Standiford Family Web Log

Mother’s Day weekend – 2012

Paul — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:41:42 +0000

We stayed home this weekend. Normally we go to the campground on weekends but Beth wanted to stay home. Trying to get stuff done around the house plus Beth and April spent most of the day on wedding planning. I worked out in the garage. I had mounted a shelf on one wall for storage of my Shopsmith accessories. I got all of those mounted and then put up a second shelf for the final tool. Then I moved most of the stuff to one side of the garage and swept the floor. We could get a car in the garage now if we wanted to.

Shopsmith accessories

On the top shelf from left to right is a jig saw, scroll saw, band saw, belt sander and strip sander. On the bottom shelf is a jointer. Later I worked out in the yard. When we had the concrete pad poured for our shed I had moved all of the firewood to a pile along the fence. I figured it was time to move it back to the wood rack. I moved about four wheelbarrow loads back.
Sunday we straightened up the house because April, Brian, Kayden, Scott and Jessica were coming over for dinner. After that was done I went back out into the yard and moved some more wood. Brian came out and helped me move it. After lunch we just relaxed. I did some more reading. While Beth and April worked on wedding plans some more. The weather was great the entire weekend.

A little bit of catch up

Paul — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:09:55 +0000

I have not posted lately because there has not been a great deal to write about. We did go camping the last two weekends but both weekends were just pretty normal weekends. There really wasn’t much going on at the campground. Just rest and relaxation. This past weekend we were the only ones of the group that were at the campground. The weather was fabulous. We almost didn’t go because it was supposed to be scattered showers. Didn’t have any showers at all. Just bright sunny skies. We really had a great time just the two of us. I have been working some in the garage trying to get organized so that I can use the Shopsmith. I sold the second one that I had. I had bought it about a year ago along with some other accessories. I didn’t need the other Shopsmith so I sold it. Little by little we are getting enough room in the garage that I will be able to use it. I have multiple projects lined up. Some of them may have to wait until I retire in about three years. Guess that is about it until something exciting happens.

April 20 through April 23

Paul — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:16:47 +0000

We went down to the campground again this weekend even though the weather was not the best. It was cool and some rain was predicted. We ate at the Tuscan Grille. We both had salads. After we ate we went up to the recreation center and signed up for a photography class. It was supposed to be at 10:00 but it was full and a waiting list. We put our name on the waiting list and then went up to the camper and set up. When we were done we walked down to Bob and Bonnie’s camper and visited with them until about 9:30 or so and then went back to our camper and went to bed.
April, Brian and Kayden were planning to come down on Saturday and then April texted Beth and said they were not coming. Bob and Bonnie came down and had lunch with us. April, Brian and Kayden did come down. They got there about 1:30 so I dropped Beth off for the photography class and then took April to get her an Associate Membership card and a rental RV. Brian had to drive back to O’Fallon to get his glasses (he had on prescription sunglasses and forgot his regular ones) and some other stuff they needed. I sat in the camper and read most of the afternoon while Beth and April did wedding planning. Saturday night we went up to Lake Expo for the entertainment. They had two guys with their amplified acoustic guitars that played easy listening music. They were called “Two Far Gone.” I really enjoyed it. They were not so loud that you walked away with a headache. They played good music and very talented musicians.
Sunday after lunch we drove home. Brian came over and helped me with a couple of things in the garage for which I needed an extra hand. Plus the fact that he is tall didn’t hurt either.
Monday night we went to church. When we came out I happened to look up at the cross on the steeple and there was a very large hawk sitting on it. We have seen them up there before but this was about the biggest I have seen. I tried to take a picture with my cell phone but couldn’t zoom in enough for a good picture. When we got home I worked in the garage for a while putting up a shelf to hold my Shopsmith accessories. The shelf is 10 feet long but I am beginning to think it might not be long enough. Guess that’s about it for now.

April 13 – 15, 2012

Paul — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:49:44 +0000

We did get the door finished this week. Sure looks good. Had to plane a little off the bottom because it was rubbing when it opened. I guess the floor slopes up from the doorway. Not much we could do about that. Didn’t have to take off very much. Not much happened through the week. On Friday we went down to the campground. Beth had a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon so she was home and ready when I go home. Since it was the Cardinal’s home opener we were allowed to wear blue jeans to work. All I had to do when I got home was throw a few things in duffel bag and load the car. We got down to the campground in good time since we got an early start. We beat the traffic a bit. We did not do a lot Friday night. Watched a couple of Frazier videos. It really rained hard Friday night. We had to leave the campground on Saturday by the back exit because the “low water bridge” in the campground was flooded. There were trucks going through but I wasn’t going to go through with the Focus. Not enough clearance. Saturday we drove back into town to attend a wedding reception “open house”. We did not stay too long but did want to put in an appearance. Then we picked up Kayden and went back to the campground. We had picked up a DVD that Kayden wanted to see. It is called Real Steel and is about boxing robots. It was a bit violent and I noticed it was rated PG-13 but April said he had seen it before and wanted to see it again so I guess it was okay. It was a pretty good movie. I read quite a bit. I am reading James Patterson books right now. I had read some of his in the past but had fallen behind and decided to start catching up.
Sunday morning I got up and sat and read for a while until Kayden woke up. He was out playing and I fell asleep in the chair so Beth took him for a walk. I woke up about the time they got back so he and I walked down to the playground. We were down at the playground around half an hour and then walked back. After lunch we closed up the camper and headed home. We stopped for gas in Hermann MO since it was $3.65 per gallon. It was $3.79 in St. Peters.
Monday night we went to church. Tuesday night I started to mow the grass and then Brian came over and we loaded up the truck with the old hard wood flooring from the family room and hauled it to April and Brian’s trailer. He is going to put it in Kayden’s bedroom. I’m just glad to get it out of the garage. Wednesday night I finished the mowing so now maybe we can get back to working inside the house. We still have the closet door to hang, some baseboard to put down and the floor in the kitchen to do. Guess that about it for now. Later.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Paul — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:17:07 +0000

First, let me start off by wishing all of you a Blessed Easter. Our Easter weekend started with Maundy Thursday. Beth sang a solo “Behold the Man.” As always, she did great. Beth had to work on Good Friday but I had the day off. I really did not get much done. Worked on paying a few bills and working on the budget. We had a Tenebrae service. It is always an emotional service. On Saturday, April, Brian, Kayden and Ethan came over for dinner. Ethan is Brian’s son from Indianapolis and Brian had to take him back on Sunday so we had Easter dinner on Saturday. While they were here Brian dug out a drain line from a downspout and replaced it for me. The old one was not deep enough. On Easter Sunday we went to the 8:00 am service. I would have like to have gone to the sunrise service but just couldn’t handle getting up at 4:30. I enjoyed the service. Great sermon and beautiful music. Beth had to stay for the next service also since the choir was singing. This afternoon we are working on hanging a new door for the basement. Looks like it is going to go as good as the bathroom door. It is hanging straight with the gap the same all the way around. It needs to be painted yet but looking good. Guess that is about it for now.

Snow in Saint Louis on Palm Sunday

Paul — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 21:52:27 +0000

What an unusual weekend. Friday night was a nice cool evening and we spent time in the garage cleaning and pulling nails out of the hardwood floor that we had taken out of the family room. We got all the nails pulled and for the most part the wood is stacked neatly in the garage. We also wanted to clean the garage a bit so that we had room for April and Brian and Kayden’s dog. They were going to Indy on Saturday morning and coming back Sunday afternoon. Brian’s son is going to spend spring break with them in Saint Louis.
We got up Saturday morning and moved a few things around in the garage so there would be room for the dog’s enclosure. It wasn’t really a cage but two sides of a cage. Turned out he could climb out of it anyway so it didn’t do us much good. Oh well. After they brought the dog over we went to watch Kayden in his first soccer game. It was his first ever soccer game. He did very well considering he doesn’t have any experience. Here is a picture that April took of him. Look at the smile.

Kayden's first soccer game

Saturday after the game, I mowed the grass and then we both worked in the garage some more. We drove to the Lowe’s at Bridgeton because there was supposed to be a Shopsmith demonstration there. I didn’t need the demonstration but wanted to ask the guy a few questions about my Shopsmith. We went to bed early on Saturday because we are going to church on Sunday instead of Monday night because it is Palm Sunday.
Got up Sunday morning and after weeks of 70 – 80 degree weather we had snow on the ground. (I miss you Mom.)
We had a guest preacher this morning. He is the principal of the Lutheran High School in Saint Charles. It was a very good sermon. He has blessed our services in the past with his singing and guitar playing but I believe this is the first time he has delivered a sermon. This afternoon I worked around the house doing some minor repairs and Beth pulled weeds in the back yard. Just about time to call it a day and take it easy for the rest of the day. Didn’t get a lot of big items done but we kept busy. The weekend was too chopped up to start any of the big items (like hanging a door) so we had to work on the little ones. After all, they need to be done too. This week will be a short one for me since I have Good Friday off. Guess that’s it for now.

Summerize

Paul — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:45:48 +0000

No, I didn’t misspell summerize. It is the opposite of winterize and that is what we did this weekend, we are pushing it some but decided that with almost two weeks of weather at or in the 80′s the chance of freezing weather is rather slim. Of course, that’s what we said last year and we got six inches of snow on our first camp out. We got to the campground in good time and got everything set up. One other couple was down so we stopped by their camper very briefly to say hello. Saturday morning we went to the restaurant for breakfast. Beth didn’t pack any food this time. Sue gets expensive – both in dollars and WW points but thought it would be okay one time. We watched a little TV, cleaned in the camper, did some minor repairs, etc. It rained off and on quite a bit Saturday but stopped about the time we built a fire. Bob and Bonnie came over and shared the fire and fellowship. We had a great time. Sunday morning Beth finished up with the cleaning she wanted to do and then we headed home. After we got home I mowed the grass. Our front lawn is Zoysia and it needs to be almost scalped for it to green up in the spring. I filled a very large container with the clippings just from the front yard.
Oh, on Friday evening we did get out the telescope and did a little stargazing. I had bought it for $10 at a garage sale and it is true that you get what you pay for. I don’t think we are going to keep it. And one last thing, we found evidence that we had visitors in the camper through the winter. Going to try plugging a few openings with steel wool to keep them out, if anyone has suggestions let me know.

Storm damage, microwave, breakfast with Kayden

Paul — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:42:51 +0000

I have not done a lot of posting because there has not been a great deal happening. For the last few weeks I really did not fell very good. I was still suffering from the cold and didn’t sleep very well at night due to the coughing. That meant I didn’t feel like doing very much. I imagine most of you know about the tornadoes that hit Missouri and Indiana. The same night that Branson MO was hit by a tornado we suffered storm damage on the roof. We didn’t even know about it for a couple of days. Didn’t even think to look but then one morning I looked out the back window and saw shingles laying on the ground. We could see damage on the front but can’t see the back without climbing the fence into our neighbors back yard. We called the insurance company and they came out and said there are about 20 shingles blown off. Finally got the estimate from them and they would send us a check for $50. We have $500 deductible. We don’t want a claim against the insurance for $50 so we told them to forget it. We have been wanting to switch and the claim would make it more difficult. And that’s the “storm damage topic.
The microwave went out about a week and a half ago. We did some shopping and Beth finally found the one she wanted. It is a GE microwave/convection oven. We bought it at Sears last Sunday and picked it up last Wednesday. Brian came over with a friend on Tuesday night and helped us take the old one down. Sure was nice to have the help. On Wednesday night I unpacked the microwave and figured out how to hang it.

New microwave oven

On Thursday night I hung the back support plate. On Friday night I drilled the holes in the cabinet above the microwave and then gave Brian a call. He came over with another friend and they helped hang the new microwave in place. It sure looks good and Beth loves the convection oven. We have a microwave/convection oven in the RV and she loves it there. That’s why she wanted one at home. Of course, I had to fix a bag of microwave popcorn that night. On to the next topic.
Thursday morning, Beth and I were privileged to go to Kayden’s school and have breakfast with him. We picked him up at home and drove over to the school. It is the J.L. Mudd Elementary school. When we walked in they told him to take his coat and book bag and put them outside the door to his room We walked down with him. The door was open so Beth told him to put his coat and book bag in the room and he said “They said to put it outside the room.” Guess they don’t want students in the room without a teacher there. We went back and on the way to the multipurpose room we stopped at the book fair. Isn’t that interesting timing that they just happened to have the breakfast with grandparents during the week of book fair? Of course, we bought him a couple of books and then went for breakfast. We had milk, a few orange slices (fruit, not candy) and biscuits with gravy. It was really quite good. After we ate Kayden gave us a tour of the school, we walked him back to his room, met his teacher (looks about 16) and went to work. It was a great way to start the day.
A few miscellaneous items from the week.

2006 Focus hits 100,000 miles

On Friday morning the Focus hit 100,000 miles just before I drove into the parking lot at work. I was able to take a picture once I got to the parking lot.
Today, Saturday, we began working on the house again. I replaced a piece of molding under the microwave, Beth and I hung a “medicine cabinet” in the bathroom, I put up the TP holder in the bathroom and we began hanging the new 6 panel door on the bathroom. We didn’t get it finished because we have Kayden for the evening. I will put up another post later with the improvements in the bathroom.

Kansas City, Kansas City here we come!

Paul — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:34:59 +0000

Our weekend started out with dinner on Friday night at a local restaurant. Beth and I celebrated out 39th wedding anniversary. It was a great meal and I couldn’t ask for better company.

We got up on Saturday morning and drove to the Amtrak station in Kirkwood MO. We took the train to Kansas City along with a whole group of our friends from camping. There was almost 40 people total that took the trip. It was a lot of fun. The train is a great way to travel. We got to Kansas City and walked to our hotel. The hotel was connected to Union Station via a “habitrail”. We got checked in and went to Crown Center (again, connected to the hotel) and did some shopping. We got a call from some of our friends to meet them for dinner. The restaurant had a railroad theme. To start out we placed the order via a phone. The wait staff would bring out the drinks but the food was brought out by a train. The train ran just below the ceiling. There was a tray suspended from the train with our food on it. As the train passed by our table a small lever came out and blocked the box that our food was in and caused it to slide from the suspended tray to another tray which was then lowered down to our table. It is rather hard to explain but it was pretty neat the way it worked. The food was good. The only thing I didn’t like was that refills of the drinks cost full price. After dinner we did a little more shopping and then went back to the room and watched some TV.

Sunday morning we got up and ate breakfast and then walked over to the National WWI Museum. It was an interesting museum. We spent about 1 1/2 hours at the museum but really could have spent more time then that but needed to get back to eat, check out, and get back to the train station. We ate lunch in Crown Center again at a place called Streetcar Named Desire. Excellent food. Then we headed over to the train station. We paid Amtrak $3 to watch our bags. They don’t have lockers anymore due to 9/11 so we had to pay more but it was worth it not to have to carry the bags around. We spent some time looking around Union Station (although not a great deal to see.) The most interesting part was a model train layout. That was really fascinating. At 4:00 pm we got on the train and had a good trip home. The ride back did not seem as smooth as the trip there which makes no sense since it was on the same tracks just a different direction.

I had Monday off (President’s Day) but Beth had to work. About noon I started to feel a bit under the weather and by evening I was really feeling poorly. Plugged up sinuses and a sore throat. I ended up not going to work on Tuesday. I really didn’t feel up to going to work on Wednesday but I did anyway. I went on Thursday also but came home early on Friday. Hope this goes away soon.

Here is a link to the Kansas City pictures.

February 22, 2012

It’s been a while

Paul — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:18:44 +0000

It has been awhile since I posted. I didn’t figure anyone would want to read “We worked on the house” every day. We tore out the downstairs bathroom and completely redid it. It is not quite done yet but it is usable. Still have a little baseboard to put down and the door to put on. Right now the door is an old shower curtain. On Monday we had our first real snowfall of the winter. We got about three inches of snow. It sure hurt attendance at our Monday night church service.