Work continues

Look how bright the walls are looking.

 

 

 

The finished framed chalkboard.

 

More geegaws (that is a professional design term...JK) come down.

Shack work

Realized that I haven't been keeping y'all updated on the Madison Pizza Shack progress. They have been working day and night to get it in shape. Here is a before shot.

 

 

Here's Sam about to frame out the chalkboard menu wall.

 

Here is that same corner from the before shot.

 

That is more of that reclaimed wood  from their backyard fence! We left these weathered.

New job

I smelled this before I saw it. This scent takes me directly back to childhood, sitting on the grass and sucking the sweet nectar out of the blooms plucked from vine. I know it is a nuisance but I love the smell of honeysuckle.

 

 

And the mahonia is always spectacular.

 

Got such a rush when I pulled up to the jobsite yesterday. I had to park 2 houses away because of all the trucks. It was the demolition company. They completed tear out in about 3-4 hours.

 

Here is the before picture.

 

It makes me a little sick when I see wood go into the dumpster. I mentioned that and they said if you want it we will leave it here for y'all. But no one really wants it or will come pick it up. We are a wasteful society.

 

Here it is all stripped down. Keep watching as it is transformed.

 

Another food failure. I picked up my usual pack of ham like I have been buying since forever.

 

Read this label.

 

I don't even know what to say except what are the added ingredients? Yuck.

all washed up

Sent Lucy this pic of our favorite, Menchie's, frozen yogurt and said "Come home". She will be home May 5th.

 

 

Je suis finis. Not sure why a southern girl should say that in French about an Italian restaurant.

 

One of MG and Ryan's chickens is very friendly and runs up to meet you.  She also follows Mary Grace around the yard.

 

A woman and her yard birds.

 

They take dust baths.

 

Look how cute Ivy's hair is now.

 

Ed has pressure washed everything within a square mile of our house. Front, sides, back porch, sidewalk and finally the deck.

 

All done.

 

Apparently I did not put the sealer on thick enough on the little table we made out of a spool top.

 

Luckily I had 2 more so we will make another. Know anyone with good legs...for a table that is?

 

New plants for the back porch. I especially like the mini schefelera. 

 

All back in place.

 

Why don't y'all come sit with me?

 

Oh , wait, not now . Ed just got done with his shower and it is time to convene the Admiration Society. That is when a job is done and we walk around with cold drinks saying how good it all looks. Gotta keep the handy man happy.

Sewing...not my favorite thing

This was the cutest scene of Ed treating ours and the grandogs.

 

 

They were all in a circle sitting but by the time I got the camera chaos had ensued.

 

Calm down Dupree, everybody gets one.

 

So, I volunteered to sew labels on shirts for MG and Ryan....a few I thought.

 

Sure, that won't be too bad.

 

Then came the box!!! And oh wait...that is just for the Byram store.

 

Candy took a picture of the sweatshop.

My short lived career as a convention worker.

My friend, Amy, has an association management company. Part of her work includes planning and running conventions. After losing her longtime employee, Pam to a new job opportunity, she was in need of help with a big convention this past week. I went along to help. It was very intense work. Amy is so good at her job that she makes it seem easy, but it is hard work. Of course the parts I will report include food. We pulled off in Hattiesburg on the way down. C'est la vie bakery was in our sights. I had read Robert St. John's column about it and heard Sophie talk about it.  

 

 

They were right. Perfect croissant with curry chicken salad.

 

My view included Deer Island. It was rainy most of the time we were there but how would we know? It is very unreal inside the hotel, casino and convention center with no windows.

 

I did important work.

 

Drink tickets were like gold.

 

Reception food was excellent. Look at the size of that shrimp.

 

The sun came out a little.  I  was so tired every night.

 

One of the perks.

 

I think I could live in a hotel.

 

Where else can you get excellent gumbo sent to your bedroom door?

 

 

Before heading out we had a decompression lunch. Poor Amy spent most of it on a conference call. Check out that fresh orchid. 

 

I got more gumbo and a 1/2 shrimp po boy. Next morning, needing a little exercise (although I got a lot walking and lifting), we hit the mean streets of Summertree.

 

Saw this weird root that looked like he wanted to walk with us.

Medea around town

After our Book Club fun, I had Medea staying with me. One of her favorite places to go is Babalu.

 

 

They did not disappoint. I always look at the entire menu and then order the same thing. 2 oyster tacos and one pork belly one. Medea's son Sam has moved here to work with Ryan at the Pizza Shack. We have all been enjoying showing him the sights around town. He loved this one. He was also impressed with Fondren.

 

Medea got the lamb enchilada.

 

This was her dessert drink. That is an espresso ice cube in it.

 

They also have homemade truffles. Ahhhhh! Sunday  we took them to a much more down home place...The Crawdad Hole. It is near the Ag Museum.

 

What more could I say?

 

 

After this we bid her a fond adieu and promised to take care of Sam.