Awhile back Michael and I went and picked up some free pallet wood, looking for cheap building materials, and also some firewood. The great thing about pallets is that they're made of hardwood, and in some cases it's lovely pieces of oak or walnut or cedar. You never know what you're going to get, but man does it smell lovely when you get to cutting or burning it!
Bobby (our current host!) turned 52 on March 22nd. His wife Keren (Michael's sister) put on an epic medieval-themed birthday party and feast. We were responsible for our own costumes (Keren did the boys' capes and Douglas's tunic) and for creating the throne and crown for Bobby, as well as decorating the dining room.
When February brought an unseasonable amount of snow to Knoxville, the neighbors invited us down for an afternoon of igloo building. What started as a neighborhood project quickly turned into an endurance and speed test for 4 of us, trying to get it finished before the snow got too cold and unworkable. It was an epic success, and provided several nights of good sleep to both boys and men. Highly recommended, should you have the right kind of snow land in your back yard!
In the cold of January, we needed to tackle an indoor project, and as Keren had lost her kitchen-table project space to meals-for-six space once we arrived, we turned the laundry room into a Sewing Room for her. Wall board replaced pegboard, walls were painted, and sturdy old desktops were bought on Craigslist. We made two work surfaces, one for sitting and sewing, the other for standing and working.
When we first got to Keren and Bobby's, they had only lived in the house a few months, and were still getting settled. We pitched in on the backyard cleanup, tearing out an old fence, removing a big tree limb, and getting rid of the rusty basketball hoop. Much fun was had by all!