Memorial Day

It's Memorial Day and I didn't do much that would say I was celebrating the day.  In fact...watered the flowerbeds, pulled up some going to be dead plants...thanks to the man who sprayed for weeds in the yard.  There must have been a strong wind.  Watered the garden.  Went to a good sale at Hancock Fabrics and got a few things.  Then eventually I got to to SEM's house to pack trunks.  This was to be the final push.  That means...filling and weiging now 13 trunks to the max of 50 pounds, labeling the trunks with three different labels, listing what is in each trunk numbering the trunks so that I know which ones to send when I can find people to take them ,attaching the content list and then closing the lid.  SEM needs to do the last two things but did we work?  You bet.  Hot and sweaty day to pack, weigh, move and label to get the trunks on their way.  SEM is taking 4 trunks with her on Wed.  Son Burke will take 1 and that leaves 8 to move on to other people asap.   
Neighbor Judy invited us for supper.  What a treat.  A little wine, beef tips and veg. on the gril, a great salad, fresh fruit and icecream with a great little fancy cookies for desert.  After the busy afternoon it was a great supper.  I sat in a chair and let Doug and Judy put stuff in front of me. 

Yesterday was crazy...Went to get SEM at the airport at 10:40 am after a busy morning at church fixing altar flowers...hospitality...with only Doug and I working.  Others were sick.  Then out to the airport...waited for SEM...called her on the phone and she was on a hospital tour in Baltimore.  Well, she hadn't indicated if it was am or pm and I didn't think to ask and ofcourse it was pm.  Really surprised about the evening arrivals of many planes.  Just another story about us doing stuff.  Life is an adventure.

We talked about her Wed. departure to Kenya and we got the time right!  I HOPE!  Arrive at the airport at 9:30 am.  Since she is taking 4 trucks...Doug will take the truck to the airport and I will take SEM and her carry on. 

Tomorrow there is a meeting of a few folks who are pursuing plans to provide some steady financial support for the Sally Test program.  I certainly am a newbe to this sort of program.  Don't think I'll do more than dip my toe in this project. 

Back to the Heat Celts game. 

Bummer

Well, not a good basketball evening.  But I did get some bibs made.  That's lots of fun  time thinking up new ways to make babies look good in their bibs.  Sending a few again to Kenya baby caretakers.  Tilled the garden again and last evening planted melons, broccoli and squash.  Now...the challenge is keeping them alive.  It's worse then taking care of children.  Today I'm helping SEM pack trunks, and then supper is with the Hefners and SEM and who knows who else.  Weather continues to be wonderful but is promised not to last through the weekend meaning a hot race day. 

Doug ordered hearing aids yesterday...no excuse not to hear me.  I had an appointment with Dr. Batler of Urology fame.  I think he's looking for a needle in a haystack.  Nothing is showing up yet.  So...it's stay vigilant with the hope that whatever, if anything  going on will go away.  Well, that's my mental attitude at this point.  Doctors are paid to be vigilant.

Nervous

Lost yesterday afternoon!  Boo Hoo.  But crying doesn't help any basketball team.  Back to Florida again. 
Dry, dry outside so watered most of the afternoon The ground is like chalk.  Plants are dying. Today I'm spending the afternoon with a favorite friend Sarah Ellen to eat, shop, and maybe pack. 

Pacers again

Another game this afternoon and I aim to take a short sleep before the game.  Today was a crazy morning at church.  Why does everything come together all on one Sun.  Arriving early to get hospitality off the table and on to the courtyard for a reception for the new minister and wife.  Then...7:30 handbell practice...8 am choir practice for a double quartet thing, then handbells played for prelude, then sing in the choir, then play offertory and then I was out of there and on to hospitality to see the miracle my dear little crew pulled off.  Time in the courtyard went well, took Joe home...then back to do all over again what we just did.  Woo...I'm feeling a sleep coming on real soon. 

Andrew and Noah sang in church this morning.  Andrew had a solo.  Fun little group of kids with Mark directing.  Sem was back in town and to church.  We'll be packing this week.  Then she is off to a conference and back in town for two days next week and then it's Kenya time. 

Woo...Great, great news

Pacers won again in a BLOWOUT.  Let's hope the same goes for the next game. 
Dee is back in town.  Hopefully we will be meeting Kristen for lunch and then Dee will be on his way to the southlands mid afternoon. 

Weather cold at night...very pleasant during the day.  Putting together flower arrangements for church today.  That's lots of fun but I wish sometimes church was closer to our house.  It's a time on the road thing. 

Busy Sunday coming up.  I'm ready to eat out after what's happening Sun. morning with bells, choir singing and reception for new preacher for first service and second as well.  All would be better if Joe were not involved.  He's a stir pot addition that needs humoring and was not asked to help from me.  Good thing I know about him early.  So...it's chill out for me time.  I can do that.  We'll carry on. 

GREAT NEWS...

PACERS WON!  PACERS WON!  Next game Thursday at 7.  Fingers crossed.

Tuesday Evening

Pacers are playing and making me nervous so I think the game will be over by the time I finish this.  It's Miami with one win and maybe two.   Hope not.  Jim has been here and back once again to Va.  Nice visit with MY brother.  Dee was here and will be coming back again on Thursday for about 24 hrs.   Nice brother-in-law.  Flower and veg. gardens are coming along although they would be doing better if we had warmer nights.  The nights in the low 50's just don't make anything growing grow.  I'm having way to many sick friends.  Kathy O had a pacemaker put in this morning.  She has been one sick lady but should be out of the woods or hospital maybe Thursday.  Ellen continues with chemo, Allen continues with who knows what at this point.  I'm grateful for being healthy.  Ears continue to hear better than ever with aids...Doug went to the hearing lady this afternoon with me and now he is wearing tester aids as I did.  We are two old duffers that just don't hear very well although he is hearing better than I.  Surprise, surprise.  Tomorrow I'm working at church on the front desk and bells tomorrow night.  Last time before fall.  Love having my Wed. evenings at home.  That's about it for now.  One minute to go and one point ahead.  To close to call. 

8 days later

Spring weather is moving right along.  Some hot days...some cool days.  The flowerbeds are looking good with a whole bunch of Lantana plantings.  It's such a tough flower that does well in hot dry days.  It's found in the south and also in Kenya among other places.  So...it's in the flowerbeds.  Lots of different strong colors that are favorites to humming birds and butterflies.  So...it's a good one for no care from me.  Lots of dill  and parsley which is also necessary for butterflies who lay eggs on those two plants.  Another trip to Rosies this morning for a few more veg. garden things.  Big rain yesterday so the ground needs to dry for a bit before more planing.  Interesting weekend one thing resulted in being given 4 tickets to Faust.  What an opera.  I just can't get the story plot out of my mind and ofcourse the singing was wonderful, wonderful.  Went with sister MK, Mary B, Joe W.  Doug wanted to stay home.  His loss of a wonderful musical event.  It's just not worth an allergic reaction to inside environmental issues.  Learned that brother Jim will be coming this week along with a stop in from Doug's brother Dee on his way to a conference in Michigan.  It's brother week for sure. 

Went shopping with SEM this past week.  More toys for sick Kenyan children are being packed in trunks.  And then Friday I sent her on her way to see daughters in Ohio and N. Carolina.  She is one busy lady.  Yesterday I spent the day cleaning and pitching.  It's wonderful when the spirit says pitch.  It comes along from time to time and I do enjoy being in the decision making mode feeling productive. 

Sewing continues with felted wool.  Birds are fun and toadstools are fun things that occupy the mind.  And it's so much fun shopping at Last Chance Goodwill for cheap wool sweaters.  I say Last Chance because it's the last chance to pick up Goodwill items before they are shipped overseas.  It's stuff by the pound.  Woo. woo.  Cheap! 

Last evening I went to a Kenya Carnival meeting.  Connected with lots of friends and heard about K Carnival plans, sang Kenyan songs, played Kenyan instruments and ate Kenyan food.  This event organized by highschool students from many different religions including Muslims, Jews and Christians is most impressive.  Last year $35,000 for students in western Kenya provided HS tuitions for 125 students, school lunches for 20 elementary schools along with other items such as uniforms, lamp oil for studying at night in homes and more.  Woo, woo.  It's always a energy filled evening.