Sunday, September 20, 2009

what we've been up to...

I almost forgot that we even *had* a blog, and for those of you (few) who check it, apologies for the out-of-touch-ness! Here's a glance at our past (gulp) 6 months since the last post:

March was a tough month that saw the passing of dear Grammy Esther. She died peacefully on March 6 and we had a lovely memorial service a few weeks later. It was an emotional time, complicated by the failing health of my grandfather at the same time (luckily he's doing better!).

April was - well a long time ago and who really remembers what happened then? LOL! At some point this spring, Mike single handedly replaced our holey garage door (which was a project)! Lining everything up, getting it level - he really is a handy guy. I'm very lucky! We washed patio furniture, set up the deck and pruned, cut down and generally cleared lots of excess overgrowth from the yard. We had a few good burn days, but not enough. The burn pile is ready again for the winter/spring when the town allows us to burn again.

May - warmed up, saw my tulips in bloom - which was somewhat of a miracle since they came from the Christmas Tree Shop! Big news this month was the purchase of a hammock stand that was well used for the duration of the spring/summer season. It has a perfect home under our magnolia tree on the patio. I tried to do some more pruning of the bushes in our yard and instead was infected with a severe case of poison ivy all over my arms - swelling, puss, it was oh-so-attractive. Mike, who is less - if at all - affected by the stuff, became my hero and pulled it all up/out and disposed of it. Hopefully we got it all, and the poison we put down will kill the rest. So far, I think we may have done it.

June - to start the month, we celebrated my birthday by inviting the neighbors over for cocktails and cupcakes - a big hit! We got people together who hadn't really been together before - very fun! On the 23rd was our second anniversary! It rained most of the month in MA, and we were able to get away for what we called "Anniversication" to Riviera Maya, Mexico for a week's worth of sun, relaxation and 100% chance of hammock. We enjoyed couples massage on the beach as a present to each other, along with long walks, tropical drinks and some adventures to the ruins and reefs. It was the perfect getaway and a restful and relaxing adventure.

July - Sox and I got into a routine of hiking/swimming at the local state park after work. He did most of the swimming, but I did wade in at times. Around the house, we planned our next big project - installation of hardwood floors in our living room and a new set of stairs connecting it to the family room. The project is still in planning mode, but we're getting closer to starting demo (I think!). Finished spreading the (unbelievable) 5 yards of mulch that came in May and didn't get spread in June because of the crummy weather. I think it makes for a much more tailored landscape. Got to the Cape a few times to visit Mom and the gang which is always nice. Also enjoyed an anniversary celebration with some family friends. With the Cash for Clunkers program, Mike was working his tail off - with good results - and almost doubled his previous record for monthly sales. The down side was the lack of home/rest time he had that month.

August - We have clearly settled in to suburbia and enjoy leisurely days and short adventures. I hosted a Student Send-off for the local kids attending IU - that's always a good time. I enjoy almost monthly gatherings with the other ladies on our street, which is very fun and keeps us connected. Mike built a rock wall around our patio to contain the excess mulch using rocks found in our backyard. Very authentic and creates a nice barrier for the now flourishing new grass. We said goodbye to my parents who left the Cape for the season and headed back to Indiana. With Mike's tremendous connections, we were able to cash in on a new-to-us Subaru Tribeca while trading in my old explorer. I love my new Subie and we got a great deal on it. :)

Not a ton of photos available, however, that can change now that I feel I'm caught up. More news posted soon!

1 comment:

JJ said...

Sounds like you guys are doing great! I would love to see photos of all the yard work (and house when it happens)...