Abundance of Blessings

I woke up this morning feeling abundantly blessed.  I started to upload a picture to Instagram to express this happiness and then realized when I began to caption said picture that I had a blog (or two) in my head.  I haven't had a lot of quiet time in the last few months.  My job has had me all over the United States.  I haven't had enough time to stop and sit, let alone be refreshed enough to know what time zone I was in.  While I've been zooming across the United States, my faithful and amazing husband has continued to chip away at the projects needing to be done for Penny's continued transformation.  Simply put, we were both exhausted.

Bill's Gramma's clock

Bill's sister, Beth, has been talking about driving down from Virginia to see Penny and bring cherished pieces of Bill's past for us to live with.  Between COVID and my insane work schedule, how do you plan a visit?  I decided to have an elective surgery that I have been wanting done.  I told her she could be sure I was home if she came after it.  Two days after I'm back home from the hospital, Beth and Arthur come pulling up our driveway.  I'm tired and sore and she comes in the door and starts cooking.  Hallelujah.  My kitchen is taken over by Bill and Beth.  I'm pushed to the counter stool with a glass of wine.  I could not be any happier at this moment.

Our Pecan Tree

The next morning they're both up early.  Beth makes biscuits and gravy...  OMG delicious!!!  Then she and Arthur are out the front door moving wood Bill had salvaged from the house.  They removed all the nails and then carted the wood to the back of the property to Bill's new tent. I swear I could see relief all over Bill's face each time he looked at that wood pile dwindling.  It was a project he hadn't been looking forward to doing but had to be done soon so that he could get the porch ready for the siding that will be done to the house in the next two weeks.  We have a clear porch that has been swept for the first time in two years. (insert angels singing in the heavens... oh wait, that might just be Bill's heart bursting).

Inside they come at the end of the day and Beth starts cooking again...  Arthur sits at the counter and starts shelling our pecans that we've gathered.  It's another long process but he's doing it with a smile on his face.  I'm sitting on a huge bean bag chair my girlfriend Audra made me take home for my recovery.  Conversation is good, food is amazing and I'm a groggily happy girl.  This shelling is going to continue to happen over the next few weeks.  Our pecan tree is full of fruit.  I'm loving the food our property is providing us, but there's days where I love watching someone else do the work needed to use these gifts.

Door that came with house

Yesterday, I woke up to Bill making waffles.  After breakfast the men ran to Lowes.  Beth and I spend the morning making cookies, pumpkin bread, and sourdough pizza crust while we cooked down another pumpkin.  When the guys come back, Beth and Arthur are out the door to begin another project I've been dying to have done.  Our front door.  I hate the cheap "new" hollow front door on this house.  It doesn't fit the character.  Every time I look at it I wonder what they were thinking.  Last year I found a door in a salvage yard that would replace it but we needed the time to strip and stain it.  Obviously that project was WAY down the list of things to do but it was something we could give to another person looking to help us.   They spent hours on that door getting years of paint and grime off of it.  There's still a bit of sweat equity that I'll have to do but once a project is started, I somehow find the motivation to finish it.  The goal is to have this baby stripped, stained and fitted for the front door replacement when the new siding goes on.  This solid vintage craftsman beauty is going to fit right in with Penny's facelift.  Here's a few photos of the progress they made.

Abundant blessings indeed this holiday season... 

• The gift of health insurance and being able to fix my body as needed. 

• The gift of a husband that works tirelessly to get this dream of a home I have completed.  I know each hour he puts into this renovation is an act of love for me.

• The gift of our family history - I know Bill will love the chair, mirror and clock for years to come.  We're both thankful to have these pieces lovingly delivered.  

• The gift of bonding with future family members.  Arthur, you are officially brother and sister-in-law approved.  We both look forward to warmly welcoming you into our family when you two make that step.  Thank you for your time here, and thank you for loving our Beth.  She glows in happiness now.  You have our undying gratitude for that gift.

• The gift of time with family... it's the most time I've spent with my sister-in-law.  Love you bunches Beth.  Thanks for this weekend.  It truly was priceless to both of us.  We need to try to do this annually.  Georgia or Virginia... maybe trade years driving...  Miss you already

From our farmhouse to your home, we wish you all a Thanksgiving where you too are filled with gratefulness at the blessings around you... 

Gramma's chair with Kimberly's pillow