It's a Wrap!

View from my kitchen door today.

The framing crew is finished and is hauling away trash. The garage/studio has been wrapped in Tyvek. Thanks, Men!

Note: And while the crews have been busy building the garage/studio for us, what have we been doing? Regular daily stuff plus visiting showrooms and selecting kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures, windows and lighting fixtures.

Also, I've been getting My Ranchburger ready for sale. No easy task, as I have lived there for thirty-five years (lots of stuff and such to recycle, including memories.) In My Ranchburger, I helped raise five cherished children...two birth children and three step children. Four of the children cheered me through two college degrees and the last one helped me out of the house each morning to a new career. My Ranchburger has seen me through a failing marriage, then later welcomed Tall Husband with wide open doors.

Yes, lots of stuff and such to recycle...

Wednesday's Shot

Wednesday, the Builder, the Architect, Tall Husband and I had our weekly meeting at The Bunny Bungalow to discuss the progress and the next steps in the construction of the garage/studio out behind the Bungalow. There were some tense moments, as the architect found some things that were not executed according to her plans. I'm so glad we asked our architects to oversee the project...it's worth the extra expense. Plus, we have a great builder, so we know he'll get things corrected.

See that little crape myrtle in the right foreground? It is one of three that we had professionally transplanted to make way for the garage/studio. Let's hope they all bloom this summer!

Note: As usual, there are more photos in the slide show to the right.

View From the Rear Window

View from the rear window. The window will be much larger when the construction crew cuts out the section.

Tall Husband inspects the construction progress at the garage/studio behind the Bunny Bungalow.

Note: Additional photos are in the slide show on the right of this posting.

Topping Out

As the construction crew put the last roof beam up, we had an impromptu topping out ceremony today at the Bunny Bungalow. You probably know that this is a tradition of placing a small tree (usually a fir tree) atop a building when all the roofing beams are in place.

Tall Husband found a small Laural tree in the alley that had survived the recent freeze and that's what a member of the crew placed at the highest point. The crew is Hispanic and not familiar with a tradition with its origin in the European culture but they were eager to help us celebrate.

Gracias, hombres!

Note: There will be more photos in the slide show to the right.

The Right Frame of Mine

This is the second day of framing out back of The Bunny Bungalow. Tall Husband looks on.

Tall Husband took this shot of the second floor while standing on a stack of lumber.

The weather is beautiful...perfect for framing.

A huge hawk soars above the construction site. I think he approves...or has he spotted Ouisie, our neighbor's tiny Chihuahua?!

Le Ballon Rouge

Today while Tall Husband and I were washing our little red car, the wind brought a red balloon to watch us.

For a moment, we felt as if we were characters in the French fantasy film Le Ballon Rouge. The balloon went on its way and we have no idea where it is now. But it left us wearing smiles as we washed the car.

Slab Happy

The slab for the garage/studio is completed. This morning the workmen remove the wooden forms. Miraculously, no dogs, cats or children left their paw prints.

When It Doesn't Rain, They Pour

Photos by Tall Husband

This is truly an exciting day at The Bunny Bungalow! With the freeze and rain over, the crew arrived and poured our slab. As I was at the surgeon's office getting stitches removed from my hand, Tall Husband took photos when the pouring of the cement began. I arrived when the second cement truck drove up to the back gate. We were like kids, jumping up and down and giggling...well, Tall Husband doesn't giggle so I giggle for both of us. (Click on the slide show, at right, to see the progression of events at The Bunny Bungalow.)

Houston, We Have a Freeze!

The pad has been prepared, at just $4,600 over budget for this item (remember the "water bed" soil that had to be augmented?)

The slab was to have been poured this week; however, the temperature is in the teens...unusual for semi-tropical Houston. So, the pouring of the cement is postponed until next week. Monday, we hope.

Saturday Morning Adventure

"Spirit of Ecstasy" hood ornament on a vintage Rolls-Royce

While we were having our morning coffee, we suddenly remembered an early morning commitment to attend and shoot an event, but we had visitors who were asleep in their beds. "We can go and be back before anyone is awake," I said. So at the crack of dawn this morning, Tall Husband and I were hand washing our Porsche in the chill of morning. We then left a note for our sleeping house guests, Tall Son, Saara and the Twins, letting them know that we were off to Houston Coffee and Cars gathering. The event was wonderful (see the slide show, Coffee and Cars, Houston January 2, 2010, right.) We got to show off our car, see lots of cool rides and shoot the entire event.

We were back home, with breakfast croissants for everyone, about the time they were brushing the sleep from their eyes.

Note: Tall Husband and I did all this with only one pair of good hands between us!

Happy New Year: 2010

Tiny Quail Egg: available by the dozen from the French Garden House

"The present was an egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell"

Zora Neale Hurston, American folklorist and writer, 1903-1960