In need of frozen peas for my dinner, I searched in the freezer for some. They had been sighted recently, so I knew they were there. They were located and dinner was a success. But while looking through the items stored in the freezer, several unidentifiable and unknown things that previously would have been considered edible, were discovered. Most of those were not labeled or dated. They got thrown into the trash for obvious reasons. Oh, but trash day isn't for another five days - poor planning on my part to clean out the freezer just after the trash was picked up. Didn't want that food spoiling in the trash container and inviting unwanted guests. So I made room in the other freezer until the next trash day.
The dermatologist called to say the biopsy from the tip of my nose was cancerous and scheduled me to come in on Thursday. The procedure was basically painless and quick. The doctor is very good and his concern for my welfare is appreciated. However, I have nicknamed him "scrape and burn'. Now I just have this small divot on the tip of my nose. Wearing a mask in public has a new meaning now.
I spent a couple of hours each day scanning additional letters, notes, and pictures that have been accumulating in a tub where I have been putting them for the past couple of months. A lot of these are random items that don't necessarily fit into a specific category, such as letters from1987-89, rather they are one or two of a kind that don't fit into any particular already existing file. So I spend a lot of time trying to find an appropriate home for these 'orphans'. One of my favorite 'finds' was found in a hand written journal that GG had kept on Sandra's birth and early years: "she has more bounce to the ounce than a Pepsi", referencing a Pepsi commercial in the 1950's.
Friday evening Miranda's family arrived in time for dinner and stayed until Sunday afternoon. Saturday Dan had meetings in West Plains for a good part of the day. Ethan and Alex braved the 40 degree weather to help gather downed tree limbs so we would have a burn pile for a bon fire. Using the tractor, we would fill the bucket with wood and dump on the pit. Miranda came out and received a crash course on how to drive the tractor which freed me up to help load the bucket and use the chain saw. And of course she had some help:
With the help of the tractor we were able to push over two 40 foot dead and decaying trees; because they were partially rotten, it was easy to cut them with the chain saw. On the last load before lunch, and with a bucket full of wood, the bucket did not want to rise. Opps, needed hydraulic fluid, and I had none. Because it is a John Deere, and they highly recommend using only their brand, I was in trouble since there is no dealer within 50 miles. But wait, Dan was in West Plains where there is a dealer. He didn't respond to our calls or texts, so we assumed he was still in his meetings. With less than 10 minutes before the shop closed, I was able to purchase 2.5 gallons of approved hydraulic fluid over the phone. They would put it out at the base of their sign with my name on it. Evidently they do this often. Dan did contact us shortly thereafter and was able to bring the fluid home so we could continue using the tractor.
Before enjoying a roaring fire, Miranda and boys assisted me in removing the last of the deck railing on the back side of the house. There was approximately 30 feet that needed to come down in anticipation of my kitchen expansion project. It helps to have additional assistance in the form of youthful enthusiasm. And a friend stopped by before the day was over to haul off the railing for his own project.
Then we lit the fire, just as unscheduled hail started to fall lightly. It did not last long and we got the fire going. The boys take great delight in preparing their own spot to ignite; all were successful. Within two hours, and probably a little early for me, they were out there cooking marsh mellows and eating s'mores. And they still had room for dinner a couple hours later!
We had 'real' elders quorum meeting this morning. About 25 were in attendance and we had a good discussion on Elder Rasband's Oct Conference talk on "Recommended to the Lord". Then home for sacrament; was nice to have more than just me for this ordinance. We had a few minutes before our church meeting broadcast, which gave me time to set things us. Unfortunately, there were technical difficulties on their end, so watched the video: Mountain of the Lord, the 40 year story of the building of the Salt Lake Temple.
My second stimulus check arrived today. Still not sure what the logic is, if any: the government prints money so they can then send me a check, but they take approximately 6-7% of it before sending it to me.
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