Sunny at Last!

I thought the rain would never end, but it did and today is beautiful. There is a lot of drying out that needs to be done around here. So..yesterday went very well. It was difficult for R but he got through it. Now we look forward to going to Florida. We'll leave here on Saturday afternoon and come back the following Saturday. Jim and Tommie are going with us so we should have a lot of fun. Nothing much going on here today. I'm doing laundry as usual and have things to put away from yesterday..dishes and such. R as gone for his yearly Drs. appointment and then to Walmart....

Rain, Rain and More Rain

Will it ever stop? So on Friday Joel packed up cds, movies, pictures and other things to take home. I cleaned up the kitchen and took over some things for today and we were going back yesterday to vacuum and set up the room. It wasn't going to take long. When we got home Mary called and R. talked to her. He asked her if she wanted the tv and she did and he told her she could have whatever she wanted but she would have to get them. I told him to tell her not until after today. So....we went over yesterday to see that she had taken the couch, chair and end tables. We were furious! Now we have nowhere to sit and she took pictures off the room making it look so cold. I brought in his chairs from the deck and put tray tables around and told R. that Mary and her family could just stand when they came. We called her and asked her what in the world she was thinking..oh well..what are you going to do. I just want today to be over with!!I'm thinking of asking someone to help me bag all of his clothes. I really want to ask Linda and I know she would do it, but I hate to ask her. I know Mary would help, but I really don't want her and, of course R. would help but he likes to look at every little item and it could take forever......later

Rainy and Chilly

Woke up to rain and then it stopped. I got breakfast for Joel and R. and Joel left shortly after 9. I immediately left for Kroger's. It started to sprinkle just as I got there but was pouring when I left. I got home and had to bring the groceries up the front since our garage door is on the fritz. A guy came yesterday and started work on it but had to leave to come back today. He is here now and working on it. When he finishes we need to go over to Richard's and vacuum and straighten up and I have bunches of things to take over. It really shouldn't take long to get it done. This stupid garage door repair is going to cost $500. The door and track are fine but the parts are shot. We got it at Lowes about 6 years ago. This guy said the parts were sub par. Oh well...we use this door all of the time! I made another dessert for tomorrow that Maggie told me about. I haven't tasted the whole thing but have tasted the parts as I put it together. It is a Giada recipe. Our visit with Joel was sweet but too short....later....

Joel for a day

Joel is coming in today and should arrive around noon. I did some cleaning this morning and started gathering things I need to take over to Richard's. I'll try to get as much action as I can from Joel since he'll leave tomorrow morning. I'll go over to the house with them and get them started carrying all of the books to the garage so I can have the Friends of the Library man take them away. It's supposed to rain all weekend so I want to get as much as I need over there today. Other than that it's a nice sunny day before the rains come. I'm having ribs for dinner tonight. I prepared them with their rub yesterday and will slow cook them in the oven this afternoon....later....

Baxter

Baxter has been here for the past 2 days. He came on Tuesday and was here on and off and I sent him home about 7. Yesterday afternoon he showed up again and was in and out. It started to rain about 4 and he was out but came in all wet so I dried him off intending to send him home in a bit when the rain stopped. It stopped and he went out, but just before I closed the gate it started to rain again and he came back in. It never really stopped so I let him stay the night. He slept all night and got up when I got up. I fed him and he went back to sleep and then went out to play with Gunner. He's back in now and his folks work and go to school so there is no use in sending him home now, but I will later this afternoon. Other than that, it is sunny but cool this morning. I need to pull out the ribs for tomorrow and put the rub on them which I'll wrap them and they'll be ready for a slow oven tomorrow...nothing much else going on here...later...Happy graduation from preschool to J.J. I got a sweet picture of him this morning all dressed up in a shirt and tie. He looked so grown up. He'll be 5 next week...

Crazy Dream!!

First of all I couldn't get to sleep which is very unusual for me. My mind was going around thinking of this weekend and Richard's memorial and what I had to do etc.,..finally I got up and had a glass of milk and came back to bed, but still couldn't get to sleep. Finally I did and was fighting a tiger that was trying to get into the house. I kept beating at him with a stick and then R. was telling me I was okay and that he was here. Then I did go back to sleep and continued to dream..I had been to Anne's and came home with some of her coffee cups and a book and was worried about Max turning to witch craft...I was relieved to get up. Went to the Chiropractor this morning and then picked up the cards for Sunday at Staples and stopped to get some ingredients for a recipe at Walmart. This afternoon I need to make the rub for the ribs I will have when Joel is here, wrap J.J.'s birthday gift and make the upstairs guest bed..maybe get in some reading...later....

Knoxville

R. was out of stuffed olives which I get at Publix so I decided to go there today. He wants to go along and I have other things I need. I'm going to get ribs and have them when Joel comes and I really like their hard rolls so will get some of those and make the ham and cheese sandwiches which I put in the frig and bake them as I want them. There is also a new Target Super Store where the publix is and I'll go there to get napkins for Sunday. Maggie made me hungry for beansoup so I put that on this morning. We had a lot of ham and a ham bone left from Easter. Another nice day before the rains come tomorrow....later....

Busy Week

I have lots to get done this week. We're having a little memorial afternoon next Sunday for Richard at his house for some of his friends. Today I'm going to Staples to get some memorial cards printed and have some pictures printed as well. I'll also need to give his house a quick cleanup and prepare food, get flowers, etc. Joel is coming down on Friday and I still don't have my annuals, but the week after next we go to Florida and I don't want to get the flowers and then not be here to water them. They'll be planted late this year. It's beautiful here today and will get into the 70s....later...

Watertown Drama

We spent most of yesterday watching the drama in Watertown. Glad it is over. Today Carol and I went for a walk in the Greenbelt. It was so nice to get out. It was chilly this morning, but warmed up nicely. We've had a good time just hanging out and catching up. We did take a drive after eating out for lunch on Thursday. It was beautiful and we drove up to the mountains. I'll miss her when she leaves tomorrow....later....

Senior Moments

Carol called the other day and asked if she could come on Thursday instead of Wednesday and leave a day later. I said that would be fine. I did my grocery shopping today and was starting to clean the great room when she called to tell me she was just a bit south of Chattanooga and would be here sometime this afternoon. I told her I thought she wasn't coming until Thursday and she forgot she had told me that. Of course I told her it was no problem, but I hadn't planned on anything for dinner tonight. R. went out and got a rotisserie chicken and picked up the wine which he was going to get tomorrow. She called back and said she would take us to dinner since she was coming a day early, but I told her we were all fine. It didn't take me long to finish cleaning. I had already cleaned her room upstairs. It will be good to see her. I likely won't post for the next few days. Right now it is really blowing out there which I don't like. I don't mind a nice breeze, but this is way more....later...

Here Comes the Sun

It's in my eyes as I type this. As soon as I take my shower I'll head upstairs to vacuum and clean the bathroom. This afternoon we'll put things back on the deck and get the fountain working. I have work to do on our table, but that is going to have to wait. We were saying yesterday and we need to be in a condo. There is just too much work around here for us to do easily. Hoping we don't get any of the storms that will crop up around the country this afternoon...later....

Chores

Got both deck cleaned and rinsed and now waiting for them to dry thoroughly before treating them. Was glad to see an Aussie win the Masters since Tiger didn't do it. Made a yummy shrimp Lo Mein for dinner last night. The sauce for it was really delicious. I'm waiting to go to eh library and get a few things at Kroger's but can't get out of my driveway. The city is here trimming trees that are interfering with utility wires. The laundry is done and I cleaned out my silverware drawer which was a mess and a few other things such as that. Reading a very good book by Marcia Clark..Guilt by Association. I think I've read her before, but it's been a while. I returned my one book that I had taken with me to Hilton Head..R. returned my others. When I got home and started this new book I couldn't fine my book mark that I love. Carol brought it to me a few years ago and it's made from a silver spoon. I was afraid I had left it in the book I returned so I called and Yes, I did. I need to go and pick it up...later.....

Chore Day

Started off the morning by beginning to change clothes closets from winter to summer. I'm 80 % finished and will be oh so happy when it's all done. R. is going to start doing the decks today..power washing them . IWe'll be watching The Masters this afternoon. I always want Tiger to win and that won't change. R really likes Tiger, but he always roots for some underdog. I'm glad the Chinese boy didn't get cut! Now..back to the salt mines.....

Storms are Over

We really only got a lot of rain. It got very calm but never really windy. It's all over now. we did have a tornado watch and some areas near us had damaging winds, etc. Today it's chilly..in the 50s now but up to 66 this afternoon and then back to the 70s. We're going to Knoxville for several things and tomorrow we'll do the decks and I'll bring up my summer clothes.....later...

Yard Work

Doing some yard work before the storms come in this evening. The weekend is supposed to be nice so I'm hoping we can power wash both decks and then treat them when they get try. I'm hoping we won't have strong storms, but they are a possibility. I need to go to the library this afternoon..I'm fresh out of reads. Not much else going on. We did watch Duck Dynasty last night. Anne and the kids got me somewhat hooked last week. R. was resistant, but he did laugh, so maybe he's okay with it...later....

Birds Chirping, Sun Shining...Happy Me...

Went to the chiropractor this morning and did the upstairs beds when I got home. Not sure what the rest of the day will bring, but I think I'm going to start putting my winter things away. That will be a sure sign for cold weather to come back but I like to get that overwith. Storms are expected tomorrow night..hoping they aren't too strong. Baxter spent the night and is here today. He just goes in and out and Gunner also in and out....later....

Spring is Here

We both got a lot done yesterday. I did laundry and also changed our bed from flannel sheets to summer ones and washed all of the bedding..also did the upstairs beds and towels. Carol is coming next Wednesday. Jim and Tommie brought us a plant and I planted that and arranged for Richard's grass to continue being cut. R. made tons of phone calls cancelling his car insurance and dealing with some of his other bills. We went to the house and met John. He took all of the food from the kitchen as well as some utensils and I gave his kids some games that Richard had there for when they came over and we gave them some other pictures, etc. Joel and Tim really need to come down and get some things that Richard would want them to have...family pictures, letters, etc. Richard is having a hard time about just giving things to Habitat or Salvation Army but felt better knowing John and his kids have something that will remind them of Richard. I'm going to take a few things as well for around here. R has just gone over to the house to meet the guy who is taking the hospital bed away...later...

Nice Weather

Two days in a row of nice weather in Tennessee...a rarity this year. WE have tons to do around here. Our deck needs power washing and then treating, the grass was mowed last week but lots of stuff to do in the flower beds. I did clean most of them out but need to do more. Soon we'll need to get our annuals. I'm not going to do as much this year and I haven't decided what to plant in front of our front stoop. I have planted marigolds for the last two years because the rabbits don't eat those, but they didn't do well last year. They were beautiful the year before. We're meeting John at Richard's house this afternoon to plan the memorial and to look around and see what we have to do. I know we'll be getting rid of his books and I think I'll donate them to the library. Tim wants us to box up his cds and movies. We really don't have room to store them here. I think I'll call Habitat for Humanity to take most of his furniture. The clothes will go to Salvation Army. Looks like we'll be dealing with the house for several months. Neither of the teams I was rooting for last night won and I'm not looking forward to the game tomorrow..may not even watch...later...

I'm Back!

In case you didn't know..R convinced me to go to Hilton Head with Anne and the kids.  I really felt I should be here for him, but he insisted he would be fine and he was.  I talked to him every day and he seemed okay.  Maizy was here with him and he really loved having her.  Gunner came over at least once a day and often more to play.  Maizy loved that I I'm sure she will miss all of that.  We had a great time in Hilton Head and I so enjoyed the time with my grandchildren who I don't see enough of.  The weather was really nice in spite of the predictions.  We had sun every day except for the day we lefso that was perfect. We did the beach every day and also went on a Dolphin tour and saw a lot.  On Thursday we left Hilton Head for Clemson where Madison was checking that out for college.  She liked it.  Because of all of her credits for her AP classes she will likely be just 2 hours short of being a sophomore!  After her Clemson Tour we drove back here.  It was a 3 hour and 30 minute drive.  They just now left for Cincy...I'll really miss them!!!  Today R. is meeting the Charter guy at Richard's house to disconnect his tv, etc.  We have decided that we will have a small get together/memorial for Richard's friends down here.  It will be at his house probably next week sometime.  The weather has FINALLY turned springlike.  I'll be thinking of flowers and such.  Jack was here last week to mow the grass.  I'll try to get back in the groove....later....