8.16.2026

 Thanks to everyone for all the love, prayers and support we've received for Jim's surgery.  It was a very long day yesterday, starting with a 6:00 AM arrival time.  All prepped and ready to go...

The surgery was done robotically and took 6 hours, plus time to set up the machine and then recover.  I finally got to see him when he was moved to Phase 2 recovery about 3:30.  

After such a long time on anesthesia, he was slow and groggy waking up.  They were on the fence about keeping him overnight and were in communication with the doctor.  But he finally was able to sit up and then get dressed so they released him about 6:45.  After a stop for prescriptions, he was back home and taking it easy...

Walking is very important, so he's been doing lots of laps around the house and even went down and did a slow walk on the treadmill.  He's going to be hard to keep down!

8.15 - High 83.5/Low 60.3
8.16 - High 87/Low 57.7

8.14.2025

We've been continuing to cross off our to-do items before Jim's surgery tomorrow.  

Yesterday, he had a pre-surgery assessment with his primary doctor, including an EKG and bloodwork.  All came out well so we are pressing onward.  

This morning, we went and visited Mom.  I'm just very grateful that she is in a safe and caring environment right now so I can focus on Jim.

He wanted to get the entire property mowed so it would be good until he can do it again.  But of course, after not having rain in forever, it rained soon after he started.  Thankfully, it cleared up and he was able to get it all done.

In addition, he moved all the plywood from the old shed that he is planning on using for a floor in the new one up inside the shed to get it out of the way.

We have to be at the hospital for surgery at 6:00 tomorrow morning, so it will be an early evening.

Thanks again for all the encouraging thoughts and prayers!  

8.13 - High 89.6/Low 65.3
8.14 - High 84.9/Low 68.4 - shower in PM

8.12.2025

For those of you who aren't aware, life has definitely thrown us another curveball.  Jim has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will be having surgery Friday.  We have much to be grateful for - a recent PET scan showed that the cancer had not metastasized, which we were so relieved about.  The surgery will be done robotically but there is still a 6 week or so recovery period where he is not allowed to lift more than a gallon of milk.  That's going to be really, really tough on my very active husband!  Yesterday, we went to our church where Jim received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, so we feel armed and ready for battle!

To prepare for his recovery period, we've been trying to do things now that he won't be able to do for a bit and one of those things was to move my desk and office equipment out of our bedroom and back into the other room.  Taking things apart...

Setting them back up in the room...

This morning we had an appointment with the surgeon, but after lunch, we got busy cleaning up from the shed destruction.  We moved all the salvageable lumber up into the top of the pavilion...

Another load ready to go up in the pavilion...

Next, it was time to clean up the old lumber that we can just chip, rather than throw in the trash.  But first, we had to make really sure there were no nails in it that would ruin the blades...

Some of this plywood Jim can salvage, and some we can either chip or throw away.  If it was for chipping, Jim cut it into sections to make it easier...

Working on more plywood...

We made great progress in getting things cleared.  The pile of plywood is what Jim can maybe use, so he'll be moving that into the lean to.  The other pile is for chipping.

8.11 - High 90.9/Low 62.8
8.12 - High 92.4/Low 61.5

 

8.10.2025

 As Saturdays seem to fly by, I didn't get a chance to update the blog yesterday.  We just had a little time to work on shed destruction.  Only the floor is left...

Taking the floor apart...

Animals make their marks everywhere...

Continuing to take apart, while I worked on removing nails...

This afternoon, we were back to shed destruction.  Jim took the plastic off the base structure...

For a structure that was only intended to be temporary, Jim sure built it well!  

Taking out nails...

Jim used all treated lumber for the base, so we are keeping those and put them in our holding spot...

We wanted to pick up any stray nails/screws/metal from this area and from some of the wood that is so bad we can just chip it.  So we brought out the metal detector and found some...

It's amazing - it can even find this little tip of a nail...

The shed is gone!  Now we just have to clean up some.  Jim may use some of the plywood that's still in decent shape for up in the attic of the shed.  It's such a different look being able to see into the woods now...

After getting all the tools and equipment put away, we wanted to again check the septic tank and make sure there were no issues...

Pulling the cement cap off...

Everything looked really good.  Jim cleaned the screen and got everything put back...

8.9 - High 86.5/Low 58.6

8.10 - High 89.7/Low 59.9

8.8.2025

Jim had some plastic trim pieces that he is going to use to replace the backing on the garage door seal in the auto bay.  These won't rot and he can paint them... 

But speaking of garage door seals, we have a mouse issue eating through our new garage door seals on the shed!  

You can see how they ate through the bottom seal!  Jim will probably have to replace that.  But for now, we need to make sure there aren't any mice in the shed so Jim set traps.  Hard to keep Mother Nature out.

Jim wanted to make sure there weren't any dropped screws or nails around the shed, so he brought up the metal detector.  We did a good job picking up dropped ones when we were building - we only found one nail and two screws that we had missed!

Then it was back to shed destruction - while Jim destroyed, I continued taking out nails from all the lumber.

It became like a see saw when he was working on it - you can see how it's lifted up in front!

The walls are down!

Getting cleaned up...

Taking off the old plywood...

High 83.7/Low 62.3

8.7.2025

We were back to shed destruction this afternoon.  Jim worked on dismantling the roof structure... 

Prying off the plywood...

Half off...

Taking apart all the joists..

Making good progress.  I worked on removing all the nails from the lumber pieces (with some help from Jim for the ones I couldn't get out!).

We have appointments to donate blood soon so we're going to head out for that and then go to The Local for dinner.

High 81.4/Low 63.8

8.6.2025

Jim wanted to finish the garage door seals on the shed today - he got the right one mostly attached...

Down in the shop, Jim cut the left side to size...

Then used the metal bandsaw to make the offset cut...

Starting to attach...

Left side done, time to finish the right side...

He needed to shave just a bit off the bottom, so he used the grinder...

Perfect - all done!

Now it's time for the old shed to be dismantled.  Jim took off the shelf...

Then the shelf brace...

Removing the cross brace...

Jim was hoping to be able to push it over with the Bobcat...

He tried from many different angles...

Even after all this time, it's still strong enough to stay together even when being lifted up with the Bobcat!

Some progress...

Trying to get the roof down...

Shoving from the side...

Finally starting to collapse a bit...

Bringing the roof down..

Almost...

Down - but you can see the two walls still remain!

We started taking apart some of the downed pieces so we can take them down to the trash.  Some of the wood pieces can be reused, so I started taking nails out of them.

Taking a load down to the bins...

Then Jim did some grass cutting to finish off the day.

High 80.6/Low 60.2