June 10, 2009
Yesterday I put lemon oil on the cabinets in the 5th Wheel and Ed steam-cleaned the carpets. This is a milestone. It means that we are almost finished with getting the trailer ready to take out. We still need to iron and then hang up the curtains. The curtains date the 5th Wheel because they don't put curtains in trailers anymore, just venetian blinds. This trailer has those, as well. I hope the curtains will make it look cozy but not busy. When it's all done, we'll post pictures.
After I finished with the cleaning I went on a hike. I haven't been out in the mountains for over a month, nor have I been doing daily exercising since I have really been pushing to finish up the cleaning of the trailer. I could tell it, too. After pushing up the steep slopes for 40 minutes, I was ready to turn around and come back. I'm going to have to work out every day this week if I intend to go on the pioneer trek next week.
I checked the carpets this morning and they are not dry, probably because the weather has turned cold and rainy and it will take longer.
Yesterday Ed also went to see Dr. Rasmussen. He has ordered an MRI on his back to see if there is a problem in the lower lumbar that is causing his leg pain and numbness. The hip pain, he feels, is because there is no socket. So in a few months, Ed will have the last (and final, we hope) surgery to put in a complete hip with both ball and socket--something we are not looking forward to. We will wait until November so that we can enjoy our planned vacations and be sure that his infection is dead.
After the doctor visit, we met Ed's mother, and Cheryl and Dennis at the Coachman restaurant for dinner. They serve full-course family style dinners that are very good and reasonably priced. I brought more than half mine home, as usual. It was down-pouring the whole time we were eating.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
My niece, Tami's new baby!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Today we went to my sister, Lydia's, grand-daughter's baby blessing. It was nice to visit with her and Ted and the rest of her clan.
Today we went to my sister, Lydia's, grand-daughter's baby blessing. It was nice to visit with her and Ted and the rest of her clan.
"Sisters!" Lydia, Cyndy, Ed, Ted.
Tami with baby Sarah. What a beautiful baby blessing dress!
Concert in the Neighbor's Backyard Park
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Our Friends, Bill and Barbara, invited us to the annual neighborhood concert. Once a year, their neighborhood is invited to the home of the Johnsons for a backyard concert. The backyard is like a park. The Johnsons are good friends with local artists. I have included brief videos of what the music was like. It was a great evening, and the rain held off until the last song was being played.
Our Friends, Bill and Barbara, invited us to the annual neighborhood concert. Once a year, their neighborhood is invited to the home of the Johnsons for a backyard concert. The backyard is like a park. The Johnsons are good friends with local artists. I have included brief videos of what the music was like. It was a great evening, and the rain held off until the last song was being played.
Bill, Barbara, Cyndy, and Ed.
Gathering for the concert!
Peter Breinholt and Nancy Hanson, Vocal/Guitarists
David Tolk, New Wave music--Keyboard master, pianist, and vocalist
Jon Schmidt, the highlight of the evening
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Kimball and Uncle Derek's Elk
Friday, June 5, 2009
Kimball had a good time spending the night at Grandma's house. When Daddy came home he showed him the elk head up close that Uncle Derek is mounting in Grandpa's garage. Kimball isn't too sure about the big animal but feels safe enough in Daddy's arms. It sure looks real!!!!
Kimball had a good time spending the night at Grandma's house. When Daddy came home he showed him the elk head up close that Uncle Derek is mounting in Grandpa's garage. Kimball isn't too sure about the big animal but feels safe enough in Daddy's arms. It sure looks real!!!!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Kimball Spends the NIght--A Nice Reprieve!
This past week has been a hard work week. I intensified my efforts to get the 5th Wheel cleaned. I had to juggle my time spent there with cleaning the house, washing clothes and working in the yard. Most of our plants died in the front yard while we were on our mission due to a clogged sprinkler head that our housesitters didn't bother to clean, so they didn't get any water. Because of that, the weeds had taken over. I took time to spray them with round-up and then I discovered that a bed of ants had made their home in the flower bed. I started digging them out and spraying with insecticide, unearthing the queen bee and many eggs. As I proceeded with my digging, I discovered that their home was huge and went deep into the earth. Two days later, I am still digging and killing what I hope are the last remaining ants. I also discovered that the roots of the wicked morning glory weed go deep within the earth. Roundup may have killed the upper plants, but the roots remain. So, I have to decide whether to try and sterilize the ground and let it sit for a year, or go ahead and put new plants in and hope I can keep the weeds under control.
Ed has also been helping by steam cleaning the 5th Wheel's couch and bench cushions. As he was progressing with that, we our kitchen disposal got a hole in it, and so Ed had to replace it. So, in the past month, we have had to replace the washing machine, the tires on the car, and now the disposal--all unplanned expenses, plus there have been a lot of extra expenses on the truck and fifth wheel that we hadn't planned on. I hope we're to the end of it.
Kimball came over (or rather Kate brought him) about 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. His visit was a welcome change from all the work I have been doing of late. He is actively crawling now, which means that his hand motor skills are also developing and he can clumsily pick up and hold onto objects. He is able to entertain himself if there is something interesting in front of him, and he is good for a few minutes with any one object or thing. I spent the afternoon doting on him and finding new things for him to do.
If we are in the house, I sit and the floor and crawl around with him. He will play with something and then looks over to see if I am watching, which I am, smiles at me, and then goes on with his play. He finds the throw rugs on the tiled floor in the kitchen and hall very interesting. He likes to pick up the edges and turn them over.
I opened up the lower drawer in the kitchen with the tupperware bowls in them. He pulled a couple of them out and then lost interest when he noticed the bottom liner of the drawer. He spent the rest of his trying to pull it out. Of course, he wasn't successful because the rest of the bowls were still in there holding the liner in place.
I put three refridgerator magnets (an orange, lime, and apple, each about 2 inches in diameter) down low on the front of the fridge. He crawled over to them, pulled them off, and was fascinated with them, dropping them on the floor and scooting them across the tile, and of course, tasting them.
I also took him outside and Ed and I put him on the four-wheeler and rode around the block at 5 miles an hour. He didn't like sitting in between us, so we put him in front of Ed and I wrapped my arms around Ed and held onto Kimballs upper arms. Ed placed one arm in front of him, using one arm to steer. Kimball loved it, his wisping hair catching the breeze.
I also took him for a walk in the stroller and later, just before his bedtime, I carried him around the house to inspect all the trees and other plants. In the process, I stepped on something and I got stung through my crocs up by my big toe. I couldn't pull the shoe off while I was being bit because I was holding Kimball. I hobbled into the house and it took a few minutes to get Kimball settled into bed before I could soak it in hot water and epson salts, a trick we learned while swimming in the ocean several years ago and Ed got stung by a fish through his Tevas. It still bothers me a bit, but it isn't as bad as when I first got stung.
Kimball slept from about 8:00 p.m. until 1:15 a.m. and then woke up and I gave him a bottle. I was smart enough to go to bed at 9:00, but now can't go back to sleep and so decided to write this entry (at 5:00 in the morning.) I am so glad to be having these experiences with Kimball. He is pure joy!
Ed has also been helping by steam cleaning the 5th Wheel's couch and bench cushions. As he was progressing with that, we our kitchen disposal got a hole in it, and so Ed had to replace it. So, in the past month, we have had to replace the washing machine, the tires on the car, and now the disposal--all unplanned expenses, plus there have been a lot of extra expenses on the truck and fifth wheel that we hadn't planned on. I hope we're to the end of it.
Kimball came over (or rather Kate brought him) about 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. His visit was a welcome change from all the work I have been doing of late. He is actively crawling now, which means that his hand motor skills are also developing and he can clumsily pick up and hold onto objects. He is able to entertain himself if there is something interesting in front of him, and he is good for a few minutes with any one object or thing. I spent the afternoon doting on him and finding new things for him to do.
If we are in the house, I sit and the floor and crawl around with him. He will play with something and then looks over to see if I am watching, which I am, smiles at me, and then goes on with his play. He finds the throw rugs on the tiled floor in the kitchen and hall very interesting. He likes to pick up the edges and turn them over.
I opened up the lower drawer in the kitchen with the tupperware bowls in them. He pulled a couple of them out and then lost interest when he noticed the bottom liner of the drawer. He spent the rest of his trying to pull it out. Of course, he wasn't successful because the rest of the bowls were still in there holding the liner in place.
I put three refridgerator magnets (an orange, lime, and apple, each about 2 inches in diameter) down low on the front of the fridge. He crawled over to them, pulled them off, and was fascinated with them, dropping them on the floor and scooting them across the tile, and of course, tasting them.
I also took him outside and Ed and I put him on the four-wheeler and rode around the block at 5 miles an hour. He didn't like sitting in between us, so we put him in front of Ed and I wrapped my arms around Ed and held onto Kimballs upper arms. Ed placed one arm in front of him, using one arm to steer. Kimball loved it, his wisping hair catching the breeze.
I also took him for a walk in the stroller and later, just before his bedtime, I carried him around the house to inspect all the trees and other plants. In the process, I stepped on something and I got stung through my crocs up by my big toe. I couldn't pull the shoe off while I was being bit because I was holding Kimball. I hobbled into the house and it took a few minutes to get Kimball settled into bed before I could soak it in hot water and epson salts, a trick we learned while swimming in the ocean several years ago and Ed got stung by a fish through his Tevas. It still bothers me a bit, but it isn't as bad as when I first got stung.
Kimball slept from about 8:00 p.m. until 1:15 a.m. and then woke up and I gave him a bottle. I was smart enough to go to bed at 9:00, but now can't go back to sleep and so decided to write this entry (at 5:00 in the morning.) I am so glad to be having these experiences with Kimball. He is pure joy!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Went to the Park with Kimball
June 2, 2009
The ducks weren't too interested in eating our day-old bread, probably because there were a lot of other children at the park and in all likelihood, they had already eaten. However, Kimball was most interested in them.
Peek-a-boo!
Today Kate and Kimball came over. We ate at Tasty Donuts. Kimball got to eat cut-up pieces from chicken soup. He has learned to feed himself (although most of it falls on the floor.)
Afterwards we went to the Park.
The ducks weren't too interested in eating our day-old bread, probably because there were a lot of other children at the park and in all likelihood, they had already eaten. However, Kimball was most interested in them.He found the playground equipment entertaining, even though he is still too small for most of it.
Peek-a-boo!Monday, June 1, 2009
Digging In!
This past week has been spent mostly cleaning the 5th Wheel we purchased. It is a very laborious job and not fun. Since the trailer has sat for 20 years, it is dirty and has a tacky film over the walls and cabinetry. I got through 2/3 of it and realized my first cleaning did not remove the film, so I have to reclean everything. At least, I got all the dirt out and so the second cleaning should go much faster, but it is discouraging and is slowing the process down. When I am finally finished, we will have a very nice trailer that will be like new for a fraction of the cost of a newer one, since it wasn't abused at all, and was only taken out about 10 times in those 20 years.
Last week our kitchen disposal got a hole in it, so we had to replace that. We are not having good luck. First our washing machine broke, then we had to replace our car tires, and now the disposal. I hope everything else keeps working. We also had to buy a microwave for the 5th wheel.
On Sunday, Bryce, Kate, and Kimball came for Sunday dinner. Kimball has sprouted four new top teeth. He is crawling very well and pulls himself into a standing position. He made short work of the books on the occasional table in the living room, dropping them onto the floor--it is a perfect height for him right now. We get to have him for an over-nighter on Thursday. That should be interesting.
We went on a short bike ride on Saturday and today. It feels good to be getting out on them. Hopefully, this will help Ed build some body strength. Summer is certainly here, and I am enjoying the warm air and sunshine.
Last week our kitchen disposal got a hole in it, so we had to replace that. We are not having good luck. First our washing machine broke, then we had to replace our car tires, and now the disposal. I hope everything else keeps working. We also had to buy a microwave for the 5th wheel.
On Sunday, Bryce, Kate, and Kimball came for Sunday dinner. Kimball has sprouted four new top teeth. He is crawling very well and pulls himself into a standing position. He made short work of the books on the occasional table in the living room, dropping them onto the floor--it is a perfect height for him right now. We get to have him for an over-nighter on Thursday. That should be interesting.
We went on a short bike ride on Saturday and today. It feels good to be getting out on them. Hopefully, this will help Ed build some body strength. Summer is certainly here, and I am enjoying the warm air and sunshine.
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