Mothering around the house

So many things I WANT to do...

the fire pit

plant the grape vines

SEW!!!!

But the weather and my body say uh-uh. Not yet...

We had a couple frosts (at least that's what the weather app told me...) the last few nights, so to be safe, the outdoor plants that we'd put outside either had to come back in or, as is the case last night because I happened to see that it might frost AGAIN, had a blanket thrown over them.

I spent all Saturday afternoon in my yard.  It started off with me wanting to replace a section of our lower deck railing that I'd caught sight of swaying in the breeze while I mowed...  So I'd purchased a new railing and a couple other things to take care of it.  

Got the tools needed for the job and got to work, thinking it would take an hour tops.

Turned out the post that it was attached to was rotten.  whoops.  So I checked out the next set of railing and it too was rotten, next post, rotten, next railing, rotten, next post rotten.

uh oh...

And ten minutes later, not needing any tools at all, here we are...

 I'll be replacing ALL the railings on the lower deck this summer and staircase and if I get good enough, will branch out to the upper deck.

And I might clean and stain the deck boards before I go much further...

sigh...

It's ALWAYS something...

So since I couldn't get much further on the deck, I got into other projects.

I'd bought a new weed trimmer, extension cord powered, and trimmed up a couple corners of the yard.  Several more corners need it but the cord won't go that far and I got sidetracked trying to cut up the tree that fell last fall with the chain saw.  That is a HEAVY tree!!!  

It was starting to sprout new branches and I just couldn't have THAT!  So I cut it up into 3 big chunks as well as cut off lots of branches off the two apple trees on that side of the house.  The last big chunk is still attached to the tree and I can't get the saw to it. yet.

The tree part above it is dead also and begging for me to cut it down too before it falls down...

My body is screaming at me today so I'll put those things off until an upcoming warmer day.

I also fell off some steps on Sunday, thinking there was one step behind me instead of the actual two.  My longest toe is black and blue and then a few cuts and extra bruises here and there.  I may need to go find me some Aleve...

Mother's Day, aside from the fall, was very nice!  Robb brought me breakfast in bed!  He took his own mom breakfast in bed too.  

And the centerpiece of the plate was ketchup!

He gets me...

:)

even tho it disgusts him....

:)

and probably you...

:)

Meri came to church with us and was dressed in her face mask and long rubber gloves, holding a spray bottle of disinfectant.  Looking more like she was about to clean the toilet than worship, but I'm so glad she came!  Her voice is beautiful!  So I harmonized with alto to her gorgeous soprano.

She needs to do what she feels is best to stay safe!  And I don't begrudge anybody that.

Since Iowa has lifted restrictions somewhat, there were 20 people in church!  All sitting a good distance from each other.  "Small church" has become "sort of small church"! :)

Robb gave me a Fossil smart watch!  It's a Mother's Day/anniversary/birthday/next Christmas gift and I'm slowly getting the hang of it.  My wrist vibrates with every inbound text or email and sometimes I'm not sure if I'm getting a message or having a stroke.  Is a vibrating wrist an indicator?

It'll come in handy!

For example, I was outside all afternoon on Saturday and had left my phone inside.  Robb had texted me that he was going to be home for supper after all but I didn't see it and five minutes after coming inside to make a chef's salad for myself, he came in.  So what are we having?

He's not a chef salad fan...

I guess it's a fend for yourself evening!

Sunday afternoon, I went to see my bestie at the nursing home.  All her kids had either come to see her or call her and I was able to squeeze in some time between their visits.  The weather had cooled off by that time so I couldn't stay very long.  When she called to tell me a good time to come, she said, "Oh while you're here, can you pin up some pictures on my bulletin board for me?"

Ummm I still can't come inside you know...  Oh yeah!  So she got an aide to do it and I admired them through her window.  Her grandkids are pretty cute.

Maddy and Matthew called shortly after I got back.  Had a great visit with them, but then had to help get dinner on the table.  Sorry guys!  We can visit more later and hopefully in person one of these days!!!  I'm so glad for DUO but it's not the same thing...

Robb had smoked pork loin for dinner... yummmm...  

For Mother's Day, I also got a beautiful plant for next to the door and a succulent!  

I am bound and determined not to let my black green thumb kill them!  

So far so good, it's been one day.

All the food yesterday was SO good..  I didn't do My Fitness Pal at all...

Plus Meri borrowed my scale so I have no idea what my progress has been the last few days.  Oh well...  I'll go to her house and weigh myself.

WHOOPS!  She and I were going to work out this morning at 6am!  I didn't remember until last night at bedtime and I'm pretty sure she forgot too.  I guess tomorrow is a new day...

Anyway, that was my weekend.  How was YOUR Mother's Day?