Progress

Well, yesterday at the big school for picture day, wiped the Boy out In addition to getting a cold from Darth going to the big school, running around chasing Kindergarten girls all morning did a number on him. So, we bailed on going to story hour this morning. Usually, now that it's just me and him during the day, I try to get him out and have him have his own experiences. He fell asleep while I was getting gas after dropping off Darth at the big school. The boy needed a day to recoup. Not to mention tomorrow's supermarket day.

The wife and I started to renovate our house last fall. We didn't think it would take this long. We didn't think that the summer would be monsoon season up here either. So....long story short: we ripped up all the carpet in our downstairs, and took all the wood trim off to strip the paint and stain it. We're almost done painting, and once the wood is done we can sand and seal the wood floors. We're doing all the work ourselves with a hand here and there from those who have done it before. For the most part, I know what I'm doing (famous last words, yeah I know), but I've never stripped a wood floor.

Anyhoo.......the boy was out like a light, or like a two year old who has spent time chasing little girls. For once the sun was out, although rain was in the forecast, so I decided to take the bull by the belt sander!!!!

I'm glad we don't use our picnic table very much. It has become the un-official workbench for this project. There is more wood (sawdust) from our house on that picnic table than the original wood. Either way, it's a good height and comfortable. I didn't get a boatload accomplished, but you know that feeling that when you get something done it spurs you on to do more? That's what I got today. Finally, we're doing more than just slapping on some paint. I felt so motivated that I wanted to start tackling the greenhouse project! Alas....it started to rain....then, I heard from upstairs, "up...want up......big school...get up....."; progress ceased.

It's suppose to be nice tomorrow.........

Scott

To What Extremes?

I think everyone who stays home, whether it's with the kids or a work at home situation, reaches the point of "cabin fever". Those walls just start feeling tight, fresh air sounds good, etc. Now that Darth Punkin has started school, I think I've found my out.

Last week, I conquered the book fair. That went over so well, and I made it clear "...oh, any time you need a hand....I'm home all the time..."; well, today was picture day. Yes, I spent my morning in the gymnasium of an elementary school helping kids pose awkwardly for school pictures. With my helper.

The boy, he's two, was unleashed upon a school. A school with a lot of little girls. There has never been a question concerning what side of the bread this boy butters. He can make professional male adult actors feel limp-wristed. I have personally witnessed - in addition to half of my wife's family - work an entire pool of thirteen year old girls ----- successfully and simultaneously. He's a machine on a mission. And Kindergarten came first.

So, besides trying to reign in the testosterone of my rabid two year old, my job is to make sure all the kids are lined up from tallest to shortest. They go in and have their individual pictures taken, then come out to me and Casanova, and get lined up for their class picture. Try telling a five year old she's not tall enough to be next to her friend........not easy. Then throw in the Boy throwing his little Tigger at only the girls. Of course they'd pick it up and give it back to him...with a little smile. If he happened to launch it and it landed near a boy, he'd have to run over and get it quickly!

After surviving the book fair, I let the other volunteers know that I could only hang until the Boy truly was going nuts. Having started around 9:00, I knew 10:30 would be tops. He would need to crash after getting that much whiplash. For some reason that I don't understand, they did bring in the Kindergarten first, followed ten minutes later by one of the Pre-K's - not the one Darth Punkin is in. The other two volunteers were in charge of the paperwork and making sure the kids were lined up and combed properly - leaving me my job, knowing I would not be there for the long haul. Each class for the little kids had an assistant in addition to the teacher. The assistant could and would do my job when I left.

Then came Darth's class. It took her a good five minutes of watching the boy run around before she realized I was there. The funny part was watching her before she noticed. Over and over again.."There's Tommy...", "Look at Tommy, he's got Tigger", "There goes Tommy..."; she was priming them for him! Then she noticed me and just went silly.

Of course, I had to run over and make sure her hair was combed - with our comb. We're rural, lice are common - no public comb for her!!! Besides the meal ticket would've killed/fired me!

We hung out until her class had it's picture taken and left the gym. The Boy was insane at this point, so over-tired and drunk on school girls it became too much. We both needed naps! Everyone understood us leaving and thanked us plenty. Extra good-byes to the Boy of course.

It's just really nice to be accepted in these situations after being shunned at so many others. Ours is not a community that's open-minded to stay at home dads, amongst other things. To be accepted as the dad at these mom dominate events has been appreciated and eye-opening, to say the least. They now have my number, and realize that if they call I'll show and actually work; plus bring the Boy. :D

Well....I survived

My buddy had his annual "Guy's Weekend" at his in-laws camp. Friday through Sunday. There were only four of us, and the other three got there on the Friday. I didn't make it up until Saturday afternoon - which was probably for the best.

For the record, because my buddy's wife has a link to my blog, THERE WERE NO STRIPPERS, NO BEER, AND ONLY THE FINEST ORGANIC VEGETABLES AVAILABLE!!!

That being said..........when the strippers got there with the beer and ribs............. ;)

No, basically it was a get-away weekend, with only one of the guys not being a dad. Peace and quiet. Beer and ribs. All day campfire......all night campfire. More beer.

It was a nice little break, something I have been needing for a while now. Just to get away and out of the house. And to sleep in until 9:30 was especially nice. As a bonus, the wife painted the computer room with help from the Darth..........not much got painted evenly.

Anyhoo...it's nice to be back, not so nice to have to finish the painting; but there's a crockpot of red beans cooking and a loaf of French bread ready for the oven. There's just something, that no matter what, you can't beat the comfort of being home.

Scott

Taking Money From Kids

You know the old saying........just try explaining to the little #$@!&**(% that they don't have enough money for the books and other assorted goodies they want.

Darth Punkin now goes to Pre-K at the local elementary school. She could ride the bus, but after the Summer we've had with her and the fact we feel she's still too little to ride the bus - I drive her to school everyday. With her Apprentice. We could walk, which I would prefer, but it's probably just under a mile; and the walk back with the boy would be a major uphill walk (read: "climb aboard daddy").

Anyhoo.......everyone at the school has fallen under the Apprentices' spell. They love him and don't see the underlying evil. He's cute, they're old and simple - he's fooled them. So, because I'm there everyday - twice- they asked me if I wouldn't mind helping out with their book fair. I figure why not, gets me out of the house, get to know the people at the school as well as them knowing me, and the Apprentice gets to hone his skills. I tell them "sure, no problem - but I have to bring the boy". Response: " Ohh, no problem, of course you can bring him, we love having him here." Told ya, he's got 'em fooled!

I get there this morning to help with the woman who is suppose to be there running things. Key word: suppose. The woman in charge is "very sorry about all this and really hates to do this to me", but she has to go to work. I get the rundown, take money - give kids books,etc; keep the boy from being too much of a social hazard. I'm told someone will be there to help pack things up.

Then they come. "Can you tell where the BLAH, BLAH, BLAH book is?", "Do you have anything for $.50?", "I saw this in the flyer, where is it?", and the ever popular - "No, I want both books, and this is all the money I have to give you!".

Thankfully, the woman in the main office likes me and loves the boy, was there to help out. Not that it was that overwhelming. It was fun, and the boy loved it - he got to go to "The Big School". He even had some girl from the 4th grade come up and say "hi", as well as tell me that she thinks he's really cute. Go little dude, go!!!!!!!

Needless to say, but the co-president of the PTO called to thank me, and asked if I'd be interested in helping out again. Of course I said yes, but it kinda put the icing on the end of my day.

Scott

Well, it's probably about time.........

I figure I should put up the dreaded About Me post.............

I hate doing these types of things, it's almost like resume writing but on a more personal level. How do I describe myself, without trying to sell myself or sounding like I'm full of the dog poop I pick up in the backyard? Well, let's start off with the honest approach:

My name is Scott, I'm almost 40 (well, closer to 40 than I am to 30), and I'm a married stay at home dad. I've been doing this for just over four years now, and most days I love it; those other days I'll have a beer or four. The reasons I'm losing my hair are: Darth Punkin (Emily) 4, and Her Apprentice (Tommy) 2.



We live in a rural area in upstate New York, not the most accepting place for a stay at home dad to be - even some of the mothers at story hour look at me like I'm invading their territory. Doesn't stop me though, I'll bring the kids to anything - just to get out of the house. We've been in our house for almost 5 years now, and the last year has been a renovation year - not easy when Darth and Apprentice are trying to turn every room into the Death Star!

I'm also a bit of a computer geek - total Linux nut! Current operating system of choice - Zenwalk 5.2. Although, I have fooled around with Ubuntu/Xubuntu, DSL, Vector, Gentoo, Dream, Mint, and probably a few others. I also, work on computers, rebuilding and rehabbing them.

I started this blog as a place to rant without my wife wanting to make me sleep in the shed, but lately I have really gotten into it - in a non-rant way...........and I really do love being at home with them!!!! Also, I place to go on about Linux, without making the wife fall asleep.



Some of the places I'm hanging out at:

• DadStaysHome
• AtHomeDad
• Facebook
• MySpace
• Zenwalk

P.S. if anyone has any really good Grateful Dead or Allman Brothers Band bootlegs, and you want to trade - for the love of God, let me know!!!!!!!

Scott

Update #3: The Friggin' B-Day Party

Ok, the kids birthdays are exactly a month apart, so I understand the combined party thing; but totally believe in separate parties - it's your special day, you should not have to share it! Then again, we leave in a very rural area, and travel for most of the family members/guests is significant; one party makes sense, and in addition, I only have to deal with these people on one occasion - not two.

Now, she who brings home the bacon, is working overtime two nights a week and half days on Saturday. That means I have almost no time to do outdoor stuff - you really can't mow the lawn with Darth Punkin walking around trying to save all the flowers. Also, it's quite hard to get a half bath clean when the Darth and her apprentice are turning the rest of the house into the Death Star. Then throw on top of all that, I have to do the cooking.

So................the party winds up being on a Saturday (the wife decided it would be ok to take that Saturday off), and the shopping is done. That's it. The Wednesday before, our wonderful neighbors (who have adopted us) took both kids to a small local amusement park - this place hasn't changed since I was a kid. Now, our neighbor is quite often mistaken for being Darth's mother (we call her Other Mother) and her mom realized all I wanted to do was pick up dog poop and mow the lawn. This is Wednesday. It took me five hours to do this, and it's just less than an acre of land. No dog shit, no grass clippings - one chore done.

Moving right along.............clean the house. I understand there's a level of clean that no man can ever achieve in the eyes of a woman, but I do a damn good job. Now, the house has been in a state of renovation for almost a year (but getting much better), and it's hard to get everything. I got everything, I found cobwebs that had been abandoned, dated clumps of dog hair, parts of the renovation long forgotten. Between Thursday and Friday, I had those kids working The Force on cleaning! By Friday afternoon, food was getting prepared.

Party Day: I have to drive 30 minutes one-way to pick up my 83 year old Grandmother who doesn't even know it's summer. The main goal at this point is getting the food done. Our neighbor (not Other Mother, but her Mom) had Darth for the morning, and the boy was napping. After almost an hour and a half of being gone, I arrive to a kitchen that's naked. The meal ticket's upstairs cleaning the tub! Her reason being: it's just needs to be cleaned properly. UUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Last time I checked, it was complete party protocol, to check the status of the bathtub of the host/hostess. Food be damned!!!!! Fortunately, our neighbor - the Mom, not Other Mother, was bringing back Darth and jumped right in to help in the kitchen.

So....we had planned on doing a BBQ pork, and a Spanish style pork. We know there was a likelihood of rain, so I had a tarp set up over the picnic table with easy access to the grills. Likelihood is a friggin' understatement! It rained, it stopped, it rained, it stopped, over and over and over. Now my 83 year old Grandmother is out of her mind, and chain smokes menthols. Of course, she's outside under the tarp (carved in stone at our house - NO SMOKING INSIDE!); once she sees the BBQ come off the grill she clicks into vulcher mode, plate and plastic fork in hand. I haven't even cut it yet, and she's trying to push me out of the way!!! Long story short, (I'll end the Grandma part now) the meal ticket's Mom, Aunts, and sister-in-law brought her home. They had an idea of where to go..........my Grandmother got them lost for almost an hour while insisting she knew where she was going. >.< One more bridge burned.

The food turned out pretty good, we had about 2/3's of what we had planned to make. The weather eventually cleared. We had a piñata. It's amazing how much adults forget when they start seeing little kids whacking the hell out a paper mache Dora the Explorer. For a party that started at 1 PM, me and Other Mother's boyfriend were at the top of my yard around 9:30 PM with my brother-in-law (we're oil and water, but agree alcohol is good) getting him (and ourselves) very, very drunk. Much to his wife's dismay. I only had to walk upstairs, and Matt had to go across the yard.

My Dad had the right idea, mail the presents up and pay a visit after the party.

Scott

P.S. on a side note, all this wonderful crap was going on while I was dealing with the computer issue from Update #2. They say my liver should be fine, but I'm not taking my chances; beer-thirty it is!!!!!

Update #2 Beginning of the End

Warning/Disclaimer/etc.: computer talk is about to happen!!!!

I run a multi-boot computer system = more than one operating system on my computer. I have Windows 2000 Professional and Zenwalk 5.2 (<-that's Linux/GNU) on one computer with room for more. I also have a partition set up for Zenwalk to test new packages. That leaves me room for one other OS. I have always tried to find a way to like Ubuntu/Xubuntu, but with every release there has always been something that turns me right off. With the release of Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron, I decided to work through and give it a real go.

Ubuntu uses the Gnome desktop, I'm use to XFCE - I prefer that, but am willing to learn new things. I figure that I should probably learn how Debian based distros work compared to Slack-based ones.

Having tried Ubuntu/Xubuntu in the past, I was somewhat familiar with the set-up, and knew the forums were where all the info was. So, I partitioned the hard drive accordingly, keeping Zenwalk as default and using LILO:

• sda1 Windows 2000 Pro
• sda5 swap
  
• sda6 Zenwalk 5.2
• sda3 Ubuntu 8.04
• sda4 Zenwalk - TESTING
• sdb1 /home

At the time, sda was a 10gig hard drive, and sdb was 40 gig. Yeah, I know, hindsight 20/20, blah, blah, blah...Everything went fine, until wireless. I use a Linksys WMP54GS wireless for my desktop.

• desktop - Dell Dimension 4300
• Linksys WMP54GS - Broadcom 4318 rev 02

Broadcom wireless seems to be a nightmare with Linux. I had no problem with Zenwalk and just installing the drivers with Ndiswrapper. Ubuntu was a whole other disaster. I found this post in the Ubuntu forums, (36 odd pages long), but it worked for me. My only problem was, my wireless would disconnect after 1 day or 2.

Regardless, I got it all set up with Ubuntu, and clicked on the automatic upgrade. Results: not enough room on disc, etc. = I needed a bigger hard drive. I pulled a 20 gig out of something I had laying around, but now I had to reformat, and re-install everything.

After shuffling around hard drives, and a half hour with GPartEd, I was set to re-install Windows; then Zenwalk; the Ubuntu; etc. Ubuntu was last on the list, but when I got there, it got my full attention - and I was familiar with setting up the wireless.

So, I have everything running - now on wired internet - and Zenwalk is doing fine. Ubuntu, I think I need to spend some more time tweaking, but the forums seem a little overwhelming at times.

Overall, I'm digging the latest Ubuntu; I really want to like it, and this release has gotten me as close as I have ever been to liking it. I prefer the LTS versions over the the other releases, but will try every one that comes out.......waiting to find one that suits me.

On a side note: if you are a Gnome type of person, check this out: Zenwalk released a Gnome Edition.

Scott

P.S. The entire time of me trying to get this sorted, all the kids wanted to see on "Daddy's computer" was this:

Ok, the picture is at the top, I haven't figured out how to work too many of these things yet; but all they want to see/hear is Jerry Garcia on my computer - I really, truly don't know where they get it from...........honest...........

Update #1

First and foremost, many apologies for not updating sooner. It has been beyond insane from the end of July until now. I'll get to all the sordid details in due time, but let me just say "Thank god summer is over!"

Brief run-down of how it all went to hell:

• wife's been working overtime for most of the summer
• late July - nightmare with computer while trying to install Ubuntu 8.04 and get wireless working - reformatted all four operating systems 4 or 5 times - ugh!
  
• early August - combined B-Day party for Darth Punkin and her apprentice
• mid- August - trip to Annapolis, MD for my brother's wedding - 7 hour drive (broken up over two days) with two kids, and no beer! BONUS: Mapquest lied!
  
• 5 days in Maryland where if it could go wrong - it did; and just when we're saying "what next?", what next was happening
• 7 hour drive home that took over 10 1/2 hours in one day
• returned home on a Tues., our neighbors took both (still exhausted)kids (on Labor Day weekend) to an amusement park that totally made them more exhausted
• Unleash Darth Punkin on the local Pre-Kindergarten - we warned them
• back to trying to put our house back together
• trying to find some of the marbles I have lost these few weeks, and repair any/all damage to my liver ;)

I'll get in to more detail as time permits, for each stage of my journey into the various levels of hell, and their very funny moments.

One of the more humorous moments recently:

If the weather's nice enough, the kids usually want to have lunch on the front page and watch all the cars/trucks/motorcycles go by. I was in the kitchen getting my lunch ready, when all of a sudden:

Darth Punkin: Daddddddddyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
Dad: what?
Darth: Tommy killed this little baby bug...(holding little baby bug in hand)
Dad: Tommy, did you do that?
Boy-Child: yesssss........
Dad: ok, let me see it Em....
Darth: ok Daddy, but be careful, he's dead
Dad: ok Em,.................actually, he's ok, let's put him in the yard with his friends
Darth: ok Daddy......that'll make him happy..........
Dad: ok, go back and eat up your lunch, and don't kill any more bugs, ok Tommy?
Boy: kkkkk
I walk back to the kitchen to finish making my lunch, when I hear:
Darth: that's right Tommy, you heard Daddy, no more killin'!
Boy: kk

Just the way she said it made it sound like my 2 year old was on the way to insect genocide. I practically broke a rib laughing so hard.

Anyhoo.........this is a great way to end this much overdue update:

Boys, of course, will be boys.....

The she-child, who we affectionately refer to as Darth Pumkin, was our first. She's now 4. When she was about 2 1/2, we decided it was time to try to "potty-train" her, we read everything. Talked to everyone. Made absolutely no progress what-so-ever. At 3 she entered a local pre-k. Still not really using the bathroom.

It took less than 5 minutes from another 3 year old little girl to get her to want to use the toilet. We have come to realize, these words of wisdom can only come from an equal. This is also the beginning of Mom and Dad don't know anything. The words so vital to me getting some of my sanity back:

"Only little babies wear diapers to school"

That was all it took. Almost. We still had to work with her on it; but, most importantly, she was wanting and willing to use the toilet.

Enter the boy.

He is now 2, and has shown some interest in using the bathroom. The biggest stumbling block is trying to get him to sit on the toilet. Then came "The Breakthrough".

When we sit down to dinner, the kids are not allowed to leave the table until everyone is finished eating. With the exception of using the bathroom. Well, one night, good 'ol Darth Pumkin had to go. So, she jumps up and at a few decibels below the top of her lungs states "POTTY!".

The boy looks at us and in his own way mumbles something that he thinks means "POTTY!" I get the look from the wife that say: Bring him now!, so I bring him upstairs to where the training seat is. This is where, what I like to call The Enlightenment occurs. I get the friggin' diaper off and him finally on the seat.

Then it settles in to me, moreso than him. The little things in life you may take for granted. Anatomy and toilet training. Darth was only concerned with keeping the parts clean - instilled by her mother, with fear no doubt! :O The boy is sitting there in all his glory, with the soldier at full friggin' attention. XD

• Dad: dude, you're gonna need to push your willie down


• Boy: willie? (or the two year old pronuciation of willie)


• Dad: no, don't say that, mommy will ...oh never mind....just push it down, like this..


• Boy: (taking the bull by the perverbial horns) push?


• Boy: (ear to ear grin) PUSSSHH


• Dad: yes, dude,..... you can touch it

At this point, it all just clicked for him, and went all dowhill for me. I can't go downstairs to answer the phone now without coming back upstairs to find him on the toilet ( or half naked, with his grand plan foiled by daddy) PUSSSHHHHHH! XD I truly have created a monster.....with a willie.

Scott

Edit:spelling

Comes A Time.......

Last fall, on my way home, I came across 25 or so old house windows on the side of the road - which around here means free for the taking. Free is good. My immediate thought was "hey, they'd be great to make a greenhouse out of", so they're sitting in my shed waiting to be a late summer project.

But this isn't about a greenhouse.

I'm out in the shed the other day trying to get some measurements on the windows and plan on how the greenhouse would best be put together. I also have to take into consideration the two sliding glass doors (also for free on the side of the road) that I plan on using for the roof. There off to the side, by the old tires to my wife's old car and behind a bunch of old gardening pots, was my motorcycle.

Calling it a motorcycle would be like calling BBQ Ribs a pig. It was a motorcycle at one point, when I first got it. Then I started to work on it. I had planned on stripping it down and rebuilding it to original. Original would be a 1969 BSA Lightening, crotch-rocket of the UK in the '60s, chrome gas tank and all!

The parts that I have are: the engine, gas tank, a chopped hard-tail frame, fenders, pipes, and miscellaneous small parts. The original frame I had for it was stolen, with the forks and tires still on it. It's always been one of those things that I really wanted to finish. The time was never there. If the time was, the money wasn't.

What I really wanted, I think, was the ideal that went with it. The freedom associated it with riding a bike, the wind in your face, blah, blah, blah, we all know the scenario. Mostly though, it was one of the last crazy dreams of my youth and I didn't want to give it up.

Well, I gave it up. For $500.....cash!

In exchange for that dream, I'm working on a great reality:

Dad: what does "F" stand for?
4yo She-child: flowers, and friends, and french fries
Dad: what does "R" stand for?
She-Child: roses, and raspberries, and red
Dad: what does "X" stand for?
She-Child: XUBUNTU!!!!!!

My baby's learnin' LINUX! In addition to how to make whole wheat pizza dough, and plant carrots, and count the different colors of butterflies, and on and on and on....... :D.

Did I mention she can also tell you whether it's Jerry or Bobby singing when the Grateful Dead come on the radio? ;) Yes, she owns tie-dye too!

Dad: who's the cool dude?
2yo Boy: daaaad
Dad: who's the cool little dude?
Boy: (with thumb firmly planted in chest) MEEEEEEEEEE!!!

:D

I can live without that crazy dream and the freedom (at one time) it represented any day.......

Scott

The Eternal Pursuit to Telecommute

When my wife and I decided one of us was going to stay home with the kids, I hadn't expected that I would be the one. Although, when the time came, I stepped up to the challenge.

My wife has a job where she is doing well and moving up the ranks, not to mention carrying our medical benefits. The time has come though, for me to start bringing home some of the bacon. I have worked since I became a stay at home dad - some bartending(fun, but not a boatload of money), midnights in a plastics plant(not a lot of fun, but decent money), some side construction jobs on the weekends, etc. Now, I'm looking at trying to do it from the comfort of my pajamas.

Well, I started with craigslist.org. Looked through pretty much every category and replied to the ones I may be remotely qualified for/interested in.

You can imagine my surprise when I opened an email to find out someone wanted lil' ole me to be a web-cam model! Who'd a thunk it? :O As tempting as the idea of wearing a ball-gag and leather mask while doing bizarre things might be, I decided that for about $2-4/minute is a little low for what I might be asked to do. Not to mention, the wife said no.

Next up, online reading. I really didn't dive too deep into this one, but it seems I'd be emailed advertisements and asked to look at/read them. I'd be paid $.02/ad. I could, of course, refer other people to this wonderful career and make an additional penny off of every ad they read. Makes the ball-gag look good, huh?

Then came processing emails. Didn't really give this one a chance - I had to pay them for some membership or something. Nope. I'm the one who's looking to get paid.

After I felt like I had exhausted craigslist, I moved on to getafreelancer.com. Talk about feeling under-qualified. XD. I know my way around various Linux distros and can make some things in Javascript, but some of the things they have on that site just make my poor old noodle hurt just reading them.

I'm at that point of realizing I have been putting off the inevitable - polishing up the resume, and trying to actually find something I can do and do it wearing my pajamas.

Scott

Woo-hoo!!!!! Day 1 blogging....

I'm happy to have finally set this up. I've been meaning to for a while now, just never had the chance/time/whatever. The wife's getting sick and tired of my rantin' and ravin' around the house to her, so this may be the better solution.

Currently, I'm a stay-at-home dad to two great little kidders - Emily(4) and Tommy(2), and two really big, not-too-bright dogs - Fido(11 - Rott) and Rufus(5 - Rott/Eng.Mastiff).

In addition to raising the kids and trying to keep the dogs safe from said kids, we are in the process of remodeling our 100 year old rural house. Stripping the woodwork trim back to original, sanding the floors, etc, etc. Downstairs is almost finished, next year will be upstairs.

Seeing how it's also Summer, we have been busy in the gardens.....lots of veggies to be grown!!! I'd much rather grow my own than buy veggies that may have been grown with chemicals. Plan on putting a greenhouse extension on the side of the shed too.

First post done....sweet!!!!!...........back with more later ....
Scott