The Modeling and Remodeling Continues!

The Modeling . . .

 O.K., you guys . . . you wanted him to keep the beard . . . want him to keep the hat, too??? : P

And the Remodeling . . . (to be honest, I like the looks of this part MUCH better. : )

 The trim and the walls have been painted!

 They've been busy adding molding and dressing it up.

 There are no more unfinished "dead ends" to the sheetrock!

 And the trim around the steps is a work in progress.

 Now don't get dizzy looking at this one!  This is the ceiling looking from the bottom of the steps.

 Some of the molding put up yesterday . . .

 This is from the very tiptop of the stairs.  (Sorry for the absolutely magnificent view of my feet . . . I was getting a little squirmy looking down the stairs through a camera lens . . . motion sickness kicking in, ya know.)  From where I'm standing, there's two steps, a landing, step down to another landing, and then down the stairs you go! : )  . . . hopefully with your feet safely under you ~ at least that's the idea. : )

 Does this angle give a better idea of the above explanation?

 The end of the office where the steps are located . . .

 And yet another view of the other end of the room . . .

Progress, progress, progress . . .  we are SO excited!  It's so nice to actually have paint on the walls!

And some things are still awaiting their turn . . . : )

(I know, Mom . . . I can already hear you gasping and can only imagine the lecture I am going to hear. : )  Just thought I'd brighten your day . . .)

More coming soon . . . stay tuned!

Modeling or Remodeling . . . That is the Question : )

 The new year has found a lot going on at our house!  Dad decided it was high time to finish off some projects around the house, so we have been benefiting from "Operation Fix-It-Up". : )

The staircase used to sport unfinished sheetrock . . .

 Now they are working on the stairs . . . the idea is white painted fronts with finished hardwood treads.  Pretty soon that idea will become reality. 

 Painting by osmosis?!?  Wishful thinking, huh? : )

 The finished trim and light above the staircase . . .

If we got adventurous, we could put something in the little shelf, but that will come later.

 Second (and final) coat.

 Looking good . . .

Boy! that last step is always the hardest! : P

In the meantime, Dad has been sanding the girls' bedroom walls as well as the office walls and ceiling.  Wow!
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Last night, as the previous pictures were being posted, the steps were getting the second phase of their face lift. : )

The view from the top of the stairs . . .

. . . and from the bottom.

It will be unrecognizable when all is finished . . .

 More pictures coming soon!

Birthdays And Bow Ties. . .

A very special birthday rolled around at the end of last month . . . or to make it sound like centuries ago, we could say "at the end of last year". : )  Allison's 18th ~ one that she's been looking forward to for quite some time.  And her two requests?  A zebra cheesecake and go-cart rides for the whole family.

You see, this year we've been celebrating somewhat differently and have really enjoyed it.  The birthday girl/boy picks something for the family to do together, and that day is like a mini holiday.

The cheesecake was made the night before so it would be good and ready for the celebration. : )

Instead of graham crackers, I used vanilla wafer for the crust.

Add some cocoa and extra maple syrup to about a third of it, and voila!  Of course, It doesn't instantly create stripes . . . gotta work for those. : )

Then whip up the batter and pour it in the pan.  The stripes in the batter were a little more difficult to make.  I wasn't expecting the dark batter to be so thin.  It was impossible to "dollop" so I had to create gullies and then  spread it in. : (  Maybe it will go better next time.

The first peak into the oven . . . just a little cooling before it comes out.

It could be mistaken as a dead tree instead of zebra stripes. : )

A gift to Allison from some friends.  It is very special, cherished, and so fitting!  It says:

A little handicapped but; From my point of view Pray & Believe.  Find a way to make a difference.  Then go out and give it a try.  I'm trying this and it sure helps.  Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done.  Pray & believe in yourself even when others around you doubt.

Mel

It's not so much how you walk.  As who you walk with.

Mel wrote this in the spring of '95.  Upon his death in July of '95, his family found this in his Bible.  He'd had his handicap for 55 years.

Her new "pet name" (no pun intended) : )

Yay!  Zebra stripes!

That afternoon we went to Zuma in Pineville.  Allison had been looking forward to this for a long time.

Just waitin' . . .

Patiently, of course. : )

In the lineup.  

First lap and doin' well!

Yes, she did this for just shy of 5 hours!
Of course there was some power chair time between rides to wait on our turn.

DEFINITELY worth it!!!

At 5, we headed home for supper . . .

PIZZA!!! : )

"Happy Birthday to you . . ."

Hmmmm . . . getting kinda gusty, don't you think? : )

Want a piece?

Here you go, Ms. Ann! : )

And now for some bits and pieces of the Workman life . . . : )

This was taken the day she left for VA.  Her doctor's appointment went well, and the thought of surgery is put on the back burner for now.  Hopefully the new leg braces and night splints will work.  If not, there are other measures that can be taken before surgery will even be reconsidered.  Praise the Lord!

Allison modelling the new hat she made.  Just gotta love the bright colors!

Just makes me wanna smile and laugh with her . . .

The things you can get away with in bright colors. : )

Goin' zebra all the way!

Christmas Day 2011

Looks like the beard is staying ~ at least for a little while.  We put off getting our family picture for Christmas cards until he shaved . . . that was the middle of December.  Well, it's past Christmas as well as New Year's Day, so if you were expecting a picture card from the Workman family, you now know you can blame it all on Ray. ; )  Come to think of it, he did have a lot of encouragement . . .

And last, but not least, meet Fudge. : )

Ever feel like eyes are on you?  We have been doing our Spring cleaning around here, so when we took our dining room curtains down, this little kitty decided to take advantage of the view. : )  Our kitties adore their "peoplefolk", so they love it when they can have some extra you-and-me time.  Actually, if the truth be known, she was trying to find a way to get in to her peoplefolk, but to see them was the next best thing. : )