Back-splash

I know I promised myself to spend today writing, but it was the perfect time to start, and finish step one of the back-splash.

Note the tiles that Martha Carbo made for us. If you want a close up of her artwork, see the Word/Art entry at the beginning of December.

I have to let it be for a while before going ahead with the grouting, and it will need some work from the "finisher" when he feels up to it. But this should be a nice "Welcome Back to Reality" surprise.

Happy Birthday Camille!

Life was a beach for everyone today.

Bathing beauties, Kate and Mary Grace.

A great time was had by all.

Ten Years Old!!!
(Note the ears. She has been waiting ten years for this moment.)

Sunday at Four, Winter Edition

Pam edited the Winter edition of "Sunday at Four." As Sam says, "You shall know the truth and it shall cost you five bucks extra."










Pam has been very busy. She also edited NoNO, North of New Orleans. Come to "Sunday at Four" at Johnny's Pizza in the Madison Park Shopping Center to get your copy of either mag.

Orchid Blossom

This is the first blossom of the winter. My orchids seem to love this garden window where they are over-wintering. Three of the four plants are getting ready to bloom.

Also in the picture are the red buckeyes from Wendy. I can put them out in a shady spot in the spring. It is starting to look a bit like a jungle!

As done as it is going to get:

As you can see, the plan to refinish the floors didn't come to pass. But they have been mopped upward of five times, so as clean as they have been in a few dozen years I'd wager.

For those of you keeping track, this is the door that was boarded shut in the first house redo post. Quite a change, even if I do say so myself.

December sky

It rained pretty much all day yesterday, so today as I was driving down to Natchitoches for the final push to finish the house, the clouds were breaking up and it was a scene from a sappy love movie. Of course, by the time I pulled off the road to be safe while I took a photo, everything changed.

Just use a little imagination maybe...

Counting down the days...

Things looked pretty sketchy at first. I thought maybe I had decided on just the wrong color.











But after the walls were finished, it was very nice indeed. Trim gets painted tomorrow or Friday, but I can't waste too much time as I have just one week from today, and I really want to do the floors too. Did I bite off just a little too much? We will see!

The Beer Can Chicken

Ted cooked his special dish, beer can chicken, and it was perfect!

Nicole and her mom had been busy for days getting everything else ready.
Glad I was invited!

For the Dogs

Happy got all dressed up for the occasion.












Prince and Fred are happy that they were not forgotten.

We Wii...Wee!

Everyone got in the Wii act. And even Hannah Montana joined in the fun.

Christmas Morning

These three pix give a good over view of the morning!

Warm Wishes

Happy Holiday Greetings to All

(This is why we sit in the balcony!)

Forsythia?? It is December!

I don't think these little beauties will last long as we are not out of the cold weather woods yet.

Good Progress Again

I painted all of the trim and windows with an undercoat then rolled the walls.


Definitely a good day's work.

Moon on the River

Just before sunrise the moon was reflected in the river. Nice start to the day I think.












And When I turned around, this was what I saw behind me. The Century-Tel never looked quite so impressive.












There was no traffic, so I stopped on the bridge to enjoy the sunrise. I should get out early more often.

News From Kenya!

The guys made it through customs, up the mountain and back to base camp. Yea!

I finally got a text from Ken who had spoken with them, then he sent me the number of a cell phone at the camp. I called and spoke with both of them for a few. They were aching, but elated at the accomplishment. They didn't make it as far as they wanted because it started to snow (three inches) and to be safe they stopped there. I'm a little bit sketchy on the details, but nice to hear they kept their wits about them and didn't try anything reckless.

Jack said that he sweet talked his way through customs, but one of the blue bags filled with life jackets went missing. He does have the gift of the silver tongue, don't I know.

From here they will go back to Nairobi and then out to Kilifi on the Indian Ocean coast. Not sure about too many details yet. Photos will not be available until they come back on the 2nd or 3rd.

The Little Shanty

This morning Red River Radio did an interview with one of the owners of "The Little Shanty" Folk Art Gallery. So of course I had to go see what it was all about. It is in a tin roof building on Line Ave. just beyond 70th Street. What a gem! The pix are toothpick art from Baton Rouge artist Michael Smith, but the gallery also shows work by lots of local artists, including Robert's wife Alania.



Robert was working in the yard when I arrived. The yard is full of interesting art and found objects too. It is worth a stop, but not a quick stop as there is something tucked into each and every empty space! For more go to:
littleshanty.com

A. C. Steere Concert

The fourth and fifth grade strings students played an enthusiastic holiday concert for a room full of appreciative family members and friends.



Give a girl some candy canes and just stand back! She is definitely in the holiday spirit, and happy the concert went off without a hitch.

Cello Works of Jacques Offenbach

This was the most interesting concert I have attended in a very long time! Paul Christopher and Ruth Drummond played two works. The first half was Opus 52,#2 in D Major for cello duo, but it was the second half that was just amazing. It was Reminiscenes a "Robert le Diable" de Giacomo Meyerbeer, and it was a sextet! The sound engineer had speakers on stage that broadcast four of the parts that Ruth and Paul had pre-recorded while they played the two premier parts live.
If you want to get a recording of this fantastic dynamic duo, try here:
http://www.nsula.edu/lowstrings/offenbach.html
That is Paul's site and he will be happy to help you. Great Christmas presents!

Wow! Thats just about all I can say!


















Many members of the Shreveport Symphony were in the audience including Mr. and Mrs. Michael Butterman.

Winter Garden

The garden has so much to offer even when it is cold out. I have to walk through the garden to go anyplace, which always cheers me up. I hope it is cheery to you too!

Man, am I corny.

Island Hopping Again

Miho and I walked up the hill behind the shrines and all of a sudden we were all by ourselves with lovely views. Magic.

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower was only a block from the hotel. If we took a walk and got lost, or got off one subway stop too soon, we could, in theory, look for the tower. It was one of those sometimes you see it, sometimes you don't sort of landmarks. Made for some nice old Tokyo/ new Tokyo sort of pix though.

If you are interested in the stats try this:

http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/

Good Progress

Eddie has done a wonderful job of casing up the windows. This is the same room that was all paneled in my post from last week. I will begin to paint as soon as school is out... three more days. Stay tuned for updates.

Natchitoches

It was a lovely day for a walk down front street.

This was the sign on the way home. Someone at the highway department has a new toy I think.