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Seaside was, as expected, wet with occasional sun breaks. However, it was a nice break from tearing around like a mad woman trying to make my house perfect for company. (It will NEVER happen but I keep trying).( Pictures of the weekend )
Now I'm back to furiously cleaning and organizing the house for this weekend. I don't know how many people will come it will be between 7 and 27. My sister and her family are coming over from Boise. My second cousin is coming from Philomath, as is my cousin Camilla and her family. Her parents will be coming later. I think my uncle Mike, aunt Marilyn, and cousin Andrea will be coming if Mike is feeling ok (he had surgery not too long ago and it's been a rough recovery). My Aunt Tami and Uncle Jim have said they will try to come. But their kids and their families will mostly not be there. Tara might come with the kids but it depends on what her husband is doing. They are triple booked this weekend. Trevor and Becky both have to work but maybe their sons, DIL, and grandson will come. I haven't heard from Joel, which probably means he's not coming. I didn't invite the family in Sweden- too long a trip for a BBQ. It's hard to plan when you don't know how many to plan for but I'll marinate some chicken and freeze whatever we don't use. I've asked everyone to bring something to contribute, so the food will stretch to match the number of people, I'm sure- we've never EVER gone hungry.
I still have a long list of things I want to do but only some are essential. Yesterday, I got a large clump of elephant garlic from a coworker and needed to plant it when I got home. I tore up the plastic in the flowerbed where the compost used to be and planted them in rows- I think I have about 36 in the ground but I have a few left. They are free to a good home or I'll have to figure out how to cook them as is. I also planted seeds in starter pots and got them out in the sunshine.
My big accomplishment of the day was getting the craft room table organized and usable for scrapbooking. I can now both sew and scrapbook in that room. I'll have to take a picture for proof! Finding yarn might be a little more like digging but it's at least all in one place. I think more organizational tools will be preferable but it's workable as is. I can also now vacuum a good portion of the room so that's a good start. The vacuum won't ever reach a wall but that's just because I have so much stuff in a little tiny room. Of course, this was one of the non-essential tasks, since I'll be leaving the door closed, but I feel better for having it done. This way if someone decides to explore or wants the full tour I don't have to be too embarrassed about the state of it.
I am also happy to report that the hot tub is full and hot again. We'll hope that the spike in energy costs had more to do with the malfunctioning heater than the hot tub and give it a month's trial.
Tonight I need to clean the cat boxes, vacuum and mop, clean the kitchen counters, and hopefully, do some weeding. The weeds are starting to encroach on the porch again. I'd like to get the household laundry done- mostly the throw rugs and the shower curtain.
Mom and Dad will be coming out tomorrow night. Dad is bringing the gas mower so the lawn can get a real hair cut instead of a chop job. They are also bringing the Barbeque. Dad's going to see about finishing up cleaning the pond. Mom may help with weeding or whatever else has me in a panic by then. I still haven't decided what to do about the pond. If I can get the water circulating, I'd like to put some goldfish in it and a water lily but I'll need to invest in a screen to protect the fish and I don't know what else will be required to get it running. It really will come down to cost.
The immediate cost hog is going to be putting in the first of several raised beds in the garden plot. The plot is 10' by 24' with a triangle that extends another 4 feet but allows the gate to open. I'm planning on putting in an 8' by 4' raised bed on the far end. I hate losing real estate but it's pretty hard for me to crawl about on the ground to garden and there is a LOT of rock in the plot. In reality I could probably extend the garden if I was using raised beds because I wouldn't be limited to the ungraveled portion of the side lot. There are a lot of possibilities but if I wait until I have it all figured out, I won't get anything done. Better to do a little at a time than nothing at all.
Well, I think I've rattled on long enough. I hope all of you are well!
Now I'm back to furiously cleaning and organizing the house for this weekend. I don't know how many people will come it will be between 7 and 27. My sister and her family are coming over from Boise. My second cousin is coming from Philomath, as is my cousin Camilla and her family. Her parents will be coming later. I think my uncle Mike, aunt Marilyn, and cousin Andrea will be coming if Mike is feeling ok (he had surgery not too long ago and it's been a rough recovery). My Aunt Tami and Uncle Jim have said they will try to come. But their kids and their families will mostly not be there. Tara might come with the kids but it depends on what her husband is doing. They are triple booked this weekend. Trevor and Becky both have to work but maybe their sons, DIL, and grandson will come. I haven't heard from Joel, which probably means he's not coming. I didn't invite the family in Sweden- too long a trip for a BBQ. It's hard to plan when you don't know how many to plan for but I'll marinate some chicken and freeze whatever we don't use. I've asked everyone to bring something to contribute, so the food will stretch to match the number of people, I'm sure- we've never EVER gone hungry.
I still have a long list of things I want to do but only some are essential. Yesterday, I got a large clump of elephant garlic from a coworker and needed to plant it when I got home. I tore up the plastic in the flowerbed where the compost used to be and planted them in rows- I think I have about 36 in the ground but I have a few left. They are free to a good home or I'll have to figure out how to cook them as is. I also planted seeds in starter pots and got them out in the sunshine.
My big accomplishment of the day was getting the craft room table organized and usable for scrapbooking. I can now both sew and scrapbook in that room. I'll have to take a picture for proof! Finding yarn might be a little more like digging but it's at least all in one place. I think more organizational tools will be preferable but it's workable as is. I can also now vacuum a good portion of the room so that's a good start. The vacuum won't ever reach a wall but that's just because I have so much stuff in a little tiny room. Of course, this was one of the non-essential tasks, since I'll be leaving the door closed, but I feel better for having it done. This way if someone decides to explore or wants the full tour I don't have to be too embarrassed about the state of it.
I am also happy to report that the hot tub is full and hot again. We'll hope that the spike in energy costs had more to do with the malfunctioning heater than the hot tub and give it a month's trial.
Tonight I need to clean the cat boxes, vacuum and mop, clean the kitchen counters, and hopefully, do some weeding. The weeds are starting to encroach on the porch again. I'd like to get the household laundry done- mostly the throw rugs and the shower curtain.
Mom and Dad will be coming out tomorrow night. Dad is bringing the gas mower so the lawn can get a real hair cut instead of a chop job. They are also bringing the Barbeque. Dad's going to see about finishing up cleaning the pond. Mom may help with weeding or whatever else has me in a panic by then. I still haven't decided what to do about the pond. If I can get the water circulating, I'd like to put some goldfish in it and a water lily but I'll need to invest in a screen to protect the fish and I don't know what else will be required to get it running. It really will come down to cost.
The immediate cost hog is going to be putting in the first of several raised beds in the garden plot. The plot is 10' by 24' with a triangle that extends another 4 feet but allows the gate to open. I'm planning on putting in an 8' by 4' raised bed on the far end. I hate losing real estate but it's pretty hard for me to crawl about on the ground to garden and there is a LOT of rock in the plot. In reality I could probably extend the garden if I was using raised beds because I wouldn't be limited to the ungraveled portion of the side lot. There are a lot of possibilities but if I wait until I have it all figured out, I won't get anything done. Better to do a little at a time than nothing at all.
Well, I think I've rattled on long enough. I hope all of you are well!
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