Castles, Porkadillos and Unfinished Business

Oh My ....

Between Tax Season and the Elements 

(well with as many elements as So California has)

against us...

we have made some progress on the yard. 

I really don't know how Kevin gets so much done....but he does. 

Lucky me!!!

Our favorite

 "unfinished"

project is still the outdoor room. 

We have been busily shopping for him and are anxious to have him finished.   

Yesterday he was electrified!! 

In the cold and rain last night, Kevin and I went out to test the lights. 
(maybe we shouldn't have done that in the wet)

Good News...they work. 

We have a new seating area
waiting in the wings,
to be opened and set up
in front of the still "unfinished" fireplace

and a new dining table and chairs
to be delivered next week. 

I don't think he will be done by next week,

but just in case,

it never hurts to be prepared. 

I also found two of the most outstanding  lantern sconces (Amazon) to hang on two of the front posts. 

I am still deciding which posts, but I think my decision has been made. 

What do you think?

Small news flash....

I have become an "Amazon" Queen. 

That's right, who knew Internet shopping

could be so rewarding. 

I found a ceiling fan at a lighting shop

and was informed that it was discontinued. 

No fear, "Amazon" Queen is here. 

The discontinued ceiling fan has arrived
and is also now ready to be installed. 

That will be installed when the

tongue and groove ceiling goes in. 

In fact, Mr. Tongue and Groove arrives
this evening to check out the job.

Can you tell I'm excited?

When we started building this space,

Kevin and I sat on the concrete slab one night,

with a couple of beverages of course,

trying to come up with a name to describe our new room.  After going through many names, like the Portobello,

 Piazza, Terrace, or Veranda, we settled on the

"Portico". 

It sounded a little "Old Worldly" to us and that was

the feel we were going for. 

The problem arose when we began sharing this name

with the rest of the family. 

Portico,
it seems, is just too darn hard to remember,

especially when everyone is thinking about this guy.

You remember the Party Pig weather vane

I ordered a couple of weeks ago, well he has arrived and has had more influence on naming the space than we did. 

The official name for the outdoor room is now

"The Porkadillo"

 Classless, I know,

but I guess when you're planning on putting

a drinking pig on your roof somethings gotta give. 

To be honest though, it has grown on us and I can't imagine calling it anything else.
(Do you think I can find a sign on Amazon?)

As for the Castle ...

Madison has christened the seating area in the grove...
you know, the one that is "unfinished"

"The Castle"

You tell me, does it look like a castle to you?

As for the rest of it ...

The vegetable garden is in and flourishing,

except for Riley's carrots that go in this week

(weather permitting)

Grapes are also in,

and the Horseshoe Pit is in ... minus sand

and stakes.

As you can see we are making progress...trouble is there are a lot of behind the scene

stuff that goes on that never shows

in the final reveal. 

Pictures of the Vegetable Garden, Grapes and Pits later,

but for now I will leave you with a little tease

These are actually antique horseshoes from

a horse Kevin had as a kid.

Sean (the Amazon Prince)

found some antique railroad nails we have special plans

for in this area.

Tomatoes...

and grapes ...

oops...I mean grapes

and the Princess in her Castle