We spent a little time at the playground on Saturday. Now that the weather is not so blisteringly hot, we're slowly getting back into the routine of the playground visit. AND, as an added bonus, I remembered to bring along the camera - the camera that was replaced for FREE because I was "duped" into buying the extended warranty a year ago ( I know - I usually pass on the extended warranty, too, but the little voices in my head that day seemed to think it was a good idea. Thank god for the little voices). So, I now have a NEW, FREE camera and it's great because it is small and compact and takes reasonably good shots of the kids when the need arises.
Thusly:
So it was hot enough that the girls' cheeks look sunburned - we worked up a "glow" at the playground!

This is a photo from some time ago - Grandstand and his Granddaughters walking through the D.C. Metro station (which they thought was a fine - but slightly too dark - Disney Ride) en route to Rick's retirement ceremony. The light was bad and I couldn't get a decent shot, but I like this anyway, so here it is.

See, this, THIS pretty much explains Fayetteville. They build a new bridge (at great expense and inconvenience to the general populace) and then set up weirdly ambiguous signs indicating you should jump off said bridge to the left or right - because god only knows what's over the little rise.

The first day of school for the girls was actually the SECOND day of school for Big C., as preschool is a Monday/Wednesday/Friday affair, while the big boy is now in Pre-K. which occurs every single day of the week. So, Big C. went on Tuesday, and EVERYBODY went on Wednesday. If you follow.

The photo above is our drive to school and the photo below was my Very Dramatic Daughters on their first day back. Still darn cute, though.

First day of school for the big man today! (The girls start tomorrow). And the girls' second day of dance classes! We're busy here. And we're cute.

Because yesterday was our first day of dance class...
Many thanks to Michelle for having a camera that works and snapping this shot!!!!

Behold - we have a front porch! And dentil molding!
Now we just need some trim, a real front door, a back porch, a real back door, some shutters, and we'll be good to go!!!
Right?

Upper and lower level, taken from the stair landing. Just because I like this shot.
Although somebody really needs to dust that banister....

The Craziest August.

August has been a crazy month for us! Lots and lots of travel to lots and lots of wonderful events....some of which I remembered to photograph...First, we enjoyed attending the Retirement Ceremony for dear Chad, up in Norfolk, VA.
Aren't they handsome?
Congratulations, Chad!

And the Change of Command Ceremony for Rich, waaaaaay out in CA.
Aren't they handsome?
Congratulations, Rich, and we're looking forward to seeing you over here on the east coast, soon!
And most importantly, the Retirement Ceremony for Rick, held up in D.C.. And which I have absolutely no good photographs of, because my sister (yes Lynn, I'm talking about you) was uh, "overly challenged" by my "fancy" point-and-shoot. Ahem.

But here he is, having one last look at the helos he loved to fly...


I'm still trying to find a photo of him in his "chokers" at Delice's wedding....The interesting thing is, this month I have seen more of "Rick in white" than in our entire relationship to date. Those Navy whites are lovely. I think he looks very handsome in them. But ya know, from a purely practical point of view, white? White is a Very Silly Color (or absence of color, I suppose) for a uniform. Seven seconds of wearing it and inevitably there's a smudge or a smear or Something. Good thing the medals distract the eye!

The summer kitchen "wing" has now been officially replaced with this, the new, improved, better-tasting and longer lasting (we hope) east wing. It is definitely a little bit bigger than the old wing, and decidedly sturdier. And a new roof has already gone on top since this picture was taken. It is becoming clear that the very lovely black walnut tree that looms over the place will likely have to be cut down in the not-too-distant future, as it is just a little too close for comfort. Dammit.

Below, there's really good picture of the outline of the old summer kitchen wing, and in sharp contrast, the wall of the new wing. There's also a smidgen of the future stairwell visible in the lower right corner, and on the left - a little tiny sliver of the doorway leading into the old portion of the house.




The pretty - but doomed - black walnut, and yet another shot of the new east wing! You kinda just have to imagine a roof here, which I assure you will be there in the next set of photos I plan to take when I get up that way again - end of August, I'm hoping....
So, progress is being made. And lots of thanks and shout-outs to all of you who have expressed an interest in this crazy undertaking, and who continue to encourage me in my folly. I really love this albatross of a house, and can't wait to throw our first party!!!

Darkness FINALLY arrived, and after much anticipation, we were able to experience our first Fourth of July festivities - meaning, of course, really loud music and lots of fireworks. Courtesy of Ft. Bragg. The urchins spent the entire show dancing their little butts off, and let me tell you, they can shake their groove thing. We also waved our glow-in-the-dark-wands (aka Light Sabers). An excellent time was had by all, and although we didn't get to bed until almost 11 p.m., I think they will remember their "First Fourth" for a long long time!

We went to "the post" to celebrate the Fourth. Here's Dada and the Big C., waiting for sundown and a chance to watch the Big Show. Yee-haw.

Fourth of July.
Well, actually, Canada Day came FIRST....

A brief photographic synopsis of the progress made thus far on the farm.
Taken at various angles, this is the same side of the house. We've felled the massive shrubbery, replaced and re-pointed all the brick,and put new windows where the old windows were falling out. The exterior is really starting to look pretty again! Now, for the roof!

Hey...has anybody seen the kids lately??

A little beach action - the only nice day during our getaway, but we did have a chance to make sandcastles and collect seashells and thus it was a successful beach holiday!

Easter! On the coast! And nothing says "Easter" quite like visiting a battleship and hanging out with a collection of military vehicles...

Spring.


The children and I took a walk around our neighborhood this afternoon. And we were lucky enough to catch one of our gardening-loving neighbors, Miss. Rae, hard at work on her flowerbeds. Miss. Rae was kind enough to invite us into her backyard, and won my heart forever by allowing the children to carefully pick a few of her beautiful flowers. I never cease to be amazed at the generosity of our neighbors, and their immense kindness to our children - the advantage, I suppose, of living in an area filled with Grandparents.
We hurried home after our visit and filled a bowl with our treasures. The urchins can now identify dogwood, azalea, wisteria (a favorite) and Carolina jasmine. As we were putting the flowers in the water, Big. C. leaned into me and sighed "I love spring, Muma."

The View From Up Here...

Of COURSE I went up on the scaffolding at the farm. It's just a ladder, and that's MY home we're working on, and I hadn't yet seen the roof or a close-up of the corbel detailing - so, I hollered up to the brick masons and asked if I might come aboard. Their shocked silence, followed by barely stifled laughter was not reassuring.
THREE of them rushed to hold the bottom of the ladder (note that THEY ascend the ladder with NO ONE holding it)and I fervently prayed that I would not do something really really stupid like, oh, slip off said ladder and crash into the sodden earth in front of them. Not because I was afraid of fractured ribs, or possibly death, no,no, but because I was afraid of the profound potential of pure humiliation. I gripped those ladder rungs like a crack-addled monkey climbing to heaven.

And was rewarded with quite a lovely view.
Also, pictures of my rusted-out roof. And collapsing chimneys. And deteriorating corbels.
And I wanted to share them with you.
See?

How to Make a Ghost Get Gone.

Numerous people have taken great pains to point out to us that the farmhouse is probably haunted. If you're a house, and you're still standing after 150 years, I guess it would be reasonable to assume that you might harbor a spirit or two, knocking about in the cupboards or rattling the china cabinet from time to time. The standard ghost, given that this house is located in Virginia, is generally one of the Civil War variety (or, as my southern friend once took pains to correct me "the War of Northern Aggression"). Our house does indeed, have a war story, entailing a small, brief and ugly skirmish which resulted in one of the local sons being mortally wounded. Local legend has it that he wanders our property to this day. Local legend does NOT mention this ghost's particular disposition - angry, sad, vengeful, remorseful or disappointed. I'd like to think he's just a melancholy specter, and fairly benign,to boot. We've never had any indication otherwise, and I'd like to think the passing of time has mellowed him somewhat on the whole north/south issue.

But we also know that the previous owner - how shall we say? - "passed away" on the property, and if there is a crazy-assed, unhappy apparition floating around, it would be our charmingly nicknamed "Uncle Larry". Uncle Larry left a long and illustrious paper trail of his life behind for us to follow, despite the fact that oftentimes, it was a case of Too Much Information. And it is with Uncle Larry in mind that I often walk inside the farmhouse and wonder how the hell he managed to live there. I imagine Larry's fatalistic attachment to the house might very well have followed him over to the other side, if these things are at all possible, and have worried that he might, well, "hang around" if the opportunity presented itself.

But you know, as of today, I don't think he'd recognize the place. Why? We are tearing down the precious interior walls. We are embarking upon a MAJOR reworking of the upstairs interior that will in NO WAY resemble the house of old. And while part of me is admittedly a little sick about smashing history up into little pieces and pitching it (literally) out the window, another part of me is so exited to make this house into a livable, functioning, workable and wonderful HOME. For my family. And I think maybe Uncle Larry can go away now, because it's not his any longer, it's the start of the house's new chapter, and really? I promise I'll take good care of it.