(I'm posting this everywhere, on every site I have access to. it is SUCH an important concept for men and women today to wrap their minds around! We MUST be born in Zion if we are ever to see God! )
Sunday was our family reunion. I wasn't able to go but my brother went. He called this morning to ask me if I knew Uncle Gene had died. He said, I believe, it had happened about four months ago. I wondered, when I hung up from talking with Buster, if he had died in the Lord. For most of his life, Uncle Gene, although a good man, was not saved. I haven’t seen him for years and years so I don’t know what his spiritual standing was. The last time I saw him he had started going to church, but he said nothing of being born again.
As I sat here in the quiet these last few minutes, my mind went to the Psalms where David was talking about God’s People and His Church, “5And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. 6The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.” (Ps 87:5-6) I thought what a beautiful testimony that was. That someone would say of a person that they were ‘born in Zion.” I remembered all the saints I’ve known who left that testimony behind them-- this or that individual was born in Zion! How wonderful to not just have a piece of paper saying they were citizens the city but to have lived a life that verified it.
I thought of those who have gone on to be with the Lord and I never even had to think about the question, because their lives had been dedicated to God. They had lived such consistent lives of righteousness that even a sinner could recognize that they were one of God’s people--not by thei words the said but by the very life of Christ showing out through them. There isn’t enough of that in the world today. There aren’t enough people who live as though they were born in spiritual Zion.
I want my life to be such that when I’m gone, those looking on my memory will be able to say with a surety, “This woman was born in Zion!”
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
reunions
Yesterday was the Elliott Reunion. I aways enjoyed it. My mom's name was Elliott and they are all good down to earth people. And boy! Can the Elliott women cook. Food at the Elliott reunion is to die for!
We used to go every summer until my knees got bad enough that I had to hope Kerra and Rachael came home to fix the food. And they did for several years, but I haven't been able to go for the last four or five. While Notah and Kerra were living with me in Dover, Kerra cooked and Notah would load my big chair so I was able to sit in it with my feet up for the afternoon. Since they moved I haven't been to the reunion. Actually the next year after they moved ( I believe it was) I moved to Columbus with Rachael and Michael. Now the two hours down and two hours back plus two or three hours of sitting on a picnic bench are just more than I can do.
The great thing is that some members of Aunt Rene's family always stop by on their trips east. Today, Dobbie and Brenda are bringing Aunt Rene to visit a while. Last year it was Lee and Lonnadene who brough her. I love it! Growing up, my brother and I probably spent more time with Lonnadene and Dobbie at Aunt Rene and Uncle Arthur's that with any of our other cousins. I'm glad the connection remains even as we are all into our sixties now. Isn't that amazing.
I can remember when Lonnadene was a cute little girl with a mass of curls who yelled bloody murder when her mom tried to sort them out. And Dobbie! LOL Aunt Rene tried her best to dress him in a neat little shirt and tie for church, but they just never stayed that way very long. He and my brother used to trekking around into all sorts of things. And when he grew up! He grew this amazing beard and a head full of long wild hair! Poor Aunt Rene-how mortified she must have been. lol
And now look at him-some sort of executive with a clean shave and a regular hair cut in a big steel company. And Lonnadene has clipped her mass of curls short enough to care for so easily a it makes screaming bloody murder a distant memory! She and Lee are on a world cruise right now.
Life goes on and things change, but the bonds forged in early child hood remain...
We used to go every summer until my knees got bad enough that I had to hope Kerra and Rachael came home to fix the food. And they did for several years, but I haven't been able to go for the last four or five. While Notah and Kerra were living with me in Dover, Kerra cooked and Notah would load my big chair so I was able to sit in it with my feet up for the afternoon. Since they moved I haven't been to the reunion. Actually the next year after they moved ( I believe it was) I moved to Columbus with Rachael and Michael. Now the two hours down and two hours back plus two or three hours of sitting on a picnic bench are just more than I can do.
The great thing is that some members of Aunt Rene's family always stop by on their trips east. Today, Dobbie and Brenda are bringing Aunt Rene to visit a while. Last year it was Lee and Lonnadene who brough her. I love it! Growing up, my brother and I probably spent more time with Lonnadene and Dobbie at Aunt Rene and Uncle Arthur's that with any of our other cousins. I'm glad the connection remains even as we are all into our sixties now. Isn't that amazing.
I can remember when Lonnadene was a cute little girl with a mass of curls who yelled bloody murder when her mom tried to sort them out. And Dobbie! LOL Aunt Rene tried her best to dress him in a neat little shirt and tie for church, but they just never stayed that way very long. He and my brother used to trekking around into all sorts of things. And when he grew up! He grew this amazing beard and a head full of long wild hair! Poor Aunt Rene-how mortified she must have been. lol
And now look at him-some sort of executive with a clean shave and a regular hair cut in a big steel company. And Lonnadene has clipped her mass of curls short enough to care for so easily a it makes screaming bloody murder a distant memory! She and Lee are on a world cruise right now.
Life goes on and things change, but the bonds forged in early child hood remain...
dogs
Maxim's new friend, Biff
Resting after the reservoir swim. Maxim still has his wet collar on.
Biff doesn't know anything about chasing and retrieving a ball!
He'll never get his teeth on it if Maxim has anything to say about it! But at least he sees that it must be FUN!
(It's hard to see but the old tennis ball is hidden in Maxim's mouth!)
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Labrador Retrievers!
Well, I’ve been back in Ohio for a week plus a couple days now. Such a short time seems like a month!
After a few hiccups the first couple days when we were catching up on shopping housekeeping and doctor visits, we have all slipped back into the routine. The nice thing is that Rach is in Management Training so she has regular hours. She leaves at seven forty five and is back at six fifteen. Today is Saturday and she is OFF. How great is that?
She and Michael like being together in the evening and on weekends. And it is nice. We have company for the next couple days- Jess and his brother? friend? old roommate – have come to visit. Jess brought along his ‘new’ dog, Biff.
Biff is the result of several weeks/months of searching. Jess liked Maxim so well he wanted a chocolate Lab, too. One of the sad things is that a lot of people see these beautiful dogs and get all excited about the noble, obedient, calm dog walking quietly beside his master. If the did their home work they would discover that the noble, obedient, calm animal they are looking at is the result of about three years of patience and training.
Labrador retrievers are very energetic and intelligent. The combination makes for months of enthusiastic and careless destruction. Tails wipe knick-knacks off tables and shelves. Swinging behinds knock over stools. Bouncing bodies run into toddlers and hit you in the back of the knees at unexpected moments. This is not to say that Labs cannot be trained, but it takes a lot of patience to restrain and focus the energy without breaking the dog’s spirit.
Labs also like to carry things. They aren’t terrible chewers but they will pick up anything that is loose and within their reach. Balls, toys, rugs, and random objects are carried around the house and dropped in haphazard places. My Labs have carried dog toys, kid toys, sticks, chance stones and small animals. I had one Lab who loved to carry his favorite kitten around in his mouth—he never hurt it, just carried it around fully enclosed by those big teeth and lips with a little yellow tail hanging out. The kitten didn’t seem to mind at all and slept on Aspen. That was cute, but Lab pups have to be taught to drop things from their mouth at an early age because some things are not meant to be clutched in a moist mouth-not even gently.
Many enthusiastic, but foolish, new lab owners find themselves with a cute little puppy which grows too quickly into a good sized dog that is like a bull in a china shop and they cannot deal with the activity level. After a few weeks of futile screaming and crating and kenneling and frustration, they end up ‘getting rid’ of the dog. Unfortunately this usually means sending the dog to the pound. That’s sad. A Lab is a wonderful animal devoted to his family or owner, willing to obey and enthusiastic about playing. He will hike with his Human, swim, retrieve anything and nap, happiest when he is close by. But it requires months of patient training to have that dog. Most people aren’t willing to put in the time.
The only positive result of an abandoned dog is that Jess found himself a gorgeous chocolate Lab. It is still a little “over eager” and “excessively enthusiastic” at nine months old, but he is friendly and obedient in what he has learned so far. Jess is willing to put up with the enthusiasm and spend the time training him. He came last night and wore Maxim out in just a few hours. That is Biff wore Maxim out-not Jess.
I’m anxious to hear how he does today. Everyone is taking the dogs swimming on the other side of the reservoir. That’s one of Maxim’s favorite treats and Biff has never been swimming. He is going to love it.
If you want a dog, you can’t beat a Labrador Retriever-yellow, black or chocolate. BUT don’t get one if you are not willing to put up with the busy-ness and innocent destruction for the time it takes to train it. And don’t get one if you are not able or willing to give the dog as much exercise as it needs. Maxim gets time in our yard everyday retrieving far flung balls and frizbees and big plastic horseshoes. Plus he gets regular trips to the reservoir for swimming and hiking. Biff gets a two hour walk every night and would gladly take more. Lots of exercise is vital if you want a Lab. Otherwise you will end up with a destructive dog or one that gets dumped in a pound.
Later in the day
Biff and Maxim came back from the reservoir soaking wet and happy as clams. Maxim immediately went and sacked out under his favorite magnolia tree. He was pooped! Biff, however, was tired but still willing to socialize and chase a ball. Jess has only had him three weeks and he isn’t very well socialized or focused on humans yet. The people that owned him previously kept him in a crate or kennel all the time and did nothing with him. So Biff is learning to focus on the human who is talking to him. In just a little while with Rachael he learned to make tentative eye contact and watch for what he was supposed to do. He isn’t real good at retrieving (Incomprehensible! A lab who doesn’t chase a ball and bring it back for more) but in just a little while Rachael had him listening to her and at least tryng to figure out what she wanted.
Maxim went to bed a tired old boy. Biff went to bed pleasantly tired. Oh, to be a pup forever!
After a few hiccups the first couple days when we were catching up on shopping housekeeping and doctor visits, we have all slipped back into the routine. The nice thing is that Rach is in Management Training so she has regular hours. She leaves at seven forty five and is back at six fifteen. Today is Saturday and she is OFF. How great is that?
She and Michael like being together in the evening and on weekends. And it is nice. We have company for the next couple days- Jess and his brother? friend? old roommate – have come to visit. Jess brought along his ‘new’ dog, Biff.
Biff is the result of several weeks/months of searching. Jess liked Maxim so well he wanted a chocolate Lab, too. One of the sad things is that a lot of people see these beautiful dogs and get all excited about the noble, obedient, calm dog walking quietly beside his master. If the did their home work they would discover that the noble, obedient, calm animal they are looking at is the result of about three years of patience and training.
Labrador retrievers are very energetic and intelligent. The combination makes for months of enthusiastic and careless destruction. Tails wipe knick-knacks off tables and shelves. Swinging behinds knock over stools. Bouncing bodies run into toddlers and hit you in the back of the knees at unexpected moments. This is not to say that Labs cannot be trained, but it takes a lot of patience to restrain and focus the energy without breaking the dog’s spirit.
Labs also like to carry things. They aren’t terrible chewers but they will pick up anything that is loose and within their reach. Balls, toys, rugs, and random objects are carried around the house and dropped in haphazard places. My Labs have carried dog toys, kid toys, sticks, chance stones and small animals. I had one Lab who loved to carry his favorite kitten around in his mouth—he never hurt it, just carried it around fully enclosed by those big teeth and lips with a little yellow tail hanging out. The kitten didn’t seem to mind at all and slept on Aspen. That was cute, but Lab pups have to be taught to drop things from their mouth at an early age because some things are not meant to be clutched in a moist mouth-not even gently.
Many enthusiastic, but foolish, new lab owners find themselves with a cute little puppy which grows too quickly into a good sized dog that is like a bull in a china shop and they cannot deal with the activity level. After a few weeks of futile screaming and crating and kenneling and frustration, they end up ‘getting rid’ of the dog. Unfortunately this usually means sending the dog to the pound. That’s sad. A Lab is a wonderful animal devoted to his family or owner, willing to obey and enthusiastic about playing. He will hike with his Human, swim, retrieve anything and nap, happiest when he is close by. But it requires months of patient training to have that dog. Most people aren’t willing to put in the time.
The only positive result of an abandoned dog is that Jess found himself a gorgeous chocolate Lab. It is still a little “over eager” and “excessively enthusiastic” at nine months old, but he is friendly and obedient in what he has learned so far. Jess is willing to put up with the enthusiasm and spend the time training him. He came last night and wore Maxim out in just a few hours. That is Biff wore Maxim out-not Jess.
I’m anxious to hear how he does today. Everyone is taking the dogs swimming on the other side of the reservoir. That’s one of Maxim’s favorite treats and Biff has never been swimming. He is going to love it.
If you want a dog, you can’t beat a Labrador Retriever-yellow, black or chocolate. BUT don’t get one if you are not willing to put up with the busy-ness and innocent destruction for the time it takes to train it. And don’t get one if you are not able or willing to give the dog as much exercise as it needs. Maxim gets time in our yard everyday retrieving far flung balls and frizbees and big plastic horseshoes. Plus he gets regular trips to the reservoir for swimming and hiking. Biff gets a two hour walk every night and would gladly take more. Lots of exercise is vital if you want a Lab. Otherwise you will end up with a destructive dog or one that gets dumped in a pound.
Later in the day
Biff and Maxim came back from the reservoir soaking wet and happy as clams. Maxim immediately went and sacked out under his favorite magnolia tree. He was pooped! Biff, however, was tired but still willing to socialize and chase a ball. Jess has only had him three weeks and he isn’t very well socialized or focused on humans yet. The people that owned him previously kept him in a crate or kennel all the time and did nothing with him. So Biff is learning to focus on the human who is talking to him. In just a little while with Rachael he learned to make tentative eye contact and watch for what he was supposed to do. He isn’t real good at retrieving (Incomprehensible! A lab who doesn’t chase a ball and bring it back for more) but in just a little while Rachael had him listening to her and at least tryng to figure out what she wanted.
Maxim went to bed a tired old boy. Biff went to bed pleasantly tired. Oh, to be a pup forever!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Last catch-up post. After this, I'm back in Ohio
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
One thing I must say about being here this summer: I LOVE my son dearly. He works hard long days but he has always taken a little time to be sure and check to see if I have the things I need. He called again today, as he has everyday this week, to make sure the house was cool and I was comfortable.
Really, the swamp cooler works very well. Only on Monday did the water go off. And that was because Kerra left the water on when she watered the roses out side. Well, the water itself wasn’t running, but the pressure tank valve was open—which in turned drained the pressure which gave NO water for the cooler units. (Luckily, the pump turned off when the pressure dropped too low instead of trying to keep pumping water) And of course, THAT made the house hot. He has worried about me here ever since.
I did have a really bad response to the heat a week ago Sunday. When we went for that ride, it nearly wiped me out. My reaction to it still kinda worries me. I know he is thinking about that when he calls. And I love him for it.
There is a nice breeze from the north here. I believe it blows all the way across from the Sandias. Now it isn’t always cold, but it does keep things cool—especially when it is sucked into the swamp coolers and then sent into the house with its load of coolness.
And now that I’ve learned to manage the weather again, I am leaving. I have mixed feelings. Parts of my time, and I won’t go into that, have been difficult, but other parts have been wonderful. I will never stop loving New Mexico or the desert. There is nothing in the world as beautiful.
Thursday June 10, 2010
Last day… I’m anxious to see Rachael and Michael, but even still with everything, I hate to leave Notah’s. I sat outside this morning for the last time probably, although I may get time tomorrow morning. I’m packing my clothes, etc. today-getting everything together.
I hate having my kids on separate ends of the world. My heart aches no matter where I am.
This is all till I’m back in Ohio.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
One thing I must say about being here this summer: I LOVE my son dearly. He works hard long days but he has always taken a little time to be sure and check to see if I have the things I need. He called again today, as he has everyday this week, to make sure the house was cool and I was comfortable.
Really, the swamp cooler works very well. Only on Monday did the water go off. And that was because Kerra left the water on when she watered the roses out side. Well, the water itself wasn’t running, but the pressure tank valve was open—which in turned drained the pressure which gave NO water for the cooler units. (Luckily, the pump turned off when the pressure dropped too low instead of trying to keep pumping water) And of course, THAT made the house hot. He has worried about me here ever since.
I did have a really bad response to the heat a week ago Sunday. When we went for that ride, it nearly wiped me out. My reaction to it still kinda worries me. I know he is thinking about that when he calls. And I love him for it.
There is a nice breeze from the north here. I believe it blows all the way across from the Sandias. Now it isn’t always cold, but it does keep things cool—especially when it is sucked into the swamp coolers and then sent into the house with its load of coolness.
And now that I’ve learned to manage the weather again, I am leaving. I have mixed feelings. Parts of my time, and I won’t go into that, have been difficult, but other parts have been wonderful. I will never stop loving New Mexico or the desert. There is nothing in the world as beautiful.
Thursday June 10, 2010
Last day… I’m anxious to see Rachael and Michael, but even still with everything, I hate to leave Notah’s. I sat outside this morning for the last time probably, although I may get time tomorrow morning. I’m packing my clothes, etc. today-getting everything together.
I hate having my kids on separate ends of the world. My heart aches no matter where I am.
This is all till I’m back in Ohio.
crazy dogs, crazy grandma!
Remember, these are 'catch-up" posts from when we were moving in Belen.
Tuesday afternoon, June 8
I tried to take Chloe out in the western courtyard this morning while I sat out there. THAT was confusion redefined!
First I got my coffee and my birdbook and my binoculars and went out calling the dogs. Huck came and Gable came, except little Miss Contrary Ears was too busy chewing on her pink pillow to come. So I put my things on the bench and came back to get her. There was some fuss with the new lead which she didn’t like AT ALL. When we finally got out the door,--not without an exorbitant amount of screeching from Chloe like the leash was killing her, I discovered Sadie was in the courtyard. She has found a place to squeeze through the gate from the eastern side. I put her in the house and discovered Gable was gone! And Thain was rattling the gate because he couldn’t get through.
Good grief. Why do I even try? I called a couple times—no Gabe. I put Chloe back inside, made Sadie go back inside. Let Huck wander. He doesn’t know which end is up anyway; I didn’t even want to try to mess with him.
I called Gabe again, went to the gate by the garage and called. No little black and white dog that way. I started back down the courtyard and as I went around the corner I heard a gate rattle a little bit and here came Gabriel Felix! Puffing! He either went through Sadie’s hole or found one of his own. He must have gone a ways because he had hustled to get back. But there he was all proud of himself. I gave him a treat and put HIM in the house.
Finally I sat down with Huck to drink my coffee and see what birds were out. And about the second thing I did then was slop my coffee! Merciful Pete! And with all that ruckus every bird on our eleven acres had headed for safer territory! I saw a couple flycatchers and the I-think-maybe-it’s-a-light-colored-mockingbird, but mostly I rested up from all the chaos. When my coffee was gone, I went back inside.
Don’t get me wrong. All of our dogs are good—well, except maybe Chloe, but she is too small and cute to beat yet. Besides she really isn’t bad, just doesn’t know quite what she’s supposed to do. The thing is they are still dogs and do the things that dogs do-check out every wandering smell, pee on every available bush and truck around following scent trails. And all of those things tend to get them in trouble sometimes—especially with grandmas who can’t get around very well. Sigh. . .
Tuesday afternoon, June 8
I tried to take Chloe out in the western courtyard this morning while I sat out there. THAT was confusion redefined!
First I got my coffee and my birdbook and my binoculars and went out calling the dogs. Huck came and Gable came, except little Miss Contrary Ears was too busy chewing on her pink pillow to come. So I put my things on the bench and came back to get her. There was some fuss with the new lead which she didn’t like AT ALL. When we finally got out the door,--not without an exorbitant amount of screeching from Chloe like the leash was killing her, I discovered Sadie was in the courtyard. She has found a place to squeeze through the gate from the eastern side. I put her in the house and discovered Gable was gone! And Thain was rattling the gate because he couldn’t get through.
Good grief. Why do I even try? I called a couple times—no Gabe. I put Chloe back inside, made Sadie go back inside. Let Huck wander. He doesn’t know which end is up anyway; I didn’t even want to try to mess with him.
I called Gabe again, went to the gate by the garage and called. No little black and white dog that way. I started back down the courtyard and as I went around the corner I heard a gate rattle a little bit and here came Gabriel Felix! Puffing! He either went through Sadie’s hole or found one of his own. He must have gone a ways because he had hustled to get back. But there he was all proud of himself. I gave him a treat and put HIM in the house.
Finally I sat down with Huck to drink my coffee and see what birds were out. And about the second thing I did then was slop my coffee! Merciful Pete! And with all that ruckus every bird on our eleven acres had headed for safer territory! I saw a couple flycatchers and the I-think-maybe-it’s-a-light-colored-mockingbird, but mostly I rested up from all the chaos. When my coffee was gone, I went back inside.
Don’t get me wrong. All of our dogs are good—well, except maybe Chloe, but she is too small and cute to beat yet. Besides she really isn’t bad, just doesn’t know quite what she’s supposed to do. The thing is they are still dogs and do the things that dogs do-check out every wandering smell, pee on every available bush and truck around following scent trails. And all of those things tend to get them in trouble sometimes—especially with grandmas who can’t get around very well. Sigh. . .
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Monday Evening
There was something wrong with the water this morning (Monday) . Kerra used the outside hose to water the roses early this morning. When I went to the bathroom after she left, there was no water. I sent Notah a text asking if I should turn off the cooler pumps. He said, “Yes!” When he called Kerra she remembered that she hadn’t turned the water off outside… That probably drained the pressure. So I went and turned that outside faucet off.
I got the bright idea of wetting a towel and hanging it over the fan-- same effect as the cooler, moving dry air over or through water. It cooled the living room comfortably
4:22 PM
Kerra got home about 230 and began fiddling with the water. She checked the irrigation lines and made sure they were off. She checked the cooler pumps and made sure they were off. Finally she trekked over to the well room to look at the actual water pump.
She found a reset switch! She wasn’t sure what it was or even if it was the right thing. She took the electric cord in one hand and turned the switch with the other, figuring if it was the wrong thing and the pressure started to go up too fast, she could yank the plug. Luckily, the switch was the right one, the pump came on; the pressure went up to fifty pounds and stayed there. The pump turned off. YAY. When she came inside we turned the water on and we had water!
Now she is busy cleaning up the sand and dust accumulated from a week of emptiness and two days of carrying in furniture. The house is cooler and it looks as though the weather outside is cooling off. There even seems to be a lot of sand blowing across the base of the mountains.
The day is winding down. I’m glad Notah won’t have to worry with the water when he gets home. I feel sorry for him. He seems to work really hard and no one seems to appreciate it. They just always want more. I felt real sorry for him this morning. Not only did he get up at five o’clock after working hard all weekend, but he didn’t even have any coffee made. He had to make his own coffee! I felt bad that I had fallen asleep last night before I thought of it. I used to make sure that he had coffee when he came out to go in the morning. I haven’t really been myself since last week when I got sick from being too hot. I should have wakened up long enough before him to put the pot on! But I’ll be gone next week. Who will make sure he has coffee then?
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Rachael arrives in only a couple more days. She and Michael will get into Albuquerque on Thursday. They are planning to celebrate their wedding anniversary by going up to the top of Sandia where they were married, hiking around there and then having dinner someplace nice. Then on Friday morning they’ll come after me and, I guess, head on out to Gallup. I thought that they wanted to drive through Chaco Canyon on the way, but maybe not… I’m along for the ride where ever they go.
I’m trying to soak up all the birds and sagebrush and yucca and sand that I can in these few days left to me. This new house is small and I don’t know exactly where they will put me next year when I come…if I can come. For these few days I don’t really have a room. I have my dresser in Keva’s room and my duffel and suitcase in the kids’ bathroom. I’ve been comfortable in the recliner but I don’t have anyplace that is organized and quiet. I’m stressed when everything is in a jumble and I have to watch where I put my crutch tips to be sure it doesn’t catch or get tangled or slip on something. And even though they have given Keva orders to keep a pathway clear, her room is in as much chaos as it was on Angelo. That bothers me. By next year Keva will be so well settled in that I won’t be able to stand it at all. I don’t think that even if they move her out for next year I’ll be able to get comfortable; she just won’t be able to move all her stuff so it can be the more organized kind of room I relax in.. I am not going to bug Notah about it though. He has enough to worry about. I’ll just pray that something happens before then.
Well, Seth is up. I guess it is ten o’clock! Didn’t realize time had passed so quickly. I was out in the east yard early, before K & K left for summer school. This morning I identified a western kingbird and a western flycatcher. There is another gray bird that seems too light for a mockingbird but I haven’t figured out if it is simply a different color variety or if it’s another species entirely. I still haven’t seen that Bullocks Oriole that Notah saw in the tree. The little Says Phoebe is getting used to having people out there and is now coming and going in her nest without too much trouble.
There was something wrong with the water this morning (Monday) . Kerra used the outside hose to water the roses early this morning. When I went to the bathroom after she left, there was no water. I sent Notah a text asking if I should turn off the cooler pumps. He said, “Yes!” When he called Kerra she remembered that she hadn’t turned the water off outside… That probably drained the pressure. So I went and turned that outside faucet off.
I got the bright idea of wetting a towel and hanging it over the fan-- same effect as the cooler, moving dry air over or through water. It cooled the living room comfortably
4:22 PM
Kerra got home about 230 and began fiddling with the water. She checked the irrigation lines and made sure they were off. She checked the cooler pumps and made sure they were off. Finally she trekked over to the well room to look at the actual water pump.
She found a reset switch! She wasn’t sure what it was or even if it was the right thing. She took the electric cord in one hand and turned the switch with the other, figuring if it was the wrong thing and the pressure started to go up too fast, she could yank the plug. Luckily, the switch was the right one, the pump came on; the pressure went up to fifty pounds and stayed there. The pump turned off. YAY. When she came inside we turned the water on and we had water!
Now she is busy cleaning up the sand and dust accumulated from a week of emptiness and two days of carrying in furniture. The house is cooler and it looks as though the weather outside is cooling off. There even seems to be a lot of sand blowing across the base of the mountains.
The day is winding down. I’m glad Notah won’t have to worry with the water when he gets home. I feel sorry for him. He seems to work really hard and no one seems to appreciate it. They just always want more. I felt real sorry for him this morning. Not only did he get up at five o’clock after working hard all weekend, but he didn’t even have any coffee made. He had to make his own coffee! I felt bad that I had fallen asleep last night before I thought of it. I used to make sure that he had coffee when he came out to go in the morning. I haven’t really been myself since last week when I got sick from being too hot. I should have wakened up long enough before him to put the pot on! But I’ll be gone next week. Who will make sure he has coffee then?
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Rachael arrives in only a couple more days. She and Michael will get into Albuquerque on Thursday. They are planning to celebrate their wedding anniversary by going up to the top of Sandia where they were married, hiking around there and then having dinner someplace nice. Then on Friday morning they’ll come after me and, I guess, head on out to Gallup. I thought that they wanted to drive through Chaco Canyon on the way, but maybe not… I’m along for the ride where ever they go.
I’m trying to soak up all the birds and sagebrush and yucca and sand that I can in these few days left to me. This new house is small and I don’t know exactly where they will put me next year when I come…if I can come. For these few days I don’t really have a room. I have my dresser in Keva’s room and my duffel and suitcase in the kids’ bathroom. I’ve been comfortable in the recliner but I don’t have anyplace that is organized and quiet. I’m stressed when everything is in a jumble and I have to watch where I put my crutch tips to be sure it doesn’t catch or get tangled or slip on something. And even though they have given Keva orders to keep a pathway clear, her room is in as much chaos as it was on Angelo. That bothers me. By next year Keva will be so well settled in that I won’t be able to stand it at all. I don’t think that even if they move her out for next year I’ll be able to get comfortable; she just won’t be able to move all her stuff so it can be the more organized kind of room I relax in.. I am not going to bug Notah about it though. He has enough to worry about. I’ll just pray that something happens before then.
Well, Seth is up. I guess it is ten o’clock! Didn’t realize time had passed so quickly. I was out in the east yard early, before K & K left for summer school. This morning I identified a western kingbird and a western flycatcher. There is another gray bird that seems too light for a mockingbird but I haven’t figured out if it is simply a different color variety or if it’s another species entirely. I still haven’t seen that Bullocks Oriole that Notah saw in the tree. The little Says Phoebe is getting used to having people out there and is now coming and going in her nest without too much trouble.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
