Jolly Days at Shady Nook

Thursday, March 26, 2015

A Party Weekend

Anna Kate saw her first movie in the theater last Friday. It was appropriately 'Cinderella.' Two of the main characters were from our beloved 'Downton Abbey' which added to the fun. I left Eleonora at home and she slept the whole time for her Daddy.

We headed to Aunt Terry's house on Saturday for a big family party.

We started with three boy cousins, but lately there has been a run of five girls!

We always have a fabulous time there. Loads of 'vintage' toys for the kids and delicious food for all.

Siblings with their grand babies. Tender.

Buzz on baby watch.

See a little family resemblance?

A lovely time was had by all!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Tuesday

Here we have windows being installed.

Giving a lovely view of the forsythia in bloom.

And now for a tedious part that will be going on for days. Nailing strips of wire mesh between the logs. Grooves were cut on the underside of each log for the strips to slide into, but the bottoms have to be nailed in. A strip of insulation will be stuffed behind the mesh and then more wire mesh will be added to the back side of that. Then the chinking (mortar-like material) will be applied to that. The idea is that the chinking will adhere to the metal wire and will lose its urge to shrink and crumble. We will see!

It was downright hot if you were working and playing in the sun here yesterday.

Eleonora had to lose the sweater. She was thrilled with her pigtails!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Mary Poppins

When I turned 30, oh so many years ago, the other Craft Night ladies thought that was a large milestone that they would not reach for years to come.

So they went all out with an 80's themed surprise party for me

(because I happened to be born in 1982).

So this year, it happened to the next Crafter.

30.

We decided another themed surprise party was in order.

Mary Poppins.

One of Ashley's favorites.

Mary with two penguins.

The Cook with the feast.

Bert, the chimney sweep, with Mary.

The whole gang.

A sidewalk chalk competition.

Anna is the parrot from the end of Mary's umbrella.

We have set the bar a bit high for ourselves -

although everyone brought a thing or two and it came together very easily.

Lots of decorations were borrowed from Lydia's Minnie Mouse party last year.

Jennifer turns 30 next.

Now taking recommendations for fun/funny themes that make you think of Lou!

Friday, March 20, 2015

Progress

After the roof came pressure washing and treating for bugs and mold.

Then a chimney chase.

Looking good!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Scarlet Fever

So our good boy named Josiah had been coughing for over a month. He'd already been to the doctor, taken drugs, the whole nine yards. But then last (last - two weeks ago) weekend he seemed worse than ever so we decided we better take him back to the doctor on Monday morning.

And that very morning he woke up with spots! All over his face and hands. After a few hours I thought maybe they were fading so I took this to show the doctor in case they disappeared. No worries, they didn't.

Turns out he had scarlet fever. Scarlet fever! The one Beth dies of, eventually, in Little Women and Mary goes blind from in Little House! But, sigh of relief, nowadays scarlet fever is not the big bad deal it once was, thanks to antibiotics. And furthermore, modern doctors don't think that scarlet fever would actually be what caused Mary Ingalls to go blind. And Beth is fictional. So there you go.

And off to the hospital we went for some lung x-rays. Josiah found this mask in a stack on a desk and appropriated it for his own personal use. He especially enjoyed wearing it as a hat. I asked to take his picture by the sign that asked people to wear a mask if they had a fever with a cough or a rash. That description fit him to a tee! No worries though - he is now fit as a fiddle and ready for love!