TODAY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Today was a busy, busy, busy day.

Shane’s crew showed up around 7:30 a.m. to get the LED Lights touched-up and back in place; and they look real nice now ;-)

After they left around 8:30 a.m., I decided to go outside and start putting stuff back where it belongs now that the house has been painted (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/05/exterior-house-painting-day-3.html), because Mike was supposed to be coming by this weekend to show me how to set up the rain barrels and I don’t want the back yard looking like a garage sale site, or have anyone tripping over anything (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/04/under-pressure.html).

The 1^st thing I did was to set the rain barrel stands up like Bob had them last Spring and Summer; I used Bob’s level to make sure that the barrels would not be sitting cockeyed.

Bob build these stands pretty solidly to hold up under the water weight, so they were a little heavy to lift, carry, and shift; but I did it because it needed doing and there is only me now to do the doing. They weren’t overly heavy, but they were manageably heavy & bulky… they will not have to be moved again for another 10 years – houses in the Park have to be painted every 10 years:

Placing the Rain Barrel stand behind the shed building.

Putting 2nd Shed barrel stand in place.

Final 2 put in place opposite end corner of house.

The barrels themselves are very light – almost as light as a box of Styrofoam chips, so it was easy to lift and carry them.

An unexpected discovery made me angry, but nothing can be done about it at this late date, so I will just have to make the best of it the best way I can …

Barrels waiting to be hooked up to rain gutter. They are so lightweight empty that I found myself praying the river winds would not send them into the neighboring yard. They are upturned in case it rains - I don't want the recessed lids to fill with water.

Sliced barrel - NOT happy about this discovery >:-P

After the barrels were set to wait for their weekend placements, I decided to set my potted Geraniums along the porch railing and down the stairs:

Then I got busy with curbside stuff while I waited for Bob’s youngest brother, Kerry, to come get the saws out of the shed so I can keep the carport areas neat and tidy like Candy Scott is brow-beating everyone to comply with: and I flat out refuse to rent a storage building with a hefty monthly rate on top of the jacked-up Space Rent escalations.

By rights, the saws should go to Bob’s son, but Alex is in no position to take them off my hands, so as the saws are my personal property given the fact that I am Bob's legal wife and joint-owner of his private property, I had to make an executive decision and ask Kerry if he’d like to have them: he would, and he and his son Casey, will be putting them to use this weekend; I am glad they are going to a good home and will be used. Bob would like Kerry to have them.

Anyway.

I moved the Variegated Iris’s back in their original position out front of the house, set the Yellow Mini-Rose bush Bob gave me about 18 Mother’s Day’s ago out too – as well as the Teddy Bear Cactus, and Chrysanthemum trio which is showing good healthy new growth …

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/01/dealing-with-shysters.html)

Kerry showed up around 11 a.m. and loaded the Table saw & Chop Saw into his pickup – and I sent a few other things home with him too that I will never use; there is more that needs to be weeded too, but that will have to wait for another day as this one was already busy enough.

While Kerry was here, he helped me move the patio table back into the carport and set it in place, and he helped me hook up the rain barrels to the rain gutters! I watched and saw that it is easy peasy – so easy that even I can do it on my own from now on ;-)

So I called Mike and told him that he did not have to make a special trip into town this weekend to help me because Kerry had already taken care of that needful request:

Pardon the messy shed interior, but Bob never got around to tidying his space up because we have been busy since buying this place remodeling the interior to suit us … and he spent last Spring & Summer – before he died – building and placing my garden boxes. So, the interior of the shed still looks like it did after the moving truck unloaded his stuff.

After Kerry left, I spotted the wind chimes and decided to put them up – we always liked the sound of the wind chimes and I wanted to hear them on the breeze blowing through here today.

The older red chimes are at least 23 years old, and have been restrung numerous times when the river winds have ripped them down and torn them apart. Bob liked hearing them – they are soothing.

I HATE getting up on ladders – especially at my age – but there was no other way to hang them, so up I went and prayed the ladder would hold steady while I teetered on it trying to stretch my short arms into a reach that I really needed Bob’s long arms for.

But they are up now and they sound good …

Front porch wind chimes. I HATE ladders ... but Bob is not here now, so I have to use them. And I am freaked out until my feet are back on solid ground.

It will be so peaceful to sit out here ...

When I called it a day and sat down for a much-needed coffee break, I noticed that the digital Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer/Humidity monitor was not reading at all – totally blank face. What the heck? I picked it up and fiddled with it for a few minutes trying to figure it out before it a dawned on me that it needed new batteries.

I really wish I would have paid more attention to what Bob was doing with stuff. I could’ve saved myself a lot of frustrations now:

But regardless of frustrating moments, a LOT was accomplished today :-D

CHRISTMAS GARLAND SNEAKER WAVE

It is always the least thing you would imagine that would cause the dam to burst and the waterworks to flow.

When did I get my mother’s ‘Senior face’? I don’t feel old.

But pictures don’t lie.

I have aged 10 years since December 14^th, 2018 … 

I had intended to make a video to share to Blog as a light-hearted tattle on myself … I never for 1 second thought they would be my unraveling today when I was unexpectedly slammed by an emotional sneaker wave (https://www.facebook.com/valeriandbob.hargand/videos/pcb.455770795174593/2155206794532568/?type=3&theater&ifg=1) 

But when the sneaker wave subsided, it revealed something that had been missing for a while …

One of the grandkids’ rubber balls :-D

And I was able to smile and even laugh again ;-)

BAGGIED SEEDLINGS STARTED

Being as it is already the first week of May and I like to have my garden planted by Mother’s Day at the latest, I started my baggied seedlings this afternoon after the fella’s pulled stakes and knocked off for the day (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/05/exterior-house-painting-day-3.html).

The baggied seedlings should be sprouted and ready to plant by Mother’s Day:

Painted Corn

Baggied Bean Seedlings on window sill: there are 4 different varieties. I like beans; Bob never did. So this year I decided to try at least 2 I have never grown before – 1 out of curiosity, and the 2^nd because recipes keep calling for it and I can’t find it in the grocery stores.

Baggied Corn Seedlings on window sill

Transplant Seedlings coming along good.

These go in the garden next week. Several plants have gone past the 2ndary leaf stage and need to be in place in their garden boxes.

And some of the rest of my Territorial seed Company order arrived by Fed Ex a few minutes ago …

Happy to see these. I never feel like the garden is really {in} until I have tomatoes in the garden :-D

It appears everything but the Chinese Garlic has arrived; and the garlic will arrive in the Fall sometime for Fall planting.

The new arrivals have been set in the window with my transplant seedlings to catch some sun rays

Now that the exterior of the house has been painted and that job is done, I can get outside and plant my garden if the weather holds.

And hopefully I can get the rain barrels in place too, and ready to catch rain water when it rains again. The barrels themselves are light and easy to move around … I’m just not sure how to get them set up to do what they are supposed to do – Bob set them up for me last Spring, and Mike tore them down for me last Fall: and I couldn’t watch either of them because I was otherwise occupied. So if Mike can’t come over and coach me with the 1^st barrel, I guess I’ll have to wing it and figure it out on my own.

One way or the other … they are being set in place and hooked up this weekend ;-)

EXTERIOR HOUSE PAINTING – Day 3

It is finished!

All that is left to do is the LED Light touch-ups inside – and that is going to take longer than the fellas anticipated because I am not at all happy with the end result after they left.

When we did the outside walk around, I asked the fellas if they would be kind enough to help me move some things that are too heavy r bulky for me to move alone; they readily agreed:

I had the fella's move this deck hamper back in place.

I also had them touch this drain pipe up while the hamper was being placed: the white had run and it looked tacky, so I made them fix it for my peace of mind because my eyes would always be drawn to it since I knew it was there.

No more white smudge ... it was fixed 1^st thing this morning; hallelujah!

Coho Bench put back in place. This bench always gets compliments.

House numbers painted and put back up ...

I am glad I got to keep this color scheme. I am a military brat and I liked the red-white-blue theme – that was one of the main selling points as far as I was concerned when we bought this place in 2017.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2017/06/new-home-d.html).

Bob would be happy I am taking care of business and shouldering solo home ownership as I believe he would be doing if he were still here with me.

On another note ...

Getting these LED lights taken care of has been a major pain in the keister. These lights were supposed to be taken care of the end of March/first of April (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/03/yesterday-was-very-busy-day-here-house.html) … and here it is already May and STILL NOT DONE! I am tired of living in a construction zone while the contractors chase big ticket jobs and put me on the back burner; my $$$$ is as good as anyone else’s. I don’t want to morph into a bitch: but I am teetering on the cusp and building up a head of steam. This really needs to get done or this little tea kettle is going to start whistling at ear-piercing level …

Most kitchen lights have been pulled AGAIN, and are stacked on the counter top.

So are the bathroom lights ...

Not happy that this light was overlooked this afternoon – that will put the end time schedule over-schedule. But Bob would not let this slide - neither will I.

Or this one. If I can see the cosmetic ugliness, so can everyone else >:-P

And this needs more textured plaster – a slap of paint won’t hide that tear. ((((HELLO!)))) It may seem like I am being persnickety, but if I ever decided to sell, prospecting buyers notice stuff like this: I DO

THIS is how the light rings should look before painting. The others NEED to be brought up to speed before the fells get paid. I am not going to fork out the moolah for a half-assed job.

Chasing the big ticket jobs is going to cost them if they don’t get serious about this one.

I may be short.

I may be old.

But I can still make myself be heard.

And I learned how to wrap up loose ends from my Grandma Brockway, who didn’t let anyone walk all over her; or hers.

Just sayin’.

Tread carefully fellas … and g.e.t.e.r.d.o.ne.a.l.r.e.a.d.y.

I don’t want to get bitchy, but I will if I have to.

THE BOOK OF ROMANS ~Chapter 16

This is the last chapter of the Book of Romans.

Next week, we begin study in Corinthians …

********************

I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae. Make her welcome in Adonai, in a manner worthy of the saints, and give her any help that she may need from you. She herself has helped many, including myself.

Remember me to Prisca (Pricilla) and Aquilla, my fellow workers in Mashiach Yeshua. They once risked their lives to save mine. Not only I, but also all the Gentile churches, owe them thanks. Remember me also to the church that meets at their house.

And greet my well beloved Epaenetus, who was the 1^st Christian convert in the province of Asia (Greece). Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Give my greetings also to Andronicus and Junias (Junia), my kinsmen and fellow prisoners. They are men of note among the missionaries, and accepted Mashiach before I did.

Give my love to Amplias, who is dear to me in Adonai Yeshua. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Mashiach, and Stachys, my good friend. Give my love to Apelles, approved in Mashiach’s service. Salute those of the household of Aristobulus. Likewise Herodion, a relative of mine, and those of the household of Narcissus, who are followers of Adonai Yeshua.

Give my regards to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers for Adonai Yeshua. Also to beloved Persis, who has done much work for Adonai Yeshua. Greet also Rufus, one of Elohim’s elect, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

And greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Herma, Patrobas, and the other brethren who are with them. Remember me to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Give one another a holy kiss. All the Christian churches greet you in love.

And I appeal to you, brethren, to be on the lookout for those who cause dissentions and offenses contrary to the doctrines you have been taught. Take your stand against them. For such are not servants of Adonai Yeshua Mashiach, but of their own desires. By their honeyed words and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Your loyalty to the Word has come to the attention of us all, for which I am truly glad. It is my wish for you that you may be wise in what is good and immune to what is evil.

The God of peace will before long crush Lucifer under your feet. The grace of Adonai Yeshua Mashiach be with you! Amen.

Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings. Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater do the same.

Also I, Tertius, who has written this epistle, greet you in the Name of Adonai Yeshua. There are also greetings to you from Gaius, my host, with whom the congregation meets. And Erastus, the city treasurer, and Quartus, a brother, want to be remembered to you. The grace of Adonai Yeshua Mashiach be with you! Amen.

Now can Elohim build you up by my Gospel even as by the preaching of Mashiach, which makes plain the mystery that has been obscure for ages. And since this has been disclosed, in harmony with the Scripture prophesies, it is to be preached at the command of the everlasting God to all the nations for the sake of obedience of Faith. To Him, then, the only wise God, be glory for ever and ever! Amen.

**ROMANS 15: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-book-of-romans-chapter-15.html

EXTERIOR HOUSE PAINTING – Day 2

Well, Wednesday and come and gone, and Shaun said they will be back tomorrow to finish up. He originally said the job would take 3 days, so I expected that he would miss his optimistic Wednesday deadline ;-)

He is a nice young man.

I am asking Elohim to bless him and favor him because of his character, and also because he has been so kind to me.

And he hasn’t moved in to cheat me; as most people – I have found out over these past 4 months – will try to do when dealing with a widow. Or just a woman in general, widow or not.

Even the Boss works - I like that.

I specifically will not do business with a man that lords his position over his employees (I don’t like egomaniacs on principle), so I liked seeing Shaun get busy too; makes me feel better about the big $$$$ being paid out.

Front-facing Trim being painted ...

Gutters being painted. And nothing in my veggie garden boxes was damaged. The guys were really careful – I appreciate that in men.

Front porch ceiling, trims, rails, and porch DONE.

Everything looks so nice and bright!

I am going to enjoy sitting out here when everything is back in place ;-)

I had both sets of stairs and deck painted with safety sand in the paint. That is what Bob and I did with the last 2 houses we owned, and it sure made a difference when the rainy and icy months came around. Now that I am officially a Senior - and officially on my own, caution is a real necessity on the stairs.

The Carport stairs and deck landing is still wet ...

Lattice work smoothed and painted.

Carport ceiling is peeling as the wafer board does, but it looks better with a fresh coat of paint.

It doesn't look so shabby now when the sun sneaks under the overhang and shines on it. I am hoping the fresh applied paint may actually hold those loose pieces up there longer.

This STILL was not touched-up (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/05/exterior-house-painting-day-1.html)

I think they missed it when their pizza was delivered and then got sidetracked when they started working again after lunch break. They were hungry and it got hot today.

I may have to stand over them tomorrow …

But these 2 were touched up.

I hope and pray tomorrow everything is finished and touched-up, and I can finally start to live in our home. I am really looking forward to settling in here without tripping over construction mess, and breathing in plaster dust.

The interior of our home has not had a thorough cleaning since the August nightmare altered our lives.

That was 8 months ago.

Bob got the better deal, for sure; his physical body died, but his Spirit will never die; and Bob is enjoying Yeshua’s company – who could ask for anything better!

Meanwhile, here on Earth, I would like to give the interior of our home a thorough Spring cleaning once and for all, without plaster dust settling over everything … or irritating my lungs because the ‘simple touch-up’ around the LED lights STILL is not done, and the dust is constantly being stirred up.

Hopefully tomorrow :-D

EXTERIOR HOUSE PAINTING – Day 1

Yesterday the fellas showed up bright and early to start painting the exterior of our home.

Before they started, I showed Shaun the 2017 House Inspection report and asked him to please check this issue out:

I Later saw him carrying repair sheet wood, so am assuming it was repaired before painting commenced.

When the windows were sealed, I did feel a bit trapped; the feeling didn’t quite morph into claustrophobia … but it did get a little edgy there for a while ...

While they were painting the siding under the carport, they had their radio on and I heard Heart’s ‘Magic Man’ song come on loud and clear, and my hand stayed the spreading of the mayo on the sandwich I was making. Normally I’d be singing the song along with the radio – but now it is a bittersweet reminder that my Magic Man is no longer here with me. I teared up and had a good cry; then I wiped my eyes and nose, finished making my sandwich and ate lunch.

Swallowing each bite with a lump in my throat.

‘Happy Together’ by the Turtles, & ‘Magic Man’ by Heart were the 2 songs that best described US. And if we had “a song”, those 2 would be the ones.

So; yeah, it got a bit emotional in the kitchen for a few minutes.

And I felt Bob’s presence too.

This is something that needed to be done, and Bob & I had planned on doing it anyway: we just never figured on me having to do it alone. Widowhood wasn't in the figuring; and while ‘Magic Man’ was playing and after I had wiped my eyes and could breathe easy again, I could see … in my mind’s eye … Bob’s twinkling eyes and his sexy smile, and I could hear some his last words to me, "I have faith in you Baby". It made me feel confident.

I felt we are still doing this thing together:

After the guys knocked off for the day, I walked around the house to do a little inspection of my own ;-)

It will be real nice when it is done – and I won’t have to worry about it for another 10 years … and maybe not even then: who knows what the next 10 years holds? I may even be in Heaven, walking those streets of gold with my 2 beloveds, Yeshua & Bob – the 2 loves of my life :-)

But, for now, this is one less Park Rule I have to concern myself with ...

Looking good - like it should.

The ceilings and railings still have to painted ... hopefully that will be done today sometime.

And the stairs - both sides of the house - still have to be painted; as well as the house numbers that have to be prominently displayed at the front of the house.

This will need to be corrected before they get paid.

As well as this. I am paying a LOT of $$$$ to have this done ... I want it done right. Bob would not overlook this ... and neither will I.

The fellas worked like dogs all day yesterday; and it got hot with the sunshine beating down on them while they sweated, so I cut them a little slack.

Until today – when what needs to be corrected will be pointed out before they get their pay ;-)