The Big Event

Set up donning their Bride and Groom Caps

Best Wishes to Becky and Jason!

More Preparations

We decided we'd better practice a little dancing before the wedding!

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Last week, Terry cleaned up the entire fire pit in the woods and re-positioned some of the pavers that weren't being cooperative with all the work done down there.

Today, while bobcatting (that's not a real word, by the way) the mulch down to the woods, he ran over the brick at the fire pit. (That's probably not a really grammatically correct sentence either) A lot of naughty words came out of his mouth when he realized he had to rebrick (again a made up word, I'm guessing) that area. The darn biting fly that had a crush on him probably didn't help his demeanor.

Below: The happy couple practicing for the big event.

They will be dancin' up a storm come Saturday! Somehow I think it won't be traditional (read: old people) dancing!

Less than a week!

Finishing Touches:

Terry installs the solar lights in the trees.

We had just finished lunch, and Becky and Jason and I are in the kitchen and see something moving in the tree outside the kitchen window.

Terry! Must I remind you that you are not allowed on a big ladder unless there is another person right there next to you?????

Doesn't this look just a bit dangerous???

Now I know where a lot of old farmer's songs come from in the 1900's. You're spreading mulch and pretty soon your mind takes over and you are talking to the mulch and the earth. Then you start singing some non-sensical song about the trees and grass and the mulch and workin' the land. Oh MY!

Correction

I was corrected today about the Bees. My sis Sam, is NOT afraid of BEES! (You should see her flower garden). It's people - not Bees! My mistake and apologies to the "Tender of Life".

Love you Sammy!

Quiet on the front today....

Jason's bachelor party was held last night. No workers showed up today (go figure- ha!), except for the Vision Master who can get by on a few hours of sleep and yes, is on a Mission!

All Hail the Vision Master!

Who doesn't love a Pig???

When we realized that the woodpile was going to be smack dab in the middle of the seating arrangement for the wedding, the decision was made to move it. Oh geez, do we have to move all those logs by hand??? No, we'll try to move it with the "Pig". If that doesn't work, we'll just use our muscles. Oh, Rusty, thank you for your skill in using the Pig!!!

Just about done threading the cable through the posts. Looking good and reducing the liability for the wedding celebration!!

Time for Jason to sow his wild oats...

If the paver driveway took us 3 months, why did this little patio only take them 2 hours? Proportionally, it doesn't make sense to me. Then, I figured out that these 3 guys have worked hand in hand for the last few months. Talk about are a well oiled crew.

Seeding this area 4 weeks out....we're prayin' for grass!

Jason and Bandit sowing their wild oats... Well, Jason, I guess, you're entitled. You ARE getting married in a few weeks!

Beggy....

B&B (Becky and Bandit)

Tending the ivy on the wall, after sweeping sand into the brick pavers for about 2 hours. (yes in that small area - do you think she was milkin' it...?)

Another weekend in the sun...

Terry and Ethan re-do the paver area that sunk about 1/8th of an inch.

I said, "Terry, there's so many other things to do. And for the love of Pete, who will even notice that this area is a tad lower???" I should have anticipated his response. "It'll bother ME honey, I'll notice it!" A true perfectionist.

I can't lay pavers, but I can do assembly work. Well, kind of. I'm not really good at puzzles. Note that I am putting the metal piece on the wrong way once again.

I swear the well will be dry by summer's end with all the watering of the yard, gardens, potted flowers, planting new grass and power washing the deck! (and I'm not hosin' ya!)

Bees

One of my biggest fears about the wedding is the bees. (Apparently, I'm the only one who has this fear - FREAK!!) But, you know, end of August, beginning of September, when you try to eat dinner outside and the bees are all over you and your food? And yes, they are nasty.

Well, look what we found in a tree near the driveway:

See that scary looking eye looking at you from the evergreen? It's a bald faced hornet nest. Hundreds of those evil little things fly in and out all day. But thanks to "The Bee Guy" (http://www.thebeeguy.com/), the nest has been shut down. That will help. Oh, ya, the other thing that will help is don't wear perfume or eat food outside. Oh, ok - that will work for the wedding... So if you can't find me, I'll be hiding out in the house snarfing one of the best spreads provided by Haute Taco. (Most likely with my sis, Sam - she's a freak about bees, too!)

The Art of Growing Grass

Legally, of course....

Doesn't he just look like Bunny Brewer makin' the rounds?

Spreading the straw. It is NOT hay, which we've learned is different. Animals EAT hay. Straw protects. Who knew???

Finally - a light general labor position becomes available.

Calming her through yet another suicide attempt: Jumping off the Great Wall.

(Sammy-the-kitten's attempt, of course.)

The Effect of Heavy Rains

Suffice it to say that topsoil, traffic bond and a few heavy rainfalls can cause a settling effect under the newly laid patio.

Can you say: s-i-n-k-h-o-l-e?

On the bright side, grass seed, straw and heavy rain help the new grass to grow. We finally see some little wisps of grass reaching up through the straw.

No Rest for the Weary

Literally.

Out of bed by 715, workers arrive at 730, and Terry leaves for work. I put a baseball cap on to cover my bed head. The topsoil arrives at 8am, while the workers invade the interior to tear out the casings for the new windows. I haven't even had my shower. I pay the topsoil guy. I sneak off to the shower. The bricklayers are finishing the columns which means they have made it up to the top - right outside the bedroom window. I lock myself in the bathroom, and as I step into the shower, I realize that I'm naked and forgot to bring clean underwear into the bathroom!

It was not a good day.

I've Been in the Garden...

A beautiful flower in the garden. The bride-to-be, our Beckster.

Paver Patio

The patio is going much more quickly than the driveway did years ago. Must be all the help he had this time.

Ooooh, not quite happy with the curve. Break time!!! Let's think about this. Ethan - quit listening to the wall - what is it saying today???

Becky and Kari spreading the topsoil.

Yes, Becky! The grass will be growing by September 12th!

Would your dad EVER let you down???

It Takes a Village

Starting to create the mid-level patio area. Measuring, consulting, and making the decisions on the layout of the pavers. Wish I could have been in on the decision making, but I was resting, playing the "breast cancer" card!!! Just kidding folks -the cancer didn't keep me away. My lack of strength and energy in general did. :)

This is one of my favorite pictures. Becky and Rusty. Geez, I love these kids, more than anyone can imagine. What a blessing. They are like Christmas year 'round - Comfort and Joy.

Jason spraypaints the pots and tiki-torches in preparation for the wedding...

Yes, he also enjoyed the proverbial "high". Not really - poor guy - I'm guessing that more ventilation would have been good.

Work Release Program

This is what the guys do after they are released from work for the week. Isn't that kinda like being out on Work Release ????

Rusty and Ethan spreading stone.

Terry begins cutting the paving stones for the entrance to the grand staircase. It's 8am, cuz he was at Home Depot again at 7am, picking up who-knows-what for the day. I swear, when he doesn't show up exactly at 7am every week, the employees wonder what happened to him!!!

Oh, did we mention that work on the new deck has officially started?
Yes, this is Darren. He is the Brick Master and will recreate the beauty he built on the grand deck.

The Wall Talks to Ethan

On Saturday, Ethan announced that he heard "the wall talking to him." Now, I'm always careful to be sure that the crew is properly hydrated. Plenty of water and Gatorade. But for some reason, the Great Wall spoke and Ethan listened.

We think this is the spot Ethan became "one with the wall".

So, with the Vision Master's blessing and Rusty's concurrence, they decided to extend the wall with a curvature towards the outside on both sides, making it flow towards the fire pit.

We left for a 4th of July party, but Rusty, Ethan and Ellen stayed behind to go "rock hunting". I swear they hunted all night to fill in the area around the tree. Remember when you were just a little kid, Russ and to get you out of his hair for a while, your dad told you to go pick rocks???