
Hello friends and family and God bless you all! Well, we made it through April! Happy May 1st, 2020! I haven’t written a post in a few days because, as you know from my last post, our great state of Colorado reopened on Sunday April 26th and we are no longer under quarantine, so I’ve been outside taking care of the lawn. The seasons don’t stop, so welcome to spring!

I did the first mow on Tuesday and I turned on our sprinkler system. The mower started right up and did a great job, which was very nice. Actually felt pretty good mowing the lawn again. It’s fun using my battery powered trimmer too. Unfortunately, the sprinklers were not so easy. There is a leak coming from one of the valves inside the main box. That’s the way it goes sometimes, but it will be fixed soon. The system still works, which is a blessing.


A couple years ago, I had to replace one of the solenoid valves (black things on top with wires coming out). I worked landscaping summer jobs for many years, so I have some sprinkler repair training, but I had never done that before. I watched a YouTube video and it worked out great. That is my wiring job with the newer connectors in the middle. The leak is coming from the main valve on the upper right (the circular gray piece). That is a bit more complicated than changing a solenoid. Looks like I would have to disconnect some pipes and more, so I’m having the landscape company tackle this one. I will watch and learn this time.
Plumbing is no fun. Onward, to the backyard!
Our Serviceberry tree is starting to bloom its beautiful soft white flowers. It is always so pretty and a sure sign that spring is finally here. I’m really glad winter is over!
During spring clean up I cut back all the native grasses, rake the yard and landscaped areas, prune trees if needed, then do a nice mow and trim and finish with the sprinklers. I did work like that for many upscale homes and businesses in the Chicago area back in the 90s. It is knowledge and experience that has been very useful in owning and caring for my own property. Saves us a lot of money too! A spring clean up like that would have cost us at least $250 to $300. All it costs is my body being sore for a few days, which is also why I haven’t written since April 26th. I will get back to publishing posts more regularly and reading everyone’s blogs very soon.
May 1st is also Law Day, U.S.A, and we show respect to our nation, our Constitution, and our laws by flying our nation’s beautiful flag. I am very thankful for our country, our laws, and our rights, and I am a Patriot who stands ready and willing to defend our country against enemies both foreign and domestic. God bless America, and may we be a light and blessing to all the Nations of the world!
The kids only have two weeks of school left, and we are all looking forward to summer. 2020 has been a very unique and challenging year so far. I am praying the Lord will bring great healing and spread revival through the world!
Do not be discouraged or dismayed! God is in control and He is bringing peace to this time of worldwide trouble. Many states are opening back up here in America and it won’t be long before our country and every country is back to work. Keep praying and never give up hope!
“For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13
I pray everyone has a blessed Friday and weekend!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus speaking in John 3:16
Grace and peace to you all!
Spring is so fun, isn’t it?! And even better when you’ve just been released from CoronaJail. LOL. Great job on the wiring and mowing. Looks beautiful! Enjoy the rest of your day. 🙂 God bless.
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Thanks Dee! Yeah, great to be outside! God bless!
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Amen ! Praise the Lord! Love your post! Beautiful yard, keep up the good work! God Bless you and your family!
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Thank you! God bless!
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Ryan, what a beautiful yard! And how God prepared you to be a property-owner! My husband watches YouTube for lots of stuff, too. Well, he and my younger son can learn that way. Braedon and I are more thinkers, ponderers. May God bless you and your family as you welcome summer. PA is unfortunately one of the states in which COVID 19 is increasing its cases. Yes, Lord, praying for revival of hearts, turning us ALL, back to Your truth, grace and mercy.
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Thank you Julie! Praying for you all and praying the Lord stops the virus and everyone can open again. God bless!
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Thanks so much for those prayers!
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Lovely garden Ryan, mine could do with some more work! I think our gardens reflect our diligence, and you are evidently a hard working man who looks after your household. Well done, and God bless!
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Thanks Robert, I appreciate that! I love British gardens and the little hedgehogs you all have there.🦔😊 God bless!
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I’ve not seen any hedgehogs in mine, but plenty of birds thankfully 🙂
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A beautiful yard, great views. Enjoy spring. God bless.
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Thank you! Blessings! 🙂
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Yeah opening the state and spring! I get to have people come into my office again on Monday!
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Nice, great news! Enjoy! God bless!
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Getting through April was a tough time. I know it really was for you.
Such a nice yard and house!! That gate… WOW!
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Thanks Lydia! I actually used a gate design that I saw in the 2006 movie Charlotte’s Web.😊 It’s like a real farm gate. God bless!
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You’re welcome! Super cool!
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Well done Ryan! your yard is beautifully manicured!
Ryan, would you and your readers please pray for California; that the whole state would turn to Jesus and return to God our Father, including Gov Newsom who said on tv that the lock down order was extended “indefinitely” after set to expire on April 30; and on CNN he “warned that Californians should prepare to enter a radically different realm.” He took away our right to religious exemptions a while ago for vaccines, and now says we won’t be free until we have “therapeutics.” Would you please join me in praying for Newsom’s salvation and that he would “let my people go” and restore our freedoms, liberties and unalienable, God-given rights? I would be so grateful. blessings, Yvonne
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Thanks you Yvonne! Yes, I have been praying for California and Newsom for a long time and will continue to do so. I have sent many tweets to Newsom in the past year and I pray he gets saved. May the Lord spread healing and revival through California! God bless you all!
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thank you and God bless you!
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Lovely garden! It’s hard work! God bless you and yours in Jesus’ name
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Thank you! Yes, definitely hard work. I’m still a bit sore.😊 God bless!
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you are surrounded by a lot of beauty!
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Thank you! We are very thankful for Colorado. God bless!
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🙂
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Amen Ryan! God bless always. 😀😁🌱🌾
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Thanks Vivian! Praying for you sister, God bless!
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I’m praying for you too! Brother Ryan, I really need prayer!!! Thank you so much. 🙂😫
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Lifting you up right now and asking the Lord to pour out His Holy Spirit on you and heal you and take away the pain. Please Jesus, amen! God is with you sister and He loves you!💐
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Amen! 🙏
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Beautiful landscaping.
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Thank you Bonnie, God bless!
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To you also.
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lovely pictures. Thank you for sharing and for your encouraging words. I am sure the kids will enjoy outside. Blessings to you and family always.
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Thanks Sheila! Yeah, the kids rode their bikes today and had a lot of fun.😊 God bless!
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Hi Ry! Everything looks green, trimmed, and spotless. looks great as always! I think I like your open lawn, but I bet you guys miss the shade the Maple brought. Gives you a great view of Pike’s Peak having it gone though. Glad your mower started up. We have mowed just once last week, ready for another one. Spring is always exciting seeing things green up and people getting out. I will pray for Californian’s. We all will be so HAPPY and RELIEVED when this virus pandemic is over with. I don’t think I will ever take for granted again the joy I get from just talking close to people and giving a hug to those I care for. I actually get emotional when I run into somebody I know and we stop to chat at our safe distance. I really miss the social freedom of connecting with people. A big lesson and huge awakening we are experiencing going through this in so many ways! Always keep our eyes on Jesus, and give him our doubts or fear, and pray to God that it’s in His will to end this pandemic very soon. Praise God.
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Amen Mom, well said! God will bring healing and bring good out of all of this. Love you!
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Love you, Ryan. Tell everyone I love them and miss them….lots!
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I hope you have a peaceful and good days ahead this May, Ryan! Love the weather and the steps going up from the backyard!
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Thank you! Blessings and peace to you as well!🙏
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Beautiful Spring!
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Amen! So long to winter! God bless!
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Meanwhile, here in Aus, winter is just around the corner.
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Ahhh I love your yard! Sooo beautiful and well maintained!!
Thank goodness for YouTube how to videos!
With your state being out of quarantine are they still having you social distance six feet and wear mask and stay ten people or less? They’re getting to where they’re letting up quarantine restrictions here in Nebraska but it seems weird to me because we’re just beginning to see cases in our area, makes me think we’ll have a flair up now that they’re getting more lenient with social distancing here🤷♀️
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Thanks Alicia! Yeah, most people are social distancing and some wear masks and some don’t. Most people are out and about doing things like normal. Our stylist is back and I’m getting a haircut on Tuesday. I pray the Lord stops the virus and everyone can get back to work. Hopefully no more flair ups. Praying for you all, God bless you and your family!
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Thank you!! Praying over you and your family’s health!!❤️🙏
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Nothing like being outside again in beautiful weather. That blue sky and the serene landscape in the photos is a joy to behold. Enjoy this time Ryan.
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Amen! Thank you sir, blessings!
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So pretty Ryan! Nice job on the gate too. Wow.
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Thanks! It was fun making it.😊 God bless!
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Beautiful yard Ryan, we finally are getting more sun and less rain here in Ohio so things are coming alive and blooming. Unfortunately, our quarantine continues 😵
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Thanks! Glad to hear your weather is getting better. I hope your quarantine ends soon. Praying for you and your baby! God bless!
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Thanks Ryan ❤ God bless you as well!
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I love the pictures and the verses. Pray you keep well
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Thank you, blessings!
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Such a beautiful yard! I am pretty sure it took lots of work to make it look that way. Blessings to you and your family this new month! 🙇🙏
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Thank you sister! God bless!
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🙏🙇🙏
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Glad to hear you’re out of quarantine. Coronavirus also through my routine out of wack and I didn’t post for a couple weeks last month. Thankfully we are starting to get back to normal. Or as normal as we can get. Good job on the lawn.
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Thanks, God bless!
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May the 4th be with you!
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😂 Thanks brother! You too!
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I bought the DVD of The Last Jedi today.
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Nice. We have all the movies except for Rise of Skywalker, which I will buy eventually. They are streaming 9 Star Wars movies free on Disney+ today, including The Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker.
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Cool. The only ones I haven’t got now are Solo & The Rise of Skywalker, both of which I intend to get at some point.
My Mum sent me a photo this evening of my brother Yoel having a lightsaber “duel” with one of the hospital staff. It was quite cute.
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That’s cool. Too bad your brother is in the hospital though. Did he get hurt?
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He was hospitalised a couple months ago – in our state’s capital city Adelaide (a 5 or 6 hour drive from where we live) due to mobility problems – he constantly lost balance & fell over & had trouble speaking & moving his hands. He’s a bit better now, and left hospital on Friday, although he’s still in Adelaide at the moment, and still has a bit of contact with the hospital.
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I will be praying for him! Asking the Lord to pour out healing on him!
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Thanks for that; he could definitely use it!
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Ever heard of Revenge of the 5th?
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😂 Good one!
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🙂
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Did you ever mention an Australian show called H20?
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Yeah, that’s the great show about the mermaids that my kids loved. “H20: Just Add Water” and the other was “Mako Mermaids.” We liked “Alien Surfgirls” too. Our kids love the Australian shows. Just watched “Go Karts” on Netflix, which was great.
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I finally started watching H20: Just Add Water last night, and am rather enjoying it. I’ll have to look up the others. (Here in Aus, Alien Surfgirls is known as Lightning Point.)
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Cool. Yes, Lightning Point, my kids say that’s the one. We love the accent. My wife likes Ocean Girl, which was one of Jonathan M. Schiff’s first productions. He got his inspiration for the mermaid movies and alien movie from making that one.
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Ocean Girls sounds interesting.
Considering how many American films & shows I watch, it is refreshing watching something where everyone’s got an Aussie accent 🙂
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Love the pictures!! Spring for you guys!! I so remember the feeling after a few late wet snows in April….God bless and my best to you and your family!!
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Thanks Kirt! Yeah, thankfully no spring blizzards this time. God bless!
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Heh…one year we had about 9 inches of wet snow on my birthday…May 2nd. You just never know:)
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That’s true, spring isn’t over yet.😊 9 inches is a good amount of snow. Hopefully we don’t get any more. I’m definitely done with shoveling.
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Hi Ryan. I have nominated you for the Authors Recognition Award. You are a great writer and we want to honor and support your work and for you to share your books with the blogging community. The link is below.
https://becomingtheoilandwine.com/2020/05/08/authors-recognition-award/
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Thank you, Beverley! I appreciate that and I am honored. God bless you!
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It was my pleasure. Have a blessed day.
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Lovely photos and beautiful tidy house 🙂 Thanks for following our blog as well. We hope that you and your family are all safe. God bless 🙂
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Thank you! God bless!
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Your yard is beautiful. You take good care of it. I remember the pictures of the yard filled with snow by the side of the house. Spring is here. Enjoy it!
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Thank you, God bless!
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