Our version of retirement: Living a childhood dream

[Meanderer]

Finished the deck
It's a design while you go project
Always a bit of a mystery on how it's gonna turn out
It became multi tiered

Funny thing
When one works on revamping a room or yard
And it's a bit cruddy to begin with
There's only one way to go
But when that project is done, it just makes the other areas look that much worse
There's no fun in getting everything done at once, and pouring immediate money into a pit
I'd much rather string out the agony for months on end

May next tackle the ugly fence but I so love hitting the dog's nose with the water hose when he sticks it thru a gap in that rotten fence

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Or
I may upgrade the clothesline to something retractable

View attachment 297065

I incorporated the planter, that, at one time was the sandbox

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Happy about the brown weeds, however

Glad to hear that you will be playing with a Cool Deck!

 

[Gary O']

Next
an arbor....maybe

 

[Meanderer]

Harbour Lights - Hawaiian Style Lap Steel Guitar

 

[Gary O']

A little better pic without sun/shadow interference
(Just for my own recognition down the line)

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Finished the deck
It's a design while you go project
Always a bit of a mystery on how it's gonna turn out
It became multi tiered

Funny thing
When one works on revamping a room or yard
And it's a bit cruddy to begin with
There's only one way to go
But when that project is done, it just makes the other areas look that much worse
There's no fun in getting everything done at once, and pouring immediate money into a pit
I'd much rather string out the agony for months on end

May next tackle the ugly fence but I so love hitting the dog's nose with the water hose when he sticks it thru a gap in that rotten fence

View attachment 297064

Or
I may upgrade the clothesline to something retractable

View attachment 297065

I incorporated the planter, that, at one time was the sandbox

View attachment 297067

View attachment 297068View attachment 297066

Happy about the brown weeds, however

Maybe ask your neighbour if they will split the cost of a new fence with you and maybe you can resource some of the wood from the old fence.

I like the deck. It’s a perfect place for the BBQ.

 

[Tommy]

Great job, Gary! I so admire your "wood butchering" skills.

 

[Gary O']

Maybe ask your neighbour if they will split the cost of a new fence with you and maybe you can resource some of the wood from the old fence.

Good advice
Nice young lad
Works hard, around the clock
He's supporting his mom, his daughter, and the occasional sibling and in law that pops in to reside from time to time

I'm not going to trouble him just yet
Got his hands full

The fence can wait a bit
It's doing it's job for now

 

[StarSong]

But when that project is done, it just makes the other areas look that much worse

My grandmother had a saying: When you paint the walls they'll laugh at the ceiling. Paint the ceiling and they'll all be laughing at the floor.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Good advice
Nice young lad
Works hard, around the clock
He's supporting his mom, his daughter, and the occasional sibling and in law that pops in to reside from time to time

I'm not going to trouble him just yet
Got his hands full

The fence can wait a bit
It's doing it's job for now

Good plan. Fences can be quite expensive. We had to build a 300 foot one for our last house so we’d have a fence between our neighbours but it was our neighbour that insisted. He didn’t like dogs and we had a big German Shepherd so the fence went up fast. Lol

 

[Gary O']

His eldest girl has Dravet syndrome
Bouts of epileptic seizures 24/7
Heavy meds
She's not expected to see her teens

I don't know how he does it
He's been the nurse
the doctor
the EMT
and
The Father...the single parent

I'll take that back a little bit
I do know how he does it....

After every seizure, she apologizes

Gives one the strength to carry on, 24/7

He's been doing this a very long time now
A very long time



Makes me think of when we ask The Lord to forgive us
Time and time again

We're sinners
Born in it
But....
we're sorry

 

[Gary O']

Great moon tonight

 

[Gary O']

A little better pic without sun/shadow interference
(Just for my own recognition down the line)

Also a 'before' pic

 

[Gary O']

Hiked around the upper lake today
Sounds far reaching but it starts on the end of downtown

Plenty of ducks, gulls, and pigeons

and

The occasional pelican





Not sure what kind of pigeon these are but they're a lot different than our ring-necked mourning doves up at the house




kinda pretty

 

[RadishRose]

Hiked around the upper lake today
Sounds far reaching but it starts on the end of downtown

Plenty of ducks, gulls, and pigeons

and

The occasional pelican

View attachment 297935
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Not sure what kind of pigeon these are but they're a lot different than our ring-necked mourning doves up at the house

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kinda pretty

View attachment 297938

Those are the ones who usually hang around city buildings for handouts.

 

[Meanderer]

My rule has always been if there are two, they are doves.....more than two, they are pigeons.

 

[Gary O']

Of course I have to have fun with thought bubbles

Seagulls are easy

 

[Tommy]

Those are the ones who usually hang around city buildings for handouts.

In Portland, Maine I heard them referred to as "gutter falcons".

 

[Supernatural]

Hubby and I had a countdown plan upon reaching 60 years old. However, SonShine died after shirt illness and that threw a serious loop. After the grieving, the house move, the set up anew, things were back online then... the Pandemic struck.

2022 began with new plans and wishes and Todo lists. Then sadly hubby passed away... Struggling to reorganise everything without him and still taking care of daughter. Can't say I'm 100% there yet. Nope, that'll probably take a whole 5 years again but together we've taken baby steps and made some amazing changes. Which is good for the souls.

However, it's not the retirement I'd expected. I believed we'd be running around winning Zimmer frame races in our olden days. Being suddenly alone isn't what I'd hoped for...

 

[Meanderer]

 

[Meanderer]

 

[Gary O']

Meanwhile
at the feeder....

 

[Gary O']

Meanwhile
at the feeder....

continued


What we have here....

 

[Gary O']

@Gary O', you've mentioned this sweet granddaughter before. A heartbreaking situation made worse because he's soloing.

Do they live close enough that you get to see them often?

They came by today
Proceeded to Walmart

Didn't get there
She had a grand mal

She's OK now, but those are taking their toll on this little one

We do a lot of praying

 

[StarSong]

Oh, Gary. Knowing you love your children and grands as much as I do mine, I can only begin to imagine the dual joy and heartache you feel for this precious granddaughter.

I'll continue praying for her, you, your family, the researchers in this field, and for a miracle.

 

[Gary O']

Knowing you love your children and grands as much as I do mine, I can only begin to imagine the dual joy and heartache you feel for this precious granddaughter.

They came by again today to get her meds
My son clued me in on what's to be expected from here on out

She's entering puberty
This is when there's a dramatic increase in seizures with Dravet syndrome kids
It's why they're not expected to see much of their teens

They continue to increase until they just don't recover from what becomes the last one

My son has been incredible about all this
Savoring each moment with her
Making her years as good as possible while he has her

It's a pretty tough call, as she's quite spoiled
Much like Helen Keller's early years

I know I couldn't handle it, long term