What’s the Haps?

Recently the majority of the Hungarian voting populace just did exactly that! By an overwhelming majority, the former authoritarian prime minister/DICTATOR of Hungary was voted out-of-office as the Hungarian peoples’ voice clearly stated It’s Wrong!

Our two new bee baby colonies under the auspicious leaderships of Queen Stella and Queen Vanessa appear to be busy foraging, building stores and coming and going to beat the band with bulky pollen panties. A great portend for their healthy survival, for a great honey production, and hopefully ‘robbery’ of some exquisite honey later this year – fingers crossed.

Over the years you have heard me say (repeat) many things like, “My home chose me.” “I intend that my home continues magically along LONG after I’m gone.” “No one will ever sell this home. The next right person will see her and be as enamored as I was.” “I take the stewardship of my home, property, guests, and business very much to heart!”

A few months ago, we received a cold call from a woman inquiring about the Ukrainian flag that has been flying from our front porch since the wretched mess in the Ukraine began going on 4years ago. I explained that while I am Hungarian rather than Ukrainian I felt a Slavic kinship and more importantly, I believe that Right is Right and Wrong is Wrong.

And the beat goes on in maintaining this old ponderosa. We discovered. We scraped. We stuccoed.

Can you imagine how over-the-moon both Angie and George were to enjoy their JUST US wedding ceremony here at the Surgeon’s House? Whether it’s a small intimate wedding or vow renewal, the Surgeon’s House offers you the ideal venue. And And And, the added attraction of the affordability of this exquisite backdrop affords you the luxury of celebrating again, and more, elsewhere in a more relaxed fashion with whomever your hearts’ desire – one big YAY all around!

Now that the front porch has been regenerated with fill and a beautiful fresh coat of paint, we gave a gentle but good scrub to the faux mosaic. Soft brushes and touch as the rule of the day.

Just a quickie to show Alexis and Khristyanna during our blessed UNDECORATING effort which you can imagine is actually more daunting than the decorating!

We have been soooooooooooooo stinking spoiled by Katie and Mike at Painless Stitches redoing virtually ALL outside furniture that we had to ask for Round #2 on behalf of the dining room chair seat cushions.

The gang was all HERE and we made pretty snappy work of regaling TSH for another Forevermore holiday season. Our Donna from Livermore had the inspiration for the new element to the 2025 season with the introduction of battalions and legions of angels that seemed to have surrounded us all in profusion this year.

Recently our angels were really looking out for us in the Reunited Resurrected garden when we were alerted to smoke streaming out of the back retaining wall ivy – yipes! The Jerome Fire Dept arrived in a flash and although there were no flames the smoke was significant.

Can you even fathom that it is November already so everyone knows what that means at TSH . . . preparations have begun for our FOURTH annual Forevermore holiday celebration and decorating extravaganza.

Miss P is typically NEVER out of words but this is an exception. We have been investing energy and resources of all dimensions in this massive outdoor reno and it is nothing short of phenomenal.

We picked up our new metal from Roger at Valley Fabrication and Joshua went right to town cutting, welding, and designing Cousin Cousine’s new ballet bar. We hope she likes it and begins to ‘marginally’ cooperate in following it. Who am I kidding, as if wisteria can be trained – ha!

TSH commitment to supporting the food bank by weekly cooking for the community was put to the acid test this week when Food Bank Ann reported that we were down to nearly NONE of our containers and that donations had been sparse this week.

Those darned sneaky butts Katie and Mike, owners and creative genius behind Painless Stitches, surprised us with an unexpected treasure-trove of more of our outdoor makeover and again, we are silenced by their creativity and design eye.

Mike, Richard, and Jose brought us more new treats and planned the final assault on this monumental reno. Measurements were taken, we strategized the next and final wave of facelifts, and the ultimate coup will be the addition of about 30 throw pillows to soften and complete the entire look.

Anticipation builds as we await what we hope will be our next-to-the-last delivery from our Painless Stitches geniuses, Katie and Mike. Just a couple of pieces are still lacking their fresh paint-job and one glider needed some orthopedic surgery on his legs, now good and steady as new!

As we begin this season of LIGHT, Teltane to the Celts, Katie and Mike brought another round of AMAZINGNESS!

Katie and Mike were good enough to gift us a classy and classic old bench from their treasure trove so Joshua went to work to reassemble and ‘andrea-ize’ it. Talk about being an integral part of this entire born-again renewal, take a peek at this new addition just awaiting a bottom cushion.

The breath in and the breath out – that is really all that we have and if we don’t make the most of each one, SHAME ON US. Our friend and creator of the first water feature in the upper pond, Jim Cornwell, recently moved along to his next great adventure.

The latest word from Katie and Mike at Painless Stitches indicates they will make their first furniture pick up in the middle of July so the Capt. continues to plow his way through the pieces of outside furniture that need repair and repainting.