As I write, there are sounds of drills, saws and lumber being manipulated into the greatest raised garden bed I could have ever imagined. (my version was sort of stacking the largest timbers out back, and hoping I could pound something into the ground on the outside to keep them from coming apart)
My latest Craigs list friend has designed the planter and is starting the assembly of it this evening. In exchange, he is taking lumber from the many stacks out back to construct a small tool shed at his place, just 10 minutes away.
I have had so many more success stories from Craigs list connections, in fact....I can't really think of any negatives. What a great resource!
The frosting on the cake this evening is when this young man began telling my mom about a tradition/ceremony.....not sure what the word was he used, but it was about this week, in Japan. Spirits of ancestors visit I think?? He is difficult for me to understand, because my Japanese is ZERO. Anyway, I think the deal is he is thrilled to be using my dads wood, especially this week.....and to be making something for my mom with dads supplies. Apparently very good for family he says. I don't get the details, but I'm not questioning it! 
I do know it feels great to be using some of what my dad spent decades salvaging. The alternative would be to just junk everything if/when the property is sold. That would make me way too sad.......so we're going to continue with my new friend Shin and see how much of this lumber he can use.
On other fronts here.......I did get my walk in today; around Greenlake. What a great day to be outdoors! Stopped on the way home to get gas (using moms car for most of my errands these days, so gas is a different deal for a mazda compared to my van!), and picked up a spreader for the lawn here. I've not done city type lawn care for years; leaving the lawn to the chickens, goat and the occasional equine escapee. There are sacks and sacks of product in the garage for the lawn, but no spreader.......so now I'm in business. Going to discourage some bugs first, then see if I can make a trade and get the moss out and let some real grass grow.
Each task here is connected to a couple others.......if I get the lawn stuff out of the garage, there will be room to move the freezer up from the basement so mom can get to it herself. It will be easier to unload from the car too. If I can get the freezer out of the basement, I will be a bit closer to clearing out a space to start painting the walls and getting a sheetrock ceiling installed. Way too many jobs to think about. Will go back to just tackling one at a time!
Another Craigs' List Connection Comes Through
August 15th, 2007 at 02:39 am
August 15th, 2007 at 02:45 am 1187145950
Good luck getting the freezer moved up! I love having mine in the garage. (Not sure how happy the freezer is to be there though, since its 103 degrees outside!)
August 15th, 2007 at 03:30 am 1187148646
O-Bon is a Japanese summer festival that honors the spirits of the dead. It combines early Buddhist rituals to rescue the souls of the dead from hell with native Japanese Shinto agricultural rites and the tradition of welcoming back the souls of ancestors in late summer. Currently O-Bon is celebrated throughout Japan from the 13th to the 16th of either July or August, with preparations beginning days before. The festival serves as a time for family reunions and ancestor veneration at family altars and cemetery plot--the spirits are guided home, feted for several days, and then guided back to the spirit world.
August 15th, 2007 at 03:45 am 1187149505
August 15th, 2007 at 01:16 pm 1187183775
August 15th, 2007 at 03:29 pm 1187191742
This is the week dead souls of our ancestors come back to this world, and people welcome and honor these spirits, visit their family graves, etc. But mainly, it is the week to get together with family members and have a feast
August 15th, 2007 at 04:05 pm 1187193959
super deal popped up. Of course, we were out of state on
vacation but since the web is assessable anywhere, we could respond. Couch is beauful-camel back, slim arms, and rose velvet, just right. I'm thrilled!
August 15th, 2007 at 04:17 pm 1187194632