2017 Year End Wrap Up Part Two

See Part One (12.29.17)

July – New shingles were installed on our roof and then we got a completely new gutter system.  We are all set for multiple rain barrels, which have yet to be acquired.  One of 2018’s goals.

August – A quiet month spent enjoying the pool.  We bought a pool solar cover, which brought the temperature up to a consistent 88 degrees, finally!  And we also bought a robotic pool cleaner, which freed up several hours a week of my time, enabling me to spend more time gardening.  I love that robot!

September – More swimming, more Master Gardener activities, and plans made for an auction of my dad’s personal property later in the year.  We also traveled to Paris, Texas, for a Labor Day square dance weekend, which was a lot of fun.  We even remembered how to dance.  It was on our trip home from Paris that we began to discuss enclosing the upstairs bonus room to give us another guest room, so September found us making daily trips to Lowe’s and building a wall and framing a door.  The room isn’t finished yet, but it is usable, and we’ll finish it up soon, I’m sure.

October – The Master Gardener Fall Festival, where I helped man a butterfly booth.  We finally got some cooler weather, which meant no more swimming, but a lot more yard work, setting up my new (to me) compost bins and creating some new gardening beds.

November – A trip to Alabama to help prepare for the auction of my dad’s items.  While there we spent a lot of time with Liana, who at 5 is just a bundle of energy and a lot of fun.  Charles had to work a lot while we were there, but we did get to see him a couple of nights.  And we went square dancing at the Lake Guntersville Twirlers club, where Wayne Mahathey calls.  Oh my, he put us through our paces.  As soon as we got home from Alabama, we had company arrive for Thanksgiving.  And then on Thanksgiving Day I came down with the flu.  Luckily, our house guests did not get the flu also.

December – The online auction of my dad’s property was held.  It was interesting to see what people will buy!  We had a quiet Christmas – no house guests – but a good Christmas all the same.

All in all, 2017 was a good year, better than many in recent memory.  I look forward to an equally good 2018.