Bouquet of Flowers

Today was Labor Day and Dennis and I are retired.

Q: What did we do after running a couple of miles and then going to the
dump?

A: Cut a fresh bouquet of flowers and went to 403 SE 15th to see what
we could accomplish to lighten the 'stuff' load for Dad and Mom today.

We showed up a bit after 10 and a breakfast of toaster waffles was in
full swing, with oatmeal simmering on the stove. Dad, Mom, and Steffan
were in the kitchen. Mom had done her first round of exercises and was
dressed in  the best outfit we've seen yet.

A few things had migrated in from the 'to go' place; a phone stand for
the bedroom and maybe a few craft items. However, there was a new pile
of 'to go' items in the living room! Craft stuff for Dotty to donate to
Colton schools, a photo of Forrest and Darcelle to take to work, and a
pack of playing cards decorated with those dogs that play poker.

I washed one of the windows in the craft room. It may have never been
washed before. Thinking back to a time when there were several smokers
in the house, you can imagine the color of the cleaning cloth when
done. Dennis hung a curtain of sorts, he and Dad did some more
reorganizing back there. Dennis went to Home Depot to pick up a piece
of Masonite for the floor of Dad's work area. (Mom was sure she had
offended Dennis by speaking unkindly of a particular political party,
and thought she better go lay down for awhile. All is well, though, I'm
not sure he ever even heard her comment. He returned with the big board
and Mom decided she would go on living.) 

We had decided several days ago to eventually lay a piece of Masonite
over the carpet to make sweeping up the chip carving pieces easier. It
was a perfect fit for the work area, but the back of Masonite is
textured. For the tight fit that it was, textured Masonite on carpet is
a bit like giant Velcro. Imagine the fun Dad and Dennis had positioning
it!

After repositioning the gate leg table in the dining room so that we
have more eating spots, I moved the palm tree and furniture from the
corner of the living room, vacuumed, attacked more cobwebs, Febrezed
the stinky 'cat corner' (it's smelling better, by the way) and moved
some houses off the mantle to the kitchen with other small houses on
top of the cupboards. Finally there are ONLY lighthouses on the mantle!
Dad and I rearranged a few things in the curio cabinet and put the
Santa away that was on his carving table. This was all in preparation
to moving the carving table to his workspace in the craft room. It was
a perfect space and we gained more space in 
the living room!

Sometime today I got Mom to make a phone call to her friend in Forest
Grove. She left a message for the woman to come get some teaching
supplies for an art project. Next, I had her call out to Colton and she
had a few fun moments on the phone talking to Rene, then Dotty. We
found out Forrest was on his way to help out some more today.

Steffan provided Popsicles for a treat during the hot afternoon; a
welcome delight, let me tell you! Dennis spent some time visiting with
Forrest, Steffan, and Mom while I got some laundry and dishes done.

Dad brought in a HUGE KFC chicken dinner with all the fixings. We had
another sit down meal in the dining room! Dad, Mom, Dennis, Steffan, me
- and Dad even convinced Forrest to join us for a few bites. The cutest
part of the day was when Mom, on her own, was able to get up from the
table after dinner. She was really fighting with her pants, to keep
them up. Well, wouldn't you know it, the gave up the ghost and let go.
She grabbed them in time, but they almost did the entire drop. We all,
Mom included, got a pretty good laugh about that. Apparently Dad had
had the same problem once at Fred Meyers and his pants about fell off,
too. We laughed ourselves silly.

Dennis cleaned up a glass cabinet and rearranged the plants for better
access, installed a few outlet covers that Dad picked up at the store
today, and Forrest worked on installing wood trim on the outside and
making the porch railing sturdier. Forrest loaded up his van with MORE
stuff to take out to Colton, bless him!

Mom did her afternoon exercises and did three 'laps' around the house
now that we have a clear 'track' inside the house for her.

The best part of the day was getting to eat in the dining room and
visit in the living room. This house is becoming a home. We made it
home by 6 p.m. today.

Well, I'm going to cut this short. "Trick My Truck" is going to make
over an ice cream truck; just the kind of mind candy I enjoy.

Thank you Dennis, thank you Forrest, and thank you Steffan for making
this a great day. 

Love,
Daphne

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