Back by popular demand...

Or not-so-popular... Mom, my faithful blog reader has requested an update, and seeing as I have been negligent in this department the last few weeks, I shall oblige.
Here's the garage project in the very "condensed, it's-after-11:40pm" version:
Trim goes up
New opener is installed!! This thing is incredibly quiet - they really weren't kidding about the "whisper drive"!
New keypad
BEFORE (click the link) and After: I LOVE it!!!! The beginning of our exterior house makeover!
Aluminum siding comes off...
Old creosote particle board comes down, OSB goes up
Tar paper on the front of the garage where the rock will be
Aluminum siding off the side of the garage...
Old creosote particle board comes down, new OSB goes up...
Who knew we could PAY Lowe's for this house-wrap AND advertise for them! What a win-win... for them. About 30 minutes after Peter finished getting the house-wrap up, we had a HUGE thunderstorm and torrential downpour all night!
Un-house related, our neighbor somehow acquired a bunch of free tools this last week - and Peter benefited too! Ralph didn't need this radial arm saw so now it's living in our garage... so far it looks like it just needs a new safety switch to bring it into working condition!
Okay... 'nuf for now, time for some shut eye! I have some fabulous photos from our trip to the Botanical Gardens with Peter's sis yesterday, but not the energy to blog about it right now. Un-edited photos are on Picasa. Night-night.

Fourth of July fun!

Peter and I had such a great time camping with Ken and Liesl over the 4th of July! We stayed at the Tree House Camp in Rohersville, MD. The weather was beautiful and the bugs weren't even too bad!
This photo was taken when we first arrived, still clean, showered and smellin' good! Things change pretty quickly after being in the woods for a few days! Camp, set up!
Usn's
We brought the bikes to go for a long ride on Saturday, and after about 200 feet down the road my tire popped! Bah Humbug! :-( We had extra tubes with us, but didn't think we'd need an entire new tire! Needless to say, those plans changed and we hiked instead.
Friday night, grilling steaks! YUM! Why does everything taste better when you're camping?!
S'mores! Melting the chocolate...
Oooh, perfectly browned!
Mmm, mmm! Delectable!
No words for this one...
Coffeeeee! We had some serious coffee drinkers on this trip! We were having some issues trying to get the water to boil - our fire just wasn't hot enough, but somebody (cough, Peter) was having cafe noir withdrawls... So, in an attempt to speed the heating process up he poured a tad bit of salt into it (about 4 tablespoons!). When the coffee was finally brewed...
...this is what Liesl thought of it!
Spitting it out!!!
YUCK! Haha!!!Saturday a.m....Our camp chef!!! These potatoes also didn't want to cook... stubborn little fellas.
The hollow log that provided us with some great heat and coals!
Usn's again - ready for our hike!
Ken & Liesl - I like this one!
Mom & Pops, took this for you! It's for sale if you'd like it for the front yard! :)
Pretty *POP* of color.
Charlies Angels?!
Hikin'... hot... tired... really? Another picture?
You've been warned... don't eat red mushrooms!
Our camping crew! We turned around and headed back soon after this...
...and saw this little fella on the way back to camp! Munching on leaves...
Friends!
Saturday evening we headed over to the Battlefield at Antietam where they were having a FREE concert!
Ken!
K&L - I like this one too!
The National Anthem - Maryland Symphony Orchestra played
Mr. P & his odd wife
Sunday we meandered on home, but stopped in Harper's Ferry, WV on the way home. Cute little historic town.
Me thinks there was a building here at one time!
That about wraps up our long weekend! It was awesome to have time to relax and get away from the bustle of life and work. A much needed trip. Thanks K&L!

EXCELLENT NEWS!!!!!!!!

Our house in Oregon SOLD!!!

It's been pending for the past month, but I didn't want to say anything until it actually closed... the new owners signed the papers tonight!!!

YAHOOO!!!!

Now we're back down to just one house in Virginia and our five acres in Oregon. :-)

**Happy sigh of relief**