Front Living Room Remodel

After knocking out walls, tearing up floor, putting in a metal beam, pulling off paneling, building a small room for Riley, etc. We began on the finish work.

Replacing the sub-floor that had swollen/rotten places from moisture

Oops! The windows didn't have roof support.

Might as well switch out windows to match on both sides of the door.

Finally ready for mudding, after a few hiccups.

Our after hours drywall helper

lots of dust

primed and pristine

starting with color

Blue and Flax

laying the carpet

Aaah! Fresh. New. Soft. Clean Floor!

Yippee! gymnastics galore!

Summertime Food

4th of July watermelon...

...Even Meg can chow on that!

Snowcones at the Wray swimming hole for Mogan's 5th birthday!

Beef & Bean Tostadas

Chow Mein Chicken Salad

Sunday night supper

Fruit cups for the freezer

Grilled pizza is especially handy when there is no oven...

...and very tasty too!

Sweet corn on the cob

Straw Hat stack

Banana Peach Breakfast Meusli

2nd batch of fruit cups

Sooo refreshing on hot days!

Or for a snack anytime!

Italian sausage squash skillet

Garden fresh cukes delivered by friends!

Just love these things!

batch 3 or 4?

zucchini / squash stir fry & rice

Just a chopstick for supper makes the veggies go down...
in a most delightful way!

southwest salad

Caroline's lunch treat while Daddy is gone swathing hay

I accidentally thawed cherries instead of applesauce for breakfast,
 so we got breakfast cake topped with cherry yogurt!

Last, but not least...

Every summer should include homemade ice cream!

Thanks for joining us at our various meal tables this summer!

Special Meals in Ohio

During our summer visit at my parents, we squeezed in one evening of plans at friends, besides family times. There's something so relaxing and comforting about sitting around the table eating and chatting...serving and being served...savoring the meal and the fellowship.

We had a nice break, from the many facets of work that moving a household brings, just around the corner from Mom & Dad's at Luke & Melanie Todd's. Melanie & Shannon grew up in Virginia, Melanie & I taught school together, and Luke & my brother Ashley were big buds. So we had a fun time catching up on life!

adult dining table (children ate on the patio)

deliciously tender grilled steak and veggies, plus baked macaroni and fruit pie

The next gathering was at Uncle Mike's with their children and grandchildren. It was a rainy day, so the breakfast campfire was nixed for indoor eating.

Saturday breakfast spread on the bar

feeding the babies grapes

Heather, Josie, Megan

line up of cousins (from just 3 sets of parents!)

Justin & Ruth and family came up for the day from southern Ohio, and my brother Kris & boys came to Mom & Dad's for one last gathering around the meal table on Covington -Gettysburg Road. We even used Christmas themed paper plates and napkins, so it was kind of like Christmas in July!

 hungry Hendersons

Joanna dressing up in Great Grandma Great's garb, found in the storage

 games inside

games outside

J & R's littles tuckered out and tucked under

S & H's littles sprawled in the bedroom

Joshua's growing man strawhat mound

Meg's birthday is July 23, my birthday is July 29. We used another meal brought in by Mom's friend for my celebration and another dear brought 2 of my favorites, peanut butter pie & cheesecake.

Heather turns 36, with a daughter of the king tiara

We also enjoyed Sunday dinner and the afternoon at the dairying neighbor's farm with some of their relation. Jesse and Betsy had prepared beef & noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, cabbage slaw, french bread, berry cobbler, chocolate pudding cake, angel food cake, and ice cream. Then the children & moms piled in their buggy for a horse ride home!