A Saturday (Baby) Shower for Savannah

On Saturday, we (Barbara, my mother-in-law) and I went to a baby shower for my newest friend in Austin, Savannah. She and her husband Matt are expecting a little girl in November...so the pink was pretty prevalent!

Barbara had never been to a baby shower as it's not really customary in England so I thought it would be fun for her to come along.

They had a table for everyone to get crafty and decorate a bib or onesie for little Maddie. Here we are showing off our efforts.






And here's a small portion of the guests in attendance (me, Barbara, Christa and Sue) with Savannah front and center showing off her baby bump!





CONGRATULATIONS SAVANNAH AND MATT!


I can't wait to meet Maddie soon and in a few years take her out for a cheeseburger (Savannah's pregnancy craving)!!

Now we're cooking with gas! - Day 11 & 12

Day 11 and 12 are really just preparation days.

There is another crew coming in to start coping and laying the flagstone for our back porch, stairs and sundeck. (The outer deck surrounding the pool will be done later along with the fire pit area.) This crew will also begin construction on the outdoor kitchen. We ordered a new gas grill, side burner, storage compartments and a small fridge that will be built in at the corner of the back porch near the doors. Once the equipment arrives the tiling crew will custom build it into a counter area.

Also at this stage, we're required to "cure the gunite." Basically, for the next five days, three times a day, we water the gunite to strengthen it. Keith and Jim have been taking this in turns...and Bow has been supervising.

Tiling will begin after the weekend, but they came by to drop off the cement and sand early Saturday morning while Keith and Bow were watering down the gunite. The truck backed into our yard and the guys got out to start unloading the supplies. Bow immediately starting woofing up a storm and running toward the men. Keith said he's never seen 5 big guys jump into a truck so fast!

They didn't know Bow is just a big softie and more a watchdog than an attack dog, all they saw was 90-pounds of big dog closing in. Keith went over and tried to calm Bow down and assure the guys that he was perfectly harmless, but their limited English didn't seem to allow them to understand his encouragements. The crew leader had been here the afternoon before so he wasn't that afraid; he slowly climbed out of the truck. When Bow ran over to him, the guy was still a bit wary. Eventually, he realized that Bow just wanted some love and the guy pet him then threw a ball. Once the other guys saw our big lummox of a dog run happily off for a game of fetch did they finally get out of the truckbed.

So, now we're waiting for Monday and the return of the crew with the flagstone. Until then...

Watch the Slideshow from Day 10

Gun·ite /ˈgʌnaɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[guhn-ahyt] Pronunciation Key –noun a mixture of cement, sand or crushed slag, and water, sprayed over reinforcement as a lightweight concrete construction.

Day 10 brought the big trucks out to pour the gunite. This was very exciting for all of us and the whole process of spraying, carving, smoothing, etc. was quite fascinating to me in particular...I must have been getting in touch with my inner little boy or something.

The guys showed up at the "butt-crack of dawn," loosely translated as around 6:00-6:30 a.m., to set up the forms (boards and sheeting) around the outer area of the pool so they could begin spraying/pouring the gunite at 7 a.m. Considering the scale of work they were doing, we were pretty surprised that they were done by lunchtime!

Since I took so many pictures, I added a slideshow below that will hopefully give you a good idea of all they did. I've added captions, too, to add a litte more detail. **

**If you're not familiar with using this slideshow tool, here are a few tips:

• click on the "+" sign to speed up or the the "-" to slow down the pictures.
• roll your mouse over the bottom of each picture which will momentarily stop the scroll so you can read the caption.

Enjoy!

Stronger Still - Day 7 - 9

Day 7 brought the last of the plumbing work to an end. Here you can see the pipes leading to one of the skimmers. The other pipes are for the filtration system...I think.










Here's the skimmer on the other side of the pool. I guess the top edge of the wood will be the top of the pool...we'll find out when they pour the concrete, I guess.
















The final parts of the hot tub framework was also added, so that the last of the re-bar work, too. The plumbing around the sides will be for the jacuzzi jets.









Those pipes in the center are for the drainage, I think.

Re-bar? Done.
Plumbing? Done.

Now for the fun stuff....

Ladies, here's a thought for the day!

Women are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they sometimes take the apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy. The apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who is brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

Now Men.... Men are like a fine wine. They begin as grapes, and it's up to women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.

Just a brief tangent...

This was in my inbox today from a wonderful friend of mine who is the ULTIMATE MOM, I feel humbled that she would think of me when she decided to pass it on. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Invisible Mother.....
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it t o me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Structurally Sound - Days 3-6

Day 3 (of work, not to be confused with the third day of the whole process...) sees the beginning of the plumbing and steel work.










...This crew of three is busy building the trenches that will house the plumbing and wiring lines, ...














putting in the re-bar which will support the pool, and all the plumbing pipes for filling, circulation and drainage. Sounds like I know what I'm talking about, huh?













Almost done with the steel...they return again on Monday.

Can you dig, yo? - Day 2

Ok, so...Ike caused a bit of delay in our dig schedule. While Central, Southern and Coastal Texas waited to see what Hurricane Ike was going to do, our bulldozer broke down in the "evacuation" traffic. So they had to wait for repairs...and then they had to wait for the transport crew to bring it up here which essentially pushed digging back to Monday.

It finally gets here Monday...just to break down again. Now we're looking to dig on Tuesday. Repairs were done Tuesday morning and late that afternoon we finally broke ground!













Once they started, it was pretty quick work turning out backyard into a mess!













That small mound of dirt quickly became...














THIS!











The pool is really taking shape!














I can already see myself sitting here in the hot tub...now, where are the beverages?

Deep and wide! - Day 1

So, I thought SOME of you might enjoy watching the progression of our pool building.

Day 1: A beautiful day to layout the design of the pool, don't you think? So the guys got right to it and measured where the reference point stakes should stand.









Just a few more to place and then they'll have what they need to make the partial circle circumferences that form the design.

Kids, this is where your geometry knowledge comes into play!











You can see the outline of where the hot tub is going to be positioned...












I'm glad to get rid of that area that never quite filled in with grass since last summer...










In this picture, you can just see part of the outline of the pool...and the marking to the fence line...I'm glad we have a big yard!














Here are all the border stakes up and ready...









...to form the completed inner border. This is the "water line."















And just enough space to fit in a digger!

Finally!

Joshua got his license in the mail last week...and we should be getting the bill for insurance. YIKES!

(Yes, I played with the photoshop...I needed an excuse to and erasing "pertinent information" was just enough practice.)

I know how you feel, Calvin...

I've kind of been in a writing funk this week. I'm sure I'll get back on track soon though. Much to blog about...just can't find the humor to spruce it up.

Maybe I should have some chocolate.

Marshmallows and margaritas?

So, after having the pool guy come back out to the house to do some re-designing, we bit the bullet last night and gave the go ahead to them to start building. Tonight we pick out the flagstone for the coping, the colors for the concrete and all the other details. They spray the layout on Thursday afternoon and they plan to start digging on Friday...that's if Tropical Storm Ike doesn't thwart their plans. They say that as long as they are able to stick to their schedule we'll be done in about a month. As unbelievable as that sounds, their references attest to that. However, with Ike still growing in the Gulf of Mexico and heading our way, we'll see how much the weather delays our progress.

Here are the some shots of what we're planning.

Imagine stepping out the back door onto the covered patio... we're having them tile the patio and build in the grill, so here's the new outdoor kitchen and dining area:





And if you are standing at the stairs that lead down from the porch, you'll see the fire pit ahead, the hot tub to the right (and in front of the bay window) and the pool just off to your right. We're having the sundeck tiled as well and the area around the pool will be stamped concrete, that looks like flagstone tiling.

Don't worry! I plan to take lots of pictures during the process so you can see how things are coming along.

We're all very excited about the addition to our home and can't wait to while away the time relaxing in the hot tub, swimming some laps for exercise, and sitting next to the fire pit roasting marshmallows! Would you like to join us??

One more thing....

...I knew it! I always thought they looked alike! Except for those specs! Wow!

(If you have no idea what I'm talking about...you obviously didn't read the "Today I Ponder..." blog.)

Today I Ponder...

...how Johnny Depp and Skeet Ulrich are total looky-likeys, down to the smoldering or brooding (I never know which) look at camera.

You decide.










...how comedian Dom DeLuise looks just like
Paul Prudhomme.

Look at this....really.










...how Yassir Arafat is the spittin' image of Ringo Starr.

Seriously.









...and how Cal Ripken, Jr. could so be related to
Top Chef's Tom Colicchio!

It boggles the mind.





For more, go here. (See how I did that, Janet?)

Just an update...nothing fancy.

This is just a brief update of what's been keeping me busy lately, so you can keep up with the tour!

8/18 - Joshua and I went to College Station, Aggieland. The road to college begins....

As a Red Raider (GUNS UP!), this was pretty difficult to do. As a mom, bittersweet.

There are 5 or 6 universities that Joshua is looking at for next fall because of their architecture programs, where he ends up is dependent on acceptance, affordability...and location, location, location. The list includes Rice (YIKES-expensive! competitive application acceptance!), UT (hard to get in just because of the number of those who want to), A&M (do-able), and Tech (do-able but "far" from home).

I'd love to see him attend Tech to keep the "legacy" going, but am I just being selfish? Probably. The real "downside" about Tech is that from here it's a 6 hour drive (or more) and the 90-minute flight isn't as cheap as it used to be. If something terrible were to happen while he was away, God forbid, getting out there could pose some problems...whereas the drive to A&M would only be about 60-90 minutes. As for its program, I don't think it's ranked as high as it has been, but still a strong choice. A&M is ranked higher. As for UT, its program is pretty strong, too, and being in town makes it convenient, but I think it'll be difficult to get in because of the numbers that apply.

We've still yet to visit Rice and will probably do so at some point before the holidays. Rice is ranked #2 in the NATION for architecture and I don't doubt that he'll get the education we pay for...because it will be pricey. This is where he REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wants to go. I guess I'll have to start playing the lottery and praying for the big payout!

We'll see what happens. In the end, as a mom, I want wants best for him...wherever that may be.

8/22 - Joshua gets his driver's license. The worry continues...

Not that he's a bad driver...he's actually pretty cautious...so far. Let's hope it stays that way. This is also a bittersweet event. As a mom, I've been the taxi to his games, social outings, and errands. That all changes when your "baby" grows up and gets licensed! Relief!...and yet worry as well. I know it's silly, but I even shed a few tears last night when he left for the movies...he's becoming more independent, more his own person, more the man I'm not yet ready for him to become. I couldn't be more proud of him though.

8/25 - Had a guy come to the house to design a pool for us.

This is actually pretty funny to me. Keith got a wild hair to see about building a pool. Keith ...doesn't...swim. Regardless, we called a guy and he came out to measure and look at our backyard. He then sat down and basically designed a pool area while we said what we "wanted." We really didn't know what we wanted...we pretty much just winged it. We also asked him about tiling our back patio and adding an outdoor kitchen, which we've always wanted to do since we moved in to this house. A couple of hours later, we had a great design with an outdoor kitchen, a pool, a hot tub, a fire pit, the works! We got the plans and proposal with all the costs last Friday. I think our eyes were bigger than our budget...I've always had champagne taste on a beer budget! We'll do a little tweaking and see what we end up with...even if it's a plan to do part now...part after the lottery win. Watch this space.

8/26 - First day of the last year of high school for Joshua. Where did the time go??

Funny how I have a lot of friends with children beginning Pre-K or Kindergarten. I don't feel old. Much. I've read all their emails and blogs about the big milestones in their children's lives. It makes me feel old to think while they're all heading for school for the first day ever, or the first day of middle school, my son is entering his first day as a senior. He's really looking forward to being a senior....and to finishing it...to getting on with college. I remember that feeling. I know now I should have really savored it...my youth...but I'm also glad I've lived my life...and have been blessed with a son so I can share in his.

8/31 - The end of the first year that our business has been on contract. Wow!

We made it through our first year! Without problems or major hiccups! Whew! We started with a team of ten and ended with a team of fourteen and two others that had finished their work with us before year's end. Pretty good, especially considering the current economic climate. (Did I really just say that?? What do I know?) Anyway...

I didn't really know what to expect when we decided to become "business-owners" in March of 2007. I feel like everyday since has been an education in something whether it's payroll, taxes, health insurance, etc. Things I never thought I'd have to worry about so much. Believe me, it's been a pretty easy year, but definitely not a stress-free or worry-free year. It's a lot to think that not only do MY bills need to be paid, but we're responsible for paying others so they can pay THEIR bills, too. Yikes! Is that an ulcer forming as I type?

Anyway, I look forward to this new year with a bit more confidence, but I'm still going to worry. I can't help it. I'm a worrier.

That's really it for now. Just waiting for Keith's parents to visit at the end of this month and a trip to SPI next month. That should keep me busy, huh?

What's new with YOU??

Men, TAKE NOTES!

This was sent to me this morning and I thought it should be shared with you.

I hope it starts your week off with a good giggle! I think my favorite is the ...choreography!