A Work & Painting Party
Saturday, May 16
Part One
We scheduled a “Saturday Painting Party” at our house with our three Pennsylvania children and their families – mostly because I thought it was too much ladder-work for Cerwin to accomplish before the construction crew comes to install new windows.
If I add the word “party” to an invitation, our children and grandchildren show up – even to work. 
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After Cerwin injured his shoulder, we really needed their help.
By the way, the doctor is scheduling an MRI to see if there is any soft tissue damage. He expects that Cerwin will need therapy, but hopefully no surgery. He is no longer in a lot of pain, but cannot lift his right arm from the shoulder.
Following his injury, Cerwin asked Josh to mow our yard on Friday afternoon because rain was predicted for Saturday.
He came back on Saturday morning to do the weedeating before the rain started.
Nate painting primer coat under the roof.
When it hadn’t rained by noon, Jeff, Nate, Jenna, Diana, and Gloria decided to come and begin some of the work and paint projects even though we had changed the “Painting Party” to Memorial Day because of the predicted all-day rain.
(Jordan was working at the Fahnestock farm and Chris was clerking at an auction.)
Jeff started a project that needed a damp, overcast day.
This was a large pile of leftover tree lumber and branches from when my brother had two storm-damaged trees cut into boards last fall. My siblings are having our annual pavilion cleanup on Thursday evening, but this pile needs more time to burn than an evening.
Jenna helped to get the fire started with some boxes and trash.
She also filled a bucket with water – just in case it was needed.
While Nate was painting and Jeff was preparing to light the fire, the girls (Jenna, Diana, and Gloria) started removing the remains of tulips and other spring flowers from our patio flowerbeds.
Meanwhile down at the pavilion, the fire was in full force. This picture makes it look like the pavilion is burning, but it was never in danger.
While they were doing outside work, I was busy in the kitchen getting ready for a family supper – the party part of the day.
We decided to keep that on schedule, even after the work day was canceled. The evening meal was going to be a special party for Jared’s fifth birthday.
After Jenna was finished outside, she asked if she could help with the salad.
I had the bacon, hard-cooked eggs, and tomatoes prepared, so all she had to do was layer them on top of the lettuce, onions, and carrots.
When the fire was under control, Jeff began painting.
Deb and Roy also decided to come early – in work clothes – just in case it didn’t rain.
I love these kids of ours. We cancel a work party and they show up anyway!
They drove through rain, but we were still rain-free at our house.
Jana and Gloria wanted to paint too, so Cerwin gave them paint-scraping tools to remove old paint from our shed door.
I was surprised at how much fun they had scraping paint.
By the middle of the afternoon, the wood pile was almost gone.
We could smell rain, and at times see it raining to the southeast, but it still had not reached us.
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To be continued tomorrow.
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