Better late than never

I've always wondered if this is really true.  Are there some things that late just doesn't cut it? 

I'm hoping this blog isn't one of them. 

I'm making small - very small - progress on Siobhan's story. Our family had a bit of a shock last week when my husband's brother had a heart attack and passed very unexpectedly.  This has rocked our family for several reasons. We've always looked at my husband's family as being genetically long lived. My mother in law passed at 91, her mother in her mid nineties, most of her siblings on either side of ninety with only a couple of exceptions (mother in law was one of ten).  Now - a sense of mortality is knocking at the door.  

The hard part is that the two brothers share a few similar traits, the most problematic, a dislike for regular checkups or doctor visits. The other challenge is convincing them of a need for changing bad habits for good one.  I'll let you know if I succeed in talking him into at least walking every day with me - not holding my breath, but going to give it the college try. 

the other challenge for families that live half a country away is wondering if more could have been done. If things should have been said. Always a hard thing second guessing ourselves. 

As a result, what should take me only a short while is taking a very long while. As in this blog that's hours late. 

On the upside, my cousin and his three sons came over Sunday to help clear weeds. I have quite a good size yard and more weeds than plants. Now the front of the house looks nice and tidy. Not magazine worthy, but pleasantly tidy.  I'm very happy to not be the messiest house on the block anymore. 

lastly, for folks who have followed my kitchen renovations, it has been mostly done for months, but around my travels there were a handful of tweaks that still needed to be done. Doors that didn't quite fit, drawers that didn't quite close or stay closed (apparently we do not have a level floor and ceiling lol) and the missing range hood. I did have to give up on white and install stainless, but I don't think it looks too bad.  Anyhow, here's a photo - for someone who doesn't cook, I'm very pleased with the outcome!  What are my favorite features?? I LOVE the drawers under the sink instead of cabinet doors. So easy to open the top drawer for the sponges and dish soap - the bottom drawer for whatever mess I store under there LOL. I love that everything pulls out, either drawers, or shelves, no bending over and crawling under to find what's been lost. I love that my coffee maker and small appliances are hidden behind closed doors. It's not easy but clean countertops is a joy. But my two truly favorite features are the three trash bins and three junk drawers LOL.  I have a trash bin by the coffee bar, another by the kitchen sink, and a recycle bin in the island. Then, I've had a junk drawer for years. since I have so many drawers, there are two nice sized drawers under the junk drawer and you guessed it - they all have junk now. Organized, but junk! LOL. 

Okay, that's it for now - at least I still made it on Monday! 

take care,