We are STILL not done with the kitchen.....but at least the breakfast area is about as done as it's going to get. So, if you can see in this dark photo, we painted the walls a gray color and I am very pleased with it. The light fixture is also new and Mark added crown moulding as well. I will post the before photos when we finish the whole thing so you can get the full effect of our re-doing the joint. It's coming together......just very slowly.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sneak Peek
We are STILL not done with the kitchen.....but at least the breakfast area is about as done as it's going to get. So, if you can see in this dark photo, we painted the walls a gray color and I am very pleased with it. The light fixture is also new and Mark added crown moulding as well. I will post the before photos when we finish the whole thing so you can get the full effect of our re-doing the joint. It's coming together......just very slowly.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
A friend comes to visit
Our friend Joy from Memphis came for a weekend visit recently and it was so good to see her! The visit was entirely too short, but we did manage to show her a thing or two in the area. Sunday we went to visit a little island off the coast of North Carolina called Bald Head Island. No cars allowed! They use golf carts and bicycles to get around there. Here we're waiting on the ferry to take us to the island:
A picture of Bald Head lighthouse.....And we climbed it!!
At the base of the lighthouse. Wooden steps and MANY of them!
There is a size limit on who can get up to the top of the light, obviously:
Beautiful view from the top of the lighthouse:
Photo op at the top:
Checking out the beach on Oak Island:
A second lighthouse, Oak Island Lighthouse
A picture of Bald Head lighthouse.....And we climbed it!!At the base of the lighthouse. Wooden steps and MANY of them!There is a size limit on who can get up to the top of the light, obviously:Beautiful view from the top of the lighthouse:
Photo op at the top:Checking out the beach on Oak Island:
A second lighthouse, Oak Island Lighthouse
There was a storm coming so we had to head back to the car pretty quickly.
Come back soon Joy!!!!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Girls' Night Out!
Some of my Nurse Practitioner friends whom I work with and I went out for dinner Monday night at the Carolina Ale House. Jessica, Theresa and I caught up on a lot of things that are going on. And of course there was lot of sharing the funny stories about very bizarre situations and patients that we are presented with. It was a lot of fun and we'll do it again soon!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Spring Brunch
This morning I hosted a Spring Brunch with some of my lady neighbors. We just had a good time chatting and getting together. We see each other in our yards and quickly chat, but it was nice to get a couple of hours in over brunch.
My wonderful husband helped me with these fantastic dishes--he got big brownie points for that! :) I used the website http://www.bbonline.com/ for recipes as most were make ahead the night before and then cook the morning of the brunch. And well, they were simply delicious! I served Sausage and Cheese Strata, Stuffed Baked French Toast, Hashbrown Fritatta, Monkey Bread, Banana nut muffins/bread, and fresh fruit salad with dip. It made enough to feed an army so I packed a couple of plates to send home to some of the husbands. 
Katie Q brought her precious baby with her. He'll be 3 months next week I believe. And she starts back to work this Friday---good luck Katie!
Unfortunately, this photo is kind of dark, but it's Katie C, Connie, and Mary:
I think I'll make this an annual event.
My wonderful husband helped me with these fantastic dishes--he got big brownie points for that! :) I used the website http://www.bbonline.com/ for recipes as most were make ahead the night before and then cook the morning of the brunch. And well, they were simply delicious! I served Sausage and Cheese Strata, Stuffed Baked French Toast, Hashbrown Fritatta, Monkey Bread, Banana nut muffins/bread, and fresh fruit salad with dip. It made enough to feed an army so I packed a couple of plates to send home to some of the husbands. 
Katie Q brought her precious baby with her. He'll be 3 months next week I believe. And she starts back to work this Friday---good luck Katie!Unfortunately, this photo is kind of dark, but it's Katie C, Connie, and Mary:
I think I'll make this an annual event.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
The Durham Bulls
Mark's patent law group in his firm had a social event at the ballpark. The Durham Bulls played, and honestly I don't remember exactly who it was. But they lost. But want to know something neat? The scoreboard isn't one of those digital ones like most all have now. No sireee. It's the old timey one where somebody stands behind and changes the numbers manually. That was pretty cool. And there was a bull that would wag it's tail if there was a home run. 
Here's Miss Libby, one of Amy's daughters. 
And here's a group shot, except that most of the group isn't looking except for Mark and then Amy and Libby behind him. 
We had a good time!
Here's Miss Libby, one of Amy's daughters. 
And here's a group shot, except that most of the group isn't looking except for Mark and then Amy and Libby behind him. 
We had a good time!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
As seen on TV
Occasionally I get an itch to try one of those crazy things advertised on television. So, I totally bought into it and got a 'TOPSY TURVY". You know, the thing where the tomato plant grows upside down and is supposed to produce masses of lush, unbruised tomatoes. I'll let you know how it turns out. But I will say that I also bought the Aqua Globes. Remember those? And they totally work! But I have to draw the line somewhere: NO SNUGGIES or SHAMWOWS!!!!
Here's a pic of the front of the house and half of the front yard. I can't get everything in the picture but wanted you to see how nice the grass looks and the bazillion rose bushes in the front that are blooming beautifully. 
And next up is my experimental herb garden in containers. I am giving this a real try as the rosemary in the yard is doing really well. I also planted some sweet basil and cilantro in the ground.
Here in the containers are lemon balm, thyme, and dill. The dill seems to be quite fragile and really gets lethargic and flaccid when it's the slightest bit dehydrated. It may be "touch and go" with this one. 
I'm expecting big things from these little plants!
Here's a pic of the front of the house and half of the front yard. I can't get everything in the picture but wanted you to see how nice the grass looks and the bazillion rose bushes in the front that are blooming beautifully. 
And next up is my experimental herb garden in containers. I am giving this a real try as the rosemary in the yard is doing really well. I also planted some sweet basil and cilantro in the ground.Here in the containers are lemon balm, thyme, and dill. The dill seems to be quite fragile and really gets lethargic and flaccid when it's the slightest bit dehydrated. It may be "touch and go" with this one. 
I'm expecting big things from these little plants!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
April Dinner Club
Tonight we went to Cary to have dinner at the Revels' home. A new half million dollar home that they moved into just in February. They decorate mostly like us, in a very minimalist fashion. 
One of the guests insulted the hostess by saying "I bet you can't wait to decorate this house!" which was ALREADY decorated.
Another woman recommended to her husband that she and her husband should put "some of that stuff under their kitchen cabinets too" and his reply was "Oh, yeah, that's just bricks" It was beautiful travertine tile that they were referring to.
Another woman asked if she planned to decorate her kitchen with red, green and beige based on the colors in her kitchen towel. The towel she was making reference to was from a well known kitchen store that uses those signature colors in most of their towels. And her kitchen will stay the color she already has it.
Then while we were talking about cosmetic surgery I stated that I wanted to get my eyes done because I was so very tired of getting comments about having Asian heritage. And that's fine, except that I DON'T have any Asian heritage. I was expecting my friends to respond with "What? You don't look Asian at all! Those people are nuts! You don't need surgery!" Instead, they both looked at me quizically like "You don't?"
I host the dinner club at the end of next month. I can't wait.
One of the guests insulted the hostess by saying "I bet you can't wait to decorate this house!" which was ALREADY decorated.
Another woman recommended to her husband that she and her husband should put "some of that stuff under their kitchen cabinets too" and his reply was "Oh, yeah, that's just bricks" It was beautiful travertine tile that they were referring to.
Another woman asked if she planned to decorate her kitchen with red, green and beige based on the colors in her kitchen towel. The towel she was making reference to was from a well known kitchen store that uses those signature colors in most of their towels. And her kitchen will stay the color she already has it.Then while we were talking about cosmetic surgery I stated that I wanted to get my eyes done because I was so very tired of getting comments about having Asian heritage. And that's fine, except that I DON'T have any Asian heritage. I was expecting my friends to respond with "What? You don't look Asian at all! Those people are nuts! You don't need surgery!" Instead, they both looked at me quizically like "You don't?"
I host the dinner club at the end of next month. I can't wait.
Friday, April 24, 2009
A Facelift for our Deck
Our poor, tired deck needed a face lift (is that two words or one?). Here is the before picture. The previous owner power washed the deck until it was nothing but splinters left. We considered just replacing the deck, but decided to just put a little paint on it for this year and re-evaluate next year maybe.
Painting away:
After:
Oh, ignore the last step and it's big paint splash. Looks a tad better, no?
Painting away:After:
Oh, ignore the last step and it's big paint splash. Looks a tad better, no?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Spring is here
Lately we've been doing A LOT of yardwork. I am amazed at just how much work it is to keep a yard looking nice. Wow. We've been cleaning out all of the old yucky leaves that get stuck up in shrubs and lay there for years until they become brittle and turn into mulch. And then it's an even bigger mess to clean up.
The local Methodist Church youth had a pine straw sale and we bought ten bales of pine straw to spread around the front yard. I'm not sure it will be enough, but we can always run to Lowe's and get more if we need it. 
See the yard ornaments? They're named Sprinkles and Miss Marble. They were sitting and watching us work in the flower bed. They like to just sit and watch.
Yes, that is a small white garbage can beside of me. And one of the most useful things I have in doing yardwork. I toss clippings, etc in it and it's light and easy to toss around. Then I can just dump it out when I'm done. Necessity is the mother of invention.
The local Methodist Church youth had a pine straw sale and we bought ten bales of pine straw to spread around the front yard. I'm not sure it will be enough, but we can always run to Lowe's and get more if we need it. 
See the yard ornaments? They're named Sprinkles and Miss Marble. They were sitting and watching us work in the flower bed. They like to just sit and watch.
Yes, that is a small white garbage can beside of me. And one of the most useful things I have in doing yardwork. I toss clippings, etc in it and it's light and easy to toss around. Then I can just dump it out when I'm done. Necessity is the mother of invention.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Keys
We got back to land on Sunday morning and didn't fly out until Monday morning. So what did we do with that extra time? We drove down to the Florida keys. We've been before, about a decade ago. Absolutely beautiful. And Mark splurged and surprised me with a red convertible to enjoy the ride. Woo-hoo!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Second Formal Night
Total fun. We had the greatest table with lots of fun and interesting people. All except one couple were there for the medical conference so we had something in common from the start!
Steve and Kelley. 
Jonathan and Ronnie:
Parade of the Waiters, where we showed our gratitude for their hospitatlity:
Steve and Kelley. Jonathan and Ronnie:Parade of the Waiters, where we showed our gratitude for their hospitatlity:
Saturday, April 11, 2009
St. Maarten
The prettiest water, ever.
Waiting for our group to go on the snorkel excursion.
Our tour guides:
The snorkel site. I was a tad nervous, I'll admit.
Can you believe that we didn't get a single photo of us snorkeling or anything? Here we're already done and on our way back! I did get a little nauseated in the water (not on the boat as expected) and had to come in early. Bummer. Otherwise I had no problems with any sickness throughout the trip!
Mark enjoying his punch. There may have been some questionable stuff in it.
Shopping on the Dutch side in St.Maarten:
Taking a stroll on the beach:
Eating his super delicious Hurricane Shrimp at Chesterfield's. Me? I had Conch Fritters. That's right....those little things that grow in sea shells.
It was a lot of fun.
Waiting for our group to go on the snorkel excursion.Our tour guides:The snorkel site. I was a tad nervous, I'll admit.Can you believe that we didn't get a single photo of us snorkeling or anything? Here we're already done and on our way back! I did get a little nauseated in the water (not on the boat as expected) and had to come in early. Bummer. Otherwise I had no problems with any sickness throughout the trip!Mark enjoying his punch. There may have been some questionable stuff in it.Shopping on the Dutch side in St.Maarten:Taking a stroll on the beach:
Eating his super delicious Hurricane Shrimp at Chesterfield's. Me? I had Conch Fritters. That's right....those little things that grow in sea shells.
It was a lot of fun.
Friday, April 10, 2009
St Kitts
Our favorite, or at least the prettiest of the islands:
A Christopher Columbus ship!:
Seen on the drive to the beach:
We had to ease in the water as it was a bit cool
Mark with a starfish:
Picture on top of a big hill:
Atlantic ocean to the left and Carribbean sea to the right:
A Christopher Columbus ship!:Seen on the drive to the beach:We had to ease in the water as it was a bit cool
Mark with a starfish:
Picture on top of a big hill:
Atlantic ocean to the left and Carribbean sea to the right:
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