Outside Jobs.

 Outside Jobs.

 

The other day the sunflower plants out in the back yard got hacked down. Yes, you know who did that—and with Hanan’s machete. Today their stalks got hacked again so that they would fit in the trash bin. Yes, it was a bit hot and tiring, but already the back yard looks better. Would still like to put a little “fence” around the one squash plant that looks as if it could bear some veggies. May do that later this evening. It is already pretty warm this morning. SO many things need to be done that just have to sit there and languish until either the energy or the necessity strike. Sigh.

 

Forgot that other people actually sleep after seven in the morning and tried to reach the housekeeper. Ended up leaving her a message. Think my house “grows” dust bunnies. At least they do not seem as vicious as they once were. They are somewhat tamer and less likely to attack, or so it seems. Still have not satisfied my desire about what to do with that bookcase in the back. Have a box of Scrabble—the game—that really needs a reinforced lid or something of that nature. Did ya know that boxes left on shelves for years have a tendency to deteriorate? Well, what other explanation can there be?

 

SO glad that the CD and DVD collection did not get pitched in the “give away” box! Found a CD with backup pictures on it and a tribute to my friend John Van Natta from his retirement. It included a picture of “Mr. D.” because he often came up to the school to have lunch with us. The students knew he was also responsible for helping out a few of them with their vehicles. My husband was a kind and generous man! Miss him so very much.

 

Here it is after 9:30 and the liver is cooked and put back into the fridge until yours truly feels like putting some in a pan and making lunch. Or not. May just refreeze most of it in Ziplock bags now that it is cooked. It will be an easy lunch on some days after the new microwave gets here. Did, however, manage to reheat my brunch on the stovetop this morning. Chicken and rice with a bit of cheese to make indigestion more interesting. Oh well. The two cups of coffee probably had something to do with that, as well. Trying to remember when indigestion was not a problem in my life. Funny. Can’t remember when it was not.

 

Need to go down and actually get the mail sometime today. Know a couple of things are in the box that need to be brought to the house. Wish there were such a thing as home delivery for mail the way some folks used to have up in Faith Village and other places. We were a rural route for years until the city decided to include us in their tax base. It did not improve anything until they put in new water lines and a sewer system. Have lived here 53 years and have had three different addresses while here—in the same house! So much for government bureaucracy.

 

Got on FB long enough to wish my nephew Terry a happy birthday, but also saw a very distressing post about grand nephew Jacob. Poor little man has some major problems—sepsis from some infection. Only God can help him, but we need to pray for the doctors, nurses, and his parents. Rachelle is a brave woman who would stand and fight a circle saw for her little boy! May God bless them.

 

Washed a couple of loads of laundry. The “mud mat” that Roger and Susan Thonton gave me is so durable and nice to keep the kitchen floor from getting all kinds of crud on it. But it, too, has to be washed once in a while. So today the saddle blanket used by my desk, the mud mat, the heavy green towel for Sylvia’s crate, and a few other things made up a big load for the washer. It took two cycles to get those things dry, but now they are folded and ready to put back on the floor if the housekeeper manages to get here today. She has a little guy who has to have a baby sitter so that she can work. She has no idea how much she is appreciated in this house! Just keeping things up off the floor makes a difference. Yours truly does not mop or vacuum, but de-cluttering has helped the house in my estimation.

 

Read a story about one of the boys who has been coming here for tutorials. Had heard it before and thought about how much that family had been blessed by God and by others that were given the love to share with them. Then read about how one of the boys scolded a friend of his for being disrespectful toward a parent. It does not take long for young people to learn that they need to give that respect no matter what. These boys are blessed to have such good and caring parents. The world would be a better place if more parents could be as good as these are.

 

Talked to my friend Barbara today. She has some major issues with her back and can’t even bend over. It makes me thankful that bending over is not my issue. But then we both got to laughing about getting down and having to have something to hold onto in order to get back up. The “rising cow” position is hilarious if one has that sort of humor. But then there is the “what else can I do while down here” situation, as well. Could always put some cleaning cloths in my back pocket and carry around a bottle of cleaning spray if it ever comes down to it. Or not.

 

Think those little iron doo bobs that my daddy used to weld can have a position on the top shelf of the bookcase in the back room. That sounds like a project worth doing in a bit. So, will just tell you guys that we need to pray for those in the battles with fires. Pray for the firemen, the families, and the wildlife in those forests. May God bless them with safety. Pray for rain.

 

Rest well and find joy in this life. It is worth counting among our blessings. You are loved.