This Was My Weekend!

I worked in the yard. Got the grass cut. Trimmed the top of the willow tree with Todd holding the ladder after giving it a major hair cut last week as high up as I could reach or climb. These pink flowers are some the kids picked out & I planted last weekend.


This is our bush outside the kitchen patio that has grown big enough to take over Texas. I'll trim it back after it loses all the blooms. They're so pretty, I couldn't stand the thought of cutting them all off right now.
My girl child contemplating the pros/cons of running through the sprinkler with big bumble bees in the backyard. In the end, the fear of the bees kept her rooted on my lap or by my side. I told her they didn't sting and they didn't have teeth to bite, they just lick (they're just big ole pollinators) which made her laugh. Maybe next weekend.

A glimpse of my new haircut through the sun speckles. I got close to 6 inches chopped off in the front. Chloe is still pensive about the bees.


Still looking out for the bees, but at least I caught her beautiful smile :)


And the temps got above 90. I LOVED it!

And a little time on the torch. Not as much as I'd like, but my time will come in another month and Todd will owe me big. Right now, he is playing tennis like a fiend. Seems like every team he's on is either in the playoffs or going to the State Championships. So he's playing tennis ALL THE TIME, which is great for him. And I'm enjoying more of the one-on-one time with the kids. They have helped me pick out a TON of flowers these last two weekends and helped get some of the plants in the ground.

Hoping to get some new beads listed in Etsy this week. We'll see. Depends on how hectic work is & what kind of free time I find in the evenings or if I take lunch hours.

No climbing poles for me!

Here is my only shot at climbing phone poles...training in Dallas two weeks ago. While the union did not come to an agreement with my company on a new contract, they did agree to continue business as usual until they do come to an agreement. For me, this means I do NOT have to go to Oklahoma to work as a field technician (ie. climbing poles, descending into manholes or installing/repairing phone lines for the locals).

I have spent 300+ hours over the past several months taking 57 training courses. It has been stressful working 50+ hour work weeks for months on top of my normal job, as well as thinking of the possibility of leaving my family for an unknown amount of time to perform strike duty. My time on the torch considerably decreased as a result to spend my evenings in online training. My beloved torch and source of sanity renewal, oh how I have missed you! I am extremely thankful that the union agreed to not strike and that I may stay home. With my family. With free evenings to now return to my torch or my husband's side on the sofa when he's not playing tennis. I can get caught up on 24 and American Idol. I can again make commitments on Etsy and know I can fulfill them. On time.

It is the simple things that I am returning to and that I am now running toward with open arms. I have been doing heel clicks all day in thanks & happiness :)

And an added bonus? My Dad can finally stop singing Wichita Lineman to me everytime we talk!