Redbug Rendevous

Happy Birthday Jake!

Jake is my younger stepson ~ 32 today.  I've only been privelaged to have him in my life for 8 or so of those 32 years.  And I've seen his life change drastically in the past 2 of them.   After many years of study at NC State, Jake got his Doctorate in Physics, got a great government job, moved to D.C., got married, and had a son!  

  Jake has handled all these changes with grace.   As we watch him assume all these responsibilities, I guess I just want to let Jake know how very much he is loved.  How proud we are of him.

 

Families aren't always perfect... in fact they rarely are.   So it becomes more important than ever to appreciate the family you have, and to let them know  that.    Happy Birthday Jake!  I hope in your very busy, full of responsibility life, you have a few moments to put your feet up and relax.  I wish I was there to fix you a drink ;-)  but for now, birthday wishes will have to do.  We wish you a very happy one! 

 

D.C. Trip

Wow, it's hard to describe this trip in one blog post and keep it reasonable in length.   So let me just start out saying, look in the LUKE photo album for pictures of our visit with Jake, Rachel, and our "rockin' grandson", and look in the "Travel 09" photo album ( new one I'll be posting) for pictures of the rest of the trip.  Which makes it sound like it was a long trip - and it was only an overnight!   The purpose of the trip was to have a birthday celebration with Lucas for his 1st birthday.  His actual birthday is January 7th, and we wanted to get up sometime during  the month of January to see him.  It is also Jake's birthday (today!) so that was a bonus, to get to see him around his birthday too.   Our visit was on Saturday, between naps for Luke, so we got to Jake and Rachel's place a little

  after 11 am and left around 1 pm for the drive home.   Luke is just a delightful kid.  He's walking now, and really happy about it!

Like our visit with him in December, he didn't whine or cry, just kind of "assessed" us for awhile, but decided we were okay, especially when we started giving him presents!  Which he then would give to his mom or dad (generous!).  He still seems fascinated with how things work and how things are put together.  We gave him a little hammer with lights and sounds when you bang it, and a little drill with lights and sounds when you "pull the trigger' on it. 

   Then later a toy that you put balls in the top and they go down a maze type thing and come out the bottom.  He liked that!

 

Like our visit with him in December, Luke took a little while to "assess" us, but no whining, crying, or hiding behind mom or dad.  He just went about his business of walking and exploring, eating lunch, and didn't mind it too much if I picked him up or held him on my lap.  He's a happy, secure, and curious child, and for that, credit goes to the parents.   Happy 1st birthday Luke, we sure are happy you're here!

We decided to try to take in some sights since we were coming up to D.C.  We came up on Friday and checked in to the hotel shortly after 2 pm.  What a GREAT recommendation from Jen and Brett, who had come up a few weeks earlier.  The Grand Hyatt was in the heart of downtown D.C., and literally 3 short blocks from the Smithsonian Portrait & Art Museum, which we wanted to see.  The hotel itself was great, the rooms very comfortable, and the staff very friendly. The price was right at $89 a night ~ imagine how great that felt when we talked to the concierge and found out that earlier in the week, the rooms were $650 a night with a 4 night minimum for the Inauguration! :-)   So the hotel was absolutely great, we'll definitely stay there again!

 

The Smithsonian was FANTASTIC!  There are several buildings, I know, we wanted to go to the Portrait Museum primarily because of the Lincoln Exhibit which is there, which is great, but not as big or as much as I would have expected.  But the other thing is that all the Presidential Portraits are housed there, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them.  And so much more!   The building itself is a work of art!  So be sure to check out the photo album (Travel 09) which I hope to get posted today yet.

  It was really interesting seeing the different portrait styles.  George Bush's portrait has a casual feel and looks like he could be talking to you in your living room.

JFK, on the other hand, is an impressionistic style that is very striking.

I took pictures of quite a few of the portraits, they're in the photo album.  Which was another thing that surprised me about the museum, the only areas you couldn't take photos in were the special exhibits (like the Lincoln exhibit), and even at that, I got a few photos before anyone stopped me ~ I really didn't know I wasn't supposed to, but I took most pictures without a flash, so that kept it unobtrusive as well.  The Smithsonian was just a great experience, we spent about 3 hours there.   While there are a lot of places within walking distance for dinner, it was cold, and our feet and legs decided maybe it would be better to just have dinner in the hotel this time.  We can explore another time!  So that's what we did, and it was good.  Back to the room for a movie and an good night's sleep on the comfortable king size bed, and all in all it was great being in D.C. at the END of Inauguration week,   enjoying that good night's sleep for about $550 less than those who were there earlier in the week!   It was a great trip, that felt like we did much more than a mere 24 hours worth.

Frosty Day

Inauguration Day was a different day around here for another reason ~ Snow in Raleigh!

 

At this point it was still snowing... you see the birds in the bird feeder, and obviously this was more than just a "dusting!  It's still around today, but a lot of melting is going on... 18 tonight, Brrrrr!  Here are a few pics for your enjoyment.

 

Close Shave

Take a quick look, because it won't last long.... this is probably the closest to "Clean Shaven" that any of us will ever see on Dan!  His "No Moustache" look will be history soon, as he lets it grow back in.  I tried to convince him to completelyshave everything, just for one day, before letting it all grow back.... this is the closest I got, he couldn't quite go "completely clean"... but this gives you a very good idea!

 

Doesn't he look HANDSOME??!!   And younger, too!   So here are "the 3 faces of Dan"... which do you like best?

 

The "Amish" or "C. Evertte Koop" Look...

 

Then there's the Dan we all know and love, the Van Dyke beard & Moustache...

Let's face it (no pun intended!).... Dan is handsome any way you look at him.  This whole "Change" thing can be pretty scary... but one thing is for sure, once you jump into it, you'll definitely learn something!

Weekend Update & More...

I thought all the partying and carrying on were supposed to STOP after the Holidays!?  Wow we had an active week and weekend to start off January, and here I'm into mid-week already before having  a chance to update.  So here goes!   A Hurricanes game on Tuesday, Bible study Wednesday, and having a friend over for dinner on Thursday, we had Friday night "off".  Saturday we were invited to a "Black and White" party hosted by our friend Shirley, for our Sunday School class.  Shirley had wanted to have us over somewhere around New Year's, but Saturday was the first chance she had.  So we had a sort of "12th Night" celebration.  12th Night is sort of a cross between Mardi Gras and New Year's celebrations for other countries.  We were to dress in Black and/or White, and have all Black and White food and drinks!  Not as easy as it might sound!  We had Chicken with Mole' sauce, white rice, cauliflower, black beans, and white cake with chocolate frosting and vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips.  For drinks we had white soda, champagne, and black and white russians.   Here are a few pics:
     

The dinner was lots of fun, we all enjoyed the meal and great conversation, so it was wonderful to get together.

Sunday night we hosted an impromtu gathering with quite the eclectic group... Daniel, who was in Michigan visiting Frank and Jen over New Year's, so we hadn't seen him since Christmas... Randy, our friend and Dan's plumber, and Jen and Carly.  Brett took James to an Indian camp dinner or something or other.   That was a fun night too, Daniel made a great meal, and we all had a nice time, although I think Carly had the best time of all!

     

She's a little charmer, and managed to get attention from each of us, including Cappucino!  Ya gotta admit, that cat is a great sport!

 So today we were at the Hatch's, doing some finish-up work... Dan installed and painted the Headboard he made.  I must say, the Bedroom and Bathroom turned out beautiful, and it's rewarding to both of us because we know this remodel will make such a difference in their lives.  This older, retired couple moved from an upstairs bedroom, to the newly remodeled bedroom and bathroom on the main level.  Here's a couple before and afters for you!

   

 

Dan made and painted the cornices as well, and did all the tiling in the bathroom as well as everything else!  Dee took this picture of us today... she said she wanted a picture of us in their bedroom, since we had a picture of them in ours!  (Dan was doing their Kitchen re-model when he proposed to me 7 years ago, and used polaroids of that project to pop the question!)   Hope all of you are off to a great week.

I love Chocolate!!

I figured you guys are probably tired of hearing about our Master Bed and Bath Makeover, so I was determined not to do another post until it was all done and I could do proper "Before and Afters".  Well, it's not all done, but a BIG STEP was taken this weekend when Dan PAINTED the ceiling and walls!  It will need a 2nd coat, and the trim has to be painted, and the room is not all put together yet, etc. etc. .... but I can't resist giving you a look-see, because it is SUCH a dramatic transformation!   I have had some debates with Dan on the merits of putting moulding on the ceiling, and painting it 2 different colors... and I've had stronger debates with him on the merits of painting the slanted part of the walls... however, now that it's done, I think even Dan is surprised at how awesome the results are!

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

 One more little hint, here's the cabinet door with design... the rest of the cabinet is still in process:

I'll add just a few more photos to the photo album, but you'll have to wait for the final "Before and Afters"... hopefully not too much longer though!  I love, love, LOVE the way the paint came out!!

That Dan, he's the Master!

My Best Gift

So I'm home from the last party of this Holiday Season.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's 08/09, not  to mention birthdays, Dan's, Jan's, and mine...  And it seems no matter how "Quiet" you try to have this season be, no matter how "low-key" you're going to play it, let's face it... by the time you get through November and December, there have been dinners and lunches and brunches and parties, presents and shopping and wrapping and sending, eating and drinking and talking and singing... the Holidays will always be, well, the Holidays!  And there are many wonderful things about this time of year, but if any of you are like me, by the time you get to New Year's Day it's like, OKAY!  ENOUGH ALREADY!   So I had a lovely time over at Dare and Junior's house tonight, (see the Holidays album for some pictures)... and a delicious, Southern-style New Year's Day meal.  But I'm tired, and the evening was winding down.  That's when it happened... I received a wonderful gift.  Something totally unexpected, and truly wonderful.

 The kids were there tonight, Ryan, James, and Carly.  And they were pretty good at playing and entertaining themselves.   After dinner Carly started playing a game with Linda.  Craig and Linda are friends who live just up the street from Jan and David... this was their first time at Dare's house.   So Linda and Carly are going back and forth, naming everything they can to do with a certain subject, like "Princesses" (one of Carly's favorite things! :-)  Dresses, sparkles, slippers, earrings, etc... or "Ballerinas"... Tutus, point shoes, leotards, etc.  Suddenly Carly says to Linda,
"I can see Heaven" ... Linda says, "where do you see it?"  Carly says, "Everywhere.  I can see Heaven everywhere"  (by this time, we were all listening to this with smiles on our faces).  Linda said, "what does Heaven look like?"  Carly looked at her, smiled,  and said, "it's shining all around you".   Linda had to turn her head, as tears sprang to her eyes.  I had to turn my head too.  It was a totally pure, innocent statement.  And you know what?  I believe Carly can see exactly what she says she sees.

 There's that song that goes, "Thank Heaven, for Little Girls".  Tonight I say, Thank God for Little Carly, who brought a bit of Heaven to everyone in that room tonight.   And that's a wonderful way to start a New Year!

Happy New Year!

Our Cross-Over from 08 to 09 has been an interesting one!  We worked intensely at the beginning of the week to complete the bedroom and bathroom for our clients, who were returning from out of town on New Year's Eve Day.   We were invited to a New Year's Eve party at Jen and Brett's, and about 4 pm on New Year's Eve Day, the Washer died.  Dan is going to write about this particular adventure on his blog, so be sure to check that out:
http://ravenhillconstruction.typepad.com/

Suffice it to say, what could have been major misfortune causes us, instead, to count our blessings!

Jen and Brett did a party with a Caribbean theme.  The orignal plan was to do a Bonfire in the backyard,  but a front blew through hear yesterday, literally, with some pretty high winds, and dropped the temps to 22, so that was nixed.  Instead, Jen decorated the garage and put a space heater in there, and it was great!  Comfortable, and a really cool atmosphere!

Jen used christmas lights wrapped in fabric with Napkin holders at the ends to make lit up "fish" on the blue backdrop....                           

The drink baskets had colorful Christmas lights, and the other side of the garge had a large beach umbrella and blow-up Palm tree.  Outdoor chairs around for people to sit in, and Caribbean music playing on a portable player.  My flash shows the details of everything, but in person it looked more like this:

 

And they also had great food.... BBQ pulled pork in a crockpot, jasmine rice, sweet potatoes, boiled shrimp, and home-made Bananas Foster for dessert.  Awesome!   It was a mixed group of folks, lots of neighbors, some old Winston's friends, Jan and David and Dan and I...  everyone was invited to stay over, and Jan and David did that, Dan and I knew we'd want to sleep in our own bed.  So while we had a couple of drinks, we made sure we were able to drive home, and it was nice to sleep in and wake up with just a slight headache today!   Here are some "portraits" from the Party... 

 This is right after Midnight, after the ball dropped and the toasting...

 

David, Jan, Brett, Dan, and Bob Marley!

Check out the "Holidays" Photo album for a few more pics.  Today will be different for Dan and I, we're going separate ways!  He'll go to Artie's to watch football, and I'm going to Dare's for traditional Southern New Year's Day dinner.  So I'll have a few more pics to add to the album tomorrow. 

We feel blessed by good fortune and good friends, and can't help but feel optimistic about the coming year (Right Dan??!! ;-)

Happy New Year to All!