Friday, June 27

All the contracted work done has been completed.  yea!! I now have a sprinkler system but it has been raining nearly every day.  Grandson #4 is working on the yard as I write this.  He is really proud of his work.  He has moved rocks around, trimmed shrubs, established a flower bed and put down new ground cloth in some areas.  It is hot dirty work and he has been a trouper.

This place is beginning to feel like a home with pictures on the wall, dirty towels in the laundry and the music coming from the backyard as my grandson toils away.

Went to see Cowboy on Tuesday and again today.  He is doing fine.  We walked around and looked at the flower beds.  One has the mums we put in last year and two morning glory vines that are running amok over everything.  Another one is full of trash and needs work.  The new aide put watermelon seed in the third one.  Will be interesting to see if they come up.

Today the guys played with the bowling game.  Cowboy was really enjoying himself and there was another fellow that just grinned from ear to ear every time he pushed that ball.  There were three guys in wheelchairs that would just roll themselves up to the game and give it a go.  Fun to watch.

Every now and then I ask Cowboy questions to judge where his head is.  Today I asked him when we got married.  He got the date right but he thought we had been married 17 years. It has been 37.  I asked where we got married and he said Texas.  That is where we live now but we got married in Oklahoma.  I asked him how old he was and he said 104.  I told him he was 84 and he said " I thought I was older than that."

Tomorrow my daughter is having a party for her grandaughters 11th birthday.  It is a pool party.  She is really giving it a workout.  I suspect that will slow down after the new wears off.  I spent a long time yesterday at WalMart getting all the food, etc.  Other grandmother is bringing the cake and the decorations.  Should be fun.

 

Saturday; June 21

First day of summer.  How did this happen?  It is really warm.

I went to see Cowboy on Tuesday and stayed for the support meeting.  It starts at 5 and ends around 7.  By the time I get home it is past dark.  I just don't think there is enough to be gained from it to deal with the nighttime traffic in the Dallas area.

Cowboy was having problems with foot pain.  They took his boots off and discovered red areas and the beginnings of blisters.  They asked me to take them home.  Guess he will have to be happy with his diabetic shoes or his moccasins.  Very important to look after his feet since he is diabetic.   He took it better than I would have expected.

I now have 6 pair of custom made cowboy boots designed for size 13 AA.  and did I mention his feet are very flat?  I suspect there are very few folks out there with that shoe size.

I have spent all week on the house.  All of the boxes are unpacked and most of the things have found a home.  Still have a ton of pics and videos and the stuff on the walls from the old house that need to figure out what to do with but am feeling like we are almost there.

The sprinkler system was supposed to be finished yesterday but they still have a little bit to do.  Guess it will be Monday.  That is the end of the work that is contracted.  yea !!

Grandson number 4 has been here for the last three days helping me.   We have started on the yard.  Lots to do but I am into it.

I plan to go see Cowboy tomorrow.  I talked to him in the phone yesterday and he is fine but is impatient that I haven't been to see him.  It has been a complicated week with all the work being done.  I am so glad it is almost all done.

Sunday, June 15

More boxes are now unpacked and there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I am beginning to feel really good about the house.  Just six more boxes to go.

Then I will have to turn my attention to the yard.  Lots of things to think about there.

I went to see Cowboy yesterday and took him his boot jack.  He still has some trouble getting his boots off but am thinking it will be OK.  He was complaining about the way his toenails are cut and asked me to help him with them.  I tried but think it is mostly in his head.

The landscape is changing with the seasons.  Instead of wildflowers the landscape is dominated by fields of corn and sunflowers.  I love the sunflowers.  I never knew it was a crop in these parts.  Lots are grown in west Texas but didn't know about here.  Maybe it is a new thing.

Today I spent a lot of time with the Dallas Sunday paper and several hours watching TV and then two more in the pool having a drink and visiting with my daughter.  Nice relaxing and restful day (and much needed).

My daughter leaves tomorrow for Phoenix and I will have the house to myself this next week.  Will just keep working.

I have to go pick up my dress for the wedding this week and see what alterations might be needed.  Also will start practicing the music this week for the wedding.

I plan to go to see Cowboy on Tuesday afternoon and stay over for the support meeting.  Haven't been for several months now.

Wednesday, June 11e

The plumber came and all I needed was to replace a small section of pipe and it totaled $200.  I am still a bit miffed but may not be worth pursuing.    The next thing is to have the new tile put in the two bathrooms and then put in the new toilet and new cabinet.  Then I just need to clean the wood work and see if any painting needs to be done there.  I am thinking I can handle that.

I spent yesterday putting away things and unpacking boxes.  It is slow but steady.  I am working really hard and I hurt all over but progress is being made.

My daughter is home this week and we went and bought some pool toys yesterday.  It included a lounger for me and a combination volley ball, basketball and some other game in one.  Then we went out to eat and I ordered ribs.  Naughty me but it was really good.

My daughter is excited about having the birthday party for her oldest granddaughter here the end of the month with games, food, etc.   We are busy working out the details.  She even has a friend who is going to be a DJay.

I went to see Cowboy today.  He had on his cowboy boots and was a happy camper.   I hope we don't have any problems with it.  He didn't say a word for about 18 months about his boots and now they seem to be the only thing on his mind.  I will have to find his boot jack and take it to him.  Traffic was good today, no slow downs or crazy drivers in sight.

They had pasta primavera today and it was only barely passable.  The other wives said it is the third day for pasta in a row.  There is something weird about this sudden change in the usually wonderful meals that are served at the home.  I am going to stay over next week and go to the support group meeting and see what they say.  There are some rather upset wives.

I came home today feeling really tired.  I think I overdid it yesterday trying to unpack, etc. My hand and arm really hurt.   I can sleep in tomorrow and maybe do a bit less work.  I am just so anxious to get all the boxes unpacked and things put away.

There are several items on the table right now waiting to be repaired.  I think we had more damage with this move than any I have ever experienced.  Despite that most things made it OK.  I still have items from the 1970's that are intact.  But I need to glue back horns on a wood carving and some legs on another wood carving   I bought some artificial flowers and greenery for my daughter and put them in a nice little vase for her bathroom.  Things are beginning to look nice.

Friday, June 6

I was concerned wouldn't get to pick up Cowboy's glasses so called and asked that they mail them to him, care of the social worker.  I called her and told her to let him have one pair when they came.

The painters finished on Wednesday and it looks beautiful.  They helped me move some of the furniture into place but didn't seem any too happy about it.  They were more tired than I.  Just beginning to feel like things are getting done and soon will have a "normal" home.  Then in the evening I noticed water on the floor in my bedroom. First thought it was from a paint bucket or something and the painters had done it.  Upon further investigation I discovered water was coming into the bedroom from the other end of the room and there was water the whole length of the room on one side.  horrors !! now what.

Let us return to that time when we had the inspector out before we bought the house.  He had identified a faucet leak on the east side of the house.  It was supposedly fixed.  I had checked it after I moved in and couldn't turn it on with my arthritic hands and had just let it go.  Well, guess what folks, there is a break in the pipe in the slab and they had just plugged up around the faucet and not actually fixed the problem.  The painters turned on the faucet to clean brushes and such and that caused the water to come in the house.  As long as the faucet is not turned on it is OK so mopped up and am waiting on the plumber on Tuesday.

I have some homework to do but I think it will be appropriate to go back to the sellers and raise some heck.  I have a home warranty that will cover the repair of the leak but what about the floor and the woodwork and all that?  Insurance has a $2000 deductible.  The fun just goes on and on.  I just thought I had my bedroom just right.

I have a lot of product left over and had been thinking about putting the new tile the two smaller bathrooms and was in the process of looking into that.  Will still have some to turn in for credit, or maybe not.

I went to see Cowboy yesterday.  His glasses had arrived but the social worker had given them to the dept head and they were still on her desk.  They wanted them labeled with his name.  I took a bit of tape and put his name on it and wrapped it around the side piece.

He wants me to bring him some of his cowboy boots.  I talked to the physical therapist and we made a deal.  I am going to take them to the therapist and he is going to see if Cowboy can walk OK with them.  He talked to Cowboy and asked him if he got his boots would he use his walker.  Cowboy said "I don't know".  He is convinced he doesn't need it anymore and it is a challenge to get him to use it.

We had a nice lunch and he seems in pretty good spirits.  Traffic was terrible coming and going.  ugh