How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I had this last week off from work, I took my vacation leave.  It was by no means a vacation by the standard definition.  However, I did have a productive week:

• Monday = cleaned out closets and dresser, bagged and ready for donation pickup.  Also made future doctor appointments for those annual checkups we all love (especially those of us who need an endoscopy, ugh).

• Tuesday = oral surgeon, two teeth needed to be pulled (failed root canals).  Didn't want both teeth pulled at the same time, got one pulled now, the other will be later.

• Wednesday = car dealership, regular maintenance and checkup on the eight year old car.  If I want to keep my life without car payments, I have to keep up with the maintenance.  Transmission fluid changed (oil change done a couple weeks ago), and tires rotated, everything else is fine (knock on wood).

• Thursday = Happy 4th!  Hubby and I went to brunch with MIL.  So much easier than a BBQ.  No heat to deal with, no dirty dishes, no trying to make everyone happy with the right food choices, well worth every penny.  We went to a local chain restaurant with a fantastic salad bar (always my order), Ruby Tuesday.  Once home, drank some wine and watched Capitol fireworks on TV when it became dark.

• Friday = washed kitchen floor, vacuumed & dusted, washed all laundry, including bedding, towels and rugs.  I also went to the UPS Store and JC Penney to return clothes that I had mail ordered which didn't fit.  Now I just wait for the refunds to come rolling in.

• Saturday = I took a four hour nap!  I haven't taken a nap in probably 40 years.  It was wonderful, I must remember to do that again sometime.  Not much accomplished today, but I'm well rested!

• Sunday (today) = manicure/pedicure time!

I'm attending another high school reunion next weekend for the class ahead of mine, all classes are invited = nails done!

You'll recall we had a new roof put on our house the first week of June.  If you don't recall, click *here*.  We loved the sun tunnel so much, we called the contractor and had another one installed in our kitchen.  Hubby says "that's it, don't ask for anymore sun tunnels".   The sun tunnel brightens up a dark area so well (as long as the sun is shining anyway).  Now you know where our vacation money goes - sun tunnels and new roof.

With all the rain we've been having, the garden is coming along just lovely.  I hope everything comes to fruition!

The chicken wire is to keep the deer out of the garden.

Most of all, I've had a week without an alarm clock, well almost.  The oral surgeon required an x-ray and referral from my regular dentist.  When I called my regular dentist to tell them I would swing by on Tuesday morning to pick these up before my 11:30am oral surgeon appointment, the dentist's receptionist insisted I come in at 8:30am for the updated x-ray, ugh.  I set the alarm for 6am for a shower and my coffee & news before heading out.  On Wednesday, I had to drop my car at the dealership at 7am (alarm went off at 5:30am).

Speaking of deer, here's a blurry shot (sorry, I have to be fast because deer are fast), of our latest visitor.  A baby deer that still has spots.

I feel like I just finished the first day of school and told the class "how I spent my summer vacation".  I could use more time off, but grateful for the job I have and able to return to work tomorrow with quite a bit accomplished!

Hope you are enjoying your summer.  Stay cool!

Summertime!

My second favorite time of year has arrived (Christmas being my first).  Friday was the first day of summer also known as the Summer Solstice.  Either way, glad its here.  Had my first summer mani-pedi, of course, I HAD TO go bright for summer!

The Soaking

Finished Manicure

Finished Pedicure

I'm a happy girl, everyone notices and remarks positively.  I pass the kudos to my manicurist, well deserved.

With all the rain we've been having the garden has run-a-muck.  Amazing how fast it grows.  We've already got our first two tomatoes.  Planting was right around Memorial Day.

Everything in the garden is growing so quickly.  Here's the blueberry plant.

The lettuce and carrots are coming up fast as well.

These are two different views of the corn.  I couldn't be more thrilled!

 

On the left is the honeydew melon and on the right is the strawberry plant.  I really hope these bear fruit, yummy!

On my way to my mani-pedi appointment, I'm sitting behind a red corvette.  For those of you who don't know, my real name is Nancy, shortened sometimes to Nan.  See the license plate (Nans Jet)?  How cool, lol.

 

 Since it doesn't seem to rain during the week, I've continued my daily walks at work.  The other day there were a flock of geese at the pond.  It is unusual to see geese at the pond.  We found out by talking to a man who takes his two dogs for a "run" around the (man made) pond to run off any geese to keep them from nesting at the pond.  The local office management folks have asked him to do this.  I had to crop this shot to see them, they were on the other side of the pond.

 

 

 

The flowers around our office complex have been replaced - again.  I wonder what they spend on landscaping annually?  I love purple and yellow!

 

 

 This is what I thought was just some long pretty grass.  However, as we progress into summer, it has grown beautiful white tops and stands about 15 inches high.

 

 

I love summertime, and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it!  Summertime (like Christmas) doesn't last long enough for me.  Happy Summer!







Zoom, Another One Gone

Where do the weekends go?  It was just Friday night!!  I can't believe how fast the weekends zoom by.  I have scheduled my vacation for the week of 4th of July.  We're not going anywhere - we have a new roof.  The vacation fund has been depleted for awhile.  That's okay, I've got plenty to keep me busy around the house.  I'm looking forward to the time off and getting a few projects done.  Until then, I just ride through the weekends as they zoom by.

The garden is coming along nicely.  Two of the three Starburst Lillies have popped as well.  The third one looks like it will pop any day now.

 Still walking with the group at work, weather permitting.  Unfortunately, we were unable to walk outdoors last Thursday afternoon (we got the morning walk in) and Friday.  Me and another coworker, Susan, did a few laps around the office.  We walked fast to get our cardio going.  The two younger girls, Sarinya and Allison, were taking the stairs UP TO THE 5th Floor after walking.  I used to do that when I was in my thirties - I miss my thirties.  I'm trying to age gracefully, can't you tell.  I had to sneak this shot of the group while we were walking.  Most don't like their pictures taken.

 



 On this day, we took a different route, mostly through the office complex parking lots.  I'm not a fan of the blacktop in the heat.  Thankfully, we were in the low 80s.  I don't think we'll be doing this route much when we're back in the 90s again.

One thing I can say, they sure do take care of the grounds around the office complex.  This is a shot of one of the plantings just outside a parking garage.  I love the colors.

 

 Monday is back tomorrow.  It will be an interesting week.  Our group occupies the 5th and 6th floor (the 6th floor being the top floor) of an office building.  Somewhere, money was found to upgrade and remodel our office space.  The folks who occupied the 6th floor, moved in with us on the 5th floor and we've been cohabitating since April 1st on the 5th floor while the 6th floor gets its facelift.

 

This week, the 6th floor has been completed.  We are all moving to the 6th floor when the 5th floor remodel begins on June 17th.  We'll once again be cohabitating on the 6th floor in the newer environment.  Sometime in August, the 5th floor remodel is expected to be complete.  At that time, those of us who normally "live" on the 5th floor return there with our belongings, computer and printer.  If nothing else, work is always changing to keep it interesting.  The IT (Information Technology - the Computer Geeks) department was suppose to work this past weekend moving all our computers to the 6th floor.

 

It will be interesting tomorrow to see whose computer will work and whose won't.  If Murphy's Law prevails with me, I'll be in the won't work group.  Wish me luck!

Let The Sunshine In

For a short week, it seemed like a long one.  I guess most holiday weeks are like that.  Friday took an eternity to arrive.  Last posting, I gave you the sneak peak of news at our abode. Here's a reminder.

Yes, Wednesday, the roofers arrived at 7am to install a new roof.  The high temperature expected 90-95 degrees.  At 7am, I'm on my second cup of coffee and putting my face (makeup) on.  I hear the scurrying on the roof, sounds like animals running around in the attic.  I leave the house by the back sliding glass door at 7:30.  It was the only exit I could find out of the house.  I left John and the roofers to their respect jobs.  John took these pictures.

 

The old shingles were removed.  Old/rotted plywood was replaced.

In lieu of a skylight, we opted for the less expensive "tunnel" skylight.  It is circular and much smaller than a skylight, yet serves the same purpose.  Here is the tunnel in the box, awaiting installation.  It was stored by the contractor in our front bushes prior to install.

We are more than thrilled with the difference it made in our foyer.  Those of you familiar with the Levitt ranch style home, you know how dark the foyer is.  Not at our house anymore.  Let the sunshine in!

It lights up the foyer better than the electric light to the left of the sun tunnel.  Thank you Mother Nature for the sunshine that now pours in my foyer!  Had we known how wonderful this invention is, we would have had another installed in the kitchen over the sink.  John is going to ask the contractor how much it costs as well as any anticipated issues (leaking) there may be to have another installed now the roof has been completed.  No harm in asking.  The end result, perfection, at least in our opinion.  We're happy with the new roof and beautiful sun tunnel. 

Before

After

(notice the sun tunnel on the roof, just above the door)



What a difference!

Projects Done

Happy Memorial Day!  Thank you all who have served in the military or who are now serving, and we never forget those who gave their lives, the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

It has been a fun filled weekend of projects around my house.  So, I had to find my Happy Place first.  On Thursday, I went for a manicure and pedicure, it is so relaxing!

I asked for a design on each ring finger.  The male(!) manicurist I go to free-hands the design, he has incredible talent.

After leaving my Happy Place, it was time to discuss and tackle the weekend projects.  I've asked John to install those pull out drawers in the lower cabinets in the kitchen.  Since my knee surgery, it has become more difficult for me to kneel down and try and pull out pots and pans.  The opposite lower cabinet I have chips, lunch snacks, odds and ends stored.  The product is Rev-A-Shelf.  John did a great job, it took him about ninety minutes on Saturday afternoon.

The Before 

The During

 

The Finish Line

 

Everything fits perfectly.  Honestly, I really have more space.  So much easier just to pull the drawer out than get down on my knees and dig for what I want by pulling half of the stuff out and putting everything back when I find it.  Check, project done.

 

Next project is the garden.  We've been waiting for Mother Nature to cooperate to plant our garden.  It has been cold most of May.  We're late, but better than never as they say.  Saturday and Sunday were sunny and cool with temps in the low 60s and very windy - winds about 25-30mph.  Finally, today was promised to be the best day of the weekend.  Off we went to get tomato plants and whatever else we discovered.  Here's what we ended up with.

 

Three tomato plants, corn, cucumber and melon



Blackberry and Strawberry plants

Now, for the planting, we had to re-till the garden as all the helicopter seedlings from the trees had fallen since last tilling in April (planting time had Mother Nature cooperated).

John is smoothing out the dirt from the seeds planted in the front empty area.

 

Taadaa!!  The finished product, all the tomato plants, the corn, cucumber and melon plants!

 

Due to lack of garden space, the blueberry plant went in the planter.

The strawberry plant was placed at the end of the garden.

The birds are use to having their restaurant behind my house open in April.  They've been wondering if we shut it down.  No fear, it is now open!

Look, here's the first customer!

I've had to pinky swear I will water these EVERY DAY (that it isn't raining)!

Check, all projects done.  With all projects completed, it was time to break out the grill on this Memorial Day 2013.  Unfortunately, good 'ol Mother Nature had other plans.  It began to sprinkle, there was rain on the radar.  No grilling out today.  Food will keep a few days, maybe later this week.  Hope your Memorial Day weekend was enjoyable!

Coming this week...a new roof, here's a sneak peek!