a whole new me..........

In January, I joined a group of ladies on a weight loss resolution.  We have challenged, supported, fussed at, and prodded each other to continue our journeys.

As of this month, I have lost 30 pounds (54 pounds now since 2008) and over 37 inches when you total all the areas.

I went yesterday with a good friend and neighbor and started a new wardrobe.  The items I bought were 14's and 16's.

When I came home, I started emptying out my closets and drawers.  I have 31 items that are 2-3 sizes too big.  No wonder I was feeling frumpy!

I am not finished by any stretch of the imagination but I feel like I may be about halfway to my goal.  :)

more and more and more.........

All of the inside walls in the public areas are covered in cedar.  We still need to do the back splash in the kitchen and the laundry room and two closets in cedar.  We also have to finish the porch and cedar siding on the outside.

Kitchen Before:

 

Kitchen After:

Kitchen walls in Cedar:

Bedroom Before:

Bedroom in Cedar:

Living Room Before:

Living Room in Cedar:

Dining Room Before:

Dining Room in Cedar:

I think that is enough pictures for this entry.  Will post outside changes in the next one.  Enjoy!

Art work..............

This was given to me as a gift..................................what are your thoughts???????

Science Center......

Terry and I went on a field trip with the 6th grade class to the science museum.  I wasn't sure how the kiddos would do since they had been there in third grade.  I was surprised at how much more interested they were in how things worked.  Of course we still had to have fun.........like getting eaten by a larg mouth bass:

The fish were beautiful but I did not have much time to photograph them as the boys were off and going again.

This one was funny as could be.....you are riding a virtual bicycle being chased by a dinosaur.  If the dinosaur catches you, it tells you that you are extinct.  If you out run the dinosaur, it tells you that you survived!

Hurricane force winds are no big deal for Mississippi boys!

Sending smoke signals..........

This looked challenging and fun and scary all at once.  Only 2 of the 4 boys would try it.

The guy is the tallest in the class but I didn't realize how tall he was!  LOL

And his partner who was just a little shorter:

This machine is what all parents need!  A bed of nails!

I had a really good time watching them explore.  I am glad I chose to go!

camp houses and ponds......

Well, we had another interesting weekend here in the woods.  Where the yellow slide is in this picture, there used to be a playhouse.  When we had it in Alabama, it was on 8 foot posts. It is no longer on 8 foot posts and no longer in the trees.

Here is it's new home.  On the little peninsula into the pond.  Much work was needed still as the deck on it was only 2 foot wide.  We originally built when Alex was 6 or so.

Ready to work!

Well, almost ready......we need to watch the fish first!  Here is one of our little bream!  And, yes, our water is now that blue!  We put some kind of dye into the pond which is supposed to reduce the amount of weeds growing in the pond since it tints the water.  I think Terry might have put a little much in.....lol.

Here is the original deck looking over the pond.

Getting the posts into the muck and level was quit a scene,  Alex enjoyed it though since he could get into the water.  :) Decking halfway done!

The neck pier - minus the hand rails which will be added later.  It is a little over 8 foot wide and 12 feet long.  Looks like a great place to do pilates in the afternoon!

One corner is still a bit low and will be adjust on Wednesday.  Terry needed to try it out.

Not sure who will enjoy it more - the grown up boy, or???

The growing up boy!

I bet I can figure that out pretty quick though!

What do you think?

Just long enough of a run to make a big splash!

Oh yeah! I think they both like it!

A time for new beginnings.............

I was on Spring Break this week and we did a little bit from our list of things to do.  I finished up the drawers from the kitchen and Terry got all the knobs and pulls on.  We are debating over what to put between the cabinet and counter tops.  I know I want stamped metal behind the stove but can't decide whether or not to carry it around under all the cabinets.  So many choices!

One morning I woke up to let the chickens out and it looked like jewels in my front yard.

The chickens didn't care about any of the beautiful things - they wanted breakfast and were in a big hurry!

We also had visitors this week.  They are like you crazy, old aunt that makes a lot of noise and never wants to be forgotten.........LOL

Max had to say hello also.

They stayed a little while and rested before moving on.  We have had several pairs stop and rest.

I transplanted and trimmed my rosemary bush.  Not sure if it will be happy in this pot and I need to settle it down a little more.  This is one of my only plants the chickens did not eat last summer.

AND we worked on cedar boards.  We trimmed them, planed them, measured them, and hung them.  We finished most of the living/dining.kitchen area today.  We have about 8 feet let of the ceiling to do in this room.

We started over the kitchen ceiling as well.  There is 8 feet to finish in this room.  We have not started on the laundry room or the closets yet.

Our bedroom is now finished - ceilings, walls, trim and baseboards.

Bedroom from the northeast corner.

And the last wall with the tv.  My amazing husband made a floating shelf to hide all the cables and things in.  It looks so different in there.