We've been trying to get the weeds and trimming under control at the house. Lots of work! Don't think I've ever worked this hard. If Mom could see me now! She wouldn't believe it. Me doing manual labor. She would be happy that I'm doing it, but not happy that I let it get so out of control. I can just hear her saying, "Susie, if you just keep up on it and do a little at a time, you wouldn't have all this to do at once." We've almost got it done. Just a few more things to trim and a tiny bit more weeding. The landscaping was overgrown with weeds I'm sorry to say. I was going to have a landscaper do it for us, but he wanted to charge $1,000! No way. Susan and I decided to do it ourselves. Our friend, Kim Wheeler, has helped us a lot, too. She trimmed the large hemlock up in back yesterday and it looks great. As I walk around the yard, I can't help but think of Mom and Dad and miss them terribly. Their landscape was their pride and joy--esp. Mom. She loved to show off her plants. Again, I don't remember the names of all of them, but most. When I'm up in the shed, I think of Dad. That was his domain. Bug spray, weed killer, fertilizer, lots of garden tools, clippers, etc. And lots of pieces of board. If you ever needed a board for anything, big or small, Dad was your man! I can see him in my mind walking around the yard or pushing the mower. He was in such good shape it always amazed me. 82 last summer and still mowing the yard like it was no big deal. And I hate that yard! It is so bumpy and hard to mow. I love the way the yard looks, but not to mow it.

Yesterday we met with the auction guy. He thinks we can get in on an auction around Aug. 15th. Since we don't have a lot of stuff, we have to go in with other people. We'll sell Mom's Lowery Organ, her Emmett Kelly figures, some of her bird plates and other misc. items. Dad's big desk in the basement. I think it is very old. His initials are scratched in it someplace. Some chairs. But not much else. Once that is done, we hope to paint the rooms upstairs, put in ceiling fans and maybe clean the carpets. Maybe get new carpet for the basement. Then we'll be ready to move in.

I keep thinking of things I want to tell Mom and Dad and share with them about the house. It is strange because, again, we wouldn't be living there had they not died. But I want to say, see, your roses did ok this year...the hemlock looks good, or the bee balm is still alive. She thought she had lost it once last year. I still miss them every day.

Love,

Susie