EXERCISES ALONE

Date: 20/08/2007 02:39

The weather was too rainy to go to the family reunion in Halsey, so we
headed back over to Mom and Dad's house this morning. I think it makes
the 15th straight day. . . .

Dennis installed a doorknob on the front hall closet (a vintage one
from our house; it needs a face plate), a light fixture to cover the
dining room light bulbs (from our basement; we are cleaning it out),
and the house numbers (we stopped in at Ace for a dozen brass screws)
while I started in scraping the paint off the windows (they were
probably painted more than 10 years ago.)

Dad woke up and was surprised to see us there. He was a bit bleary-eyed
as he had been up past midnight. The great news is that Forrest,
Brandon, and Shayla had been there the night before. The alley way was
cleared out and Shayla helped Mom clear out more stuff. The rain and
the night marauders had made a mess of the stuff on the curb, but
Dennis and I picked it up and reorganized things again. The alley way
looks GREAT! Thanks so much!

Dennis rescued a hose caddy, found the hose, got it hooked up and
working, and relocated it to a usable area.

Dad (and I'm not sure who helped) moved the giant headboard out of the
bedroom and pushed the bed to the opposite end of the room for better
access. He got the headboard to the living room and Dennis and I took
it out to the 'free store' on the curb this morning.

We stayed several hours and Dennis helped me scrape more stickers and
paint off of the windows. Dennis took the kitchen door (both sides), I
worked on the laundry room and dining room. He went to the hardware
store (again) and bought some light fixture screws, then installed the
light cover on the kitchen overhead light.

Meanwhile, Mom got up, too, and did some of her exercises by herself
(with my prompting) and some with Dad's direction. He made breakfast
(it's always healthy hot cereal, fresh fruit, milk, and coffee.) Mom
forgets that Dad needs time to eat and was having him run and fetch
things until I said, "Mom, let Dad sit down and eat. Dad, come enjoy
your breakfast at the dining room table." That worked.

There was a bit of 'discussion' as Mom wanted to sort through some
books that she had already looked at once, then Dad had reorganized in
boxes, then she went over them again, then Dad found a poem to read
aloud and . . . .so it goes. (No wonder Dennis went to the hardware
store again!)

Anyway, sorting is being done, discarding is being planned, and so far
no 'things' are making their way into the house.

Steffan came upstairs for coffee, Sean came downstairs with some fresh
juice he had made in the juicer for Mom and Dad. It's starting to feel
like a real 'home' rather than a storage unit!

I showed Dad how to put an X on the calendar box when Mom does her
morning exercises and another X when she does her evening routine. It's
a good way for them to keep track, so I think that will work.

While we were there Dotty called and is bringing a cat to give to the
neighbors two doors down. Steffan has given away all of his cat
apparatus and understands that he just doesn't have the facilities for
a pet.

We came home to get a bit of rest before taking off to Burns tomorrow.
We have an appt. in Redmond to pick up some siding stain, so we must be
there. I told Mom and Dad that this time we were really going for good.
It was so encouraging to see that they are working on the place (well,
Dad is, Mom is directing, I think) and keeping things neat and tidy.

Thanks, Forrest, Brandon, and Shayla for yesterday's help. Thanks,
Dotty, for going in today. Thanks, Chris and Laird for the messages of
encouragement. Thanks, Dennis, for hanging in there with me and putting
up with tears and cobwebs and an aching back!

Love,
Daphne