Ok, folks...here's the latest on our basement progress:



Here, Kevin is creating the ceiling design in his art studio. He spread an area of approximately 4 square feet with joint compound, then used his fingers to create a pattern. Looks pretty cool. Very unique.



We painted the studio in a color that looks like clay slip. We both love the color.


Measuring, then cutting the ceiling tile for the family room.



With the ceiling tiles in place, the hallogen lights can be installed.




Filling in those little nail holes.



The shower curtain (by the way, does anyone know of any store that has longer than normal shower curtain liners? They're just way too short.) Notice the shelves Kevin made on the left side of the picture. We put up wall paper with a tin ceiling pattern, then Kevin painted it white. We're neither one an expert in papering, but it turned out great!



The nickel framed mirror, sink, toilet. And the hallogen canned lights above. Still trim work to do, but that will have to wait until after the city inspector comes...hopefully, next week. At least, we now have a functioning bathroom in the basement!

The hibiscus flowers are blooming. Below is a blossom from bud to full bloom (even though the last shot is from another bloom). The colors are so much richer when the plants are outside. When blooming inside as a houseplant, the colors are somewhat washed out. This is one of 2 hibiscus plants my old friend and neighbor, Elma gave me many years ago.

I know it's been a month since I last posted, but we've been busy with our basement....and I'll try to post those pictures later this weekend. But yesterday we took a break. I was so tired when I came home from work, but Kevin realized my need to get outside and said we were going to Palisades to walk the beach. Trying to muster any enthusiasm, I agreed to go. By the end of our visit there, I was much refreshed in body and soul. Of course, I took my camera. There was a grandpa and grandma there with their 2 granddaughters...they let me take some photos...the one little girl was so filthy from playing in the sand, mud, and the river...but she and her grandpa were having such a great time. I wanted to capture some of it with my camera, but was shy about asking if I could take some candid shots. Thus, I missed the best photo ops, but later I asked if i could take some pictures and would email them. The grandparents were delighted because they had forgotten their camera and their grandchildren were visiting from out of state. Lesson learned. I won't be posting their pictures, but here are some other ones I'll share with you.

Just enjoying God's magnificent creation


I'm enjoying MORE of His creation :o)


Kevin is the best rock-skipper I've ever known. He can make a rock skip so fast and so many times, that one cannot count the number of skips. Here, you can see where the rock skipped the first time.


We love to look for rocks at Palisades. We've found such intersting fossils, quartz, and just the unusual.


Kevin found this one...looking at it with the bright sunlight behind it.