Viva Las Vegas

I'm off to Vegas in the morning...I'm taking my lap top so I may post from Vegas unless I decide to go with the theme of Vegas of "What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas" ...Ha! Friday I plan on catching up on some much needed rest and you say...who goes to Vegas to rest? Anyway...take care and hopefully I'll have something fun to report.

Coton vs The Pumpkin Patch

This past Sunday Jennifer and I took Colton out to The Pumpkin Patch. Jen and I had planned to go to Old Town Spring and shop around. Tammy and Kyle had a date with the caterer for the wedding so I said I would take Colton with me. Jen found a Pumpkin Patch for us to visit.

Oh My!!! That little boy was all over the place and of course adding fits to the day as well...some of it was not fun. Even though it was a good time with Colton ...I did leave the Pumpkin Patch saying I would never go back again with him until he was at least 4. Ha!

It was hard to get pictures of him cause he was running all over the place but I did get a few so here are the best ones.

The top one is of Colton in the mist of pumpkins. He was sitting on one and then fell in between them.

The next picture is the best one I could get of him posing for the camera. He has a Cheetos face but when dealing with an almost 2 year old you gotta take your shots when you can. Still a cute picture and of course a memory this Gram won't forget.

This last picture was actually one of the first pictures I took. I couldn't get him to sit with the pumpkins, he wanted to roll them all around.

Happy Fall Y'all!

A Little Visitor

Colton came to spend the day yesterday and spent the night...we went out this morning to play with the cool front that came in...it was very nice. Just had a to show of my sweet little grandson. Look at all those beautiful blonde curls.

Another Beach House Progress Update

As of today all the dirt work around the house is finished and the septic and been fixed. Now all I need is the well pump to be checked out, the electrician to make sure no water in the electrical lines and the roof.

The above picture is what it now looks like looking at the beach from the ground level. Before the brush along the dunes was so high you couldn't see the water from the ground. You can see the cedar brush (what's left of it) but I'm sure it will be no time before it grows back. As you can see it's turning green and it was all burnt after the storm. Nature has a way of reclaiming itself.

The picture below is standing back by the dunes looking at the house. Seems so weird because where I'm standing was all brushed up and I would of NEVER thought about walking out there or standing in it. The outside seems so plain right now.

Another view of the house. As I said before I only have 3 palm trees left. I plan on going out this weekend and buying some new plants to plant while they are 70% off. It needs some color around there. Especially in the back so I can block the view of the road.

In front of the house....this area will most likely become a road that wasn't there before to allow the neighbors to get to their house...they have no access either. That's something we'll all have to figure out and most likely share the cost in. Before it was just a small road that stopped in front of my house that we just used to park at. It just made the property a little more secluded. The county just never completed putting the road through. I lucked out for a short time.

If you remember or have ever seen a picture of the view from my deck (you can go and look at previous post in the archives to find a view picture before the storm) this is now what the view looks like. It's different, not as colorful, a little plain but it's still beautiful and something I have missed very much. I can't wait to get my deck furniture back out on the deck and sit down with a cold beverage and just relax.

I need my place to retreat back to. I've missed it but more importantly...
I NEED IT!!!!

Beach House Progress

Today I went out to the beach house to see how the clean up is coming along and it's coming along. Here are few pictures.

The top picture is from the road turning in to the property...the driveway. Before Ike you would drive straight in and turn left past the first body of water you see. After Ike the driveway was washed out and to the left of that water was a big hole from washed out sand. We have had that hole filled in and made a temporary road off the drive so I can drive onto my property.

This is the back of the house but the side that faces the main road. We're filling in dirt where the dirt was washed away plus the dirt that was washed away from under the house. This back side use to be lined with palm trees and oleanders that blocked the back of the house from the view of the road. Now I only have 3 palm trees left when there was about 10 or 12...there were also some sago palms as well.

This is also the back side view.

view of the front...filling in big holes left by Ike.

And a front view of the house from what is now the new dune line. Kind of looks a little plain compared to before. All this used to be brushed up and is now just sand...it was full of debris but that has been moved. Now we'll wait and see how quick vegetation grows back. My neighbor said the house next to him that had their dirt work done a week ago is now showing signs of green popping up through the sand. It's all interesting.

Next week they should start working on the septic..the electrician will come check things out tomorrow...then I will need to get a well guy out there to check out the well and then start getting the roof repaired and then hopefully I'll be back on my deck before too long figuring out what's the next plan in putting back in the driveway. There are 3 of us that need that area fixed to get to our properties.

Did I tell you I still love my beach house and I still plan on having it for some time but I have decided that I'm not moving there any time soon!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Beach House Update

Hope this finds you all well.

My brother John was down last week and helped me with getting some things started on the beach house. What a mess. To put back the dirt under the concrete and in places around the house we have to haul in 60 loads of dirt...and this is not dirt for the driveway. I still have no access onto the property since the drive that I shared was pretty much wiped out. Another neighbor in a pink house...you may of seen pictures of it when I posted pictures after the hurricane...it was sitting in water....fell of the stilts...anyway they brought in 26o loads and they have no access to get to there property either. Right now they are temporary using someone else's property but it's temporary. We may end up doing something together to gain access to our properties.

Oh...and by the way...the pink house...they are planning on having the house moved back and then fill in with dirt, put new pilings (stilts) in and putting the house back in it's place...should be interesting and expensive.

Also I'm having the debris cleaned up off the property by the same company doing the dirt.

The insurance adjuster came out and now a claim is filed so I'm waiting on that. Also I have to have some things on the septic replaced...something insurance doesn't cover. Anyway...thanks to my brother who got this whole ball rolling and who is still making phone calls for me since he's been back home. Couldn't of done it without him. The next step is getting a electrician out there just to make sure everything is okay before I flip the switch on...we are suppose to have power but I still have all my stuff turned off....I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Hopefully I'll have some new pictures for you soon to be able to see the the progress of the clean up.

Now after I get the lights back on and the septic fixed maybe I can start to go back and enjoy the beach even though the area is still being cleaned up...the only thing is right now I can't drive to the house I have to park on the road and then walk over....not something I especially want to do.

I'm just thankful that I haven't ran into the many rattle snakes I keep hearing about. I think that would just about do me in.

Well y'all take care...I'm off to bed to get some sleep while I can...Colton is spending the night and he's asleep right now. Tomorrow I'm off with Tammy to look at wedding cakes.

Be good!

Baby Shower

Saturday we had a BBQ Baby Shower for Josh and Jessy. We had a good time...good friends and family joined us for the day.

After we mingled and ate and did presents some left and some stayed. Those who stayed were able to join in on some Karaoke. We had tons of fun and the Karaoke stopped around 11 that evening.

I will keep you posted on our Hayden's arrival as we approach our December 1st due date.

To all of you who joined us Saturday ...thanks for driving out...we appreciate it very much and needless to say...we ALL had a BLAST!