Columns Going Up

 Yesterday work continued by the stone mason and his son.

They built up the stone columns at the entrance to our driveway and also began the wall along one side.  The remaining side won't have a wall at this time since we are waiting for a load of dirt to be brought onto our property as fill dirt which will decrease the incline of the backyard from the garden up to the house.

 Projects do take time...

it's hard to wait for it all to be done, but in the end we want to be happy with all of it.

 The conduit sticking out of the top of these columns is for the electrical which my husband will run through them and they will power a light at the top of each column.

And

an address plaque will be attached to this column which will have our house number and street name on it.

It was ordered a couple of months ago in anticipation of these structures being done sometime this summer.

The stone mason will be back on Monday to continue the work....

I am so excited about this project that I didn't want them to quit for the week-end,

but I guess we all need a little rest sometimes.

Where To Live

 He's at it again, this darling husband of mine.

Starting to search for a new state for us to reside in, and I truly doubt his wandering feet will ever stop their gypsy wanderings, so I just shake my head in agreement and sigh...

really BIG SIGHS!

 He scours the internet for information about 'best places voted to live for retirement', and lately, although it is not an issue, the states to live in where your dollar will stretch the furthest.

We have looked at some states where houses are much cheaper, but the property taxes will eat you alive, and being in our retirement years, you can bet that we refuse to give so much to the powers that be.... healthcare insurance cost is much more than we expected to ever be paying, and food costs are VERY high in Virginia, *hence having a garden*, and so his search for a less expensive place to live goes on.

 *ready to take his iPad away from him!!*

Recently he came across

THIS MAP

which shows how far your dollar will stretch in each state,

and he's thinking the Michigan looks pretty darned good.

I can't say that those Long Long Cold, Snowy winters appeal to my senses as a great decision for a place for two old fogies to move to intentionally.

BUT

I want to be closer to a large body of water, and Lake Michigan sort of fits the bill, although I still dream of Maine and the Atlantic with all of it's glory.

You know... one of those places that sort of takes your breath away and makes you feel super small in comparison to everything else in the world.  Sort of puts a person in their place.

And so, today additional rock wall around our driveway is being constructed, as well as the two lighted pillars at the entrance to our drive,

and then will come the paving of the drive..

one more step in preparing this place for sale at some future point in time.

As I said.

BIG SIGH