Kitchen Chronicles Again

 If you know  me at all, you are well aware of my fascination with all things nature.

The flash of the camera illuminates the dark inside of this nest, but when you approach it, it just looks dark an empty. 

However, the second the contents of said nest hear movement, all these tiny mouths open for some supper and never have you heard such caterwauling from such tiniest bits.

Yes, to me, that is so sweet and another outstanding picture of God's infinite creativity.  

So, is there a problem?  Well, kind of. 

See that top right hand corner?  Yeah, that's the nest. 

As you know, the whole wall of the kitchen came down. Once that was done, things moved kind of slowly and I wasn't in there that much, with the door into the kitchen being boarded up from the rest of the house. 

During this time, Handy Man cut the big grass on the side and brought me a nest he found.  By the time I noticed this nest, amidst boxes, wood, wires, buckets, tools, etc. I thought Handy Man must have put it there to show the gramerlings. Umm, no.  Since, by the time we realized we had a squatter,  if was full of eggs, no one had the heart to pitch it out. 

In less time than it has taken, let me see if I can figure this out, about twenty people, to fix my kitchen, this littlest bit of a wren has built an entire house in the middle of this chaos, laid eggs, figured a new route in an out as one entrance after another has been finished, and now nearly raised this brood. I'm impressed. 

This weekend the back porch panels were replaced around the new electrical box, and Handy Man finished the two places where the rooms connect. 

I think this week the last solar skylight will be placed and the floor started. 

I desperately need to get my room buttoned up. A job I hate. 

At last, creeping charlie is not winning the garden race. 

I signed up for a yoga class and plan to join a community choir. 

Welcome summer.

Kitchen Chronicles 10

 So now there is drywall and things are starting to feel like maybe this will come to an end and I will have a kitchen one day. 

And everywhere flowers are blooming their heads off. 

And some of my beautiful people are having spring recitals. 

And can that be paint going on the walls?  And my way cool solar light that provides a lot of light.   Wow!

And only one more morning of professional development, an afternoon of cleaning and I can call this very challenging school year done. Thank the Lord!

And the evening spent with the kids happy birthdaying the Handy Man. Four months to retirement. 

Kitchen Chronicles 9

 What is that you say? I didn't know there would be a number nine. 

So the electrician came and worked a week ago Monday, left with the idea of returning Wednesday. As has been the case again and again, ran into trouble with our  unusual current electric situation and said everything was good to use and he'd be back on Wednesday. I used the washer the next morning and heard a very loud pop, which scared me to death, and the washer was off.  Not any washer, The Washer, my Speed Queen. I could smell plastic burning, so I texted him and he came over and said nothing was burning and he'd be back to check it out.  I fretted as long as I could and finally texted. He let me know it was working. I came home, it wasn't. I fretted some more as you can't get that washer anymore and it is by far my favorite appliance. Not to mention the headache of there being something else I can't do.  It is fixed now, thank the Lord!

Adam put in some insulation yesterday and drywall men/boys were here when I got home. 

Getting the butcher block countertops was another big ordeal.

Had to cancel vacation plans due to an event I can't miss. 

I'm getting closer to yanking my garden from the clutches of creeping charlie, the hated weed. I'm loving my peonies, irises, roses and Tasha's Dame's Rocket.  My yard, my therapy.

Kitchen Chronicles 8 and Mother's Day

 So, I still have ants, does that count for something. The guy came again yesterday. 

Bah, humbug. 

Trying to pick out cabinet handles. Is it really necessary to have seven thousand choices?

Adam said to get paint. 5 different paints, 27 gallons. What? Is it going to be poured over the whole house?

Electrician is supposed to come tomorrow and the kitchen sink window is in.  That about covers it. 

We went early to make some breakfast at Phil's Mom's this morning. Ya'll I made cinnamon rolls out of can, well I used a can to make this apple thing.  I didn't croak. I didn't eat any of it either. 

Ol' Betsy is struggling, bless her heart. The girls are hovering round, seeing to her every need. She's very quiet, not hungry, struggling to swallow and her legs just aren't working.  She did indicate she wanted to go out in the sunshine and see the birds this morning. 

She enjoyed it for a bit.  

Yesterday,Raechel and I made chicken shwarmas and took them to our artist friend, who taught us to make trivets with flowers and such. It was a much more relaxing experience than the pottery wheel. I really enjoyed the morning and lunch. 

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Kitchen Chronicles 7

 So, I got nothing.  The plumber did come one day and ran the gas line for the stove, otherwise things have ground to a halt. 

The electrician was supposed to come today, but called, rather late last night, to say the parts weren't in so maybe tomorrow, maybe Thursday. Ugh. It is starting to seem long. 

Let's count our blessings. I've so appreciated other help. Friends like Brenda and Barry, Peggy, and my neighbor Jenny bringing a meal or having us over to eat. Rae made yummy sourdough crusts for the freezer, giving us a hot pizza from the air fryer in ten minutes.  Aunt Tish has cooked us a meal every week and this weekend Tiffani brought chicken and dumplings.  Blessings indeed!

I went on Friday to do my first volunteering at Yew-Dell gardens. This early peony was the size of a salad plate.  Everything was so beautiful and I bought too many plants. if there is such a thing. 

My garden is a nightmare as my usual gardening time was spent packing, helping and cooking.  I am hoping I can get it a bit more under control this weekend. 

Gardner E. brought me lots of starts from her garden.  I have so very many woodland flowers, thanks to her. I even worked in my school garden during recess today.  Yard work is therapy for me. 

And today we celebrated our last spring birthday with the gramerlings.  Four between April 13 and today.  The baby turned seven, which really means no more babies. The next event will be our first grandchild graduation. How in the world could that even be?  

Life in the fast lane.