California has done Michael good!

We have been so busy with Michael's ministry and my artwork that we have had little time to spend exploring the "Secret Garden". We decided that we needed to get out!

Unfortunately, we have both put on weight and spend most of our time inside our little apartment' with Michael reading and studying in preparation for his sermon and his ministry visits. I basically sit in the studio and do art. So, we decided it was time to get fit! Latin Dance lessons was the answer!

So, taking a slight diversion from my artwork and in preparation for the Christmas season, and knowing that every year we create a unique Christmas Card - this year we decided that we wanted the card to bring a grin to peoples faces.

Michael and I have been married for 3 1/2 years and Michael comes from North Carolina. So in order to put to mind all of his North Carolina family and friends (in regard to the negative influence living in California might have on him and with a desire to put their minds at ease) we created a very special card. Here is the prototype:

The truth be told, we have not started taking any dance lessons; but, the picture made us both smile really, really big and Michael started dancing around the apartment! Hey, it's a start!

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Painted Patio Wall Transformation - Our New "Secret Garden"

Michael and I have discovered a Secret Garden every where we have lived since getting married in 2010. Whether it was the creek that ran behind our first apartment in Sacramento or the tiny little space of our 520 square foot, 1962 single-wide, mobile home in Rancho Cordova, California, we were always able to discover and create a unique sanctuary to call home. Even though, in years past, we did what we could to make our surroundings uniquely wonderful, we never had the room to go really crazy until now. Since moving to our new home in North Carolina in May, we have not only discovered a world of exotic creatures and plants outdoors, but we have also started taking full advantage of the additional space we now have available to add our own touch of whimsy to the new "Wood's Secret Garden". Our first major project was the Patio which joins the in-law quarters (where mom lives) to the kitchen entrance into the main house. We have received so many questions abou...

Just having a little, good, clean fun!

This year, for my Birthday, my husband bought me something I have wanted for years--a Power Washer. From the very first time I used one to help a girlfriend get her mom's house ready to sell, I have wanted one for my very own. There is something so therapeutic about seeing dirty siding, fences, bricks and cement go from yuck to clean. Over the past month, I have power washed everything I could find: the patio, the fence, the siding on the shop, several dirty shutters; and, even the garbage cans. I was putting off tackling the biggest project (the driveway) until I had a full day to work on it. Well, this opened up a whole new world for me. When I realized how long it would take (we have a very long and very dirty driveway) I decided to turn it into an art project. I realized that I could do word art in one tenth the time that it would take to power wash the entire driveway and it would allow me to leave most of the dirty part dirty. As pleased as ...

Just a few more projects...like a working shower!

As promised, the following are some "after" pictures. We have moved everything in and organized most of our things. We still have several all day projects, like replacing the diverter valve and the washers in the shower. Currently no functioning shower; but, I can always take a bath until we can get this done. Yuck! No time to write. Just enough time to post a few pictures: Bedroom - Notice the TV that plays VHS - Really Modern stuff in a 1964 House - (smiling) Michael at his desk preparing for Sunday's Sermon Looking out from the Kitchen into the Living Room Temporary Patio - Hope to build a small, screened in Platform Patio in a few months Looking into the hallway Bathroom My Favorite Room The Breakfast Bar The entry way - Looking in through the Sliding glass front door! and clearly - Monkey is back to normal!

The Wood's Secret Garden

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