Friends, highlights of Week #32

Cousin Karin says her flowers are not as plentiful anymore. I appreciate each bouquet. I think they make great blog post  openers.

A humorous God-appointment happened Sunday. We had wanted to get together with a couple who had last invited us over for food and games. I suggested to Michael that Sundays after church were easier to schedule than to try to find an open evening throughout the week. And we certainly had an abundance of food, Michael's specials--bread, gazpacho, ice cream and my zucchini brownies.

So, he looked up the name of the friend to text. It wasn't till someone else responded with, "Sorry, we are on our way back from Colorado," that he realized he'd sent the invite to a group, his hiking buddies! We had no idea how large the party would become. However, it was perfect, a fun time with friends.

Monday, we met with more friends, old friends (well, about our age) from long ago. In fact, Fred was the best man at our wedding.

Instead of coming to Upland, they met us at Stephan's place where Mike was working so they could see the progress on the house. When I took Karen for a tour of the whole property, we admired Stephan's storybook bench. 

Tuesday, I took sis-in-law Diane for a little outing to a nearby coffee shop. The art displayed is quite unique.

Wednesday, Michael went camping with his hiking buddies to Shades State Park, a beautiful restful time. 

Meanwhile, I was very focused on writing a new chapter. Until now I'd been able to work on previously written pieces. I knew they would run out sometime, and that day came sooner than I anticipated. My self-imposed twice-a-month deadlines will keep me busy from now on.

Even so, I took off Thursday afternoon and put in a couple hours helping to paint the mural. It was a great break. I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with the other painters as I worked my way across the lower part giving a second coat or cleaning up the edges of the dark green waves of grass.

I try to maintain my walking goals, always noticing new things along the way. 

Both dead?

A writer friend called some time ago for comments about my visit with two grandsons to Minnetrista's Bob Ross Exhibit. She quoted me in her article and gave me a copy of the magazine!

I was able to send chapter 12 to my translator to work on over the weekend, which is when he has time. Whew! So grateful to meet that deadline! 

Here is a teaser. Come back August 15 to My Argentina to find out what these few photos are about.

I certainly would love to hear about the highlights of your week!

Another full week - #31

Karin's Sunday bouquet 7/18/21

Our hydrangeas have finally made their pompous appearance.

If we're low on bread, Michael bakes more on Sunday afternoon or evening. He enjoys trying new recipes. This one has olives and tomatoes. However, he's very sparing about how much he consumes. 

Monday afternoon, Michael, Leah and I went to the Switch Up in Van Buren to finish painting the last little characters on the climbing wall. The center logo, Sarah will paint.

Then we went to Stephan's dinner and admired his timber framing progress. Notice the live edge above what is going to be the door to the under-the-stairs-pantry.

On the way home we stopped to buy several more dozens of corn, which we then had to stay up till midnight to process and freeze.

And we came home through Matthews to make sure the mural-painting team had everything they needed to begin the daunting project. Unfortunately they had rented the wrong lift, one only safe for indoor use on smooth floors.

The next day they had obtained an all-terrain boom lift. This was the progress a couple days later.

The mural features the best of Matthews and promises to be a stunning addition to the small town.

This is the same building complex where the East Central Indiana Robotics team is housed.

Michael went backpacking again with a few of the UCC Hikers and sent me this photo.
I was glad for him that he got away from the many responsibilities that weigh him down right now. 

That afternoon, Rebecca and I went with my friend Petey and her granddaughter to an event at Minnetrista very popular among little girls - 

Faeries, Sprites, and Lights.

Unfortunately, the insects were on a rampage and feasted on Rebecca. The miserable itchy welts shortened our experience.

Throughout the week, I spent long hours on a better conclusion to chapter 11, scheduled to publish August 1.
Saturday was especially frustrating because of trying to wrap things up for the deadline and running into so many technological issues.
And Michael was gone all day on his weekly bicycle ride with the Muncie group.
Add to that, we had planned a birthday celebration for Skye's 24th that evening.

Fortunately, I had spent all day Friday preparing for the event. 

"All's well that ends well," is that a saying? [Just looked it up. Oops! It is a Shakespeare play!]
Anyway everything ended superbly. The party was so much fun--Kalani doing all the motions to Wiggle songs with all of us joining in the motions; the birthday meal and Krazy Koch song (looks like Destiny enjoyed the family tradition!); and the guys going wild over the tools Michael had so much fun buying for Skye.

Oh, and the chapter conclusion was acceptable, and Locusts published as scheduled!

And now to wrap up this weekly photo journal -  the surprise blooms of the week that come with memories.  

Years ago, at the wedding of our dear friends' daughter, each guest received a small packet of bulbs.

Week 27

Another lovely array of blooms from Tennessee. Cousin Karin blesses us each week with one or more pics of her floral arrangements.

I continue to enjoy the changing local blossoms on my daily walks.

On this day I also caught sight of one of the painted rocks Rebecca and I placed a couple weeks ago.

Monday evening, Karen served a delicious and colorful meal, and for dessert freshly picked wild black raspberries, very abundant on their property.

Michael is still trying to finish painting our house. How to safely reach the highest part has taken trial and error. He checked out the different lifts available for rent. He thought this smaller one would work, but it was impossible to get it close enough to the house without destroying the flower garden.

Wednesdays, Rebecca usually comes over while Kayla works. We have a fun time doing a variety of activities: walk, games, piano, books. She loves to play hide and seek, not only taking turns finding one another but also locating Humming Bird (a finger puppet). This time it perched on Serenity while we played the piano.

The guys well-planned backpacking trip had to be postponed one day due to rain. 

Thursday, I went along to the church to see them off and then walk home, trying a new path.

On their way to Charles Deam Wilderness, they stopped at a diner in Edinburgh for their famously large tenderloin sandwiches.

Campsite fellowship

The beauty of the panoramic landscape and the tiny details on the path

For me the first two days were quite lonely. Then Saturday I had a couple of visitors in the morning, and worked at the Helping Hand store in the afternoon.

Trisha and Jackson

It was good to have Michael back and go out to eat together that evening to La Palma Mexican restaurant nearby.

Full House

The week started out icy cold.

We had decided to take off after church to watch son Stephan and the other carvers in the process of making ice art. 

His was a more delicate, risky piece with many parts and so tall it barely fit under the tent.

The Best Pancakes 

Obviously at the start of "Sugaring Season", he had maple syrup in mind. 

Michael was so inspired that he carved a decent snow squirrel when we got home.

 

Our bread supply was running low, so Michael started a new batch and the girls finished it.

They were able to share the end product and show off their bread-making skills with a group of students on the MuKappa (missionary kids & internationals club) planning committee.

Rebecca was here Tuesday ready to play in the snow. This time it was pack-able. 

In our first attempt we ended up with such monstrous mounds, too heavy to stack.

Next we made a snow-girl outside Moriah's glass door.

Thanks to Michael's promptings and example, I am getting more exercise than ever before.

A local group, UCC Hikers, often announces outings for whoever can make it.

We joined Bob Medows, the organizer, for strenuous hike at Seven Pillars, trudging through 6" deep snow.

As the weather warmed up, Michael dared to go out for a bike ride Thursday.

Did anyone know this was National Engineers Week?

Don't know if that was the reason, but the Engineering students decided to have Fancy Friday.

The girls were busy getting Moriah dolled up for the day before her 8 AM class..

Ever so grateful for a deadline to clean up my loft writing area! I spent  most of Thursday preparing to welcome Kendra's boyfriend visiting from Massachusetts. I sorted, rearranged, dusted, swept, and finally on Friday made up a bed for Zack who arrived later that afternoon.

A photo was in order. Sorry, no before pics!

The love birds gazing . . . 

Rebecca was here for awhile. Moriah loves to play with young uns!

Zack got together with several old college friends while he was here. Saturday one of them drove in from Ohio! We had taught Zack our favorite game of 2020 and he loved it. So while Kendra was out doing her long run for Marathon training class, he taught Lukas how to play Splendor.

I posted the following Announcement on a new blog. I am so excited about this project. More to come!

In the process of sorting through piles and files, I came across photos I had not seen or didn't remember (that happens too often lately). This is my father's family when he was the next to youngest, the little boy in the front. Another brother was born later. Grandma had dark hair, and grandpa was still with the family. 

This week brought back memories of Daddy's passing, February 21, eight years ago, shortly before his 92nd birthday. I was so privileged to be with him during that momentous transition.