Thursday, June 30, 2016

June 29 & 30, 2016

Days Seem to Repeat Themselves
June 29 & 30, 2016



1,000 Pyramid Quilt 
 
The days seem to be repeating themselves.  I know the date on the calendar changes, but the days seem like a rerun of the previous ones.  Ron was again at his mother's house, so I have been getting myself up.  Yesterday I slept later than I should have but today I was up about the time Ron normally gets me up.  
Flower bed before I started picking

This morning after breakfast and a shower I decided to go out and pick zinnias and let my hair dry in the heat while I did that.  The problem was, when I came in, the hair was wetter than when I had started.  It was so very hot and humid that I was a sweaty mess.  I did pick 125+ flowers today.  I had to take a break about 1/2 way through because of the heat and my back was hurting from leaning over to get the flowers.  There was one red one in the middle of the patch I just could not reach.

When I had finished, I sent Ron a text and told him if he wasn't too busy, I was going to make arrangements before coming to the office.  They turned out nicely and I was able to make 6 nice sized arrangements. 

Yesterday at the office, was rather quiet.  Today was busier and Ron was out on a job a couple of times.  Some of our service calls come from call centers and they may say something like: fix drawer in desk.  It may turn out to be that they lost the key.  Or it could say, "Front door won't open."  Again, it may be that they lost the key and so they can't open the door.  That type of thing was what he had on the job today.  The work order did not come close to the problem so he had to return for different tools and supplies.

I stayed busy while he was out, waiting on customers.  During the summers, we see more children in the shop as they accompany their parents on errands.  Some of them are cute as can be.  Others may be cute, but mischievous.  We really have to keep an eye on them because there are too many ways they can get hurt in the office and parents don't always watch the children.

Yesterday after work we met our friends for supper.  When we were at the restaurant last week, I had misplaced the remote to my sound processor.  I really needed it because some things can only be changed in the sound processor with the remote.  I was pretty sure that I had left it there when I got ready that night to recharge all the items.  When I got to the restaurant last night, I asked the lady if it had been turned in.  She started going through drawers and boxes filled with forgotten items.  Sure enough, they found it.  I was delighted.  I have another one, but they are expensive to replace.

Since I have nothing else to do (joke) I started a new quilt yesterday.  I will share pictures in a few days when I get a little more done.  Also, my friend Dolores brought back my quilt that she had been quilting.  She did a great job.  The pattern is 1,000 Pyramids.  She did a very nice job.  Now I need to bind it - along with the other 4 or 5 that are waiting for binding.

In the afternoon yesterday, I came home to wait for the a/c man to come install a new expansion valve (I think).  After he got here, he decided that the problem seems to have taken care of itself, so he is going to take a wait and see attitude and hopefully won't have to replace the part.  That is fine with me.

Today was the last day of the month and so I did a few little preliminary preparations for the things I will start on tomorrow, to do the billing and balance the books, etc.  I also had spent time balancing my own check book. 

At the house I am making a little progress on the backlog of house work to be done.  While at the house waiting on the a/c man, I was able to do some laundry as well as eat my lunch.  I am currently caught up on the laundry and was caught up on dishes until Ron went around at home and office collecting empty coffee cups.
The smallest of today's arrangements

Using my wireless phone clip this evening I was able to talk to our youngest son and got most of what he said.  They are close to the end of their marathon remodel.  The job was to be finished in April and here we are on the door step of July.  Hopefully soon!  I also used the phone clip to order refills on a couple of prescriptions this evening.  That is the first time I have done that since before I lost my hearing.

Well, I only have about an hour and a half left of June (one of my favorite months).  I guess I like it because of our anniversary. 

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

June 26 - 28, 2016

Summertime, Summertime...
June 26 - 28, 2016

Note the zinnia I am about to pick is taller than my waist.

Summertime is rather predictable around here.  Hot and Humid.  June usually brings rains and we have had those.  Currently we are getting brief afternoon showers at random times and random places.  The difference this year is that winter and spring rains set us up for a beautiful summer.  Yards are green flowers are blooming.  Trees and shrubs are taking over the yards so there are piles in most yards of trimmings waiting to be collected by the big trucks that come around each month to pick them up.
Thunder and clouds, but no rain for us today.

My days continue to be busy, but my energy level is low.  I spend a little time in the yard every day, but not as much as it needs.  Yesterday I picked 100 zinnias from Ron's garden.  They are so pretty.  I try to pull a few weeds each time I am out there and I am sure I will not run out of them.  When we water the zinnias, we are also watering the weeds.   The zinnias are now over waist high on me.

Sunday I managed to get myself up with Ron being at his mom's.  As usual I continue to be sleepy.  I hope to talk to one of my doctors soon to talk about the sleep problem.  The church service was good.  We had a group who had been serving in Honduras for about 10 days and they shared a video of their work there.

Following church, Ron and I picked up lunch for us and his mom.  Then he brought me home.  Following my lunch, I went to sleep and slept until he woke me at 8:30 in the evening.  He had spent the afternoon trimming trees again at his mom's.  I fixed my supper and did a little sewing as I am working on a border for a quilt top I made in a class in Houston about 5 years ago.

Monday I spent the day at the office.  The afternoon was a little busier than the morning.  I worked on bookkeeping and a little cleaning.  At home after work, I picked the flowers I mentioned earlier, fixed my supper and worked on the area where I store in progress and future quilt projects.  I got a quilt ready for Dolores to work on.  She picked it up today (Tuesday) at the office and she will probably have ready tomorrow.
Chachalaca adult male
 
This morning I saw one of the chachalacas out near the elephant fountain and was delighted to see a baby chachalaca with it.  Cute little critter.  The coloring was similar to the black-bellied whistling duck babies, but it had the chachalaca feet.  Long claws.
Baby Chachalaca hiding in the shrubs.
Look at those claws on the feet.
 
Going through Facebook Sunday evening, I saw that the pastor from the church where our son and his family are members, in McAllen, had posted some assorted clips of activities at the church.  I was delighted to see that our second oldest grandson had led in the morning prayer in the church worship service that day.  He has really matured both physically and spiritually in the new location.  All of their family has adjusted so well.  We sure do miss them!


Saturday, June 25, 2016

June 25, 2016

Quiet & Quilting Saturday
June 25, 2016



Since Ron was not here to wake me up this morning, I slept until 10:00.  I was just eating breakfast when Ron came home from staying at his mom's house overnight, and he joined me for breakfast.  He went to Loop Farms to get me some bird seed and just before he left we had a very nice rain for about 15 minutes, complete with rolling thunder and lightening. 

After that Ron returned to his mom's house to spend the rest of the day trimming trees in her yard.  While he was gone, I went to get milk, eggs and my lunch.  I spent the afternoon reading and going through some quilt projects in progress and finally decided on one to finish.  I am going to add a border to it so it will be a little longer.  The pattern is called the Texas Two Step and my friend Tiny and I took a class on it in Houston a few years ago.  I have the body of the quilt complete, but it does need a border or two.  I may do a small inner border, but not sure yet.

I spent about 30 minutes working in the yard, pulling some weeds after the rain and filling feeders and ponds.  It was hot and muggy so I did not stay out long.  The birds were delighted to have the feeders filled and flitted through the yard all afternoon.

Ron came back after he finished his mother's yard work and cleaned up before going back over there.  We each had leftovers for supper.  I spent the evening working on the borders for the quilt.  I think I have chosen an idea for it and have about 1/2 of it pieced. 

Somehow I think I forgot to mention that yesterday morning I was sitting in my recliner and heard a bird singing outside, through the closed window and over the a/c noise in the house.  It was a different song and it was beautiful.  I was not able to locate him, but was so pleased I could hear it and to discern the different notes in the melody.

As for hearing music (like in church), things are a little better.  Not perfect yet, but still improving for which I am thankful.  I am not ready to sit through a concert, especially of music I don't know, but I am encouraged.

Friday, June 24, 2016

June 24, 2016

Another Work Week Ends
June 24, 2016



This morning I had to get myself up since Ron was at his Mom's.  I got up about 7:30.  I was waiting to hear from the a/c repairman and he said he would be here but did not know when.  It turned out to be 4:00 this afternoon.

I had gone to the office about 10:30 and worked on some bookkeeping while Ron ran errands for his mom.  I stayed very busy with customers while he was out.  Around 1:00 Ron said I could go home to wait for the repairman.  I finished what I was working on and then headed home.

A few minutes after I got home, Ron called to tell me he left his cell phone at home.  I took it to him and returned home again.  It was about 4:00 when the repairman came with two of his helpers.  They decided that a valve inside the unit is bad and he will have to order the part.  Of course it was too late to order it today, but he will order it on Monday. 

After they left it was almost time to go to supper with my mom and my brother and his wife.  We all met at Pepe's.  Ron was a little late, having gone to pick up some supper for his mom before he came.  When I got home I decided to pick zinnias since I had not done so in a couple of days.  I picked 75.  Mom, my brother and his wife drove by to see the flower bed before they headed to Mom's. 

Our oldest son called and we chatted for a while.  I did laundry and then arranged the flowers I had cut earlier.  They made 4 lovely arrangements.  Each zinnia is unique.  I do enjoy working with them.

The photo at the top is the quilt I had quilted by my friend earlier this week.  I still need to put the border on it.  It is another fun, whimsical quilt like I most enjoy.  The blue and white fabric is under consideration for another quilt.

June 23, 2016

She's Home!
June 23, 2016



After about 7 weeks in the hospital, a hospital/rehab facility, and a rehab facility, Ron's mother came home to our own house this afternoon.  She is a happy lady!  She is still weak from the weeks in bed, but is improving each day.  Ron is staying over there tonight to be sure she is doing alright, but should be at the office to open up in the morning.

Last night I mentioned that our air conditioning closet had water in it.  Ron had worked on it but it was still that way this morning, so he called our friend who is an air conditioning man and he and his helper arrived about noon.  They worked on it briefly, but it did not solve the problem, so they should be back tomorrow.

Being home all morning was a treat for me and I spent it cleaning house.  I made a lot of progress but there is still plenty to be done.

On my way to the office just after noon, I stopped by my mom's house to leave an arrangement of zinnias and then went to the grocery store to get something Ron's mom needed.  As soon as I got to the office, Ron left on a job and got back just before it was time for him to go pick up his mom.

The afternoon at the office was busy enough to keep me occupied.  I had a couple of funny customers.  I mean funny in that they were just happy and joking around.  One was a big guy on a motorcycle and had tattoos all over.  But his shirt was of  Popeye the cartoon character, on a motorcycle.  He was wanting a Popeye key for the motorcycle. They only make the cartoon keys in house keys and I have not seen a Popeye one.

The other funny one is a regular and he had recently had gallbladder and hernia surgery and decided to show me his scars.  He was telling me the doctor said for 3 more weeks not to life anything heavy.  After he left, I picked up the item he left to have worked on and it was very heavy.  I am sure his doctor would not approve.

After work I stopped by my mom's to leave some batteries she needed.  My brother and his wife had arrived this afternoon, but I didn't have time to stay and visit since I needed to get home and fix supper so Ron could eat before he went to stay at his mom's.

Naturally it was a quiet evening around here.  I did just see on the news that the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.  That should be interesting.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

June 22, 2016

The Middle of the Week
June 22, 2016




Again, the days are flying by.  Today I had to open the office while Ron went to the dermatologist, who ended up burning several spots off his face.  Mid-morning, my friend Dolores came by to pick up a quilt top that was ready to be quilted.  It is just a fun, kid quilt.  I look forward to getting it finished.  I still need to put the binding on some that she has machine quilted for me.

About 3:00, my friend brought the quilt back with the machine quilting done on it.  It is great to have gotten it back so quickly.  I had pieced it several years ago and considered making it larger, but decided to stop where I was.  It will be a nice baby quilt.
Ron's zinnia flower bed
 
At the office I managed to get some cleaning done (not much) and I enjoyed two nice visits with my friend Dolores when she picked up the quilt and when she brought it back.  I don't get a lot of visitors at the office.

After work we met our friends for supper.  The place was not as busy as it has been many evenings.  The food was very good and as always we had a good time visiting.  On the way out we ran into other friends.  It was a long time friend of mine and her two adult children.  Had a nice,  quick visit with them.

Once I got home, I picked close to 60 zinnias and two miniature rose buds.  I watered some plants and filled the bird baths.  Then came in the house to escape the mosquitoes.  Later I got some laundry done and talked to our daughter-in-law in New Mexico.   Had a brief talk with my son in Dallas.



Tuesday, June 21, 2016

June 20 & 21, 2016

Week Off to a Slow Start
June 20 & 21, 2016

There are been lots of doves in the yard the last few weeks.
 
My work week was off to a slow start, but I think it was probably me that was slow.  Business has been a little slow.  Last week had picked up and Ron was out a lot on jobs.  Monday he was also out a good bit, but today was slow and he was in the office.  It made it even slower for me since he waited on most of the customers.

Monday was one of those day where I just could not get moving.  It was about noon before I got there.  I had been up early and was dressed and ready to go, but just could not get going.  I spent the afternoon working on bookkeeping. 

One of the many baby sparrows in the yard.

At home in the evening Monday, I cooked some chicken breasts to have on hand for sandwiches or chicken and rice.  They are so good.  

Today I got to the office earlier.  I did some reading and some cleaning.  I had done some sweeping yesterday afternoon, but as always, my desk was hiding.  I have made a little progress on that.  Each evening I spent a little time in the yard, but the mosquitoes continue to be vicious. 
The moon Sunday night as we drove home from McAllen

Tonight when Ron got home (about 9:00) he found the a/c drain was stopped up and overflowing.  I had just had my bath, but dressed and went to store for some bleach for the air conditioner, and ice that I needed.  There is a dollar store close by so I got the bleach there and the ice at a corner convenience store. 

Ron's mother should be going home from the rehab facility Thursday afternoon.  She is doing so much better.  She had been on oxygen at home for a couple of months and is now off of it completely.  She has lost come weight.  She looks great.  BUT she is still weak from so long in the hospital and rehab. 


I picked 50+ zinnias yesterday morning before going to the office.  There will probably be that many to pick tomorrow.  Such lovely colors!

Monday, June 20, 2016

June 19, 2016

A Fantastic Father's Day
June 19, 2016


Father's Day 2010
A few years ago (2010) our son Jeff and his family spent Father's Day at our house.  It was unusually mild weather for June in South Texas.  We had just recently put the ponds, waterfalls, bird baths, and fountains in the yard.
 Washing tomatoes
I had a flower garden as well as a dozen or so tomato plants.  Our adorable, young granddaughters, picked flowers and tomatoes, washing the tomatoes in a fountain that looked like an old fashioned pump.  We had hammocks and lawn chairs and all enjoyed the afternoon in the yard.
Picking Zinnias

 
The grandson in the blue shirt leaves for college in a couple of months.
2010 

I have a collage of photos of that day on one of the walls at home.  The little girls were in cute matching dresses.  They both had curly hair and looked so precious.  That day is one of my all time favorite memories.  Father's Day 2016 will run a close second to 2010.  This year's celebration was very different.  It was about 100 degrees compared to about 80 degrees on that special day a few years ago.
Two Dads honored Father's Day 2010

This year, after our Sunday School class, Ron and I drove to McAllen where that son and his family now live.  They have added a couple of children since that other Father's Day.  We were served an excellent lunch of brisket, green beans, rolls, and mashed potatoes.  I had taken an angel food cake (our son's favorite), and a Coca-Cola cake.  Everyone enjoyed the food.
Same two Dads this year, napping:
 Ron my husband and Jeff, one of our sons.

Since the girls weren't here this year to pick the zinnias, Ron and I picked them Saturday evening and took two arrangements of zinnias and one vase with 3 tiny pink rose buds.
Their fountain, now cleaned, sealed, and working.
The children scattered to play in various parts of the house.  One took off to go feed the horse.  The three dogs were napping on the porch.  The huge fountain in the back yard had been cleaned and was flowing.  It was the anniversary of the day that they had moved into this nice big house out in the country one year ago.
The three dogs playing.  They play, nap, play, nap, eat, play nap.

The children love playing in the yard, but it was just too hot for that.  We did go out to see the fountain and to play with the dogs briefly.  The cats looked for cool places to rest.  The Dads did the same thing.
Solar lights to go along the sidewalk.
 
We spent the afternoon catching up on assorted news.  Our daughter-in-law got out some cans of tuna to make sandwiches for supper.  It was a very relaxing, enjoyable day.  It was 10:00 before we got home, but as Ron said, "That was a very nice visit." 
 The youngest grandchild