Wash Day--Once upon a time...

Last week I added and corrected a previous post about old technology.
Since then I received a couple of priceless family photos of little ones helping mom do the wash with those old wringer washers.

Aldo

Alice

There is another memorable family photo I'd like to have--one of my siblings on wash day. We called him the wash day orphan.  

Was Monday always wash day when you were growing up? I'm not sure whether our life was that structured  back then. Yet another question for Mother or Lynn to remember.

2010 Project 365 #27

Fun and Games

Our first full week with Amaia we may have worn her out! Every day a new experience and most days two or more special activities. I will not tire you with photos of each and every one, even so there are more than one per day.

Monday:
Ivanhoe's--we met Laurie and another Basque girl and her hostess.
Game of LIFE--Amaia won.
Malachi's Little League game

Wonderful Monday Meal at Chef's and games of chess after.

Tuesday we took the three Basque girls to Connor Prairie where they stepped back in time and experienced a bit of life in the early 1800's. (More photos and commentary here.)

Wednesday was Fort Wayne zoo day and if that was not enough, we went to a water park on the way back. Two grandboys were along. Elijah said, "That was the bestest day ever.

Thursday we took the girls to a big shopping mall and then joined the crowds for Family Day at the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

Friday a second time to the Splash House for all kinds of water fun and more sunburn/tan? (That was the ongoing debate after--burn or tan?) The wave pool is new this year.

While they were there I went for a walk with my friend Viola. She rides her electric scooter and I trot along.

In the evening the Mississinewa Valley Band gave a concert in our church parking lot.

There was a large crowd, but we had back row seats in our friends, Dane and Laurie's yard next door.

After that we were off to another venue, downtown Marion First Friday where they showed The Blind Side on a big outdoor screen.

 But here we have front row seats and plenty of blankets for the night cold air.

How to explain the title to Amaia? The context is American football and because there is no Spanish equivalent, they gave it another title--Un sueño posible. For those readers who speak Spanish wordreference.com's forum explanation is  "se refiere a como el "offensive tackle" protege el ángulo muerto del "quarter back" en football americano."

It was past midnight when we got to bed, even so Mike got up early today, Saturday, and went for bike ride with two friends. However, he found a shorter way back and here he is raiding the fridge for nourishment.

I think he was simply too eager to watch the start of the Tour de France. The historic review of the 100 years of the stages in the Pyrenees was especially interesting having "been there done that", well...sort of.

And the day is not over yet. I stayed home, but the others went to Marion again for another concert and fireworks. Mike and Dane left earlier to watch the Marion Classic bike race.

The weather has been beautiful all week. We hope it accompanies us next week when we go camping.
Anyone else going camping this summer? Go to Sara's for more.

Project 365: Week 32

Routines

My focus this week has been to determine and begin to establish routines for life in retirement. Hopefully these daily photos reflect some of the priorities I have chosen.

Physical exercise is one. To begin with, nice and easy (then why are my muscles complaining?), this daily program which claims to "relieve the miseries of menopause naturally."


Spiritul and intellectual exercise


The work area where I spend a goodly chunk of every day, represents numerous endeavors:
communication with family and friends; learning and writing opportunities; photo processing.
In my happy little corner you can see the computer Mike provided for me as well as his photo;
a study book about the parables (check out previous posts and join the fun!); my daily To Do lists right under my nose; and more (usually way messier than I like).

Family fellowship

We are fortunate to have our children and grandchildren all within a 30 mile radius so we get together often. Wednesday was DIL Karen's birthday. After a long fun day of fishing with Stephan, we surprised her with a favorite taco and peach pie meal and, of course, the crazy Koch-song.

Friends are a very precious part of our lives. I am not sure whether there are friendship routines to be added, except to enjoy one another at every opportunity.

Thursday we were blessed by the visit of friends from long ago, maybe 20 years since we last met.

Nocha had prayed for me since childhood. She chose me from among the missionary kids names, we are only two days apart in age. I met her when I went to college. Then our own missionary paths crossed in Mexico, Europe, and the ship Doulos. There she met and married Dallas. They have twin boys, grown now.

This is one of Dallas' paintings, titled Las comadres, and it speaks to me of the variety of friends I am blessed with.

Daughterly duties

Again there is no routine. Visits have become more frequent as Dad's health is failing. I am so blessed to live not so far away and to have the freedom to be involved in their lives.

Dad had two episodes this week similar to what happened end of January, his right side not cooperating. On Thursday he was hospitalized.

I visited on Friday.

You may wonder what the following photo has to do with that. I just have to chuckle every time I see that our photo has replaced George & Laura Bush's in a prominent spot in my parent's home.

Home and Garden

Every day I try to do a cleaning/sorting/fixing task around the house.

And, at least once a week, spend a longer time in the garden. The impatiens have taken off this year like I've never seen before, in my gardening experience anyway. However, only in that one area. In another part, they refuse to even stay alive! What's up with that?

Finally, I just have to add a Meemaw Moment: "Watch this, Grandma!"

(Multiply that by at least a dozen, until his tricks became too daring and he suffered a fall.)


See y'all next week at Sara's place, if not sooner at my place! I love visitors!

Project 365: Week 31

Monday

Weekly meal for whosoever-will at Chef-son's: an action photo

Menu: eggplant parmegiana, a variety of green salads, homemade potato crisps, and lemonade + stimulating conversations + much laughter.

Couple on left will wed in less than two weeks! Stay tuned for more about their love story.

Tuesday

Oops, no photos. I spent most of the day translating the dress code policy for the Marion schools, actually their new 'uniform' description, a very technical task. I had to refer constantly to the forums online--http://wordreference.com/ for the best descriptive words for the various items.

Wednesday

After my regular every 6 or 7 week hair appointment, I drove on up to visit a while with mother on her 88th birthday. I took a couple pair of more supportive shoes for her to try on. The shoe store salesman (owner, manager?) let me take them "on approval" basis. One of them was a perfect fit, and the other pair a tad short, but the next size is on order.

While I was there, dear Argentine friends, now settled in the US and co-pastoring a Spanish-speaking congregation, arrived with a beautiful mouth-watering cake. My mother said, "Dory never forgets!"

Thursday
Dortha Mae Dowdy, died July 22 at age 97 and was buried today next to her late husband.

They were my parents mentor-missionaries those early years in Argentina.

I gathered all the photos I could come across, scanned them and sent them out to those who would remember. Here is my missionary 'aunt' holding me at summer church camp by the kitchen tent next to our well-loved cook, doña Elena.

Friday

We set out very early (for retirees and pre-adolescent grandsons) for the first day of IRI--the Indiana Robotics Invitational. As mentor to team 1720, Mike had to be there way before the first match. I had over two hours to wait, so I found a place to sit and read!

This is a photo to represent my experience: the concession stand, the Argentine flag right above it, and our team 1720 coordinator buying breakfast.

The grandkids kept checking in with me to show me their finds under the bleachers. One time I asked them what country the flag belonged to and gave them the first letter as a clue. They spouted off many names which revealed their ignorance of geography and of me! I determined to teach them more about my history and world facts. We started with a hangman game to come up with the name of my 'other' patria.

In the afternoon, I took off for a couple hours to have dinner with my uncle and aunt who live in that area.

Uncle Bud had just celebrated his 85th birthday the day before. Here he is enjoying the Hoyt family album I had put together for my parents. It has a section for each of the ten brothers and their families. He is the youngest and can still recall many interesting facts and anecdotes.

Saturday

Second day of competition. No way can I do justice, either photographically or in words, to the total experience, so check out the link to the blog. Besides, I wasn't even there! I had a Reality Language conference to attend all day. Check it out as well. I think you will be VERY impressed with the system. I feel very privileged to be a part of this new and growing program. I am now a certified Reality Spanish trainer for Teachers and Health Care Professionals. All I need is students! Being the only one in Grant County means I may have to do a lot of ground work to create those teaching opportunities.

No photos on this day either. So I will leave you with the completed puzzle we worked on with Amaia. It remains on our coffee table as a reminder of good times.

I echo what someone else in Sara's circle said, "Don't know what we'll do after Project 365 is over." It's become a wonderful discipline and valuable record of this year 2009.

Project 365: Week 30

From Birthday to Birthday, Campus to Campus, Hellos and Goodbys My SIL commented that we pack a lot into a week. Amaia's last week with us was certainly NO exception, and there is NO lack of photos. I've chosen the most representative ones. Monday A tour of Taylor University, including the bookstore, of course, to purchase a TU sweatshirt. The Memorial Prayer Chapel is beautiful, built in memory of the five who lost their lives in the terrible accident three years ago that received national attention due to a mistaken identity. In the afternoon we celebrated Amaia's 16th birthday a day early with the other Basque students and their host families. Her parents and sister were 'present' via the cake photo. Tuesday The youth went to Cedar Point: the Roller Coaster Capital of the World! I did NOT go. I have no photos for that day. Wednesday Family and friends began arriving for our Family Day! Here the grandboys are introducing friend David to Moe, Kayla's guinea pig who was with us for a month. The day was looking very gray, the weather forecast was not very definite. We were determined to make the best of it and enjoy our day on & in the water.

The sun never came out. We were wet and cold, but the water was warm and we had a lot of fun: jumping, sliding, tubing, fishing, talking, eating, just being together!

Thursday

The Basque students prepared (with help!) and served us a farewell dinner, Basque style, with several courses: pinchos (appetizers); salad, a vinagrette dressing and bread; tortilla de patata (potato omelet); steak; Basque cake.

Each had written a thank you note for their host family. These were very meaningful. We also shared what we had enjoyed about them and our time together.

After the meal we acquired another 'daughter' for the remaining couple days. Her host family needed to leave early for their vacation in order to visit a sick grandmother.

Friday

We took the girls to Indiana Wesleyan University especially for Amaia to learn about the pre-med program. She wants to be a pediatrician, both her parents are doctors. Irati was introduced to the pre-law program.

Saturday

We said our goodbys at the Fort Wayne airport. Here one of the last glimpses as they were going through security.

Today we learned that their plane was delayed three hours and they missed their intercontinental connection and had to spend the night in Dallas. Earlier this afternoon I phoned the family, Amaia had only been back three hours--tired, happy, and a few pounds healthier! We arrived back just in time for Skye's 12th birthday celebration.

What do you think of that cake?

The daughter always comes up with unique party ideas!

Not the end of our packed week yet, we took two younger grandboys home for the night so Sam & Kristie could look at vans to replace the work vehicle or the transmission in the old one.

Four year old's side of phone conversation overheard the next day:

--Hi, Mommy! First, did you have fun?

--I had really fun!

Grandma is always happy to hear that.

Another truthful statement the day before:

--Your house is a little bit dirty (as he pointed out spots on the carpet and spider webs in the corners.

I have my work cut out for me! Is this retirement or what?

Hope you understand why I'm late posting to Sara's circle of 'virtual yet real' friends.

How was your week?

Project 365: Week 29

The week was somewhat quieter, after the grandboys left ;)

They were with us a couple of days and we had lots of fun like loads of water rides and slides at the Splash House. No wonder they were so hungry.

Also every day this week...the Tour de France!

I managed a couple of shots of the unique welcome the French have prepared for the Tour.

Those spectators need to be more careful though. They get too close to the speedy cyclists.

Our own family 'celebrity' rode 168 miles yesterday in the RAIN, no I do not mean wet precipitation, in fact the weather was the best possible combination of mild temperatures and favorable wind direction. All the good fortune must have come from wearing the Basque team jersey Amaia brought him from her country!

The other ongoing event was Camp Invention.

Skye and 90+ others enjoyed taking obsolete gadgets apart and designing new contraptions.

I debated whether to post one of their inventions, but

chose to show his favorite accomplishment, making a new friend.

Yesterday, we were excited to have Amaia back from Camp.

The girls enjoyed making the BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!

And we were very happy to eat them!

We begin our last week with Amaia and have something planned for every day, including celebrating her 16th birthday. I think there will be way too many photos to choose from next week. Do come back and visit, and don't forget Sara & friends!

Project 365: Week 28

I will begin with where I am today, and then go back and reminisce. I warn you up front that I have more photos than usual to do justice to a full week. You are probably thinking that all our weeks are big, and you're probably right. Maybe that is why the rare Sunday afternoon nap, out on the deck on the lounge chair Mike got for my birthday years ago, was so wonderful. This is the view from that restful position. First of all I must go back and correct a serious omission. In the Cornerstone photo blog series, I failed to include son Stephan & DIL Karen. Both contributed greatly to our week--fun, food, fellowship, family. What a great formula! Karen making pancakes, successfully, I might add. Mine flopped.

Stephan also cooked a fantastic curry, played games, told jokes, laughed a lot!

Monday

Mike took Skye, Kayla and Amaia to the Splash House where she eventually tried all the water slides.

In the meantime I went shopping. Aldi's had 500 piece puzzles reduced to $1.99. Amaia started one immediately and we've been working on it ever since! I was right, anyone who loves Sudoku, enjoys rompecabezas.

Tuesday

We rode 14 miles on the Cardinal Greenway, the girls on single bikes and captain Mike & I on the tandem.

Amaia was tired out, but what did the cat do?

Wednesday

The four host families took the Basque teens to Indianapolis to experience the city: the art museum and gardens, downtown, Monument Circle, Lucas Oil Stadium...

...and finally a meal at the Old Spagghetti Factory. The Basque girls are deciding whether they like what they ordered--crab ravioli.

Thursday I blogged about Leah's Adopted Birthday and posted enough photos already.

Amaia had to go to an orientation session to prepare for church camp.

Friday Kayla's dance studio had their summer dance camp and sleepover. Amaia watched for awhile and hung out with the other teens who bombarded her with questions.

Saturday We used our family pass to Minnetrista where we experienced three current interactive exhibits.

We had the grandboys too.

Here Malachi as bee keeper and Elijah as cook.

And here we are this morning, saying goodbye to Amaia who left for the week with the youth to Miracle Camp.

Now check out the exciting summer adventures of all the other friends at Sara's and pray for each one.