Projects and Visit to the Country

     In the last 7 months since we moved there have been quite a few small projects we have done to improve things to the house.  One of those have been removing the old steps out the back door, making the first step out of the house deeper and the same level as the floor of the house.  And then the second step deeper as well.  This makes it much more comfortable to step in or out of the house.  Thanks to Vintage Landscape for the donated material and my brother Jeff, for the free delivery service.  One amazing thing about this project was the way I had just enough material. I had a slight idea of how much material I had and needed, but never measured exactly.  So when all was said and done, I had just enough to do what I did. I should have counted the pieces before I started to see if the Hand of Providence multiplied as I needed them.  I believe God takes an interest in the small things of life whether we take time to notice it or not.

 

 

   Here are a few before and after pics of the back door.  As always I have willing and good help to assist me in any of the projects I undertake.  Its great to be able to teach him hands-on.

 

 

This piece of furniture below was one that we refinished recently.  We picked it up along the streets of Strasburg for free, maybe 3 years ago or more.  It has traveled with us on our last 3 moves and now found its place in our home.  When we first saw it my wife agreed that if we pick it up, she would take full responsibilty to refinish it.  Now we needed it and it still wasn’t finished.  Little did she know that as the little one’s came along, also came less time to accomplish the restoration of this piece.  A few Saturdays ago we made up our mind that the day of reckoning has come.  So we (notice the we) sanded, sweated, painted and at last it found a new look.

                                              

This past Saturday evening we drove a 30 minute drive into the country to take in a horse show.  It was advertised at a local hardware store as a horse show and barbeque.  It was a nice drive into part of the country we never were before.  They had a $3 fee for parking and the rest was ours to do what we wanted.  It was a real back country experience, where everyone knew each other( they might have all been relatives).  Either way we soon felt comfortable, people being friendly and making us feel like its alright we were there.  The barbeque was very good $5 bought a plate of potato salad, baked beans, piece of bread and real good barbecued beef. Notice their advertisement on the fence, it seemed to me you could buy your space and sell your business.  We had a good time and the boys loved it.  The guy in the orange shirt offered a ride to the boys as he rode by.  He must have over heard Isaiah saying that he wanted a ride.

  The building you see (to your left) with stairs going up the side was where the announcer overlooked the arena and made his comments.   What intrigues me in these back country places is the looks of their buildings, you gotta like it.  No one feels pressure to have the buildings in perfect condition,  its like an after thought.  The enjoyment of life is not affected by everything being just perfect and looking better than the Jones’ down the street.   Its not a bad thing, unless its a result of laziness which in some situations it is.  

 

    Isaiah still has his love for horses,  on the left he was giving the miniature horse a kiss as we were about to leave. 

I will admit (the picture on the right) we might       have been trying to fit in a little.  Something was telling me that we didn’t appear as locals, but know one seemed to mind.                                              

                                                                     

   

    This kind young lady (below) was more than glad to give the boys a ride on her horse.  She was giving all the details of the horse and the prizes she has won with him, very proud of her horse.  You could tell it was in her blood and she didn’t have a  choice but to love horses. 

 

 

We have enjoyed exploring you might say or driving to new areas and seeing what else you can find especially in the back country areas.