Un-Happy Halloween

Today is Halloween.  This is my least favorite 'holiday' of the year...why?  Because when I was younger and in elementary school and it was time for the Halloween party at school, I dreaded it!  All I ever wanted was to be 'just like everyone else' and wear the cheapo kid costume that included the plastic mask.  But being Korean and all, the mask never ever EVER fit my face properly, mainly around my eyes.  The mask would make my eyes bulge out and I hated it!  I just wanted to wear the dang thing like all my friends did!  

I think that scarred me for life.  I then had to resort to making my own costumes, ones that did not require a mask of any kind.  So then came the animal costumes, a ladybug, a skunk, a bumble bee and so on.  One can paint on a nose and whiskers rather than wear a mask to turn into an animal.  I still don't like to wear masks to this day and I don't care for Halloween parties.  I even dreaded having to be creative for my kids' costumes.  Thank goodness we are almost done with that stage with everyone getting older.

Now it's come to dressing up our puppy...wonder what he would blog about having no choice in wearing a costume....  The Bumble Bee-aner:

Beaner doesn't look too happy in this picture:

Life's Reminders

The past few days, I have been reminded about what is truly important in life.  I have been traveling and very busy with all that comes with life and what I have dedicated myself to doing with my life.  I have been reminded that what is truly important is my family.  My family has always been the center of my universe and lately, with hearing things around me, I am reminded once again how blessed I am with what I have in my life.  My family, my health, my faith.

I am a very private person, which could come into question then why do I have a public blog, facebook and twitter account?  Because I like to throw out my thoughts to the universe and let whatever I say or write seep into the crevices at will.  What I say and write is for myself and what I get out of it is my business.  If others that read my thoughts get a laugh or cry or a good feeling or an ah ha moment out of it, then I'm glad I was able to touch them in a certain way.  If I didn't touch them, then they can opt out of reading my things.  Some people just don't get the reason why people blog or post status updates.  For myself, it's like thinking out loud.  Sometimes thinking out loud clears things up for me, sometimes it's all for kicks and giggles.

Life is a serious matter, but there are times when I like to just joke around too.  But I know the one constant in my life is my family.  I've been blessed with the greatest family in the world.

The Daily Bean

My daughter wanted me to start this with our puppy like I do my sunset pics on FB.  We'll see how it goes with me remembering!  So here is the first Daily Bean pic:

Puppy or Kitty?

Having our little Beaner in our family has been wonderful.  Anytime you look at his cute face, you can't help but fall in love with him.  But the reality of having a puppy around is very real when it comes to potty training.  No wonder I didn't want a puppy, but like I said, he's way too cute not to want him around.

So we think Beaner is at least 2 pounds now.  He's almost three months old.  With his size, I figured I had better train him to go in a litter box, seriously.  Come winter, I don't think he will want to go outside, let alone myself.  We have been training him to go potty on a pad, but even that has been a challenge.  When Bean has to go, he just squats and goes wherever he may be.  Yesterday, I bought the litter box and kitty litter.  Didn't realize how dusty litter is, not my favorite since it adds to the dust already in my house. 

As I am keeping an eye on Bean and I see him squat, I dash over to him, pick him up and put him into the litter box.  The first time, Bean decided to try and eat the litter, yuck!  Then he began to dig in it, yikes more dust flying!!  So today, I have decided no more litter.  I will keep the box and line it with a pad and have Bean do his business.  I'm hoping this method works.  It's a lot of work.  I go out of town next week for half the week...let's hope everyone else can hold down the fort for our little Beaner and stay consistent with his potty training!  But gosh darn it, I will miss my little Beaner....

Just Add it in With the Rest of the Dust

The backyard project is almost done, so why not add in another project?  Since we have the talent on hand, I asked if the guys could fix the two pillars by the front door, they are the same stone structure as the ones we just had done in the backyard.  Both pillars had cracks from the bottom up, not good when it comes to a house like this.  So my brain got to working and got the guys on the job.  I felt bad, but hey, it's not like we wouldn't pay them for the job.  

What a lot of work again!  Whoever did the work in the first place did the pillars wrong, they added in wood around the post which causes the whole thing to contract and expand with the weather, hence, the cracking!  So out came the existing stones, cut out the mortar, cut more stones and do it all over again.  To fix it correctly, I had the guys do the entire pillar rather than just the sides that were cracking, the others would crack eventually and I would have to put up with the mess again!

I am getting very tired of all the construction but it really is coming to an end.  Then what will I do with myself?!!  Relax?!!  Oh yes.....

Countdown to the Finish!

A clean patio area, finally!:

 Still in need of the railing for the outer wall, but at least the landscape is done:

 And the gates still need to be installed:

 And the makings of the firepit is in the works:

Next comes the gates, the railing, the sod and the built in benches.  Then the project will be D-O-N-E!!

Now That's More Like It!

The concrete is finally done around the patio!!

 And the columns are getting their dressing:

Each stone has to be put on one by one...wow, what a job!  Only nine more columns to go and grouting them too!  The  next step will be the railing on the front wall and the gates and then the benches, then we should be done with the inside of the patio area.  We still need sod around the outer area, it's always something!

It is Almost Complete!

Using the fire hydrant to fill a pool is so much better than with just a garden hose.  It only took an hour to fill compared to almost two days:

 And it's filled!  Could almost use it if it weren't for needing more concrete work done on the three sides, which is getting done as I type:

Almost to the end....almost....so close, I can feel it and can finally enjoy the backyard again...YES!!