Being the Wife of a Tradesman

Growing up with a brick-layer for a dad, you learn the life of living with a "man of the trades." Those men sure are handy to have around, know the meaning of real labor, and come home dirty to prove it. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Unfortunately, they also know too frequently how it feels to be out of work for the moment.

So...marrying another tradesman was a very appropriate choice for me. The hours, the dirt, the tools, the callused hands...I was ready for it all. Jack and I are experienced "they told me to sit for a few days" people. These days, it happens a few times a year.

When it happened (for a short 5 days only...thank goodness) last week, we tried to make the best of it. I am home from work, too, it's summer...let's do something...go on vacation maybe? But, it's never at the right time, and those blue-collared workers don't know what it means to get paid when you're not a work.

So...we made the best of it...at home!

We welcomed our new niece, Maggie, home...

took Lily to ballet

and to vacation bible school,

planted the rest of our flowers,
and almost finished a major landscaping project.

We went for bike rides,

hung out with out-of-town company,

went to the zoo,

played with our fancy shoes, started a compost bin, squeezed in a date night,....and

helped Emily celebrate a state championship, and being endorsed Player of the Year TWICE!!!

'Atta Girl, Em!

Not bad for staying local, huh?