Full House.

Yup...that's right.  Full house with lots of fun stuff all the time.  3/13 card game...watching grand kids and talking a bunch.  Projects...We had those as well.  The biggie...new hinges on all the kitchen cabinets.  Woo...JB and Kimmy and Eric and I...the kitchen couldn't hold any more people, working in every corner of the room.  Eric and I took all of the kitchen cabinet handles off and then on again. and I scrubbed them clean and shinny.  Washed the doors and used furniture polish on all.   Kimmy and JB worked on hinges even making spacers that the hinges needed.  Woo...those cabinets spring shut again and all look as  new as they are.  That was a Sat. job.  New toilet seats!!!  and more projects planned for the summer.  Hoping for some floating shelves and new door knobs all over the house.  Church Sunday again and then lunch at Frazoli's.  That's always a hit.  Seems that the Mich. restaurant closed so it a must do here.  Kids left at 1:30.  This morning I went through cabinets in the kitchen filling two huge garbage bags with stuff I haven't used for years and are in the recycle bin at neighbor Judy's house...Our bin is full.  I can find things in the cupboards again.  The excess is gone. Then it was on to the sewing room with tubs gone through and more throw out!  Need to stop until the garbage truck comes Thursday.  Have some troublesome looking sores on my back along with an ache that is receiving heat from my rice bags.  Doesn't feel so good.  Doc. appointment Fri. 7:40 am!
Watching an afternoon Pacer's game.  I'm out of energy so it's a take it easy day.  I'll be in bed early...Happy New Year to all of you folks.   

Thank goodness.

Lots to be thankful for!  Church was stunning Xmas Eve.  5 pm...the children sang Silent night in German while lighting their candles.  So touching.  Andrew did a wonderful job with his part in the Xmas play written by church member  Denise Caraher.  She does this every year.  This year it was about angels and being aware that angels can be all around us and we should treat each other as such.  Andrew was Gabriel The church was full to the balcony.  7 pm...communion service and I pinched hit for someone not there serving communion.  Not so many folks.  10:30...music, music, music.  So much to sing and so beautiful.  Once again more people than 7 but the 5 pm service seems to be the most popular, planned and expedited by the youth/children of the church. 

We did a new visual thing in adding candles to the altar area with more being added each service until the last one with probably 75 candles lit across the front of the sanctuary.  Really magical and stunning were comments.   Humm...wonder if we'll do this next year!  It was work!   We were in bed by 2:am.  Woo..Christmas day was a dud day trying to regenerate ourselves.  So happy to sit and not think!! ! Sorry family...it was my day alone.  We had supper with Kat and Eric and Kat's mother and brother as well.  Thankful for that for sure.  Today...better, better.  I'm alive again!  Did some grocery shopping...ran the sweeper and finished filling the stockings. 

Tomorrow is soup kitchen in the morning.  Kids are coming to stay with Doug and then hope to see the Michigan family sometime in the evening.  Fri. and Sat. will be with FAMILY!  I have some cooking done already!  I just love to sit and watch everything happening.   Hard to wait for the excitement. 

Better.

On the up swing.  Head a little thick but today, Sunday went well.  And...No big flubs at church.  Friday I took the new candles to church and got the space ready for Sunday.  I mentioned that the candles went into the freezer to promote release.  It worked.  I'm not happy with the color of one but I probably am the only one who fussed about it.  In the process of retrieving the candle from the freezer, one slipped out of my hands and landed on my foot.  OUCH. 10 pounds!!!  I was afraid I broke a bone but the only evidence now is that my foot had a very dark tone to it. Tennis shoes were the shoe of the day.  I would say it only adds to the advent candle adventure that has occurred over the last 20 or so years.  After church today the children rehearsed for the 5 pm service tomorrow evening and Ray H. and I prepared the sanctuary for that first service with lots and lots of candles.  Tomorrow evening will be busy with something to do in all three services.  I told Doug there is no place for dementia to settle in my head.  It stays way to busy with demands.  Took my usual nap this afternoon.  Watch the colts win.  Woo, woo.  Did some gift wrapping which is finished now with the exception of the stockings.  I'm in great shape.  We'll celebrate next weekend. 

Candle pour

Purple candles...One out of the mold...two are in the freezer.  They don't want to move from the mold.  Putting them in a cold place has helped in the past.  Woo...And...what else happened?  I have the biggest head cold and infection.  Slept about 1 1/2 hr last night.  Not pleasant and today...still hard to breath.  I lost all the immunity that I grew when working at school living with all second grade germs.  I think last Sunday I burned the candle at both ends with arriving at church at 7 am and not leaving till 7 pm. Helped with three big events.  Skipping choir tonight.  That's the first skipped rehearsal that I can ever remember.  No gain in listening and spreading the cold.  So...today..it was sit...sleep...sit...and pour candles.  That's enough.  I might be able to be in bed tonight but the chair wasn't half bad.  Watched lots of reruns.  Tomorrow the kids come.  I need to go to the grocery for a few things.  It's soup from a can tonight!!! 

Not relaxed.

Woo...that didn't last very long.  And accident at church left me with the job of pouring 3 10 lb. advent candle.  Seems the preacher brushed the candles and they took a fall.  So...Big job coming.  This morning I bought 30 pounds of wax, candle release, votives to go into the top of the candles,  2 2ft. pvc pipes for molds and ordered the purple dye color on line which should be here Wed.  So...with a little bit of luck church will have three new purple candles to go with the pink one that wasn't broken.  I hope to pour 2 on wed.  and the third on Fri.  So...Sunday we'll be back in business.  We do have a set of blue candles but purple would be better for this year.  Not the first time this happened but it has been at least 10 years.  So...life happens. 

Relaxed.

A new thing this year.  I think all the shopping is finished and the gifts are wrapped.  Well...the wrap means that I made cloth bags this year out of all the xmas fabric I had given to me.  That means that wrapping paper purchases for this house is over.  And...I feel like I don't have a thing that is pushing me on to another job.  Woo...what a gift.  Speaking of gifts...Our choir singing is such a gift to me. Hard to explain but such great memories of Xmas and times past when I hear the music.  Weather remains warm.  Cookies are not baked...Who cares!  This afternoon is the memorial service of a great North Church member...Karen Kay Leonard.  What a woman who had declining health for so many hears of her life.  Jack and K K. kids grew up with our kids.  Karen taught us how to live.  Great memories will be honored today.  Tomorrow the men are singing in church.  And then the bigger push for great music at our 10:30 Xmas eve service.  I will be one busy lady arriving at church at 4:45 to see Andrew and Noah participating in the 5 pm service...At 7:30 I have communion duties and then the midnight service.  I think we missed one year when Doug was sick...So that means 50 mid night services at North.  Just can't miss. Xmas day..We're just hanging out with good memories of a whole bunch of things. 

Knitting and sitting.

What fun...This morning I went to Meijers and bought a few groceries and then some how a bit of yarn got in the basket.  Not much but just a little.  Boys came today and I decided to CLEAN!  Woo...Must be feeling better.  So...Living room and dining room are dusted, swept and mess is gone.  Noah did a wonderful job on the stairs and took care of a lot of spiderwebs.  He told me he sees at least one spider every time he comes.  I can't say he is wrong.   I got out the Santa figures...So many different ones.  Found the plastic ribbon and decorated the mailboxes.  All the stockings are hung.  I might even bake come cookies next week.  And then...maybe not.  Watched the funeral for GHWBush Wed.  And tonight...Government stuff.  Where is this going to go?  I thought this was a Nixon thing when it started.  We'll see.  My schedule has been pretty quiet this week.  I'm lovin' feeding the birds...drinking coffee,.. knitting...and then doing it all over again.  STill playing a lot of 3 13 after supper.  I'm winning.  Scores are crazy. 

I made it!!!!!

Yes...the Forum sale is over...Not such a bad experience after all the work putting it together was finished.  And I lived through the last 17 days of a whirl wind of activities.   I am looking forward to a better week of not doing much of anything.  Home all day today.  Tonight a little Umoja meeting about the dinner on Nov. 17th where we had raising about $20,000 for the children's program in western Kenya.  All good work for a great cause  Last night spent a couple of hours at the 2018 Advent Festival at church.  Great food and great company.  Tomorrow...NOTHING on the calendar.  What a gift.  I'm trying to finish decorating here at home.  Seems sort of strange to do it so early in Dec.  Thanksgiving was early so all is moved forward a bit.  No tree...No room!!!  But enough stuff is out to make the house look different.  Got to find the manger stuff.  And the house could use a dusting.  Should have done that before getting out the Christmas stuff.  Lights to put up outside yet.  And then I'm calling it finished...done...completed!!!   So...time to knit and sit!!!! 

Nov. 28.

Wonderful day of work at church yesterday.  All is ready for the hanging on Thurs.  Sounds bad but it's really good.  My friends will be on the ladders!  Yahoo.  I know better although I still think I could climb.  Andrew, Noah and Kat came yesterday to church to work with me for a few hours.  What fun and such good help.  Nativities are everywhere on the window ledges in the chapel.  It's always a lot of fun getting that all together.  Angels are in the east hall and of course in the sanctuary.  So one good day of work getting ready will make Thurs. a breeze.  Today the Mamlins head back to Kenya.  I've unloaded the back seats in the van.  We need lots of room for trunks.  I think there will be either 8 or 9 at this point.  So happy we can do this for them.  And it's one last visit with SEM on the way to the airport...Doug rides with Joe in the SUV they rent for the month.  Thursday the crew is coming at 10 that will allow me to prepare food for the soup kitchen until I move to the decorating work.  Choir Thurs. eve. Fri. morning another visit to the dentist...then kids...then get ready for the Forum sale. Next week NO pressure! 

November 26th.

Home again after a long car trip starting at 4:30 am at the Georgia monastery east of Atlanta and ending at home  at 2:30 pm!  One stop for gas.  I got in the car and stayed there the whole trip.  Woo...Atlanta was a breeze at that hour...Nashville was not so much...but at all times the traffic kept moving.  Unloaded the car and at 5 pm...all back where things should be.  Not movin' very fast at this point.  Just soaking in all the going on that happen during the long weekend.  Now the busy keeps on being busy starting tomorrow.  Off to church to begin the Advent decorating projects.  It's all in the preparation since the big guns are coming on Thurs. to finish the work.  Lots of stuff to pull out and hang and it all should be quite stunning.. We'll be taking the Mamlin's to the airport for their trip back to Kenya on Wed.  This time should be one of the last times.  They are moving back to Indy in March.  But have promised to return to Kenya for a long visit in 2020.  Trunks are packed.  Thurs. will be soup kitchen...Friday...the kids come and then at 4 it's off to the Forum to get ready for a Christmas sale day Fri. evening and all day Sat.  My teeth continue to look their best although there still is a bit of soreness in my mouth from time to time.  Black and blue chin continues.  Grr. I'm determined to not repeat the events of the past week.  Once in a lifetime is one to many. 

Monday evening.

My goodness...Lots of stuff is happening.  The Umoja dinner was wonderful.  200 people...20 huge tables...great food and lots of money raised for the children of western Kenya.  The place looked stunning with great table decorations.  Woo...lots of work for a great cause.  I've slowly been collecting stuff for our Georgia trip.  Tomorrow morning is the exit hour from Carmel.  So...car needs to get packed.  Clothes are in the suit case.  And we hope to be on the road by 10.  Today was a very eventful day.  Way to eventful.  First thing...couldn't find my phone.  Eric called it and found it in the closet in a pr. of pants.  Then I  lost the coffee cup in the dark bedroom.  That happens often and then while getting the suitcase from the garage...I did a horrible face plant on the cement.  Twisted an ankle.  Woo...that was horrible.  And resulted in two chipped front teeth.  But...I now call my dentist Jesus the miracle worker.  He fixed both of them and one would never know they had been chipped.  I am blessed.  I was a basket case.  But...also another thing about the face plant...I have a lip that is still leaking after 8 hrs.  What a heck of a day!  Just was a little shaken by all of that.   It's been a three fall time this month.  Must be getting a little off center.  Then there was an afternoon visit with my regular doc.  That had been scheduled for 9 months and I got a tetanus shot that was recommended by my dentist.  I had Doug drive me everywhere!!!   So the rest of the day has been pretty tame.  Thank goodness.  Being slow is not a bad thing.  So tomorrow morning we'll pack the car and be on a two day trip to Conyers, Georgia to be with family arriving back in Indy next Monday.  Book reading and knitting will keep me busy in the car.  Maybe a nap will be worked in as well. 

Tuesday...

It's been a while.  And I've been here all the time.  We're continuing to get ready for winter.  Leaves need to be raked or mulched.  Noah and I had a blast with leaves last Fri.  Woo...it was a dirty blast but we did have lots of fun.  More leaves need to get to the garden.  We were to have snow over night but that didn't happen.  It's just a bit cooler.  I'm doing lots of sewing and getting ready for another sale in Dec.  And Advent is just around the corner.  I have the church youth group help with getting a bunch of stuff from the attic storage to the first floor storage area that we will use in decorating the sanctuary,  chapel and west entrance the last week of Nov.  And I also decided on the menu and grocery shopping lists for Georgia Thanksgiving weekend.  Woo...those are two big jobs that I don't need to do a ton of thinking about for at least a while.  Tomorrow is a dentist visit as well as lunch with my teacher friends.  Thursday Soup Kitchen and hair cut and choir and Friday...the kidos.  Sat. another trip to church getting ready for the Umoja Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday.  I'm doing the table decorating for that event.  And then Mon.  check up with the doctor and then getting everything together for the trip to Georgia on Wed.  Woo...Sometimes I feel like I'm coming and going at the same time.  I guess it's a good thing to keep my brain working.  I'm back at the Y again.  I have had some hip pain issues but I think they are on the mend.  That's a very good thing.  So...NOW...I need to keep my eyes on the calendar and try to stay on track. 

Fall

I think it's gone before it ever started.  I'm thinking fall.  Woo...lots of rain, cold breezes and the birds might be eating us out of the house.  They need all the energy they can get.  Bread and Bowl today.  The crowd was small.  So, lots of left over food to throw away.  Rain and the first of the month just doesn't bring folks to eat.  Stopped in to see friend Cythia Dickerson after B and B today.  Had lunch this week with my teacher friends.  Tonight is choir.  Treated just a few Holloween friends.  It was a slim to nothing group of gremlins.  Our neighborhood is aging and a lot of families do Trunk or Treat.  That's about it for now. 

Better.

Slow and easy gets the job done.  No voice last Sun.  Today...finance drive today and I sang a whole bunch.  Woo...surprise.  Yesterday singing not so good.  Today...something came out!  So...slowly getting on the good side of living.  I've been doing a little sewing.  Church friends Sarah Ellen and Joe Mamlin are back in Indy from Kenya.  Joe announced his retirement from the Ampath HIV Aids project...Humm...I think he's 85...guess it's time.  Soooooo....they will be moving back to the states in March.  Woo...never thought that would happen.  I am so excited to have Sarah Ellen around although the Kenya folks will miss them terribly.   They have lived in Kenya for almost 19 years.  So...that's about it.  Outside getting colder and I could do a little more outside cleaning up.  But then again....maybe not. 

Cough.

I have a terrible cough.  Woke up at 3:30 this morning.  No more sleep in bed that is.  This is getting old and seems to happen every fall now.  This started last Friday.  My immunization from teaching sick kids is GONE!  What a bummer.  Sugarless cough drops are the favored meds but they don't work very well.  So...I'm sort of on the slow side at times.  This came from DOUG!!!   Yesterday Ray and Patty and I worked on Advent/Christmas wreaths for church.  Done!!! They are beautiful.  Patty has the vision.  It seems if those are out of the way I'm a little more relaxed about church decorating.  Put up dates...week after Georgia.  Woo...4 Sun. in Advent, the first Sunday a full week after Thanksgiving...that's a blessing for me.  So now...for the rest of the stuff to decide on.  An interesting problem today...The word Brown 10:30 is on the calendar and I don't have a clue what that could be...In my handwriting.  I thought dentist but that appointment is in the correct place for Nov.  Crazy how I get in these fixes.  Not much on the calendar and I am thankful for that...I can cough to myself and wonder about the 10:30 event I can't remember.   Where am I suppose to be at 10:30.  I won't be there.  Thurs. Mamlins will be back in the states for 5 weeks. 

Sat. again.

Sat. comes around way to quickly.  But it's here.  Today is EXTREMELY windy.  Woo...sort of scary.  Leaves and sticks are everywhere. It was better to stay in the house for this day.  We need to get the patio umbrella in the garage.  That's about the last job for the fall.  I planted bulbs yesterday.  Love to have something new to look for in the spring.  I've been sewing again.  I made two denim bags for Thomas Schilling.  They are plain, plain.  His choice.  I put denim pant pockets in the inside.  No unusual trim...No colored thread...Just plain.  Kids were here yesterday...Nothing much new has happened...Oh, yes...bought a new scissors...Money, money!!!.  Can't find my two best ones that I received as gifts so the last one I bought was probably 20 years ago.  But I do with I could find the lost ones.  Where could they be!.  I have a huge sewing project after Thanksgiving...So...I'm getting ready.  It's sewing for the Monks.  I'm not quite sure how much but it has been said to be big.  Church tomorrow. 

More stuff.

Well, the rest of the week was interesting.  Bread and Bowl on Thurs.  Kids on Fri.  The big thing Fri was emptying the outdoor fish pond.  Woo...those grandsons really got in to it and it was DIRTY.  And we had lots of guppies and 2 nice gold fish in a tank in the kitchen.  But...sad to say...they all went to fish heaven.  They probably had way to much excitement in their lives getting caught.  What a hoot.  Now the sad part is telling Noah.  Sat. I participated in a craft fair at church sponsored by the ladies of the church.  But...not much activity during the sale although I did sell a few things.  I sold three adult bibs for nursing home folks.  In December I'm in an other sale at the Forum...a retirement home so today I made a couple of ladies bibs and got just a bit of Christmas fabric out to work on this week.  And...there is NOTHING on the calendar.  Woo. woo.  So...the days are mine to do with what I want and when I want.  Funny how excited I get when that happens. 

Wed.

Body of an 80 year old does not like to do a whole morning of garden work.  Woo...Oh, to be 60!  Yesterday I filled 3 blue garbage cans with garden throw out stuff.  The garden is beginning to look like it's GETTING ready for Winter.  Not quite done yet but looking better than Monday.  I love my summer garden.  Just want to keep up with the uck fall stuff as well. I think there have been at least 2 and sometimes 3 cans at the street for at least the last 4 weeks.  Maybe longer.   Sweeper parts came yesterday and I was really happy to wheel my OLD HOOVER to the recycling can.  Lots of plastic in that machine.  Bissell proved to suck up a bunch of stuff.  Grocery shopping today.  Tomorrow should be cooler.  Looking forward to that...And pray for the hurricane area of our country. 

Difficult

I'm really struggling with the Rep. party now.  Usually vote a split ticket but thinking other wise.  Where is the wrong with a woman telling the truth and a beer drinking kid out of control resulting in an adult out of control who has no space for any opinion but his own.  Is that a new definition of the Republican party?  This week's calendar is pretty clear.  I will be getting ready for a Christmas Sale at church on Sat.  It's honey, pottery, slippers, bibs and more.  So...hope to keep busy with good thoughts. 

Busy, busy. Kimmy Luck.

Yesterday, once again..off to church at 7 with lots of pastries.  Fixed plates, visited with folks and then on to choir practice and second service church.  After that it was time to prepare for another Taize service at 5 .  So...candles, candles and more.  That took about an hr. so off to home at 1, listening to the Colts.  They were good, then they were very bad then they were very, very good and then they lost the game.  I went to a friends home to get some really, really unusual dried flowers that we will use in wreaths at Advent/Christmas time.  Wooo...they are really beautiful.  Then went to the last 15  minutes of Taize.  It was amazingly stunning with lots of music...silence...scripture and the sanctuary was loaded with candles.  Never so so many in one place. So...helped to clean up some and today back to church to finish and put out some new things and also got ready for World Wide Communion Sunday.  Woo..busy, busy...And now the best thing yet.  Left to go to church passing a neighbor who had put a Bissell sweeper at the road with a free sign but also noted that the sweeper needed a belt and new brush.  So ordered that on line for 30 dollars and I have a great Bissell sweeper.  I had some really good Kimmy luck today.  Doug will be so happy when he hears the sound.  He usually leaves the house when I'm using my Hoover that Eric gave me at least 25 or more years ago.  Doesn't bother me but Woo...Doug hates that sweeper.  Went to S and S for supper meeting our friends Jay and Audrey there.  That happens about once every 6 months.  Football tonight.  And the government just rolls along. 

TV...

Way to much tv watching this week.  So depressing.  So...broke out the sewing machine this week.  Should have done that sooner.  We are having an Umoja dinner...money maker coming in Nov.  The money provides tuition for high school Kenya student.  So...made 4 African animal baby bibs...2 pillows and an African wall hanging.  Such fun on my Doris sewing machine.  It's a gem and makes me look really, really good.  Cooler weather...Wool blanket on the bed but it could be in the low 80's next week.  Continue to clean up flowerbeds filling 2 or 3 garbage bins each week with stuff.  Still have a few zinnia's for the butterflies but I think the monarchs might be gone.  I've been saving flower seeds and today got those into envelops...Now...I need to remember where I store those for the winter.  Come on spring...I'm ready.  Church tomorrow. 

Time flies.

I wish I knew where it went.  I'd do a gotcha.  Not much going on.  We did have a very long choir retreat Sat.  Sang and sang from 9 to 2:30.  LOts of music.  Watch a little football yesterday.  Yeah for New England.  They LOST!!!!  Poor Brady.  No one wants to play with him.  Today is cloudy.  No sun around and just a little rain.  Hoping for more rain tomorrow.  Great napping weather and soup for Supper.  Tried to jazz up a can of soup.  Bum experience.  Need to make my own soon.  Football tonight in America. 

Tues afternoon.

Where is fall.  If you know...let me know.  Still 90 degrees this afternoon so it's another time to sleep.  Went to the Y then to church to work for a while on Visual things and checked Tues. B and B and then to JoAnn's to get some fleece for the first of at least 3 Xmas gift things.  Maybe 5 come to think of it.  Grandsons...you know.  Tomorrow lunch with my old teacher friends.  Come to think of it.   I'm the oldest of us 4.  Taught together first grade a long time ago.  Great friends.  That's it for the day.  Fans are running.  I'm sewing. 

Saturday.

Same old same old.  Playing in the dirt.  Another day of moving a few plants to new places.  That was the morning's work and then this afternoon...Watched a lot of TV with my eyes shut.  Woo...sleepy afternoon for sure.  I dug out hostas which were planted at least 35 years ago.  Woo...that's a long time ago.  So...ready for a new look.  Did a bit of watering as well.  That's about it for the day.  Slowing down one might say.  Tomorrow church...and I'll be sleeping in the afternoon.  Busy, busy Sunday morning. 

9/!!

Some memories don't go away.  Like where I was when this all happened...Church Youth Rm. watching TV with the church staff not wanting to think that what I was seeing was true.  Not such a hot memory.  So...today I didn't watch much TV.  Played outside which was just so much fun.  That is playing in the dirt.  Continue to move sun plants into the new spaces.  Planted 9 Alium bulbs...swamp milkweed and more.  I think the spaces are well served with plants from other places in the garden and there will be space for annuals.  Last evening went to a wonderful Monarch talk at a Master Gardener meeting with neighbor Judy.  It was just the best with speaker Kylee Baumle from Ohio.  Her book is on Amazon   The Monarch: Survival of a Species.  It's the best that I have found and follows her lecture to the letter.  So my interest continues.  This afternoon I harvested a slew of seeds to plant next summer.  Sad to think that will not happen for a few months.  And once again...filled a garbage can with stuff that needs to go from the flower beds.  Starting the fall clean up.  Tomatoes continue although there was a deer that visited the garden last night.  Some stuff has been smashed.  There is no place for a deer in my garden.    But...guess they were here before us.  It's been a great play day.  New washer and dryer are working well after arriving today.  Our 3rd set in 51 years.  We unpluged the sink this afternoon and Doug put our new licence plate on the car and got his monthly iron shot.   Lots to do.  Tomorrow I'm meeting with teacher friends for lunch.  We taught 1st grade together about 35 years ago.  Great fun memories when we were younger.  Now that's not the case.  We're older.  NOT OLD!!!! 

Rain

Wonderful rain today and tonight the heat has been turned off.  More rain tomorrow...Maybe!  Working outside continues.  Moved more plants yesterday and maybe a few more tomorrow if the weather permits.  Great choir practice tonight which started with a great meal together.  Back in the swing of Thurs. eve. rehearsals.  Tomorrow the kids come which always makes an interesting day. 

Summer is not over.

The calendar says Sept. but it must be Aug.  Hot. Hot.  Still working in the garden and Monday I moved a lot of what was shade and now sun to the north side of the house in shade.  Which meant...GET RID OF MORE IVY !.  This is getting old.  But I cut ferns...dug ferns and moved hostas and more.  I was totally bushed and today I just sat a whole bunch.  And...the hot weather continues.  The humidity must be 110 %.  In fact...We ate supper on the patio and less that 40 feet in the neighbors yard it was raining a ton and we continued to eat on the patio where it was hot and dry.  Funny how that works.  So...the north side of the house is finished and full of plants.  And I continue to think and plan what needs to be moved into the sun garden part of the back yard.  Tomorrow the choir is singing at a memorial service for Sophia...the mother of one of our choir members.  Thurs.  Bread and Bowl and life goes on. 

3/13

Humm...3/13  Doug is getting skunked big time...Really big time.  I should stack the deck for him.  I told him he needed help from Jacob.  Now there's a great player for sure.  Summer continues.  We're back to Indiana weather.  Hot and sticky.  Delivered lots of ferns to a friend yesterday which got me in the mood of thinking what Hostas needed to go.  I'm ready, Freddy.  Did some moving of Black Eyed Susans to the sunny places.  Harvested zinnia seeds.  We had a great but hard rain last week which really flattened things and made lots of zinnia plants fall over.  Some I pushed back and some hit the trash can.  Woo...woes of summer storms.  Had a doc check up Monday.  All is well although it means another doc appointment today.  Also visiting a friend on the west side of Indy to see her garden and she is giving shoes away!  That's the best way to shoe shop.  Tomorrow B and Bowl.  And I'm supervising a Saturday B and Bowl since the group that usually works on Sat. can't this month. 
Our outreach minister volunteered me!!!!!   Happy to do it. 

Butterflies.

Count...I think 11 Monarchs are flying somewhere.  Bought another Swamp Milkweed plant and it came with 2 more caterpillars.  They are very longMonarch caterpillars.  5 Swallow tails are waiting to become swallowtails.  I found 12 more Swallowtail caterpillars on the dill.  Must be a good butterfly summer.  Going slow on replanting.  Don't want to move things more than once.  Today I worked on the front of the house and took out plants that haven't done well since they were planted at least 25  years ago.  I think I gave them a good chance to look good.  So...they are gone. Just a small bit of ivy in the front.  Dug out and pitched a bad looking hosta.  There are a few more to go.  The weather has been great.  It's not a typical Aug weather.  Feels like UP of Michigan.  We've been eating on the patio every evening and then it's Three Thirteen card time.  Yesterday and today I got skunked!  Tomorrow is Bread and Bowl and a committee meeting at  5 pm.  Two trips to church! Wish it was one. Then it's time to move plants that were planted this spring where the shade was...Shade is gone and they get a new home in the shade. 

The next Sat.

Weather continues to be wonderful with the garden just being a magnificent place to find LOTS of butterflies, hummingbirds, nuthatches, and beautiful flowers of every color.  Yes...the ivy is out as of today.  All the ivy that needs to go.  I think at least 60 fern plants left our garden for someone else's garden and I could give away even more.  They were hiding under the ivy.  Woo...Now...a few hostas need to go.  We had a wonderful two days of rain so the last ivy pull wasn't as hard as the first.  Now the fun begins with the brain trying to figure out what is going in the ground.  Tues...invited some good friends to enjoy the garden.  What a hoot of a time.  I love my friends.  Some I've known for 50 years. Thurs. was soup kitchen with lot of great friends who live in the church area.  The guys are so polite.  I love soup kitchen time.  Two showers today...I was a very dirty lady with unknown dirt even on my face.  Working under bushes can be a very dirty place.  Tomatoes are coming on strong as well as peppers.  5  more caterpillars are hibernating.  And more caterpillars are on the dill.  Woo...this is a great butterfly summer.  There are such good butterfly videos  on UTube. 
Tomorrow is church with Friendship time resuming.  And now...it's time to sit for a bit. 

Back Home Again in Indiana.

Butterfly report.  11 Monarchs have been released with more to come.  I see at least 3 flying in the garden almost every day...The rest...off to please someone else.  Yes...Home again after a wonderful two weeks again in the UP of Mich with Jared/family and friends we have made over the years coming from Detroit as well as other places.  It was read/knit/sleep/walk/eat/talking and then do it all over again.  Rain came on two occasions which we really enjoy.  Enjoy rain while camping?  Yes.  The sound of the tent roof makes sleeping so easy.  It's a blessing to have equipment that allows us to stay dry.  The unbelievable sight when pulling into our driveway was really something to experience.  There was rain here at the right time and the garden just could not be more colorful and stunning.  That includes five different kinds of butterflies...gold finches...nuthatches...humming birds and an occasional hawk singing.  Singing?  sounds more like music with no notes.  Ir's been snipping and raking and laying more Superior beach rocks around our little fish pond.  The rock supply lake is staying strong. 
One big project now is doing some changes to what was a shade garden to now being a sun garden since we lost part of a tree a month ago.  That involves mostly moving Ostrich Ferns and dinging up a ton of ivy.  Ugh!  Ivy...don't like it a bit.  But...little by little this week...most of the ivy is gone.  It's just hard work pulling and clipping.  I've advertise in our church newsletter...Free ferns.  Come and get them.  The plan right now is to do some filling with Black eyed Susan's.  Some hostas will need to find another home as well.  Maybe the garbage can would do.  So...that's life in Carmel, Indiana right now.  More butterflies to come.   

Friday Evening.

The week went very fast.  Camping things started to collect in the living room.  Food was packed...Clothes were packed.  Everything was ready and this afternoon we stuffed the van.  Well...there is plenty of room left.  So not so stuffed.  The van is huge with the middle seats taken out.  So...tomorrow it's on the road and we'll stop in Madison for the night.  Then on to C H. for TWO weeks of fun.  Taking two days makes the trip SO easy.  It's about two7 1/2 hr. days of driving.  And if we have any sense we'll do the same on the way back to Indy.  Car is full of gas!  Books/Knitting is my entertainment and  it's time to Go! 

Oh, yes butterfly report.  I'm expecting 7 Monarchs to appear by the end of the week.  My neighbor is taking care of them. 

Sun Evening.

What a great three days with the Michigan family.  Could not have been better.  They are always asking about projects and I had a list and it got even better than the list.  Fri late afternoon, the  at least 25  ft. pine tree half alive and half dead came down.  And we...meaning 5 folks other than JB pulled all the branches to the burn pile.  JB was the saw guy.  It was one hot birthday afternoon.  93 degrees.  A cold shower felt wonderful.   Doug burned on Sat.  Ceiling tile replaced...hose problem fixed...water tank pressurized...cushions added to the kitchen chair legs...a bathroom register was ground down and  sanded and repainted...Looks like new.  Woo...It was a busy weekend.  And...Now...I can forget about thinking about what needs to be fixed.  The list is very, very short and that's a good thing.  It still remains very hot.  Tomatoes are hanging on but not ripening.  Bummer.  We now can find 13 Monarch caterpillars on the swamp milkweed.  I have netting around the plants.  The leaves are really being chewed up.  Time to make butterflies which will probably happen when we are camping.  Tues. I'm spending the day at friend Sarah Ellen's house waiting for repair people.  It's something I can do for my Kenya friend.  I'll be reading for sure.  TV out...Air conditioner out...
Got to keep the Indy fires burning in their house. So...the big thing this weekend is finishing prep for camping.  Wed. probably will be the day. for that. 

Wed.

Three very good days to get things ready for the Michigan family.  Woo...that is called motivation.  And I needed that.  Cot came...House is ready...Bought groceries... I think the bases are covered. 
Tomorrow is soup kitchen morning.  And then the plan is to cook in the afternoon.  The weekend? 
Time to play.  Then...Next week...getting packed for Two weeks of camping at Copper Harbor.  Woo..that came fast.  Most of the food is ready.  We've been doing this so long it's just a piece of cake getting ready.  Especially when Doug packs his stuff...I pack my stuff and that's about it.  We take two days of driving stopping in Madison and then on to Copper Harbor on Sunday.  Time to see our Copper Harbor friends. 

Another Sunday. update.

The weather cracked.  Woo...cooler weather.  We even needed covers the last two nights.  What a switch.  Garden continues to do well with the hope that every zinnia will have a flower by the end of the week.  There are MANY zinnias.  The tomatoes plants are FULL of tomatoes getting ready to ripen.  Made pillows for the patio chairs.  Place mats finished.  Yesterday I made a dent in the fabric stashed in the sewing room.  I'm a bit tired of thinking...what should I do with this or that.  99%  is donated by someone else who didn't know what to do with it.  So...it was a great liberation day.  There is still way to much but some of the problem stuff has gone into the recycle bin.  Now onward to the next thing.  Expecting JB and family this coming weekend to pick up a camp kitchen we had made for us at least 40 years ago.  It's well made and I think it will fit the JB needs well.  My camping cot should be here on Tues.  I've chucked the air mattress.  Got tired of blowing it up every night and then having the darn thing pop on me.  So...back to a cot.  I'm ready.  Need to get some food in the refrigerator for the weekend.  I hate to cook when company comes, I'd rather play, so just pulling it out of the frig is my speed.  That's the update.

Movin right along.

Heat continues but we are doing just fine.  Back at the Y for the first time in 10 days.  Did 15 minutes of walking this morning and 20 minutes this afternoon.  Knees came through fine although I could tell I'd taken a break!  Did some tutoring at church this morning with the summer program.  It's run by terrific college kids and we come in to hear the kids read.  I think the rest of the week I'll be at home since they really are getting a great group of volunteers to listen to the kids.  Then on to the Reef to get a new plant for the fish pond...And then to Sullivan's Hardware...Bought a beautiful umbrella for the patio.  I'm thrilled.  It's burgundy.  And takes the place of the particle tree that came down this morning.  What a hole to fill.  I would prefer the tree but it was dying big time.  Spent a little time at the sewing machine to make burgundy place mats and a new burgundy chair cover.  Woo..the patio looks great.  Bought deer/rabbit off to spray.  It's mostly deer.  The rabbits did their thing early in the spring with pulling up sunflowers.  The deer are eating Hosta flowers...day lillys flowers and all my sunflowers and a nibble here and there.  I cut all the Hosta flowers off.  Can't do that to day lillys.
The peppers will get bloom buster fertilizer.  I'm looking for flowers.  Can't have peppers without flowers.  The tomatoes are off the chart with tomatoes hanging everywhere.  Yup...they are loving these hot nights.  Have had two little cherry tom. and a roma is getting ready.  Tomorrow I need to remember to get my drivers license renewed.  This is birthday month. 

It's stinkin hot!

Woo...does this bring on the ice water and sleep.  That's my day.

The next Wed.

Great fun in Michigan with the JB family.  They are such good entertainers.  Met Wyatt...what a cute dog.  Talked...picked up Jacob at band camp...went to church...walked the woods more than once and then headed back home Monday.  All of the plants found a wonderful home and we brought sensitive fern home with us.  One bad thing.  I forgot my c-pap machine at home and I really suffered.  Woo...three nights with horrible sleep and I was bushed for sure.  Slept and read the whole way home and was delighted to sleep again with my c-pap friend.  I think it will take a few days to feel "good" again. 

Wed. brought some difficulty with my knees.  A great surprise.  Called the knee surgeon Thurs and he's off till Sept.  Gr.  I am so hoping that the infection I had in my eye is not causing the knees to react.  Metal parts in both knees need to be protected.So...right now...4 ibuprofen  a day for two weeks and then we'll see.  It's a tad better but still have a long ways to go.  Ice packs are helping.  And the garden is taking care of itself.  Woo...this is slowing me down a bit.  Spending time on my tush on the weekend came at a good time.

I'm ready for better knees.  NO FUN. 

Blessed rain.

Things do get better.  Yes...yesterday a blessed rain and maybe that even happened during the night.  Woo...It's a blessing for sure.  Yard looks good.  2 more sleeps and we're off to see JB/family with a bunch of plants moving from Indiana to Michigan.  I even dug up some iris that the rain made possible to do.  Woo...can't remember when that was a possibility.  Still reading gardening books.  Needed to take one of the plants to Rosie's to remember the name.  So...today has been easy.  Off to the Y soon.  I've skipped a few days.  Got to get back on the drill.  The temp. is mild and wonderful.
Soup kitchen tomorrow along with farmer's market at church.   A long way to drive for good tomatoes but I might consider doing that. 

Wooo

It's way to hot!!!   Not fun but the tomatoes are lovin' it.  It's way to hot for humans!

Another week gone.

Hum...I hate how times flies!   Stop. 
Still have dirt under my fingernails..  Yup...no gloves for me.  I pulled out all the ground cover under a dying pine tree.  Took me two days and yesterday when finishing found a toad.  Very interesting to watch him or her...back into a depression and kick the dirt until the toad was covered completely.  Noah watched intently the whole procedure.  Now the last of two huge garbage cans ready for the truck Wed.  Hope at some point to have JB cut down the dying tree!  Plants continue to grow.  Zinnia's starting to bloom.  Tomatoes coming on.  Broccoli as well.  I say I'm finished transplanting and then...movin' again.  A couple of dry days coming and I think most everything will be fine.  I think the spring watering can slow down for a while.  We're looking for caterpillars with the hope of seeing them morph into something in the butterfly cage.  Hope to see JBFamily in another 6 sleeps.  Woo, woo.  . 

RAIN!!!RAIN!!!

Woo...what a gift.  What a gift.  The air has been washed and the plants are so happy and I'm even happier.  We had rain all morning and lots of it and there is a good chance more is coming.  So hang in there garden friends.  You will be just fine.  My butterfly weed seeds are germinating.  That's a miracle.  I had to keep them in the refrigerator for a few weeks and yesterday I began to see the first little plant pop out of the ground and now there are 12 babies.  Doug said," just in time for the bunnies and squirrels".  They are tiny and now I need to work on keeping them going.  If this works I'll be in HOG HEAVEN butterfly weed plant country.  Nothing like trying something new. And after a few weeks of waiting...I'm seeing my 4 o'clocks start to emerge.  They really passed up a lot of 4'o'clock hrs sitting in the ground.  So. I'm expecting to be able to know it's really 4 o'clock with no real trouble every day very soon.  Gardeners really practice waiting.
Today was church day.  Good friends...good sermon...good music and just good good. 
Not to much going on this week so it's book time...garden time...Y time...and what ever else time. 

From the dry land in Indiana.

We had another 2 minute rain two days ago.  Grr.  Garden keeps me going...I'm looking forward to not be so going.  Soup kitchen today.  Great group of guys.  The riff raff didn't come!  So...great visiting and a fun time.  I hate being the bouncer or something close.  I am determined to have a quiet friendly place for the community to feel safe while eating.  That's part of the situation.  This afternoon is North's first farmer's market for the summer.  Choir practice is no longer a thing on Thurs.  Woo. woo.  And all is well in most places.  Looking every day for butterfly eggs.  Woo...they are little.  Still love being outside in the garden and eating every supper on the patio with the humming birds coming around for a drink along with other birds.  I really think now that 99.9% of the transplanting is over.  Now grow...little plants.  And squirrels and bunnies.  You have pulled out enough plants.  If you only would eat what you pulled out I would be happier. 

The garden needs rain.

I'm beginning to poop out with the watering can.  Got to make this easier but thinking that the zennia's are on their way. So...less for them.  They are growing.  Borrowed what I thought was a ton of books from the library on flowers.gardens and more.  Very interesting and lots to learn.  Doug carried my bag and I carried three more huge books.  One is about the Williamsburg, Va. gardens.  Woo...it's great.  I dug out about 30 ferns yesterday and today.  They are everywhere and some are 4 ft. tall.  Way to big and covering up other stuff.  So...out they go.  I won't be missing them at all.  Today my body feels like it's been working.  Bummer.  So...it's book time.  Still hoping for rain.  Didn't get much from the storm in the south Wed.  The past two summers I didn't water at all.  Guess luck has run out. 

Corn costume.

Woo...it was well received and made it to the pulpit for an all church  Farmers Mkt. announcement.  Who would have thought!  Second treatment of the lawn and it's a disaster.  Guy killed a lot of grass doing hand treatment.  I'm a bit miffed.  But...all other things are just humming along.  More zinnia seeds are up. So far transplanted about 100 of those little guys.  Planted Caster beans...Not sure if the second time will work.  Beautiful leaves but of course the bean makes Rison.  Sweet peas, two so far are up.  Continue to water.  And Wed. we should have rain from the golf if we are lucky.  Doug bought more fish for the little pond this morning,  50 guppies and 4 golds.  Warm today.  I watered last night and this morning.  My eye seems to be a bit better.  Dr. L Russell thinks it's a bacterial infection.  It has not been nice at all.  But...I think it's better.  I'm trying to think pioneer lady when there were no doctors around.  But...lots of ice packs...That's not pioneer.  Not a nice thing to have on a holiday weekend.  Need to do about 2 hrs of church decorating this week at some point.  Not much else going on.  That's a good thing. 

Again and again.

Gardening continues...Butterfly garden now has two healthy swamp milkweed plants.  The old one of last year bit the dust.  I think it's the stuff the lawn guy uses.  Bummer..  Plain old common milkweed are bothered as well.  I think Noah's garden is pretty well finished.  So...now it's watch it grow.  The Monarch was back yesterday.  Hope it's sticking around for a while.  Rain is not coming so it's the watering can that gets the job done.  Could use the hose but then I need to wind it back up when finished.  That's not on my to do list of things. 

This morning back to church to take down all the red of Pentecost Sunday which was a blast and this Sun. is noted as Trinity Sunday.  Father Son and Holy Spirit.  So..it's a white Sun. with white trinity banners and more.  Such fun.  Then it's on to GREEN...Ordinary Time...lasting until Advent.  Woo...EASY. 

Latest Sewing Project!!!  A costume looking like an ear of corn!  Farmer Market at church starting the7th of June.  Now where do you fine an ear of corn costume?  Well...it's coming out of my head. 
Fun, fun...easier to make than try to inspire someone else.  So I said...just get me the fabric.  Found a perfect green hat at last chance Goodwill along with dupal blocks for Sarah Ellen.  Woo...hit the jackpot. 

Fun in the Garden...AGAIN!

It still continues.  Today the kids came and Andrew decided that the Herb garden was his.  Well...Noah has done a ton of work in that space.  Andrew is the TV guy and could care less about being outside but today was different.  He was quite interested asking lots of questions and remembering lots of answers.  Tasted a who bunch of herbs.  Noah was a bit miffed with good reason about the turn of events concerning Andrews new interests...brothers!!!...but now Noah is interested in developing and working in his very own Butterfly garden.  It's the next space to the south of the herb garden.  So...today we worked on that garden.  Marigold...lettuce...okra and a few more plants planted from seeds a few weeks ago are up.  We transplanted zinnia, marigold and spider plants...made a path to the tomato plants and lined the path with bricks and will continue to plant more flowers.  The butterflies seem to really like the zinnia.  And we found a great spot for his very own camping chair.  And I am so grateful...it's raining.  Rain was predicted for all week and not a drop until tonight.  Slow and gentle.  It's great.  We've done a bit of watering.  We might even have a few more days of rain if we're lucky.  Tomorrow is a long rehearsal at church getting ready for our Sunday services where we will be singing Hydn's Harmony Mass with orchestra.  Woo...really fun and beautiful.  Mon. Doug has an eye appointment and Tues...I'm schlepping my neighbor Judy to the doc.  Busy, busy but the best is working in the garden.  We had a pair of BLUE birds fly through the garden this afternoon.  The first I have ever seen in our yard.  I really got excited and the kids saw them as well.  Ooooo...Really BLUE!!!!

Tuesday.

Same old same old...STill having fun in the garden.  Yesterday I planted three tomato plants.  Still having some difficulty with plants that were touched by the lawn guy when he treated the lawn so today...another large black eyed susan plant hit the garbage can.  All the fine roots were gone so the poor thing couldn't grow.  But I have others that I moved to that spot so it's not so bad.  Infact I butchered a bunch of perfectly good B Eyed Susans just to get rid of them.  There were just way to many of them. 
And this morning I found bits and pieces of a rabbit.  Yeah!  I think the good old owl took him out during the night as he was eating the tops off the butterfly weed plant.  All that was left were bits of fur and it would appear the the owl just flew away with the bunny meal.  Not to sad although the bunny was cute! 
Most of the heavy work is done so there is time to sit and enjoy all growing things until the zinnia's get big enough to replant.  .  Oh, yes...stopped at the Reef...Rick...to get guppies and plants for the little pond.  Asked for 6...think I got nine fish.  Generous folks at the Reef. 

Bushed.

There are times when I have no sense.  Yes...times.  So...this afternoon I'm taking it easy.  It's sticky and rain is predicted for three days.  Woo...That's wonderful.  Most everything just needs to grow.  I did what I hope is the last of moving and filling in with plants where there was room for something.  And...I scrubbed the kitchen floor...cleaned out the frig...dusted the dining room...Woo...it was dirty.  When doors and windows are open the dust finds a place indoors. 

Called the Mi. kids today two times to check on how they were doing with new family member Wyatt.  Today was the day he crossed the boarder.  This little dog certainly has found a good home.  And...coming from Canada makes it a bit more interesting with rules and regulations that come with a dog crossing the boarder.  Hope he doesn't get deported for breaking rules.  Hope we can make a Mi trip around Memorial Day weekend.  Haven't thought much about that but could be a possibility. 

Outside again and again.

Yup...outside again.  House didn't get attention...Not sad!   Having fun.  Added more rocks to the rock garden around the little fish pond.  All the rocks come from the great lady Lake Superior.  Spent my gift certificate at Rosie's nursery..Hum...50 bucks.  I was putting plants on the cart and told Doug...I think this is close to 50.  Let's go check....Well...it was 49.35.  What a good laugh.  They are in the ground now and looking great.  Today I worked on the Herb garden.  Weeds were coming up so I really did some digging and scratching and used some Preen for weeds not to come!   I've also been working on pulling ivy and other vines.  Woo...that's a bad one for the back.  Filled another bin for the garbage truck.  That is so hard on my back but plants left in beds do look a bit happier. .  Morning glory/zinnia/basil/parsley/lettuce...all up and growing.  Nights are still cool.  Tomorrow soup kitchen/choir.  Today met the dentist at 8 am.  Had fun with the boys this morning.  This afternoon took some Lambs Ear plants to a good church friend who loves to garden and she gave me an unusual fern.  Hope I can keep it alive.  Stopped at a nursery on the way home.  Humm...funny how my driving trips take me past places to buy plants.  Onward and upward. 

I'm outside again.

Wonderful rain Thurs morning.  The ground has been perfect to work.  So...did more edging and transplanting and planting more seeds.  Today zinnia and marigold seed from last years flowers got in the ground.  Always fun to reuse and see how the magic is passed on to the next generation of flowers.  Shopped around for plants just looking and then this afternoon bought a few that should do well in full sun.  I think I have enough now...Well, maybe.  We planted caster beans this afternoon.  They have beautiful leaves and grow tall. But take two to three weeks to germinate.   First year for seeds.  Last year we bought plants at the blind school.  The kids to the planting and the prices are cheap!!!  There is quite a variety of really interesting plants.  Last year I bought tobacco plants.  Interesting.  Now I need to pay attention to cleaning the house.  How boring.  The health department may be on the way.  Tomorrow church and we are having a plant exchange.  I'm taking three so I can bring at least three home.  Got a Jack in the Pulpit last year.  Who knows what will appear. 

OH...yes...another beautiful day.

All the flowerbeds have been touched.  I counted...more than 10.  Herb.Shade.Sun. Perennials to move and then move again.  I set up the little 15  gal. pound Monday.  Still to early for tropical fish...says Doug and the Reef!  I'm ready for guppies.  All of the plants/herbs/flowers that I've bought so far are in the ground.  Today I did more edging.  But...good grief.  I'm not 19 any more.  What's happened. 

Today the worst.  A big dead limb fell out of the tree.  Doug got that cleaned up in record time.  Then...more worst.  I was spraying weeds under a tree AND...a limb caught my hearing aid which went flying...who knows where.  I looked and looked...And Doug looked and looked and after about a 30 minute search, Whalla!  Doug found it.  What a scare.  Which reminded me that about two years ago...Doug was outside loosing his and I found it.  So...Woo...That would be a huge chunk of change to get another one.  So...today...Wonderful...wonderful.  Maybe we should get insurance! 

Today was hot...high 80's with rain coming tonight.  We need it.  I planted seeds...it's a risk.  Could be to early if frost comes after the plants are up. 

Tomorrow...soup kitchen and choir in the evening. 

Another beautiful day. Sat.

Woo...am I fortunate.  Today was just the best.  I went outside around 10 and came in at 5.  Well...maybe stopped yard work for lunch but it was just fun making things look ready for growing weather.  Oops...tonight frost.  Well..it's getting better.  Dug up more weeds...cut borders around flowerbeds...(Rick...thanks a bunch...surprised you didn't see doug for dug!!!in an old post).  Moved some things that needed moving and for some reason...I'm not finished.  Need to move more.  Woo...That's good come to think of it.  More playing outside.

 Last evening we attended along with about 25 other folks an evening meal with lots of conversation all centered around the Kenya Umoja Project.  Such good folks...good food and good times together honoring two Kenyan folks...Leonard and Linda who have been here visiting with churches supporting the Umoja Project that supports children in Western Kenya with school lunches...tuition...and more helping these children to stay in school.  Woo...that is a long sentence!!!.  Church tomorrow...Pacer game tomorrow evening I think!  Go Pacers. 

Beautiful westher.

Woo...I am enjoying being outside...somewhat...that is if I don't work to long.  I filled 2 garbage cans with ivy and that was just a bit much.  Monday...we put some of Easter away at church.  Great help.  Tues. it rained a bit...and I had a great two days working on a banner that I brought home Monday.  Added a boarder and two kinds of braid.  And it looks a bit more eye popping.  What happens at church...the space is huge...gray stone walls...and if the banners are a bit on the weak color side...the banner just goes away.  So...with the boarder that supports to all the blue Jerusalem crosses and other cross stitch work...the banner now "speaks".  Woo...it's back at church ready to show off at some point.  The banner comes from a community of Christian ladies who live in Palestine and North received it in the 70's.  Today was Soup Kitchen.  Great bunch of folks from the community that had a wonderful lunch with such great community conversations happening.  What a blessing when it all comes together.  Tonight is Choir practice.  We are singing the Harmony Mass by Hayden the third Sun in May with orchestra.  It's a beautiful piece of music and will fill the entire hr along with prayer and scripture.  So...it's time to work at the notes. 

Reread post.

Funny...Doug for Dug!  What was I thinking.  Who knows...Yup...the brain is first to go...maybe. 
Spring is BACK!  Woo.  Woo.  Today fri...the kids come for the day and Noah and I were outside for most of the day.  What fun and now a shower...and ready for bed...7 pm...Pacers playing Cleveland...That's the evening's entertainment.  Scratched and scratched today.  Moved a few flowers.  Dug out stuff and took a walk around the block this afternoon and to a neighbor's garage sale.  Bought a hoe.  Can't believe I've gardened for so long without a hoe.  Filled some pots...worked on the little pond with Noah.  He dug another big hole and then filled it in before he left.  Always looking for worms...spiders...rolly pollies and more. Moved the bird feeders around to avoid the chipmunk climbing the house to get to the feeder.  Noah climbed the ladder to get some sticks off the roof.  He also changed one of the bird feeder locations using the ladder.  I pulled up a bunch of ivy.  So...it was a very entertaining day.  My body is tired.  I'm not. 

Mother Nature is laughing.

Or maybe it's Mr. Winter.  Snow...all morning but thank goodness the ground is warm.  Tomorrow might be spring again.  Lots of allergy stuff this last week so it's allergy med.  Got enough for a month.  What a surprise visit.  And...time to move on.  The huge Herb Mt. was this past Sat.  Herb of the month...Hops.  Not very interesting to say the least.  But...bought a Cleveland Sage.  It's a wonderful smelling plant with beautiful blue flowers...And it's a California plant so it can't stay outside over winter.  So...that's my splurge for the spring...Well, there was one more but it's a hand made clay monk...the monk of the Garden that I always forget how to say and spell.  He's sitting over my stove for now.  Got to take care of him for sure.  He's my other splurge.  Did a little dirt work Sat.  Bought some potting soil.  Doug out some black eyed Susans.  I have way to many of them...beautiful but just everywhere...What a job.  I might use weed killer.  So...today I'm vegging...coffee...TV...sleeping and then that all over again.  Oh, yes...a little knitting but the sewing went away when all the breathing allergy stuff emerged.  Tomorrow...lunch with my teaching buddies.  That's the biggie for the week. 

Tues...

The past few days have been sewing bib days.  I have so much fabric all given to me...And...I'm trying to get rid of it.  All that it seems to do is stay the same amount no matter what I do with one exception.  Jo Pierces' fabric stash is about half.  And what I learned yesterday that her fabric...all prewashed is healthy and wonderful...the other stuff...nice as it is makes my head run...sneeze...cough...and more.  so...this morning.  I went through about 80% of what I have and folded...ironed...sorted and not it's put away.  Must be allergic to the dyes or lint.  I think I added about 12 more bibs to the stash. 

 I went to two yarn shops this morning to talk about handspun wool yarn...I'm trying to find a home for the Mi. yarn, but in both cases...the owner wasn't there...one being on vacation...Humm...My second attempt and the owner is back on vacation...I'm heading back to Broadripple and the owner should be in the shop this afternoon. 

I hope tomorrow the weather should let me have a great time in the yard.  I'm so ready.  Just to nippy yet. 

For some reason

I wrote a blog last week but didn't seem to publish.  So...Since the last post...Holy Week over...Easter a huge morning at church.  The place was stunning filled with silk and real flowers and LOTS of people...Attendance 800.  Woo...it was a big group.  And then off to Michigan at 1: 30...So looking forward to no responsibilities...just grandsons and their parents and a visit on the farm.  Loved every minute of it...But...the entertainment got sick Monday.  So...not so good.  Flu seems to really have hit the cousin families. But...the JB family came out ahead of the bunch.  We left Tues instead of Wed.  And near the end of the week...All was well again.  Back to Indy in a huge LONG rainstorm...Flooding for sure.  I've been sewing again with baby bibs.  What fun and so blessed with donated fabric that's fun to sew with.  Kids were here today.  Way to cold to go outside for very long.  Andrew rode his scooter but found out there were snow flurries. Wanted hot chocolate when he came in.  Not to much going on and that makes me happy. 

Holy Week.

And it's been Holy for a lot of reasons.  I was at church for work and church service Tues through Sat.  And tomorrow will be two services and then it's OFF TO MI.  Yahoo.  That's a real gift. 
The week has been wonderful...Church services most meaningful and today was PUT away things from Thurs. and Fri service and get out all kinds of silk flower arrangements we prepared a few weeks ago and real flower on the altar and sprinkled around where needed.  The sanctuary is stunning.  I think the best it has been for a long time.  Thanks to Ray Heilman...Oh, my.  Having a professional flower arranger with me with wonderful ideas is just the best.  And having the funds to make this all happen.  We are blessed.  So...time to sit and think about all the fun coming when in MI.  Yahoo...Can't wait but need to let a little time go by...Then we're out of here. 

Mon. evening.

Woo...busy..busy.  That's good.  Palm Passion Sunday went off without a hitch.  Matt. scripture and the visual/music were GOOD.  Today...Mon. was to be another work day at church but just to many other things came in the way so it's work day tomorrow.  New friend Mary will come and work with me and Ray will also be there.  Lots to do to pack up Palm Sun and get out Good Fri.  And Amy has planned a work day for the children who are on Spring Brake.  So...I may have some little munchkins to do a bit of running for me.  That can be a good thing.    I like to try something new. Still playing with fabric and made 8 more bibs.  Such fun...it's like coloring with fabric.  I gave a few away Sun...They were all Easter fabric bibs.  I do the basic sewing on my machine and then it's pretty patterns on Doris' machine.  What a gift.  Y still calls but I'm really tired tonight...Did only one 30 minute walk.  Left out late afternoon thing.  So back to my chair...knitting and TV and I'm sure there will be a nap somewhere. 

No water.

That is no water aerobics this week.  Just no time. I have hit the tread mill as usual every day.   Monday morning I spent at church getting ready for Palm Passion Sunday.  Lots of work but I really enjoy doing that.  Took banners down...Found a visual for each part of the Passion readings from Matthew.  This coming Fri...back to church to prepare palms.  Turned over a new leaf...that means cleaned the bathroom...washed rugs...floor and dumped a bunch of stuff way to long living in the drawers.  Woo...that felt good.  I continue to knit fish dishcloths while watching tv...today I made two more bibs.  Dug horse radish on Monday and ground it up...YUM>>>YUM...I love horse radish.  It's so mild this time of year.  I gave a little to Eric.  It's wonderful on eggs...salad dressing...I even put it in some soup.  Delicious. 

Can't believe it's another Fri.

WHERE does the time go.  If I knew I'd make a million.  This week...hum...Eric and fam have been in LA for a wedding and fun...So...early morning together with Eric...Not existing.  But...I continued to go the Y.  Just not as early.  Still adding water to the plan and beginning to see that it's getting a bit easier.  Who would have thought it would be HARD.  Today...Fri. Fun, fun.  A great friend died about a month ago.  Husband of a choir member and have known him for at least 25  years.  His memorial service is tomorrow and wife Jessica asked me to do the flowers.  So not possible to turn a good friend down.  So...Ray H. and I went off to the wholesale florist a few weeks ago...ordered the flowers and today we played and played.  Such fun.  We made 9 table arrangements for the party after the service...2  large vases full of flowers for the altar and it was just pure fun.  Ray had a florist shop years ago...knows a lot about arranging and just a fun person to work with.  Jessica wanted garden flowers and we had a bunch for sure.  So tomorrow the choir is singing some great stuff during the service...Jim was a music teacher among other things like one terrific trumpet player.  So...lots of music and time to celebrate his life with us. 

Next week...I'll be chasing my self...It's the beginning of Holy Week prep.  So...there will be a lot of church work.  Things to find...place for Palm/Passion Sun.  and then on to Holy Thurs.  Good fri. and finally Easter and then after that...Yahoooooooo...off to Mi to see the lambs.  Well...JB and Family as well for a few days.  Yahooooooooooooooo.  We'll be out of here. 

Friday...Wooo...

As I said...It's bib week.  And it took all week to get those bibs done.  So many steps and such fun with fabric and Doris' machine.  Lots of play time with so many different stitches.  Today I figured out how to do button holes.  And...grand total for this week 17 bibs.  Woo...I still have so much fabric that has been given to me.  Lots of scraps that still are big enough to make something.  Y continues.  Today I did water aerobics after the tread mill.   A good friend is the teacher and she really kept us going.  Took a horrible fall because the floor was sooo slippery on the way to the dressing room.  Worse than ice in my estimation.  But...No broken bones.  No sore places anywhere.  Just a good ding on my elbow that doesn't seem to be a problem.  I think the Y should be fixing this  PROBLEM.  I'm not the first for sure to land up on the floor according to my new aerobic friends.  Watching TV...knitting a little.  Hope to visit some yarn shops tomorrow to see if they are interested in the Kimmy JB wool. 

Tues evening

Things seem to be a bit simpler lately.  That's good for this old lady!  I put the yarn for slippers in the closet.  I have 12 pr. done.  That's enough.  Then started knitting dish cloths again and now I have enough of them so it's on to bib making time and I soon will have enough of them.  I LOVE making bibs.  It doesn't take a whole lot of fabric and they are all different and those ideas just come out of my brain.  They do take a lot of time because there are so many steps to making them.  I made 10 last week and this week I will have 12 more finished by the end of the week.  My hope is to have fun at the Sec. Presb. fall bazaar getting rid of all of this stuff.  St. Luke's UMC also has a good sale.  I love making bibs among other things.  And my stash of fabric keeps me going for a long time thanks to all my friends that gave me their stashes! 

The Y continues to call and I really enjoy that place going early in the morning and then around 4 in the afternoon.  So luck to drive only about 2 miles to the Y. 

And a second full week.

And the cherry on top.!!!!   Doc. trip...A1C went from an 8 in Dec. to a 6.3.  Yahoo.   Just proves that I can do it if I get my brain in the right place.  Now the prayer is that I stay in this good rut!  Doc. was surprised and just as happy as I was.  Yahoo again.  And I have a good church friend with A1C at 11.  Not good for sure.  Sometimes the body just does crazy things if the help is not there.  And sometimes it just does crazy things. 
So...the rest of the week.  Boys came on Friday and it was another pretzel morning.  This time with Cinnamon and sugar added.  Got such a kick out of seeing Noah's eyes getting big with a long yum when he bit into the pretzel.  It would seem that the pretzel hit the spot. This time Andrew only ate 1 instead of 5 and they took all of the left over pretzels home with them.  We took a walk to the park which is proof that the weather this week has been warm.  Infact...Tues. it was in the low 70's.  And...of course I was in the yard picking up stuff.  Pulling out stuff and working for at least 2 hrs.  WHICH RESULTED in one horribly stiff body that was with me until Thurs. afternoon.  What's going on.  I really did hurt in most every way.  The HOPE is that I remember that when spring really gets here.  Little by little gets the job done.  Thurs at soup kitchen we had 4 adults working.  Woo...would be nice to have six but we got the job done.  That's another job where one needs to stay on the move to keep things going smoothly.  The really good part of that day was that the folks who came were on their best behavior with a good time had by ALL.  Thanks be to God.  Thursday I also met Ray Heilman and we hit the silk flower wholesale store and bought lots of flowers to use at church for Easter.  A work day is scheduled for Wed. to begin putting things together for Easter and Eastertide.  And then I need to get with the preacher for Palm/Passion Sunday and Holy Week.  This time of year is busy, busy.  So...that's it for now.  That's enough.  Well...that would include continuing to go to the Y two times a day.  Early morning for 45 minutes and late afternoon for another 30 or 40.  Now...that's enough. 

A really full week.

Finished decorating at church Monday for the season of Lent.  The place looks stunning.  Can't beat a good purple against gray stone.  What an eye catcher.  I chose to skip Tues eve. Fat Tues party at church with pancakes and great band music.  The crowd was huge.  Then also chose to skip all the Ash Wed. services of which there were three.  Just a happy camper to stay home.  Thurs. was soup kitchen once again.  The ladies of the community got in to it.  I hate that.  I think one was on drugs for sure.  Then I needed to make two trips to McFarling's to get butter and salad dressing.  The second trip because the wrong dressing was put into the van.  Grrrrr.  The day just went on and on!  Choir practice in the evening.  Fri. I spent with the boys making pretzels.  Fun...and it was a trial run for today.  Today I worked at the children's Lenten retreat.  15 kiddos there.  And we read a story about a monk who made pretzels to help his school children remember their prayers.  The theme for Lent in Prayer.  It's a great story and each of the attending children made two pretzels...one to eat and one to take home.  Love working with those little brains that live in wiggling bodies Kindg. to 5 gr.  But...gosh...I'm sitting on the chair for a pick up!  Such a bummer to run out of steam.  Going to the Y continues.  Doc. appointment coming up next Fri.  and I'm determined to have good sugar numbers!  I'm possessed.  And I need to keep the theme for Lent in front of me!!!!  Church tomorrow. 

Monday afternoon.

Well...more of the same, come to think of it.  Yesterday was church.  And ice was to be here.  Well..it stayed away long enough for us to get to church at the usual time...7 am...with Panera goodies.  We were not expecting a lot of neighbor guys but a few did show up.  And...the congregation was slim.  I think they got spooked thinking about the ice.  But...as usual...all the choir folks showed up and the music was stunning with a wonderful arrangement of We Shall Overcome.  Brought back so many memories for us who lived through the 60's.  I matched in Chicago!!!  Sr. minister Dick Hamilton marched in Washington DC.  Then another Spiritual.  Woo...that place was rocking.  So much fun.  The two children's choirs also sang some really good old time songs so that meant that Noah and Andrew were on the steps as well.  Not to much happening in the afternoon...Thank goodness.  Oh, yes...to the Y for 40 minutes.  And lots of knitting.  Slippers are flying off the needles.  The new name...Sweaters for your Feet!!!  Oh, yes...at church we had some help with changing the banners from Green to Purple.  It's the beginning of Lent Wed...Ash Wed.  And today I spent about 3 hrs. finishing up what didn't get done yesterday.  Church is so big and the walking is almost unbelievable.  Well, that all happened after I went to the Y this morning.  But...It's worth it because diabetic numbers continue to be good.  Guess I'm beating all that sugar to the great beyond. 
Stopped to see Katie Meridith at the Forum...She's a 90 some lady from church and I had questions for her but she didn't have answers.  Her brain is really remarkably sharp.  Just didn't know what I needed to know about who made a huge crochet banner of the Lord's Prayer.  I think someone just donated it and perhaps not even a church member.  The theme for Lent is the Lords Prayer...lots of good sermons...study guides...choir singing many settings and more.   And I pulled out some really good visuals to support all of that.  Just fun to think that way.  So...now to the chair with the needles and I'm sure there will be a sleep somewhere. 

Thurs.

Another morning and afternoon at the Y today.  But this afternoon was only a 30 minute walk.  Woo.  I'm tired.  Soup Kitchen was today and I've always said we need a minimum of 6 to make it fun.  Well...today was three.  Woo...Funny how that works.  A doc appointment/board meting and more took them away at serving time.  Today I  said if we got the job done we were really good.  And we were good.  but..Woo...the bottom dropped out when I got home and a good hard sleep happened.  So...it's Steak and Shake for supper.  Someone else can cook.  And then it's Choir practice.  Tomorrow the boys come for the day.  And I'll continue to knit.  Might even find the sweeper and maybe put some Christmas decorations away.  I'm slow with some things. 

Tuesday.

Busy day Sunday with Larry bringing more cars.  Now the total is 540...Woo...A wonderful gift for so many children.  540 of them.  Super Bowl game and Woo...the Eagles...!!!!!  We sang On Eagles Wings at church for the closing song.  What a hoot.  The minister had no clue...He's not a football fan.  And scripture was...They shall mount up like Eagles!  Another good thought!  And the Eagles did mount.  Yesterday and today...Lots of knitting and Y with another pot of soup to get us through the week.  Such good soup and the house smells wonderful.  Last night there was a Herb meeting and we learned alot about Tea.  Doug and Kat should have been there.  They are the drinkers. 

Fern and more!

Fern had three babies...2 boys and a girl but sad to say the girl lamb didn't make it.  There were some mouth deformities so best for her to not make it.  But...two boys.  one black and one white.  Woo.. but now we need girls.  I could see the black one being a 4H sheep for either Jacob or Adam.  Kimmy needs white wool for dying.  But...can't keep all the Rams.  Now...come on girls.  Knitting and the Y continue to be the main entertainment.  Boys came yesterday and we counted ALL the MatchBox Cars that will be going to Kenya.  504 of them!!!!  Larry paid 200 dollars at ONCE UPON A CHILD so they were less that 50 cents a piece.  Good buy Larry.  Now we have 42 lbs...meaning that I need to find a way to get them to Kenya.  All of those pounds.  Pounds are more important than the number.  But...just think of the joy those cars will bring to children having a car as their only toy ever!  Grocery shopping today and not much more on the schedule. 

Come on Fern!!

No baby sheep as of today.  Come on Fern.  Today a trip to the doc to get some stitches out that came as a result of a mole being removed.  I hate those things.  So...Out#$%^spot.  We spent last evening with Dave and Ann Frick who served up a wonderful supper that included friends Larry and Waldeen.  Great conversation and wonderful food.  Yum...Such a great cook.  Still hitting the Y two times a day with great results.  Not much more to say.  Tomorrow Soup Kitchen...Choir.  And I did mail another pair of slippers...to cousin Ada.  They are not going to Texas this winter and she is freezing.  So...Keeping sweaters on her feet might help. 

Friday....

Snow is gone...No more snow picnic on the patio.  But today the neighbor had trees taken down so Noah was outside a lot being entertained a lot.  Andrew, not so much.  The week has been rather calm.  Finished 4 pr. of slippers which went in a box to Kimmy and Jared.  They NEEDED them.  And then I finished two more pair along with another Doris scarf.  Fun to have a few knitting projects on the needles.  Now there are 4.  Soup Kitchen yesterday.  It was a relatively good morning which we earn once in a while.  Choir practice last night and of course the Y inbetween.  Trying a new machine which really is a work out.  I think 10 minutes right now is the limit but I'm sure I'll get better.  Diabetic numbers continue to be very, very good.  Funny how that works.  Eat the right things...Do the right things and something good will come from all that discipline.  Weather is great.  I stretch it a bit and wear NO coat.  Probably should but don't want to.  And that should continue for a while.  Making a few phone calls to the sheep farmers JB and K.  I want to hear about those lambs coming but the ewes are not cooperating with my asking. So...continuing to make phone calls.  Humm...last night I called with no answer.  Now does that mean that they were in the barn or does that mean that they are ignoring my calls.  I sure don't know the answer and they probably won't tell me.  So...keep waiting. 

Knitting needles. Sat. afternoon

The needles are clicking.  Great way to work offstress that comes with watching CNN or MSNBC! 
The government...#$%#^&

Took the Mamlins to the airport yesterday morning and it's night now in Kenya...and they will get a plane to Eldoret in their morning.  Woo...long trip.  Grandsons came after we got back from the airport and it was perfect weather to use the sleds which they did.  Snow was right...Temps were right and the hot chocolate was the cherry on top of the experience.  Noah loves to be outside and I suggested a picnic on the patio which he thought was a wonderful idea.  He did take his mittens off to eat his hotdog.  And a little snow added to the lemonade was a favorite.  And after 10 minutes of outdoor picnic he finished lunch in the dining room. Andrew didn't bring his snow clothes but when he heard that we had sleds...a call to his mother fixed that problem. 

Continue with Y visits.  It keeps the blood flowing which makes the body work better...I must admit. 

Next Wednesday.

Slow and easy this week.  It's COLD...usually below zero in the early morning when I take Eric to the bus stop.  And that gets me to the Y at 7:20...I love that time of day.  Still at it morning and late afternoon.  She persisted!!!!!  This week I've been knitting.  Finished a Doris scarf.  That means that I've used yarns and more that came from Doris' collection.  Really beautiful.  And I'm into house slippers again.  The needles are clicking.  Today I did a huge pick up of pastries from Kroger that we will use tomorrow at Soup Kitchen.  And...I'm picking up Sarah Ellen tomorrow morning to work with us.  Sarah Ellen along with two other ladies started Soup Kitchen about 30 years ago.  Should be a fun morning.  And Friday morning it's a trip to the airport with Sarah Ellen and Joe Mamlin sending them back to Eldoret Kenya where they continue to work with hospitalized children...(Sarah Ellen) and Joe continues to work in clinics in western Kenya bringing medicine to the least of these. 

Yikes...Time flies.

A whole week has flown by.  Maybe more.  Christmas finally came last week meaning that the Michigan kids were well enough to "fly" south.  So...great fun...Fri. afternoon till Sunday afternoon.  I must admit that 5  grandsons make a lot of noise.  Woo...a lot of noise.  I just took out my hearing aids.  Easy.  Lots of cooking...Lots of gifting...Lots of laughing and Yes...lots of noise.  It was a great weekend.  So....just a little pooped and Monday went to church to put away Advent and Xmas...then I was really pooped.  7 great friends came to help and they were all busy.  So...most things are near where they will be stored or already in storage.  It takes a village.  Tues...One last banner made by Doris Douglas came home to be refurbished.  It's huge.  I think 45 inches by 8 feet.  Lots of pulling and tugging to get it to the sewing machine.  It now has an insides and backing with additional stitching.  Not quite finished with it but I'm closer...Humm...won't need it till next Advent.  But I want to get it off my "to do" list.  There always is something that is ready to take it's place on the "to do" list.  This banner was made in the 70's for a conference and I just could not figure out how and where to use it at North. But...a Light Dawned!  It's covered with at least 14 words all the same...LIGHT.  And it's the light that came at Xmas...so...it's an Advent banner that we now use behind the Advent Candles we light each Sunday.  So...it's a real keeper.  Strange how things work out.  Must be a God moment.  So...ready to sit for a spell...well maybe a minute or two.  Still going to the Y two times a day walking about 3 miles.  So happy the Y is about 2 miles from our house and with Silver Sneakers...Woo...makes lots of sense.  Diabetic numbers are good.  Tomorrow is soup kitchen and then Choir practice in the evening.  Hope to get to the greenhouse tomorrow to get two large plants for the sanctuary.  Altar flowers are few and far between in the coming weeks.  And...folks want something alive at the altar.  I prefer live plants...not anything other than that. A little care keeps them alive for a very long time.