HAPPY 4TH 2008

This is one of Lynn's Mom's Hostas in Bloom in Texas. We have worked hard to save this and it is in full boom this week. They are beautiful!!

Happy 4th Belated!

Let Freedom Ring 2008
Thetford Farm Bell

Pine Mills, Texas

We were at the Thetford Farm for a 4th party and this is a bell on the farm.

Buddy looking for fireworks, not one of his favorite things!

We have a good 4th this year. (Celebrated on the 5th) Out to the Thetford Farm for a wonderful lunch and sitting on the porch. Anne Thetford is such a wonderful hostess and the food is always exceptional. Lynn and I cherish the time we spend there as it is so quite and the views are wonderful from the porch. Here are a couple below.

Our New Uncle Sam 2008

Home Projects Again!

We are almost done here at 702 Sycamore

House looking South towards kitchen.

Well, we are back at "home projects" for a few days. We had decided to have a new railing take the place of the original 1949 Iron scroll rail but were not sure how to do it. As luck had it, we found a guy who is a master at cabinets that is retired and he agreed to do it for us, all we had to do it come up with the design. We were so excited that our plan was going to happen so we got real busy fast and gave him a drawing of what we wanted and he said "not a problem"!!!!!! Also, we had decided to take down the old downspouts and gutters and install Rainhandlers http://www.rainhandler.com/ so after we had that done, we wanted shutters! We hit Dennis up with the idea, he agreed and wala---he built us 9 sets before he had to leave town. Lynn and I will finish them as Dennis gave us great instuctions on using our router and how to cut the stars. If we do the rest of the house, we only have 11 sets to go---------Yes, 19 windows in this one story house but that is part of the reason we loved it so. Lots of light!!!!! I guess you can see we have a star theme going on here.



Work in Progress

Railings stained by Lynn. We put steel caps on the posts.


Our new front doors! We have two, one to the kitchen and one to the livingroom off the front porch. We are going to paint them a dark teal soon. House trim will remail white unless we can get someone to change it up. Lynn said he liked white so it will make it much easier to repaint some of the place where it needs repair.

Lynn's new brick floor in screened porch



Buddy Helping Lynn Lay Bricks! He is such a big help.

New Addition to Lynn's Motor Pool

Lynn has been wanting a motorcycle and I am totally against it but he always goes with what I want so when he found this scooter I didn't fight it. It is pretty cute and not tooooo big. I can even ride it but haven't as yet. Need a motorcycle license for it as it is a 150 cc. Goes pretty good intown but only about 55 on highway. I think he is happy with it. Our neighbor, Ray found it for him and did some great work on it so now it is just like new---600 miles on it and ready to ride anywhere here in Mineola. It will make some great Icee runs, I am sure.

Here are Ray and Lynn ready to ride!!!! Boys and their Toys!

Cute?

I need to make some some shirts that say "Harley Starter Kit"

BUSY JUNE

Neighbor's Pond Lily

Just checked my blog for comments and realized that it has been a long time since my last entry.This just means we have been enjoying life and I have not been at the computer as much as usual. We have been in Dallas at the apartment for the last 8 days and enjoying all the great places we used to haunt for dinner. Lynn has been working a great deal as they are short this summer and I have been kicking back and just taking life easy.

A Flower for Grandma Alice

We lost a very "favorite" person in our lives this month. Our daughter, Jennifer is married to a great guy who's Grandma passed on at 93. Grandma Alice was a dear lady who we became very attached to as the Great Grandma of our grand kids. She loved her candy and the picture below show her at 93 enjoying some goooooood chocolate. How wonderful it has been for them to have great grandparents. My folks, Lynn's Mom and Mark's Grandmas have all been in Sydney's and Sam's life. That is quite an accomplishment. Alice was a very kind and gentle lady who knew the meaning of LADY. That is special in this day and age. Grandma Alice was ready to move on and told us that often. How fortunate she was to share 93 years on this earth. She will be remembered always.

Alice Slater

It is getting hotter here in the East Texas area but we can handle that with no problem. Our hearts go out to our friends in Iowa----we just can believe the devastation left by the water. What a horrible experience to go thru, I am sure. Not sure how I could handle it but I do know that being from Iowa, those folks will get thru it and be better for it.



Father's Day was celebrated a day early for Lynn this year as Mark had to work for two brother's that lost their Dad a day or two earlier. Mark is a volunteer fireman in Parker where they live but is certified to work other places, too. He filled in for them so they could have the visitation on Father's Day! Terrible for them, I am sure. It was a great thing to do for his friends and with us Sat. was as good as Sunday. Living a police life, we rarely had Holidays when Holidays were----another day or time was usually the plan so this was right in order. We went to Jen's to swim and have a BBQ and that was a Kick Back Father's Day!!!!


Lynn and I last Fall in Arizona


We are working on the house again. Shutters, new porch railing are being custom built by a guy we know who is a master at things like this. We are so fortunate to have Dennis doing this for us. Taking off the old iron rail has not been easy but with help from our neighbor, Ray and lots of sweat from Lynn, it is off and then new is being designed. We decided to do wood this time. The rail was the original and I guess a bit out dated---1949. I know what goes round comes round but we just were not sure how long we would have to wait????? Hope our design is good but whatever it is, we will love it. Will put up a before and after in my next blog. Think "Texas Star".



Our Granddaughter, Sydney has been preforming voice and dance lately. You know all the programs in the Spring---we we are lucky to be close for them. Wish we could be there for the other kids!!! Anyway, she loves music and dance and is pretty good at them, too. Now that isn't just a proud Grandparent talking, but she is good. WE really did see her grow up this year! The little girl isn't there anymore---what a sweet and gentle young woman she is going to be.

Sydney 2008 Spring Recital

Well, back to help what I can on the front porch. This Dennis is so good and so easy to work around. I put on a large pot of beans this morning and the smell is call me to the kitchen.

Check back for an update on the porch!