Clouds

Clouds are everywhere. Not the big fluffy white ones, but little ones, in the form of drywall dust, cover the master bathroom. The clouds make their way into the house, lightly dusting everything with a thin powder. Even outside the house, clouds have poured rain for days, putting off painting our new "Macchiato" color in the bathroom even longer. My vision is even cloudy. I came home last week to find this doorframe up. I was so excited. I came flying out of the house to ask Kade if it was for real. In an almost shriek/squeal voice I inquired if it was staying up for good. Because the frame staying up for good meant a door would certainly follow in my lifetime. Kade laughed and said, "No. I just wanted to see what it would look like." Looks like he was in the clouds day dreaming. And in that instant, I was too.

New bathroom tile

It is dusty, your eyes aren't cloudy.

The tile view from the opposite corner

What the door frames will eventually look like. Still have to paint them white (like clouds).

Peas look at our Garden!

Our garden is showing signs of great success-it is also showing signs that we are weed pulling slackers. Ignore the weeds, but take a look at our green pea pods, green tomatoes, and our bright green lettuce row. I doubt the Jolly Green Giant is green with envy, but we're peased. :o)

peas

maters

lettuce

A Year

How long is a year?? Some will tell you 12 months, 365 days, or 525,600 minutes. Others will tell you it was yesterday.

Exactly one year ago today (5/19), I signed the closing papers in the attorney's office. I had one terrifying, fleeting moment right before I signed them about changing my mind. You see, I'm worrier, someone who likes things to go according to plan, someone who rationalizes too much, and overthinks to the nth degree. But this time I didn't. And I'm glad I didn't. (I did still read every word as I signed--much like the loan papers, which still annoyed Kade. He will still deny that too.)

A year taught me to take one day at a time. I learned that not everyone's timetables were equal. I realized nothing went according to plan, but generally things turned out okay. I remembered how hot, humid, and unforgiving South Carolina summer heat can be. I understood the magnetism of a place like Home Depot. I appreciated vacation more than I ever had. I valued hard work and was shocked at how far human bodies can be pushed. I fell in love with Slushies again. I stood in awe at the talents of Kade and Aaron. I figured out which battles were worth fighting. I compromised. I didn't give in. I learned. I worked. I cried. I laughed. I loved.

This time last year I was sure the house would be finished by 2009. But I didn't add the simple fact that we'd need to actually celebrate life, so that we could actually enjoy our existence. We took time to enjoy weddings, birthdays, graduations, newborn babies of our friends, baseball & football games, cookouts, a new kitty, and holidays, and we paused to remember those no longer with us. Thank you to everyone who helped us along this roller coaster journey of a year-we couldn't have done it without you.

I'm excited for what the next 365 days hold. And I'm pleased to tell you that I am am content taking those days one day at a time.

Our heartfelt thanks for a great year-

Love,

Amy & Kade

Green-eyed Monster

Like a monster the pile kept growing. His legend grew about as fast as he did. At rare times you could see his green eyes glow underneath his brown exterior. Throughout the winter he hibernated, saving his energy for spring. In his heart he believed he would win the battle of as the keeper of the lat and beadboard. He was confident he would reign supreme, as his pile cried out for more. He certainly never thought that on a rainy Sunday morning in May he would meet his demise. But the warriors came prepared to attack. They attacked heavily from all sides, wounding him greatly. He is weak but his heart still beats, steady and slow. Can the warriors finish him off this week?? Or will his powers return??

The Monster, circa June 2008

His green eyes of beadboard

The Monster, circa May 2009

Wounded, circa May 2009

The Monster, weakened but alive

May 2009

Hand picked

$780 Tiller
$.99 seed packets

$7.97 bags of mulch
2 weekends getting the garden ready
Already getting double the radish crop we had last year
Priceless

Our 4 radishes--surprisingly, one vegetable Kade will eat.