Thanks to the power of the mighty cinderblock new structures are being formed out back.
The floor was poured. Lines carved in the concrete just like my sketch. A smattering of tiles inserted into the corners. Giant toilet paper rolls were carefully placed to form planting holes.
Firebricks were put on the back wall of the fire hearth. I always imagined a permanent campfire in my backyard. You know. For sending smoke signals.
I visited other friend's houses to steal more ideas.
Ricardo has pergola fever. He built this one at his house and he's going to build one for me!
He also makes furniture. But I didn't want to push my luck. While I was there my eyes kept returning again and again to this smooth stucco.
I'll have that kind please.
There was a Spring art show in the courtyard at school on Friday. All of the little punks were jumping with excitement. After lunch I read a chapter from our new book.
If you is really wanting to
know what I am doing in your village, I is blowing a
dream into the bedroom of those children.
Blowing a dream?
What do you mean?
I is a dream-blowing giant.
When all the other giants is galloping off to swollop
human beans, I is scuddling away to blow dreams into the bedrooms of
sleeping children. Nice
dreams. Lovely golden dreams. Dreams that is giving the dreamers a
happy time!
Now,
hang on a minute. Where do you get these
dreams?
I collect them.
The BFG waved an arm
at all the rows and rows of bottles on the shelves.
I has billions of
them.
You can’t collect a
dream. A dream isn’t something you can
catch hold of.
You
is never going to understand about it. That is why is
not wishing to tell you.
Imagine 23 little squirmy people slowly turning their faces up as the story unwinds, bodies settling, the room growing quiet quiet quiet. Oh magic, I know your name.
That Dahl knew what to do…
I love it that you are stealing ideas. It’s good. liked your tiles from the previous post.
Oh I love the BFG! We saw it at the children’s theatre last year. I loved it so much I went back for a second viewing.
I have outdoor fireplace envy!!! It’s all looking so lovely.
ohhhh mmyyyyy… jealous, oh so jealous! I want a constant fire for smoke signals! Really great, thanks for sharing Mary Ann.
I don’t have a back yard but I’m tempted and inspired to do something with my balcony as I watch your patio become reality! You are a lucky girl.
lookin’ good sis. Hopefully I’ll be invited over to help break it in. Those drinks are going to taste fabulous out there!
I love the visual art journals. I hosted a “save the arts” art work shop at my son’s school last Friday. It was really awesome watching the kids create. We worked on some fabric panels that I will be turning into a visual art book to send to our board member to show her our support and how we love the art program.
Oh. A fire hearth. From the last picture, I could have sworn that was going to be a big trough for cat food… but that’s just me.
How about a small fountain?? And Mary Ann, tiptoe over to cuteoverload.com for teeny, tiny monkey magic. I know how you love those simians!
Who couldn’t love the BFG? Roald Dahl is my favorite author!
LOVE the backyard make over. WAY better than HGTV!!. And my cat posse (can 2 cats be a posse??) are jealous… it is raining here on the east coast and I am afraid my deck is not a thing of beauty like your new back 40 will be (sorry, the Indiana in me comes out every so often)…Of course reading is magic…except of course dull adult work related reading….
You know, my son and I read that book together when he was in 3rd grade. He’s sitting right here playing Guitar Hero (“Crazy Train”) and I interrupted him to read the first few lines you have here from The BFG. I asked him, “Do you remember what book this is from?” I got out half of the first sentence when he yells out, “The BFG!” Yes, this book is magic. Imagine, a 17-year-old Guitar Hero-playin’ boy remembering this book he read 9 years ago. So, no matter what your students are doing years from now, they will always remember you reading The BFG to them. Pure, joyful magic!
Your patio getaway is looking wonderful. Love the kid’s visual journals all together at the school art show – wish I could look at all of them!!!
Lovely things growing in your yard!!!! I’m jealous!! Both of your wonderful new garden and your students getting to hear an “ooooh” and “aaaah” story!!
Giant TP rolls are called sonotube. The original intended use of these laminated paper tubes was as a form for pouring concrete columns and footings. Enterprising humans use them for lots of other stuff too. I use them (faux painted) to make wonderful columns on theatre sets. They are solid and lightweight and come in many different diameters. Most concrete places would know where to get it if they don’t stock sonotube themselves.
Roald Dahl is such a great read-aloud. James and the Giant Peach. Who knew I could “do” that many different voices?
OMG, I ♥ the BFG!
gorgeous…now i want to come to your patio warming party…i will bring some more succulents…promise!
Isn’t a yard re-do like a dream come true? I had mine done last Summer and this is the first big Spring bloom! I haven’t found just the right idea for the door to the outbuilding/garage in the back yard. I love the mosaic trim. Mind if I “borrow” the idea?
do we dare ask, from whence do them there giant tp rolls come? 😉 You are going to have one extremely beautiful backyard patio area!!!
jan in ohio
Oh, a campfire! That’s even better than a fountain.
And the story….more please! Tell me more about the bottled dreams!