TOP TEN

THE TOP TEN THINGS ABOUT LIVING ON THE LOWER DESERT IN THE SUMMER…..

#10. YOUR MORNING COFFEE NEVER GETS COLD AT 113 DEGREES.

#9.  YOU NEVER RUN OUT OF HOT WATER DURING YOUR MORNING SHOWER.

#8.  THE LP TANK ON THE CAMPER NEVER NEEDS TO BE REFILLED.

#7.  YOU NEVER LOSE YOUR SWEATSHIRT OR SWEATER, THEY ARE ALWAYS HANGING IN THE CLOSET.

#6.  EXERCISING  TO BUILD UP A SWEAT…NOT NECESSARY, YOU SWEAT WITHOUT EFFORT ON THE DESERT.

#5.  YOU DON’T NEED TO PRAY THAT YOU WON’T GO THE HELL, YOU’RE ALREADY HERE.

#4.  OH THOSE CALIFORNIA GIRLS, THEIR TANS, THEIR BOOBIES, AND THEIR BIKINIS.

#3.  IT’S HOT ENOUGH TO FRY AN EGG ON THE SIDEWALK, ALONG WITH THE BACON, SAUSAGE, HAM AND HASHBROWNS.

#2.  IT’S HARD TO TELL A REDNECK ON THE DESERT, USUALLY IT’S JUST SUNBURN.

AND THE NUMBER 1 REASON TO LIVE ON THE LOWER DESERT IN THE SUMMER……

#1.  YOU DON’T NEED TO FAKE A HEADACHE, IT’S TOO FU*K’N HOT FOR SEX.

KITCHEN COUNTER

COVERING THE BACKS OF THREE KITCHEN COUNTER UNITS SHOULDN’T BE ANY BIG DEAL, BUT I AM VERY TOOL CHALLENGED. 

FIRST THING, I HAD TO BUY A NEW SKILL SAW.   THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT CAME WITH A BLADE IN THE BOX.  THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE BLADE NEEDED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SAW.  NOW MARY KNOWS A LOT OF THINGS, BUT POWER TOOLS ISN’T ONE OF THEM.

AFTER READING THE DIRECTIONS FORWARDS, BACKWARDS, ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND FRENCH WE GOT THE BLADE ON WITHOUT GIVING UP AND CRACKING OPEN A BEER.

THE FIRST COUNTER SECTION IS 36 INCHES WIDE AND THE CAR SIDING LEFT OVER FROM THE PORCH CONSTRUCTION IS ONLY 30 INCHES WIDE. SHIT THIS IS GOING TO TAKE TWO PIECES, AND A STRAIGHT LINE BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES.

IT TOOK ALL DAY, BUT WE FINALLY MANAGED TO CUT AND INTALL THE BACKS ON THE CABINETS.

LUCKY FOR ME THE OTHER TWO UNITS ARE ONLY 30 INCHES WIDE AND THE CAR SIDING WORKED JUST FINE.  AFTER CUTTING THE NEW BACKS THEY WERE SCREWED INTO PLACE.

NOW A COUPLE OF COATS OF VARNISH ON THE FRONT AND THEY WILL FINALLY BE READY TO SET IN PLACE.

THE LAST CHALLENGE IS THE COUNTER TOP.  SOMETHING ABOUT ATTACHING END CAPS BY USING AN IRON?

IF THE PROJECT EVER GETS DONE I’LL PROUDLY POST THE PICTURES, AND MARY IS GETTING ANXIOUS TO FILL UP HER SIX NEW DRAWERS AND THE CABINETS.

   “SUNNY & 111”

HEY SUNSHINE !!!

(Extra points and a free drink, if you can remember who called us "Sunshine" as little kids.  Can't remember? Ok, I'll give you one more clue.  We buried her on her Birthday)

Softball Stars

(editor’s note: Today’s guest Blog is written by Mary’s daughter, and Mack and Ali are Mary’s Granddaughters. Thanks Heather, for the Blog and pictures!)

By Heather Besl

This year Mackenzie and Ali are the 2 that played softball. They both had very good seasons.

Ali played both infield and outfield. At this age they let them play most positions to know what goes on at each one. Mostly she was 2^nd and left field. This is her 5^th year playing so she is getting good. Her team was the chosen team to go to a Logger game as the Dream team and be introduced to all. They were chosen because they had the best record at the time.

Ali was number 21. She is good at batting but she usually hits it right to 1^st base, which results in an out. But she is improving every year and enjoys it.

They finished this year with a 17 - 4 record. They played in 3 tournaments; they took 1^st in one, 2^nd in one and 3^rd in another one. I think they did great this year!

Mackenzie has also played for 5 years and she really loves it and has improved a lot. Her team ended the season with a 19-5 record. She was number 18 and played pitcher, and 1^st base. She has really improved at pitching; at one of the games I was at,in her first 8 pitches 7 were strikes.

They were in 3 tournaments and took 1^st in 2 of them and 2^nd in one.

Here they are with their medals from the last tournament, Mack’s team took 1^st and Ali’s team took 2^nd.

Ali’s teams had a lot of wins where the opponents never even scored.

Mackenzie’s team had a lot of very close games. So close that we thought they would lose, but majority of the time they would come back in extra innings and win by 1.

Since both girls played Randy and I had to take turns going to games. They only played at the same field 2 times, other than the tournaments, and at the same times; so one would go one way and the other the other way. I really enjoy watching them play and will miss that, but it makes the summer go fast when all you do is work and go to games.

I do look forward to doing it again next year!

By Heather

Spooner Storm Damage

By Uncle Hans

The summer storms were not content to nearly kill us with a falling tree.  They decided to treat our house the same way.  This middle aged oak was damaged in a storm 29 years ago.  There are three others between the house and the lake similarly bent over.  This one bent a little further during the big storm.  Then it came down with just a small gust during a small storm a few days ago..............

.....this view is from the roof.  The tree just caught the corner of the roof, after bouncing off another leaning tree.....

.........I took the saw and limbed up the branches, getting it smaller to pull off the roof........

.....two more views.  Apparently, it came close to wiping out my dish.........

  .....Then, I put the old tractor on it and gave a mighty pull...........

.....of course, it hung up at the last moment by an "elbow" on the edge of the roof..........

drat!  At least it did not hook and swing into the windows. At least not yet.  Maybe I can help that along........

  .....here is the victory shot.  It is on the ground and ready to cut up for firewood.  The roof and the windows, really, all the house escaped damage..........

...........Renee's son, Spencer, and the neighbor kid, Zach, will clean it up and stack the wood on the woodpile, waiting for the "splitting party" this fall.  Then they will take down the other three "leaner's".........

(the flower is some sort of water lily that grows in the Lilly pads off our shoreline)

By Uncle Hans