Well, it has been a few months since my last post, hasn't it? Things have been incredibly busy in our home this whole year really. I keep waiting for life to slow down a bit, but I'm coming to the realization that it probably won't happen anytime soon; perhaps even for years. Such is life with a large family, an economy in the tank, and a house that needs lots of TLC. I'm sure we aren't alone in feeling that we are just spinning our wheels and getting nowhere. I've taken a bit of a break from the jewelry making business to focus on things around the house, to help Gorg with his woodwork, and to get back to knitting for a bit. Gorg has been so busy that he barely has time to sit. Anyone who works a full time job and then has to work on the side or hold down a second job, all while doing at least minimal maintenance at home, knows the feeling I'm sure. There have been too many undertakings to explain all of them in detail, so I'll leave you with photos of everything that has been happening in our business and around the house. Enjoy! (Please forgive the lack of before photos for some of the restorations. My camera had died, but production had to continue.)
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| Curly Cherry blanket chest with keyhole inlay |
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| Breadboard top |
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| Hand-cut dovetails |
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| Walnut & Cherry diamond panel, butcher-block top cabinet |
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| Hand-carved diamond knobs & 'diamond' bead trim |
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| Walnut diamond armoire |
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| Hand-carved diamond knobs |
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| Restored child's iron bench with new Osage slats |
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| New paint |
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| What once was green....Is now a beautifully colored scene |
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| Newly Restored Rope Bed |
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| A custom-designed dog kennel modeled after the owner's Victorian bedroom set |
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| Hand-cut brass plate |
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| Short Walnut & Cherry Armoire with Osage onlay design |
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| Solid back |
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| Hand-cut onlay and hand-carved knobs |
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| Walnut & Cherry bottom |
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| Large Chippendale mirror made of Quilted Maple |
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| Solid Back |
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| Altering an old jacket...pinning the new front facing |
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| The new top-stitching |
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| Pinning the new, more fitted, back seams |
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| The new back seams with top-stitching |
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| Estonian Lace shawl that I'm currently knitting |
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| Adding the beads.... |
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In addition to all of the woodworking and stitching, we have accomplished a ton of work on the outside of our house too. Our area was hit heavily in 2011 with tornado after tornado and one severe storm after another. I still cringe a bit when I hear the thunder rolling in. I've always loved a good storm, but I now have even more respect for the dangers that they can bring with them. After one such tornado laden storm, we became the recipients of about 108 tons of foundation rubble from a home in town that had to be demolished. We have big plans for all of the beautiful rock, but first, we have to clean them up (i.e. knock off all of the old mortar, cart them to a holding spot) and sift out all of the busted concrete and construction rubble that came along with it. When it was dropped off, it had to be unloaded in flat areas, which our property is very slim in possessing. As a result, we had mountains of rubble in our brand new turn around, in the driveway, and in the back ravine. I'm sure our neighbors loved us. This summer, with the help of a couple of friends and a few days of Gorg's vacation time we managed to clear out the driveway and turn around, leaving me free to begin my beloved task of landscaping.
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| Turn around rubble after half had been cleaned and carted away |
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| one pile of cleaned rock |
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| second pile of larger rocks |
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| Sedum, Daylillies, Irises, and a Crepe Myrtle surrounding the new post light |
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| Azaleas awaiting transplant, Red Buckeye, Color-guard Yucca, red carpet rose, Gardenias, yellow and red Knock-Out Roses, and a Weeping Cherry tree |
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| Daylillies, Gardenias, Knock-Out Roses, Yucca, yellow Lantana, Petunias, Dwarf Lorepetalum (Chinese Fringe), and a Weeping Cherry |
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We did not escape the storms unscathed, but God spared our home and possessions. Right before Christmas, we had a small tornado tear through the back yard while Gorg was working in the basement shop. He and a friend saw it pass after the lathe started to go a bit crazy and the roaring noise continued when the power flashed out. The kids and I were across the street heading to the basement when the roaring started. I thank God that we had decided in His provision to wait for the driving rain to subside or else we would have been in our driveway when it hit.
Now, our back yard has been a jungle from day one. The previous home owner had apparently hated all things 'landscaped' and allowed the Wisteria, Privet, Cat's Claws, and Ivy to take over the property. We had been debating how to remedy this problem because it was so overgrown, but plant-lover that I am, I wanted to attempt to save all of the landscaping that some other loving owner had carefully nurtured once upon a time. My husband's preferred method of eradication was to tear it all up with a bobcat. I had been working at clearing it every spring and fall, but just could not make much headway that wasn't promptly lost the following spring. Anyone who has had to deal with a Wisteria infestation surely knows the dilemma. That stuff is gorgeous but can grow at an unholy rate overnight. Add an abundance of ticks (which I hate, hate, hate), small children who love the velvety seed pods, and animals that continue to help it spread into the mix and, well, let's just say that I was being soundly beaten by the vine and my desire to remain tick-free.
All of our plans and debates took a new turn with the arrival of the tornado. Previously, clearing a few feet of ground had involved a massive amount of vegetative waste in it's own right. After the addition of 10 downed trees just in the immediate area behind the house, not counting at least the same amount up the mountain, well, I didn't even want to think about trying to move all of that. Picture all of this mess with leaves out in full....and you get the idea.
I think even the animals gave up trying to get through. When a friend graciously, and unexpectedly offered to throw in her hand at clearing it down to a more manageable level, how could I refuse?? So, for two Saturdays we have been slashing, cutting, hacking, dragging, and using any means at our disposal to get this cleaned up to where I can walk through it and hopefully spend the next couple of years with weed killer to manage the Wisteria and get our hillside ready for bigger and better things...things like blueberries and blackberries. So far, we've managed to get it from the above photos to this:
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| Obviously, we still have rubble to sort through as well. |
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The next few Saturdays are booked helping with the
Blind Tiger shoot and a much needed break, but then it will be back to work on the yard. A new piece of furniture is awaiting delivery and with the arrival of more beads, I'm ready to make some serious progress on the Estonian Lace. Stay tuned!
