Friday – Sunday – I just can’t say enough amazing things about the weather – WOW!!!

Friday it was hot!!  Like in the 80s hot – and for the fact that is snowed 3 weeks ago….well that’s just silly!  Friday, we boated, Char tubed, we fished, we ate (ice cream), we did puzzles, we played games and generally had a wonderful day!!!

 

Saturday was my hubby’s birthday.  He and Char fished, we played games (learned a new card game to us called Golf), we talked, Cooper took his frist Jeep ride, read and took a sunset cruise.  Kelton flew his drone and we enjoyed a great fire!

Sunday – another morning fire, some fishing, an early boat ride, food, Golf, packing and heading home.

It was a relaxing and much needed weekend to recharge and refocus.  I hope you had the same opportunity with your family and loved ones!

Days 68-70 and counting….

Thursday – the weather – WOW!!!  Warm, sunny and gorgeous!  Just the way to start a long weekend for the Smiths.

Kelly had a doctor’s appointment this morning, so Char and I used the time to get her veggie garden planted and we had helpers!!!  We planted zucchini, lettuce, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, beans, peas, broccoli and Swiss chard!

After a short break, we headed up to my dad’s little cabin on the Pine River – a tributary to Lake Ossipee in New Hampshire.  We call this “red neck camping” because we just park our camper next to the driveway and hang out.  We have electricity but that’s about it!  It is a nice opportunity to get away when we can’t really get away!!!

Cooper LOVES camping and the boat.  Char started fishing right away, caught a nice sized white fish/carp, and Kelton started tinkering with Grampy!  We LOVE camping at Grampy’s and will really enjoy this chance to reset!!!

Have a wonderful weekend and be safe!!!

Day 67 and counting….

Wednesday – another SMASHINGLY wonderful day!!!!

And so busy….I had my first PT appointment and went grocery shopping.  Got Cooper a doggie life jacket then boogied home.  I had hopes of helping Char plant her garden this morning but no such luck –

We had a visit from Nana, finished putting the rest of the soil in the garden, Kelly critiqued my new soaker hose system I installed yesterday, and I guess I need to redo it (I thought it was pretty awesome for my first time doing something like that).

I took Char to the barn, did a couple stalls, then took her to the orthodontist.  We got home and I finished packing for camping – made a lasagna for tomorrow night’s dinner, helped Kelly fix a water issue with the camper (I supervised), played Exploding Kittens and now I am melting.  No time for pictures today….I can’t wait to slow down this weekend!

Day 66 and counting….

Tuesday – the weather could not have been better!!!

I started this morning by taking Cooper to the vet…he has an infection in his foot and has steroids and antibiotics for at least 14 days.  Poor fellow!!!

Back at home, inside work this morning…and this afternoon, lots of outside!!

Finally, the big blue tarp is gone, but the She Shed is not done yet….maybe next week.

I got most of the topsoil in Char’s garden and love the arbor I made.

And…my veggies on the new terraced hillside are starting to come up!  How exciting!

I also cleaned the camper – we just took the cover off of it yesterday and decided to go red-neck camping at my dad’s little cabin Thursday-Sunday.  We park the camper next to the driveway and pretend to camp…I know I am looking forward to the change of scenery!

Day 65 and counting….

Monday – another beautiful day!  Last week it looked like it was going to rain today and tomorrow but no…the weather fairies are working well for us right now!!!

Work was busy today – things are picking up in the travel world and I booked a 2021 Disney trip and quoted two more.  I also had a Bahama’s trip quote for the fall and for the first time in 3 months, I can put some potential earnings in my book.  Fingers crossed!!!

I finished the prep for the raised bed gardens and now all I need is topsoil and to plant!  I wanted a whimsical look and added a twig arbor.  I think I will add more to it but generally I like how it turned out.

Kelton looked dapper in his Boy Scout meeting attire…isn’t this how we are all Zooming these days?

Day 64 and counting….

Friday, Saturday and Sunday – beautiful weather – in fact, Friday was a “bonus day” because we thought it was going to rain all day and the storms held off until Friday night – and we got thunder and lightning and the whole 9 yards!!!

Friday I worked in the yard – actually – that is what I did all weekend!!! I moved mulch, built retaining walls, moved soil and rock, supervised some tractor work, planted more plants and seeds, moved more mulch and got eaten alive with the lovely black fly. Stinkers!

Here are some before and afters of some work we got done this weekend.

Saturday we celebrated one of my niece’s birthdays (I have 3 nieces and 1 nephew with birthdays in May) and dropped off her gift at her house. We sat together outside while she opened up her goodies and enjoyed about 20 minutes of seeing people other than our immediate family. It was lovely! Char also got Lola snuggles – if it has 4 legs, it loves Char!!!

I have noticed that dinner keeps getting later and later! Last night we ate at 8pm!!!! WHAT??? That is very NOT like me but I am loving the opportunity to work outside (with the black flies) and have a hard time pulling myself away!
Days 61-63 and counting….

Wednesday and Thursday…both pretty days and windy.

Honestly, I do not know where the days are going.

Wednesday, I had my Physical Therapy intake in Portsmouth and stopped by the garden center on the way home to get my annuals.  When I got home, we went to the barn and did stalls and then I came home and planted my annual pots.  Work continues on the mulch distribution.

Thursday, I had my first injection in my shoulder.  It is still achy, but PT starts next week, and I am hopeful I can get this repair in gear.  I learned that the reason THIS shoulder is probably more sore down my arm and into my shoulder blade is because my x-rays noted a bone spur/bursitis which is making this frozen shoulder more inflamed.  Just my luck!  I also learned that some people are prone to frozen shoulder and while I believed that once I had it in each arm, I wouldn’t get it again, I was wrong.  It can be reoccurring.  I asked what the contributing factors to this could be and the Doc told me Type 2 Diabetes, women 40+  years of age, pre/peri menopausal and cancer.  Only one of those I can control!

To happier news – Char and Kelly got to go fishing and I finished with my annuals.

Days 59 & 60 and counting….

Tuesday – another gorgeous day (still super windy) and more work got done on the She Shed and I mulched my new terraced garden.  I also planted some seeds (corn, pumpkin, peas and zucchini) and we had KFC for dinner – I haven’t had KFC in forever!!!

We worked.  It was monotonous but fun.  I like working in the garden and haven’t done it much in the previous few years for lack of time and committment.  And the weeds.  Why do the weeds always grow first??

Day 58 and counting….

Monday – a nice day weather wise until about 3pm – then showers on and off for the rest of the day.

Monday was a bit crazy.  Last week I reached out to a friend that has a construction business.  I asked him if he had time to squeeze in a little she shed help (I know he is swamped) and told him how much I had in my budget (I have been squirreling away money for vacation spending money, but who knows when I will use it so I decided to put it to better use).  He graciously said he would be here one day next week (this week).  I asked him to give me a heads up so I could prepare food for them (I like to feed people) and we thought probably Tuesday since Monday was supposed to be rainy.

Well, at 9am, one of his guys showed up and I panicked!  hahahah.  I didn’t have any food preparing and Kelly had gone to Home Depot to pick up the last of the supplies they would need.  Needless to say, it all came together just fine – Kelly got here just minutes after they guys arrived, I quick thawed some meat for burgers and made a pasta salad and the fellows worked until the rain.

It is exciting to see lots of work get done in a short period of time and two of the guys will be back tomorrow to do some more, until my vacation money runs out!

Day 57 and counting….

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Again – the days run together – but I find myself purposefully staying off my computer if I can help it on the weekends.   It is a bit of a reprieve and I am cherishing that time!

Friday was a pretty nice day if I remember – Char did her lesson with Syllabus and they did a fabulous job!  She is constantly impressing me with her riding skills and I love the confidence it gives her!  Kelly also worked on the wiring for the She Shed.

Saturday – well – Saturday it SNOWED!!!!  It was windy and it snowed!  I can almost count on snow in April, but May is pushing it and I did not appreciate it!  No work outside got done as Kelton and Kelly worked at church recording Sunday service and in the afternoon, I volunteered with a handful of other ladies outside our church (distancing and masked) handing out carnations and crafts to families who wanted to do something special for mom.  After I got home, I cooked and baked for seven hours to get my own moms their Mother’s Day gifts ready.

Sunday was a pretty day but cool and still very windy.  For each of my moms here (I have a wonderful mother-in-law in Washington who I could not spoil in this way – but I love her and am very blessed by her wisdom, example and love) I made a bacon and cheddar quiche, hydrangea cupcakes and banana bread.  Kelton made them blueberry scones and Char made lemonie brownies.  We also had a basket stuffed with other brunch goodies and I made them each a small bird feeder made with parts from one of Char’s old tea sets.

We delivered our brunch to my mom and step-mom, distance visited outside for a short time, then sat in our car at Hampton Beach and ate a meat and cheese lunch, then visited my sister (and brought her goodies).  It was a tiring but wonderful day!  My own family blessed me with a wonderful back massager (which is going to come in mighty handy with my frozen shoulder) and my sweet son and his thoughtful girlfriend got me a 3 month subscription to a coffee club with coffees from around the world!!!  AMAZING!  The first coffee is from Burundi and I am so excited to try it!!!

Oh – I DID finish my garden steps project!  I love how it turned out!!!!

It was a great weekend….and my bed is covered in clothes I need to fold!  hahahahaha

Days 54-56 and counting….