Miss Me?

First of all, I'd like to thank you guys for the dozens of emails I received asking if everything was okay.

They really blew me away.

I didn't think anyone would notice my absence of a few days,

but you did, and it really helped.

I'll be honest, the last two weeks have been primarily about my mom.

Yeah, that's how I vacation.

I took one week off to ferry her around to doctors, trying to convince them she needed surgery like NOW.

Her surgeon said he'd prefer she went to physical therapy first.

By the time we talked him into doing an MRI, the week was nearly gone.

And last Friday afternoon, he found the reason for her severe pain. Aside from the spinal stenosis.

That fall in September where she broke her hip, elbow, and arm? She also fractured a vertebrae.

I'm typing this from the OR waiting room.

However, we HAVE been busy...

 The nice folks at Greenes Fencing liked our raised bed project so much they sent us another kit!

 These simple, handy little garden wonders can be purchased at Home Depot for just $30.

 Since we'd already built 3, we realized all we needed with spare parts was two more boards and we'd have a 5th bed. Hello, $6.28 worth of cedar 1x4's trimmed to 47" lengths.

 Next up, we got some countertop samples for our kitchen remodel. I was looking for something eco-friendly and unusual.

 How about embedded recycled glass?

 I think this one with the sea glass shades and specks of mirror is the winner.

 Although the smattering of deep blue in this keeps beckoning.

 So would you do this?

 Our Make Your Own Sasquach project was a total FAIL, so this is the only shot you'll see.

 And the front yard is getting a little curb appeal tweak. What's more appealing than Boo?

 Klancho. Gotta love it.

 Besides thinning the beds of Mexican Petunia, we scored on bags of mulch for $1.12 each.

 We'll show you how we're going to cut down on weeding this year- for free.

 Since my tropicals have come in like crazy, we're going to plant to enhance.

 And I think some paint is in order.

 So from those of us at 6103 "Say, do you smell smoke?" Street, we'd just like to say...

 ...after 20 years, shouldn't we be a lot closer to DONE?

I mean, geez....