Singing in the Rain

We've had a good week.  It's been a bit quieter with just one family here…but we still had some "add-ons."

Aaron stayed behind to do some work with Tom.  He painted the floor of the shed that Tom and Isabelle replaced.  He mowed the lawn.  Josh went next door and did some yard work for the neighbor.
He may have helped Tom clean up the garage.  Tom thought it might be a 1-2 day job.  But we wisely tackled it one section at a time and even working parts of each day, there is still more to do.  He's done an amazing job sorting, cleaning, organizing and replacing.  It truly looks lovely... or as lovely as a garage can look.

 Tuesday I finally got my hair cut.  It's needed it since about the time of the reunion. But I was gone that week, too busy the next week, and she was on vacation the week after.  Actually, not taking a vacation. Her husband was in the hospital and not doing well. When I got my hair cut, he was home, but still doing very poorly. She was in need of a friend, so I'm glad we had a chance to talk.

Dan and Delaney left Saturday and drove to Tennessee to visit his sister and meet up with his parents. Delaney was also meeting a good friend of hers and his family.  Dan drove his parents back to Mountain Home and they arrived on Tuesday.  We enjoyed having Dan's parents over for dinner each night they were in town.  The kids went to the hotel pool and played there a few mornings.  One day they went to a cavern in Harrison. One evening after dinner, Steve White shared the history of his father who was born just before the turn of the century.  It was very interesting.

Friday the adults-- Tom and I included went to see Independence Day 2.  In spite of some negative review I'd heard and a slightly disjointed plot line, I liked it.  After the movie we collected the little kids and drove to my potter friend Marian's house.  We had some "frogs" for her Ikebana vases to deliver.  And the kids wanted to see the peacocks.  They got to see them and collect some feathers. They also got to pet the burro, the pony, and three of the seven cats.  I think everyone had a good time.

 One day one of my friends stopped by.  Her daughter works for a blackberry farm.  She gets all the overripe berries she picks-- gallons per day!  They brought us two fresh flats and two gallons of frozen berries.  Joy!!!!  We ate a ton of the fresh berries and then froze several gallons.  Rebecca also made us a delicious blackberry cobbler.  She made another one for Tom's Bishop's Youth Discussion this Sunday where a dozen teens quickly devoured it all!

 I had some samples to write this week.  One was an interesting project in creating a persona for a "bot" an online interactive interface that sounds like a person but is automated.  It was for a company that works with insurance companies.  I did a trial to see if we are a fit.  I hope so.  It would be fun to create that fictional character.

 Saturday Dan and his parent left.  They decided to visit Branson on their way to the airport.  Dan will fly back to Japan, the parents to Utah.  That morning Tom, Rebecca, kids and I went to the lake. It's the first time I've been to the lake this year.  The water was warm and easy to swim in. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

 Tomorrow Rebecca, her kids, and Aaron will leave.  We'll all go to Silver Dollar City and Kera and her family will join us there and depart with Aaron. Not sure how all the meeting up and exchanging suitcases will work... but I'm sure it will all work out.