November Art

 Before snow set in for the long winter's sleep, we thought we'd try an autumnal art project.

We knew we'd need leaves, but search as we might... for acres all around, there weren't any to be found.  Unless we took a day trip into the forest there weren't any trees to hope for leaves from, and the forests mostly are pine trees and have snow... so perhaps it was an ill conceived notion to begin with.  Until I remembered that Caleb gathered some leaves for us last year to use in the garden.  Bags and bags of leaves..  There was one bag left.  To the barn for a bag of year old dry leaves.  

Somehow I thought there was more of an assortment.. but there wasn't.  We managed to create some autumnal art nonetheless.  Karlsson's live among trees and winter isn't blowing up their skirts quite so violently yet so they had a plethora of lovely leaves.  

As always.. such a variety.

Minutes before art began the following week, the message arrived that Sybil, who had been eager to join us, would be at the hospital.  She had hurt her toe after a heavy stool fell on it.

We received updates through the evening and she was a trooper.

This was Ava's night to tutor us on an art method.  Water droplet art.

Duncan.  He liked some of it left as droplets and opted not to smear or smudge.

Emerson attempted a few before becoming less generous with the water.. He had some overly soaked pages.  My 'mallard on the pond' became 'taste the magic rainbow'.  Whittaker decided partway that water droplet art wasn't his thing... so he painted cats.  Eden the overachiever of the night. Such variety.  And Sadie.. once you make a masterpiece you move on.

Christmas Ornaments

Whittaker had a great time creating Christmas ornaments.  Emerson created a paper chain to count down to Christmas but then abandoned it to play cars. 

Snowflakes.  You might think that with snow already on the ground and no chance of it leaving for well over 20 more weeks, we would discourage snow themed activities... but as long as I'm indoors and warm and we have no place to go..."Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow."

Patrick doesn't attend art often... secretly he wants to though.  Look at the enormous easel he has!

(It's not an easel... it's the drywall lift and he isn't drawing or painting he's cutting out outlet and light switch holes.)  We know he really just wishes he was painting. 

#givethanks -- #dargracias -- Miles

I am very grateful for a living Prophet. 

Estoy muy agradecido por un Profeta viviente.

I'm so thankful for Temples!

Estoy muy agradecido por los Templos!

I am so thankful for my Family!

Estoy muy agradecido por mi Familia!

I am so grateful for music!

Estoy muy agradecido para musica!

I am grateful for all of the super awesome companions that I've had through out my mission!  Neal Secrist, Jony Per, Kyler Alvarez, Jaron Goddard, Mason Rapier, Kayden McKinnon are the best!!

I am so thankful for the church of Jesus Christ and the peace he has brought in my life.  

Estoy muy agradecido por la iglesia de Jesucristo y la paz que ha traido en mi vida. 

 I am so grateful for all the wonderful examples and people I have met on my mission. 

Estoy muy agradecido por todos los maravillosos ejemplos y personas que he conocido en mi mision. 

Covid Update

 Patrick is sleeping. 

[He still has headache, body aches, cough, fatigue but seems to have more energy in short spurts.]

Emerson is playing operation, knocking down the fortress of the pigs and listening to a magic treehouse book.

[No actual symptoms]

Duncan is listening to a book, playing computer games, eating day old pancakes and pining over the lack of cookies in the house.  He is keeping the fires burning and has taken over spelling and other school tasks with the boys via zoom. (Wishing it wasn't a week off school so there would be more to occupy his time!)

[No actual symptoms]

Whittaker is listening to Nancy Drew mysteries, and arts and crafting.(He has created a pen catapult launcher, many Christmas ornaments and some random sketches.)  He looks forward each day to time on the computer and the chance of a chat with Ava.

[Angry rash on his hands, sore throat and a tightness in his chest, but good spirits and plenty of energy to make frequent requests for more tea, for paper, paints, glue, empty toilet paper rolls, a new book, water refills, any snacks?]

Jim is bored, and inventing new covid symptoms like, bruising easily, inability to heal after a burn and the need for frequent urination (may be tied to the constant supply of tea I've been providing).  He is productively working in spurts and suggesting activities like charades from our respective doorways.  He has thrown caution to the wind and decided to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. In other words, it's not a no sugar week!  He has lost self-control and eaten an entire container of peanuts in two days.  

[metallic taste in his mouth, had a slight headache, had a tickle in his throat, had a tightness in his chest, sporadic heavy limbs.  All symptoms are in past.. mostly.. very minor and isn't eager to do any exercise.. is winded easily after simple exertion.]

I am creating a symptom chart (None of us can register a temperature at the normal range... we all have unusually below normal temps.  Whittaker winning with 95.3) and I'm justifying ice cream for breakfast since I had lots of leftover heavy cream by adding granola and berries.  I'm paranoid that the mice will have a complete lack of respect for my days of cleaning and rodent proofing efforts.  I'm catching up on years of neglected slothfulness and am not getting dressed until noon... if I get out of my p.j's at all.  

[metallic taste in mouth, fatigue, body aches, slight cough, cold sores, nagging headache, stuffy nose, swollen throat glands and hands that constantly smell of bleach]

Figaro has increased her efforts of laziness and when she isn't lounging on Emerson's bed or meowing annoyingly at the door to be let out for 3 minutes, she has taken up residence on Patrick's side of the bed.  She also sneezed twice last night so I charted it and we'll monitor it closely. 

Noella is baffled by the lack of interaction by the humans and has quarantined herself to the couch by the front door.  She is afraid to make her presence more publicly known due the shame she feels for NOT capturing the elusive kitchen torturing mice!

Quarantine Memes

Isolating since March...

Quarantining with Covid19 for the last week...

I've been amazed at the cleverness of people as they share quarantine memes.  These are a few of my favourites.

I had other plans...

Life had other plans... 

Frozen drain = no showering or laundry (which isn't good since we all stink and I need to wash a certain unnamed young man's bedding for the 4th time in a week)

So with Patrick giving instructions Duncan and I turned off water valves, baled water out of the bathtub and plunged the drains, we ran heaters next to the new plumbing fixtures and Patrick went under the house to add more insulation wrapping to the pipes.  

Frozen pipe = no cold water.  (Unless we wanted scalding hot showers, we had to wait.

Signs of mice = have to empty the cupboards, wash every dish and bleach the cupboards, board up the back of the cupboards and now go on a hunt for how they're getting in.  (The signs of mice were neat rows of cat food inside my baking cupboard with ... droppings!) These cupboards were empty and clean just two weeks ago when we moved them for demolition day so this is a very new circumstance.  

So.. much of the day was spent washing dishes... once we had water and drains restored.  The cupboards are all smelling of bleach and the back of the cupboard has been more solidly covered... but I still don't know what the point of entry to the house is for the rodents.  We plugged in a high frequency rodent deterrent that we used successfully in the green house this summer.  Perhaps the vermin will simply leave.  

Covid19 exposure (Patrick) = quarantine everyone to their own corners of the house and now have to deliver food, water, supplies.. keep the fires going and find entertainment for boys in separate areas.  Also need to sanitize all dishes that come back from Patrick so I don't accidentally pass the covid fork or plate at the next meal.  (trying to keep exposure risk at home to a minimum to keep severity of the illness at a minimum)  Loss of job means he's not missing work I suppose... But he can't find work either from his confining corner of the house) He did drywall his confinement quarters though.  

Still not finished with the renovations = need to keep both wood stoves stoked.  (it's warm in here!)  So I'm cooking many of the meals on the wood cookstove.  Much greater appreciation for the women of yesteryear who literally slaved over hot stoves to cook their meals.  The whole stove radiates and the fronts of my legs get toasty when I'm browning meat or stirring soup.  

My actual plans for today had included taking a shower, planning Dec. menu's and finalizing the shopping list for the upcoming Utah trip.. (which is now postponed..), chat with Miles when he calls, tidy up and organize my office area in anticipation of moving to a new location..  prep a few meals for ahead in case I end up with Covid so we can all still keep eating.... help Whittaker finish up his crochet project and do some writing and watch a pre-recorded class on natural yeast bread making and maybe even try baking some.  

Maybe tomorrow!?

A second bathroom

 One of the reasons we embarked on our renovations ( besides the sinking, stinking pantry off of the only bathroom), was to build a second bathroom.  A second bathroom has been needed... a few times.

As construction progressed it became a much appreciated comment anytime there was a wait for the bathroom for people to call out loudly, "Build another bathroom Patrick!"  

It was our delightful way of letting him know how much we appreciated his efforts.. to encourage him to get to the 2nd bathroom completed stage faster and add a little fun to his life.  This calling out has been going on for 5 months.  He's definitely not tired of hearing it 😆.

A couple weeks ago, the plumbing was at the stage that the toilet could be installed.  

We may have been more excited than should be allowed for a toilet.  He thought it would put an end to our cajoling.

HA HA HA HA... 

We just change to, "sure would be nice if there was another shower... or it's not much fun using a toilet in a room without any lights... the ambience in here isn't what we had in mind"...  but mostly we say... "Bathrooms ought to have walls Patrick." 

Our support is indispensable.

But it's true... Bathrooms really ought to have walls.

There was a time almost a year ago.. when guests were coming to visit for Christmas.  The only thing they requested of us was if it was possible that the bathroom door could maybe, if it's not too much trouble, could we please get a lock on the bathroom door.  I can't imagine their comments on this bathroom situation!  

It really is an open concept bathroom.  I can stand in one place and see the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom and the front door.  I've heard open concept is all the rage these days.  Perhaps they aren't referring to bathrooms though...

We solved the lack of privacy issue simply enough.  A quick sheet hung did the trick.  Walls really are overrated.. I hung the sheet in under a minute... it's taken Patrick weeks to build walls to this state.  

As penance for being such a slow wall builder, when he was put into mandated quarantine from his Covid19 exposure we set up his cot in his yet unfinished area.  It's really ideal for him.  He has access to the new bathroom and is able to continue building the walls and finishing the interior work while staying in his designated quarantine space.  We have even hooked him up with lights and opened the windows from the living room so there's heat flow.  We are generous and caring after all. 

Phase 3, 4 and into 5

Phase three:  Build new pantry and kitchen space to the enclosed stage.  

Phase four:  New Roof 

Phase five:  Interior drywall, electrical and plumbing. 

Did you notice?  No more time frame or projected dates of completion. I don't even make any wild claims anymore. I just go forward knowing that it will at some point... be completed...

...when it is completed.

Regardless... Phase 3 and 4 are as completed as they can be now that winter is here.

The exterior walls are all up and exterior is painted... 98%.  The area around the front door is still unpainted.  Painting requires a minimum of 4 hours a day of above 50* temps... won't be seeing that until.. May maybe June.  But don't cry for me... there's plenty to do until then!

The roof is COMPLETE!  Thankfully.  The phrase 'we have a roof over our heads' has never meant so much.  The firewood has been collected and now it needs to be chopped and stacked but it's here which is the important part.   So we're keeping warm in our new spaces.... our very unfinished new spaces.

Electrical, plumbing and drywall are all very important.  And tedious.  And dusty.  And as soon as they are completed.. I swoop in and paint which makes all the difference and looks fabulous.  Of the 7 areas inside that need completing... 2 are 99% complete.  The pantry and the new bedroom.

Phase 5 is going forward... in stages... 

Phases 6-10 may even pop in and out before Phase 5 is fully finished.  (Obviously my phases were not the best outline of construction.  I've hung up my hard hat and am resigning as project manager time scheduler.  I'm working on my new title.)

Wonder if it will ever get old?

As the days grow colder we see the signs of winter.  The little blackbirds begin to swarm in larger numbers.  One day the Canadian geese are no longer around.  The leaves from our tree have fallen and the grasses are golden beige hues.  The mountains in the distance are dusted white and many days are overcast and we simply trust that the mountain are still out there in the distance.  But the sign we're most aware of, is the antelope.  We enjoy watching for them in the mornings on gopher hill and look forward to their afternoon naps and visits to the pond and salt lick.  All summer long we see a few here and a few there, but as they begin to congregate in larger numbers in the fall we wonder each day, 'Will this be the last day we see them this year?'  It's always delightful to see them again the next day.  They tend to come closer and closer to the house and we spend moments staring at each other...

Until... one day... they're gone.

This year however... 

they left one behind. 

This little guy was all alone behind the barn.  

We called him Mohawk.  

His leg was injured.  He couldn't stand up and allowed us to get close enough to shift him and bring him some water.  We didn't know what else to do for him.

We called the wildlife game warden and they came out and took him away. 

Boys are tough on pants...

 The trouble caused when boys wear the same size pants.  I had completed the laundry and it was all folded.  I had summoned boys of all ages and sizes to put away their clean clothing.  They had ... except a pair of jeans remained. 

"Emerson, come put your jeans away."

He returned, took a glance at them and said.. "They're not mine." 

"Whittaker, come put your jeans away."

He returned, took a glance at them and said.. "They're not mine."

Trying not to get frustrated I repeated... "One of you needs to put your jeans away."

"Maybe they're Duncan's."

Fine.

"Duncan, come put your jeans away."

"But... mum.. they're not.. "

This was going to go on all night. So, I insisted.  "Would someone please just claim the jeans and put them away."

I was not prepared for what happened next.

Duncan just snatched them and marched to their closet. 

This is how he returned...

The little boys were laughing hysterically.  

Duncan had made his point.  They were NOT his jeans!

I thought the kerfuffle was over... but...

These are also NOT their jeans!

How am I supposed to keep a straight face!?

A year later..

We were all just minding our own business when this came down the hall.

The walking was very difficult with three legs in each pant leg.  

But this one...

This one freaked us out!

Where's (Waldo) Stephen?

I'm not a fan of gory decorating or creepy stuff.  But creative methods of startling each other is exhilarating!  Our favourite way is with out buddy Stephen.  Stephen showed up out of storage this year and was lurking around every corner.  

He was in the shower, Patrick's lunch box, just outside Jim's bedroom window, on Duncan's pillow....

(there is also a Suzie, she doesn't get around as much as Stephen does..)

Suzy's a biker chick.

 

Stephen is competitive.

(He has the best poker face.)

He waits patiently to give Patrick a ride home from work.

He doesn't eat much.  Has to stay fit when he's working on the force.

He keeps to himself and likes to read.

He and Whittaker are pals.

So who is Stephen?

Sarah had mannequin heads from her hair cutting class days.   They have names on the back.  Suzie Q and Magnum.  It was fun to put them in the window.  But... then we met...

Steven!

His resemblance to the mannequin head was uncanny. 

Kindred Spirit

I hope that some day when someone discovers our wall of famous signatures indicating our presence in the Utah house, that they are filled with a happy moment of contemplations about who we may have been.  Hopefully our decision to write on the wall (and date it) will inspire them to pause and reflect upon the mark they are leaving in the world.  Hopefully it will bring a smile to their face of the happy people who once spent time in the dwelling where they now make their memories.

It certainly brought a smile to my face when I saw this...

I don't know who Michael Brown is/was.  I wish he had dated his exclamation of presence. I'm ever so grateful that I saw it.  Patrick didn't mention it when he was doing the demolition of the kitchen wall.  I'm also pleased that his 2x4 post will be remaining.  If it had been 6" over either way, we would have been oblivious to his message.  6" left and we wouldn't have exposed it.. 6" right and it would have been smashed and removed before any examining would have found it.  (The garbage truck happened to be coming down the road as Patrick completed this demolition and the remains went straight outside)

I have every intention of signing our work in some fabulous locale before we seal up our renovations.  Perhaps we'll enclose a small time capsule within the walls.  What should we include?

Phase 5 - A - Pantry

Phase five:  Interior drywall, electrical and plumbing.  (projected completion Sept 14){maybe Nov. 1st?}

Okay... no question about it.. I am not able to judge time frame on renovation projects AT ALL! 

Phase 5 will need to be broken up into many sections.

• mud and tape drywall, paint, flooring in new bedroom
• electrical, mud and tape drywall, seal floor, paint, flooring in pantry... and build a door
• finalize plumbing for second bathroom and install venting.  
• remove dining room window and install in new kitchen corner, enclose new kitchen exterior
• knock out interior walls from kitchen area, electrical in kitchen, insulation, drywall, paint, 
• paint kitchen area and arrange cupboards.  
• electrical in 2nd bathroom/laundry, build interior walls, insulation, drywall
• knock out wall between bedroom to closet, knock out wall between kitchen and new dining area.
• finish drywall in knock out areas.  finalize wall between dining room and crannies, insulate crannies, knock out walls from living room to crannies, drywall crannies and dining room
• mud and tape all remaining drywall area. 

And I have learned my lesson on trying to create a sense of timeline anymore... so instead.. I'll just post updates.. 

So update on Phase 5-A -- the Pantry

From beginning to end... outside was a huge transformation... but inside was just beginning.

Framing.  Roofing.  Insulating!!  Drywall.

Wyoming provided ample cold weather for us to appreciate the difference it made when the insulation was installed.  

A friend had this drywall lift and what a cool contraption it is for raising 12' long drywall pieces to the ceiling.  

Even with insulation in the pantry area, without any heat source and the outside temperatures still dropping, we had a few days of frozen water lines.  

We began the process of heating the new pantry by putting fans in the kitchen windows and drawing the heat in the house out into the new addition.  It meant needing to overheat the house.  (normally I don't complain about having to warm up the house, but it was like going from equator to the north pole from one end of the kitchen to the other) 

Another new delight was the food.  Not our day to day meals, but the reason we're building the big pantry is because we have a lot of food to store.  Some of it is in jars.  These jars did not withstand the freezing temperatures in the non heated addition.  The exploded apple cider vinegar jar left a lasting odor.  We added some space heaters to our heating efforts and soldiered on.  (FYI, moving all the food from one side of the house to the other for the third time is quite a workout!)

The weather stopped throwing below freezing nights at us for a few days and that was helpful as we embarked on the next process.  The mudding, taping, mudding, sanding, mudding, sanding and finally painting.  

Working by spotlight isn't ideal for finish work but it was what was available. 

Although it seems that we work.. work.. work.. we tend to find moments of levity and delight in the mundane.  (And I'm always eager to capture it!)

The soundtracks for work were varied.  I listened to podcasts. Duncan had earbuds and listened to books.  When Jim worked alone it was often hits of the 70's and 80's, but when he worked with Duncan.... 

The ballads of Disney.

The floor went in SOO fast!!  Really.. the lights and floor took only a few hours. It was so rewarding!

Patrick was installing it while we prepared to perform our Halloween dance number in the new space.  We partied away the evening in the Pantry.  Then the next morning we got back to work.  Demolition took place on the kitchen wall and I began assembling shelves and washing every jar and can from it's layers of drywall dust.  

The pantry still needs more shelves but they're currently unavailable until further construction is completed.  The doors for the utility closet need to be built and a shelf installed above the freezers, but prioritization of renovation says that other projects take precedence and the pantry is in a holding pattern.   A delightful, bright and large, mostly useable, holding pattern.  (All these items were in our day to day pathway until now, so completing the pantry was a huge relief to life operation.)