The Renovations Have Begun in Earnest !!

 

When a truck like this arrives in the early morning....

you know there are about to be some serious renovations for the day.

 

Most of the older homes, in my area of Texas, were built on a pier and beam system. As is so often, an older home can be in it's original state of construction.

This is the case for my newly purchased 1930's Craftsman Bungalow.

 

 

Shortly after the first hour of work, this is what it looked like. The crew has removed the bottom skirting.

Before the day is over, many new piers will be added in the center of the home. They will dig deeply in the earth and add the piers, plus re-setting the old ones.

 

I'm so lucky to have the contacts of a 3rd Generation House Leveler. The owners' Grandfather started the business. He now has a nephew (4th generation) working for him.

 

I recently saw a sigh that said:

"If you think an Expert is Expensive....

First try hiring an Amateur."

Meggie Mac 

 

How Many Days Left Before Christmas ?

 

Somehow I have convinced myself if I hang one single tree ornament, I can say, "I'm in the process of decorating the Christmas Tree".

As you know, this will be my first Christmas in Das Kleine Haus. I am still working to get some kind of order to the haus before my family arrives for the holidays.

Click on Photo

Because my home has 12 foot ceilings, I opted for my very first tall tree....

With the tall tree comes a new problem. I need to bring an equally very tall ladder in the living room, so I might  place the star on.

Taken at Night

I have managed to place a LED candle, with greenery, in each of the 25 windows. The decorations for this year will be simple, accenting the beauty of the century year old haus.

Before the Christmas Stockings can be hung, the tile on the new hearth must be finished.

Looks like it will be another busy Friday Project Day.

Meggie Mac

Splish Splash...I was Taking a Bath

Reflection in Mirror

Do you remember the 1958 hit song, "Splish Splash, I Was Taking Bath", by Bobby Darin? That is what I thought of when I started writing this post.

This is Step One, Phase One of updating the bathroom at Das Kleine Haus.

When I bought the house this is how it was dressed up.

And this is what was behind that beautiful curtain....

I don't believe much water came out of the shower head and the left facet handle fell off when I touched it.

My friend, and professional paint expert, Cipriano, arrived on Saturday with his son. He had previously re-finished a tub, for me, at the farm.

I bought all the supplies at the local hardware store; re-finishing kit (epoxy paint), 0000 steel wool for sanding, and most important the respirator to cover your mouth and nose. Cipriano's son is working on the first step, by sanding all the surfaces.

Believe it or not, this is the reflection from the light of the window.

And, two hours later, we have magic !!

Meggie Mac

Extra Helpers for Project

Just what I needed this week end were some extra hands with assembling the storage bench.

May I introduce Eric. He has been coming with his father on Saturdays, to help me with the lawn care at the farm and Das Kleine Haus. He is 12 years old and eager to earn some extra money for school.

Since there is so little storage for gardening tools at the new home, I'm trying to maximize it with some outdoor containers.

His sister, Erica, also tagged along this past week end. She was ready to help her big brother.

I'm happy to see this label in the right place....

In all the years I have owned the farm, this is the first year to have help mowing and trimming the lawn. While the farm sale is pending, I definitely need the extra help with 2 lawns.

I'm so very lucky Eric's father agreed to help out. I think he is a little camera shy....

Even though, Mama works in the local bakery during the week, she also comes to be supportive of her family.









It is so nice to see a family working together....

Meggie Mac

Water Lily at the Farm

This is the first bloom of the year for my water lilies. The metal container they grow in, was made to be used in the pasture to water the cattle. I think it gives my flower garden a country look.

Friday Project Day at the farm is about to begin.  Early this morning, before sunrise, I did a walk around to see what I would be working on. The entrance, to the new Secret Garden, was installed a couple of weeks ago. Now the real work of adding flowers and shrubs is about to begin.

I'm hoping these windows, recycled from the farmhouse, will give the look of a garden room. They will receive a coat of primer today.

Water lily blooms close up at the end of the each day. As the sun rises in the morning, the lily comes out of the water and opens up for another day. Each year they out do themselves.

I'm thinking this year will be no different....

Enjoy your Friday
Meggie Mac

The Mockingbird Musical Repertoire

The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of my home state, Texas. I took this photo quite by accident.

Yesterday, while taking a break from my Friday Project Day, I decided to re-arrange my kitchen counter space. With all the windows in the kitchen, I have a full view of my secret garden.

There he was, as I looked out the window....this beautiful bird. The photos were taken through the glass of my kitchen window.








If you are not familiar with the musical talents of this bird, click on the YouTube. They can sing up to 200 songs, including the songs of other birds, insect and amphibian sounds, even the occasional mechanical noise.

The northern mockingbird is also the state bird of Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi.

Just for the fun of it, go back and click on the first photo to open it in a larger format. Take a look at his feet. It reminds me of a first-time snow skier on the slopes, a little unsure of his footing.

Doesn't it make you want to laugh? Or at least, smile...

Meggie Mac

Out With the Old...In With the New

Usually Friday is Big Project Day. This week it came on Thursday.

When I bought the 90 year old farmhouse 12 years ago, I decided to keep all the old wooden windows. Everything around them was updated. Do you see me in the window?

As the years passed, it became apparent they were not holding up. I guess the neglect from the house being vacant for 15 years, caused the windows to come apart.

I  have been replacing them, one by one, as monies become available. Each one must be ordered in a special size.

Thursday was a huge project because it involved three windows in my upstairs bedroom. The work had to be timed so it wasn't a rainy day. Also the high winds we experience, was another factor.

After tacking cardboard behind the old windows, all the trim had to be removed and the the windows taken out.

Because of the size of the middle window, the father/son team decided to remove the large glass with suction cups. Safety was our number one concern.

The day before the project, I took it upon myself to primer and paint the new trim work. This saved me labor cost by doing it myself.


It is an old house and nothing is completely level. It took some careful maneuvering to get all three windows level on the outside.

How is this for a view when you wake up in the morning?

Meggie Mac

All Day Gardening

Somewhere between last Friday and this week, the Texas Mountain Laurel  decided to bloom. Look out, there's a bee!

The mountain laurel came with the purchase of the farm. My farm had been abandoned for over 15 years. So, I believe any plant that survived , on it's own that long, deserves to continue to grow.

It is too close to the back door of the farmhouse and the trunk of the shrub is gnarled. Once a year, it blooms these incredible violet flowers. You can see the Cowgirl Room in the background, with the cedar stepping stones  leading to the door.

I found one lone seed pod still holding on. The seeds, two in a pod, are very hard and must be scored to make them sprout.

Friday began with a 7am trip to the local discount store in town. I bought 20 bags of pine bark mulch for the garden beds.  It is less expensive to have it delivered in bulk, but the bags are easier for me to handle. When you work alone, you must take your back into consideration.

After unloading the truck, I trimmed some shrubs at the back of the farmhouse.

Finally, I made the decision to prune back the roses that were already showing blooms.

The potatoes are just beginning to break the ground. I added sand to this soil to make it loose for planting potatoes and carrots.

The first fruit tree I planted 12 years ago, is beginning to bloom for this year's fruit. It almost didn't survive the drought from last year. The plums make the best plum preserves that I usually give as Christmas gifts.

The wild dewberries are about to bloom. They produce a small red berry that also makes wonderful jam or dewberry muffins.

When the day was over, and a much needed shower taken, it was time to think about dinner. Nothing fancy and certainly nothing that would require much preparation....onions, orange bell peppers, zucchini, and sausage.

Adding some potatoes, I have dinner.

And last, the chore of washing today's dishes.

I think I'm tired....

Meggie Mac