August 2020

As soon as we returned from Hus OLAF in July, Rusty began working on our first piece of furniture.  A small town near Lincoln has a wood kiln and Rusty bought a huge slice of pecan from them.  From this he cut a piece large enough for a bench with four legs.  It took days of tough planing to get the bench top to be flat.  Then he cut four legs from the wood and hand-trimmed them to be 8-sided.

Rusty uses the shaving horse for turning 4 sided legs into 8.

Then he had to change 8-sided into cone-shaped.

He used a device much like a giant pencil sharpener.

Hand-cranking hardwood in a pencil sharpener.

Then using a bit and brace to drill holes for the legs, which are designed to go in at an angle.

Sanded, finished  and varnished.  This will be a place where one can take off snowy boots at the cabin.

We've had a few social events which are more than welcome during these isolated Covid-19 times.

An evening visit from Peggy and Lorvey, which included harvesting tomatoes and peppers.

An online concert with fellow musicians

A porch gathering with retired teacher friends.

Saturday morning bike rides

And a bike tour of homes of women who were active in the Women's Suffrage Movement.  The Nebraska History Museum has a wonderful exhibit that has earned a national award.  Check it out!

This link will show you videos of 25 women from Nebraska who were leaders in the movement.

Reconnected with good friend Mary Torell on the tour.

Meeting up with Ed Zimmer, Lincoln's famous historian, prior to the tour.

Gardening is an activity that reminds me of the many gifts we get from Mother Earth.

This is the time of year when I harvest quite a bit from my garden.

So far I've harvested 50 pounds of butternut squash, with more to come.

I've frozen 4 quarts of sliced carrots and dehydrated many batches.  More to come.

I've frozen 2 gallons of hash brown potatoes, given away many, and still have more to come.

Yummy meal of Shrimp Clemenceau!  Everything except the shrimp was from my garden.

Nothing better than fresh tomatoes and basil.

And lots of zucchini, summer squash and green peppers.

Rusty and I have not returned to the extremely limited "in person" church, but prefer to watch on YouTube from home.  During these long days of the pandemic, racial injustice, social unrest, and economic downturn, it's important for me to hear uplifting words.  I think on this particular Sunday, Tom hit a home run with his sermon.  If you have the inclination to hear his words, here is the link.  It starts at about 10:38 and is ten minutes long.  (If you want to hear a wonderful rendition of "Precious Lord", it precedes Tom's sermon.)

It's back-to-school time and I'm ever so grateful I don't have to deal with the Covid-19 issues.  Plans seem to change every day and no decision will make everyone happy.

Pierce (7th) and Reece (5th) head back to school.

Celeste is on her way to begin Middle School.

A wonderful new addition to my weeks has been FaceTime chats with granddaughter, Ruby.

Nineteen months ago we were informed that the siding on our house was made of defective material and that we were encouraged to join a class action suit to try and recover some of the expenses for replacement.  It took almost 14 months of work (forms, photos, resubmissions, etc.) before we finally received a check.  Not a sufficient check, but better than nothing.

Finally our house-siding project has begun!

Dumpster and siding are delivered.

After tearing off all the old siding, they rewrap the house in new Tyvek.

A week later we have siding on the back.  Yea!  3 sides to go.

Next step: painting.