2016 Week 26: Mid Year

This week I spent many hours at my desk in the loft writing and rewriting some of my life stories. . . and staring at the hummingbirds that zoom in and out. One of those times I was entertained by a very confused bigger bird who kept coming back and could not figure out how this feeder worked.

Bird with identity crisis

Mondays Kayla teaches a Family Dance Time for ages 1 - 2 accompanied by one adult. Rebecca gets to participate and so far quickly picks up all the moves--a natural-born little dancer!
An added bonus is that while Kayla teaches her other classes, Rebecca has some cousin time.

Photo by Kristie Koch ‪#‎cousins‬ ‪#‎playtime‬ ‪#‎juderiver‬ ‪#‎sharing‬

The Tuggys, visiting from Uganda, were at Stephan and Karen's dinner, and I forgot to take a picture. So here is one from three years ago. Before they leave I must get an updated photo as the children have grown several inches.

Nikki was in Leah's high school class and John was at Taylor U when Stephan was there.

On the drive there and back I read to Mike. We just started a new book, Tripping.
The sunset was so beautiful on the way home.

The clouds as we neared home

Daisies are profuse now, a whole field of them growing behind the tree sculpture.

Wild black raspberries are also thick. I picked a cottage-cheese container-full Tuesday while Mike was at robotics. In the process I discovered new paths he opened up and more berry-picking areas.

So many trees have fallen through the years and seasons. When I came across these branches of a dead tree, I was reminded of the sculptor who creates huge installations out of sticks--Bending Sticks. As the wife and mother of sculptors, I was fascinated when I saw this video of an artist using a very different medium.

Wednesday, grandson Malachi came to borrow camping equipment for a trip with friends to the  Audio Feed Festival.

 Elijah, in the background, wanted to go but he had his own getaway last week at Miracle Camp.

The robotics friends planned a surprise birthday party for John and asked to host it at our place.

Happy 16th, John!

Thursday
At last the lilies by the mailbox opened up!

Friday, while in Hartford City, I checked out how the pieces delivered last week were displayed at the Frolicking Roots. Can you find them?

Michael had a meeting with Andy Mark Inc in Kokomo to present two robot parts the team has been working on for some time, from design to completed sample product.Andy Mark Inc sells robot components to FIRST teams and they could see the potential of marketing these next year.

Saturday was I forgot day. So I'll just skip over that lazy day.

How are you spending this 4th of July weekend?
Come back next week to hear about ours.

2015 Week 47: Event-full

What a surprise to look back over the week and count four events sandwiched between two birthday celebrations!
Last Saturday we celebrated Zion's 6th birthday, actually coming up tomorrow, Monday the 23rd. Mike just sent me this photo he took on that occasion so I add it to last week's collection. No, not Zion. Everyone competes now with Rebecca for the attention.

The first event of the week was a concert all in Spanish! I truly enjoyed that surprise. They sang choruses familiar in my childhood, sonnets by Garcilaso de la Vega, and Misa criolla by Ariel Ramírez from Argentina. The refrain that stood out was "Señor, ten piedad. . ." (Lord, have mercy)
So appropriate considering the news of the week--terrorist attacks and deaths of people in our community or others we know.

It was chapter exam week. No photos of the piles of tests on the dining table still being graded. If only we could do away with grading!

Wednesday after class was event #2, only a couple blocks away from the building where I teach--the Excellence in Innovation Awards Celebration. We were invited to honor an outstanding member of the robotics team.

The evening was extra special because the speakers were Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher from Ontario Systems where Mike worked for 23 years. They told the fascinating story of how it all began and the lessons learned along the way.

 In addition, one of my current students was part of the committee that worked on the event, and I got to meet her mother as well.

One of the walking friends was available both times this week. We don't know how long we will be able to continue this routine.

My Friday routine, the only day I don't teach, includes a lunch hour meeting with my writer friends.
One member of the Writers' Bloc had the opportunity to edit a book translated from Swedish. He showed us the coffee table edition he received. I was fascinated by the beautiful paintings and the creativity of combining childhood memories with fantasy, by super-imposing robotic figures in each painting.

And after our writerly chat, one of the friends, in the biology department, took us into her lab to show us her "babies."

Later that afternoon we had a delightful visit from friends we had not seen in a while, the Barnells.

They stopped by on their way to a Jackie Evancho concert at the Honeywell Center in Wabash.
That sounded like a great date idea to us. We were able to get balcony tickets--event #3!

Saturday, was a day I looked forward to so much, event #4--Malachi's performance in The Crucible. Both he and his girlfriend, Lexi, had leading roles.

"Goody" Proctor (Elizabeth) and the Rev. Hale

 And it was Malachi's 17th birthday! Kristie planned a celebration at the house after the play, first for family, and later for his many friends.

It began to snow around noon Saturday.

My favorite Facebook pic of the day!

Rebecca's first time in the snow!

Sunday morning we woke to this beautiful winterscape.

We truly enjoy the changing seasons.