March Inn

Why"March Inn?" March Inn was the name of that magic place where I spent my summers growing up. I have alluded to this place before, and I probably will again. March Inn is no longer standing. The waters of Katrina rendered it unlivable so my children will never know that "March Inn." That makes me sad. In fact it brings me to tears whenever I think about it. I want my children to have their own "March Inn," and I want to capture our lives as they are growing and changing. I invite you to "march inn" to our lives. My hope is that you will catch glimpses of the real world. You will see our creations. You will see our chaos. You will see our affection. You will also see our frustrations, fears, and disappointments. Enjoy your march!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Arrhg Mateys

Last week, we finally celebrated Stephen's birthday with friends. This was his first friend birthday party and in many ways this momma felt like it just wasn't supposed to happen. Fortunately, my sweet Stephen rolled with the punches through it all and in the end had a ball with his friends.

We had a pirate party because Stephen is always hunting for treasures. There were many days that he would come home from school with a treasure from the playground. Sometimes it was a pretty stone for me or a little barrette for Mary Frances.

What was supposed to be a birthday party at the park turned into cupcakes and an episode of Jake and the Neverland Pirates at the house.


Cupcake toppers from Shindig Parties To Go...


Fortunately, the rain cleared for a bit so they could run around in the backyard a little.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

In the Details

Often, possibly always, in life it seems that it is the details that make a difference. In writing, it is the details that make the words on the pages come alive. In entertaining, it is the details that make an event special or memorable.

Some details that I love ~
The french seam and a bit of lace on a garment...
Fresh herbs in a recipe...
Spring flowers in a bedroom or bathroom...
A monogram on a piece of linen...
A table set with silver and linen

As the details of our house evolve Frank and I become more and more pleased with the results. We have thought about, dreamed about the details of this particular "someday" house for the better part of ten years. It is amazing that it is slowly becoming a reality. It is neat to walk through the house and see ideas that we gathered from various sources ~ magazines we have flipped through, homes we have visited, architecture we have seen on trips we have taken.

For years we had ripped pages out of magazines and added them to a binder. For years, Frank had tinkered with the drawings of our someday house. It was not uncommon on any given Sunday afternoon to find Frank hunkered down, huddled over a TV tray with graph paper a pencil and a ruler ~scheming, thinking, pondering, drawing.

Giving credit where credit is due ~ we certainly went into this project having a pretty good idea of what we wanted yet the architect made it work on our lot while adding a couple of details and our contractor has an eye for design and details, all of which have made the house so much better.
The house is really coming along...

Yesterday we had a final walk through with the trim carpenter in order to ensure that, he had noted all of the correct details for our cabinets - kitchen, butler's pantry, laundry room, mudroom, and bathrooms.
His crew is almost finished with all of the window frames, door frames, crown moulding, and base moulding.


They have completed the built-in bookshelves in the living room and upstairs hallway, and are nearing completion of all closets.

They have installed the ceiling on the front porch and were supposed to complete the ceiling on the screen porch yesterday.
The framers came back to install the beams in the kitchen. We are still waiting on one beam so they can complete the den.


The painter has been busy priming both walls and trim. He seems to sand and prime as fast as the carpenters can install.





He's ready to begin caulking. He also showed us a mock up of stain for the beams, and we loved it. Prior to all of this interior work he put some stucco on the back of the house.
The masons have essentially been off of the job for about two weeks so there has been no progress on the exterior stone ~ piles of rubble.
They have completed three of the interior brick arches!

It is of course the details that take the most time. When people ask when we are supposed to be in I can finally say late September without that feeling like an eternity away.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Lake Time = Fun Time

We have spent the last two weekends at the lake. It has been a blast! The children and I have headed down on Thursday. The packing, gathering, loading and unloading is never fun, but it sure has been nice to wake up and have the day before us. I've enjoyed that time to have my little ones close ~ nowhere to be, no one to see. During those Fridays we have done lots of reading, swimming, crafting, and playing.

The first weekend we had friends with us. It was such a fun, easy weekend! I hope that each of you have friends like that. The children play well together. The adults enjoy conversation together. The meals and clean-up were a joint effort. So fun!

Have I ever told you about church at the lake? Probably not, because in the past we haven't made it with much consistency. We try to leave the house by 8:00 to go to an outside church ~ Church in the Pines. We arrive by boat. Sometimes we eat breakfast in route. We hear a message ~ some more Christ centered than others. The children watch the puppets. We go home and do more lake things. This is a picture of the children watching as we approached the church.
And now for Father's Day Weekend! No company but some impromptu gatherings.

Our decorations ~

Our manly breakfast adapted from here ~ bacon, no beer in our mancakes

Walker finally found something that he really enjoys at the lake ~
Mary Frances and Stephen are fish ~
Mary Frances learned to dive ~
We're missing one ~

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Two and a Half

Well almost...










I've survived two and a half with two children, but some days I'm not sure I am going to survive with this one!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Thank You Anne

Betsy turned five months on Tuesday. She was dressed in this precious outfit. I took some pictures of her in her bed.






You do know she sleeps in the foyer of my father 'n law's house, don't you? Too soon I fear I am going to have to take her out of this cradle and replace it with the pac 'n play though not today.

On Wednesday I took these pictures in yet another precious outfit.



These wonderful bishop bubbles are courtesy of my best friend. Thank you Anne! My best friend lives in Mobile. She is also the mother of four children five and under. All boys! She made these two bubbles when she was learning to sew prior to having any children.


Bishop bubbles are possibly my favorite children's garment. Angel sleeves make them even better. For one reason or another Mary Frances didn't have very many of these. I'm dreaming of making Betsy a few of her own but until then we are going to love wearing the fruits of Mrs. Anne's labors.


Thanks for being such a sweet friend. Wouldn't it be nice to live right next door to each other?