So, as of yesterday, Thursday Oct. 8th, I have completed the following:
washed the siding
pressure washed the concrete patio and sidewalk
removed 3 huge bushes
transplanted 4 large bushes to different areas
planted a crape myrtle
repaired damaged soffit and facia
repaired a section of ceiling where the roof leaked
I would like to complete the following by Sunday, Oct. 11th:
pull weeds from gardens
lay ground cloth and pine straw
secure borders around gardens
clear overgrowth from rock wall
I was hoping to get the exterior painted, but I also want to enjoy Saturday and Sunday before returning to work. All work and no play...you know the saying! With the news that my mom and David will be coming this Wednesday, with their help we could possibly have the house on the market by the end of October! With any luck we will be moving BEFORE the girls arrive!
Anyway, here is the status of the house as of yesterday.
Today we are beginning a much needed sprucing up of our little house that we've had for 10 years. I thought I would post before-during-after pictures here, if for no reason except to motivate me to keep working hard through my Fall Break. Hopefully, by the end of this week, you will be able to see a difference and my work will have paid off!
As you all know, we are preparing for our twin girls who are expected at the end of January. While this could be reason in itself to move, we have been waiting for the "right time." This and some good fortunes have motivated us to take the leap and we're looking to move into Murfreesboro as soon as our house can sell.
So, concerning the following pictures....I have fully neglected to maintain the weeds in my yard knowing that I would be clearing it out and starting fresh. Also, it makes whatever I'm able to accomplish this week look that much better! Well, that and it makes a good excuse for when you are away from the house as much as I... Anyway, please do not judge.
Home sweet home needs a little love...
Mailbox needs love too.
Street view - need to add a little more curb appeal.
This planter is going to change a bit - needs distinction and color!
The 3 bushes in front of window were the only here when we bought the house. Unfortunately, rough winter and late freezes have don them in, so they gotta go!
Drive way side...although driveway has disappeared.
Playhouse is taking on a Halloween persona.
Need to clear rock wall to help it stand out - this was one of my favorite elements of the house when we bought it.
So, I let the blog slip a little this past week, due to it being a little busier than my typical summer schedule (which is no schedule at all). We had several things planned, but Bryson had the coolest event, by far.
Back in the Spring, we signed Bryson up for Camp Invention - a camp for 1st-5th graders aimed at teaching creativity, engineering, and of course, inventing. Lindsay and I knew it would fit Bryson's talents and he couldn't contain his excitement before the first day. During the week we only got random hints about things he was making and doing, but on the final day we found out. They did some really cool things - i.e. tearing apart old electronics and making new things out of it, inventing something that solves a problem, and building shields to protect their team during water wars. Each day they worked on finishing the bigger projects and tested theories through fun activities. Bryson loved the entire experience and wished that he could go for another week!
Bryson and some of his inventions - the box is Moe's (our cat) home and the other is his "video game maze." Not pictured is his rocket that he made to be launched from an air bladder.
Bryson telling Parks how his maze works. It is composed of parts from things they tore apart and re-engineered to make something new!
Bryson's new smile sitting on his team's award winning sled. They had to build something that could be pushed or pulled through an obstacle and theirs won Most Innovative!
Other things that I missed telling you about was a fun day around our house and our trip to Cummins Falls. The fun day at our house involved swimming and enjoying our backyard, but resulted in some fun pictures below. Cummins Falls was a great day of hiking, swimming, and just enjoying being together. It is a fairly new Tennessee State Park where you hike down a short trail to a river and then hike up the river to an amazing set of waterfalls. Perfect for a hot summer day!
Parks like paddling mom's canoe!
Parker posing...his cuteness is becoming a problem.
Mom and Bryson just starting out on the hike up the river.
Not sure if he really enjoyed it or not... You can see the aforementioned waterfall in the background. The pool is a great swimming hole and you can climb all over the falls.
Mom and Parks smiling for the camera and Bryson imitating his Uncle Greg.
Best one of the bunch!
Boys having fun!
As you can see it was a great day. This park reminded me of the many amazing places Tennessee State Parks has to offer. I gripe and complain a bit when it comes to the distance that our house is from work, school, and other necessities, but I have no complaints when it comes to finding outdoor fun. Guess we'll be sticking around a little longer.
Occasionally we will load up the boys and go find a back road to explore around our house. It will typically be the same - driving through the hills and hollows of rural TN until we decide to look at our phones and find our way back home. This is one of the pleasures of living where we do - Alexandria and the surrounding rural country-side are amazingly beautiful. The beauty really does surprise us every time we explore a new area.
Yesterday's exploring led us a little farther than normal and with a little more purpose. I had heard of a kayaking and swimming hole nearby, but didn't have any specific directions. Since it is summer and we don't have anything better planned, I loaded up the kayak, swimming stuff, and took off with family in tow. After driving for an hour or so we found what sounded like the right place, but the river didn't match the description. After receiving the stink-eye from a group of locals who were well into the bottle, we decided to look elsewhere. As I was driving out of the gravel entrance I found the real spot, pictured above.
This place is nicknamed "The Boils" because an underground spring resurfaces here and the water boils up as a cool, clean mountain stream. This phenomenon is something that is unique to Tennessee's Karst topography - a unique layering of rock that creates caves, sinkholes, and many underground springs. It felt like a small oasis with the lush vegetation and clear water next to a wide, warm water river, which is more typical of this area. This spot was such an unlikely feature that if you didn't investigate down a local "muddin' trail," we would have missed it.
The boys loved it and the fact that I got to play in my boat only an hour away from home was an added bonus. Bryson kept wanting to float downstream as I caught him and Parks loved to feel the current. I was in the water most of the time, so I didn't get any pictures of the kids, unfortunately. However, Lindsay took a few highly entertaining videos of me surfing the pourover.
Other than yesterday's adventure, we are gearing up for Bryson's Camp Invention next week. He is ridiculously excited about the camp and Lindsay and I can't wait to see what he gets from this experience. Be sure to check out the video below and listen for B & P giving me some coaching tips on the riverside!
It is always weird to start a blog. I've started 3 other blogs and they were just as strange to begin. Blogging feels eerily similar to a narcissistic self-talk that some loners need to make themselves feel valuable. Maybe that is a small part of why I write on these things, but that's not the real meaning. This one, in particular, is meant to document life as it happens. As my family and I grow older, it becomes more important to try and capture the multitude of meaningful moments in life as they happen. This is often pushed aside to tend to the increasing demands of work and family and then remembered as a lost chance. Since it is summer break and we have several trips planned I thought this would be the perfect time to start anew!
Tomorrow will mark one week since I finished the 2014-15 school year and I've managed to accomplish several goals. The house is clean, the yard is tended to, I'm exercising again, I've slept-in almost every day, and have taken full advantage of time with the family. I have to admit, the life of a teacher doesn't suck during the summer! I've read several arguments about how teachers have it too easy because we get summer break and most of these I just disregard. However, it does make the ridiculously hard work that I put in during the other 10 months TOTALLY worth it!
Below I've included some of the lost moments from the end of the school year and thus far into our summer. Have fun looking and keep checking back for updates!
Mother's Day at Fall Creek Falls - Parks needed a power nap!
Bryson: "Why does that sign tell us to jump off our bikes?"
Me: (after laughing) That's a great question!
First day in my kayak of 2015 (Caney Fork River)
Backyard fun with friends on a 75 degree day in June...
