Good Morning World

The news says it is 5:33 a.m.  That is too early for me, to be sitting here, trying to type.  Sarah tells me I type by the ten finger hunt and peck method.  I confess, I cheat a lot and therefore, I am a lousy typist.  Good thing I make my way by other methods.  Mainly by the seat of my pants.

By the time the sun goes down each day, I ache so badly all over that it hurts to sit down, but my feet are giving out and I have too. ( Did you know your feet can collapse?  Don't know how, but I have almost hit the deck more than once when they go).  Am I blessed or what?  I'm not being sarcastic . .  I'm sincere.

 I broke down and hired the house to be painted.  Ed did us such a favor and helped us out more than I can say.  Gave us deal that made it in our budget.  It also gave me such a lift and jump start.  Last night, I bought another gallon of the trim paint and did the wood trim that  has been such a thorn in my side for so long.  I was, and am still thinking about putting blocks in to replace the trim, but I need to price the blocks and new wood to help me decide.  Time will also be an issue.  But for now, it has brightened up the very neutral house and set the flowers off much better.  It also helped me decide where to put in taller bushes with their red wood  trellises to set off the rest of the house.

But the point of all this rhetoric,  is that I can keep moving.  I appreciate that I can work hard enough to get a little sore and keep moving.  Getting things done.  Important things.  I have been needed for less babysitting so  I am getting a lot more done here at home.  I do miss having the kids over here as much, but trying to get the grow boxes built, to produce food and become more prepared sets my mind at ease.  It gives me a way to give back to my children and their children.  A way to enjoy the world around me, in spite of being stuck in this dry ugly desert (sorry Linda, I am having a hard time appreciating much around here these days), so I will take my God given abilities and make my little chunk of dirt into something I can enjoy.

So now that I have been up for 1 1/2 hours, taken my shower, slathered lotion all over my poor dried out body (too much info?), I will run over to Wal-mart and get some plumber's putty and milk.  When I need a break later today, I will add some pictures . . . . if I can get them to go into this old lap top I am using.  Both of the Maskey's lap tops went down and my newer one seems to have catch it from them.

Gotta Love It!

You just have to appreciate this one.  Young people forget that these old people had a career before they retired......
WAL-MART SENIOR GREETER 
 Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time.
Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late.  But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their "older Person Friendly" policies.

One day the boss called him into the office for a talk.  "Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang-up job, but you're being late so often is quite bothersome."  "Yes, I know 
boss, and I am working on it."  "Well good, you are a team player.  That's what I like to hear.

It's odd though your coming in late.  I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say if you came in late there?"  

"They said, "Good morning, Admiral, can I get your coffee, sir?"

When I was the card lady at a Smith's Grocery store, there was an older gentleman who bagged grocery and a few other little misc. duties.  He had such class and such gentile manners.  The younger baggers were to watch and learn.  I finally found out that he was a former CEO who got bored with retirement and did NOT want any pressure.  Just have a few hours a week to interact with others and make someone's day a little more pleasant.  Loved it and learned from it.

My Week End . . . . . In a Nutshell

Friday was Grandparent's Day at Gabriel's school.  I love and appreciate those who make programs like this possible.  I enjoy rubbing elbows with parents and grand parents who have struggled and kept on going.  This is the third year they have had no funding for their library and yet it continues to grow and improve.  During their book fair the adults were flocking to the displays, buying and just outright donating cash to a box for the library.  No one was taking the attitude that "it" should be given to them.  They all felt like they should work together to make it work for the next generation, for the kids.

I was glad that we were in place waiting when Gabriel came in.  He looked a little worried until he saw me standing so he could see me.  I really doubt he has any idea how much our hearts jumped when he grinned so big and looked so happy when he spotted us and wave his whole arm . . and waved his whole arm . . .  and waved his whole arm.

After the kids sang a song welcoming the grand parents, they came down and joined us for a lunch.
Gabriel started out eating his lunch but then got a little antsy.  Just a guess, that is why his lunch is usually mostly eaten on the way home from school.

Next we got to go the the book fair, that Papa and I had already visited, without helpers  ;-).  Gabriel really has to work at his reading, but bless his little heart, he loves books.  All of us are so glad of that.  When things finally click for him, he will be so excited!



The day is ended at the kids' classrooms.  We got to visit with Mrs. G. an eternally patient teacher I have decided. Anyone who knows our Gabriel, will understand that opinion.  She appreciates his good attitude, how hard he works and his sweet nature.


Saturday morning a crew showed up to paint the house.  I was pretty excited.  I bought the paint in the Fall of 2006 when the paint was on sale for 40% off  . . . . . and then it sat in the garage.  they had to strain it some because it had sat for so long, but fortunately, it did the job.

I started to run out to take some before pictures but them realized that I have lots and lots of those . . too many!  I went out to take a break from the old dead chicken I was grinding and chopping and canning and loved the trim when it was done.  A while later when I went to look at the paint on the  body of the walls, I had to take a deep breath . . the paint had a bit of a green pallor to it.  YIKES!  Not what I wanted!  Fortunately, s it dried, the color straightened up and looked better.  My goal was a very neutral, kind of like the color of our dirt.  It actually turned out pretty darned close to it!

I like the way the new color sets the colors off in the flower bed.    There have been some trellises on either side of the front door that I removed for the painters.  I like it opened up so much that I have decided to not put the back. I have even decided to move the cape honeysuckle plants to the front of the house on either side of the window.

I had them just spray the old wood trim for now.  I would like to replace it with some blocks.  I am going to try a few and if it doesn't work out, I will just replace the wood with more.  I will also have to get more trim color.

The whole day while this was going on, I was inside grinding chicken breasts and chopping up the rest to can as chunks.  I know it will be worth it in the long run, boy howdy!  I am so sick of it by now.  10:00 pm and there is at least another hour before I can go to bed?

I just couldn't resist, look at the size of this chicken breast!  That is sitting on an average sized dinner plate!  No bones, skin and very little fat.  This is about how they all looked.  Amazing deal.

I missed helping at a single Adult Conference, the adult stake conference meeting tonight and hurt from head to toe.  Guess I better get a grip on reality when it comes to scheduling!

Now in the morning there will be one meeting that is only 2 hours long.  Plan on enjoying it to the hilt!!

A Day Just For Fun!

I had fun making green eggs and "ham" for breakfast this morning.  It has been a long time since we did this to start out St. Patrick's Day.  Since Gabriel and Garrett had school early this morning, I made it and delivered it.  Then it was off to the store for more eggs and milk . . . . such a good planner!  but still made it home to share some green eggs and "ham" with  Bri and the girls.

Then I hit a wall that is all too familiar for the last few years.  We were going to make the pavers with the kids' foot prints in them and all decorated with glass/ceramic doo-dads.  I have thought for the longest time now that the pretties were all with the molds (plant trays) and cement . . .  NOT!   We looked all over and no luck, so we changed gears and let the girls pick from my fabric scraps to make their first little quilts.  It was interesting to see which ones they picked, caught both of us guard!

Brianna helped them each create a pattern and them my visiting teachers came.  Brianna had to leave before the left so it was a little slow getting started on the quilts.

Mariah had shown up and the kids all wanted to take turns holding Lynneah, she just loves all the attention . . .   and I got to enjoy one of the moments the I live for.

After lunch was story nap time.  I was so tired that I kept dozing off while I was reading.  

When I got up, Arianna joined me and we had a little one-on-one time to start her quilt.  She did pretty well.  I was pretty pleased with how well she did . . . in spite a poke or two with the needle.  She was able to stitch 3 squares together before we had to get Tati up to got meet Mom.  It was obvious that she was getting tired, but she hung in there to reach the goal for today.

I got the biggest kick out of her.  She is such a little conversationalist . . . no idea where she gets that.

Arianna:  Granny Nanny, do you know what would be so nice?

Me:        No, what would be so nice?

Arianna:  If you brought this all finished next time I see you and surprised me.

Me:        Ah hem, then it wouldn't be a surprise because you suggested it.

Arianna:  Oh . . .

She wanted to take some pictures, and don't make a weird face.  I think I need to have a little talk with her about what we do and do not take picture of !

Oh how I love this precious little girl who is growing up so fast.  It was so fun just sitting and visiting with her for a little while today.  Tati is just as fun and also so unique in her fun, precocious way.  It will be fun to see what Lynneah comes up with as she grows up.

Tonight Garrett is here for his earned over-nighter.  Jon informed me that at lunch he had eaten his month's allotment of  "that coleslaw".  It had the ramen noodles and pineapple in it..See, no onions and he didn't want anymore.  What can I say?  Ornery old man.  Earlier when he was giving me a hard time, I told him that he was getting to be such an old _ _ _ _ (and spelled out part of the word family that includes: cart, part).  That was when I found out that these 6 years old grand kids can spell very well.

I am glad that they didn't think to just sit there silently like I did when I started to get the spelled words.  My mom didn't catch on until the day that she caught me grinning really big and realized that I knew what she had spelled.  Don't think I ever fessed up how long I had been "eaves dropping".

Green Eggs and Ham . . . or Bacon?

Today will be devoted to grand kids as much as I can.  I made green eggs and bacon with warm biscuits to take over to the Maskeys.  ?they chowed right down.  It reminded me of one year when Buster, younger oldest brother, and his family came to visit us in Holbrook.  It must have been Spring break since we had green eggs and ham.  It was so funny watching those kids that weren't used to green eggs.  The looks on their faces were priceless and they were not about to eat that gross blob on their plates.  So I finally made some regular ones and the grown ups ate all the green eggs they wanted.

The Huish girls,are coming for the morning.  I hope to make the foot print stepping stones today.  The girls get to  decorate theirs the way they want.  If Brianna wants to make some for their house, I suppose I will let her have some say in hers  :-)

It has been awhile since I have had a "guest " post on my blog, so maybe the girls would be willing to help me out here.  It is usually pretty interesting.

This has been a busy week, already.  Saturday night Sarah came over and we made cake balls until just before the cows came home.  Then there was the block in our own home ward, our own huge home ward.  They have to open the folding curtains back to the middle of the cultural hall now.  After the normal meetings, we gathered in the relief society room and Stephen bless Lynneah.  She took it pretty well through most of the blessing but got a little fed up right at the end of it.  It was nice to have some friends join our family.

We all went over to the Maskeys for lunch and a small birthday celebration for Lincoln's birthday.  Poor kid has been waiting for this since the February 23, sure glad that he can't read calendars!  He seemed pretty confused by the whole thing.  We gave it a little sucker theme since he LOVES suckers.  Sarah and I had made all the cake balls on sticks that we could and then I made a big one out of just plain cake on a dowel for him to blow the candles out on.  That really confused him.  We offered it to him to eat and he just looked at it and put the sucker candle in his mouth.

Nanny just thinks I don't know
how cute I am right now

Monday, Jon and I worked  our little tails off in the north forty (feet of the back yard) .  Garrett helped Jon on Monday until he became my little helper.  He was so cute in Papa's hat.  He worked like a turk taking suckers off of the tree trunks.  Last time he helped me trim trees, he would hang on the limb while I sawed.

Yesterday , it was more trimming for hours and handing stuff to Jon while he was on the ladder.  Team work can be so nice.  I have a hard time on ladders and right now it would be really hard since I gained some weight back.  On Sunday night our home teacher and his wife came and they were impressed that we could work together.  We laughed because we work so differently and do have to watch what we take on together.  It can try the patience of both of us  ;-}

Sharron just thinks I don't know
she thinks I get cuter every day

So this is the view I had of Jon most of the time while we were working "safely".  You know the rules, no open toed shoes, do NOT stand on the top of the step ladder.  Jon did better than I did.  It's easy to forget how sensitive it is at the base of your nails, including your toes. . . . ouch! An hour later, one of my toes was still stinging.

Got that lil ole gal in my back pocket

Jon finally got down to whether or not to put 4 more rivets in to the leading edge of some sheets to make sure they stayed put during summer storms.  the next decision was whether to put them in then or this morning.  bless  his little thumping gizzard, the job is DONE!!!

So today, we can get things ready for Ed to paint the outside of the house, because I am sure we wouldn't get it done on our own.  Funny Jon, was surprised when i told him that I had called for help.  He really thought we could get it done, even after 5 years.  Hope the paint is still good and that Home Depot can tint it to some color that I like.  It is just too white and a sickly tone at that . . . . yeck!

Memory Triggers

Here I sits, again, with my feet up, thinking.  That can be a good thing, or it could be a not so good thing.  I suppose it depends a lot on what your frame of mind is to begin with.  Right now, it is a struggle to make sure it doesn't become a "not such a good thing".

Jon and I spent a good deal of the day just running around like chickens with our heads .  . screwed on crooked . .  thought I was going to say with our heads cut off, didn't you?   Then we finally got to work on our projects, the ones that we wanted to start on Friday.  OK, I wanted to start on Friday  Jon's boss referred to his week as a vacation and it seemed to go right to poor Jon's head.  Silly boy.

Garrett helped Papa in the back yard and was thoroughly impressed when a corner of tin roofing caught Jon's elbow and made it bleed a lot.  It went quite deep and he, of course is not current on his tetanus shots.

Then the little guy helped me trim the cursed citrus trees.  It was pretty cute and he didn't do much damage.  I gave him a little bitty coping saw to trim all  the new suckers growing all over those ornery trees.  I still say they are supposed to be bushes and some nut decided to wack them up and call them trees.  Anyhoo, the lovely lemon tree, the one that really lives up to that old folk song from the 60's used to look like this.  This was what it looked like after it had been trimmed a bunch, so it had been even bigger.









This is what it looked like a few days after the big freeze and about a week before the last leaf dropped.  We waited to see what would still sprout   . . . . .





. . . . and now, alas, that pathetic giant of a tree looks like this.


I have been trimming, muttering and just going crazy for three days now and might be almost done, for now.  When they are sprouting like this, it is likely to be a never ending battle for most of the summer.  At least it kept me handy for helping Jon, kind of like when I helped my dad so long ago.  I can hand stuff  to you with the best of them!

So now, I am so tired and sore, but what a nice feeling when something is finally finished.  The walls are the next stage of the work yurt, but I will be able to reclaim that patio at least and keep the tools, etc protected while they go up.  The shade under that roof is so nice!