Mistake Remedied

I made a mistake about four years ago. Julie was off work for the summer and I had many enjoyable plans but not enough time. I decided to work eight hours straight so I could get home as soon as possible. I had been going to the weight room at the University for about five years and felt good. The summer progressed and I didn't take time to lift weights so I decided to cancel the membership at the recreation center. That was a bad mistake.

Lately I've watched myself decline and decided I had to do something. Last week I started another membership and lifted weights three days. It felt unbelievably fantastic the first day. The second day was better and the third was even better. I was surprised to learn I hadn't lost as much strength as I suspected.

For the last few years Julie and I have discussed building an exercise room as part of a work building that I hope to construct next year. Until that happens I plan on keeping the recreation center membership.



Geraniums in the sun room. I took this photo last week. I think we started with two or three. Julie likes to prune and I enjoy rooting what she prunes. This photo has nothing to do with the subject of this post. I simply like the geraniums and wanted to use the photo.

Behind Schedule

January is one-third history and the greenhouse is unfinished. As is normal, I'm behind my optimistic schedule. Next weekend I'll finish some small details on the exterior, move in a few water barrels, fill them and let then begin collecting heat while I work on final details.

The addition is beside the utility room. The original cat door now exits into the greenhouse. Last weekend I installed the lower vent before Julie and I made a trip to town. The cats had been using the vent opening. When we got home we found one cat outside unable to get in and one in unable to get out. I knew I had to install another cat door so Maggie and Macy could get from the utility room to the greenhouse and then outside. Fortunately I had about an hour before dark to remedy my forgetfulness. I was able to install the new door in a few minutes.



Maggie, on the left, and Macy.

I've begun perusing seed catalogs for greenhouse varieties. By the end of the month I should have some seed planted. As soon as I have seed started in the greenhouse I'm going to construct two large cold frames using the ends of two polycarbonate panels saved from the greenhouse construction.



Solar vent openers warmed and opened. I'm testing the openers prior to installing them.

Christmas Eve

We've had an enjoyable Christmas Eve.

This year Julie and I decided not to exchange gifts and we don't decorate so Christmas is much like any other day. Rather than exchanging gifts we try to do something together. I prefer this approach.

Julie baked bread this afternoon which I took out of the oven and photographed. She's been using her grandmother's dutch oven which was manufactured in Holland -- a true Dutch oven. The bread has been excellent.




A loaf of bread Julie baked in her grandmother's Dutch oven.

I worked on the greenhouse much of the day. I had to move a water hydrant which I installed a few years ago in what I thought was an out-of-the-way location. The addition of the greenhouse resulted in the hydrant being located just outside the doorway. The digging was fairly easy after breaking through the top six inches of ground which was frozen. I knew I had buried the waterline well below the frost line. As I dug I discovered I had buried it about thirty-six inches deep.




The shadows of rafters on the north wall of the greenhouse and the shadows of studs on the south wall on the ground.

Today I installed the first piece of polycarbonate. Fortunately there was only a slight breeze because the panels are six feet by twelve feet in size. I had hoped to install on Thursday or Friday but the weather didn't cooperate. I need one more day of calm weather to complete the enclosure before beginning on inside tasks.

Julie and I worked most of the day and walked almost five miles for exercise but it was a pleasant day of leisurely work.

Day 5 of 18

Today is the fifth of eighteen days off work. It's been an enjoyable five days.

Last weekend we hosted supper for friends one of whom celebrated her sixty-forth birthday the day before mine. I didn't anticipate a gift but she gave me a puzzle. For several years I looked forward to winter in anticipation of assembling a large puzzle. It's been at least five years since I last had a puzzle so her gift was appreciated and enjoyable. Next time I'm in town I'm going to purchase another puzzle.



Gift Puzzle.


The weather has been nice. The high temperatures have been in the thirties and forties with sunny or mostly sunny skies and little or no wind. Today I worked outside wearing only a long sleeved tee shirt.

My main project at the moment is the attached greenhouse. I've finished the north wall, framed the south wall and cut all the rafters. Tomorrow I'll frame the east wall, nail the rafters in place and install blocking. On Thursday I hope to install the polycarbonate. By the weekend it will be finished on the exterior and I'll be working inside. Exciting!

I'm itching for another backpacking trip. Some how, some way I'd like to squeeze in a short trip before I go back to work but I don't think there's time. Regardless, the next thirteen days will be good.

For Childhood Hunger Instead

I received an email from one of my sisters with the the following enclosure. I think she and my brother-in-law have a wonderful plan.

December 2011

For Childhood Hunger Instead

It is so extremely sad and distressing to us to know there are children actually dying of starvation across the world. We find it incredible and very troubling that there are hungry children in our own country. How, in this country, can there ever be even one? To us, that is unconscionable.

For the last two years, in memory of our little granddaughter, Natalia, we have made contributions to charitable organizations that benefit children; at Christmas time, for her birthday, as well as any other time of the year we might have been buying little things and celebrating with her.

Our plan was to do the same this year. But we decided to expand the idea by adding an ongoing “project”, at least through December 2012. We’re doing two things to save money to contribute to organizations that specifically fight childhood hunger. First, we are taking the amount of every “savings” and putting it aside as a contribution. This means any discount, any difference between a sale price and regular price, etc. Secondly, we are not doing some things or buying some things that we might normally. We certainly can do without some of the things we want, knowing that there are many, especially children, who don’t have what they need just for survival. So those “saved” monies are also being set aside as a contribution.

To help towards our goal, both this year and next we are only sending Christmas cards to certain individuals, such as elderly friends and/or family who are now much more confined in how often they can be out and about and friends and/or family who are alone or do not have computer access. The money we would spend on cards and stamps is instead to be used as an additional savings for our accumulating contribution. It has been fun and uplifting to see how a dollar or two, even a few pennies here and there, are adding up!

Unfortunately we did not come up with this idea at the beginning of 2011. So at year’s end we will contribute what we have saved thus far and begin again January 1st of 2012. That way we will know how much can be saved to contribute in one entire year.

In the past we have contributed to both the World Vision and Stop Hunger Now organizations. We will continue to make our contributions to them. We know the contributions go to feed children both in our country, as well as Africa, of course; or anywhere across our world where hungry children might be found. For Stop Hunger Now there have been two initiatives at our church. From those two drives we were able to pay for over 90,000 meals! A gym full of people gathered both times to package the meals, making them ready for immediate shipment to any area of need. And that packaging was completed in less than 3 hours total! With World Vision, in addition to contributions to feed hungry children, monies can also donated for much needed clothing, shelter, and/or educational materials for children.

What better thing could we do in Natalia’s memory than to concern ourselves with the needs of children, especially hungry little tummies? We feel comfortable that friends and family will not only understand, but cheer us on. They are that kind of people. We also feel comfortable that they know we wish them an especially blessed Christmas and a healthy, peaceful 2012!