Addition: Completed!

We present to you, the finished room!

Huzzah!

Two months of actual construction, and what felt like two more months of getting the finishing touches in place inside. (But really, more like a month or 5 weeks.)

It was fun finding the photos and trinkets to place on the shelves, from all over the house. We also found a nice place to display the 1840s set of English encyclopedias he brought over, that his Pop had purchased.

Ready for guests!

Thankfully, Stace's parents have tested the bed and found it comfortable. 

With the bifold doors and a curtain in the kitchen window, the room can be closed off for a little privacy. Guests can store things in the lower cupboard on the left side.
 

The "girls'" side of the room... We finally got the blinds installed, with the green thermal curtains for truly hot days, and generally for color.

Usually, the girls are perched either side of the table, with their computers, playing games and watching shows.

Violet's Beachy Birthday

Our beautiful, funny, creative and talented Violet is 15! Solidly in her teens, and enjoying life.

Her birthday wish was to go to Santa Barbara with us and Liana, and we were able to make it happen.  

Cora would rather not go far from home but since it was Vi's birthday, she agreed to come. It was lovely to spent time with her too. 

We started the day in Santa Barbara at Lilly's Tacos - cheap, delicious and filling.

We then went to the seafront, where Cora found some dead creature to inspect.

We asked the girls to pose for a photo, and this was the result. 

They were laughing because the distance between them and Cora was on purpose. 

I asked them to get closer together, not getting the joke, but they went further away. 

Poor Cora! 

We then suggested they pick up Violet, but she wasn't up for that, so they tried picking up Cora. This wasn't really what we meant.

We then went to the marina, and Violet's favorite bento boxes there from Sushi Go. It's become a thing for her, she loves eating it out by the waves further down the marina.

A cool car leaving the marina...

We then went to get boba and coffee at a place in the outdoor mall on State Street, closing out a lovely Santa Barbara birthday.

Wonderful Wildflowers

 

We've had a gorgeous spring, with a great lupine bloom on some of the local hills. I was hearing that this area near Towsley Canyon was stunning, so Vi and I found a time to make it out there. 

There were lots of different flowers, not just the lupine.

Poppies!

Lupine...

...and more lupine!

Tidbits

 Nice to see a Percy poster up at a favorite Newhall coffee shop - and even better, I didn't put it there!

We're in the season of long musical rehearsals, and I've been doing my bits to help with publicity. I wrote a press release and will make the cast photo board.

Violet has been doing archery when we have time and it's not too hot. This time, we walked the course up in the hill behind the range, where you can aim at animal targets.

Also for PE this week, Violet met up with some people and teachers from her online school for a hiking club meetup at Hart Park. 

Cora's theatre department held a Young Playwright's Fest, with student-authored scenes. Cora took part by reading a part in one of the scenes. She's on the left - I know the photo is terrible. Since she's now driving herself, she went with a few crew/leaders to ice cream afterwards, while we went home. 

I'm so proud of her - she's driving every day, even the early days, when she needs to leave quite early to beat the horrible traffic.

I organized another fundraiser clothing drive for WR PAC. I mentioned it on FB and around the neighborhood, and collected a carload of bags to bring in. My back seat was just as full as the trunk!

I'm pleased to say we raised over $900; last year it was less than $600. 

I helped out Wednesday evening collecting bags, and again on Saturday morning, when the big truck came to load up.

We've been busy with the bifold doors - Stace had to trim everything to get them to fit, and I painted them.

See Evie under the door and Winston on the mattress?

Painting things with cats around! Ha! This was actually the Murphy bed but we were concerned about the doors, too. 

Also this week, we had the carpets cleaned, and the little sofas in the addition. A nice freshening up after the dust and building work. 

On Friday evening, I watched Stace's soccer game, and then we went to Pocock for a drink. 

Easter Sunday

We celebrated Easter Sunday with worship at church and family time at home. 

So thankful for Christ's Resurrection and what it means for us today!

Ellie came over for a while prior to the rest of the family, while Melanie and Nick looked at a new (used) van. 

We got out the girls' Calico Critters, and she had a blast. I'm so glad we saved so much - Ellie is at the perfect age to enjoy it all.
 

I made an Easter brunch this year, because with the ongoing work around the house, I didn't have it in me to cook a roast dinner. 

The girls had an egg hunt - even the young adult - because why pass up little goodies? 

Grandma Easter Bunny brought baskets, as well. 

Happy Easter!

Week in Review

For the first time since we planted these succulents in the mailbox planter years ago, this plant has bloomed! I didn't know it did this! Four huge clusters of small bright yellow flowers. Kind of pretty, kind of crazy looking!

Spring break is over and the girls are back to school. I've been busy with little things - going through books to get rid of some and make room in the closet, milling flour for bread, and going to a WR PAC meeting. Stace has been busy with the bifold doors for the new room, so we can close it off into a guest room.

A very momentous day - Cora got her driver's license Tuesday!

She got her permit and started practicing regularly ten weeks ago, but because she's over 18, she could take the behind the wheel test when she felt ready. And, she passed it with only a few minor points off!

A whole new world has opened up.
 

Vi and I took a walk at Quigley Canyon, and came across what looked to be a baby rattlesnake - the more dangerous kind, because they don't regulate how much venom they emit when biting. 

But after our walk, we saw it again when we came back through. I did wonder if it was a rubber snake, to scare people, since it hadn't moved at all, and it wasn't in the sun. Who knows? 

The wildflowers in Rocky's field are beautiful!

After sorting out the car insurance, Cora drove off to school for the first time on Thursday. Wow - we're here! She can stay at rehearsal until she's ready to come home, no more parent waiting in the parking lot...

Also this week, Vi and I met up with Melanie and Ellie to have an early birthday lunch for Violet. We went to an Asian restaurant and market in Koreatown, not too far from the Wiltern theater.

We ate so well! And we picked up fun things to bring home from the market.

Cora had a big Saturday - she drove herself to her vocal lesson, and later drove to Rowan's house for her birthday party. A group went to Pirates Dinner Adventure, in costume. Cora loved it, and even had fun hanging out with the group afterwards at Rowan's house. 

Renaissance Faire, with Friends!

We wrapped up Spring Break with a day out at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. This time, Cora was happy to invite her theatre friends, and Violet came along, too. 

Cora's school change was, without a doubt, the right move. She has found people she enjoys hanging out with!

I'm thankful for kids who like dressing up, who end up with extra clothing, so I can choose dressup clothes too.

The chain mail they crafted turned out so cool! We came across a booth selling chain mail jewelry, and I pointed out what Cora made. The lady said they would sell something like it for $250-$300, and complimented her artistry. Perhaps a future Etsy business?

Cora also made the corset from scratch last year, and added the rivets to the pants last year when she was in MacBeth.
 

The queen is here! Long Live The Queen!

We watched a few shows, and this banner was hanging to advertise one of them.

There is so many craft and sellers' booths to look through! Cora, naturally, was drawn to the bladeworks booth.

It was JT's birthday weekend, and she was able to sneak out to meet us for a few hours, as a birthday treat.

My crew is on the right side, watching the Dungeons and Shakespeare guy we always enjoy.

It was a great time! We ended it with watching the final joust of the day.