being there

I was not at Mindy's birth because I was in Alaska and I wasn't at her blessing today because signals got crossed, but I was there to hold her while she fell asleep this afternoon. 

Reciprocity

My relationship with my grandchildren varies based on a number of factors.  I love it when there is a degree of reciprocity.  This evening I gave Jacqueline a bar of oatmeal soap and I bandaged a sore for Lelia.  Not much later they helped me clean off my porch by sweeping the concrete and beating the rug. 

Marble

Today I was preparing to go up to Salt Lake and help with Rudy but I got a call that Tisha didn't have to go to work.  I shifted my attention to a project I have been working on, putting in a heat resistant floor and creating a space for the kiln I expect to install when it arrives.  I went to Lowes in search of a threshold and ended up purchasing some tile that would not require cutting.  On the other hand I cut a larger tile to make the threshold.  Today I put up cement board on the wall, fortunately finding that the top rung of my ladder stool was just high enough to act as a support.  One of the marble tiles cracked, but fortunately it was in a spot that won't be as critical.  The job of laying marble is complete.

Fourth of July

Today we met at noon at Lucinda's home for a barbeque.  The fourth of July is the conventional day to celebrate our country's founding and involves family, fireworks and patriotic speeches.  Today was also the first birthday of James Delong Hancock, tenth child and sixth child of Jared and Lucinda.  He is a delightful child and has been walking for the past few weeks.  I came home with my second son Richard who was permanently crippled due to activities initiated by Obama's deep state.  He was getting the look on his face that betrays that he has been sitting too long.  This evening I watched a replay of President Trump's presentation at the Lincoln Memorial and found it very appropriate.  It stands in stark contrast to the pious performances of the left side of the political spectrum who started the day with a flag burning near the white house and objected loudly and long to the expansion of the usual Fourth of July celebration in D.C. 

Independence

I like to think I'm fairly independent, but the failure of my husband's conservator to pay my spousal support this month reveals how dependent I really am.  Fortunately this is unlikely to be a permanent situation.  Perhaps the way my oldest daughter rattled the foundation of the current situation so that it is being returned to court has something to do with the arrears.  Fortunately I am not in debt and have sufficient funds even for the sudden hobby of fusing glass.  I guess that my feeling of being relatively independent is therefore somewhat justified. 

Kiln corner

For several years I had a small metal clay kiln I never used.  Now I in the thick of converting a corner of my workshop into a fire resistant home for the small kiln and a somewhat larger one that will allow me to make fused glass.  Much of the material I plan to use for this conversion was already stored in my workroom or will be repurposed.  I look forward to creating works of art in fused glass.

Champions

This past weekend one of my grandsons won a chest full of medals and a trophy for weightlifting.  His brother also participated in the national event but came up short of winning a medal, although he set state records for his weight/age group.  I employ the boys to help me with tasks around my yard.  Lately they have been building the covered run for my chicken coop.  I took them to the store this morning and they lifted heavy cement panels and rolls of steel wire.  I am confident they won't be hurt but lifting heavy weights because they are champions.