The Last Shovelful

When we first hired Mike as our contractor, a colleague of mine at Exchange Place, who had recently worked with him on a restoration project, warned me and Lance: "Mike will move a mountain but leave the last shovelful." Well, this project has certainly been a mountain (quite an uphill battle), and it took a bit of teeth pulling to get him to move that last shovelful, but it happened, in the form of some brick pavers and touch-up paint, on April 9, 2010--exactly four years and three months after he scooped up the first shovelful on January 9, 2006. Every weekday during that time--except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and two weeks in July--Mike chipped away at Mount Walnut Grove (perhaps Mount Frankenstein would be a more appropriate term?). He went through several helpers and even more saw blades, but he stuck it out till the end. We're certainly glad to be living in a house rather than a construction zone, and I'm sure Mike is even happier not to have to follow my infamous lists anymore. But mostly, I think we're all glad to have made it out alive. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Let's hope. If so, maybe we'll tackle world peace next. Or maybe we'll just take Thomas on a walk in the back field.

Almost 6 months!

Well, Thomas is almost 6 months now and changes everyday. He started with solid food about 2 weeks ago and solid poos a few days ago. He really seems to enjoy sweet potatoes once or twice a day. Unfortunately, his independent nature does not really allow us to feed him. He really likes to take control of the spoon.

His right eye is slowly getting better although I had hoped it would have been resolved by now. If his tear duct doesn't open up before the end of June, he has an appointment at Cincinnati Children's.

Attached with this entry are a couple of photos, one with Papaw JD. I am embedding a short video I shot this evening as well.

Thanks,
Lance

First Easter: "Please Don't Eat the Basket!"

Today was a big day for Thomas: It was his first Easter AND his five-month birthday...and boy, was he excited! He couldn't wait to "sample" the Easter basket that Mom and I had filled with fresh eggs, daffodils, free-trade vegetable rattles knitted by women in Peru and a not-so-free-trade Peter Rabbit stuffed animal made in China. As soon as we sat him on the quilt for the photo shoot, Thomas pounced on the basket--no doubt thinking it was a giant teether--and started gnawing intently on the handle and reaching for the daffodils. But apparently, aged oak and yellow petals aren't as tasty as Mommy's milk (or a chocolate bunny), for the "taste test" did last long; and it's a good thing because the basket is a treasured antique given to me by my Aunt "Jussie" several years ago.

Of course, our little inquisitive black cat, Ollie, had to be a part of the festivities. Not long after we had begun taking pictures, he trotted up from the orchard, sniffed Thomas's basket, stretched out on the quilt, and began purring contentedly. Anyone who knows me knows that I can't resist the opportunity to kiss a cat. As soon as I stuck my nose in Ollie's fur, I realized that he had just been sprayed by a skunk! Why couldn't he have chased the Easter Bunny instead?!

P.S. Clothing provided by "Aunt" Erin and "Uncle" Roberto, who are expecting a little boy in August!