Blood, Sweat, and Tears...

With the long weekend approaching, many will be traveling, but we will not, our good friends will be traveling to us! We are very excited to welcome more people to our home! Visitors in our home means Ryan and I will be taking the weekend off from our home projects. We have been planning and building almost every weekend since we arrived in Louisiana. And with any home projects, we have endured blood (a little), sweat (a lot, thank you, Louisiana), and tears (not positive on this one, but I am sure I shed a few during all the projects).

I mentioned in a previous post, if you want to test a marriage, tell the wife to plan a project, give the husband the tools and materials he needs, and tell them to build the project together. At this time, I would like to share the Top 5 things I learned along this process:

ACE really is the helpful place. An ACE Hardware store is located approximately 1 mile from our home. Not a weekend has passed in which we have not visited them at least once or twice. They have provided endless bits of advice, refrained from laughing when we asked naive questions, and celebrated when we brought pictures of completed projects. 

When planning projects, take into consideration how you plan to finish the project. Paint is my friend, spray paint is not. Stain is definitely not my friend. Polyurethane is an acquaintance. Also, small nooks and endless corners means more time and effort in the painting process. 

Sometimes it is best for the wife to go in the house. I say this on Ryan's behalf, but also as a bit of knowledge I learned. We started these projects with very little experience. It is never a good combination when the husband is using new tools, and trying new plans while having his wife constantly asking him questions. Sometimes it is best to go in the house.  

Once construction is complete, it is best for the wife to finish the project while the husband is at work. Going back to the previous comments about finishing the project, it was best I did the painting. We found our perfect balance, for the most part, Ryan built, I painted. 

Never underestimate what you are capable of. We are very proud of our accomplishments. If anyone comes to our home and judges our work in a negative manner, you will be asked to leave. If you ask us to build it for your house, we will consider, but it will cost you a million dollars. 

The proof is in the pictures:

Materials for our biggest project are visible in this photo. Cajun was not able to park in the garage for quite some time after this materials delivery. 

First completed project, headboard, side tables, and bench for guest bedroom. 

Second completed project, frame above couch.

Third completed project, side table in library. 

Fourth completed project, corner table in living room.

Second and fourth projects together.

And the granddaddy of all projects…the pergola. 

 The posts were put in by Ryan and a friend from work. No pictures during the process, because I went shopping with the friend's wife while construction was taking place. See number 3 of the Top 5 things I learned. 

Weekend two. Ryan needed documentation, (see number 5 in the Top 5 things I learned) I helped carry the 12 foot boards.  I would like to add another thing I learned. You never realize how sore you are from home projects until you attend your weight lifting class at the gym the next day. 

Celebrating our accomplishments. Support boards up. 

Adding the roof.

Success! We must wait until the wood is ready for paint. Eventually something will be hanging inside the pergola. 

The pergola has received Macy's approval. She currently believes we built this for her. 

White Linen Night...

It seems the majority of our time thus far in Louisiana has been spent enjoying our house. Building various items, decorating, hosting people, and did I mention building items? I never realized I married such a talented carpenter, I have my own personal furniture maker. The point I am trying to make is that with all the things we have been doing around the house, we are also enjoying exploring the area, and experiencing what it is like to live in America again. We recently (when I say recently, I mean over two weeks ago, I really need to get better with blogging) attended White Linen Night in New Orleans. We were also planning to attend White Linen Nights in Covington last Saturday, but there was quite a bit of rain that evening, mixing Southern rainstorms and white clothing did not seem like an ideal combination.

White Linen Nights usually revolves around closing a street, particularly a street with art galleries, museums, or local shops. The galleries, etc. open for the evening, food and drinks are sold. Bands may play. People fill the street. White clothing is worn. I learned that White Linen Nights was established in the South because it was very common to wear white, linen clothing to stay cool in the heat of summer.

Considering the heat, we decided to purchase tickets for a private event at the Children's Museum in New Orleans. Ryan and I enjoyed dinner in the area, and then met up with a few friends at the event. I enjoyed everyone wearing white around the city. One thing that I really enjoy about New Orleans, and the surrounding area, is that people really like to have fun. Events are always taking place, and people are always participating.

We travelled from the Northshore (another thing I am learning about the area, people have a lot of pride in where they live) for an evening in New Orleans at the children's museum, letting the child in us have some fun for the night (while enjoying adult beverages).

I entertained myself during the 25 mile bridge crossing by taking pictures. 

But first, let me take a selfie. 

The views during the drive are spectacular (sarcasm), bridge, and water, that's all there is. 

Before dinner. 

Since I mentioned this at the beginning of the post, I promise to post pictures of all the items Ryan has been building. Our house is really coming together. We did receive our sea shipment last week, and of course, my OCD means everything was unpacked within 24 hours. Actually, it took about 36 hours, we had so many broken things, I had to keep pausing to take pictures of the damage, and make note of each broken item. I was pretty upset about the amount of damaged items.

Louisiana Cooking Advice….true story

Ryan and I have to share a recent event. Some may find it entertaining, others may find it unusual. You never know, someone may actually use this advice (I will not). Regardless of what you may think, this blog is acting as an electronic journal, and because I do not want to forget this event, I am blogging. A day will come, when I look back on this post, and it will bring back this experience.

Some friendly Louisiana Cooking Advice….

Ryan and I went to Fresh Market, a nice grocery store, to buy ribs. Since this was his first time grilling ribs, Ryan asked the butcher for some advice.

The butcher begins to explain about simmering the ribs prior to grilling. As the butcher is talking, I notice a woman, and I must state, this woman looks normal, your average woman. This woman is nodding along in agreement to everything the butcher is saying. It's obvious (at least I thought) she has experience grilling ribs. No, no, no, not ribs….SQUIRREL! Her addition to the butcher's advice, and I kid you not. "My husband cooks squirrel like that all the time. If you boil it before you grill it, it really tenderizes the meat, and then it just falls right off the bone. But a simmer won't work, you have to BOIL that squirrel for a good long time." Ryan, the butcher, and I were speechless.

There you go friends, authentic Louisiana Cooking Advice. In case you've ever seen Duck Dynasty and wondered if people in Louisiana really eat squirrel, we can officially confirm the show is not staged. Squirrel is a commonly accepted meal down yonder. Where it is commonly accepted is still unestablished, it is definitely not accepted in our home.