Life's Peachy!

My profession takes me to many interesting places. Today, we headed out for a Eat Local Buy Missouri media tour. The remains of Hurricane Dolly (yes we feel that in Missouri) brought buckets of rain.

We had the chance to pick fresh Missouri peaches right from the tree - yummy. Of course I had to eat one right then and there! In the video above, you will see my dorky self biting into a scrumptious peach in the rain. I thought ya'll might get a kick out of this especially since the reporter got such a closeup (Awwww...) , I am looking at someone like "get me out of here...hee...hee...hee..." and I am completely drenched. (I am a media person and I still forget one of the rules - never let someone capture you eating. It is not attractive.)

The greatness about this tour though was the food - all grown within a 60 mile radius of where I live - Steak & Egg Breakfast Burritos, freshly picked peaches, fresh warm homemade cinnamon rolls, Sausage & Vegetable wrap with fresh veggies and strawberries on the side, beef sticks, Missouri wine, corn on the cob and honey ice cream.

What a great day of eating! Dinner, however, McDonald's. Ugh.

Just a Quick Update...and a few photos

Here is a quick house update - the cabinets have arrived, the range is standing by, our crown molding is going up in the living room, more lights were hung today, the blinds have been ordered, the carpet is picked out and I am still breathing. Moving day is almost here.

Congrats to my pals, Ryan & Melissa, for their move to their new digs. Why didn't you call to have us help move? Oh yeah...you know how much crap I have and you didn't want to repay the favor.....I get it now!

Next Up - Cabinets

After all of my efforts to pick out the cabinet, they will finally be here on Monday. And we are in full preparation mode. The tile is almost done in the guest bedroom bath, laundry room and the master bathroom. Wallpaper is hung (thanks to my ever-so-gracious momma) in most places to be covered by cabinets in the master bath. We are picking up our Jenn-Air range tonight ready to be installed between the installation of the kitchen cabinets and the kitchen island. And the infamous hood for the range is FINALLY complete.

I will tell ya - the Preston's are not carpenters. When our ancestors were delicately building things back in the day as professional carpenters, they forgot to pass that gene to Blaine & I. For one, I suck at math...so that does me in from the get go. Blaine, who is normally great in math and anything to do with logically thinking about construction problem-solving, was conquered (almost) by the hood that will distinctly set over "his" range. Ole Blainer spent many of nights trying to master the confusing configuration of what would become our hood. I tried many a night to decipher his banter about the hood.

But our trim guy, Allan, came to our rescue, and along with Blaine, defeated the pesky hood installation. I will have to admit - last night, Allan was a God send. I was just sure that me and Blaine’s attempts to build this hood for the 4th time (and my 1st time) would land us at the nearest marriage counselor. Although I don't "think" Allan sensed that in our future, who knows - and he still volunteered. I got to set back and watch most of the action.

Just to think that this hood is not yet complete does still give me goose bumps. Much like everything else, I haven’t settled for a hood that can be found just anywhere. The hood frame that went in last night is only the first part to this party. The next part will involve a concrete guy coming in and plastering concrete all over the framed hood, applying an acanthus leaf concrete trim and also placing cultured stone to coordinate with the rest of the house. This idea is partly dreamed up in our heads and partly created through many photos. It will be incredible! I cannot wait to see this finished product.

Blisters Hurt!

I have had many blisters in my life....mostly from wearing shoes that are just worth the pain - i.e. my cute gold Coach Espridilles that I just had to wear to a wedding last weekend. (As my momma says, "no pain, no gain!")

But I don't think that I have ever had a blister from pure work until this whole house building thing began. I now have calluses on my hands (if you look real close you can see them, I swear) and scars to prove my hard work at the house. Okay...one scar is from a pesky mosquito chasing me down while working, but the other is from the broom. And ouch...a blister!

I spent my Monday evening picking up trash and sweeping the basement floor. At first, I was thrilled. It was much like an unveiling of a piece of art - except it was a stained basement floor. This was the first time I had ever seen it uncovered completely. And boy was it a mess. Who knew that painters and drywallers would cover just about anything that got in their path?

After a quick sweep, vacuum and a brush over with the mop, all of its color began to glisten through. Blaine spent many a backbreaking day in the spring staining the concrete floor. I supervised. Rumor has it, I stood out there one day in the cool breeze in my pink hooded sweatshirt, with my pink Zune, covering my mouth and eyes while standing on a board watching Blaine cut concrete in a very straight, precise manner - thanks to my board. We both walked away with all fingers and toes - and that was deemed a mighty accomplishment. (Have I ever told you how clumsy I am?)

I was also pretty much informed last night that I myself was a blister. Actually, I think that Uncle Jerry, our tile guy, said, "Misti, I hate you." With all due respect, Uncle Jerr meant this in the best possible way - he was indeed on his hands and knees scrubbing my floor with a toothbrush. Truth be known - Jerry still likes me.....he just hates my tile - too many rough edges and grooves to remove grout out of. I am assuming that with all of the scrubbing, he now has blisters.

Should I order a hefty supply of band-aids? Maybe. I can just see the eye roll now from Blaine as I walk in with a 2000-count box of band-aids. So maybe I won't. I would have to put duck tape over his mouth of comments and then we would use all 2000 band-aids when he ripped it off. So...band-aids for the Preston's do not seem like a very good investment.

I think a fresh manicure will cure my needs - and that is what I wanted anyway, right?

Benjamin Franklin Once Said...

"Energy & persistence conquer all things." I couldn't have said it better myself. With ole Mr. Franklin's words of wisdom lately, I have realized a few things - 1) god loves us, 2) beer is good and 3) Blaine has the energy and I have the persistence - the perfect combination to building a house.

Things have been coming right along. Blaine's constant long days, late nights and total abandonment of his wife and dog have led to some beautiful developments at the house. Last night, after 10 p.m. I might add, Blaine sent me a photo of our newly stained wood floors in our living room. These floors have been anticipated for many months now. With my true persistence and OCD (obsessive-compulsion disorder) about the house, I have been planning, wanting and preparing for the perfect wood floors. Many of you would rather die than let someone lay raw distressed white knotty pine floors in your house. But not me - I even take it to the extreme....put the floors in and then come in and beat the crap out of them with chains and hammers. Luckily, I found the perfect man to meet my challenge - Big Dave. This man drove his truck and trailer 3 hours to spend several days installing our wood floors. I am sure that we are paying this man enough to practically move to Jeff City - but that is another story and bitter subject among the Preston's so I will shut up.

Uncle Jerry has been out this week to lay tile. Actually, Jerry is not my uncle nor Blaine's - but he is our friend Jason's uncle so he might as well be our uncle. When I saw Jerry he paid my OCD-self quite a compliment as he looked around my living room and kitchen by saying, "you didn't just start building a house - you really planned ahead." That's right Uncle Jerr....this baby has been in the works for a while. I am actually really surprised I am still married and that my family (particularly Mom, Dad & Shania) still even speak to me - as obsessed I have been over this house. But finally things are coming together - and to me, it is amazing. With Blaine's constant oversight and backbreaking hard work, the house is exactly what I was hoping for.

Remember my post a few months ago pleading for donations towards a door handle for the front door? You know...the one that cost $1800? Well kids...my persistence has paid off. I have successfully located the best knock-off deal in my recent memory and found a door handle for my infamous front door. Here she is...in all of her shining glory! (She is the one on the left. In just a few short weeks, she will be greeting all of you when you step foot on the front porch.) I could have cried the day I came across this. Again...OCD.

As for all of the other house updates - the walls are painted - halfway wallpapered, the trim is still going up, doors are mostly hung, lights are looking fabulous and my sanity is drifting somewhere amongst the mix of all of this - still looking for it. But there is light at the end of this tunnel - we have to be out of our apartment by August 17. So that means IN THE HOUSE in less than a month. The countdown is on...

We are Family...

It has come and gone and only memories remain. But the Moore/Archer Family Reunion was something to talk about. From the yummy BBQ to the fun in the pool to stories of days gone by and Mayonnaise in the hair….What a great weekend! Here are a few highlights:

** Although trying new things is sometimes scary, we got Cousin Ricky to try sushi at me & Blaine's favorite restaurant, Nakato's. (Believe it or not - he didn't spit it out!)

** Counsin Abby has got to be the most photogenic princess EVER! And she is good at getting what she wants too. She even talked Blaine into getting into the pool - when Blaine said he only swam in "cold" water, she said, "the water is cold." When Blaine replied with the fact that he only swam in warm water, she keenly said, "the water IS warm. It is cold when you get in, but it gets warm after a while." Gotcha there Blaine!


** Cousins Hunter & Reed really know how to throw some tricks in the pool when being thrown. Shania, my sis, is great at yelling out a big ole shreek-like "Awwwww.......!" when thrown acros the pool.

** Great Uncle Sambo really does like Westerns. (Rumor has it - so does Dad and Roger.)

** Great Aunt Mary Ann loves her Marlow Review. Rumor has it she is going to write up a story about her trip to Springfield for their "Travel to Exotic Places" section and include a photo of Julie "Moore" since she showed us her love for Marlow. Go Outlaws!

** Shania can kick my butt at a game of basketball. What the heck - she is like 4 foot tall and I am almost 6 foot tall. Geez...... (stomp, stomp, pout, pout....I don't wanna play witchyou no mo'!!) You rocked, Nia!!

** It DOES cost $100 to keep your dog at the Residence Inn. And no matter how hard you try to hide her, the maid will find her everytime. Poor Katie had to go stay with her Grandma Sandy!

** Dad loves milk for breakfast and he steers clear of any banjo music. (Deliverance anyone?) Nice shirt Dad! And perfect attire for the family reunion. Over breakfast that morning, Dad reminded me of a famous Benjamin Franklin quote, "Beer is proof that god does exist and that he loves us." I tend to agree.

As you can see, the family reunion was a lot of fun. I only managed to snap 96 photos while outside at the pool on Saturday. But I think that it is a good reflection of the laughter that was exuding from the courtyard of the Residence Inn.

I was sure that if the wild pool action didn't get us kick out, Mom and Naomi's stories of "putting mayonnaise in their hair back in the day" and the uproar of laughter following their stories after 10 p.m. in our room surely would.

I can just see the Front Desk Clerk coming down to the room thinking they are going to bust a huge college frat party only to find the Moore Family Reunion causing all of the ruckus. "Keep is down ladies!"

Blaine's Dream Vacation

This week, Blaine took a vacation all of the way to the house to work 12 hours a day getting things done. Our move-in date is creeping up on us and we are now getting to the point of pure excitement and no return. I have to admit, even light switches excite me at this point.

Blaine has had plenty of help this week...no not from me....from some guys we have hired to help us. Since Sunday, our trim guy, Allan (see photo), has been working on getting all of the trim installed around the windows. Blaine has had to stay ahead of him with painting. To watch all of this progress has been quite amusing. They meet at 8-ish each morning and I have to drag Blaine away at 8 or 9 each evening. I have decided that I love my day job and manual labor is not for me. I did install light bulbs last night and pick up trash - Lewis' trash.

Lewis is the light guy. He has helped install all light fixtures and outlets and has been a great help in telling me what I want - when I had no clue and Blaine's ideas just weren't working out for me or Lewis. Blaine called me yesterday with..."we got a problem." That is never good, but I have heard this so much in the past 8 months that I am kind of getting used to it. That day it was the light in my entry way. "It's too big," Blaine said. But it wasn't. Blaine was scared that with my big door, it wouldn't clear the light when it was open. But it did....and I love it.

The other issue of the week just made me laugh...out loud. I had taken my lunch break to peel through McD's and head out to the house. I cannot really remember why I "had" to go this time, but I was pleased with the progress. As I walked around, I noticed a ceiling fan that I had bought a long time ago. I looked up at the ceiling and quickly realized that I hadn't wired for a ceiling fan. Great....I just knew I was going to get the the big fat "NO!" when I said.... "uhhhh...we forgot to wire for the ceiling fan." And out of pure anxiety and nervousness that I wasn't going to get my way, I began laughing....and laughing. I don't know why it struck me as so funny, but it did. I guess my laugh was contagious and Blaine laughed. And then the lighting guy laughed. Thank goodness...See the photo...I now have my ceiling fan!

And finally, for no reason at all, here is a photo of Katie. She is so ready to move in. She is standing in my little window that is on the cultured stone wall separating our living room from our dining/kitchen. Allan the trim guy said, "will that dog just stand anywhere you put her?" The answer is yes...as I am sure you have seen from other photos.

Although life has not been roses this week on Blaine's vacation, I have a feeling that through all of the hard work, sweat and sore muscles, he is having just as much fun doing this than hitting the beach. But for me....not so much. Bring me the beach, baby!!

A quick photo...

I wanted to post this photo since I love my time at the lake. Luckily, my pals, Lora and Cari, are always snapping away like the paparazzi at the lake. Lora took this photo of me, Blaine, Shandon and Kristina on our boat on Friday the 4th of July. We enjoyed our day of fun in the sun and then headed with a complete boat full to Tan-Tar-A to watch fireworks. Great time had by all!

Life's a Flood

Lately, I have been flooded....flooded with work, flooded with house decisions and flooded with thoughts of escaping it all for another vacation to the beach. Since I don't see that happening anytime soon, I will continue to dream of baking in the sun.

** I spent last week on a flood tour in Northeast Missouri where thousands and thousands of acres are under water from recent rains and the Mississippi River overflowing. I had the opportunity to jump in an ole tin boat for a ride to a levee break in Winfield. What a site to see! Dan my boat driver (who looks much different than my other boat drivers) explained to me while cruising along in a flooded corn field that there were hundreds of snakes in the barn picture. I am a girl that loves a good boat ride every now and then (okay fine...every weekend), but this one in particular was one I couldn't wait to call a day and get the heck out of dodge. I hate snakes. And since I was sitting in a boat with a plywood bottom and on a makeshift bench seat, I was shaking in my boots.

** The other flood in my life has been the house. The countdown is on and Blaine took vacation this week to add some final touches. I called him earlier and he was installing lights. I cannot wait to see this!! I have had my lights for quite some time now. It makes the house seem more official when you can add the touch of light. Have I mentioned how much I love my lights? I love my lights!

** One great thing that I have been flooded with lately are friends. I spent Thursday thru Sunday at the lake. Kristina and Shandon joined us from Illinois and we spent out time out on the waters. Grrrr....Pirates of the Ozarks! Good times and, of course, good stories. Nothing beats a day in the sun with friends and music, a jalapeno popper from Backwater Jacks (yep, just one) and the tanlines and bruises of proof that you indeed had a good time.

** And speaking of friends, I recently stole this photo off of Picasa online. My pals, Ryan and Melissa, recently purchased this beauty and are moving in to their new home this weekend. Congrats to the Lanclos'! You guys are going to love it!

** This weekend is the Moore/Archer/Etter family reunion in Springfield. I am very excited to see some of my peeps that I haven't seen in quite some time. I think that Mom is making dinner reservations for 30 on Saturday night at Lambert's (the Travel Channel's #1 Place to Pig Out.) Ya'll know how much I love food - so I am especially looking forward to that festivity.