2017 Week 24: Zion's Turn

 Instead of flowers, here's a volunteer leafy veggie growing happily in one of the untended areas on the south side.

Zion (7) had his first experience away from home and siblings for several days. He attended the Art Camp at Taylor University, two hours in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. So, we had many adventures together, including going to Stephan's Monday meal where he enjoyed making an ingenious Lego vehicle. The photo does not do it justice.

Other guests at the dinner were neighbor Jazmine and Karen's parents, Dolores and Red Mounts!

After second day of art camp, Zion could not wait for the promised Ivanhoes' treat! He studied the menu a long time and chose a Crazy the Clown sundae.

Zion was a bit homesick so Daddy picked him up on the way from one of his jobs for a night at home.
He was ready to come back the next day for the last half of Art Camp, this time he brought his bike.

Looks like Rebecca had her own art camp at Nanna's! Kayla was back to work this week.

One other highlight of the week was the wedding of a young woman from our community who travelled with the Circle Tour 13 team to the Basque Country.

Happy and dry on a rainy day in the Basque Country

Ellie and Wynn Coggin

In time for Father's Day, I doscovered some interesting tidbits about my father from his 1944 Huntington College yearbook. I hadn't known that his major was English, and was surprised by the nickname--Sammy! He was so young and hardworking--a first time dad, finishing college in the summers while attending Seminary, had a job on the railroad, and pastored a small church!

Sunday  noon, the younger boys came back for a few hours while big brother Malachi was at work so Mom and Dad could take Elijah to Miracle Camp and then get away to celebrate their anniversary.

We also had special visitors, dear friends from many moons ago, the Babcocks. Our adventures together in several diffent countries go back a few decades.

After they left, the boys and I played LIFE, Zion the banker instructing us on the rules of the game, his latest favorite!

Needless to say, many other pursuits filled up our week to the max. Michael's interests and responsabilities only seem to increase. We are thankful for the health, strength and wisdom to keep up with it all, and especially grateful for the opportunities to do what we enjoy!

2014 Week 22: Car repair, yard work, accidents.

Monday was Mike's birthday, but he refused to make a big deal of it and spent most of the day working on the entrails of his 2000 Grand Prix trying to pry out the head gaskets. Actually the task stretched out the entire week. Finally on Friday he announced, "The last one is out!" (No wonder it would have cost $1500 to have it done!) Now we wait for them to be rebuilt. 

I'm so glad the robotics kids gave him a sweet celebration on Tuesday. The student that posted this photo on Facebook wrote: "Happy birthday to a great mentor in my life."

A couple of family accidents and trips to the ER happened on Monday as well.

Remember those lovely feet featured in last week's post? 

Well, Leah fell, and in no time her foot swelled double!

Elijah fell off the monkey bars on the playground! First they thought it was a dislocated elbow, but x-rays showed a break as well.

Monday                                                                                       Tuesday

Mike and I both spent regular intervals this week doing yard work: mowing, weeding, cleaning up flower beds and planting or re-potting house plants.

We've enjoyed watching several blooms open up on the one productive iris stem. Any ideas why there were no more blossoms?

Another tandem breakfast date on Wednesday.

Thursday, father and son had a fun day away--free tickets to the Memorial golf tournament in Dublin, Ohio.

Meanwhile, back home, minus the car, I tried to drive the truck for the first time. I just could not get it to start. (Mike said later that I must not have been turning the key far enough. I am such a wimp!) I was talking to my daughter on the cell phone (she was the last to drive it) and finally decided I was not meant to go anywhere. So I jumped out of the driver's seat and fell to the ground! I forgot how high the step is. I lay there laughing and concluded it was a perfect moment for a silly selfie.

After one long gardening session I discovered this little friend on the window box--a sleepy toad, not more than 2" long.

Remember the evening I helped stitch a few butterflies on the panels for the BSU Orchid collection?
This article tells about the opening of the new orchid greenhouse, Saturday. You can see a video of the event and a photo gallery showing many of the beauties housed there. I believe it is the largest collegiate collection.

There was an important graduation celebration I had to attend. This lovely young lady was with us on the Circle Tour of the Basque Country last year.

Speaking of the Circle Tour. This year's is almost here. We leave this week, June 7! A lot to do between now and then! I will try to line up posts and program them to publish each day so you can follow along.

2014 Week 15: Many Forms of Beauty

The week was a mixture of fun times with the grand kids, a visit from my brother Ivan, enjoyment of nature and art, and necessary medical procedures. However, most of those events remain un-photographed.

Two afternoons were spent with the young'uns. The first thing Jude says is, "Walk! Outside!" and continues insistently until he gets what he wants! As we walk he repeats, "Trees." Though the terrain is rough for such a small little guy, he keeps going and does not want to turn back--our young explorer.

The brothers have fun together, most of the time.

Zion wanted to go to Grandma's, then I realized I'd be coming back the next day anyway so why not? He packed his bag quickly and we were off.

Before sundown we managed to go for a walk in the woods. I have photos of all the older grandchildren on similar adventures when they were about his age. Such fond memories.

We discovered the first blooms of spring. The biggest surprise was the first ever blossom on a perennial I planted  a few years ago--on lower right (can't remember the name?).

Zion's favorite bedtime read is one of the Curious George books. Next morning he had fun and work with grandpa riding the four-wheeler up and down our road picking up all the trash thrown out of cars.
At noon we took him to the lunch for seniors at the Lion's Club where he was the center of attention.

Back at their home Wednesday afternoon, first the obligatory walk with the little one who can now say, "Gammaw."

The week culminated with the fourth annual Barton Rees Pogue Poetry and Arts festival. This year I helped out on the planning committee.
Friday evening Indiana's poet laureate, George Kalamaras, had a very entertaining talk at the Gray Barn.
Saturday's events were spread out between three Upland locations. Local artists exhibited their choice works, Michael was one of them. Poetry lovers gathered for contests, readings and a workshop.

There were three Koch women represented in the original poetry session. DIL Karen's humorous poem about the show "Family Ties" brought laughter. "She nailed it!" they said. Daughter Leah's gritty poetry earned her a third place award! Mine was well received but did not win anything.
However, in the next session, I won a second for interpretive reading.

These are samples of the Youth art in the sculpture and ceramics section by two young girls we know. Emily's dragons won last year.
I love the detail and colors in Ellie's ceramic tiles.

I have no more photos and the weekend is fading fast. So, good night to all.