Dining Room Table

One of the things I've longed for most is a dining room table. Currently, our kitchen table seats four, which is fine as long as we don't have more than 2 people over. But I enjoy having family and friends come to dinner, and more than once, I've had to ask my guests to eat, by themselves, at tv trays, in the living room. While I don't think they've minded, it still seems rude.

Today was a big day for Nick and me. We went shopping...we looked at counter tops, cabinets, lighting, appliances, a little flooring...whew (our heads are spinning). During our shopping excursion, we stopped by Fischer's in Tell City. I've been there before and they have some beautiful furniture. They had a few nice tables on the first level...but they were a little fancier than I was looking for. Since our dining area is in the kitchen, I didn't want anything too fancy- it has to look nice for holidays and everyday. The salesman told us there were more upstairs. As soon as we got to the top of the stairs, I saw it...over by the windows. It was perfect...and wonderful...and I just had to have it. Turns out, it is a Tell City Chair dining table and chairs. One of the store employees owned it and was selling it at the store. It's oak, seats six, and did I mention that I LOVE it! Since it's a used set, the price was very reasonable (reasonable for Tell City Chair furniture). After telling Nick several times how much I loved it, that it was perfect, and that I wouldn't find anything, anywhere that I liked better, he agreed and made it ours.

The chairs are what I love most.

But I also liked the legs of the table.

I am looking forward to many meals and chats with family and friends at our new dining room table!

I can't WAIT for the house to be done so I can have 4 people over to enjoy a meal at my new dining room table!!

New Girls on the Block

Last weekend the younger chickens had some renovations to their coop. We expanded to make it larger and created a doorway to the great outdoors. To help them transition, we put up a temporary fence until they get used to going in and out...then they'll have free roam just like the older chickens. While they were a little chicken at first, it didn't take them long to enjoy their new freedom.

Welcoming Committee

Pepper approves of the new deck. She welcomes you to stop by anytime and sit a spell!

Strawberries

I haven't posted much on the strawberries since we planted about a month and a half ago. In fact, I haven't posted much at all this summer...because when I'm not at work, I'm out here, bent over, with a hoe. And I love every second of it!!
When I talked Nick into letting me plant the berries, I had in my head that it would be mostly my project and would only require occasional help from others (planting, covering with straw, things requiring a tractor). Nick laughed when I told him that...I honestly did not intend for this project to monopolize the free time of the entire Held family, but so far, no one seems to mind too much. And I am very grateful for every moment they have all spent with a hoe in hand. Especially thanks to Melvin...as I know he is the phantom hoer who kept the weeds from completely engulfing the patch during the weeks of county fairs. I promise you'll have all you can eat strawberries next summer!

Mother plant with a new runner.

Looking down the row.

We've had some unwelcome visitors to the strawberry patch in recent weeks. The Bambi family has decided that the Held Berry Patch is an all night buffet. So we've put up some fence for a more electrifying dining experience. I'm hoping those particular customers do not see it fit to return.

Since we've all perfected the strawberry weeding yoga pose, let's look into the future...where we will perfect our strawberry picking yoga pose!!

The rewards will be sweet!!

House Updates

To all my loyal readers...I apologize for not keeping up with the blogging and house updates!! All I can say is- it's fair season!

Here are some more recent pictures. Things continue to move along at the house. The plumber and electrician have been working their magic inside, while the others have been working hard putting up the siding and new shutters. The chimney has also been fixed (all new bricks). And I believe that they will be putting up the new drywall this week!

Because of the shade from the trees, it's hard to tell, but the shutters are a dark red color called winestone. It compliments the brick color of the front porch.

In other news- Nathan and Sarah have also bought a house. It'll be a race to see who gets to move in first! :)

#1 in Family Fun!!

My cousin Lyle and his family came down for the 4th of July weekend. The weather was somewhat uncooperative with our plans. It rained most of the day Saturday (which my strawberries are very happy about), but it meant that we had to alter our plans just a little. Instead of getting drenched in the rain at Holiday World, we spent Saturday afternoon showing off our construction projects at the house, eating taffy and chocolate at the Candy Castle, and went down to the Lincoln State park to enjoy shell collecting at the lake in between the rain showers. Thankfully, the rain was done and we were able to take in the Holiday World fireworks from the pasture- the perfect view without the crowd - as long as you successfully dodge the cow pies. After the fireworks it was home for bed- where the girls debated over who would get to sleep on which air matress! Somehow little Madilyn ended up with the biggest bed all to herself!

The girls playing pet shop...

Emma really enjoyed playing with Pepper during her visit... Pepper and Emma

It's a rough life for Pepper when company comes. She gets no attention at all.

Madilyn wasn't too sure she wanted to have her picture taken with Nick...

Sunday morning, we headed over to Holiday World for some family fun! This was also my first trip- and I have to say- we all had a great time! First stop- the Bumper Boats!!

Next...it was onto the Scrambler...one of Abby's favorite rides of the day.

Lyle and Madilyn

Nick and Emma

Lyle looks "scrambled" to me!

Then there were these poor people... I think they could fit one more person in their car...don't you think? When the woman in the middle got off, she was limping saying something about her hip...

Abby decided she wanted to try one of the bigger rides- The Raven rollercoaster.

While it most certainly was NOT her favorite ride of the day- we were all so proud of her for giving it a whirl.
Madilyn and Emma weren't quite big enough for the big roller coaster- but enjoyed their ride on the Holidog coaster.

Our favorite rides of the day were the Raging Rapids (which really makes you appreciate dry underwear), and the Scrambler. Madilyn also enjoyed Frightful Falls, a water log ride. When we were done I asked if she liked it... she said "It was scary......Let's do it again!!" So we did!!

We had a great time and hope they'll all come back!

More House Updates

Check out our new deck!!

The new windows are also installed:

The new ducts are also in!

We also have new wiring... so things are moving right along! :)