Deadline Week

Here's a spring picture of our house.

This has been a busy, focused week. It started with Monday's two hour Motley Fool call. They didn't say the work was trash... but they did say that there were a lot of changes that would need to be made to make it acceptable to their regulators.  So I needed to rework it and send back the first 1000 words by Friday.

This meant a ton more research.  I looked at historical research and current British news clippings.  I studied old promotions that demonstrated the kind of hedging language they needed.  Not "will" but may, could possibly, might, in our considered opinion there's a possibility this stock might see an increase...
 I like it because it's genuine and honest, but also different from the way it's typically done in the US.

Monday we also prepped for chicks.  Tuesday we got up pretty early and drove about 2.5 hours to Lebonon.  It turned out to be a little longer as we took a wrong turn going up and a little scenic drive going home.  We found Cackle Hatchery and it took about 5 minutes to get the chicks.  A little anticlimactic...

When I got home,  it took time to get the chicks settled.  Since the temp was to drop to 39 degrees, Tom wanted the chicks in the house. I worked on a Video Script for an insurance agent.  We also figured out flights to LA to celebrate Mom's birthday the end of May.

The chicks lasted perhaps 24 hours in the house before I insisted they... and their smell... be taken to the shed.  We put the old horse water tank in there with hay and heat lamps.  After adjusting the lamps a bit, they seem quite happy.  The rule is if the chicks cluster under the lamp... it's too cold.  If they avoid the circle of light all together... it's too hot.  If they're scattered  around, they are probably comfortable.

Wednesday I worked on the sales promo and then went and did pottery in the afternoon. I had made some of these ikebana vases, went and glazed them, and now it was time for gluing the tops and bottoms together.

I found the glue didn't seal the top and bottom well completely, so Tom helped me put silicone calk around the  base to seal it.  This is what one looks like with flowers.  They are flowering quince and a Japanese iris from our garden.

 Marian, the potter, has peacocks.  They are quite proud of themselves in this spring mating season. One is an olive peacock, the other, the traditional Turquoise.  Marian gave me some of their feathers to add to the Ikebana arrangements.

 

Thursday I revised and sent off the video script. I also spent ALL DAY on the sales promo. Tom, bless his heart,  spent all day with the missionaries.  It was supposed to be a drive to Branson and an exchange of missionaries at 8:30.  They sent off the first one... but the companion apparently wasn't scheduled to arrive until 2pm. It was an enforced restful day.

Friday again, I was deep into the sales letter.  I did get an email asking if I would edit a book.  And I got the go ahead to do more video scripts for the insurance agent and I have some tech websites to do... so my plate is feeling pretty full right now.  I did manage to get the sales letter off Friday late afternoon.

I also went out for a late lunch with the writer I'd done a short critique for. Nice older guy who lived in Compton when there was only orchards and Japanese farms. He was there for the "resettlement" of the Japanese.  Eventually he went to Alaska for 30 or so years. He wanted me to take a look at some of the life events he wrote about while he was living there.  Very interesting.  In the evening we watched Pirates of Penzance.  I enjoyed it a lot.

Parts of our garden are coming up.  We have been eating asparagus regularly.  Peas are starting to climb and spinach plants are getting their second leaves.  Tom pulled a radish, but the carrots just look like a short crew-cut. Actually, the weeds are probably taller.

Saturday I did a little work on the start-up tech websites, but stopped about noon to turn my attention to the Relief Society Retreat program for next week.  I got it typed up and the bios of the speakers edited and ready to print.  I went and bought parchment paper to print it on... and gas for my trip to Ash Flat's branch conference on Sunday. Also snacks for the youth who would be coming over for the Bishops Youth Discussion on Sunday.

In the evening we watched the Ultimate Gift.  A nice low key, feel-good, movie with no violence or swearing.

Today I traveled to Ash Flat.  We had good training with a new president and a good lesson, I think. We also met as a presidency and ironed out the last of the details on our Stake Relief Society Activity for next Saturday.  And, after a great lunch, we drove out into the country to visit a sweet sister.  I got home about 4:30.  Tom had good meetings and a successful youth discussion... especially if that's defined as 15 youth eating a gallon of ice cream  and all the brownies, bananas, grapes...plus most of the celery and carrot sticks.

I've sent out letters to grand kids, missionaries, and now the blog.  It's time for a game of 5 Crowns!