More Reno's....new fireplace needed

So our Fireplace insert needed replacing....A year ago when we moved in...

I painted it...

The last thing I wanted was more reno's....but cooler weather is coming and hubby wanted a good working fireplace...

I cringed as they took out the old and put in the new...  I'm was not ready for more reno's!!

It was deeper than the old one...

When we had visited our son the week before he had taken this out of a house he was renovating....

 Which we decided we MAY be able to use...

It added the extra depth we needed! Within a day... my handy hubby...had our fireplace all in order!!
I was concerned how it would look...But he worked wonders:)!!

Walnut Harvest

It has been interesting watching how our walnuts 'ripen'....the green coverering opens... (I wondered how that was going to turn into a walnut).

You don't pick walnuts off a tree...you pick them off the ground...so right now mornings are like an Easter Egg hunt.... picking up walnuts!!

Then we wash them...

Then hang them to dry... they say the dryer they get the easy to crack open...

I posted here on the next step of the walnuts...as we had friends give us a bag of there's from last year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 We had all the kids and grands home for Thanksgiving....

and it was a perfect one....

My wish of dinner outside happened:)

 From the oldest child...

 To the youngest grand...

It was a wonderful time!!

 All our grand girls and grand boys...4 of each!!

It's hard to get good pictures... the boys do not like their pictures taken!!

 A few pumpkins were carved....

It was a wonderful weekend...we are truly blessed!

Good Fences

It's hard to see....

But the fence stands above the brick wall...

And holds the grapes vines ...


Linking with....

Driftwood Project

Awhile back I posted on the 'Collector" well...... sometimes he  'searched' for certain pieces.... and he did find all the pieces for  one project he had in mind!

 Once the project was complete...he cleaned the wood...

 The final project....

 Made with no nails... no stapes....

 If you look close you can see the little wood dowels in the center of the main log securing the cross pieces...

I'm wondering what his next driftwood project will be!!

Fall

The Fruits stand are filled with pumpkins.... the evenings are starting to get cool.... and Fall is really here.... I'm never in a hurry for fall!...

I tweaked my front porch decorations....

This was the first year that I 'invested' in fall mums....

It is going to be a busy week...preparing for  the kids and grands  coming for Thanksgiving this coming weekend!!!

Backyard Reno's...

We started on our Backyard Reno's.... hubby build the lower deck...

Then he made a table and benches....

I painted the table and benches....

We still have lots to do in the backyard...but it was nice to get a start on it this year!!