First Open House

All of the hard work we've put into the parsonage these last two months was on display on Sunday for the first annual parsonage open house.

A final project

Prepping the drive

Church members stop by to check on our progress

Getting some help on the 5 tons of gravel

Getting some help in the grotto

Ta-da!

The final phase of the outdoor renovation was completed today as 7.25 tons of gravel was delivered this morning. By late afternoon we had finished with moving the gravel, extending the parking area of the drive and creating a pathway to the grotto.

We're ready now for our Sunday open house!

One more project

Charles completed one more project this weekend, putting some color on the smaller shed keeping the theme of the large shed and the patio furniture.

More work in the yard

Five tons!

Inch by inch!

That's a lot of mulch!

Installing edging

On Thursday we took receipt of five tons (more than 17 yards) of mulch which we took, one wheelbarrow at a time, to the back to cover the backyard. We had laid down landscaping fabric over the entire area and then brought in the mulch!

Big day in the button room

Thanks, Steve!

Sorting the new additions

We had a special visitor this morning, Steve, the brother of Kristen Davis who we met when we lived in Cornwall. Steve was driving to California from Illinois and made a quick stop to drop off an assortment of buttons from his sister.

Kristen's donation to the collection caused her to rocket up the donor board to the #11 spot with a whopping 93 added to the collection which now stands at 8, 210.

The yard is looking good!

"Mondrian in the round"

A neighbor stops by to see the art

We've been putting in a lot of hours in the yard and this week Charles finished tidying up the backyard. On Saturday he painted a patio set and some other metal furniture we'd gotten via Craigslist, NextDoor, and Facebook. We're almost ready for the open house!

Tonight in the studio

Charles and Wesley could be found in the studio this evening, starting a new painting and enjoying the pleasant evening breeze.

Making Colorado home!

Belinda's plate

Charles' plate

Our move to Colorado took a big step this week as we got our driver's licenses and plates for the vehicles in the mail. We splurged a wee bit and got specialty plates, Organ/Tissue donor (for Belinda) and Adopt a shelter pet (for Charles). 

A unique art project

"De Stijl in 3-D"

Our backyard has two sheds and this week Charles completed the repainting of the larger of the two in the style of Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian and the De Stijl art movement.

Button collection is up!

Thanks to a handy handyman, Charles was able to get the last of the button panels up this afternoon!