The Project

We have paved a section of our terrace. Pavers are on the sand, which is on the weed block, which is on the gravel, in the deep, deep hole.
Well, we have just thirty-five pavers so far. There will be almost two hundred. So we are making progress. It was hot yesterday, so we waited until things had cooled a bit and paved. It's a group project, between hauling sand from the driveway, bringing the pavers from the stacks, smoothing the sand and keeping it level.
When I was little and the street by our dwelling was re-cobbled I spend a lot of time sitting and watching the men work. Golly, it's finally payed off.
We also found a way to keep Alani out of the way while we are on the job. We turn the Rainbird sprinkler on, and she's happy, and wet, for quite a while.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I was looking after Suzanne's youngster today. Oh, what to do? On the way to Sam's I thought to stop by at a friend's house. Since she didn't answer her phone we just went unannounced. We chatted, picked fruit, looked for chickens, webbed the windows. I only did the first two, but the youngster went country. She even had a tractor ride .
Back home we decided to have mashed potatoes with the rotisserie chicken. I'd made little fruit tarts for dessert.
No, she'd never peeled potatoes, sure she'll do it. "And don't forget to put salt in them"! "Turn up the music, please! I work better with music!" I added the milk, butter and let her beat them. We ate, she rated the meal very high. Good for me.
Later she says:" I'll tell you how to make mashed potatoes now! First you put milk and water in a pot, add butter, pepper and salt. Then you open the package, pour the little pieces of potatoes in and stir. And, voila, you have mashed potatoes. That's how you really make them!"
Voila!?
I told her what we did was called "cooking"!

Tree Killer, Again

So here I was, a week or so ago, reading in my backyard. The dogs were lounging nearby. There was only a slight breeze. I heard a noise in the liquid amber tree. Thinking it was my neighbor I called his name. He didn't answer, and I kept on reading. Louder noise still.
I looked over in time to see a large branch hit the ground, sharp end first. That was a surprise. So we looked the tree over yesterday, noticed several dead branches. Those will come down with or without our help.
So today the tree man, Big "T" gave an estimate for its removal. We can't take a chance with a self destructing tree like that. The neighbors have dog and kids and cars, so it has to go.
On the bright side, we no longer need to avoid stepping on the sharp seedpods which is impossible anyway. Also, the tree's root system is very invasive and is sure to cause serious problems soon.
It was another poor choice to plant there.
And yes, we still have more trees on the property, never fear.

Harry Potter

I'm coming!
I'm ready to delve into the last book of this series, but, I only have two hundred pages to go on "The Fatal Shores". It is too important to interrupt, even for H. P.
Sorry!

Creating outdoor spaces

Yesterday was a hard day. It was hot.
I worked on the hole that will be the terrace. It's nearly level and ready for the weed block and gravel.
Suzanne asked me to help her refresh the garden bed near the front door, to update the curb appeal. So I went there in the afternoon, waiting for that area to be shady. Dug out what we can use and is worth keeping. Those plants filled two large buckets and some large trash bags. I also hauled two pots home to replant there. Round-Up is my best friend for this project.
I put all the salvaged plants into a large tub here to recuperate in the shade until we know where to plant them again. I replanted the two pots with salvage and new plants, adding fresh soil, then soaking them well. Meanwhile I'd come inside to make dinner. Yes, the cutest dog in the world found the new plants bringing two of then to the back door to show us. Needless to say I didn't see her or would have taken them away before she had shaken the soil several feet up the stucco wall, into the washroom, into the washer. We saved the plants which I later planted.
Then I went to bed, reading. Michelle found yet another plant by the door. So Alani'd uprooted it, gnawed it some. I replaced it , again, and we moved the pots into the driveway, outside of the gate. We decided that perhaps the plant had been marked in Suzanne's yard by a cat, and the dog didn't like the smell. She was so persistent, not her usual way to do things.
So today, I dug some more on my hole, perhaps by the weekend we will be graveling, sanding and paving.
I'm looking forward to just sitting down and having no big projects waiting.

Quinceanera

In all the years I've lived here I had never had the opportunity to attend a quinceanera. A fifteen year birthday party/Coming Out/Confirmation all rolled into one.
The Catholic church was filled for the two hour service. The young lady was seated before the altar, the seventeen sets of younger escorts sat in the front pews. The Father spoke of respect for self, family and Church. A choir sang lovely Latin songs, quite well I might add. She received gifts (symbolizing adult hood) and had symbolically stepped out of childhood. It was solemn, yet very sweet. Those who had been to confession were invited to receive communion. Then the honoree and her court exited.
Here comes the fun part! Invited guests proceeded to a Moose Lodge, and there must have been three hundred, for food and drink and very loud music. It was a lot of fun. Foods was yummy, drinks were cold.
So many of the people there had been former students at my last school and it's so nice to catch up with their doings. Even chatted with one of Mosker's class mates.
The dancing started and it was all over for me. I'm sure that party is still going on now.
What an amazing day for that young lady.

Waterfall

On a hot day it's great to play in the sprinklers. Or, being a grown-up, I move a sprinkler and accidentally get wet and cooled.
These pictures were taken on a hot day. This gulch in the Bavarian Alps is really awesome. All along its length the water bounces off the rock face and sprays the viewer. It is very cool and refreshing all along the path, well worth the hike.