It is starting to get nice enough out that I can leave the bedroom window open at night...much better for sleeping...but reckless with the allergies. I was up with the sun this morning...started up the 1970 BMW and headed off to the market to get the Sunday papers and donuts for the kids. In an unusual move...I also went to McDonalds and picked up a couple of breakfast parfaits and some sausage burritos. I have a cholesterol check-up tomorrow...want to make sure I make the tests results look good. My had made the coffee and was in bed watching the news...so I joined her and we read the papers and ate our take take out breakfast. My allergies were really killing me...the worst of it being itchy eyes. It seemed the best thing to do was lay back down until the symptoms eased up a bit. Next thing I knew it was 11 AM.

There was no time to waste at that point...my daughter wanted me to paint her swing set...and the hardware store closes at noon on Sundays. So...I was up and out...got the paint...and proceeded to spend until 5 PM working my butt off to please my daughter. That's what dads are for. My two sons helped for a while...until they got bored. I had to laugh when I looked at the paint work they had done...there were a lot of missed spots...but I was happy to have them out there helping me. Kids don't really have that work ethic...or sense of quality control that adults have. I am certain I was the same as a kid...I used to wash the neighbor's car for money...and even painted his house when I was in high school. The next time I see him...I have to ask him how I really did...because watching my own kids now...I can guess that I probably had some quality control problems of my own. But he never said anything...the neighbor...he knew I was doing it for the money...and had the best of intentions...what a great guy. Well...I thought he was a good guy at the time...still do...but his wife didn't. She didn't thing too much of his girlfriend either...guess that's why they split and the wife ended up with that car I washed and the house I painted.

When I finished the swing set I strolled around the yard looking at the plants coming up. The garlic is looking good in the garden. We planted some flowers in a few of the flower boxes on the barn...and we planted some spinach. Next weekend we need to get some more of the salad greens planted...and it looks about time to get the hops planted. (I have about 30 hop plants that I intend to put down in the big field...if they take...I plan on planting quite a bit more next year...my friend that owns the brew pub will be happy to take the hops when they are harvested and dried).

There is so much to do this time of year...and most of it requires getting your hands dirty outside. That's good living.