Weather Report: So Far So Good

A gorgeous sunny day to start my way back to PA. Sunday's storms that went through were all melted off the high country roads. I like taking this route a lot more so far.

It was so very hard to drive away from Val and Tim's home this morning though. The positive part is how glad I am that Val is feeling better. She is very happy about the new chapter opening for them, and late today she text messaged some of the things she did today. It is so good hearing her sound more like her old self. My sad part is they are all so dear and I miss them already.

It is amazing what mealtimes together can be or do for us. Tim taking Val and I out Saturday, late yesterday's dinner at Sonja's. Eating together; so ordinary, yet so special. I can't explain this paradox so I just enjoy it when we are gathered together, eat and converse.

At Sonja's I was able to spend a bit of time with each of the boys, and do a story time, help with the goodnights and tuck them in.

Grand Junction, CO is tonight's stop. Tomorrow the plan is to go to Jeanette and Eric's in Parker, CO. Yes, the east Indians manage this motel, too. It is much better than the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, but with less excitement.

And that is fine.

A birthday supper for Tim had us all around the table here. Nice to have the family together once more before I start the trip back to PA. Dimetrios ate yogurt which he liked way better than the pot roast or the cheesecake.

Tim and Elijah went out in front of the house where young, next-door neighbor Schuyler came over to hang out and exchange some buddy time with Elijah. They miss each other.

It is hard to leave all of them, yet it seems the right time for me to go on my way. Valerie's health has improved a lot, and the house is well along on prep. I'll miss them all so very much.

Rondo Capriccioso by Saint Saens

Souderton High School Orchestra Spring Concert during which Keoni performed a solo piece, as yesterday my post mentions. Wendy recorded and posted on YouTube as promised, partly because I had to miss this one, partly because she is a mom and we moms (grand and g grand) love all that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMs59PWMpDA

It is on her Facebook page, too, and another one during rehearsal on his page that is LOL.

Events I can think of right now: One, it is Tim's birthday; Two, Keoni is soloing during one of his school orchestra pieces tonight; Three, I'm debating on how to make Tim some chicken biscuits since I don't have the recipe any longer, nor ingredients. It involves frying chicken, of course, and I am reluctant to mess up the beautiful tile job done yesterday by two men that took me right back to Tucson. Salsa music and high quality workmanship.

Manny starting a little rehab on the DIY section. 

Jose.

After the day's work...

New tiles on the fireplace, too.

The workmanship was outstanding. There are now two focal points for the house...kitchen and family room fireplace. Val and Tim are happy with it and feel confident they will not themselves attempt another tile project again.

Also, on the nix list...wallpaper. The saga continues. The bedroom wallpaper trim is nearly all gone; very stubborn stuff. The master bath I was aghast to see was papered. I didn't actually know that. It is about half gone today.

I'm concentrating on cleaning and short spells of wallpaper removal. I need more salsa music, I think.

Superstition

We are all passing underneath Tim's ladder as we traverse the stairs. He doesn't believe in the superstition that bad luck follows walking under ladders. I know that his view is the correct one. Just saying...

Wall paper removal continues its benighted presence; and, it is just a wallpaper crown molding in one upstairs bedroom! In the end Tim had to get a steamer. Today I'll walk under the ladder and see what progress he and Val made while I was cleaning out the powder and laundry rooms, washing banisters, wall smudges, vacuuming.

Val is improving a bit each day, though her digestive tract continues some of its dysfunction; that and her disk repairs have left her muscles very weak.

I'm reminded that Wendy has a fair amount of wallpaper in the PA house to remove, too. And, the sheds need a coat of paint; porch deck/stairs need sealant.

I study the weather maps now wondering which way will be best to get to the east side of the Rockies. It is nearing the time when my return to PA will begin. Roughly ten days, or so, God willin' and the crick don't rise.

It was a great surprise, recently, to make contact with one of our buddies from the horse competition days in Tucson thanks to social media. We were horse-show mothers. If my eastward route and the weather allows I want to include seeing her and husband on my way through Colorado. I'll love the fun of catching up on their lives, and finding out what has taken their daughter to Beijing. I hope my journey will allow for some other stops, too, where family live along the way. So much more fun than dodging wintery winds and blizzard conditions on the westward trip.

Work, Work, Work

Prep efforts rule our days now. Tim is taking time off this week for more painting before he has to fulfill an employment obligation out of state. Val's health improves a bit more, and PT is scheduled.

I have the kitchen cabinets all shiny and bright again. Wendy's Restor-A-Finish discovery last year continues to tame household woodwork problems. What a product!

Wallpaper border removal in what was the boys' room reminds me that I hate wall-to-wall carpets, too. The Lowe's lady told Tim to be glad that the entire bedroom walls aren't covered.  I'm not listing all the things to do since they'd take up enormous space and make me crawl under the bed and hide. I can only chew off one little bite at a time.

Elijah was here overnight Friday after he and Tim went to see the Jazz win their game.

Saturday morning Elijah put on his new Jazz shirt and came outside with me for a little while to weed the flower garden in front. He amazes me with how well he learns, and works with a happy will.

He gave me a dandelion to put in my hair...

One of the tulips was blooming Saturday morning...

Elijah is missing Nandy...

Dimetrios and Sonja came by to pick up Elijah...

And I gave her six of Dimetrios' fringed hospital blankets I laundered. Children are given one when they are admitted to the hospital.

So soft.

Elijah Day, Antelope Island, Farr West Park

And clouds, and sunshine, and birds, and rocks, and the Great Salt Lake. It was a treat of a day with Elijah. We forgot about everything else and took in our surroundings. The argument that Winter and Spring continue to have afforded us plenty of visual drama. So did the Bison.

There are more pictures than I intended, but then, hey, how many days do Elijah and I get to do something together. It was interesting to hear Elijah pick out views to capture. He has a definite visual bent. He loved the reflections and clouds and everything else as much as I did.

From causeway to Antelope Island

Elijah: Look at the reflections!

Elijah conquers rocks....

And walls

Yellow Headed Blackbirds.

We weren't able to ID all the birds we saw, but we knew a bison when we saw one...

We knew when to get in the car.

Heading back to SLC.

There was a snowburst as we approached home area.

Other burst almost gone.

Farr West Park.

1-2-3 jump!

1-2-3 not jump.

 Some days you can see forever...

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