sponsorgifts leelee school 010

It was.  You could see the influence Disney had on her topic too. Princess Leandra was the title of her book.

Bs sponsorgifts leelee school 009

We decided to honor the occasion by dressing up for the tea party.

Bs sponsorgifts leelee school 007

I wore my tea party hat and good dress.  

After I saw this photo, I realized just how big that child has become. I'm trying to break the habit of carrying her everywhere, now that I see that soon, it will be her turn to carry me.

Bs sponsorgifts leelee school 015

She already misses school.  For now, she has offered to help me prep for our big party and the family reunion that goes along with it.  After Birdsong ends, we are having a family dinner with relatives that are in town, and the grand fairies have a Fairy Tea Party Breakfast for their great grandmother while she is visiting from Wyoming.  

Git 033

It's starting out to be an exciting summer!  Swimming, zoos, walks in the woods, arts and crafts, movies, and most likely, more tea parties.   I've been collecting ideas from Pinterest  for things to make, and Sugarwings and I have compiled a shopping list of ingredients to have on hand for them.

I can't wait.

Scroll to Top