I am so far beind......

I guess you all know the saying I’M SO FAR BEHIND I THOUGHT I WAS FIRST.  Well, that’s how I feel right now.  However, we are making progress.  Kevin has put the first coat of mud on the drywall and the second coat on the ceiling.  He also cleaned up some of the stuff outside and took it to the dump.  I have also been working outside.  Between the mess from the guys who put the bricks under/around the mobile home, and the contractors who built the addition, there is a lot of cleanup. 
 

The guys that put the bricks under/around the mobile home really made a mess.  It is going to take quite a while to get that cleaned up.  They made a big pile of dirt with bricks and stones and other junk.  There is mortar and cement scattered around in the grass.  Between Kevin and I we are using the weedeater before we can run the mower thru the grass because of all the junk that has been thrown around.  They also made a mess of both of my rock gardens.  I am going to have to get some more rocks and put them around.  I am also babying my one hydrangea.  On several of my plants they slopped mortar on the leaves, including the hydrangea and azaleas.  The azaleas are looking okay, but the one hydrangea is really bad.  I sure hope it survives. 

 

Ricky and Phil, the guys who built the addition, were not as bad.  Most of their mess has been cleaned up.  The item we are really looking for is nails.  I have been sweeping, using my pickerupper and bucket, and weedeater to cut back the tall grass.  After I finish using the weedeater and getting as much picked up as I can, Kevin is going to use a large magnet to try and find any nails I may miss.  We sure don’t want any flat tires.

 

This past week Renea got both back yards mowed and I took care of the front yards. In fact, I did my front yard again today.  I can’t believe how fast the grass grows around here.  I also did a lot of weedeating.  The front is beginning to look pretty good again except for where the addition is located.  The concrete pad is just full of all kinds of stuff. 

 

Yesterday, Renea and I went shopping for some new furniture.  She is going to take my two recliners.  So, we went to La-Z-Boy (they were having a sale) and I bought two wingback chairs (both recline) and a love seat size sofa bed.  They will go in my new room.  It will be about six weeks before I get them so Kevin has plenty of time to finish my room.  He was really glad to hear that.  There is no way I will even try to describe what the new furniture looks like.  I will post pictures when I get the furniture.

 

The weather is really nice right now.  However, it is supposed to rain tomorrow.  So, Kevin has decided we should have a campfire tonight.  It’s been quite a while since we’ve had one, and I am really looking forward to it.  As tired as I am I probably won’t last too long.  Campfires always relax me.

Ants, Birds and Other Stuff

Woke up this morning to a sink full of ants.  Got out the Raid and sprayed everything.  Then I had to open windows because of the smell.  However, I haven’t seen any for the past couple of hours.  Hope I caught them and got rid of them before they took over.
 

Friday evening I was sitting on my deck reading when I heard a flutter of wings.  I looked to my left and sitting on the deck railing was a beautiful hawk.  He looked at me, then looked around a bit, and then took off. He flew into one of the pecan trees.  Must have been there quite a while because I didn’t see him leave. He was probably looking for his supper.  Thankfully, he decided I wasn’t it. 

 

Saturday Ricky and Phil finished putting the siding on the addition.  It really looks good.  Kevin and Renea arrived home from DC on Sunday.  Yesterday they started mudding the drywall in the addition.  Yesterday we also went to Lowes and bought the ceiling paint and wall paint.  Kevin is hoping to start painting this weekend.  Also went to Target and bought two pieces of furniture for what is now my living room but will soon be my whatever room.  The addition is going to be the living room. Renea and I are going to Lazy Boy and I plan to buy a love seat/hide-a-bed and two chairs.  I will also be moving my television to that room. 

 

I haven’t been doing any work outside lately because of the heat.  It is hotter now than it was in July and August.  It’s like walking into a sauna when you go outside.  The grass can wait. 

 

I have about eight hummingbirds that come to my feeders.  Sometimes there are four of them sitting on the feeder eating at the same time.  I really enjoy watching them.

 

I just finished putting together a GARDEN JOURNAL complete with pictures.  I did this to help me remember what plants do well and what plants do not do well.  I also recorded the date I bought them and planted them.  I have included my trees and bushes.  I am trying to plant more perennials than annuals; that is another reason I am doing the journal. 

 

Another thing I have started working on again is my family tree.  I am doing mine and Jim’s.  Jim’s is a real challenge.  His dad’s side isn’t so bad, but if I get beyond his mother’s dad and mom it will be a miracle.  I know their names and that is about it.  I will keep searching.  I have joined ancestry.com and have found quite a bit there, at least for my tree.

A Little of This and A Little of That

Haven’t been doing much outside – it is really hot and humid.  My rock gardens have all been weeded and I am doing my best to keeping caught up.  The grass has all been cut.  Of course, it’s almost time to cut it again.  Today I am watering trees since we haven’t had any rain for a while. 
 

The addition is at a standstill right now.  The siding is on backorder.  Should be in this week.  The drywall is up and when Kevin returns from Washington DC he will be doing the mudding, etc.  Then we can paint and put in the floor.  Brian is trying to figure out when to come back and finish the electric.  I have been busy outside picking up trash, nails and all that good stuff.  Kevin got rid of a lot of trash before he left and was able to get some grass cut and trimmed before he left. 

 

I had another reply to my classmate letters.  Received a call and talked to him for almost an hour.  It turned out we know a lot of the same people.  In fact, he may be able to help Ronnie and me with a few more names.  So, I guess I am making pretty good progress – at least with the guys.  Having a few problems with the girls since I don’t know their married names.

 

Back working on my family tree.  I  am actually working on four of them, my dad’s side, my mom’s side, Jim’s mom and Jim’s dad.  I am making the most progress on my dad’s side. 

 

I have also decided to start another project.  I am putting together a Garden Journal.  It is pictures and information about the trees I have planted and the plants/flowers I have planted.  I am making pretty good progress.  Also have an information section about the different types of fertilizers, etc.  Rita has been teaching me a lot, and I keep making notes.

 

I am also dog sitting this week.  Roscoe and Lola are both spending a lot of time in the house.  It seems they don’t like the heat either.  My biggest problem is, that for some reason, Lola has decided to eat Roscoe’s food.  I have taken to feeding them separately.  It’s really interesting.  And, of course, they both sleep with me.  I sure don’t get lonesome J