Guest House improvements

So, back to work this morning after a day off yesterday.  Here are a couple photos of what's going on in the guest house.  Building a new floor and the finished product with new cabinets and countertop and sink.  Coconut milk paint on walls and cupboards.  This place is gonna be so nice I'm probably going to be the first guest to stay there for a while!  4 bedrooms, 2 baths, and freshly painted throughout - that is when we finish!  Today it's back to battling fleas with bombs under the house and around the outside.  Fortunately, I have yet to be bitten.  Guess my pheromones aren't to their liking.

Meanwhile, Back at the Pond

I know you must think I've fallen  off the edge of the world!  Life has been so very busy lately I've lost my routine but am determined now to recover those lovely parts of it - like writing my posts.  The fleas are still my biggest problem but there has been some improvement.  Now we get ready for the next onslaught .  We understand there needs to be 3 generations fought to win the war.  So it may still be a couple more weeks of battles.  I'm finding it hard to understand how the renters could have lived with the many fleas that appear to have been here.  Every day one still appears on someone's body.  BUT, we will win this war.  Meanwhile, the interior of the guest house is beginning to look truly beautiful!  We are covering all of the walls and ceilings with  fresh paint (Kilz first, of course to block out the old wallpaper - no point in trying to remove it).  The walls of the master bedroom and the kitchen cupboards are now sporting a beautiful paint called "Coconut Milk."  How's that for New Age health nuts!  Kitchen report tomorrow.  Also, some photos.

Litchfield Inn

Frank and I have taken a break from the flea eradication project and are spending a weekend at the Litchfield Inn in Pawleys Island.  No photos yet, but will get some today - particularly as we tour Brookgreen Gardens.  Already a morning walk on the beach following breakfast.  More beach stuff this afternoon as the sun lowers a bit.  It is already very hot out there.  I have spent many pleasant weeks here - a month last December. Long before that I spent a week with U.S. Forest Service foresters here each fall as facilitator of their training Clemson University offered.  So, a short time off and back to the routine on Monday.  Nothing like a quick break - and of course, those of you who know me well - I'm a great believer in breaks - both short and long!

Fleas and Such

Goodness - I've been home since Saturday (Day 15 of Hilton Head trip) and no posts?  Well, things have been busy getting back into the routine, but today was a brand new experience.  Donna discovered yesterday that the empty guest house next door is infested with fleas - she came out with several bites.  So, Frank and I went into Lowe's, bought bomb/foggers and came back and set them up throughout - 9 of them.  So, in a couple hours we can go over and open up the windows and air things out.  Presumably the fleas will all be dead!  Is that dreaming?  We'll see.  Anyway, dogs are not welcome here!  Tomorrow Susan returns.  Thursday Todd returns.  And then, Reid and Michael on Thursday or Friday.  So, the guest house is really needed!  Will be working on cleaning everything as soon as we get rid of the fleas - hopefully tonight!  One of the fun things of managing rental property!  More about the new guest house soon.

Luke's New Shoes - Day 13 at HH

Last night at Salty Dog there were thousands of people!  Luke stood at the bar waiting forever for our drinks.  Here's a view of his brand new crazy shoes - yellow soles, grey suede tops!!!  Great fun with pizza at Fat Baby Pizza and blue ice cream at Hilton Head Ice Cream - really fun night out.

Day 12 at Hilton Head Island

Highlight of yesterday was evening sail with Jim - from 5 pm to 8 pm.  Choppy water, beautiful wind, cool, truly lovely sunset.  This week is flying by now.  Only 3 days left and then it's home again.  For the first time, Luke cooked crab legs last night - absolutely delicious - clearly something to repeat next summer!  Tonight we'll go out to Salty Dog over at South Beach - haven't made that jaunt yet.  One attraction is the photo of Beaux (Bob's bull mastiff) that is STILL up on the ceiling of the store! Always fun to revisit Beaux.  The store ceiling is totally covered with photos of dogs. ALso, that's where we got our first blue ice cream.  Here's a couple photos from our sailing trip yesterday.

Day 10 at Hilton Head Island

OK.  Here I am on the beach.  Jim and I did an early morning walk at Tower Beach near South Beach in Sea Pines, for those of you who are familiar with Hilton Head Island.  The day has been a beautiful one, with many short trips here and there.

Day 8 at Hilton Head

Here is Luke's family the night of fireworks on the 18th green at Harbor Town, Hilton Head Island.  Luke, Jack, Susan and Sam in front.  What a fun evening that was!  Beautiful fireworks.  Great tradition being here together.  

Day 9 at Hilton Head

Big time yesterday.  Afternoon with Jim, Jeff and Kate on Jim's boat for beer and visiting.  Then, supper at Captain Woody's, our favorite restaurant on the island!  All nine of us eating seafood - me, my very favorite scallops!  Photo is of me and niece Kate - everyone seems to think we have similar profiles, hence the pose.  Kate and I have been great admirers of each other ever since she was a very young child.  Both of us are yoga studio owners and teachers - she in Savannah and me in Ninety Six.  She is 45, I am 81.  What a thrill it is to actually sit side by side once in a while - at least every July 4th week at Hilton Head.  Today is a rainy one so we are going through trays of slides selecting those to have made into a CD and then to iCloud for posterity.

Day Six at Hilton Head

Kelsey and GJ

Tate's family left yesterday afternoon.  Luke's will arrive shortly.  Traffic here is unbelievably busy - never seen it quite this busy, perhaps because 4th is on Friday and many can be here just for the long weekend.  Anyway, it's nice to be tucked away in Shipyard Plantation among the live oaks, palmettos and Spanish moss.  Our place is on the edge of the golf course, so we do see golfers going by but that just adds to the pleasure of being here.  Hurricane Arthur has totally missed us it seems; perhaps a bit of rain tonight but nothing heavy expected.  I have had one night here alone and enjoyed the break and quiet.  Still, eager for the next crew to arrive.  I can't express my joy at sharing this time with my two sons and their families.  I feel so blessed to have an "intact" family with no serious problems of any kind.  The kids are all smart, attractive, and well behaved.  The parents are happy, productive, caring and doing well financially.  One set has been married 25 years and the other 18.  I know that in itself is a fabulous accomplishment.  Forgive me for bragging, but I can't resist!  Here's the blue ice cream!

Day 4 at Hilton Head (Tuesday)

This morning I walked the path here in Shipyard rather than on the beach.  The early morning walk here from the house to the golf club house is not quite a half hour, but an interesting one - always something new to see.  This morning, the huge hanging of Spanish moss caught my eye.  And, I remembered we have no real photo of the house.  So both will be included here.  Also, a shot of Tate's family eating dessert.  Last night it was blue ice cream!  Everyone's tongue was blue!  At least all the kids and I had blue tongues.  The adults passed. We'll do that again so I can get a photo.  We are all going kayaking on the sound at 1:00, not out into the ocean.  Looking forward to that.  Several years ago I did my first and only other one.  Yesterday Jim and I bought supper at the new huge Kroger store deli and had a delightful visit for a couple hours while the others met friends from home for dinner out.  Jim and I haven't had a brother/sister visit in a very long time - I treasure them an
d so does he.