Day 364 and 365-August 30-31, 2013

     First stop, Bell Hill School.  I wanted to hug Sam, the custodian retiring today.  Next stop, Partridge rental house.  I had stuff to paint and folks to meet from Utah.  On to Alexa at preschool.  After I fetched her, we got tacos at the gas station for Uncle Eddie and Grampa.  We delivered those.  I was determined to avoid the napping car.  First we tried a call to Cuzzy.  After, counting horses.  Next. we played the Rolling Stones at a loud volume, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction."  After laying down at 1, I finally got her to sleep at 2.  
     After my shower, I quickly got my hair in roller.  I tried to wash the car, but the hose is at the rental house.  OK, I'll just vacuum and clean the windshield.  Now I needed to pack my bag for an overnight in Reno.  Judy arrived at 3:30 and we headed on our rounds to pick up Nancy and Sharon while dropping off Alexa with Grampa.
     We watched a wonderful modern circus at the casino, "Escape."  Before the show we had a great buffet dinner.  At midnight, I fell fast asleep in our hotel room at the El Dorado.  Sharon read while Judy and Nancy gambled.
     Saturday morn after McDonald's breakfast, Judy and I had a long river walk along the Truckee River.  We  focused our shopping efforts on Sam's retirement gift.  I managed to find new lightweight hikers at Cabela's and the Sweetpea sandles I had been coveting all summer for less than half price!  I drove, which is tiring.  I was happy to relax at home.  But it is noteworthy that I had a sausage again at lunch, Costco hot dog, and leftover sausage at dinner with salad and baked potato.  Note to self, don't have cholesterol checked next week!
     And that wraps up one year of retirement.  Each morning I have awakened with gratitude.  I am grateful to have the health and freedom and mindfulness to live each day.  I took a step of courage to retire at 55.  It has opened up possibilities that I hadn't imagined, for example beginning a new business with the lumber mill and be the GrandMuM to a new grandson.  It made me available to travel to Arkansas for two weeks in April when my brother and his family were in a crisis situation.  It has put a smile on my face and a joy in my heart that I had lost.  My garden doesn't look that great, my house isn't any cleaner, and I haven't done anything profound.  My health is better.  My weight is down, my habits are better, and I have new dreams and imaginations.  Nothing grandious.  Simple possibilities with the time to explore them.  Joy has always come with service.  I lived a life of joy as I served.  But I got tired.  Retirement has brought a dimension of inspiration as I rested.  I want to inspire as I serve.  I hope I have along the way, but now I want to inspire myself and others daily.  And boy, do I love those grandbabies!

Day 363-August 29, 2013

     I successfully scanned and emailed my first document using our wireless printer AND I sent my first photo in a text using my clever phone.  Fred found Dustin's handprint in the cement at the base of the water heater.  He was 18 months.  I sent Dustin the pic.  I made peach cobbler and cream cheese roll ups for lunch before heading over to help.  Dan, Pop, Fred, Eddie, and I all worked hard today.  It won't be done today, this week, next week, or for awhile.  We need to pace ourselves.  Pop treated us to dinner at Smiley's.  Nice.

Day 362-August 28, 2013

     B and C had a big paint sale, buy one, get one free.  At $150 a pail, that's a great savings.  I got Fred a nice push broom and some clearance light fixtures.  Eddie picked up our big list at Home Depot.  By afternoon, Pop, Eddie, Dan, Fred, and I were all working.  I mostly scrubbed light and outlet switches.  I didn't sleep great, so I headed home about 6.  I defrosted delicious homemade chili.  I chatted with Nancy on the phone, our fabulous friends Reno trip is this weekend.  I need to wrap my head around preparations for that.  I am grateful for our rentals, I am happy to prepare this home for the next family. 

Day 360 and 361-August 26-27, 2013

     Two big days of working inside the Partridge rental house.  Monday, scrub, scrub, scrub the wood ceilings and light fixtures.  Fred nudged me to use the power drill, ...again...  Hooray, I backed off 8 wood screws with ease!  Baby, bring on the chain saw, ...not.  Pop treated us to Goombas for supper, yum!  Tuesday I painted two bedrooms, had a lovely conversation with Colin, and continued to follow up on calls from the Craigs List ad.  I painted until the paint was gone.  I was gone from home over 12 hours, Fred made my favorite, Kraft Mac and Cheese!

Day 358 and 359-August 24-25, 2013

     It's the last full weekend of my first year of retirement.  A perfect weekend.  Saturday morn we boogied over to the rental house to meet up with the tenants moving out.  After lunch at home, we went to The Ranch to clean up the firewood debris with the Kubota, now here from Arkansas.  It was fun to watch Eddie work on it.  We loaded a truck bed of cedar rounds to take home and had a beer while visiting on the deck with the folks.  A good movie after a tasty dinner of leftovers.  
     I was freaked out as I closed the chicken's door for the night.  It was a dark dark night.  I wandered up the hill with my arm out to catch the post or tree because I couldn't see.  As I began closing the door and heard frenzied crashing all around the coop.  I quickly realized it was a deer.  "Oh my gosh, I'll be trampled," I thought.  What to do?  I kept myself behind the open gate and frantically called for Fred to come.  My heart was beating outside my chest.  The poor little critter was jumping up and leaping out trying to escape, but the fencing is all around the chicken compound.  Finally it found the open gate and escaped.  We have a doe and and mother with twin fawns that have been seen pretty much daily here.  I hope I didn't scare her off.  I love seeing the deer, even though they do eat my flowers.
     Sunday morn we did a Beemer ride on the back roads to Wheatland where we had an amazing lunch at Mi Pueblito.  While Fred went over to the rental to work, I set up the invoice template for the new business and got the wireless printer working.  I worked on phone tutorials to help me with my new toy.  I also looked at the darling pics Cora sent.  Boy, this computer is a significant part of each day. 

Day 357-August 23, 2013

     "OK Brenda, make sure you get the bathrooms cleaned before Eddie's 'Welcome Home' BBQ this eve," was my mantra to self all day.  "And don't forget to pick up Alexa."  Precious didn't take a nap, so that cut into my prep time.  The day was spent getting ready for guests.  We had 16 for dinner.  I made a tasty quinoa salad to go with the chicken, salmon, and brats.  Carrot salad from Wednesday's dinner and fresh corn were other additions.  It's nice when folks bring a dish.  Jacque made a lemon cake, Alice made salad, Laurie brought fresh fruit, and Mom made clam dip.  Alexa and I went to Safeway, the library, and Bookseller to get a birthday gift for 8 year old Sierra.  I went to this former student's sleepover birthday at 10 after the party.  Fred, Laurie, and Mark were still talking when I got home.  

Day 356-August 22, 2013

     Fred and worked together at Partridge for a while.  He was there most of the day.  I got us gas station tacos for lunch while I was out picking up primer and sliding door rollers.  I unloaded the HUGE pile in the back of the truck.  I continue to do about one fifth of what Fred does.  He's power washing to prep for painting the exterior.  I mowed in the morn and did a few morning chores at home.  We met Mom, Pop, and Eddie, picking up Scott on the way, at Pine Street Burgers.  YUM!!!  They just opened a couple of weeks ago.  Eddie knows George and Suzi.  Scott gave us a tour of their place on our way home.

Day 355-August 21, 2013

     I woke up on a mission to get to the rental house to work.  By the time I watered and such (such like getting fox jammies for Paxton and sending him a little note through Amazon---we saw a fox first thing this morn trotting along our fence line with something in its mouth), then went to see Eddie and his Arkansas rig with elevated camper shell and tractor, it was 10:30, and I still had three stops to make.  One was to purchase a pitch fork for Fred, he's been wanting one for years.  I worked hard raking and loading pine needles and trimming shrubs for four hours.  When I got home a mamma deer and her twin fawns were grazing.  The spots are still faintly visible on the fawns, so so sweet.  Next I put my energies into making a nice dinner for Mom and Pop, Eddie and Fred.  We had a lovely evening.  Mom brought filet mignon from Jim Gates, Fred barbequed it perfectly.  I made my cilantro cashew dressing for spinach, carrot salad, and smashed potatoes.  I cut up fresh peaches for a Trader Joes cheesecake.  We were all stuffed.  Last night was a full moon.  Tonight it's not so smokey from the fires, so it was a lovely sight as we waved good night.

Day 354-August 20, 2013

     I left early to get to Roseville BMW by 9.  My service appointment today was complete about 1:30.  Then I headed to Office Max to get a printer for the new business and to Cokie's to return Kamp Kerksieck stuff.  I made a nice shrimp pasta to go with last night's eggplant.

Day 353-August 19, 2013

     I woke up thinking about Tracy's and Gary's birthdays today.  I was able to reach Tracy on the phone at work.  They spent their first night in the new house.  It was the first day of school for the kids.  Later in the day Gary called.  His line was busy in the morn, so that felt great.  
     I filled my day with watering, laundry, and business paperwork.  Also trying to bond with my new phone.  It doesn't make me feel smart.  I'm beginning to plan a welcome home party for Eddie on Friday.  He's on the road today.
     Here's an email that reflects my daily thoughts: I love it, thanks for sharing.  I had a school nightmare last night too---I was helping, not in charge, a way different nightmare!!!
 PS---I wake up with a grateful smile each day...  And this is little Pax, about one week old there.

----- Original Message -----

From: 

To: Brenda Kerksieck

Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 4:22 PM

Subject: Thankful

Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android Hi Brenda, I had a dream last night...one of those back to school nightmares, actually. We were going on a field trip and I couldn't get my class out of the building. It was actually a maze of corridors. The major part of the line kept turning the wrong way and I had to keep finding them. We finally made it back to the room, then the phone rang. I yelled,Don't get it!, but JOSEPH picked it up as we were heading out the door. I ignored the call. We finally got on the bus, the first bus had left, and the second bus was empty except for you. You were smiling and waiting calmly for us. You had sent your class on the first bus and waited for me...thanks, friend! Whew! Am I glad to be retired! (And thankful for,my good friend). Judy

Day 348 to 352-August 14-18, 2013

     Packing the camper in the morning, we headed toward the coast about noon.  We stopped in Boonville at the brewery, sampled and bought some libations.  We took curvy country road, Mountain View Road, popping out near Manchester and Point Arena.  We worked our way south to Stump Beach in Salt Point State Park.  An evening walk on the bluff then nestling in for the night with our books.  
     Thursday morn we walked down to the cove, ate tasty bacon and eggs, then walked the bluff on a perfect sunny summer day.  The sandstone formations on the coast are very unique here.  We drove down through Jenner, then ate lunch at Wright's beach.  Nap time.  We bought some fresh fish in Bodega.
     Although we were scheduled to arrive at Camp Corby after dinner, we showed up at 6 and ate with Colin and crew.  Paxton eats and sleeps and grunts.  He's very content and easy-going.  E'lora is adjusting to big sister life well.
     Friday we took E'lora shopping at the motorcycle shops.  She found a "rescue pack" at the KTM shop.  It was a little backpack.  She is into Dora the Explorer.  "Grampa, I need the rescue pack."  Friday eve Cora went to work.  We all fed Paxton a bottle for the very first time.  He did great.  Colin even took the kids and Raj to the park by himself before bedtime.
     Saturday we journeyed to Wild Flour so the crew could meet Pax.  We wandered the garden then spent an hour or so at Doran Beach.  A family excursion to Costco before going out for Japanese was a fun eve.
     Sunday morn Cora and Fred went back to Costco to buy me a smart phone.  Fred said he felt like he was driving with a teenager on the way home.

Day 346 and 347-August 12-13, 2013

     Monday I made a picnic lunch for Sharon.  She broke her leg, but insists on working in her classroom.  I wheeled her about the campus some and helped put up a bulletin board and such.  Both days included Kamp Kerksieck Kleanup. 

Day 341 to 345-August 7-11, 2013

Kamp Kerksieck Day Two-Wednesday  Dana and Stan arrived.  We four-wheeled down Jones Bar with the kids piled in the back of the truck.  Twas fun.  The boys were dying to jump off rocks.  Denied.
Day Three-Cokie and Heather arrived.  Jade, Reese, Coke, and I went to Fred's work to show Dana and Stan the mill as they were leaving town.  We decided to get pedicures!  Margie and the boys arrived in the afternoon.
Day Four-Lake Wildwood at Vista Park.  I had Alexa too.
Day Five-X Games at the Ranch, gold stars to Pop for setting everything up.  
Day Six-No one joined Fred and I at the fair.  We enjoyed walking around for a couple of hours.  We started with Izzy Tooinsky's show.  I found a sweet family from school to give the ride tickets I had bought for our Kamp Kids.  The house sure gets quiet fast.

Day 335 to 340-August 1-6, 2013

     No active labor in the morn, but they want to keep Cora in the hospital.  When I arrived at Camp Corby in the morn, Eleanor headed home and Papa Bear headed to the hospital.  After nap time, E'lora and I went to the 'pital too. E'lora loves to take everyone's temperature with the stethascope.  Dr. lets her use hers.

"Mom, could you make oatmeal cookies?" Colin said as we went out the door.  Next stop, Trader Joes to pick up missing ingredients.
     Friday morning we made Great Great Gramma Holly's Oatmeal Cookies.  

First stop was Trev's work, then to the hospital.

  Mamma Bear and Papa Bear were set free from hospital.  Vacation labor time was up, however Cora was dialated to 8.  GrandMuM said, "Let's go to the fair tomorrow."  And that's just what we did, a grand day for a "way to pregnant" mom. Great weather, carousel ride, free ice cream, and funnel cake!  

Active hard labor began at about 9:30.  Paxton John Moore was born at 11:21, 10 pounds, 22 1/4 inches.  

Sunday morning E'lora and I came to meet Acorn.

We returned Sunday night with stroganoff.

Monday morning we made apple pie with fruit from the yard for the homecoming. 

I heard the wa-wa in the night, but it never lasted long.  E'lora slept through it all.  We made biscuits Tuesday morn.

It felt like it was time to let the Camp Corby Crew settle in, the napping house gave me time to sweep and clean up a little.  I headed home about 3 hoping to miss traffic.  Kamp Kerksieck was in stage one when I got home, kids in the pool, bbq pork loin complete, beds made up already.  "Auntie Bren, do you have a tent?"  "Yes, I can put it up," replied Kaylene.