Monday Morning

I'm tired of looking at sad news.  Unfortunately I have no good news, so here's a photo of the iris in the back yard.  The columbine are also blooming and the dianthus is lush.

Tim was able to get a lot of painting done while he was here last week.  (This is the painting necessitated by the hail storm, undertaken last fall, and interrupted by bad weather.)  I've contributed to the effort by finishing some windows and second-coating a section over the weekend.  One last push today should finish it.   I guess you could call that good news...
Having seen the new house I have been able to go through some boxes of packed stuff and eliminate a few things, which probably qualifies as good news.  I can also say that so far I haven't regretted any previous eliminations - more good news.
You could also call the fact that I didn't have to mow this weekend good news.  Our realtor arranged for someone to mow - and I reallyreallyreally appreciated the gesture.

Apparently I was wrong about the dearth of good news - which has raised my spirits considerably, so I'll close with a cute story:
I took Charlie for a walk yesterday morning and let him swim in the irrigation canal at the park - he loves it!  You throw a stick, he launches from the bank and lands with a satisfying splash.  He retrieves the stick and gets ready for the next round.  We then take the long way home giving him opportunity to dry.  Unfortunately he stays damp for quite a while...
I had some inside puttering to finish before I began painting so I fastened Charlie outside to finish drying.  He has a choice of sun and shade and was just lolling about waiting for me.  At some point I saw our (elderly) next door neighbor coming toward the house (which is odd because she always just catches us over the fence for a chat) and wondered if there was a problem as I waited for her to reach the door.  She never did.  She stopped to talk to Charlie.  Petted, patted, chatted, turned around and went home.

Aw, shucks

Well, yet another giveaway I didn't win!  But I feel like I've won the lottery because Tim will be home 2 weekends in a row!  Work takes him to Omaha for budget consultations this week, so he is bookending the trip with time here.

Yesterday we tackled a haircut for Charlie and assorted small projects.  Today will see some serious computer time for both of us as we address homework and budget details.  We're hoping for cooperative weather for a walk after while.

I have crocus peeking through in one flower bed.

I continue to sort and toss.  And dig through boxes that have been packed for an assortment of items that seemed utterly unnecessary and thus safe to pack...which means I haven't bothered to pack anything for a while.  There are empty boxes stashed waiting for their turn and one of these days I'll try again because I want to avoid the everythinghastobedonerightnow scenario.

Distractions

Tim is on his way home!

I'm trying to get an assignment and some laundry finished so my time is relatively free while he's here, but there are the inevitable distractions...

If I get my distractions out of the way then I can concentrate more effectively on those things calling for my attention.  Right?

 This was taken earlier this week.  During our phone calls Tim had mentioned (several times) that there had been no sunshine on his end of our connection.  So, in his honor, I wore a bit of blue skies to work.  Snow on the ground, clouds above, and just that small band of blue.  Mine came in the form of a 3/4 sleeve pullover from JJill, in a rich but not "royal" shade of blue. Off white tee and pants complete the idea.

Yes, this is my desk chair with Charlie and I in our standard positions:

slogging through homework and

faithful attendant.

Hope you have a good weekend. 

I told myself I would do schoolwork until 7:00, but Charlie just informed me that it was suppertime and I thought 7:00!?  Who am I kidding!? 

There has to be something going on outside.  Normally Charlie would nap through the afternoon while I'm doing homework, but today he has sat at attention near the window, pretty much all afternoon.

He's been fed and maybe after this short break I can settle in to study a while longer.  I do have a load of clothes to fold and I need to do my nails tonight.  But I should finish one more section on this assignment...


We have finished our first week of Iowa/Nebraska living. Tim has his work cut out for him. We've talked every night and there will be adjustments. If I told you the local banker came over to introduce himself to Tim would you smile along with me at the unlikely picture that creates?  Adjustments, indeed.

Charlie and I have our routine - the house stays clean.  I pack a box everyday.  I'm also trying to reduce the inventory in the freezer.  Tuesday (Wednesday?) I made a turkey potpie using turkey from Thanksgiving, the last of the potatoes, carrots, frozen peas and pie crusts that I couldn't remember my reason for buying - it's not a staple - so I must have had a specific use in mind.

Anyway - it turned out delicious, will feed me for several days and eliminates some clutter. 

We had someone look at the house yesterday.  The early part of the week was cold (-17 on the thermometer) and snowy (about 8 inches) so maybe no one wanted to be out and around, and we're hoping things will pick up soon.

Something new

Saturday was spent in Columbus, NE, at an all day lab for my biology class.  18 students were expected - 14 showed - an interesting mix of ages (I'm pleased to add that the instructor is older than me) and motivations.  We were given a run down on lab journals, charts and graphs, and the procedures that would help make our at home experiments a success. We practiced with microscopes, which were then packed up, signed out, and sent home with us. 

I'll need to set up  place for my equipment and establish the control onditions for the first phase of my Euglena project.

Should be fun.

On the home front - Tim took Charlie to work with him.  Out of the facility most of last week, and heading east again tomorrow for a couple days, Tim  put in a few hours at work on Saturday and Sunday.  Charlie, in what is no surprise to some of us, has the makings of a good therapy dog. Tim reports that he was well mannered and obedient.   His coat is growing in and  he had a bath on Tuesday so he was shiny and soft and just starting to curl around the edges - handsome, in fact, and he thrives on the exchange of affection/attention.   

not again!

thursday night we received about 13 inches of snow. with this 3rd october snowfall we have passed our average total for the year. tim, who ordinarily takes weather warnings very seriously and often overnights in north platte so as to be on hand at work, figured they had this one wrong. so he was home with me to shovel and waited til mid-afternoon for the interstate to open allowing him to go to work. there were manymany phone calls back and forth, including one with the mayor.
sadly, this was another heavy, wet snow having already rained most of the day. a lot of tree branches were lost all over town, with some power lines down. leaving everything a sodden mess.


charlie was thrilled. he bounded around the yard keeping us company as we labored with snow removal. today he and i walked in a mild 50 degree afternoon surveying the neighborhood damages. he's napping now. tim is fixing one of his specialties for supper - shrimp pizza. (mmmm) (i think because it's one of my favorites and tomorrow is my birthday)
you don't know how i'm hoping this will be my last unexpected snow post......
next weekend we head for connecticut to visit jacob and kate. we always enjoy our time out there. in true family form - it's time to obsess over what to wear.

have i mentioned

that charlie is never too far from my side??

here we are enjoying the morning view while catching up on my favorite blogs.

i wish i could show you the picture through the windows - the morning view - but it always comes out funny. i do keep trying though and some day will show you just why i love to sit here each day.

i spoke with aidan wednesday night about his first day of school - thursday - and he went on at quite some length about the container that would keep his hot food hot and cold food cold. i loved it. first days are soooo important.
yesterday was my 'first day' back in the fall routine of closing the library at 8 rather than 6:00. and like aidan food was a primary consideration...
what should i take for my supper??
as a general rule i don't do convenience foods. (we all know how 'general rules' work. there are exceptions. pre-cooked bacon?? bien sur!!) the schwan's man comes to the library every 2 weeks and my coworkers all order regularly. i smile and chat. until the day last spring when i fell for the idea of mashed potatoes on demand. tim and i don't eat enough potatoes to even keep 5 pounds in the house without spoiling/losing half of them so i just don't buy them. (he keeps a bag of shoestrings in the freezer for his potato fix)



my lunch bag, a container for my supper and the 'fixings' for a good batch of mashed potatoes. i find about 1/2 their recommended serving size is enough for me. i mix in a little cheese and enjoy!! yesterday i threw in a slice of roast beef and frozen peas (which stay crisp) and feasted on a hot meal!!

what have we done!!??!

we have given charlie a 'summer buzz' each of the last 2 years. it is a long,hot,itchy job but he really does much better without the heavy coat in the nebraska heat. this year one of us decided it should happen earlier than usual and one of us decided it was worth paying whatever the groomer asked. we both got our way. and none of us are happy.
handsome charlie. (our cut from last summer)

poor charlie. he is shaved. uneven. raw in a couple spots.
and pale!!
i guess it will remain our job.

i know, i know

there is a tolerance that people without children and or pets are called upon to exercise from time to time. i actually don't consider myself a "dog person" in the the most liberal use of that term - i simply have a dog - and so i really don't have reason to share charlie stories on a regular basis. tonight, my friends, is the exception that you've all been waiting for....
we actually had a good weekend with several privately amusing incidents that in another universe would be blog material. (aidan should collect royalties on the family use of actually). tim fixed a delicious shrimp and pasta dish for supper. dishes were done. tim was watching tv, i'm busy with a project back in my workroom and i hear this quiet "ilona, ilona, you have to come out here." this is what i found:

after a few minutes charlie came over and sat at my feet but he watched that movie for close to an hour.

so there you have it. thank you for your tolerant attention.

a busy day

the bread is rising, errands have been run,


projects accomplished (actually i have one left)


flannel sheets on the bed, laundry washed, dried and put away,


charlie has spent the day pouting (with prodigious disneyesque sighs)and thinking (in my best disneyesque interpretation) that i could just have well gone to work today for all the benefit he's had from my being home all day....it really is all about him.
we'll have supper, put our feet up (or mine at least) and read.