“No journey out of grief was straightforward. There would be good days and bad days.” – Jojo Moyes
Sue’s father was a charter member of Old Ranch; his membership number was in the single digits. We join before we retired so we could play golf. Well, Sue was the golfer, and I was the explorer. I explored every nook and cranny of that place, looking for my ball. Sue, on the other hand, was right down the center like clockwork. Before her back surgery, she was extremely proficient, almost a scratch golfer. The back operation made that impossible, but we had fun anyway!
Just before or just after our game, we would head for the dining room or bar at Old Ranch and grab something to eat or preferably, drink! I called it, pointing fluid! I miss spending all that “us time” on the course laughing and giggling and attempting to explain why she goes straight and I am all over the place. Sue, I love you!
Old Ranch, our happy hunting ground!
I called Colleen, and we talked for a while. She, like me, is getting rid of “stuff”. We even share “how to di it”, so it is fun.
Today I diddled, which means I did a little here and a little there, no big projects! I trimmed the blackberries which were overrunning their small garden and making it difficult to walk around the pool. Then I did some watering, making sure the corn got their two-inches of water.
Alexa lit up blue, which means she has a notification. What was the information? We are going to get a high-brilliance LED floodlight in the next three hours. So, I am going to rig up a test for tonight. I plan to place it up under the eve, tie it to the new inside switch, and see how bright it is going to be. I just want the entire yard lit up should I need to see what is happening. My security light, motion-sensitive, is OK, but it is only 1,600 lumens, about like a 100W light. The new one is like a 1000 watt light!
The floodlight, she has arrived!
Meanwhile, the Silver Lady and I celebrated her birthday by going to Ralph’s market and getting O’Douls beer. While I was there, I got Wondra (which I cannot be without), a couple of onions, blueberries, and a big bag of bing cherries.
Returning home, I fixed myself lunch, making a small steak, a spinach salad, and some fried onions that I cooked with the steak. It was pretty good, and it kept me from eating the rest of the day.
The Silver Lady is fourteen years old today, and she is just starting live!
Before Bob arrived, I dug up one of my cherry tomato plants as it got powdery mildew and, although the fruit was OK, it looks terrible. I also took out a small red-berry plant that I had high hopes for but alas, the small berries tasted horrible. I am not sure what I will put into that spot.
Bob spent a while at the stone works out near Robin’s house, and he selected the granite countertop. It looks beautiful, and he is going to make the seat in the shower match the countertop! Bob picked up the piece, and he will do all the cutting on-site, which I an anxious to see.
The counter is granite, and Bob picked out the design.
The wall tiles are going up. Every four panels weigh in at eighty pounds or twenty pounds per tile. Tomorrow, the remaining tiles will go on the wall, including the opening made for the bath supplies. The seat will be granite and will be just eighteen inches above the floor. It’s getting exciting!
The La Mirada Glass fellow called, and Bob gave him come rough measurement for both showers, so Monday the 6th, we will meet with him, place the order, and that will be the last item on the list. A week later, the glass gets installed, and we are off to the races!
The wall tiles are going on, it’s getting exciting.
I had to go into the attic at 5:00 PM; it was hot with a capital “H”. The wiring for the lights is all inside proper junction boxes and labeled accordingly. Now we wait until it is cark enough to see the light.
It’s dark outside, finally so on goes the new light. This first light I installed is over the left-hand side of the yard, so it is over the vegetable garden. The tomatoes block a lot of the light, but it sure lights up the neighbors back wall! When the garden returns to “normal”, this light will be perfect.
The floodlight does a job in the garden.
I am beginning to believe that one more centrally located floodlight will take care of the rest of the yard with ease. The equivalent of 2,000 watts will be available with the flick of a switch.
The question, one or two more?
I asked our next-door neighbors dog about the new light, just to get an honest opinion!
If you can’t stand the answer, do NOT ask the question! (Picture courtesy of Joe)
I was tired, so I decided to get cleaned up and get ready for bed. When I came inside, the kitchen night-light was on. The red lights, which use LIFX strings, make sure I do not lose my night vision should I wander into this room at night.
The strip pulls less than three watts and tools out to be six feet long.
As of tonight, the house has twenty LIFX systems, some ceiling lights, some lamp bulbs, and some other strips. I have them set for different “themes”.
The light is on a timer I set on my phone, plus I can change its color and appearance anywhere I happen to be.
I love the kitchen when I come in at night. Everything is visible, and my eyes do not readjust. However, many times I do want to say, “Up periscope!”
Conning tower lights are for a reason!
I worked on the daily diary a few minutes and then hit the sack at 10:30 PM. Good night all! I watched an episode of “Tales from the Loop,” which follows the interconnected lives of the residents in the fictional town of Mercer, Ohio. Mercer is home to the Mercer Center for Experimental Physics, an underground facility known as the Loop. It is there where researchers attempt to “make the impossible possible”.
I missed talking to Colleen and Robin because I was in the attic and working around the house. Robin will be here tomorrow for a late lunch around 3:30 PM and we are going to walk a mile.
Just us, I am on the left!
Colleen, I shall call as soon as I get up and get a cup of coffee in me. Good night all!
