Empty Nest...literally

   So, about mid-April we noticed a momma robin trying to build a nest on top of our porch light, however it didn't look like it was working out. We decided that after a weekend in VA at the end of the month we'd take it down so she'd find somewhere else to build. By the time we made it home there it was, a full fledged robin's nest, complete with four little eggs.

 

After a couple of weeks...we had a three little beaks popping up!  And a day or two later, whole heads!

 

Soon our three little ones had found their spots and got comfy!

It wasn't long, though, until they could all barely fit.  This poor little guy got stuck on top!

And then one morning I looked out to check on them and just one little guy was left.  A few hours later, he was gone too!  I just happened to catch him on the fence, trying to get a hang of that darn flying business!

He was a little gun shy so momma (who we knew very well at this point, by all of the screeching at us when we came outside!) gave him a little pep talk.

And then, after a few botched landings and rough flights, there were none....

It was about 5 weeks before we were able to enter and exit our house without being berated by an angry momma, but now I kind of miss our little babies!

Custom (kind of) tray

Ok so it's not really a home DIY but it's a DIY nonetheless, more of the decorative persuasion.  I have become insanely addicted to Modge Podge!  (For those of you who aren't up on the crafters lingo, it's basically glue but so much better and you can do SO much with it!!)  We've had a little wooden tray on the ottoman for a couple of years, just to have a flat surface for whatever reason (although it's become more of a catchall than anything).  Unfortunately it was an imitation bamboo look and I never was really digging it but what can you do?  Well apparently for under 10 bucks at Hobby Lobby and an afternoon you can make it over!  I am so happy to finally have it suit the the living room, a little bit anyway.  Take a peek:


BEFORE:

Some brown spray paint, fabric, and Modge Podge later.....

AFTER:

It still needs trimming and probably won't add value to our house when it's time to sell, but dang it, it makes me happy!!

Is the grass always greener?

In our yard...YEP! 

I know you've all been anxiously awaiting a new post, well folks, here we go! 

After months of looking at a jungle (see previous post) and then a mud pit, we finally have a green lawn to peek at through the window.

This was our mud pit (pre-mud)

One week after seeding....yep, that's right, one week!!  Thanks to the week of never ending rain for this one

Two weeks later....GREEN!! (And Ellis cleaning his grill)

It's still pretty patchy but we'll probably have to wait a little bit to fill in some.  It was a much longer road than I anticipated but we met the goal of grass before winter!

Every morning has been like Christmas for Ellis, he runs downstairs to see how the grass looks and gets all giddy that it's so green!

Welcome to the jungle

Our once jungle of a backyard has been tamed...finally!!

Before:

During:

After:

First of all, how cool is my phone with the panoramic shots?!  Secondly, how happy are we that this is finally done?  Well, I'm not nearly as happy as Ellis but we're both pretty happy!  Now to seed it and turn that dirt garden into a lawn!

Storm door

We finally...FINALLY...got the storm door!  We've had it picked out since last year but since our wonderfully quirky home's door frame was a whole half inch smaller than standard size we just couldn't justify forking over the extra money to make it fit.  Fortunately the wait is over!  

Before...with our new mailbox!

After...the top half pulls down to a screen

Niellei still isn't sure about it, but she's getting there.  It's a small thing but I suppose they all add up!

A small break...no pun intended

So as many of you know I am on the mend.  Unfortunately having two broken elbows doesn't lend itself to home/outside projects (of course neither does 100 degree weather).  Because of this we've had to go on a small DIY hiatus, which is driving me nuts!!  My poor flower bed is screaming for attention (pictures soon!) 

In other news, our connecting neighbor finally moved in.  He's a nice guy, single, and has lots of plans for his half, so we're pleased! 

Hope everyone's having a great weekend!  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, hopefully we'll get back to the fun stuff soon enough!

Patio Party

**I actually wrote this the day after we finished the patio (6/1), I just knew that I wanted to do a slideshow of pictures and haven't felt like compiling that until now...sad, I know**

I don't know that I'd call it a party per se, it was more like a patio laying/bake in the sun/kill you muscles work out!  But we've finally accomplished our first major project, the very large paver patio.

When we moved in (giant cement blocks)

During (no blocks....just dirt)

After (FINALLY a patio we can use!)

After four long days of work in the crazy heat and sun it's officially done!

All ready to entertain

We are SO, SO thankful for ALL of the help from family, friends, and neighbors & for no rain all weekend (however, a little rain may have been welcome to cool things down a bit).