december {photo a day}

The last month of 2010 - 

31 photos to finalize the 365 project.

(Note: posted in January 2011, backdated to December 2010.)

335/365

December 1st

had to put out something decorative for Christmas

336/365

more decorating for Christmas

337/365

trip to Charlotte

338/365

Billy Graham library

339/365

merry Christmas to me, from me

340/365

my favorite Christmas decorations

341/365

cowgirl Emma

342/365

my simple Christmas wreath

343/365

cute little helper

344/365

Sunday School gifts

345/365

Christmas glitter

  

346/365

couldn't choose between

both will count for day 346

intentionally sized small

347/365

another ceiling fan put up

replacing the one carried to my house

348/365

uploads are working again

349/365

pretty paper

350/365

making Christmas goodies

351/365

cookie swap

YFC fun night

352/365

wedding prep

353/365 

the colors of the season

354/365

doughnuts with the kiddos

355/365

working on Christmas cards

356/365

a family photo edited

 357/365

Christmas decorations & gifts

 358/365

trip to the upstate

359/365 

what Christmas is all about. 

Zac reading from Luke 2. 

360/365 

snow day. 

an almost white Christmas on 12/26 

361/365

icicles staying around 

362/365

my house and bokeh...just lovely! 

363/365

clearing out mail clutter 

364/365

game night at my house

365/365

a photo of life.

leaving for an upstate trip / my sweet mama cleaned my car.

A year of busy days, sweet moments, major milestones.

I love browsing through photo memories -

it is easier to remember life's details when there are photos (and words.)

So, I will cherish the memories that I blogged from 2010.

That concludes my first 365 project!

this year: TwentyTen

 When I think about the year Twenty-Ten, 

I am not sure where to begin.

 The blessings abound, my life filling, 

a taste of what is to come, the Lord willing.

2010 resolutions, some fulfilled, some failed.

But through it all, I am uplifted and held -

in the precious, loving care

of the One who my burdens will bear.

Broken pieces of my heart, no longer shattered, 

but healing God did impart to my soul, long battered.

A heart of thankfulness, eyes that well with gratitude and love,

God truly sent me eternal gifts and promises from above.

A year of change, a year of hope,

though at times, I felt at the end of my rope.

Emotions stretched thin, nights too short,

but happiness is still my report.

I am blessed, not bragging -

Just a journal, and memories blogging.

Not higher or better than anyone else -

Just analyzing myself. 

Another good year is my wish, my prayer -

 Not a random life of here and there.

A focused purpose, a destination in mind -

a treasure I hope to hold, to find.

The countdown is on - 2011's life tapestry to weave.

So here is to you - Happy New Year's Eve!

rocking chairs: before & after

Before

Looking at some items for sale in an older home,

I loved these rockers.

Of course, I planned to paint them.

I thought that I would spray paint them open house morning.

 But when they came - someone had already worked on that.

 After

Pretty black rockers!

The porch floor has a new coat of paint -
gray covering the old green,

so that everything is coordinated.

exterior back: before & after

Before -

the back of the house, porch, yard, pool, etc...

After:

Can you pick out all the changes?

The list of changes include:

- replacing the cream vinyl siding with white 

- ripping off the deck

- removing the satellite dish and basketball board

- cleaning out the pool - liner, water, frog, tadpoles, lots of gooky stuff

- removing the statue near the pool

- taking down the white shutters

- replacing the porch screen

- taking away one screen door, replacing the other door

- putting up wood (painting black) instead of the white vinyl on the porch bottom

- adding a crawl space door - painted to match the porch bottom

- adding an outside light and some landscaping

A few more before photos:

A  rotting deck that almost caused inspection/closing problems.

This door is no longer here - and the porch floor is a dark gray now.

This ceiling fan that caused many laughs is no longer here either...

the replacement looks much better.

This little building is gone now...

Not much difference from this before photo of the garage -

except for pressure washing.

After view of the spaces shown above:

(with a tree that I planted and some flowers near the garage and tree)

Before

The nasty pool - up close.

A lot of brush at the back to clean up.

From spring to fall - a transformation.

(notice the tree in between the pines - budding leaves to the first change of color)

No decision on the pool yet - at least it is not a frog pond anymore.

The days of pumping water and catching frogs had some hilarious moments.

I saw enough frogs to last me a LONG time...

One more after photo - with no before...

My mom and I painted this crawl space door underneath the carport.

We spent MANY hours outside -

hard work makes a difference!

utility room: before & after

A glimpse of the "after" in my

utility/laundry room.

The before photo is taken from the outside, on the back porch.
A board with vinyl over it replaced the exterior door.

The inside had sheetrock addition 

with a built-up floor. 

 

The water heater (replacement) 

is on the opposite side from the original location.

Part of the window glass had to be replaced also. 

Bi-fold doors replaced a normal door

because my table sits in front of those doors.

As shown, I had space to add a small chest freezer.

And on the other side...stackable washer and dryer.

The washer and dryer had to be on this wall, because

the hook-ups were turned around from the kitchen wall into this little room.

And stacking units were my only option to fit in this space.

A small cabinet sits beside the washer/dryer -

the floor holds quite a bit of detergent, etc because the

cabinet is so small.

I like the bright white and green - 

it is a "clean" room. ;)

 

This room is full of labors of love - 

along with the rest of the house.

Special people helped make my dreams come true.

I am grateful - and very blessed.