Jim left around 5:30 today to return to OK. The house feels big and empty to me now. The only hard part of our relationship is when we aren’t together. Goodbyes get harder for me each time. I won’t see him again until July 4. That seems like a long ways away.
Yesterday we got the main part of the back deck painted. Jim sanded the edges while I painted. We still have lots of trim work to do plus the steps and landing but the main part of the deck is done. We were both exhausted when we quit working last night.
I fixed baked potatoes in the instant pot last night. They turned out nicely. I am in love with my Instant Pot. Keeps the kitchen much cooler to use it instead of turning the oven on and things cook faster too. Fix beef stroganoff for dinner earlier this week in the instant pot. It was good.
I was so tired last night I couldn’t fall asleep. I didn’t fall asleep until around 5:30 this morning. Trusting tonight will be the night I will sleep. I keep dozing off in my chair but don’t want to go to bed too early or I will be up way too early. Sure wish I could get my sleep issue resolved.
Today Jim worked on my front flower beds. He says the drainage is not proper so he is working to make them drain better. He brought some more iris and some monkey grass to plant in them. Critters eat most flowers around here so am going to try ornamental grass and see what happens. We got it all planted and watered this afternoon.
Neither one of us had an abundance of energy today after all our hard work yesterday. Hope Jim will return after I worked him so hard this visit.
We worked some more on Sophia trying to get her coat combed out. I cut huge matted tangles out of her tail. It looks like a feather pillow exploded where all her hair blew off the deck and caught in the grass in the yard. She is looking better but is still looking a bit rough. Ellie, one of the cats, had gotten something on her back some time ago. Her hair has finally grown out enough that I can cut out whatever it is she got in. She laid rather still for me to do so last night. She looks funny but most of the matted stuff is out. Bell, the other cat, has a spot I need to cut out of her too.
Tomorrow the stuff for the Pioneer Bluffs Newsletter will be ready for me to pick up at the printers. I will work on it over the weekend and get it ready to go to the post office Monday morning. Anyone want to come out Saturday and help? I’ll be working on it all day – just show up if you want to help.
The hardware store where I got my deck store is discontinuing their paint department for a bit. I need to go to town tomorrow and see if they still have some of what I need in stock and pick up two more gallons. I don’t want to get to the end of this project and run out of paint. If they are out I trust they will tell me where I can find some more.
I need to start making my packing list for my trip to Maine. I leave next Tuesday and will be gone for a week. My student intern is going to do chores for me and take care of the mowing if it needs done while I am gone. I will get it all mowed up before I leave so unless we get lots of rain while I am gone he probably won’t have to mow. I need to make sure all the critter feed is stocked too.
Sometime this weekend I need to clean my house. I cleaned it before my Symphony guests showed up and haven’t touched it since. I closed it up today and turned the air on but with the windows open earlier it is dusty and dirty. I will take breaks from stuffing the Newsletter and clean it over the weekend.
Feeling totally exhausted. It has been a whirlwind week with all the guests, the Celebration of Life Service, and all the work Jim and I got done around here. I am ready for a couple days of empty space to refill and recharge.
Grateful for Jim and all the work he helped me get done this week, grateful for the sleep I will get tonight, and grateful the main part of the deck is painted.