2018 Week 11: Life Mixes

This week we've had an intermittent mix of snow, ice and sunshine. Along with the mixed up weather came a mix of celebration, fun, work and news of hardship and sadness.

Morning ice-glazed view

Stephan wanted to go to Fogo de Chao for his birthday. It is an upscale Brazilian steakhouse in Indianapolis. So Sunday we picked up Diane and joined Stephan and Karen for the exquisite culinary experience. 

Monday was Stephan's actual birthday and he wrote the following on Facebook (smile) : 

By this time of the day 47 years ago I was born. I was born in a hospital so as to be near my mother who had just traveled through a blizzard to get there. When I came into the world it was too much to take so I decided not to breath. The midwife knew enough to beat it out of me and then I decided breathing was probably a good idea after all and have been doing it ever since. Having done both the not-breathing and the breathing I have to say that breathing is probably the way to go. Being 47 allows me to be thankful for a few things so much life experience has given me:
A) I'm thankful I am no longer carded for alchohol, lighter fluid, and dry ice.
2) I'm thankful for the new water softener and pressure tank,
C) I'm thankful that I bought Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover 10 years ago for $10. (It has since saved me over $100,000+).
IV) I'm thankful for my lovely wife of 17+ years,
Five) And also but not lastly I'm thankful for my kind and talented parents who keep helping and teaching by example.
Just think all of this has been possible because I was beaten as a child. True story.

We didn't join the small celebration at Monday Night Dinner because we attended Elijah's school spring concert to hear his trumpet solo. We couldn't see him from where we sat, but thankfully someone was able to take photos of him in action.

Tuesday was a strange and beautiful day, with off and on heavy snowfalls throughout. Stephan took it as an extra birthday gift. Can you see the huge fluffy flakes?

Speaking of snowflakes, I was grateful to learn a technique to add some to my finished watercolors in our art club this week. Can you see them?

The friend who took the photos I copied joined our group Thursday. 

She also gave me a new turtle for my collection and made arrangements for us to have our nails done together afterwards at a new business in town called Polished. She tried her best to persuade me to go bold. "Skin Color" was the best I could handle. Maybe next time.

New turtle members meet; new nails for the month

While a few of us were having art fun, Michael and Moriah were helping Dash (the 3-ball robot) learn to write. Thursday afternoons from 3:00 - 4:00 she teaches a robotics class in a neighboring town to ten elementary school children.

Writing lesson

Earlier this week Moriah contributed to Pixel's wardrobe by sewing the bumper covers for this year's PhyXTGears' robot, even though she is no longer on the team. 

We are grateful she found the time to help and was able to figure out how to use my sewing machine. Most of the time she is gone studying and doing homework with other engineering students.

Friday evening, however, she got away for a few hours to attend the team fundraiser, Quartermania. 

Our winnings!

Michael's week was intense--late robotics nights, and early mornings designing the satellite. And next week the first competition. So stay tuned!

I mentioned bad news hit our extended family this week--a death, and a difficult diagnosis. So we pray.

2018 Week 10: A few highlights

Sunday evening we went to Pastor Dan's Open House. He teaches the Sunday School class we attend. The Blossers enjoy having the college students over whenever possible. And we love joining in.

Son Johnny (8 or 9?) had displayed his unique art work. He opens up cereal boxes, reassembles them inside out, textures a design and then fills it in with watercolor paints. I was so impressed. The flowers were my favorite and the bright tones of the sailboat my second choice.

What a fun evening playing the drawing and guessing game--Telestrations.

Monday afternoons, when I remember, I like to stop by for a few minutes and watch Rebecca at the dance studio before I go to my old people's exercise class.

Waiting for class to start

Tuesday I was able to visit Mother again. I've been trying to put up pictures on her bulletin board from different periods or aspects of her life. I love her high school senior picture--a drop-dead gorgeous red head!

The first attempt before I changed it.

Kim came for a short visit. Soooo good to see her after the many weeks she was sick.

Two or three mornings we had snow on the ground.

View out front door

Those who could make it met here Thursday for art club. A friend who would've liked to have come was visiting her mother walking around the farm where she grew up and sent these photos.

A couple of us tried to paint one of the scenes.

I'm sure the flower was not a current photo. It was snowing and cold as she wandered the old haunts.
I tried to replicate the snow flakes with grains of salt, a technique we had learned earlier. Can you see them?

My attempt to do the barn

Friday was the opening of the second movie based on Madeleine L'Engle's bestseller. I read it so long ago, knew it had made an impression on me, but could not remember it. So I wasn't sure if the film would bring it back and do it justice. However, it was a great excuse for a date. I'm still not sure about the movie. Have any of you seen it?

I've also been listening to a totally different kind of bestseller. It kept me very interested and focused on my cleaning goal for Saturday--to spring-clean our bedroom. I'm embarrassed to think how long it's been.

In the process I had to empty the vacumm cleaner and couldn't put it back together. I called for help from our resident engineer. It took us much longer than we care to admit. Surely it has to do with the poor design. Nevertheless, it was a good fun bonding experience.

Michael, the expert engineer was not home, of course. Saturdays are all-day robotics hours. The drive team was busy practicing, gaining experience for the upcoming competitions. The robot design, strengths and weaknesses are constantly being tested and tweeked as well.

Others on the team are working hard on many other aspects to keep "the well-oiled gears of PhyXTGears working best together." The next big event is a fund raiser Quartermania, a type of auction. (Click on the link and read about it.) $4000 worth of prizes to win. (Click the link and watch the video.)

Then come out March 16th, bring all your quarters and have a blast!