Road Trip

For the "One picture is worth a thousand words" category:

No, it's not quite this bad, but by the time I thought about taking a picture of my packing, I realized the camera was buried.  Deeply.  So...

Charlie and I are headed east today for a visit.  I have materials for a couple projects (shelf paper etc) and a few more things to help Tim feel like he's living, rather than squatting, in Grimes. 

I'll try to take a few pictures.

Painting

In a previous post Naphtali left a comment about coming to help me paint.  We've been discussing Aidan's summer plans and had already penciled in a week for her and Aidan to paint at the new place, followed by a week of Aidan here (there?) on his own.  That will be a fun/productive visit.  Here's a bit more of the back story.

Last week (?) I had sent Naphtali a link with pictures of the house and a general comment about painting.  Her reply made me laugh - something along the lines of:

YES!  let's get some paint on those bathroom cabinets!

This, however, was the picture that I had thought might provoke an urgent offer to help:

She never mentioned it....

What do you think:  Which room cries out for immediate attention?!

Watch this space

I'm going to buy balloons today.

I do feel rather wimpy in some of my recent responses to my circumstances - there are plenty of other stories to give mine some perspective.

But we all know that there are times that, regardless of what we all know, simply get the upper hand.

So I followed Bethany's example and bought myself some balloons.

I also took some to the library.  It was hard not to feel better when I saw the look on their faces!

drum roll....

The semester has ended.  Today I can clear my desk and start on a new round of activities:

wrapping Christmas presents

laundry

ordering books for next semester
schedule CLEP

returns from online shopping

mail hold for Christmas travels
cleaning/sorting
realtor appointment
packing to move
hair cut

groceries

Charlie's tags
transfer/delete files
reading

24 Hours

12:30 Saturday

I returned from work to find this project started.

12:30 Sunday

It all started with the hail storm in July.  We had broken windows, chipped siding and paint and so Tim spent Labor Day, well, laboring.  The plan was to replace the two broken windows, which meant that he should paint first, which meant he had to sand out the hail chips and he made a good start with all this on Sunday, but by the time the sun came around to the west side of the house where he was working, he was forced to call it a day.  That weekend was a scorcher!  He started in again Monday. 

 The front is painted, the windows are in but not trimmed. 
And that brings us back to the jackhammer.....

If you're going to paint this side, it makes sense to fix (demo) the concrete slab, which slants to the house, first.  We had talked (in pretty general terms) about removing the wrought iron railings and updating the look of the entrance and you know how one thing leads to another, projects need to be tackled in order etc etc etc.  Here we are.  Tim has worked hard and I've helped as I could.  Actually, throwing the chunks of concrete around is rather cathartic..... 

We put in a long, full day of demolition and removal.  I tried the jackhammer, just to say I've handled one, and this morning the top layer, about 10 inches, was gone.

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.   

Weekend Review

This past week has been very busy.  Rain (days and days of it) kept me from getting much done outside during this break between semesters, but there was plenty to keep me occupied in the house.....

Taking inspiration from Sal, I gave my jewelry some attention.  She had used a papertowel rack to display her bracelets but I realized it would drive me crazy to stack, remove, retrieve everytime I wanted to wear one, which would probably mean I would pass, defeating the whole idea of wearing them because they were on display, rather than kept in a box somewhere.  While at a garage sale I found this mug tree, on a marble base, and decided that it would do the job.  I also added velvet to the box that holds my watches and pins.  A pushover for clever boxes, this one came with a set of stationery and was repurposed several years ago.

I also added a couple more hooks to the back wall of the closet where I hang my neckalces.  Jacob sent two lovely birthstone necklaces for Mother's Day (!) and as I was already doubling up on a couple hooks, it seemed a good time to add the extra hooks.

                                                                                                            

Charlie enjoyed his fair share of my time.  Daily brushings are part of our routine.  The iris have been just gorgeous, as has the snowball bush.  I've enoyed bringing them in the house.  I've got a couple slips from a new plant starting to root. A couple leftover blue bottles were given a new lease on life as they were turned into garden decorations.  My papers and books from last semester were all sorted and filed and I'm ready to start a new semester tomorrow.  Funny how you forget how delightful free time can be .....

The summer's first batch of sun tea was brewed.  Leaflets for National Garden Week (June 6-12) were crossed off my "to do" list.  I turned an old vanity seat (from the same garage sale)(possibly my only one for the season) into a planter.  I picked up an old metal "kitchen cart" and used it to organize my messy garden supplies in the garage.  Scored a milk glass cake pedestal and a couple doodads for the garden all for less than 5 bucks!  Furniture was rearranged, curtains scrutinized, piles formed to pack for our trip north, later in the week, several books read..... I'd say it was a good week.

Rainy day observations

Rainy day people...

I'm beginning to feel like I'm trapped in a Gordon Lightfoot song...


Today's rain, though, is giving me opportunity to catch up on some rainy day projects in the house.


I have papers from last semester to sort and file.


The new Laurie King novel is waiting to be read.

My standard Sunday sessions of ironing and a manicure are still ahead of me. 

This is my last week of freedom before classes start again and I have plans for some cleaning and organizing. Or if the sun shines I may just blow it all off....

I found inspiration here.  There are several websites I want to visit from my new issue of Real Simple. 

This is also the last week to push in preparation for our trip to the Boundary waters over Memorial Day weekend.   Tim and I have been faithfully working out every morning. We put in about an hour, arriving around 5-5:30.  I have seen an increase in stamina and laundry and my main goal at this point is simply not to embarrass myself  when we actually hit the trail.

...just pass it on...

I hardly know where to start!

We had a busy and productive weekend. A pleasant mix of outside work and homework. Tim replaced the latches on both gates and tightened this and shifted that so they would hang straight and close easy. My bicycle has been tuned up and baskets installed on the back. So it comes as no surprise that this week is cooler with a chance of rain every day. Turns out my timing was off in the matter of flannel sheets - again! It has been a real spring (we haven't always had one out here) sunny days, coooool nights. Tim also mowed and washed out the overhead canopy on the back patio. Lots of leaves and gunk...

I moved a few plants, helped with gates, submitted a couple lessons for economics, laundered, cleaned etcetcetc. Classes are winding down. I have a major paper (and a minor one) due Friday. One last chapter and questions, and one last test for econ. Two chapters, two quizzes, two papers for ethics.



Tim routinely steps across Charlie at the foot of the bed in the morning. I've actually heard him say "good morning, Charlie" a few times.



The forsythia has been brilliant this year. Iris are blooming! I have a couple different varieties, the others are still weeks away. The dianthus should go crazy pretty soon. There are leaves budding on the hydrangea, trumpet vine and lavendar. The flower beds change during the course of the day.....

Last night we came home from work to find a 4X4X4 foot hole had been dug BY HAND in the front yard. The gentleman who takes care of the sprinkler system came with the house. He is rail thin,tougher than barbwire, and elicits an automatic "sir" when you address him. I can't even guess his age but I'll put it closer to 80 than 70. We knew he was going to replace a valve and would need to dig around the access pipe but hadn't expected anything quite that extensive. Nor had he. That hole is a work of art. Square. Tidy. BY HAND. I felt so bad for him....he just smiled and said "Well, you never know what you might have to deal with when you start a job." I need to give Tim credit on this one as well. The water to the house had to be shut off and when it was turned back on created a mess with sediment.....any way he spent his evening replacing this and shifted that working on water pressure and fixtures - not what any of us had planned for the end of a long day.



I have a computer seminar over the noon hour so I really should get busy.....

here we are

today finds us almost two (2!) weeks into the new year. it has taken this long to fine tune my list of projects for the year. interested??

drink more water.
keep my head above water with school work.
improve my handwriting.
find my 'look'
finish the gray hair transition.
grow some hair.
verbalize my appreciations.
focus.
commit.
persist.
achieve.

putting these goals on paper for all the world (excuse the hyperbole) to see is, of course, daunting; accountability being a 2-edged sword. it does help me to see them listed. (focus) i'll keep you informed.....

brrrrr

that may be a slight exaggeration but believe me fall is in the air!!

and my fall clothes are trapped here!! long pants, 3/4 sleeves, light sweaters all buried behind the pile of furniture that was moved to allow tim to replace the window in this bedroom. i never thought the weather would change this quickly or this soon. i also thought that tim would finish this room before tackling the kitchen. wrong on both accounts!! no doubt we'll have another round of warm days before fall starts in earnest but this morning it would have been so satisfying to rummage through the drawers pulling out favorites - comfortable, familiar, warm - for these next few days. this is my favorite time of year for dressing. i hate the survival mode of dressing that a hot nebraska summer forces on me. even a simple necklace seems like too much when its 90+ degrees. i want to wear clothes. i want to accessorize. i want to feel dressed.

wrapping up

this picture was taken this morning:
i still have daisies blooming!! here they are sandwiched between one of my lavendars and anemone in the background.



and here's charlie never-too-far-from-my-side keeping me company, waiting for his bath.



thursday night, friday and saturday our local garden club hosted a symposium. when i returned home saturday night i found my kitchen scattered across 2 rooms and a new window!! tim spent his time replacing our least favorite window bringing the total since june to 6!! it has become a fairly standard project by this time. he'll get the inside finished in the course of this next week. normally i've moved furniture and un-hung pictures and curtains to allow him to just waltz in and do his thing so this was a complete surprise!! a very welcome surprise.

for those preparing to be a flower show judge there are several hoops to jump and symposium is one of them. students are gathered, instructors provided and designs built and displayed for instruction (and testing) on how to judge them. i'm not working towards 'judgeship' but found the time well spent. if i know what they're looking for i'm better equipped to enter a prize-winning design or horticulture specimen. right??
of course, i find it fascinating to see the behind-the-scenes scenes too. the amount of stuff they accumulate and haul is mind boggling!!
our club provided 2 lunches and an amazing amount of snacks considering there were 30 or so little old ladies.....we had a delicious lasagne friday and a variety of salads on saturday. we each brought a batch of muffins (i made pumpkin) and a batch of cookies or bars. the kitchen work is always fun.
being away from the house for those 2 days means that my standard weekend routine is compressed to fit today..... so , of course, let's add extras like weeding several flower beds, potting a couple planters, cleaning the shower head, a bath for charlie.
all i have left is my ironing and i'm headed that way right now.

last week

we had the most delightful hint of fall in the air. outside projects became possible. baking was not only acceptable but irresistible. getting dressed became interesting again. (i hate the heat-driven dressing for survival mode)
one of the projects involved -one of my personal favorites- the removal of grass. neither tim nor i enjoy mowing. in fact, we hate it. but it has to be done. in previous years we've found ways to share the task: front yard/backyard, every other time, trade for cooking. this year (bless his heart)he's doing it all. i contribute by occasionally digging up grass to create a new flower bed thus reducing the amount of mowing that has to be done. the maple tree in the back yard has some protruding roots that i decided to protect from the mower with a four foot circle of mulch.


the tree








the tools(impressed by the high tech gear??)











the first cut











yes, all my sod has been cut by hand. and on this job, at the end it was both of us on hands and knees, fistful by fingerfuls as we pulled it from between roots.

fini

some day i'll figure out how to chronicle the in-between steps but for now once i'm in the midst of the work with dirty hands, wanting nothing more than to finish, 'photo op' just doesn't spring to mind. i'm lucky if i remember to take before and after shots.....

a correction

tim called my attention to a poor choice of words in a previous post. baby pheasants do not waddle. they scamper/scurry/flit/zigzag/hustle - you get the idea. i told him i would make the correction and while i'm here i might as well post something new....

i finally got around to some concrete work this weekend. i need a few more stepping stones to complete a path to the backyard.
these are drying/curing and will need to be painted and their final coat of sealer. they won't be ready for the ground for another week or so.












i hope to pick up some rhubarb leaves tomorrow and get started with them.



for those who like a little color i'll close with this shot of honeysuckle taken about 7:30 this evening:

loose ends

this is my pathway. i still have to sink those last few bricks but in my mind it is done.

at this time last year most of this space was grass. the bed along the wall existed but it was a narrow space, straight and cramped. i dug out the grass myself. created the path. hauled the dirt for the middle and have now laid the brick. tim offered to level the last few but i thanked him and turned him down - i want all the bragging rights on this one.
there were peony along the wall with that rock ledge holding a bush of some sort which we replaced with a redtwig dogwood. i had added astilbe, columbine, anemone, daylilies, daffodils, alium (the mystery plant!),iris and coral bells. this year from marilyn's garden i've added ladies mantle, dianthus, plumaneria, cranesbill, varigated iris, icantha, along with lavendar and daisies. i can't wait for everything to fill in.

taking a break

my intention is for this to be brief. we'll see. i'm in the midst of laundry and i have wallpaper yet to hang tonight but needed a breather and why sit and stare at the walls if i can be productive for another 15 minute segment of my day. it's been a very full week. weeding and planting and projects and work and busybusybusy.
on tuesday the garden club went to a farm 13 miles from gothenburg, cozad and calloway. marilyn mcneal is a retired teacher, master gardener,
farm wife and general all-around nice lady. i see her regularly at the library. last summer we went up (out?)(over?) to look at her gardens and she invited us to come back this spring because she was planning to do some splitting and we could help her out by taking the extras. a very generous offer when you do the math...(part of the math that day included several ages revealed to a general chorus of oh! you can't be etc. marilyn is 77. and the excepting myself - the youngest garden clubber is - wait for it- 68. guess who manned the shovel and did all the lifting??
the math - 8 of us went to marilyn's. i came home with 10 different plants, about the average haul, some large enough to split again. we filled 2 trunks and had some on our laps. i got mine into the ground just before it rained that day.

and that night there was the episode with the chair. $10 bought this chair back in sioux falls and it will no doubt be the best quality chair we will ever own. it's comfortable but awkward to move - the back being rounded and no legs to hold on to -and no there are no 'before' pictures because i didn't think there would be a story to tell until we were already at this point. at what point, you ask?? the point where after getting stuck at the top of the stairs for the third time.... let me back up. the chair got wet during our recent water-in-the-basement episode. this is 'cleanup' week in gothenburg and we decided it was the perfect opportunity to get rid of the chair for free. borrowed a pickup. we're all set.
the chair is heavy. heavy and it has to be lifted higher than the railings. and make a turn at the top of the steps. and we took it there 3 times.

we decided to cut it in 2. the fabric wouldn't tear. the sawsall blade vibrated on the surface. we're laughing. breathing hard. and trying to make a dent in this chair from hell. we found a metal strip that had interfered with the sawsall. the wood! the springs! the padding! we could not demolish that chair!! it has a round swivel base probably an inch thick. at one point tim warned me, as he positioned the pry bar, that "ball bearings would scatter all over the floor" as he began to push. nothing budged! like i said, the best piece of furniture we ever owned!!
we eventually got it in 2 pieces that we could handle, up the stairs, into the truck, over to the dumpsters and out of our lives!!

i'm going to hang wallpaper. the rest of the week will follow soon.

it's been said

in spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love. around here the thoughts of the 'young man' involve basketball and budgets. my own?? projects. definitely projects.


a new latch for the gate.

a package to send to jacob and kate.
tim's sweaters to wash and seasonal clothes to swap out.
blankets to air.

of course i suffer from the it-has-to-be-orderly-before-i-can-work syndrome so i did spend some time tidying the garage...found 1/2 a bottle of windshield washer fluid so i topped off both vehicles so i could throw the bottle away!! isn't that just the cutest little engine!?
rain and snow are forecast for sunday through tuesday so i hope to get a lot of loose ends tied up inside in the next few days so i can actually start some cleanup in the flower beds one of these days.
tim will be in omaha starting the 29th to set his budget. i'll be posting pictures of the project that will keep me busy while he's gone. here's a hint: any chance that you remember (go ahead - check the archives if you need to) what i did last year at this time??
jacob is scheduled for surgery april 2, prompting the box of goodies.
we head north for aidan's birthday on the 3rd. busy days ahead.