It's a Party!

Recently, I headed down south to celebrate a special birthday marker for one of my Extension friends.  This is definitely one of the benefits of this career - you become to connected to folks, that it family and friends really do become a blur.  I was fortunate enough to be able to travel with some other great Extension folk too, so the day was full of memories!

This young lady was selected as one of my Mentors, when I began this career 14 years ago.  I honestly could never think that I would have remained this long.  Age seems so far away when you first graduate and start to work.  Time flies!

I am excited to say that we have been connected ever since!  The flowers for my wedding, the jewelry talent, sewing and many other talents are part of what make my friend "A" who she is.  Congrats "A" on achieving a monumental year!  As soon as I can, I will be eating a piece of cake in your honor!

'58, Daddy & "K"

Mr. Fixit's car friends have really been bugging him to take his 1958 Chevy to a local car show.  Mr. Fixit finally complied, well, he actually had the weekend off, and I did too - so that made the whole car show thing a much easier event to attend!  And so, the '58 headed off to Randolph as part of their annual 4th of July festival.

The day was so incredibly hot, and humid.  Yuck!  Anyway, this was the largest turnout they had ever had for this car show.  There were well over 100 cars and trucks participating.  Almost any color and shape you could imagine.  The judges selected Mr. Fixit's truck as one of the top 25.  So, he received a nice plaque to keep.

"K" and I headed up to visit Mr. Fixit shortly after the show began, and the weather was not yet too unbearable.  So, I thought I should snap a photo of the guys and the truck!

How to Paint Your Office . . . On Campus

Since the office I occupy has not been painted in more years than anyone has record of, I was given the green light to paint.  So, here is how the process played out:

1. Decide to paint.
2. Get permission from the appropriate people, that it is acceptable to paint.  I think there are 4 people, maybe 5.  The details are a bit fuzzy now.
3. Contact the facilities paint department regarding paint details.
4. Visit the paint department to select a color.  This may sound easy, but finding the paint shop was honestly quite the adventure in itself!  I am available to guide others, if you would like.
5. Sign a waiver stating that you will paint the office responsibly, and upon completion, notify the paint department to inspect the work.  If work is not satisfactory, the paint department will repaint, and charge the department a fee.
6. Select a color and amount.
7. Have someone from your department complete a requisition to order the paint.
8. Determine who actually needs to complete the requisition and send it to the paint department.
9. Wait to be contacted when the paint order has been filled by an off campus paint contractor.
10. Follow up to be sure order has been sent.
11. Paint has arrived at the paint department.  A 5 gallon bucket was inadvertently ordered instead of a 1 gallon bucket.
12. Pick up the paint.
13. Paint your office.
14. Return the leftover paint, and let the paint department know that the job has been completed.
15. Enjoy your newly painted office, because, it will likely not be able to be painted again for a very long time!

Don's Truck

Mr. Fixit's friend Don, loves to restore trucks and cars.  It is definitely his hobby, and most nights and weekends, one can find him working on his latest project in his shop.  So, here is the latest project, for you to check out.  I am not sure about the technical details, but it reminds me of an old grain truck.

Anyway, Don has been showing his finished truck at all the car shows this season.  Mr. Fixit actually helped him construct the bed, since it was out of wood.  It took him about 2 days worth of work to get this part of the project accomplished.

So, Don was pretty proud, and was quite enthusiastic to snap a photo of us in the truck bed.  Look really hard, and you can see us at the front of the bed.  Bet you can't tell how proud Don is of his truck?? ;)

Green Car

I did not ever realize this, but did you know there is an antique car/truck show season?  Well, let me tell you -- there is!  Since Mr. Fixit owns and restored a '58 Chevy Pickup, this is a fact that I am now very knowledgeable about.  So, here is a little bit about the car show season.

The season begins in late spring, because, cars are shown outside.  So, one definitely desires nice weather for the cars to be viewed.  Lots of towns host a show, and often, the shows are held the same time frame each year.  For example, this photo is from the Randolph car show, which occurs around the 4th of July.

Then those who are entering their cars, give them a good cleaning, and pay an entry fee to showcase their vehicle.  The end result could be a trophy and other prizes.  A car show pretty much lasts all day.  The public comes and views the vehicles, and the owners hang out nearby to answer questions.  I am not sure that I totally understand why one would do this every weekend?  But, nonetheless, you can happen upon some unique cars, such as this one.

Sibs

I remember many people saying, "Kids grow up so fast!"  I honestly never believed them, well, until now.  I do not get back west much to visit family, and I am telling you - these kids ARE growing fast!  The girls will be in second grade and kindergarten next fall.  How is that possible, I ask?

Their little bro will turn one year old in October.  It feels like he just arrived!  Many people also say, "Enjoy the time now, because they will not be little forever."  Some days, it is hard to enjoy.  Other times, I just laugh.  Because in 10 years, I am sure that adventures will not focus on keeping trashcans covered, leaky diapers and block towers.  Oh, the stories we will be able to tell!

Little Cuz

A visit back West, yielded a little time with "K's" cousins.  This little guy will turn 1 in October, so we thought it would be fun for the two to play together!  Both guys were not to keen on sharing toys, and well, I don't really believe they are fast friends yet!

Since "K" still will not go to anyone but Mom and Dad, and Sweet "J," our daycare provider - we had to be creative in snapping a photo of the two cousins together.  So, we just plopped Cousin "H" on Mr. Fixit's lap and captured a photo.  "H" really was not concerned about the whole situation at all.  Both even smiled!  I guess when you have two big sisters, one little guy may not have much choice in many matters =).

A Day in the Life . . .

I am sure most people wonder, what it is that I do with all my "free" time, since my work schedule has changed to permit me to be home on most nights and weekends.  Well, I thought I would do a typical day's schedule to help everyone see what I am doing with my acquired free time!

The work day begins at 5:30 a.m.  I head out for a 20 minute walk, and Mr. Fixit is up getting ready for work.  He feeds the cattle, cats and maybe waters a plant or two.  He packs his lunch and gets things ready for his day - which begins at 6:30 a.m.  I return from the walk, and begin getting ready myself.

After the typical hair, clothes and a bit of make-up, I head out to the kitchen to begin the prep for snacks and lunch for the day.  It is now about 6:15.  Mr. Fixit pops back in to say farewell, and heads off to work.  I pack my lunch, including morning and afternoon snacks.  The cooler is moved to the door.

I prep my breakfast which is a 1/2 cup of whole grain cereal, one 100 calorie package of almonds, 1 cup of 1% milk and a hard boiled egg.  Then I check my fasting blood sugar, record, and pack items in my work bag.  I haul the cooler, work bag, purse and other miscellaneous work items to the car.  At 6:45 I eat breakfast.

Soon 7:00 has arrived, and after a quick toothbrush, it is time to get "K" up.  He normally is awake and chattering away =).  We do a diaper change, and get dressed, then it is off to play for a bit.  At 7:25 it is time to head to Sweet "J's" for the day.

The work day ensues, and then at 5:00, it is time to head back to Sweet "J's."  I learn the report on his day, and then we head home.  Usually we arrive home around 5:40 p.m.  It is time to make supper, as "K" is ready to eat by 6:30.

Supper is served, then I work on dishes.  I usually finish up just in time for the fourth, and final, blood sugar check of the day.  I record the results, and complete the food log for the day.  "K" is usually playing at this point, and Mr. Fixit is entertaining him, or working on a small project.  I lay out "K's" next day outfit and a set of PJ's.  I gather bath items, and get them ready.  Then we head out for a 30 minute stroller walk!

When we return it is usually close to 8:30 p.m., and it is time for a bath and bed for "K."  Mr. Fixit leads the bath, and I pick up toys.  They are usually scattered throughout the house!  After a bath, and a drink of water, "K" is in bed.  The time: 8:45 p.m.

I get my breakfast and vitamin stuff set out for the next morning, put supper dishes away, set the table for the next night's dinner, do any pre-dinner prep that I can for the next evening, and gather lunch and snack supplies for the next day.  Then I have a small evening snack, take a shower, check my email and phone messages, plug the phone in and go to bed.  It is usually 10:00 p.m. at this point.  Meanwhile, Mr. Fixit is watering or working on some other outdoor project until about 9:45 p.m.

I head to bed and Mr. Fixit watches the news.  He follows shortly.  Then, before you know it, the day begins again - 5:20 a.m. sure can come fast some nights!

Super Tower

"K" is very adept at stacking his toys into towers.  He first started with the blocks.  Then he tried some of the stacking cups, puzzle pieces, and even some of the mega blocks.  Sometimes the stacks do not stay quite like he had planned, but it is fun to watch him experiment.

Mr. Fixit is construction savvy, and I think "K" will also have some of this ability.  It is fun to watch them play together!  They take turns adding another item, until the tower becomes tall enough and too wobbly for another stackable piece.  Then, it crashes to the floor!  Here is a tower right before it fell.  No toys were injured in this building project =).