Jury Duty, anyone?

I am serving jury duty this month from March 2-16.

Life is such an adventure!

I feel stressed not seeing my kids and with Fridge Art AROUND THE CORNER...Oy!

Progress on the house is going well! Hopefully we'll be home in no time!

XO,

Laura

Steady progress and updates all around!

Mardi Gras has come and gone. Our girl can't get enough of it! I think she definitely has a Laura, Sr. (Maw Maw) gene for the Carnival fever! Her favorite was Muses because she had some very special attention from our friends, Liz (riding) and Gwynne (running). She even got a coveted SHOE!

She also LOVED the 2 days of fun with her cousins and marching in Les Enfants as a ninja (thanks, Ms. Andree) with Lainey!

Speaking of Ms. Andree...here she is with Lucy. Many of you that are faithful Bell Street bloggers note that Lucy is now almost 7 months old and has a tooth!!!

And finally...our dear Erin...the most persistent blogger...on Mardi Gras Day as a Zulu coconut...and yesterday this is what came out of that coconut:

Frederick Charles, III

Oh, yeah! About the house...we are plugging along. Stacy and Rodney are still doing a stellar job...we hope to be be home SOON!

Love you guys!

Laura

The Colors of Bell Street revisited

Ceasar

Lizzie

Deuuuuuce

Zoe

The real colors of Bell Street are of neighborhood scents and smiles that we miss. The colors are flowers that continue to bloom despite neglect and inattention. The colors are Mardi Gras beads on a fence. They are a daisy that refuses to not bloom after a freeze. The colors are people and pets that we miss. The colors are what we remember and what we know of the place that we love.

The colors make us happy and sad at the same time. Hopefully, as we prepare to get back home, the new colors we add to Bell Street will be as beautiful as the ones that are already there.

"Colors?" you ask...

Lynn said that the colors had to be part of the big "reveal." You know, like on HGTV when they bring the poor saps back into the house...they thought they were getting French Country, but instead got some hyperactive, wanna-be decorators idea of a Spa Retreat. The BIG reveal!

The colors are nice. Nothing too out there. Since we are basically traditional/eclectic in our house decorating, you'll get more of that...only on straight walls with safe lighting! Like it used to be...only much, much better!

Walls are continuing to go up! Stacy is having fits with my under cabinet (we call it "ambient" to be fancy) lighting...and Rodney told us that part of our ceiling had no supports...it's like eating through a big box of Valentine chocolate...never know what you're gonna get!

Keep reading!

Laura

Walls and Rehab! A great combo!

Stacy and Rodney are hard at work putting up WALLS!!!!!! While our house has been rehabilitated, renovated, and renewed...Lynn has been getting some of the 3 R's herself!

She goes to a very fun PT center called Superior Rehab in Metairie! Don't be fooled...these beautiful, smiling faces can inflict a lot of pain! Donna and Chelsea smile BIG for the Blog!

Speaking of inflicting pain...meet MIKE!!! He would have LOVED the Inquisition! He is an awesome therapist and he keeps Lynn working very hard to get better!

Our mantle got dipped at the bank! It had several layers of paint on it! Now it is all natural and beautiful!

Kitchen walls...

More kitchen...

And even more kitchen!

Rodney inspects the insulation.

Very pretty insulation!

Sophie's bathroom walls and the laundry nook.

Sophie's shower.

We are getting there! Thanks for your encouragement and support!

Happy Valentine's Day!!! We love you!

The very best things in life...

...are worth waiting for!

In my life, those things have been Sophie, meeting the love of my life, learning to really love others, and learning about what in life REALLY matters.

The house on Bell St. completed will be added to that list!

We are a bit behind b/c Stacy and Rodney want to do this job in a most excellent way. When we move back home, we want it to be the last time we have to move EVER AGAIN!

Lynn and I will be home for many, many, many years!

Patience is sometimes difficult to muster, but we can do it! Patience is a good lesson at any age! When we do move back home, it will be an awesome day!

With Fridge Art being just 7 weeks away,I have lots to keep me busy. Lynn is finding cool stuff, like a reclaimed door from the Green Project. Sophie is just keeping busy with school and listening to her iPod!

We will keep you posted. Sheetrock is up in Sophie's bathroom!

Keep sending good vibes our way!

XOXO

We Gotta Have Faith!!! It's February 1st

As a long-time and passionate Saint's Fan, those of you that know me well, know that it takes a lot for me to lose faith in my boys...I sit through bad play-calling, misreads, missed tackles, stupid mistakes, and lots and lots of lost games! I never give up! I know that before I die, the Saint's will go to and win the Superbowl! I even imagine a 16-0 season! I believe in faith and believing in something! Something even as silly as a football team!

Yes, I cried when Deuce made his last touchdown as a Saint. I boo-hooed when we had our first game in the dome after Katrina. I cry most of the time when we win or when we lose. I know I will cry when we can move back to our house and once again make it our home!

Here we are, February 1! As Sophie says, "28 days to go and we can move in!." Like me, she believes that we will be back home by March 1.

We have a short month to go and what looks like a lifetime of work! I have faith that my boys can do this...and we won't have to wait until next season!

Have faith! If you are religious, pray for us! If you are a pagan, have a drink for us! If you are an atheist, do whatever you do when you hope for something! If you are a skilled craftsman, show up at 2819 Bell Street and offer your services!

XOXOXOXO,

Laura

Living Free With Chemicals!

Stacy doused the house with chemicals to ward off termites and other wood infesting insects!

Bora beetles, formosan termites, other hungry insects...BEWARE!

Not exciting, but progress!

We also have cans in for recessed lighting and Sophie's shower is almost in!


Sheetrock coming soon!

WE HAVE WATER!!!

Lynn should be writing this because she is so excited about running water. The plumbing is finished and the lines were tested today. We are good to go. The water is flowing...well, to nowhere, but it's flowing with NO LEAKS!

A few pics to show where we are with about 5 weeks left to go...

This is our new light for our little "study corner" in the kitchen. This is the study corner as it looks now...

Tala gets her groove on with Sophie's shuffle.

We have water and it is flowing (to nowhere...at the moment)! We have beautiful pipes for the dishawasher and ice-maker...

This is a view from the dining room into the kitchen!

We have fabulous pipes and wires everywhere...

This is our shower...

The concrete guy finally finished after almost a year after being paid!

We have an awesome walkway all the way to the backyard!

This is some sort of very important water thing.

More pipes and wires...

Could sheetrock be around the corner?

Countertop...

It's hard to really see it, but this is our counter top...or at least a very small sample of it. It is quartz and named "Victoria" by Cambria.

I did the whole Type-A personality, evaluation of counter tops. Quartz wins if you really use your kitchen.


Ini April, at our Re-Open House, I can't wait for you gus to set your drink on it, lean on it, slap it with laughter, and see it!

Sneek Peeks at the kitchen...

Sink...beautiful and we love it. It came with a personal note from the craftsman that made it. Cool.
Our range. It is very pretty. I will mess it up with lots of cooking...one month soon!

Sophie's Bathroom Floor

Sophie’s bathroom floor from Floor De Lis in Mid-City. Hate the name, but they are very nice people. The girl that sold it to us went to St. Antny (Anthony) with me. Small world.

Stacy says that we will need the floor soon…I can’t wait!

QUICK UPDATE...

EVERYTHING IS PLUGGING ALONG...WITH THE HOUSE AND WITH US!

Stacy told Lynn today that in the next two weeks, the house will begin being put back together! Whatever that means, it is very exciting t0 me!

Walls...windows...trim...paint...fixtures...it all seems to good to be true.

Stacy also reports that we are still set for a March 1 move-back-in-date!

Wow!

Laura

Happy New Year!

As of today, Jan 1, 2009, we are HALF way through our renovation journey. There's been a lull in the activity due to the holidays, but January will be an exciting month!

We are looking forward to a 2009 filled with progress and prosperity---no pains in the knee or the a**!

Included are some pics of Soph with Tala and a Lucy update! She is 4 1/2 months and sooooo adorable!

Tala turns 2! Jan 11!

We love you!

Laura, Lynn, ans Sophie