Dear Ashley Noel:

I know you are anxiously awaiting the engagement post, and it's coming, along with Drew's birthday, my new harp, property progress, Texas trip. So much to blog about. So far behind.

Since you are away this semester and missing the day-by-day details of Scotty's design classes, this blog's for you.

This week's project assignment started out in the loft.

Then he moved to the dining room table.

It spilled over into the livingroom floor.

When he ran out of room there he used the couch in the family room

And finished up on the kitchen table.

As a mom, the dining room picture is my favorite. That table is not my actual dining room table - that table is in storage. The table I have sitting in the dining room now is technically my kitchen table. I have had that table for 23 years. I look at all of the stains and nicks with fondness remembering all of the school projects over the years that have taken place on that table. I love it. To see it used as project-central again warms my heart. It makes me smile even more to realize I did n.o.t.h.i.n.g to help with this project, unlike projects in the past. Nothing like figuring out science fair projects the night before they're due.

But I digress.

These pictures are just to offer you a glimpse into your future for the next few years. I am going to assume that your newlywed pad will not have the space that these five rooms offered; therefore, the mess will cover every inch of available surface in your small apartment making it 10 times worse to live through.

For your patience in this process, I thank you now.

Secondly, the cost of these design projects will undoubtedly take up money that you had previously budgeted for . . .food/gas/power? When you stop and realize that you just worked four days so he could complete this assignment, your first reaction just might be to cry or be mad or maybe even scared (whatever will we eat next week?).

For your patience, faith, and budgeting skills, I thank you now.

I don't know if the next six years will have him always building models. I imagine it will switch to computer face-time using CADD at which time you will see the back of his head for hours on end. You'll want to be talking, he'll politely nod and not hear a thing because he's trying to get another project done.

You guys are going to have so much fun!!!! When he walks across the graduation stage, I will also thank you then.