Sunday, March 29, 2009

Spring Vacation


Dear family and friends,
It is with a sigh I leave Spring Vacation and go back to work tomorrow. Not that I didn't work this week, too, but it was all disc
retionary and long-awaited projects I was doing.

We cleaned the basement. Yes, the last line of every "to do" list I've made in the past 10 years finally got top billing and we actually devoted ourselves to it. It's not done, but it's a lot better and the impetus to keep going is strong. Ron says he feels very encouraged--bu
t he said that right when my energy was flagging so it may be suspect.

Okay, at the risk of losing you as friends I will show some "Before" pictures:
I am not legally responsible for the traffic signs in our basement--well, maybe legally, but not personally. It has to do with teenage sons.

But then these teenage sons grow up and come back home and offer to build a basement closet for you...
And the kids come one by one to collect their stored boxes...."Oh, I remember this..."
And they help to paint (first we washed and rinsed with TSP, then we primed, then 2 coats of paint)
It's looking a lot brighter already!
So, after a week of sorting, separating, and either tossing out or setting things aside for the camp garage sale, the painting felt like a celebration of progress. We have empty corners! We only got half of the basement area painted, though. Hopefully we can keep the pace up even with the return to normal activities.

This week we also had Grandma C. here with us. She brought books and things to do being forewarned of our agenda. We had many nice visits between our sessions in the basement. She said she enjoyed watching the traffic at our house, and she meant on the inside of it.Today, Sunday, we drove her back to her home in Sweet Home. We went down Highway 99 hoping to see the tulip fields in bloom, but it must be too early still. We saw lots of daffodils.
Then we had the great fortune of finding a beautiful spot along the Santiam River where we stopped to eat our McDonald's hot fudge sundaes--yum--and I took these pictures of the spring run-off. I wish you could hear the sound of this powerful water.



I just love moss and ferns!

The week also included surprise visits of friends bearing apricot coffeecake from MennoniteGirlsCanCook, daughters-in-law with blackberry coffeecake from the same recipe source, chocolate chip cookies from an adorable 3 year old, a day's outing with my daughter and a "spring tea" with her at a friend's. We celebrated my Dad's 84th birthday with a nice turkey dinner here, and we had a welcome pizza supper with some of the kids after painting.
It was a great week, close to home but filled with people we love, who showed their love for us in many generous and helpful ways. We are so fortunate, and we're getting a clean basement too!

This last picture is of a big barn in Lebanon, Oregon which we passed today.


















9 comments:

Popsy said...

It was a delight to share the week with you.

Lindsay Chandler said...

Wow, what a busy week. Sounds like you guys got a lot done. Can't wait to see more pics. Come out of the basement sometime and call us! Love and miss you! xoxo

Diane said...

wow, what great pictures.. and the trip to Sweet Home looks like nice country. love the scenic pictures. I can't wait to see the end result of the basement. you inspired me to declutter.

Gilly said...

Great photos, and what a wonderful family! You have some lovely countryside around you, and that apricot cofee cake sounded marvellous! So pleased I have found yur blog which was recommended to me by Sue
here"

SmilingSally said...

That is one big job and some nice helpers. Thanks for sharing. Happy Show and Tell Friday. Here’s mine:
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/2009/04/show-and-tell-friday-my-questionable.html

Being Mrs Miles said...

Visiting you via Kelli's Show and Tell blog train!

WOW - I really REALLY enjoyed your post. You opened yourself up to share and I truly appreciated that. You showed us all sorts of interesting things and I got SUCH a sense of family and connection here today. God Bless you and your lovely family. I was uplifted and encouraged coming here today.

LOVELY photo of you by the river!

A Hint of Home said...

I truly hope you will post the basement when it is done. That is quite a job and I'm sure it will be grand when you're finished.

Rowan said...

Sounds like a very satisfactory way to spend the week, Progress with the basement, visits from family and friends and lots of lovely cakes:) The pictures by the river are lovely - the water looks spectacular, the noise must have been terrific.

Hollace said...

Thank you, dear readers, for your supportive comments. Yes, I will surely show pictures of the basement when we are done. We have stalled a bit at the midway point but if I quit having fun blogging for a while things might get rolling again in the basement. (It's harder to do while the sun is shining!) HC