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Construction is in full swing!

What's up? I spent most of the day at the house in Barnum. There was a good crew there today. The regulars - Terry, Barron, Caden - and also Nolan was able to help out for a couple of days. Work has started on the south end of the house where the wrap around porch post are going up. The floor of the sun porch on the west side is also going up.

Also, my favorite neighborhood electrician, looking good in his shorts, boots, and sporting a super-sized mullet. Well, it could only be Smitty!

Today I took pictures of our construction site mascot. It's Barron's new shelty puppy, Moose. He's soft and cuddly and very good for a puppy!

Activity - Cleaning up around the construction zone. I'm not sure how many times I ran up and down the stairs to the basement today but it was a lot!

Laughter - At the end of the day, everyone went over to Pam and Terry's and I grilled supper for everyone. Terry, Steve and I sat around and told stories of the crazy antics of some of our relatives when they are whoopin' it up and I laughed until my cheeks hurt - love that!

Kindness - I'm not really sure if this is being kind or just helpful but I cooked the whole crew lunch and supper. I'd better be careful or I'll end up all domestic...nah, probably not.

CLEANING!

What's up?- I spent the day cleaning out the bar. This is "The Crossroads Bar" and as cute as it is on the outside, it was full of crap, crap, and more CRAP on the inside. It has been accumulating junk for a while now and it was time to whip it into shape. Now that I'm staying here at the cabin, I notice all the piles of clutter stuffed into places that I don't notice when I'm only here for a day or two. Well here is what it looked like when I walked in there this morning. Ugh! Stuff piled on every surface and the closets too full of old junk that there was no storage left. I think the after shots look much better.

I ended up with quite a load of garbage in the back of my truck when I was done - air mattresses that don't hold air, speakers that don't produce sound, broken coolers, used up candles, etc.

It was a good days work!

Activity - cleaning, scrubbing, sweeping, etc.

Laughter - I didn't get any chuckles from my cleaning project today but I remembered something else funny from yesterday and was tickled all over again. As Steve and I were out for a drive yesterday, we came across one of those little city parks that noone knows about or uses much. Well, that was not the case as we went by because we saw two bikes parked under a small pavillion. The nearby picnic table held a mounded up sleeping bag that could only have been concealing the two bike riders and from the height of the sleepingbag they were vertically stacked, not side by side. Well, that got me and Steve mimicing what these two lovebirds said to their folks as they were headed out the door because of course we assumed they were two horny, bunny rabbit teenagers but for all we know it could have been Grandma and Grandpa---OOOOH! We cracked each other up!

Kindness - Today I watched a facebook friend's videos. They were rap music and not really my style but I kinda liked them so I let him know I think he's very talented. It's really a little thing but sometimes the little things make all the difference!

Rainy Relaxing Day

What's up? Spent the day relaxing in the cabin today. It rained most of the day so my long afternoon nap seemed perfect. Steve did some office work while I puttered around the house cooking and cleaning. I know--wierd huh? We found some time before lunch to run out to the house in Barnum. Steve needed some job supplies and I just tagged along for the heck of it. After the rain stopped this evening, we took a drive around some area lakes to check out the sights. Boy were there a lot of deer out and about. I suppose the rain kept them bedded down all day so they were getting hungry. Here's the buck that stuck around to check us out as we drove by.

Activity- I actually made it out walking for a couple miles today before the clouds rolled in. I walked past Mrs. Yardperfect's house which isn't as perfect as it used to be. Too much rain for the pot I think.

Laughter- A cow made me laugh today...I guess the grass really is greener on the other side of the fence!

Kindness - I didn't see anyone besides Steve and we had a great day just hanging out being kind to each other. Some days are just easy like that!

Time to get real!

When I started my blog it was going to be like a journal. I wanted to include WALK (What's up, Activity, L aughter, Kindness) everyday as a way to appreciate the day more ...whatever it may bring. I've been looking over my blogs from the past few months and I'm not sure they reflect the real me. Sometimes I get ticked off, or in a slump, or lonesome and start venting on my blog but then I think I'm not being appreciative of my awesome life is if I bitch about it! In fact, I've started several blogs that have never made it to post because I'm afraid anyone reading them would take them wrong or think I'm a real case! On the other hand, sometimes my life is boring and not "blogworthy". Well...so be it. I gotta be me! Heidi advised me to go for it but not to swear because it will make me appear less intelligent and I agree...so I will try to clean it up as I go. You can always insert a few F-bombs on your own if you feel you need the deluxe version of me! So here goes...from this day forward...the real me...in all my boring, ranting, depressed, joyful, lonesome, busy glory!
What's up? Did some office work this morning then went to the house and mowed the grass and yes, my yard is too big! I like my superman sized mower a lot! Stopped of at the laundrymat on the way home. Made a delicious super which I ate out on the deck as I watched the sunset. Missed Steve but if I only enjoyed the sunsets when he was here I'd just be cheating myself.
Activity- Not any "formal "excercise today...just life stuff...now if I were to push-mow part of the yard...that would be somnething. Maybe next time. This W.A.L.K . blog acronym was supposed to remind me to walk - for real - daily!
Laughter- Grandma Cross told a story of how she was driving the wheeler and trailer home and it broke in half so when she turned, the trailer kept going straight and crashed into a pole on the side of the trail.
Kindness- I brought Grandma Cross the rest of my tub of wild blueberries today. She said she would make a pie or something. It sounds like I was being kind to her, but I bet she'll make sure we're around to get some of that pie. She's always ready to keep us in food and treats!

Yep, that's all. Life was pretty good today because I always think boring is good. No upset...no worries...just pluggin' along with a smile.

Blueberry pickin'

This weekend, my nephew, Jake, and The Nyquist's came to the cabin and we went blueberry picking in nearby General Andrews State Forest. There were so many blueberries in one patch that all we could do was sit in the middle of them all and pick away. It was a blast. Just when you thought you had enough and should go home, you'd see another bush full of berries and start picking again. With all those yummy, free blueberries around it was hard to stop. We filled a few containers with fresh, wild blueberries. Heidi made us blueberry pancakes for breakfast. I chose a different route. I filled an empty bottle with berries, added a cup of sugar, then filled it up with vodka. I had picked some wild raspberries the day before and did the same with those. Raspberry and Blueberry Cordial! Now I'm supposed to wait six months before it's ready to use. I'll be able to bust it out during the holidays this year. (PS.. I only made it two days before I tasted the raspberry, but haven't broke into the blueberry yet. )

Here it is!

It's not much of a looker is it? We've been making some progress on the house in Barnum lately so I thought I would start updating with some before, lots of during, and eventually...some day... after photos. The wife of the previous owner had rheumatoid arthritis so the ramps of retainer blocks and cement made it possible for her to get around in her wheelchair. Wooden ramps would have been much easier for us to disassemble but, on the up side, I have pallets full of retainer blocks for future projects. I couldn't find any pictures of the inside of the house ...but just think "black hole". Everything was covered in fuel oil soot and had to be removed. Our neighbors, a.k.a. Steve's folks, gutted the whole thing for us that first summer. The next big project was to raise the roof twelve inches to make nine foot ceilings. I wondered whether it would be worth it but Steve was all about doing it and he was exactly right in what a big difference it would make in the look of the house. It made me nervous when the whole roof was sitting up in the air on two big beams. But before long the walls went in and the beams came out. Next, we added a garage. It looks great, although until we get our front entry added on it overpowers the rest of the house. The upper window and dormer let light into a bonus room that's above the garage. I hope it will be a great place for the grandkids to hang out when it's done. The front door is going to be placed where the two windows are on the left side of this picture. We're changing the roofline on that end of the house to match the look of the garage . Hopefully, the building materials will be delivered today so work can start on this latest improvment. Steve and I picked up the rest of our windows last night so as they get installed it will really change the way things look.

Hen and Chicks...or rooster?

Nothing say "Welcome!" like a nice plant on the front porch. This spring I bought Jenny a pot of Hen and Chicks. It's growing amazingly well and I find it facinating...not sure why...HAHAHAHAHAHA! Is that a flower on your doorstep or are you just happy to see me! HAHAHAHAHA!