Family Mellmann

As the sun was setting on this cloudy evening, the sun poked through just enough to highlight the mountains.  For a very brief moment, the scenery was dazzling. Earlier today I went to Billings to run some errands and then made a stop in Absarokee.  More work has been done on the roof in back (as weather allowed) and two of the builders were outside framing the fireplace.  The painter has been filling nail holes, caulking, and preparing to start priming next week.  The tiler has begun work preparing the master shower for tile; drain set, cement board going up on the walls.  Coney (our builder) was sanding in the garage and mechanical room so that all the walls are ready for the painter. Off site, other little tasks are getting done.  The cabinet knobs and pulls have arrived and I am busy sorting them for quick use when the cabinet maker installs the cabinets.  And - laugh if you must - I am building a "decorator binder" to record paint colors, finish d...

We had a bit of a snowstorm on Thursday so I didn't journey out to Absarokee and instead stayed home to work on other things.  What I was really holding out for was a drive to the house with Jörg so we could discuss paint colors.  I have included a sneak peek below.  It was a beautiful sunny day so the snow was melting off the roof and dripping everywhere.  Normally I would say it was a beautiful sound, a harbinger of spring and warming weather.  However, living in Montana, this is just one of several such sunny drippy days and we could still have snow again before summer is officially here.  Anyway, the painter has begun the work of covering things that don't get painted (like the beams) and taping the windows.  He plans to start priming walls this week. The tiler also plans to start working this week.  She will be tiling the master shower and two bathroom floors, and hopefully the kitchen and pantry walls. As we were driving away, our builder wa...

To use a basketball phrase, it's a "full court press" on the inside of the house preparing for the painters.  The drywall is almost completely ready for priming.  The trim is going up.  And the interior doors are being installed.  The tiler came to check out the master shower and the two guest bathrooms.  She'll be ready to start as soon as the painter is done with the priming. When I finished at the construction site, I went on to Billings to do more planning of paint colors, find a new option for the flooring (the one we chose has been discontinued), and then stopped by the granite place to see if I could match some of the paints to the counter tops we will have.  Since our slabs of stone were already moved from the warehouse to the production lot outside, I couldn't see much of the stone.  The sales representative asked the guys if they could move some stuff around so that I could see our selections to match some paint colors.  It took a few mi...

...at least it is INSIDE the house. This week has definitely been spring-like outside but cooler temperatures are reported to follow.  In the meantime, I received this lovely spring bulb display from my mom.  She just gets me!

Today was my day to drive to Billings and Absarokee.  As I drove (it's almost two hours to Billings) I experienced snow and low clouds, sun, rain, more sun, sleet, more rain, more sun, more snow, and then sun.  Talk about micro-climates!  In Livingston it was cloudy, chilly, and snowy but by the time I got to Absarokee the sun was shining and it was 50 degrees. With Montana weather (wintery), construction has been mostly indoors.  The drywall is almost ready for paint.  The interior doors are being installed.  The replacement garage doors have gone in.  And some smaller inside jobs have been done (like building out the fireplace and putting the mantel in place, and building out the master shower wall with its cove shelf.  Hopefully next week will be...warmer. Drywall taping and mudding is nearly complete. The correct garage doors are no in place. Interior doors are being hung. (standing in the dinging room) The fireplace and mantel are now re...

It seems that we have entered the season of squalls here in Montana.  A squall is a sudden, localized, and short-lived storm which often brings rain or snow.  The squalls here are most often...snow. Today, we had just such a squall.  It last for about three minutes and resulted in little more than wet patio cement.  And just as quickly as it arrived, the clouds moved on revealing a blue sky and just a hint of sun.

On Saturday, the whole family (everyone who was available) gathered at the local Chinese restaurant for a celebration dinner in honor of Al and Diana's anniversary. After the meal we gathered at the home of Denise and Greg for a little dessert and more stories, updates, and laughter. Sharon and Charles, and Larry Denise and her older son Pam, Diana, Russana, Russana's daughter Lauren Lauren's son, Lauren, Denise's younger son, husband and dog, and older son And it wouldn't be a family reunion without some family pictures.  I didn't get everyone but I got most. The Perrys The Hudsons The siblings and their spouses  Happy Anniversary Al and Diana!

Friday was relaxed and full of laughter, stories, and conversation.  In the afternoon, my cousin Denise came over and we had a lovely time of catching up.  The last time we saw each other was 25 years ago at her wedding.  So much has happened since then! In the evening, we went to a local ministry where they give a gospel concert (and if you know the words, it's also a sing-along).  It was a relaxed evening of old time gospel music which is broadcast on local access television and the radio.  

On our first full day in Oklahoma we enjoyed a drive to Al and Diana's 80-acre property where they enjoy spending their summers.  It is also a beautiful place to spend a spring afternoon. Pam sets off the blooming red buds nicely. :) Diana tells us all the stories about the condition of the property when they first bought it more than ten years ago. The pond was named in honor of Grandpa Widaman (my dad's father). They built this lovely gazebo for shaded gatherings. Charles (my dad), Diana (his sister), Al (her husband), and Sharon (stepmom) Pam (my stepsister), Sharon, Charles, and Yours Truly Sharon, Charles, Diana, and Al They have a tradition here that all visitors get to sign a post on the gazebo.  So that's what we did. In the evening, we gathered at a local restaurant and met with Dad and Diana's cousin Sharon (5th in line) and her husband Jimmy.