Weekend in the Mountains.....at the cabin!!!

We've just gotten in from Melinda and Brad's log cabin...........we had a great weekend, even though it rained on the way up Friday...through the night....and all day Saturday! It didn't matter because we had plans......big plans!!! Brad brought up the new cabinets for the kitchen and the wood to start the rails on the front porch and the inside stairs. It was a little late when we got in on Friday, so we settled back and caught up on what's been going on. Saturday morning we took off for the restaurant at Mabry Mill (we all love that place!).....Dennis tried the sweet potato pancakes and they were awesome!

After we got back, the guys were ready to get started on the kitchen! We cleared everything out and they sent us to the store to run a couple of errands....Melin and I stopped at Lover's Leap to catch the view......There was no view to be seen, as you can see!!! When we got back, the guys were hard at work and had already put three of the eight cabinets together! Amazingly, they installed (and perfectly, I might add!) all of those cabinets and made temporary countertops just in time for Melin and I to make dinner!!!

As they finished a cabinet, Melinda and I loaded it and we had the place back together by dinner time, so we could relax afterwards. The kitchen looks fabulous and there is soooo much room to store things and lots of counterspace! Melinda says it's nicer than her home kitchen (although I'm sure it won't be for long.....Brad is a "Kitchen Monster"!!

After dinner we all settled down to watch "Sex In The City".....well, almost all of us! The next morning Melin and I made breakfast while the guys started on the railing for the stairs and were done in no time at all....they look great and going upstairs feels alot less scary! Next they took their hammers, saws, drills, nails, screw and level out to the porch to start on the railings around the porch. Since we decided to put a cap on the top (Dennis said he needed someplace to set his beer down), we didn't have enough wood to finish the top railing all the way around or put on the bottom railing....we just added it to the "next time" list! While they drilled and hammered, Melinda and I moved furniture around, hung stuff, cleaned stuff.......and swept. Let me correct that! MELINDA swept.....ALL WEEKEND! If the guys made one cut with the saw, she grabbed the broom....her "broom muscles" have to hurt after this weekend! The Grin Sweeper!

Everything looks great!!! I gave them an old cedar chest of drawers that's been in my garage for four years....it fits perfectly in their room. Once we filled that, it really opened things up. We also put in the headboard for her bed. Their room looks wonderful!

After we had nailed the last nail, moved the last piece of furniture into its place, we had lunch and relaxed a little on the porch before we had to pack and go.....I just hate to leave that place! Sadly, we packed out cars and headed home.....I'm sure Melinda was doing the same thing on her drive home that I was....dreaming of all of the things we'll do on the next trip, and the next trip and the next. I'm just happy that there is one thing she doesn't have to dream about anymore.....owning her own cabin. This is it....it's the one.....and I'm so looking for to making many wonderful memories there. Home Sweet Cabin!!!

Melinda and Brad....thanks for an incredible weekend....it's one we'll remember always! We love you both! XOXOXO

More Pics of the Cabin!!!

Not So Calm Anymore.....definitely not bright!

We have battened down the hatches and put away everything on the deck....now my sunroom is full of begonias!

Hey, I'm not complaining.....I'm an inclement weather lover! The wind has been howling all night, but it's really starting to pick up a little more now. It's nothing major.....but I do expect to see some pine cones and pine straw all over the yard when it's over......sure wish the leaves were changing, then I could get them all up at one time. Oh well!

Our poor neighbor put in new bulkheading this past summer....then, just two weeks ago, he had a pathway mulched all along the bulkhead. Now it's floating down the creek!! Here are some pics of the backyard:

This is a view of the neighbor's "floating mulch" from our yard.....I don't think that salty water is going to be very good for the 10 new crepe myrtles he planted all along the creek!!!

This is a view of our dock this morning.....the floor is under water about 3 inches. The tide this morning is pretty high, but we think that it will be the worst of it. It's supposed to rain and "gust" all day, so I'll let you know how the evening tide goes! Have a great day!!!

All is calm..........all is bright.......

As you all know by now, Shelby and Justin survived Hurricane Ike, which wasn't really such a feat considering that it didn't touch them at all! In fact, Shelby called yesterday morning and said, "Mom, there are 7 mph winds, it's 83 degrees and sunny....going to run errands and lay out today!". Can you believe it?? Only 200 miles from such destruction and she couldn't even feel the wind in her hair (no further comment required here!). So.....the only thing they had to survive was me!!! I have a reputation of being overly prepared for such events.....and this time was tough because I wouldn't be there to think of everything for her....and I knew Justin would be on call and she'd be by herself. So I constantly kept her updated on where it was and where it might go....reminded her to get batteries and water...in other words, I was being me again. Of course, I know she's had plenty of practice at weather events living with me and I knew that Justin would make sure she didn't forget anything. I know he loves her and will take care of her....I'm just finding it difficult to cross that line between being the Mom that looks after her to the Mom that watches someone else fill that space in her life. Fortunately, I love and adore the man she's chosen to occupy that space....but more than that, I trust that he will always love and take care of her. So, Shelby, be patient with me if I still act like the Mom I've always been.....I'm working on being the Mom I need to be now....here when you need me and silent when you don't. I will always love you....and, like you, I've fallen in love with him, too! Live life and love life.....Mom XOXOXO

Finally......

OK......you guys are killing me! Stop growing up so dang fast...this is just too much for me! If you're getting older, then so am I and that just doesn't work for me! Sooooo.......Courtney and Austin are ENGAGED!!! Surprise!!! Not.....they have been the epitome of a happy couple for a long time (Really? Eight Years??? Stop it now!). I'm sooooo happy for you guys! Congrats, congrats, congrats! Is there a new wedding planning blog in the forecast??? If you need anything....I'm here!!! Love you guys!