Miscellany

Cousin Karin cheers us with flowers from different seasons--sunflowers, roses, and lilies. They are not from her garden. The memorial bouquet arrived after her brother Ed's passing. 

The season not represented in the bouquet showed up here on Sunday--our first snowfall.

Now, back to last Sunday, the beginning of week forty-six. In the afternoon, I attended a baby shower for a young couple we've befriended since they moved back to Upland to start a new life after some difficult times. 

Monday Night Dinner at Stephan and Karen's always includes a great meal, fun conversation, and of course, a tour of the new house to check out the week's progress. The window wall is coming right along. Stephan used left over wood he had milled for other purposes.

As any homeowner understands, maintenance and repairs are ongoing. Tuesday, a blocked drain took hours to fix. Part of the problem was not knowing exactly how the plumbing had been installed when the house was rebuilt.

Rebecca was here twice this week! Wednesday after piano lesson she comes and then we go to the Basics program at the church. And Friday was an E-learning day, so she started out at the library with her mom, stayed for Story Hour and then I picked her up to spend a few hours with us until Kayla got off work.

Kayla is in charge of activities and programs at the local library, and comes up with very creative ideas. Even if borrowed from Pinterest or elsewhere, I am always impressed at how she pulls them off. The first thing she did was hand me a leaf to add to the tree with my response to "I'm thankful for. . ."

Of all the many activities we enjoyed together, I only got one photo of Rebecca. She finished several of her E-learning assignments: writing, reading, and optional fun ones--a walk outdoors gathering leaves, an art project, a board game (Splendor!) with family members (abuelo joined us!). She still loves to dance freely to music.

Michael had more time Saturday after an early morning hunt, so he baked bread again!

Callah bread

That evening he suggested we work on a watercolor project. He looked up a photo that best reminded him of his last dog. I simply followed a tutorial. I'd say he has the greater talent and patience.

For months now, my creative energy has been poured into writing, so I was grateful for his suggestion of this art activity for our leisure time together. 

Have you found time for creative activities in your leisure time? Or, do you ask "What leisure time"?

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.