Happy Halloween

Halloween has never been one of my favorite holidays.  Actually I don't like it at all.  Why?

Maybe it was because Gary was always in the field and couldn't go with us.  Yes, sometimes Grammy rode along, and more often Aunt Karen accompanied us, but it just wasn't the same. 

Then because I was never a fan of just letting the kids out and letting them wander from house to house whether we knew the residents or not, it meant that we had to drive all over the county.  Auntie Ann and Uncle Bud's house.  Jeanette and Joe Moncel in Francesville.  Sharon and Jim Henderson in Medaryville.  Jane and Jr. Ezra down the road.  Kenny and Jan Kruger south of Francesville.  Karen Srull at the old Gillam School.  In and out of the car, then riding 10-15 minutes or more between spots.  Having to visit a bit while after we gathered some candy.  Megan and Hilary were always tired of it about half way through.  Getting home late and needing baths and finishing homework and going to bed for enough sleep for the next school day was a challenge.  So no...not a fan.

And then, it seems like such a fuss is made over Halloween, then the focus skips right to Christmas, bypassing Thanksgiving, which IS my favorite holiday.

After the kiddos arrived, it was difficult for Megan and Hilary to split up the trick-or-treat visits also.  Making those same rounds for the relatives (Sandy and Kent, Karen and Clay, Grampy and Grammy), friends and neighbors (Tony and Bev, Jane and Junior).  Plus the Yaggie relatives had to be visited, then the Scotts as well.  Exhausting.

Now that we have moved, trick or treating has been easier for the five kids.  Last night Megan stopped by with Cooper and Lynnlee. 

 This afternoon Landon, Tessa, and Owen were here. 

Also Rossville ELementary has a tradition of a Halloween Costume Parade for kindergarten, first, and second grades.  I have gone several times to watch Landon and Tessa.  This year Owen was dressed up too since they were trick or treating after the parade.  Well, his pre-school class was participating, but just the afternoon students and he goes in the morning.  He was NOT happy when he saw his teachers and some of his friends in the parade.  When Blaine tried to move him to the gym floor to let him join the group, he cried even louder. He came home with me since Hilary and Blaine were helping with the party in Landon's classroom, and he fell asleep before we pulled in the lane.  Then he slept on Papaw's shoulder for an hour before the rest of the family arrived.

Tomorrow is November 1.  Halloween will be over for another year.  The leftover candy will remain, however!  But there is good news....my favorite holiday is just TWENTY-EIGHT days away!  Bring on Thanksgiving!!!

Impromptu Dinner

Yesterday we bought a new television to hang on the wall, plus a wall mount that swivels.  We also bought shades for the three windows in the two spare bedrooms.  Today we bought a shade for the sewing room.   

Now Gary is fine with putting up the shades. The new ones in the master bedroom he did, even without help!  But he doesn't like to do it, and if he can get some help with it, even better.

Putting the tv on the wall?  Definitely a 'need help' with that one!

The original plan was for Blaine, Hilary, and the kids to come over on Friday to help with these projects.  However, Hilary called this afternoon and suggested doing these tasks this evening.

Then Megan called and asked if we were going to be home so the kids could 'trick or treat' tonight instead of tomorrow.  Lynnlee's speech therapy appointment needed to be changed and the time was conflicting with the original trick or treating plans.

So...dinner for everyone!  First thought was Taco Soup, but then a better idea was the Incredibly Easy Chicken and Noodle recipe.  I pulled that out, and Gary checked the pantry.  I made a shopping list and off to Delphi we went to shop at Wallmans.  Why there?  For one thing, it really is closer than Meijer.  Plus it would be a quicker 'run in and out' type of thing rather than navigating the entire grocery section at Meijer.  Finally, why stand in line for 20 minutes for several items when we could check out much faster in town?  If Meijer would open more lanes, it would help, and while I know the self check out lanes would be open, I don't work there and I refuse to check myself out unless I have just one or two items and the lines are stretching all the way back to the racks of merchandise.

A pot of chicken and the broth/sauce is bubbling on the stove.   The noodles are ready to add.  Two packages of instant mashed potatoes are ready to mix together and stick in the microwave.  Hot dogs and buns are ready to put together if anyone wants one.  We have some cookies for dessert and there are applesauce pouches and yogurt in the fridge for the kids.  Lemonade is in the pitcher in the fridge too.  Plus there are a few bottles of adult beverages on the top shelf if anyone wants one of those!

Plus I sent Amanda a text to see if she wanted to come out and join us.  Plenty of chicken and noodles in the pot and everyone will be here at some point.  She might as well!

And THIS...my friends...is another reason why we moved.  

Sometimes impromptu dinners are the best!

Putting It All Away!

When Gary and Owen return from the pre-school bus pick-up, I think we will be outside for a while.

An adventure!

Owen loves to be outside.  He especially enjoys picking up leaves and carting them around in his little wagon.

But the focus today will be moving the chairs from the deck, the wicker furniture from the front porch, and the chairs from the gazebo into the Party Barn for the winter.

We also need to look for the little adornments in the flower gardens and pick up those to place in storage.  I also have some metal flowers and pumpkins stuck here and there that will need to be moved inside so they don't rust to pieces.

On days like today, that are sunny and warmer, I always hesitate to do this task because there is a little bit of me that thinks "Oh, maybe a few more days won't hurt.  We might want to sit outside if it is really warm."  

But who am I kidding?  Looking at the forecast for the rest of the week I see lows in the 20s.  Highs will be in the 40s.  There is even a mention of that dreaded 's' word in the forecast for Thursday.

No...there will be no deck sitting the rest of this week.

Another season is coming to an end.  I noticed the leaves that are left on the trees are just not as vibrant as they were last week. The rain and wind did a number on them on Saturday.  Some of the trees have been stripped of their leaves, just leaving behind the trunks and bare branches.

Fall was never one of my favorite seasons.  I like warmer weather.  I like flowers blooming.  I like sitting outside.  I like opening windows and feeling (and smelling) a warm breeze drifting through the house.  Gary was always busy with harvest in the fall and the girls and I rarely saw him in the evenings.  Dinners together just didn't happen very often.

But now I appreciate fall much more.  I like the crisp temps and the changing colors.  I like taking a drive through the country and seeing apple orchards and pumpkin patches.  I like being inside, warm and cozy, with a good book or watching a movie on tv.

I still don't like putting away the outside furniture though.  But it has to be done.  And better to do it on a sunny warm day than on a day with cold temps and bitter winds! 

Saying Goodbye to Summer

Yesterday was the final event of the summer! We started the summer season with a shrimp boil in the Party Barn on Memorial Day weekend.  We ended it with another shrimp/crab boil yesterday.

Now granted...this sounds like an event that should have taken place earlier, such as closer to Labor Day.  But upon checking everyone's calendars, there were no open dates until the last weekend of October to do this.

And granted....a shrimp/crab boil would be perfect for a nice warm fall day that has been full of sunshine and soft warm breezes.  That didn't happen either.  The forecast proved true---downpours of rain, gusty winds, no sunshine.  Imperfect weather is the more appropriate description.

But little things like a calendar date, wicked winds, and rainfall will not deter the master shrimp boiler from setting up the pot and cooking the delectable pieces of fish, potatoes, onions, and mini-cobs of corn.

Of course this was what the Party Barn was made for, right?  Tables and chairs set up for sitting and enjoying the feast.  A serving table covered with butcher paper where the contents of the pot can be spread.  Another table for the birthday cake and apple crisp.  Still another spot (the old workbench) for spinach dip, veggie tray, fruit bowl, and cheese and crackers. A cooler full of beverages.  AND...the wood stove full of burning wood to keep the building nice and cozy.

There was also plenty of room for the kids to play in the bounce house.

After feasting was done, the card table was set up and at least three games of Shang'hai Rummy were played.  Kids had gone home, some of the parents with them, and adult beverages were making an appearance!

When the party broke up, Chris discovered that the three goats were standing on the wrong side of the fence!  The wind had blown one of the pins out of the gate, causing it to blow open and for them to escape.  They were ready to return to the barn, though, so herding them back into their pens was not difficult.

Two things about last night ---

One - I love family gatherings.  I like being together, having fun, and making memories.

Two - I love that the Party Barn is becoming a staple in our lives.  Not only ours (as in Gary's and mine), but in our family's too.  It is centrally located so it is easy for everyone to travel here.  It is spacious enough for most of our gatherings.  It works best in the warmer months, but when the weather is cooler, there is always the wood stove to help keep us warm.  The Party Barn can be as fancy or as casual as we want it to be.  There is a refrigerator, tables, chairs, and a tub full of plates, cups, napkins, flatwear, tablecloths---everything we might need to put a party together.

Today we are letting the outdoor furniture dry out, then tomorrow probably everything will begin moving from the front porch, the deck, and the gazebo back into the Party Barn for winter storage.  

I'm a little sad, but the new spring and summer season will be here before we know it and there will be more parties in the Party Barn!  Bring on Spring and Summer 2020!  We will be ready!  

All It Takes Is a Pan of Chicken Enchiladas

Yesterday when we stopped at Sam's Club, we picked up a dinner dish, ready to pop in the oven, heat, and serve.  There were several options available, most priced under $10.  The one we chose was chicken enchiladas.

Megan went home from school sick yesterday afternoon.  She called and asked if she and the kids could stop by for a while since Matt was going to be at a meeting all evening.  Later she cancelled when she discovered her temp was 100*.  

But Hilary and the kids came instead.  

As usual Landon, Tessa, and Owen drifted into the family room, opening the closet door, and pulling out toys to play with.  Hilary moved from the couch to the loveseat and back to the couch again, just resting and chatting about several topics.

Several times we asked if they would like to stay for dinner and the answer was always no.  They had leftover lunch meat at home from the camping trip, plenty to eat, and they would be leaving soon.

Finally I pre-heated the oven and popped in the pan of chicken enchiladas. 



The toaster was ready also for English muffins to be made into PBJ sandwiches for Landon.  



Since there had been a sale on Lunchables at Payless, those were in the fridge also.



Lemonade, apple pie, crackers and cheese, applesauce pouches...what more could the kids want?

Sometimes dinner plans need to be thrown together as people are added to the dining room table.

Sometimes it is fun just to see what is available and what will be eaten---or not.

And sometimes it is good to go to Mom and Dad's house, relax on the couch, and even though you have lunch meat at home to feed the three kids, let Mom fix dinner for you. 

Anytime.

Rabies and Sling

Out of nowhere last night as we were eating dinner Tessa asked: "What is rabies?" 

Yep.  Totally random question.

So we were trying to explain rabies and the connection to dogs, raccoons, and other animals who may be sick.

But the one thing that came to mind for me was this----the commercial for Sling on tv where there is a doggie birthday party and one of the owners wants to watch her Sling channels so she smears some frothed milk or whipped cream from a drink onto her dog's mouth and  says loudly 'RABIES!  OH NO!!" and the crowd clears.

Of course as I was trying to explain that, Hilary had no idea what I was talking about.  None.  She didn't even know what Sling was.  Her explanation for her ignorance on this new phenomenon was that she rarely watches anything on LIVE TV; rather she records selected programs, then watches them at her convenience and fast forwards through the commercials.

Why did Tessa ask about rabies?  We never did determine that!  But her question and our discussion lead me on a quest to find that commercial and share it with Hilary.

In the meantime she sent me a picture of Owen riding in a grocery cart, his mouth ringed with whipped cream or some frothy white substance and the caption, "Rabies?"

A subject that really isn't funny, but when I opened the text, I did have to laugh!

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/oN_p/sling-dog-pawty-featuring-maya-rudolph

Acorn Squash

One thing is for sure...when I was little we never went hungry. Ok...reword.  If we went hungry, it was our own fault.   Mom always fixed breakfast for us before we went to school.  During the summer and on weekends we always had a lunch prepared for us.  And at dinner time, there was always food on the table.  One of the things that was plentiful in the summer and fall was squash.  Butternut.  Zucchini (I think).  Acorn.

Acorn squash was my favorite.  Mom would cut a squash in half, scoop out the seeds and the stringy stuff from the center, and cut off a section on the side to the squash would sit flat in the pan.

The cavity on the squash was filled with butter and brown sugar, with maybe a little bit of cinnamon or nutmeg sprinkled on top.  A few times I remember her stuffing them with a sausage mixture.  The meaty inside of the squash was always pricked with a fork a few times.

I remember her putting the four halves of squash in bread pans and adding a couple of inches of water in the bottom of the pan so that the squashes didn't burn.  Then she would slide them into the oven to bake, usually along with a roast or a pan of chicken.  The smell of that squash baking was tempting to the taste buds, that's for sure.

I remember one particular dinner when Mom was very mad. I can't recall why she was mad, but she was furious with us--all of us.  Dad told us to just eat our dinners and be quiet through the meal and we could escape to our room later.  At one point I remember her telling us we couldn't leave the table until our plates were clean.  Everything had to be eaten.  I had heard this before, and I knew that if I didn't want to stay at the table until well past my bedtime, I need to do just that....eat everything.

There was NO, absolutely NO, conversation that evening.  All that could be heard was the clink of forks, spoons, and knives against the plates.  Occasionally there was a slurp of the beverage could be heard.   I kept my eyes down, focused on my food.  I didn't dare sneak a peek at Greta because I was afraid our eyes would lock and we would burst into laughter which would cause the wrath of Mom to fall upon both of us. We didn't want that to happen!

Finally I finished my dinner. I had eaten everything on my plate.  I had drunk all of my beverage.  I asked to be excused.  My dad looked at me.  He said I could leave.  My mom looked at me and said "Wait."

Of course I halted immediately.  I was afraid of what I had done that I didn't realize was against the rules.  That wasn't it.

Mom:  Didn't you have acorn squash for dinner?

Me:  Yes.

Mom:  What happened to it?

Me:   I ate it.

Mom:  What did you do with the rind?

Me:  What rind?

Mom:  The green skin that was on the outside of the squash.

Me:  I ate it.

Dad:  WHAT????  YOU ATE THE RIND?

Me:  I ate all of it.  We were supposed to eat everything on our plates so I did.

Dad erupted in laughter.  Mom started to smile.  Greta was giggling.

I sat there with my red face, red enough to match my red hair, and was totally embarrassed.

Yes, I had eaten acorn squash before  No I had never eaten the rind before.  But that night I was taking no chances.  I ate EVERYTHING on my plate so I could be excused.

For that evening, at least, the tension in the house eased a bit.  There was laughter once again.

But as with everything that I did that could elicit embarrassment,  the story of Beth eating the rind of the acorn squash made its rounds to family and the few friends that Mom had.

Now I can laugh about it.  I still love acorn squash.  I still buy one each year.  I cut it in half, clean out the seeds and the fibers inside, fill the cavity with butter and brown sugar, poke the meat inside with a fork, place the halves in the Corning Ware bread pan, add a couple inches of water, and pop it in the oven to bake.

All for me.

Hilary said she never remembers my baking acorn squash.  I am sure she and Megan were offered it but they always declined.  Gary doesn't like it and I won't force it on him.

Today I bought one.  Tomorrow I will bake it.  And tomorrow night I will eat both halves, leave the rinds on the plate, and toss them into the trash!

Unfinished Projects

One of the perks about this house was the empty room next to the family room in the downstairs of the split level.  There was also a laundry room, but this empty room?  Lots of outlets.  One window.  No closets so it wasn't a bedroom.  What could we do with this room?

Rebecca, our realtor, and I stood in the room, looked at each other, and nearly simultaneously said, "Sewing room!"  

I do like to sew.  I really do. I like the straightness of the seams, the crispness when they are pressed open, the excitement when a project comes together.  

My Grandma Greta Ritchie taught me to sew when I was young, probably around 8 or 9 years old.  The old treadle sewing machine sat in the corner of one of the upstairs bedroom.  Now let me tell you....learning to sew is one thing.  But learning to sew on a treadle machine requires so much coordination!  Actually I think that requirement helped me later on when I was playing the organ and needed to coordinate two hands and my feet!

Through the years my time for sewing has varied, depending on the stage of my life, the time that I had, and the space that was available.  In our old house near Pulaski  our house did not have enough space to devote to a sewing area.  The three bedrooms upstairs were our bedrooms.   The bedroom downstairs was our storage room and it was full of stuff.  So we were relegated to sewing at the dining room table.   During 4-H season the table was covered in fabric, patterns, thread, various notions, and scraps, plus the ironing board was set up in the kitchen area, blocking either the counters or the microwave and making meal time difficult.   

When I began quilting, I tended to work in large blocks of time (which were rare) so that I could start and finish a project without having to put everything away, remember exactly what step I was on, and then pull the machine and the fabric out again.  Result:  many unfinished projects

Of course there have been many finished projects also.  A John Deere quilt for Landon.  A quilt for Cooper (which had been started for Nick and never finished).   A quilt for Lynnlee.  A quilt for Owen.  A baby quilt for Allee.  A baby quilt for Ryan Rausch.  A baby quilt for Jen and Aaron's baby.  Several bags from duck fabric (and no it did not have pictures of ducks on it).  And various other projects.

Finally this week I have been working on organizing the sewing room in the new house.  Yes, I know that we have lived here over a year.  Yes, I know that it should have been done before this.  But honestly I was tired, so tired, of unpacking, sorting, organizing, and pitching stuff from various houses that because I didn't have to do it, I didn't.

But it was time.  We hauled everything out of the room to do my favorite thing ---sort through the boxes and tubs.  We went to the Quonset at Sandy's and moved back the chest of drawers from Hilary's old room to the sewing room.  We moved some of the furniture in the sewing room to better accommodate everything.   And today, I finally have things in place and I am ready to tackle all of those unfinished projects.

• Adding the binding to the queen size quilt, in gray and coral, so that we can use it on our bed.  We painted the master bedroom a light gray and carpeted the floor with gray so that it would be perfect for the new quilt that I made.  But the quilt is one of those unfinished projects.  Once I have the binding sewn together, Hilary is coming over to help me maneuver the quilt under the presser foot because that thing is HUGE and I can't do it alone.
• The Cubs table runner that I started for Amanda's birthday.  What better gift for the new apartment of this very loyal Cubs fan but a table runner with the Cubs logo and all fabric in Cubs red and blue?  It is ready to be machine quilted.  I just need to do it.
• A baby quilt for a little boy.  I made this for a former colleague when she was pregnant, then for several reasons, it wasn't finished.  All it needs is the binding, just like the queen size quilt, but it shouldn't be too hard to finish.  And the best thing is...Shelby and Caleb are having a boy in February and this will be perfect for him.
• A John Deere wall hanging.  This one is a little difficult.  I am not sure what we will do with this one.  Landon was our big John Deere kid, but now that he will be 10 and Papaw isn't farming anymore, the John Deere attraction isn't as strong.
• Finally, the sampler quilt wall hanging.  This is the one that I made in the class at Rossville Quilts during a great quilting class a couple of years ago.  In fact, I was taking the class when we began looking for houses in the area.  It was also the time when we were spending Tuesday night at Megan and Matt's so we could take Cooper to pre-school in Frankfort, then stay with Lynnlee the rest of the day.  For 6 weeks we left early Tuesday morning for my quilt class (Gary stayed at Hilary's house), then later in the day we went to Megan's and returned home later on Wednesday evening.  Yes, a move closer was needed.  Anyway, the sampler was ready to be quilted and I opted to have it done professionally rather than attempt it myself.  I just need to take it to Betty and then put the binding on it.  Now I have a perfect place to hang it also!
• A small quilt that Tessa is making for her American Girl dolls.
• Finally I have packages of fabric that are ready for projects that haven't been started.  Coke fabric for another table runner for newlyweds who have already celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary.  Fabric for a quilt for Tessa.  Baseball fabric for curtains in Cooper's bedroom.  Red/white/blue patriotic fabric for a table runner for our house.  Lots of Christmas fabric that was supposed to be for stockings but will be made into table runners for Christmas gifts. Several charm packs and layer cakes to be made into projects for various people.

I am excited that this is finally coming together.  I love to sew, and I think the finished projects will be appreciated.  At least I hope they will be.

Now that everything is put into the drawers, sorted, and organized, I can work on learning about the new sewing machine that I brought from Mom's house, try to figure out the quilting machine that I bought from Cathy that was Aunt Joyce's machine, and learn some new techniques to use in the process of finishing the projects.

I am excited!!!

Stay turned for more posts about their completions!

The VERY Best Decision

The date?  October 20, 2002

The place?  Francesville Christian Church

The occasion?  Our baptism

Backstory - maybe at the end of the post

Gary and I had studied with Jim (our minister) and Junior (our neighbor who was an elder at the time) for several weeks and had prepared for our baptisms (again) and placing our membership at the church.

That morning as the end of the sermon approached (and I knew that because I always took notes and following Jim's outline), I became nervous.  Alex was sitting close to us, and he was fidgeting, ready to run down the aisle as soon as Jim gave the altar call.

When Jim FINALLY got to the point where he asked if anyone wanted to come forward to be baptized, and the song began, and the congregation sang....Gary, Alex, and I arose from our seats, scooted toward the end of the pew, and walked down the aisle to the front of the church.

As Jim met us, he took my hand and said "You walked down this aisle many years ago for one of the best decisions of your life.  Now you are walking down the aisle for the very best decision you will ever make."  How true! 

The first decision?  Marrying Gary.  We were married in the Christian Church (but in the old building) in 1976. 

The second and very best decision?  Being baptized.

As we stood in front of Jim and the congregation, he asked for our profession of faith, which we gave.  Gary and I together.  Alex by himself.

Then Jim said that we were going to be baptized by Blaine, and I remember hearing a collective "Aw......." from the congregation.  Blaine, at the time, was dating Hilary.  Everyone loved Blaine.  He had grown up in that church.  And because he was in his first year at Ivy Tech and had just turned 19, he was considered an adult male, and he was a member of the church, so he qualified to baptize us.  Gary had asked Jim if he could do it for him, then later I asked Blaine if he would baptize me also (and promise not to drop me or hold me under the water :) )    Jan said that Alex woke up one night, yelling, and wanting to talk to Jim because he wanted to be baptized too and he wanted Blaine to baptize him. 

What I remember:

Wearing that little gown that all new baptizees wear.

Watching Gary and Alex being baptized.

Going into the water and totally blocking out the congregation, only focusing on Jim's words as he stood at the end of the tank

Putting my hands over my nose, shutting my eyes, and feeling myself going under the water totally and being lifted up again

Feeling a cleansing of my sins - really

The feeling of cleaning was so powerful, so real, so poignant.  It is something I will NEVER ever forget.

I also remember being told that just like Jesus' being tempted for 40 days, we would be tempted (or scorned) because of our decision.

Jim had told me, when I asked if we could be baptized privately, that he really wanted me to be baptized in the Sunday service.  Why?  Because I was a teacher.  Several students attended our church.  What better example of making the best choice of her life than their teacher coming forward, professing her faith, then being baptized? 

On Monday I heard "Congratulations" from so many people at school--staff members, faculty, and students. Good news traveled fast!

But also I felt the anger.  Jim had called the current minister at St. Marks to tell him our membership had been transferred.  While Jim never shared any of the details of that conversation with us, I am certain that the minister was livid.  His phone call to me indicated thus.  He told me that we were not welcome in the church ever again.  We were to return the keys (I had been an organist and Gary had been the church treasurer), all music that I had which belonged to the church, our positions were terminated immediately, and, the icing on the cake so-to-speak, we would burn in hell forever for what we had done.


But we persevered.  Over the years both daughters have been married in the same church where we said our vows (only in the new building!).  I was one of the organists.  Gary was a deacon.  I was a deaconess.  He served communion.  I was on the worship preparation committee and prepared communion and helped with baptisms.  We cooked once a month for Wednesday Family Nights.  I was a Crew Leader for pre-school VBS twice with Landon and twice with Tessa.  I volunteered for the Red Cross Blood Drives at the church. We have helped with funeral dinners.  We have used the church for Megan's graduation party and for bridal and baby showers. I sang in the choir. 

Never will I forget that day.  It WAS the VERY best decision ever. 

Thank you, Jim and Junior, for studying with us.

Thank you, Blaine, for baptizing us.

And Thank you, God, for your redeeming love for us.

I am a daughter of the Lord.

It's Worth It!

A few months ago I took advantage of the reboot at Miracles Fitness in West Lafayette.

Now if you know me at all, you know that I am more of a spectator or sports than a participant.  In fact, my only 'claims to fame' were these:  hitting a home run in a playground baseball game when I was in 5th grade and having a wicked serve in the faculty/student volleyball game at West Central when I was still Miss Henderson.  That's it.

After my 3 week Boot Camp ended, I signed up for 40 weeks, 3 times each week.  I can use the equipment any time, but my plan is for three group training sessions each week.  If we are on vacation, I can write a note to explain and the weeks will be extended.

Usually I can make the drive to West Lafayette on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, leaving the house at 7:45 a.m. and returning around 10 a.m., depending on how much I talk to my group friends or if I stop at Payless for a few groceries.

Sometimes if I miss one of those days, as I did this week because of the trip to The Cake Bake Shop with the girls, I try to make it up on a Tuesday or Thursday.  This week it didn't happen.

In fact sometimes when I miss and plan to go on an alternative day, it doesn't happen.

Ok...honestly, it never happens that I actually make up that missed day.

Instead I talk myself into staying in bed for an extra hour or 90 minutes.  Or I tell myself that I need to do something else and just don't have time to go.

But the reality is that when I DO go, I feel SO much better.

Megan, our trainer, has a plan for each of our sessions, and she knows what we need.  She challenges us.  She know where our weak areas are.  She works with us to help us get the most out of the movements and routines she presents to us.

And invariably, after the session, even though I may be tired or I may ache, I feel much more energized and ready to hit the ground running (or walking fast) for my to-do list for the day.

Today was a good example.  

I went to my session this morning, rode the bike for 10 minutes, then worked with Megan the Trainer for 30.  We used the medicine ball, the foam pads, and the mats to work on balance, coordination, and  agility.  I had to modify on the pushups so that I didn't put too much pressure on my left knee; otherwise, I could keep up and twist, turn, bounce the ball, lunge, and squat.  At the end of the 30 minutes, I felt that my muscles had been used and my body stretched.  

It felt good.

As I drove across town to meet Gary at the Wound Clinic for his appointment with Dr. Perry, I was smiling because I felt great, more energized that I had all week.  And I gave myself a stern reminder that when I feel like I just want to turn off the alarm, roll over, and snuggle under the covers for another hour, that I need to pop out of bed, shower, and make that 18 minute drive on the Hoosier Heartland to Sagamore Parkway to Miracles Fitness and work out.

It's worth it.

No, I am worth it!

 

Attack!

This Thursday morning I was full of energy and decided to straighten the kitchen and dining room area, clean off the counters, sweep the floors and rugs, and dust the furniture.  I cleaned out my purse (How do all of those receipts and lists accumulate in my purse anyway?), readied the gift and copied a recipe for the bridal shower, paid a bill, and filled the crockpot with ham and beans for dinner.  In the meantime Gary was sweeping the living room and cleaning up the family room from the influx of kids yesterday.  Before that too I had cleaned the master bathroom and swept all of the rooms upstairs.

Showering and changing clothes so we could go into town and run some errands seemed like a good idea.  Gathering more of our 'stuff' to drop off at Goodwill was on the agenda also.  Then lunch.

But....before we could do that...an attack!

You know how you see part of an old television show and you know how it ends?  Actually you know the words and can repeat them along with the characters?  Well, there was an episode of The Andy Griffith Show on tv and it was one I really liked.  Remember the one where Opie wanted to win an electric razor for his dad at the carnival?  He used all of his allowance money and couldn't win it, then Goober went to the carnival and tried himself.  He told Andy he thought something was wrong because he (Goober) was a good shot and he couldn't hit anything.  Andy (in street clothes) tried his luck, discovered the sights on the guns were bent (except for one that the carnies kept under the counter), and told the carnies that they had better let the little boy who was coming to win an electric razor and he had better be using the gun with the unbent sights.  Well.....just as Opie came to the booth with Goober, I was attacked.

Picture this.  I am sitting in the recliner, listening to Opie tell the carnies that he wanted to try again for the razor and I watched him place his quarter on the counter.  Then it happened.  

Tessa came charging into the living room and threw herself on top of me.

Then as she was hugging me and telling me she was going to miss me while they were camping, another body flew into the room and attacked me on the other side.  Landon!  And he was trying to push Tessa off the recliner onto the floor with me trying to stop him from doing it.

Then...and this was the surprise....here comes OWEN!  He NEVER throws himself on top of me since, first of all, Papaw is his favorite resident of this house, and two, Mommy was standing in the doorway and NO ONE takes Mommy's place at any time.  But here he was, yelling at me and junping on top of the heap. 

And it was a heap.  A happy heap.  And I loved every minute of it.

Finally they untangled themselves, and when Owen was the only one left, he smiled at me and said "Thank you!"  And I had to laugh!

Being attacked my three of our grandchildren made my morning, that's for sure. Nothing could be better.

And I never did find out whether Opie won the electric razor for Andy's birthday as Andy and Helen peeked through an opening in the tent and watched.....

Girls' Day Out

Rossville and Clinton Prairie are both on Fall Break this week.  A friend of Megan's and her sister and nieces visited The Cake Bake Shop in Carmel this summer and loved it, so Megan made reservations for the five of us to go there this morning.

We were all dressed up - Megan, Hilary, and I were wearing nicer pants and tops.  Tessa and Lynnlee wore cute dresses with bows in their hair. Well, Lynnlee wore her bow for a little while, but she is not one for wearing head adornments.  Tessa accented her outfit with cute boots and adorable earrings plus a matching bow in her hair.  

Our reservation was for 10 a.m. which is the time the shop opened.  We arrived early (the Siemens girls do that) and the kind hostess opened the door for us so we could stand inside instead of in the cold.  At 10 we were escorted to our table.

Since the menu had so many delicious options, we decided to each order a different slice of cake and we could all try each other's.  Hilary ordered a mint chocolate, Megan had another chocolate concoction, Tessa ordered the funfetti version, and my choice was the carrot cake.  Lynnlee was going to enjoy a chocolate chip cookie. We chose to sip water from our glass goblets.  Out of all of the cakes, mine was definitely the best.  It was so moist, and the cream cheese frosting was so creamy.  Oh my!  Tessa was disappointed in her cake.  It was very dry, and she didn't like the pink icing.    I was the only one who finished my slice of cake.  Megan and Hilary asked for boxes to take the remainder of theirs home, plus the rest of Lynnlee's cookie.  Tessa had destroyed most of hers (she is not a neat eater), and most of what was left was icing, so there was no point in boxing it up for later.

Following our visit to The Cake Bake Shop, we drove to Keystone at the Crossing so I could pick up a bridal shower gift from the Siemens' women for Brittany.  Megan printed off the list from the registry, a very nice sales person helped me locate a couple of items, boxed them, put an amount on a gift card for me, and we were on our way.  Walking around Crate and Barrel with a 6 year old who likes to touch things and a 2 year old who moves randomly was not a good idea, so we stayed only long enough to complete the purchase.

The next stop was Target.  I enjoy wandering through Target.  I did find another runner for inside the back door that might not show the dirt as much.  I hope so anyway!  

Final stop was at Chuy's for lunch.  Everyone had a great lunch there, and it felt good to offset the sweetness of the desserts earlier in the day with some chips and jalapeno dip.  

Other than some wiggling around at The Cake Bake Shop by the youngest member of our group, everyone was well-behaved and enjoyed the day (even the big girls and this Mamaw).  

We decided that a trip to The Cake Bake Shop is not something that we would want to do often, but it was fun to do for a special treat, and we will probably return some day.  When we do, I know that if the Inside Out German Chocolate Cake is on the menu, that will be my choice.  Otherwise...another slice of Carrot Cake, please! 

Just Can't Get Motivated Today!

Just not happening today!

I'm not sure whether it was because I tossed and turned all night.

It could be because I didn't go to the Fitness Center this morning as planned.

It could be because I was just tired and felt listless.

It could be because I felt like I was trapped at home today because the tags for our license plates didn't come in the mail so our plates were expired. (except for the new Escape)

Not sure why...but today was just a waste for me. 

Cross it off the calendar and mark it wasted.

Owen was here this morning, and we played in the family room.  He was building a garage for his school bus out of Lincoln Logs with Papaw.  He was so cute, and he looked SO tall.  He was chattering the entire time.

Since we had roast beef for dinner last night and some was left over, I shredded it and added it to a mix of cream of mushroom soup and a cup of beef bouillon, the put it on top of noodles and mashed potatoes.  It was really good---but I ate by myself.

I made enough that we could have fed all of us if Blaine and Hilary and the kids had been here.  But Hilary called and said she and Tessa were going to the nail salon for manicures, then to lunch, and even though they invited me, I didn't want to go.  Why?  I had an appointment for next week with Tina, and besides that...the car license plates were expired and I didn't want to take the new Escape in.

Then Blaine asked Gary to go fishing with him and the boys today...so off they went before eating any lunch.  I offered to send along Lunchables with the four of them, but they declined so they went without much food and no drinks at all.  Well, Gary did take a bottle of DIet Pepsi and an apple, but Owen ate it.

So..I was alone for lunch---and it was good.  All of the leftovers went into the fridge, I cleaned up the kitchen, and I started the dishwasher. 

Sitting on the couch in the family room, I was watching GSN, Soon I was nodding off, probably as a result of the tossing and turning from the night before.  

When Gary came home, he suggested going out for something to eat, but I declined that invitation too.  Just didn't feel like changing my clothes and going out to eat somewhere.  After all, we had plenty of beef and noodles.

So here I am again, sitting on the couch.  The kids were here earlier and we painted cookies that Karen Swygart had sent us.  That was fun.  But I just can't get motivated to do anything else.  

There is a tub upstairs that Gary brought in of clothes, the winter variety, for me to go through and sort out.  Maybe that is it.  Maybe I am tired of going through boxes and tubs and sorting through the remainders of the things we moved from the other house that have been stored in the garage.  Maybe I am frustrated because I don't want the house, the cabinets, the drawers to be stuffed full of things that I can't bear to part with, some because of sentimental value, some because I just might need or use them again. Even though it was been over two years now that we cleaned out Mom's house and a year since we finished with Leo and Agnes' house and last fall we basically finished with our house, there is still that lingering feeling of just wanting it all to be done and not to ever fo it again. 

That could be it.

Plus the daily devotions this week have been on forgiveness and forgetting transgressions against one, and that has been on my mind, even though I am trying hard for it NOT to be.

I think back to the past few weeks and the Psalm 23 Bible Study that just ended.  Goodness and mercy are to follow me all the days of my life.  Jennifer, in her last video, stressed that every day we should find something good and focus on it. 

So the good today?  Owen was here and playing well with the LIncoln Logs.

Karen sent cookies to paint, and the kids really enjoyed doing that and then eating them.

We have plenty of food, and we don't need to go to a restaurant for a meal when we have food at home.

We are fortunate that the girls live so close to us, that they can stop by just for a few minutes or for a longer stretch of time.

I love our new house. I really like it and I feel comfortable here.  I do not miss the old house at all.  I am glad we moved, and I am very thankful that everything worked out for us to move into THIS house.

Even though I can't get myself motivated, I guess it has been a good day. Maybe I needed a day off to just rest and relax, take a nap, and watch some tv.

Years Gone By

As we were going through more boxes today, trying to clean out the garage so that we can move BOTH Escapes into it, we found some treasures.

I wasn't expected to find anything I wanted to keep.  After all some of those boxes had been in there for over a year, moved from either the house in Pulaski when we were cleaning it out, or moved from Wooster by way of Pulaski when we cleaned out Mom and Dad's house.

My feeling was that if I hadn't needed it or wanted it or missed it by now, I didn't need it or want it or...whatever.

Wrong.  Wrong.  Wrong.

In one of the boxes, well actually in more than one box but that is not relevant right now, I found pictures.  This one stunned me.

It was my senior picture, my picture for graduation from Mt. Vernon High School in 1969. 

There were two copies of this, each one if a flimsy plastic frame.  I am not sure where they came from or why they were in a box in the garage, but there they were!  '

I remember so well my senior picture session.  It was so different than what Hilary does today for photo shoots.  I had a sweater and the requisite strand of pearls.  I didn't fuss with my hair well and I had no idea how to style it.  Since I had no older sisters or older cousins to help me and since Mom didn't offer any assistance, I asked if I could go to the beauty shop and have it styled there.  Surprisingly, Mom agreed.  Maybe she was afraid that my pictures would be embarrassing to her if they were horrible and she had to send them to relatives.  Anyway, my hair was not an issue.  And I thought it looked nice, considering the hairstyles of other girls in my class.

The other picture I found was of this guy.  He was a senior the year before me, at a school I had never heard of at the time I was in high school.

Isn't he handsome?    Today he said he didn't like the picture and that it didn't look like him. I think it does, for the most part.  If one looks closely at both of the pictures, the added coloring and editing is really obvious.  But once again---that was how it was done then.

I often wonder what it would have been like if we had been students at the same school.  Would we have noticed each other?  Would the attraction have been there?  Would he have taken me to the prom?

I know he was so focused on basketball that he said he didn't really want to date anyone.  I did want to have a boyfriend and someone to take me to the prom at least, but I was so shy and afraid of anyone liking me and Mom making a big deal out of it, that I stayed away from the boys when I was in school.

No...I think it was part of God's plan for me to go to Indiana State and receive my degree, then secure a teaching job at West Central.  I think it was part of God's plan for Gary to go to Purdue, then into the National Guard, then to farm with his dad.  I think it was part of God's plan for me to become a 4-H leader in Medaryville with Jim Henderson, who introduced me to Gary on a Livestock Tour where we traveled around to the members' farms to check out their 4-H pigs and cattle and sheep.

I think that when we met and how our romance developed was the way it was supposed to be.

But I still wonder what might have happened if the girl in that senior picture had met the boy in that senior picture a few years earlier when they were still in high school.

A lot of years have gone by.  A year of courtship.  Forty-three years of marriage.  Two daughters.  Two sons-in-law.  Five grandchildren.

All because those two people fell in love. 

She is TWO!

Lynnlee's birthday was yesterday.

I can't believe she is 2 years old.  What happened to our baby girl?

One of my favorite pictures of Lynnlee Elizabeth is this one.
Here she is.  Standing at the door from the dining room to the outside of our house.





What is she doing?

Watching everyone else, playing outside.

Looking for someone.

Wishing she could be out there too?

I like the last option.

She is just too little to be outside on her own, running around the yard, exploring.

She is just too little, right now, to keep up with the other kids.

Heck, Owen was just 'released' to play with Landon, Tessa, and Cooper, and he still wanders down to the creek or starts walking down the lane and someone needs to go after him.

But one of these days, she will have 'free rein' to go wherever she wants and just explore the outdoors.

The other day Cooper and I returned from his haircut appointment in Rossville.

Lynnlee was at the house with Papaw, and while we were gone, her mommy and daddy came to pick them up after school.

Here she was, though.  Standing at the door.

I could see her little head, looking out the window at the drive, watching for us to pull in when we returned from our haircut adventure.

One of these days, she won't be 2 anymore.

One of these days she will be able to reach the door handle and let herself in and out.

One of these days she will be running around in the yard with her brother and her cousins.

But until then, I love seeing her standing at the door, watching the goats, wishing she could be outside with her bubba and Owie, watching everything that is happening outdoors, and waiting to grow up so she can join in the fun.

Slow down, Lynnlee. You just turned 2.  Stay little a little while longer.

Fourth time? Maybe the fifth? JOSH TURNER

Gary and I just returned home from a trip to Wabash to see Josh Turner at the Honeywell Center.

Now...I have loved Josh Turner's music for a long, long time.  I used to listen to his CD's on my drive to Logansport when I began teaching at Ivy Tech, and I listened to him also in my office (when Gretchen wasn't there, of course!).  The first time we went to Honeywell was a spur-of-the-moment purchase of tickets because Ivy Tech was a corporate sponsor and a poster was hanging in the hallway at the old building. 

The second time we saw him at Honeywell was a few years ago. Our seats were closer to the front, not immediately in front of the stage, but in the first section behind that area.  I remember Gary being surprised that we were so close, and he asked me how much we had to pay to be that close! (not too much, really!)

When it was announced that he would be THE concert at the Newton County Punkin Vine Fair soon after that, we decided to see him in a different venue.  His concert was good, but.....the venue was terrible.  We had been to Newton County Fair for a Gary Allan concert and while the venue wasn't really great, it was ok, and we enjoyed the concert.  But this time?  No.  People stood in front of us, moved in and out of the rows, including ours.  They talked constantly.  Some of them were smoking and I don't like to breathe in cigarette smoke.  We couldn't sit once the concert started because there was no way we could see the stage with all of the people in front of us...standing.  And we weren't even really close the stage where people were congregating to be closer to him and take pictures.  We decided then that we would never return to the fairgrounds for a concert again.

When I saw on FB this summer that Josh was returning to Wabash, I knew that we would be going to see him again.  It was during one of Gary's Friday appointments at the Wound Clinic that ticket sales opened, and I was on my phone to purchase two.

Once again our seats were in the first section behind the close-to-the-stage seats, only on the left side this time.  We were close enough, actually just the perfect distance away for a good view but not too close that we had to look up to see him.

Oh...his voice.  When he hits the low notes, my heart just melts.  Plus he really entertains. The interaction with his band seems genuine, and I like it when they all move to the front of the stage with their instruments and begin jammin' through a song. 

One addition to this concert was three of his gospel songs.  He had crossed an item off his Bucket List, and that was to record a gospel album.  I had read about that somewhere, and he mentioned that they had recorded a video at the Gaither studios in Alexandria, IN, and that they had been nominated for a few Dove awards also.

But the best was listening to him sing our favorites.  "Long Black Train."  "Me and God."  Up on our feet to move with "Why Don't We Just Dance."  "Would You Go With Me."  "Your Man."  "Firecracker."

He's singing in Nashville, IN tomorrow night.  Oh...I wish it were closer.  I would go to see him again. 

Great concert!  Great evening out.  Love his voice!  Love his music. 

(and I still think we saw him at the State Fair)

Double Good News

It is also no secret that I stress out over doctors' appointments.

I don't like them.  I dislike sitting in the waiting room.  I dislike sitting in the exam room, waiting for the doctor to come in.  I dislike being asked questions and not knowing exactly what to say to answer them.  
  
For instance, at my last visit to Dr. Hart, the nurse asked if I were ever afraid of falling.  I answered "Yes" and explained that with my left knee being weak and needing a replacement, I was always cautious about stepping in an unseen hole or not adjusting to changes in the slant of a floor, and I was sometimes concerned that my knee would just give out on me because it did sometimes.  Not frequently, but it has happened. At the end of her set of questions she told me that because I had said "yes" to that question, Dr. Hart would explain to me that for future appointments I could call a certain number that he would give me and ask for assistance to leave my vehicle and enter the building because I feared falling.  WHAT?????  I blurted out that I had no problems with leaving my vehicle and walking into the building....but she dismissed me with a "well, you said 'yes' and you will be given the number to call on future appointments."

Good thing she had taken my blood pressure BEFORE that, because I was not happy.  And for the record, Dr. Hart said nothing to me about calling a number and asking for assistance.  
But back to the Double Good News in the title of this post....

Today was the appointment with Dr .Oeltgen.  My cardiologist.  The one who diagnosed the a-fib, did the cardioversion, and prescribed the Xarelto.  I have been seeing him for several years, both in Lafayette and in Winamac since he does go there twice a month to see patients.  He always baffles me with his 'let's see you again in..." because the time frame is odd.  Four months.  SIx and half months.  How about 8 months?  Last fall when I saw him he was so pleased that he said he would see me in a year and I was shocked.

When I was waiting for the elevator to take me to the floor where his office is located in the St. E complex, I felt a presence behind me...and it was him!  He said hello and asked me how I was doing, said that he was running late, so I replied that I was glad I had brought along my book to read...and he said he would see me in a few minutes as we entered different doors to his office area.

Next the gal at the front desk had to update my information which took about 10 minutes.  I saw for many another 5 minutes before my name was called.  At that point I was deep in a chapter in my book and I felt very relaxed.

A step on the scales usually provokes some stress, but I didn't really care this time.  However, the nurse said that  there was a difference of 40 pounds from my last visit.  I was thinking that I had gained 40 pounds, but she said it was 40 pounds lower than my weight in October 2018.  I should have taken it!  But when I stepped on again, the weight was close to what it was in Dr. Hart's office two weeks ago---only two pounds lower.  Cha-ching!  Good!

BP time.  The nurse and I were chatting and I felt relaxed.  120/70.  Not bad!  That was good news too!

When Dr. O came in (and it was quick too...maybe 5 minutes after the nurse left and I was still working on that same chapter), he was quite pleased with my BP and heart rate and the fact that I was in an exercise program at Miracles Fitness (which we had chatted about in the elevator).   

While I would have liked to have a couple of the meds discontinued because I was doing so well, that didn't happen.  BUT the good news was that he gave me not one, not two, but SIX weeks of samples of Xarelto.  I had told him that the meds were fine, but the Xarelto was SO expensive, especially at the end of the year when I go into the 'donut hole' with that particular med.  So he offered me free samples.  What a guy!  

Good blood pressure reading.  Good pulse.  Lungs sounded good.   Exercise is fantastic.  

Free samples of Xarelto, which will get me through the year without having to spend more money on that particular med.

And....come back in a year!  

Good news all around!