It's A Beautiful Thing

This is a beautiful thing for digital camera lovers. With a 1 gigabyte card in it I have over 400 pictures on it and have used 512 megabytes. The pictures are clear and detail is excellent. I did set them to 4X6 size before installing them on the compact flash card I am using but that was only to prevent any blank areas on the side. All the pictures I used were horizontal or landscape views. I am going to need another digital frame to showcase pictures in the vertical or portrait mode.

With a few of these babies located in a wall grouping you could cycle through a large number of digital photos in a small amount of wall space. Also, contrary to my original thoughts you do not need to have the largest sizes to be able to enjoy your pictures.

Years ago, I remember the grandparents back pedalling at all of the 8x10 school pictures coming at them yearly. They use up a lot of wall space in a very short time. I understand their reasoning a lot better now as the grandfather of a growing number of grandchildren.

Things To Look Forward To In 2008

I will update this list as we go through the year as more things to look forward to occur to me.

These fine collectable books are available at:

Cape Publications
P.O. Box 1027, Tustin, CA 92781
1-800/745-9714

Website: https://www.northcapepubs.com/

E-mail: ncape@ix.netcom.com

A Motto For Consideration

Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

The Old Salt really loves this motto to live by but believes you have to aim for distance; skidding in sideways in your early twenties eliminates a lot of fun that you may miss if you can last until your nineties before you end the ride.

Men's Rules

Here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules!
Please note these are all numbered "1" on purpose!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl, it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.


1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as shooting, sex or movies.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

It Was Pumpkin Patch Time This Weekend

Blue Daddy Got Home In August

Isaac's "Blue Daddy" is finally home.

Isaac was very excited and somewhat anxious.

He was running laps around his parents and Cheez at the airport. I think he was so excited he didn't know what to do with himself.

The Cowboy Code

Gene Autry created the Cowboy Code or Cowboy Commandments in response to his young radio listeners aspiring to be just like Gene:

1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws.
10. The Cowboy is a patriot.

The Old Salt thinks these are ideas are as valuable now as they were when Gene Autry wrote them years ago.

This is the South side of the house, Maudie is getting her plants installed nicely. The lawn is centipede grass, that is supposed to be short, but it seems to grow fast. An early sprinkler problem caused some stress but recovery seems imminent.



This shot is closer to the East. You can see a fairly nice water oak that was left during the construction. We are only mowing the sod we laid down at this time. It is our intention to leave some wilder areas around the lot. But it also takes time and money to get these projects completed.



Here I have taken the shot a little North of East so you can view the side of the house as well as some of the backyard. The lot is 1/2 acre which is not huge, but a lot more than we had with our Mercedes Home in Brevard County.



As you look at the backyard, it is about 60 feet from the back porch to the fence line at the back of the property. This angle really does not show the whole backyard. Not all of it will be mowed although we do plan on making it deeper in the future. Some of it will be left rough. The day we moved in, our daughter and grandson saw two deer on the other side of the fence. We often see red tailed hawks and hummingbirds out here. There is also a large owl who lives in the area.



This a closer shot of the back porch. Maudie is putting in a patio to increase the area for entertaining. It will be concrete pavers with sand packed around them in the finest HGTV tradition. A pergola will be constructed to hold more plants and provide some shade.


The sandy area will be filled in for the patio and the pergola will be located in the area where the kiddie pool is leaning against the house.

The Other day

Author Unknown, this was passed to me by a pal of some 40 years:

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old.

I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old.

Upon seeing my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let him know.

Growing Older, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be.

Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body ... the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the cellulite.

And often I am taken aback by that old person who lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.

As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avant garde on my patio. I am entitled to be messy, to be extravagant, to smell the flowers.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon, before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a.m and then sleep until -- ?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50's & 60's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love.....I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set.

They, too, will get old. (if they're lucky)

I know I am sometimes forgetful.

But then again, some of life is just as well forgotten and I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken.

How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet dies? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion.

A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed,and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

I can say "no," and mean it.

I can say "yes." and mean it.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive.

You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore.

I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being older.It has set me free. I like the person I have become.

I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day... (if I want).

Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles. Love simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly.

The Old Salt heartily passes these sentiments on to all of his relatives, friends and acquaintances.

P.S., I would write more but I have an important movie date with a my 2, 3, and 4 year old grandchildren and a large bucket of salted, buttered popcorn. TTFN.

A Challenge For My Peeps And Others

RULES:

Post these rules before we give you the facts.

Players start with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.

Those tagged need to post these rules and then write their own blog post about their own eight things.

At the end of your post, you need to choose eight people who get tagged and list their names.

Don’t forget to send them a comment telling them they have been tagged.

The Old Salt's Eight Items:

1. I am building a large DVD collection to keep my grandchildren entertained on a rainy day. I also have a few to entertain the rest of the family.

2. The "Man's Room" project in the new house is falling way behind.

3. As much as I enjoyed my naval career, I really love going to sea on cruise ships with family or friends.

4. I also love digital cameras, my motto is "Keep shooting, out of every 1000 shots you are bound to have at least one really good picture.

5. Now that I am retired, I seem to be working harder than ever.

6. I still have a hard time with fools, especially those who have the education to know better.

7. I will adopt a new firearm in a heartbeat. I am particularly fond of those with previous military service.

8. I am having the time of my life with each and every one of my grandchildren, with or without their parents. Going to the pool is as much fun as the movies and a tub of salted, buttered popcorn.

An E-mail Hoax, With A Message I Like

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day

On the fly?

When you ask How are you?

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores

Running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Ever told your child,

We'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste,

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

Let a good friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say,"Hi"

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift....

Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over

This poem is credited to David L. Weatherford
http://www.davidlweatherford.com/

We Have A Yard

This is the front or South side of the house. $2K worth of sod does not cover a half acre lot. We put the sod around the house to cut down on the amount of dirt coming into the house.



This is the right side or East Side of the house. The sod goes almost to the grown over area we wanted to leave.



This is the back or North side of the house. The area left bare is for installing a concrete or field stone patio which will have a pergola type covering over it for shade and to hang plants from.



This shows the left or West side of the house. We ran a minimal amount of sod on this side. Kind of out of sight out of mind. We will also be spreading around some seed to help fill in. We are using Centipede grass, I had all of the St Augustine grass I can stand. Centipede does not get a thick thatch and grows relatively short.

Reflections of a Blackshoe by Vice Admiral Harold Koenig, USN (Ret), M.D.

I WAS A SAILOR ONCE


I like the Navy,

I like standing on the bridge wing at sunrise with salt spray in my face and clean ocean winds whipping in from the four quarters of the globe - the ship beneath me feeling like a living thing as her engines drive her through the sea.

I like the sounds of the Navy - the piercing trill of the boatswains pipe, the syncopated clangor of the ship's bell on the quarterdeck, the harsh squawk of the 1MC and the strong language and laughter of sailors at work.

I like Navy vessels - nervous darting destroyers, plodding fleet auxiliaries, sleek submarines and steady solid carriers.

I like the proud names of Navy ships: Midway, Lexington, Saratoga, Coral Sea - memorials of great battles won.

I like the lean angular names of Navy 'tin-cans" Barney, Dahlgren, Mullinix, McCloy, -mementos of heroes who went before us.

I like the tempo of a Navy band blaring through the topside speakers as we pull away from the oiler after refueling at sea.

I like liberty call and the spicy scent of a foreign port. I even like all hands working parties as my ship fills herself with the multitude of supplies both mundane and exotic which she needs to cut her ties to the land and carry out her mission anywhere on the globe where there is water to float her.

I like sailors, men from all parts of the land, farms of the Midwest, small towns of New England, from the cities, the mountains and the prairies, from all walks of life. I trust and depend on them as they trust and depend on me - for professional competence, for comradeship, for courage. In a word, they are"shipmates."

I like the surge of adventure in my heart when the word is passed "Now station the special sea and anchor detail - all hands to quarters for leaving port", and I like the infectious thrill of sighting home again, with the waving hands of welcome from family and friends waiting pierside. The work is hard and dangerous, the going rough at times, the parting from loved ones painful, but the companionship of robust Navy laughter, the 'all for one and one for all' philosophy of the sea is ever present.

I like the serenity of the sea after a day of hard ship's work, as flying fish flit across the wave tops and sunset gives way to night.

I like the feel of the Navy in darkness - the masthead lights, the red and green navigation lights and stern light, the pulsating phosphorescence of radar repeaters - they cut through the dusk and join with the mirror of stars overhead.

And I like drifting off to sleep lulled by the myriad noises large and small that tell me that my ship is alive and well, and that my shipmates on watch will keep me safe. I like quiet midwatches with the aroma of strong coffee - the lifeblood of the Navy - permeating everywhere.

And I like hectic watches when the exacting minuet of haze-gray shapes racing at flank speed keeps all hands on a razor edge of alertness.

I like the sudden electricity of "General quarters, general quarters, all
hands man your battle stations", followed by the hurried clamor of running feet on ladders and the resounding thump of watertight doors as the ship transforms herself in a few brief seconds from a peaceful workplace to a weapon of war - ready for anything.

And I like the sight of space-age equipment manned by youngsters clad in dungarees and sound-powered phones that their grandfathers would still recognize.

I like the traditions of the Navy and the men and women who made them. I like the proud names of Navy heroes: Halsey, Nimitz, Perry, Farragut, John Paul Jones.

A sailor can find much in the Navy: comrades-in-arms, pride in self and country, mastery of the seaman's trade. An adolescent can find adulthood.

In years to come, when sailors are home from the sea, they will still remember with fondness and respect the ocean in all its moods -the impossible shimmering mirror calm and the storm-tossed green water surging over the bow. And then there will come again a faint whiff of stack gas, a faint echo of engine and rudder orders, a vision of the bright bunting of signal flags snapping at the yardarm, a refrain of hearty laughter in the wardroom and chief's quarters and messdecks. Gone ashore for good they will grow wistful about their Navy days, when the seas belonged to them and a new port of call was ever over the horizon.

Remembering this, they will stand taller and say,

"I WAS A SAILOR ONCE. I WAS PART OF THE NAVY, AND THE NAVY WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF ME."

Why Men As A Group Are Seldom Depressed

Men Are Just Happier People

What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name never changes.

The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans just take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack.

You can be President.

You will never get pregnant.

You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.

Or you can wear NO shirt to a water park.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100 .

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.

Ripping one really impresses your grandchildren.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

One mood almost all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks and other military things.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars.

You get extra points for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.

Your underwear is $8.95 for a six-pack.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

You almost never have strap problems in public.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original color.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with big boy and little boy toys all your life.

Your belly usually hides your big hips.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

You can Christmas shop for 25 family members in roughly twenty-five minutes after noon on 24 December before the stores close.

It's no wonder men are normally happier.

What Made Me, Me

Long ago and far away,
In a land that time forgot,
Before the days of Dylan,
Or the dawn of Camelot.

There lived a race of innocents,
And they were you and me,
Long ago and far away
In the Land That Made Me Me.

Oh, there was truth and goodness
In that land where we were born,
Where navels were for oranges,
And Peyton Place was porn.

For Ike was in the White House,
And Hoss was on TV,
And God was in His heaven
In the Land That Made Me Me.

Girls learned to get a muffler,
They washed their hair at dawn,
They spread their crinolines to dry
In circles on the lawn.

And they could hear us coming
All the way to Tennessee,
All starched and sprayed and rumbling
in the Land That Made Me Me.

We longed for love and romance,
And waited for the prince,
And Eddie Fisher married Liz,
And no one's seen him since.

We danced to "Little Darlin'",
And Sang to "Stagger Lee"
And cried for Buddy Holly
In the Land That Made Me Me.

Only girls wore earrings then,
And three was one too many,
And only boys wore flat-top cuts,
Except for Jean McKinney.

And only in our wildest dreams
Did we expect to see
A boy named George, with Lipstick
In the Land That Made Me Me.

Girls fell for Frankie Avalon,
Annette was oh, so nice,
And when they made a movie,
They never made it twice.

We didn't have a Star Trek Five,
Or Psycho Two and Three,
Or Rockey-Rambo Twenty
In the Land That Made Me Me.

Miss Kitty had a heart of gold,
And Chester had a limp,
And Reagan was a Democrat
Whose co-star was a chimp.

We had a Mr Wizard,
But not a Mr T,
And Oprah couldn't talk, yet
In the Land That Made Me Me.

We had our share of heroes,
We never thought they'd go,
At least not Bobby Darin,
Or Marilyn Monroe.

For youth was still eternal,
And life was yet to be,
And Elvis was forever,
In the Land That Made Me Me.

We'd never seen the rock band
That was Grateful to be Dead,
And Airplanes weren't named Jefferson,
And Zeppelins weren't Led.

And Beatles lived in gardens then,
And Monkees in a tree,
Madonna was a virgin
In the Land That Made Me Me.

We'd never heard of Microwaves,
Or telephones in cars,
And babies might be bottle-fed,
But they weren't grown in jars.

And pumping iron got wrinkles out,
And "gay" meant fancy-free,
And dorms were never coed
In the Land That Made Me Me.

We hadn't seen enough of jets
To talk about the lag,
And microchips were what was left at
The bottom of the bag.

And Hardware was a box of nails,
And bytes came from a flea,
And rocket ships were fiction
In the Land That Made Me Me.

Buicks came with portholes,
And side show came with freaks,
And bathing suits came big enough
To cover both your cheeks.

And Coke came just in bottles,
And skirts came to the knee,
And Castro came to power
In the Land That Made Me Me.

We had no Crest with Fluoride,
We had no Hill Street Blues,
We all wore superstructure bras
Designed by Howard Hughes.

We had no patterned pantyhose
Or Lipton herbal tea
Or prime-time ads for condoms
In the Land That Made Me Me.

There were no golden arches,
No Perriers to chill,
And fish were not called Wanda,
And cats were not called Bill.

And middle-aged was thirty-five
And old was forty-three,
And ancient was our parents
In the Land That Made Me Me.

But all things have a season,
Or so we've heard them say,
And now instead of Maybelline
We swear by Retin-A.

And they send us invitations
To join AARP,
We've come a long way, baby,
From the Land That Made Me Me.

So now we face a brave new world
In slightly larger jeans,
And wonder why they're using
Smaller print in magazines.

And we tell our children's children
of the way it used to be,
Long ago, and far away
In the Land That Made Me Me.

-- Author Unknown

A Week On The Outer Banks, NC

We spent last week in Nags Head, NC on the Outer Banks. It rained and was cold a few days but it was nice, sunny and breezy a few other days. From my viewpoint, everyone left satisfied. A few of the group had to leave Friday even though checkout was Saturday. The house felt really empty Saturday morning. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

This is the house we stayed in on the beach.

The name of the house is "MUCHO Dinero" and by the middle of summer it costs a lot to stay there. I think we had the last week of off-season rates.



This is the Bodie Lighthouse, it was just a few miles down the road from where we stayed. The weather looks just like the picture shows except for the cold blowing wind that day.

Scattered all around the Outer Banks are various winged-horses painted or decorated in various combinations. Here are a few examples we saw.

Here is another one.



And a third.



We had lots n lots of good food. This picture shows burgers and brats.



These are caribou steaks, cooked and served by the mighty hunter.

And this would be barbecued chicken coming down the home stretch, yummy yummy.



We had desserts like this in the evening and fruit cups every morning.

The Elizabeth II, a replica of the ship Elizabeth who brought the English to the Outer Banks in 1585. There is also a replica settlemnt to show how these folks lived while here in 1585. All who visited this with me enjoyed themselves.



From our rental, this was the gateway to the beach. Somedays it was sunny and nice, other days it was not but we enjoyed metal detecting, hunting sea shells, surf fishing and running into and out of the waves.




This is the beach when it was nice and sunny.



A fisherman's pole sits in quiet expectancy.

Somehow This Poem Sticks With Me

Tommy

by Rudyard Kipling

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

Maybe it's my years of government service, but this poem seems to say it all.

And The House Continues

This is a front view of the house taken on 9 May 2007. The outside lights have been installed on either side of the garage door.


This picture also shows the sidelight by the garage side door. On the floor inside the garage is stacked the tile to be used in the house.

The following pictures were taken on Monday, 7 May 2007. All the doors are in, the moulding is 99% complete. The septic tank was installed Monday morning before we arrived on site. The internal plumbing, sinks still have to be istalled and the house connected to the septic tank before everything is completed. The cabinet work is essentially completed. While we were there, the tile supply company delivered all of the tile and tile necessities. The carpet is supposed to be delivered this next Saturday and be installed soon after. The interior and exterior painting is also 99% completed. Next week, the driveway will also be poured along with any required sidewalks and concrete pads such as for the ac unit and the water tank.


Shown above is the the master bath vanity. Just to the left is a Jacuzzi style tub.



This view is in the Master Bedroom , the window to right looks out the front of the house. The ceilings in this area are 10 feet.


Master Bedroom again, both of these windows look out the east side of the house.


These are the fans the builder puts in the house. Our builder has put in much nicer furnishings than our last builder.


This is the chandelier in the dining area. All of the builder picks are brushed nickel.



Here it is, Maudie's masterpiece, the kitchen. This is the East side, the sink goes under kitchen window. She has picked a very large one hole sink tobe installed.



This is the West side of the kitchen. The big hole in the middle is for the refrigerator. The hole to the right is for the stove.


These cabinets are located between the refrigerator and the stove.


These cabinets will surround the stove.

Here is my GB making a final check with her paint chips. The builder will paint the whole inside white and then we will add colors of our choosing as soon as we can move in.


The counter tops are the centerpiece of her masterpiece. The bar was made with a different color than the counter top, just as she ordered.