Pit Bull... or Possessed???

Our weather here in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) has returned to summer.  It has begun to reach the 80’s again.  We here say “Hooray!”  We had summer come on the 4^th of July for about a week and then it turned against us with rain and thunderstorms.  Although it might have been warmer than usual, we all have been waiting for sunny days to return.

One thing about rain is that it doesn’t make it fun to do yard work or gardening.  But now with the rain behind us, and the dryer weeks of the year ahead of us, my thoughts are on the yard.  Kari says I am a possessed woman… that all I think about is what next to do in the yard. 

Last week my friends came and took out the trees and got tree limbs.  Things began to look better but now what was left needed a little lift.  Well, that lead me to cleaning up the yard in a big way… so I hired some people to come in and trim back the bushes and trim the lawn etc.  The yard is even looking better now than ever!  So, I went to Lowes and bought a “spreader” so that I could apply Weed and Feed to the grass this weekend.

Now that I have a lot of the things cut back, taken out etc… I should be able to easily keep it up.  For my birthday next month I am going to get an edger (to myself).  My eyes are still looking at plants that are off center (planted long ago by the last owners) or are looking old and dry.  Now comes the creative part where I make something my own… with a spot to add seasonal flowers under the tree, for example. 

Guess Kari is right… I am a little possessed.  I like to think of my hyper focus as a pit bull approach to dealing with something head on.  So I am a little possessed?  It will be my hobby for a while… until I can’t get outside and work in the yard when the weather changes.

I will next write about our plans for a mini vacation that is coming up.  Have a good day!

My Aching Body

It is about 4 am in the morning.  Yes, that is nuts, I agree.  However, I can't seem to get back to sleep.  I have got sleep though.  I came home yesterday tired and probably went to bed before 9 pm, so I am just "off".

My body has been aching because I did a lot of yard work this past weekend, with a lot of help from my friends.  We removed three trees.  We also removed a lot of limbs and broken limbs from a tree that was damaged in the storm last January.  For a little lot, you would think I lived on a farm with the three truck loads of "stuff" the guys took out of here.  Without the dying trees there, it has really opened up the view of the yard.  It doesn't seem so packed with overgrown plants and trees.

One of the things I need to do is buy a edger for the lawn.  So I have been looking at them trying to figure out what kind I would be able best to use.  There is the string version (which I have never used) and there is the push version.  To me it seems the push version may be best for me.

I have waited all year to be able to go work outside.  I have been dedicating about a half hour to pulling weeds or doing something out there in the yard each day.  It is good for a person too... all the natural sun and exercise.  Who needs a gym?

Anyway, that is what my mind and body has been working on for the past few days.  I am hyper focused on what to do next in the yard because now it is looking better... which is a good thing to be.  It's just that I can't go back to sleep now... but I will try.

Have a great day!

Over My Shoulder Glance at the Week that Zoomed By

When I last left you, the boys were going to visit their grandfather and his wife at their hotel.  For three days they were visiting them and had a good time.  So many things to do and see when there is someone from California visiting.  They were very tired when they arrived back here on Wednesday night.

So what did I do while they were gone?  I visited Susie... she was visiting here from North Carolina.  I went to her son and daughter in law's church on Wednesday night and enjoyed the worship service.  Besides work, I played with creating and designing some bead work.  Right now I am trying to work on my design for bookmarkers.

Kari has also been busy and hasn't been home too much.  I realize at times like this how much I really enjoy them and being a family together now.  At first, it was all about "recovery"... from divorce and addiction.  We had so much to work through.  But now things are more settled.  And I am finding myself so thankful.

Friday, I had the day off and went to the movies with Susie, Bev (her daughter) and Amanda (her daughter in law).  We saw the newest Tyler Perry Madea movie.  I thought it was really great to sit and just laugh at a comedy.

The Colorado shooting had just taken place earlier in the day and I couldn't help but think of the victims as I sat in the movie theater.  I wasn't concerned for my safety.  I just reflected on those who had died or was injured.  My prayers go out to all of them and their friends and family.

Today I worked around the house.  So much to always do.  Until Monday....

For a Monday...

Friday was my day off.  It seemed like I had a slow start to what I wanted to get done at home and getting errands out of the way, but I ended up finishing just OK.  I also spent a lot of money (darn Walmart) too. 

My girlfriend Susie landed Friday afternoon.  She is coming in from North Carolina to visit her family and friends.  She is an answer to prayer really.  This will also be when the boy’s grandfather (Kari’s dad) comes to town to visit them.  They will be busy with visiting with him and I can be busy doing my thing and visiting with Susie too.

Saturday we (the boys and I) met up with Susie in downtown Kent where the Kent Cornucopia Days festival was going on.  No sooner are we there and the boys want an Elephant Ear.  Taking those two little “shoppers” anywhere can be a series of saying “no”.  I did however buy the Elephant Ear, a drink, and two necklaces for each of them.  After a couple of hours, we decided to go to Mom’s… a restaurant that Susie and I would go to when we were career specialists for two of the local high schools.  In 2000, we both left our positions to work for the local community college (where I still am).

Sunday I we went to church and then Kari and the boys met up with her dad.  I went shopping for a few art supplies and then to where Susie is staying to have dinner with her and her family. 

Kari and boys have been off doing things with her dad today In Seattle.  The weather turned out to be perfect.  I am back to work and it is one of my late nights, so when I get off I am going home to do a few chores, eat dinner, and work on my project with the TV on.  I probably will go to bed earlier than I did last night (not wanting to give up the weekend).  It hasn’t been too bad for a Monday… you know what I mean?

Half a Week Already Gone By

I have been mostly working the past two days.  The weather has been, shall we say "different".  Sunday night as I laid in bed I heard a big boom... and it wasn't fireworks.  It was thunder.  It wasn't expected either.  Oregon had sent them up.

What we had been expecting what warm weather all week long but it has taken the warm weather a while to get up and at it.  Say like 2 pm or so.  It is nice to have this weather when one is working because I am not missing anything. 

The boys went to a soccer outreach to the Kent community tonight.  Our church puts it on every year and they do it for two nights in a row.  Tonight I couldn't go but tomorrow I will be there to see them to their thing.

Friday I have off again, so I will post before then.  Susie, one of my very best friends from North Carolina, is flying in on Friday afternoon. 

All Good Things

I have had the last 5 days off.  It is amazing how time goes even faster when you have time off than when you are working.  I never considered that working slowed time up... which is one thing I have been hoping to find the secret too.  I have not been wanting to hurry through summer this year.

Thursday, Kari went to work and the boys went to daycare, I couldn't decide what to do since it was sunny outside.  I had planned a movie.  But who wants to go to the movies when it is beautiful outside?

There is a saying around here, "Summer truly doesn't begin until the 4th of July".  From what I have seen in the 19 years I have lived here, that is a pretty true statement.  The rest of the country can be complaining about the heat while we are still wondering where the sun is, and then suddenly we have the sun.  The forcast is for 85 degrees here today.

I ended up going to a Christian bookstore I heard about in the Supermall but the rest of the time I have stayed home doing things or enjoying staying home.  We have BBQ'd, pulled out the little pool for the boys to play in, did some yard work and house work... or just hung out.  I would say I feel more rested that I did before.

I wish I had more time to stay off work but I will have next Friday off.  And then in a few weeks, I will have a whole week off when we go to Montana.

Happy July!

Last week was the start of summer quarter.  During the first week of the quarter, we are really busy and I find myself coming home and just doing much of nothing,  So that is why you didn't find a post here from me.  However, this is a new week... and the start of a new month.

We are now starting summer hours at work.  Mondays and Tuesdays I will work from 8 am to 6 pm.  Wednesdays and Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm.  And Fridays, I will have off! (well, most Fridays)  This week I have from the 4th to the 9th off.  Five glorious days of doing what I need and want to do.  I will have something to blog about!

See you back here the next few days...