The Power of Water!
Wow! I'm exhausted. I spent my entire day "power-washing" my back porch, deck and cover! I began by squaring off with the power washer. Could not find the manual, so on line I went, found it, read it and so I began. Safety first!
My love and I had just finished building it when he was diagnosed. There never again was the time or energy to do the finishing and staining. If you know about wood, even if it is treated, when you don't protect, it gets ugly.
It is ready now for a light sanding, priming and painting! Why am I boring you all with this? Because I wanted to share with you how good it felt to get outside and accomplish something that I always loved to do with my love. Never, today, did I say, gosh, I'm having to do this all by myself. What I did feel, when I was done, was how much I missed working with him on our home. How much I missed having him to talk and laugh with while doing the task. And I knew that he is proud of me, not just for power-washing the porch, but for trying to live once more!
First Sunday since he passed away that I have not cried, that I have not felt like, "what's the use", that I have not just sat staring blindly into space!
Good night,
Lucy
Comments
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Good for you!
Hey Lucy,
Good for you that you used that power washer! I'm proud of you. Isn't it funny how each thing we do that we never had to do before makes us feel so good? I missed Tom so much this winter, but now that spring is here again and it'll soon be time to do all the outdoor stuff, I feel lonely again. Spring & summer was always so much fun cause we were always outside & always going to festivals, etc. But guess we have no choice and have to move on right??? I don't have a clue how to use our power washer, but want to clean our steel siding so maybe will try to do it. Better have my one son show me how to do it first though, or I'll blow the siding right off the house. Ha ha!
Take care Lucy!!! Carole0 -
Definitely...3Mana said:Good for you!
Hey Lucy,
Good for you that you used that power washer! I'm proud of you. Isn't it funny how each thing we do that we never had to do before makes us feel so good? I missed Tom so much this winter, but now that spring is here again and it'll soon be time to do all the outdoor stuff, I feel lonely again. Spring & summer was always so much fun cause we were always outside & always going to festivals, etc. But guess we have no choice and have to move on right??? I don't have a clue how to use our power washer, but want to clean our steel siding so maybe will try to do it. Better have my one son show me how to do it first though, or I'll blow the siding right off the house. Ha ha!
Take care Lucy!!! Carole
Get some training before you hit the "on" switch! But once you learn, it's easy. So many activities bring back memories of us. Even though the memories are dear, it is still hard not to feel sad at the thought. I look forward to the day when I can think about us and smile instead of cry!
Yes, we do have to move on. I can't imagine not having found this site and all the fantastic folks here. You have been here all along and I am grateful for that!
Take care, dear friend.
Lucy0 -
energy
I swear Lucy, I'm going to have to buy you a plane ticket and bring you and all your energy to the east coast! LOL Our deck is in terrible shape. It really needed stripping and restaining last spring but Ken was already too sick to tackle it and we were both too busy to bring someone in to take care of it. I'm barely getting the kids' meals cooked and clothes washed so I know I don't have time to power wash a deck! Guess I'll have to shell out some $$$ to bring someone in.
We finally had a decent weather day on Sunday and I told my boys that they needed to mow the lawn. When my step-father was up a few weeks ago, he had worked on both lawn mowers (push and riding) to make sure everything was ready when spring hit. Well, at first they couldn't get either one to start. My older son finally got the riding mower working but they could not get the push one going. So he went next door and borrowed one from the neighbor. I kept thinking to myself that it was probably something very simple and Ken would have known exactly what to do to get it going. Just another hole that he left.
Debbie0 -
If I could, I would, Debbie...debbieg5 said:energy
I swear Lucy, I'm going to have to buy you a plane ticket and bring you and all your energy to the east coast! LOL Our deck is in terrible shape. It really needed stripping and restaining last spring but Ken was already too sick to tackle it and we were both too busy to bring someone in to take care of it. I'm barely getting the kids' meals cooked and clothes washed so I know I don't have time to power wash a deck! Guess I'll have to shell out some $$$ to bring someone in.
We finally had a decent weather day on Sunday and I told my boys that they needed to mow the lawn. When my step-father was up a few weeks ago, he had worked on both lawn mowers (push and riding) to make sure everything was ready when spring hit. Well, at first they couldn't get either one to start. My older son finally got the riding mower working but they could not get the push one going. So he went next door and borrowed one from the neighbor. I kept thinking to myself that it was probably something very simple and Ken would have known exactly what to do to get it going. Just another hole that he left.
Debbie
You don't have the energy to strip and re-stain a deck because your energy is being directed at being a great mom! And I love that your sons are helping. This will be so good for them. To know that they are able to contribute and in so getting that self esteem that young men need at this time of their lives. You all are a family, a family that has gone through much sorrow, but are coming together to continue on your journey. It is a precious way to honor their father, AND their mother!
A few weeks ago I needed to mow and trim. The lawn mower started after a few pulls! Yeah! The trimmer was out of string so I had no clue as to how to re-string it, so my son, 29 and a single dad, came by and did it. But I can't always wait for him to get the chance to come by, so I finally found the manual for it, and will be doing it myself tomorrow! Wish me luck!
Dennis and I shared lawn chores, he had his strengths and I had mine. Now I will have to master the things he did! Yes, another "hole" left. Fortunately, there are some that I can do something about.
Take care,
Lucy0 -
Mowingluz del lago said:If I could, I would, Debbie...
You don't have the energy to strip and re-stain a deck because your energy is being directed at being a great mom! And I love that your sons are helping. This will be so good for them. To know that they are able to contribute and in so getting that self esteem that young men need at this time of their lives. You all are a family, a family that has gone through much sorrow, but are coming together to continue on your journey. It is a precious way to honor their father, AND their mother!
A few weeks ago I needed to mow and trim. The lawn mower started after a few pulls! Yeah! The trimmer was out of string so I had no clue as to how to re-string it, so my son, 29 and a single dad, came by and did it. But I can't always wait for him to get the chance to come by, so I finally found the manual for it, and will be doing it myself tomorrow! Wish me luck!
Dennis and I shared lawn chores, he had his strengths and I had mine. Now I will have to master the things he did! Yes, another "hole" left. Fortunately, there are some that I can do something about.
Take care,
Lucy
Boy I envy you guys that you had to cut your grass already. Mine is just starting to get green, and won't need to be cut for awhile yet. Although they're predicting maybe 75 for sunday, but rainy. So if it does finally warm up it'll start growing.
I'm thinking about buying a new lawnmower, but I know my sons will say "no way mom, we'll cut it for you". Could use the excercise, so we'll see.
I am definitely going to fix the patio up more this year with potted flowers. Last summer, I could've cared less. Didn't even turn the fountain on cause it's a pain to clean, so have to think about that too. I just can't wait for it to warm up. This spring has been very cool compared to last year.
Guess the house & garden chores are now up to us, huh??? Take care!
I agree, the Debbie should take it easy!!! Carole0 -
choresluz del lago said:If I could, I would, Debbie...
You don't have the energy to strip and re-stain a deck because your energy is being directed at being a great mom! And I love that your sons are helping. This will be so good for them. To know that they are able to contribute and in so getting that self esteem that young men need at this time of their lives. You all are a family, a family that has gone through much sorrow, but are coming together to continue on your journey. It is a precious way to honor their father, AND their mother!
A few weeks ago I needed to mow and trim. The lawn mower started after a few pulls! Yeah! The trimmer was out of string so I had no clue as to how to re-string it, so my son, 29 and a single dad, came by and did it. But I can't always wait for him to get the chance to come by, so I finally found the manual for it, and will be doing it myself tomorrow! Wish me luck!
Dennis and I shared lawn chores, he had his strengths and I had mine. Now I will have to master the things he did! Yes, another "hole" left. Fortunately, there are some that I can do something about.
Take care,
Lucy
Lucy,
thanks so much for those kind words. I will have to remember that when they gripe to tell them that it is a way for them to honor their dad. The funniest part is when Kyle (the 12 year old) asked me about getting money for doing it. I told him that he didn't get any money; it was part of being the family and taking care of our home. He said, "well, dad used to pay us". I just laughed and said "your dad was a softie".
Keep up the good work!
Debbie0 -
temperatures3Mana said:Mowing
Boy I envy you guys that you had to cut your grass already. Mine is just starting to get green, and won't need to be cut for awhile yet. Although they're predicting maybe 75 for sunday, but rainy. So if it does finally warm up it'll start growing.
I'm thinking about buying a new lawnmower, but I know my sons will say "no way mom, we'll cut it for you". Could use the excercise, so we'll see.
I am definitely going to fix the patio up more this year with potted flowers. Last summer, I could've cared less. Didn't even turn the fountain on cause it's a pain to clean, so have to think about that too. I just can't wait for it to warm up. This spring has been very cool compared to last year.
Guess the house & garden chores are now up to us, huh??? Take care!
I agree, the Debbie should take it easy!!! Carole
Carole, I forget....what state are you in? I am in MD. We haven't had that much warm weather either. It has been a very cold and wet spring. But the way the DC area is, it will all of a sudden turn hot and muggy. Fall is the best season here.
Hopefully, when my daughter comes home from college, she will take care of the mulching and flower beds and other "garden chores". she likes to do that stuff.
debbie0 -
Fog & raindebbieg5 said:temperatures
Carole, I forget....what state are you in? I am in MD. We haven't had that much warm weather either. It has been a very cold and wet spring. But the way the DC area is, it will all of a sudden turn hot and muggy. Fall is the best season here.
Hopefully, when my daughter comes home from college, she will take care of the mulching and flower beds and other "garden chores". she likes to do that stuff.
debbie
Debbie,
I'm in Wisconsin. they're saying maybe 70-74 by sunday, but rain!!! Today it was foggy this morning and got up to low 50's but tonite cool & damp and more frickin fog!!!!!!!!!!
Gives me time to think about cutting the lawn. Ha! Waiting for the lawn service to come first so I really need to at least rake all the debris from winter up. My girlfriends husband came over today and cut back the bushes & all the ornamental grasses. Nice, huh?
Need to buy that boy some beer.
You had alot of snow in Maryland didn't you??? Well good luck, at least start making a list of what has to be done. Maybe I should do that too.
Take care!!! Caroel0
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