#87 He done-DUDE it!!!

Five months and 1 day after we gave Landscaper Dude (aka Chris Brown Landscaping) the go-ahead for the hardscaping, he completed the work! Most of that time was spent not working because of the winter freezes and snows - so not his fault at all. As soon as the weather warmed a smidge - and that didn't happen till last week - he and his sidekick were back at it for looooong days to complete the job. I am over the moon with the transformation - it is just soooooo wonderful to have had such a perfectionist (like me with my design work) do the work! We've gone from this:

To this:

From this:

To this:

And from this:

To this:

A few other pictures just for good measure:

This shows how I had him run the path through the patios...I'm really

pleased with the effect; kind of like a dry river bed. It connects the two patios

and leads the eye.

Now for the  next part of the transformation: a fresh new planting design around the patios and wonderful new plant material! I've already started working with Midge Sobolewski of Sobolewski Landscaping. I think she's as excited as I am about the project - her ideas are brilliant! - and I can't wait to get started. She's coming Monday morning to discuss options and schedules. There's LOTS of work to do just clearing the old cement pavers and rocks out of the way and I'm hoping I can do some of that tomorrow if the weather cooperates. I'm working on a plan for the vegetable garden/cutting garden in the back of the yard by the shed, and I'm optimistic that, with Midge's help, it will finally start coming together and make better sense. It's just a mish-mash aesthetically and not working the way I want it to.

In the meantime, I'm hoping the painter will get in touch with me to schedule painting the porch and the whole rear of the house. He did a beautiful job on the front, so I know the back will be equally stunning when he's finished.

Anyway, things are coming along just as I had hoped they would...and I'm actually beginning to feel optimistic that the porch and yard will really look the part of Wedding Reception Venue come August! Fingers crossed, fingers crossed!

-karen anne

#86 Living a Full Life...

I know. The blog has been the last thing on my To Do List of late.

I've been planning a wedding in addition to all the painting and repainting.

I've been tweaking and re-tweaking the design for the wedding invitations.

I've been meeting with the landscaper about redesigning the garden and installing new shrubs and flowers. She's promised it will look lovely for the wedding reception in August.

I've been watching Landscaper Dude work his magic with pavers. (Pictures when he's finished!)

I've been off to D.C. to buy fabric for the wedding gown and thinking through all the details of constructing a light corset to be inside the gown. (The thinking through of wedding gown construction is tantamount to planning a military exercise in my book!)

I've been entertaining family and my future son-in-law.

I've been off to Rochester NY to be entertained by Andrew and his wonderful mom when I visited with Megan.

I've been trying to be helpful as both daughters move - Megan to Rochester and Emily to Texas.

I've been celebrating Emily's decision to go to Texas A & M for her MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering - on a FULL RIDE!!! I've been getting ready to Skype a LOT when she moves all that way away. I've been trying to be a Big Girl about it.

I've been counting my blessing and being thankful.

I've been living a very full and wonderful life!

I'll be here more often eventually. Promise.

-karen anne