Shelby, Samantha's Birthday, and Flutterbys

Last weekend was a very busy one for us. Shelby (my niece Kelly's daughter for those of you who don't know the family tree) came down from Bluffton to spend the weekend with us. Shelby will be a senior next year and wanted to visit U.C.'s campus as a possible college for her. The fact that Aaron (Shelby's squeeze) is also a student at UC may have had some impact on the decision, and certainly did have an impact on the fact that her interview was on Thursday, but she didn't leave until Sunday. We loved having here and hope she does come to UC so we can see her much more often (like when she needs to do laundry and eat a good meal). I know it's premature- to hope that UC is the final choice- but I can hope can't I?

We also did a pre-celebration of Samantha's first birthday. Her real birthday was June 10 (same as Brandy) and her big party was June 12, but we think its fun to spread birthdays out, so Kevin, Mary, Sam, and Taylor came over for Brunch on Sunday Morning and Aaron and Shelby joined us for French Toast, Sausage and fruit salad. Sam got to open her presents from us and Taylor did offer some occasional help.

And of course there were presents- but I must tell you I think Samantha rather considered them more of a nuisance- My guess is she'll be more enthusiastic next year- and the next- and the next....

Then after breakfast we all went to Krohn Conservatory to see the butterfly show that they are having there. The butterflies were all in the seasonal room (where we had Brandy's reception) and it was filled with flowers and hundreds of beautiful butterflies. Krohn's will always be one of my favorite places to be in Cincy- It is always so very beautiful. And of course since Brandy and Will's wedding was here- and we all spent such an enchanted evening I always relive that wonderful winter night every time I go.
Here are some pictures:

We go places- and do things- with our Grandbabies that we just wouldn't do otherwise- and it is so much fun. Now there's really no reason that we couldn't just take the time and go to Krohn's to see the butterflies- but we'd just never get around to it- I know us- we'd sit by our pond- or take a walk in the neighborhood- or watch a ballgame- But with our babes we find the time- And I am so very glad!

Pretty Family!
Sam and her Daddy!

And her Mommy!

Butterflies!

More Shelby and Aaron (the BIG REASON UC is so appealing?)

Don...

And of course SAMANTHA OPAL- our birthday girl!

And of course, we had to have a picture of Sam and her Grandma sitting on the butterfly chair.

Family Graduation

It's that time of year and graduation is in the air. We were wonderfully surprised to get an invitation to Kyle Richmond's graduation. There has already been two blogs of this event posted by Tracy (http://www.tracytakesover.blogspot.com/), but here is our two cents worth.

There's absolutely nothing better than a weekend with family! And when Tracy told us we were "REALLY INVITED" to Kyle's graduation we knew we wouldn't miss it. Not only would we get to celebrate this most special of days with Kyle (well mostly with Tracy- I think Kyle might have rather spent the day fishing- rather than dressing for the ceremony)- but we'd get to spend the day with Bill et al. We were excited!

Kyle is Tracy's first born, and for those who don't know the family tree, Tracy is the first born of Bill, my Mom's first born. OK, so Tracy is my niece and Kyle my grand nephew. We didn't see much of Kyle while he was growing up, (he did go with us- and several of our children- and Mom and Dad- to New Mexico to see Bill and Ellen one summer about 12 or so years ago- Kyle was so little- but he was a real hiker- he and Matthew and Don and I hiked the trails around Bill's beautiful New Mexico home-the wild flower pictures from that trip live on our bedroom walls- And there is a picture hanging in the front room of the beauty- and Kyle and I are little specks in the trees- great pic- lots of people comment.) Or for that matter we didn't get to see much of Tracy either. Her marriage took her to a number of different states where Rob, her ex-husband worked for Lowes. Given that she is now settled in Springdale, Arkansas and Rob is off in Alaska to yet another Lowes, we decided it was a great time to renew the relationship and bring Tracy and her family closer to ours.

So Max and I headed south to Arkansas for the Memorial Day weekend and Kyles graduation. It's 700 miles from our house to Tracy's so we left on a Friday when Max got home from work and drove to the middle of Missouri, spent the night at "America's Best Inn" in Rolla, Missouri. Trust me, the name greatly exceeded the the motel itself, but given that it was cheap, and we were only there about 9 hours, it served its purpose. The only thing I can say nice is that it didn't smell too bad- not sure they can use that in an advertisement...

The next morning we got to Tracy's just before noon and met Elaine, Tracy's mom and my brother Bill who were already there. Bill brought some house guests with him, Slick and Denise who are long time acquaintances of his from the UK. Bill was fairly adamant about eating lunch at AQ Chicken House (http://www.aqchickenhouse.net/), one of his favorite dining experiences in Arkansas (how many can there be?). I am sorry we didn't get pictures of the place, but we left in such a hurry that I didn't even think to bring a camera. This place is famous for chicken fixed any way you want it unless you are thinking of something healthy. A speciality is breaded and fried chicken livers served with dipping gravy. I do want to add that they had WONDERFUL fried chicken livers- I loved them- What a treat! Just looking at it made me want to go back and take another Plavix and a couple more Lipitor. They even had breaded and fried French Fries.

After lunch was the graduation ceremony held in the U. of Arkansas field house. There were only 400+ graduates so the ceremony didn't take too long. I think the highlight of the ceremony was the commencement speech given to the graduates. Usually this is something along the lines of: The door is now open for you to succeed, or Set your sites on high goals because you can achieve them, or Your high school education is your first step toward higher education. But this speaker was a local car salesman that never went to college. His message was that a person could succeed in life by going to work after high school and washing cars and sweeping up cigarette butts, and if you worked real hard at it, you might someday be as successful as he had been in the 10 years since his high school graduation. With 7 kids we are something of an expert on graduation speeches- and we really only remember the bad ones. And Matthew- if you're out there reading this- the speech that hot afternoon at Muskingam is still the worst I've heard- It will take a lot to top that one! Long- Boring- Long- Boring-Hot- And the guy even restarted when he was stopped for the paramedics to remove the lady who passed out- Long- Boring (Did I say Long- Boring)- the worst.

Our seating was not very close, and so we really didn't get many pictures of Kyle. Tracy has already posted some in his cap and gown on her blog. Here is Kyle getting his tassel moved from the right side to the left and the now graduated Kyle walking by us.

They also had a camera which projected to the overhead scoreboard above the field house. Unfortunately, they didn't really think that some graduates might be taller than others, so we only saw part of Kyle move by as his head was cut off from the picture

Of course the mother of this graduate alternated between the joy of a first born graduating and a few tears because of a first born graduating.

After graduation we all went back to Tracy's house for libation and dinner. Tracy absolutely waited on us- talk about pampered- Wow- And she made the best Beef Strogonoff (Grandma's recipe- and Grandma would be proud.) Bill and Elaine were both there along with Tracy's two younger girls, Katie and Jesse. We didn't get to see Becca, Tracy's daughter that came with Rob although we did meet her at Mom's funeral last October, but we did get to finally meet Bobby, Becca's brother. So now we are almost caught up with Tracy's family. It's about time.

Jesse and Elaine

Probably the most interesting event of the evening happened later in the evening after the girls had gone out, Bill and friends had left, Kyle was at a graduation party, and we were left with Elaine and Tracy. Now Tracy has two dogs, an enormous Mastiff and a Basset named Beullar. Beullar seemed to be having some itching problems on his back side, and Elaine quickly diagnosed it as "anal gland" problems. But not to worry, because Elaine was well experienced with these types of problems and could quickly relieve Beullar's itch if only she could find some latex gloves. Tracy quickly provide the gloves and Elaine explained my role in this effort. I believe my response (as Max captured below) was: "you want me to do what? so you can do what?"

The "treatment" involved not only the gloves, but also picking Beullar up so he was in the sink (my job), apparently to isolate the offending expressed anal gland material, and finally some butter. Elaine, using the butter for obvious lubrication (anyone see Last Tango in Paris?) quickly performed her canine proctology technique only to reveal that Beullar probably was just itching. Thank goodness for sparing us the cure, but poor Beullar did suffer a somewhat mortifying and humiliating procedure.

I believe after that experience we all decided to call it a night. If you listen real close you can still hear me screaming with laughter!

I will mention here that in contrast to the "Best" in Rolla we stayed at a Doubletree- and it really is the "BEST"- everything you want- great bed- marvelous linens- and a warm cookie.

It was great to see Tracy and reconnect with her kids. Families are too valuable to waste.But mostly I want to thank Tracy for a wonderful, wonderful time! She is an absolutely marvelous hostess- And we had an absolutely marvelous time! Thank you Tracy!

The front Porch

As construction progressed on our sun room, work also began on the front porch. At least the demolition started at the same time.

These old Victorian houses were built in a fashion that just doesn't exist today. The gable brackets on our house were showing their age and needed to be replaced. But you just can't go out and buy brackets like those in this day and age. If you want them, you have have to make them yourself. Ours were taken off as a first step and set aside for preservation.

One day we had a front porch, the next day that first step was a long one. But at least they did put up a temporary mail box for us.

Our old porch was just sitting on the ground without much between it and the dirt. That was one reason it started tilting as the timbers rotted. The new porch is set on concrete foundation with each post sitting on a pier of 4 feet of concrete that is 18 inches in diameter.

They used serious equipment to build this foundation.

Once the foundation was in, they started building the porch superstructure using treated wood.

For as long as she has been here, Max has wanted a front porch that wraps around the side of the house. So that was our plan. We had to take out a couple of small trees to make room for it, but the new porch will really balance out the sun room on the other side of the house.

These guys that are doing our work aren't just construction guys, they are are true craftsmen in the art of carpentry. Working on an old house like this one is a step by step process. Everything has to be done to custom fit this house. As I said before, buying new soffit brackets just wasn't possible, so they made new ones, except these were made out of PVC "boards" that they cut out and laminated together. Below are 5 new ones that will be put on the new back porch.

Below are the ones that they put on the front porch.

And here is the new porch that is just about completed. They still have to pour the concrete below the steps, something they will do when they pour the foundation for the back porch.


And here are some pictures from the porch itself. We will probably put a porch swing on it on the side and a couple of rocking chairs along with some plant in pots and hangers.

It will be wonderful!

Screened porch to a Sun Room

Max and I have mentioned several time in this blog that our old house needs some significant work to bring it back up to its stately self. After all, this house is 114 years old and was needing some significant care. The screened porch was one of our favorite places to spend time during the good weather times here in Cincinnati. But the hot and humid summers and the cold winters limited our use of it to parts of spring and fall. Even worse, the exposed parts of this porch was beginning to show age and decay. For Matthew's and Sharon's reception, I had to find a piece of wood to patch a hole that was growing near the edge lest someone fall through it with a chair leg.

So Max and I contracted with Rod Sidley, a local architect (and friend) that I have known for close to 20 years. Rod has done lots of work here in Wyoming and so we asked him help us with our house to bring it back to the to its stately self. Rod drew some plans based on what we told him and what he thought this house should look like. We loved the plans and started the work as soon as we returned from California in January. We contracted with a local father and son team and they got to work starting with the screened porch. It didn't take long for a very large dumpster to arrive in our driveway and it quickly started filling up with screen porch demolition.

Unfortunately, we started this project during a very cold and snowy winter here in Cincinnati. Our driveway was full of lumber, scaffolding, and a giant dumpster. So we lost our garage for the winter months meaning that I did a lot of snow and ice scraping. But losing the garage was worth it for what was to eventually arise from the dust of our old screened porch. The Smart wasn't very happy about this situation, but we all did have to suffer.

I was a bit surprised about how long it takes to tear something down versus how long it takes to build something. I went to work one day with a screened porch attached to the house and when I came home that night all that was left was the foundation. The screened porch had been dismantled and placed in a large dumpster that was parked in front of my garage.

One new addition that we did have immediately was a port-a-potty parked next to my gold fish pond. At least they had a view. You might note in this picture that the pond is frozen over. I wonder if they have heated toilet seats??

The sun room started slowly rising on the old foundation. There were multiple delays caused mostly by the frigid weather, the snow and the ice. For a while there were giant icicle hanging off the house above where the workers would have been working.

But the walls began to rise and the roof trusses arrived and soon it started looking somewhat like a room.

After the room went up the windows arrived and were soon put in place providing a somewhat sheltered place out of the weather for the work to continue. The skylights were put in, the drywall ceiling was installed which I quickly painted, the finish work in the interior was done, and finally the new slate floor was installed. The last step was for me to paint it. That took a vacation day Friday and a Saturday afternoon before it was done.

It's still just an empty room. The heat and AC haven't been installed, but we made a trip to Ikea to buy a dining table and sidebar and end tables and then ordered a new couch/hide-a-bed. There is still some finish work like putting in the ceiling fan, but the room is near completion and it's is going to be wonderful. Now it isn't officially finished yet. The ceiling fan still isn't installed and we haven't done the final inspection, but we decided that we would have our first meal there just because it was a beautiful day and the room was just sitting there waiting on us. So we brought in a card table and table cloth, a couple of chairs and a bottle of nice Italian white wine. We were right, it is wonderful.