Record Breaking Temperatures

We just never know what to expect weather wise in the Seattle area.  We had record breaking temperatures yesterday and I'm sure it happened today, too.  It felt warmer to me today and I was outside for most of the day.  I would much rather be outside than inside, which is probably why winter is not my favorite time of year.  

I think I mentioned before that I decided to stay here another winter instead of heading south.  I want to appreciate all the work I've done to the house for the last 1.5 years before I rent it and let someone else enjoy it.  I pulled up thirty year old carpet and exposed beautiful hard wood floors; I painted the whole interior; had someone else paint the outside.  I did a whole lot more, but I think you get the gist.  I've been busy!!  I documented it pictorially and I love looking at the progress I've made.   It took a long time and my mantra while I was painting was "two coats, two coats," because it took two coats of paint on each and every wall.  I inherited the house from my dad and he hadn't been able to keep it up while I was living in Arizona. When I came back I moved in with my parents to help them out, and also worked full-time and attended classes two nights a week.  It didn't leave me a lot of time for major renovations.  By the way, I had to be at work at 5AM and classes lasted until 9:30PM.  I was exhausted.

Now that I'm retired and I'm essentially finished with the house, except for downsizing into a motorhome, I need something to do.  Like that won't keep me busy...but I'm not ready to start on that yet.  I like to be creative and do artsy fartsy stuff but I didn't have any ideas.  Not too long ago I was visiting my next door neighbor and she had some balls in her yard similar to gazing balls, but totally different, too.  I asked her where she got them and found out she made them using bowling balls.  I was pretty excited because I thought they looked great in her yard and I couldn't wait to get started. However, it was impossible finding any bowling balls at first and that really slowed me down.  I eventually found some and started to create my own "yard art."  

I've tried to put my own spin/signature on them and the one in the front with the red and green is actually an attempt to show a picture, in this case a saguaro in a pot, but I don't think it's clear enough, so I doubt I'll try that again.

Then I tried to think of a different way to decorate the balls and decided to try and create a mosaic ball and here it is.  I was doing the grouting outside today and had the perfect weather for it, like I mentioned earlier.  I hadn't polished it when I took this picture, so now it looks cleaner.  I kind of like it and think I'll do more!

I need to take a moment here and mention how much I hate yard blowers!!! I have been listening to them all afternoon and I'm ready to scream.  What happened to brooms?  Ok, end of rant.

My son lives in Germany and on Sunday they aren't allowed to use anything outside that makes noise, i.e., yard blowers, lawn mowers, weed eaters, etc.  I think that would be wonderful.  

I need to remind myself that the picture scanning that I'm doing is helping in my downsizing.  It's a slow and gentle way of getting into it.

More sunshine please,

Jeana