Okay, I'm late getting this post written. My goal is to have this post done by 11:00 AM CDT. It's now after 3:00 PM. Sorry for the delay. I've been busy this week with my regular stuff as well as cherries that needed pitting and a groundbreaking this morning.

I came home from church Sunday and my dear ever so helpful husband had spent an hour and a half picking cherries from the tree at my mother-in-law's. Nothing really wrong with that. They are ripe and we had spoken about them the evening before. (No he doesn't attend church with me.)

Trouble is that he only had half of a five gallon bucketful. If you can't guess that means they are very small. Normally cherries are a inch or a little more in diameter. These were only about half an inch. I say were because they are now pitted. I spent Monday afternoon watching Mama Mia and pitting which is 1:48 long and I got a little over two quarts pitted. Tuesday I spent most of the afternoon to finish. I did make a pie which tastes good if you like your pies runny and needing to be eaten from a bowl with a spoon. I do well with making just about any kind of pie but cherry. Oh well. You can guess what my answers was when he asked me if I wanted more cherries. Um NO!

Today was the groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of the hospital in town. I was on the board for twelve long years until we merged with a large hospital system. You probably know I live in a rural area of Illinois. The hospital is a 'Critical Access Hospital' which means it has less than 25 beds and is under special rules and reimbursement from Medicare.

The renovation has been a long time coming. My state seems to have difficulty doing just about everything since layer upon layer of red tape is involved. Each layer needing to be removed has to be accompanied by a big check to the state.

This morning the ceremony officially marking the beginning of the 18 month renovation was held. A brunch and then the speeches and photo shoot went off without a hitch. In the parlance of old time newspaper social event coverage: "And a good time was had by all." Especially those of us who had been through it all from the beginning seven years ago. I'm not going to hold my breath to see if they get the project done in the time allotted. They assure me it will. We'll see. If it's anything like my timing on this post it won't be completed on time.

I’m in need of a pink ladder. Some of you ladies will know why I say this. I’ve mentioned before that I live on a farm. My husband wears bib overalls and Red Wing boots to work. He carries a pair of pliers in them as well as a couple of small screwdrivers.

Around the farm there are always things which need fixing  or working on. In my home I often need a wrench or a screwdriver or hammer, etc.

Now it’s not as if the guys don’t have tools. They do. They have plenty of tools. My son has lots and lots of tools he keeps in a massive drawered chest. However, there seems to always be a shortage of the type of tools I keep for my use. These disappear from the places of storage where I keep my tools.

This goes for things like push brooms also. I’ve purchased several over the years and it always seems not to be hanging on my garage wall when I want to use it. Now that my son is grown and farming with us a quick test will usually have it turn up within a day.

My husband, whom I love dearly, had a pair of pliers which finally, after years of use, began to wear out. One day when I went to use my pliers rather than the pair I had purchased, there was the old ratty pair of my husband’s. He would deny he replaced mine with his but…

So I went to the discount store in town and just happened to find a tool bag, filled with just the type of tools I’d need. An evil, but justified grin spread across my face. Eyes filled with delight, I picked it up and placed it in my cart. Bright pink is the bag with pink handled tools. No one can now claim the tools they are using aren’t mine if the handles are pink.

I went into the garage the other day. I purchased a six foot ladder a few years ago. Just as I thought, it wasn’t there. It seldom is actually. Never when I want it. They don’t even make a pretense of it ever coming back to my garage. It’s here now, after a text to my son.

Now I’m on the hunt for a six foot pink stepladder.

This post appeared on 6/13/13 of The Barn Door where I blog once a month.

So, today's my birthday. I'm one short of the big 60. It's hard to comprehend that. The years have gone so fast. I know it's trite and cliche, but it's also true. Cliches are that because they are true.

If you want to read a good book that is full of twisted cliches which are still true I recommend Forevermore by Cathy Marie Hake. It's the story of a young itinerant woman in the late 1800's who goes from place to place and helps families until God tells her it's time to move on. She must have dyslexia since she can't read. It's a fun light read.

Another very good book is A Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Asfar. The story of Rahab which begins with how she began her career as a courtesan and continues after the fall of Jericho. Ms Asfar does a wonderful job. The struggles for Rahab and Salmone, the Israelites and her family as they come to grips with accepting each other.

I've just finished reading The Legend of the Locust series by Laurence Moroney. It's a Sci-Fi trilogy and the first book, The Fourth World is free. It's very good and not technical like some Sci-Fi can be. Centered around Area 51 where aliens have been for a long time. Under the ground is a city where there's a school for gifted children. The main characters are four children age 12 who come to the school. I enjoyed in and I think junior highers would too.

Well, happy birthday to me. I'm heading to see if I can find some water plants for my pond. Hope you like the books if you decide to read them.

With the release of Leah's Peace and Chasing Norie the push is over for at least a while. At the moment I have three books in process and an idea for two more. Now I can take a breath. Or at least try.

My asthma is kicking up so it's sometimes difficult to breath. Still I'm looking to get in better shape. I've done deep water aqua exercise for years. It's 2 times a week. I must confess I'm not always faithful in going. Sometimes life gets in the way, but mostly I'm just to lazy to get my fat fanny out of bed to go. Hey, it's a 25 mile round trip and at $4 per gallon. Not really a good excuse, I know.

So... I've decided to up my exercise some. My birthday is in a week and even though it's a big one it's only a year until it is. Here is my decision: Every time I go to town (remember I live on a farm) I'll go early and hit the YMCA to do a little in the cardio room and the weight room. Not Sunday's since it isn't open.

Monday was my first day. My aqua classes are on Tuesday and Thursday. I had thought to do 10 min. on the elliptical then to the weight room. Like I said, my asthma is rearing it's ugly head so I was only able to do 5 min. The way my thighs feel it's a good thing I stopped at 5.

I was able to the few things I want in the weight room. I did have to stop for a breath while I did inclining sit ups. It wasn't the longest or strongest workout ever, but I did it. Here's to hoping I'll keep it up. I'll keep you posted. ;)