A Very Full Week

Cousin Karin's bouquets from Tennessee continue to delight.

Our garden does not yield such varieties. But on my walks, I notice and enjoy many wild flowers each time, and attempt to read and learn about them. For example, how do I tell the difference between Queen Anne's Lace and Hemlock, its lookalike?  

A lovely Sunday surprise: Stephan called and said they were headed our way to dine out at Payne's and could we join them! 

In addition to the great food and conversation, we were noticing all the timber framing in the addition to the restaurant. Stephan is working on that this week. (See Karen's blog.)

A different kind of surprise awaited Michael Monday morning when he opened the meter base to figure out what had caused the oozing stain. He immediately called the electric company to come out and  unlock the top part. The guy had never seen anything like that. 

Monday night I had a meeting, so Michael sent a photo of the meal Stephan served. Karen did much better than that, she sent home food for me! 

Notice the tomato baby, and the zucchini brownies! They were wonderful. She sent me the recipe, now the pressure is on for me to make some.

Wednesday, Rebecca and I had our usual fun activities and ended with a short walk on the Taylor campus. I am so grateful to have these weekly opportunities to spend time together.

Michael deserves all the focus this week. He's in the middle of several big projects. This week he and Leah painted little climbers on the finished climbing wall. 

Michael spent two days priming the side of the building for a mural to be painted next week.  

Back-breaking work

He also made several trips to Stephan's to begin work on all things electrical.

On the way he always stops to buy sweet corn from Moriah's cousin.

After one long day, he tackled the process of prepping six dozen ears for the freezer!

He never stops! It's against his religion!

In lieu of a photo of the messy process

Despite the many projects, we are enjoying summer!

Michael wouldn't think of missing his long Saturday bicycle rides with the Muncie group. 88 miles this week. 

I had fun at the Farmers' Market. Among many other goodies, I bought this bouquet of tiger lilies.

There's so much more I could write about.

We just keep plodding on, grateful for each opportunity and the necessary health.

Week 29

 

Karin's bouquet for 7/11/21

That was the Sunday Moriah treated us to her homemade Lemon Rosemary Chicken dinner.

I made ice cream and Michael baked buttermilk biscuits for strawberry shortcake, like we often had with the girls when we lived in the same house.

Moriah even tried out her engineering skills to repair the light by my recliner. (Thank you!) And, furthermore, this week she resoundingly impressed the hiring committee at Allison Transmssion, and will begin work in Indianapolis in less than a month.

Monday evening as usual we surveyed the progress on Stephan and Karen's house. Her parents had been there for a few days, visiting from Evansville. Dad Red (a retired electrician) began installing the electrical boxes and running wire. Mom Dolores painted door jambs.

This week, Michael worked steadily at the Switch Up and finished installing the climbing wall.

I continue to walk almost daily, grateful for the resolve that gets me out to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Meanwhile, Sam's family is experiencing the chaos of a major move from Muncie to New Palestine. Can anyone relate? Does this bring back memories?

Friday, Michael drove the robot and the drive team to Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis to set up the pit and practice for Saturday's off-season FRC event. 

FINite Recharge was a much smaller event, only 24 teams, not nearly the hype of pre-COVID competitions. And our robot (Infinite Horsepower)'s performance not nearly as stellar as seen in the video still playing on the PhyXTGears' website. However, a good time was had by all. I was blessed to be able to attend and meet parents and students. The new team members, all quite young, had the opportunity to experience a FIRST robotics competition, to learn and grow in their understanding of the robot and their enthusiasm for the game.

I got a ride down with Moriah and her dad, who after our team's loss in quarter finals, continued apartment search to get her situated before the new job begins next month.

With Moriah and Mee Sun in the stands. Who wins the eye-smiling competition?

Infinite Horsepower and the drive team exiting after their final game.

Group sharing after Arby's meal

I rode back to Muncie with one of the new families and learned of several experiences we share, including Spanish speaking and teaching, travel to same place in Mexico, and common friends there. We concluded that El mundo es un pañuelo i.e. "It's a small world."

Oh, chapter 10 kept me quite busy this week. Nevertheless, it published Thursday: Fiestas.

Independence Days

As if to illustrate, or emphasize the title, Week 28 published itself independently before I commented on the photos! Such a surprise! That fits right in with the numerous exasperating technological issues I've had so far this week. "Better late than never." So, here we go. Let's try again, beginning with Karin's glads to gladden our hearts. 

Sunday, July 4, we were very gladdened by a visit from son Sam's family. It was so good to catch up and fellowship before their move to New Palestine, happening even as I write. They will be closer to Kristie's job in Greenfield. 

And, as it was the 4th of July, Independence Day, we joined Leah's family for Jimmy's annual fireworks display. 

We all find a place in front of the Kern home (Kayla and Matt's house) facing the field where Jimmy and Skye set off a carefully chosen variety and sequence of fireworks for our enjoyment (and theirs?)

The children get to play with sparklers. 

The lit up back porch in the background is where Nana lives.

Kalani, however, fell asleep before the show. He was tuckered out from the preparation all afternoon as he tried to join in with his parents and Papaw unwrapping, selecting and sequencing the goods.

It was back to work Monday for Michael even if it was a government holiday. Using two stacked scaffolds, he managed to finish painting the difficult-to-reach heights. Throughout the rest of the week, among other tasks, he overcame a few other challenges and completed the huge task of painting the house.

I explored a different road on my daily walk and came across some lovely sights.

We truly enjoy the weekly gathering (and the food!) at Stephan and Karen's Monday Night Dinner. And there's the added anticipation of surveying the progress on their new house. 

Interior framing in progress

Tuesday mornings my friend Jane and I walk for an hour. We explored some of the paths on the TU campus. Among many interesting things to look at, we discovered a rose bush with three different color blooms, apparently in stages--white, rose, and yellow. Can anyone explain this mystery?

We've listened to the Daily Audio Bible for a dozen or more years, but this is the first time I participated in the annual Long Walk. This is what I posted about the experience on social media.

The Long Walk took me on a new neighborhood that began with lovely blossoms and sunshine and ended in the rain and cold wind. Halfway, I discovered this poignant reminder: Jesus died for me and for the sinners next to him. Only one turned to him for forgiveness and was immediately welcomed into Paradise. The world is divided like that: those who receive Him and have life and those who reject and are lost. The rain reminded me to give thanks in everything and that He promised to be with me through it all and unto the end, and beyond! #DABLongwalk2021

Michael began work on yet another summer project. He is building a climbing wall at the Switch Up, an after-school program in the neighboring town of Van Buren. He had offered to do this some years ago and now finally it was approved and is happening.

Friday, July 9, was Leah's adopted birthday. These three young ladies, the Blakely landscaping crew,  surprised her by clearing out an area and planting a flower garden of perennials and annuals.

9 de julio is also an important holiday in Argentina, el Día de la Independencia. I celebrated by listening to Argentine music played by a very gifted Argentine young man.

Saturday, while Michael was out bicycling, I enjoyed a very interactive musical show by Mrs. Kate. This special children's program was organized and sponsored by the local public library. The talented staff of four women includes our granddaughter Kayla, who also designed and made their t-shirts!

Any other familiar faces in these pics?

Week 27

Another lovely array of blooms from Tennessee. Cousin Karin blesses us each week with one or more pics of her floral arrangements.

I continue to enjoy the changing local blossoms on my daily walks.

On this day I also caught sight of one of the painted rocks Rebecca and I placed a couple weeks ago.

Monday evening, Karen served a delicious and colorful meal, and for dessert freshly picked wild black raspberries, very abundant on their property.

Michael is still trying to finish painting our house. How to safely reach the highest part has taken trial and error. He checked out the different lifts available for rent. He thought this smaller one would work, but it was impossible to get it close enough to the house without destroying the flower garden.

Wednesdays, Rebecca usually comes over while Kayla works. We have a fun time doing a variety of activities: walk, games, piano, books. She loves to play hide and seek, not only taking turns finding one another but also locating Humming Bird (a finger puppet). This time it perched on Serenity while we played the piano.

The guys well-planned backpacking trip had to be postponed one day due to rain. 

Thursday, I went along to the church to see them off and then walk home, trying a new path.

On their way to Charles Deam Wilderness, they stopped at a diner in Edinburgh for their famously large tenderloin sandwiches.

Campsite fellowship

The beauty of the panoramic landscape and the tiny details on the path

For me the first two days were quite lonely. Then Saturday I had a couple of visitors in the morning, and worked at the Helping Hand store in the afternoon.

Trisha and Jackson

It was good to have Michael back and go out to eat together that evening to La Palma Mexican restaurant nearby.

Week 26: Part 2--Backpacking and Babysitting

The next big event of Week 26 was our first backpacking trip as a couple. I seem to remember that decades ago we did something similar as a family. (Kids, remind me.) 

Anyway, now well into my seventh decade, it loomed as a big deal. However, it was a pleasant experience, not too difficult or burdensome. 

We hiked the Bloodroot Trail, enjoyed the natural beauty along the two-miles to campsite #1. 

 

Michael researched, planned and prepared expertly so we had everything we could need without carrying very heavy packs. Over several days he dried a variety of vegetables, eggs and fruit to be reconstituted for our meals. The first evening we had chicken tortilla soup! 

I survived the backpacking test! We may be doing this again sometime and for longer stays. This new adventure may take the place of our tandem vacations which ended two years ago.

The next highlight of the week was to spend time with the youngest grandsons while mom and dad were on their 22nd anniversary getaway. "Babysitting" is not the correct word (but it rhymed with backpacking in the title!) for two reasons: Zion and Jude are not babies, and we did not do much sitting!

Malachi and Lexi had them overnight Thursday and then dropped them off at the Upland Library to participate in some kid activities. When I joined them there, we put together a puzzle map of the US, a learning experience for me too! 

One of Kayla's roles at the library is to plan and prepare activities, games and crafts for the children. This week they had to create an imaginary animal.

Cowpig (says Moink); Bunnywhale; Shurtle

Rebecca was ready to spend the day with the cousins. We first stopped to see Aunt Leah's animals.  She taught us how to pick up and hold cats.

The young'uns and I had a lot of fun. Rebecca and Jude played the piano. We played several games of Splendor and tried out three of the four game extensions, read a book from my childhood (still relevant today!); had ice cream at Ivanhoe's, and much more.

Saturday, the boys walked the Detamore Trail with me. Thus they earned their lunch at The Bridge! They did, however, sit often on the nifty benches made from bottle caps and lids collected by the community and purchased by the Town of Upland. 

As promised here is Part 2 of this midyear blog post. And today is July 1st when chapter 9 published in My Argentina.