Ethan TIme

It’s been a fun time visiting with Miranda, Dad, Camden and Ethan.  I haven’t done tons of things… read to Camden, played outside, held Ethan, cooked a little. Worked on the computer.  Here are some pictures:

 Camden has, on the whole, been delighted with his baby brother.  He'll walk over and say, "Hello, Baby!"

I'm sorry I was not there when Deborah had her baby.  I hope I'll be able to be of help when I go there tomorrow.

Babies! BABIES!

 We have had such wonderful spring flowers.  I wanted to take pictures before I left.  I'm sure they will be gone by the time I return.

Monday we had a cajillion things to do.  We needed to get it all done before Tuesday noon.  We started early—went and signed papers to refinance one of our rentals.   It’s a lower rate, 10 year pay off, no balloon.  All good things.  But it took longer than I thought.

I have kudos for Home Depot, too.  We had ordered some tile that was on clearance.  The clerk said some other stores still had the tile.  However, the other stores never sent the tiles. (Likely someone bought them before they could be sent.)  So they called and said, pick out another tile, and we’ll sell it to you at the clearance price.  Since Tom wants to proceed with the bath remodel, I needed to choose the tile before I left.  I found two good choices.

Tom had a laundry list of short projects to do at several rentals—from when we had the inspections last week.  So he went off to fix a tub drain, replace a stove knob, and a variety of other things.

I had a 1pm call with my prospective client.  And at 4 Bruce Cox came to see what it would take to replace the tub downstairs.  I figured if we were doing all the work… we didn’t need to keep the blue tub.

Tuesday I had an 8am meeting with the attorney and his staff about the home page on his website and the other pages he wants to have written.  It brought to mind, afresh, that there’s a difference between copywriting and other kinds of writing—educational, informative, etc.  With every kind of writing, there are rules that make it successful.  When the novice decides to change things… usually the purpose of the writing is not fulfilled in the best way possible. The goal now is to have the different staff members contribute to their pages and have me work it so it sounds like the same voice.

The weather men had forecast rain for Monday through Friday.  It held off all day Monday… and Tuesday morning as we wrapped Miranda’s food storage boxes and mattress and box springs.  We loaded them into the pickup and headed west.  We ran into rain starting in Yelleville and it didn’t stop all the way to Tulsa. And it continued raining most of the week. (When Tom got home on Saturday, we had nearly 5 inches in the rain gage.)  This was what it looked like driving into Broken Arrow.

Wednesday we went to ½ of ½ for clothing bargains and then to Home Depot, so Tom could see what I picked out.  They only had one of the two choices.  Fortunately it was the one I liked best.

Deborah called.  She’s seen the Dr. Tuesday and was 4cm dilated.  It seemed the baby wasn’t even going to wait until Monday’s scheduled induction… much less April 3^rd’s due date.  Deborah just wanted the baby to wait until after Ian’s test on Thursday morning.

Thursday at 5:30am Miranda, Dan and I left for the hospital.  Tom stayed behind to dress and feed Camden when he awoke. All went well, and Miranda had a healthy baby boy at 7:30ish.  7 lbs, 9 oz.  20 ½ inches long.  It took a day or so to choose the name: Ethan Walker McClellan. (Walker was Dan’s mom’s maiden name.)  He looks like an Ethan.  Cute, eyes open-- observing the world, a quiet, happy baby (for the moment) and with lots of dark brown hair. 

Tom dropped off Camden at the sitters, and arrived at the hospital before Miranda was out of surgery.  We hung out for a while, then went home to get Camden, feed him, and put him down for a nap.  Through the rest of the time, we took turns taking care of Camden and being there for Miranda.

We checked on Deborah Thursday morning.  At noon her time, she called that she was headed to the hospital.  We connected again as they decided to keep her and again later in the afternoon.  At 6:43 that evening, Christopher Thomas Reck was born.  He was 8lbs, 9 oz and 20 inches long.  He had a large noggin which made delivery a little slower.  Deborah commented that it was a good thing he didn’t wait until term to come!

So Deborah and I are both sorry that I didn’t get there in time for the delivery.  We are glad it went well, and we’ll spend time together shortly.  However, I feel very blessed that both daughters and grandsons are doing well.  And that their families love them.  Deborah said that all her children wanted to hold Christopher.  Even little Samantha was delighted with her new baby brother.

Camden seemed very adaptable.  He said, “Mommy-- hospital.  Baby-- hospital.”  And at the hospital he pointed to Ethan and said, “Baby. Brother.” Tom got him out of the crib the first two mornings.  When I went in on subsequent mornings, I was greeted with, “Papa?”  Clearly, I was relegated to 2^nd place.

Tom left Saturday morning.  He returned to Mountain Home in time to set up for the Young Women’s broadcast and went and watched it that night. Deborah came home from the hospital on Saturday with little Christopher.

Today I took Camden to church. It went pretty well.  I think I am not that good at multitasking—as my attention was divided between the speakers and Camden.  Actually, as I recall, I never was that good at listening and minding children.  It was such a delight when they were quiet… if not attentive… in church.

Miranda came home this afternoon.  She’s pretty tired and sore.  She thought about calling and commiserating with Deborah… but decided to fall asleep instead. Hmm. Sounds like a good idea.

A Feast for the Soul

I love this time of year!  Above is a Branson sunrise.  The week began with "spring snow"-- a dusting of Bradford pear blossom pedals drifting across the roads and parking lots. The Red Bud popped into full bloom.  Golden tassels now dust the branches of the oak trees and there's a hint of green as the leaves being to unfurl. As you look across the hillsides the trees blush with new green.

Our daffodils are mostly gone.  But they've been replaced with bursts of grape hyacinth and the bright red of tulips. Phlox carpets the ground in pale lavender to vivid fuchsia.  The bushed bespangle in red, white and yellow.  The yellow is forsythia, but I don't know what the white and red bushes are.

Each time I drive down the road, I just drink in the green of new grass spread across the hills.  I love the display of colors and the breath of new life.  It just makes me glad to be alive.

This week, I finally gave up and called someone about my website.  Turns out it's not easy to  use WordPress and get photos in a gallery with an affiliate link... Well, that's what he said.  But then, he had a different program he used...which he would have been glad to assist me with.  In all honesty, he was very nice and helpful.  And i finally decided that for now, I'd just put the photos on the page... a little haphazard, but you can see them, and they work.  So my new goal is to 1. get the fashion personality up.  2. get more fashions up. 3. figure out the survey program and get some interaction and 4. start a Facebook page.  Since I'm leaving town on Tuesday, it will be interesting to see how much gets done these next weeks.

I did meet with the attorney (Randall) and he liked my revised web page and I will begin to write more pages for him.  I also was researching checkbook IRA's for my new investment venture.  I read an article on the web and was impressed with the author, so I emailed him.  That led to a phone call...  As we chatted about checkbook IRAs, we also talked about his new website.   "Are you happy with your copywriter?" I asked.  No, indeed he wasn't, and he was interested in working with me.  So I was very excited about that blessing. It's easy to write when you you believe in the product.

I'm on the committee for a preparedness dinner.  We met Wednesday.  I wrote up the questions for the "Disaster Game" in PowerPoint so they could be shown on a screen for everyone to read.  We wanted to make it fun, so we had questions like: The best way to communicate after a disaster is by: A. Smoke signals, B. Cell phone, C. ham radio, D. land line.   Probably the most interesting group question was how to dispose of waste products when you don't have running water.  We got some good stories of the "good old days" as several of our members had been raised in places without flush toilets.

The dinner was held on Saturday.  The men made spaghetti sauce from deer sausage and canned tomatoes.  It turned out well.  We had a taster's table with things made from food storage.  And people brought side dishes. I think we had a lot of fun. I MC'd the game.  Pam Pfeifer was in charge of it and did a great job on the food and decorations.

Thursday we went to Branson for a short getaway. There was evidence of the tornado damage in several places, but most everything was up and running. We went to Silver Dollar City for their opening day. (See Tom near the giant swing) They have some new rides... but we mostly ambled and observed.  We listened to a Travel Vacation plan.  We read, ate well, and relaxed.   We went to the Haygood show.  Nice, but loud. Haygoods are in the RFDTV theater.  The Rural Farm something-or-other TV began in 2000.  I used to watch horse training on it... So this is Dale Even's horse, Buttercup.  Now deceased, but taxidermied.

 We came back Saturday in time to gather things, make a salad, pick daffodils for decorations, and go to the dinner.  While we were at Silver Dollar City, I saw this sign and commented that I needed that on my desk.  Imagine my surprise, when I came into my office today and saw the sign sitting on my desk!  My sweet, wonderful husband bought it (I think while I was talking to Deborah on the phone) and surprised me with it.

Today church was good.  We had BYD (Bishop's Youth Discussion) at our house after church.  That always involves some rearranging of furniture for 20 kids, an activity or lesson, and refreshments.  Fortunately we FIXED the chair a young man fell through the last time.  Tom sat in the Jacob Memorial Chair to prove it was indeed fixed.

Spinning Wheels

My goal this week was to make great strides with my website. I really wanted to figure out a way to get the fashions up and liked to the stores so teens could find the choices and, if they wanted, have access to the fashions.  There's not sense in saying, "Here's a cute modest dress.... but I'm not telling you how to get it."

I'm here to tell you, I've feel like Edison.  I've found a lot of ways that don't work.  I know there has to be a way.  I'm sure others have done it.  The good side is that I've learned a lot about some programs.  The frustrating thing is that I still don't have anything that looks good and works.

When I was blocked, I did spend time writing some web pages and I went back and corrected some of the things that people alerted me to.  Thank you to all of you who read through the site and gave suggestions and corrections.

We have a gathering every 1st Monday of the month for "Empty Nesters"-- those of us with kids all grown and gone.  We have family home evening together.  It's always a fun time to visit, learn, and munch.  We had that  Monday night.

We had a tenant move out of our Midway duplex and Tom spent several days out there fixing up and sprucing up.  He stained the deck we'd put in just before we left for our mission.  We'd recently painted the house and it still looked good.  He changed out a toilet at the Westwood house... and that rented!  Hurray.  (I don't think it was just because of the toilet, though.)

They talked of rain coming in, so on Wednesday, we went and planted the garden: potatoes, onions, lettuce, beets, spinach, broccoli, and sugar snap peas.  I hope these cool season crops will have a long spring to grow. I've finally stopped worrying about the budding plants.  I assume they know more than I do.  It really feels like winter is over and spring is here.  It did rain Wednesday night, Thursday, and now Sunday.  Ahh. You can just see the plants drinking it all in.  Buds are popping out.  Everything is greening up.  It feels good to be alive.

Thursday night we had the Relief Society birthday event.  It was a lovely dinner.  I sang a song with other women.  It was a Sally Deford (www.sallydeford.com) song "Write Thy Name Upon My Heart."  It was simple and lovely.  They asked me to speak about my term as Relief Society President.  Good Grief!  Do they think I remember what I did or what was important??    I did remember Visiting Teaching was important and I wanted to include and welcome people regardless of their personal strength in the gospel.  Some people don't automatically "fit in," but the Savior invites ALL to come unto him.  And we need to welcome them, too.

All for the Want of a Horse Shoe Nail
Our downstairs bathroom has old blue tile.  It was functioning blue tile... until an unfortunate incident where the soap dish came out of the wall in the shower.  We couldn't find six blue tiles to match... so it seems like a perfectly reasonable excuse to remodel the bathroom.

Friday Tom started the demolition.  He pulled the tile off the walls surrounding the toilet and in the shower.  He found some mold behind the tile... so it's probably a good thing he wanted to do this.  Saturday we went looking for new tile.  I really wanted a new tub, too.  Blue...is so blue.  Although the other choice was to paint it, I was not confident the paint would last.  We had a plumber friend come over and he said, yes, you could take the tub out and put a new one in and hook up the drain... even though it goes into the cement floor.  Tom was SO sure it couldn't happen.  He said, "I should have paid you at the door to say it wouldn't work."   So now we need to get a plumber in to do the work.  That may delay Tom a bit.  We are debating whether to paint the existing cabinetry... or get new.  And we can't really get a new linen closet, it's built in.  Hmm.  Maybe new doors?

Excitement in the Air
The Kansas City Temple is nearing completion.  The youth in our ward are getting ready to dance and sing at the cultural celebration.  People are needed for the open house.  Bishop is responsible for lots of stuff.  Bishop is going crazy...um... good crazy... I think.

That's about it... there are a few new blogs below this one if you haven't read them.

The end of the Job... and it wasn't even our job

I promised photos of the Main Street house. I went back and searched for pictures of what it looked like before the remodel.  I'll tell you, Ray did an amazing job. He took the vision and ran with it. He had great suggestions.  And it turned out really well.  I'll try to coordinate before and after pictures, if the Blog will cooperate.

Here is the original version of the house. You don't see the peeling paint on all the windows, the mold  and dirt on the vinyl, the cracked upper windows, or all the junk on the side porch.

This is the after version. New weather head and electrical upgrade, railings on porches, new window paint, storm windows throughout, repainted side door to the workshop under the house.... Oh, and debris removed from front.

When you walk in the front door, first thing you see are the steps going upstairs.  here is the old view.  Then the new.

This is a view of the living room.  Front door is at the right edge of the picture. 

 Below is a picture of the living room and dining room standing in the small back bedroom.  We filled in the huge hole in the wall between the dining room and the bedroom, and took out the partially built wall that separated the dining room from the living room. It was filled with all this construction stuff-- most of which we actually used.

Note the wall paper cloth on the walls.  It made an awkward texture.  But Ray just textured over it with drywall and it turned out great.

Here is the same view after everything was done.  New ceiling fan... well, new ceiling, too. Lots of new paint.  Same old floor, but with a new finish.

Here's the old "kitchen."  all the drawers and pieces of cabinetry were on the porch just outside the window.  Behind the right wall was a good sized room all chopped up with framing.  A good space for washer and dryer.  Unfortunately you could almost look in the front bedroom window, through the door into the kitchen, through the door into the bathroom... and see the person on the pot.

So we put a half wall there for privacy.  Installed a tub, vanity, and tile surround.  It was hard to get a good picture of all of that.

But here is the finished kitchen.  Ray put the 18" tiles on the diagonal for the counter top. and put an oak trim piece around the edges.  Looked great.

 The upstairs was just an open space.  Here you're standing near the front window looking back.  We put a small window in the back, and a half bath to the right, with a closet between stairs and right wall, and a wardrobe closet above the steps between the upright posts.

This is the finished view.

 This is the original view standing at the back of the house upstairs.  The stairway is on the left edge.

Here is the finished view. It's really lighter than it looks.  Left is the half wall to finish the staircase.  Left where you can't see is the half bath.

 Here is the new half bath upstairs.

 This is a minor miracle.  This porch housed all the trim pieces, unused junk, old doors, as well as years of accumulation of leaves, bugs, dust and I don't know what all else.  It was useful.  Need a hanger rod for the closet... Oh.  Here's one.  Need more trim for the baseboard... Oh, this can be cut down.

The wall was brown... and green... and faded white... and some shingle siding.  The floor was peeling paint.  But it ended up looking like this!  True, the back windows are an odd assortment of frames stuck into the opening.  And some of the glass is missing.  But it looks SOOO much better than I ever imagined it would.   It's amazing the difference cleaning up and painting makes.

The project is complete.... well except for some roof patching and a little more trim work in the front.  Nevertheless, the for rent sign is in the front yard and it is ready to rent.

I learned it can be almost as rewarding to see someone else do a project and have it look great... as it is to do it yourself.  I felt I had the vision, Ray had the implementation.  This is a dangerous thing to learn.  It's fun to have other people do the work and I bask in the glory of lovely results.

I am, however, done with buying houses... for now.  No, really.  No more houses.  I mean it.

Whisperings of the Spirit

Last week I wrote that I wanted to go to McDonalds for dinner.  For some reason, I just felt like a hamburger.  Here is the rest of the story.

I think I mentioned we met a less active teen who worked there-- visited-- gave her hugs.

Sunday that teen was at church.  She said, I saw them walk in, and I just felt something.  I decided I needed to come back to church.

Sometimes the spirit influences us... and we don't even know it.

It feels like Spring has Sprung

We have continued to have warm, wonderful days.  The risk of these lovely days... is hazardous weather.  Branson was struck by a tornado... along with other towns across the nation.  Fortunately, in Branson, it seems like the damage may not be too bad-- at least that's what the tourist conscious public officials are saying.

Our flowers have rejoiced in the lovely weather.  Daffodils are blooming their little hearts out.

 Our wild plum tree is a snowball of white.

 Our grape and large hyacinth are up and perfuming the air.  And we have some delightful unknown flowers. I thought they were dead... but this winter they poked their leaves out, and now they have fluffy blue and pink flowers.

Tuesday Tom had an interview with the Stake president, so we drove up to Springfield in time for dinner.  We had a nice drive together. I wish the interviews weren't on Tuesday-- Half of Half is CLOSED that day! Otherwise we would have left MUCH earlier to enjoy the shopping.

This was the week I made my airline reservations-- We'll go to Miranda's for her baby.  Then I'll fly to Deborah's and be there over General Conference weekend and return on the 10th.  I also bought tickets to fly to LA so that Mom and I and other siblings will go to Switzerland the first two weeks of July.  I am so looking forward to that.

The Main street house is done.  Done!  Ah, joy.  The "For Rent" sign is out.  We had an open house on Friday and about 7 people stopped by.  They were all complementary.  I, however, forgot to bring the camera.  Maybe next week you'll see the finished pictures.

I also spent major hours working on my website.  It's kind of up now.  I still need to gather more fashions and do a bunch more stuff.  If you love me, I'd appreciate your taking a look at it.  Let me know if you find things that are confusing, misspelled, awkward, etc.  Is the writing friendly and approachable?  Does the site look attractive?  Do you think teens will find it interesting?  I'd love your feedback.  www.TeenStyleU.com

Saturday we did a marathon outside event.  We weeded and tilled the garden.

We moved the chickens... who had been in the garden... to a new home around the outer garden fence.  We put up new fencing paralleling the garden fence.  The goal is that the bugs that fly around may be eaten by the chickens, and that they will dig and discourage the crabgrass from growing into the garden.  We'll see if it works.  It may be that the chickens get into the garden... and they are more destructive than pests.

While we were working on the garden, we let them out.  They wandered to the front of the house and proceeded to scratch away all the mulch around the flowers in front.  Ugh!  We scooted them back into the garden... but they became escape artists!  However, after we moved the chicken tractor and put them in the back run, they've stayed in place.

Of course, that was not enough work for a Saturday, so we also dug up a fruit tree growing too close to one of other ones and replanted it.  We bought two more peach trees and planted them, and moved a volunteer butterfly bush and planted it next to the garage.

You can't see the fruit trees all that well.  Fortunately, these are smart enough not to have blossomed out yet.

And I guess, that's about all the news for this week.