Wrapping up April

Chad & Elana's wedding has come and gone already. What a whirlwind that weekend was! It was a fun but busy time and it was exciting to see their faces light up with joy as they made a lifetime commitment to one another. I'm still trying to grapple with the fact that my cousin is now my brother in law but I suppose stranger things have happened. :) The wedding was beautiful and it was such a blessing to be a part of their special day and watch everything unfold from the front of the church as a bridesmaid instead of sitting in the pews. And of course it was fun to walk back the aisle with Chris arm in arm again just like 6.5 years ago. Thanks Chad & Elana for allowing us to participate in your wedding day in such a special/meaningful way! Since I was too busy to get a shot of the happy couple together, you're all stuck looking at a picture of Chris & I.....

I finished my sweater!! It was a process and I'm very thankful for my Mom's all knowing knitting wisdom to see me through the project. :) Overall I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out and how it fits me. I finished it on Good Friday so I was able to wear it Easter Sunday with my sundress that I fell in love with the moment I saw it in the store about a year ago. Chris was a good sport after church and took some pictures of me "modeling" my recent accomplishment.

Finished Front & Back Shots:

The basement remodel hasn't really progressed any further as life has been keeping us busy these days. With the weather getting warmer the garden and a few outdoor projects have taken precedence. The next major part of the basement project is Chris redoing most of the plumbing that runs in the suspended ceiling. He wants to replace the old copper lines with pex and move some things around. This week we put a piece of plywood up on the garage wall that the pex manifold and some other things will mount to. The following pictures show the transformation that took place this week as I primed and painted two coats on the board so it now blends in with the wall.

I guess I'll close this post with an updated shot of our growing garden and the current landscaping project we have begun...

Peas & Red Onions -- One of our newly planted Leyland Cypress trees didn't make it through the winter. :( We're hoping the rest continue to turn green and grow well throughout the summer.

This is under the two apple trees in our backyard. I didn't take a picture before I started but trust me when I say, it was all grass. :) We are planning to dig out all the grass that is underneath both trees and make a connecting flower bed....1. To make it look nicer; 2. To make it easier to mow. :)

Another Weekend

I'm not sure where the time goes. It's been a cold weekend here in Pennsylvania so it feels like we're stuck back in winter mode but in reality, April is just around the corner which is hard to believe. Chad and Elana are getting married in THREE weeks. It's still hard for me to wrap my mind around that one. :) For those of you that don't know, Elana is my dear sister in law and Chad is my first cousin. Very cool but super weird to think about your cousin becoming your brother in law. :) I love you, Chad. ;)

Chris and I had a nice weekend together. They always go way too fast but it was nice just the same. Saturday we worked on some miscellaneous projects around here and that always feels good to get some things accomplished. We also took time to go to the grocery store together for a few odds and ends, picked up take out from Brother's, came home to make "Little Fessie's Oatmeal Cream Pies" and relax the rest of the evening. Today after church we dropped off the car at the auto body shop to get fixed. I'm bummed that I'll be without a vehicle all week but I'm so ready for the car to come back in the condition it was before I got rear ended. I think I may open and close the trunk several times just because I can when we get it back! :) We had my parents over this afternoon to watch "Walk the Line". I just love that movie so it's always entertaining to me and I thought they'd enjoy seeing it. We had a nice time together. 

On Friday I started a new knitting project. About a year or so ago I bought a sundress that I'd really like to wear more places but it would be better with a little sweater to go over the top. After searching high and low and not really finding anything I was willing to pay $30 for (or more at times!!) I decided to knit one!! Hoping it turns out as neat as I'm picturing. Pictures to come if the pattern doesn't get the best of me. :) Here are the beginning stages of it...

Not sure what all I'll get into this week but I'm charging ahead hoping for a great week with some sunshine! I close with some of our projects from Saturday.

The last of the intercom system that was throughout the entire house before Chris attacked it:

After he removed the last two that were left in the basement, he drywalled in the holes and put a coat of joint compound on the areas already!! I love my handy hubby!

We also got the first set of bifold doors from the hallway back up thanks to Dad Coblentz's help. What a nightmare the entire project was. I'm glad one is complete but now I have to get up the gumption to tackle the second set for the end of the hallway. Someday. :)

Also finished the wall painting in the garage - just have to paint the doors at a later time: