my blogfriend killired sent me a funny email about the
federal program "no child left behind" act. she has recently begun
Teaching fourth grade, a task which is commendable. Teachers are
THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE in the school district.

it has been too long since I was in school, but I recall with great delight the dozen or so teachers that have made such a difference here in Big Bear Valley Unified School District, those that touched my children's lives. I think I should write them each a small hand written card - and do it soon.

Here I will mention just a few: Jared's third grade teacher had her hands full, since it was his FIRST classroom experience. (we had home schooled them until then) It was also the year I started being 'mom and dad' to the three kids. The dear woman who had Jared that year earned her salary and a few gray hairs, but she never hurt my boy. My contribution was that I was willing to be in the classroom occasionally, believed in the teacher's abilities and insights, and helped my son to adapt to the new reality.

Oren had a wonderful fifth grade teacher who tapped into his natural curiosity and made him love learning. She is a faith filled person, who was clear with her students about God, and was so caring and dedicated. I saw her just last weekend, she is still a blessing and a joy to talk to.

TBC

fruit salad

Another

longish weekend, packed with GOOD things
I love my kids but any one of them on any day, can be a trial.

I am finding more about myself everyday
and in part is because I am not struggling against my ADD behaviors.
I am going with the excitement and the reward of working my butt off
and then when it is time to relax, I do that completely, too.

I have so many people that care for me.
this makes it possible to be more than I ever thought possible
and to do lots of small wonders in any given day.
Massage is a many faceted gift that keeps
giving to me and flowing from me.
I wish I could share it with all of you, but
even my long arms can not reach all that way.
so sometimes I touch you with my words,
and hope that is enough.

first freeze warning

It is time to bring in some of the vegetabe plants that are in pots,
and to say good bye to the ones that are not able to be covered.

I have a fire in the wood stove, and soup on the stove
its WINTER
right here at the end of September.

My mom is doing alright,
but is cold, so I have to make sure she has a fire each day and night
until Indian summer gets here.
The wild fire is almost out. No homes ere lost.
Hopefully a bit of snow/ rain should take care of the last hot spots.
you readers? I love that you visit here, Thanks!

prayer

I am amazed at God.
( shows how dense I can be )
I am glad for His healing power, gracious love
and tender mercies.
I can not imagine what my life was before him
( but I do have a few pictures, hehe)
It is appropriate that I say a few words, to Him, here.

Lord, thank you for the way the light comes in this morning
and reminds me of the gathering of your people which is to come.
Thank you that when I walk in the dark, through an unlit room
it shows what life is like without you; no reference points.
When I am sad or confused, your spirit rises up within me
and brings clarity, hope and joy.
The friends I have are true, the family I am part of is pure gold,
my children are gifts from you, to love and encourage for a short season,
and then I stand back and watch, in awe, as they do exceedingly abundantly
more than I could have ever done. ( but I will still try to keep up with them)
Lord, you have given this man so much more than I expected, and more than I deserved.
Thank you for all of that, and for your love, as well, displayed in your own son.

I love my work, so

pictures of my recent work will appear here

a toast to Carmi

from the east

looking into hell

where there is smoke, there is

fire, again
second time this month in the same area.
close- but being pushed ( away) by winds
I am praying that the winds die down , so lots of helicopter/ plane drops can quench this one.

Relax David, it is all ok now.

the concrete foundation is done, now I will relax a bit.
I got a good massage tonight,
and am volunteering for a large community wide event most of tomorrow.

After a busy weekend, I will hit the work hard again Monday
with the assistance of my new helper, Al.
God bless him, he worked every bit as hard as I did the last two days.
What a blessing.

wednesday wonder

I wonder why I worry about so many little details and
get apprehensive prior to an inspection.
it all turned out really good.
we are approved to pour concrete
Tmo ( Thursday) morning
and then we get to stand there and watch it harden all weekend,
Or we could go to the Big Bear Lake INTERNATIONAL
( meaning some film sneaked across the border!)
Film festival.
whooo hooo
gonna be a party, i might have to polish my shoes!
( and shave)

a bit of breathing room

i have a bit more room in my garage and driveway
I took an hour - or so to move stuff around, hang some
shelves - and find the stuff that was buried in the "pile".

each day I sketch out a bit more Normalcy
for myself - and fulfil part of my mission
( building houses)
and artistic needs, designing and building shelves in my room from yummy WOOD.

this post is lacking
as I took a wacking
this week at work

I will try harder later

pictures at my photo blog

not much time for blogging :-(

it is the day for "pedal to the metal" concrete form construction.

here is what we want:
perfectly level forms,
also VERY square corners
no rocks or roots in the trenches.

and plenty of strength- endurance for this old man.
yesterday the shoveling was trying to kill me,
but I would not let it.

update: good progress with some helpers pitching in.
dinner break is over at 6pm, back for more fun and games. hehe
i am very sore and tired. :-)

I wish I had some Jimi Hendrix on my media player

I have a few ( too Many) things going on
and sometimes the only thing that cuts through the 'static'
is the unbelievable guitar of my old friend Jimi.

this morning there is a toasted bagel in my lap,
coffee on my right hand side
and vitamins and supplements on my left.

17 other things are stacked up in my brain
waiting to be sorted, and then accomplished
YESTERDAY was amazing in many ways.

Clearly God in His mercy is helping me to do it all.
County Building and safety is being SO helpful.
My mom is better, or at least well enough that I only stop in once a day
to harass her beagle, Chester, and remind her to drink lots of water.
( when I am old I hope my kids come up with a better drinking plan for me,
like plenty of margaritas and daquiris)

The foundation I am about to dig and pour
is simple, haha, and like no other I have done.
Like all engineered products, it is over designed
and mostly full of details that are useless, but that if overlooked can
make the county inspector nervous, which we do not want.

He is running

it has begun......

tonights fare

I am making chicken enchiladas, turkey enchiladas
and cheese enchiladas.
all at once so there will be plenty all week
yay for big kitchens and lots of work space

and that hum you hear,
its the automatic dishwasher, hehe

Labor day

it got well named, that is all I will say.

worked quite a bit today, some business but no pleasure.
although there is a terrific (david) ADD story in it.

One day I brought home a free chair for the front porch.
It was really comfy for sitting watching the sun light the eastern sky and for writing in my notebook. Anticipating the move, and wanting more space on the front porch my x-wife, henceforth referred to as the children's mom, evicted it to the curb in the hope that someone would pick it up and take it away. Then the rains started, and the chair was mush.
I ignored it. So did all the other people who drive past my house.

Today as the trailer filled to go to the dump, she insisted that the chair be part of the load.
When I toppled it off at the dump, the cushion came off, I said to Gary, my friend/helper," I want to sit in it one more time." When I picked up the soggy cushion and placed it on the chair, I saw a greeting card ( soggy) on the ground. I wondered whose words might be there, and retrieved it and opened it to find.....
( fill in your guess- below in comments)

---- and the envelope please ---

anonymous d. had it right, first.
she knows I always find sums of money when I least expect it.
( my cleaning lady once called me to say she found $180 in my jeans)

I picked up the card and opened it, it was blank ( i had put it there LONG ago )
and 5 Twenty dollar bills were soaked, but otherwise spendable.
I gave Gary $40 so he would could share the joy properly.
He has not worked in a year.

I spent some on a garage sale dresser for my room.
and some towels.

tweaking the blog

please be patient.
I am adding stuff to the side bar during a really loud thunderstorm
oh yes, we have a small fire too.
but no worries,
except WHERE will i put all the left over stuff?