Friday, June 12, 2009

“No More Projects!”

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Oops…
     If anything can reduce me to wringing my hands and a need to explain myself, it is when my husband notices something going on in the yard or the driveway, and he says one of two things:
“You’re not having another party are you?” 
or
“No more projects.”  
     If I’m in too deep with whatever I have planned - ( or as my oldest daughter says- “I’m in it to win”)-and I usually am, he will then say, as I enter the house after working on said project, dramatically huffing and puffing, with my best Joan of Arc expression:
Now don’t wear yourself out.”
or
Be careful , you’re going to get dehydrated.”
     In the heat we have had the last two days, all of the above is possible. Although it obviously can’t be a secret, since he can see it from his lookout post, my latest project is this-
a Father’s Day/ Husband Day gift for him.
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     After all of our trips to New Normal (and another one planned next week for another surgery),  I decided to go overboard for Father’s Day next weekend, just so I could hear him say those wonderful words from a million years of marriage to me:
No more projects.”

*Details for this unfinished project*
     This is a very rustic outdoor kitchen that is being built off of a small patio, by what we call the little house.  It is built out of concrete block from Mexico that has been faced in squared off limestone .  There is no electricity or running water. Those amenities are available in the little house nearby.
     I had a removable iron grill with handles made by a welder, and on either side of it are copper countertops that were originally in my kitchen. I loved the idea of copper countertops, but I did not enjoy the day to day living with copper countertops. 
     So when I had it changed out last summer, I saved the island top and a small cabinet top.  Those are now on either side of the grill.
     The young man who built this was someone I saw working on a limestone fence and driveway, which immediately prompted me to pull off onto the side of the road. We negotiated there as well.
     The welder was selling BBQ pits- guess where?- on the side of the road on flea market day. He finished the new grill and repaired my husband’s old BBQ pit in 2 days time.
     More later…

19 comments:

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

Laura..Thank you for stopping by and commenting...I use a Cannon Power ShotA610... Nothing Fancy Dancy, but it gets the job done. I have two daughters who are photographers, I think they secretly snicker when they see their mom's meager attempt at Photography! Ha! My Youngest, Beth makes a living at her craft, her site is on my blog in m "Ports of Call" if your interested in viewing her talents. Her speciality is children...Just click on Adore-U-Photography on my blogroll and enjoy! I think your husband will love the new outdoor grilling center you've so thoughtfully redone for him...Your a good woman! xoxo~Kathy@ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

trash talk said...

Just don't pull a Lucy and lose your ring in the grill!
Debbie

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

LOL...Lucy...LOL...I loved that show..and I am remembering the way the BBQ looked after Lucy and Ethel rebuilt it...
Now...where was I... :) Oh yes..the BBQ..wonder what he charges if he has to fly to California...kidding..just kidding. It's going to be beautiful!! Yep!
Back to Lucy...where the heck did she find her ring...oh..right..Ricky had found it and hide it from her to teach her a lesson... I can't wait to see the end result!! :)
Which reminds me ..I need some more white spray paint!! I'm serious!

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

P.S. I think I am very, very tired. What I meant to say is that I cannot wait to see your BBQ when it is all finished. What the HECK was I thinking when I posted that comment above! I'm ..going to bed!
HUGS!
Mona

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

What a wonderful gift to your darling hubby. I'm sure he'll be thrilled with it.....What a thoughtful gift. Does he know how lucky he is to have you? EVEN with all of your projects? My husband actually uses these words allll the time...."Spencer and her projects"....gosh, dont' ya just love a good project? :-)

Oh yes! Grandkids are such a gift, aren't they? I love my daughter to bits and was so happy to be a mommy.......I loved (almost) every minute of it.......but being a grandma????? It's got to be heaven on earth. I love this child SOOOOO much!

Hugs,
Spencer

Jo said...

What a fabulous Father's day gift. I love the idea of copper countertops! I can't wait to see the finished project.

Have a great weekend~
Jo

Pam said...

What a wonderful "surprise". Projects are a part of the fun of living. Can't wait to see a picture of your hubby out there grilling and enjoying himself. Prayers for you that all will be well.Pam

LuLo Designs/Blue Eyed Tango said...

That's so wonderful of you to do for your hubby! I think it's very smart looking! Way to recycle items you already had! You don't have to have all the amenities to have a good steak! My husband would love it!!! He was a boy scout and would liken it a camp fire pit! Great job....don't forget to pamper yourself after you're done! Praying for everything to go well for him! Luanne

KBeau said...

What a great Father's Day gift. I'd like to know more about those concrete blocks. Probably less expensive than thick limestone.

Mary @ Framed and Tagged said...

Laura,
Love your grill! Hope everything is okay.
I'm anwsering your question about ordering seeds or plants. I have ordered seeds a lot but couldn't find the different colors of coneflowers that I wanted so I did order the plants.

trish said...

What a sweet gift to give to your husband. A real labor of love. :o) I love how you pieced it all together. It will look fantastic! My husband says those same caring things to me. He always wants to make sure that I don't get in over my head and wear myself out. :o) What would we do with out these sweet men of ours?! :o)
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Talk about a labor of love. :-)
Have a great weekend.
Glenda

Sandra said...

What an A+ Father's Day Gift!! You are amazing! I always started projects when the Mr. was on a golfing trip! Of course I was never finished when he got back. Projects always turn out to be MUCH MORE than we think . . . haha. Have a great weekend!! xoxo

Nancy's Notes said...

Awesome grill! I find myself always chuckling after I read your stories. Laura, your spur of the moment, off the road negotiating times really crack me up!

Dixie said...

Alas dear bloggy friend... Peonies are a northern flower... some grow as far south as Missouri & Northern Arkansas... The only place I know of west of the Miss River is California and Washington state...

we're stuck with Lantana... good thing I love that flower too!

Joy said...

What an awesome Father's Day gift. I tell you I need to travel your roads. The deals and ideas you get are amazing. I think I just need to get out of these blasted suburbs. It's boring here. ;)
What a great way to reuse something you loved. I think putting them in your outdoor kitchen was a great idea.

My husband grumbles too. He says my projects turn into his projects. (so true)

Joy

Jan Holt said...

What a perfect gift for your hubby. Mine would be green with envy so I can't let him see your post! Glad to have found you through SIT's.

;-)

Jan

Domestic Designer said...

What a great idea! I can't wait to see more!

brokeintrovert said...

Perfect Father's Day/Husband's Day present. My daughter and I are always lost when it comes to picking out a present for "Dad". This year, he said that the only restrictions on his gift is that it cannot be purchased.

 

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