Here's the septic cleanout (top) just after the large snowdrift which covered the back yard all winter has mostly melted away. You bet - this is on the list of things that need to be fixed by the builder. It had no cover so Curtis put the piece of plywood over it when we moved in. Joe put his overboots on and went out this afternoon and dug the approximately foot deep ditch that you see from the cleanout toward the fence. It did tire him out. The puddle covered most of that part of the yard before he dug the ditch. See where it is wet near the bottom of the photo, there was water up there and back toward the deck steps. It has been standing water on both ends of the yard as the drift melted and I've particularly wondered whether the uneveness which is allowing the water to lay there is going to affect the house, as whether it will settle with that kind of wetness. And whether the septic "elements" are weathering this o.k. or not.
Yesterday Joe went to the ranch early in the morning. He said everything is fine there. In the afternoon Bonnie and Craig came over and brought me a very nice gift from Nancy, a small DVD player. Craig hooked it up for me. We tried to get it to go on the big screen TV in the living room, but for reasons too long to write, it wouldn't work. So we put it on the small TV in my bedroom and it hooked right up. He showed me how to drive the three remotes it takes and now I can watch DVD movies! They stayed for dinner and we had tamales and tacos. It was really enjoyable having them with us. We called Nancy so I could thank her, and had a nice visit with her. They might be back here sometime in May, depending on the weather and we have a date to get together. Thank you for your kindness, Nancy.
I went to church this morning and was a tad late again. Woke up in good time but seemed not to be able to stay awake, fell back asleep until I just had time to get ready and be there. This was the best session, or my favorite anyway, since I started going. Well, how many have I been to now? Four or five? I came home from there and Joe had already eaten a bowl of cereal for lunch. So I fixed a ham sandwich. That and a cup of yogurt was all I had all day until dinner. Boy my stomach was growling in Sunday School.
I checked email and got very sleepy again so went and took a nap, then watched a very interesting program on the education channel about a murder trial in Idaho where Clarence Darrow? was the defending lawyer - the lawyer who later defended the teacher in "The Monkey Trial". It was about the miners union around the turn of the century and a lot of the history of the event, violence, murder and terrorism, and people involved. Many great old photos. Fascinating. The trial lasted two and a half months, and mostly farmers were the jury. They acquitted the defendant because Darrow cast doubt on the main witness and that was all it took; they couldn't convict him. The whole country was spellbound by the newspaper accounts the entire time and I could see why.
Took the dogs for a walk and although it was nearly 55 degrees, I still needed the down coat on and the hood on my head because the wind was blowing pretty hard. It actually whistled around my hood, in fact. But "The Boys" sure enjoyed the outing, so it was worth it. Raven is being so good about not going around the neighbor's houses when I call her. Back she comes happy and smiling. She may partly be trying it so she will be told she's such a good girl when she turns around and comes away from the yards. Soon after I got in, Betty called and we talked as usual for over an hour. Then dinner time. I noticed the taco leftovers weren't near as enjoyable as they were last night with Bonnie and Craig. And guess what..... Here it is 8:30 p.m. two days later and I haven't called Lois back yet. Or is it three days now?
