Another day, another Dr. appt and more work to be done!

Day 72, "Every picture has a story"

First day of school in 1976--Aaron was too young to go to school

First day of school in 2018
Ben, Agatha, Jude and Faustina in the back

 The first thing  a person notices in these picture is EVERYBODY has a big smile.  That what the first day of school does to children.  One can only hope that smile stays the entire year and on the last day it is still on everyone's face!  John and Travis went to St. Joseph's Elementary in Devils Lake.  The Adkins go to St. Agnes in St. Paul.  John came home on one of the first days of school and asked his mom why she wore pants because his young teacher, who was pretty, always wore a dress!  I think that Agatha is the happiest of the Adkins.  One thing is for sure, mom and dad do not have to worry about dresses that are too short!!!  During John's first year of school our neighbors said they enjoyed drinking coffee in the morning and seeing this clump of red hair race down the alley.  John would ride the little red bike to school.  Oh my how times have changed but I guess 43 years can bring change, right?  As I think back I had 59 first days of school with elementary, high school, college, grad school and then teaching and I promise that I was NOT smiling ALL the time.  The student I was I think I was ALWAYS smiling the last day for sure!

Yes there was a bit of progress on the stairway yesterday.  Terry did a terrific job of filling the nail holes in the clear maple treads while I made a template for that interesting top tread which is 38 3/4(-) in length and 4 1/2" in depth with the back 2 13/16 only 5/16" thick while the rest, of course, is 1".  The template slid in under the door trim with ease and it looks good.  Now to cut the REAL deal with the same demenions and I will be good to go with my new battery finish nailer I need only to put glue down and pull, pull, pull and pull and it will be a done deal.  Now if that bottom tread comes soon the steps will be in!!!  I have not chalked along the edges so that is a BIG deal to come as chalking skills are still a work in progress.

I talked to Pete, the floor guy yesterday.  He most likely will come on Monday, September 10th to do the front entry, back entry and living room/dining room floors.  That means we need to empty the room of couches, china cabinets, tables etc.  It all needs to be put in the den as we do NOT want to carry any furniture downstairs.  That will be a BIG job in itself.  BUT before that the livingroom/dining room needs to be painted.  I can hardly wait for the days ahead!

Terry has some dental work to be done today so we will leave the house about 7:30.  We will take the pickup as I have about 50/60 old boards to get rid of at Twin City Refuse.  I hate to throw wood but I just can not keep ALL of the old old stuff.  Much of it has nails in and I just do not have any use for it or any place to store it either.  I probably should have a rule that anytime a board comes in another has to go but really that will never happen.  

Storms were supposed to come in yesterday but all we got was a spit of rain.  Probably not enough to even wet the sidewalk totally.  That means I need to water before we leave today.  The new grass and the cucumbers and tomatoes need water.  Joan and Helen, the task masters of the family, would like Terry and I to bring some cucumbers and tomatoes for the salad on our sibling weekend.  If worst comes to worst we can always stop at Costco BUT home grown is better for sure.

It is time to put the last of the FP down and then water a bit before we leave in less than an hour.