Life in Lyndhurst: May 2021

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Painting Projects

Since coming home in March and subsequently having the Fillmore family move into their own home, I decided I would paint a lot of our home. We went to Menard's, Home Depot and Sherwin-Williams and I outfitted myself with a bucket full of painting supplies.

I began in the bathroom by getting rid of the bright yellow sponge-painted walls above the chair rail. I liked them back then as they matched the floor. I had palm tree rugs and shower curtain and hooks. I just needed a change.

We had a bathtub with jets that no longer worked and so we purchased a new tub. Behind the tub was this wallpaper. I remember it from my childhood.

I like the new paint color and I like the new flooring. I also really like the wood painted white.

The ceiling tiles new to be replaced. I painted the grid and then we installed the tiles. Above the shower Pat installed this tile. I like it!

Then it was time to paint Sammi and Jeff's new living room. I was no a fan of the yellow ceiling at all! Besides that, it matched the walls and the light fixtures are amber with amber lights which made everything very yellow.

The bright white ceiling and light blue walls are so refreshing.

Next it was time for Erin's new room. She decided to move into the East bedroom as there is more light and it is much larger. Sammi painted this room twice.

The first time it she painted it like this and then she later changed it to the yellow and aqua.

Erin chose this color. It looks so much bigger with the lighter color.

Then the sad truth had to be faced. It was time for the dinosaurs to go. I spent so much time painting them on the wall when Andrew was just a kid. He loved dinos but now this room was becoming my guest room so I needed it to be a little more classy.

Here is what it is after. The yellow is just a hair lighter. Not quite what the upper photo shows. Then I changed things up and put the corner cabinet in there. It looks so different. It's a small room but large enough to sleep in.

I moved Tom upstairs to Erin's old room which still needs to be painted or perhaps we will take out the lath and plaster and put in drywall. I turned this downstairs bedroom into extra living space and a game room.

I finally put up the pictures I wanted on the wall. I used to have a collage on the kitchen wall but since the French doors into that room are kept open, I put it there.

The living room didn't need anything except a white ceiling.

There was a lot of cutting to do against the crown molding, but it turned out great!

Finally the kitchen. I painted the ceiling white first and then used the same colors on the walls. Since I already had that blue, I decided to use it again.

The only change here was the fact that instead of a semi-gloss, I used an eggshell finish. There were a lot of spots to be filled and sanded and even more spots where I needed to spray on the Bin primer. I'm hoping that the primer will take care of any nail or former grease spots from showing through in the future. Next it's time to begin the bathroom and then the kitchen cabinets. That will be a job that will equal all the others combined. I've already spoken to Jared and got step by step instructions on how to pull it off. Wish me luck!

Following a Prompting

I cannot believe that I didn't write this experience down anywhere. Not in my journal, not here on the blog or even on familysearch.

Back in September 2019 while on our mission, I had just begun working in the office. Previously I had been working grounds. Therefore, Richard Hancock was our boss. He and his wife were expecting their 4th child. Maryanne was very tired and not doing very well. The baby wasn't due until January so it was really going to be a long haul for them.

One day while driving past their house I had a very strong prompting that I needed to make a meal for their family. Richard came into my office that day and I told him of my experience and asked him when he wanted that meal. He responded that tomorrow would be great. Both Jordan and Trischa came out of their offices and commented on the conversation they had just heard. They told me that Richard is very private and it wasn't like him to accept my service so readily. He was coming home from work each day and taking over the responsibilities of cooking a meal for his family and caring for the children. I'm sure that's why he accepted my offer so easily. Besides, I didn't really give him a choice. I told him I had a prompting and I was following it.

The next day I bought some disposable pans and made a dinner for the Hancock family. I spent some time visiting with Maryanne which I think she really enjoyed. A few days later I told my grounds sisters about my experience in following the Spirit and they decided they wanted to help too. A plan was made and each of us made a meal for them once every week.

I was talking to the sisters in conservation about what we were doing and they wanted to get involved as well. By the time December came, I didn't even get to bring a meal as all the days were filled. It was such a marvelous thing to see how my one prompting turned into acts of service by many for this one family. One of the sisters even went to tutor their son every week. This was my first opportunity to see a Zion community in action on a long term basis.

I will always be grateful for that simple thought brought to me as I drove past the Hancock's home. It changed lives!

Weeding

Last Sunday I decided that I needed to do some weeding in the beds in the backyard.

On Monday I started by the firepit and worked to the west and then came back toward the house. It wasn't too big of a job but I sure like the result. It looks so nice.

When I finished there I began working on the bed next to the garage. By Tuesday afternoon I decided that all of the lily plants had to go. I'm sure there will be plenty that show up as I missed their roots.

I moved the rocks one by one and dug out the roots with a shovel. They came out in giant clumps! Still, it's that many that will not reappear in this bed. I also did my best to remove the "snow on the mountain" which is a very invasive weed. I feel accomplished with what I've been able to do and how great it looks. Weeds are already finding their way back in.

My Nauvoo Blooms

Last Spring my companion and I went to the Sarah Kimball barn and scavenged bulbs. Tulips, hyacinths and daffodils.

I sent some home with Sammi but mailed the rest. Our daughters planted them according to my instructions and they did a marvelous job.

I'm very excited to have so much color and contrast in my front flower beds.

I'm also excited to have so much texture among those beautiful blooms and foliage.

My small grape hyacinths have been there for a very long time and they seem to transplant themselves everywhere in the yard. Still, they fill in the space which makes everything look fuller. The only issue was that my large purple hyacinths blended in and I would rather not have that so I pulled them and will plant them elsewhere in the fall.

Erin planted a lot of daffodils in that back yard and I love that they are much later than the others in that they are now blooming when most everything else is finishing.

I love these pink double tulips. I just wish there were more of them so they could be planted closer and create that "full" look that Richard creates so beautifully in Nauvoo.

These were in the Browning Gun flower bed last year and although I like them, they were not my favorite. I think I like them better without such a full look.

All of these are planted in the front flower bed at the church. So many different kinds and I like all of them so much.

These yellow ones are so happy.

I do not recall where they were planted last year. Doesn't matter. They have a new home and I will love them here.

Again, props to Clare, Erin and Sammi for all their hard work in making this happen for me and for anyone else who passes by the church and appreciates the blooms.

Outdoor Changes

With the weather warming up it is time to take care of a few things that need shaking up. First and foremost were the three pine/spruce trees in this photo. Eventually, Pat wants to build a shop onto the back of the garage and in order to make it happen that blue spruce tree had to go. I remember my mom planting that tree. It was so small for years that my brother Pat and I could jump over it.

The two trees behind the garage needed to go as well as we are planning to put one of our trailers there to house the tractor and lawn mowers in the winter. Or perhaps just a place to put our trailers.

I wish I would have taken the after photo sooner as the leaves on the maple tree have covered the view of no trees.

These two trees, one a spruce and this massive white pine came down. I will not miss raking up all those pine needles.

Chad Thorne came and took all the wood away for his outdoor burner. The tree looks even bigger on the ground.

The neighbors wanted the trees between our properties removed. We removed the rotten fence. It was really rotten too. The pickets could be broken off without much of an effort and in some cases without any effort.