Monday, May 17th

Birke arrives home. He traveled to John's last week, and then drove with them up to Jeff's for Lexie's Princess Birthday Party. I didn't have the room completely ready,(but the bed was visible) so his stuff is all over the living room, and he is gradually moving the stuff up to his room.

Thursday was Friday

I had the opportunity to fast yesterday for missionary work in our ward. Our ward was doing a 40 day fast with someone fasting every day. On the way home I decided to stop and buy a grilled chicken and other stuff to make a nice meal, and picked up a movie. Kirt has been working so hard every night in the little area under the stairs. and Wednesday had been extremely hard on him as he finished the sheet rock, all while sitting on a little stool under the stairs.
So when he came in the door, supper was ready, and Jeopardy was on and I announced that tonight was actually Friday night and we would have dinner and a movie and not do any work. We enjoyed the movie Hachi, about a dog who was so devoted to his owner that even after the owner died Hachi continued to wait at the train station every day.

Mormon Helping Hands

Today, all across California Mormons were involved in service projects. Every ward had a different project. Our ward did the spiff up and pruning at the Senior Center, then the whole stake got together for lunch. I was unable to help, except for sending jello, as I was in a class all day to learn Photo-shop Elements. I am so excited, I have asked dad to get me the software for Mother's Day- tomorrow. He can get it for a good price at the campus bookstore. I learned how to take the rips out of old photos, and did some black and white with color highlights on a picture of Judy that I will give her for her birthday.

The last week in April

We are all so blessed. Our ward is having a forty day fast for the missionary work, and Kirt and I signed up to fast on Tuesday, April 27th, and then we also signed up to feed the missionaries that night. We told them to be on time as we would be very hungry. It felt really good to do the fast together. Elder Dalton from Tooele, serving in our ward and Elder Logan from Hawaii- he was on splits from Rancho Cordova.

We see many around us losing their jobs, and are thankful that we both have employment.This morning Kirt has gone to WINCO to do a major grocery shop- my bet is that he will spend about $300. I gave him a list with many case of canned goods on it. I think it is important to keep well stocked.

A young father in our ward, Josh MacDonald, died in an auto accident this week, leaving wife and three children.

Out garden now has tomatoes and beans and squash out in the planter boxes, and Kirt transplanted some sunflower seedlings out along the back fence. We have other seedlings almost ready to go outside.

Saturday, April 24th

Kirt cut and installed the insulation in the area under the stairs. Then he cut the piece of sheet rock for the ceiling in that little area. It had to have 8 small square or rectangle holes cut into it to match up with electrical boxes for access. Yikes! it was a lot of work.

Planted Seedlings

On Monday, the 19th, Kirt put our little seedling beans and cucumbers out in the garden. We still have some other vegetables that are not quite ready. Yesterday it poured, so hopefully none of them drowned!
The sunflowers are all about 6 inches tall in their little pots, but their plot is not ready yet.

The Garden...

Every day Kirt comes home, changes and then goes out to work preparing the garden for planting. I started some seeds indoors to get them growing. We have 2 raised planter boxes, but really need more. The trick it putting them where the most sun hits for the longest time during the day. He had to turn over the soil and add some other dark stuff and dig it all up over and over.
The prophet has told us to plant a garden to help feed our families. When we tried growing corn last year and were not successful I showed these cobs to our Relief Society and told them "Don't wait till you NEED to feed your family from your garden to learn how!"
This morning he is able to plant the tomatoes- we bought plants for them. Our seeds are just popping up in their little boxes with the clear plastic domes to keep it warm and moist inside.
We have 2 different kinds of green beans, peas, squash and cucumbers and dill weed. I would like to bottle dill pickles this summer. I have not canned pickles since 1971.