Rockingchair, bedside table and other news

So we're back from a fun weekend in Cincinnati where we went for Jay's dad retirement party.
It was a total surprise for Don to see everybody together. Liane and Barb did a great job at planning the party and keeping it a secret! And we all had a great time playing golf! Pictures will be posted soon.
But for now, may I present you with our refinished rockingchair! We bought that old rockingchair in a thrift store, sanded it, primed it, sanded it again and painted it white.
I know my mom will love that chair!

Jay is sanding

The priming process (2 coats of primer)

Done!

Before and after

And we also have a bedside table in the making. We are not done yet, it still needs some love, but here's some pics.

Taking off the old drawer knobs (still need to find new ones!)

Sanding

Ready for its first coat of paint! Hopefully it will be finished over memorial day weekend.

News from the backyard

Here's some new pics of the ever amazing banana tree, I know you're all eager to see how it's growing, right?

We actually have 4 banana trees throughout the bakyard

The asian lillies. They have faded now, hopefully we'll see them again next spring!

The asian lillies are gone but we have new flowers blooming all the time. Here's the latest.

Does anyone know what it is?

Flea Market

On the 1st weekend of every month, the biggest flea market in the country takes place in Canton, just 30 min east of Dallas.

With our friends Michael and Corrine, we went in search of a farm-style dining table and benches. We found the perfect table but unfortunately it was not available. But no worries, we got the name and number of the guy who makes it with old barn wood and stuff (yes, it's all recycled)

Here's some pics of that very fun day.

Jay, Corrine and Michael

In front of the truck we rented for the occasion

Michael is your typical texan. Here with a smoker

He he he

The flying pigs from Ohio

Sabrina

Last weekend, we had the cutest little dog with us! We were dogsitting Sabrina while her owner, our friend Cheryl, was having fun in New Jersey.
It was a pretty quiet weekend, just walking around the lake and relaxing.

The frisbee was as big as her but she didn't mind.

And after all that running and walking, a little nap on the couch with Jay was very welcome!

The new grill

I just realized that we uploaded pictures of grill night and kept talking about our new grill to everybody, but we didn't show you the new grill!

So here it is, our new grill:

I know, it is amazing!

And now, some news of the amazing banana tree:

It's getting really big, and there's two banana trees now!

And a pretty flower grows with the banana trees, some sort of lily, I guess.

Grill night

Last weekend we had some friends over for a last minute grill night. Jay was the chef and he did very well, we still lack some essential ustensils but it is getting better!

All the pics were taken by Brad and Adam

Jay, Cheryl and me

Elisabeth and Jay

Adam. Tiffany and Kim

The feast! Shrimps, asparagus, sausages, lentil salad, potato salad...

At the arboretum

Now that we live close by, we got a membership to the arboretum. Last weekend was the start of the spring blooms, it was very colorful and the smell of all the flowers was really wonderful.

Enjoy the pictures!

Jay saw something!

Do you see it too?

Here it is!

It's a hummingbird. At first we thought it was a bee.

So cute!

A chinese snowball

This is a Hardy Amaryllis or San Antonio rose