B week

Birthday, Bench, Berries and Branches that is.  Okay, I know these are seemingly random items, but it is life as I know it.  What can I say? 

First the birthday…

We enjoyed a great weekend in Evansville celebrating my youngest sister Angie’s 50^th birthday.  Her husband Eric put on a great party for friends and family.  We spent many hours under the pergola drinking beer, laughing and telling stories.   Nothing better on a hot summer day!

And then the bench…

Rescued bench

Which was a curbside rescue on trash pickup day earlier this summer.  Again, what can I say?  Clearly Mike's influence on me.  It was surely a beautiful bench in its' day, but  it needs some work.  

So we have another project underway, first removing the bad boards and rusty screws.  Then we trekked over to the nearest lumber company to buy 12 feet of red cedar for the new boards.  Mike did the saw work, ripping the boards and beveling the edges.  Next up is sanding the boards, painting the wrought iron and putting it back together.  I’m sure it will find a treasured spot somewhere in the yard or garden. I’ll share a picture of the finished project next time.

Mike trimming boards to proper length

And berries…

We’re on our second crop of raspberries this year. The first one was mainly enjoyed by the birds, but I harvested a great second crop earlier this week.  You can’t beat fresh sweet raspberries from your own yard!

And  I wish I didn’t have stories of branches…

Imagine my surprise when I opened the front door Tuesday morning and saw a HUGE branch beside the Bradford Pear tree. Unprovoked by storms or wind, this branch just broke off the tree for no apparent reason.  

And $650 later, the tree limb was removed, the tree was reshaped and we have a tree that will probably last another 1-2 years.  Though the cost was tough to swallow,  we feel good about saving the tree, and it gives us time to determine what tree will replace it.

And then Saturday morning I was looking out the kitchen window and saw another huge branch beside the Honey Locust tree.  Yes, the tree we were married under!  Fortunately  Mike were able to manhandle it and move it to the curb for “limb pickup”. 

I guess I'm NOT destined for a job removing trees as one of the branches  fell on my shoulder on its' way down to the ground.  Ouch!  Nothing major, I'm just a bit stiff and sore.  

So, not a good week for  trees.  Our tree service (we are putting the owner’s kids through college with all of our tree work this year) indicates that last year’s drought will continue to inflict damage on trees for several years to come.  Lovely. May just want to put a line item in the annual budget for the tree service!

Mike, Kevin and Kathy and their family

We enjoyed the Labor Day weekend with friends.  We originally planned for a quiet weekend at home doing projects, but when friends call...

Chuck and Melanie stopped by for dinner on Friday night.  We had a great breakfast with John on Sunday.   And we enjoyed a visit with Kevin and Kathy and their family.  Sadly, it was probably the last pool day of the summer.

And with Labor Day as the official end to summer, it seems appropriate for Mike to start teaching again this week.  He’s excited but somewhat lamenting the home projects that weren’t completed this summer.  I tell him not to worry about things that didn’t get done, there’s always tomorrow.   And I know what you are saying, “who stole the Diane we used to know?  The Diane who pushed people for a living to complete projects by a deadline. “  I don't know, but maybe retirement is erasing that heavy focus on deadlines...

I’ll leave you with a lovely picture from a visit with my niece and great niece last week.  I’m so happy that they live close by, and I get to see them often.

Alice and Diane

 I hope you are rested after  Labor Day weekend and enjoying a great new week!  

Diane