June 25 - July 6

So much has happened in the past week and half or so, that my life seems like it has been a whirlwind!! I will attempt to fill you all in one day at a time.

Friday, June 25
Mike came down last night and this morning he got busy using the new jack hammering on the rest of the top. Tonight Tommy and Cherie came with the rest of the crew to continue the rest of the work on demolishing the porch landing and stairs.

Saturday, June 26
Dad and I loaded the debris, from Tuesday and yesterday, into the truck and Dad went to negotiate with a man, who lives near the County Land-Fill. He was looking for clean fill for his yard. The man said that we could deposit the cinder-blocks and concrete in his back yard, for which we were very grateful. It saved us about $250!

Tommy was excited to get a hold of the jack hammer and try it out before the boys got their turn. After a while they began to wonder if they would get a turn, LOL! But he finally relinquished it to Zach, who passed it on to Matt. Dan kept a close eye on all the goings on, but was concerned that he was not big enough to handle it. After some coxing from Tommy, he took a turn and had a ball!!! By 12:30 pm the whole thing was in small pieces and ready for loading in the truck for dumping. Then off to Ashley's graduation party they went.

That afternoon, Dad and I took another load to be dumped into the mans yard.



Sunday June 27
About 4 am Tommy had to leave to go back to Saratoga Springs and go to work with the promise of returning later in the evening, sigh. He had taken off the whole weekend, but some repairs had been delayed and now needed to be addressed.

Everyone here attended church, and afterward we went home and hung out waiting for Mike and Tommy to return. Dan taught me some tricks on Adobe Printshop. Fun! Now I can accomplish a task which has been put off for way too long!! After that, Becca, Dan, Matt and I played the Lego Game, while we waited for the others to be ready for dinner. Cherie and Dad were taking naps, Zach was reading his book in the basement, and Mike was off socializing with the graduating Seniors, Ashley and her friends. He had promised to return for a quick simple celebration of cake and ice cream for his 19th birthday. He came, but Tommy was not home when he expected to be here and they were to anxious to be on to the next social gathering. So Mike opened his present from us and went on his way. After Tommy returned, about a couple of hours later, we all had dinner and the Klingensmiths came for cake and ice cream after dinner was over. We called Mike on the cell phone and sang to him, which prompted the neighbors to wish him a happy birthday from across the street as well, LOL! It was a perfect warm breezy Summer evening for sitting on the deck under the screened in canopy, which I had put up earlier in the week.

Monday June 28
Tommy borrow Bob Klingensmith's 6 cylinder vehicle and went off to rent a car trailer to transport the Mustang to his home. While he was gone, Matt and Dan took turns using the jack hammer (with the use of a 10minute timer controlled by Mike) to make the chunks of cinder-block and concrete even smaller, because that is what the man wanted. Which ever boy was not using the jack hammer, he helped me load the blocks into the truck. When Tommy returned with the carrier, Zach, Matt, Mike, Tommy and I attempted to get the car loaded onto it. No go. To heavy. After a couple of attempts, we enlisted the help of a neighbor and WALA, it was loaded and ready to be taken to it's new home!! After Tommy and Cherie left we got back to our task and soon the truck was loaded. Matt and Dad took a break while Zach and I took the debris to unload it. One load was left, so when we returned, it was loaded and we were off for the last time. While we were gone, Matt and Dan used the shovel and hoe to deposit the powered and tiny chips under the porch. They all did an excellent job with no complaining. We were done by 1pm, had lunch then walked to the pool, which was a welcome relief for being tired and hot!! When Tommy and Cherie returned later that night, and dinner was over, they whisked the crew back home.

Thank you all for the hard work and the fun filled weekend!!!

Tuesday, June 29
Mowed the lawn in the afternoon after getting up around 11 because I stayed up all night to finish a book. OOPS!

Wednesday, June 30
Called Mike to wish him a happy birthday and to talk to Dan about a project he was helping me on using Adobe Printshop. Success. Now to get them printed. hehehe.... Don't ya just love intrigue!!!

Harvested lettuce.

Gathered supplies to do a First-aid Relay Race and Jeopardy for the Young Women Camp Clinic thist evening. I think that the girls had fun, especially since we did it outside in the court yard between the Primary wing and the Relief Society and kitchen section. Had to skirt around the Satellite dish though, but they thought that was a good challenge. :)

Thursday, July1
Slept late again, reading another book. :) Just couldn't find a good place to stop reading. Took Polly to the doctor and shopping in the afternoon. Her foot is healing, for now, whew! Missed Lunch and dinner with Dad, sigh. This was his last Photography class, but the teacher wants to hold another one tomorrow night, which is his first class of Effective Speaking. The teacher specifically asked him to try to attend at some time tomorrow night. He will have to work something out.

Friday, July 2
Got up early; harvested more lettuce and some yellow and zucchini squash; sprayed copper sulfate on the plants (including the rose bushes, which already had block spot on them) to ward off fungi; when that dried, dusted Seven on the squash, cucumbers, and roses to ward off the insects; cut down Peony bush, which was infected with Block Spot fungus; powered the garden beds with lime to keep the slugs away (they are eating some of the plants); mowed the rest of the lawn; poured salt water on weeds growing under the garden beds and between the pavers surrounding the beds; secured the canopy to deck; set the inside of the house in order and vacuumed the main floor; had salad topped with canned chicken and cooked greens for dinner, YUMMM.

Saturday, July 3
Today Dad and I went to get wood from Lowes, the attic and garage and started repairs under porch to shore it up. Much to our surprise, there ware no ant nests in any of the wood, just some major water damage from salt water leaking from the corner of the landing, which leaned toward the house a bit. the lack of integrity for the rest of the porch was caused by a poor design making the floor weak. After some experimenting, we put a 2' x 6' x 8' cross beam under the 3 - 2' x 6 x 13'. Where were their heads? I guess they figured it was only a porch and would not have to hold anything heavy. Then we braced up the ends for more stability. then we used pressure treated lumber to Replace the rotted header and footer boards as well as the vertical beams along both sides of the opening, and installed braces behind the stucco on the right to reinforce it where the boards had rotted away. Now we are thinking about insulating it to be able to use it all year. At the moment it is being used as storage and a pantry, but it gets too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Did 6 loads of laundry. Looking forward to a restful Sabbath!!! Got a call from the Primary President for our ward to stand in for her while she is gone this week and next. YIKES, I do not know her routine!



Sunday, July 4 Happy 4th of July!!!
Attended Primary and helped out where I was needed. Don't really know exactly how they run their Primary, but watched a well oiled machine preform triumphantly!! Next week will be a challenge, because the new counselor will be the one running things and she only got called a couple of weeks ago. She is awesome though, so should have no problems. :)

Since it was the first Sunday of the month, we went to our usual Home Teaching sister for our usual dinner and lesson (our turn for dessert). She had her family there too and we were invited to stay and watch fireworks from Hiland Park out her window. 90* low humidity, cooled off at night

Monday July 5
Put a cross beam under the other half of the porch to complete the project. Read my book and went out to dinner with some friends for Family Home Evening. They are so very kind to us in taking us and paying for our dinner! We need to have them over for dinner sometime to show them some kindness! 100* in the shade! 70% humidity Dad put the air conditioner in last night, because it only cooled to 80*.

Tuesday, July 6
This morning, I got out the sprinkler for Sam (1yr) Ryan (5) and Annie (6) from across the street to play and cool off. They had a ball! We had ice pops for a treat, then I had greens for lunch, and doggy bag from our dinner out for dinner tonight. 98* 73% humidity. Finished my book: "Rumors of War". I want more!!! :)