A week of work!



grandpa helping Ruby and Leo




that's our names



Leo and Ruby did a great job with their names.  Grandpa used his jig saw for only the second time in the last 5 years to make the letters and they did the painting. 
Much has been happening lately. 

• Terry's sister and her husband, Jen and Bill were here Monday evening.  We drove to Terry's brother Cabot's house for dinner Monday evening and then Jen and Bill came here to stay over night.  There will be a gathering for Cabot's late wife Carol, July 6th so we will see them again and have them for two nights. 
• Cynthia and Mike put their house on the market yesterday.  We are hoping it will sell for the asking price as they need more space for their growing family.
• John's Mary is due in 2 weeks.  It would be nice if this little girl could arrive early!  According to 4 year old Audrey we will have another Audrey so it may be Audrey and Audrey Junior!!! 
• It looks very possible that Travis may start a part time job next week.  Great news.
• Terry and I are looking forward to a weekend of camping with Aaron and Amy in two weeks.  That will be fun.
• We have made reservations for 4 nights of camping in Glacier National Park in mid August.  On the way there we will spend two nights with my growing up friend Larry F whom I have not seen in 30+ years.  He lives and works in Havre MT.  That will be part of a 5-6 week camping trip out west and back here in time to go to the wedding in Chicago and then on to South Bend and then on to Michigan, Canada and back into MN along the north shore.
• Terry and I have been focusing on the large bedroom upstairs.  I am guessing the walls and ceiling have enjoyed the same wall paper for the last 45+ years.  SO the last three days have been spent tearing wall paper off and washing glue off of the walls.  NOW it is "crack" time!  I am guessing we have 15+ hours of digging, filling and sanding cracks.  After that there is still a long way to go with painting walls, doing all the woodwork, deciding how the closet should be etc.  For the time being we are in the west bedroom and will be there for some time I think.

We have been enjoying MN summer weather this week.  Looks like the humidity is down today and the temp as well so the wood shop may not be a sweat tank for a few days. 
So far this summer no tennis, no biking and not any walks.  Guess we need to change our ways.
I just poured myself a fresh cup of FP from pot #2 so I have energy for a bit more.
I found a micro-brewery near our place.  It is just off West 7th and is called Flat Earth Brewery.  It means I was able to add one more growler to my shelf in the garage.
No, it is near 8 AM and the rest of the FP needs to head out to the wood shop.

Can't take a nap now!!!!

bath with the jets on



I'll think about that




I actually think I am looking my age :( but the kids are cute!




jets are on again




Ruby is FULL of love

I am sure I can share the following as Grandpa Larkin (Amy's Dad) shared it.  Grandma and Grandpa Larkin took the kids to the Bald Eagle Center in southern MN.  By the way it was wonderful.  On the way home Grandpa Larkin took a nap.  When they arrive back Grandpa woke up and Leo said to him, "Grandpa, you are nocturnal!"  When Grandpa asked why Leo said, "you sleep during the day"!!!   Yes, Leo just turned 6 in April.
We almost had a crisis last night.  Ruby and Leo were in bed by 7:45 (pictures of days of long ago) but they were not ready to sleep.  Ten minutes later Leo was sitting on the bottom step of the stairs and he would not move.  He insisted that Mommy let him stay up until 9:30.  His next statement was he goes to sleep when Mommy goes to sleep.  After a bear hug ride up stairs and a LONG talk things were worked out.  Grandpa shared that we would be doing a special project tomorrow and that idea seemed to help.  I have seen Leo have a melt down and know that Mommy and Daddy can handle "kid" crisis very well but I am beyond that age so delicate negotiations were in order!!  I must say with that the kids are so so good. 
I came down stairs at 6:45 this morning only to find Grandma Terry and Leo up!   What was the first thing Leo said?  Grandpa lets do that special project NOW!!!
We weathered a storm last night with electrical power alive.  We received 1.3" of rain and there are tree branches all over the yard from a cottom wood tree two houses over.  Our garden looks kind of sick but I think it will be fine.  Terry said there was hail so I had better check the cars and the house.
No more FP so the computer goes off and the Leo and Ruby day is in full swing.

About 275 hours worth!

Memories-old gas cans, tonka truck-growlers from near and far-things from the kids and more



view of painted panels including hub caps from Grandma Lee's car




the covered tablesaw, the pillar of the shop




band saw-jig saw-and new cabinet which houses ALL the small tools




some past projects mounted on cedar behind plexaglass on the wall




I often wonder what Jesus made




clock from family, Ford emblem from Grandma Lee's car and a toe of the Jayhawk hay stacker




all the electrical tucked safely away



an open ceiling gives character to the shop-new 8 foot lights hang high



most wood is on the rack--notice the clean windows Travis worked on

So after countless hours, literally blood, sweat and headaches the clean up and redo is finished.  MUCH remains to be done in terms of order, putting away etc. but from now on I will put hours into projects and work on order on a daily bases.  I am so thankful to Terry, who was so much help and such an encourager and Travis who put in many hours and gave so many great ideas.  I also got much help from friend John and Joe who gave ideas on the elecrical. I am also thankful for the ability to put time and a small amount of money into the redo.  I remember my dreams in about 1981 or so.  I wanted a wood shop which was nice and orderly but family was growing and active and I made the decision to shut it down for the years ahead.  Then word came in 2003 that our first grand child was on the way and I offered to make a crib knowing I would need a nice saw if John and Mary said yes.  At that point the dream started to take shape and now it is a reality ten years later.  Some highlights:

• I actually finished something in a good way--I know I have many many downfalls :(
• I finished the electrical by reading and following a Home Depot book
• Working with Travis has been great
• Being encouraged by Terry has been a life saver
• Putting my ideas into reality and then seeing the results has been super.  Even son-in-law Mike said he liked the colors.  I know Mike has an eye for color and I do not.  Either he was being nice or I actually did a good job.  I prefer to believe both!

 The best is yet to come.  I can now embark on projects in the confines of a clean, orderly, pleasant wood shop--can't get any better than that.  I may need to christen it with a Surly Beer and cigar but then maybe I need to consult Terry about the cigar thing!!  I did have my first cigar in a long time, one that I took from sister Helen's place in February.  It was one of Mike's and I used the excuse that Mike would not have wanted it to dry out and go to waste. 
Well the FP is finished, my wood shop is waiting and I need to get to work.  As I say that I am not sure if the wood shop is 100% good but then again how can one use the word "work" when it comes to wood?

A must look and listen

Below is a 3+ minute video made by Trinity School in South Bend IN.  Son John is Head of School and of course I am so so proud of his work.  I must not say that without saying that his wife Mary is so supportive and for sure John could never be nearly so successful as he is without her love, her support and her encouragement.  Those of us who are married know this is true in all marriages that are working well!!!  Whoever you are I encourage you to turn up the sound on your computer, click on the play button and sit back to enjoy a wonderful 3+ minutes of Trinity at Greenlawn in South Bend IN.  As you watch it remember that all the players in the video are students at Trinity. 

What's in Store (Trinity School at Greenlawn)

THE GOOD-THE BAD-THE SAD-THE UGLY

I am sitting in the upstairs sun room which has seen very very very little sun in the last month.  I am not complaining as the rain has lifted MN out of a very dry spell and for sure the sound and the smell of rain is calming and relaxing.  Looking out the window the rain is gently dripping off the roof with the sound that could rival the ocean waves.  I have a full pot of FP and life seems good on the outside.  Then I look inside and realize that life is short, life is fragile and one needs to hold on as if it were a million dollar vase.  I am reminded that a good friend Don is losing his energy and is looking at the end of his life unless God intervenes, Terry's sister-in-law died last Wednesday, a good friend Jerry has been battling health and accident injuries for the last 2+ years, sometimes relationships are way out of order, many people are battling health and finance issues and the list is actually much much longer.  I am at peace.  I happen to be 66 years old now.  Life has come and gone.  Brother Ronald died at a young age, sister Janet died at a young age, nephew Scotty died very young, Mom and Dad lived a long life but died some time ago, our childhood farm burned to ashes, Gail died too young and that list could go on too.  Now life seems good.  There are memories to hold on to, children and grand children to love, Terry, my wife, is wonderful and I feel good.  God is in the good, he is in the bad and he is in the ugly.  Sometimes a person has to live on faith to see God in things but looking long enough or deep enough always reveals God is there.  He is love, He is friend, He is protector--He is all.
Terry and I seem to be continuing our legecy.  Relax and play in FL and work and get things done in MN!!!  Travis and I have now put in about 250 total hours in the garage. We have also gotten help from John K and Joe C. We have

• taken down the insulation in the ceiling
• taken down the ceiling
• taken down the walls
• hauled out 3 pickup loads of junk
• replaced part of the floor with new cement
• put up 17 sheets of drywall/wood
• trimmed, primed and painted the walls
• gone through tools and sorted and weeded out unneeded ones
• are in the middle of painting the cabinets
• have purchased one new tool cabinet
• put up a memory wall in the shop
• have cleaned up the electrical things
• installed new lighting
• and there must be more!!!

I will soon put some pictures on to showcase the paint job and new things.  I will be having men's group next Wednesday here on Niles Ave and we will meet in the wood shop.  I am hoping to start on some wood projects sometime next week.  At that time Travis will start doing some work in the house. 
Life continues to move fast and we seem to not move fast enough sometimes!  We have done little yard work this spring/summer.  We need to do garden work and flowers before the snow flies again.  With all the rain we have had the lawn greens to the point that the front yard looks OK but as the dry months come it will again tell us and the entire neighborhood that Carmen and Terry need to redo the front yard.  You see now many people can not see as they drive by that the green is not much grass!
Terry has been battling a cold ever since we returned.  Finally we got her to the Dr. yesterday and are hoping the meds will solve the cough.  Prayers are always welcome.
I am enjoying a day rest from the week routine.  Travis and I are usually up by 6:15 and take the next 90 minutes to drink FP coffee, eat breakfast and talk.  It is then out to the shop to work.  A day off is welcome even though I do really enjoy our mornings.  It is a change of pace and of course we all know that when one retires there are no more days off, snow days or breaks!!  By the way next week will mark the 6th anniversary of my retirement. Much much has happened since the day I walked out of Highland Park.  For one thing I have not returned since.  Not that I did not like the school, I did, but I have this thing about turning the page when one must and then not going back to look at what was on that page.  In those last six years I certainly have seen the good, the bad, the sad and the ugly and I have to admit that at times it has been difficult to see God in all but for sure He has been there. 
No more FP and no more thoughts!