Buckets

Rain coming down all weekend, buckets of it. Literally, I put the buckets out to catch the water coming down over the back porch, and they were overflowing by morning. Guy came to give us an estimate on gutters, first thing he says is he can't. The roof doesn't have a useful slope, the ribs would be in the way, and he suggested we do a DIY section of about ten feet to keep it off the porch - and otherwise just catch as catch can. Well, that saves us a bundle, which we will instead put into blinds for the front.

Almost there with the big ticket items. The back door, and the plumbing, both can wait a while yet. The chimney, a small area of the roof, the tarp-door for the garage. After that it's mostly odds & ends, and the garden which is a joy.

It's conditioning from my job, get as much done as soon as humanly possible, then sit back to be able to respond to a crisis. Also called (at least by me) the Philosophy of Enlightened Laziness. Get everything done, so I can sit.

Had D's parents over for dinner last night. It amazes him that we can be so comfortable with them now, that their presence is a source of enjoyment, not obligation anymore. Perhaps because all five sons are married (two more than once) and the pressure to instruct the sons is eased, and life has gotten simpler, if not easier, for them. Maybe they have learned that D cannot be pushed (try pushing a cat) but will merely squirm off in another direction. Maybe they see we are on our own path, and although they would chose another for us, they see us happy, still loving, which makes it hard to argue with. We have also learned to never visit them on religious holidays, which meant avoiding them for Easter and LDS Conference weekends, but then making sure to get with them the next available day. That last is the important bit, that they feel loved for themselves, even as we demur on their faith.

And this house, well, it really does want people here.