Trying

I'm trying to remember and follow the directions left by Kimmy but the picture thing isn't working for me at this time. I'm not giving up but right now it's a pain in the butt or something like that. I can't remember what her words are trying to make me remember. It can't be that hard. Christmas things are back in the box as of this afternoon. That's what I call an early put away. I'm moving on to the next thing which I think is the fabric shop. Got a Christmas quilt top picked out for my bed. Fabric is 75% off so I think it's now or never. It's a sunny bright day...snow on the ground and more to come tomorrow. It's great to have the carpet swept and the house looks a bit orderly. Kimmy...I'll keep on this.

Less to do

Wonderful. There is less to do or at least I feel like that. Gifts are wrapped. Pasties are made for day after Christmas Meal. First time I made them and the only thing I can say is that it's hard to make a small pasty. Finished everything up at church for Christmas Eve services yesterday morning. I attended the evening rehearsal for the service the children are doing and guess what...needed to sew another costume. I wish I had the sizes to sew ahead of time. It was a pure guess. The costume needed to be made for an 8 yr. old and they told me an older kid. There's a difference as you well know. So...off to the fabric store once again and the rest of the evening I finished another costume. This morning I'm working on the desk at church. It should be quiet. I'll take my knitting. Tomorrow morning is Soup Kitchen and then around 4 we should head to church for all three Christmas Eve services. It's home by 12;30 I hope. We'll see Jared and Kimmy Christmas afternoon and we'll open presents Sat with Eric and Kat and ALL the little kids...Yahoo.

Finally

I think all my outside committments have been taken care of...Woo, Woo. This has really gotten to me more this year than ever. I just finished ordering the last thing for the grandchildren on Amazon. Wrapping has started and I've even found an easy way to do that. Just put everything for the person in one big box. Wrap the box and it's finished. Well, that's what's happening with the 4 biggest kids. We've passed out gifts to B and B folks the last two Thursdays and there have been so many thank yous. Church folks filled 100 bags at our Advent festival. About 80 bags were filled with a hat I knitted during the year. It's probably the only gift many of our lunch bunch of men will get. They also received a pr. of socks and some toiletries and a bag of candy. All the candles for church are in place including 12 more that I bought for the Advent Wreath for Christmas Eve yesterday. The drafts in the sanctuary are murder on the candles. Costumes for the early children's Christmas service are finished. And all my sewing is finished. That's been fun.

So...now I'm hoping that wrapping will go quickly and I'd love to bake some pasties for Christmas Day. And...it's only the 18th. I'm stopping over at the Patty H. house today for an open house. We took Doris Douglas out to lunch Wed. for her 89th birthday which is Sunday.

I went to see Doc. McSoley today to take another look at my Thyroid. It's in pretty good shape so it will be another year till a visit happens with him. So...it's time to take it easy and forget about what needs to be done because it's DONE! It's me time.

By myself...maybe.

Woo, woo...I think I might be learning something. And here are the pie eaters with little Andrew's head showing. He told me it was him when he saw the hair and I would agree. Well, I guess it's one pie eater and the other one is talking. You might be hearing again from me...I've got to get this picture thing in my head.

Another one.

Well...what do you know...I've done this moving picture thing into the blog two times...Well, Kimmy has been at my elbow. So...be prepared. I think I'm learning new things. And hopefully it will stick. Now Rick...something more than Dust Bunny might be coming from you. We'll see. Isn't this little kid one of the best you have ever seen. It's Adam with blond hair and chocolate brown eyes. Looks just like JB and this point.

Monday again.

What could be better than 4 days with the big family. That means Doug and his brothers and all of their families. Kids...1 Ten yr old...1 four year old....1 three year olds and 2 two year old and 1 under 1. Now that's a fun time...The Doug R. grand children all landed up at our house last night and what a fun time. Here is a picture to remember.

Busy again

Another flurry of a week. How do I manage? Maybe I don't think! Wed. Church/bell practice and more. Thurs B and B and Choir and more...Friday and Saturday afternoons from 12 to 6 I worked at the International Festival selling Imani items. It was very slow, hot and I was bushed again. I did lots of talking to many people about the Ampath program. But there was lots to see and hear. Today was Hospitality time at church, bells played and the choir sang and then FOOTBALL IN AMERICA! The Colts did it again. Payton manages to win somehow. It's an undefeated season so far. Amazing, amazing. I decided to get the Christmas Tree up late this afternoon, It's finished. I wanted to come home from Ga. with a decorated house finished. Tomorrow I'm off to church to decorate the altar for Thanksgiving. I'm not quite sure what it will look like but I'm sure it will be fine. I'd like to get more Xmas decorating done. Then I have got to get this Thanksgiving trip to Ga. put together. We're leaving early Wed. morning and I'm sure Eric wants to get the van packed Tues. evening. It's a busy time.

Once again.in Carmel

Did you all see those Colts Sunday evening. That was one pressure cooker game. We went to bed during the last quarter. Way to much stress. Monday I went to the mailbox to get the paper thinking about the headlines and I couldn't believe what I read in the early darkness of 6 am. BELIEVE. What a turn around and ofcourse thanks to Belichik's window of opportunity ( or dumb decision) we took it. Give Payton an inch and he'll turn it into a mile. I almost woke up Doug but left him to read the headlines himself. The town is buzzing.

Yesterday was finish day. I spent the morning and some of the afternoon getting all the visual arts finished at church for Advent. I had to get it done since we're in Georgia for the first Sunday in Advent. And it's all finished for the grand put up by some very good friends while we're gone. I also made three vests for the children's play Christmas Eve. More sewing to do for that but the deadline is down the road.

Today Doug sees two doctors. His regular three month visit and a visit to his knee doctor. Tomorrow it's my turn for the regular visit. Tomorrow desk work at church...handbells...Thurs soup kitchen and choir and Friday and Saturday I'm working at the International Festival at the Fairgrounds at the Imani Workshop Booth. It should be fun but I'll have some tired puppies for sure. Doug will need to drive himself to PT Sat. That should be the first drive for him.

Last Sun. we were at Eric and Kat's for Andrew's third birthday party. What a grand little guy who have two great parents who are very, very interested in their children. Such a gift to see. Andrew is a delightful grandson of which we have four and one more on the way coming in March.

It's only Monday

And...this afternoon I said to Doug..."Let's go buy a car". And we did. It's a nice little burgandy civic...4 doors...autoshift...and really pretty. It's in the garage already. I could hardly believe that 2 hrs. after I signed the paper it was off the lot. Wow...I DON"T NEED TO DRIVE THAT TRUCK. In a pinch maybe but I'm done with it, I hope. And I would suggest that Doug is probably happy that I'm done with it as well. He was beginning to complain about the shifting thing which told me that he was feeling much better and probably should be in the drivers seat sooner than later. I do think he enjoys being driven around. And...in my car will be even better. I also spent some time this morning thinking about Advent/Christmas. I bought most of the candles needed at church among other Advent things. The store thought I was an early bird but I know what I'm up against and the sooner I can check things off the better. To busy in December is fatal for me. I'm thinking about putting the tree up before we go to Georgia. Now wouldn't that be a big time first for me? You bet. That first week back from Georgia will be @#$%^ week with church decorating. I've got to get things on paper. Some is done already which is a huge help. And...some will be put up the Sat. we are gone buy some very good friends.

It's TGIF

Woo...another week of busy, some of it same old same old as JB would say. Coloring with fabric. I have a wall hanging of snowmen ready to put a back on. I think this one is mine. The sewing room floor is never clean any more. Doug continues with PT three times a week. He continues to improve but still is not driving. So...I'm on the road again or something like that. He is complaining about my driving so I take that as feeling better and perhaps driving for him will come sooner than later. That leaves me to say that I need to be doing some car shopping. What a pain. A friend suggested that I look at a Kia. They are cute little cars with Korean ties. One looks like a small, small SRV. Just another way to mess with my mind. What do I want? I might just go back to a Civic. No big plans today so car shopping might happen. Yesterday was soup kitchen day. We are getting busier and busier. The food from Second Helpings is wonderful. I think we fed around 80 folks. Last night was choir practice.
I'm back to knitting hats for newborns. One of our choir folks will start cemo this week. And...she's ordered small hats for her little head when she looses her hair. I've got to get on that soon. Woo...no hair in the winter. That is not good. Andrea has been diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer that affects her kidney. One as been removed and treatment is very hard to determine. Many doctors have been consulted and a trip to Nashville was made. Few options are open to her that would show success. So. a leap of faith is being made.

Now it's Thursday

I've moved up a day as you all probably have noticed. Wow...today was a buster. Well, I feel busted. It is soup kitchen day and the news was that Tuesday was a huge day with food running out by 11:30. Also there were lots of grouchy people in the Community Rm. We try to be open an hour. So...I decided to let this not happen today. We had two pans of spag. and meatballs from Second Helpings. I added ham and collard greens...a huge kettle full, baked beans...two gal doctored up...6 heads of lettuse in a salad...some little sandwiches the inside stuff coming from econd Helpings.,. and pasteries as usual from Krogers along with buttered bread. Well, all went well and the food held out. Of course the people waiting for second helpings didn't get any because there were no second helpings. But, I know they really were probably full because their plates were heaped when they first came through the line. There was carry out soup as well. We served about 80 folks, usually it's around 50...And by 10:30 most of the help arrived but it was the prep that started around 8:30 that really took a ton of energy. I need a few more early arrivals but I'm really happy to see them when ever they get to the kitchen. It's really good to have a good reason to be tired. I took a nap this afternoon when Doug was at PT. I think we'll make it to choir practice tonight. I'm hopeful. Christmas music is starting. Yahoo. I finished another sewing project today. Fun, fun. I've got to start thinking about what comes next. The calendar is bare for the next three days and that's such good news. I'm going to loaf!!!!! Might try the library for an hr. or two. This afternoon is our last Farmers' Mkt at church. Winter is on our heels. It's All Saints Day Sunday and the visuals are in place. Wow...that's thinking ahead for sure. Being a teacher got that cemented in my brain.

Here it is again

Yup...another Friday. I'll need to fill my pill case tonight. Time is going way to fast. Well, there is good and bad to report. The good is that Doug continues to improve but it's a slow go. I think his body took a major hit with this surgery and He's coming around but not real fast. I'm starting another sewing project and this one is for me. Kat's is finished...Kimmy's almost finished and it's MY turn. Still doing the Wed. morning reception job at church as well as the Thurs. Soup Kitchen. This week I fixed GREENS! Oh, dear...so glad I don't need to eat them but they were a big hit with the Bread and Bowl crew. I guess I did pretty well for the first time fixing that dish. Crazy weather. It's been a very cool wet week and will continue that way. Now the bad stuff. I loaned SEM my car and guess what...You guessed it. The little red now has a smushed nose. So...the news this coming week might change a whole bunch of things. I wish little red wasn't 13 years old. I'm afraid it will be totaled. Keep your fingers crossed. I really like that little car. That's about it from here for this week.

And another Friday

This week has been terribly busy. I told Doug I didn't know how long I could keep all the balls in the air. But this afternoon has been fun because I've been at home forgetting about everything except home, changing from summer to winter clothes, washing, sewing, knitting, running the sweaper and just being lazy when I want to. Doug's knee machine is gone. Last night he slept in bed from 10;30 to 3 am without the machine. That's a first for him. He has been feeling a little puny today and I'm hoping it's not the flu. We did get our flu shots a few weeks ago. I think he'll spend Sunday at home just to avoid some flu bugs. I bought him some sweat pants this morning that he loves. He's toasty warm. He is still hanging out in the sewing room, close to the bathroom, TV and computer. He went out to the mailbox this morning for the second time. Tomorrow is another PT and he is doing what is expected there. I'm still knitting preemie hats for Kenya...I'm up to 37 right now. These are all made from yarn sent to me by a friend of Dee's. Can't get yarn any cheaper. Tomorrow I'll need to make a trip to the church to arrange ornamental grass for the altar flowers. And...that will be about it for Sat. I love staying home.

Another Saturday

This morning was another PT session. Thursday Doug got rid of the walker! And today seemed to be another small turning point when he emerged from PT. He's walking better with a cane and I suggested we could check in with the choir at their retreat which he said SURE! Wow...So after PT we went to see the choir members at a near by church. I really think that impacted his mental health. Yeah for a new adventure. This afternoon we watched the football games and we really watched. Doug didn't do much sleeping and I asked when he had his last pain pill and he said this morning at 8. So...that means...PT has happened, choir visit has happened and it's almost 6 pm. Now...that's really good news. I'm sure there is some pain but it's lessoning. PT continues for another 4 weeks, we have the machine that exercises his leg when he sleeps for another week. It was to go today but Medicare pays for three weeks and I said we wanted it. At least Doug is doing that here at home if nothing else. I continue to have fun at the sewing machine and have started again to knit tiny little hats for newborns that help to keep their body heat in their bodies. These will go to Kenya. I think I have twenty already but will knit hard and heavy in the coming weeks. It has been known that 4 can be knitted in a day. That means I'm sitting on my tush for most of the day. If I do 4 a day I'll be around 80 before SEM goes back to Kenya. That will be almost impossible but whatever I get will be sent on it's way.

Same old same old

That's the story from here. It's in the machine...pain pills...a little tv then some home exercises, then it's the big PT trip to the PT center...then a little food...more TV. I think you all have the picture. We did do a trip to the Surgeon. That was a bit confusing but the bottom line is that the surgeon would like to see more progress then what has happened so far. So...now Doug is at the BIG HOUSE and the warden is in charge. So we've stepped it up somewhat. It's back to the doc to get the staples out Monday. More ouch!

I've been sewing a bit which has been tons of fun and something else to think about. I've made a really cute nightgown with little pink rose buds, ruffels and ribbon and a pink PJ bottom for a 2 soon to be 3 yr old little girl at church. I had to find a girl somewhere. I should be starting on Christmas things. I have the fabric but I need to think about the cutting part a bit more. The sewing room is really full with the addition of Doug since steps are an issue but it won't be for long, perhaps another week or two. We're managing well. Doug moves between the bed, the chair and the bathroom most of the time and then down the steps when necessary. This morning is another PT session. They have been about 2 hrs long. I need to make a trip to church to fix the altar with bread/wheat and grapes, African pots and gourds for World Wide Communion tomorrow.
That's the fun part for me.

Tuesday the 29th

Doug is home and "chester" is doing pretty well on the walker and lovin' his happy pills. It took till Monday afternoon to get him home but we finally made it. His red cell count was low so that meant two units of blood which then led to an elevated temp. and that led to another night in the hospital. So...we've cleared that hurtle. This afternoon is PT. Should be interesting to say the least. He's settled on the top level which gives him his bed, bathroom, computer and the tv. What more could he want? Oh, yes...his downstairs nest. He's reading the paper, drinking coffee and eating p.tarts right now. Nothing new. Same old, same old. I think I'll be hanging around home for today at least and we'll see about tomorrow. He's pretty compliant with everything at this point.

And....Kimmy and JB found out yesterday that another Russell boy is on the way arriving March 7 or so. Woo, Wooo for another boy. The count is 5 grandsons.

Sept 26...Lots has happened

First the big thing...Doug now has a new knee and the surgery which was Thursday went well. I asked Doug so many questions before surgery getting few answers and NOW I know the answers. The recovery will be much longer than I thought. A walker for from 4 to 6 weeks among other things. I haven't a clue when he will be driving again. Wow...He has consented to stay upstairs for a while. We'll see how long that lasts. He does a lot of sweating when walking. He is home tomorrow afternoon and the he has scheduled rehab Monday morning at 8!!!! am. It's three days a week. He is to put his leg in a machine that sits on the bed that moves his leg continuously. It can run at night as well as in 2 hr periods during the day. And...HE LOVES his Pills. So...I think he is doing very well.

And...I've been hither and yawn since he is in the hospital. Free time will be over soon. I visited with friend Sarah Ellen last night. She had surgery Monday and seems to be now on a sharp turn upward to recovery. Today I went to the Carmel Art Fair. It was well attended and the weather is perfect. It is a three day event. The downtown area is blocked off with many vendors on the streets.

I've been moving things around in the house anticipating a guy on a walker. I'm blowing out the garage later today. That means blowing out the dirt. Then it's our usual run to Panara's tonight anticipating tomorrow morning in the Community Rm. at church. I pick up Doug early afternoon. Then we'll see what happens!

Way to busy

But...I do like busy. Sometimes the house just gets overwhelmed.

The new sewing machine is here. It's wonderful and I'm having fun with it. I made 6 new banners for church to use next Sunday...It's celebrate children and the fabrics are all from the quilting shop and it's children's fabrics with words like wonder, create, imagine, sing, play, etc. attached to the fabric. Lots of real bright colors. Then I recreated another one to be the pulpit hanging. The altar will be covered with children's toys...some being what Eric and Jared played with as well as a big Raggedy Ann and some tonka toys. Huge vases of baloons will be the altar flowers. The preacher is someone Janet Wanner is bringing in to talk about what we can learn from children concerning good mental health or something like that. All the children will process waving streamers and the children's choirs will sing. It's should be a great morning of celebrating children. Reminds me of the old days when we had children's day in June at church in Ohio. It was a bit different but the intent was the same. So...that project kept me busy for a while.

I'm also working on a quilt of sorts for someone in the family for Xmas...enough said. Lots of squares coming together.

Knitting continues...Yarn is getting less and less but I still have about 10 skeins. I'm knitting newborn hats that will keep little babies heads warm in the hospital.

And...I have bed skirts to shorten for Jim...Woo...Woo...I'm not bored.

Tuesday evening I've been asked to provide center pieces for a Kenyan banquet for about 100 people. Fabrics, gourds, pictures and other things from Kenya are being collected and I'm just about ready for that. Two suitcases are filled and waiting to more to the car trunk for transportation.

The Kenya Carnival at Second Presb. last Sat. what a huge success with $18,000.00 collected...enough to send 50 orphan or vulnerable Kenyan students to school for another year. I worked in the Imani store which was just pure fun. Money from sales goes back to Kenya to support people who work in the Imani factory. Last year we sent 25 students to school so we're adding another 25. Hummm...the presure is on for next year as well. I hope we can do 75 next year. The church kids who went to Kenya in June got to meet the students who benifited from the tuitions. They spent a day out on Lake Victoria. First boat trip the Kenya students had.

Wed. morning, the 16th, I'm going to the doctor with Doug to get last minute instructions about his knee replacement surgery on the 24. Ooops...this might be new news to some of you. Sorry about that. Speaking of Knees. I got a wonderful miracle working pain releaving injection in my knee last week. Woo! Woo! It made it possible for me to walk again. I'm very happy about that. I really tried to tough it out but it just wasn't working. So..now after x-rays, the doctor tells me that someday I can look forward to new knees. Really? If I'd just stay on my feet rather than flat on the ground! Two falls while camping just didn't help a bit. I'm trying harder. People at church are telling me NO ladders any more. Well, that really cramps my style.

I have a huge amount of new medical supplies collected by a doctor in Evansville that should be recycled to Kenya when I get phone calls made. Well, I hope that's the case. So...that's one reason the house is overwhelmed. At this point...it's the house that is overwhelmed, not me.

Oh...yes...getting ready for Sarah Ellen's return to the states and then her surgery on the 21st. It's transportation to the hospital and then seeing that she gets the care she needs at home for a day or two or three. Then, it's Doug's turn. And dear Kenyan friend Daniel will be coming to Indy for eye surgery in October. He was Joe Mamlin's first HIV/AIDS patient that got the Ampath program started. What a great guy he is.

One more thing...I just spent the evening at the Madam Walker hearing wonderful music made by Angela Brown. What a voice. Best of all I went with sister Mary K.
Life is good. L

Another week

It's friday and I'm spending the afternoon at the front desk at church for Nancy Sala. She needed to go to a funeral so I'm here knitting and playing on the computer. I picked up the Pfaff sewing machine this morning and had a few lessons just to get started like how to thread the machine and fill the bobbins. I did a hem and it's a beautiful machine. More play time tonight. Yest erday was Soup Kitchen. We had a good number of people with plenty of help. I ordered a huge shipment of food for the soup kitchen and put that on the shelves in the afternoon. That's enough work for at least three people but I always think...slow and easy will get the job finished. And I did get it done. Farmers Mkt. McDonalds and then first choir practice. That's always fun. I think tomorrow is going to be a fairly simple day. More play time. Sunday is the same. After a late Sat. run to Panera we'll get the hospitality time going Sunday morning. There is a big church dinner after church one reason it's the start of the new fall season for the church and there is a huge capital fund campaign coming about. Some major stuff needs to be completed like foundation drainage problems among the list of to do things. It would appear that all the foundations need to be redug with new drainage needing to be put in place. It's huge, huge,huge bucks. We have had major flooding in the building this summer and it's not the first time for a water mess. We'll learn how many dollars Sun at the dinner. Monday evening is the last Umuja meeting before the carnival next Sat. The youth of central Indiana are hoping to raise $16,000.00 for tuitions and other school support items for 50 western Kenya kids orphaned or vunerable by HIV/Aids. We have ambitious Central Indiana kids. Last year they raised 8,000 at the carnival.

Aug 22nd

Still shopping for a sewing machine. I think right now it will be a Phaff. Sticker shock still shocks me. Yesterday a got a table at Lowe's to hold the machine. It won't fit in the cabinet. Just to big. Soup Kitchen went well. We're feeding more people. I think they like the Second Helpings food that supliments what we make. It's a big help with the budget. In my spare moments I've helped Janet W set up for Sunday School. We are opening another new classroom with new materials. Fun, fun. It's a hands on curriculum that reflects a renewal in teaching. Knitting continues. The deer continue to feast in the garden. Tomato plants have taken another licking and they are eating the huge tomatoes as well. Some impatiences have gone. I'm wondering if color is getting to them. They are leaving the hostas alone which usually is great deer food.
Eric and Kat and the munchkins are coming for Sloppy Joes. I'll show Andrew all the deer tracks. He should have a blast. Doug is taking great insect pictures with his new camera. He's outside every day scouting the garden. Kids should be arriving soon.

Vacation is over

Michigan was the best. Weather perfect meaning cool in the day, cool in the night...no flies to speak of, great conversation and lots and lots of knitting along with some reading. You have got to be there to really understand. Jared and Kimmy and the kids were there and you can see and read more at their blog of rockinrfarms.blogspot.com. It's worth a trip to that site. And..you will hear all about the big fox kill outside the chicken house. That's really worth reading about. We got home Monday afternoon after taking two days for the trip home. What a gift Doug gave me. But really...Doug's knee has been giving him fits all through the vacation but he really didn't say much about it. I just knew things were not right when he sat and read most of the time. So off to the Doc. Wed. afternoon and now a knee replacement is planned for Sept 24th. It was jump back into things for me on Tuesday. It's crazy how that is allowed to happen. Working at the church desk Wed. as well as helping Janet Wanner got the church school year started with new classrooms, new furniture etc. Thursday was Soup Kitchen and the afternoon meant a trip to the State Fair for a walk around or really a ride around on the little trolleys. This morning I'm working at the Gourd Society booth from 9to 1. Then home for a spell I hope and then off to down town Indy for a Taste of Africa event in the evening. Tomorrow I'm working at the Imani store at the continuation of the Africa Festival. Maybe by Sun. afternoon there might be a minute or two for a good sit on the patio or something like that.

Tuesday again

This is the week we're in the final push to get ready for camping on the south shore of Lake Superior. The word is...cold. so it's sweat pants, shirts, etc. getting packed. Should be great weather...great sleeping, great company and a great time. I'm working on the desk at church today, not tomorrow as usual and then it's soup kitchen day once again on Thursday. Another load of food is coming in Thursday which adds a bit of work to an already filled day. That's the way it goes. Friday we'll pack the truck and it's off early Sat. morning with a 12 hr drive in front of us through beautiful Ill. and Wisconsin. I'll be knitting, reading, sleeping and what ever one can do while sitting for a looooonnnnnnggggg time. And I'll have a whole two weeks with Michigan family of 4. Yahoo.

Tues. the 14th

Well, yesterday was a red letter day or something like that. Wow...Birthday day. Health check ups in the morning, Lunch with Mk. Shopping at Clay Terrace...didn't buy a thing but fun to see what's behind the doors of something other than Good Will. Latest purchase...Pr. of cute sandles for 3.95. Supper out with Doug. Phone calls and e-mails from the kids. JB has posted a little message that he said was from Jacob on his blog. I thought it was cute but all of his readers just let it pass as well. Well, the message hidden in Jacob's blog message, really written by JB was that another baby is on the way. Wooo, woo. That's a great message to get on one's birthday. I could have gotten it a few days ago if I had been smarter. Dah!!! And Kat's blog entry for this morning made me laugh myself almost off the chair. What a little guy Andrew is. Out of the mouth of babes, one might say. He is one funny kid still not wanting to wear anything but his diaper. Sure saves on wash. That's just part of the fun part. Today is lunch out with the Muldoon ladies...3 other retired teaching friends. Tonight for supper...Left overs from last nights meal out. Life can be simple. Yahoo.

Saturday

Still draggin'. Mary K said that it takes a day for each hr of difference. Well, Eldoret is 7 hrs ahead of us and now it's 7 days. I should be finished. I just hung out this afternoon, sleeping and watching TV and reading and sleeping. Early this morning I cut flowers from the garden for tomorrow's altar flowers. Two huge vase fulls of beautiful flowers. I took them to church this morning and also changed a big display case filling it with Kenyan products. Mid morning the rain came and it has rained for most of the day. It has cooled off. Yeah. Nothing planned for tomorrow. Should be an easy day.

Thursday

Wow...still getting over jet lag. It's crazy but better than Sunday for sure. Jim has been here and gone already. Today was Bread and Bowl Soup Kitchen day. This afternoon I got a bunch of pictures blown up at Kinko's and now to the bulletin board at church. The Kenya pictures are great and I'm anxious to get them up for all to see. I have some really, really delightful pictures of the kids from church taken in western Kenya with their pen pals. I'm ready to share these with church friends. What fun. Lots of workers at Bread and Bowl today. We had baked chicken, baked beans and lettuse salad with fruit pie. Take out was soup and sweets. This afternoon it's Farmers Mkt. at church so we'll go to that and get the bulletin board up. Tomorrow I have nothing planned and that's just fine with me. Sitting on the patio sounds like fun at this point. I've caught up on the garden, the wash is finished and most everything I brought home has found a place. Well, I really didn't bring a lot home. Maybe that's why it's almost all put away. Saturday I'm taking flowers from the garden to church for altar flowers for Sunday. They are beautiful and should be beautiful. So...that's it for Thursday. I think I need a nap and it's only 3:30. Must be jet lag.

In Indy or Really Carmel

It's back in Indiana again. Wow...what a month. Fold clothes, play with children, sort and throw out, and on and on. Leaving wasn't easy with so many new friends working to make a better place for children. But it's time to be back home working to make a better place here. Poverty was seen everywhere but the smiles and the willingness to make a difference were also evident. I will keep these memories with me for a very long time. Some loose ends to tie up this week getting a few things back to Kenya with Becky and Linda that are needed such as a wall thermometer to keep track of temps in the nic unit, another diabetic meter. So little can make such a difference. Now...it's time to get the body back on US time. It's 4 am here and wide awake. It's almost 12 in Eldoret and time to think about lunch.

Tuesday again

Where does the time go. It's beyond me at this point. Sunday afternoon's meal on the rim of the Rift Valley was more than delightful. It was wonderful. The company was quite fun, the food was very good. Joe had goat. I don't want to think of it. It was just lots of fun. I continue to go to Sally Test and I'm really enjoying the staff as well as the children. Sarah Ellen has done amazing things here. Today I did more cleaning out of stuff that probably hadn't been touch for a long time. Uck, uck. It's like many places...no one wants to take the time or responsibility of throwing out. Didn't get rid of a whole lot of things but did clean and organize things. I'm working on the counter tops tomorrow. Today one of the staff members really got into organizing some shelves. That's not necessarily a kenyan thing...organizing. But it did happen. This afternoon we had lots of dark clouds and thunder, it's the rainy season but rain is going all around Eldoret. We are at 7000 feet, higher than Denver. I got out my long pants, a sweater and am wearing a sweatshirt. Cool breezes for sure. I must say that I have enjoyed so much being with lots of students here from the states working on so many projects. There is a man here from somewhere, a well driller wanting people from Southern Indiana where there are plenty of wells to join him drilling in Kenya. He will be here for 6 months. Meal time is great. All kinds of conversations going on. This afternoon SEM is flying to Nairobi to meet Leigh, Julie and family who get in later tonight. She will be in Nairobi for two days coming back on Thurs. evening but leaving again Friday afternoon for safari at Rhondo. I'll leave Friday afternoon for Nairobi meeting Ellen and then on to the states Friday night arriving Sat. afternoon. It's been an unbelievable month here. Wonderful people, things to do and places to go for sure.

Friday

Well, I was sick for a day and now I'm well. It's a bacterial thing that a whole bunch of westerners get. I'm sooooo happy to be well. Today once again I went to Sally Test. I'm really getting to know the staff as well as the children. What fun. Today the kids had enough nerve to ask to feel my hair. I got such a kick out of that so my hair was patted many times. This afternoon we played with a parachute. Lots of screams and giggles and things that all American children would do. Just before we left ST another abandond baby came in found at a clinic. The people at the clinic gave the child the name of Obama. A few days ago a group from Indy arrived. Merta Pullilam and folks from the Ruth Lilly Foundation...Tonight will be what I might call the Billion Dollar dinner with Joe and SEM and three other folks from I U. The dean being one. And...I'm invited along. Wow...This will be VERY interesting to say the least. Three of the dinners are I U folks who have been here often and they are quite resonable folks. The money ladies...I'm not sure. Today I made the biggest mess ever. I knocked over a Pan of Chi Tea that was prepared for the children in the Sally Test room. What a mess. Lucky for me, the children had had their chi, some was in thermoses for a noon meeting and so this was the left overs. Well, I couldn't deny doing because everyone saw it. I got Ernest and it was easy to admit it and two wonderful ladies cleaned the whole mess up. So...I have little gifts for them that I will give them tomorrow. What a goof. Tomorrow is another day. The rains have not come yet and Kenya is dry in Eldoret. We have hope.

Tuesday

This afternoon I had an "argument" with Javan. My position was that it was Monday and his position was that it was Tuesday. Well, he won. I don't know where Monday went. Today the job was again at Sally Test. Amy A and I finished inventorying the walk in storage room. Now most of what is in the room is accounted for. That was a huge job. This afternoon we finished the same job for Sarah Ellen concerning her back porch. That lady just has about 10 irons in the fire. No man could do that. She arrives at Sally Test and on the walk to the room she is making reservations for a weekend at Nukuru with Leigh, the kids and some other family members. Joe had "made" them but it really didn't happen. Then she arrives at the ST Room and the phone rings with more questions. Then she checks e-mail to see if the reservations really have happened. Then a bunch of visiting people walk in and she talkes to them and then it's 8:30 and she has a meeting with the nurses that work for her and that lasts till 9:15. Then it's more and more stuff. I'm just happy to be in the room with her. Today the children were reciting nursery rhymes. Thay have such a cute english accent. Makes me smile. Well, I thought...these kids don't know what Hey Diddle Diddle really is all about so we acted it out. What fun. I think they thought I was freaking funny. I had to laugh just at what I thought they were thinking about this 70 yr. old white haired grandma was doing trying to jump over the moon! What fun. The teachers were a hoot as well. I wished I had a fiddle! We played with the children, talked to more folks and then at 1:00 Javan arrived and took us home for lunch at the IU house. Well, Ms. SEM had a list of aboug 10 things to do so I got her lunch at the IU house and took it to her office. Joe had a laugh about that but SEM had time to work during her lunch. Then she went back to ST in the afternoon arriving home around 4:30. Amy and I stayed at the house and inventoried the back porch. That is finished now. I sat and had a diet coke, did some knitting, passed out some stocking caps to the guards and now I'm waiting for the supper bell at 6:30.
Tonight after supper I'm working on cleaning and straightening a huge cupboard in SEM's office. I did two parts last night and tonight it's the third one. It's full of office supplies. Tomorrow SEM and I and Amy Altmeyer are going out to a clinic to check out what is being done to entertain the children coming for treatment or just coming with an adult who is ill. I'm not sure where we're going but I know I'll see alot. Time is getting short.

Sunday

Back in Eldoret after a great two days at Nukura seeing almost every African animal there is. No elephants and no leopards but one huge lion for sure and lots more. It was a great break from work. Today is Sunday. One thing I have discovered again is how much Joe and Sarah Ellen work. It's a seven day a week gig, unless they are off somewhere for a weekend which doesn't happen often. Joe did not go to Nukura but SEM did. We're off to Sally Test again around 9 this morning. There are always sick children. The church kids now with three interns are now in Kisumu for the rest of their stay. Amy Altemeyer is here with me and will be here until the 1st of July. We've been busy and will continue on with sorting, cleaning, taking care of children and just helping along. The IU house is full with visitors. That means between 60 and 70 people observing, helping and learning more about Kenya. That includes high school and college students, adults, med students, doctors, and more. The sun is up and I'm ready for breakfast.

It's Wed.

Times flies when working a lot. And I'm having a lot. That's the way I thought it would be. I'm working my way around the Sally Test room sorting and throwing away and making puzzle pieces and game pieces for those that are lost. Organizing does not seem to be a huge part of Kenya life at least with those I see. And of course even in the states there are those who don't throw anything away. So...I have been busy. Yesterday I was at Sally Test at 8:15 till 12:45 and from 2 to 4:45. That's a long day thinking about how to make things simpler and organizing a ton of stuff. Ernest is so appeciative. I have one more cabinet to do and then Ernest said I should start on a huge walk in closet that is full. All is being inventoried as we go. Today Amy Altemeyer brought her computer and some information is now documented. More to go. I can see at least 3 more days of work. While I'm working the cdplayer is playing Bach and Mozart etc. And...I hear Patricia saying Humpty Dumpty and more with the children with a very English accent. And Moses is walking around and the babies are crying. It's just wonderful.
Tonight all at the IU compound are going out to a restaurant for supper. It's the cook's night off. Tomorrow we hope to work at Sally Test in the morning, if SEM says so and then we're off to Nukura for two days. We'll see lots of African animals on some drives through the park. Should be fun. We'll be back in Eldoret Sat. afternoon for another round of work. The youth are going on to Kisumu after the Nukura visit. SEM, Amy, Javan and I will drive back to Eldoret. The youth have a blog...youthtokenya.blogspot.com It's very interesting to see Kenya through their words. We had a 5 minute rain last night, a few drops today but it seems that the rainy season is a bit late. That's it for now.

From the other side

It's the other side of the pond. It's Friday already. We arrived in Eldoret Tues. evening. Had a great time in Nirobi but happy to get on the plane to Eldoret. We met up with some friends from Sec. Presbyterian Church and also Amy Altmeyer from North at the IU dining room. The Duke 6 arrived Wed. So...lots of friends in little america Eldoret. We did some touring to places with the Duke 6. Imani, Sally Test Room, the Heart and Harvest Farms, Irene's Passion Fruit Farm, Moe Teaching and Referral Hospital. Saw Daniel Onachang. this afternoon and met his mother who is here for some knee diagnosis. That was really special. We have been busy. Now the Duke 6 and Ellen have moved on to western Kenya for a while. SEM and Joe are arriving tomorrow morning. So...It's a great shower, a little supper, some knitting and reading. Sounds like a good plan. I probably will be spending more time at Sally Test working with sick children who are well enough to have some daytime activities. There are so many children with cancer, burns that are unbelievable as well as other ailments. The hospital area is crawling with children. Today a group of people from Lilly came through the Sally Test Rm. They are here to hopefully establish a support program of medication for diabetics. This certainly is a spot for a lot of people with plans and ambitions for this area of the world. I hear boys from Indianapolis playing basketball outside the window. Now isn't that cool. The church kids leave Sunday. I'll be seeing them soon.

Today

Today is the day for the big trip to begin. Bags are packed but first we are off to church. Ellen and I are leaving around 11:00 for the airport. Plane leaves at 1:05. And...tomorrow evening at 9:00 Nairobi time we will be getting off the plane and then Tues afternoon it's another hr. plane trip to Eldoret. It really is about a total of 19 hrs of flying. Time to read and knit and sleep and talk. If I can get to a computer I'll do some blogging. No big promises about that. That's about it. Off to church soon and then on the way.

Wow...

Life has gotten topsy turvy. I'm leaving for Kenya Sunday morning arriving in Eldoret Tuesday afternoon. 18 hr flight and then a day trip by van from Niarobi to Eldoret. And...of course part of the idea is to visit for a month with friend Sarah Ellen. But...here's the rub. Sarah Ellen's husband Joe made an emergency medical trip to the states arriving Monday morning. And he has been told to take a two week break from Eldoret. Sarah Ellen was already here visiting with her children as she does every May. So...I'm in Eldoret and Sarah Ellen is here! Now how about that. I have no hesitation on being in Eldoret and I think it will be a great adventure. I certainly wish that SEM were there but this give me a chance to see what I can do on my own. And...I'll do it for sure. People there know I'm coming and I'll even have a driver a place to sleep in SEM's house and meals at the I U dining room. Now that's better than the states in my book. There aren't very many places to go but I know a few and will certainly stay busy. Sarah Ellen gave me some cleaning jobs and I'll certainly be in the Sally Test room at the hospital helping with all the sick children who come to play as they are able. Some are abandon babies and some just sick. Children stay much longer in the hospital with more serious problems than here in the states. So...I'm leaving Sunday at 1pm and back in the states July 4 at 7pm.
What an adventure. Bring it on.

Friday

It's been a while and I've been busy as usual. The flowerbeds look wonderful in the back yard. The front of the house is so so. A small veg. garden has been planted and wouldn't you know it. the lettuce is up but probably should be eaten during the time I'm in Kenya. Can't win them all. I planted tomatoes, peppers and one egg plant along with parsley, dill, rosemary and some other things. I'm waiting for the digger to redo the flowerbed along the driveway. I've got the plants ready to go. We spent a long weekend in Michigan with JB, Kimmy, Adam and Jacob. What a fun time with those little guys. I'm constructing piles of clothing, shillings, important papers, etc. in preparation for the month of June in Kenya. I need one more doc appointment for malaria pills. It's all coming together and just two full weeks till it all begins to happen. Time at this end is going way to fast.

Monday evening

Oops...it's Tuesday evening. Days stay busy. Yesterday a group of us finished the last mailing of the churches' North Notes. It's going on line on the web site. Yahoo. Best decision ever. One thing less to think about. Then I had lunch with my old teacher friends. It's been a while. I had a two hr. meeting at 5 with the Umoja group which is planning the second carnival at Sec. Presbyterian Church Labor Day weekend. This morning I met Alan at church and we packed away a bunch of flower arrangements we used at Easter. It's back in the box. Wow...glad that's done. But really first thing this morning was a PT appointment for my neck muscles. I wish I could say my neck is perfect but it isn't. It's better but certainly not the best it could be. Worked in the yard this afternoon edging some of the flowerbeds. I took it easy and stopped to stretch my neck when the pain came. I'm working in littler bits. Picked up more donated yarn at church this morning and finished a wild hat all in neon colors. Great for little girls. I'm up to 81 hats now. My fingers just keep on going like the everyready bunny. Thank goodness knitting doesn't seem to bother my neck very much. Tomorrow is my morning to work at the church desk. I'll do more knitting. Tomorrow afternoon I hope to get a few plants in the ground. And bell practice is in the evening. The weather is beautiful. Cool but sunny days reminding me of Eldoret weather. Not to much longer before I'm on the way.

Never, Never, Never

I will never again put onions down my garabage disposal. What a mess. We hooked up to Carmel disposal...no more septice tank so I thought...anything goes. Well, onions get stuck in the pipes. After some do it yourself stuff. I got the sink unstuck. How could I be so old not knowing that onions do not belong in the garbage disposal. Reminder to the readers!!! Now you all know. Friend SEM is here from Kenya. We had a wonderfu meal together at Rick's Boatyard Sunday with friends and relatives of SEM as well as the three Kenyan medical students here for 6 weeks of working at the medical center. What fun, what fun. I love those students. Such eager minds. Still knitting hats. Yarn supply is going down but not gone. I'm up to 75 stocking hats for distribution this winter to folks who need hats. Planted tomatoes and peppers along with lettuse and radishes and a bunch of herbs from seed. They do as well or better then plants. To cool to grow very fast. Still spring in Indy. I was called to fill in this afternoon at the churches front desk. I usually do Wed. morning but this is an emergency. I'm taking my knitting and searching the internet for what ever I can find. That includes the NY Times, Washington Post, Daily Mining Gazette, Indy Star and more. . Keeps me busy. Two days at church is what I call my limit but this week will be more.

Busy Weekend

The choir sang the Sunday services with Missa Giai. Fun, fun. It was well received. Great to hear whale sounds with what seemed to be emerging out of the stone walls of the church. Wolves were singing everywhere and the birds were at their best. This all was on top of the choir singing. It really fit very well together. This was first performed at St. John the Divine in the early '80's. Big earth festival after church and of course I did that as well. Bushed in Carmel is what I'm saying although when I got home I tilled up some of the garden and this morning planted herb seeds. It's a beautiful morning.

Just back from another PT session. This time ultra sound. The neck is feeling better but I'm thinking that I've got to keep thinking about PT or it will go back to it's old bad ways.

This afternoon I'm meeting some church friends and we are going to walk through our Central Park woodland garden together. That place has been a work in progress and Greenspace along with a few other people have reclaimed that space from what was a wild out of control woods area. It's beautiful and I'm proud to show it off to friends.

Tues.

No one told me where time goes. Guess no one knows.

Today will be a heap of fun. This afternoon I'm going to Butler to work with pharmacy students from 2 to 5 pm. These are 5th yr students ready to go out to work in pharmacys next year. I have COPD (pretend) and am hard of hearing or I might pretend to be blind ( vasoline on glasses )or close to it. The students need to teach me correct inhaler techniques. I can give them grief any way I please. They have to deal with me in a positive manner. I've done this before and it's fun. Some students catch on to the disability and some just fly right by. The session will be video taped for the professors. It's something really different to do. Another teaching experience.

Still knitting. I'm up to my 60th stocking hat. Crazy isn't it. It's probably really around 75 if I count the first batch. I hung 6 easily made banners yesterday in the sanctuary for our Sunday of Missa Gaia. Today I want to work on two 4 by 4 pieces that will be hung in the front choir loft. One is a 45 inch blue round piece representing the famous picture of earth taken from space. I've got to do a little painting on the fabric but will do that at church since it is so big. I'm also lettering another 4x4 piece with the earth is the Lords from Psalms.
I think the sanctuary decorations are completed when these two pieces are finished.

This morning at church I'm meeting with a man who replates brass. That should cost a mint but we're hoping for a deal if we do all of what needs to be done.

At 5 today there is an UMOJA meeting at church. My friend is setting me up to do some sort of function, maybe a dinner when Joseph visits from Kisumu Kenya early in Sept. I'm working with a dinomo from Second Presb. It's the sr. preachers wife. She is a go getter to say the least. Should be fun. Since I'm going to Kenya with friend Ellen, I need to keep her "happy". Well, that's my excuse for not saying no to her. This should be a one time deal so I might be up to it.

Saturday I declared war on ants in the kitchen. I have a very clean kitchen now with oiled cabinet doors and get rid of ant powder everywhere and IT'S WORKING! Wow. Get's me excited. It's a big deal. Now you all are caught up for a few days.

Help

Can someone tell me where time flys to. I can't believe that it's 5 days later. Busy as usual. Neck evaluation was wed with the PT lady and I flunked. I think this is going to be my old age companion. I'm on for another 4 weeks and gardening just is just as difficult as last Summer. Now that's a big bummer. My neck muscles are so tight and out of wack on the left side. I need a lighter head. Where can I find one.

The weather is beautiful. So many things are just jumping out of the ground in the flower beds. I moved a few things today filling holes. Most of what came up last year is up again with just a few exceptions.

Choir is getting ready to preform Missa Gaia. It's avery contempory piece and was first performed at St. John the Divine in N Y City in the early 80's. It's all about thanksgiving for the earth. Whale, wolves, loons sounds and it's fun to listen to and sing. I made 6 banners for the church illustrating animals, flowers etc. I thought the music was junk when I first heard it but it really grows on one. You can type Missa Gaia in your search engine and you will learn more.

Doug had MAJOR oral surgery yesterday morning. He is now 5 more teeth less. Poor guy. Born with soft teeth that just haven't served him well. Tick Tacks in his mouth didn't help any. He is doing well and loves his narcotics.

Monday eve

Good Friday entry was a bit short. Some how I got intrupted and stopped writing. Easter was just a super day. Great music, great preaching and the church had about 300 for the first service and it was stuffed to the rafters for the second service. I would say at least 900. Chairs in the aisles as well and people sitting in the narthex. It was a festive morning. Decorations were just super with good help arriving Sat. morning for putting up Easter banners and flower arrangements that were hung on the sides of the sanctuary. We worked as fast as possible starting at 9 and were finished everywhere by 12:00. I baked 4 coffee cakes for Hospitality Hr. and our donations from Panera were more than usual. So...folks ate and visited all over the church and we had plenty for all. I called it the feeding of the 5000. A few church folks brought in pastries they had made so all was well. I usually am almost unable to crawl after such a busy morning but that didn't happen yesterday. But...I didn't sing in the choir. I had a bit of sense about that. We did play handbells for both services and that was my contribution to worship. We ate at Stake and Shake on the way home and I knitted another hat in the afternoon. Wow...the sewing room is all put away. It was the biggest mess with decorator fabric everywhere repairing banners and making a set of new ones. My big banner sewing projects are all completed. Yahoo! I just finished placemats for Jacob and Adam. Jacob had one and Adam didn't so now they are getting two placemates just alike. I'm wondering if that will help out with Adam. Poor guy. I made a placemat for Jacob when Adam was still in the highchair but that's not the case now. I'll get them in the mail tomorrow morning. I'm loving these long evenings when it's still daylight. Today I took back to church washed and ironed tablecloths we used yesterday, another set of banners that needed fixing that we will use this summer. It was such a gray, wet and rainy cold day just perfect for cleaning the visual arts closet at church. I'm feeling good about what was accomplished today.

Good Friday...or bad Friday

The week has been busy and most everything that I can think of is ready for Easter. What a good feeling. That's Easter at church...come to think of it. Easter at home doesn't exist. That's usually a sleepy afternoon.

Today I bought all the altar flowers for Sunday and hung the black cloth on the cross at the corner of 38th and Meridian.

Tomorrow the troups come and hang Easter decorations all over the church. It's lots of flowers, some silk and some real.

Tuesday Morning

We just went through an awesome weekend starting Thursday evening. Noah Paul Oliver arrived that evening joining the Eric and Kat and Andrew family as well as the bigger extended Russell family. He is doing well at 7 lb 7 oz. The Michigan kids arrived Friday evening in time for supper. So...the weekend was a double blast. We headed right to the hospital Friday evening to see Noah and his family. The little boys had such fun playing together in the hospital room. Sat. JB etc. and LR, PDAR were off to an afternoon at the zoo after planting flowers in the morning. Sunday morning Palm Sunday church with a parade and live donkey. Dinner with the 4 grandsons and parents around the dining room table. Couldn't get any better. Michigan Kids left around 3. Indy Kids left around 2. Awesome weekend for sure. Yesterday I went to church and put away Palm Sunday Stuff...banners, fake donkey etc. and did a bit of cleaning in our V. Arts closet. This morning it's getting North Notes ready for mailing, tomorrow is front desk time, Thursday is soup kitchen and church in the evening, Friday is church in the evening, Sat. is putting up Easter stuff and Sunday is Easter. Hospitality time will be in the Parlor, courtyard and Community Rm. We've had a huge swell of people. Palm Sun looked like the Easter bunch. In fact...all of Lent has seen the sanctuary full. Monday is sit all day after I do PT in the morning at 8:30. There is no grass growing under my feet at this point. I'm lovin it if I can keep up and I think I am.

Still getting care for my tight neck problem. It's better but I've got to keep on it. Muscles just are a mess.

Ouch

Wed. I got the BIG treatment. I'm not on the neck stretching machine because this problem is muscles that need to be retrained, not bones. The goal is to loosen what's there and make them work correctly. She used TOOLS. Tools that looks like a stainless steel knife pushing those muscles around working out all the bad stuff. I'm still sore to the touch but you know...I think I'm a bit better. I've quit sewing. Boo Hoo. but I think it's best until this neck thing gets resolved. It's probably way to much time leaning over the table and the sewing machine. I did do a bit of raking and pulling weeds, planting panseys and that seemed to go better.

Today is Frank Hirshman's funeral. Frank was a wonderful man who contributed so much to so many people. Just a pillar in the church, trustee at Evansville Un. CEO of Indland Container grandfather to 7 grandaughters and I babysat for all seven, member of a Bible study that I joined and took up painting just a few years ago. He was good at that also. This will be a big funeral. The choir is singing at the service and there is a reception afterwards. It's a big day.

Tuesday again.

Lots happening still. I had a sewing blitz last Saturday and made 10 more baby bibs. Fun, fun. They look like spring is happening. Then on to yesterday's sewing story of making another bag for Marilyn. The lining is frog fabric/ It's cute but I messed for a while with color for the front of the bag. It started out as a pink flower but just didn't work with the green background. So...now it's two refreshing clean yellow flowers, interesting leaves and a little frog covered with french knots peeking out from behind the flower. I'm pleased and I think Marilyn will like it. It's coloring with fabric. The person getting the bag likes frogs! Special order for sure.

I'm on to PT for my neck. Goodness. I got a work out yesterday with great strong PT hands messing with my neck. I was sore for three hr. after we finished but that just tells me we have a long way to go with getting all the muscles working correctly again. I'm doing neck stretches three times a day. The PT lady said she is using tools next. My neck was stretched out of place to do that with the first treatment. I think this will be torcher until things turn around. I'm giving this my best shot for sure. I want to garden with less or better yet no pain this year.

The weather is warming up. I think it will reach 60 today. It's pansey time. I'll try a little digging today. Just a little. Time to burn the grass and I should do that this morning since there is a promise of wind later on today.

Good Morning

Well, it's early morning and I'm taking a break from the bed. Will try sleep again in a minute or so. Last week it was Morehouse College for Sunday breakfast. This past Sun. it was Greenville College for brunch. Such good music on another Sunday. I joked with Mark about...who is coming to breakfast next Sun. and he said Morman Tab. Choir. What a joke. I quite. After church Doris and I went to see the Pirates of Penzance at Clowes Hall. Talk about a crazy story. That one is crazy. Costumes were wonderful.

This week so far. Yesterday I went to church to finish cleaning up after the brunch thing. The clean up crew did a wonderful job but there are always things that don't get back to where they belong. I brought home six banners we are using for Easter that need new backing. I bought the material at Hancock and then started to sew. That's the best. The banners will once again be usable. Went to the grocery for a few things and then on to Sec. Presb. Church for a UMOJA meeting about raising money for highschool tuition for Kenya students. The Sec. annual carnival is going to happen once again. This meeting is sooooo energizing one reason is that it is run by kids entirely with behind the scenes super adult mentoring. The first Carnival cleared $8,000.00 for tuition for one year for 20 students. We've got to keep those kids in western Kenya in school. They are all orphans of HIV/Aids. I finished the day with a great meeting at Greenspace on invasive plants of Indiana. Very interesting. Oops...I forgot the first thing yesterday. I was off to get a cat scan of my neck. I've had a pain there for just about a year. I have a real problem of remembering to talk to the doc about stuff like this. I really thought that given time it would go away. Well, guess that's not the case. Must not be serious or I'd be dead at this point. It's just such an pain in the neck! I really think it's something that needs PT. Gardening is hard, sometimes sewing is a pain. I think my neck could do a better job holding my head up. So good to hopefully have some to work on now that I've had the scan. We did a bunch of other stuff that just didn't do much to correct the problem and now...there might be hope. Today, Tues...the calendar is empty and I can do more banner sewing. Yahoo. I might even finish them. But...back to bed. It's 3:45. Not time to start sewing.

Busy Bee

My life is crazy but I like it. Humm...sounds like Kate and John. (TV show for you folks that don't know that) Morehouse Glee Club breakfast was a success. What wonderful boys with wonderful voices. You all should hear them if they are in your neighborhood. Mannerly southern gentleman I would say. Then from 12 to 2 the artistic church members had an art show in Fellowship Hall. First one of it's kind in at least 50 years. Wonderful quilts, dolls, fabric art, calligraphy, gourds and paintings. What fun. I crashed when I got home at 3. One reason...change to daylight savings time. Up at 4...old time to get to church to get the egg casseroles going. Uck on the time change. It could have been another Sunday. We attended the Morehouse concert Sat. night and then did a Panera Run. Yesterday was a morning for Visual Arts preparation for Easter. 4 of us did a ton of work in 2 hrs. That's my attention span at this point. Then home and on to the Cottingham children after school. Their grandmother...good friend Sue... usually watches them but grandfather Frank is very sick with a heart valve surgery. I'll be there today and tomorrow with the girls. Girls are different then boys...I love my boys...enough said. We're getting North Notes in the mail this morning. Still knitting a hat a day. In some respects looking forward to empty on the calendar Friday. I could do some flowerbed work. A few are cleaned up but more to go.

Gosh...another Monday.

I'm wondering how many I have left? 70 year olds think about that. The Mondays are flying past quicker than I can catch them. It seems that the Russell brothers are getting back to their roots with snow in Atlanta and Dallas. That should give them a check on reality. Sunny and warm in the south it isn't. This week has been interesting. I continue to knit at least a hat a day. Some days it's two. I'm working on that yarn that arrived here from Atlanta. It is still a huge amount even after giving some to Regena and JB. I'm up to 30 hats at this point with enough yarn to make at least 300. The hats will go to Bread and Bowl community folks next fall and there should be plenty to spread other places.

Hospitality time at North yesterday was a ZOO. And...Doug (I didn't know this) decided to give blood at the health fair in the middle of the morning leaving the coffee pot job empty. I made so many pots of coffee keeping my nose to the job until I lost count of the number. Glad to see him back but the huge rush was over by the time he arrived. Good planning on his part. Morehouse College Glee Club from Atlanta will be singing Sat. night at church. That's always brings a huge crowd as well. Sunday morning they are singing at first service but will be eating breakfast before that which is my responsibililty of delivering. I'll be working Sat. on the egg casserole part. Should be fun but again extermely busy on Sun. Bells played this Sunday which meant another crazy morning with two of our hospitality workers in Hong Kong. I had a back up person that called at 6am Sunday morning with excuses. Made us short of people but we delivered just the same. We just ran a little faster on the gerbil wheel. This afternoon I'm off to the dentist to get a crown put on a broken tooth. 70 is a bummer.

This week I'll be getting stuff together to have a visual arts work day next Monday. Lent is here and Easter is right behind. So...it's Easter preparation next Monday. It's always something.

Sunday Church has been awesome. Great music and great sermons. I look forward to that every week. You can hear what happens in the service on the pod cast found at www.northchurchindy.com
That's it for another Monday March 2

Monday morning

This morning is a church morning with decorating for Lent. A few ladies are joining me and I think I'm organized so that this morning should run itself. Lots to do but I think we'll do as much as we can today. Tomorrow is another day. Janet W, got her Christmas stocking for Belle. The bags for the children for the Easter retreat are finished and out of here. Knitted two hats yesterday. Watched a little basketball. Hospitality went well at church. Lots of people stoping in and connecting with folks. It's just a fun place to be. The long banner we will use during Eastertide is back at church. A few more projects to do but it's break time for a few days. Now it's coffee time and the newspaper. Might make a trip to the mailbox or I might just read on line. That's the lazy way.

Wednesday

Costumes...Jacob is wearing the hat and vest. I have so many things that are on the reservation table...I'm making 40 bags for Janet W. for Bible School. That's a few months away but I don't like to get behind. I'm making a Christmas stocking for Janet W's grandbaby Belle, revising some banners that Doris made and now need much needed attention because of use and age. One is in pieces on the floor of the sewing room, the other in pieces on a shelf, I made 4 4x4 foam core boards that illustrate 4 of the Sunday sermons in Lent. I did paper mache on a lamb that was falling apart and now looks like new. Tom Woo, an orthapedic surgeon fixed it with plaster and and fiberglass bandages used for casts and he is on board to fix the donkey that has two broken ears. He's having a blast with this project and I am to after wanting these two things fixed for at least 10 years. I finally figured out who could get the job done. I'm a little slow would you say. Still knitting hats and last night learned how to make purses out of plastic bags. I did get some fabric given to me today that would make great costumes. I need to wash the musty smelling fabric. Broke a tooth some time...don't know when and I got a temporary cap on it this morning. The washing machine gets fixed on Friday, the well pump got a new pressure tank last week, the grinder for the new sewer system being put in the neighborhood was delivered yesterday...Way to much stuff going on but when it rains it pours. Tonight is bells, tomorrow is soup kitchen. We have plenty of food. Yahoo. Choir tomorrow night. Friday...I'm looking forward to. Might be bag day come to think of it.

Thursday again

Time flies. Still knitting, knitting. It's fun to choose colors to knit hats. This week I bought with someone elses money!! 52 pr. of men's gloves for next winter. Always thinking ahead. These will go to soup kitchen guys. The days are flying by and I forget what happens 24 hrs. after it happens. I did some sewing for Kat and church making costumes for children in Sunday School as Kat ordered. I worked at the front desk two days and worked at the hospitality table for church picture taking for a new directory, soup kitchen was today, handbells was last night, choir is tonight and tomorrow I'll be at home I THINK! And Saturday is JB's birthday. It's a bummer we are not in Michigan. It's handbells Sunday morning. What a bummer. Things happen I guess. The snow is gone, gone. Yesterday was a huge wind and rain storm. It was a little scary at times. Got to get to my knitting. So long you all.

A flying week

Saturday evening again. Jim called tonight. That was very good. I was doing the instant message thing with him and the phone rang and there he was! Just about a year ago Mary K and I saw him in Mexico. That was very, very good. This week has been a gut buster again. Just lots going on. Still sewing...two bags to sell and starting on some costumes for the 6 year olds at church to play in. It's all bible type stuff. Head gear, bags to carry things in and some vests and little coat type stuff. It's all coming out of my brain and that keeps me occupied. I love it. Knitted two hats as well. It's been DARN @#$^%& cold this week. It gets to my brain after a while. Wed. and Thursday at church we had some real hardship cases. One guy was ready to commit suicide. So...that took a bit of time. He was new to the city not having a good place to stay and out in the cold and no job. That would stress the best. Brian on our staff was scheduled to be at a meeting but changed his plans and was a huge help. He is a wonderful addition working on community issues and a seminary graduate from Duke. And then he had his apartment broken into Thursday afternoon and was totally cleaned out. Terrible, terrible. That's after his car was broken in to Christmas Eve in our parking lot. Thursday at soup kitchen a girl came in high on drugs with no socks, and canves shoes that were torn and soaked to the max. That was another tough one. We found shoes in our church lost and found and I gave her my socks. I have more in the drawer. All of this is a bit unusual but who knows how many other cases we will have? She probably won't remember where she got her shoes and who knows how long she will have them. Life is crazy. Today I purchased 42 pr. of gloves to add to the 20 I found yesterday all of these coming from Walmart. We're getting ready for next winter and hitting the sales. We gave out about 50 pr. of gloves this year. It's interesting to realize that receiving a pair of gloves on a very cold day will help the receiver make it through another day.
There's more but that's all you are getting!!!

Best week ever

Yes...this has been the best week ever. Some would say I'm crazy but it's been a super week.
Sunday I took the bibs and hats to church and sold a bunch. Preacher preached about when is enough enough. Super thinking on his part and it got me to thinking when he mentioned plastic or paper as one would hear at the grocery. Well, the brain went into action and I know what I was going to do this week with yards of denim I was given along with yards of red poplin. Bags...bags...bags. I've sewen 10 bags this week that could be used for groceries. They are bright and colorful and have some sort of applique on the front. Some have a ladies' hat, kite, apple, umbrella, bee, cart etc. I got to use fabric scraps, buttons, ric rack, ribbon and just had a blast decorating all of the above. I call it coloring with fabric. What fun. I have enough fabric to make 3 more. That could happen next week if I need them. What fun. Then also this week boxes of yarn were delivered to the door sent from Georgia from a friend of Dee's. So...on Wed. which was a huge snow day...12 inches in fact I cleaned up my sewing room and got it organized with colorful yarn just everywhere. I felt like it was Christmas opening the boxes. The yarn makes the room look very cozy. I knitted a hat this week and am starting another one this evening. Just to busy with the bags. I'm giving some yarn to Regena Slater who also knits hats and will send some to Jared at some point. He is way to busy with his new toy. It's a tv things I think called wii or something like that. Wed. we did not move from the house on Wed. Just sewed and sewed and did a bit of shoveling and finished up Thursday morning. Our snow removal guy didn't get here for some reason so the shovel method still works. Thursday soup kitchen was huge even with all the snow. We gave away gloves and hats and fleece scarves and need to stock up on both. I cut all the fleece which came to .50 a scarf. How cheap can it get? Well it wasn't free but .50 is pretty good. Hats will be easy. Church ladies are knitting. TOMORROW...Souperbowl. Go Steelers. It was a very good week.

WEd.

Kimmy had such a full day I thought I would mention a busy, busy Wed. It was fun.
1. Up and running at 6:00. Breakfast with the paper and watched Morning Joe with coffee and my knitting needles.
2. Left the house at 7:30 and off to Meijer buying supplies for Soup Kitchen and Hospitality Time
3. Arrived at church at 8:40 and put things in the refrigerator, etc.
4. 9:00 at the church desk for the morning. Folded a Lenten Brochure that will be mailed next week, answered the phone, knitted and answered questions. 3 people came in thinking that it was soup kitchen day. We had food left over from yesterday so fixed bags for take out.
5. 1:00. Got a lot of things ready for soup kitchen. Vegetables out, sacks counted. It makes Thursday so much easier.
6. Took a financial bulk mailing letter to the downtown post office
7. Dropped off some things at the IU Medical Center for Kenya
8. Came home and made a great vegetable soup for supper. Knitted some more. A friend at church gave me some yarn. More is coming in the mail. I will have lots of YARN. Yahoo
9. Went to sister Mary K to deliver a bib.
10. Ate supper and knitted watching the evening news.
11. Went to bell practice with a bunch of stuff in the trunk to deliver to the office. (Doug picked up VBS kits for church)
12 Bell practice. Lots of fun.
13. A trip to Dunkin Doughnuts to pick up doughnuts for Soup Kitchen. I must have a ton.
14. Home and more time with the knitting needles and TV. Bed at 10:30.
What a day. Nothing boring about yesterday.

Wow...today is soup kitchen and I'm staying with the Cottingham children for an hour this afternoon and then it's Choir night. And knitting when ever there is time.

Bibs for Sale

Sold 6 already. Guess they are worthy of buying so if anyone out there wants one just reply to the blog. Now...if I had pictures...Yeah...I know. Bibs for little babies...bibs for boys...bibs for girls...Bibs, bibs. Bibs for gifts and just bibs.

Friday

It's freezing cold today. 58 in the house. Hot water baseboard heat never has kept up with the cold. So...it's lots of clothes today. -`12 this morning outside of course without windchill. I'm thinking space heater. This usually happens about once every three years. So...I had a dish of icecream for lunch. brrrrr. I got the sewing machine back in practice. It pays big time to use needles that work. I'm finishing up remake of the 6th Christmas banner. Just to many bags and sags. And another bib is in the box. It's a slow day. Hard to believe how cold it is. Dave D from church visited with homeless men living under bridges Wed. night. What a gig. Passed out blankets, gloves and sweatshirts. The goal of the visitors is to let the homeless people know that someone cares about them. NOT to change what they are doing. That needs to come from the homeless person to really make a difference. No school anywhere today. Even IPS who just about never closes for cold. The kids could be warmer at school in some cases.

Tuesday Evening

It's getting colder...It's brrrr weather. Tomorrow promises to be COLD. Lots going on. I finished the 31st baby bib. Most of these will go to our youth who are raising money for their Kenyan trip. I've had a blast. There are valentine, st.patrick's, easter, african animal, bob the builder , butterfly and john deere bibs. Fun, fun. I used a bunch of buttons that I got from Doug's mom. So...using up stuff. Stuff. The Podcast of the Sun. sermon is all about STUFF. You can hear the music as well. What a great Sunday was.

This week I also have been working on reconstructing our 6 Christmas banners. They are unbelievable baggy so that meant taking them all apart and starting over. I'm hoping for better results but the fabrics are of different weights and the humidity just does crazy things to hanging fabrics. But if this doesn't work, I'll be taking them all apart again and trying something different. My sewing machine has become very unhappy with bad stitching and bad tension so it's back to Mr. Sewing Machine Arbuckle. I'm hoping that my 36 year old machine can find happiness again.

I started knitting another stocking hat. This is my 15th hat. We have had at least 100 donated at church. Some small ones about 40 are going to four schools, some are going to be delivered to homeless men who choose to stay out on the street tomorrow night, and others are given out at church. It's only January and I'm telling the knitters to keep on knitting.

I keep thinking of my snow weather friends in the UP of Michigan with snow to give away and my brother who is sitting on the patio in Mexico for another month or two. What a contrast.

Another week

Time sure moves along quite quickly. This week friend Sarah Ellen went back to Eldoret Kenya. Well, Joe went also. I have my little red car back and it sure beats the Spider that I was driving. What a tank with a convertible top. Ofcourse I didn't undo the top. Now it's sitting in the garage and the owner isn't home so the little red is sitting outside. Brrrr. SEM and I shopped until we dropped at Once Upon a Child...Toys, toys for a new children's playroom at the hospital.

This week was a week of getting Christmas back in the box at church. At least a hundred nativity sets were packed along with other decorations taken down. Today should finish the job. Now...the Russell household hasn't been touch and I'm not in a hurry to do that. I love the lights. I finished the 28th bib for babies. They are so cute. Three years ago I worked on 6 Christmas banners for church. The construction was horrible done with directions from a friend and they are one baggy mess so...I've taken them all apart and putting them back together another way. Might work and might not. The selection of fabric is so important and I might need to stabelize everything before I put them back together. It could help...It could not help. It's always a guess.

Worked at the church desk. So many people needing so much help wanting the church or lady at the front desk to fix everything for them. It's a bit discouraging. But we offer what we can. We just can't fix what has been undone by our visitors. Some come in crying. It could be a ploy or it could not. Impossible to really know. I would imagine that it will get worse. It's money for car gas, heat, rent, food, bus passes. I should be able to handle one day a week with this but we'll see. One of our staff members works on this but there is just not enough of anyone to go around.

Tomorrow is church. Kevin is having a series of sermons of Biblical Wisdom for Challenging Economic Times. Check the pod cast. The west entrance display case has a wonderful collection of antique banks and bibles that really look interesting. That was a fun thing to do. I found some banks at the Dollar Store and broke them. The antique collection comes from one of the parishoners. And I am starting to work on some visuals for Lent. I'm hoping for 4 foam core boards 4X4 with a theme for each Sunday hung in the west entrance. I have the design done. The fifth Sun. in Lent will include a barbed wire crucifix that one of our ministers made years ago. It's really makes a statement.

So...enough for this time on the blog. It's a little messy outside. Rain with perhaps a bit of ice.

January 2 Friday

Busy, busy. Thank goodness Hancock Fabric Store was open on New Years Day. Lots of ladies buying fabric! Me included. Well, not a lot of fabric but some. I'm into Baby Bibs once again. I'm making a huge bunch of bibs for the kids going to Africa to sell at church. There are safari bibs with safari animal buttons, butterfly bibs, parrot bibs, bibs for Valentines Day red and white with lots of eyelet, red and white rickrack and buttons and I have a little fabric for St. Patricks and Easter to make. There is enough fabric to make four of each kind of bib. And...I'm out of yarn! Help. That's critical. Finished another hat this morning. It's red, black and white. This last one was number 14. We are getting quite a stash at church to give away. I'm sure they will be gone by spring. Today I'll work on the St. Patricks Day bibs. My sewing machine is soooooo happy. The poor thing...I bought the dear little Singer new 35 years ago and it just keeps on giving and giving. It's had two repair jobs in 35 years. That's a much better record than I've had. Some times I have thought about getting a new one that can do more but then when I really think about it...this one does exactlly what I would ask a new one to do.

I'm thinking of making wren houses out of this years crop of gourds for the kids to sell. I might wait till closer to spring to do that when people are in the bird mood.

This morning the TV stations advertised Colt and Charger posters that could be picked up at Meijers..So...I jumped in the car and picked up three posters. Go Colts. They are great posters and are hanging around the house. Go Colts...Tomorrow evening is the time. We've got to stay positive. I think Payton can get the job done if the rest of the team comes along. What a team.