July 29th - Still In Indy

I originally thought I would go back to MO at the end of last week, then I decided I would stay through the weekend and go home tomorrow (Thursday), now I have changed my mind again. My current plan it to head back to MO Saturday morning.

My boss from my days at Staley is still doing some Consulting, he is 77. He's going to help ARSEE with some analysis work on a spray dryer at one of the Lafayette plants. He was over yesterday for a meeting at the plant and I went up there to do some inspection work. We had lunch together. It was really good to get to catch up with him.

I haven't been happy with my productivity since I've been back working. Today was the first day that it seems like I'm starting to get back in the swing. It is the main reason why I'm going to stay through Friday. I will still have some work to finish when I get back to MO but I think I can accomplish more if I stay here for a couple of more days.

It was pretty toasty up at the plant yesterday. Fortunately the cooling tower support frame that I was inspecting was up on a roof (a flat roof) 40' in the air. There was a breeze and most of the time I was in the shade.

I may need to go to the Lafayette South plant tomorrow. Glad to see that the high is forecast at 85, not 92 like it was today.

God is so good!

That's all from Indy.

May God bless you and yours.

July 25th - In Indy

A couple of weeks ago a guy from the firm I "sold" my business to asked if I wanted to do some moonlighting. I said maybe and we discussed what he needed. I like him and the firm and am very happy about how well things worked out when I retired, for me, them and Tate & Lyle (my client).

I told Scott I would come to Indy and work 4 days to see how things went. I drove over to Indy Monday afternoon and started work Tuesday. I have to clear the cobwebs out of my head some when we discuss past projects but all in all things are going smooth. By Thursday I agreed to stay through the weekend and work maybe 4 days next week. I will be going back to MO Thursday, the 30th.

Dan Bares, the young draftsman I used to work with at T&L (young compared to me, their oldest is now a senior) came to ARSEE (where I am working) to work Wednesday. I REALLY like him & working with him. We took a long lunch to catch up. That evening Tim Deckard, an old partner of mine and a guy I love, & I had supper together, 3 hours worth. We had a great time. Thursday I went up to T&L's Lafayette South plant to do some work and had lunch with Tony Holt. I've worked with Tony on and off for 20 years. It was great to spend some time with him and catch up. Friday I was back in the office. This morning I went back up to the Lafayette plant for a few hours to do some inspection work and field measuring. Arrived there at 7:15 & was out of the plant by 10:30.

Doug, Anthony & I had supper at LaParada, the great little Mexican restaurant only a few blocks from them. We were all tired but enjoyed the fellowship and a good meal, at least I did.

I'm staying at a Studio 6 extended stay motel, less than 2 blocks from ARSEE's office. So far I'm pleased with the accommodations. It ain't the Ritz, but I'm not paying for the Ritz. It is a good value.

Tomorrow I plan on going up near Lebanon, where we used to live, and attending church at Harvest Christian Community church. It is where I went before I moved. They are a GREAT bunch of people. Then some laundry and a nap in the PM <grin>.

Getting to spend time with old friends and making a good buck at the same time. God is so good!

May God bless you and yours.

July 19th - A Few Photos

Not much happening here. Below are a few photos.

Lydia and I checking out the pond after a heavy rain. It was still raining lightly when we went out.

Lydia with her Elsa outfit and braid.

June 16th - Wet

Kathy flew to California last Wednesday, to attend the wedding of one of the girls she used to work with at Teen Challenge. She flew back into Kansas City this afternoon and will be home tomorrow. Sounds like she had an enjoyable time.

I haven't been doing much while she has been gone. I did pick the first of our blackberries several days ago. They probably need to be picked again but I was to lazy.

Our pond was totally overgrown by duck weed, even though I sprayed it a couple of times with vegetation killer. I think all the fish have died due to lack of oxygen. I, and Kelsey & Andy, have been removing the weeds we can reach with a pool screen/skimmer. After some research I bought 3 different chemicals, mixed up a "witches brew" and sprayed part of the weeds. It looks like it works. 18 hours after spraying it the weeds I sprayed were turning brown. Note the top left area of the photo.

I've spent over 5 hours dipping weeds over the past several day, and Kelsey & Andy have also done some. Probably 30% of the pond surface is not weed free. I may need a boat before I can spray the ones in the middle of the pond.

We have been getting some rain every day. Not steady but everything stays wet.

May God bless you and yours.

June 7th - Lydia's 3rd Birthday

Yesterday, the 7th, was Lydia's 3rd birthday. There were 25-30 people at her party. A good time was had by all. It was warm, our first day above 90, but it was reasonably comfortable sitting outside in the shade, with a nice breeze.

Kathy & Lydia checking out the swing set.

May God bless you and yours.

June 5th - Swing Set Finished

I finished the swing set today, but forgot to take a photo of it after I added the slide and the ramp. Below is a progress photo from a couple of days ago.

Lydia was here a couple of days this week. Normally Kathy and her went out and picked mulberries and cherries first thing in the morning. They are at the cherry trees in the photo below.

Kathy says that she is done picking cherries for the year. She said she had enough picked and pitted for over 15 pies. Several people from church have said they are going to come over and pick some of those remaining, and there are still a lot of them.

Duck weed has infested our pond. It started before I went to TN the last time. I sprayed it with weed killer 2 or 3 times but it didn't seem to help. The entire top of the pond is covered. Once that happens it cuts off sunlight from getting to the plants in the pond and they quit producing oxygen. A lot, if not all, of the fish have died. From what I have read since it happened you have to use specific weed killers to kill the stuff. Enough for a single treatment for our small pond is $80. It will probably take multiple treatments to kill the stuff.

It rained heavily last night and rained lightly this morning. No rain in the forecast for Saturday (tomorrow) and Sunday. Tomorrow is Lydia's birthday party. Doug & Anthony should be here within the hour. I didn't think I would have time to do mowing over the weekend so I mowed the lawn this afternoon, even though it was wet.

Good night. May God bless you and yours.

June 1 - More Swing Set Work

I didn't do much yesterday after church. We did pick the ripe cherries. There are a lot more still to be picked, when they ripen.

 The mulberry pickers/eaters were at it first thing this morning. Lydia is wearing the hat because the temperature was 57 degrees.

 Sometimes a little help from Grammy, and a lot of stretching, was required to get to the ripe berries.

Sunday afternoon Andy's Dad used his Bobcat to take the blue building off my trailer and put it on the leveling pads Kelsey & I had prepared. I added the platform at the end of the swing set today. It will have a slide going off the far side and a ramp up to it on the near side.

 

Also on Sunday afternoon Andy's Dad helped Andy & Kelsey cut down a dead tree that was in their yard. The brush pile from it is on the left and the food wood is further out in the yard, on the right.

Tomorrow we head into Jefferson City to buy hardware & additional chain, for hanging the swings.

May God bless you and yours.