day......wet memories.....440

 I took another bike ride today

    There was a light rain this morning, but it had stopped by the time I started to ride.

    At one point along the bike path I stopped to smell the lilacs.  I love that smell....need to get a lilac scented candle.

    I pstopped off at  Cypress House at the 7 mile mark and had a refreshment.  I placed my helmet on the table outside. When I walked it, the light rain returned.  I got my drink, chatted a while, watched the rain come down harder, then went outside to sit under the roofline and have my drink.

    By the time I remembered my helmet, it was pretty wet, as were my gloves.

    I waited it out, finished my drink, got back on my bike and it started to rain a little harder.  My helmet was wet, my gloves were wet, my pants were getting wet......and I felt great!

    I was no longer riding around Rochelle....I was riding through the Netherlands with my friends Bob and Diane.  I could almost feel the breeze off the IJsselmeer as I rode.  Actually, there was a breeze, but no lake.  

    I rode three more miles then called it a day.  I was wet but it was a good feeling.  Maybe I need to ride in the rain more often!

    I do need some help.  I am not a tree person, except for oaks.  I passed two of these trees on Clifton Terrace in town.  Can someone tell me the names of the trees?  I would appreciate it.

    And I have a before and after chair picture....I know, another damn chair picture.  They are still in the garage.....almost hate to put them out in the rain!

    

What I started with....note the black.

Where I finished....

Name that tree!!!!!  Please!!

Stay safe.  Stay healthy.  

Peace and Love

day.....ouch.......439

 I had a nice bike ride today

    Sure, it was a bit windy, so I rode through town.  I like to look at the various houses and how they are maintained.  Today I saw houses cute as a naked baby on a bear skin rug and houses that needed some TLC.

    Then I went home and looked around our house.  Actually, I think it comes off pretty darn good.  Sure, I should have trimmed after I mowed, but the fact I mowed should not be glossed over.

    I bought some plants but they don't look too good.  I should have planted them last week, but I procrastinated.  My peas don't look good either.  (The plants, not the liquid elimination) I don't think we will be freezing many peas this year.  I covered them for the first frost, but not the second.  The ones that were up looked terrible, so I pulled them and replanted.  When I was a DelMonte pea picker, the crops seemed to be ready in early June and done by July 4.  I won't even have plants by early June.

    The den is no where near cleaned and June is approaching.  I really have to get my butt in gear and finish this weekend.

    Lots of projects.....some long, some short.  I just need to get to then.  Like Nike says.....Just do It!

    Stay safe.  Stay healthy.  Smell the lilacs.

Peace and Love

day...what the Edison?....438

 We had a very strange day today

    My brother and sister-in-law, along with my niece and her son, were coming down for lunch today.  John was coming over too, but Emily was working.

    Now, I tend to over buy.  There were 7 of us.  We thought sandwiches would be the best option.

    I went to the store and bought one pound of ham, one pound of turkey, one pound of salami, one half pound of roast beef and one pound of Swiss cheese.  We had two types of pasta salad, home made (Jackie read directions, I mixed) three bean salad, lettuce, tomato, and chips.

    Plus I bought cookies for dessert, took a box of Swiss chocolates out, and they were bringing apple doughnuts and a small apple-cherry pie.

    We had enough food.

    Around 10:30 the power went out.  It was still out at 11:30.  I called them and said no power means no water.  It was still out at 12:30 and we decided to put off lunch until tomorrow.  Somewhere around 12:40 the power went back on and I called and they left from Rockford.  On I-39.  Where they sat for 20 minutes just south of 72 because of the construction zone.

    They managed to turn around, get off at 72, and take backroads here.

  When everyone arrived we were all pretty hungry.

    It was a great visit  I have not seen our niece in a long time,  mainly because she lives in Ohio.  It's been about 6 months since I saw my brother because they spend winters in Florida.

    I forgot to put out the chocolates.  Now I will have to eat them because I froze them at Christmas and don't think you can freeze, thaw, freeze candy without ruining the flavor. 

    And I think I have to freeze some lunch meat because I don't believe we can eat that much before it goes bad.

    Even with 3 hours without power, which I used to clean out desk drawers, it was a pretty darn good day.

    Hope you had a good day!  Stay safe.  Stay happy.  Stay healthy.

Peace and Love

day.....Malden?...........437

 I did not triple check my pockets today

    Before I leave the house I check for car keys, phone, wallet.  I went to Walmart with my phone and car keys, but  no wallet.  Unlike Karl Malden, I left home without it.

    (To thhose of you under 50, you may not know who Karl Malden is.  I feel sorry for you.)

    I had two options:  borrow money from the pharmacist or take the 10 minute drive back home and then go back to the store.

    I opted to borrow from the pharmacist, who was pretty darn busy.  I hated to ask, but I did anyway.  Thanks Emily for the loan.  I will pay you back.

    I just read over this and discovered I missed the M on 6 of the words I typed!  Weird, like the key did not work.  Maybe I hit it to lightly or maybe I hit the space bar instead.

    Jackie hates it when I constantly rant about stupid commercials.  Case in point:  the family that goes on a camping trip but forgets the tent.  They realize where it is when they check their home security system and see the tent set up in the garage.

    I'm thinking, what kind of idiots are these people?  When they loaded the car, they must not have had to use the garage because they would have seen the tent.  That means they did not park the car in the garage either.  It bugs me.  I should just let it go.

    There...it's gone.

    Stay happy.  Stay healthy.  Fill in your own Ms.

Peace and Love

day.....ahhhhhh,,,,,,,,,436

 I got a pedicure today

    I should say Jackie and I got pedicures today.

    My nails were a tad long....I had to wear size 16 shoes so my feet could fit in the shoe.

    When they took off my socks, I heard them put in a call for an extra dumpster.

    I did not realize that battery operated chainsaws could be used on toenails....but I heard them yell "timber" at least three times.

    I brought my size nine shoes with, and they fit much better on the way home.  I am not saying my big toenail resembeled a surfboard, but if we lived in California I know a nail technician who would have a free board.

    When we got home, I worked on the chairs.

    I did a little hand sanding of some stained spots, then brushed on the teak oil.

    Here is the result.

     I love the color of the oiled part.  That is why I spent so many hours cleaning and sanding the chairs and table.

    I plan to put a second oil coat  on tomorrow, then Wednesday hopefully put them out on the deck.  I did not do the legs of the table.....they looked pretty good, I just hope they actually are good.  I love good looking legs.

    Stay healthy.  Stay happy.  Trim your toenails regularly.

Peace and Love

day.... dog tired......435

I am one tired puppy tonight 

    I think I packed too many activities into daylight hours.

    Went to church, had a church board meeting, Skyped with Julia, Skyped with my nephew in Switzerland, mowed the yard, trimmed, lent SK some bricks, went for a walk with Corki, made supper, including a salad, burned the garlic toast, did the dishes, took out the recyling, finished sanding the chairs and now I am relaxing with a large glass of wine.  Believe me, it is not large enough.

    It's funny, in a way.  Some days I don't get anything done, then others I stay busy all day.  I haven't even finished the Sunday Trib!

    But such is life.  I can do things, so I should not complain.

    I just need to spread it out more.

    Stay healthy.  Stay safe. 

Peace and Love

day....yucky.....434

 This was not a good day

    It was raining when I woke up at 7 this morning, so I figured we (actually, Linda) would not be setting up quite yet for the street fair in Creston.

    I went back to bed until 7:30.  Same thing.

    At some point I checked my phone (translated that means I found my phone) and learned the event had been cancelled.

    Instead of going back to bed, I did my Saturday morning chores; changing the bed linens and washing the old ones.  Then I got Jackie out of the shower and dressed and did a load of towels.

    Dishes were done, breakfast was done, we were all dressed and it was still drizzling.  That meant no sanding of the final chair, because I do it in the driveway with and electric sander and that just did not seem safe.

    It also meant no mowing, no planting the rest of the garden, no weeding......so I took a nap.  I sat in my chair at about 11 and Jackie woke me about 1:15.  It had stopped raining, but it was wet and chilly, so I made lunches, did dishes, ran the dishwasher and settled in to watch a couple of tv shows and then the Cubs.

    I did make one mistake.  I was hungry for a burger.  For supper I went to a place that sells a variety of burgers.  I got the sourdough melt.  I have had it before and it has always caused me some gastric distress.  But....ever the optimist....I ordered it again and am now suffering some gastric distress.

    As my former PT said, "You are an adult, make adult decisions."    I have decided no more sourdough melts.  Better late then never.

    Stay healthy.  stay safe.

Peace and Love