Keeping in touch

Well, had a good time at Jennifer/Brian's house..........got to eat some amazing steak because I hung around long enough to bug Brian. Jennifer gave me her list of jobs. I called Melanie and read them to her and she reminded me that I thought her list was impossible too. I am hoping Brian will choose what he & she want to do first after or before pressure washing the deck and porch. If there is any construction I will just be "the flunky". I told Brian what would be his birthday gift and I am just waiting for word from Wal-Mart to pick it up. Melanie and Greyson ordered me some type of "gardening" shoes and I forgot to says thanks because I was concerned about size since I am now an official size 15............thanks guys; they will be here soon. I took back two large dead rhodies that I had bought with a gift certificate from Grandma Faraway. I replaced them with 3 small rhodies and two different honeysuckle varieties. I planted both sides of the driveway with ............annuals (sitting here an can't remember what they are called). I finally got the sprinkler system to work, mowed our lawn with the Honda at its highest setting and refertilized. The postman showed me that Sweet Home is going to raise their water/sewer rates again..........like once a year. Last year's August water bill was over $1000. I am thinking I need 10 yards of compost and 10 yards of bark dust to keep the ground from losing the water so much. I cleaned the deck last night and stained today; but it got so hot that I am not sure the stain will hold. The painting pad and holder had no spring and the pad kept falling off. I finished half of the deck on my knees using the pad in my hands. Because of all the crappy equipment I finished two full hours later than I expected and the wood was unbelieveably hot and I could not even rest on my knees; what a monumental fiasco. I will go to town this afternoon for new pad and holder and try to get another coat on tomorrow since today's effort was an abortion. Love, Larry, Dad, Grandpa