Fall is coming to the Ozarks!

Last Sunday afternoon I drove back from Miranda's house, arriving just in time for our weekly family zoom call. It is always good to visit with family and have a gospel discussion with them. After two plus weeks on the road, it was good to return home. While it is nice to be in the comfort and quiet of my own home, sometimes I long for the commotion and activity of little ones in the house.

The grass was starting to get out of control, as was the pasture. So after running on Monday, I mowed most of the yard, but had to raise the deck due to the height of the grass. I was able to finish mowing on Tuesday and then started bush hogging the pasture. After 90 minutes the tractor started going a different direction than I was steering it. Close inspection revealed that the drag link was disconnected; the ball joints popped out of their sockets they were that worn. I did not want to leave the tractor in the middle of the field in tall grass, so I tried to get it the hundred yards close to the barn and cut grass. It did not want to cooperate. I could get the wheels headed in the right direction by lifting the front end with the bucket, but they still insisted in going to the left. Finally I put it in reverse and did a 270 turn, then went forward. I had offset the heading just enough so the tractor ended up where it can be more easily worked on.

I called the nearest John Deere dealer, 48 miles away, and ordered the part. Friday morning it was in and I drove over to pick it up. Unfortunately, it was not the correct item; there are several possibilities and this was not the one. I had taken in the old part and the parts man was able to identify the correct one. I anticipate a call early in the week and I will make another trip to Harrison. Yesterday I tried to remove the ball joint from the steering linkage; it does not want to budge. Getting the right part may be the easy part of this ordeal.

Tuesday I took the truck in to determine the cause of my power steering fluid leak; it had been leaking for a month, but I did not have time to get it corrected before heading west over two weeks ago, so I just kept adding fluid to the reservoir. Used a quart in that time, but it worked. Turned out it was a leaking pressure hose and 90 minutes and less than $100 later, I was heading home.

Wednesday I met with one of my tenants. He has sediment in the water from all faucets, but only after it rains. He had the water department come out to inspect the meter and they said it is not due to the city water lines. So tell me, how do you get dirt and small grass clippings in your water supply with a pressurized system? And only after it rains? My plumber friend with 35 years experience has never seen this phenomena. 

Wednesday Susan and Steve arrived in time for dinner. They will be spending two weeks here. It is nice to have other adults in the home, although I suspect they may get tired of my talking. Steve has already 'changed the oil' in one of my clocks that was slowing down.

Katie had made arrangements with the Memphis Temple to take out her own endowments on Saturday; we were looking forward to being able to attend this momentous event. Then mid week we learned that her brother Aaron was being quarantined due to another student's virus infection. By week's end, Kera, Andy, one of the girls and Aaron were mildly sick. So Katie has rescheduled to later in October.

I have been teaching seminary three weeks now. While it is nice not to have to meet in a classroom, I miss establishing a more personal relationship with the youth. One youth runs cross country; the team had a meet on Thursday, so on Friday I inquired how the meet went; he responded that he did a virtual run in his neighborhood because he was in quarantine due to another student having the virus. So far he is healthy.

The weather here has been marvelous. Night temperatures are in the high 50's or lows 60's. Daytime has been in the 70's until this weekend. According to the weatherman, it will be cooler this next week. I turned the AC off last Sunday evening, and it has been on only a couple of hours since then. I like it!

I spent time this week going through Sandy's office. I was able to organize her desk and discard a lot of stuff. There are 10 file cabinet drawers; I was able to go through half of them. The office looks like a tornado hit it; there are a variety of piles, one is trash, one to burn, one to this child or another. And I need to first go through all the files to determine what to save before I can put the need to keep items away. A lot of discarded items are her writing notes from various conferences and trainings she attended over the years. And then there are files like the voluminous one from the sale of the trailer park over 15 years ago - it went into the burn pile.

Rebecca kindly had a large family picture made from our July reunion (thank you Kendra and Cyrus); where to put it? I like the current family pictures and did not want to replace any of them. So I removed an oil painting that Sandy had purchased 30 years ago and was hanging in the dining room and hung the picture there. I would much rather see family than a seascape!

Life Goes on in Arkansas

 After running on Monday morning, it was back to the bathroom. Miranda drove down and helped grout the tug surround. Rachel and Hailey enjoy playing together, and Hailey misses her cousin when she leaves. Tuesday Deborah mapped out the tile placement for the floor so that the pattern would be repetitive. I was able to get the floor tiles installed in time for dinner.

Wednesday was more of a relaxing day with no major tasks to accomplish. After my run, I was able to do a lot of the small things, like touching up paint, attaching the bath door, installing door trim. Nice not to feel the pressure. Thursday I cut tile for the baseboard and installed it; then grouted the floor; this was more messy than the tub, but the job got accomplished.  I installed the new toilet and finished all the associated tasks so that I could get on the road by noon. The rest of the work is Ian's. He will build a vanity (the space is not a normal size), the plumber will make the final tub connections and such.

Sam's is just around the corner from from Deborah's so I stopped to stock up on non perishables. Then it was onto Miranda's, 30 miles north. Since it was lunch time, and there is a Five Guys on the way, I satiated the need for one of their yummy burgers.

Dan finished work early enough, that we were able to get several sheets of drywall installed in time for dinner. Since the roof is gambrel shaped, it was a bit of a challenge cutting and installing the drywall.

Friday I drove to the local park to run; everything around their house has too many hills and narrow roads. It was a beautiful and cool morning and I had a good run. Miranda stopped there after dropping the boys off for school and was strolling Rachel around, so we jogged together a bit. Then home to finish installing the drywall and taping and mudding.

Saturday was spent on the shed; Dan installed some cedar strip paneling on the back wall while I mudded and sanded the drywall joints. We also jacked up the back end of the shed another six inches to get the floor level. Also replaced some damaged vinyl siding on the house. Then time to clean up and pack my tools.

                                                    

I plan to head home (finally) after home church this afternoon. Teaching seminary requires a better internet continuity than they have here. And there are things waiting for me to do this week. And Susan and Steve will be coming mid week for a visit!

Last Sunday I arrived at Deborah and Ian's house where I have spent the week. Monday was Labor Day, and we did not disappoint. After a shopping spree at Home Depot - I love helping other people spend their money - to purchase drywall, we returned home to continue the bathroom restoration project that they had started. There is a sense of urgency to get this bath operational again; with a family of eight and only one other bathroom available there is the potential for some challenging moments.

Ian installed a vent van, light and speakers in the ceiling. He constructed a pony wall at the front of the tub for a TP holder - and radio control. We installed insulation in the walls and secured the drywall. Then came the process of taping and mudding the seams. This is not my forte; but with patience and time, I can get the walls smooth.

They had chosen 12 inch by 24 inch tile for the tub surround; the larger the tile the more challenging in terms of precision and time to install. I had hoped to get the tub grouted by Saturday, but I didn't get the last tile in place until that morning. I am sure that these tasks are just more time consuming and it is not because I am getting slower!

Miranda drove down with Rachel both Wednesday and Thursday to texture the ceiling and then paint it. It is nice that the two sisters live close enough to visit. Rachel and Hailey had fun playing together.

Here are some before, during and now pictures of the bath project:

After the last tile was in place, I cleaned up the equipment and tub area while Deborah, with the help of Samantha, painted the walls. Of the two paint colors they had chosen, one appeared too dark and the other too light. They opted for the lighter color, but once on the wall, it appeared darker than anticipated. I headed north to meet Dan at a Home Depot near them so he could purchase drywall for his new to him office, which is a 8 foot by 16 foot shed. It is nice to have a truck for these projects. And since there is an Andy's Frozen Custard nearby, we were obligated to stop by to assuage  my hot fudge sundae addiction.

50 years ago this past Saturday, Sandy and I were married in Panorama City, CA. Same church and minister as Steve/Kathy and Sue/Steve. So we had a 50th anniversary celebration yesterday at Miranda's house. Jonathan drove down with three of his children, Andy and most of his family joined us and all of Deborah's family was there for a total of 24 family members. The children had fun running amok in the forested area while the adults visited in a more leisurely fashion. Deborah took over the task of cooking the hot dogs and hamburgers. There were three yummy cheesecakes to enjoy afterwards. I spent the night at Miranda's and will drive back down to Deborah's this afternoon.

Tasks for this week include grouting the tub, installing a tile floor and grouting it. Then my work there should be complete and I will return to Miranda's for a couple of days to help Dan get his office drywalled. We will see how this actually works out!

September Already!

 It is 5 pm Sunday evening and I am sitting outside the bishop's office waiting to be interviewed by a member of the Stake Presidency. He has several temple recommend interviews to conduct first, so I wait. 45 minutes later, after visiting with others there to see him, I finally enter the office and learn the purpose of my interview. It has been necessary to release the couple teaching seminary and that call is extended to me. Immediately my mind races through the implications of this call, and getting up 30 minutes earlier is not one of them. I am committed to spend a week or two assisting Deborah and Ian with a bathroom project and Miranda and Dan with converting a shed into his new office. And what about the Adam's Family October visit, etc, etc. While Mountain Home schools are conducting classes, many have opted to do virtual learning, so seminary is via Zoom for now. As long as those I am visiting have good internet, I should be able to still conduct daily meetings. How soon do I start is my first question; immediately. Because of my current work schedule, I am able to negotiate Friday as my first day. On the drive home the reality of what seminary requires sinks in. But I have learned that by trusting in the Lord, all things are possible.

Class starts at 645 am. I need to learn how to host a Zoom call. Things have changed since I taught seminary over 20 years ago.There are 14 'attending' seminary youth. I taught three of their mother's 20 years ago. I almost feel like I have pulled out of 'teaching seminary retirement'. And off course the big question for me: how long will the restrictions requiring virtual classes last. Because, once they return to the classroom it will be necessary to have two teachers, and I won't be able to depart the area to visit family.

Monday I ran. It is 645 am, the sun is just starting to appear over the horizon; five deer are off to the right 150 yards ahead of me. Four of them cross the road and run into the field. I focus on the road ahead of me and then I catch some peripheral motion on the right. That lone buck appears to be heading directly towards me. By the time it registers that he may be on a collision course with me, he diverts and passes within 25 feet of me. Do deer have a sense of humor? And then it was back to work at the rent house. Got three coats of polyurethane on the hardwood floors and the rigid flooring in the kitchen. Progress!

Tuesday I arrived at the Chamber's house about 630 am. I was there to observe how they conduct seminary classes. In listening to their story, I am saddened by what I hear. They had purchased their 'last home' in Colorado where they had been living; he had retired; live was good. But then her health dictated a move to a better climate. So they moved from their 'last house' to Mountain Home and her health issues were mitigated. Then she had cancer and has recently been undergoing chemo and radiation therapy. And his Parkinson's is complicating his life, making it difficult to occasionally accomplish simple tasks. They are my age.

Home to change into work clothes and then back at the rent house. Started the flooring in the room off the kitchen. I wanted to start in the opposite corner from where I ended in the kitchen. That small voice tried to  persuade me differently; but I ignored it. After 2 plus hours of frustration and having to fight each piece, and only being about 1/2 done, I decided it was time to stop.

Wednesday I returned to the uncooperative floor and listened to that small voice: I pulled up the floor and started in the other corner. It went so much quicker; no frustration. And I got the floor done! I miscalculated when initially measuring the floors and was going to be short; when I discovered this error, Home Depot did not have that item in stock anymore. I took some creative license and managed to get the job done.

Thursday I am at a ward members home by 8 am  to help others from church clean up some of the brush and trees he has cut. Someone had a small chipper, but the group that started the fire accomplished more. Then it was back to the house.

I was up earlier than normal Friday to be ready for my first seminary class. Never been the Zoom host before, but all went well and all 14 youth were in attendance. Class went well. But the best news of the day: I finished at the rent house!  I had hoped to head west to help with the DI (Deborah and Ian) bath remodel in the afternoon, but Ian had to work on Saturday, so I postponed my trip and left Saturday. I did manage to run first before leaving. Dan had purchased a shed when the bought their new house and is in the process of converting it into an office space. My accumulation of building materials over the years includes excess sheet metal used for roofing. I cleaned out my surplus, loading it on the trailer (some pieces were 16 feet long) along with some other items and headed to MD (Miranda and Dans).

Three hours later I was in Bella Vista. Dan, Ethan and I visited the local Lowes so he could buy roofing material and other items for his new office. We had time to get eight sheets of 5/8 plywood on the roof, tack down the tar paper and get started with the shingles before quiting for the day.

This morning I said good bye to Bella Vista and drove the 40 minutes to DI's house in Springdale. Nice that the children live closer together. And I will spend the week here helping get their bathroom operational again. I was able to enjoy 'church' with them at home and participate in their Sunday lesson.