I was just looking back at last November's posts, and remembered that I tried to blog about something that I was thankful for on each day in November last year. I've started a bit late, but I'll try to get in the Thanksgiving Spirit before the big day by doing the same exercise this year.
Lately I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed. It seems that I can never finish the projects that I set out to do, because 3 more fall into my lap. Little by little, however, things ARE getting finished. On Saturday, the girls and I got all but one of the garden beds weeded and covered in a thick layer of leaves. Yesterday, JP and I got the chicken fence rearranged, giving our "keeper flock" an enormous area of fresh green grass to scratch through. This morning, my parents, the girls and I butchered the remaining 6 old hens. The girls and I, on J's day off from school today, got the last bit of shopping done for J's birthday bash next Saturday.
Check, check, check.
So what am I thankful for today? I think mostly I'm thankful for a light at the end of the tunnel! We have just over a week to go until there is a nice long break from school for both girls. I don't anticipate getting lots of things done during that break, but I am looking forward to being able to slow down.
Also, today I am thankful for my Mom. Today is her 69th birthday, so my parents came over tonight for cake, ice cream and tea. We went out for dinner at Red Lobster yesterday in her honor as well. I wouldn't be working if she weren't here to help out with school and childcare for the girls. I'm also glad to have her so close so that I can get her opinion about a myriad of things every day.
How about you? What are you thankful for today?
Showing posts with label parents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parents. Show all posts
Monday, November 12, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Mother's Day
JP got me a lovely cobalt blue enameled cast iron pot for Mother's Day. It is just like Le Creuset, only about $200 cheaper. Now I'm going to practice lifting it until I build up huge biceps.
The girls spent the afternoon making a pop-up Mother's Day card, which is adorable.
I spent the afternoon with my Mother. We had a nice lunch at a tiny bakery on the creek. Then we examined her flower beds in the drizzle. I am so grateful on a daily basis that my parents are our closest neighbors. Partly, I'm grateful for my girls' sake: I wish that I had the opportunity as they do, to grow up near my Grandparents. Mostly, it's just nice to know that there is someone else up here on the ridge for company and advice.
This week I spent a long time with a woman who was recently given news of major medical issues. The woman vacillated between wishing she never had testing done, stating that she just wanted to "give up", and hoping that she would be around for her Granddaughter's wedding.
That experience made me think (again) how temporary everything is. These people around me, that I love so much, are here for a short time. It's my job to make the most of it all.
So Mom, in case I don't tell you enough, I love you. I enjoy having you as such an integral part of my life. Thank you for all you do in loving and caring for me and my family. Happy, happy Mother's Day.
Don't forget to tell the ones you love how much they mean to you...you can never say it too many times!
The girls spent the afternoon making a pop-up Mother's Day card, which is adorable.
I spent the afternoon with my Mother. We had a nice lunch at a tiny bakery on the creek. Then we examined her flower beds in the drizzle. I am so grateful on a daily basis that my parents are our closest neighbors. Partly, I'm grateful for my girls' sake: I wish that I had the opportunity as they do, to grow up near my Grandparents. Mostly, it's just nice to know that there is someone else up here on the ridge for company and advice.
This week I spent a long time with a woman who was recently given news of major medical issues. The woman vacillated between wishing she never had testing done, stating that she just wanted to "give up", and hoping that she would be around for her Granddaughter's wedding.
That experience made me think (again) how temporary everything is. These people around me, that I love so much, are here for a short time. It's my job to make the most of it all.
So Mom, in case I don't tell you enough, I love you. I enjoy having you as such an integral part of my life. Thank you for all you do in loving and caring for me and my family. Happy, happy Mother's Day.
Don't forget to tell the ones you love how much they mean to you...you can never say it too many times!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Oh, by the way...
My parents' house is well on its way to being a real house. The basement went in last week in just 3 or 4 hours.
The Superior Walls are made of concrete, and poured off site. They were brought in by a semi, which had to be pushed up the last quarter of our driveway by the excavator. Each segment was lifted off by a crane,
and set into place.
Then each one was glued with a special adhesive, and bolted top and bottom to the next piece.
It didn't take long for the entire hexagon to be formed. I think it came in 12 segments.
This is the back side of the house, where the garage will be.
On Friday, in the freezing mist, my parents helped to unload 2 semis filled with parts of their house. It was so muddy, that our old friend, the Lull, was having trouble getting up the drive to deliver to the building site. There are several stacks of wrapped packages at the bottom of the drive. They have all been inventoried my my parents with the assistance of their Kuhn's Brothers representative.
Today, JP spent several hours in the girls' room working on their hidey hole. I mentioned earlier that I would post pictures, so here they are! The closet looks like any other ordinary closet...
...until closer inspection! We asked the builder to leave the space under the stairs open. Part of it is one of the girls' closets, and part of it is our game closet in the Family Room. The girls are so happy with their little space, and have been very eager to share it with their friends. JP finally had the chance to put electricity in there for lights, and covered the exposed insulation with crisp, white panelling. It is very cute!
It is supposed to freeze tonight, and snow tomorrow...lovely day for...soccer?
The Superior Walls are made of concrete, and poured off site. They were brought in by a semi, which had to be pushed up the last quarter of our driveway by the excavator. Each segment was lifted off by a crane,
and set into place.
Then each one was glued with a special adhesive, and bolted top and bottom to the next piece.
It didn't take long for the entire hexagon to be formed. I think it came in 12 segments.
This is the back side of the house, where the garage will be.
On Friday, in the freezing mist, my parents helped to unload 2 semis filled with parts of their house. It was so muddy, that our old friend, the Lull, was having trouble getting up the drive to deliver to the building site. There are several stacks of wrapped packages at the bottom of the drive. They have all been inventoried my my parents with the assistance of their Kuhn's Brothers representative.
Today, JP spent several hours in the girls' room working on their hidey hole. I mentioned earlier that I would post pictures, so here they are! The closet looks like any other ordinary closet...
...until closer inspection! We asked the builder to leave the space under the stairs open. Part of it is one of the girls' closets, and part of it is our game closet in the Family Room. The girls are so happy with their little space, and have been very eager to share it with their friends. JP finally had the chance to put electricity in there for lights, and covered the exposed insulation with crisp, white panelling. It is very cute!
It is supposed to freeze tonight, and snow tomorrow...lovely day for...soccer?
Monday, July 27, 2009
Visitors
I've been apprehensive about my parents living with us for the several months until their house is finished. I tend to be the "glass half empty" kind of person, who imagines the worst (when I used to go jogging as a young person, I would fill my time by imagining what would happen if I was struck by a passing car). While I realize that this experience has the potential of being very good, I have been worrying about all the things that can go wrong. I want my parents to feel comfortable here, but at the same time, the whole concept is pushing the limits of my own comfort zone. Don't get me wrong, I am THRILLED (as is the rest of the family) that my folks are going to be our next door neighbors. I grew up only seeing my grandparents every couple of years, so this is an incredible opportunity for the girls. I am also looking forward to gardening and preserving with my Mom, shared meals with my parents, and many other things.
Mom & Dad came out again this weekend with another load of stuff. Dad is having rotator cuff surgery tomorrow, and wanted to move some heavy things (this load was his wood working equipment and wood stoves) before he was unable to lift. He decided this time to erect a shed to store things in, so that we won't have to move it from the garage when we are finally able to clear it out, finish the floor, and at long last...park our vehicles in there! Mom, Dad and I worked on it together, with the girls running in, out and around, and erecting their own structures with found sticks and pieces of scrap wood. First Dad flattened out a spot with the tractor.
...to this:
Mom & Dad came out again this weekend with another load of stuff. Dad is having rotator cuff surgery tomorrow, and wanted to move some heavy things (this load was his wood working equipment and wood stoves) before he was unable to lift. He decided this time to erect a shed to store things in, so that we won't have to move it from the garage when we are finally able to clear it out, finish the floor, and at long last...park our vehicles in there! Mom, Dad and I worked on it together, with the girls running in, out and around, and erecting their own structures with found sticks and pieces of scrap wood. First Dad flattened out a spot with the tractor.
Then it went from this:
...to this:With lots of this in between.
It ended up being a fun project. I really like to see things go from pieces into a finished product, that's partly why I enjoy sewing. It was hard work, and all of us got cuts and bruises (Wow! I know I was sore on Saturday night, can you imagine how my retirement-age parents felt??), but it was enjoyable to work together on this project. This weekend finally gave me the sense that everything was going to work out alright. We might have our occasional minor injuries, but the final product will be strong and good.
In other news, the builders finished the entrance last week. They are pouring the final bit of concrete as I write. I need to ask the builder how much concrete they used in this project.
My parent's septic went in. This is the guys unloading the tank to put into a huge hole behind the truck.
I finally got one of my hummingbird feeders up. Within a couple of hours, we had our first visitors!
As for the other visitors...the rodent ones...the exterminators were out last week and left nasty stuff around for them. The night scrabbling sounds have diminished, but not completely disappeared, and if the smell in the girls' rooms is what I think it is, at least one has perished. Hmmm.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
"God bless us, everyone!"
We have had a busy weekend! My parents arrived on Saturday afternoon with a trailer load of lawn and snow removal equipment. They signed a contract of sale on their house in Central PA on Friday with an anticipated closing date of Sept. 26th. We had originally expected them to join us on the hill in early Spring, but this means they will be here by Fall. Dad will attempt to get the house under roof before Winter begins in earnest, so that he can work inside through the cold months. We have been trying to anticipate them joining us as we move into our house...trying to find the line between filling our space and giving them theirs. JP helped unload the trailer using the front end loader as a hoist.
My Uncle, my Dad's younger brother, drove with his wife on their three wheeled motorcycle today, and joined us for lunch and the afternoon. He was here when we first cleared the property, but before we did any of the improvements, so was eager to see the changes.
This morning, Dad and I watched the group of male turkeys in our yard. They have been around nearly every day for the past week or so. 4 males who meander through the property, stopping every now and then to peck at bugs or to take a dust bath.
The guy with the longest beard is a bit gimpy, so we've named him "Tiny Tim". You can see his swollen leg in this picture.
It is fantastic to sit on the deck in the morning and hear nothing but bird songs, and be able to watch a flock of wild turkeys make themselves at home in my yard. J caught a preying mantis today, and then caught grasshoppers for it to eat, and watched in awe as it did just that. It is even more fantastic to know that my daughters will grow up in this environment.
This week brings another round of repair men...cooktop tomorrow, bathtub Tues. The excavators should be back this week to move ground for the final landscaping. Our builder anticipates finishing up in the house and pouring concrete in front of the garage and for our entrance stoop on Wed. or Thurs. This week also begins swimming lessons for the girls, L's first year. We will be busy, busy, busy!
My Uncle, my Dad's younger brother, drove with his wife on their three wheeled motorcycle today, and joined us for lunch and the afternoon. He was here when we first cleared the property, but before we did any of the improvements, so was eager to see the changes.
This morning, Dad and I watched the group of male turkeys in our yard. They have been around nearly every day for the past week or so. 4 males who meander through the property, stopping every now and then to peck at bugs or to take a dust bath.
The guy with the longest beard is a bit gimpy, so we've named him "Tiny Tim". You can see his swollen leg in this picture.
It is fantastic to sit on the deck in the morning and hear nothing but bird songs, and be able to watch a flock of wild turkeys make themselves at home in my yard. J caught a preying mantis today, and then caught grasshoppers for it to eat, and watched in awe as it did just that. It is even more fantastic to know that my daughters will grow up in this environment.
This week brings another round of repair men...cooktop tomorrow, bathtub Tues. The excavators should be back this week to move ground for the final landscaping. Our builder anticipates finishing up in the house and pouring concrete in front of the garage and for our entrance stoop on Wed. or Thurs. This week also begins swimming lessons for the girls, L's first year. We will be busy, busy, busy!
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