I'm not going to say it

The temptation is there, but I'm not going to title this post after a certain hotel chain. Having said that, the porch roof is on. I'm still waiting for what's called a rake board trim to add to the end rafters. It protects the rafters from rain.

 Next up is the railing, gutters (w/ rain barrels), and a storage/laundry room on the far side of the side porch. 

Oh, and the chicken ladder has finally been taken down. My brother, Adrian, posed the obvious, "When are you going to take that ladder down?"

Speaking of brothers, Adrian and Roney came up for a weekend visit to honor my 51st birthday. We've recently started a tradition of the brothers getting together for breakfast on our birthday. We're calling it the Brown Brothers Birthday Breakfast. Much fun was had. How can it not be fun when we get together? So glad we're not like some boring old adult brothers who merely tolerate each others company. I just wish our brother, Andre' (Vegas), lived out east. Oh and let's not forget my other siblings much further away, on other continents - my sister Claudia in Europe (Sardinia) and brothers Marco Aurelio and Anselmo in Brasil.

 Below is an ultra-sound image of my granddaughter, Gabriela - soon to be daughter of my daughter, Lauren, who is due in October.

















Can't say it enough - Life is great.

On The Deck

It's been too long since my last post - sorry. It's been a busy spring and summer, and thus little time for blogging. Here's a short list of what's been happening:

• I'm currently in the process of finishing up the wrap-around porch. The decking itself is complete and so now I'm working on the roof.
• Started my own business - SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC. My goal is to mostly do repair and maintenance on existing renewable energy systems; install PV and wind power systems; and design and build portable PV generators.
• This year's garden is doing very well. It's looking very lush after the last few days rain. Hopefully Christy will do some blogging on that front.
• I've been nominated to be on Sustain Floyd's Advisory Committee. In addition, I'm on the Sustain Floyd Energy Audit Committee.
• All of our North Carolina families have come to visit us this spring/summer. So we're very pleased with that and the fact that we got to show off the fruits of our labor.
• Lots of cool parties and Floyd events.
• Our new neighbors, Matt and Teagan moved down from NY/CT this May. We met them last year when they came to visit. They're a cool/hip/fun couple. Matt and I got in some good World Cup watching in Blacksburg recently. Sadly my teams 3 teams, Germany, USA, and Brasil lost.
• My oldest daughter, Lindsey, had her second child - Jeisa Isabel

• My youngest daughter, Lauren, is pregnant and due in October - 3 grandchildren in total by the year's end!
• Our friend, Dave Brown, and I have been cutting our logs for siding and building projects. I'm hoping that within the next 2 months to have the cabin sided.
• Life is great! 

Christy and I are really happy with the porch. We find ourselves spending the majority of our free time out there. It's something we've been looking forward to for quite some time. Our floor space has more than doubled as a result.