Fire Season Has Arrived

With the cooler temperatures arriving, I must say that I am so grateful to my Mann and this little guy for spending several of their Saturday's cleaning up some of the debris from the land of a  lady who lost most of her trees in the Black Forest Fire this past summer.  I never would have guessed how messy these two would get just from cutting down trees.  The soot from the burnt trees was amazing.  Just unloading it off the trailer made me cough uncontrollably.  While I am so grateful for the free firewood, I am reminded of the tremendous loss that our community endured this past summer. Most importantly, I am reminded of God's plans being far greater that I will ever understand.

It looks like we should be good for a couple of years. Now that I rely on firewood as a primary heat source, I have a new appreciation for what people endured before electric heat was invented.  I am so glad to have both as an option, because sometimes I am just too lazy to start a fire!  Another thing that I appreciate about my Mann! 

And Yet, Another Project Completed!

For some reason, I am feeling very distracted with all of the projects we have taken on this year.  The painting was the biggest of them all and I can't seem to find the motivation to actually complete this one.  Perhaps it is the enormity of the whole thing.  I know it will get done, simply because I can't stand unfinished projects, but I am becoming okay with the fact that it may be a few more weeks months before it does get completely finished.  Since, I am lacking the desire to finish this project, it only seems natural that I would take on new projects to distract me even more! Fortunately, I have remained focused enough to complete a couple of projects.  Porch. Done! Mud/Puppy Room. Done! And recently we completed the front landscaping project, so it can also be checked off the list, too!

Before
(I am really partial to those gorgeous blue skies!)

   After
(Don't mind the season change.  I am just so glad to finally get this project done!)

No more garage door, no more driveway, no more muddy mess and best of all, no more Swiss chalet feeling! Yes, this used to be the garage before we converted it into the apartment for my mom.  In order to get rid of the feeling of "it used to be a garage" we decided landscaping was a must.  Further we wanted it to have a separate, yet connected feeling so we ended up using rock to make a pathway to her place and also to our place. We really are so pleased with how it turned out. 

(Note:  Ignore the unfinished painting job in the following photos.  The main house really is done!  We just have the garage left to do and it is well over 700 square feet of stucco to paint that I just don't feel like tackling right now.)

 

And I Have Returned!

Somehow the beginning of the school year always seems to take over my life with very little time to breathe--or blog for that matter!.

Getting the kids situated and into their routines, on top of trying to learn about my own students and their needs always seems to take until October for me.  I am love, love loving my class this year.  So sweet and so ready for learning!  I'm amazed that we are ending our first quarter (which was my two day quarter this time) and getting ready to begin second quarter already.  I am ready to start working a little more and settling into our routines.  The three day quarters make me smile because I get to engage with my students a little more.  And this year, they are so awesome!

Here are few things that kept up busy as we ended our summer and entered knee deep into Autumn~

We wrapped up our painting project after two months and just have a few minor touch ups to do and adding a railing to the front porch of  Pam's Place.  We may save that for next spring because we still owe her a clothesline and chicken coupe from last Christmas.  The projects got a little overwhelming, so those two got put on the back burner.  I am hopeful we can complete the clothesline, but not so convinced the chickens will need a home prior to next summer.

Craig's brother, Chris, and his family came for a weekend visit to see Grandma and Grandpa Mann.  We hosted a cookout and had a blast watching Kyle, Karson and Kinley hanging out and having fun with their cousins.

 

 

The kids started a new school year.  Caleb is now a 7th grader and Emaleigh is now a freshman in high school. Craig and I still sit in amazement that we are the parents of a high-schooler.

 We celebrated the first day back with a weenie roast!

 The kids, Nana and I headed to the annual Balloon Classic at Memorial Park bright and early on Labor Day.  The air was definitely chilly, but what such a sight to see so many hot air balloons being filled and launched into the bluest of skies. 

 

My dad came for a visit and what a treat it was to spend a week enjoying his company.  While the weather was pretty miserable with the craziest rain storms ever that lead to record setting flooding, it was still a wonderful visit that I wouldn't trade for anything.  We really only get to see each other about once a year, so our time together is treasured.

Many a Klondike bar was enjoyed--I think this was a chocolate tear of sadness that the last one was being eaten!

 Don't be deceived by the blue skies.  Out of our 8 days together, we really only had two partial days of  sun filled skies.  Hence the reason we went to the zoo where we got to feed my most favorite animal.  They really are so graceful looking!

 We tried to go to the Garden of the Gods, but it was closed due to severe flooding.  (In all of my years in the Springs, I have never seen the park closed.  We managed to stop a few blocks away to watch the waters rushing down this normally dried out drainage ditch.

By the time the rainbows started coming, I was so grateful to finally have some hope that the sun. would be coming back for a while!

Meet Fred.  He was our fall buddy at our Cabriolet House.  He would come out at the beginning of every autumn season and peer into the window of my friend here.  It always felt a little weird that he would peep into her family's living room window, but they never seemed to mind!  When we moved out of the Cabriolet House, we decided Fred needed to move in permanently with our friends.  Imagine the surprise on my face when I got out of my car when the two of us met for lunch a few weeks ago to encounter this sight!  Too funny!! I haven't laughed the hard for some time.

 And as a wrap up to a wonderful couple of months, two of my cousins came for a weekend visit.  What a blast we had visiting our 95 year old grandmother, laughing and crying, hanging out, laughing, shopping, laughing, eating, laughing, traveling to view the autumn colors, laughing, and just plain having a good ol' time together! 

Even though the dementia is getting worse, she still has tons of spunk!  Her quick witted responses made us laugh and reminded us of how we remember our times spent together of days gone by.  I truly can't thank my cousins enough for making this weekend happen.  The joy in our grandma's eyes was priceless.

To end our weekend together, Auntie Pam put together a small celebration.  My cousin Robin, was nominated for Teacher of the Year in Florida and my Cousin Nancy just received a promotion at Medela--a company that makes breast pumps.  With the changes in healthcare, the production facility has seen a huge increase and she is definitely overworked!

 

It was a wonderful couple of months, and I am so glad for the memories that we made.  I look forward to life slowing down just a bit and settling into the cooler months ahead. 

The Summer of Golf

For the past few years, Caleb has really taken a liking to the game of golf.  Both Craig and I are recreational golfers.  We usually play a few rounds each summer.  However, both of Caleb's grandfathers are avid golfers.  In fact, Grandpa Mann volunteers every week at a local golf course, and will often let Caleb tag along. 

Last fall, Caleb tried out for his middle school golf team, but didn't make the cut.  So this summer, I decided that if he was truly serious about trying out again, he needed to take a few lessons.  I was able to sign him up and his grandpa even signed him up for a few tournaments.  Practicing is one thing, but playing a round with total strangers is completely different.

Of the four  tournaments he is playing this summer, this was the furthest away from home. We had to leave at 4:45 in the morning to make the 6:45 check in.

It has been enjoyable to see how much he has enjoyed learning new strategies to improve his game, and to watch how he plays with 3 other boys his age. 

Playing with boys from all over the state.

Making his way to the green.

What a beautiful view to have while walking the course with him.

Preparing to tee off.

 While the lessons and tournaments are enjoyable, my favorite part is certainly how he comes home and practices on his own homemade course for hours everyday!

It's not as lush as a real course, but it's equally as fun to try to make it to the two flags that you can barely even see in this picture! (Go ahead...get real close to the screen!  The red is on his right and the blue is on his left!)

No machine to go out and pick up balls, either, but it is great exercise to gather your own bucket!

His very own homemade tee box to hit just the right shot!

Applying the strategies the golf pro is teaching him.

This has been a great opportunity to help Caleb improve his game.  We look forward to seeing all the growth he makes this summer and in the years to come!

July 4th

Every year for the 4th, Craig has to work.  Unless of course it falls on a Saturday or Sunday.  In fact, he has to work every holiday that falls during the week except for Christmas, thank goodness!  Just a part of working in the retail industry.  Holidays are no longer sacred like they once were.  More people would rather go shopping that appreciate the day.  Such is life...I really am just so grateful that he is able to provide for our family and that he doesn't seem to mind. 

Anyhoo...this year we decided to make the most of the great weather and joined Auntie Beth and Uncle Jovante for a hike on the west side.  We live in such a beautiful city and we are so blessed to have so many great hikes available to us ride in our own "backyard!"

While we were going to attempt the Manitou Incline, we opted out when we realized we had to park at the bottom of the mountain to climb a mountain. For those that are familiar with the area, the closest spot was at the hotel kiddy corner from the penny arcade and Patsy's candy.  As much as I want to attempt the incline one day, today was just not the day! 

We ended up at the Garden of the Gods Open Space which is actually on the other side of Hwy 24.  Not nearly as crowded and a super place to climb the rocks and hike the hills!

The trail on the left was about halfway up to the top from where we started.  We continued a bit higher before deciding it was time to head back.

Uncle Jovante and Caleb making it to the top!

Conquering the rocks!

What beauty!

A little break after all that climbing

Caleb making his way back down through the rocks

After spending the morning hiking, we headed back home to get ready for our July 4th BBQ.  We hosted Grandma and Grandpa Mann, Nana, and many of the aunts and uncles and cousins for a yummy cookout.  Emaleigh made the dessert, and I put together a candy "bar!"

Ema's holiday delight!

A Red White and Blue themed candy "bar" for the kids both young and old to enjoy!

It turned out to be a great day.  While we missed hanging out with Craig, we were so glad he was able to join us for the BBQ.  Due to the forest fire in June and the many fire bans statewide, we didn't get to roast marshmallows in the fire pit, and obviously no sparklers this year.  While the fireworks did go off downtown, we opted not to attend this year, since Craig had to be up bright and early on Friday to get to work.  The kids didn't seem to mind.  They simply enjoyed hanging out and playing yard games with the fam!

Just Behind the New Red Door

Since the entry to our home is feeling cozy, I decided it was time to make the first room you come into feel just as inviting. (Not to mention that I have this really bad habit of starting more than one major project at a time.)  This room has seen the most change since we bought the house.

Here's how it looked when we bought it.

So many great things about this look...the light fixture, the forclosure sign on the door, the tile, the window that doesn't open, and of course the wallpaper.  NOT!

Yes this room has five different doors in it.  And not one looks like the other.  My favorite is the glass panel door that closes off the main house from this area. It is also one of two doors that are original to the home. I even decided to keep it's original color.  I really like the way it adds a touch of wood to the place.  The other one is Pam's door.  It had to be painted white because...well, it just did! 

If you recall, the day before we were to do our final inspection someone kicked in the front door and stole all the copper piping.  This was the real estate company's way of locking the door. Nice, huh?!

Can you see all the bird poo on the chair rail?  Yuck...

After the initial rehab it looked like this:

 

 

And if you remember, Caleb used it as his bedroom for 383 days.

 

 

 It really is a large room.  In reality it is larger than his bedroom from our last house.  It's just that it's long and narrow.  Not square.

And now behind the new red door...

 ...you see this:

After living here for a year and a half, we have a new sense of purpose for this room.  Adding two new members to our family last summer meant they needed a spot of their own. They are pretty large dogs and having their kennels in our living space was really a distraction.  So now this room serves a couple of purposes.  First off, it is our entryway.  This is what our guests see first upon entering our home.  But it also serves as our mudroom/puppy playpen.  I had a general idea of what I wanted the room to look like once I realized this was to become a multipurpose space.  For those that know me well, I thrive in a well kept environment.  I started checking out different ideas from Pinterest, blogs and magazines and quickly realized I wanted to create a built in look for the puppies kennels.  They are such an eyesore.  I saw a variation of what we ended up creating on Pinterest and told Craig he needed to get his saws warmed up!  I was delighted when we went to the barn and found that the only thing I needed to buy to make these a reality was one piece of plywood and a little bit of finishing trim.  Always a good thing when you find the supplies you need right in your own home!

Next up, I went shopping. In the barn that is!  I didn't really want to spend very much money on this room--or any room for that matter.  Fortunately, Nana brought a slew of chairs and knickknacks from her old place when she moved in last spring.  After rummaging through what's left in the barn and the garden shed I decided gardening would make a perfect theme for this room.  It is so bright and cheery and all of us are so excited to have the space outdoors to make a large garden a reality.  So I picked through the dusty signs and knickknacks, grabbed a chair and stool and got busy cleaning them up.  I must say that I am thrilled with how this space turned out.  The character and whimsey this room now has makes me so excited to enter our house.  Love the idea of reusing what we had to make it feel new!

Here's a few more shots to give you a better feel:

Who doesn't need a pair of gardening boots?

Lilly's Corner.  The green stool in front of it belonged to my 95 year old grandmother.  I love all the paint splotches covering it.  Worn and loved it surely is!

Quinn's Corner.  The truck on top of his kennel is the one that I would love to own one day.  Only in the grown up version that is!  I can honestly picture throwing the dogs in the back of that truck and taking a ride through the country with the windows rolled down and the wind blowing in!

This is the room that connects my  mom's place to our place.  It is our common space.  Since we only have one mailbox for the house, we decided we needed a place to put each others mail depending on who picks it up from the box each day.  This was our answer.

The door on the left is the one that takes you to Pam's place.  It's also convenient because the laundry is located off this room, as well.  It's the door with all the slats.  I told you this room has 5 doors and not one of them is the same.  Crazy, but it's kind of grown on me and I love the character it adds.  A very multipurposeful space, I say!

If you look closely you'll see that the window now opens.  Well that is because we decided to replace the windows that didn't open with windows that do.  The fresh air really make such a difference!

This newly renovated space brings a huge smile to my face when I come home now.  Between the front door makeover and the entry room makeover, our house is surely not a house any longer.  

A home is definitely being created here!

Now it's just a matter of going back and completing these projects, so we can officially check them off the list. Outdoor trim and eave painting, finishing work on the kennels, and a lot more landscaping is still calling our names.  Hopefully we can wrap it up in a couple of weeks!

Then I can show you another project we're working on...