Starry night on the prairie

A much quieter day on several fronts today. No emergency runs to the bathroom so far today. Things are slowing down! Yay!

I did get a response from the Gastroenterologist today. She wants me to have a different type of stool test done. I went to Emporia and picked up the collection kit so when I do go I can collect a sample to take in tomorrow.

Jim took me to Council Grove to drop off the router to the internet company I fired. I didn’t ask and they didn’t say if I have to pay the cancellation fee.

I took a short nap when we got home from Council Grove. I had slept fairly well last night but woke up at 6:00 this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I’m still pretty low on energy but not running to the bathroom has helped me recharge a bit today.

I am attempting to drink a gallon of fluids today. I am well over half way through it. The blood in my urine is clearing up. Things are moving in the right direction today.

I have some chicken tenders thawed to fix for dinner tonight. Not sure I will be able to eat them but will grill them and see what happens. I made some ham salad to snack on. I ate a couple bites of that and so far my tummy hasn’t screamed at me.

I called the construction company that my plumber recommended. I talked to the office lady and the guy was supposed to call me back this afternoon but hasn’t so far. Trusting he will call tomorrow and I won’t have to pressure him to call. I never did hear back from the guy that I want to look at the foundation of the rental house. What is it about construction guys and their inability to return calls?

I tracked down all the critters but one cat and gave them their flea and tic medication. Jim will have to catch the remaining cat and help me dose it. She is a bit shy and doesn’t like her medication.

Nothing on the calendar tomorrow except taking a stool sample to the clinic. I need to stop and get a few groceries when I go to town. The kids may be coming out Saturday night for dinner and I need a few things for that.

We don’t have anything on our calendar all of next week either. Jim teaches his last class on Tuesday evening and then may attempt another trip to Stillwater after that. He stayed home this week so he could be around in case I needed help.

I need to start making a list of things I want to take to CO. We are going for three weeks starting July 30. We will be cooking in our cabin most meals so I like to take things that make that easy.

We didn’t get any rain today. The deck was wet this morning but we have managed to go the rest of the day without rain. It has been partly cloudy most of the day. It is to clear up and start warming up again. I will have to mow this weekend after it dries out some more.

I trust today has been a turning point and wellness is returning. I am feeling better today than I have for two weeks. It is nice to have a bit of respite and remember what feeling good feels like.

Grateful for good health today, grateful the router was returned, and grateful for a quiet day at home.

What a day! I made three trips to Emporia today. Feel like I have been going in circles all day long.

Got up and fixed a batch of spaghetti sauce to cook in the crock pot. I spent some time running to the bathroom this morning – again! Dang, this is getting old. I sent a note to my doctor after the third trip to the bathroom this morning letting him know that yesterday I had gone 12 times and I was already at 3 for today. I was starting to feel like I was getting a UTI too.

Someone had posted on Facebook that they were looking for chicken feed sacks. I responded and the lady stopped by to pick them up this morning. Good to get those out of the way.

I baked a pan of brownies and then Jim and I went to Emporia to pick up Tagen and his girlfriend. We stopped and got some ice cream for dessert and came back home. I fed them spaghetti and meat balls with garlic bread and brownies and ice cream for dessert. They all seemed to enjoy it.

I got a call from the doctor after lunch and I had to run back to Emporia to pick up a new prescription and to have a UA done. The doctor is giving me a second antibiotic to fight the C-Diff.

I sent a note to the specialist I had seen last time letting her know what was going on. I didn’t hear back from her today.

Just before lunch Jim discovered the basement is leaking again. Jim thought that a sump pump might help so I called the plumber to see if he could install a sump pump for us. To my surprise the plumber showed up mid afternoon. He thought we already had a sump pump and he was going to fix it. After looking at where it is leaking he said the problem is a block or break in the lateral pipes that drain from the basement fittings. I have to call in someone that has a digger to find the lateral pipe so it can be repaired. Dang! Good to know what the problem is though and that we might be getting closer to solving our water leak.

While the plumber was here I had him show me how to turn the water in the barn on. He turned it on but discovered two water leaks out there. He is coming back another day to fix those.

What is it about this house and water? It seems to be a continuous and ongoing problem.

Jim went to Emporia after I got home to get a new wet vac to suck up all the water. He had used the mop and picked up 10 gallons of water. After he got home he sucked up another 12 gallons.

We had to take Tagen and his girlfriend home so we made another trip to Emporia. I took the leftovers from lunch to Michelle and her family so they could eat them up.

My UA results came back. I have blood in my urine but so far not enough of an infection to treat. If I am not better by Friday I am to go see the Doctor then.

I got a jury duty summons today. I have to report on July 12. Hoping it will get cancelled like last time I got summoned.

Thankfully things have slowed down this evening. I am really feeling discouraged and drained this evening. I don’t have anything on my calendar for the next couple of days so hoping I can rest and recover and kick this stuff. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Grateful for the time with Tagen and his girlfriend, grateful for a plumber that responded so quickly, and grateful and hopeful the new meds will help.

Jim is teaching his OSHER class right now. This class starts at 5:30 and ends at 7:00. We will have dinner when he is done teaching tonight.

This has not been a good day for me. I am up to 10 trips to the bathroom today but I think things have finally slowed down a bit. I will call the doctor if this happens again. I have been on antibiotics since Friday and things should be better by now. I don’t remember doing this last time but may have and forgotten about the bad days.

Maybe tomorrow I will turn the corner and be on my way to recovery. I am a bit discouraged again today. Sure wish I knew why I have had a reoccurrence. Everything I had read says to expect one up to two months after the first one. It has been six months. Guess my body didn’t read the owner’s manual and it seems not to follow the expected rules.

I haven’t done much again today. Just don’t have any energy to do much. I did manage to go to Emporia this afternoon to pick up a few groceries, go to the bank and stop at the vet’s office to get flea and tic medication for the five dogs and cats. I was able to go to town and get home without a bathroom emergency thank heavens.

Tomorrow Tagen and his girlfriend are coming out for lunch. He requested spaghetti and meat balls. That will be an easy lunch to fix. When I get up in the morning I will make the sauce and cook it in the crock pot. I will come up with some sort of dessert – I am trying to remember what his favorite dessert is.

Ellexia requested no bake cookies. I may ask Tagen if he wants to make them for me tomorrow. That would give them something to do while they are here.

It has rained most of the day off and on. We have probably gotten close to an inch of rain over the last 24 hours with more on the way overnight and into tomorrow. I don’t think the drought is broken but we have made a good dent in our rain fall shortage for the year. When things dry out and warm up again I will have to mow the yard again. It had gone dormant and hasn’t needed mowed for a bit.

Thursday I will need to go to Council Grove and return the internet router to the old internet company. Jim has decided not to go to Stillwater this week so he will probably drive me. He was afraid to go to Stillwater since I am still a bit symptomatic. I’m sure it would have been OK for him to go but he is a bit of a worry wort sometimes.

We don’t have any plans for the holiday weekend. I am going to check with the kids to see if any of them want to come out sometime over the weekend for a meal. The kiddos like to shoot off fireworks in front of our big shop. They may all have made plans already but will check and see if any of them are free to come out.

I talked to my handyman yesterday and he has agreed to do the rest of the painting at the rental house for me. Not sure when he will be able to get to it. Maybe I will get to feeling better soon and will be able to do more of it myself. It took some pressure off of me though to know that he will do it if needed. Maybe it will get done this week or next after all.

I need to dig out a knitting project and start working on something. I need a new project that doesn’t take a lot of energy to do. I want to get 100 dishcloths knitted before our family reunion the first Sunday in October. I have some made but not enough. I need to get knitting if I am going to reach my goal of 100. I plan on taking yarn to CO in August and making a bunch while I am there too. I have yarn to knit another blanket and need to get it started. I had started it once and made a mistake and had to rip it out and haven’t restarted it. I can’t even remember when I knitted last – time to pick up the needles again and get started.

Feeling a bit blue and lost today. I’m not used to not having lots of energy and having several days in a row of not getting anything done. I am bored with myself right now! I’m sure I will turn the corner and start rebuilding my energy and this will be behind me soon.

Grateful to have the privilege to take rest and recovery days as needed, grateful I made it to and from Emporia without an emergency pit stop, and grateful things have slowed down today.

It was another rest and recovery day for me. I didn’t sleep very well last night again. I had an hour of running to the bathroom during the middle of the night and when that finally slowed down I was able to get to sleep. Unfortunately that was at 5:00 this morning.

So far today I haven’t had bathroom issues so that is positive. I have had mild cramping most of the day. I am still struggling to figure out what to eat. I can’t seem to find food that doesn’t cause cramping. I have tried fasting and that doesn’t seem to help either. Hard to figure this all out.

I didn’t make it in to paint today and it would have been a good painting day. I was afraid to be too far away from the bathroom in case the urge hit again. I may try it tomorrow depending on how I am feeling. I may have to ask he handyman to do the painting for me if this doesn’t clear up soon.

We ran the cookies I baked last night to the grandkids this evening. Tagen and his girlfriend are coming out for lunch on Wednesday. I’m anxious to meet her. It will be fun to have them out for lunch.

I got the check from the solar panel people for the power the panels couldn’t generate due to the installation error. I appreciated the way they handled their mistake.

I remembered to call and cancel our old internet service today. I have to take the router to Council Grove one day this week. I will find out by next week if they are going to wave the cancellation fee. Their own tech guy told me the best solution would be for me to find another company and he would recommend I not be charged a fee. We will see how this turns out.

Jim got the chicken porch roof finished today. He told me there are a few parts of it that he recommend I paint so I may try to do that tomorrow if it doesn’t rain.

Tomorrow I need to go to Emporia and pick up a few groceries and get the dogs and cats their flea and tic medication.

We got a flag put by our mailbox telling us it is pointing in the wrong direction. I’ll have to call the post office and ask some questions. The note on the flag doesn’t tell us we have to do anything about it or give us a timeline to take care of it. Weird after seven years out here they are flagging it now.

This turned out to be not a very productive day again. Guess I just need to allow that given my fight with C-Diff. One of these days soon I will be back to 100% and will get things done. Until then I guess I allow myself to rest and recover and do only what I can do.

Grateful Jim got the chicken shade roof done, grateful for what sleep I was able to find this morning, and grateful for the check from the solar panel people.

Definitely has been a rest and recovery day for me today. I don’t have much energy at all. I’m glad I had it yesterday and since I didn’t have anything that had to be done today it is a good day to do nothing.

I got up this morning and messed around for a bit. Went back to bed three hours later and slept for over two hours. Thinking about taking another nap yet today. I will sleep when ever sleep finds me.

Jim is out finishing up the shingle job on the chicken porch he is building. He had to buy some more shingles and is pleased that the ones he got match pretty darn close to the ones we had on hand. It will be good to have that project finished up. He wants to do something to the fencing but not sure that is a priority.

I hope I am feeling full of energy tomorrow so I can go in and paint for a bit at the rental house. It is to be relatively cool this week and a good week to get some painting done. I would like to get at least one window done each day this week. I think there are a total of ten doors and windows that need painted – there might be 11 or 12. I would feel really good if I could get most of them painted this week.

The front porch still needs some work done to it before it is ready to paint. Jim is probably going to Stillwater Wednesday so I doubt that he gets any more done to it before he leaves. I will also need to paint the soffits once a couple of them get repaired.

I won’t make my goal of having it painted by the end of June but will keep working at it. One of these days I will get it done.

Our basement did not leak during this last round of heavy rain. I think we may have solved the problem and it is now safe to do the sheet rock repairs. I let the handyman know he can do it when ever he can work it into his schedule. It would be a good hot day project for him.

I’m still smiling thinking about the party yesterday. It was so nice and everyone seemed to be having a grand time. The weather turned out beautiful and the food was great. They didn’t get the wedding they had planned but I think the reception turned out just like they wanted.

Jim has been pushing me to plan a reception for our wedding – one in Stillwater and one here. I’m not sure we need to do that but am giving it some consideration. I do have some friends I would love for him to meet. I do better in small groups though. Maybe we can start inviting small groups over for dinner once a week until I get him introduced to everyone I would have invited to the reception. That sounds more enjoyable to me.

I’m struggling to find foods that I can eat. What seems to be going down right down are foods with flour in them – crackers, noodles, dry toast, etc. Not my type of food but I have to eat something. Meat and veggies sound nauseous to me right now as do fresh fruit. Guess I will eat what I have to eat for a bit until my tummy settles down and then I will go through detox again. Trusting this will be my one and only time to do this again.

I may bake the grandkids their cookies today. The request this week is for Snickerdoodles. Jim always hates to see me give Snickerdoodle cookies away as they are his favorite. I may have to bake Jim a batch just for him tomorrow.

Feeling a bit discouraged today. This is a roller coaster ride I am on again with highs and lows. Yesterday was high and today has been a low. At least I am not running to the bathroom very often so I know things are getting better. My energy will take some time to fully recover and return. I must have needed another lesson in patience.

Grateful for a rest and recovery day, grateful the chicken porch is getting the last of the shingles put on, and grateful for what food I am able to eat.

Went to Clinton Lake where Nicole and Geoff had their wedding reception. What a perfect spot to have an outdoor reception. The weather turned out perfect – not too hot, not too cold. No rain for the main event. The food was great. It could not have gone any better.

I am feeling much better today. The running to the bathroom has stopped and the cramps are much less. I ate some food at the reception that I probably shouldn’t have eaten and I have had more cramping since but it was worth it.

I am still more tired than I normally am but thinking that will pass soon. I got up this morning and was up for three hours then went back to bed for another hour or so. I’m glad I got a nap in then as I would have struggled to make it through the party otherwise.

We had to stop in Topeka on the way to the reception and get a tire repaired. The low tire pressure light had come on before we left Emporia. The app on my phone that tells me how my car is doing was malfunctioning and we were 15 miles from Topeka before I could tell how low the tire really was. We went to one tire store and it was going to be a 1 1/2 hour wait before they could fix the tire. I called another and got the same wait time. We found a third place and they could fix it right away. It took them about 20 minutes to fix the tire. We had picked up a nail in the tire. If you are going to have to deal with a flat tire that is the way to do it.

No plans for tomorrow. Jim wants to finish shingling the chicken shade porch. I don’t have anything that has to be done. It will be a good rest and recovery day.

I don’t have much on the calendar for all of next week. Jim may go to Stillwater on Wednesday and stay until Saturday. I hope to be feeling back to normal and get in and get more painting done on the rental house. We will see how the week unfolds.

It was a good day – I got to see all three of my kids and my grandchildren. That is always a good day when that happens.

Grateful for Nicole and Geoff, grateful for the beautiful weather for the party, and grateful we were able to get the tire fixed without mishap.

Had a rough night last night. I had convinced myself yesterday afternoon that the C-Diff test would come back negative as the diarrhea had stopped for over 18 hours. Man was I wrong! The diarrhea came back hard last evening and continued through the night. I lost count after 10 trips to the bathroom. I was not at all surprised by morning time when the doctor’s office called and told me my lab test for C-Diff was positive.

I am on a six week regiment of antibiotics again. At least the doctor recognized I am a repeat offender and went for a long dose instead of trying a short dose and me offending again. I truly trust it will work and I won’t have a reoccurrence when this round of antibiotic is over.

I am on clear liquids, crackers and rice for 24 – 48 hours. Once I have things slowed down and they stay that way for 24 hours I can add other food back in as tolerated.

I didn’t think I would ever eat chicken noodle soup again but here I am. Never say never! I poured the broth of the soup over rice for dinner. I fixed Jim Beef Stroganoff using the left over steak from Sunday night. He said it was good. Can’t say I have much of an appetite right now but am doing my best to get some liquids down so I don’t get dehydrated. I really don’t want a trip to the ER if I can avoid it.

Things have slowed down today. Hoping they will stay that way through the night. I took two naps today – I don’t have much energy today. It has rained most of the afternoon and it was a good nap day. So very grateful for the rain we are getting. I can almost hear the earth drinking in the rain. We were so very dry.

I sure hope I am feeling much better tomorrow afternoon so we can go to Nicole and Geoff’s wedding reception. I couldn’t have done it today but with the antibiotics on board I am hoping tomorrow will be a good day. It may be a wet event as they are getting lots of rain there too. It is all outside but there is a shelter house and lots of canopy tents. It will be an adventure for sure.

The handyman got the second exhaust fan installed today. Nice to have that project crossed off my list of things pending. So far the basement has stayed dry. Today was a good test for that as we got lots of rain in a short amount of time. I think it is now safe to finish the sheet rock project and be fairly sure that it won’t leak and get wet again.

I forgot to call today and cancel our old internet provider. I will do that Monday. I will have to take the router to Council Grove sometime next week. I really like the new internet so far. I loaded a movie from Amazon Prime today and it loaded very quickly. That never happened with the old internet provider.

Jim went to Emporia today to pick up my prescription – it was $110 out of pocket. The prescription insurance covered $1,500. Wow! What do people do that don’t have insurance? I spend most of my “fun” money on prescriptions these days.

Got the bill from the propane company so I pre-purchase propane for next winter. $1,800! I’m grateful I have the funds but hate to spend it on propane. I don’t have any carried over from last year as last year’s temperatures were colder than normal. I wonder what this year will be like. Hopefully we will be above normal temperatures for most of the winter and some will carry forward so next year’s bill will be less.

Trusting tomorrow will be a better day and I will be feeling much better. I am tired of this already. I allowed myself to cry and be upset today but told myself I will accept what is and deal with it with my big girl panties on tomorrow.

Grateful for medication that will help me feel better, grateful for the rain the prairie is getting, and grateful for Jim’s loving care.

I went to Emporia this morning to take a stool sample to the hospital lab. I was disappointed this afternoon that I didn’t get a phone call with the results. I will call first thing in the morning to see if I have C-Diff again. I felt better most of the day but early evening the diarrhea came back for about two hours. It has stopped again but now I am feeling drained again.

Two different workers showed up at the same time early afternoon. The handyman came to install the new exhaust fans in the bathrooms downstairs and the internet guy came to get the new internet hooked up.

At one point the internet guy called me on his phone. He had gone up a ladder to look at the roof and while he was up on the roof his ladder fell over in the high wind. I found Jim and had him go out and get the ladder back up so the guy could get down from the roof.

The internet is fabulous! I’m very happy with it so far – we haven’t dropped once today. I turned my Sonos system on this afternoon and it is still playing this evening. I hadn’t been able to do that with the old internet as it would keep shutting off anytime the internet dropped us. I trust it will continue to do as well into the future. I’m anxious to see what it does when it is stormy out.

The internet guy was nice and did a great job but he was loud. He is a retired Marine and had a deep, loud voice. He is from the south and said Yes Sir to Jim all the time. I was glad when he left as the house got much quieter instantly.

The new exhaust fan downstairs is so quiet I can’t tell if it is on or off. It will be nice when we have guests and they turn the fan on and we don’t hear it upstairs. The handyman ran into some problems and only got one of them installed. He is coming back in the morning to do the other one.

I had three friends over and we did a Summer Solstice celebration and then watched the Super Moon rise. During the solstice celebration I interrupted it twice so we could go out and watch the sunset. It was a beautiful one tonight. The Super Moon was beautiful too. It was a beautiful evening and just what my soul needed.

Jim got some shingles put on the chicken shade porch tonight. He has to go get more shingles before he can finish that project.

We got a tad bit of rain last night but not enough to close the cracks in the ground. For a while this evening it looked promising that more rain would find us but no such luck. We still have a chance of rain the next two days but I am not going to hold my breath.

I’m tired of not feeling good. This is getting old quick. I’ll be glad to know in the morning what is going on and move into the problem solving part of this. I thought all day I was over the hump and was disappointed when I had another rough couple of hours. I should be grateful it isn’t happening all day long, I guess.

Grateful for the celebration we held tonight, grateful for the beauty of Mother Nature, and grateful for new internet.

Well, this day hasn’t gone as planned. I woke up not feeling good again today. My tummy rumbled and rolled all night. I have had 8 loose stools today. I called the doctor and they had me come in. He is testing for C-Diff as a precaution. It it is negative he will come up with a plan to help slow things down. Lord help me if it is positive. I was able to make it to town and back without issue. I did take some wet wipes with me just in case!

I will need to run a stool sample in to Emporia tomorrow morning. I went all afternoon before I got to the doctor’s office and then couldn’t go when I was there. I should have results tomorrow afternoon sometime.

Jim went to the rental to mow this afternoon – bless his heart. I wasn’t sure I could be away from the bathroom long enough to do much mowing.

I did go to Emporia this morning and got a gallon of house paint. I made it to town and home again with no issue. The problem began after I got home.

While I was in town this morning I stopped at the car wash and washed and vacuum my car. It was way overdue for some tender loving care. It is already dusty again but still looks better than it did earlier. We need rain badly.

We made an Airbnb reservation in Maryville, TN for two nights in October. We are going to Jim’s 50th college graduation reunion. I had a $100 coupon from Airbnb to use so we are staying in a cabin somewhere just outside of town. The place looks nice – has a kitchen, washer and dryer and is private.

My car tag sticker came in the mail today. I had ordered it last week. Nice to be able to cross a few things off my pending list today.

Right now I am feeling better. It seems to come in waves. Trusting I scared my tummy into behaving by going to the doctor and the C-Diff test will be negative. I want to be in good form to go to Nicole and Geoff’s wedding reception this weekend so decided I better get checked out so I can get on top of this in case it is C-Diff. Last time I felt much better within 24 hours of starting the medication.

Tomorrow will be a big day around here. The handyman is coming to install new exhaust fans in the bathrooms downstairs in the afternoon. At the same time we get new internet. Sure hoping the new internet will be the solution we have been waiting for. Then tomorrow evening some friends are coming over so we can celebrate the Summer Solstice and watch the full moon rise. I love sacred ceremony and it will be good for my soul to participate in this one.

I haven’t gotten much done today. I didn’t take a nap today and have wasted most of the day. I don’t have much energy and am feeling drained. Decided to baby myself today and not do anything.

Have some green chicken in the crock pot for dinner. Not sure if I will attempt to eat real food today or not. I had chicken noodle soup for lunch. May stick with that again tonight depending on how the tummy is feeling later.

The dog nail clippers I ordered came in. I tried them out and they worked great. My old pair was so dull I couldn’t clip through their thick nails.

Grateful the doctor’s office could get me in today, grateful Jim mowed at the rental house today, and grateful for rest days.

Went to the rental house to paint this morning. The handyman got some more siding pieces up so got those painted as well as the last of the ladder work on the back of the house. Just need to paint the peak of the house in the front and the main body of the house will be done.

I got too hot painting. It got a bit warmer than forecast today and by noon was 91. I was getting a bit dizzy and nauseous so came home. I went to bed and slept for over two hours. Felt better when I got up but still not back to normal. I stopped and took water breaks today but am thinking the diarrhea I had the last two days dehydrated me a bit and I am having trouble catching up. So far no diarrhea today so hoping that is behind me now and I am back on the road to recovery.

Took my first dose of the new thyroid liquid medication today. The taste is bad but not awful. It is less than a teaspoon full and I can take it with water. I would prefer a pill but am willing to do whatever it takes to get my TSH levels down. Sure hope this form of Synthroid works.

I had to go back to the rental this afternoon to put the ladder away. I didn’t have the strength to carry it back to the shed when I quit painting earlier.

Thursday the handyman is coming to this house to replace the exhaust fans in the bathrooms downstairs. I am going to talk to him about finishing the rest of the painting. I am struggling to handle this heat and the forecast is not looking good for cool days for me to paint in. I want this painting to get done one way or another and hiring it done may be my best option.

Tomorrow I need to figure out how to get the mower in my car in the morning so I can go in and get the yard mowed. We had told the renter we would mow until the house was painted as a way of compensating her for not having the outside of the house painted. The yard is way over due to be mowed and I have got to get it done tomorrow. If I get up early enough I think I can get it done before it gets too hot.

Still feeling a bit out of sorts this afternoon. It wouldn’t take much for me to fall into the muck pond. I don’t like it when my body acts like it did today. I feel old and weak. I know part of it is the thyroid thing but I am tired of that excuse. Oh well, tomorrow is a new day and a new chance to feel better.

Thursday we get our new internet. I sure trust that process will go smoothly. I haven’t notified the old company yet that I am firing them. I want to make sure the new internet is up and running first.

Jim teaches the first of three OSHER classes this afternoon starting at 5:30. He likes to have me around in case he has technical difficulties-he rarely does though.

Grateful for what painting I got done today, grateful for a long nap, and grateful I have options for the remainder of the painting.

Got up at 6:00 this morning to fix breakfast for our guests. We had scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. They ate and left before 7:45 this morning. They had a safe trip to Estes Park and are in their home away from home tonight. They will be there for five weeks.

Went to Emporia at 8:00 this morning and picked up Ellexia and took her to her dental appointment. I went to Dillon’s and got some groceries and she was done when I went back to the dentist office. I was almost to her house taking her home when she decided she wanted to spend the day at my house. We stopped at her house and she got a sweat shirt and we headed back to my house.

I fixed her blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs when we got here. She helped me gather eggs three times today.

We went in after she ate breakfast and painted at the rental house for about two hours. Ellexia did a nice job painting and made the job get done quickly. We got all the replacement shingles painted. I have a bit of ladder work on the back of the house to do tomorrow and then all but the front peak of the gray color will be painted.

Ellexia was so good today. She and Jim had fun together. Ellexia and I laid down to rest – I fell asleep but she got up and visited with Jim while I took a nap.

We took her back into town around 5:30.

The Endocrinologist office called today to let me know my new thyroid medication had been approved. The appeal I wrote worked. We stopped and picked that up when we took Ellexia to town. I have to pay $49.13 a month but that is better than $140 a month.

I have had a touch of diarrhea again this afternoon. I don’t think it is C-Diff as I don’t have a fever or cramps and it isn’t extreme diarrhea like I had before. I had chicken noodle soup for dinner as a precaution hoping that it will help settle my tummy and this stuff will be gone tomorrow. I am feeling a bit drained after having diarrhea for two days in a row.

We missed the rain that was all around us last night and this morning. It sprinkled on our way home from Emporia this morning but even that stopped before we got home. More rain is in the forecast for Friday and Saturday this week but again I will believe when I see it. I did enjoy the cooler temperatures today. We only reached the high 70’s today. What a welcome change from the 90’s and 100’s we have been having. It is to be in the mid 80’s tomorrow and then a return to the 90’s after that.

I hope to go in and paint some more in the morning. I want to finish up the gray color and then start on the trim painting. Some of the windows still need scraped but some are ready to be painted. We will see how much work I can get done tomorrow. Part of it will depend on how I am feeling- I am a bit drained tonight but hoping by tomorrow I will be back to normal.

Tomorrow and Wednesday are free days for me. Nothing on my calendar. I am ready for some empty space again. I hope to get some painting done but other than that I am free. I have some phone calls to make to try to get some things knocked off my to-do list but I have to me in the right mood to make those. Maybe that mood will strike and I can get some things taken care of.

Grateful for the day with Ellexia today, grateful for the company that spent the night, and grateful my appeal was successful and I can try the new medication.

Had trouble finding sleep last night. Finally found a couple hours after daylight. Sure makes for a long night when that happens. I took a second hot bath and that helped a bit.

Our company came in mid afternoon. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening visiting with them. I grilled steaks and had baked potatoes and corn on the cob for dinner with banana pudding for dessert. It was an easy meal to fix and clean up from.

Tomorrow I need to be in Emporia to pick Ellexia up at 8:45 to take her to a dentist appointment. I will get up early and fix breakfast for our guests and then head to town. Jim needs some shingle nails so I will stop and get those on the way home.

When I get back from town I hope to go to the rental house and paint for several hours. We are to get some rain tomorrow so will see if that happens or not. The yard needs mowed too but guess the weather will decide for us if we get those things done or not.

Today is Nicole and Geoff’s first wedding anniversary. They are hosting a reception this Saturday to celebrate. Their wedding plans got changed due to Covid last year. Their backyard wedding was a beautiful event. Time has flown by – I can’t believe it has been year already.

I need to remember to do my egg delivery tomorrow and not get too distracted by painting. I have enough eggs this time to be able to fill the orders with extra eggs left over. The girls have slowed down laying a bit and am only getting about 20 eggs a day right now. Trusting when it cools down a bit they will lay more eggs again.

Tuesday Jim teaches the first of three classes for another OSHER class he is doing. This class is at 5:30 – 7:00 in the evening. We will be eating dinner a bit late for those three Tuesdays.

Thursday we get our new internet service. I trust it won’t kick me off-line like the current internet company does. It sure will be nice to have reliable, decent, fast internet.

Thursday evening I am having some friends over to celebrate Summer Solstice and the full moon. I trust the clouds will part so we can watch the full moon rise.

Saturday we are going to Lawrence to Nicole and Geoff’s wedding reception. It is going to be a busy week.

Happy Father’s Day to my dad and all men who fill the role of being a father. I was so lucky and had a good one. He taught me how to enjoy the little things in life and to make room for play as well as work.

Grateful for the memories I have of my dad, grateful for the guests that came to visit, and grateful for the memories of Nicole and Geoff’s wedding.

I got the chicken coop painted last night! Yay! I may decide to paint the new supports for the shade roof Jim built but I may not. We shall see. So glad to have a project finished and crossed off my list.

I sent a note to the rancher who I buy a whole beef from each year checking to see when the butcher date will be. I am running very low on beef in the freezer. I mentioned that to her and she responded back and told me she had 85 pounds of extra hamburger she would sell me if I wanted. I did! We met her in Matfield Green around noon to pick up the hamburger. It is so nice to have lots of hamburger on hand again. I was down to fourteen pounds which probably wouldn’t have lasted until the new beef will be ready the end of August.

We went to Emporia after we put the hamburger in the freezer. I needed to get two new exhaust fans for the bathrooms downstairs and a few groceries. Jim needed some more stuff for the chicken shade project. Walmart was extremely busy and I was really glad when we got out of there. We stopped at Fanestils and got some bacon, ham and turkey and then came home. I took a very short nap when we got home. I was cranky and worn out from all the people at Walmart.

I’m still surprised at how many things Walmart continues to be out of these days. I wanted a watermelon to give the girls and they didn’t have any. I needed some tomato juice and they were out. I buy Epsom salt in 5 pound bags and they were out of that. I looked for an iced tea maker and they didn’t have any. Jim wanted a piece for the hoses and they were out of them. I don’t remember prior to Covid that they would be out of so many things so often.

I went out and mowed most of the yard this morning while it was still relatively cool outside. By the time I was done mowing it was warming up. I didn’t mow close to the north side of the house as Jim was sleeping and I didn’t want to wake him up. I went back out around 4:00 and finished up the yard. Good to have the yard mowed up again. I didn’t mow the far west part of the yard as I couldn’t tell where I was mowing and decided I was wasting gas and time owing where it really didn’t need it.

We had leftovers for dinner tonight so dinner was quick and easy to fix. Jim is so good about eating leftovers. He had spaghetti and I had grilled chicken.

I took a shower when I finished mowing this afternoon. It is so dry out. Dried grass and weeds kept blowing in my face. I had dirt in places I didn’t know I had when I came in from mowing. I was hot and itchy so decided to treat myself to a shower. I put on clean clothes and decided I wasn’t going to do any more work today.

Jim’s brother and his wife are coming in tomorrow afternoon and will spend the night. They are on their way to Estes Park, CO. We won’t be at the Y Camp when they are this year as they are leaving the week we arrive. It will be good to see them for a short bit tomorrow.

I sent an appeal to the pharmacy insurance group to see if they would reconsider their decision on the new thyroid medication. It costs $140 a month so if they deny me again I may try it anyways and pay for it and see if it helps. They had approved the $1,500 cholesterol medication so not sure why they would deny the $140 thyroid medication but I’m not sure they operate on the same logical thinking that I use. If they deny my appeal then my doctor will write an appeal. They had denied the cholesterol medication and my family doctor had appealed that decision and got conditional approval for me to try it for six months.

I need to go through my desk and check my pending file and see if I need to make some calls Monday to clear some of those things up. I feel like I have lots of balls in the air right now and am loosing track of things. It is time to make a fresh to-do list so I know where things are.

The new 10 day forecast only shows the cool down lasting for two days now. I plan on painting at the rental house as much as I can on Monday and Tuesday while the temperature is below 85. We are to get some rain on Monday but I will believe that when I see it.

The girls are catching me up on eggs. Last week I didn’t have enough on Monday to fill my orders. As of today I have what I need for Monday and I will get more eggs tomorrow and Monday morning. Go girls go!

Grateful the chicken coop painting project is complete, grateful for lots of hamburger in my freezer, and grateful the mowing got done at this house today.

Went down and painted for a bit this morning. It was windy and hot. Got the east side of the coop finished. Only have the top of the north side to do and the chicken coop will be painted. I was feeling a bit weird so decided not to push myself and came in before I did the last little ibt.

Came in and fell asleep in my chair. Woke up feeling better although I have been a bit off still. Thinking maybe the heat from yesterday got to me today. We will see if that is what this is.

It got windy last night and has stayed windy today. Nothing like hot heat blowing in your face. It got up to the mid 90’s today – a bit of relief from the 104 yesterday. It is still feeling plain ass hot outside today.

Got a call from my Endocrinologist office. They told me insurance has denied my doctor’s new prescription for the thyroid medication. When I asked the nurse how I file an appeal she didn’t know. She called me back and told me I needed to come to the office and sign a form and they would send it in. When I told her I was over an hour away from the office she said she would check and call me again. This time she told me when I get my denial letter I could sign the appeal form that should be with the letter and then mail it to them and they would file an appeal.

I checked the pharmacy website and there is an appeal process on it too. I have to wait for my denial letter though as they need a claim number before I can completely fill out the paperwork on-line. Obstacles in every direction.

Then I got the mail and got a bill from my family doctor’s office for the physical I had in May. Insurance denied coverage. This happened to Jim too and I knew what to do. I call the billing office for my doctor and told them they had coded it wrong. Sure enough, that is what happened. They are going to correct their mistake and refile. Dang! Insurance issues today. What is up with that? They ran into the wrong person though as I am not going away quietly.

I wonder what people do that don’t know how the system works? It seems a shame that insurance companies dictate what medication you take. I will notify my family doctor about the error in coding and let him know it happened to both Jim and I. One time is a mistake, the second not so much.

Got the floors on the main level cleaned today. Still need to dust and clean the bathroom and I will be ready for my guests that are coming Sunday afternoon.

Jim and I are going to Emporia tomorrow to pick up a few things. He needs to go to the hardware store again and I need a few groceries and other things from Walmart. It will be our big adventure for the weekend.

The dryer got delivered to my renter today without issue. She was home so she handled the delivery. Glad that is crossed off my list.

The handyman let me know the exhaust fan is old enough that they no longer make repair parts for it. There is a modified part available but it costs almost as much as a new unit does. He is going to order new units for me and then come install them when they come in.

I’m still waiting on the check from the solar panel company. It will be good one of these days to cross off these things that seem to be hanging around on my pending list.

I’m fixing sauerkraut and hot dogs for dinner tonight. That will be easy. Not sure my tummy can handle a hot dog tonight so I may have left over grilled chicken. I still feel a bit queasy and a bit off this afternoon. That is what we were going to have yesterday until the kiddos decided they wanted to stay for dinner. Hot dogs hold over well so no worries.

Cooler temperatures and chances of rain are in the forecast for next week. I hope to be able to paint most everyday next week at the rental house. We need to go in and get it mowed early next week for sure. Jim can do that while I paint. It is almost all done and I would love to get that puppy done with. I’m so tired of it.

Jim starts teaching a new OSHER class next Tuesday. This is a short class of only once a week for three weeks. He so enjoys teaching them. He will need to spend some time the next couple days doing the final preparation for that class. Since he is teaching on-line he uses a lot of Powerpoint photos. They take a good bit of time to find the images and then label them and get them in the correct order.

We get our new internet service next Thursday. I sure trust it will work better than the one we have now. I have to log on to the internet several times a day and once or twice a day restart my computer so I can get on. That becomes a nuisance and pain in the ass after a bit.

A week from tomorrow is the wedding reception for Nicole and Geoff. They had planned on getting married last October. They ended up with a small family wedding last June and are just now able to hold their big reception. It will be a fun afternoon and evening with them and their friends and family.

Summer Solstice is this coming week along with a full moon. I’m sorry to see the long days start getting shorter. I love all the day light -especially in the early mornings.

Grateful for the painting I got done today, grateful for medical insurance even with its problems, and grateful for the cooler temperature and rain headed our way.

It got up to 104 today on the prairie. Yuck! At least there was a light breeze to move the air a bit but damn, it was plain ass hot today.

I woke up at 7:00 this morning after sleeping for at least six hours straight. Wow! Sure wish I could do that every night. It felt so good to get some sleep last night.

The handyman came this morning and finished the water drainage project he had started last week. He had ordered some basins and got those installed. He also looked at the bathroom exhaust fans and is going to order some parts for them if they are available. If not, he will replace them. They are so loud they wake me up at night if a guest turns them on downstairs.

I went to Emporia around noon. I returned something to Bluestem I had purchased and decided we didn’t need. Then I went to pick up the kiddos to take them swimming. Neither one of them could find a friend to go with us today so it was just the three of us. We ended up going to the Cottonwood Falls pool. They swam for about 20 minutes and then had to get out for the ten minute hourly break. They got back in after the break but decided after 30 minutes they had enough. It was so hot today – even in the water.

We came back to my house and they had s’mores for a snack. They both were so good while we were at the pool and all afternoon. Ellexia and I gathered eggs a couple of times. They hung out and played with each other. Jim enjoyed having them around too.

I fixed spaghetti and meat balls for dinner. I think Ellexia ate more than anyone. That girl can eat when she is hungry. I made a cherry dump cake for dessert. Tim came out and joined us for dinner and then took two tired kids home. Michelle had to work at her second job tonight.

It was a fun day today for me although I am tired tonight. I got in the water for a bit with the kiddos and sat out in the sun for the rest of the time while we were at the pool. I so enjoyed watching the kids play in the water and go off the diving board. It was fun listening to them play this afternoon. It made me realize how much I lost out on during the pandemic when they weren’t able to be around us.

I didn’t get any painting done today but it was a good day to take a break from painting. Jim took the day off too and didn’t put the shingles up. It was just too hot to be outside today.

We don’t have anything on our calendar for the next two days. Found out last night Jim’s brother and his wife will be here Sunday late afternoon for dinner and to spend the night. They are on their way to CO. It will be good to see them. I will need to spend some time the next two days cleaning house a bit. Good thing they are family and it will be what it is but I would feel better if the house was cleaned up a bit.

Thankfully it is to cool down a bit next week. Maybe I will finally make it to the rental to get some painting done there next week. It is bothering me that I haven’t made it in. My goal was to have that painting project done by the end of June and I am running out of June painting days.

Grateful for the time with the grandkids today, grateful for sleep last night, and grateful this heat wave is to break the first of next week.

Went to the Endocrinologist today in Topeka. I had a list of complaints I have been experiencing including poor sleep, sweating (unusual for me), fatigue, mood swings, anxiousness, fluctuations in blood pressure, and constipation. She told me all of them are telling her that my thyroid levels are not under control. There is a new thyroid medication out for those of us that struggle to control our levels. The new stuff is more pure and is more easily absorbed. If my insurance will approve it, I am going to try it.

She told me this all was probably caused by the C-Diff that I had last year. It caused the flora in my gut to change and as a result can cause poor absorption. That kinda makes me upset that I have struggled this long before they decided to do something. I had notified her back in August last year when I first got C-Diff and asked if I needed to watch for anything. My levels have bounced from 0.3 to 6.5 since I had C-Diff. Not sure why she is just now connecting the dots. I have had my levels checked every 6 weeks and they just kept adjusting the dosage. I didn’t know there was another medication I could try.

She asked if I wanted a referral to go back to MD Anderson for another opinion. I asked her why would I do that? She said she didn’t think I needed to go but wanted to offer it as an option. If the new medication doesn’t bring things under control within six months then we decided that might be my next step.

I’m not 100% convinced that my problems are all connected to the C-Diff though. I haven’t been able to maintain my levels for longer than three months since this all started in 2017. They went up and down before the C-Diff too. I did learn that weight can impact my levels as the more I weigh the more medication I need – or at least that is the way it is supposed to work. I have lost 20 pounds over the last six months and my levels have gone up even though the dosage I have taken has increased. The higher dose should have brought my levels down.

My body needs to have an owner’s manual to explain why it acts differently than most. She was surprised to learn the new cholesterol medication didn’t work for me. She said she hadn’t heard of anyone else having that result. In her mind that too was related to the C-Diff and the way my body metabolizes medication.

I asked her if there was something we are missing but she seems to think it is just my body not absorbing the Synthroid medication as it should be. Hoping the new medication will be the answer. If not, I will have to go get a second opinion again.

I also asked if there was anything I could be doing to help myself. She said to maintain my weight at where I am now, continue to avoid flour and sugar, and to take the medication at the same time everyday and fast for 30 – 60 minutes afterwards. Other than that she said there really wasn’t anything else I can do.

She assured me that the symptoms I have been having are all related to the uncontrolled thyroid and that is why I have been feeling kinda crummy lately. Sure hope and trust this new medication will do the trick for me and things can level out.

I stopped and got a gallon of paint before I headed to Topeka this morning. When I came back through Emporia on the way home I stopped and got some groceries. I bought a watermelon for the girls. When we went down to give it to them they were showing signs of heat stress. I set up the sprinkler and Jim threw the watermelon into their coop. Within an hour they had mostly stopped showing heat stress signs.

Jim is still here. He decided not to go to Stillwater this week. He is in the middle of fixing the girls some shade and wants to finish that project for them. The shade he has put up is really helping to keep their coop cooler already. He is putting up some supports of some sort this afternoon and will put shingles over it tomorrow.

Tomorrow I am going to take the grandkids swimming. I told them they could each take a friend along. They are going to swim for two hours then I will take them to get a treat and take their friends home. Then the kids can either come out to my house for a bit or I can take them home. I invited Jim to go with us but he doesn’t like to swim so I think he is going to pass. Not sure swimming is my favorite thing to do but I will enjoy spending time with the grandkids. I’m not sure if we are going to the Emporia pool or to Cottonwood Falls. I’ll see which the kiddos would prefer.

I haven’t gotten any painting done today yet. I might be able to go down this evening when it cools down a bit and paint. I am really struggling in this heat and don’t want to make myself sick by being out in it. I worry about Jim working in it. He has been fairly good about coming up to the house and taking cool down breaks every two hours or so. It is dangerously hot out today again.

Next week it is to cool down so that may be the week I finally get to the rental house and get some painting done. Dang, I am tired of that project and need it done! I can’t paint in the evenings as the renter is there and I haven’t made it in the early morning times this week. I guess it waits for me and will get done when it gets done.

We don’t have any plans this weekend. I had thought Jim would be gone and hadn’t planned anything except for painting. I’m sure he will continue to work on the chicken coop and hopefully I will get back to painting this weekend. Someone please remind me there is life beyond painting!

The grandkids want chocolate chip cookies this week. I will bake them after sunset tonight. I hate to turn the oven on during the heat of the day. The A/C is struggling to keep up as it is.

Grateful Jim is staying home this week, grateful for my Endocrinologist and her care and concern, and grateful the grandkids agreed to hang with grandma tomorrow afternoon.

This day didn’t go as planned. Jim was going to go to Stillwater today but didn’t make it. He went down late morning to work on the chicken coop after running to town to get some more lumber. It took longer than he thought it would and then it got so hot he had to stop working and come in and cool down. He wants to finish part of it before he leaves so he decided to stay another night here and leave for Stillwater tomorrow.

I went into Cottonwood Falls around noon and delivered a dozen of eggs. I stopped by the house to see the new guttering and some work the handyman had done. Wow! The house is really starting to look nice. I didn’t make it in to paint today. I got up late and the power was off and I couldn’t get the car out of the garage. Then it got way too hot for me to be out.

I did get some flowers planted in the east side flower beds. Jim had bought a bunch last time he was in town and they needed put in. He is busy doing things I can’t do so I said I would plant them for him. Even that was hot work today. It felt good when they were in and I was able to water them (and me) and cool us all down a bit.

It reached 97 here today and is to stay this hot and get even hotter over the next couple of days. It is scary hot out there. I really feel for those that have to be out in this heat all day long. I got light-headed twice and had to come in and take a break and I wasn’t even working hard. I don’t tolerate this heat very well.

I took a nap this afternoon. I slept hard for about two hours. It felt good to get some extra rest. I had gotten about four hours of sleep last night which is more than I had been getting. The heat wore me out though and I was grateful I could get another two hours of sleep.

Tomorrow I have to leave at 9:30 and head to Topeka for a doctor’s appointment. I have a few things on my list of things I need so may do some shopping in Topeka when I get done at the doctor’s office. We will see how my day goes and if I can tolerate shopping. I usually can’t! I do need to stop on my way home and pick up a few groceries and a gallon of paint. That will save me from making another trip to town on Thursday.

My air conditioner is having trouble keeping the house at the temperature I have set it at. It got a bit behind when the electricity was off this morning for two hours and hasn’t been able to catch up all day. I’m grateful it will cool down this evening after the sun goes down. Later in the summer it doesn’t cool down so much.

I grilled chicken tenderloins on the grill today. I cleaned the grill this afternoon and it performed much better tonight. Jim had a corn on the cob with his and I had some green beans with mine. Simple and easy dinner with few dishes and I didn’t have to turn the oven on. I like those kind of summer dinners.

Guion’s called and are going to deliver the dryer Friday. Not sure yet if I have to go let them in – my renter wasn’t sure of her schedule yet. Grateful that is going to get crossed off my pending list.

I ordered some hiking pants and two of the five came in today. I guessed at what size I needed correctly so won’t have to send anything back. The other three pair are to come tomorrow. I needed some hiking pants for our trip to CO in August.

One of the things on my shopping list is a couple of summer dresses. Not even sure where I will go look for some. I hate trying on clothes in stores but will need to do so. If I am in the mood to do so I will look tomorrow – we shall see.

Sure hoping Thursday I can get up early and head into town to get some painting done. I will have to paint between 7:00 and 9:00 in the morning as it is too hot for me after that. I could paint in the evenings but I don’t like to bother my renter. She may be going away for the weekend and if so maybe I can get a couple hours every morning in this weekend too.

It is to cool down a bit next week but we shall see if that forecast holds. I feel like a wimp in the summer time as I tend to stay inside most of the time and avoid being outside during the day. I just don’t tolerate heat well at all.

Grateful I get to have Jim home for another night, grateful the flowers got planted, and grateful the girls are getting shade.

It has been a lazy day on the prairie today. Too hot to do much. I didn’t sleep much again last night. I went out and painted for an hour this morning. The step stool I am using isn’t working very good so will bring the short ladder home from the rental house tomorrow.

When I came in from painting Jim was still sleeping. I sat in my corner chair and fell asleep and slept for about an hour. When I woke up I did my egg run. Had to short a customer a dozen eggs but will take them in tomorrow. I was 4 eggs short of having what I needed.

Went back down to the coop this afternoon and painted for another hour. Jim is working on the shade structure for the coop and needed another set of hands occasionally. He won’t get it done tonight but he got a good start on it. It will have to wait until he gets back from Stillwater this weekend before he can finish it.

I have all the lower painting done on the coop now. The ladder work is only the top 10% of the coop so it won’t take me too much longer to finish up this project. I had to use the new deck paint I got and it doesn’t match the old paint. Oh well, I don’t think the chickens will complain.

We didn’t make it in to mow this afternoon. Jim wanted to work on the shade thing instead. I will mow sometime this week – that is something I can do.

I grilled steaks for dinner tonight. I need to clean my grill as it is getting too hot. The steaks were a touch over done for my liking but we both ate all of them so they were OK. We are all but out of steak now and almost out of all my good beef. It is a good thing I have another beef ordered – not sure when it will be coming though. Hate the thought of having to buy store meat.

Ran out of paint this afternoon so will need to go to town and get another gallon. I think I am going to paint at the rental house tomorrow morning. The handyman has most of the siding repairs done and ready for painting. Most of them are low enough I don’t need a ladder to paint. Sure would like to get all the main color of the house painting done and then start the trim painting later this week.

The guttering guys showed up this afternoon and I think finished the job. I haven’t gone in to check it out yet. It will be nice to cross that off my list if they got done.

I called and got on the plumber’s list. I need a second water thingy put in down by the chicken coop. I’m tired of hauling water everyday. They said it would be three to four weeks before they could get to me.

Our electricity is going to be turned off from 9:00 – 11:00 tomorrow morning. Might as well be outside painting during that time. I need to remember to open the garage door first thing when I get up tomorrow so I can get my car out if I don’t get gone before 9:00.

Not sure what time Jim is leaving for Stillwater tomorrow. He usually tries to get on the road by 2:00. It is a three hour drive to get to his house. Not sure when he is coming back home – probably either Friday or Saturday. I am trying to talk him into staying until Sunday. He won’t be able to go down next week as we have some things going on here. He really needs to put in some hours down there and get his house done. He has so many projects on his plate right now – both in Stillwater and here. No rest for him these days.

It was another day of temperatures over 90. We are to get up to 100 by the weekend. Yuck! I am not a fan of hot weather. The poor chickens are showing signs of heat stress. I may need to set the water sprinkler up for them tomorrow to help cool them down a bit.

Wednesday I go to Topeka for a doctor’s appointment. I won’t get much painting done that day unless I paint in the early evening after the heat of the day has passed. I will get back at it Thursday and Friday. I sure would like to finish up the deck, chicken coop and rental house in the next two or three weeks. I’m tired of all three projects.

Grateful the guttering guys came back today, grateful for the work the handyman is getting done, and grateful for the shade thing Jim is building for the girls.

Had a wonderful lunch with Jason and Michelle’s families celebrating Tim’s birthday. I was told the beef enchiladas were good, everyone enjoyed the nacho cheese dip and the banana pudding was a hit. It is so nice to be able to have the kids out again for meals and fellowship. Fills my heart with joy.

I made banana pudding for Tim’s birthday cake not knowing for sure if he would like it. He was so excited when he heard I had made it – it is one of his favorites. We put candles in it and sang happy birthday to him. Jim was glad to hear the family likes it as that means I will make it again soon. Jim loves it too. It sure looked good but I don’t eat anything with sugar in it so I didn’t eat any.

I went down and painted on the chicken coop this morning for an hour. I painted on the west side while it was still cool out and I was in the shade. After dinner tonight I went back down and painted for another hour, this time on the east side in the shade. I ran out of paint so decided to call it a day. I have some more paint but I had enough painting for the day. I may have to get more paint soon as I am using a lot of paint on the coop. The siding is rough and is taking in lots of paint. I am almost to the point where I will need a ladder to finish it up.

I didn’t sleep much last night. I had trouble falling asleep and if I was able to fall asleep I would wake up after ten minutes or so. Sure makes for a long night when that happens.

After the kids left today I laid down to take a nap and couldn’t fall asleep then either. Maybe I will crash tonight and get lots of sleep. I am overdue to crash and burn.

Tomorrow we need to go into the rental house and mow and do some painting there. I need to focus on painting at the rental house all this week while Jim is in Stillwater. I am so tired of this project and need to stay focused and get it done. Hoping the handyman will have some free time this week to get the rest of the siding ready to be painted. He will then need to repair some soffit pieces and then I will ask him to help me paint the trim. The peak of the house still needs painted and I may ask him to do that too. I don’t like painting on a ladder but will do so to get this project done.

It was a hot one on the prairie today. It reached above 90 today and is projected to hit 100 later this week. Yuck! This hot weather drains me. I will have to get up early this week and get into town and get painting while it is cool outside. I don’t do well in the heat of the day.

Tomorrow I deliver eggs. I am going to have to short a customer some eggs as I don’t have enough on hand. I should have enough to fill the back order by either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. I had cleaned out my stash twice last week and am behind. Once I get caught up I will be OK – should be a temporary shortage unless the girls decide it is getting too hot to lay and start cutting back on how many they lay. I had a talk with them today – we will see if it did any good.

I’m going to need to do a grocery run sometime this week. Maybe when I come home from Topeka on Wednesday I can stop and pick up some groceries and not have to make a special trip to town this week. With Jim being gone most of the week I won’t need many groceries. I’m not sure if he is coming home Friday or Saturday.

Grateful the kids were able to come for lunch today, grateful for Tim’s birthday as that gave us a reason to gather, and grateful for what painting I was able to get done today.

Successfully made a batch of fudge today. I don’t eat it but Jim tasted a bite and said it was good. It looked OK – not too soft and not too hard. Fudge is not one of Jim’s favorite things but he sure has enjoyed the peanut brittle I made.

Went out and painted on the chicken coop for about two hours this afternoon. Got some more sun – it was hot but not too hot today. I was in the shade for a bit of the time I was out there.

While I was painting Jim was digging two holes to set two posts so he can build some sort of shade for the girls. He kept hitting rocks he had to dig out and around. Not sure what his plan is yet but it will be nice to have shade. I helped him while he was mixing and pouring the cement to set the posts after dinner.

Grilled hamburgers for dinner. Jim had some corn on the cob with his and I had carrots. Simple and easy.

Tomorrow is Tim’s birthday so he and his family are coming for lunch. I think Jason and his family are coming too. I am going to fix hamburger enchiladas, refried beans and chips with cheese dip. I made banana pudding for dessert. It will be an easy lunch to fix and fun to have the kids out for part of the day.

Good thing it is family coming tomorrow and I don’t feel like I have to clean house. This house is so dusty right now but I am not very motivated to clean it as it won’t stay clean very long. We have dried out and the dust is thick.

After the kids leave tomorrow I hope to get back out and either paint some more on the deck or the chicken coop. I have about half of the coop painted. It is going slower than I had hoped it would as I am painted cedar siding and it is rough with edges that take extra care to fill in. I am going to have to use a step stool to reach the top part of the coop. That always slows me down a bit too.

Monday I need to mail Gene’s birthday present of fudge and peanut brittle to him. Shipping is so undependable these days I want to give it plenty of time to get to him. Jim has a package he needs to mail too.

We are going to mow the renter’s yard Monday before Jim leaves for Stillwater on Tuesday. I will paint while Jim mows. Hoping to get lots of painting done next week at that house while Jim is in Stillwater. The handyman is to work on the windows and putting some more siding up so I should have lots to paint. Beginning to wonder if we will ever get that project wrapped up. I haven’t worked on it this week and if I don’t get back to it we won’t get it done.

I took a nap this afternoon while Jim went into Emporia to pick up something he had ordered. He stopped and picked up a few groceries so I didn’t have to go to town. I got some sleep last night but still needed a nap today.

I haven’t heard when the dryer is going to be delivered. I will call Monday and see if they have a plan yet. I also need to call the guttering people and find out what their plan is. I wish businesses would communicate better.

We sat outside on the deck after dinner tonight when we were done with setting the posts. It was a perfect evening to sit outside – no wind and a beautiful sunset with lasting colors. The stars were slowly appearing and there was a crescent moon hanging above the horizon. I love summer evenings on the deck.

Grateful for the beauty Mother Nature provides when we slow down to look, grateful the chicken coop painting project has begun, and grateful the shade project for the girls has begun.

Happy anniversary to my parents – they were married on this day in 1948. I imagine they are celebrating together on the other side. They had a solid relationship grounded in love and respect for each other.

Jim got home around 6:15. It was good to have him home. He brought another car load of things including the Roto tiller and a bunch more iris that he will plant in the front flower bed.

I went out and finished mowing the yard this morning. It took about two hours to get the job done. I am still finding dirt in cracks and crevices of my body I didn’t know I had. It is amazingly dry already with cracks in the yard. My eyes are still itching a bit from all the junk that blew in them while I was mowing.

Made a batch of peanut brittle this afternoon. I am fixing a box to mail to my brother for his birthday later this month. I didn’t get the fudge made as I need a sunshiny day to make that. Hoping I can do that tomorrow and then I can get his box put together and put in the mail on Monday. Jim taste tested the peanut brittle when he got home today and said it was good.

I may go in to the rental house in the morning and paint. Found out the renter is going to be gone this weekend. The handyman got some more siding pieces up that need painted. If I get at it before noon it isn’t so hot. Doesn’t look like we are going to get any of the rain that is all around us tonight so things will be dry in the morning.

I had the handyman work at my house on Wednesday and Thursday. He finished up a water drainage issue Jim had started in the front yard. He also sealed around the outside of the garage and then cut out the bad sheet rock out of the bathroom and hall way downstairs. He will come back and put up new sheet rock after we get a heavy rain and we know that the water leak has been fixed.

I had him come do this work as a surprise for Jim. Jim has so many projects that he needed some taken care of. He was pleased that this work had been done while he was gone. Tomorrow he is going to work on putting up some shade for the girls.

Nice to have a few projects finished. Seems like we have gotten backed up with a list of things that need done. I wish I was able to do more of them myself. I don’t have the skills to do most of them.

Jim is planning on going back to Stillwater next week. He really has a lot of work to do there and it doesn’t get done unless he is there to do it. I have a doctor’s appointment in Topeka on Wednesday next week so I will stay home again while he goes.

Grateful Jim is back home on the prairie, grateful the yard is mowed, and grateful the peanut brittle turned out good.

Another hot and humid day on the prairie today. It reached the 90’s today and is still very warm out this evening. I think summer has arrived on the prairie.

I went out this morning and painted the landing and last stair case. It feels good to have that done. Now I need to do some rail painting but I need a ladder for that. I do have some black iron I can paint without a ladder so may work on that in the morning.

One of my regular egg customers increased her order from two dozen a week to six dozen a week. That is so appreciated. I took her four dozen today. I had to go down to gather more eggs to have enough to make four dozen. The girls came through with the exact number of eggs I needed to fill the last carton. Go girls!

Stopped by the bank and cashed a check while I was in town delivering eggs. I had forgotten to do that last time I was in town.

I was going to go into the rental house tomorrow and paint but found out my renter is off tomorrow so I won’t go in and bother her. I have painting I can do here instead. If all else fails I can get the chicken coop started.

I fixed a piece of salmon again for dinner. It is quick and easy and no waste. I am working to get back on my eating program and cut out the cheating. I have six days in a row that I have been successful. Go me! I am slowly learning what I can eat and stay within my three pound range. I would like to lower my range about five pounds but I am not going to push myself too hard to do so. I’m OK with where I am right now and it is fairly easy for me to maintain. If I remember not to eat snacks I can stay where I want to stay.

I need to go to the city and go shopping for some shorts. I don’t like most shorts – they are too short. My favorite capri pants are too big and Lee doesn’t make them in a size 2. I need to find something to substitute and will need to try pants on to find something. I hate trying on clothes.

Jim will be coming home tomorrow afternoon. He got a stud wall built around his hot water heater. Slowly but surely he is making progress on his house in Stillwater. Now he gets to come back here and work on some more projects. No rest for him wherever he is.

Building something to give the girls some shade will be a priority for him when he gets home. He has gotten some material to build a shade for them and got busy doing other things and hasn’t gotten it made yet.

The solar panel part came in and the electrician was here installing it. I am back up and running on solar power. They are going to watch it for a week and make sure it is operating correctly. Then they will issue me a check to make up for the power I had to buy from the electric company due to the solar panels not functioning correctly. I didn’t ask them to do that and appreciate that they offered that. They were very prompt in getting the part installed and getting me back up and running.

I haven’t heard from the guttering guys and am assuming they haven’t shown back up yet. If I remember I may call them tomorrow to find out when they might be back out to finish up the job. Sure wish companies would communicate better.

I haven’t heard from the contractor that I want to look at the foundation at the rental house either. I left a message for him but not return call today. Not sure what is up with him either.

Got a phone call from my accountants office reminding me my tax estimate is due June 15. I am grateful they called as I had it down for July 15. I transferred money to the right account so it will be covered. Not sure why tax estimates are due April, June September and January. You would think they would be every three months.

Still haven’t gotten our refund from over paying on our federal return. The IRS was to figure the difference and send me a refund. I need to admen my return but I can’t do it until they do this part. What a mess.

I had another rough night trying to find sleep. I did take a nap this afternoon and was able to sleep for about an hour. Hoping tonight will be the night I will be able to find some good sleep. It can get frustrating laying in bed looking for sleep most of the night.

I might go out and mow for an hour tonight. The yard is going to need mowed soon and it is a big cooler right now than it was earlier. I could get about half of it done tonight and finish it up in the morning before it gets hot again. I expect the growth to slow down again now that the rain has stopped. I am seeing cracks in the yard already.

This quiet respite time has been good for me. I have missed Jim and having someone to talk to during the day. Eating alone is not near as much fun as eating with someone else. The quiet has been good for my soul though and I can tell I am more grounded and centered now.

Grateful the main painting on the deck is done, grateful I found a place for four dozen eggs a week, and grateful Jim will be home tomorrow.

A quiet day on the prairie. I didn’t have to leave the house today. My favorite type of day!

I went out this morning and got the rest of the main flooring on the back deck painted. I still have to paint one staircase and the landing but the worse part is done. I may go out tonight when it cools down a bit and get it done.

My knees are a bit of a mess. I didn’t realize I was rubbing blisters on my knees yesterday. One is about the size of a quarter and the other is bigger than that. I also have two blisters on a finger on my left hand. Painting is hard on the body. Today I stayed on my ass instead of getting on my hands and knees to paint. It took longer but was easier on the body.

The handyman let me know the back side of the rental house is done and ready to be finished painting. If I get the steps and landing done tonight I might go in tomorrow and paint at the rental property. That project needs my time too. The chicken coop can wait.

Last night I was hearing a beep occasionally and kept thinking it was part of the music I was listening too. It finally dawned on me this morning it was a smoke detector that needed the battery changed. It took me a bit to figure out which one it was. I was able to use the small two-step ladder and change the battery. I’m grateful it wasn’t the ones in the living room or dining room as those need the very tall extension ladder to reach. I need to get all the batteries changed out when I get a ladder back to this house. They are overdue to be changed.

The clock that hangs over the kitchen sink stopped working and needed a new battery put in it today. Wonder why the batteries are failing all at once? Maybe this heat has gotten to them too?

A friend came to get two dozen eggs today. The girls gave me enough eggs today that I have two more dozen waiting to go home with someone. My stash doesn’t stay empty very long

Other than painting I don’t have anything on my calendar for tomorrow. I will get to have another quiet day at home. I have a check that I need to deposit but I didn’t feel like leaving the house today. The check can wait until the next time I have to go into Cottonwood Falls.

I grilled myself a hamburger for dinner tonight. The last time I was at Costco I got some 1/3 pound hamburger patties. They came in handy tonight as I didn’t want to thaw a pound of hamburger just for one hamburger. The patties aren’t as good as my hamburger is but it was OK and convenient. I rarely turn the grill on just for one hamburger but decided to do it tonight. That is my favorite way to eat hamburgers so I treated myself tonight.

The house seems extra quiet tonight with Jim gone. I haven’t talked to anyone today. Kinda weird when that happens but it is good for me to sit with silence once in a while.

I was sitting in my chair in my corner of the living room this afternoon and next thing I knew it was an hour later and I had slobbers on my face. I didn’t sleep much last night and must have needed a bit more sleep. I was not going to take a nap today to see if that would help me sleep better tonight but my body decided otherwise.

While I was outside painting this morning I heard the loudest yell from my cat. It was in the laundry room. Evidently Tony, Jim’s cat, was on the other side of the laundry room door and the two cats were exchanging words with each other. It went on for several minutes. I finally got up and let my cat out. She shot out the door like the house was on fire. Those two have not liked each other from day one. They had kinda declared a cautious peace but it must not have worked out for them. They are back to being enemies again.

Looks like the weather will be good for the symphony this weekend. I’m glad they will be able to pull it off this year. They had to cancel it the last two years. Lots of extra people will be in town for the weekend. We have tickets if we decide at the last minute to go. Not sure I am ready to be in a crowd of 6,000 people yet even with it being outside. Way too many people in this area have chosen not to get vaccinated and I don’t want to be around them.

Two more weeks before we get our new internet. I can not wait! I have to log on to the internet four or five times a day on my computer and restart it at least once a day to get connected to what we have now. I can’t keep my Sonos music system playing as the internet kicks off several times a day. Sure trusting the new system will work better – not sure it could be worse.

Haven’t heard if the part is in for the solar system yet. The owner told me it could take up to two weeks before the part came in and they could get out to fix it. It will be one week Friday.

Feeling a bit slow and drained tonight. I was moving around this morning painting but haven’t done much of anything this afternoon. I need to walk down to get the trash can and the mail – maybe that will wake me up a bit and I can find some energy to go out and finish the painting job I am working on. I’m a bit stiff tonight but moving my body would help work out the kinks.

Grateful the main flooring of the deck is painted, grateful I was able to change the smoke detector battery, and grateful for a day at home on the prairie.

I made up for doing nothing yesterday. It has been a busy day today. I woke up at 4:15 this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I had slept for five hours straight which is an excellent night of sleep for me. I finally got up at sunrise and took my shower and started my day.

I went to Emporia at 8:30. I had a bunch of errands to run. I mailed a birthday package, filled my car up with gas, got groceries, ordered a new dryer for the rental property, and made two stops to find deck paint. Sutherlands had made some for Jim Sunday but were unable to do so for me today – go figure. I went to True Value and after two clerks consulted for ten minutes they decided they could do it. Then they made one gallon at a time and shook it extra long. It took 30 minutes to get two gallons of paint.

I got the dryer at Guion’s – it was a quick and easy purchase but they couldn’t give me a clue as to when they might be able to deliver and install it. Maybe this week – maybe next week – maybe the week after that is all they could tell me. Guess they are having trouble with their delivery crew showing up for work. What a way to run a business. They are to call me when they know when they can come. Hope I am available that day – whenever it happens.

I didn’t get home until almost noon – way too long in town today. I ate lunch and took a short nap. After I got up I went out and painted about 1/3 of the back deck flooring. I was dripping sweat which is unusual for me – I usually don’t sweat. I came in to cool off and made a big batch of Chex Mix for the grandkids. They wanted that this time instead of cookies.

I made myself some tuna salad for dinner. It was easy and quick and I was hungry. I think I am going to run the Chex Mix into Emporia and get rid of it tonight. I love that stuff and it is too tempting to have it sitting around. I don’t eat that kind of thing any more but I do get tempted – especially when it is fresh and warm.

I may go back out tonight and paint some more. I would like to get the back deck done before Jim comes home Friday. I’m sure I will get it done – I have almost three days to do it in. It goes fairly quickly – I just have to think about where I am in relationship to what has been painted so I don’t paint myself into a spot I can’t get out of. So far the dogs have stayed off of it. In this heat it is drying quickly.

I would also like to get the chicken coop painted this week. I will stick with the deck and get it done first and then go get started on the chicken coop. I think I can do the coop without a ladder – I have a small two step one if I need one. The other ladders are still at the rental house. If I get the chicken coop painted then I need to go to the rental house and paint some more there.

I stopped by the rental house today and checked out the guttering. The handyman was putting up siding pieces. He said the guttering guys only worked till noon yesterday and didn’t come back. They haven’t communicated with me so not sure what their plan is to finish it. What they have put up so far looks really nice. Makes me want to get the soffits painted so they look nice too. The house is starting to come together outside now. I can’t wait to paint the windows as they will really make the house look nice.

It was in the mid 80’s today – felt warmer than that while I was out on the west side painting. The humidity level is high and there wasn’t much of a breeze. The dog days of summer have arrived. It is to get to the low 90’s later this week. I’m grateful I turned the A/C on as it was nice to come into a cool house after being out painting this afternoon.

The girls gave me 26 eggs today. We added a second water container to their yard for them. So far they seem to be tolerating this heat wave OK. We need to get some shade of some sort put up so they have a cool place to lay during the heat of the summer. I won’t be surprised if they slow down laying a bit as it continues to warm up.

I need to go out and water the new plants Jim put in before he left. In this heat and light wind things dry out quickly. The road is extra dusty right now. You could write your name in the dust on my coffee table right now. Not sure it is worth cleaning it as it will be covered in dust again soon.

Feels good to have had a productive day. I’m glad my errands are done and I can stay home for the next couple of days. I will spend the next couple of days outside painting and hope to get two things crossed off my to-do list. We will see how much I get done. Next week I’ll need to get back to the rental house and get some more painting done there. No lack of painting projects in my future.

Grateful I was able to get more deck painting today, grateful for dry days to do painting, and grateful I can stay home tomorrow and Thursday and Friday.

Sleep was almost impossible for me to find last night. My feet were aching and my legs were restless. I took three hot baths – that was the only thing that helped quiet my feet and legs. Nights like that sure seem to last a long time.

Jim took off for Stillwater around 2:00 today. I took a short nap after he left. I decided today would be a rest day for me and I didn’t get anything done except my egg delivery. I have had my favorite music on and have done absolutely nothing all day today. My soul needed a quiet day at home doing nothing.

Tomorrow I need to go to Emporia and run some errands. The grandkids decided they want Chex Mix instead of cookies this week so will pick up supplies to make that while I am in town.

Found out via my handyman that the guttering people showed up today at the rental house. I didn’t know they were coming. We had wanted to get the eves painted before they put the new guttering on. Guess I will get to paint around it now. I’ll go look at it tomorrow when I am out running errands. I wish they had let me know they were coming. I’m grateful the job is getting done sooner rather than later but it would have been nice to have been told what the plan was.

I sent nine dozen eggs with Jim today for him to pass out to our friends in Stillwater. I cleared out my stash again. They sure pile up quickly. The girls gave me 28 eggs today. I remembered to take them some water this afternoon and do the second gathering of eggs. That is something Jim usually takes care of.

I broke down and turned the A/C on today. It is nicer outside then inside the house. The humidity was high and I am hoping with the A/C on I can sleep better. We will see what happens tonight. I hate to run the A/C since the solar panels are down but the solar company is going to reimburse me for what I am having to buy from the electric company while the panels are down. This cool house is on them!

Whenever Jim goes to Stillwater I think how big and quiet this house is with him gone. The pandemic would have been a totally different experience for me if I had gone through it alone.

I fixed a piece of salmon for dinner tonight. Need to think of something to fix tomorrow night. It is hard to find something that only feeds one person. Not sure I can eat salmon three times in a row. I like it but not that well. It sure makes an easy to fix meal though.

I may go out tonight and paint for a bit. I feel guilty when I waste an entire day when I have so much painting to do. I have a small project in mind that I could complete tonight. The big project needs new paint that I will get tomorrow.

Grateful for empty space, grateful Jim had a safe trip to Stillwater, and grateful the guttering project has begun.

Not quite so productive day today. We did go to the rental house and Jim mowed while I did some painting. Each time we mow the yard looks better. We are still finding bits and pieces of tools, etc. that don’t belong in the yard. Jim pulled the climbing rose bush away from the yard so I could paint behind it today.

Last night I baked a triple batch of Snickerdoodles. I put some downstairs so our guest could have them with her coffee this morning. She took the leftovers with her – I think she liked them. She left around 9:00. I didn’t get to talk to her this morning. She was a quiet and kind guest.

I didn’t do any painting at this house today. I felt a bit blah today and took a nap this afternoon instead of going out to paint. Jim had to go to Emporia to get some more landscaping stuff and I slept while he was gone.

I did get three loads of laundry done. I have the sheets and towels washed that the guest used and need to go down and make up the bed. I pulled the trash this morning. She was very neat and didn’t leave much to clean up.

I need to go to Emporia either tomorrow or Tuesday and purchase a new dryer for the rental house. The one there only works if you dry two or three things at a time. That isn’t very convenient for my renter. She is going to take a picture of the plug and send it to me so I can tell them what kind of plug I need.

While I am in town I need to get two gallons of deck paint so I can get the flooring of the deck painted. I am going to push myself to get that project done in the next two weeks. I have had it on my to-do list for way too long and it is time to get it done. It will get too hot to be out painting if I wait much longer. The front decks look nice since they got repainted. It motivates me to do the back one now.

I also want to get a gallon of paint and paint the chicken coop. I haven’t painted it since I got it and it is starting to look a bit rough.

Jim is leaving for Stillwater tomorrow early afternoon. He has a long list of things to do while he is there. Maybe while he is gone I will get lots of painting here done. I have all the painting done at the rental house I can do without doing ladder work on the sides of the house. I am waiting on the handyman to replace a bunch more siding pieces and then I can finish up the sides of the house. Next up is to finish scrapping and then painting the windows. I do have some porch painting I can do this week if I make it in to paint. Every time I paint a bit it helps get me one step closer to finishing up this project.

I don’t have anything on my calendar until the 16th when I have to go back to Topeka to see my Endocrinologist. It is nice to have a whole week plus of empty space. I have been craving that lately.

It was another beautiful day on the prairie. Not quite as warm as yesterday as we only got up in the upper 70’s today. The clouds rolled in at some point and it looked like it might rain but it didn’t. We have a 50% chance of rain tomorrow and then it is going to warm up the rest of the week and stay dry. Not sure I am ready for the 90 degree days in the forecast but I am ready for the low chance of rain.

Feeling the urge to have a moon arising party to celebrate the full moon and the summer solstice. The full moon in June is the 24th and Solstice is the 20th. It has been a long time since I have been able to do that and feel an evening with like-minded people would be good for my soul. I need to figure out how to invite people that have been vaccinated though. It might be a bit rude to issue an invite and tell them they can’t come if they haven’t been vaccinated.

Jim has spent the last couple of days working on the flower beds in the front of the house. They sure are looking better. We have a drainage problem and he is working on solving that as well as making the beds look nice.

Grateful the yard at the rental property is mowed, grateful a bit more painting got done on the rental house, and grateful for a quiet day at home.

Had a productive day today. Went out this morning and finished painting the larger of the two front decks. Didn’t have enough paint left to do the smaller deck so went to the backyard and painted on the railing of the landing on the back deck. Didn’t quite get finished before I ran out of paint.

Took a short nap this afternoon and then went out and mowed the whole yard. It felt good to get that job done.

Jim went into Emporia to run some errands and he picked up another gallon of deck paint for me. After I was done mowing I painted the smaller deck in front. Still have lots of painting to do but it sure feels good to have the deck project under way again. We had to get a different type of paint as they don’t sell the one I had before. I will need to go get two gallons of a different color next week so I can paint the main flooring of the back deck. I have a gallon of the old paint left but it isn’t enough to do the whole floor and I don’t want to mix them in case the color match isn’t perfect. I have some steps to paint and I will use the old paint on them.

Grilled hamburgers for dinner tonight. Jim had a baked potato with his and I had carrots. Made for another easy dinner. Now to decide what to fix for tomorrow night. Jim is going to Stillwater Monday so I won’t cook as much next week with him gone. He is almost out of cookies so will need to get a batch made for him so he can take some to Stillwater Monday.

My lower back is screaming at me. I don’t think it likes me painting on my hands and knees. It just needs to get over itself as I am painting anyways.

I talked to our guest for a few minutes today. I didn’t see her yesterday to talk to her. She is leaving early tomorrow morning as she has to drive to Kandorado for a family birthday party tomorrow evening. She was a quiet and easy guest. She came in really late last night and I bet she will do the same tonight. She may be gone before I get up in the morning.

I permanently deactivated my Airbnb account today. I have enjoyed running the Airbnb but it is time to close that chapter of my life and move on. I will continue to allow special guests to come but I just don’t have what it takes to have frequent guests anymore. Jim and I enjoy our privacy too much to share.

We need to go into the rental house tomorrow and mow that yard and do some painting. We were going to try to avoid doing that while our renter was there but Jim wants to leave Monday morning and we need to get it done before he leaves.

I want to get some more painting on the back deck done tomorrow too. I still have some black metal to paint as well as the lower set of steps and some more railing pieces to paint. Some of the painting takes a long time as it is detailed and not a lot of room to paint in. The floor goes fairly quickly – it is just hard on my body. The ladders are still at the rental house so will have to do the stuff I can reach without a ladder.

It was another beautiful day on the prairie with temperatures in the low 80’s. There was a bit of wind today which helped keep it feeling cooler. We are to warm up even more later next week. Thinking summer has finally arrived. I have enjoyed the sunshine after we had so many cloudy, rainy days.

We haven’t made it downstairs to work on the moldy sheet rock yet. May have to let that project wait until Jim gets back from Stillwater. I don’t have any more guests coming in so no big deal if it waits. I may try my hand at removing it if I get brave enough to attempt it.

I don’t have anything on my calendar for all of next week so hope to get lots of painting done both here and at the rental place. One of these days I will get to do something other than paint – don’t see the finish line appearing anytime soon though.

We sat out on the back deck last night for about an hour after the sun set. The stars were magnificent last night. It is so nice to have it warm enough to sit out after dark now.

Grateful for the painting that got done today, grateful the yard is mowed, and grateful for my BBQ grill that makes fixing dinner easy as can be.

What a wonderful day on the prairie. Finally a summer-like day with temperatures in the high 80’s. It was too warm for me today – we went from cold to hot overnight.

Went out and cleaned the chicken coop this morning while it was still cool out. The girls always enjoy rearranging the straw when I get done. When I clean it monthly it isn’t a very hard job.

The house got hot this afternoon. Jim was working on the front flower beds and it was much cooler on the east side of the house outside then it was inside. I grabbed a bucket of deck paint and painted for two hours and got most of the bigger of the two front decks painted. I need to move the BBQ grill tomorrow and finish up the deck and paint the other small one. Feels good to have that job started.

We didn’t see much of our guest today. She left fairly early this morning, came home early afternoon but went to her room and then left about two hours after she came back.

The solar guy came and found out the problem with the system was an installation mistake. They were honest and told me upfront what had happened. They have to order parts and will be back in a week or two to fix it. They are going to reimburse me for the difference I had to pay to the electric company because the system wasn’t working correctly. This explains why I had a higher electric bill this winter and not last year. I appreciate their honesty and how they are handling it.

Got the results of my blood work back and the cancer markers are all still good. One of the two had a very slight increase but the doctor’s note said all was well. I will ask her about it when I see her mid June but sure it is nothing to worry about. Always good to get the confirmation that things continue to be good and there is no sign of the cancer returning.

The house is still warm this evening. I think when I get done writing I will go back outside and sit on the deck and enjoy the stars for a bit. We can hear the rodeo announcer from our back deck. The rodeo arena is over three miles away.

No real plans for the weekend other than going out to paint in the morning. I may work on the west side of the deck too. The flooring of that deck needs repainted too. We still have some steps and siding that never got painted before but Jim needs to do some sanding to it before I can paint that. But I can repaint the flooring. It all needs to be done before Jason’s wedding in September.

We do need to get downstairs and get the sheetrock removed from the bathroom and hallway so the wood can dry out and then we can put new sheet rock up. That will be a messy job but needs to get done.

The flower beds Jim have been working on sure look better. They were over grown and a mess. Maybe this year we will be around enough to keep them looking good all summer.

Next week I will get back to the rental house and paint. I will need to mow the yard both here and at the rental house next week too. Sure will be glad when we get the rental house done and I can turn the mowing over to our renter. We had told her we would mow until we were done painting as a compensation to her for not having the house painted before she moved in.

Hoping the handyman can spend some time on both this house and the rental next week and help me get some more progress made on both houses. Jim is going to Stillwater Monday and will be back Friday. He has his hands full with three houses to work on.

Grateful for a day of sunshine today, grateful for a clean chicken coop, and grateful the deck project has gotten started again.

Got up this morning and finished cleaning the house. Our guest arrived around 1:15. She is very nice and fun to visit with. She spent the afternoon in her room getting ready for tonight. She left around 4:00 and we probably won’t see her until much later tonight.

Jason called and asked us to come to town and watch Cody for them for a bit. We walked Cody to a park that is close to Jason’s house. There were four or five other kids at the park and Cody had a great time playing with the other children. It was a beautiful day to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine and listen to the children play.

When Jason and Melissa came to get Cody we went to the Chinese restaurant that is close by and picked up some dinner. Took it back to the park and sat on the picnic tables to eat dinner. Came home after we were done eating.

I’m tired tonight for some reason. I took a nap this afternoon so am not sure why I am so tired this evening. It might be an early bedtime for me.

We didn’t get any work done on repairing our mold/mildew problem today as we had to get the house ready for our guest. We will get at it tomorrow.

Tomorrow the technician is coming to fix our solar system and get it back up and running. Not sure what time the person is showing up. Other than that we don’t have anything on the calendar that we have to do. Hoping to get the chicken coop cleaned out and some sheet rock removed from the bathroom and hallway tomorrow.

No plans for the weekend. Our guest will be here until Sunday morning but she doesn’t require much time or attention now that the house is clean.

It was so nice to have the sun shine all day long today. We didn’t even have much wind today. It was the perfect afternoon to spend at a park. I needed a day when the sun was out all day. It helped dry things up a bit and lift my spirits.

I had a touch of a headache all day today. I think it is probably allergy related. The cottonwood puffs are in the air and they get me every year.

Slowly this week I can tell I am filling myself back up. It has been nice to have some quiet days at home this week. I didn’t realize how exhausted I was.

Grateful for the time with Cody today, grateful for the sunshine today, and grateful the house is clean.

We had an unexpected surprise last night – and not of the good type. I went down to clean a bathroom downstairs and discovered mold/mildew on a wall above the base boards. I had Jim come look and we found that where water had reached when we flooded a couple weeks ago had not dried out. Jim spent a couple hours removing base board last night.

Our handyman came over this morning and told us the best thing we could do was to remove 18 inches of the lower sheet rock and then let things dry out. He will then come back and put up new sheet rock for us. Dang! I have a guest coming tomorrow and now I can’t put her in that bedroom next to that bathroom. Good think I have two other options for her.

Then I got my electric bill. It was as high as it was before I had solar. I went on-line to see what was going on and found out my solar system has been off line for over a month. I called them and we did some troubleshooting. Their best guess is a lightening strike took the system down. The converter is designed to blow a fuse when that happens to protect it. They are sending a technician out Friday to get us back up and running. Thankfully the system is still under full warranty so there won’t be a charge.

Things come in threes so waiting for the next thing to be discovered. Maybe needing to replace the dryer at the new rental is the third thing. My renter is to let me know tonight if she couldn’t get it to work properly.

Jim worked outside all afternoon in the flower beds with a dual purpose. The flower beds needed attention and he needed to redirect the water flow around the house. We need to do some more work to fix the water drainage problem so we don’t get flooded again. No use fixing sheet rock only to have it happen again. Still more work to be done but Jim got a good start on it today.

I worked on cleaning house today. I have a bedroom and bathroom ready for our guest tomorrow. I also got the kitchenette downstairs cleaned. I still need to clean the great room downstairs but Jim needs to clear some stuff out of it so I can find the floor to clean. He is to do that tonight so I can clean it in the morning.

I also cleaned our study and most of the floors upstairs. I still have a few to do but got a good start on it. I found lots of dirt so it was way over due to be cleaned.

It was so nice to see the sunshine today. It did my soul good to sit outside for a bit this morning and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. The clouds rolled in and rolled back out and we haven’t had any rain today for a nice change. I am ready for things to dry up a bit.

I had a request from three people that have stayed with me before to come stay next weekend for the Symphony. Only problem is one of them has not been vaccinated and I don’t know if we will have the bedroom and bathroom put back together by then. I recommended they try to find some where else to stay if they can. I have a feeling everything is already booked but we will see what happens. One of the three is someone that I use as a Housesitter and I would love to have her come alone but she is with two others. It will all work out somehow.

I took a car load of stuff to dump in the recycling trailer. I timed it well as the trailer was empty so it was easy to dump in. I stopped and paid my last water bill for the rental house while I was in town. I drove by the house to check the grass to see if it needs mowed and it can wait for another few days. I’ll need to mow it next Monday for sure.

I fill like I am playing a game of Whack – A- Doodle. I get one thing under control and then two others pop up I need to whack. Hard to catch up and get ahead right now. Trusting things will calm down soon and we will go back to being bored and looking for something to do. I kinda remember those days!

The handyman brought his daughter out with him today. She is about Ellexia’s age. I took her down to gather eggs – she found six of them. I sent some eggs home with her. She said she doesn’t like to eat them but told me her favorite food was French Toast. I told her French Toast has egg in it but I’m not sure she believed me. She wanted to crack open one of the green shelled eggs to see what was in it. I think she was disappointed to see that it looked like a regular egg inside. She sure enjoyed playing with the dogs.

I’m grilling chicken tenderloins on the grill tonight for dinner. Another simple and easy meal to fix with few dishes. I have them marinating in Paul Newman’s Olive Oil Salad Dressing.

It has been a productive day on the prairie today. We each got a lot done but feel like we both have a lot more to do. Guess we can only do so much each day but if we stay at it things eventually get done.

Grateful for all of Jim’s help today, grateful for the skill set of our handyman, and grateful for the sunshine today.

One year ago today Jim and I moved to our house in Strong City together. Jim has officially been a KS resident for one year now. This year has gone by so fast. His KS license plate for his Honda came in the mail today. I think he has completed all the legal stuff to be an official KS resident now.

We left for Topeka at 11:15 this morning. I had an ultrasound of my throat at 1:00. It took all of five minutes. We then went to the Endocrinologist office and I had some blood drawn. We then stopped at Wolf’s Camera store in downtown Topeka. They are going out of business and Jim has a thing for cameras.

When we got to Emporia we stopped and got 250 pounds of chicken feed, 100 pounds of dog food and a 40 pound sack of cottonseed hulls. Jim got his exercise today hauling all of that and sorting it when we got home.

I got the results of the ultrasound and TSH this afternoon. The ultrasound was normal. My TSH is way too high. I won’t get the cancer level test back for about a week. Have a feeling the Endocrinologist will adjust my medication dosage when I see her the middle of June. Not sure why my body has so much trouble finding a good level and staying there. I bounce all over the place.

Sleep was almost impossible for me to find last night. I decided not to take a nap today and I will go to bed early if needed. Sure wish I could solve my sleep issue.

I didn’t make it in to paint this afternoon. We decided to take this week off and let our new renter get settled. I will get back at it next week. Jim is going to Stillwater next week and I will have time to go in and paint. This week I need to clean house here for the guest that is coming in Thursday.

Other than the guest coming in I don’t have anything on my calendar the rest of the week. I need a day or two of empty space to recharge myself. I allowed myself to get too drained trying to finish up the rental house. I need a couple of do nothing type of days.

I’m fixing Jim scalloped potatoes with ham for dinner tonight. I will have leftover meat loaf from yesterday.

23 more days until the new internet comes. I can’t wait! I’m so tired of having to log on to the internet two or three times a day as it keeps going off-line. Looking forward to having fast, reliable internet very soon.

The girls only gave us 16 eggs today – the slackers. I think maybe they are tired of this damp, cool weather too. I cleared out my stash Monday noon and I already have 3 dozen eggs in the stash. Maybe the girls knew I didn’t need as many right now.

Feeling a bit empty and blah right now. It has been way too busy for me lately. I was surprised how being around 50 plus people at the reunion yesterday wore me out. I am really struggling to be with people again – especially when there are more than two or three others. I feel like I got a bit fried yesterday with sensory overload.

Grateful for normal ultrasound results, grateful for a safe trip to Topeka, and grateful for some empty space days ahead of me this week.

My ears are tired tonight. We went to a family reunion this today and I was around lots of people. I didn’t count but there must have been at least 50 people there and probably more. I haven’t been in a crowd that size for over a year. All the living grandchildren of my great-grandparents were there today which hasn’t happened for a long time. It was good to see that many family members. I knew all of that generation but when you get down to their kids and then their kids are having kids I get lost and don’t know them.

I cooked for about an hour this morning fixing a meat loaf, roasted veggies and deviled eggs to take. I had fixed a banana pudding last night. We had so much extra food after everyone ate it looked like we could have fed another 50 people. My Aunt Marylyn is having a knee replaced tomorrow. I got her some left over containers and sent food home with her so she will have some when she gets home from the hospital.

I took 10 dozen eggs with me and passed them out. I delivered 6 dozen on the way to the reunion. I cleared out my egg stash temporarily. Jim just gathered eggs and got 16 more. I had picked up 10 this morning. We don’t stay out of eggs long.

We came home and I took a long nap. Jim even laid down for a bit and slept. I had trouble falling asleep but finally got some sleep.

Tomorrow I have to be in Topeka by 12:45 so will need to be on the road by 11:15. My appointment will only take about 10 minutes. Jim is going along as there is a camera store going out of business and he wants to take a look at their sale.

Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon so we might not get any painting done. Not looking much better for Wednesday either. Rain, rain go away, come again another day.

If it rains tomorrow afternoon and or Wednesday I will start the house cleaning project. I have until 1:00 on Thursday to get the house clean for the guest that is coming in.

We need to get the chicken coop cleaned out one day this week if the rain gives us a chance to do so. We clean it out around the first of every month. This is not one of Jim’s favorite jobs but we both enjoy the clean coop when the deed is done.

Grateful for the family that was able to come today, grateful for the bounty of food, and grateful for the peace and quiet this evening.

Happy birthday to my youngest daughter Nicole. She turned 38 today. I’m so glad she choose me to be her mother. I’m so proud of the woman she has become.

I got up this morning and checked the weather forecast. I went out and mowed in an attempt to beat the rain that was coming in. I took a break about half way through to eat breakfast and to let my hands warm up. Went back out after I ate and finished the yard. It was nice to see it all mowed on the same day.

Jim and I did a cemetery tour today. We went to Florence, Hillsboro and Cottonwood Falls cemeteries. It was a beautiful drive. It rained on the way to Florence but other than that it was dry when we were putting flowers out.

Fixed ham and eggs with hash browns for dinner tonight. Simple and easy – the only way I know how to cook.

I fixed a banana pudding to take to the family reunion tomorrow. I also boiled 3 dozen eggs to make into deviled eggs tomorrow morning. I have them peeled and ready. I am also fixing a meat loaf and some roasted veggies. That way I will have food there that I can eat safely without cheating.

I didn’t take a nap today and am tired this evening. Trying to break my nap habit again. May not make it up until 10:00 tonight but we shall see. The sun is setting so much later these days that it is later than I think it is most evenings.

I am delivering six dozen eggs tomorrow to my regular egg customers and am going to take some to the reunion to give to family. I need to clean out my stash of eggs again.

I have had the heater under my desk running this evening. It is too cold out for my liking. I am eager for summer temperatures to arrive and this cold, wet weather to go away. I’m sure in another four weeks or so we will be wishing for rain again but for now I am getting tired of it.

It has been nice to have a break from painting on the rental house. We will have tomorrow off too and then hope to get back at it on Tuesday. We will see what the weather does. Maybe I will get a fourth day off as there is a 60% chance of rain on Tuesday. I have to go to Topeka Tuesday morning so maybe it will rain when I am doing that and be clear by the time I get home early afternoon.

The guest that is coming in later this week let me know today she is arriving early Thursday afternoon and staying until Sunday morning That gives me a couple more days to get the house cleaned. Some of Jim’s books got wet when our basement flooded a couple weeks ago and we need to move them to the barn as they are smelling like mold or mildew. May find some other things that got wet too.

I haven’t been as achy as I was yesterday today. That is a good thing. I think I was exhausted from all the work at the rental. I pushed myself pretty hard last week. It has been nice to have two quiet days to recover.

Grateful for the family members we remembered and visited today, grateful the mowing is done, and grateful for Nicole.

This has been a rest and recovery day. I didn’t sleep again last night much. I happened to wake up when my phone binged. It was my renter telling me she was on her way.

I got up and quickly took a shower and headed into Cottonwood Falls. I waited about an hour and half for her and gave up. I put the keys on the front door mat and left. She had called me after I had been there 45 minutes telling me they were on there way. Not sure what happened but they showed up later. Not a good start to this new relationship with my renter.

Came home and did chores and ate breakfast. Jim and I went to Emporia so I could pick up a prescription and get some groceries. We have a family reunion to go to Monday and I needed some stuff so I could fix some food to take. I had baked the grandkids some peanut butter cookies last night and we needed to drop those off too.

It was good to get to see Tagen for a hot minute when we dropped the cookies off. I’m not used to seeing him and it surprises me every time I do how tall he has gotten. I bet he is six foot tall now. I feel tiny compared to him now. What a pleasant young man he is becoming.

I prefer self-checkout but today the damn machine kept malfunctioning and I had to wait for the clerk to come over ride it. I didn’t need that today. The store was busy with unconscious people that you couldn’t get around. I was not in a good mood when I finally got out of there.

Came home and took a LONG nap. Feeling much better now. The sun is out and it warmed up a bit. It was cold this morning. I am tired of rainy, cold days and ready for some summer temperatures.

I am fixing Jim tacos for dinner. I will have a grilled hamburger instead. That will make for another easy dinner.

Tomorrow we will run over to the cemeteries in Florence, Hillsboro and Cottonwood Falls to leave flowers at loved ones graves. I hope to get it done before the rain returns tomorrow late afternoon.

Monday we have the family reunion in Cottonwood Falls. This reunion is the family of my maternal grandmother. It will be fun to see some cousins I haven’t seen for over two years.

Tuesday I go to Topeka for an ultrasound and blood work as part of my annual cancer screen. Then the rest of the week is free and clear. Hoping the rain goes away so we can get more painting done on the rental house.

Jim got some flowers to plant outside while we were at Walmart today. He has been working outside while I slept. I’ll need to get some house cleaning done this evening so I can say I got something done today.

Feeling like my tank is empty today. I’m still a bit achy and sore. It is a relief not to be in painting at the rental house today. I needed a three day break from that. Hoping by tomorrow I will have a bit of my energy back and will be productive again.

Grateful for a rest and recovery day, grateful to have seen Tagen for a hot minute today, and grateful to have survived Walmart without hurting someone.

I feel like I got hit by a truck. My body is rebelling against me tonight. I feel old!

Went in to Cottonwood Falls to the rental this morning and painted for two hours outside. It was a touch cold out today. Got the lower part of the back of the house done.

Came home and took a nap. I didn’t get much sleep last night. While I was sleeping the guy came to check out the air conditioner and clean it so it is ready for the summer. It is a bit ironic he came today as we turned the furnace on this evening.

Went back into town this afternoon and worked another four hours. Got the back room floor painted as well as the rest of the walls. The handyman spray painted the ceiling for me this morning. When I was done with the floor I swept and cleaned the house so it is ready for the renter to move in tomorrow. I moved the rest of the stuff to the metal shed. The house was completely empty when we left tonight.

I went out and helped Jim on the front porch. He sanded and glued the pillars on the front porch so they are straight and crack free. I did a bit of painting on the porch so we could see what it would look like.

We didn’t get home until after 7:00. We had green chicken for dinner. I hadn’t added enough sauce to it and it was a bit dry. We managed to eat enough of it to call it a meal.

I took another short nap after dinner. Man! I am tired and achy tonight. My hip is screaming at me. I don’t think it like me painting the floor today. It didn’t yell at me while I was painting but is making up for it now.

The renter is to text me when they leave Lebo tomorrow so I can meet her at the house. Not sure if they will come in the morning or afternoon. I had told her we would only work at the house while she is at work so we will have three days off from painting this weekend. I feel like I need a break so that works for me. We will get back at it next Tuesday when she starts work – weather permitting. We won’t be able to get inside again so will only be able to do outside work from now on.

This weather is a bit crazy. Yesterday it was 85 and today I have a sweatshirt and heavy socks on and the high tomorrow is to be low 60’s. It is to get down to 48 tonight. I thought summer was almost here but am changing my mind. We are in for another round of rain starting Sunday through Wednesday. I’m starting to get a bit tired of rain.

The grandkids have asked for cookies so will get those baked either tonight or in the morning and take those in. I need to get some veggies for something I want to make for the reunion on Monday while I am in town. I also need to get a gallon of paint for the front porch floor.

It was a good feeling leaving the rental today knowing the inside is done. The back porch painted up nicely and looks useable now. I’m proud of how the house turned out. It will be especially nice once we finish painting it.

I have a guest coming in mid week next week for the rodeo. I will need to spend the next couple of days getting the house cleaned so it is ready for her. I don’t know for sure when she is coming but expecting her Wednesday or Thursday.

Tuesday I have to go to Topeka for a throat ultrasound and some blood tests for my annual cancer screen. After that we don’t have anything on the calendar for the rest of next week. I’m expecting that our guest will be out and about most of the time and won’t be under foot much. If it doesn’t rain too much maybe we can make some good progress painting the house. If it does rain maybe I can get some things done around this house that have piled up and need done.

We will run over to Florence either tomorrow or Sunday to decorate graves. Not sure what time the renter is coming tomorrow so we can’t leave until after she is taken care of. If she comes in the morning we will probably run over tomorrow afternoon.

I can almost feel what life after the rental house is done will be like. It seems like it has been a long time since I had empty space and am looking forward to it. We need to get down to Stillwater and work on Jim’s house. Not sure when we will make it down there though. We have a thing here and there over the next couple of weeks and don’t have a good stretch of free time. Maybe we will make it in July – so far that month looks clear.

Both of Jim’s sons are planning to come to Colorado to spend time with us while we are there in August. It will be good to see them – we haven’t seen them since Christmas of 2019.

Grateful the inside of the house is done and ready to be turned over to the renter tomorrow, grateful for naps, and grateful for three days off!

Spent two hours this morning and three hours this afternoon at the rental house. This morning I got the rest of the kitchen cabinets lined and the very tops of them, relatively clean. I had to use a putty knife to scrap the grease build up. It was gross! I put liner paper on top of them and used thumb tacks to hold it in place as it was too greasy for it to stick.

This afternoon I painted the lower 2/3 of the back room. I will have to use the ladder to do the top 1/3 tomorrow and then I will need to paint the floor. I also did some more touch up painting. The handyman had to strip some paint off the doors to get them to close properly so I had to repaint them.

Jim worked on fixing the front porch to get it ready to paint. The handyman fixed the back room for me so it was ready to paint. He also came up with a quick fix to the landing outside the back door.

It finally felt like we made lots of progress today. The little things inside got done and the back room is looking much better. Tomorrow after I get the painting done I will clean each room inside and the house should be ready to be lived in. The renter is bringing things starting Saturday. We will still have painting to do to the house as well as some more yard work but the renter understands we will need to continue to work on the outside. We shouldn’t have to go inside.

I put two new light bulbs in a light fixture in the bedroom. Turns out the lights are on a dimmer switch and the light bulbs didn’t work. I had to go get some light bulbs that would work. Luckily the Dollar General had some.

I got a pad lock today so we can use the metal shed as the place to store ladders, paint, tools, etc. I brought home some things that had been in the house today and will move the rest of the tools that were in the kitchen to the metal shed tomorrow.

I ran a load of cleaning rags today in the washing machine just to make sure it works. They were drying when I left today. So far both washing machine and dryer seem to work.

I came home for lunch and took a nap before I went back in to work some more. We had quite a storm blow through this morning and it was hard to sleep during the storm. The river is rising again.

I fixed fish for dinner. Jim gets oven baked beer battered fish and I have salmon. Makes an easy dinner. I laid out chicken tenderloins for tomorrow – not sure how I will fix them.

Today is one of my son-in-laws birthday. Happy birthday to Geoff. I’m so glad he joined our family last year. Wishing him the best for this trip around the sun.

The power company came this morning as promised and hooked up the power line to the house. Finally able to cross that project off my pending list. It took them two months to do that little job for us.

We need to find an hour and drive over to the cemetery in Florence and Hillsboro sometime the next couple of days. We will probably go on Sunday unless we can get away Saturday. I got some flowers last time I was in Walmart.

Monday we have a family reunion in Cottonwood Falls at 12:30. This reunion is my mother’s mother’s family. It is always fun to see cousins I don’t get to see very often.

Tuesday I have to go to Topeka for an ultrasound of my neck. It is my annual cancer follow up check. I will stop and get some blood drawn while I am in Topeka so the results are back before my annual visit with the Endocrinologist later in June.

Grateful for my handyman and Jim’s help today, grateful I can see progress today, and grateful for my son-in-law Geoff.

Three guesses what we did today and the first two don’t count. Yep! You are correct. We worked all afternoon on the rental house. Jim mowed and then removed a water feature on the front porch. I painted the back side of the house for a bit and worked on lining kitchen cabinets.

The contact paper I was trying to use was old and impossible to separate from the lining. I finally gave up and went to the Dollar General store and got some new. It went much faster after that.

I finished cleaning the oven – yuck. Not sure if it had been cleaned before.

The power company came and pulled the power line leading to the house today so a tree could be cut down. When I ran in late morning to see how the tree trimming was going there was a gas company truck there. I was confused for a bit until I found out that when the tree fell it broke the regulator on the gas meter. Oops! The regulator was due to be replaced so when the gas company came to shut off the gas they replaced it. They were working near by and it didn’t take them long to get there to take care of it. The handyman was a bit embarrassed that he hit the gas meter but all is well that ends well. Grateful no one was hurt.

The blinds got hung today as well as the washer and dryer were finished being installed and are now ready to be used. I will run a load tomorrow when we have power just to make sure they work and there are no leaks. I need to clean the very top of the kitchen cabinets – I had forgotten I hadn’t done that yet. Glad I discovered it when I was putting in the lining to the cabinets. They are gross and need cleaned badly.

I need to move all the painting stuff and tools to the shed so the house is completely empty by Saturday. We will have to get a lock for the shed door so we can put the ladders in there and get them off the back porch too.

The electric company is to come tomorrow morning to hook the line back up. It will be nice to have lights to see what I am doing tomorrow.

Got the bid from the guttering company. It is about what I expected. I will send the deposit required tomorrow and get on their schedule so that job can get done soon.

Tomorrow the handyman is going to finish preparing the back room for painting. I will get it painted Friday. Nothing like last minute painting before the renter moves in.

It is cloudy and steamy outside. It reached the mid 80’s today and is very humid. There are thunderstorms to the northwest of us and we may get more rain tonight. We can see lightning – radar shows it is about 60 miles away. It will be a relief when the storm gets here as it is still and thick as can be right now.

I took a short nap before we went in to work today. I didn’t sleep well again last night. I finally took a second bath and was able to get a bit more sleep after that.

We only got 22 eggs today. I think it was too hot and humid for the girls to lay. I don’t blame them – it was pretty miserable out today.

I am having trouble remembering there is life besides the remodel project. It has absolutely consumed us these last three months. I sure am hoping by the end of June most of the work will be behind us. I am beyond tired of it. Not sure what is OK to put off doing and where the cut off point is.

Grateful no one was hurt when the gas meter was broke, grateful the oven is clean, and grateful for what progress we did make on the property today.

Another busy day working on the rental. I woke up early so was in town at the rental before 8:00. I cleaned the oven – YUCK! Also cleaned the washing machine and painted some more on the back porch.

Came home to meet the guys that were to replace the screen door. They didn’t show up until late and by the time they got here I had left to go to Emporia. I purchased the blinds for the rental house and got a few groceries. Went to my business partner’s office and picked up a copy of a lease agreement. I met with my new renter and had her sign the lease. Went to the bank next door and deposited the checks.

The screen door guys were just leaving when I got home from town. It is nice to be able to open that door again and let in some fresh air. I took a nap as I didn’t get much sleep again last night. When I got up I went back to the rental house and painted the new siding pieces the handyman had put up yesterday and today. We still have to do the back side of the house and the peak of the house but the rest of the house has the main color on it.

Jim worked on removing the back step by the back door. He is trying to fix the drainage around the house and he has found lots of problems with the foundation. Yikes! Days like this are so discouraging and one of those days where it feels like we will never get done.

The guttering people called and they had come out to do a bid. He got my email address and is to send me the estimate. The email hasn’t come in yet so he may not have understood my email address correctly. I’ll call in the morning if it isn’t here by then.

Evergy is coming in the morning to pull a line down so my handyman can cut a tree down that is growing around the main power line to the house. I had been working to get this project completed since I called Evergy March 23. It will be good to cross this one off my list.

One by one I am crossing things off the list. Unfortunately I keep adding things that need done too. Will we ever get done with this project?

We didn’t get home until after 7:00 this evening. I threw some hamburgers on the grill and called that dinner. I made some deviled eggs and Jim had some baked beans. I got a ham at the grocery store today so will fix that tomorrow night.

Tomorrow will be another work day in town. I still have a few things to do inside the house before the renter moves in Saturday. I need to get the back porch painted after a few things get done to it tomorrow.

After dinner Jim and I sat out on the back deck and watched the sun set. It had been a bit since we were able to do that. The clouds were a beautiful shade of orange tonight. It felt good to just sit and look at a beautiful sky for a bit. I have forgotten to take time to do that lately.

I am forgetting what life was like prior to this project. It did feel good to put some money in the bank today instead of writing checks and taking money out. Not sure I will make any money on this house this year but hoping when we are done it will become a money maker. I can’t see the finish line tonight of work that still needs done. I think we will get done soon but we shall see.

So grateful Jim stayed here this week to help me out. It delays the work on his house though. We will have to get down there and get after his house soon too. So many things to do and so little time!

Grateful the lease is signed and money is in the bank, grateful the screen door is replaced, and grateful Evergy is coming tomorrow.

Another day spent painting. I went in to the rental this morning a bit after 9:00. Checked out the paint supply and then went to the hardware store in Strong City to get a gallon of paint. Went back to the rental and painted for a couple of hours on the back porch.

Came home for lunch. I passed Jim on my way home. He was headed in to the rental. I ate lunch and went back in. Jim and I painted on the outside of the house all afternoon. We have most of the main part done. Still have the back side to do and the peak in the front. Then we get to paint the windows and trim. I think we can get it done this week – we shall see.

The handyman worked on replacing siding pieces today that were broken. It sure looks nice where the siding has been replaced and painted.

I picked a renter today and let them know my decision. I think they are going to move in the 30th or 31st as they start their new job June 1. We will have to push hard this week to get the back porch done but I think we can make it.

I called the electric company and they are sending someone out either tomorrow or Wednesday to drop the electric line so my handyman can cut down a tree.

I texted the door company and they are coming tomorrow to replace the screen in the south facing screen door.

I am meeting my new renter tomorrow afternoon so she can sign the lease and give me the deposit. I need to pick up a few groceries while I am in town tomorrow. I need to measure for some blinds and get those when I go to town tomorrow.

Jim went to Emporia late afternoon to get another gallon of house paint and a few other things he needed to fix the front porch wood.

I am fixing Jim a tuna and noodle casserole for dinner. I will eat some leftover chicken from last night.

Tomorrow we will be back at the rental painting again. Have I mentioned I am tired of painting? I will go in early and work for two hours then come home and deal with the screen door repair guys. Then I have to go to Emporia to get the lease signed. I will come home and then go paint some more late afternoon. Jim will go in early afternoon and work on the back room and paint too.

After we get this project wrapped up in a mother couple of weeks I think I will go with Jim to Stillwater for a good solid two weeks and help him do repairs on his house in Stillwater. He put off his trip down to work on his house to help me get this house ready. Turn about is fair play.

I’m sure the end to this project is closer than it feels. Tonight is one of those nights where it feels like we will never be done. Slowly but surely we are getting ever so close to the finish line.

Grateful for Jim’s help today, grateful I found a renter, and grateful for all the painting and repair that got done today.

I am tired! What a long day. I went in to the rental house before 10:00 this morning. I finished some last minute painting inside and then started painting the siding on the outside of the house. I got most of the front porch area done. The rest of the porch still needs painting but I have to scrap paint before I can start painting it.

Jim came around 12:30 to help paint. My first applicants showed up at 1:00. I only had four people show up. Ten had told me they would come by. I have my choice between two of them. I will do background checks tomorrow and then decide which one to rent to. One is a young, single woman and the other is a couple with two small children. One of the other two took an application with them but didn’t fill it out on the spot. The other is a third potential but not quite what I am looking for.

Between showings I was out on the front porch scrapping paint. Later in the afternoon I went down to the corner of the lot and started cutting down little trees that had grown in places I didn’t want them to grow. We had quite a pile of branches before we were done.

Jim worked on painting and got most of the rest of the painting done on the south side of the house. The east side of the house just needs the front peak done. Jim helped me cut down trees as a couple needed sawed down.

I closed up the house at 4:00 and came home and took a nap. I was tired! I slept hard for an hour and half. I woke up feeling achy all over – probably from the positions I put myself into painting and using the loppers.

It felt good to get some more painting done as well as cleaning up the yard a bit. I get so overwhelmed when I am outside at the house and see all the things that still need done. It doesn’t feel like there will be an end to this project.

We got a few sprinkles off and on today. I am ready for this rainy weather to go away for a bit. I know we will be begging for rain in another month but for right now I am tired of it. I need some sunshine for a while.

I grilled chicken on the grill tonight for dinner. I had marinated the chicken tenderloins in olive oil dressing all day. It makes an easy dinner to cook up. I fixed Jim a baked potato and I had some green beans with mine. Now to decide what’s for dinner tomorrow night.

Jim has decided to postpone his Stillwater trip this week. He wants to stay home and help me get the rental house ready for someone to move into in next week. The handyman is going to work Monday through Wednesday so hoping between the three of us it will be ready for new occupants by June 1.

I will go in again tomorrow morning and do more painting. We have got to decide what to do to the back room and get it done this week so we won’t have to be inside the house after the new renter moves in June 1. I will do more outside painting tomorrow if the weather allows. The guys are going to start replacing siding pieces tomorrow so we can get those on and painted if weather will allow and if not will work on the back room.

I will have to make a trip into Emporia tomorrow to get paint for the back room. I don’t have enough of any of the colors left to paint the whole back room. I have floor paint but not wall paint. If we decide to sheet rock part of the back room I will need to pick up sheet rock too.

I don’t want to forget to do my egg delivery tomorrow. I need to get rid of eggs again – I have over 14 dozen piled up again. If I remember I will boil us a dozen eggs and make more deviled eggs.

I need to spend some time mowing early this week if it dries out enough. The grass in the back yard is knee high. By the time I get it mowed the front yard will probably need mowed again. The grass has enjoyed all the rain and is growing like crazy. Hard to keep up with it.

We will need to mow the yard in town again this week too. Maybe one of these days soon I will feel like we are caught up but I can’t imagine that day right now. Lots of things on my to do list and I can’t seem to get to all of them.

The spasm in my butt has been going off a lot today. It sure doesn’t like me painting. It needs to get over itself as I have lots of painting to do this week.

Think I will declare the rest of the evening a rest evening and not get anything else done today. This house needs some of my time and attention but I don’t have it in me tonight to give it anything. Dirt seems to wait for me.

Grateful I found a renter for the property, grateful for Jim’s help painting today, and grateful for easy dinners to fix.

Another busy day. May is going by very quickly as I have been very busy with very little quiet space.

Got up early so went in to the rental house and cleaned this morning. I got the living room done this morning. Went back home before lunch so I could get ready to go to the graduation and birthday party.

We had a fun time at the party. I had a moment though as all three men I am/have been married to were there. They all got along and it was comfortable for all, I think. I got to see Ellexia and her parents for a bit. Jason and Melissa did a great job with the food and it was a relaxing day in the back yard. The birthday boy got lots of presents and the graduation girl got lots of cards and cash. Both enjoyed the attention they got.

We came home and I took a nap. When I got up we went back to the rental house and Jim helped me do more cleaning. I cleaned the kitchen and he cleaned the air conditioner and then worked on the bathroom. The house is almost ready for tomorrow’s open house. I will go back in tomorrow morning and do some more last minute touch up cleaning and painting. I got a bit of painting touch ups done this afternoon. I need to take my vacuum in tomorrow so I can clean a window sill out that still needs painting.

The handyman is going to do a porch repair project in the morning so the front porch will look better. We still have a lot of work to do to the outside of the house and grounds but the inside is looking very nice.

Jim decided to delay going to Stillwater for another day so he can be there for the open house. I am expecting at least ten people to come look at the house and I may have more than that come. He decided I might need help with crowd control.

It was hard being inside cleaning this evening instead of outside painting. The weather finally cleared up this evening and I could have been outside painting. I sure hope we get some more dry weather next week so I can make a big dent in the house painting project which is next on my to-do list.

The handyman is going to work at the house Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. I sure hope he can be outside working on the siding project. We will see what the weather does. There is some more work that needs done to the back porch so he can work on that if it is rainy.

Other than painting I don’t have anything on my calendar for next week. Jim will be in Stillwater so hoping I get lots of painting done. I have some mowing that needs done at this house if it dries up a bit.

It is a beautiful evening out tonight. I think I will go sit outside on the deck and enjoy the moon and stars for a bit. I am missing my quiet, empty space time lately. I need to slow things down a bit and enjoy life again.

Grateful the house is all but ready for the open house tomorrow, grateful for seeing family at the party today, and grateful for the beauty of the evening.

Another busy and productive day. I woke up at 4:30 this morning and never did go back to sleep. Finally got up a little before 6:00 and got my day started. I put the chili I had mixed up last night on in the crock pot so it would be ready for lunch. Folded more newsletters to prepare for the day stuffing envelopes.

After I got all the newsletters folded I stopped and fixed breakfast and then baked a pie for dessert for lunch. Around 8:30 I started stuffing envelopes. A friend showed up at 9:00 to help. We had a good visit while we worked. Jim started helping us around 10:30.

Another friend showed up around 12:00. We stopped and had lunch and then went back to stuffing envelopes. We were completely done by 3:30. Wow! That was easy. It sure helped to have extra hands helping today. It was good to see all the stuffed envelopes disappear this afternoon when they left to go to the post office.

Jim had to go to Cottonwood Falls to title his Element after we were done stuffing. I took a nap while he was gone.

We had leftovers for dinner and then we went outside to mow and trim the yard. I had just finished mowing the front and north yard when I saw a beautiful rainbow appear. I put the mower away and stood outside and watched a completely full rainbow appear to the southeast. It didn’t last long and some light rain came in.

The yard is very moisture heavy right now. I have some standing water in places in the yard. I need to mow the back yard but am afraid I will leave deep tracks and make ruts. Maybe if this rain lets up it will dry up in a day or two and I can get the back yard mowed. The front yard grass was thick and heavy. Makes for easy mowing as I could tell where I had been.

I didn’t make it in to the rental house to work today. The front yard at this house needed mowed badly tonight and I was still a bit tired and didn’t feel like cleaning. Mowing suited me better tonight.

Tomorrow morning I need to go in to town and work for a few hours before I will come home to get cleaned up to go to the graduation and birthday party. I hope to get back to the rental house after the party is done too. I think I can get the house cleaned in about four to six hours. I will have Sunday morning to do last minute things before the onslaught of people arrive. I think there are now 8 people coming by to look at the house. It could be a busy Sunday afternoon at the house. I hope it isn’t too wet so people don’t track in.

I’ll be glad when Sunday evening comes and things can slow down for a bit. Next week I want to paint the outside of the house if weather permits. Jim will be in Stillwater so I will have lots of time to paint. I am so ready to get this project wrapped up and be done with it. It has consumed me the last three months.

Grateful the newsletter is done, grateful for the help with the newsletter, and grateful the front yard is mowed, and especially grateful for the beauty of a full rainbow tonight.

Another busy but productive day. I woke up fairly early this morning so I went in to paint at 9:00. I got almost all the woodwork painting done. I need to clean a window sill before I can paint it and then all the woodwork will be painted. I painted until close to noon and came home for lunch.

I ate lunch and then took a nap. After my nap Jim went in with me and we cleared off the front porch and got all the stuff out of the house except for paint and ladders. I got the dining room floor hand mopped. It will need another mopping but that room sure looks nice.

We moved all the lumber that was on the porch to the metal barn at the house and got the porch swept. Jim brought home some treasures he wanted from the house.

We went out for dinner tonight for the first time since March 1 last year. I forgot how nice it is to have someone else do the cooking. Service was a bit slow but it was nice not to cook tonight.

Tomorrow morning some ladies are coming over to help me stuff the Pioneer Bluffs Newsletter. I am going to make a crock pot of chili tonight and set it out in the morning so I can feed them lunch as a thank you for their help. I need to think of a dessert to make too.

When we get the newsletter done I will go back in and do some more cleaning and paint touch ups. The two rooms that will take the most cleaning are the living room and the kitchen. The bathroom needs a good scrubbing too. The two bedrooms are fairly clean as is the laundry room and dining room. I still have part of Saturday and Sunday morning to do some cleaning. So far I know of at least five people that are coming to look at the house Sunday afternoon. I am betting even more will show up.

I pulled a renter’s application off the internet last night. I need to get it typed up and copies made so people that are interested in renting the house can fill it out Sunday. I sure hope the right person shows up. I am going to be very picky about who I rent the house to and so far haven’t identified someone that I am super interested in renting the house to. Most are young kids that may or may not understand the responsibility of yard care and keeping the house clean. I sure don’t want to go through this process of cleaning up this house again.

Jim is headed to Stillwater Sunday morning as he has a graduation party to attend at noon time. I think he is staying in Stillwater until Thursday.

The handyman is going to work on the house Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week. I am hoping he can get the last few things done next week. I will paint outside all week next week if this rainy weather goes away and allows me to paint outside. It rained off and on most of the day today.

I have worked on the newsletter a bit today. The newsletter needs to be folded in half and I am over half way done with that part of it. Once that part gets done the rest seems to go faster. We only have three pieces to it this time so I don’t need to collate the material before I stuff the envelopes. That makes it go faster too. I am hoping we will get most if not all of it done tomorrow. I don’t have a lot of free time this weekend to work on it. Good thing they aren’t in a hurry for it to get out this time.

The siding pieces for the rental house came in today. I will have Jim load them in my car so I can dump them off next week. Those boxes are heavy.

This day went by very quickly. I have a feeling the rest of the weekend will fly by too. I have a lot to get done this weekend and will be glad when the weekend is over and I can slow down a bit again. Sure am hoping the right person will show up to rent the house so I can get it off my plate June 1.

Grateful for a nap today on this rainy day, grateful the house is cleared out, and grateful to be able to eat out occasionally again.

Today has been a bit of a frustrating day. I woke up at 2:00 this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep until 7:30. I slept until 10:15 and gave up. I’m tired tonight. Maybe tonight I will get a good night’s sleep.

We went in this afternoon to help box the Commodities. I don’t think I will volunteer again. I felt a bit useless and didn’t feel like I made any difference today. I have a lot of things on my plate right now and wasting my time didn’t feel good.

I didn’t make it in to the rental house today. I got up late this morning and then wasted two hours at the commodities thing. I have to go in tomorrow and work as I listed the house on Facebook today and have three showings booked for Sunday afternoon. The inside has to be done by then – or at least all but the back porch. I listed it as a June 1 move in date so I have ten more days to get the back porch painted and the outside painted. We will still have yard work to do after June 1 but am hoping most of the work to the actual house will be done.

I’m not sure any of the people that are coming to look at the house are the type of renter I am looking for but I will meet them and see what happens. I am going to be picky as I don’t want someone that will destroy what I have worked so hard to fix up.

The Pioneer Bluffs Newsletter material got delivered this evening. I won’t be able to get much done on it until Friday morning when some helpers are coming. I might get the Newsletter folded between now and then but we will see what happens. There isn’t a rush for the Newsletter this time so if I don’t get it done before Monday or even Tuesday next week there is no worries. I think I can finish it Sunday afternoon after I show the house.

Saturday we have a birthday party and graduation party to go to at noon time. I will have a bit of time after that to go in and work some more on the house and then I will have Sunday morning to do last minute things. Time is ticking by quickly.

I called and arranged for a bid to replace the guttering. I’m not sure when they are coming out to do so but trust it will be sooner rather than later. I got the bill for the carpet installation but it doesn’t include the planking exchange. I’ll have to call tomorrow and find out why they left that off.

Next week I don’t have anything on my calendar and Jim will be in Stillwater so I will have lots of time to work on the house. On rainy days I will paint the back porch and on nice days I will paint outside. Not sure I can get the whole house painted but bet I can get most of it done. I’m not sure how much time the handyman has to work on the house but hoping he can get the siding pieces replaced next week so I can get them painted. The extra siding pieces I ordered are to be delivered tomorrow.

Got a bit of house cleaned at this house today. I still have lots to do but I got it started. When I couldn’t sleep last night I got my laundry done. There are advantages to not sleeping at night.

Feeling a bit down tonight probably because I am so tired. I only slept about four hours last night – two before I woke up and two after wards. I laid down to take a nap this afternoon but couldn’t fall asleep. I hate having my time wasted due to poor organization and that is what happened today. It is so frustrating when situations are not managed well and people aren’t productive.

Grateful people are responding to the advertisement on Facebook about renting the house, grateful in ten days I will be done with this project, and grateful tomorrow is a new day.

I’m tired. I painted outside for about six hours today. I went in this morning and painted for three hours and then came home for lunch. After lunch Jim went in with me and helped me paint for another three hours. I would guess we are 1/3 done with painting the outside of the house.

When we came home from painting we went into Emporia. Jim had a prescription to pick up and we had run out of house paint so went to the hardware store to get more paint. Made a stop at Walmart to get cat food and then came home. We got home just before the rain came in.

The new internet company, Ideatek, called today and I am scheduled to get their service June 24. I’m excited we may finally get fast, reliable internet. The last time I talked to my current provider they said they would release me from my contract. I’ll have to call them and see if that is still true. I’ll wait until the new service is up and running and then I will cancel the service that keeps dropping our service.

I agreed to help with the Pioneer Bluffs Newsletter this week. I’ll get it tomorrow and will get it started when I am not painting in town. I asked for some help on it this time and will get it finished up this weekend. Not sure when others might be coming to help and if they don’t I will get it done one way or another. I’m busy Saturday but have Sunday free to get it done as Jim is going back to Stillwater Sunday morning.

The handyman worked on repairing the back room roof today. We got some heavy rain this evening and he sent me an email and let me know it no longer leaks. Good news.

The bad news of the day is I discovered I need to replace all the guttering around the house. It is rusted out and has holes in it. Water can do so much damage to a house if it doesn’t drain properly. I’ll have to call a gutter replacement person tomorrow and get an estimate and get the job scheduled. Not sure I have the money in the my budget to do this but it isn’t something I can ignore. Guess I will take the money I saved by not having to replace the roof on the back room and spend it on guttering.

If the weather is rainy I can start painting the back room. I’ll have to check what paint I have left and decide what color I want to paint it. I know I will need more of what ever color I choose as it is a big room with lots of places to paint. The walls are not smooth as it is not sheet rocked. I still have the woodwork to finish in the living room and then I need to do the final touch ups throughout the house. I will do a good final clean and the inside will be done.

Thinking we can start showing the house next week. The friend that looked at it decided to pass. There is a real shortage of rental houses on the market right now so hoping I can find a great tenant easily. The house will be ready to be moved in to June 1. We should have the painting done by then unless something I don’t know about now comes up.

Tomorrow morning will be another painting session. The weather will dictate if I paint inside or outside. I will paint outside any time I can now and leave the inside painting for a rainy day. Tomorrow afternoon Jim and I will go help box and distribute commodities. Hopefully if it rains tomorrow, it will rain tomorrow afternoon when I can’t be home painting.

We didn’t have any more water in our basement today. We got a bit of rain this evening and so far it hasn’t make it to the basement. We are to get another round of storms yet this evening so we will see if the water returns.

The guys that need to replace our screen didn’t show up today. I’ll have to text them tomorrow and find out what happened. I like opening that door to let the fresh air in and can’t do so until I get the screen replaced. Too many flies come in with out a screen.

Feels good to have used my body today painting. I am a good type of tired tonight. A tad bit sore but it feels good to have had a productive day.

My Charlie Horse leg cramps have almost disappeared. The spasm in my ass is much better too. Wondering now if the spasm in my ass was related tot eh cholesterol medication like the Charlie Horses were. What ever caused them I am grateful they are getting better.

Grateful for six hours of painting done today, grateful the roof didn’t need replaced, and grateful for Jim’s help painting today.

Went downstairs last night to discover the closet at the end of the hall had water coming out of it. When we get lots of rain all at once that area is prone to flooding. Spent an hour mopping up water. Jim had put some books in cardboard boxes on the floor in that closet and may have ruined them. We went down today and had to mop it up again. It is slowing down so the worse may be over. We need to figure out where the water is coming from and get it fixed once and for all.

Went in to the rental house early afternoon. I got the second coat on the living room walls. Only have the rest of the woodwork in the living room to do and I will be done except for touch ups and a final clean. I’ll go in tomorrow and get that woodwork painted. I worked a bit in the kitchen starting the clean up.

Jim came in and mowed the yard for me. It was a bit easier mowing for him this time although he kept finding more stuff in the yard. We have quite a collection of things we have found in the yard.

The handyman worked this afternoon on bedroom and closet doors. He had to trim them down due to the height of the carpet. Three sets done and one more set to go.

After dinner tonight Jim and I went out and mowed at this house. I hadn’t finished the yard from last time I mowed and he mowed the old garden area. It was too wet to mow some of the yard but what we got done looks nice.

Tomorrow I plan on going back into the rental house to finish up the inside painting except for the touch ups. The chance of rain is pretty high for tomorrow afternoon so don’t think I will be able to paint outside. I was hoping the handyman could get started replacing siding pieces on the house tomorrow but that may not happen. Wednesday looks like it is going to be rainy too so may be later in the week before I can paint outside. It is what it is.

I still have the back room to paint but we have to get the leak in the roof fixed before I can paint it. Jim thinks we may need to replace the whole roof. The guys are going to take a look at it later this week and decide what needs to be done.

I need to check with the person that may be interested in renting the house. If she has decided not to rent it I may try to schedule an open house this Sunday. I checked a couple of realtors websites and there are very few houses on the market for sale and even less listed for rent. I’m sure I won’t have trouble finding someone to rent the house. It will be ready June 1 and I will be asking $550 a month rent. It has two bedrooms and 1 full bath, living room, dining room, kitchen and laundry room. It has a washer, dryer and appliances in it.

I delivered eight dozen eggs today to five different people. I still have lots on hand if anyone needs some. I do regular delivery every Monday but you can come get some anytime I am home. They are $3 a dozen or 2 dozen for $5.

I got a fairy egg this morning when I gathered eggs. They always make me smile. They are about the size of a quarter and don’t have a yolk in them.

Feels good to have gotten the second coat on the living room wall today. The rest of the woodwork won’t take too long. I will move the ladders, extra paint, tools, etc to the back room so I can have the house empty so I can get it cleaned. Jim has a pile of stuff he needs to help me bring home so I can have space to clean.

Grateful the last room has the second coat of paint on the walls, grateful Jim mowed the yard today, and grateful for fairy eggs.

A very rainy day on the prairie today. My weather station is reporting we have received over 3 inches of rain over the last 24 hours. Wave after wave of rain keeps passing by. So far nothing severe or hail and no high winds. The ponds are filling up quickly. No outside painting or mowing for me today.

I didn’t make it in to the rental house today. Jim and I took a rest day and did not much of anything. I took a nap and Jim read this afternoon. I did bake a double batch of chocolate chip cookies for the grandkids but haven’t gotten them delivered yet. I don’t like driving in the rain and we haven’t had an hour break from the rain today. I’ll get them to town tomorrow.

I made a beef stew in the crock pot this morning. It turned out to be a good day for a hot stew for dinner. It made for an easy dinner tonight since I did the work to fix it this morning.

This afternoon we had the study door open. All of a sudden we heard a lot of noise coming from the chicken coop. We looked out and there was a coyote standing outside the pen. Jim walked down there and scared the coyote away. That critter better stay away from my chickens. I am grateful we have wire over the top of the pen so they don’t fly over the top and become dinner for the coyote.

Rain is in the forecast for the next ten days. We have a 40 – 80 percent chance of rain everyday this week. May not get much progress done on the outside of the rental house – we shall see what Mother Nature decides to do. I still have a bit of painting to do inside and I can get the inside cleaned up if I can’t get outside painting. Not sure if my handyman will be able to get much done this week as what he now needs to do is outside work. Can’t control what the weather does so things will be what they are.

Feeling a bit restless tonight. I didn’t get much done today and that makes me restless. It is good for my body to take a day of rest once in a while. I didn’t even do any cleaning in this house today. I need to move my body some and work out some of this restlessness. I feel like baking something but not sure what to bake or who would eat it.

Once I get this rental house project finished I will need to find another project for myself. I have lots of painting to do at this house but I need some rainy day projects too.

Grateful for a rest day, grateful for beef stew on a rainy day, and grateful the coyote didn’t get to my chickens.

Jim got home around 9:15 last night. It was good to have him back home again. I fixed him a ham and cheese omelet for dinner. When you are late for dinner you get what is easy to fix.

I went in this afternoon and painted for two hours. Have the kitchen and dining room done except for touch ups. Only have the living room left to finish. All rooms will have some touch ups that need done but thinking I will find touch ups that need fixed until the day I rent the house out.

I painted for a bit outside today. I think I like the color. I am not liking how the paint is going on. Not sure if I am doing something wrong or if it is just the material I am covering. It is easy to get drips and it is taking a quick second coat. I had paid extra and got the one coat coverage paint. Thinking it wasn’t worth the extra dollars if I still need a second coat.

Tomorrow I am going to have to mow in town and not paint. The grass has gotten high with the rain we got. There is a lot of trimming and pruning that needs done around the property too. I hate to stop painting and take care of that but it needs done.

I saw the handyman briefly and he confirmed he is going to start work on the house again Monday. He has some doors to trim down to fit in the bedrooms and then he can start working outside. The first priority is replacing siding pieces on the house so I can get them painted. The roof on the back room is another priority item. There are some overhang boards that need replaced and then I am thinking my budget will be busted and his work will be done. Not sure how long it is going to take him to do what is on the list. If it goes faster than I expect it to I may find some other projects for him to complete.

Came home from painting and put some green chicken in the crock pot for dinner. Not sure what I will fix with it yet but will decide that closer to dinner time. Grateful Costco had chicken tenderloins again so I could fix this easy dinner.

We got some thunderstorms overnight and this morning. It was a beautiful afternoon but the clouds are starting to roll back in. We are in a rainy pattern right now with showers expected off and on for the next week. We need a big spring rain to fill the pasture ponds. It interferes with my painting project though.

I am going to have so much free time again when this rental house project is done. I have some painting projects that need done at this house I may get to finally. The chicken coop needs painted and we have never finished our deck project. I am becoming a professional painter – good thing I work for free though as I am not sure my work would past muster if someone was paying me for it.

Still sitting with some anxiety about the new mask recommendation that those that are vaccinated can quit wearing masks. The non-vaccinated people tend to be the ones that didn’t wear a a mask anyways. I don’t trust that they will put one on now. I know if you are vaccinated you are supposed to be protected and won’t get so sick but I still have anxiety about going mask free and being around others that are mask free unless I know they have been vaccinated. I read an article about this very issue and am working on changing with the times. For some reason this change is hard for me. I’m usually pretty easy to change direction and go with things. Not sure why this one feels different to me.

Grateful Jim is home safe and sound, grateful the inside painting project is almost done, and grateful for the smell of dinner cooking in the crock pot.

The carpet got installed today! Yay! The installers were very polite and worked efficiently and quietly. Now those two bedrooms are done – except for shaving the closet and entry way doors to allow for the carpet and then putting them back up. Can’t seem to completely finish a room! Close enough for me to call it done though.

While the carpet installers were working I painted woodwork in the kitchen. Have the first coat on most of the kitchen now and some of the woodwork has a second coat now. It won’t take long to finish up the kitchen next time I go over. I have lots of touch ups to do on the cabinets and kitchen walls but those never take long.

I went outside for a bit and removed some of the screws that held the phone and cable lines to the house. I need to call AT&T and have them come remove their box from the side of the house. I wonder if they will do that or if we just cut the lines leading to it and leave it up. Between the phone, internet and cable lines this house is loaded with external wiring.

Once the kitchen is done I just have the woodwork in the dining room and living room and a second coat on the living room walls to paint. If I get in tomorrow I may get this inside project wrapped up this weekend.

My business partner and his wife came over to see the property in Cottonwood Falls today. It is always fun to spend some time with them. I don’t get to do that very often. Maybe with the Covid restrictions easing up for those of us that are vaccinated, I can have them out for dinner one of these days.

He shared with me what the real estate situation is in Emporia. The inventory to purchase a home is extremely limited as are rental properties to rent. Building new inventory has come to a halt due to the increased cost of lumber. Property values have really jumped and people are getting more than asking price right now. He thought I had made a good business decision to get this property in Cottonwood Falls at the price I paid for it. Even with what I am putting into it he thinks I could sell it and turn a good profit. That wasn’t my intention when I purchased it but if I can’t find a good renter I will consider selling it.

Jim surprised me and let me know he is coming home tonight instead of tomorrow night. He reached a stopping point on his work down in Stillwater and decided to come home a day early. It will be good to see him drive up the lane later tonight. He didn’t think he would get gone until at least 6:00 so it will be after 9:00 before he gets home.

I took a long nap this afternoon. I woke up at 3:00 this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. It was a good day for a nap. It has been rainy off and on all day today with periods of sunshine in between the rain showers. I saw a beautiful rainbow to the southwest this morning.

Still need to get this house cleaned. Hopefully the mood to do that will strike when I get done writing this blog.

My internet company finally called me back. They are now saying their system is overtaxed from all the people that are staying home and are on-line more. They think the problem is we have too many devices using the internet and their system can’t service them all due to the demand elsewhere on their tower. He referred me to another company and they will strongly consider letting me out of our contract. I called the other company but they aren’t in our area yet. Now we get to decide if I try Hughes and sign a two-year contract or put up with what we have until IdeaTek gets out this way. One disadvantage to living in the country is the lack of internet providers.

Jim’s cat went outside last night and didn’t come back in before I went to bed. He hasn’t shown up yet today. He does this when Jim is out of town and will show up when he hears Jim’s voice later tonight. Silly cat. My cats won’t let him in the garage so he hides under the front porch.

This weekend will be another weekend spent at the rental house finishing up the painting inside and hopefully getting some painting done outside. If I get the painting done inside and it is too wet outside I will start the detail cleaning of the inside of the house.

My calendar is pretty clear for next week. I don’t think Jim is going to Stillwater next week but that may change. The screen to the south facing screen door finally came in and the guys are coming out next week to install that. It will be good to get that project crossed off my pending list.

The handyman may get started on replacing siding panels Monday if the weather is good enough for him to do that. Hoping that project proceeds with ease and speed. I ordered more panels but they haven’t shipped yet so he may get delayed waiting for them to come in. There are some other projects that need done to the outside of the house he can work on if so.

Grateful the carpet was installed today, grateful Jim is coming home a day early, and grateful for the beauty of the rainbow I saw earlier today.