a million and one projects

Well I am up in the middle of the night after a week run of really good drooling on the pillow sleep, but it is okay.  I went to bed at 9 and woke up at 3 so that was a decent stretch of sleep.  Dave got the garden tilled last night, letting it dry some and going to try to till it again, a little clumpy but useable.  Hopefully it doesnt rain.  MDK got part of the ditches weed eated and MLK and I planted the strawberries and rhubarb and flowers in the pots on the porch.  I am very exicitied about all the different litttle projects going on.  We got the bib for the rain barrel so that project is on its way, the two swings are up across the way, the martin house should go up today. I have to plant a blueberry plant today.  I am considering what kind of berry bushes, or lillacs I might want to do over across the way, we will see, flooding is a concern, but had a pretty wet spring last year and it didnt do to bad.  I think the former owners were flooded across the road in 93 really bad, but everywhere was extreme flooding that year, so I know they were apprhensive to do much across the road.  I am just not going to worry too much, we arent putting anything permenant there so if it floods it floods, we have anchored the stairs, the fire pit cost us nothing but sweat to make.  The arbor was on cheap cheap sale and so were the two raised beds, all late fall clearance, Oct or Nov.  My compost bin is doing well, need to find more worms and introduce them to the buffet.  Greenhouse is doing awesome!!!  Not sure what I might grow after I get the plants out into the garden.  Proably experiment with more perrienel plants.  Couldnt get pansy to grow very good in the greenhouse, not sure why, the perrniels are hard to get to grow.  I have some shasta daisies.  My strawberries I put in last week are starting to have runners, yeah!  I plucked the bloom off as I need them to put out lots of runners this first season, then they can bloom and produce next year. 
Dave is building a bridge, it will be 20 ft long to span the creek on this side.  What a project, then he will anchor it.  We are doing alot of home improvement projects and loving it.  I think we enjoy it due to the long time of not owning, maybe it will get old for us, but we have so enjoyed it thus far.  Now mind you, I do not have the ongoing ever evolving house that my sister has had for the longest time, they have proably doubled or tripled the value of their orginial home.  The inside of our home will proably not change alot till Dave has more difficulties, we bought this house with the idea if he ever ends up in a wheelchair it will be easy to get around in.  It is all one floor, wide doorways, easy to manuver spaces.  It would not be difficult to install a few bars, and a ramp deck and we would be good to go.
Plan to go to King City city wide garage sale this morning so better try to get a little more sleep.

friday... yeah!

MLK finished her college class yesterday, she just has a final and that is all.  She felt very accomplished and is learning that she doesnt know it all.  I told her that is called wisdom.  Yesterday I had the day off that was nice, but seemed like I ran around doing this and that and got little accomplished, it was an odd thing.  I fought the royal battle with the weedeater, if my live depended on it, I could not get that to actually start for me ever.  I have an electric one but it cant do much for the stuff across the road, it makes me crazy.  So hopefully we will get all the projects done that need doing this weekend. 

I looked three different places for rhubarb and what a pain, it was 10-14 dollars for it.  I thought i might get a start from somebody but it is rather difficult to get a start off them so must dish out the money.  Well we have a busy day of projects ahead for the weekend, so need to get off here and get it done.

owning our own home and the nice things about that

Well I must tell you I sure do enjoy owning my own home most of the time, the one time I dont like it is when it breaks down but off that and onto to the positive.  After almost 20 years of parsonage living, it is just done right exiciting to do to my home what I please!!!!!!!!!!!!  Everything was a major major business meeting with anything that we wanted to do, and then a comment section for months if we did something without asking, something as simple as rocks in front of the house.  It got so old that we usually just maintained and didnt do alot of home improvements due to the fact it was such a hassle.  I have loved the fact of doing as we please and it has become almost addictive for both Dave and I.  It is such a freeing thing.  We have done alot of home improvements around the homestead.  I also have a huge list of them for all summer long, if we have the money for it, but have found alot of cheap and free ways to do it.  Gardening right now is at the top, putting in a huge garden, and so liking it.  Dave is going to build a bridge on this side hopefully, this weekend possible.  He has been making plans in his head the whole time he has been on the road this week.  Today the girls and I are doing some outdoor chores, MDK only has a little schoolwork left, we are pretty much done with school.  Later(after graduation), we plan to get the shutters painted, pull out the small fence and possible terrace around the garage.  In the next few years, we need to side the garage, but that will take some money.  We need to replace the deep freeze with a more sufficent model as it is just sucking energy and then over time replace the water heaters with the new type that only does water as needed.  In the next five years we will need to replace two windows.  In the next five years we will proably remodel the kitchen, but for now it works.  Right now trying to pay off a few more debts and save save save.  The gas prices are crazy so try not to make alot of extra trips, glad we live closer to town than we use to. 

Well must take MLK to class, i think this might be her last.

five good nights of sleep

wow I love it, five good nights of sleep without any sleeping pills, i hope this develops into a habit, it makes me feel so good not to be dragging around.  Today, I took MLK ,  we had some errands to run and then I had a job, I came home and I took care of my plants, did some laundry and now I have decided to crochet the evening away.  It is nice to have some down time to do that.  The house is in good order, will do a overhaul next week, shouldnt take much, my closet will need a good throughall cleaning but that will be after graduation.  It is the catch all closet.  MDK has just a half of a module in science and a little history and we are done there.  It will be nice to be finished and then next year, just one to prepare for, wow that will be different.  MLK has her last assignment for her English 108 class and then she will be having a final like May 9 or 10.  Doing the plans for next weekend, hoping it will all go well, and will be fun.  Well all for now.

planting

Well yesterday morning, very bright and very early I was able to get the potatoes and peas in, which was a good thing, due to the fact it rained all day. I am doing alot of gardening this year and hoping to be rather self sufficient in the next few years.  I have always enjoyed playing around in the garden, even though I hate weeding, so trying some new tricks of the trade to avoid all the nasty weeds, such as newspaper and straw between rows, and square foot gardening in my raised beds.  We were able to get all the early veggies in, except radishes which I forgot to buy  and garlic.  I plan to get some more strawberries plants and a rhubarb plant and then I will start on my flowers.  We planted three huge rows of onions and three huge rows of potatoes, now to see how they do in really rich iron soil.  There is a lot of iron in the soil due to the fact of the railroad going through there years ago.  We found some worms and threw them in the compost bin and keep looking for more.  My plants in the green house look awesome and am hoping to get the other garden in this weekend.  Dave is still doing overtime, hope it doesnt kill him off.  It will be good finicinal but is rather hard on him.  We have one last weekend for projects and then it will be time for Missy graduation.  She is starting on her display table.  I am in need of finding graduation napkins and stuff.  Hopefully now that Easter is done that will go up next and I can get that purchased.  Plan to do all the last of it this weekend.  I have a job today that I am not looking forward to, it is a kid that never pays attention to the interpreter, oh well it is only three hours.  Well better get around.

a good Easter

It was such a nice Easter, we were suppose to have Dave's boss over but he got too many dispatches on Easter to come, so we invited him for a different Sunday.  The music was fantastic, it was such a celebration of the ressurction and then a salvation sermon very clearly preached.  It was good to be back in our home church, it had been at least two or three weeks, so glad to be back.  We should be there the next few Sundays which will be nice. 
We came home and ate the roast, pot. and carrots.  Well really they did, I have had a horrible last three or four days with my stomach.  We laid down for a half hour nap, then when we got up Dave tilled my onion and potatoe patch, it tilled up beautifully.  We planted alot of onions, used straw between the rows, hopefully in the next few days we can get the potatoes in.  I had just cut them so they needed some time to scab over.  We then worked on finishing the mowing and weed eating and planted the grapes, raspberrie bush, and the plum tree.  It was such a beautiful day.  I am waiting on the other garden as it still a little cold over night, hoping to plant it this coming weekend.  This next weekend is the big get ready for the party.
MDK has got to drive some on her own, not alot, she thinks she needs to drive all over, but she is running out of money for gas so that will be done soon.  Well better get around for today.

our projects

Well yesteday was project day, we are trying to get a few done before graduation.  So on our "date" we went to a new spot called Dan's New and Used, it is kinda a junkyard of building and project materials, I had a million ideas running through my head with that.  We finished redoing the bridge planks, many really old and rotting through and thought for safety that we needed to make sure it was safe.  So we got some 2 by 9 by 12 and finished off the bridge changing it from three ft to four feet wide.  The stairs are in and they look great and am planting my raised beds.  We stopped at Lowes and found a plum tree (the girls mother day gift for me) and then strawberry plants and grapes.  We bought one white grape and one purple, going to put them on the fencing.  Also a black raspberry bush.  I plan to get rhubarb, bleeding heart bush, some type of ivy for my trellis, and starts from anyone who would like to give me some.  We bought a 4 by 4 post for the birdhouse but must wait for the ground to be marked for wires and such and then we can get that in.  There are some underground cables across the road so we did the call before you dig thing.  Hopefully they should be here early next week and we can get that up.  The stairs look great and make it so easy to get in and out over there.  We had another dead tree fall so must drag it out.  Anyway back to Dan's used and new, once we get the fence around the garage pulled out (neighbor wants it) then I will be landscaping terraces possible around the garage, the lumber for that is extremely cheap there, we got the 4 by 4 post for like four or five dollars and it was huge.  It will be very cheap to get railroad ties there for next to nothing and we will get fill dirt across the road, then I can get some manure and tada it is done.  Then beg borrow and get great deals on the flowers or grow them in my greenhouse.  Our rain barrel needs to get finished, our compost barrel is done and starting to get full, need to stir it soon.  We are thinking about moving our water well decorating over next to the creek so that we can actually use it wouldnt that be cool!  We are doing some research in to how to get that hooked up.  Today Daves boss is coming to church with us for Easter and then home for lunch, poor guy just got left by his wife, we think something is up with her. Anyway happy Easter everyone.

quietly slippin out

Dave and I are letting the girls sleep and we are going out on a date this morning, nothing fancy just mostly chores and grab a bit.  however this gives us a good time to talk and carry on and think and plan.  I enjoy those moments of life, when we can be together.  It is dark and gloomy here, but the lilacs are about ready to bloom.  He had a really rough last two days with my stomach think a piece of carrot got stuck, this morning I am sooooo much better.  Well better sneak out while I still have the chance.

deep thoughts in the middle of the night

Well up again in the middle of the night, it is a somewhat soothing middle of the night with the sounds of rolling thunderstorm coming in, Gidget our Yourkie is a little agitatied as she hates storms.  I was thinking about tolerance.  The tolerance I was cotemplating as sometimes I do have deep thoughts when I am by myself unable to sleep.  Tolerance in Christian circles has become a cuss word and with modern definations there is a reason for this.  However if we look at what the Bible teaches, it takes about not offending, not majoring on the minors, keeping hold to the truth, speaking truth in love, submiting to each other, suffering one another, a offended brother is harder to win then a strong city.  Tolerance is part of Christianity.  Tolerance for sin no, tolerance for the sinner yes.  Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, go and sin no more, he had every right to throw the first stone, but yet he did not.  I hope that I show true tolerance as Christ would model.  I hope that whether I have a Christian brother or an unsaved person that I show acceptance of who God created not the sinful choices they may make.  I hope that with my Christian brothers or sisters, that sometimes agreeing to disagree can be left at that.  I pray that I might have humbleness so that I dont demand to always be right, that maybe I am wrong and that I can be a mature enough person to admit that.  That to have someone argue with me, makes me think and research instead of lash out and shut people down.  Tolerance is part of our Christian walk, because we are still sinners at our core, we must not tolerate sin, but we must tolerate each others shortcomings.

Enough heavy stuff. . . MDK got her drivers liscence, and we are all proud of her, even MLK congratulated her which took alot for her to do.  MDK was gracious about it too.  Now it is up to Dave to decide when it is approiate for her to drive on her own.  I am staying out of the middle of that equation.  Hoping to get alot of projects done this weekend, everyone been fighting a little bit of the bug, so hopefully we are up to doin something.  I am working on the graduation program also.  In two weeks we will be at graduation. MDK got her scores back for ACT and she dropped one point, her science went way up and her reading way down.  She requested not to test at the college again, she wants to test at King City instead, so I think so many people there was a little unnerving for her.  I am not too woried about it.  We have been talking and she says she doesnt know what she wants to do yet.  She knows she doesnt want to do a four year degree, she is so much more a hands on type of learner, so I understand.  We are going to talk to our pastor as she would like to go into orphanage work and she would like to fiqure out what she should do, whether daycare training, first aid, business adminstartion (paperwork for adoption stuff), see what would benefit her for that.  We are looking at maybe a one or two month trip her senior year to see if that is what she really wants to do.  She is on board with that.  So going to do some research. MLK got a compliment from her professor, for her power point presentation, she is doing so well with staying on top of that class.  She is really ready to do this college thing.  Well should try to sleep.

run, run, run

Yesterday was my errand day, I just felt like a runner, however a got my endless chore list done-I think.  Today I have two jobs and then home, everyone is sleeping in, Dave came down with something yesterday and came home early from his route.  He was feeling so rough, so I suspect he will sleep and then get up and go.  The girls werent feeling so good either, so everyone is getting extra sleep today-that and fluids are always the best to ward off the ickys.  I have enjoyed relatively good health of late, it seems like I go for long spurts and do well but lately when I get sick, I am down for the count.  My lilacs are getting ready to bloom, and I am so exicitied, because before I always fought with my other bush to produce blooms and this one is loaded.  Dave says as a little kid one of his favorite memories was coming home after school and his Mom had cut fresh lilacs and the whole house smelled like them.  I love to recreate good memories like that.

Dave and MDK did an experiement of homemade chicken soup(since Dave was sick) it was soooooooooo good.  He is going to tweak it a little bit but wow it was awesome and I could actually eat it and get it to stay down.  Dave is good that way, he is so good in the kitchen, which is awesome since that is not my gift. 

I am currently working on the graduation program and doing the typing for that.  I have a few more details to get together for our party but it is all fast approaching.  Wow one girl done, it is getting more and more real as we get knee deep in college stuff.  Well better get off for now.

today Tibby becomes an it

Well today, I am off to take the cat to the vet, snip snip there goes his manhood, he has been beating up on our other cat and this should take care of some of his anger issues.  He also got in a good old fight with the tom behind us so off to the vet.  We try really hard to spay and nuetuer our animals so that we dont have the unexpected and our vet service is very affordable.  Today I have a last minute job, and alot of errands.  We are almost finished with school about another week and we will be done.  I am exicitied about that.  It seems like a long haul this year.  I think that has alot to do with having a sixteen year old.  Next year down to one, wow... MLK cant test till June 13 according to the paperwork she got back from Jeff City so job hunting will be middle summer, I am encouraging her to take a summer class in the month of June.  Well better get on the road and deliver the kitty-kat.

changes in life

Well last night was MLK last Grand Finale.  Wow, that really hit me last night, they both did so well and my photography students did such an awesome job.  MLK had a duet with her friend Kendra for choir, wow it was awesome, I got a little misty eyed but not teary.  We also got her cap and gown yesterday, lets say I am starting to develop a small lump in my throat.  Wow I just cant believe it is about time, I know she has almost finished her work, but it just seems a little while ago we started this journey. 

Today I have just one job, it was nice not having to get up way early.  Dave has a very busy route this week, subbing in for some team members.  Well gotta go and get around.

the smell of freshly mowed grass and overturned dirt

Well we mowed our lawn for the first time, it was so nice to be out and about and it was warm and wonderful.  The redneck fix of epoyx glue on the hood is holding up well so we wont have to buy a new top cover that would cost 200 for it!!!  The guy came and plowed up my garden spots now we just have to have Dave till it and I am ready to go, will put the potatoes in but that is all for now till after Friday, as it is suppose to be cold and possibly freezing, so holding off on planting some of the stuff.  I need to transplant my tomatoes which I am hoping I can do tomorrow morning.  I have really enjoyed playing in the green house even though I feel like such a novice, quess with time I will learn and be able to do more. 

MLK was in a real funk, mostly because she missed her meds over the weekend, due to forgetting to pack them, so it will be a few days for her to come around, missing it is not fun for any of us.  I told her to get her grumpy butt to bed last night as she had stayed up late fooling around the night before.  She only has her anatomy coloring charts left to finish, she finished her book and now just has her English class left.  She is way exicitied about it.  We will get her graduation invitations today (finally)!!!  Got to get geared up to cross the finish line with all that stuff.  Well I had better try to get some sleep, forgot my tylenol pm so up again in the middle of the night.

productive why because I actually feel rested

Today has been a productive day for me.  I woke up feeling rested something that has happened for a long long time.  It was so nice!!!  So this morning I cleaned off the desk, kitchen table, worked with MDK on ACT prep, cleaned out bookshelves, and just a bunch of little jobs that needed done around here. It was nice to get that off my radar. I am hoping to have energy when I get home from my afternoon job, it a great satisfaction to get all of that done, to feel productive and not feel like you have to do the next thing with your butt dragging fifteen feet behind.

Dave is taking MLK to test again.  Prayers are going up that she will pass!  I hope so for her sake, also a little for my sake.  I am looking forward to her being completely her own person and not have to worry about some of those details.  Well I had better get around and get to my afternoon job.

Sweet Sixteen

Today is my Baby's 16th birthday, wow has time flown.  She is getting to be so grown up and opinionated.  It is amazing that she can actually be that old.

Yesterday we had enrichment classes and it was really great day, it was somewhat warm although it was breezy.  I was glad to see the sun, it gets old having dreary days, bring on the sun.  I am hoping to find someone to chisel my ground soon as I need to get going on the gardening.

Well I had better get around, had a change up today and I will be working at a school today.

rambling thoughts in the middle of the night

Well I am back at it again, up in the middle of the night.  I sit here and think of all the things I could or should be doing but alas I dont do them, first I would wake everyone and second I am tired even if I cant sleep.  I sit here and play on the computer till I get tired enough I know I will fall asleep.  I am getting anxious to get going in the gardening deptarment but need someone to chisel the ground for me and so I need to search this out.  I will have to go to the local coffee shop to find out.  I am ready for good weather and want to turn off the furnace, the electric bills are killing us. 

Last night, I came home with a whopper of a headache and just felt horrid.  The girls had a choir thing and so I said girls I feel lousy do you care wheter or not we go?  Both girls said nothing and seemed fine, and then MDK friend calls and I had taken tylenol, got into pjs and was chilling, well then it was a big hairy deal with MDK about going.  I told her you already voted and the decision has been made, so not happy was she.  Oh the drama of it all.

MLK goes to take her drivers test this Thursday, send up a prayer, Dad will be taking her.  She only has a few weeks left before graduation.  Well better go try to sleep.

the birthday party is done

Well we made it, we got MDK birthday done and she seemed to really enjoy herself even though she is exhausted (she might have been up late)  So tradition has it that you get your birthday off or a day close to it from school work, so MDK decided tommorow is it.  She said I need to catch up on my sleep (wonder why?) and would perfer tommorow rather than my birthday.  So tommorow it is.  MLK got her paperwork back so she will go try again on Thursday with Dad as I have a job that afternoon.  Everyone pray, cause once she gets that she has to get a job!  We are still waiting to see what kind of fincinial aid she will get. 

We finished the stairs and worked on the bridge over there getting ready for MLK graduation reception over there, it looks good got a few last details and then I will take pictures and post it.  All in all a really good weekend, had a great time at church, it was nice to be back as we missed last week due to how very bad Dave was doing that day.  He is much better this last week, still having tremors and will see our regular doctor after maternity leave (hers) and then we will proably pursue stuff from there for him.  His prostrate numbers held good so no more with that for now.  Well better get to bed, morning comes too early.

Friday . . yeah!

Yeah today is Friday, have a job this morning and then I have a meeting tonight with MLK, last Senior meeting, yeah!  I am feel a little scatterbrained with all that is on my to do list.  Viv and Dave are over, came over last night to see MDK for her birthday, going to take her out for her birthday today.  MDK birthday party is tommorow and then that will be off my radar screen.

Did some more crocheting last night and enjoyed just sitting there and doing that.  The house was clean the supper was cooked, and I didnt have to do something right at this moment. I am so looking forward to spring weather and being able to get in the garden, I need it tilled so I can get started.  Well better get going and make some mula!