Today marks the 67th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. This is one of the most important chapters of recent American history and for some reason it has almost been overlooked the past few years.
I think this country has become so anti-war that we forget that without fighting for ours and others freedom we would soon loose it; and as unpopular as war is it has always been fought to retain some country's freedom...sometimes that country was the good old US of A! Well off my soap box for now ☺.
I have noticed in the last few days that our spring bulbs and plants are starting to pop out of the ground. Several crocus and primroses are starting to show them selves and even some of the trees are popping up their leaf buds; I know that this is not too unusual but it is always interesting to see this time of year.
We still have not had a killing frost at our house yet, I know that some of the areas surrounding us have just barely gotten into the frozen zone but so far we have escaped it.
I have not done much today except go to church and Sunday School; Kathleen was not up when I left so I took my Jeep in case she got up and decided to go herself but she did not. So once I got back home I changed into my shorts and tee shirt and went downstairs to read the paper, comics and watch the last half of the Blazer game.
After I finished reading the paper and the game was over I went and made myself some lunch. There was some left-over lentil soup and so I heated that up and took a couple slices of English muffin bread and made some of my famous pizza sandwiches to go along with it.
After I finished eating and putting my dishes into the dishwasher I cut coupons and filed them away. And since it is raining I could not go outside and do anything so I thought that I would do my blog a little early today.
As I do not envision anything else exciting happening I think that I will just go ahead and publish this and call it a weekend.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Recovery Day
This morning I had a meeting at church, so I did not get anything done early. When I got home and changed back into my shorts and tee shirt I thought about going out for a walk, but remembering how much pain walking usually causes me I decided to do some winter pruning.
I pruned the branches of out Rose of Sharron that went over the fence and into my neighbor's yard. She does not like the mess that it causes when the spent flowers fall off into her yard, so I went ahead and cut off everything that went over the property line.
After I finished I went to the rose garden and did my winter pruning of my roses. I usually do a winter and then a spring pruning of the roses so that in case we get a bad frost and it damages the roses there is still some more to prune. Pruning again in the spring also give me the opportunity to shape the rose plants a little better once I see the direction the new buds are taking and also prune off the winter kill.
After I did that I went into the house and gathered up the large garbage can that I had been putting to scraps left over from the bathroom remodel and put it into the garbage can to take up front for pick up on Tuesday. I separated out the wood and put it into a separate pile outside so that I could give it away for firewood.
By the time I got everything done it was after 1400 and I was getting hungry so I went inside, cleaned up and made myself some lunch. I heated up the last of the mashed potatoes and Swiss steak that I have had for four meals already.
Then I went through the mail that had come while I was at my meeting this morning. We got one of our bank statements so after putting my dishes into the dishwasher I went into my office and balanced my checking and savings account for the bank statement that came in the mail today.
The rest of the day I did not get much of anything else done so I though that this might be a good time to include a few photos that I have been wanting to publish.
The first on is of a rose that I cut from one of my roses last week in a Waterford crystal vase.
The second one is of our Christmas cactus that started blooming earlier this week...just a wee bit early but beautiful none the less.
Then next several are pictures that my cousin Sue Fletcher sent me last week. They are some she took from my Uncle Ben' desk after he died a few years ago. Some are also from some that Dainne Truaring sent me a while back. The first on is of Gram and Pop Roush and their four children when my Dad was home on leave in 1941. From left to right Aunt Max, Uncle Ben, Gram Roush, Pop Roush, Dad and Aunt Betty. The picture was take at a park not far from their home on Florida Avenue in Kenmore Ohio. Dad and Ben were about the same difference in age as my brother Brad and I are, six plus years.
This is a family photo of my aunts and uncle when they all lived in Florida, this was taken several years after my Dad had died. From left to right are Aunt Max, Uncle Ben and Aunt Betty.
The next picture is of Ben and Sarah's family taken after Ben died.
This is a picture of my cousins and their mother Sarah. From left to right are Nancy, Sarah, Dianne behind Sarah, Sue and Ben.
This next photo is of my cousin Susan Roush Fletcher and her family.
This next photo is of my cousin Dianne Roush Trauring and her family.
This last photo is the last photo that Ben sent me of his whole family before he died. The photo was for their 2002 Christmas newsletter.
I pruned the branches of out Rose of Sharron that went over the fence and into my neighbor's yard. She does not like the mess that it causes when the spent flowers fall off into her yard, so I went ahead and cut off everything that went over the property line.
After I finished I went to the rose garden and did my winter pruning of my roses. I usually do a winter and then a spring pruning of the roses so that in case we get a bad frost and it damages the roses there is still some more to prune. Pruning again in the spring also give me the opportunity to shape the rose plants a little better once I see the direction the new buds are taking and also prune off the winter kill.
After I did that I went into the house and gathered up the large garbage can that I had been putting to scraps left over from the bathroom remodel and put it into the garbage can to take up front for pick up on Tuesday. I separated out the wood and put it into a separate pile outside so that I could give it away for firewood.
By the time I got everything done it was after 1400 and I was getting hungry so I went inside, cleaned up and made myself some lunch. I heated up the last of the mashed potatoes and Swiss steak that I have had for four meals already.
Then I went through the mail that had come while I was at my meeting this morning. We got one of our bank statements so after putting my dishes into the dishwasher I went into my office and balanced my checking and savings account for the bank statement that came in the mail today.
The rest of the day I did not get much of anything else done so I though that this might be a good time to include a few photos that I have been wanting to publish.
The first on is of a rose that I cut from one of my roses last week in a Waterford crystal vase.
The second one is of our Christmas cactus that started blooming earlier this week...just a wee bit early but beautiful none the less.
Then next several are pictures that my cousin Sue Fletcher sent me last week. They are some she took from my Uncle Ben' desk after he died a few years ago. Some are also from some that Dainne Truaring sent me a while back. The first on is of Gram and Pop Roush and their four children when my Dad was home on leave in 1941. From left to right Aunt Max, Uncle Ben, Gram Roush, Pop Roush, Dad and Aunt Betty. The picture was take at a park not far from their home on Florida Avenue in Kenmore Ohio. Dad and Ben were about the same difference in age as my brother Brad and I are, six plus years.
This is a family photo of my aunts and uncle when they all lived in Florida, this was taken several years after my Dad had died. From left to right are Aunt Max, Uncle Ben and Aunt Betty.
The next picture is of Ben and Sarah's family taken after Ben died.
This is a picture of my cousins and their mother Sarah. From left to right are Nancy, Sarah, Dianne behind Sarah, Sue and Ben.
This next photo is of my cousin Susan Roush Fletcher and her family.
This next photo is of my cousin Dianne Roush Trauring and her family.
This last photo is the last photo that Ben sent me of his whole family before he died. The photo was for their 2002 Christmas newsletter.
Friday, December 05, 2008
A Pizza Casserole
Here is a different twist to pizza, it is loaded with cheeses, meats and tomatoes and is probably not the healthiest meal you will ever eat and is not recommended for any diet but it makes a hearty pasta dish for a great winter meal and will be easy to eat too much.
Ingredients:
* 3 cups uncooked spiral pasta
* 2 pounds ground beef
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 2 cans (8 ounces each) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
* 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
* 1 jar (14 ounces) pizza sauce
* 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
* 1/2 teaspoon sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
* 1 package (3-1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the mushrooms, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, tomato paste, sugar and seasonings. Drain pasta; stir into meat sauce.
Divide half of the mixture between two greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dishes; sprinkle each with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top each with pepperoni and Parmesan cheese.
Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until heated through. Yield: 2 casseroles (8 servings each).
Nutrition Facts:
One serving:(1 each)
Calories: 296
Fat: 14 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Cholesterol: 51 mg
Sodium: 616 mg
Carbohydrate: 19 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 23 g
Ingredients:
* 3 cups uncooked spiral pasta
* 2 pounds ground beef
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 2 cans (8 ounces each) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
* 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
* 1 jar (14 ounces) pizza sauce
* 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
* 1/2 teaspoon sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
* 1 package (3-1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the mushrooms, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, tomato paste, sugar and seasonings. Drain pasta; stir into meat sauce.
Divide half of the mixture between two greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dishes; sprinkle each with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top each with pepperoni and Parmesan cheese.
Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until heated through. Yield: 2 casseroles (8 servings each).
Nutrition Facts:
One serving:(1 each)
Calories: 296
Fat: 14 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Cholesterol: 51 mg
Sodium: 616 mg
Carbohydrate: 19 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 23 g
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Tub/Shower Surround
This morning after I ate breakfast I changed my clothes and went to meet with the guys at 0930. While I was gone the fellow came to install the tub/shower surround and by the time I got back home he had finished two sides and was working on the third. Kathleen had moved her SUV out of the driveway and so when I got home I parked on the front lawn since his van was in the driveway.
The mail had come while I was gone and Kathleen had put it on the kitchen table, so after I changed my clothes and sat down at the kitchen table and went through the mail. There really was not much there other than a few catalogs. This week I have really gotten the catalogs; Monday I got twelve, Tuesday another six, yesterday four and today only two. I do not think that there are many more catalogs to be had so I think that I have just about run the course of catalogs.
Since Kathleen's SUV was not in the driveway, I got out my blower and blew off the driveway up to where the installer was parked. Then when he left I did the front sidewalk and the rest of the driveway to the street. Then I moved my Jeep back onto the driveway and into the garage.
Here is a picture of what the surround looks like. There is some masking tape on a couple of the pieces so that they will stay in place until the cement dries. He said I should probably leave it on for another day or two and I said that would not be a problem since the shower and bath water is not hooked up yet.
I reheated the Swiss steak left-over from last night and put it on half of a slice of dark rye and put some cheddar slices on the other half and then toasted them in the toaster oven. Kathleen had left a part of a banana on the counter so I finished that for the rest of my lunch.
Then I went outside and cut some long stemmed roses and brought them into the house. I trimmed off the thorns and put them in a crystal vase so that we could enjoy them.
I had kind of though that Kathleen might go to the store and get the tiles for the wall so that Stan could start doing that tomorrow, but she did not so I guess that it will either have to wait until Friday or next Monday. Stan did not come over today since the tub/shower surround installer was here and it would have been hard for him to have gotten anything done.
Well, around 1815 I called Kathleen on the intercom to see if she was going to do anything for dinner and when she had not come downstairs by 1845 I decided that I would make something for myself. I was kind of in the mood for some melted cheese sandwiches so I made myself a couple on dark rye. So after I put my dishes away I came into my office to write my blog.
Kathleen finally came downstairs a little after 1900 and fixed herself something to eat. Well, I think that I have run out of things to say, so I will just publish this and call it good for tonight!
The mail had come while I was gone and Kathleen had put it on the kitchen table, so after I changed my clothes and sat down at the kitchen table and went through the mail. There really was not much there other than a few catalogs. This week I have really gotten the catalogs; Monday I got twelve, Tuesday another six, yesterday four and today only two. I do not think that there are many more catalogs to be had so I think that I have just about run the course of catalogs.
Since Kathleen's SUV was not in the driveway, I got out my blower and blew off the driveway up to where the installer was parked. Then when he left I did the front sidewalk and the rest of the driveway to the street. Then I moved my Jeep back onto the driveway and into the garage.
Here is a picture of what the surround looks like. There is some masking tape on a couple of the pieces so that they will stay in place until the cement dries. He said I should probably leave it on for another day or two and I said that would not be a problem since the shower and bath water is not hooked up yet.
I reheated the Swiss steak left-over from last night and put it on half of a slice of dark rye and put some cheddar slices on the other half and then toasted them in the toaster oven. Kathleen had left a part of a banana on the counter so I finished that for the rest of my lunch.
Then I went outside and cut some long stemmed roses and brought them into the house. I trimmed off the thorns and put them in a crystal vase so that we could enjoy them.
I had kind of though that Kathleen might go to the store and get the tiles for the wall so that Stan could start doing that tomorrow, but she did not so I guess that it will either have to wait until Friday or next Monday. Stan did not come over today since the tub/shower surround installer was here and it would have been hard for him to have gotten anything done.
Well, around 1815 I called Kathleen on the intercom to see if she was going to do anything for dinner and when she had not come downstairs by 1845 I decided that I would make something for myself. I was kind of in the mood for some melted cheese sandwiches so I made myself a couple on dark rye. So after I put my dishes away I came into my office to write my blog.
Kathleen finally came downstairs a little after 1900 and fixed herself something to eat. Well, I think that I have run out of things to say, so I will just publish this and call it good for tonight!
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
I am Tired Tonight!
This morning I felt much better than yesterday when I got up, I almost felt rested. Stan got here late today as he had to take care of some business and pick up a door for the bathroom.
One of my friends called and said that the group is getting together tomorrow at 0930, so I went out to see if the Jeep had enough battery life to start...it did not so I put it on the charger and charged it. Stan pulled up just as I was charging the Jeep so I helped him unload his truck and then went back into the house.
I did not get much done today as I was still trying to recover from Monday when I overdid. Stan got the bathroom door installed, the molding is not up yet but now we have a door on the bathroom even though there is nothing in the bathroom that works yet.
I polished off the pizza from last night for lunch and Kathleen took off to meet the lady from church at 1330. She still is gone and it is a little after 1900. She called a little while ago and asked me to reheat the Swiss stake and mashed potatoes from Monday night and that she was on her way home.
I asked her if she had picked up an item that she said she needed and she had not so she said that she would be a little longer.
I did reheat everything but it will have to be reheated when she gets home as it will have cooled off enough whenever she gets home. Well since I did not do much besides eat, read the paper and mail and charge the battery in my Jeep.
Well, not a lot of news on this end, Natalie turned eight today our oldest grandchild. I remember the day she was born, we all were gathered at the hospital waiting for her to make her appearance and then she came everyone was relieved but probably no one more so than Alyssa.
One of my friends called and said that the group is getting together tomorrow at 0930, so I went out to see if the Jeep had enough battery life to start...it did not so I put it on the charger and charged it. Stan pulled up just as I was charging the Jeep so I helped him unload his truck and then went back into the house.
I did not get much done today as I was still trying to recover from Monday when I overdid. Stan got the bathroom door installed, the molding is not up yet but now we have a door on the bathroom even though there is nothing in the bathroom that works yet.
I polished off the pizza from last night for lunch and Kathleen took off to meet the lady from church at 1330. She still is gone and it is a little after 1900. She called a little while ago and asked me to reheat the Swiss stake and mashed potatoes from Monday night and that she was on her way home.
I asked her if she had picked up an item that she said she needed and she had not so she said that she would be a little longer.
I did reheat everything but it will have to be reheated when she gets home as it will have cooled off enough whenever she gets home. Well since I did not do much besides eat, read the paper and mail and charge the battery in my Jeep.
Well, not a lot of news on this end, Natalie turned eight today our oldest grandchild. I remember the day she was born, we all were gathered at the hospital waiting for her to make her appearance and then she came everyone was relieved but probably no one more so than Alyssa.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
The Day After
Well for as good as I felt yesterday morning I felt about as bad today. I was so tired that I did not get much of anything done today. As I look back the only thing that I can remember doing was load the dishwasher up and turning it on and then unloading it when it was done. The rest of the day I kind of just wandered around or sat trying to stay awake.
Stan finished tiling the bathroom this morning, here is a picture of what it looks like now. Tomorrow I think that he is going to put a new door on the bathroom and as soon as Kathleen picks out the tile for the wall he can start on that.
Tonight Toni and Chucky brought over a couple pizzas and Tami and the Girls came over as well to share the pizza and cheese cake. Both Becca and Alexis were climbing up on my lap and wishing me a happy birthday and gave me the birthday cards that they made for me.
We watched the Blazers play the Knicks and everyone had a good time visiting. Andrea had said earlier that she and the boys might want to come along as well, but then told Toni that she could not make it.
After we finished the pizza the girls climbed up on my lap again and this time they brought books for me to read to them. I seem to have become the chief grandchild book reader as I seem to be chosen to read to all the grandchildren when they are around. Luckily the books all have large print and easy words!
Well, it is almost 2100 and I am still pretty tired so I think that I will close this with a picture of the birds feeding at our kitchen window.
Stan finished tiling the bathroom this morning, here is a picture of what it looks like now. Tomorrow I think that he is going to put a new door on the bathroom and as soon as Kathleen picks out the tile for the wall he can start on that.
Tonight Toni and Chucky brought over a couple pizzas and Tami and the Girls came over as well to share the pizza and cheese cake. Both Becca and Alexis were climbing up on my lap and wishing me a happy birthday and gave me the birthday cards that they made for me.
We watched the Blazers play the Knicks and everyone had a good time visiting. Andrea had said earlier that she and the boys might want to come along as well, but then told Toni that she could not make it.
After we finished the pizza the girls climbed up on my lap again and this time they brought books for me to read to them. I seem to have become the chief grandchild book reader as I seem to be chosen to read to all the grandchildren when they are around. Luckily the books all have large print and easy words!
Well, it is almost 2100 and I am still pretty tired so I think that I will close this with a picture of the birds feeding at our kitchen window.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Sixteen Tons and What do you Get, Another Day Older and Deeper in Debt
Well, I am not sure about the sixteen tons, but another day older and deeper in debt I know something about.
This morning after eating and doing dishes I gathered up the towels and did a load of towels. and then after they finished washing I picked up the kitchen and mud room rugs, shuck them out and then washed them
While they were washing I swept and mopped the floors; while they were drying I went outside and raked the yard and then put Scott's winter fertilizer on the lawn. When I finished I was two inches taller than when I started as I had picked up a couple inches of mud on my shoes.
When I got back in the house I folded the towels and put them away and also put the rugs into the dryer. By this time Stan had gotten here and was starting to put the tile around the border of the bathroom.
Then Aaron, Tami and Alexis came over to bring us our Christmas wreath and to wish me a Happy Birthday. All toll all my children and a couple grandchildren either called or visited. Anyway here is a picture of of the wreath
and Alexis and me:
After they left I worked on the paperwork for my Social Security Disability; I had been working on it off and on for over a week and I needed to finish it up so that they can start processing it. By the time I finished my hands hurt so bad that I could hardly move them.
Stan did not quite finish the border so I guess that will get done tomorrow. Here is a picture of what the floor looks like now.
Kathleen made me some Angel Food cupcakes for my birthday cake and tonight for dinner she fixed some Swiss steak with mashed potatoes and peas. We also had our small group tonight so we spent a couple hours there and now I am tired. Several of the children wanted to do something with us tonight, but we felt that we should go to the small group.
Tomorrow night I think that Toni and Chucky are going to do something with us and Andrea and John want to do something some other night and Alyssa and Dan also wanted to do something.
We may just do and all December birthday bash some night as Andrea, Aaron and John all have birthdays this month as well so we thought that just doing one thing for all the adults would be easier on everyone. Of course we will still do something special for each of the grandchildren.
Well it is after 2200 and I need my "beauty" sleep, so good night.
This morning after eating and doing dishes I gathered up the towels and did a load of towels. and then after they finished washing I picked up the kitchen and mud room rugs, shuck them out and then washed them
While they were washing I swept and mopped the floors; while they were drying I went outside and raked the yard and then put Scott's winter fertilizer on the lawn. When I finished I was two inches taller than when I started as I had picked up a couple inches of mud on my shoes.
When I got back in the house I folded the towels and put them away and also put the rugs into the dryer. By this time Stan had gotten here and was starting to put the tile around the border of the bathroom.
Then Aaron, Tami and Alexis came over to bring us our Christmas wreath and to wish me a Happy Birthday. All toll all my children and a couple grandchildren either called or visited. Anyway here is a picture of of the wreath
and Alexis and me:
After they left I worked on the paperwork for my Social Security Disability; I had been working on it off and on for over a week and I needed to finish it up so that they can start processing it. By the time I finished my hands hurt so bad that I could hardly move them.
Stan did not quite finish the border so I guess that will get done tomorrow. Here is a picture of what the floor looks like now.
Kathleen made me some Angel Food cupcakes for my birthday cake and tonight for dinner she fixed some Swiss steak with mashed potatoes and peas. We also had our small group tonight so we spent a couple hours there and now I am tired. Several of the children wanted to do something with us tonight, but we felt that we should go to the small group.
Tomorrow night I think that Toni and Chucky are going to do something with us and Andrea and John want to do something some other night and Alyssa and Dan also wanted to do something.
We may just do and all December birthday bash some night as Andrea, Aaron and John all have birthdays this month as well so we thought that just doing one thing for all the adults would be easier on everyone. Of course we will still do something special for each of the grandchildren.
Well it is after 2200 and I need my "beauty" sleep, so good night.
Friday, November 28, 2008
"Black Friday" The day after Thanksgiving!
I thought when I saw this that it was kind of true, maybe not for blogs as much as for facebook now, but not as many people are reading this now that everyone is doing facebook.
I must have been more worn out from Thanksgiving than I realized as I slept about eleven hours last night. It was almost 0800 when I finally got up...so much for early morning sales!! Actually I had not intention going any place early this morning, it was bad enough doing it when the children were little looking for a good deal on their presents.
Now it is worth it for us to avoid the crowds and pay a little more some other time. We did go out around 1400 as I needed to put three checks into the credit union and Kathleen wanted to check out Best Buy for their small laptop computers.
The credit union was just about empty and we were in and back out in short order. Best Buy on the other hand was still packed. One of the items that Kathleen wanted to look at was sold out but just getting around the store was a major task.
Both Kathleen and I were tired by the time we finished, I think we were in the store for a couple hours and the sales force were all running around trying to be helpful.
This morning I managed to wash and put away all the dishes that we brought to Andrea and John's yesterday. I also took some things down to the basement that had been sitting by the basement door for a while.
Well, it is getting to be time for dinner, so I think that I will remind Kathleen and see what kind of left-overs she is planning for tonight. Not much news today as it has been kind of a lazy day.
I must have been more worn out from Thanksgiving than I realized as I slept about eleven hours last night. It was almost 0800 when I finally got up...so much for early morning sales!! Actually I had not intention going any place early this morning, it was bad enough doing it when the children were little looking for a good deal on their presents.
Now it is worth it for us to avoid the crowds and pay a little more some other time. We did go out around 1400 as I needed to put three checks into the credit union and Kathleen wanted to check out Best Buy for their small laptop computers.
The credit union was just about empty and we were in and back out in short order. Best Buy on the other hand was still packed. One of the items that Kathleen wanted to look at was sold out but just getting around the store was a major task.
Both Kathleen and I were tired by the time we finished, I think we were in the store for a couple hours and the sales force were all running around trying to be helpful.
This morning I managed to wash and put away all the dishes that we brought to Andrea and John's yesterday. I also took some things down to the basement that had been sitting by the basement door for a while.
Well, it is getting to be time for dinner, so I think that I will remind Kathleen and see what kind of left-overs she is planning for tonight. Not much news today as it has been kind of a lazy day.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Started Tiling
This morning was rather clear out when the sun finally made it up but it was also cool feeling although the temperature was in the mid fifties it still felt like winter. This morning when Stan got her he and Kathleen discussed how she wanted the time laid out and what kind of border she wanted. This is how the tiles looked last night when Stan left:
So by the time Stan got started it was just about noon which was okay since once he finished with the main section there was nothing else for him to do until it had a chance to set a little. As it is he is coming back Friday morning to clean out in between the tiles and do a little clean-up.
Stan finished tiling around 1400 and when he finished I helped him load his equipment into his pickup and he got out of here before dark.
Tonight Kathleen heated up some soup for dinner; I had chicken gumbo and she had lentil soup. After eating I loaded up the dishwasher and asked Kathleen to turn it on when she finished eating and then turn it on.
Kathleen just took off for a grocery shopping trip, I would have gone with her earlier in the day but I am just too tired to go tonight as I usually am this time of night. Anyway here is a picture of what the tile looks like after Stan left:
So by the time Stan got started it was just about noon which was okay since once he finished with the main section there was nothing else for him to do until it had a chance to set a little. As it is he is coming back Friday morning to clean out in between the tiles and do a little clean-up.
Stan finished tiling around 1400 and when he finished I helped him load his equipment into his pickup and he got out of here before dark.
Tonight Kathleen heated up some soup for dinner; I had chicken gumbo and she had lentil soup. After eating I loaded up the dishwasher and asked Kathleen to turn it on when she finished eating and then turn it on.
Kathleen just took off for a grocery shopping trip, I would have gone with her earlier in the day but I am just too tired to go tonight as I usually am this time of night. Anyway here is a picture of what the tile looks like after Stan left:
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
And the Rain Begins Once Again!
This morning was very overcast when day brake came and later on this morning it started drizzling. It never did rain, but it drizzled off and on most of the day. I was out earlier this morning and it had not yet started drizzling but when I went out to bring the yard debris container it was just starting.
Stan arrived a little later than he normally does as he had stopped off at his parents place before coming over. This morning he made the template for the vanity top and we discovered that the sink that we bought was going to be too large so Kathleen took off to return it and ordered a smaller one. Here is the template for the vanity top:
Stan also had to leave to return the hearing aids that he had on loan. While they were gone I reheated up some of the pea soup and had that for lunch. Stan returned in a little over an hour and put the cement board flooring in place; once it was cut out and laid out, he took it up and then mixed up the glue and the put the boards back down. Here is a picture of the cement boards before they were screwed down:
After they were all in place he screwed them all down to make sure that they did not move and that they were well tied down. After the glue dried a little we started laying out the tile to see where everything would go.
We are going to have a boarder all around the room and we wanted to make sure that everything would look symmetrical and fit before we started putting the tiles down permanently.
When Kathleen came home she wanted to see how a couple other options would looks so we rearranged the tiles again so that she could evaluate the different looks. By this time it was getting time for Stan to leave so he told her to think about it tonight and whatever she decides he will start the tiling tomorrow.
Kathleen had stopped at the German Deli on her way home and picked up so sausage and German potato salad for dinner tonight. Well that is about it for today, Kathleen is watching Becca and Alexis tonight while Tami is in her class so we need to eat pretty soon.
Stan arrived a little later than he normally does as he had stopped off at his parents place before coming over. This morning he made the template for the vanity top and we discovered that the sink that we bought was going to be too large so Kathleen took off to return it and ordered a smaller one. Here is the template for the vanity top:
Stan also had to leave to return the hearing aids that he had on loan. While they were gone I reheated up some of the pea soup and had that for lunch. Stan returned in a little over an hour and put the cement board flooring in place; once it was cut out and laid out, he took it up and then mixed up the glue and the put the boards back down. Here is a picture of the cement boards before they were screwed down:
After they were all in place he screwed them all down to make sure that they did not move and that they were well tied down. After the glue dried a little we started laying out the tile to see where everything would go.
We are going to have a boarder all around the room and we wanted to make sure that everything would look symmetrical and fit before we started putting the tiles down permanently.
When Kathleen came home she wanted to see how a couple other options would looks so we rearranged the tiles again so that she could evaluate the different looks. By this time it was getting time for Stan to leave so he told her to think about it tonight and whatever she decides he will start the tiling tomorrow.
Kathleen had stopped at the German Deli on her way home and picked up so sausage and German potato salad for dinner tonight. Well that is about it for today, Kathleen is watching Becca and Alexis tonight while Tami is in her class so we need to eat pretty soon.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Another and Perhaps last of the Nice Days!
I got a good night sleep last night and when I got up I felt pretty good. So after breakfast I loaded up the dishwasher, started it up, washed the crock pot liner out so that I could put it away, then I picked up the rugs in the kitchen, shook them our, swept the floor and gave it a quick mopping.
Once I had the kitchen work done I went outside, mowed the front lawn, raked the back yard and mowed it as well. As I was taking the garbage can, recycling and yard debris container up front Stan drove up. He was talking on his cell phone so I went into the house and changed out of my flannel shirt and long pants and put on my shorts.
Then I helped Stan unload his truck. Today we worked on making a cover for the whole house fan so that the cold air from the attic would not keep coming down through the fall louvers.
While Stan was working on that I cleaned up the bathroom floor again and hung the door on the last upper cabinet. Stan had to pick up the tile and the cement board for the bathroom floor and also exchanged a box of almond outlets for white ones for me.
While he was gone I emptied the dishwasher and put everything away; then I made myself something to eat for lunch.
When he got back I changed out the odd outlet with the new one; I still need to get a dual cover for the switch and outlet but that can wait until after we put the tile up as we will just have to take it down anyway. After I finished putting in the new outlet Stan cut the cement boards and put them on the floor.
Now tomorrow Stan will probably start putting the tile down at least that is the plan tonight.
Well, tonight we have our small group so I am doing this early so that I can get it done.
Once I had the kitchen work done I went outside, mowed the front lawn, raked the back yard and mowed it as well. As I was taking the garbage can, recycling and yard debris container up front Stan drove up. He was talking on his cell phone so I went into the house and changed out of my flannel shirt and long pants and put on my shorts.
Then I helped Stan unload his truck. Today we worked on making a cover for the whole house fan so that the cold air from the attic would not keep coming down through the fall louvers.
While Stan was working on that I cleaned up the bathroom floor again and hung the door on the last upper cabinet. Stan had to pick up the tile and the cement board for the bathroom floor and also exchanged a box of almond outlets for white ones for me.
While he was gone I emptied the dishwasher and put everything away; then I made myself something to eat for lunch.
When he got back I changed out the odd outlet with the new one; I still need to get a dual cover for the switch and outlet but that can wait until after we put the tile up as we will just have to take it down anyway. After I finished putting in the new outlet Stan cut the cement boards and put them on the floor.
Now tomorrow Stan will probably start putting the tile down at least that is the plan tonight.
Well, tonight we have our small group so I am doing this early so that I can get it done.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Are we There Yet?
I just thought that this cartoon was somewhat appropriate because I do not think of myself as old as I look like in the mirror. Anyway, this has been a rather quite weekend; yesterday both Kathleen and I were so tired that we were not much good for anything.
I tried taking a nap yesterday and the phone kept ringing so I finally got up and sat down in my chair and for some reason I was able to fall asleep in the chair but not in bed...go figure!
Friday night I started making some pea and ham soup, I knew that I had started too late for Friday night but it was kind of a soup kind of night. Along with the peas I diced up some potatoes, an onion, a couple stalks of celery and four carrots fresh from the garden. Then I added a ham shank and turned the crock pot on for eight hours.
Since eight hours was in the middle of the night, Kathleen made a hot macaroni and tuna casserole; she put cheddar cheese on top of hers but I added feta cheese to mine for give it a more mature taste. I had the rest for Saturday and Sunday lunches.
So after letting the pea soup simmer for about twenty-four hours we had it for dinner last night. The ham just fell off the bones and just hit the spot last night. It was pretty overcast all day and so soup was a nice thing to have for dinner.
I slept really well last night and did not get up until almost 0700, which surprised me as I am usually up around 0530 or 0600. Kathleen got up as well, but she was not really awake so when it got time to go she could not get going enough to get dressed so I went by myself again. After I got back home I fixed myself some lunch and then read the paper and comics.
Since I knew that I needed to get the new bathroom window painted I changed into my painting shorts and tee shirt and put over the calf socks on over my compression socks and went out and put a coat of primer on the exposed new wood parts. There was actually more exposed wood than I had remembered so it took a little longer than I expected.
After I cleaned the brush and myself I changed out an electric outlet as it was the wrong color. Since I did not have the correct color I just put in an old one until I get to the store and can replace it with one that will match the rest of the bathroom style.
Then I took out the last piece of plywood that was on top of the new bathtub and then swept out the dirt from the tub so that it will be ready for the folks that are going to install the tub/shower surround for us tomorrow morning.
Since I was getting pretty tired I decided that I would do my weekend blog before I got too tired to do it. Well, this is kind of how I feel most of the time:
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Vanity Cabinets are out of the Living Room and Installed in the Bathroom
That is what the new bathroom light looks like without it being on early this morning. I think that it shows it much better than lasts nights photo.
The first thing we did when Stan got her today was to finish installing the switches and after checking out the wiring we reinstalled the new dimmer switches that we bought. I did not want to install the new dimmers until we checked the circuits with a regular switch first.
The new dimmer switches are digital and are rather expensive but they are really nice. They turn the light on slowly and it comes back at the level that it was shut off at. It also turns the lights off by dimming until it is completely off, which is really nice on the eyes and better for the bulbs.
After we finished that Stan installed the vanity cabinets; there are four lower ones and two upper ones. We did not install the one that goes over the toilet but the other one we put up, I just have not installed the door back on the one upper cabinet.
So that is about it for the bathroom remodel for this week. Here are a couple pictures of the cabinets.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Starting to Put the Bathroom back Together
For some reason the last couple days I have been waking up early, really early. I try to get back to sleep but by 0430 I decided that more sleep is just not in the cards for me and get up.
It was raining when I got up and continued to do so most of the day. It did let up a little about the time that Stan got here but then it started raining again. It really poured for a while, but the ground is still absorbent enough that it sunk in pretty quickly.
Kathleen took off to pick out the tile and was gone until a little after 1800. She had gone to several places and brought home a few samples. As it turned out none of the samples that she brought home were what she wanted after she looked at them in the bathroom. They were all too light and she wanted something a little darker.
I had put insulation around the new window and when Stan got here he caulked around it so that it will be ready for the shower/tub surround Monday. After he finished that we started hooking up the electrical. We got most of the switches, outlets and lights put in. The only light that we did not put in was the one for over the mirror and we did not do that one because we wanted to wait until the vanity, sink and mirror were all in place.
Toni and Chucky called and wanted to bring over some dinner, Kathleen got home just a few minutes before Toni and Chucky got here. They also brought a movie to watch, I cannot remember what it was but neither Kathleen nor I cared for it very much.
Well that is about all for tonight. Here is a picture of the main light fixture; the one in the shower is just a can light with a water tight cover and not much to look at. The picture does not look all that great, maybe I will have to take one tomorrow with out the light on.
It was raining when I got up and continued to do so most of the day. It did let up a little about the time that Stan got here but then it started raining again. It really poured for a while, but the ground is still absorbent enough that it sunk in pretty quickly.
Kathleen took off to pick out the tile and was gone until a little after 1800. She had gone to several places and brought home a few samples. As it turned out none of the samples that she brought home were what she wanted after she looked at them in the bathroom. They were all too light and she wanted something a little darker.
I had put insulation around the new window and when Stan got here he caulked around it so that it will be ready for the shower/tub surround Monday. After he finished that we started hooking up the electrical. We got most of the switches, outlets and lights put in. The only light that we did not put in was the one for over the mirror and we did not do that one because we wanted to wait until the vanity, sink and mirror were all in place.
Toni and Chucky called and wanted to bring over some dinner, Kathleen got home just a few minutes before Toni and Chucky got here. They also brought a movie to watch, I cannot remember what it was but neither Kathleen nor I cared for it very much.
Well that is about all for tonight. Here is a picture of the main light fixture; the one in the shower is just a can light with a water tight cover and not much to look at. The picture does not look all that great, maybe I will have to take one tomorrow with out the light on.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Started Painting the Bathroom
This morning was a little overcast but it was also warmer due to the cloud cover so I guess that we have to take the good with the bad. I also had gotten up around 0430 kind of unintentionally as I had thought that the clock read 0530 so I was not as rested as I would have liked to have been.
I finished eating breakfast around 0530, loaded up the dishwasher and started it up. then I read the newspaper and recycled it. The box that we put the recycling in was getting pretty full so I took it outside and also the garbage from the kitchen.
Kathleen made it downstairs as she wanted to start painting the bathroom before Stan got here and since she did not like the color that she picked up last night she took off for Home Depot to get some more tint put in it.
Kathleen wanted me to pick up all the miscellaneous things lying around on the bathroom floor, so after eating I went and did that. Then I emptied the dishwasher and put everything away.
After I had everything picked up I went outside and raked the leaves from the back lawn. The walnut trees have pretty much dropped all their leaves so I did not have to do the front lawn today.
y the time I finished the upper level enough leaves had fallen again from the cherry trees that I could have raked them again, but since it is suppose to start raining tomorrow I thought that I would wait until the rain and wind knocked the rest of them down.
By the time I put my tools away and cleaned up the mail had gotten here so I went out and brought it in and opened it up. Mostly junk mail so I started filling up the recycling box again.
Kathleen came back and started painting and just after I changed into my painting shorts and shirt Stan pulled up with our cabinets that he had picked up this morning.
While he was here we called the place where we are having our vanity top made and also the place that is making the shower/tub surround. In fact they just called back from the tub surround place and said that they would like to install it next Monday, so that will be really nice.
So after I helped Stan unload the cabinets, which we are storing in the living room, he took off and I grabbed a roller and started painting. Kathleen did the cutting in or the ceiling/walls and also the corners that the rollers did not get.
Here are a couple pictures, unfortunately the color did not come out very true; it is more of a medium green and the pictures do not look that way, it must be poor lighting and the paint still being a little wet.
We finished up around 1300 and Kathleen left after she changed her clothes for the lady from church that she meets with on Wednesday. While she was gone I stuffed insulation around the window so that Stan could finish it off tomorrow.
I am hoping that tomorrow we will also be able to start installing the vanity cabinets on the wall. There are a couple other things that Kathleen wants him to work on as well so I am not sure if we will get started with them or not.
I was taking some building material outside when I saw a couple police cars at the corner of Shaver and 109th, and then I saw fire truck and an ambulance go down the street. I started to walk to the corner, but I thought that I would let the fire and police folks take care of their business.
They were still there when I went out again so this time I walked down and saw what had happened. When I first looked down there I saw one car, but now I could see another so my guess was that some one did not stop and the other car probably was going a tad bit fast and could not stop.
Kathleen is still not home yet, but I thought that I would do my blogging now as I doubt that there will be anything else exciting going on tonight.
I finished eating breakfast around 0530, loaded up the dishwasher and started it up. then I read the newspaper and recycled it. The box that we put the recycling in was getting pretty full so I took it outside and also the garbage from the kitchen.
Kathleen made it downstairs as she wanted to start painting the bathroom before Stan got here and since she did not like the color that she picked up last night she took off for Home Depot to get some more tint put in it.
Kathleen wanted me to pick up all the miscellaneous things lying around on the bathroom floor, so after eating I went and did that. Then I emptied the dishwasher and put everything away.
After I had everything picked up I went outside and raked the leaves from the back lawn. The walnut trees have pretty much dropped all their leaves so I did not have to do the front lawn today.
y the time I finished the upper level enough leaves had fallen again from the cherry trees that I could have raked them again, but since it is suppose to start raining tomorrow I thought that I would wait until the rain and wind knocked the rest of them down.
By the time I put my tools away and cleaned up the mail had gotten here so I went out and brought it in and opened it up. Mostly junk mail so I started filling up the recycling box again.
Kathleen came back and started painting and just after I changed into my painting shorts and shirt Stan pulled up with our cabinets that he had picked up this morning.
While he was here we called the place where we are having our vanity top made and also the place that is making the shower/tub surround. In fact they just called back from the tub surround place and said that they would like to install it next Monday, so that will be really nice.
So after I helped Stan unload the cabinets, which we are storing in the living room, he took off and I grabbed a roller and started painting. Kathleen did the cutting in or the ceiling/walls and also the corners that the rollers did not get.
Here are a couple pictures, unfortunately the color did not come out very true; it is more of a medium green and the pictures do not look that way, it must be poor lighting and the paint still being a little wet.
We finished up around 1300 and Kathleen left after she changed her clothes for the lady from church that she meets with on Wednesday. While she was gone I stuffed insulation around the window so that Stan could finish it off tomorrow.
I am hoping that tomorrow we will also be able to start installing the vanity cabinets on the wall. There are a couple other things that Kathleen wants him to work on as well so I am not sure if we will get started with them or not.
I was taking some building material outside when I saw a couple police cars at the corner of Shaver and 109th, and then I saw fire truck and an ambulance go down the street. I started to walk to the corner, but I thought that I would let the fire and police folks take care of their business.
They were still there when I went out again so this time I walked down and saw what had happened. When I first looked down there I saw one car, but now I could see another so my guess was that some one did not stop and the other car probably was going a tad bit fast and could not stop.
Kathleen is still not home yet, but I thought that I would do my blogging now as I doubt that there will be anything else exciting going on tonight.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Looks Like Fall/Winter is Getting Closer
This morning we had our heat vent put in in the downstairs bathroom, Stan's son, Kyle, works for an HAC company and came over about 0830 and put it in for us. We are putting it under the vanity cabinet so that it will not take up any floor or wall space so we needed to do it before we installed the cabinets. Here is a picture of the duct in the floor:
Kyle had do do some custom sheet metal work to get everything to come out okay, but he has done this for fourteen or so years so he knows all the tricks.
We also took out all the old ducting for this duct so he replaced it with new flexible ducting which is smaller and softer so that when I hit my head on it is does not hurt as much. Here are a couple shots from the basement that shows the duct work and some of the custom sheet metal work that Kyle did:
Kathleen had to go have some blood drawn so she left and since she had a doctor's appointment for a little after 1100 she just ran some errands after she had the blood draw and before her appointment.
While Kathleen was gone and after Kyle left I went outside and chipped the branches that I had cut off the other day. I finished the pathway in the rose garden and then went over a few areas that were getting a little thin. I did not realize it but I was out there for over two hours...my how time flies when one is having fun!
She was going to picked up my pain drugs and also the paint for the bathroom. While she was out Andrea called and I had her call Kathleen's cell phone so that she could talk to Kathleen and make whatever arrangements that they needed to make. She got home around around 1500 and quickly had something to eat as she had a fasting blood draw and had not eaten since last night.
Andrea and the boys got here around 1545 and Kathleen trimmed Brandon's bangs so that he could see. His bangs were down around his nose and he was always trying to see through his hair.
They all left a little after 1600 for Christian's nurses appointment. They are still gone, and I think Kathleen was going to pick up something to eat for tonight while they were out. We really need to go grocery shopping, but we only seem to do that about every six weeks or so, the rest of the time we just pick up odds and ends that we need.
Well, that is about all for tonight, I feel more tired than I think that I should, but that happens a lot to me these days.
Kyle had do do some custom sheet metal work to get everything to come out okay, but he has done this for fourteen or so years so he knows all the tricks.
We also took out all the old ducting for this duct so he replaced it with new flexible ducting which is smaller and softer so that when I hit my head on it is does not hurt as much. Here are a couple shots from the basement that shows the duct work and some of the custom sheet metal work that Kyle did:
Kathleen had to go have some blood drawn so she left and since she had a doctor's appointment for a little after 1100 she just ran some errands after she had the blood draw and before her appointment.
While Kathleen was gone and after Kyle left I went outside and chipped the branches that I had cut off the other day. I finished the pathway in the rose garden and then went over a few areas that were getting a little thin. I did not realize it but I was out there for over two hours...my how time flies when one is having fun!
She was going to picked up my pain drugs and also the paint for the bathroom. While she was out Andrea called and I had her call Kathleen's cell phone so that she could talk to Kathleen and make whatever arrangements that they needed to make. She got home around around 1500 and quickly had something to eat as she had a fasting blood draw and had not eaten since last night.
Andrea and the boys got here around 1545 and Kathleen trimmed Brandon's bangs so that he could see. His bangs were down around his nose and he was always trying to see through his hair.
They all left a little after 1600 for Christian's nurses appointment. They are still gone, and I think Kathleen was going to pick up something to eat for tonight while they were out. We really need to go grocery shopping, but we only seem to do that about every six weeks or so, the rest of the time we just pick up odds and ends that we need.
Well, that is about all for tonight, I feel more tired than I think that I should, but that happens a lot to me these days.
Monday, November 17, 2008
This Would have been a Nice Indian Summer Day...
but we have yet to have a frost, so I guess that it is just a really nice day. Since it was so nice outside and since we did not have the paint to paint the bathroom yet, I decided to go outside and do some tree trimming.
First I got out my pole saw and put on the lopper head and then cut the branches out of the walnut trees that had the tent caterpillars in last summer. After I had them taken care of I went to the back yard and worked some more on the apple tree.
I took out three rather large branches and then cut them up and put them into the yard debris container. I managed to fill the container up, well full enough for me right now; there is still room for a few more things. I did not want to fill it completely up as the yard debris pick-up is still a week away.
After I came back into the house I made myself some minestrone soup for lunch. Since we have a small group tonight I wanted to do this early so that I did not have to worry about it before we went or after we got back. Kathleen took off a while ago to pick up some paint for the bathroom so maybe tomorrow we will get to paint it.
Andrea just called and wanted to remind Kathleen that she had agreed to go to the doctor's with her tomorrow and to give Brandon a haircut trim.
Well, I need to go take a nap for a while so that I will not be too tired to go tonight. I have missed the last two and I want to try and make this one since I feel much better than I have in a few weeks.
First I got out my pole saw and put on the lopper head and then cut the branches out of the walnut trees that had the tent caterpillars in last summer. After I had them taken care of I went to the back yard and worked some more on the apple tree.
I took out three rather large branches and then cut them up and put them into the yard debris container. I managed to fill the container up, well full enough for me right now; there is still room for a few more things. I did not want to fill it completely up as the yard debris pick-up is still a week away.
After I came back into the house I made myself some minestrone soup for lunch. Since we have a small group tonight I wanted to do this early so that I did not have to worry about it before we went or after we got back. Kathleen took off a while ago to pick up some paint for the bathroom so maybe tomorrow we will get to paint it.
Andrea just called and wanted to remind Kathleen that she had agreed to go to the doctor's with her tomorrow and to give Brandon a haircut trim.
Well, I need to go take a nap for a while so that I will not be too tired to go tonight. I have missed the last two and I want to try and make this one since I feel much better than I have in a few weeks.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Warm Weekend
The temperature has been in the fifties and sixties just about all week, of course at night it gets down into the thirties and forties and it is usually pretty cool in the mornings when I get up especially if was clear during the night. The cloudless skies usually mean that the heat is not held in by the clouds and so it gets cooler; now if we could only cause it to be cloudy at night and clear during the days that would be almost ideal.
I was feeling better yesterday and so after breakfast I went outside to work on the leaves. Since it had been wet since the last time that I raked I knew that the leaves would be really wet and heavy so I thought that I would try the blower rather than the rake. It worked rather well in the back yard where the leave were not as heavy to begin with but in the front yard with the walnut leaves especially in the street where they had gotten clumped together I had to lift them up and move them with the blower in order to get the leaves to move.
After I finished I went inside and cleaned up and got ready for Becca's party, Kathleen wrapped the presents and then made a card for Becca, but that took a little longer than she expected so we did not leave as early as we would have liked.
Tami had the friends’ party earlier and this party was for the relatives, so it was just the grandchildren and the grandparents and aunts and uncles for this party. Tami's brother, Mike had made the cake, he and Tami had taken a cake making class a while back and they always come up with some interesting looking cakes.
I played with the grandchildren, probably more than I should have and for sure harder than I should have and started getting pretty tired around 1600, and we finally left a little after 1700 and I was really tired by then.
On the way home we stopped for gas and it was about half the price that it was a few months ago. If we could use regular gas it was just a little over two dollars a gallon which seem almost surreal considering what it had been last summer.
Needless to say I slept well last night going to be a little after 2100 and I slept until a little before 0700 this morning. Since I was feeling I went to church this morning. Kathleen was still asleep when I left, which did not surprise me as she did not get to bed until after 0300 this morning.
For some reason when I got home I was really tired, really frustrating because this happens to me more often than not, I just do something little and then I am so tired that I cannot get anything else done the rest of the day.
Well, that is about it for this weekend, we still have not gotten any paint for the downstairs bathroom so we will have to do that tomorrow...I hope!
I was feeling better yesterday and so after breakfast I went outside to work on the leaves. Since it had been wet since the last time that I raked I knew that the leaves would be really wet and heavy so I thought that I would try the blower rather than the rake. It worked rather well in the back yard where the leave were not as heavy to begin with but in the front yard with the walnut leaves especially in the street where they had gotten clumped together I had to lift them up and move them with the blower in order to get the leaves to move.
After I finished I went inside and cleaned up and got ready for Becca's party, Kathleen wrapped the presents and then made a card for Becca, but that took a little longer than she expected so we did not leave as early as we would have liked.
Tami had the friends’ party earlier and this party was for the relatives, so it was just the grandchildren and the grandparents and aunts and uncles for this party. Tami's brother, Mike had made the cake, he and Tami had taken a cake making class a while back and they always come up with some interesting looking cakes.
I played with the grandchildren, probably more than I should have and for sure harder than I should have and started getting pretty tired around 1600, and we finally left a little after 1700 and I was really tired by then.
On the way home we stopped for gas and it was about half the price that it was a few months ago. If we could use regular gas it was just a little over two dollars a gallon which seem almost surreal considering what it had been last summer.
Needless to say I slept well last night going to be a little after 2100 and I slept until a little before 0700 this morning. Since I was feeling I went to church this morning. Kathleen was still asleep when I left, which did not surprise me as she did not get to bed until after 0300 this morning.
For some reason when I got home I was really tired, really frustrating because this happens to me more often than not, I just do something little and then I am so tired that I cannot get anything else done the rest of the day.
Well, that is about it for this weekend, we still have not gotten any paint for the downstairs bathroom so we will have to do that tomorrow...I hope!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Last Night's Adventrue!
When we got back from Home Depot last night it was after 1900 so we heated up the left-overs from earlier in the week and while we were in the middle of dinner we heard police sirens and then a police car pulled up across the street and a couple other cars kept driving by.
About a half of an hour later I noticed what I thought were headlights shining in our driveway, but on further look it was four police officers and a couple police dogs coming from the long driveway next door. So I opened up the front door and asked them what was going on, and they told me that they were tracking someone.
This morning we learned that someone had stolen a car and was escaping on foot armed and dangerous. Luckily we never heard anything last night and the dogs next door were relatively quiet last night as well.
In this mornings mail I got some more paperwork from the Social Security office that I needed to fill out and get back to them. I knew that it was coming but they told me not to expect it until Monday, so when it came today I wanted to try and take it down there today if I could so that they could start processing my claim.
Before we had a chance to get out the fellow who is putting our tub/shower surround up called and wanted to come over to measure, so since he could come over in a few minutes we did that so that the surround could start to be made for us as it will take about two weeks before they can install it.
Shortly after he left we took off, and since the Social Security office had sent me a pass I did not have to take a number and wait for hours on end. In fact we were only there less than a half of an hour total. Now it is a matter of waiting months before a decision is made and then more months if I need to appeal it, and from every thing that I have heard I should expect it.
After we finished there we stopped back home and grabbed some dinner and then took off to find a present for Becca's birthday party tomorrow. I almost did not go as I was starting to feel tired already, but I did go and about half way through shopping I had to go sit as I was really starting to hurt. I sat in the SUV and dozed off after sitting for a while.
On the way home Kathleen asked what to make for dinner and I thought a tuna and macaroni casserole sounded like a comforting food for tonight. So that is what we had, it really hit the spot and I even went back for seconds, something that I have not done a lot of lately.
Well, I am tired, and I hope that tonight is a little less eventful than last night was.
About a half of an hour later I noticed what I thought were headlights shining in our driveway, but on further look it was four police officers and a couple police dogs coming from the long driveway next door. So I opened up the front door and asked them what was going on, and they told me that they were tracking someone.
This morning we learned that someone had stolen a car and was escaping on foot armed and dangerous. Luckily we never heard anything last night and the dogs next door were relatively quiet last night as well.
In this mornings mail I got some more paperwork from the Social Security office that I needed to fill out and get back to them. I knew that it was coming but they told me not to expect it until Monday, so when it came today I wanted to try and take it down there today if I could so that they could start processing my claim.
Before we had a chance to get out the fellow who is putting our tub/shower surround up called and wanted to come over to measure, so since he could come over in a few minutes we did that so that the surround could start to be made for us as it will take about two weeks before they can install it.
Shortly after he left we took off, and since the Social Security office had sent me a pass I did not have to take a number and wait for hours on end. In fact we were only there less than a half of an hour total. Now it is a matter of waiting months before a decision is made and then more months if I need to appeal it, and from every thing that I have heard I should expect it.
After we finished there we stopped back home and grabbed some dinner and then took off to find a present for Becca's birthday party tomorrow. I almost did not go as I was starting to feel tired already, but I did go and about half way through shopping I had to go sit as I was really starting to hurt. I sat in the SUV and dozed off after sitting for a while.
On the way home Kathleen asked what to make for dinner and I thought a tuna and macaroni casserole sounded like a comforting food for tonight. So that is what we had, it really hit the spot and I even went back for seconds, something that I have not done a lot of lately.
Well, I am tired, and I hope that tonight is a little less eventful than last night was.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A Better Change of Weather
This morning when I woke up and I did not hear any rain which was a nice way to wake up after a couple days of mostly on and off again rain. This morning it was nice enough that when I took the recycling outside I decided to stay outside and prune the roses.
I had not done that in a week or so and there were several spent flowers; several of the roses still have buds and will probably bloom in the next week or so. I was going to feed them one more time this year, but I really should have done that a week or so ago.
I thought about raking the leaves in the back yard, but I was hacking up mucus most of the morning and thought that I probably should not spent that much time outside since it was still pretty cool and damp feeling.
I cannot believe the temperature all week has been in the fifties and low sixties, so it is not all that cold out but it is definitely fall as it cools off pretty good at night. Although we have not come close to freezing yet this season.
Andrea came over with the boys this afternoon, she brought over her left-over lunch as she had lunch with one of her old co-workers from the Embassy Suites Restaurant days. So now Kathleen does not have to worry about what to make for dinner tonight!
Well, Kathleen just came downstairs and wants to run to Home Depot, so I think I will post this and say good night for today!
I had not done that in a week or so and there were several spent flowers; several of the roses still have buds and will probably bloom in the next week or so. I was going to feed them one more time this year, but I really should have done that a week or so ago.
I thought about raking the leaves in the back yard, but I was hacking up mucus most of the morning and thought that I probably should not spent that much time outside since it was still pretty cool and damp feeling.
I cannot believe the temperature all week has been in the fifties and low sixties, so it is not all that cold out but it is definitely fall as it cools off pretty good at night. Although we have not come close to freezing yet this season.
Andrea came over with the boys this afternoon, she brought over her left-over lunch as she had lunch with one of her old co-workers from the Embassy Suites Restaurant days. So now Kathleen does not have to worry about what to make for dinner tonight!
Well, Kathleen just came downstairs and wants to run to Home Depot, so I think I will post this and say good night for today!
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