backward and forward

Finally! Some friendly faces... After weeks of unremitting weather, last weekend, we were able to pull out our summer froggies and old planters and bring this season into reality!!

Now, I made a plan to "be more resourceful" on my 36 list, but didn't expect everyone else to jump on my bandwagon - well, at least not right away. But Brandan, who is known to salvage items from the alley, found this pint-sized wooden chair. He dragged it into the backyard, and I discovered it the next day. It was a bit wobbly and worn, but sweet enough for a fresh coat of paint and a pot full of petunias, so....

...Aly picked out some brushes and I chose a color...

She went right to work! On Sunday she gave it a first coat, and has designs in mind for it. She wants to find a floral stencil to "spruce" it up a bit more!

I think it is adorable!
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On another note -- you would imagine that there was a crime spree at my house last weekend, too...
Late Saturday afternoon, a wild thunderstorm whipped through town bringing torrential downpours and hail. Our side door is usually protected in the gangway, but not this time. I had a dark red wreath hanging on the glass window. The storm murdered it! It's bright colored dye dripped all the way down the metal framing looking like someone had been slaughtered! (Either that or a kid threw a kool-aid filled water balloon!) :0)

Here's the culprit:
...pretty as can be, smiling in the sun, unaware of the HUGE mess it left on the door!
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But, all is well, I was able to plant and paint the day away, and it made feel like the end of school was finally in sight.
The temperatures soared here mid week. Nearly suffocated the teachers and kids in the classrooms (I was one crabby educator!), but we took time out to go check out the work underway at Mom's and Dad's. Yes, it has been tremendous --the wait time-- on this project, but yet, again...here is the culprit:
Not ever dreaming that they would be required to install a fully-functioning sprinkler system throughout the house (both new and older structures), this dude above ate up the entire winter - from fall through spring - to run pipes and hook up all the pieces and, ULTIMATELY pass inspection from the stoooopid village to get this construction site rolling again.
Drywall is going up this week. How wonderful it is to see WALLS!!
Something to look forward to seeing completed this summer HOPEFULLY!
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So, with all of this behind us, we are looking forward.
Brandan will be attending summer school classes, while Aly and I have made some initial in between plans. Quite excited to not have to share her mommy, she promptly sat down and made a list Thursday evening. She has certainly gotten crafty lately! She WANTS to paint. She WANTS to sew. She WANTS to cut paper!!! OMG. So beside myself that this little couch potato is eager to do this kind of stuff with me! She asked me what I wanted to do so she could write it down. I suggested the WITL update album and trips to the farmers' market. Love, love, love her haphazard spelling. Can you see her creative-ness oozing just from the design around her numbers? :)
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With three whole school days to finish, a one hour good-bye to this year's gang, and a couple of make up teacher institute snow days, this one is going into the books. Bring on SUMMER!