Summer fun

I'm still figuring out this posting thing.  I wrote something earlier, but apparently it didn't post.  Tonight Miah, Susan, Moses and I went to a little welcome home gathering for a couple who spent the last 5+ years in South Africa.  Andy was Zach's friend in HS.  It was great to see him and his wife.  They will be with the same mission organization, but stationed in US after further training in CA.  

My summer is going very well.  Much of my time is spent gardening....which has at times seemed overwhelming.  I completely re-plumbed the "back 40" (which is what I've named station #4 on the watering system).  It covers the 3 terraces in the far side of the back yard.  I installed 100 feet of water pipe and the tubes, sprayers, etc.  The dirt work still needs some fine-tuning, since it has not been used for probably over 12 years.  Susan and I transplanted many of our bean and squash plants this morning.  It looked as if all the seeds we planted produced plants....and were way too close together.  

I have also had lots of fun with Moses.  Being a grandma has been wonderful.  I am very grateful I've had the opportunity to have Miah, Susan and Moses in my home for this little season.  It has been a such a blessing and a joy.

It's late (9:25pm!!)....so I will close for now.  

The last couple of weeks of May are c-r-a-z-y!!  I wonder every single year how everything gets done before the last day of school.  But somehow it always does....or it ends up not being that important afterall.  So, here I am again wondering.....

I'm looking forward to a very good summer.  My big project this year is a garden.  I have high hopes.  It will have to wait until school is out because lots of preparation work needs to be done. This will be the first year I've had a vegetable garden since my own children were toddlers.  The watering system needs work, the ground has never been prepared for a garden area, and I really don't know what I'm doing.  Am I nuts?  Maybe.  But it will be an exciting undertaking with hopefully an abundant reward!  I remember a story someone told me once.  The moral was, "Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly"  For perfectionists, (sometimes I think I qualify), that is good news.  Many things worth doing never get done because of fear of not doing them perfectly.  My attitude for this garden is, "just do it".  It may not be the best garden ever....but I will learn.  And next year it will be a little better. 

Bedtime.  I'm finished.  Good night:)

I think it would be really awesome to 'someday' have a huge family reunion in Tucumcari with one of the events being a picnic on the Homestead.  We would need to get permission, of course, from the owners of the Blue Front Ranch.  

It's not difficult to find once you reach the BFR.  Soon after passing the BFR, there is a road that veers off to the right.  Probably 1/3 to 1/2 mile later it will be blocked by a fence.  Continue on the same road (which is still used) until right before the windmill.  Another unused road veers to the right.  We saw irrigation pipe along this road.  Go another 1/4 mile probably.  You will need to cross another fence (it has a gate).   Continue approximately 1/4 mile and the homestead will be obvious.  The well with the little building to the east will be the most noticeable.  Then the dugout (with lots of little trees growing out of it) will be between the well and small building.  

The trees will tell stories of days gone by.  It is a place full of dreams and laughter and tears.  

Last weekend was an amazing adventure.  Many details had to come together to arrange the 4 days with such perfection....I believe it was orchestrated by God.  Elizabeth and Elaine had planned visit Springer (where mom and dad met) and venture out to find the old Murphy homestead on this weekend, not realizing that it was the same weekend of Aunt Marie's memorial service in Tucumcari, which Trish and I had decided to attend.  Allen (Elizabeth's husband) also had a raquetball tournament in Las Vegas (nearby).  So, four of the Murphy sisters planned to meet in Alb., attend the memorial service in Tucumcari, use Las Vegas as a homebase and explore east NM for a couple of days....one main goal being to find the homestead.  

The whole weekend was wonderful.  It was great to see aunts and cousins and other relatives.  The memorial service was very touching.  All the arrangements turned out to be perfect.  We had a great time together, broke all kinds of rules (trespassing and playing ghost in the night... among others), sang to cows, and generally acted with silly abandon.  And....we met our goal....we found the homestead site.  We were overjoyed and laughed and hugged each other.  Hopefully the cows have recovered from our intrusion.  Some photos are attached.

I don't post very often....obviously.  

Today has been a very good day.  I spent the morning at Dad's reading and reflecting while he napped.  We ate Blake's burgers at Boyd Park.  The afternoon was spent doing sudoku and cryptograms....a little mind exercise for my aging brain:)  Then Dad and I watched Lawrence Welk.  A typical Saturday, but one filled with an unusual degree of gratitude.  I am grateful for many things...a healthy and happy family (immediate and extended).  A good job.   A God who is present and powerful and good.  

Superbowl Sunday.  Today I exchanged a few things at Lowe's, Walmart, and Target.  I made a couple of changes in the bathroom decor.  Now we (Miah, Susan, Moses and I) are all just hanging around  with the TV on...not that I'm all that interested in Football.   

It's an absolutely beautiful day outside.  

Oh, I get to go change Moses and hang out with him.  It's a highlight of my life lately:)

It's been a few days.  Being a grandma is the best.  Baby Moses is already growing so fast.  It's fun watching Jeremiah and Susan as parents. 

Today I went to Lowe's to buy a new microwave.  After a few minutes, while the appliance guy went to the stock room to retrieve it, I walked to the front of the store.  The fire alarm went off and I asked if I needed to leave the building.  The clerk said "no" so I browsed around a bit.  A few minutes later I noticed firemen walking to the back of the store.  Hmmm....

Then a worker walked by saying, "Josh set off the sprinklers while trying to get a microwave from the stock room".  This did not sound good.

   Doyle Meyer and his son Christoff walked passed, so I visited with them a few minutes.   

Next thing I knew the clerk said that I wouldn't be able to pick up the microwave for a while....probably hours rather than minutes.  The stockroom was drenched in water and the sprinklers were still going.  

A couple of hours later, Miah and Susan dropped by and picked up the microwave.  When we opened it, it was damaged....not by water, but someone had punched a good-sized whole in the side and damaged the unit.  

Back to Lowe's.  I brought home another unit....and now we are installing it.   It has become quite a project.