Busy, Busy, Busy! and Grandpa's Here!

A couple of weeks ago we had our Spring Break.

I was kinda bummed it didn't coincide with Easter, but we did manage to get a ton of stuff accomplished in preparation for a stress-free Holiday celebration.

Jeff and Jericho worked on our garden beds.





I appreciate so much having a husband who doesn't mind the heavy labor involved with working the soil, adding in compost and then weeding the area surrounding the beds so that everything is nice and tidy.

You da man, Jeff!

While they were busy with that, I was busy with an another project that I've wanted to get done for ages.

This





is a removable work-table topper which I custom-made to fit atop this MELDAL IKEA bed in our guest room.



This creates a work surface that is the perfect height for me to stand and cut fabric and patterns for sewing or quilting. It can also be used outdoors on top of a couple of sawhorses as a huge table when entertaining. Best of all, it holds my big rotary cutting mat on top.

When not in use, it can be leaned against the wall behind the bed where it will be out of the way.

It was constructed using a thin sheet of plywood cut to the right dimensions, 2x2's, and a ton of wood screws. Oh, and some white duct tape on the edges to guard against splinters.

It involved much sawing and drilling.

It was incredibly satisfying to see the finished project turn out just as I'd envisioned, and now in use in the craft/guest room.



Even if I am way behind schedule on the projects I needed the topper for and will now have to do things in hyper-speed, lol.

If only we'd remembered to go pick up the mattress set for that bed frame in time for my dad's visit, the craft/guest room would have officially been in business (finally, after well over a year)!

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Another project in the works are these little nightstands.



I picked them up at the Salvation Army for $25 each. Deal!

They are solidly built and I think will look fab when painted to match our master bedroom decor. I hope to post the completed project in a few days.

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My dad rolled into town for a quick visit before meeting up with an old buddy of his for a motorcycle ride through Lake Havasu.

He no sooner sat down on our sofa, exhausted from the long drive down from Washington with only a 3 hour nap midway through...than we experienced a 6.9 earthquake. (It was recorded to be 7.2 near the epicenter!)

The whole house suddenly felt like we were rocking in a boat on the ocean, our chandeliers swaying wildly from side to side, but thankfully no damage. (So thankful it wasn't one of the 'jolt' type quakes!)

Anyway, while my dad was in town we managed to take him to a couple of tourist attractions.

Here we are at Mel's Drive-In (from American Graffiti fame). Judah thought it was really something to be allowed to sit at the counter several feet from our table.




He asked if he could put a quarter in the jukebox.

Grandpa sprang for it, and Judah picked out, "You Are My Sunshine" at random. Amazingly, this is a song he knows because I occasionally sing that one to him.



For dessert, we went to that wonderful bastion of deep fried confections and sugary sweetness...Krispy Kreme. **Homer Simpson drool sounds**



Judah was already licking his chops just watching the whole process. Mmmmmm.



Here, Judah takes charge of walking our purchases to the car.



What can I say? The boy is all business when it comes to his doughnuts.

He's not unlike his Grandpa that way, lol.

However, you don't want to see the boy after he's had one too many and is completely hopped up on sugar.

It's not pretty, trust me.