The Dynamic Duo

I just had a couple of very nice weekends sandwiched inbetween studying my brains out. I’m going to try to stay awake long enough to tell you about it!
This past weekend, I had some rare and very welcome company from Idaho. Several weeks ago, my very good friend Debbie Bailey called. Debbie and I used to lead Weight Watchers together when I lived in Idaho; I also had the privilege of having her kids at my house on a couple of overnighters where they entirely won me over by playing games with me til even I had had enough. Debbie and her girls, Rachel and Amy, have been to visit me in my new location a couple of times and they wanted to come again. The answer, of course, was an emphatic YES! I had to warn them there was only one operational bathroom in the house, the one next to my bedroom.  UltraDad had been working on tiling the guest bathroom for the past several weeks, and had removed the toilet, which is a key component to any operational bathroom. I was relieved to hear they would come anyway.
That Friday, UltraDad and I had spent the morning in Elko at our Annual Health Fair, where we got blood drawn for a fasting blood test, got our flu shots, and went around to various stations where we got our body fat analyzed, tested our lung function and took our blood pressure.  I was grumpy that my body fat tested a little on the high side, but Ultra Dad’s was perfect. His lung capacity was also very good, while mine was on the low side.  I felt a little better after a good breakfast of ham, eggs and English Muffin in the local café.  Then UltraDad insisted on showing me around the new Cal Stores that had just opened in Elko.  I was a little nervous as my past experiences with Cal Ranch in Idaho Falls involved wandering around aimlessly looking at cowboy hats and livestock supplies for an hour or two while UltraDad pored over tools and irrigation boots. I had to remind myself that our farming days were over, and we had a great time selecting a new toy for the ‘boys’ and a new wallet for UDad.  We got home just in time for me to leave for work; no time to vacuum before my guests arrived. UltraD graciously agreed to handle that chore after I pulled out my best cajoling and threats.
Debbie, Rachel and Amy were there visiting with UDad when I got home from work that night. After dinner, UDad took off, having decided it would make the bathroom situation more tenable if he spent the night at sister Pat’s, which was very considerate of him (and of Pat for putting him up.) The ‘boys’ also had a guest: Molly the poodle. She was probably three times bigger than my poodles and scared to death of them. Rowdy was delighted to find someone he could terrify, and when he could get away with it, chased Molly around the house snarling and growling ferociously. Murphy wasn’t much better, and they rather resembled little velocirapters tag-teaming their prey. Being locked in my bedroom for 1/2 hour or so calmed them down for a little while.
We talked, played games, made cookies and ate, all favorite pastimes of mine. The girls were as fun and cute as I remembered; I can’t believe Rachel is a high school senior this year, with Amy only two years behind. Their brother, Nathan, also a favorite of mine, is in his second year of college in Tennessee.
To make my weekend complete, my sister Panther called and said she wanted to come out on Saturday. She arrived late that afternoon, bringing the most wonderful produce out of her husband, John’s garden. That guys thumb is more than green. There were watermelons, cantaloupe, cucumbers, summer squash, onions, tomatoes, eggplant, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, raspberries and peaches (I think the peaches came from a neighbor). Not only does he grow a great garden, but he also puts up the produce, and in addition to all the fresh stuff, I also got home processed grape juice, salsa, tomato sauce and jam! Hey, I just thought of something…….where are my pickles???!! Panther also brought lavender bouquets from HER garden, plus fresh lavender spears so she could show us how to make lavender wands.  As we all proved lavender wand-challenged, she went around the table providing remedial help and encouragement.
Supper was wonderful; Debbie B had brought ingredients and the recipe for a great chicken crockpot dish. I’ll include the recipe for your dining pleasure: throw in the crockpot some whole chicken breasts, 8 oz cream cheese, one envelope Italian seasoning, 2 TB sour cream and a can of cream soup. Cook it all day, and serve with rice. Divine!
After Rachel helped me with my Biology homework for about an hour, we played Cranium, the ‘mature’ women against the ‘girls’. We did a lot of laughing, which is one of my favorite activities.
On Sunday, the Baileys had to leave early to get home in time for an activity for the kids, and it is a 6 hour drive. I forgot to mention that Amy did most of the driving as she is working on her learner’s permit. Panther and I went to church in time to sing in the choir, which we enjoyed. Then it was time for her to get started on her 6-hour drive back home.
It feels great to know that people want to spend time with me badly enough to drive 6 hours to do it.
Meanwhile, UltraDad with the thoughtful help of Pat got the tile cut and laid down on the bathroom floor. Next week, he can apply the grout; it looks fantastic, and we may soon be back to having two working bathrooms in the house.
I am going to have to write another post to tell you about the previous weekend, which we got to spend with Jimbo.  It’s nearly midnight, and I still have a little Biology to read. But that was a great weekend too, and I promise to fill you all in very soon.

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