Shutters - New Years Project Complete

I finished the shutters last weekend. Don’t they look great? This should keep the sun and heat out in the summer and keep the neighbor’s searchlight that seems to go off at 2:45 in the morning from entering the windows. When they let their little fluffy, barking thing out to go potty, the light just glares into the room. I think it is a Halogen 2500 searchlight made for directing air traffic. It was a challenge to put the things up with just a ladder. I put the ladder in the window for stability, and walla, the shutters went up like you see it. They also have catches when I put them down in the summer for the wind that blows. Then they won’t blow away. What do you think?

James’s Room Pictures

Construction Zone?

James, did you make your bed?

Completed Project – James’s Room

Haunted Bathroom and the Masquerades

Haunted locations are often regarded to contain the spirits of the deceased who may have been former residents or were familiar with the locale when they departed. That said, the scary bathroom may not be haunted, however there are lurking spirits masquerading in the overhanging masks high above the faucets and facilities. Is the scary bathroom haunted and are the masks responsible? What makes this place scary and who or what is to blame for the mysterious happenings here? There is a connection, however the secret remains hidden.

There is an enormous variety of masks in the scary bathroom, mostly from Africa, but others from Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia and Ghana. They may have been used in masquerades that form part of religious ceremonies enacted to communicate with spirits and ancestors. They may have been used as spiritual and or social symbols by their creators. What they are trying to communicate is subjective, but they look scary and foreboding to some. Others may think they are sleeping, waiting for a small child to drift into their grasp unexpectedly. These masks are colorful and ornate, but somewhat frightening to wee young ones. The masks are carved with extraordinary skill and variety by artists who have received their training as an apprentice to a master carver. Frequently it is a tradition that has been passed down within a family through many generations.

Some African tribes believe that the animal masks can help them communicate with the spirits who live in forests or open savannas. People of Burkina Faso use their masks to call to the spirits to stop evil. The Mali have a complex religion that also create and make use of animal masks. Their beliefs are in found in three main cults: the cult of the dead, the cult of communication with spirits, and the cult of earth and nature. Most of their ceremonies are secret, although the antelope dance is shown to non-believers. Masks may also indicate a culture’s ideal of feminine beauty. The masks of Gabon have highly arched eyebrows, almost almond-shaped eyes and a narrow chin. The raised stripes running from both sides of the nose to the ears represent jewelry. Many cultures have masks, and the scary bathroom has many represented that are similar to the ones discussed above. But are there spirits lurking high above? What do the scary bathroom masks represent? Do the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when you go in there? Is it haunted or a figment of your imagination? Will you venture in to see the scary bathroom? Will you bring your wee young ones in to visit the facility?

Signs of Life in the Backyard

Lovely flowers in time for Easter

A wee family moved in to the flower pots, and a baby bird has arrived!

See the almost-blooming roses framing the fountain? Lara is such a good influence on Sean!

Happy Easter!

Rose Update---Blooming!

March 29

Rose Update--Bloom Time!

Friday, March 23rd

Sunday, March 25th!

Rose Update--8 weeks since pruning

Where did St. Francis go?

Ahhh, there he is! Roses within the week, I'd say!

This is our newest addition--Pope John Paul II. Lovely scent!

Completed Travel Room

The Travel Room is Complete With Safari Boarders

Backyard in March

Backyard Pictures in March

Click HERE to see the latest pictures (ten pictures total)

Travel Room Complete, Done, Finished

Day Time, Picture 1
Tongariro National Park Picture in the Background
Very cool crown moulding








Day Time, Picture 2
Cool Tiki Room Picture in the Background
I love the tropical palm fan (by request from the folks)







Night Time, Picture 1
Very cool lighting effect, huhh?







Night Time, Picture 2
Sean, did you make the bed?
Is it sunrise already?

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

New Ceiling Fan Installed
Mouldings this Weekend

Roses--Week 4

Mouldings Drying!

The crown mouldings are drying and are almost ready for installation. The cloud idea in the previous post was a bust... But the ceiling (ok sky) paint is still a pretty blue!

Next, the ceiling fan and plug, then moulding and rope lighting! Project done!

Will it be a five-trip orange box project? The more trips you go to the hardware store, the better the project right?

Roses--3 weeks from pruning

I'm So Blue

I'd rather be blue thinking of you
I'd rather be blue over you
Than be happy with somebody else
Blue over you, I'd rather be blue over you
Than be hap-hap-hap-happy
With somebody else...

See our new Blue Travel Room - Phase One

Stand by for Phase Two, Three, Four
Ceiling Fan, Molding, Banner Wallpaper...

Signs of Life

From the rose garden--It's warmed up a bit here since that cold snap we had a couple weeks ago. See the wee buds? I think we'll have roses by St. Patrick's Day!

The Bathroom Has Been Attacked

The Bathroom Has Been Attacked BY FISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Master Bathroom


Guest Bathroom

We Have Bubbles!!!!!

Sean's Backyard Features!
The new bubbler has been installed and looks great.
I replaced the square pot and installed the bubbler instead of the lavender.
I can squirt the neighbors if we turn it on full blast.

Growies Needed & Hangy-Down Plants Wanted
The Trellis is Ready for Growies!

A Nice Fence to Cover up the Silver (out-door lighting) Box, Can you see it?

Christmas in the Central Valley

Sean Finally Has Internet at Home!!!!!!!!
Living Room Tree
Without Lights
Back Yard Enchantment
Look at the Blue Icicles

George and Martha Homeless – Couple Evicted

George and Martha Evicted November 1, 2006 due to Unsanitary Living Conditions. Please See Note for Prior (Tenant) Occurrences (You are Invited to a Shower).

How Do I Evict a Tenant?

The eviction process is a four-step process.

1. The landlord must serve an eviction notice – Check!

2. If the notice is not obeyed, the landlord must file a court action, which allows the tenant to present defenses in court – Check No Case!

3. If the judge rules for the landlord, the judge will enter an order for the tenant's eviction by a sheriff – Judge agrees with us!

4. A landlord must follow the law closely in order to evict a tenant. A notice must say exactly the right thing, and must be served on the tenant in the right way. If the landlord makes a mistake, a tenant may be able to get the case dismissed

Start Packing George and Martha!

With the following steps performed, the following Notice has been served:

Although I feel a little guilty evicting Mr. and Mrs. George and Martha (below), I feel after hosing an hour of poop from their room (roost), and the necessity to take a long hot shower after dealing with their unsanitary living conditions, it was time to evict the tenants (Vagabonds). George and Martha will be living under the freeway and are taking donations for their future residence. Possibly they may take roost in a similar tract home in your neighborhood? Stand by for new tenants, Jeff and Kim!!!!!!!

Mr. and Mrs. George and Martha, Evicted