A long afternoon of cleaning

 

Thursday

I laid in bed, waiting for one of the alarms. I never heard one, but when I got up, it was after 8:30. I completed only part of the morning list, then went to the chapel for Bible Study. We read a chapter of Genesis, then talked about it and other things. We said a prayer. I left with Wendy, talking about the sewing project for Saturday. She agreed to bring balloons.

When I got home, I put the sewing pattern on my thumb drive. Then I went to the library to print it out. I drove around the neighborhood looking for the plastic tray that blew away in the storm yesterday. It didn't get far, but was hard to spot because it is clear.

I went home for breakfast. After eating, I packed cleaning supplies in the car and met Isadora at a house on first street. We cleaned all afternoon, covering the entire house. Then I took her home. I chatted with Michelle. As I was leaving, the lady asked how much she owed us. I texted the lady our fee, then went home.

I made supper and ate. She came by with cash. After I finished supper, I counted the cash and saw there was a tip. I split the cash and tip, figured out how much each of us should get, then put Isadora's share in an envelop. I went to the garden and watered. I chatted with Revonna and her daughter. Then I went to see Isadora – but no one seemed to be home.

I went to my home. I practiced, then made tea. I read online for a bit and worked on my blog before going to bed.

Thunderstorm

 

Wednesday

I got up before 7:30. Chris had already left for work. I prepared for meditation morning with exercises etc. I read for half an hour with the red light. I did four rounds of tapping and meditation. I cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen. I washed dishes. I mopped and vacuumed. I went outside to water.

Chris came home to get ready for his trip. I guess he was checking in online. I laid out in the sun for a bit, then got ready for a steam session. He went to pick up John and Michele. I took a shower. I read e-mail. I ate yogurts and added the remaining milk to some of them. Those went into the dehydrator.

I went back to reading messages. I saw a bunch of them showing Fauci pleading the 5^th to every question. I made and ate egg salad.

Jenni called to invite me to water aerobics at 6:30. So after a bit, I put on my suit and pulled out a clean towel. I drove to the pool. She was already there. We walked around and did exercises. I swear she made some of them up. Then, Michelle, Casey and Cedric came to the pool. We swam and talked until the storm clouds brought lightning. Then the lifeguard cleared the pool. Jenni and I grabbed our towels and we all headed for the parking lot. I had planned to go to the garden to water, but it was no longer necessary.

When I got home, I changed into dry clothes. I settled in front of my laptop. I cleared enough e-mail to get down to 1145. I worked on my blog. I watched sewing videos and got an idea for a project. Then I went to bed.

Field trip for Doug

 

Tuesday

I got up before 7:30. No pain. After Sudoku, I went through my morning list. I went to the garden to water the outside edges. I mowed the side yard, then practiced hymns. I mowed other side. It was easier to drag the mower than to push it.

Someone called wanting underwear for an emergency. I went through my old ones and pulled out the best. I also threw in a Depends because I could not find pads. She met me at the swap shop and I gave her the bag. Then I checked my mail and went home.

I made and ate breakfast. I checked e-mail.

At two I went to pick up Doug. Doug is an alien about 3 to 4 feet tall. Doug was fragile. Gary put him in my back seat. Then I went to the library to ask Keli if her husband could fix my mower. She said yes. I also thanked Melissa for letting me borrow her mower.

I picked up Cedric and we went to the swap shop. I took pics of him in his gopher-like outfit and of Doug. We laid Doug in the back seat. I wanted to go through the gate with Doug in the back seat. Cedric was not up for it, but Isadora was. So he got out and she got in. We drove to the church off post, then decided to photograph Doug there. We stood him up in front of the front doors. Then we put him back in the back seat and came back through the front gate. I showed my card to the guard, and he glanced in the back seat but didn't say anything. As we drove out, it occurred to me that we could have pointed to the alien and said 'he forgot his ID'. Isadora was all for turning around and going through again, but the moment had passed. We put Doug back where I got him. I took Isadora home.

Back at home, I took the mower to the garage next door. I rolled it inside and shut the door. I went home and read articles online. I ate some frozen mango to cool off. I cleaned an empty water jug with soap and hot water and hydrogen peroxide. It seemed to get the green out.

I walked to post office to unlock the swap shop. MeryAnn drove up with donations just as I left. I read online, then Chris came home. I ate supper and read e-mail. I went to the garden to water and weed. Ironically, the sprinkler had full power.

I went home and read more e-mail. I locked the swap shop, then worked on my blog. I made tea, and we watched TV. I looked up the actors. I looked for a more robust alien. But I did not find what I was looking for. I also looked for silicon masks or a pattern for a stretchy mask that encases the head. Nope.

Finally I went to bed.

Filming and mowing

 

Monday

I got up at 7, hearing Chris and our guests. I felt the pain in my side again. I went through the morning list. I talked to our guests before they left, then watered the outdoor plants and some grass. I looked up hymns and music memes.

I went to the library to make large copies of music for band. I asked Melissa if I could borrow her mower. She texted her daughter to leave it outside. When I got home, I made breakfast and ate it. I hardboiled eggs. I went next door to get the mower. I mowed some shady yard and the front yard and it was really hard to push.

I went to Michelle's house for the full size Buc-ees costume. She decided to come along. We went to the swap shop for filming. The CSM was there. Eryne came with two girls. We chatted, came up with some ideas and did some filming. They left.

I went home for a drink, then Tara showed up. We did some more filming. I went home for supper. Chris came home for his supper. I went to band. It was just Jenni, but then Keli showed up, so we played the hymns again.

We went home. I read e-mail and had some fruit. I went to garden to weed and water and fertilize. When I got home, I worked on my blog. I made tea and watched TV. I read the latest e-mail, then went to bed.

Mysterious pain

 

Sunday

I got up early because my side hurt so much I couldn't go back to sleep. I had a hard time getting out of bed. I made my way to Chris' workstation. I asked him to look at my side and see if there was a bruise. There was no discoloration. I had him rub some IcyHot on it and I took some curcumin. I took a shower. Raising my leg to get in the tub told me that it was a sore muscle issue. But the hot water helped.

I went through my morning list in the kitchen slowly. Chris had made oatmeal for our guests. I practiced and watered the plants inside and out. Moving was still painful.

John and Michele came over to take our guests to Salt Lake City to see the aviary. I went to the garden to water what the sprinkler won't reach. I noticed that the first water out of the hose was quite hot. I waited for it to cool before I aimed it at the garden.

When I got back, I read some e-mail, then made cheese squares. I made and ate breakfast. Then I got ready for church.

I went to the chapel with cheese squares. Leaving them in the back, I went up front to assemble the trombone I leave in the front row. I chatted with people, then the chaplain started the service (with hymns because the praise song video equipment wasn't working). We greeted each other afterward, then prayer and scripture. The chaplain wrapped up Ephesians and gave an overview of Philippians. Then the band played 2 hymns and he gave a benediction.

After the service, we talked about future hymns. I talked to John, too. Then we closed the church. I took my cheese squares home.

I checked e-mail and ate the rest of breakfast. John and Michele and our guests came back early. Gary came over to see the riding mower. He pumped up the tires and jumped the battery. Then he paid me and drove it home. Jenni came over to see what my house looks like clean. Thankfully she didn't make a big fuss about how different it was.

Most people napped while I read online. I looked up Psalm 91 and picked some hymns from the list. I already had the first one, but had to make notes for a copy of the second one. I made tea for kombucha. I ran to the garden to switch from soaker hose to sprinkler. I also changed the time. If I can't get full pressure at any time, I might as well water early just like it is recommended.

We all got ready and headed out in two cars. We drove to an Indian restaurant in Tooele. Our favorite one was not open, so we went to a different one. It was good, but not as good. There wasn't much ambiance. Chris and Susan ordered the coconut lamb and it was the best choice.

When we got home, I read e-mail. Susan and Alan must have gone to Michele's house for awhile. When they arrived, they retired to their room to pack for tomorrow. I listened to James Corbett, and then worked on my blog. I read articles and such till after 11. I went to bed feeling fine, until I laid down. Then the side pain returned.

Fun with Susan and Alan

 

Saturday

I got up before 7:30. I heard Chris moving around. I didn't hear our guests who were going to get up at 6:30. I went to the kitchen to make oatmeal, but Chris already had. I did the morning list except for practicing.

I thought Michele was taking them out for the day, but they changed their plans. They ate breakfast while I ate yogurt. I put the jar of reuteri back in the dehydrator since it was still liquidy.

They wanted to look from elevation so we took them to the pass and stopped at the top. They walked around and read the sign about Lincoln Hwy. When we came back to post, we stopped at the commissary. She really liked the size of it. We took the food home and I walked to the swap shop with them. She found a book for her grandkids.

When we got back, Chris set out sandwich fixings for them and I made breakfast for me. Michele and John came over. Later she left with them to help hang pictures. He read on the couch in the living room. I ate the second and third parts of breakfast, then read e-mail. I went to the garden to fix another leak in the soaker hose. It then worked well, but wasn't long enough to reach everything. In conjunction with the sprinkler, it might have done enough but because of sharing water pressure, it didn't work. I watered the edges and went home.

I read e-mail and listened to video clips. Chris finished his game. He worked on cooking pork chops in some kind of sauce. Michele and John brought Susan back. Susan set the table while Chris finished up the side dishes. Then we sat down to eat.  After supper, we conversed.

When I realized what time it was, I jumped up and got ready for Project Night. I went to open the chapel and turned on the lights, etc. I played the piano and then rested. Jenni walked in first. We talked for just a moment when Michele and John arrived with Susan. So then we all went to the fellowship hall. We each worked on a project. The conversation was lovely. Then at 9, we packed up and left. I turned off the lights and locked the chapel.

John dropped off his mother at our house, just as I got there. She went in the back so I sat down at my laptop to work on my blog and read e-mail. When I finally stood up, my side hurt and it felt like I had bumped into a table. I went to bed, and could not lay on my side – only my back. It occurred to me that it could be a kidney infection or an infected ovary. I laid quietly until I fell asleep.

The other set of parents

 

Friday

I had not slept well, so I got up about 8. After Sudoku, I went through the morning list. We put the bed back together. Chris laundered the sheets.

I ran through the newest e-mail. I cleaned and decluttered. I called Isadora and she said she could come after lunch. I made and ate breakfast. Isadora showed up and I had her clean the front porch, including the siding.

I vacuumed and picked up clutter in the main living areas. She finished and I paid her. She went home. I went back to cleaning and decluttering. Later Michelle came over to see what I had done. She looked around and said everything was fine. I didn't believe her.

After 4, I went to the garden to mend the hose, but then other leaks popped up. I took some stuff to the swap shop, then locked it up. It was just after 5 when I got home. Chris said Susan and Alan were going to stop at Michele and John's house first, then they would all come here. So I cleaned until they arrived. We greeted them. They were tired of riding the car, so we took a walk around the block.

John and Michele had brought a shepherd's pie casserole. Chris put out a dish of fresh snow peas. We sat around the table and had dinner. Michele and John left around 9. The rest of us kept talking. Alan went to bed. Then three of us were talking. When I realized it was after midnight, I pointed it out. Then Chris and Susan went to bed and I stayed up to blog.

Filming the alien scene

 

Thursday

I got up at 7:30. After Sudoku, I went through the morning list. I prepared a bottle of water and went to the chapel for Bible study. We read and discussed chapter 34 of Genesis. A really heavy read. Yikes. Then we closed in prayer. Some ladies left, but Eryne came up with the idea of having a Gopher Fun run in September.

I went home to grab tape and scissors and zip ties. I took them to the garden to fix the leak in the soaker hose. It took a lot of wrapping and tape, and I thought I had it fixed.

I went home to make up a week's worth of supplements and then eat breakfast and watch The Highwire.

Two men came to fix the toilet seat. All they had were the cheap plastic replacements. They said they could order a wooden one. So I asked them to exchange the seat in the hall bath with the one in the master bath since we are having company this weekend.

I cleaned up more clutter. I put together a working lamp in the guest room. I tried to filter out the small pieces of walnuts from the debris at the bottom of the bag. Using my salad spinner basket got the bigger pieces. But there was no good way to sort out the little chunks. I broke down boxes and threw out packing paper. I messaged with Faye and we brainstormed ideas for the swap shop movie.

At 4:30 I went to the swap shop to film the alien scene. Gary wasn't there yet so I moved things around to make the place look better as a background. He arrived with the alien costume, then went home for batteries. When he got back, I helped him get in the costume. We did three or 4 takes till it seemed right. He said to keep all the takes in case we have to patch the best parts together. A man came in just as we were leaving, so I let him look around and get what he wanted before I locked it up.

I went home and found Chris having supper. He said Michele was wanting to hang pics so I called her. She wanted nails. Then I was about to sit down to supper when I realized it was 6:30. I jumped in the car and went to Self-Help to give the clerk a gopher skull ball as a thank you gift for stopping by my house last week to get the mower running. He seemed to really like it. We talked till 7, then I left so he could close up. I went to Michele's house to drop off my picture-hanging kit. She didn't want to invite me in, saying it would be cleaner tomorrow.

So then I went to the garden to re-route the soaker hose and run water through it. But the patch leaked badly. I am not sure the water got to the end of the hose. Sigh. I ran the oscillating sprinkler too, and still not enough water pressure to hit the whole garden. So I had to water parts by hand.

When I got home, I ate supper and watched New World Next Week. Then I worked on my blog and made tea. We watched an episode of Criminal Minds. I read Telegram messages. Chris went to bed. I picked up a few things in the living room. Chris came back out for something and I asked him to plug in the lamp in the guest room since his arms are longer than mine. So he did. But for some reason he wanted to move the bed from the wall. He pulled on the footboard and the bed fell apart. He stood the mattress and boxspring on end, then fiddled with the side rail until the metal piece was in the right place. Then we left it for the next day.

The new hose doesn't work any better than the old one.

 

Wednesday

I got up at 7:30. I prepared for coffee morning. I did 4 rounds of tapping and meditation. I cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen. I did some vacuuming and I mopped the kitchen floor.

I went to the post office for mail and to open the swap shop. When I got home, I took a steam session in the sauna, then took a shower. I rested, then ate some yogurt. I dozed off in the recliner.

Then I looked at music memes for a bit before going to the library to get books. I ended up talking to Melissa for an hour.  Then I locked the swap shop.  When I got home, I cleaned some more clutter.

 I went to the garden with Chris to re-do my watering system. I needed him to loosen tight connections.  I hoped to find a time of better water pressure, but it was not to be. I brought a new soaker hose, but when I hooked it up, the water leaked out before it reached the end of the hose. I pondered how it could be patched.

When I got back, I made tea. We watched one episode of Criminal Minds. I looked up some of the actors and why they left. That went into other aspects of the show, like how unrealistic it was, how many rules were violated, etc. Finally I finished my blog post and went to bed.

Wasp nest

 

Tuesday

I got up before 7:30. After Sudoku, I started on the morning list. I watered the plants and reset the traps. I went to the garden at 9 to watch the sprinkler come on. It was not at full power. So after the sprinkler was done, I ran the water through the soaker hose. I pulled weeds and watered the edges of the garden. I tried the sprinkler again at 9:30 and it still wasn't full power.

When I got home, I looked at music memes online. I ate yogurt and read with the red light. I ate fiber gel and read outside, finishing the book. I made and ate breakfast. I walked to the post office to get the mail. I spent the afternoon clearing up clutter in the pantry and mud room.

Chris came home from work and put fish in the oven for me. He got rid of a wasp nest that seemed to have grown overnight in the door of the shed. He got caught by the sprinklers coming on just before 7. That's new.

I ate supper and read e-mail. I texted Michelle that I had a vacuum that needed throwing away. Chris talked to me about retirement and other things. I took coffee grounds and compost to the garden. After spreading them around, I tried the sprinkler. It was still not at full power.

When I got home, I worked on my blog, then made tea. We watched TV. I looked up some of the actors, then read through more e-mail. Finally I went to bed.

Sprinklers are now two hours early

 

Monday

I got up at 7:30. I did Sudoku and the morning list. I reset the traps, since none were caught. I picked hymns for next Sunday. I practiced them, then ate yogurt. I took two flats of jars to Jenni.

When I got back, I posted for band. I ate fiber gel, read online, then made and ate breakfast. I walked to the post office for the mail. There was a heavy box, so I walked home and drove back for the box of nuts. Then I went to library to make copies and do some filming. I went to Emily's office, too, but she was busy.

I went home and cleared some e-mail. I also cleared some clutter (not that you'd notice). I read for a bit, then went back to Emily. We discussed the movie and the swap shop. I saw Gary and asked him to be the alien. He agreed. I went to commissary to get milk. Dominic talked to me about the food donation bags.

I took the milk home and put it in the fridge. I jotted notes, then picked up some clutter. I cleared a wider path through the front hallway. I hung a wallhanging in the guest room.

I ate fiber gel, read for a bit, then ate cheese squares with avocado dip for supper. I was tired of the chili. Chris came home. I went to band at the chapel. We played through the hymns and prayed for the lady in the accident on Friday. I went home – noting that the sprinklers were on. 2 hours early.

We went to fill the jugs with water. I called Michele to find out what her m-i-l likes to eat, when to eat, etc. She didn't know, but said the lady isn't picky. I went to the garden to water the ends which the sprinkler isn't covering. Casey was there and I talked to him. He said he has a big squash already. Sigh. When I got home, I made tea and we watched TV. I looked up some of the actors. I went to bed around 11.

Armour of God

 

Sunday

I got up at 8 and did some Sudoku, then started the morning list. I watered the plants inside and out. I reset the gopher traps, with hope. I listened to the three praise songs that Keli sent. I ate yogurt and read a book for quite awhile. I ate fiber gel, then read online until noon. I made and ate breakfast, then got ready for church.

When I got to the chapel, I put the cheese squares in the back. I went up front to assemble my trombone. I warmed up. I noticed very low attendance, like last week. The chaplain gave his sermon about putting on the armour of God. He had actual pieces on a table up front and invited the kids (all 2 of them) to come up. After the sermon, the band played two hymns. We talked some, then I went home with all my cheese squares still in the container.

I finished breakfast, read e-mail, then changed clothes. I went to mop the swap shop and scrub marks off the floor. I came home just in time for the game. We took a walk with John and Michele. When we got back, I worked on blog, then went to the garden. Sadly the sprinkler was not covering the garden so that means someone is using water at the same time. Sigh.

When I got home, I made tea. We watched TV, then put laundry away. I read online till 11. Then we went to bed.

Sewing class

 

Saturday

I got up at 8:30. Chris left for Mass. I started the morning list. When Chris got home, he took my car out for a ride and decided it was running fine. I watered the grass and gopher tunnels and plants. I uninstalled and rebooted several times. But it kept downloading updates even though I told it to pause updates for a week. I decided the only solution was to stop my screen from going to sleep because that's when the green sparkles show up.

I put some yeast and sugar and water in a bowl to rise. Chris gave me a coconut oil massage. I took a shower. I looked up a hamburger bun recipe. But he found a beer bread recipe and Michele wanted beer buns. I converted my yeast mixture to the beer bread recipe, and used the leftovers for onion bread (to use up the onion juice).

I made and ate breakfast. I made flat rolls from the dough. By the time I got them in the oven, I had to leave. So I left instructions for Chris to take them out.

I went to the chapel for sewing class. The kids were already inside because the door hadn't shut properly after Mass. I showed them the owl and they picked their fabrics. They passed around the templates, traced and cut. I had to help Jedediah with sewing, both on machine and by hand. The others did pretty well. I forgot my phone so Saronna let me take pictures with her phone. Wilhelm hadn't finished by 4, so he decided to take his home and glue the bottom on. I cleaned up a little, we all walked out.

I went home to get my camera and the alien costumes, I went to the swap shop . It was quite a mess. The Clark's arrived and we cleaned up and took some footage. Moira got out one of the costumes, but it was too big. After they left, I vacuumed.

I went home at 6 to have a bite of supper. I talked to John and Michele. They decided not to attend Project Night. I brought in the doll that Michele had so long ago. As she looked it over, I had to leave for the chapel.

No one was there and I forgot to advertise it, so I started packing up the sewing machines from earlier. But then Jenni came with some mending to do. We talked while she sewed. Then we packed up. We rescued the table that has been left in the kitchen since VBS. There was a dead mouse in a trap under it. I threw it out. I texted Bryce about the blood left on the floor and a bad tile in the fellowship hall.

Michelle had called earlier about a tree that fell in her driveway. She wanted me to see it. So I stopped by the garden, then went to her house. It had been sawed into pieces by then. It would have damaged her car if it had hit. We talked.

I went home. I made tea and we watched TV. We dressed the bed. I looked for her lamb online and she sent me a place to order a doll like the one Michele had. I worked on my blog and went to bed.

The filming begins

 

Friday

I got up at 8:30, and started my morning list. I watered and set traps. I finished the reuteri yogurt. I uninstalled an update and restarted my computer.

I went to the post office to take video clips. Shelly's granddaughter helped me clean the hallway and furniture room. I filmed Shelly. Jenni came to help. I filmed her in multiple takes before I figured out what I was doing. I refilmed Shelly, then filmed the post office people.

At noon, I went home for breakfast. We went to the commissary, and then to Tooele. We had to wait behind an accident in the pass. A helicopter came to take the injured. Later we shopped at Melanies and Macey's We drove, back to base. There was a package on the front porch. I watched videos, then ate supper. Chris went to gaming at ACS.

I prepared for game night and put on the new shoes that Michelle had recommended. I stopped by the garden for a few minutes. About to leave, I noticed Michele and John going for a walk. I drove to them and we chatted.

I proceeded to Michelle's house and called her. She came home from next door. We talked. We brought in the tower and put up the game. Indiana went in circles, so didn't get far. We kept talking the whole time.

I left around midnight. I worked on my blog and went to bed.

Owl project

 

Thursday

I got up before 7:30. I worked on Sudoku. I went through the morning list. I went outside to water. Both traps were sprung, but nothing caught. The trap that I colored with the red marker had faded quite a bit from the sprinklers, so I painted it in between the springs. I reset the traps in different places.

I ate yogurt and read by the red light. I went to my sewing room to cut out wedges for the owl. I also had to cut buttons off of Chris' old shirts for the class to use. There was a lot of handsewing on the owl and I wondered if the kids would see it through.

I took a pic of the finished owl. Not as nice as online. Sigh. I ate fiber gel and jotted some notes. I made breakfast mix. I ate breakfast while watching The Highwire. I put on another audio and it made me sleepy. I might have nodded off.

When I woke up, I put on shoes and grabbed a cloth. I walked to the post office to clean the chair rails down the hallway to the swap shop. I walked through the hall as if I were taking a movie. I realized that the glass doors would reflect my image to the camera.

I pulled out the sewing machine I was planning to fix. However, when I threaded it and sewed, I could not find a problem with it.

Chris came home from work. He fixed supper. I ate fiber gel, and put chili in the toaster oven. I read online, then went to the pool to pick up my watch. I stopped by the garden to spray kelp fertilizer.

When I got home, Chris was asleep on the couch. I read online. I watched part of a video called Final Hours, then paused it. I woke Chris, then made tea. We watched an episode of Criminal Minds. I worked on my blog. I finished watching the video. I cleared more e-mail, then went to bed.

Swap shop: the movie?

 

Wednesday

I got up at 7:30. I swished as I prepared for Coffee Morning. I exercised and read by the red light. I meditated and tapped. An idea came to me to make a film of the swap shop. I took niacin. I fixed the old jug pump, then cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms. I washed dishes.

I told Michelle my idea about making a movie for the swap shop. She seemed to like it. I finished cleaning, then laid out in the sun. I sat for a steam session, then took a shower. I noticed that my laptop had rebooted. I read online, and the colors became all horked up. I restarted my laptop and the colors went back to normal.

Michelle invited me over for a shot of garlic/ginger/apple juice. So I ate a bowl of egg salad and went over. We talked and I drank. It seemed ok, just a little strong. Casey came home and the three of us talked.

I went home. Chris was gone, but I could tell he had been here. I read online: the odd colors were back. I set some gopher traps, then got dressed for the pool. In the pool, I talked to Jenni about making the movie. Casey was there as well.

When the lifeguards called time, I went to the garden. Casey did, too, but left before I did.

Chris came home from watching a movie with Michele. He uninstalled the last update to my computer. I restarted and the colors went away. I worked on my blog and made tea. We watched TV. Then the weird colors (mostly green) were back. I uninstalled the update. But when I restarted it, it said it installed updates, probably the one I just uninstalled. I read for awhile, then went to bed.

Returning the mower

 

Tuesday

I got up and went through the morning list. I practiced, then watered the plants. I unpacked and assembled the new jug pump. It felt really cheap even though it looked like the old one. I made a reuteri slurry, and put it in yogurt maker. I checked Facebook for messages.

I mowed a little bit near the sidewalk until the gas ran out. I pushed the mower to Self-Help. I thought it would be as easy as pushing a stroller, but my hands went numb. Self-Help was not open. I left it there and walked home.

I read online, then made supplements for the week. I made and ate breakfast. I watched several videos on making stuffed owls for sewing class. At 2, I went back to Self-Help to sign in the lawn mower. When I got home, I walked to the post office by a circuitous route, clipping tree wannabes as I went. There was no mail. I walked home, collecting trash as I found it. I threw it in my garbage can.

I talked to Michelle about shoes for tubing. Then I went to Michelle's house to try on Isadora's shoes. We decided I needed a half size smaller. After more conversation, Casey came home. I left and unlocked the swap shop on my way home. I heated chili, and ordered the shoes from Walmart since the shoe website didn't have the size I wanted. I ate supper and read articles. Saronna stopped by for a jar of whey.

I went to the garden to check for moisture. I planted some squash sprouts, and I pulled weeds. I went home to write my blog. I made tea and ate blueberries and chia. We watched TV: last episode of the season. I worked on e-mail and listening to a podcast on Aleph-Tav. Then it was time for bed.

Cayenne for the bloody nose

 

Monday

I got up at 7:30. I finished a Sudoku puzzle, then started the morning list. I brought in the milk and eggs. I heated half of the milk to pasteurize it. While I was out dealing with gopher mounds, two men came by to check the water meter. Then later two other men came to check on the stove hood. It was an easily fixable problem. I heated the other half of the milk to 100, then put it in the dehydrator to start the cheese process. I steamed a batch of eggs.

I looked up hymns to go with Ephesians. I went to the library to return a book and copy some pages in the hymn book for tonight. I went to the garden to see if the deer drank any of the water. No. But I found out that the sprinkler was turned off so I turned it back on and let it run for 6 minutes.

When I got home, I added milk from last week to some ferments and put them in the dehydrator. I read e-mail. I made and ate breakfast. I added rennet to the milk. I read messages. I posted for band. I walked to the post office for mail and also put up a swap shop flyer. I pulled the milk from the dehydrator and cut it into chunks. I stirred them with a large spoon. I poured some scalded milk into a jar and mixed in natto. I added it to the dehydrator to ferment.

I watched the next part of the Indiana Jones walkthrough. After awhile, I fell asleep. When I woke up, I separated the curds from the whey and put them in the fridge.

I ate fiber gel and read the latest messages. I ate a bowl of chili, then went out to rake the side yard. Chris came home from work. Soon I left for band.

I unlocked the chapel and Jenni was right behind me. We talked until Keli arrived. We played through the two hymns, and some songs from the yellow book. No one else came. We talked some more and they left. I turned off the lights and checked the kitchen. There was a mouse in the trap, probably the one we saw Saturday night. I texted to the chaplain. Then I locked the doors and headed home.

I passed Isadora who was cycling to my house. When she got there, she took off her sweatshirt and rested a bit before firing up the mower. While she mowed, I read e-mail. It took her about an hour. I paid her and then her nose started to bleed. All I could offer her was cayenne. She said yes, so I wet a Q-tip and dipped it in cayenne. She put it up her nostril. I put more on and she did it again. The bleeding stopped and she was so happy about it that she Facetimed her mom to tell her.

After she left, I prepared a jug of water for the garden. I drove over there and gave a little to each plant. I reset the hose switches. Then I went home and found my in-ground sprinklers were running. I had some blueberries and chia. I worked on my blog. I made tea and we watched TV.  I looked up some of the actors.  I read articles and cleared some e-mail, then went to bed

The upside down cake

 

Sunday

I got up at 8:30, not having slept well. I worked on a Sudoku puzzle until I realized I had messed it up. I started on the morning list. After practicing, I went out to water the plants and set gopher traps. But it was too hot to stay out long.

At 10, I went to the garden. It seemed to be wet from the watering at 9. I added soil to the garlic because they seemed so low. I noticed the tops of the onions were gone. When I got home, Chris gave me a coconut oil massage and we snuggled. Then I got up to whip up a batch of cheese squares. While they baked, I took a shower and threw on some clothes. I made and ate breakfast. Then I put the cheese squares in a container and went to church.

I left the cheese squares in the back. I greeted the few people who were there and assembled my trombone. I put the music on the stand. No one else came, so we had a service which was more like a Bible study. He quizzed us about Ephesians and we discussed it. Then the musicians played two hymns. We had communion after that. There was conversation subsequently. I walked out with the cheese squares, still conversing.

When I got home, I peeled the hard boiled eggs and put them in picking juice. I read e-mail and messages. I changed clothes and went to Michele's house to pick up the natto. She also gave me a piece of the pineapple upsidedown cake that didn't rise. I took the piece home and shared it with Chris. I put the packages of natto in the freezer except for one, which went in the fridge.

I read a book for awhile and fell asleep. Chris woke me up for the game. Our intrepid gang was asked to deal with some trolls and we got into a fight. But there was so much off-topic discussion that we didn't finish the fight.

After the game, Chris and I went to meet John and Michele for a mile walk. Then we stopped by the garden where I filled up a 5 gallon bucket of water outside the fence, hoping the deer would drink and leave our plants alone.

When we got home, I made tea and we watched Criminal Minds. Then we folded the laundry and made the bed. Chris turned in and I finished the Sudoku puzzle and worked on my blog. I went to bed.

Mower trouble

 

Saturday

I got up at 7. I did some Sudoku, then started the morning list. I went to the gas station to fill my tank and the gas can. When I got back, Isadora had just arrived. She got in my car and we went to Self-Help to sign out a mower. But Self-Help wasn't open till 9. So we went to the Swap Shop to pick up and organize till 8:55.

We went back to Self-Help. He put a little gas in a mower and started it easily. I signed it out. Isadora rolled it in the direction of my house and I drove home. I started watering plants. When she arrived, I put gas in the mower, then left it to her to mow. I went back to watering plants. But she came to get me, saying it wouldn't start. So I tried and couldn't start it. I asked Chris and he couldn't either. Isadora went home.

I drove back to Self Help. He told me how he started it, which we had tried. He said let it sit for a bit. So then I went to the garden and found the water hadn't turned on. I turned it on, then talked to Travis. Deer (or something) have been eating his garden too. Davis joined the conversation.

I went home, and Chris told me the Self-Help guy had been there and started the mower. But Isadora was gone. I went back to watering the plants. I checked the traps and pulled out a gopher. I tried to reset the traps.

I came in and texted Tina, but she didn't answer. I called her and no answer. I wondered if anything was wrong. I contacted Casey and John to see if they were coming to Project Night. I contacted Steve who told me Tina was ok.

I made and ate breakfast. I watched short Telegram videos. I put together a bucket of dusting cloths, and Chris took me to Tina's gate. I walked up to her house. We chatted, then I dusted cookbooks for two hours. We chatted till Chris called. He came up to the house and Tina and I came out. We talked. We left.

Chris made chili and rice for supper. Michelle called to invite me to the pool. Michele called to ask for a ride to dinner. So Chris went to pick up Michele while I put on my suit and met Michelle and Casey at the pool. I could only stay 20 minutes, then I had to go home. I had a quick dinner with Michele and Chris. Then I changed clothes and went to the chapel for Project Night.

MeryAnn came and helped me rearrange the tables and chairs. Then Casey came with his electronic project, then Michele and John. We talked, they worked. Casey left, then Michele and John left. MeryAnn and I locked up and walked out together but stood by our cars talking until her husband came by to make sure we were ok. It was almost 11 when I got home.

I worked on my blog. I looked up the owl project which I had shown MeryAnn but had forgotten how to make it. I went to bed at midnight.

…......................

Wildfire

 

Friday

I got up before 7:30 with RLS. I started the morning list. I watered the plants. I found a gopher in one trap. The other trap was covered in dirt. I reset the traps in other places. I watered a hole. The gopher ran out and never came back.

I practiced. I checked the cooler and found ground beef had been delivered. I read e-mail. I warmed up the old computer so I could print out a file. I updated the file, then put it on a thumb drive. I plugged it into the old computer, but was never actually able to get it to print. I walked to the swap shop and threw inside the stuff someone left by the door. I laid out the shoes. I checked our post office box.

When I got back, I posted for the swap shop. I made a flyer. I tried printing again, then sent the files to his work e-mail. Chris went to the office to print the flyer and document.

I read e-mail, then made and ate lunch. I moved the tall trap. The old computer still not printing. I tried making a copy of the flyer Chris printed. Eventually it did, but it wasn't a great copy. I watched part of the tapping summit. I made a grocery list. We went to the commissary and got nearly everything. So we didn't go to Tooele. I texted Tina about cleaning tomorrow. I worked on my blog.

I ate fish for supper. I walked to the swap shop to lock up and stayed to clean up the toys some kids had left.  Two plumes of smoke could be seen in the distance - evidence of a wildfire 2 miles away.   I went to the garden to check on the water. I put dryer sheets on little sticks all around the plot to ward off deer.

When I got home, I prepared for Game Night with a bottle of tea and a baggie of cheese squares. I drove to Michelle's house. She was sitting outside with her laptop so I joined her for awhile. Later I went inside to play Indiana Jones. Casey shot the bad guys for me, then I took over and explored the Nazi station. I came out with an inflatable raft. I saved the game, then went down the river and scraped a hole in the raft which eventually sank.

I left that game to play Michelle's game which was called Little Bang Story. It's a cute game. I paused it at 11, but she kept talking so I went back to playing. It was almost midnight before I left. When I got home, Chris was in bed. I got ready and went to bed.

Kelp fertilizer for the garden

 

Thursday

RLS woke me up around 6:30, but I stayed in bed until Chris left for work. I did some Sudoku, and brushed my teeth. I went to the kitchen to get through my morning list. At 9, I went to the garden. I watched the sprinkler run. I watered the edges which still seemed dry. I sprayed a tumeric solution on the plants. I pulled mint and weeds. I dug up a sunflower and brought it home to plant in the flowerbed where nothing else grows.

When I got home, I texted Saronna and Keli about yogurt. Then I took a jar to Saronna and chatted with the family. Then I went to the library and dropped off a jar for Keli.

Just then Melanie called me, so I headed out. She needed some figures so when I got home, I ate fiber gel and sent her pics of the loan numbers.

I made breakfast and ate it while watching The Highwire. I stayed by my laptop all afternoon so I could respond to her e-mails quickly. I took a break to repair a bag Chris got at work. I read e-mail and articles and messages.

Chris came home with a pizza. He baked some fish for me. I ran to the library to print out some forms and to get another book. When I got home, I signed the forms and took pics. I sent them off, then ate the fish and continued reading.

I went out to wash dirt back into the gopher holes and to set traps. But on the second mound, the critter came up for air. And … a trap was no longer necessary. I attacked a third mound and set the second trap there.

I emptied the spray bottle of tumeric solution and refilled it with a dilution of kelp. I worked on my blog before going to the garden to spray it on the plants. When I got back, I sprayed the home plants, then made tea and we watched TV. Chris and I both read online till bedtime.

Finally finished a pair of shorts

 

Wednesday

I got up before 7, then laid down until Chris left for work. I prepared for Coffee Morning by straightening up the kitchen, heating coffee and doing exercises. I watered the plants inside and out. I read with the red light. After 4 rounds of tapping and meditation, I cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen. I washed dishes, mopped, and vacuumed.

I laid out in the hot sun for awhile. I checked e-mail, then took a 20 minute steam session. After that, I showered and dressed. I went back to e-mail for awhile. I ate some yogurts, went through more e-mails. I addressed a loan-related request. I made egg salad and hardboiled a dozen eggs.

I went outside to address gopher mounds. No gophers appeared. I stomped the tunnels with my feet and hosed my feet off. Chris came home. We chatted.

I finished making the gray shorts. It got windy outside. I worked on my blog because the internet was down, then it came back up. I sat outside and ate some cashews until I heard gurgling sounds all around me. I ran to the back porch to avoid getting wet.

I went to the garden to run the sprinkler and see if it was covering everything. Because of the wind, it wasn't. I tried to tweak it and got wet. I watered some things with the milk jugs, then went home.

I made tea and we watched an episode of Criminal Minds. Then I looked up one of the actors. I worked on e-mail, then went to bed.

Packing up the decorations

 

Tuesday

I woke up at 6:30. The back porch dry even though the sprinklers should have been running. I went back to bed and got up at 7. The milk and eggs were not here yet. After Chris left, I started working my morning list.

I flooded gopher tunnels and leveled mounds, but then the extra-long hose separated. I ate a selection of yogurts. I started a kimchi yogurt with whipped cream from the can.

I went to the garden and turned on the sprinkler and it sprayed everything! So apparently someone else is also watering at my usual time. I changed the start time. I took some compost to the garden. I planted some beet seedlings and pulled a bunch of mint because it looks like the deer are eating their tops off.

I came home. I put some pots of soil in with the strawberry plants to root the runners. I checked Facebook and she had messaged me that the milk would be delivered at 10:30. I jotted notes for my blog. I basted a waistband on the gray shorts while watching part of a video.

It was nearly 11 when I brought in the milk and eggs. I heated the milk to 180 half at a time. I made and ate breakfast, then walked to the post office. I unlocked the swap shop for Angelina. I noticed on the walk back that the upstarts that I hadn't gotten to yet were gone. Someone on a large mower was doing the field across the street.

I laid out in the sun and read for a bit. I listened to more video online. I fixed the hose. Michelle came over for the chapel key so she could take down the decorations and organize them in their boxes. While she was gone, I placed a Swanson's order and mixed up a batch of fruit tree leaves. Later she came back with the key, and said she had taken everything down, but it needed to be organized with the unused decorations.

Chris came home from work. I made and ate supper, then headed to the chapel, stopping just long enough to lock the swap shop. Moira and Sophia met me at the chapel. We brought out the boxes. Then Diane and Bill arrived. We organized all the decorations and folded those that needed to be folded, which was quite a job. Some were long float decorations. I helped Bill re-hang the wall-hangings in the fellowship hall. We finished just in time for Bible study.

Karen arrived and we chatted until Wendy and Eryne came – with cake. We read the chapter and discussed it. Then Tarah came. We discussed some more and then talked about community stuff.

Afterward, I went to the garden, arriving just before 9. I turned on the sprinkler and it was at almost full power. I watched it for 10 minutes to make sure no one else's irrigation was siphoning off water pressure. Then I went home to make tea. We watched TV, then I worked on my blog and read messages until I went to bed.

Making cheese out of whipped cream

 

Monday

I got up before 8. I started the morning list. I had two canisters of whipped cream left from Tau Day. I decided to try fermenting one with probiotics. I sprayed it into a jar of lactic acid bacteria and left it to ferment. I went outside to flood gopher tunnels and level their mounds, getting dirty in the process.

I was just finishing up when Bobbie drove up. She said 412 was putting out a washer and dryer and did I know anyone who needed one? So I called Steve and he didn't know. I went over to take pics. I also lent the man some dusting stuff. I went home and posted the pics on the Facebook pages hoping someone would want the appliances.

I ate a selection of yogurts. I went to the garden to water and weed. I ate fiber gel. Brian called to say he wanted the washer and dryer. I made a copy of my supplement sheet and crossed out the ones that are in the new complex I am going to take. I made up supplements for the week, then made and ate breakfast.

I posted that the washer and dryer were spoken for. I walked to the post office for the mail. I laid out in the sun. I took a gallon baggie of cheese squares to Steve at the gym.

I got a pair of clippers and walked down the sidewalk clipping small elm trees. I went over to a small parking lot which was full of these little upstarts. I clipped almost half by the time I was stopped by a blister. I kept going, but had to quit before finishing. I went home to wash it and bandage it. I noticed that the grass in my yard was wet.

I watched something online while I loaded my volunteer hours into VMIS and worked on my blog. I read e-mail, looked up ingredients, and picked hymns. I heated supper. Chris came home while I was eating.

I went to band. Keli came and we played through the two hymns and 76 Trombones. We talked awhile and still no one came, so we left early.

I got back online, but then Michelle called and wanted to go for a walk. I drove to the gym to meet her. We walked around English Village. When we got back to the gym, she decided to workout some more. I went to the garden to water and weed. Then I went home. The sprinklers came on just before I walked into the house.

I made tea and we watched TV. I ordered a new hand pump for the five gallon jug. I read more of some really long articles. Then I went to bed.

God and Country service

 

Sunday

I got up at 8, having had RLS. Chris was already up. I started the morning list. I did not exercise because my back hurt and I was swimming yesterday. I watered the plants outside and in. I ate yogurt with the red light, then read a few pages. I made a batch of cheese squares. I made breakfast mix. Chris got dressed and went to church early because the chaplain sent out a text. But I wasn't ready.

I cut up a pineapple and a package of strawberries and mixed them together. I threw in some frozen blueberries, but they kinda made the pineapple blue. I put a freezer pack under the bowl and another one on top.

The patch on the long red dress I was supposed to wear wasn't quite dark enough. I dabbed some paint on it, but it wasn't dark enough either. So I tried thread painting it. The thread was right but I didn't get coverage. So then I clipped some frayed threads from a seam and glued them on top. That seemed to work.

I went to my closet for a slip and saw another red dress. I tried that on and decided to wear it instead. I packaged the cheese squares and took them, the fruit, and my music to the chapel. It was 12:10.

I put the fruit in the fridge and the cheese squares in the fellowship hall. I returned to the sanctuary and put the music on the stand. I assembled my trombone. The chaplain did a practice run through the service so Keli and I played one verse of each hymn. Then we sat and waited. People arrived and found seats. Kyle was taking pics of Chris and Chaplain and Randy in their outfits.

The service started with a prayer and an invocation. We played a hymn, then had scripture readings. Another hymn. People got up to say what they were thankful for about our country. A third hymn, then we sat down with the congregation.

A video montage with music played while chaplain got in character. Then Chris as the town crier got up to give his speech introducing Patrick Henry and the events of the time. Finally, the chaplain gave Patrick Henry's speech, word for word, and very dramatically.

After the service, people went to the fellowship hall for cake and drinks. The chaplain had two small watermelon and we cut them up. It made more than I expected. We sang Happy Birthday to America and two young boys. People ate and talked. Then the women cleaned up the food. Diane took the extra cake to the gate guards. We decided to leave the decorations until Tuesday, then pack them up before Bible Study.

I went home to change clothes. I checked e-mail. Chris canceled the game because his foot hurt. He made fish for supper. I read outside, then came in and ate. I made two more batches of cheese squares for the firefighters.

I went to the garden to water and weed. I went home and put away the squares. The sprinklers did not come on, so I watered by hand. I made tea and we watched TV. We dressed the bed. I read more messages and worked on my blog. Chris went to bed, and I worked on VMIS, then went to bed.