Week 46

This was the view out of my loft window Tuesday afternoon when I sat at my desk to write.

The snow fell fast and furious Monday evening and we decided not to go to Stephan's dinner. The next morning very early we were on the road for Michael's cataract surgery scheduled for 6:45 a.m.! I was his driver on the way home. Thankfully, we made it back safely.

Most of the week the scenery was rather bleak and bare, except when a beautiful woodpecker visited the feeders.

Wednesday, November 13, the two-year anniversary of Lynn's passing, I thought about my brother and imagined him looking down on me instead.

Rita and new little brother Lynn 71 years ago

Another jaunt back in time happened as we attended the Ontario Systems celebration Thursday evening and walked down the hall lined with friends and coworkers from years ago. It was probably ten years ago that Michael walked out of there after twenty three years with the company. Large photos from the archives were displayed all around.

Promo photo of the dialer Michael designed

Ontario Systems Celebrates Nearly 40 Years of History and Community Impact

We especially appreciated the opportunity to greet and thank Wil and Ron for their example of integrity and the impact on our lives. Their vision statement was: "Passionate people, serving others, driving a strong economy." Faith in God and care for people were always evident. They strongly believed God would lead them into the good works He had prepared beforehand for them (Ephesians 2:10).

Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher, the founders

It took me most of the week to unpack the boxes and put away the pottery from the craft fair last weekend. In the process I rearranged and condensed the entire display.

During this week of surgery, post op visit, and a schedule of multiple daily eye drops, Michael has slowed down somewhat. 

Saturday was a long work day at the Matthews robotics headquarters. Some team members and friends converged there to move much of the equipment stored in the warehouse next door into the nearly renovated spaces.

Ever since the move from Madjax, it has been very difficult to find basic tools in the MESS that was the accumulation of many loads dumped there from the Muncie shop.

Storage area in contiguous warehouse

The next day when we walked through, I was amazed at the progress--a nice reception desk in the entryway, donated cubicles set up to section off areas, tools moved into the carpentry shop, carpet down, the playing field beginning to take shape, and the machine shop equipment mostly set up.

Entry; cubicles; carpenter shop; playing field; machine shop

And yet there is so much work to do before the first open house next week! 

So, what did I do while Michael was working in Matthews? I drove up to Grace Village for a short visit with Mother before going to Malachi's birthday celebration.

We visited friend and fellow-missionary "Aunt Margaret" in her Independent Living apartment. Her son David was there. He looks in on her every day. I asked him about his memories of growing up in Argentina. He related his joys and struggles. At one point Mother asked (using her talking machine): "Do you ever regret that you are a missionary kid?" He said that sometimes he had, especially as a teenager.

After I left Mother at her table in the dining room, I headed to the restaurant in Warsaw for Malachi's early birthday family celebration. Only Grandma Debby and I were able to make it.

Malachi will be 21 on November 21st! He may have been embarrassed by the all-restaurant version of the birthday song. Zion may have enjoyed the blowing-out-the-candles tradition more than the birthday guy :-)

But from my perspective, family times are always precious.

2017 Week 44: Surprises

What a downpour! Power is out. Thankful for a generator.

The huge surprise of the week was actually reencounters. Some classmates in my high school graduating class started a group on Facebook. They searched long and hard and found me! Read this blog post from 2010 to understand how unlikely and unexpected this is--High School Graduation.

We are all scattered, a few no longer with us, and some have yet to join the group. Daily chats and posts slowly bring back faded memories and renew friendships. We share photos and stories. Most of us had forgotten the graduation ceremony. One was able to locate the button pinned on our uniform by a parent.

Monday after class, lunch and shopping, I went to cover for Kristie who had a job interview. I was welcomed by smiling pumpkins, and played Skipbo with the "Mad Scientist" when he got home from school. A while later Kristie arrived with Captain America.

Tuesday was the last class our friend Jason had committed to guiding us in water-color techniques. However, we decided to continue meeting with whoever can come, and invited another local artist to join us.

That evening Leah had fun welcoming interesting visitors. Do you recognize anywone from the art club?

I, on the other hand, had only one "trick-or-treater" show up, and may have frightened the cute little unicorn.

However, she got over it quickly and took over my camera to get a picture of her escorts.

The next day was their anniversary, six years already!

Thursday (sometimes referred to as TBT--Throwback Thursday), I had fun restoring, scanning, posting some of Stephan and Karen's old photos that forever grace their fridge.

I took the lower left photo when we first met Karen. They remember how long they had to maintain the pose till I managed to get the shot I wanted. 

In the lower right they were playing members of the 80's show, the A-Team, for a skit at church.

Friday, our sleep-deprived resident student was off to class early. I just had to get a photo of the presentation-worthy attire which had required some consultation with friends.

I spent the morning arranging all Mike's pottery at the Gray Barn for the 7th Annual Upland Holiday Arts and Crafts Festival the next day.

Klaytivity--Mike Koch's Unique Thrown Pottery, filled the entire counter. Hard to believe so many pieces remain after selling and giving away  again that many over the years. Everything was 60% off--priced to sell!

Here are a few of his unique pieces. Which two do you think sold?

I had volunteered to be there Saturday, 9:00 - 4:00, so Michael went off to work at MadJax. 

He said I could keep the money. Not bad for a day's wages. The best part, though, is talking to people.

I had one special little visitor, but failed to get a picture until she was walking away.

Any big happenings or surprises in your week?

2017 Week 1: A New Year, A New Game

 Enjoying a new candle in yet another unique Klaytivity piece.

 Looking out on a new day and new year, asking questions such as:
--What should I keep on doing?
--What should I change?
These Scriptures come to mind:
--I Thessalonians 4:1c ". . . just as you are doing, that you do so more and more."
   and 5:11 "encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing."
--Hebrews 12 1 ". . . lay aside every weight. . ."
Just when I was ready to give up this blog or give it another direction, a friend wrote, "Keep blogging, Rita!" So, because I have not come up with any better ideas, and this has become a habit, here I am for another year.

Michael saw the orthopedic specialist Monday and was encouraged to walk normally, let the pain or discomfort be his guide, use the crutches a little longer to keep from doing anything harmful. He no longer uses them.

Even on crutches Michael never failed to feed the birds.

 However, unintended intruders cleverly find a way to deplete the bird seed.
Should we be feeding the squirrels as well? Would that even deter them?

Wednesday three of the students from the robotic's team wanted to come over and play games. Mike put them to work helping with tasks he was not up to yet, like: taking down the Christmas tree and returning it to the attic and carrying in wood and stacking it in the garage.

Temperatures dropped significantly. Snow arrived one night and with it the snowbirds. 

Thursday, the walking-ladies-who-walk-nomore braved the frigid weather to have a birthdays and Christmas-New Year celebration breakfast. We hope to resume our exercise program in the spring. 

Last Saturday, we welcomed the New Year at the PhyXTGears' new home in the MadJax Maker Force building. 

There was still a lot to do this last week before the BIG DAY--Saturday, January 7th, the beginning of robot design and build season! It begins at the Kickoff event where via simulcast the new game is revealed. The 2017 game is STEAMWORKS.

Let the brainstorming and strategizing begin!

The 2017 Team 1720

Michael has gone into his "cave" and is almost non-stop designing, researching, creating parts and perfecting them.  I expect him to emerge in six weeks. Meanwhile I will try to keep him fed, and happy ;-)

2016 Week 50: Winter sets in

 

This week I've enjoyed a different Klaytivity centerpiece. Cheery candle light is perfect for wintry weather.
Sunday we had our first significant snowfall and Mike was out plowing. We didn't get nearly as much as other areas of Indiana. 

Monday the roads were fine and I had no problem going to the last class of the semester. I asked the students for a photo to remember our group, in different poses--una foto normal, una foto seria, y una foto loca. They said the most difficult pose was the serious one. Ironically it is my favorite.

Michael's regular Tuesday/Thursday routine involves 6 to 8 hours of robotics-team-related work, however, he often goes in other days as well. The move out of Morrison Mock into the MadJax makers' space is almost finished and they've made great progress setting up the new shop. Other positives: good working relationships with decision-makers of both MadJax and within the team; new students and mentors; timely funds.

The Tapping Divas, our new name, had two practice classes this week. We are performing the 23rd for the nursing home in town.

Kayla told us about how Rebecca loves to go to the post office. She's learned what the green slips are for and hands them to the clerk in exchange for the packages, their Amazon purchases. She colored the page they give out and now it is on display at the Post Office.

Thursday was Malachi's surgery to repair a wrist bone broken three months ago.

Pre-op and post-op

That evening, our friends, the Bowyers, arrived to move their son to Arizona. Jared successfully completed a semester of student teaching and has a job lined up in Phoenix.

Friday after packing up his college-life belongings into the two cars, we met them at a restaurant in Daleville. Our son Stephan lives nearby so he joined us, and after lunch we toured his studio. It was interesting to see the array of tools he uses, and to watch him program and cut a design in the ice with the CNC router. But, oh, it was so cold in there. Brrrrrr....

I especially enjoyed seeing his office at the back of the building with 16 years worth of awards and photos on the wall, and a long desk area (just as cluttered as mine!)

There was nothing better to do all afternoon and evening than hang out and play games with our dear friends.

Their plan was to leave fairly early Saturday morning and hopefully get back to Arizona with enough time to move Jared into his new apartment so he could visit the elementary school where he'll be teaching music before classes are out for the year.

However, when they stepped outside and nearly went flying on the ice, they thought it best to play a few more games. The news of  500+ accidents overnight in Indianapolis, was a strong deterrent.

By 1:00 p.m. it appeared safe enough to venture forth. Mike prepared the way with the ATV and put some sand down behind the cars. Just getting out our driveway and lane was a challenge. But off they went. Roads were okay at first until they came to a dead stop due to accidents ahead. They did make it safely to St. Louis that night!

I couldn't resist "borrowing" this FB photo of Meemaw's grandboys. They happened to be celebrating Christmas with the other side of the family at the Red Barn.

Today, Sunday, Michael shared with the first grade Sunday School class. Whenever they have a lesson about God as the potter, the teacher invites him to come and talk about pottery.

Christmas next Sunday, only one week! I still have decorating, shopping, cleaning and preparing to do! And all the while rejoicing in the unspeakable GIFT we celebrate--God with us!

2016 Week 45: Change is Coming

Milder weather has lingered longer this fall than ever. but we finally got freezing temperatures this weekend.
I've enjoyed these cheery Klaytivity ceramic pieces on our table all week . . .

. . . also one last bouquet of impatiens on my little desk in the solarium. Yes, I finally pulled the plants from the window boxes.

Grandson Skye and his friend put in their final days of work splitting and stacking wood. Looks like we have enough for several winters.

Rebecca was our major entertainment in tap class. Even so, we did try to work hard on the two dances we hope to perform for the residents of the Upland University Nursing Center.

More grandkid pics for my Meemaw Moments: Sam's two youngest posing in their costumes for a goodbye picture with Daddy who was leaving for a longer work trip. (Thanks, Kristie)

I found the message of the page I worked on Thursday evening, while listening to friend Win Corduan's music gig on streetjelly.com, rather amusing, especially considering the ongoing diatribe surrounding the election.

Michael has been weighed down with many concerns to do with PhyXTGears' move to the new shop in the MadJax makers' space. If the move-in date were postponed again, it would be impossible for the team to be ready for build season beginning in January. Even more importantly, could the different entities be able to come to an agreement. After several meetings, finally a workable plan was achieved and they hope to begin moving in next weekend! That is huge!

Another big blessing came Saturday when they found an auction where they loaded up with many furnishings and equipment for the new place at incredible prices.

I stopped by the Christmas craft sale where other years we had a table selling Klaytivity unique thrown pottery. Serendipitously, our walking foursome from a year ago was reunited! I was thrilled to see that Georgia had a display and was selling her beautiful photography.

That evening we had a game night at our house. A new friend brought her two boys. They wanted to learn to play chess. 

Then Leah and family came and they had Rebecca with them. Fun evening. 

We'll have to try that again!