Paver project status (or not)

well as you can see there has been a change in the weather which made a change of plans on our paver setting project. What a difference a day can make.

We actually had about 4" of snow today. Started out pretty warm and we decided to head to Sandy (south Salt Lake City) for breakfast out. We got into blizzard conditions near the point of the mountain and it continued to snow hard till we got out of breakfast.

From there we took the back road home and basically ended up driving into the back of the front and into some pretty good slush on the road.

Now, our street and sidewalks and driveway are bare and dry and there is a few inches on the grass left. Just another spring day on the west flank of the Rockie's!

We'll try for the pavers next week.

ME

PS: neither of us is terribly sore today. Will wonders never cease!

paver project

OMG we picked up 65 pavers that measure 4 x 8 x 12. I think they weigh a gazillion pounds each but Terry says more like 20. No Way! A 50 pound bag of sand seems lighter than these pavers. We have laid the pattern down in the dirt and maybe tomorrow will bring them back up and toss sand at them so we can level them up. In a short spot we'll add more dirt. I have a sneaking hunch I won't be able to pick up a tooth pick tomorrow.

We brought home the pavers, a 12 foot long treated 4 x 4, 5 bags of sand and some edging material. OH and we now are the proud parents of a hedge trimmer. Never needed that in AK. LOL

Now this is what it looked like before we unloaded the mess and started working on this.

Here is Terry getting the 4 x 4 x 12 measured and cut. Notice the mountains in the background. This is looking east. Figured as long as I can frame the picture that way why not take advantage of it. ; - ) We needed to add the timber to the front of the shed so we had an even edge to place the big ol pavers. Reason for this is the dick head that set the shed didn't listen to Terry and we had to deal with (or overcome) other cement pads that the shed is resting on. No there is NO moving the shed. Once we bolted on the treated timber we were set to dig out the sod and do a rough lay out.

This is roughed in and will be leveled tomorrow or the next chance we can. We still need to add the row off the patio as well, but this was certainly the lions share. All of this gives us at least somehow to get out of the shed without stepping in the nasty mud here. The mud here is like stepping in dog shit. The only difference is it doesn't stink. But it sure sticks to EVERYTHING forever. Just like dog shit.

Till we can pick up something heavier than a toothpick .. .. .. ME

new project, just a little one ; - )

So after the last blog when I enjoyed my coffee outdoors it snowed the next day. And since then we have enjoyed back and forth weather here at home, while the mountains here are getting dumped on. We are guessing this is what the big deal is about spring snowing in Utah. Since we are not skiers then this is an assumption on our part. But when you get over 40 inches of NEW snow up at the resorts, you know that's something!

For us NON skiers, it means the water tables should hold up for the next summer and we won't suffer needless drought like weather. Who knows? We are definitely assuming. ; - )

On another note, we completed another small project. Our master bedroom closet is sort of a small square walk in. clothes hung all on the same level in a U shape. It was tight but it was a closet. Today we emptied the entire closet took down the hangy thingy that was there and reconfigured it higher and in an L shape and added a bottom rod along the long side of the L. Now you can stand there and see your clothes and not get mugged by them. Novel thought. The short part of the L is for long stuff. We aren't exactly clothes hogs but we increased the usable space considerably. It's actually a nice closet. TOTAL COST = $21.00 and change. WOW. I'm so not used to projects you can begin late afternoon and finish the same day including a trip to the store. Pretty much without planning even.

Our house in AK was a three day OR MORE project house no matter what you tried to do. This is the difference between a really shittily (is that a word?) built house in the mid 70's to a cheaply built house done in 2001.

Tomorrow we will finish up laying pavers along the shed and the front edge of our patio outside. Weather is supposed to be mid 50's so should be a really nice days project. How cool is that? And the flowers keep blooming around town and our yard almost is ready to mow. ; - )

AND to update on the kitty fabric being sent back and forth . . . Our Daughters cats sniffed at the fabric for like 10 minutes and one of them started to lick it. (big scare there) I just got the fabric today and while Hobbes sniffed, Suzie totally ignored. Another big scare there. HAHAHAHA Hobbes is WAY more interested in the box. someplace to sit. I think having an extra couple of kitties will be just fine.

ME

Morning glory

This morning I was able to enjoy my coffee out doors on the patio and while just a little chilly yet so I had to wear a flannel lined canvas shirt it was extremely enjoyable. I had several cups of coffee, read my book and didn't get bitten by a single mosquito. This is something I could not have done in AK. I couldn't even sit for half a cup of coffee before the bothersome bugs would drive me indoors.

And to this we add the forsythia bush is just beginning to bloom it's yellow flowers, and there are deep purple buds showing on the lilacs. I'm figuring on some cuttings and forcing them inside to enjoy. We are expecting some nasty rain and snow for the next few days.

Our daughter will be joining us shortly and with her will come her two cats we are fostering for a year. In order to help the transition I have sent to her a small blanket our cats liked to lay on, and she will be sending me a couple of towels that her cats like to lay on. The plan is to give each set of cats a chance to smell the others before they get here with great hopes of easing the transition. The plan is to place the towels and or blanket near the food dishes cause food = good and the smell will be associated with that. Now, mind you if this backfires, we'll have cats that refuse to eat cause there are terrorists cats hiding somewhere near their dishes and they can't find them and when the two foreboding cats actually show their faces they will be attacked. LOL.

I think the cats will do fine. Each and of themselves will find their own space in the house and they will exist in harmony if not grudging respect for each others space.

If the flowers bloom indoors I'll have to post pictures of them. I haven't had forsythia since I lived in Ohio. There the bushes would thrive and grow in great flowing stretches and were absolutely beautiful with bright yellow flowers. Then after blooming the bushes would have a nice green leaf for the rest of the year. I only have one small bush, but it will be beautiful.

Down the street one of our neighbors has daffodils and hyacinths. I haven't seen too many iris's here but I bet they would do very well. People even have those cute little solar lights riming their walkways and flowers. LOL, in AK you only had the sun, and in the winter the little lights didn't get any sun and were covered with snow so I'm sure they didn't sell many there.

so it's been a wonderful morning and I just wanted to share some of it with you all.!

ME

Coincidence??

Today I just happened to ck to see what the length of day and minutes gained were for Chugiak AK and Payson UT. Now this won't happen again for a while and seriously what are the chances of catching this today. Funny!!

Chugiak: 12h 04m
Tomorrow will be 5m 48s longer.
Payson: 12h 04m
Tomorrow will be 2m 40s longer.

ME

Currently in Payson

So far we have successfully registered the Ford and now it has dandy new UT plates on it. AND the good news, we both passed our drivers test and are now licensed to drive in UT. Luckily it's an open book test for those of us who have driven and come with a current license from another state. Worst part was the monitors you sat at to take your test. They were very hard to see with the lights from the ceiling. But we only had 25 questions to answer and each missed one. We could have missed up to 5.

We have a skiff of snow hanging around from the last storm. The roads and walkways are clear and part of the grass, but it's not been quite warm enough to just melt the snow. We are expecting another spring storm this weekend so we just wait and see what it will bring.

We also bought a new piano. I am so absolutely excited about this I can't tell you. It's just a little one, considered a starter piano, but for me it's just perfect. Officially it's a Cable Nelson, by Yamaha and has a dark walnut finish. I am so impressed with the sound and the touch of the keys. It's amazing. Now I have no excuse not to get back to it and learn how to play the darn thing better. I actually could play OK for a hobby back in high school but times change, and when you don't diligently practice you just don't hang on to the skill. I'm sure in high school it was the best therapy. I would sit after school and pile up the sheet music and pound my way through it till I could play the selections normally. A great way to work out the tensions that high school brings.

So we sit watching the changes happening with spring pushing in. The baby cows being born all along the area are too precious for words. The buds are starting to color the ends of the tree branches and this week we are expecting highs in the 50 degree area and next week under clear skies the highs are expected to 70. YIKES.

Our middle daughter is moving to Washington DC for a year (can any one say ROAD TRIP) and will be visiting us before she goes. Along with that we have agreed to be foster parents to her two kitties. I am very sure we will have a transition period here as our present two kitties are like 14 years old but it hasn't been so long that we had 4 of our own so they should adjust to the expansion.

I am on the job hunt now. (nuff said) ok, well looking for work is the suckiest thing in the world. All of a sudden you are totally inept, can't hardly function in this modern world and all the other applicants (especially here) are young enough to be my children. But, there will be something out there for me, it will just take some digging. ; - )

so just a little note (tra la la) to update you all!
ME