Progress

It's starting to come together. The first part of the week it rained and we didn't do very much. That was a good thing because we were able to rest and get over our colds. We are both nearly 100% now with just a little residual coughing. A friend down the street offered us fully grown photinias -- all we had to do was move them. They are mature bushes cut back to about 4 feet high and I wasn't sure it would work. But on Wednesday we dug out a couple and discovered the ground was very soft -- almost sandy. We weren't able to get much root wad because the sand just fell off. It was sort of like bare root transplanting. After digging two and having to cut roots to get them out, we decided to try pulling them. So I hooked a cable to the pickup and tugged out 8 more. We actually got more roots doing it that way. We replanted them quickly and Joyce has been watering them twice a day. So far, so good. They look a little wilted but if they pull out of it, we'll have a head start on the hedge. If these don't die, we'll go back and get 8 or 10 more to finish out the hedge line. Pictures later.

Fortunately it has been cool all week so we have been able to get quite a bit done without feeling we were pushing ourselves. After the transplant project we laid down a ground cloth and spread Jo-Gro over it as a mulch. (I explained Jo-Gro about 3 or 4 weeks ago). To get it, we made a trip to Jo-Gro with Mike's trailer half full of his leaves and half full of our branches and other yard debris. We brought back his trailer full and my pickup partially full (2 cubic yards total). The Jo-Gro place is at the old landfill about 10 miles from here so with today's diesel prices I think twice about making the trip. This phase of the project is about half done. Tomorrow, we get more Jo-Gro. Doing this little job made me realize we needed better access to the backyard so today we moved the RV over to the garage side of the house. Now I can back in across the RV pad and get much closer to the work area. This will help when we get rock, too. Also, I took the tool box out of the pickup so I have that much more room for mulch and rock. But the work goes on. In fact, it seems all consuming. Except, of course, for resting, shopping, church stuff, coffee with the guys, eating, resting some more, watching TV, and eating some more. We're real dedicated workers. This coming week Joyce works 3 partial days at the daycare. That will give her a break from The Backyard and cause me to appreciate her more.

During the inclement weather the first part of the week, I squeezed out about 2 dozen lemons we brought back from Jana's house. They have a lemon tree with more lemons than they know what to do with, so we carted about 50 to 60 pounds home. All our neighbors, relatives, and friends have gotten a bag. I got about 22 ounces from the ones I squeezed. We'll freeze most of it for lemonade but I did use a little for one project. Joyce's favorite pie is lemon meringue so I made her an almost-sugar-free pie. First lemon meringue pie I ever baked but it turned out pretty good. The recipe was in her Splenda cookbook. There are more lemon things in there I'll have to try. Oh, I must confess: I bought a pre-made pie crust. Good thing they come two in a pack. I burned the first one when I pre-baked it. Must be something wrong with the oven.

This has been a good week. Probably because we are starting to see progress on The Backyard. Notice it is now a proper name with it's own particular identity. Today we went to the traditional service at Allen Creek. It's always good to see old friends and there are a lot of new faces also. Well, take care.

A Change in Plans

This blog will be short because I don't feel like writing very much. While we were in Los Angeles, Lilly caught a cold and Joyce caught it from her. When we left home last Sunday we thought Joyce's cold was not going to be very bad. Wrong! By Tuesday it was really bad -- lots of coughing, hacking, etc. So... I said, "we're going home." Good decision. After my meeting on Tuesday, we drove home (remember, we were at Ginger's in Salem). This meant canceling about 4 reservations and appointments we had made for Newport and Florence. I began to get the cold on Thursday and have not been at full steam since. I did go to our family reunion planning meeting in Creswell yesterday and hope I didn't infect everyone. Last night I felt pretty bad and this morning we didn't go to church -- just stayed home and coughed. This afternoon I feel better, so hopefully I'm over the hump. I look in the backyard and see all the work that needs to be done. Oh well... It'll happen eventually.

I was reflecting on our health while sitting in my recliner feeling lousy. We have really been in good health over the years. The last cold I had was while we were in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada on our way home on the Alaska trip. That was almost two years ago. Joyce has done about as well. We are blessed. Thank you, Lord.

Isn't God good.

And The Wheels Keep Spinning

Now we are in Salem! Actually, I thought there was going to be a week between the LA trip and the Salem trip but, alas, it was not to be. I must have looked crooked at my calendar. We got home from Los Angeles Tuesday evening; drove straight through which is not at the top of my list of fun things to do. But we stopped a lot and had a book on CD to listen to. For those who like these kind of things: We traveled 1480 miles, got 25 miles per gallon, paid a high of $4.04.9 for gas (Lodi, CA) and found LA gas prices to be only 2 cents more than in Grants Pass -- $3.85. Of course that went up even while we were there.

Of course we loved the time with the kids. We went to the library and played on the lawn for awhile which is where these pictures are taken. Then got to see Josiah in his swim lessons. He's the one with the blue goggles!

This morning we left early, attended church at the FM in Roseburg, then had lunch with my sister, niece, grand niece, and grand-grand niece (is that how you say it?) in Creswell -- close to Eugene. And now we are at Ginger's in Salem. The basic purpose of this trip is a board meeting on Tuesday at the Conference Office but we'll lump a bunch of other things into it. So stay tuned.

Happy Birthday, Josiah

A week ago it suddenly occurred to me, what is stopping us from going to Los Angeles for Josiah's sixth birthday? And the answer came, nothing except a little gas money. So as I write this blog we are sitting in Jana and Korak's backyard watching Josiah and Lilly while mom and dad are having an evening out. We left Grants Pass early Thursday morning, made numerous stops and arrived here in the evening -- a 13 1/2 hour journey. Friday was Josiah's birthday. Grandpa got him a remote control truck which he has been having fun with. His mom and dad gave him a 10 foot diameter swimming pool and a huge water slide. We set these up Saturday and the kids had a blast playing with them. You'll notice pictures of all this throughout the blog. His BIG party is going to be next Saturday because of various scheduling conflicts. It will be a water party with various wet-type games and, of course, the swimming pool and slide. Alas, we will miss this because we are home this week in time to do Kids Klub Wednesday. A short trip, but worth it.

Today we worshipped at Marina Christian Fellowship. One of the associate pastors, Trisha Welstad preached on spiritual gifts. She was a Conference Ministerial Candidate in Oregon and one of the people the MEG Board interviewed and encouraged many years ago. Then she moved to California, was ordained, got married, and is now on staff at the church our kids attend. It is very satisfying to realize I had a small role (as a member of the MEG Board) in her growth and development and now she is helping lead my kids in their spiritual journey.

Back home the yard awaits further developments. We did make some progress. Monday I rototilled the area where we will put either rocks or plants or mulch. Now, that was work! Then I put together some used railroad ties for a raised bed garden. Joyce and I even got a small section prepared for bark dust. I realized then that this will be a backbreaking job. Even if we stayed home we probably wouldn't have gotten much more done. On Thursday the temperature in Grants Pass sored to 97 and was 101 on Friday. About the time we get home it is supposed to cool down. Yes, it is hot here in LA but only up into the 80s where the kids live. I think we got out of town just in time.

Tucked in here are some pictures of the yard before the rototilling, during the rototilling, after it was over, and a view of the new raspberry patch. The area beyond the black fence used to be "our" field with pheasants, birds, and even an occasional skunk. It was peaceful and relatively private. It now has a street running through it, is subdivided for lots, and two houses are being constructed in it. That is why we want a privacy screen of some sort -- like shrubbery. It will happen; it just takes time.

So next week it will be returning home and returning to work. I wonder, maybe there are other things we all need to return to. Like returning to commitments we made years ago and then let slide away. Or returning to a proper focus that has gotten a little blurry because of pressures around us. Or maybe even a return to some of the things that used to give us joy but the serious things of life have overshadowed those earlier joys and we've lost the fun and zest for life. Or something like that. Make your own sermon here. And enjoy doing it.

I'd Rather Play Than Work

Happy Mother's Day. If you're not my mom, just ignore that greeting. Better yet, take it, plagiarize it, use for your own, and send it on to your mother. You did remember didn't you? Today I gave Joyce her choice of churches and she choose to go to Jerome Prairie because a lot of our friends are going there. It was a good service with a couple baby dedications and a special prayer for the children and children's staff.

Yesterday we were all set to get in a few hours work in the backyard. I had cooked up some omelets for breakfast, now we had shovels in hand, the dirt pile awaited... then Mike and Joann showed up with a wheel barrow I had asked to borrow. As we inspected our yard project, they asked if we wanted to take a ride up to Union Creek. Well, I always prefer play to work so that was a no brainer! They agreed to pick us up at 1:00 so I actually got in a couple hours of moving dirt. They showed up at one and off we went. Our destination was a wide spot in the road on Highway 62 about 50 miles east of Medford. It is noted for three things: Becky's Cafe where we ate a late lunch. Her huckleberry pie is delicious but only available when they are in season. The Rogue River Gorge is also at Union Creek. Here the rocks force the river into a narrow, downward channel churning the water and sending up a cloud of spray. It's not spectacular in terms of the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls but it is still an awesome sight. The third point of interest is Farewell Bend Campground. Mike and Joann wanted to check it out for a possible camping destination. It is a beautiful camping place right on the Rogue River -- but still snowed in. It was fairly warm even with snow on the ground and me in my short sleeved shirt.

As we checked out all these places, we came up with the notion to drive on up to Crater Lake National Park. So we did. There was about 10 to 12 feet of snow at the top and when the wind blew it was cold! -- and me in my short sleeved shirt. But it was absolutely gorgeous up there. You see a picture of the lake and Wizard Island at the top. I also found this snow nymph hanging around and talked her into posing for me. The other picture shows some of the parking lot with Crater Lake Lodge in the background. At the bottom is a look at part of the Rogue River Gorge. (Click on any image to make it larger).

Friday evening Joyce and I volunteered to help at Silver Ring Thing sponsored by the Pregnancy Care Center. This is a very well done professional program encouraging teens to be sexually abstinent until marriage. they can buy a silver ring to remind them of the commitment they have made. Joyce helped register -- this after 6 hours at the day care. I was involved with helping set up earlier in the day and then with security in the evening. It was held in the Performing Arts Center at Grants Pass High School and the place was filled -- about 800 kids. Good program. Very high energy.

That is about all we did this week. Oh, we worked in the backyard. Other than that... not very exciting. But it sure was a lovely day Saturday.

May Day

Happy May Day. I know, I know, May Day was Thursday but I don't blog on Thursday so you have to take it a few days late. I remember a May Day loooooong ago when I was but a wee lad. My mom made up a boquet of flowers from our yard and asked me to take them to a neighbor. I guess that is what you are supposed to do on the first day of May. For some reason it was intended to be an anonomous gift so I sat them on the door step, rang the bell, and ran. Except that the lady saw me running away and called my mom to thank her for the flowers. So much for my foray into covert door bell ringing. I think I remember the incident because I was embarrased that I got "caught."

On May Day last week there were no flowers but there was (is!) a new table for our TV. We decided to get rid of the old upright intertainment center and go for a lower look. The cable man inspired this move. He was coming to hook up an expanded TV service and he absolutely could not ever, ever see the dust collection behind the old TV setup. So the whole thing had to be moved to houseclean. Well, since we were into it, we decided to get something new for the television to sit on because we are planning to upgrade in a couple months and the new one would not fit in the entertainment center hole where the old one was. So, out we went looking for something appropriate and affordable. Lots of real nice stuff out there -- and beyond our budget. Joyce had the bright idea of stopping at Parker's Bargain House (yes, that's really the name). They have lower priced new stuff, unfinished stuff, and some used pieces. We found a really nice cabinet in our price range that came from someone's estate. All in all, it looks nice and now I can watch History channel. Right now, I'm watching Ax Men.

Yesterday I went to Eugene for a Ministerial Education and Guidance Board subcommittee meeting. We interviewed one person who is a Conference Ministerial Candidate and one who is going to become one. They were good interviews. I rode up with Galen and Rylee and it was fun to visit with them. Galen was youth pastor at Allen Creek during my last years there. He is still in that position but will be leaving for college this fall. At the beginning of the week, we finished moving the raspberries to their new home with a new wire support system. The yard renovation will get underway this coming week.

Today we worshipped at the Medford Free Methodist Church. I've known Pastor Craig and his wife Nancy for about 7 years. In fact Joyce and I rode with Craig and Nancy to a minister's conference in southern California many years ago. Fun trip. Their church in Medford is small and is in the planning stages for a transition. To what hasn't been determined yet. We took them out to lunch and sat and taked for over 2 hours. Good thing the resturant didn't need our table.

This coming week it is supposed to be nice weather so we'll tackle the backyard with zest. Pray for my muscles. What are you tackling? What do you need prayer for? Well... ask!

Now the Yard

Maybe I should take a picture of the "before" so you (well, me too) can see the difference when it is finished. It's our backyard I'm referring to. We decided to get rid of some lawn -- which really wasn't lawn anyway. It was more a patchwork of weeds and grassy clumps. Anyway, last summer Korak rototilled about half of our backyard so I could get the cottonwood tree roots out of it (the trees are gone so no worry about the roots returning). Since then it has produced a nice crop of the most interesting looking weeds. Now I have to digress a little and talk about the weather. For the last few weeks we have been having rain, then sun, then rain again, then a forecast for rain but maybe not, and throw some cold in there, and so on. It even snowed one morning -- not much, just a little bit. But this weekend --sun, warm, almost hot. Mid 70s for the temp which seems hot considering some of the temps we have had.

So back to the backyard. I was able to spray that nifty crop of weeds with Round-Up, dig up an old stump, and we hauled a trailer load of stuff to Jo-Grow. Oh, now I need to digress again. Jo-Grow is at the old landfill where we can take woody yard debris like grass clippings, limbs, vines, etc. They grind it up, mix it with fertilizer stuff, let it stew for awhile and then sell it back to the public as mulch. The "Jo" is short for Josephine -- the name of our county. The "Grow" comes from... I don't know what... maybe because it's supposed to be good for growing. So we borrowed a trailer, cleaned up a bunch of stuff in the yard, took it to Jo-Grow and brought back a trailer full of... well, Jo-Grow. Then I borrowed a little rototiller and prepared our old raised-bed garden to be the new raspberry patch -- with a little Jo-Grow thrown in. This meant digging out the old railroad ties and putting in new supports to hold the wires to hold up the little, slender bodies of the raspberry bush. All of this means, my body is sore. It seems I keep finding projects that make my muscles tired.

The rest of the project will follow in due order. While we were in Arizona we were impressed with the rock landscaping -- to be interpreted, "no lawns." So we are putting in a new raised-bed garden, some kind of rock design, some flower pots, shrubs of some sort, etc. Something like that. As you can see, it is very well thought out. Also, we are going to put in a hedge of something along the back of our property. The guy developing the property in the back says he is going to put up a fence but who knows when that will be. With the housing market the way it is, he may not build there for quite awhile. So we are going to plant something -- maybe photinia. Anybody know anything good or bad about using photinia as a backyard hedge?

There are things in our lives other than backyards. We volunteered to help Diana with Kids Klub each Wednesday evening. She has been doing it by herself or with help from a couple of middle schoolers. It was fun to be back with some of the kids we know and to meet a lot of new ones. Today we went to church at Calvary Chapel. They meet in a converted store down town on 7th. It was kind of odd to sit in church and watch cars go by on the street.

Well, you can tell it has been a rather low key week. Lots of work in store for the coming week if the weather permits. So what is in store for your week? Keep looking up.

Completed!

The floor's done. And I think my knees are, too. It took us 3 days and that includes the quarter round we used as a base (around the edges). Actually it looks pretty good. There is only one spot where the crack is too wide. I'm not sure what happened there. The hardest part was getting the stuff laid on a part of the floor going into the hallway that slopes down. Since we had to put it on edge to snap it in, we had to build up the lower end to make it level, then remove the blocks. It looks okay. Here is what the finished living room looks like with Beth's new rug and furniture back it. And here is what one the carpenter's looks like when he's hard at work.

The two ladies in the NEW double recliner are my sisters, Beth and Doris. It was Beth's birthday so we celebrated with a dinner and cake.

Before we left to go home on Thursday, Roy barbecued T-bones and halibut for us. We had so much meat he sent some home with us. Yummm! It sure was good.

In the last blog I mentioned the tax odyssey and pronounced it finished and done. Wrong! I got a call from H and R on Monday that they couldn't file the taxes electronically because something was wrong with one of the EIN numbers. We could file the old fashioned way -- by mail, but we hadn't signed the mail-in forms. So what to do. We were 140 miles away and taxes were due the next day. What I finally figured out was to download an extension form, print it, and send it in. Fortunately I had my computer and printer with us. Then when I got back to Grants Pass, I got the mail-in forms, we signed them and NOW it is all done, finished, and over. Yea, right. Something will pop us. That is the pessimist in me.

Here are the four wanderers. Long time bloggers will remember Roy and Twila from Alaska pictures. Roy was my loyal companion on the floor project.

Today we worshiped at Edgewood Christian Fellowship. They meet in a local school cafeteria. They are huge and we were sort of stuffed in the room. Good sermon, though. Oh, we woke up to snow this morning! Not much but enough to make the car white. Maybe someday spring will come.

Well, that's it in my world. What's in yours?