The Wind is Powerful

If it isn’t nailed down outside, the winds have had their way with it.  It began raining last night about 10:30.  At times it was a wind-powered, driving rain.  We were spared the snow that had been talked about.  That was fine with us.

Dennis’ wood project is progressing.  He had mentioned this early morning that we were going to take the day off as he could feel his arms and shoulders have really been getting a workout.  Every size of sandpaper, every size of brass brushes . . . it’s all on the workbench in the garage.  

I can usually see into the patio porch when Dennis is in his rocking chair when I look out of the east house window.  Hmm.  The rocking chair was empty.  I didn’t poke.  I left well enough alone.  I toddled down into the sewing studio to work with my quilt blocks.  

What has happened to Dennis is much like what happens to me when I am in the thick of a sewing project . . . you can’t leave it alone.  When he came in for his Noon lunch I didn’t say a thing about taking the day off.  Dennis is content working at his own speed.  It’s a good thing.  By the look of his jeans, he has been hitting the sandpaper pretty hard.  Refinishing spindles are a challenge.  I can only imagine the coats of that good old oil-based paint that those spindles are hanging on to.

My cell phone has kept me busy this afternoon.  Dennis’ nephew Brett has closed down his concrete business for the season.  Brett has begun getting into the mood for quilting.  In one of his conversations today, he commented that switching gears is like never having turned on a sewing machine before.  He’ll get into the swing of it before long. 

When seasons change we keep pace with the changes.  Projects make for a good transition.  Why fight what you can’t change.  Minnesota winters have always kept us wondering what each day will bring.  Keeping busy makes the time go by fast.  Idle hands are the work of the devil and we mean to keep him at bay.  For us retired two here on Stauffer Avenue, time does go fast enough as it takes us longer to do what used to be done in a heartbeat.   

Dennis comments often that he can’t figure out how some of those who are about our age never have anything to do.  Hmm.