May 2026

To welcome in the month of May, this morning our first clematis flower had opened up and we also had a second Iris bloom overnight. Our pansies and ajuga are always beautiful during the spring.

Yesterday, Steve set fifty pavers along the fence line . . .

This morning, we bought another gallon of fence paint and Steve got to work! He painted all the new fence posts and the fifty pavers. The paint is the same color we always use, but the fence has faded since last being painted so the newly painted parts are a lot brighter... still... we think it looks great !!

Linda has fun playing around on the computer . . .

Wouldn't it be nice if healing was this easy !!

Monday 5/4

Over the last little while, Linda has been collecting a few "America 250" things 

Over the weekend, she packaged them all up for our kids and grandkids.

A commemorative coin for each family

A keychain/backpack charm for each of the grandkids - and...

A commemorative Christmas tree ornament for each family.

This morning we took them to the post office and mailed them. We had an unexpected, but fun, visit from Matt and Jen yesterday so they got theirs hand-delivered!

This afternoon Steve was mowing the lawn, as he usually does on Monday's, when he spied a little bullfrog in the grass.

He picked it up and set it on the curb between our house and the neighbor, Kim's, house. She just happened to come outside so we told her about it. She went and got a little pot to put it in for her 2 year old grandson and said, "He Will LOVE It !!"

Tuesday 5/5

Today, Linda had her stitches removed . . .

Due to some redness and puffiness, the nurse was concerned that the graft (actually the doctor called it a flap) was infected so she had the doctor come in to look at it. He said he didn't think it was infected, but prescribed some antibiotics anyway. He said it looked like there was some fluid building up under the flap. He instructed us how to help relieve the pressure and get it to drain. 

The stitch removal started out just fine but progressed to quite a painful procedure. In the end, the stitches are gone and . . . it looks, and feels, better without them. 

Thursday 5/7

Yes . . .  It's THAT time of year when all the yard work begins . . . 

Yesterday and today Steve has been busy in the front yard trimming all the bushes. 

Our Spirea, Burning Bush, & Euonymus plants get pretty "shaggy" looking without a trim once in a while. 

A long time ago, Steve cut a tarp so it would fit around the trunk of the bush and catch all the clippings when he trims them. It works pretty well and helps make the clean-up process a little bit easier. Thanks to all his hard work, we appear to have the most well-manicured yard on the block!!

Friday 5/8

Steve is at it again today !

This time he is working in the back yard

Every spring our very large maple tree drops millions of little twirling seed pods all over our yard. Today, Steve began the process of cleaning them up. Though not at it's peak yet, there were still enough to fill his 5-gallon bucket . . . TWICE! 

Saturday 5/9

We have this beautiful Clematis plant near our front door

picture taken 5/2025

We are amazed at how fast it grows. For the first time, we cut it clear back to the ground last fall and this is how much it has grown this year... so far!

Every day we redirect all the vines back down into to plant in an effort to fill in empty space and so it doesn't get any taller but every morning there are new, l - o - n - g, vines that have grown overnight.  Due to the pruning last fall, we probably won't get as many blossoms this year, but . . . just wait until next year, it will be amazing!!

Sunday 5/10

Today is Mother's Day!

The Mother's Day after having our first baby, Trudi, was 53 years ago . . .  

how is that possible!

On Friday, Steve bought Linda a new dress to wear for the occasion (it looks black, but is really a dark blue).  She also received a bouquet of tulips via UPS. Today, she has received many "Happy Mother's Day"  wishes via phone calls, text messages, and social media. After church, we decided, as long as we were all dressed up, to take a selfie of the two of us . . . It has been a good day !!

Wednesday 5/13

Surprise !!

This morning, we were excited to see that one of the peony plants we purchased last year has a beautiful flower on it. The other one is looking good but doesn't have any buds on it... yet. It doesn't get very much sun so it may take longer. We also had several iris bloom overnight. The first of our yellow ones... it looks like they all came at once!

Thursday 5/14

Linda was getting something out of our laundry room closet where we store our battery powered vacuumn. It just leans up against the wall and is quite top-heavy because the motor is up by the handle. As she backed out of the closet, she bumped the vacuum... it fell to the ground... and the motor landed on her big toe.

It was very painful and we thought the toe was probably broken. However, in a couple of days the pain was gone and all that remained was a very black and blue looking toe, for which she is grateful. The vacuum now hangs on a hook, on the wall, and won't be falling over any more !!

Friday 5/15

Yesterday, while blowing some leaves into piles, Steve's leaf blower blew up!!!

He determined the fan broke apart so . . . We got online, ordered a new part from Amazon and it was delivered this morning.

You can see how every single fin on the fan was broken off. Replacing the fan requires nearly completely dismantling the blower. We have done this once before and kind of knew how to do it but still enlisted the help of a You Tube "refresher course".  Together we were able to get the job done in no time and it is running great now !!

This afternoon, the Fullers (Ron & Cheryl) picked us up and we went to Parma to visit Steve & Cheryl's sister, Marilyn, and her son Jeff.

Linda, Steve, Jeff, Marilyn, Ron, Cheryl

We had a nice visit at the "Parker Ranch" then went to town and had a late lunch at Apple Lucy's Diner. It was a last minute idea that worked out great !!

Thursday 5/21

Shout Out to Sydney, Kevin & Lani's daughter !!

It was not only her 12th birthday today, but also her 6th grade promotion.

look out world . . . here comes Sydney !!

Friday 5/22

We have had a busy day today !

First thing this morning, the post office delivered a package from Amazon. It contained three sets of outdoor decor. Flowers, Frogs, and Birds. We spent the rest of the morning finding all the right places for them.

This planter used to be a fountain but when it stopped working we converted it to a planter. Over the last several years the little bear, on the left side, has been deteriorating until its whole face is now gone. 

The intended purpose of these flowers was to hide that missing face . . . 

mission accomplished !!

Linda bought these little frogs to hang from a planter we have in the front yard, however, the lip on the edge of the planter is too wide sooo, we found another place for them.

Two of them fit nicely on the edge of the foundation vent guard in between our new peony and a hostas plant. The third little frog found his home on our porch swing chain, at least for now.

Last of all was the task of finding a place for SIX little birds.

In a planter, in the trees, on the fence, on a flower barrel, and on our welcome sign by the front door.  Steve did a good job of helping Linda put them up where ever she "finally" decided she wanted them. He was very patient as he wandered around the yard, with his drill in hand, putting up with Linda's changing mind. In the end, they actually look very cute and also add a bit of color to the landscape.

Saturday 5/23

It's Memorial Day weekend sooo . . . .

We put up our flag and set our permanent lights to a patriotic red, white, and blue for the occasion. The colors are fun and the lights glow in both the front and back yards.

Sunday 5/24

Sunday is always a good day. 

We get all dressed up so we feel good about ourselves. We go to church so we feel close to Heavenly Father. We partake of the Sacrament so we remember our Savior. We hear beautiful music, talks, and lessons so we strengthen our testimonies.  We use technology to watch/listen to the Tabernacle Choir, Conference talks, and BYU devotionals.

In addition to all of this, today is a beautiful, sunny, warm day sooo . . .

  we can relax on our patio and enjoy Heavenly Father’s creations. Imagine what we would miss without our Sundays… we love Sunday’s !!

Tuesday 5/26

We had a busy day today

We started out at the ENT doctor for Steve's voice problems.

The doctor confirmed, with a nasal endoscopy, that the vocal cords do not close. A "plumping up" injection may be in his future. Afterward we stopped at Kohls to pick up an online order. The only problem was, the package in our bin #93 was not our order. Someone stole our order and left a random package in our bin. It all turned out okay though when the store refilled the order, bagged it, and sent us on our way. 

Next stop was the Home Depot. We purchased several plants including 3 tomato plants, some snap dragons, day lilies, dianthus, and pink lamium . They are all (except the tomatoes) perennials. The plan is, once they are planted we won't have to worry about buying/planting annual flowers every spring. Last night we had a big thunder/lightening storm. There was one lightening strike very close and it blew up the power supply in our permanent lighting control box. This afternoon Matt, from Valley Shine, came and replaced the fried part. It all works great once again . . . Yay !!

UPDATE !

We discovered where that "very close" lightning strike was . . .

On our street just a few houses away from us. We also found out we weren't the only ones that were affected by this strike. Others with permanent lighting had issues, some with blown out internet, even our neighborhood irrigation system. However, the people that live in this house didn't have any problems... hmmm?

Wednesday 5/27

It turned out to be a nice day today sooo we got busy planting !!

We began in the back yard.

The dianthus and snap dragons around the flowering pear tree

Pink Pewter Lamium along the curb under the gum tree

Tomatoes, as always, under our bedroom windows

Next we moved on to the front yard

The only thing left was to plant the day lilies around the flowering plum tree. Tree rings are pretty, but they also get filled with tree roots which makes planting anything a challenge. Such was the case in this ring, but . . . Steve did some work with his shovel, cut a few roots, and Linda was able to dig out five holes, in and around the roots, that were deep enough for the lilies. 

Friday 5/29

There's always something to do as a homeowner.

One of those "Maintenance"  things happened today - AC Tune-up time - All is well !!

Saturday 5/30

Last year we purchased this beautiful Rose Tree and it did well last summer. We haven't had much luck with plants in this particular spot so we were excited to see it come to life this spring.

From new tender little leaves, to ready-to-open buds, to beautiful flowers !!

Sunday 5/31

A fitting way to end the month of May . . . 

Today, all throughout the US, and as directed by the First Presidency, the 5th Sunday-2nd hour lesson was centered around the foundational documents of the United States of America. A video, narrated by President Christofferson and Elder Cook was shown followed by a class discussion.

The U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights are documents created by divinely inspired men. It insures our right to responsibly use the agency Heavenly Father's divine Plan of Happiness proclaimed. 

The 11th Article of Faith states: "We claim the privilege of worshiping almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same privilege. Let them worship how where or what they may." Our class concluded, we need to do our part to insure these ideals are preserved for us and our posterity.