Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Friday, February 26, 2016

Will You Still Need Me

Today is my sweetheart's birthday . . .
"The Big 64"
Yes, I robbed the cradle, 
my Steve is 6 1/2 years younger than I am.
We are both Beatles fans . . .
So, I made him this pop-up card. 

The answer to the question is yes. 



After 40 years of marriage,
it's a definite YES!

While I'm talking about Steve  . . .
I have to show you this!
 Steve and our dear friend Jim,
are building this 16 foot canoe.
Look at all the beautiful colors 
in that cedar wood :) 
This set of router stencils 
was a gift he bought himself.
 Here's his first sign in progress.
 He is going to hang it in his shop
above the stencils.
 This is one of the things that I have been
working on this week.
Last winter we had a storm 
with 70 mile an hour winds.  
It ripped out part of our fence 
and turned over and broke some of the garden beds. 
Not only that, but our poor neighbors 
had three 40 year old blue spruce ripped out
 of their front yard.
  I've been rebuilding and moving the garden beds over by my potting shed.
I hope to put a drip line on them and make for easier gardening this summer.
 I am also in the process of building
a small deck in front of my Art Barn.  

What have you been doing this week 
to stay busy?
~~~~~***~~~~~
Well, Whistle While You Work
&
Keep Smiling!
~~~~~***~~~~~
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

54 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to your Hubby. It looks like you got a good one. I am older than mine too, but only about 1 1/2 years. I cannot wait to work in our garden. We have one long raised veggie bed.

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    1. Spring is coming:) My tulips are up about 5 inches and I'm getting excited! I'll tell Steve that you wished him a happy birthday :)

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  2. Happy Birthday wishes to your dear husband, such a lovely card. He is certainly working on a great project the canoe looks amazing. Have a great weekend.

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    1. You are so sweet . . . I'll be sure and pass along your birthday wishes and as the canoe processes I'll post more photos :)

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  3. Happy Birthday, Steve! What a perfect card you made. xx

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    1. Hi Liz, thank you . . . we have always liked that song :)

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  4. Happy Birthday to your wonderful Steve! The wood in the canoe they are making is just beautiful! I can hardly believe the things that you build! My grandpa who was a carpenter would be proud of you! I am four months older than my husband too! Have a wonderful day! Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy, that is funny for you to say, because sometimes when I'm out working on a building project I think that my Dad is smiling down from heaven being proud of my building skills . . . they are not so great, but for a woman I do pretty good. Being Steve's helper all this years has taught me a lot :) Steve and Jim are doing a sweet job on the canoe and it is going to be a thing of beauty when they are finished.

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  5. *H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* to Steve! And wow.. I'm impressed with his canoe! Wow!! I'm also jealous of your garden boxes and art barn deck. Looks great at your house! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Hi Teresa, their canoe is going to be gorgeous, I'll post more photos as the project continues. As for my Art Barn, that deck will be a nice little addition . . . just working hard getting ready for Spring :)

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  6. Happy 64th birthday to your husband. The canoe looks awesome.

    I like your raised beds. My yard is very shaded by large evergreens ( not on my property) so I have to raise veggies in pots on the South side of the house. It's not optimal but it works.

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    1. We lived with a shady yard for thirty-three years before we bought this home, so I know exactly what you are talking about. I'll let the guys know that you think their canoe is awesome :)

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  7. You amaze me pretty lady! You are always busy as a bee! I love it! Your art barn porch is going to be awesome! Happy Birthday to Steve. Tell him his sign is awesome. He will have fun with those stencils. Have a happy weekend. Hugs to you my friend!

    Blessings, Vicky

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    1. Hi Vicky, I'll be sure and tell Steve about all these wonderful birthday wishes he is receiving and thank you for your sweet and very encouraging words. I think he is going to have fun with those stencils, too.

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  8. Happy birthday to your husband. That's a fun card. His work on the canoe with your friend must be a labour of love and it's looking good. Sorry to hear about the bad storm and the damage. Also upsetting for the neighbours who've lost mature trees. It looks as if you've been busy yourself rearranging your raised beds. They do make gardening easier.

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    1. Hi Linda, it's fun working around the property and getting outside. That storm caused a lot of damage, but at lease nothing happened to either of our homes. Those trees fell away from their home, but were not that far from the house. They came over yesterday with cheery pie for Steve's birthday and our neighbor's pies are out of this world amazing. While they were here they said that they had just bought three new trees to plant where those feel down. So, we have a busy little neighborhood :)

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  9. My hubby is 25 years older. Age doesn't matter! That card is just adorable. I haven't done much this week, except laundry and go to work each day. I need to use the blower and blow out the garage and both porches. Maybe tomorrow!~

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    1. You're right, age doesn't matter . . . when true loves eyes are in the heart anyway :) Spring does bring with it lots of outdoor jobs, but then all winter we sit inside and dream about getting out in the spring weather, LOL.

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  10. What a honey.You BOTH are talented people. I am only 5 months older than my hubby...I tell him to respect his elders!!haha!! Love what you are doing in front of the Art Barn.Can you build too!!And that canoe...Zowie!!

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    1. Hi Judy, the canoe is going to me a thing of beauty . . . I will post more photos as they work more on it. I'm going to use that, "Respect your elders" line . . . maybe even before the day is over, LOL.

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  11. Happy Birthday to Hubby! That is quite a boat.

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    1. I'll pass the birthday wishes along . . . the boat is going to be beautiful when finished. I will be sure and post photos :)

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  12. Happy Birthday to Hubby - That is quite a boat!

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  13. I used the same song for Hubby's birthday! Happy birthday to yours.

    Looks like much good progress going on.

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    1. Hi Gail, it's a great song . . . too bad it is only appropriate at age 64, LOL.

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  14. Happy Birthday to your Steve! I always loved that song too, but am not there just yet ;) I'm older than my husband too ... by 9 days! Love the cedar strip canoe, wow! what a treasure! We go canoeing in the summer in northern Ontario. We just bought a new canoe that's only 45 lbs. I'll bet the one your husband is making weighs considerably more, but is much more beautiful.
    You two sure keep busy. Great idea to have a little deck on your art studio. Will you be setting some old rockers on it I wonder?
    Have a great weekend ... no gardening here for a while yet.
    Wendy

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    1. Hi Wendy, I'm not absolutely sure, but I think Steve said that it will weight 65 pounds when finished, still quite light and easy for two people to carry. As for seating on the deck . . . Yesterday afternoon Steve and I went to a couple of thrift stores looking for an old wooden bed. We found one and we are turning it into a bench for the deck.

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  15. Happy Birthday to your Hubby! I love the card - me and mine sing that song to each other all the time! You have both been so very busy - Wow! A canoe and building fences! Too bad about the neighbor's trees. Take care x Karen

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    1. It's busy around here, for sure. The storm caused more work, but since we have only lived here for two year, it's a work in progress. This poor old place was neglected for many years and we want to get it where we want it before we're too old to do the work and before Steve retires and our income drops, LOL.

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  16. I saw all the Beatles pictures you were saving on Pinterest and had wondered what you were doing with them. That card is great. Happy Birthday to your husband. That is some project he is working on. Is there anything the two of you can't do? :) I'm feeling pretty lazy after seeing all you've been doing.

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    1. Hi Ann, we do tackle a lot of projects and we don't necessarily do them as good as hiring professionals, but then again it depends on who you hire, I think that many times we do it better or at least we use better quality material than they might. We do not do plumbing or electrical, those two things scare us, LOL.

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  17. What lovely, heart-warming post, Connie! And Ha[[y Birthday to steve - same age as me! Yes we did the Beatle thing too! And last year for Jim who is almost a year older than I am. Well, we four have stood the test of time haven't we Seems unusual these days! A bit of give and take on both sides is the secret I think! Many more happy years together for you both Connie! Lxxx

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    1. Good Morning Lynne, Thank you for your sweet words. You're absolutely right about the give and take, marriages that are all about one person never work and if they last, one of the poor souls are miserable. Forty one years ago Steve came knocking on my door with this line, "I know that you don't know me, but would you go out with me?" I answered, "No I don't know you and no I won't". A week later I called and asked him out, LOL. And that is how our story began :)

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  18. Happy Birthday Steve and I LOVE your canoe, how beautiful is that! Such workmanship 😘 Pete is also sitting next to me admiring it x

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    1. Good Morning Fran, I'll be sure and pass this along to Steve. Coming from seasoned boat people and a carpenter like Pete, this is a very nice compliment. Thank you!

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  19. Hi Connie, its a while since I last visited and Im happy to find you as busy as ever! Love the card you made for hubby, and the wood in the canoes looks beautiful. What a great project they're doing.
    Your raised beds look brilliant and Im so impressed with your beautiful decking.So glad you are well and busy!
    Best Wishes
    Gill xx

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    1. Hello Gill, Busy seems to be our middle name around here, but it keeps us active and young. Thank you for your sweet visit :)

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  20. Happy Birthday to Steve. It has been a long week around here...my mom was in the hospital with extremely high blood pressure. The doctors can't seem to find out what is causing it. She is back home for now.
    ~Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy, I am very sorry to hear about your Mom and will put her in my prayers.

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  21. Hi Connie, Belated birthday wishes to your best friend and life partner. I love the Beetles. I was in the 5ifth grade when they conquered America. That canoe is lovely. Obviously your husband is a talented as you are.

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    1. I've learned what I know about building from helping him for the last forty years, we tease each other and say that neither one of us is very good alone, but then you put us together you have one pretty smart person, LOL.

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  22. That's a great card you made ... belated Happy Birthday Wishes from me.

    That canoe looks very special - love the colour of the wood - and your raised beds and decking - look good to.
    You've all been busy, which can be fun and rewarding.

    Hope the weekend is going well for you.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I enjoy having projects . . . it good to get busy and move around.

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  23. The card is so cool, bet he loved it, happy birthday to your hubby! It amazes me all that you have going on, I can't wait for the weather to get good enough to start getting the garden ready. Your deck looks great, that will be nice

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    1. Hi Connie, thank you . . . we have been pretty busy around here, it goes with having a new (old) place to fix up and with spring :) I replied to this comment on my Fire yesterday, but for some reason it didn't publish . . . I have no idea what is going on there.

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  24. Happy birthday to Steve! I love the Beatles card that you made him. Of course, I'm in awe of that beautiful canoe. We've had high winds here too, but no damage. Just a lot of small tree branches blown down into our yard. You are always such a busy lady, working on projects...doesn't it feel good to be working out in the yard again?

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    1. Hi Melanie, it feels wonderful to go outside and spend most of the day out there. I'm getting tired of winter coats and woolly mittens. How about you?

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  25. I call that "The Beatles Birthday". I was still teaching when my 64th birthday and my Leadership class threw me a surprise party - they locked me out of my classroom (with the Principal being inside with them) and when I finally got in, When I'm 64, was playing on the stereo.

    I can't wait to see that finished canoe.

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    1. It's a great song . . . too bad it only applies to that one special day in our lives. I will be sure and post more photos of the canoe as it processes.

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  26. Holy cow Connie! You've been VERY busy. The canoe is gorgeous. I keep thinking about the Gypsy Rose, wondering what her status is. Happy belated 64th to Steve. Love the pop up card!

    I'll be joining in on WOYWW this week and show off my new labels. I'm so excited about them! The first one I use will be on the gift for my dad.

    Hugs,
    Kay

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    1. Hi Kay, it makes my heart feel all warm and happy, that you like the labels. As for Gypsy Rose, since we bought this property we have not had her out. There is just too much work that needs to be done around here. We have her listed on Craig's List and a couple from Canada has shown interest and are planning on visiting this weekend to give her a look. Wish us luck in selling her . . . we are starting a 5th wheel fund with the money we get from the sale :)

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  27. I love the card you made your husband, it's perfect. What a gorgeous canoe, love the wood. It sounds like your husband will be having some fun with the stencils, what a great idea. I may need to look into that for a future gift for my husband. Take care, Kelly.

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    1. Hi Kelly, Steve purchased some stencils for his router before that didn't work very well. He is very happy with these. They are from Rockler, you can go to their site and order them or ask for a paper snail mail catalog. Great gift for a DIY handyman :)

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  28. We've been very busy here, Connie, and that's why I'm so late in reading this post. losing 40 year-old spruce trees would be heartbreaking. Those winds must have been crazy wild. Love the birthday card you made for Steve. So cute. The canoe is amazing. I admire his handiwork. You both are so talented. Hugs, Nancy

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