maintain and break

Pam asked to do yard work for our date last week. I though that sounded nice and low maintenance.

The hydrangea doesn't look so good durring the winter, so we moved it to the back yard and replaced it with a new rhodie as well as the 2 Japanese maples that had outgrown their planters. I love blueberry plants, but only 1 of the 6 we planted has done very well. We put in another one and I doubled the amount of drip irrigation to it.

The evening was still young, so I embarked on a project I had put off for some time involving repositioning the pear tree. I had to dig down and around it, which was more work than I anticipated. I was almost underneath it when things started to gang a-gley. The post-hole digger struck something solid, and water boiled up with a hiss. The project turned from casual to serious in that moment. Turns out our neighbor's water main runs right under that tree. It was 10pm on a Saturday night, but they took the news well that tap water, showers, and toilet flushes were indefinitely suspended at their place. We ran our hose to their property. Pam toured Medford until she found a Safeway open past 11pm that had bottled water.

I moved a couple tons of dirt to get good exposure, then schemed about how to fix it quickly.

The next morning proceeded like a normal Sunday, except instead of Sunday School in the Relief Society room, I went to the PVC isle in Grovers plumbing and electrical. There I learned the virtues of the expansion coupler. Eager to put this teaching into practice in my life, and more importantly into the life of my neighbor's water main, I retired to my front yard and after bailing out a buch of rain water I glued it in place and made it back just in time for the close of Priesthood opening exercises. I gave it extra time to dry because I stayed for scout committee meeting, but the thing worked great. Pam and the kids helped tonight to refill the hole and hose off the drive-way. Apparently Erik needed to plant a tree for some cub scout requirement, so this worked out great for him.

Piano Tribute to Mother

As I was playing prelude for the stake conference priesthood leadership session yesterday, the visiting presiding authority came over and interrupted me. I stopped and shook his hand. He said "tough mother." I gave a confused smile. He said "a man that can play the piano must have had a tough mother." It was L Tom Perry. She used more chocolate chips and rewards for finishing books than threats. Elder Perry was also the one who set dad apart as mission president. Without mom's strength of will and character I doubt either one of us would have met Elder Perry. He was a relaxed and entertaining speaker. He said he was ready to throw his 2 grandsons into the ocean out of frustration for not finding wives yet. He said our responsibilities should be first to take care of ourselves including getting enough sleep (a big problem for me) and even some recreation, second to our spouse, third to our work, and forth to our callings. Another thing I thought was interesting was he testified Preach My Gospel is inspired. We're going to do some FHE's from it.

And here's a closing Piano Man thought from the web site of a Michael Squires (pictured above) via Billy Joel:

It's 10 o'clock on a Sabbath day.
The regular crowd shuffles in.
Our ward is still praying for move-ins,
'Till then it's me on the organ again.

The bishopric thanks me for prelude
And announces the opening hymn.
The chorister stands, as previously planned
And now we officially begin.

La da da de de da, la la de de da … da da

Play us a song, you’re the Piano Man,
Play us a song, won’t you please.
‘Cause some in the church hold various keys,
But very few will touch any of these.

In my mind I review the day’s lessons
As our wonderful meeting ends.
Though sometimes off-balance, I offered my talents,
And the day was enhanced for my friends.