Thankful Monday

I am thankful for surprise connections.

I have a Facebook account but I am definitely not a frequent poster--maybe once a year or so. However, that does not stop others from reaching out to become FB friends with me. I made one of these friend connections recently with Sam.

Sam was with me throughout most of our school years. While we were together in many of our elementary school classes, we went different ways as time progressed. If truth be told, I remember more about Sam in fifth grade drawing elaborate pictures of army tanks and airplanes than I do about him in high school. We probably had classes together, but I don't remember them.

Sam recently became a new grandfather to twin girls that he posted about on his FB page. He was quite proud and sent me a picture through Messenger as I'm sure he did many others. I made an appropriate one line comment about the babies and he replied with the standard, "What have you been up to?"

Then we chatted a bit and tried to catch up on the last 40 years. He asked me if  I had ever been to a Grateful Dead concert or to a biker rally. I answered no to both of those.  He said he had led an unfocused life and was now in constant pain from showing off too much in his younger years. We had pretty much led totally opposite lives. But that didn't seem to matter. We were still the friends we had been in fifth grade.

Then Sam said something that took me by surprise. He said that he had been blessed to get to know my father in his later years and he was a fine gentleman. He added, "He was so proud of you." I said that my father had set a good example for me and my sisters. And Sam said, "Obviously." After a few sentimental tears, I spent the rest of the day smiling about the chat I had had with Sam.

Many of the connections I make on Facebook are not much more than a distraction from other things I should be doing. But sometimes, there is a special moment like the one with Sam recently and for that I am thankful.

Porch Update, Weeks 12, 13

The end is almost in sight. The work is progressing without any major hitches and we continue to be pleased as we see each new part built.  Here's what the builders have been up to.

The inside trim work has been installed around the doors including new beadboard on either side.  When all is said and done, we will install our decorative muntins on the glass panels to see how we like them. If we think they block too much of the view, we'll remove some or all of them.

They also did more trim work outside including the vertical siding over the door...

And over the arch on the front of the porch.

They installed most of the railing this week. First they installed shims on the posts before they put on the wrap (notice it beside the carpenter). I took this picture from inside where it was nice and warm while the carpenter was bundled up and working in freezing temperatures. I never hear them complain except one day he mentioned that it was kind of raw outside. That was day when it was raining and in the 30's. I'm not hardy enough to do this kind of work.

Then the sections were assembled and and installed between the posts. The railings are made from heavy-duty PVC reinforced with a metal core for strength.

The electrician completed work on the subpanel and wiring, and we passed the electrical inspection.

With electrical inspection done, they started on the ceiling to cover up the wiring. The ceiling is fir and will be stained.

There is unusually warm weather forecast for next week, so they are hoping to get everything done for painting then. That may mean extra work this weekend for them and us. We thought we had until spring to pick out colors, but those decisions have to be made this weekend. Right now we are deciding between 15 colors of beige trying to match the siding on the house. And an accent color to go in a couple of places. We're not sure about the color we'll have the ceiling stained. But tomorrow while I'm at work, Ward is buying some stain to try out. 

We're almost there!

Until next time...


In case you missed the other installments:

And So It Begins

Porch Building, Week 2

Porch Building, Week 3

Porch Building, Weeks 4, 5, 6

Porch Update, Weeks 7, 8

Porch Update, Weeks 9, 10

Porch Update, Week 11

It's the little things.

This morning started with a little thing that made me smile. I found an apple that rattled. While washing an apple before adding it to a lunch, I noticed a sound. I quickly took it to Ward to see if he heard the same thing. He, too, heard the subtle rattle with a little shake. We both surmised that there were loose seeds in the middle and that's what I found when I cut it open. I'm sure there are plenty of other apples around with loose seeds that rattle, but this was a first for me-finding an apple that I could use as a rhythm instrument. The shaker apple didn't last long because I cut it up, but aren't most things in nature fleeting even when they seem to remain the same?

As long as I'm here, let's see if I can fill in what I've been doing since we last visited. There are lots of things that I can't go into detail about because they are not my stories to tell. But I've been to three memorial services and helped a relative who was in the hospital. My new job is keeping me busy with several trainings and meetings as well as other routine things. I am slowly learning my new responsibilities but have miles to go before I sleep. I have started using a light box in the mornings after testimonials from several friends. So far, I wouldn't say that a miracle has happened from using it, but I would say that overall, I am sleeping better. Always a good thing. The porch construction is progressing well and I will probably do another porch update tomorrow.

Unfortunately, I'm out of computer time for now because I have to get ready for work.

Until next time...

Porch Update, Week 11

Another week of progress. There are some big things that happened this week, but as with most weeks, the work was in the details. There are so many details that happen to complete each piece and part of this construction plan--more than the unfamiliar can imagine. But that is where the craftsmanship of the workers is shining.

The old doors were removed. Luckily it was on a warmer day and we weren't cold from chilly air. The cats didn't get to see any of the action because they spent the day locked up in the basement so they would not become escape cats.

The new doors look much like the old doors...

Except they have no rotten wood or rust.

The most exciting thing this week was the installation of the floor with Aratis porch flooring which is a composite made from PVC materials. Miss Landers and I think it's big enough and solid enough to use as a stage or have a square dance. I told Ward that any furniture for the porch would have to be easily movable so we could have a show or a dance. He was politely quiet. We were just kidding 
(maybe 😉).

But don't you think that has the makings of a stage?

Along with the floor, the steps also got treads installed.

And more dirt was put around the landing.

The electrician was on another job most of the week, but he did install a couple of outlets.

And started the installation of a new subpanel in the basement. Besides wiring for the porch, we plan to use some of the spaces in the new subpanel when we update the kitchen.

Also, there was a lot more trim work added this week. 

Until next time...

In case you missed the other installments:

And So It Begins

Porch Building, Week 2

Porch Building, Week 3

Porch Building, Weeks 4, 5, 6

Porch Update, Weeks 7, 8

Porch Update, Weeks 9, 10

Thankful Sunday--January 19, 2020

I am thankful for birds.

or more specifically, I am thankful for the entertainment they provide when they visit our feeder.

Our first birdfeeder, Ward's birthday present

If you been with me long enough, you may remember that we got our first bird feeder several years ago for Ward's birthday. I was ambivalent about the feeder and probably could have gotten along just fine without one. Or so I thought.

Soon, I was a convert. I was totally into watching the birds, their habits, and trying to learn their names. That is where Aunt Martha, our local bird expert, came in. She identified many birds for me from the pictures I sent her. Gradually I learned names and characteristics of the birds and that made watching them even more enjoyable.

We had a lot of visitors this snowy day at our previous house.

At our previous house, as the birds got to know our feeders we had quite a variety visiting including a big fuzzy grey one call a squirrel. As aggravating as it was to have the squirrels empty our feeders in one sitting, I'll have to admit it was a fun exercise trying to outsmart them.

No, the squirrel was not stuck. Just resting for a while with a full belly.

Then we moved to our new house. The birds were slower to find our feeders and the variety of birds we got was fewer. And just as traffic was beginning to pick up, we started our porch project and took down all of the feeders. We moved one to in front of a kitchen window so we could watch the birds as we were standing at the sink. It took a while for any birds to find the feeder and it's only recently that some of them will stay at the feeder if they see any movement at the sink. Right now we have two kinds of woodpeckers and house finches that visit regularly. When the porch is done, we will figure out the best way to hang feeders from it and hope that eventually we get a varied population of birds to watch. But for now, we are enjoying our finches and woodpeckers.

This was this morning at our kitchen feeder. As I approached to take the picture, I scared away several finches. While they will stay sometimes, they are still skittish.
(Too much backlighting for a good picture.)

So for the entertainment that birds have provided us in the past, today, and the entertainment they will provide in the future, I am thankful.