Batten Down the Hatches

On Tuesday we experienced a 5.9 earthquake with the epicenter about a 40 minute drive from here. We did find cracks in our new house, in our master bedroom - the addition that was put on in 2006 or 2007. But wait, there's more!



This is in a store in Mineral. In Louisa County, VA

This weekend, the weathermen are telling us to brace for Hurricane Irene. If this storm maintains its current path, the eye will make landfall right over Morehead City, NC, into Sandbridge (the top of the outer banks of NC) and right on into Norfolk & Virginia Beach, continuing up the coast for an almost direct hit to the Jersey Shore and New York City. They've announced mandatory evacuations for people in low lying areas of Norfolk, VA and in Poquoson, VA and Sandbridge. (We are 1 1/2 hours from Norfolk. We go there regularly to watch Norfolk Admirals Hockey.) They are telling Richmond to expect Tropical Storm-like conditions. (Hello, Isabel followed by Tropical Storm Gaston are still fresh in my head.)

  

I go with my family to Emerald Isle every year, since I was a little girl. EI is located on the opposite side of the island from Atlantic Beach. Atlantic Beach exits the island on a bride that connects into Morehead City. The island only takes 20 minutes to drive from end to end. Catch what I'm throwing? I'm a bit on edge about my dad's beach house.

Short Story Long, give a prayer or 2, push good thoughts to the universe, channel positive energy, meditate, cast a spell, or any other methods you may practice, to turn this storm into more HYPE than BITE for the entire eastern seaboard this weekend.

Love to Eat? How 'bout when a good cause is involved?

SO, while I'm still working on editing my pictures and excursions post for my trip to Puerto Rico AND finishing up the decorating of our screened porch (yes, Fall is around the corner + I've been home for a record THREE Weeks Straight = time to work on our new house), I'll take a moment to help spread the word.

There's a cookbook floating around out in blogland that I've just spotted on one of my FAVORITES. Kate herself is a contributor as well as 49 other fellow bloggers. While I have run across some of the other blogs, I intend to check them all out. Because, you know, I need to add to my 67 followed blogs.

Anyway, 100% will be donated to the American Red Cross. To read about the hard work and donated time and resources, check out HowDoesShe and to order one today, either e-book or hard copy click on the link below to take you where you need to go! I'm off to order mine!



Recipestohelp.bigcartel

Between Vacations (I did a house project!)



Ocean Water Over Toes in Sand



Between the times this summer I've had my toes in the sand, I have enjoyed our new house.



 We closed on June 10th, moved June 13th. My mom stayed with us that whole week to help us clean and unpack.

On June19th we went to Edisto Beach for a week.

Then we came back. For a week. On July 1st we left for Emerald Isle, NC for a week.

Then we came back. This time I have actually been in our house from the 9th until tomorrow morning. I leave for Puerto Rico with girlfriends tomorrow, the 20th and will be back next week.

But this weekend was the first full weekend in the house and I got a lot done. But this was what I actually took pictures of since the other stuff was errands and a major organizing of our files.

I left 11 tomato plants over at The Old House for our tenants. I hope when I go pick up some mail that they'll give me some since it's only 2 of them. Knowing that it will be futile to plant a tomato plant and expect fruit this late in the season, I did have to opt for the herb garden. I also left my herb garden behind.

We have a sandbox in our new yard. We knew we would have no use for this, kids or not. Sand is not something I want to be regularly cleaning from my house unless there is an ocean that comes along with it. The box is conveniently located off the kitchen so I thought it would be the perfect spot for a raised herb garden. There is landscape fabric under there too so I won't have a weed problem down the line.

I moved the sand from the side I am going to currently use. Added 12 bags of topsoil (no magic in the number just a good estimate and all I really wanted to pay for at the time) plus some Miracle Grow potting soil I already had that was getting old. I raked it evenly and walked around on it a little to slightly pack it down.

Then added my herbs based on how big they get and which ones I use the most and Viola! we have the beginnings of an herb garden. I'm sure I will add more herbs once I figure out what in the world to do with all of that sand.



Basil planted prominently in front.



I split the 1 container of chives in 1/2 so I have 2 large chives down the road.

Oregano and Rosemary behind that which will get big in a few years.

Cute little bunnies guard the herbs!

I'm off to Puerto Rico but will share the pseudo porch makeover when I get back.

I say pseudo because we don't have any furniture and I just looked around yesterday online and everything is so expensive! I like the wicker with the thick cushions like Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware or the metal with the thick cushions. Seems like everything is over $400-500 (even at the end of the season). Anyone have suggestions on places to look for an outdoor sofa or loveseat. I'm starting to think we may have to do a couple of chairs instead.

Life at the Speed of Light

That title is what it feels like in my life right now. On June 10th we closed (on schedule!) on our new house, then we cleaned it FOR. TWO. DAYS, moved in on the 13th (with movers, , unpacked, cleaned The Old House, unpacked some more, then packed clothes and headed to Edisto Beach, SC for a week of vacation. We are back -- for almost a week. We leave this Friday for Emerald Isle, NC for the July 4th week.

Needless to say, there has not been much time for any type of projects. Those will come. One day.

But in the meantime, here are a few pictures of the clean empty new house. I thought I would take many more, but I was too exhausted to keep the camera in my mind! Luckily for us, my mom came up and stayed with us for a week - Sat. to Sat. to help us clean and unpack. That is the sole reason we are not still living out of boxes. Moms Rock. I came home from work on Friday to find our entire laundry/utility room cleaned and organized.

Masterbath

Masterbath

Master Bedroom

Living Room Looking in from Den

Kitchen

Kitchen

From my viewpoint, there is not a lot that needs to be done to this house. There are no obnoxious paint colors that are slapping us in the face. This is a nice change from The Old House. This time around we can change colors slowly as we start to decorate the rooms. After my next vacation (and perhaps some picture hanging), I will take some after shots of the rooms with furnishings. There are more 'before' shots but they are just bedrooms and kind of boring. I think they'll have more wow factor if I put them against the 'finished' room. Finished meaning "this is what we have to work with right now, but does not mean it's permanent."

I'll be back after our July 4th vacation!!