Dependent on Independence

 

Per the usual, I was the first one up, and that was somewhere near 8am. Landon and Bella were both asleep in the family room, Landon in the big chair, Bella on the sofa. I was careful not to make too much noise making coffee so not to wake them.

I got to enjoy a little coffee and internet time alone before Landon woke around 830am. No surprise, he asked for some coffee. I made him a cup with mostly chocolate milk. It was a cool morning, sunny and 61 degrees. I left for a run near 945am. By then everybody was up and dad was over. I ran three miles.

At some point, dad, mom, and Glenn headed off for breakfast and the cemeteries. Meanwhile, the kids asked to fish. I readied two fishing rods and sent them on their way. It was a lazy late morning and early afternoon. I did take the time to plant the two new zinas that I bought a week ago from Wal-Mart.

Sometime that afternoon we got out the kayaks so the kids could experience the fun. Mindy agreed to take each of them individually on an adventure, she in her purple kayak, and then the kids taking turns on mine. Jacob went first, then Rocky, Landon, and finally Bella. By the time we finished up dad, Glenn, and mom were back.

Mom made mention of wanting to head home. I asked what come of the notion to stay at our place while Glenn was home. I’m thinking she was missing her animals. Midafternoon I decided it was time to cut the lawn, a task I hadn’t completed since the previous Thursday. And given the fact that I fertilized in the last 10 days coupled with all the recent rain, the grass really needed some attention.

I moved the vehicles to the curb then cut with the tractor first. I ran out of gas with just a little tractoring mowing left to go. I asked Mindy if she’d mind running to the gas station to fill my 5 gallon container. She agreed. Before she left, I used the half gallon or so that was left to top off the push mower and put the rest in the tractor. While she was away, I was able to finish all the tractor mowing and even got a good start on the push mowing. Seeing her struggling to carry the five gallons of gas (weights about 37 lbs), I stopped briefly to carry it back to the garage. Thanks dear!

Landon, meanwhile, was sitting patiently on my tractor waiting for me to finish push mowing and trimming with hopes of me pulling him around the yard in the tractor trailer. By the way, I did all the ending using the trimmer rather than stopping and switching to the edger head attachment.

Once finished with the lawn, I couldn’t bear to leave Landon hang. I gave him a ride around the backyard on the tractor sharing the seat with me. The other kids were off playing elsewhere so I decided to let him drive the tractor all by himself. Too cute! I asked that he follow the same path I made driving him around. He did darn good. I think Mindy got a couple photos.

By the time we were done it was just about time for Lindsey to come after the boys. In addition, our kids had already with their dad for the weekend. . By the time I was out of the shower all the kids were gone. Ahhh! Just like that it was me, Mindy, dad, mom, and Glenn. Mindy suggested we grill burgers and eat on the deck. It was a lovely evening for it, sunny but not too hot, about 78 degrees.

I cracked a Widmere Up HEveal IPA just before dinner. In fact, enjoyed a few more before the evening was over. Neighbor Pat stopped over around 6pm or just before we ate. We offered that he eat with us but he had grilling plans of his own. We chatted for a while.

The grilled burgers were delicious. After dinner I enjoyed a few more beers. Sounded like my mom made arrangements for my dad and Glenn to take her home Saturday morning, or at least take her to Logan to meet Ronald. We were all in bed by 11pm.