Landscape, Part Deux

Maybe you saw the progress on the front yard last year. The back yard got started later in the year this year and is a little more involved, but here are some photos that show where we are. Some of the elements are a new woodshed since we now cannot pile wood in a heap in the weeds and dirt, a greenhouse (only the footings are there now, and it will go in at the end so as to avoid potential breakage of glass), raised planting beds for veggies (so I can sit on the wall and reach in to plant, weed and harvest), a patio with a firepit, a patch of grass, and a kid swingset. There is also a strip to plant shrubs for a little windbreak/privacy screen, and pathways to get around. I'll post the pictures, and hopefully you can figure it out. The picture of the front was not supposed to be there, but I can't figure out how to get rid of it.

The Red Bicycle

I have a picture of my red bicycle, but it is on my digital camera and the grief of loading it on my blog is more than I can handle. My red bike had a flat tire when I got back to Vegas last time. I went a week without the bike. I missed the bike. Greatly! Although I doubted my ability to fix a flat bike tire on a bike with gears and a derailer, I was desparate. Tonight I tackled the project in desparation. I'm happy to report that this grandma fixed that flat all by herself!! Then she took herself for a little spin around the block--pure joy! I'm baaaaaack! That's all.

Happy Birthday, Barbara

Just wanted to post a couple of comemorative photos. I was not in Provo, and these pictures were taken in SLC at my house, but there was snow this morning in Provo. Anyway, this will be one birthday Barb will remember, I think. Best wishes for a wonderful day!!

Happy Saturday

A few things of note today:
First, having recently been informed that one of my favorite LDS authors had published a book--M. Catherine Thomas, "Light in the Wilderness"-- I acquired it, have already dipped into it and am set to enjoy!
Second, I discovered that I really don't know how to use my bicycle pump. I didn't properly attach it to the stem on the inner tube, and was thus unable to pump up the tires. My bicycle has been languishing in the garage, then in the shed, for several years now for want of air in the tires. John, more knowledgeable in the use of the pump than I, did the honors and blew them up. With great delight I took a spin around the block just as it was getting a little too dark for comfort. I also discovered that this little town is a bit more hilly than I had realized on my casual strolls up and down the streets. I almost didn't make it up the side street back to the house, but once I got to the top I just coasted down to the driveway. I have been dreaming of riding my bike for many months, or maybe years. Dream fulfilled!
Third: It was a glorious day in Southern Utah--sunny, not windy; warm, not hot; light until around 8:30 this evening--makes me happy to be alive.
That's all. No pictures. No fanfare.

Why I Haven't Posted, etc.

1. No pictures: not that I haven't taken any or that my camera is on the blink. I lost the program on my computer that I used to download the pictures from my camera. I CAN do it another way, but it is more difficult and I don't like it. I guess I am getting old, because a lot of this is about not liking change.
2. Malfunctioning laptop: several months ago, maybe a year, the power cord on my laptop started shorting when I tried to recharge it. I finally got around to getting a new power cord. I hadn't had it for long when I picked up the computer, plugged into the power cord, and dropped it--not far and onto a soft surface, but it landed by chance right on the connection where it was plugged into the computer and broke it off, leaving the portion that plugs in stuck in the computer. I did find someone on the weekend in SLC who extracted the broken part--he thought the computer would work OK. It did for a while, but now the part that plugs into the computer doesn't connect properly and it only charges intermittently.
3. Decided that it was time for a new computer, and talked myself into a little netbook with a 10.2 inch screen. I think I mentioned I don't like change, and this was way too much change. It has Windows 7 "startup" and I don't even know what that means. Do I have to purchase Windows 7 to get the full program? The startup screen is confusing--I can't even tell when it is connected to the internet without attempting to get online. It is, I would say, skitzy, meaning that it is so jumpy that even when I am very careful it skips back to another line while I am typing and inserts, or even erases most of what I have just typed. And I really can't imagine why someone past 65 with eye surgeries in the past and future would think a 10 inch screen was a good idea.

Enough of that! Obstacles abound, and I haven't been energetic enough to overcome them. I think I have SAD--seasonal affective disorder. Every year as the days get shorter and the skies are dark and stormy, I kind of retreat into my shell and lose interest in life in general. I am a light seeking person and function best with lots of sunshine. I decided last week to try some St. John's Wort--an herb I had in my medicine cabinet which is supposed to help with depression. It said on the container to take one up to three times a day. I decided if one was good, I would just start with two. Who knew? Better than a shot of caffeine for me!! I was wired for a few hours and got a lot of stuff done. I have not since taken two at a time, but a couple a day seems to help stave off the winter blues.

One of the things that has delighted me was finding a set of measuring cups with a full complement of options. Imagine a picture here of this wonderful set: it has a quarter cup, third cup, half cup, two thirds cup, three fourths cup, and full cup. I discovered it browsing the isles of Hurst Ace Hardware in Cedar City--one of my favorite places. I used to have one from Tupperware that my mother-in-law gave me when I got married, but it has suffered the ravages of time. I don't do much baking these days, but that could change.

I have some Christmas cards sitting around along with a Christmas letter I typed up last year, duplicated, and never sent. If you don't get a Christmas card from me this year, and you are a friend or relative, please know that I am thinking of you and wishing you the best. Merry Christmas!

Landscaping

A major reason for installing a front yard at Summit was so the grandchildren would be able to go outside and play when they came to visit, and we were all anxiously awaiting the first visit after the completion of the project. Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures while they were visiting, but they spent precious little time in the lovely front yard on the grass and patio. Instead they gravitated to the leftover rock and sand piles in the very much not landscaped back yard, picture included. Kids!! I should have known. They did spend extra time in the bathtub this trip.

I've Been Busy

Not seeing a possibility of remodeling my Summit kitchen in the near future, I have been fortunate (blessed!) with a couple of solutions that make the space much more usable. First, my landscape expert is a very versatile person and installed a couple of can lights in my kitchen dark spot over my stove--changes the way we use the house!! Next, my very limited cabinet space was expanded by the discovery of a cabinet insert (actually three inserts, two of which were on clearance) at the SLC Lowe's. I was able to put much of my food/pantry supply in one lower cabinet, which is also now very accessible. While I don't have a picture to illustrate, I also put a closet organizer in my half of the master bedroom closet. All this happened last week while David was back East drumming up business. I'm very pleased with the outcome of my efforts.