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July 22, 2011

IT'S FRIDAY, MY FAVORITE DAY!!

With all the guests coming and going this week, I am really surprised at all that I accomplished.

Our older granddaughters were here for a few days a week ago and we sure enjoyed having them here. We kept them pretty busy with different activities (swimming and a trip to Rockaway Beach) and we had to take them back on Wednesday as we were heading into town for a couple of doctor's appointments. I had to see the dentist and Dave got the "all clear" from his cardiologist. He doesn't have to go back until Christmas.

After we got back from dropping off the granddaughters, we made ready for some steam friends who were coming to Wheeler for our Summer Fest. Al and Sue arrived on Thursday and brought their steamboat to participate in the festival. I managed to get the bed changed, a quick vacuum of the carpet and laundry done and while I was at the store stocking up on food they arrived. They enjoyed steaming on the Bay and giving people rides (a total of 100 passengers) during the weekend event. We were sure glad they came as our steamboat was having its usual problems and ended up tied to the dock most of the weekend. When it ran, it ran great and we were able to have a few passengers. But when it wouldn't cooperate - which was most of the time - we had to park it. The weather was pretty good on Saturday but it rained most of Sunday so neither of us gave rides that day. There were some disappointed people, but most understood that we weren't going to run in the rain. Al and Sue pulled their boat out and left for their home in Spokane, Washington on Monday morning. Dave has been keeping a log of his struggles to get the boat running this season. If you have a lot of time, you can read all about it on the steamboat's main page at captainbell.com.

So anyway, after all that we are just the two of us again and back to our old routine. I had to put in some hours at the Extension Office with my Master Gardeners duties on Monday afternoon. We were really busy with all of the inquiries from Saturday afternoon at the Tillamook Farmer's Market. We had questions about everything from Artichokes to Fig trees to composting. One lady even brought in a sample of her Hop bush that had a disease. We took a leaf from that sample and looked under the Smithsonian microscope that they have in the office to decide what the disease was and how to treat it. That was interesting to see magnified. The time really flew by for a change. Last time I pulled duty, I sat there reading a book most of the afternoon.

The sun came back out for a little while this week so I was able to get after some of the weeds that always seem to be taking over. I worked out in the yard for a couple of afternoons and then the rain came back on Thursday so I used that time to get caught up on my housework.

Dave and Ray have been busy replacing the beams that support our deck. Some of the beams were really rotten after 35 years and it is a wonder the deck was still in place! All of these main beams were made from untreated material and we're replacing them with treated wood to help withstand the ravages of Oregon coastal weather. They're plenty expensive, but we'll never have to deal with them again. After they get the supports completed, they will replace the side railings of the structure and then we will have the rails repainted. Depending on the weather, they hope to have it accomplished by next week. Between showers, Dave also did some work on the boat, trying to figure out why that one pump is failing. He doesn't have any answers yet, but he was able to clean up some items that needed his attention.

Lately, I have had this enormous flock of blackbirds that have about eaten me out of house and home. They discovered my feeders and have swarmed over them, intimidating all of the other birds. I ran out of bird seed the other day (gee, I wonder why?) and while I was out shopping for more, I picked up a different variety. Apparently the blackbirds don't care for the new stuff and have moved on - which is lucky for me. The regular birds have also returned so that makes me happy. I think I will continue getting this variety of birdseed.

A big weekend is coming. Dave will leave for the NASCAR races in Portland today to announce the races and will be gone all weekend. I have volunteered to help the Master Gardeners with their garden tour on Saturday and so I will be busy with that. This is an annual event to raise scholarship money. Hopefully the weatherman has given the go for the sun to come out, but what does he know?