I’d spent the past two days cleaning out and reorganizing my walk-in closet.  I felt like a hamster spinning her wheels.  At least the Goodwill pile was growing and I had a little more room on my shelves.  The problem was – and is – there are too many things that no longer fit!  I’m nothing if not optimistic and, for years, have said I’ll keep it for when I lose weight!  Does that sound familiar to anyone?!

Anyway, I had escaped this task and gone outside to help Doug work on the old, original shed.  It will just take twenty minutes he’d said.  If you recall from a previous post, Doug has a new shed that is rather like a workshop now, so this old one needs help.  He will store his riding lawnmower and a few other things in the old one.  Winters are tough here and Spring rains are relentless.  Between the two, the old shed is about to fall down.  I suggested we tear the whole thing down and start over!  Not without an attempt to save it apparently.  So, as Doug attempted to lift the 10′ x 12′ building, I carefully placed wooden braces beneath.  I thought we were doing great in getting the building up 2″ when he mentioned it needed to go up SIX!  The building sits on a hill and the Spring rain needs to go under the building.  I’m sure there’s an emoji that would resemble my face just then, I just can’t find it!

About that time, Doug had a good suggestion:  let’s leave everything and go for a ride.  Perfect idea.  I was tired of working in the closet and didn’t think I had it in me to brace the building up another four inches.  So off we went.  We still needed to place Autumn flowers on his grandparents’ graves so we started there.  He had already taken flowers to his parents’ grave and to Johanna’s (his late first wife).  It is getting later in the season and I was glad we were going to be able to get this done.

I’ve been working on Doug’s family history for several years and feel as if I knew his grandparents.  

I love an Autumn afternoon, especially when it involves a drive in the country. 

There were many farmers out in their combines harvesting beans and corn. 

I really should have grown up on a farm because I love the countryside!

I think Doug’s original goal for the drive was to stop by the shed company – the one where he purchased his workshop.  Well, as long as we were going to be in Ankeny, I suggested we stop by the ARL!  (The Animal Rescue League of Iowa!)  Doug actually helped create the water feature at the front entry there so he was all for it.  We started on the side that houses the dogs first.  There were three I could have brought home:  an eight month old American English Coonhound named Hank,  a six year old gorgeous German Shepherd named Ranger and an eight month old English Mastiff!  Needless to say, we did not come home with a single pup.

Next was the Cat side of the building.  They have so many cats that need homes!  We held a little eight week old orange tabby kitten.  Adorable!  Wonder how Tiger would like a little brother?  In the end, we left the little guy there.  I have no doubt he will find a good home.

Last stop was the shed company.  We went inside each one of their “samples” and at the end of the day, Doug decided to take off a lot of the bad boards on the old shed and bring it back to life.  Reasonable decision but I think he’ll need someone stronger than I am to lift the last four inches!

Then it was home where we baked a pizza and relaxed for the rest of the evening…