Updates

1. Canning- I finally got the canning thing figured out using the camp stove. The freezer is still pretty full but I have jars of blueberry preserves and syrup. I was planning on putting up so scuppernog jelly as well but some sort of wild life seems to have gotten to my scuppernogs so there won't be enough. We planted a fall garden- tomatoes and eggplant and raspberry and blackberry bushes.


2. School- The kids started school August 23rd. E is in a gifted classroom rather then a pull out program and is really enjoying the challenge, so nice not to hear how boring school is, kinda funny to see him actually have to WORK. The girls like their teachers and are making new friends. They seem to all be adjusting well to the school day it is just the mornings we are still working on. The bus comes at 6:50!




3. W returned from Memphis September 1st. My parents came to visit Labor Day weekend and since then W has been hard at work redoing the kitchen. Here is the kitchen when we first moved in. Kitchen after all the cabinet bases had been sanded. Preview of some finished drawers.


4. 
   
   The work on the kitchen has slowed to a crawl while we get the back yard prepped for a pool. For planning purposes we had two pool guys come out and give us quotes for the new pool we were thinking of putting in about February. Guy one asked us what we wanted drew up a plan for us and gave us a quote. T shaped pool, extra decking that we will eventually cover with a pergola to give us a covered patio space for eating and grilling. Guy 2 said a T shaped pool wouldn't allow for the drainage needed when it rains and would end up too close to the septic lines. He recommended a standard shaped pool with an extended shallow end and a steeper slope down to the deep. He gave us a quote much lower then Guy1 and offered us a discount to do it now! He said he has plenty of jobs for February but nothing for next week : )
5. So in the next week the sprinkler system need to be rerouted, the gazebo torn down and a fence put up. Snag one has already been hit- we can't find anyone to put up a fence with out tearing out a bunch of plants and a tree or two. So we are reworking the pool plans to fence in the pool instead of the yard and have a separate covered wood deck space for grillin' and chillin'. We need to talk to the pool guy to see how this new plan will fit in the yard but maybe it will go smoothly from here on out?