Our Summer Project: Part 3

Over the weekend we were finally able to install our little porthole window in the garage:

 

Right now it looks kind of odd because of the flashing, but as soon as we install the light extenders for the garage lights, we're going to start siding, and then our garage will look fabulous! Hopefully we'll get a lot done this weekend! (Stone or siding--either way it's something accomplished!)

Our Summer Project: Part 2

A couple of weeks ago we were making very good progress, and actually finished one section of the stone on the garage.

 

It didn't seem possible, as this small area stretched over weeks to complete. And what we found out quickly is the amount of mortar we mixed to use took a disproportionate amount of time to use up. So, one full bag of mortar took us all day to use up, whereas a half bag of mortar only took 2-3 hours to use up. Here's a photo of our messy work site, as we try to figure out which stones go where:


And here's a photo as I put in the final stone for this section. Notice I'm sitting in "the captain's chair." (That's what I've nicknamed this bar stool we got from a neighbor who was throwing it away. I thought it was fun to take a break and sit in the chair while I pondered the layout of stone we were working on! The bar stool also has the benefit of 360 degree rotation, so it's fun to spin around and get dizzy on. :)

Happy 4th from Our Small Town

 

So, we are discovering that Manchester is a very active town, with lots of fun summer activities. We would never have guessed the very cool 4th of July fireworks display that we saw! I tried to take some photos with the digital camera, but I was too awestruck to mess around with the settings, so I only got this one good shot. (I like this firework, though--it made me think of a planet with rings.) Apparently you can find more good photos here.

Our Summer Project!

 

So, even though we had a very slow start, we are building steam on our siding project. We've been working on the stone on the garage, and despite the very horrible heat last weekend, we have gotten a lot accomplished. Here my dad is mixing mortar so we can get started.

Here the wall is starting to come together. We quickly realized that we have to fit the stones together like pieces of a jig saw puzzle, and it took awhile to get a hang of it.


By the end of the weekend, Mark and I felt like pros. Obviously we're not, but we were making good progress, and are already thinking ahead to ordering more materials for the rest of the front of the house...


Late last week this cat showed up at our neighbor's house, and we have co-adopted the cat. Mark started calling her Boot (because of the one dark paw), and she is a very sweet cat. We haven't officially taken her in yet, but unless we find a home for her, I'm afraid that that is what is going to happen. Boot hung out with us while we worked all weekend, so at least she is dedicated. :)

Literary Agent Talks Back

I just recently came across SlushPile Hell, an amusing blog by a literary agent who responds to some of the inane and odd query letters he/she receives. The tag line reads: "A grumpy literary agent wades through query fails." I think that says it all.

Funny/Fail Signs

Mark likes to read the DamnCoolPics blog, which will show a bunch of random photos according to a theme or topic for the post. Here is my "damncoolpics" of the day:


(I love that the sign is in the middle of the river, and I want to know how it got there!)


(Yah!)


(That is one EXPENSIVE drink!)