Mowed my Lawn!

Well, for those of you who mow your lawn regularly, this is a big woop-de-do, but, for me, it was a big deal! Today marked the first time that I mowed my own lawn in over 22 years! After Michael died, I continued on with our lawn service, because our lawn was huge! Then I sold the house and was in Tucson, where there is no grass. Then last summer in the RV and then here, and Jack mowed the lawn, with the new lawn mower that I'd bought. So today he showed me how to operate it and I mowed the whole lawn, front and back!

We arrived back here yesterday. We stopped first in Big Rapids, at Jack's house, and unloaded all of his things from the RV. Then we came together up to Paris, stopping along the way to reinstate the insurance on his car, to buy me another TV set, and to get our mail. He got his van started, but had to change a tire. Then he took most of the things that are his from this house and drove them back to BR.

That part was difficult. It's easy to say "Let's move in together," but then, if you want to pull back a bit, it's hard. Jack and I are still great friends, and I hope that we always are. We still share lots of common interests. We are still going together to the Menard's Contractors Lunch tomorrow. :) I was laughing today at the idea that it used to be considered a sin for unmarried people to live together. But now it seems that others think that it's a sin for us to live apart!

Back Home Again in Indiana

Wooo hooo! We made it today all the way from Columbia, MO to Brownsburg, Indiana! We're staying here with my sis.

Yesterday was really fun. We arrived in Columbia about noon, checked into the campground (Cottonwoods), unhooked the car, and left. We went first to Fulton, MO, to the Westminster College and the International Churchill Museum. The museum was fascinating, featuring exhibits of Churchill, World War II, and a beautifully restored and relocated Christopher Wren church. We were there for a couple of hours, taking photos and reading. Outside the museum is a large section of the Berlin Wall, which had been made into art. I'll post some photos eventually.

We left there, the day still young enough, and drove another 30 miles down to Jefferson City -- capital of Missouri -- and visited the Statehouse. Zow, what a beautiful facility this is, and what a monument to the wonder that is Missouri. We both took lots of pictures there.

The drive today was pretty easy. We just stayed on 70, except did 270 around the north side of St. Louis. It's great to be here!

And when I die....

... and when I'm gone, there'll be one child born in this world to carry on, carry on.

Michael's sister Becky passed from this world .. but now, just a few days later, there is a new life to celebrate. My nephew Joel and his wife Becca just welcomed their first child -- a new baby boy! Both Joel and Becca are wonderful and fun people, and I am sure that they will be fine parents, too! Now I'm a proud great-aunt again! (I have 3 great-nieces and 5 great-nephews now!)

Today Jack and I left Arvada, waving good-bye to John and MaryAnn, after 3 weeks (!) at their house. They *do* have a fabulous deck to show for the time, but my heart goes out to anyone who has to put up with any houseguests for so long!

We got the RV hooked up to the car and .. off we went! We made it as far as Oakley, Kansas today. We stopped only for fuel, a Wal*Mart run, and more fuel. The rig is getting good mileage, scenery was pretty, and the weather was grand -- 90° and blue skies with the sort of clouds in which it's easy to see animals. Today it was elephants, teddy bears, and dragons!

For Becky

From someone whose middle name used to be "Creativity," it may not seem like such a big deal. But I felt inspired this evening, and did a little art. This is for Michael's beautiful sister Becky, who is dying after a long struggle with ovarian cancer, and now lymphoma, a result of the long periods with chemotherapy. Becky always did read my blog, and I am sure that she will continue, along with her brother. I love you, Becky! Today we drove down to Highland Ranch to visit with John and Marian, friends of Jack's from many years ago. They are really nice people, and we both enjoyed the visit. The drive was pleasant, as well, down 470. Pretty scenery and gorgeous weather.

But I am feeling sad tonight and wishing I were with Becky, Angie, and George..

Fun day in Arvada

Today we worked for just a bit, getting the wood scraps taken out to the trash, bringing the deck furniture out, and helping to clean it up. After we got the deck looking pretty spiffy, we all went off in search of cushions for the deck chairs. A cushion specialty place on Broadway wanted $99 *each* for chair cushions. We laughed. We left. We ended up finding some nice ones at Lowe's, for $25 each.

We ran some other errands, went for lunch at a forgettable Mexican restaurant, and then came back here to enjoy a beer on the new deck with the neighbors.

Oh, and I talked on the phone to several people, in regards to the estate stuff. The lawyer is now wanting me to sign onto 8-9K worth of service, which I don't believe that I even need, now that I have my letters testamentary.

Deck is finished!

Cactus in bloom in Tucson, just before we left: The deck in Arvada is finished! :) Today the last of the balusters went up onto the railings. We did the posts and railing for the steps. And we built an 8' bench. Of course, this was Jack's project. He designed the thing and created it. I was basically Stepp'n' Fetchit, although I did screw deckboards on, cut and drilled all the balusters, and did lots of measuring, leveling, and plumbing of boards. It's good to have it done, and I'm eager to get on to other pursuits, including creative ones of my own.

One thing that I'm trying to do is to fix my own website, myjanee.com. I have been unable to upload to the server, and I can't figure out why. That's the really basic thing. I'm working in Dreamweaver, which is not the software in which I've built the site. (GoLive by Adobe disappeared, and was replaced by Dreamweaver.) And I've never troubled myself to learn Dreamweaver. But I want to. I want to update all the stuff on my site, make it in CSS (whatever that is), and give it all some new art.

Additionally, I want to update my tutorials, to add some new ones, do some exciting new art that's been playing in my head, and just update the feeling of my site.

But first I have to figure out just how to upload simple changes, like... getting my banner to show up again on my tutorial pages. :/

Feeling better

Today I'm starting to feel better. It still hurts some when I swallow, particularly drinks (water's the worst!), but I can tell that I'm doing better now. I am never going to go off that antacid again. The pain is just that horrible, and I don't want to risk it again.

The deck is coming along very well. Today, we put in the vertical posts for the railings. Yesterday, we finished screwing in all the deck boards. Steps are done. It looks great and it should be done in a few days.

We went to the same church today, and it was good. They had a performance of the bell choir, and it was fun.

Arvada, Colorado weather has been splendid, and we've been having fun, actually, putting John and MaryAnn's deck together. :)

Feeling punk

Here's a beauteous prickly pear I shot in Tucson. This one towered way over our heads!
Today I feel puny. I think that it's the same thing that I had in Tucson, when I felt like I was being strangled. The doc put me on antacid medicine (Prevacid) and told me to take it for a number of weeks. I counted out the pills and took it till they were gone. And now, about 2 weeks after I stopped it, here I am with the same thing. I guess I stopped too soon! I started taking the pills again 3 days ago, 5/16, so we'll see. If it's like before, it took 2 weeks for them to take hold. I am resting today, though, letting Jack handle the gas installation (for a firepit!) under the deck by himself.

Weather has actually held out pretty well. It did storm a bit last evening, but we had already put the work away by then. Today, it's looking rainified, and I hear thunder, but I see no rain yet. We should have some deck boards in by the end of the day, I'm thinking.

Progress on the Deck

But first... here's a yucca plant from Tucson: Today and yesterday we worked hard on the deck project here in Arvada, Colorado. The joists are all in place and nailed down. Pockets are built for the railing posts. The real challenge has been designing a deck to cover up the "backyard retreat" that the previous homeowners had built. Between a tiny patio, flower boxes, crumbling retaining walls, and a small deck, it's not been an easy project.

But the food's good! Weather has been fine, but it's thundering and cloudy right now. It's supposed to rain all day tomorrow.

Summer Day

Today Jack and I attended services at the Arvada United Church. It was a fine service. We came back here and changed clothes and went to work on the deck for a bit.

MaryAnn, Lynn, Sarah and I went for a massage next. I had Kate to do mine, and it was really good. She somehow knew exactly where I hurt, and those areas got extra rubbing.

Dinner was pork roast, asparagus, potatoes, and salad. Deeeelish!