Monday miscellaneous

 Happy Monday, all!

I left off my Sunday blog before the afternoon activity, which was the trip up the road a bit to see The Rustlers of Red Rock, a Melodrama written by my brother in law, D. Chapelle.  He also played the part of Quiet Harry with his typical comedic timing.

In this photo, he is sitting down with the villian, Black Bart (who is pretending to be the ranch foreman), and being pumped to find the hero's "deep secret".  Those of you familiar with the melodrama format will recognize the themes.

Of course I had to get there.  The wind was strong out of the Northwest, and gusty.  The traffic on the interstate was pretty steady.  I'm a little old lady and I drive like one.  One who has not been out on the interstate since before the start of the pandemic.  No, no, I did not have any problems getting there, or gettin there in time, but I was driving slower than most of the cars, trucks, campers, etc. on the road and that can make a body a bit nervous.  I stayed in the far right lane, like a "good" little old lady.

About halfway there, my son's truck went whizzing by, carrying him, his fiancé, and her parents, which is about all that little truck will hold.  Carl is not welcome at the Mellers.  We managed to connect at the theater, collect our tickets, popcorn, etc., and find seats in the third row.  My sister (the playwrite's wife) and their daughter arrived a bit later and sat with others of their friends in the second row.

I was proud of my throwing arm... you see, besides tossing popcorn at the villian, one can toss US Currency, folded or crumpled up, as tips for the actors.  This adds to the fun, as they make great show of the competition to collect them as they land.  Of course the tips are split among the actors, because face it, we can't aim those dollars very well.

It is a wonderful family friendly outing, one I didn't realize quite how much I missed until going again, for the first time since the pandemic began!

One thing the photos reminded me of was that my hair is out of hand.  The selfie of our group shows off that the bangs are definitely over the glasses!

This morning, I got myself over to my local hair cutting place and corrected the situation.  I feel much tidier and lighter!

Poof!  In a week it will be the classic mid-Summer holiday, July 4th.  Our neighbors to the North will celebrate Canada Day on Friday, our local community fireworks display will be on Sunday night, the 3rd.  I'm plotting on paddling a kayak on the 1st, and there will be some form of family get-together with "the kids" over the weekend, possibly at a park / lake so Carl can swim?  TBD.

Here's hoping y'all have a loving and peaceful Holiday week, not getting overly upset over the news, choosing compassion and kindness toward those with whom we disagree, choosing positive action over anger.

Take care of you, so that you can contribute to the community and the world.  🔥✨💖

Another peaceful, sunny, Sunday morning paddle

 

Someone asked for a photo with the lilypads rolled up and reaching for the sun.  This was my attempt at taking one of them, this morning.  Enlarge the photo and you still might not be able to see them, along the shore, but they are there.  My paddle buddy and I mused that might be what they do overnight, then unfurl in the sun to drop to the surface?

But what I noted in this photo was the morning sun on the waves, and how sparkly it was.  For the most part I did not even attempt photos this morning as there were waves and wind to deal with.  The wind was coming from the Northwest, and the Paddle Company texted me that they were going to change where they launched from today.  He explained that this would make it easier to launch beginners today.  He wasn't worried about Geri and me... we'd do fine either spot, having been doing this for a while.  It was fun, having a bit more of a challenge than a glass-smooth surface, and we got our workout in, for sure.

After our paddle, we walked over to where the marina used to be, 55 years ago when I took canoeing lessons.  The concrete pad where the boathouse used to be and where the canoes on racks used to be when they were awaiting renters.

The dock at the foot of the steps leading down to the lake is no longer there, of course, but I could walk down memory lane easily, being there.

When I got home, I saw the neighbors across the street were out in their yard, so I quick like a bunny found the print I had made of the photo with the geese on their roof, and walked it over to them.

Meantime, back at the clover nursery, I saw itsy bitsy sprouts in the muddiest part of the yard yesterday afternoon.

The neighbor kid had come by and mowed while it was still raining.  The yard looks good except where I'm still trying to encourage that clover.  I have watered a few times because the rain has not been reliable enough.

Here's hoping my fellow former Sparkers are remembering to breathe, hydrate, and be active, because whatever we might individually think about the state of the world, it won't do a lick of good to neglect our own health.  We have to be strong to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of those to depend upon us.

May your well-deserved rest be peaceful, for Life is Good!

Spark on, gentle friends!

🔥✨💖

Carl becomes a minor celebrity

 Imagine my surprise and smile this morning when the local news aired its "Good News Friday" segment and among the items was a photo of my Grand-dog, Carl!

Good News Friday is something a lot of local stations do, under various names.  They encourage viewers to send in photos that make them smile.  Well, the mythical son's very community minded father-in-law to be is on a campaign supporting the Community Free Markets, and as part of their publicity, he took a photo of Carl at their recent event.

Carl on greeter duties.  His "Grandpa Bob" wanted to let folks know this was a pet-friendly event, so he sent this photo to the newspaper a couple of weeks ago, and it showed up there, too.  Apparently he sent the same photo to the TV station, and this morning among others, it got picked to be aired.

Of course, I had to post to facebook, congratulating Bob on getting Carl on the air!  And a hilarious family back and forth has ensued, and doggos with swelled heads, etc.

Pets, beware who your people connect with... you might just end up with your 15 minutes of fame.

In more mundane "news", it didn't rain yesterday so I was out pulling hoses in the evening, then the rain started this morning, so at least I don't have to water the clover seed this morning!  The ground was thirsty, for sure.

It felt so good to step outside this morning into the gentle rain as I pulled the garbage bins back from the curb.

And later in the day, I see they are commemorating the collapse of that building in Florida... was that really only a year ago?  Is it just me, or is the news cycle incredibly rapid?  So much happens and we hear so much, it seems that more time must have elapsed!  But no, we are just over-informed.  

Good time to take a break from it all, right?  That is one of my standard pep talk bullets, "be informed, but not alarmed", and if it starts to get to you, turn it off!

Here's to a fine weekend ahead, taking care of your body, soul, and mind's needs.  Listen to the inner, not the outer voices!  And hug a puppy!

Life is good.  Spark on!

Next steps... encouraging clover

 It's Summer time, but we're getting a break from the most oppressive heat today.  I got out early to rake and spread clover seed, to untangle the hose that had been sitting the garage for a couple of years, hook it up and give the seeds a bit of a drink.  It's supposed to rain (well, it has a 60% chance, per the weather man) so I didn't soak it for long.  All before breakfast!

I tried to rake it up a bit so the seed might "take" better.  It must touch the ground to sprout.  I can't believe they have to put that in the directions, having grown up around farming... but they do!

I was considering how I might carefully open the thin plastic bag in which the ten pounds of clover seed came, but discovered it had acquired a tiny rip all by itself and was leaking out.  I just used the leak to spread it around.

It's not as well prepped as I might like, but it's what I had time for this morning!

Unraveling that long hose is a brain and muscles exercise.  It stretches all the way to that fence corner.

Then I came in to clean up and cook my oats for breakfast, with blueberries and cinnamon.  I still have the trainer ahead at noonish.  And then "poof" it will be almost the weekend!  Weeks go fast when you fill them up with activity.

Wednesday's sister walk brought out new information:  she had some Sunday mantinee tickets extra, and I'd already bought mine, so offered the spares to the mythical son, his fiancé, and her parents, and they thought it sounded like great fun to toss popcorn at the villian.  It will turn into "family and friends" day at the theater, although there's one former BIL who will miss it due to the lady in his life coming down with Covid.  Welcome to the world we live in nowadays.

Here's hoping a Thankful Thursday to us all, as we strive to maintain healthy habits!

Life is good.  Spark on!

🔥✨💖

Fence is done and dusted - Jazz in June finally!

I headed out to the trainer session on Tuesday noonish.  When I came back, the contractors were all gone, and the fence was done!  There is still a lot to do inside the fence for me, but for now... peace in the neighborhood.  The masonry guys next door are still at work on their project.

Here's where the new fence abuts the old, at the gate.  The gate hinge connects the two.  I only use this gate as an emergency exit, since it opens into the neighbor's yard.  

If this next photo unnerves you, you might have been pandemic affected!  Jazz in June is a local tradition, an outdoor concert every Tuesday evening in June.  As you might have gathered from the past couple of weeks' blogs, it's been rescheduled or moved indoors the first two weeks, and I bowed out of that option.  As is, people sit, converse, eat food from food vendors who park their trucks nearby, and chill to whatever group is playing that night.  

Our party was seated on our camp chairs about 8 feet behind these folks, also in the shade of old Architecture Hall.  In front is the art gallery's sculpture garden, where the musicians were set up for Jazz in June. 

This is our little group, going from front to rear you see:  Lacey (son's fiancé), her dad, me, her mom, and an extra friend of theirs... the empty chair they joke would be my son, ducking the cameras... but in fact, he has an online zoom class that conflicts.  Weather was nice, cooling off as the evening progressed.

When I got home, the neighbors across the street were out enjoying the evening on their porch, including mom and newborn (now a month old).  I was not going to get too close, as I'd been around quite a few different people recently, but I did step across the street and we visited.  I was introduced to the little king (Mir_____, I still have not adjusted to the names in Uzbek, but I asked the mom what the meaning of the name was and she said it means a king... so to calm my mind, I think of him that way for now.)

Newborns are so precious!  Anyway, I told her about the geese, but I didn't have the printed photo with me at the time.  But now I know it's a little boy!

Wednesday, I'm ready for a day of quiet!  It won't be completely quiet, as Wednesday is sister walk day, but I'm kind of done in by the crowd thing Tuesday evening.  I don't know if I'll go again next week... I have myself down as a "maybe" in my mind.  Because before then, I have the trainer on Thursday, a kayak date slated for Sunday morning, and the Mellerdrama for Sunday afternoon.  I might just be out of peopling energy by the end of Sunday, and today being a quiet day just what the inner soul needs!

Here's hoping you're listening to your own inner needs and taking steps to satisfy them.  Self-care is important so we are able to engage in "other care"!

Life is good!  Keep on Sparking!

🔥✨💖

Dreams for the future

 Neighbors always give us more ideas for projects "down the line".  Mine is currently having some brick masonry work done, as well as getting egress windows put in.

All this while my fence is being built.  So, nosey neighbor that I am, I asked, and got their business card!

Here are my little collection of masonry projects, waiting in the wings:

The arch over the front porch.

One side of the garage.

And the "landing" wall.  Anyway, not going to do it this week or anything, but those are on my list!  Along with bathrooms, kitchen, carpets, etc... on the inside.

Anyway, the fence guys are here already (8 a.m.) and starting in on the remainder. A cheeky robin got at the string they've been using to align the fence, and it's sagging in spots.

The day has begun.  I have the trainer session at noonish, and also it's Tuesday, so my DIL to be and I are hoping that "third time's the charm" will apply for the outdoor jazz concert in the sculpture garden this evening.  

The peopling goes on!

Here's to all of us pacing ourselves, recognizing when it's time to stop, already, and take a rest.

Life is good.  Keep on a-sparkin'.

Happy Juneteenth

 This post has nothing to do with the meaning of Juneteenth, it just happens to have been written on the observed holiday.  The newest of Federal Holidays in the US is to celebrate the day on which the last of the slave population, in Texas, had the emancipation proclamation read to them, informing them that they were no longer enslaved.  It had been 2 and a half years since the proclamation was written.

Meanwhile, back at "the ranch", the "skin" is starting to be applied to the framework of the fence.

Here's the framework going around the corner.

The neighbor spoke to me about that little tree the "chief" talked me into keeping, he'd rather it went away.  OK, fine, I told them I have changed my mind, that tree should go.

Day by day, the Carl containment system progresses.

As of the end of the day, the remainder of the stringers were up, a decision was made about the last section before the gate, and the skin had extended around the corner.

In the process of recharging their power tool batteries they managed to trip one of my circuit breakers.  Not a problem, I flipped it back, they had already unplugged their charger.  

As for the pickets, they will finish up tomorrow.  It was HOT out there today, topping out at 95℉.  

Now I'm worn out, and I didn't even do any of that work.

Life is good.  Spark on!

Happy Father's Day weekend

Even though the fence guy said he did not work on weekends, he texted me that he was thinking of picking up the stringers and the pickets on Saturday morning, could he store them in my garage?  Of course I said yes.

We should be set for Monday morning to start putting the skin on those posts!

He brought his young daughter with him.  She, at this point in her young life, thinks she wants to work for dad!  She helped unload the boards from the truck and stack them in my pile.  She would do one board at a time.  I helped out a bit with two or three.  Daddio picked up ten or twelve at a time!  He tells me he used to work in the financial industry, and in the five years since he started doing this small business, he's dropped 45 pounds, just from the change from sedentary to hard manual labor!

Sunday morning, it was time to go kayaking again.  This time the booked time of 9 a.m. was not altered by the weather, and we set off in the other direction, into the backwaters on the eastern edge of the lake.

A couple of mama ducks at various points of the backwaters led their individual phalanx(es) of ducklings... so cute.

When we got out into the less sheltered part of the lake, we had some wind chop and it was fun.  Just enough and not too much.

Then we went to visit the lily pads, because they are behaving differently than we expected, with some leaves rolling up and extending above the water's surface.  I think keeping an eye on them as the season progresses might be a fun sub-plot for the Summer.

We followed Geri's plan of rounding the sail boat race buoys throughout the course of our hour-long paddle.  

After getting back ashore, I found an old co-worker had brought his family out to the lake and rented kayaks same time!  Dick and I had actually retired the same day.  He's still running and in fact did the short course 3K Charity run, same day was my son and his fiancé did, earlier in the month.

Here's hoping that your weekend is progressing smoothly and happily, that you're avoiding any stressful weather and staying safe and healthy!  We're in the heat here, so going early for activity was the plan.  Hydration is essential, too.  And keeping cool for the warmest parts of the day.

Life is good.  Spark on!

🔥✨💖

Fence guys are back at work

 They took Thursday off, which was fine with me.  One less thing to stress over.  Thursday night we had some more thunder boomers roll through.  The fence fellows had left their auger behind my fence, right where the rain water drains.  This morning, this is what it looked like.  It had been solidly caked with mud before the rain.

I did not know whether they would come today.  I had a bathroom remodel guy coming to take measurements and give me a ballpark for re-doing the "main" bathroom in the house.  While I was sweeping the front steps after that contractor left, the fence guys showed up.

The fence posts they had set on Wednesday survived the storm just fine, and now they are working to set posts on the other side.

I really think this "shared" fence line is more of a challenge than the one that abuts the "alleyway" between my house and the condos up the hill.

The neighbors that share the fence line are having other work done on the far side of their house.  That gives everybody the chance to keep an eye on the progress.

I have a couple of steps up from the yard to the patio, but they laid the plywood down to get their machine up onto the patio and kept on working.

Posts laid out and ready to plant.

They will need to connect the new to the old, before it's all done.  I am starting to envision how open the yard is going to feel once it's done and I get the clover planted back there.  I'm mulling over the idea of a beehive... I've never tried keeping bees, but you know we need them!  And I could in theory anyway, harvest local honey for myself and family.

By the end of the day, they had all the east side posts up.  They will not be working on the weekend, which is good as we're predicted to have 100 degree heat.  Gives the posts time to settle, too, before they put the stringers and pickets on.

Here's hoping everyone is staying safe from whatever the weather is sending your way, be it heat, storms, flooding or whatever.  Take care of yourself, get your water in, and get your rest!

Life is Good.  Spark on!

🔥✨💖

The loong wait is over

This hybrid truck was ordered 11 months ago.  It finally arrived at the local dealer on Monday.  The mythical son went to pick it up Tuesday morning.  I'm hoping they didn't get hail last night, as it's parked outside!

I will be most interested to see how this affects their fuel budget, replacing, as it did, a Buick Encore.

Meanwhile, I've been closely following my cousin's posts from Montana.  She and her life-partner (plus their pets) live in Bozeman.  Her job is in Gardiner.  She is unable to commute to work because of the flooding, and has been re-sharing the local groups' coverage of how things are. Some of those videos are absolutely stunning.  Example:  a helicopter, stretching electric wires into Yellowstone, to restore power to the park.  There were helicopters on duty to evacuate people from isolated spots, too. The dedication of the people who choose to live and work in the wilds inspires me.  Kindness to one another is truly a hallmark.

This morning has dawned cloudy and cool.  I have windows open, but it's not just letting in "cool" it's letting in "humid".  I don't know if the plan to set the fence posts today will happen with the dampness in the soil.  I found out via text message overnight that the tornado sirens in town blew, but I slept right through it.  If sirens blew, it's quite possible that trees and branches will keep my fence guys busy.

This morning it's cooler outside than in (insulation works, folks), so I have windows open, risking allergens and humidity coming in, but it feels so... so... Summer morning!  It's going to get hotter in the days ahead, so I'm savoring this one.

In local news, I saw that the restaurant where one of my old work friends and I last shared a luncheon at, pre-pandemic, is closing.  They are selling to another restaurant, and focusing their own business (Greek cuisine) on catering and a food truck.  The pandemic has affected so many businesses, and so many of our own habits... gave me an idea... maybe said friend and I could find out where that food truck will be and schedule a picnic style lunch, outdoors, to renew an old tradition!  Will have to check with her!

Meantime, everybody, remember to take care of yourselves, no matter WHAT is happening around you.  We're each and every one of us issued just one body in this life.  We can't trade it in, so let's do our best to keep it running.

• Remember to hydrate.
• Eat foods that support your immune system and your general health, "eat real food, not too much, mostly plants" makes sense.  But it takes persistence!
• Keep active, as we are able, because "use it or lose it" applies to so much in life!
• Stay aware, informed, but not alarmed.  Do things to calm yourself... being outdoors is a good one!  Breathing exercises are also good.
• And at the end of each day, let it all go, and allow yourself the well-earned rest.  All the burdens will still be there in the morning, and you'll be better equipped to choose wisely which ones to pick up, and which to discard!

Much love, and reminders to be kind to one another.  Because Life is Good.  Keep on Sparkin'!

🔥💖✨

It's HOT out there

My local weather dude tells me Monday's high got to 103℉.  I believe it, as I just walked down the driveway to the mailbox Monday afternoon.  HOT!

In other news, the fence guy got back to me with the refreshed estimate.  He did not split it out the way I wanted him to.  Sigh.  But I did some arithmetic and gave my neighbor the numbers.  Whatever he decides to contribute to the project is fine by me.  

Then suddenly, on Tuesday morning, after I was back from looking in on my sister's kitties, I heard power tools whirring.  Checked the great outdoors and discovered they are making progress taking the old fence down!

The gents will haul off the old fence parts and Jake said he might even get the fence posts set later today.  This turned out not to be the case as it got closer to high noon and I was leaving for my workout.

I came back after the workout to find that the old posts except for the corner post have been extracted.

You're seeing the neighbor's yard here... where you would normally see the fence!

My yard feels naked and exposed.  Tomorrow Jake the fence guy says he will be back to set the new posts.

Meantime, my son let me know his hybrid truck finally made it to the local dealer.  I'm thrilled, but probably won't get to see it for a while, as he is in Summer session at the university, so has projects and Zoom classes and all that as well as the paperwork on picking up said truck.  I imagine he'll have that truck for a while, though, so it's no big worry if his mom doesn't see it right on day one!

Final bit for the Tuesday update... it was supposed to be Jazz in June night, but they have moved the concert into a theater due to predicted storms.  Sigh.  My DIL to be said she doesn't usually go to them indoors, it loses the ambiance of the outdoor concert, and she's felt that way even before the pandemic made folks nervous about indoor events.  So, here we go again:  "better luck next week"?

Here's hoping my fellow Spark refugees (or are we now emigrés?) are remembering to hydrate if you're in heat like me!  Get your activity in during cooler hours of the day, too.  I remember my mom talking about some days being "too hot to eat"... so in some ways that's a blessing?

At the end of the day, let it all go and enjoy a well-deserved night's rest!  You have done what you can, and that is enough!

Life is good.  Spark on!🔥✨💖

Cat lady on loan

Different cats in the photo today.  These are my elder sister's kitties.  Ginger and Spice.  I usually get cat-care duties when she takes a road trip, and this week is no different.

After feeding the kitties Saturday morning I checked on the baby grass, where I'm trying to overseed.  A few blades are starting to sprout.  Carson the lawn-mowing kid came over and I pulled off the hoses to let him mow.  Those little blades are young and tender and too low to be touched by his whirling blade, so I didn't wave him off entirely.

Friday afternoon I got a call from the shared-fence line neighbor's significant other to confirm the style of fence we are planning.  I'm still awaiting the measuring and estimate for the revised specs and will confirm the width of the boards when I book the job.  You want to get the job done?  Put the ladies together and make sure we're on the same page!

Then Friday evening, I touched base with my kayaking companion and we have gone ahead and booked our rental kayaks for the next two Sunday mornings, tomorrow and a week from tomorrow.  Church on the water?  Yeah, can't think of a better place to commune with God than in nature.  

As it turned out, Mother Nature stepped in and changed our plans for Sunday morning.  Lightning strikes in the general vicinity deferred the kayak place from starting at 9, and the kind of kayak I wanted to rent was not available until noon.  Supposed to be 84℉ in the noon hour, and my companion Geri and I decided that wasn't "too bad" (considering the forecast for Monday tops triple digits) and we'll be out on the water, anyway...

So sister's kitties got their visit at the normal hour on Sunday.  While I was driving to and fro, I happened across a downed "big branch" from the storms that have come through.  I had no idea it had been that strong!

The reschedule allowed me to get my "internet church" service in before the kayak outing this Sunday.  That may not be true next Sunday.

Lily pads had floated over to the West side of the lake today, and I was noticing as we floated through them, the little puddles of water that formed on the leaves.

Had to take a selfie to show the beauty the sky turned into by noon!  I was following my buddy Geri at this point; she's in the orange kayak leading the way under that pedestrian bridge.

Looking out the bow of my own little boat at the back waters, and at the sky above the shore.

It was a lovely peaceful outing, and we shall go again next Sunday, but earlier, we hope!

Hope all my fellow Spark refugees are taking the best care to maintain physical, emotional, and spiritual health in the days of whichever season is dominant in your quadrant of the world!

And may your night be one of restful sleep, well earned!

Life is good.  Spark on!  🔥✨💖

 

Time is moving on

I note it's been nearly a week since I posted.  But I haven't had a lot to say... think I wore myself out.  Not to mention the news cycle having me "down".  Sigh.

Still, I took a photo of a shell the kids brought back from the Atlantic shore, filled with my June pebbles for the pebble jar calendar.  A touch of humor / whimsey for the "new month".

Let's see, what have I done with this "do-nothing" week?  I voted early for the special election for my congressional district.  Seems the guy we've had in office for quite some time got convicted of lying to the FBI about foreign donations to his campaign funds, and has to be replaced.  He was honorable to the extent that he did resign, and I was glad of that.  

As has now become more the norm than the exception, I delivered the ballot in its secure envelope to the election commission myself.  That way I know it got there, and it saves a stamp, but burns some gas.  Not much more gas than driving to the polling place would.

I also ordered clover and grass seed for the yard.  The grass seed arrived, so I raked some of the barer patches in the front yard and overseeded.  Watered a couple of times, in between the fronts that brought some rain.  The clover seed is due to arrive in the next couple of days.

Today I made myself a bowl of potato salad.  A big batch, in order to use up the eggs and potatoes on hand.  I shall have to space out consuming it over the next week.  

I'm blaming Facebook for spurring me to make it.  A question in my feed asked about "who else puts mustard and mayo in their potato salad?"  Of course I also put sweet pickle relish in mine.  

The fence guy emailed me back to say he was wrapping up last week's work and would get to me this week to take ourselves through the planned work.

I'm back on sister cat duty starting today, running to next Wednesday.  She got herself to the airport to fly down to visit her elder daughter, they got the plane in the air, had a mechanical and had to return to the airport for repairs, so she would not have needed to get up QUITE that early given when the plane finally left.  Flying in the times we live in.

I was supposed to go to an outdoor concert with my son's fiance and her parents on Tuesday, but the weather ended up canceling that event (or postponing it, they will reschedule).  So we'll try again next week.

Any-hoo, that's about it from this domicile.  Hope things are well at yours, that you are keeping your balance and avoiding the upsets that are all too prevalent in the news.  

Be kind to yourself, and to others.

Life is good.  Keep on Sparking!  🔥💖✨

Phase 2 of the back yard work

 

It's a stump grinder being used as a roto-tiller.

Before Josh got started I was shifting some things around and my phone fell out of my pocket into the weeds, and I could not for the life of me see it.  I felt it hit my foot, so I asked if he could dial my number.  He was already on the phone to someone else, and walked over, and between having younger eyes and looking from a different angle, he spotted the phone right away.  

Yay!  The phone did not get ground into mulch!

While Josh did this work, I went off to work out with the personal trainer, came back, took my shower, and came out to take photos.

I now have a beautiful patch that would make a great garden, if I were a gardener, which I am not.  I messaged my DIL to be to bounce ideas off her, since she is a gardener.  If my ex still lived with me, he would be in heaven and planning all kinds of plants.

Measuring how big this area is:  15 of my paces x 10 of my paces.  My pace is about 2 1/2 to 3 feet.  I rolled out some "weed barrier" fabric I had in the garage.

I'm thinking for the non-gardener in me:  Ground cover seed. I don't want that good topsoil washing or blowing away.  I'm thinking white clover possibly mixed with high traffic grass seed.  Went online and ordered it.  To be delivered.

Phase 3 planning:  Monday evening I managed to make myself walk over to the neighbor's house to talk about the fence work.  Would you believe this is the first time we have formally introduced ourselves?  He's lived there 12 years, and I've been here 23.  It was one of those timing things at first.  I was on the short run-up to a surgery when he first moved in, so I was avoiding both the outdoor allergens and the potential of "catching" something.

Since then, no excuses:  I'm a hermit, what can I say?  We waved at one another, said "Hi", occasionally cleared one another's snow, or part of it.  I knew his last name thanks to a rock he has painted on his front porch (along with an Iowa Hawkeyes mascot).  

I rang the bell:  "Remember me, I'm the lady who lives next door."

The neighbor is cool with the workmen having access to his yard to do the fence work.  He was even OK with the branch that fell into his yard when I had them clear out the volunteers a couple of weeks back.  I asked which fence style he preferred for our shared lot line, and he wants the full privacy, which is in fact less expensive, and he volunteered to share the cost with me.  I am happy to defer the style choice to him.  

Then I e-mailed the fence guy to ask for a change in the estimate to reflect a mixed style, full privacy on the one side, shadow box on the other.  Haven't heard back yet, but I think he might need to come out and measure to split the estimate.  Neighbor dude would like to have his back fence line estimated, too.  Might be nice to get it all done at once.

Life is good.  Keep Sparking!