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Month: March 2025
First and Second Steps Done
There are some projects that just seem to grow as you get into them.
Our kitchen remodel almost ten years ago (has it been that long?) was just such a project. We unexpectedly had to rebuild an entire part of the exterior wall when we discovered the door header stopped midway through the door. We had to build two supports in the crawlspace to deal with a sagging floor in the dining area. It just grew and grew and grew.
Our latest landscaping adventure was not such a project. I knew just how much work would be involved. I knew there would likely be no real surprises. But I also knew just how much backache-producing work it would involve. First, we had to get rid of those holly bushes. That took a good long time: hollies very aggressively cling to their perch on life, and they will resprout from the slightest bit of root left behind. So getting rid of the main holly trunks was only part of the process: E and I also spent a day digging out roots. And we didn't even get them all. Several large roots went so deep into the ground that we knew we could never get them out, so we made fresh cuts, drilled holes into them, and slathered root killer on them. All that was step one.
Step two: build a new landscaping border around the area. This took a couple of days and a couple of trips to Home Depot, but today, we finished it.
Tonight, we went back to get the components for part three -- at least some of them.
More Spring Progress
Scholarship Information
Charleston Spring
We spent yesterday and today in Charleston -- a favorite destination when we have a bit of time, a bit of money, and an itch to travel. Only three hours away, it's a perfect weekend destination.
And even when it's too cold to go into the water, we have to spend some time on the beach.
We gave the new camera a bit of a workout. It's a steep learning curve: there are a lot more possibilities than our older cameras (focus modes, for instance), and it's taking us a while to get used to everything.
Still, the size, the image quality -- I think it was a good choice for us as are kids grow up. I won't be needing to take any more volleyball pictures, and for soccer, I'll still likely reach for the Nikon given the lens options we have.
Still, for our trip to Greece and Poland this summer, only one camera and one lens.
We took a couple of walks,
I took some pictures of the waves,
and then we headed downtown. The kids wanted to do a little shopping; K and I just split up with them and helped out. Afterward, there was only one place to go before heading back:
Hyman's -- probably the most famous seafood place in Charleston. I almost always order the same thing: there's only one variant. I'll always have mussels; I always take the deviled crab; after that, the third is the only variant. Today, I had the salmon croquette. All delicious.
K ate light -- too mush sushi the night before.
The Boy, being the Boy, decided to try something new: crawfish. He wasn't thrilled. He ate them, but decided it was too much work for too little return.
Dinner
And of course I have my eyes closed...
Landscaping Saturday
Groundbreaking
The new school I will be teaching at next year doesn't even physically exist yet. For most of next year, we'll be operating out of a high school. Today, though, was the groundbreaking for the new facility.
Our Beautiful K
Morning Coffee
