2010 Week 44: Friends, old and new

Sunday evening we welcomed Dennis and Donna, great friends these forty years since we met and worked together in Germany. Our children were born in the town of Freystadt am Oberpfalz three months apart--our firstborn son and their third daughter.

Monday evening at Stephan's meal, we had a great time remembering old times.

After some persuasion, Stephan regaled us with his famous hunting tale of the five-point doe. His Wisconsin accent is a bit rusty, Mike said. Even so he had us in tears, as we tried hard not to LOL lest we interrupt the storytelling.



Tuesday, tornado warnings interrupted my class. Some chose to leave and try to make it home, others sought shelter in a safer place. A small tornado did touch down at the edge of our little town, ripping the roof off part of the hardware store and either uprooting or snapping more than a dozen good sized trees in the cemetery. 

Wednesday I was pleasantly surprised by a call from a South African lady I met recently. We went to lunch and talked for over two hours. Is it unusually coincidental to have so many life experiences in common, or is it that when you live long enough 'there's nothing new under the sun'?

In the evening, Mike offered a pottery-throwing lesson to one of my former students.

Thursday we were finally able to get together with our friends Dane and Laurie, who traveled to Basque Country with us last June. The electricity was out all afternoon and evening, so we ate out. 

Davenports' newly painted house

I also enjoyed this fall-view of the old railroad that divides our town.

Saturday, we spent the day at an arts and crafts show, met some nice people and had our biggest sale at the last minute. It was easier setting up and tearing down the exhibit this time because it was indoors. However, we broke two pieces in the process. I leave you with this unique candleholder which can live on only in photographic form.

Tag...I'm it!

I have been tagged for a fun meme by my friend Sara @ make music from your heart to the Lord. Eph. 5:19.She has given me the following 7 questions to answer...


1. What are you fixing for dinner tonight?
Dinner's over, simply leftovers warmed in the oven: breaded fish, a blend of vegetables, and seasoned baked potato halves. All prepared by my amazing husband for Sunday dinner. Keep in mind, I'm only a Koch (cook) by marriage.

2. What is your favorite dish at Thanksgiving?
Hard to say, but probably the items we only have once a year--cranberry relish, turkey, and pumpkin pie.

3. What are you most thankful for right at this moment?
This quiet evening and the opportunity to respond to this tag in a peaceful and pleasant setting.

4. Do you think 50 is the new 40?
I hope so, that would make me a lot younger. Actually the Real Age test results do that already.

5. What age do you dread the most?
When I get to the point that I can no longer function physically and am totally dependent on others to care for me.


6. If you could have/do anything for your birthday, what would it be?
A family trip abroad, maybe to Argentina to visit the beautiful sights I have not even seen yet, like Bariloche, Patagonia, the glacier Perito Moreno,  Iguazu falls, the Andes, the beautiful NW desert, and of course, the family home in the sierras of Cordoba--Santa Rosa.
You said anything, right?  ;)

7. What kind of cake do you choose for your birthday?
Never Fail Chocolate Cake with 7 Minute icing.


Now I am supposed to come up with seven different questions and tag seven people, which I always hate doing. And you are not obligated to participate. And if I don't tag you, you can grab the questions and play along, or answer them in the comments!

Here are my questions for you:
 
1. Do you have a "bucket list"?
 
2. If so, what is at the top?
 
3. What news story stood out from those you heard today?
 
4. What are you most thankful for this year?
 
5. What small thing always makes you happy?
 
6. What is your favorite old movie?

7. Was there a surprise in your day?

I'm tagging the following:

Karen @ Small Town Runner

Sharon @ It is good to wait quietly

Kathy the Vegas Girl

Rosalyn @ Hangin with the Hoyts

Dana @ The Bug's Eye View

Stacey @ McCracken'sX4

Kim @ Just a Southern Girl



2010 Week 43: Elderberry Events

The Elderberries, in this case, are not the sweet red or black fruit from the elder bush, but rather the over-fifty group in our church, which is located on Berry St..
Sunday we had dinner at a retreat center not far from here, by Lake Placid. It was a beautiful day.

And today, Saturday, sixteen of us visited the Indiana State Museum's Titanic Artifact Exhibition.

As we entered we were given a boarding pass with passenger information. Mine was for Emily, wife of Arthur Ryerson, from Haverford, PA, 48 years old, traveling with her husband, two daughters (21 and 18) and a younger son. The family had traveled to Europe to find suitable European husbands for the older girls. Shortly after arriving in Europe, they received the horrible news that one of their sons had been killed in an automobile accident. The family was hurrying back on the first ship available in order to attend the funeral on April 19, 1912. The director of the ship line, Bruce Ismay, personally greeted the Ryerson's as they boarded. He also made an extra stateroom available to them as well as an additional servant. Mrs. Ryerson was so devastated that she remained in her cabin for much of the journey.

At the end of the tour we could search the wall with the list of passengers according to their class for the names of the survivors and of those who perished. 

My person, the sorrowing mother, survived, but I did not find her husband. Many such sad stories...a moving experience.

The Imax presentation dealt more with the recovery of the 5,500 artifacts from the depths of the ocean, an amazing scientific feat.

Tuesday evening was Skye's last football game of the season. Finally I got some shots of him exiting the field, always a proud moment.

Wednesday, an unusual and exciting event--the opening of the mile and a half trail that connects the Cardinal Greenway and the Sweetser Switch Trail. Mitch Daniels, our governor, who has strongly promoted the statewide rails to trails network, makes it a priority to attend each ceremony. I have many photos, but my favorite is of the governor talking to the fourth graders present. One hundred and twenty walked the trail from their school a mile or so away.

 Both Thursday and Friday I was privileged to spend time with the two younger grandsons.

Zion is 11 months old today.

Friday afternoon when I was out walking I saw members of the Garden Club cleaning up and decorating the town for the Fall Festival next week.

Amid the fun and exciting moments are many mundane activities and ordinary minutes, hours, days. 

2010 Week 42

Sunday we celebrated Kayla's birthday as a family. She had asked to go to Mi Pueblo, a Mexican restaurant in nearby Marion. Some of us were surprised that she would want to experience their style of birthday song. She was thinking sombrero y postre and had no idea what was coming.

The sunrises are gorgeous on my way to class in the morning. That will probably change as the days get shorter. My point and shoot ability and idiot-proof little camera can never do justice to those glorious amaneceres.

Wednesday I had a hair appointment. My hairdresser is a neighbor and friend. I trust her completely, all I do is show up every seven weeks and let her decide and do what she thinks needs to be done. She said I was overdo for a coloring session, a lot of gray showing through. I didn't know, just looked like highlights to me.

How many of you were glued to the TV watching the Chilean miners being rescued one by one? Did anyone notice what was printed on their t-shirts? I had to look intently to decipher what they said. On the front,  “Gracias, Señor” (Thank you, Lord). And on the back, “son suyas las profundidades de la tierra, son suyas las cumbres de los montes. A Él la gloria y el honor”. (Psalm 95:4)

In this very difficult year in which Chile suffered a devastating earthquake, they went ahead and celebrated their bicentennial. The discovery, survival and eventual rescue of the 33 trapped miners was such an inspiration to the entire nation. The have been called los angeles del bicentenario.


I worked steadily to finish a little sweater I was knitting as a gift for dear friends in Mexico expecting their first baby. Thursday I met with one of the ladies leaving with the October-team on Saturday. They are so faithful, and so privileged, to go to Xocenpich, Yucatán area twice a year.

Friday may have been the last day of work at the Red Barn for awhile. Mike and one of the students put together a pool table.

Elijah loves to spend the night whenever it works out for all of us. So he came yesterday and today we went to the Children's Museum in Muncie. As usual, he was exploring non-stop. The hardest for him was to obey the no-running rule.

The longest he stayed still was when here, tracing Garfield cartoons.

Nineteen years!

That's how long I have been a grandmother!

On October 5th, Kayla turned nineteen, or as they say in Spanish, she fulfilled or completed that many years, so she has them. Tiene diecinueve años.

Around that time my computer died making it more difficult, if not impossible, to post the "Kayla and hats"-blog. She tries on every hat she comes across, and makes them look good! I've been saving the hat photos for this occasion. Let's see how many I've collected.

  

So it's no wonder she chose a Mexican restaurant for her family birthday dinner.

 However, she was not prepared for the surprise!

 She is such a good sport!

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Kayla!

2010 Week 41

Sunday, after a good service at Mother's church, we went to Grace Village and ate dinner with both Dad and Mom. I asked Dad how he was doing. He said in his very feeble voice, "I'm just waiting."

Then we walked back to the house and prepared for the second half of our tandem-circuit vacation.

It was much cooler, but the wind was in our favor, and the rides were shorter.

Monday early afternoon we arrived safely back in Upland, very grateful for those days adventuring together.

Tuesday was granddaughter Kayla's 19th birthday! Hard to believe. I stopped by the dance studio to drop off some surprise goodies. She was leading the young ones alone at the time, and then paused and posed with her teacher-friend.  (Photos taken through the glass.)

Work at the Red Barn is over for now, until money comes in to equip the art room. This is what it looks like right now. Mike built the large table, among other things.

Thursday, another Klaytivity gig. This time it was the annual special Arts Walk (as opposed to the regular monthly event) in downtown Muncie, an evening of music, food, and the arts.

It was a beautiful day for the event. To begin with we were roasting in the sun, then by evening it was cool. The lit candles added a warm glow.

Friday I visited Elijah's school for Grandparents' Day. He was in a hurry to take me for coffee...or was it my candy he wanted? ;) 

Saturday, Taylor Homecoming, I ran the 5K and shaved off 30" from the last run. Do you suppose the many miles on the tandem helped? Can you see what my T-shirt says in the reflection?

2010 Week 40

Sunday was a busy day. I taught the first - third graders in Junior Church: God cares for all He has created. John 3:16
Elijah had spent the night with us, so he helped me. Right after that we joined Mike in Fairmount for the wrap-up of the James Dean festival. As we were packing up, a farmer came by and bought three of the horsehair pieces.

Monday, and the following were busy days--Mike at the Red Barn, me catching up and teaching.

I thought we might not make it to Monday Meal, but we were able to go and enjoy the company of our circle of friends. The fun before the food is one of the best parts. Here three are singing and being silly as they roll out chapatis.

Friend Laurie and I finally got together again and I met the new family member, Lucy.

On a long walk through town I passed the very first house we had lived in when we came back to the USA. It is sad to see it abandoned and in disrepair.

Thursday after my class, we were planning to take off right away on a mini tandem-circuit vacation. It took longer to get ready than anticipated but we were able to get in the 49 miles by sunset.

Two days of beautiful weather, but hard riding into the wind most of the way.
The joke I hear most often is, "You don't have to work; you're just along for the ride." Yeah, right!
OK, I can close my eyes, cross my arms or take pictures, but I canNOT stop pedaling, and I better be pulling my weight or I hear about it from the Captain!

The second day we were saddle sore and had to take a few more breaks off the bike.

We are at Mother's for two nights. Today, our rest day, we had a great time wandering the Village at Winona and talking to the Fall Festival artists and vendors. The first exhibit was that of a young woman with very similar experiences as Mike since taking up pottery a little over a year ago.