Category: Texas

Our little barndominium

Well for the most part the Livingston house is finished.

We had a few dilemas there at the end. The countertop for the kitchen and bathroom was

supposed to be white calcaata quartz with the grey lines. It was back ordered so I had to change the kitchen to the black calcaata with white lines. This meant taking back the grey backsplash back and getting some black subway and white grout.

The Luxury Vinyl Plank I picked out was out of stock so that was changed by a few shades but I do like this one.

The back porch was built last week and it is amazing. It goes 12ft out and 40ft long quite a large area of shade but it will be great. The same people will be doing the front porch and our fencing for the dogs.

I decided to trim the island with a rough cedar to break up some of the black and white and to add another texture. Right now I think I will accent in the kitchen with the red and maybe a bit of yellow. I need to get that done soon.

The plastic is still on the fridge and the stove and the switch covers are not on everything but atleast yall can get a general idea.

Here is my dilema the ceilings are 10ft tall so I have all this space ontop of the cabinets should I just finish off with the crowning or make cubbies for pretty glassware to add color pops?

I will try to remember to take the camera and take some better pictures on the next visit.

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Livingston in the fall of 2023

When you are on a UTV you can truly experience all the pretty fall foilage down the trails.

There was just about every color made some more vibrant than others. Looking straight up in the middle of a forest of trees will make you dizzy thats for sure.

If I were younger I would have laid down on the ground to shoot these but not anymore.

Fall is a gorgeous time of the year and it really puts on a show in Livingston, Texas.

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Livingston House Update

Since I last posted about our Livingston house I have a few updates.

The inside has been painted with Sherwin Williams Repose Gray.

I wanted the wide flat trim for baseboards I think it is 6″ tall. The window seals are 8″ wide. This all looks really good. The trim is painted white.

The closets have been customized with double racks on each side of a shelving unit in the middle.

The kitchen cabinets, pantry and bathroom vanities have been put in those are all white shaker style.

I want black fixtures for everything.

I have picked out the countertop it will be Milton Quartz which is white with grey lines in it.

The island will get built custom unless I find a long skinny table that will work and it can be topped in the same quartz. I wanted a baker style table look with a quartz top no cabinets or sink in the island just a big work surface for my daughter Jeanelle and the two girls to bake with me.

The bathroom vanities will be the Milton quartz as well.

The light fixures, ceiling fans, can light inserts, porch lights, flood lights for out back have all been bought and are at our daughters house. I either had the stuff delived to their house or did a Lowes order.

The electrician is planned for next week.

We are making progress but one thing I have learned is what ever you think you can do a project for figure another 40% more. It never ends up working out like you had planned.

I will share pictures soon. Life is good!

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Livingston house

The Livingston house is making progress slowly.

We have gotten ac, and insulation. A plumber is coming back out to fix some mistakes he made.

We got the septic and the well they just have to put the pump on the well but its dug 230 feet.

Sheetrockers hopefully start this week the sheetrock was delivered last week.

Our son says once the sheetrocks up, it is taped, floated, textured and painted the rest will go by quickly.

We would not have used it much this summer its been 111 there to our 108 and 109 here. Texas has been dry and hot to say the least.

As long as we get to use it this fall I will be happy.

Our daughter tells me all the time the deer are so amazing early in the morning and getting to see the babies is really special. She saw a mama deer and twins.

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Silverado Sage

I love my Silverado Sage bush and when it blooms it puts on quite the show.

Some people call this shrub Texas Sage.

I noticed the other day 100’s of bees swarming it and this was amazing. I had never noticed this before.

We are looking for some new plants to have for Livingston our son in law raises bees and has about 6 hives.

Natures beauty working together as a team so we can enjoy the view.

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Blooms of the trumpet vine

In Texas the Trumpet vine grows wild.

We have some in our yard because Jack found some at work and dug it up.

It is now about 12ft wide on a lattice fence and 9 ft tall. I just love it.

I think this one is called Tangerine Trumpet Vine.

I am hoping to dig some up for the Livingston house I would love to do an arch with it.

They make beans with seeds you can plant but I am impatient and prefer a plant over a seed.

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Eastern Blue Bird Bath Party

These Eastern Blue Birds all met at the bird bath they were acting like they all knew each other.

What was so neat is there were all ages of birds the oldest had the most vivid colors the middle aged were starting to get color and the youngsters. The spotted ones are the youngest ones.

I got lucky getting these pictures. I have seen them do this before but they leave before I can get back with the camera.

Texas is in drought and you have to mow your yard when the grass is damp in the early morning just to avoid a dust storm.

Splish Splash the birdies are taking a bath. Fill your bird baths up to help out our feather friends.

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Eastern Blue Bird

We have a lot of Eastern Blue birds and Cardinals right now.

Both seem to love a cool water bird bath in the shade.

I love watching them and taking their pictures.

The birds always put a smile on my face.

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Update 6 weeks

I am doing well I have my energy back for the most part it took 5 weeks for me not to feel wiped out.

I saw my cardio for the one month follow up he was very pleased with my progress and I got to go off some medications YES…

We went to Livingston yesterday first time in 8 weeks and boy was I tired by the time we got back home.

The house is framed up YES… Our son says plumbing and sheetrocks next. He said we should be finished by August.

In the meantime I put down a $5200 deposit on a well that will cost $11,400.00 they are 4 – 6 weeks out.

The mulcher was there yesterday since we had it resurveyed and we gained about 15ft on the left side of the house. This is a good thing because of Jacks future shop.

We found a huge magnolia we thought was the neigbors but its on our property. Since our property is named Magnolia hill we seem to be finding lots of magnolia trees. There is on or two in the front, one on the hill and this one on the side another few in the back yard. I love magnolias and this variety seems to grow fast and get tall.

This is my update for now.

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