We watched a lot of football and home renovation shows. The boys weren't here much, and we were pretty sneezy. Buck took two Covid tests--because we have like seven boxes of them--but they were both negative. Our streak holds!
In the past several days, the world began to melt, and Olive is thrilled to be outside as much as she possibly can be. She buries her ball in the snow, then digs it up and pounces on it--over and over again, each time delighted to find it is still there, lol :) We also had this cute little bunch of birds using the cover of Buck's grill as a splashy hot tub yesterday. It was fun to watch them spiff up for the approaching springlike weather!
At Christmas, we tried to get our fireplace up and running. We shut it down a couple of summers ago when our gas bill was astronomical and I realized we'd let the pilot light run for like eight years straight. Well, our energy bill has dropped dramatically recently (in fact, I think they owe us at least a few months' worth of payments) and I found a fireplace fixing company online. They were out within just a few days. The technician discovered two gas leaks (eek!) and did a full mechanical replacement of the internal ignition workings (they were 25 years old), plus he cleaned the logs and the glass. Now the fire dances up at the flip of a switch (just like the good old days), and most importantly it is safe! Not that we'll want a fire when it's nearing 50 degrees outside, but it is nice to have it working again. We even have embers, oooh! I don't remember embers!
It appears my time as a happy hermit is coming to a close. I've got several social engagements on the calendar, starting tomorrow. I also had my friend S and her baby over a few days ago while her older daughter was at preschool. Olive kindly brought the baby her boot. When Daisy was here yesterday with Caelan and Noah, she brought me my boot, so I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with Retrievers :)
In other family news, we are beginning our second semester of school today--nearly completing a couple of classes and adding a couple more onto the schedule. We're also looking at graduation party dates for Brennen and moving dates for the first round of newlyweds who discovered--after nearly two years of waiting--they will have student housing this summer!
In the meantime, Caelan started working with our Czar, at a non-profit, helping with office work, project support, and her specialty--event planning. She's found the experience such a welcome example of teamwork, kindness, and respect, that she put in her two weeks' notice at the arts center where's she's managed for more than a year. She said if the excellent pay and quality people at her new job wouldn't have done it--nearly getting trapped in an elevator and facilitating a challenging wedding reception at the venue would have locked in her decision anyway.
Brennen ended his time with the sporting goods store right before he left for the Texas trip (on his one-year anniversary). He is now Dashing (well, he always has been ;), but is giving independent work of this nature a try. Chase and Gabby Dash on the side, and Noah has done it as well, so B has some good resources for his delivery strategies.
Graysen grabbed an opportunity to talk to a businessman/hobby farmer at church a Sunday ago and asked if he had any jobs available. He sure did! Graysen started--he anticipates full-time!--the very next day. He's currently a farmhand, helping with the horses, chickens, pigs, dogs, cows, and splitting wood. He may have an opportunity to get onto one of the boss's utility crews in the spring, laying pipe for a waterworks project. He's grateful to be working, dreaming of buying his own car, and pretty excited that he made more than half of what he brought in during his year at the grocery store in just one week at his new job :)
So, there's my week in review! I might even take Olive for a walk once the trash trucks are gone. We'll see--I technically still have a couple days of hermit month left on the calendar ;)
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