Last week of summer.

These beautiful blooms planted in July were nearly buried in weeds.  

The lovely Blakely girls, our favorite landscaping crew, weeded and mulched the flower garden by Leah's house last week. Just received pics this week.

 

I finally picked up last week's paper that had my article.

Jane and I enjoyed our Tuesday morning walk. We explored areas of the Taylor U campus that we had not seen before.

Michael put in long hours at Stephan's every day, and stops at Menard's once or twice a day for more parts.  He is working on the radiant heat control panel at this time. Father and son are focused on the inner workings of the house (heating and plumbing), not pretty or showy, but oh so important!

For more about the ongoing progress on the house, see Karen's weekly blog updates.

My work is to write. In March I began posting two chapters each month--the 1st and 15th are my self-imposed deadlines. Wednesday was the scheduled publication of chapter 14.

The task has become more demanding as I ran out of pre-written chapters, and now my primary source, my parents' letters, has dried up. 

I try to give time each day to the process of furthering the story of my early childhood in Argentina. 

1. Determine scope, content and theme of the chapter.

2. Research the sources, historical context, relevant photos and theme-appropriate Scripture.

3. Compose the narrative, edit and revise.

4. Schedule to publish on My Argentina.

5. Send English version to friend in Argentina for translation.

6. Edit, discuss and come to an agreement on any changes.

7. Post and schedule publication on Mi Argentina querida.

So, at the beginning of the week I was working on steps 6 & 7 for chapter 14. And then began immediately on chapter 15.

Later in the day come the chores--cooking, cleaning, etc. In the evenings when we finally are together, we sit in our favorite recliners, watch Jeopardy and some other show. That's when I knit a few more rows of whatever project is on hand. Eventually, stitch by stitch, there is a finished product. I truly enjoy making something useful out of scraps. This came from a massive pile of tangled yarn I found at the Helping Hand store. Not sure where it will go now. Perhaps to a program that helps out children in foster care.

Can you see what's wrong with this outfit?

Friday was Kristie's birthday. A couple days later we were privileged to visit them in their new house and see two of Sam's pendulum paintings. Wow! He is quite the artist.

Saturday was an adventure-filled day. Michael was going to go bicycling alone. I suggested we go hiking together. I was thinking of the cross-country trail. In an effort to make the adventure comparable to his usual 80 to 100 mile bike rides, he planned a route through our woods, across the road to another woods, to the cross-country trail, then the road to another trail and walk home. I asked how long that would take. What he hadn't counted on was that over the summer the paths he knew were all overgrown. He was leading me into the jungle! When we came out on the first road, we just walked home.

Early afternoon, we had some delightful little visitors. Kalani is fascinated by the wooden duck decoys.

Three grandboys arrived soon after to spend the night. We enjoyed an afternoon of games and fun. 

They stayed back that evening when we went to the wedding of Stephan and Karen's neighbor, Jasmine. For years now she has been a regular at Monday Night Dinner, so we've all become good friends.

The ceremony took place in the front field of Stephan's property. 

The wedding arch; the couple; Boomer, the ring-bearing dog 

We sat next to this lovely lady with the golden hair. The sun shone so bright. Karen's hair glistened like gold.

It was a fun evening. And when we got home, the boys were still alive and awake. Elijah had prepared a tasty egg dish. 

Sunday afternoon, we took the boys home and toured the new house. It was wonderful to spend the afternoon catching up with one another.

The boys brought out the new musical instrument in the family, Zion's trombone. My Dad would've loved this scene.

Summer's Eve

Karin has so many flowers that she made two Sunday bouquets. Do you have a preference?

I always liked calla lilies because they were abundant in Argentina, but had only ever seen white ones.

I continue to go for a walk most days.

 Monday, I was taking this picture from the bridge when Michael drove by on his way to work at Stephan's.

This is what the house looked like as I drove in that evening for the weekly dinner.

Tuesdays, my friend Jane and I walk for an hour. The daisies were everywhere.

I accomplished some bigger cleaning projects this week. One was the deck. We enjoyed a couple meals outdoors in the beautiful weather.

Michael stayed home most of the week and began tackling the big project of repainting the house.

Wednesday, I picked up Rebecca from the library. She wanted to visit Kalani, so we dropped by briefly. Later we painted rocks and went out in the neighborhood to distribute or hide them.

Thursday was like a date-day. Michael and I hiked the Taylor U cross country track, went for a swim in Dove's Crossing pool (Stephan and Karen's), did some shopping and ate dinner at Applebee's.

Saturday, my brother Alan and I flew for a weekend visit to a very special relative. 

Can you guess from where we took off and where we went?

Much more to tell about our wonderful time.

Now, I must publish this, last week's report, before it's time for another one!

Award ceremonies

Another Sunday bouquet from cousin Karin in Tennessee--rhododendrons and a couple irises peeking through, peach and purple.

Sunday afternoon, we hiked part of the Three Falls Trail by the Salamonie River.

There were lovely spring blossoms along the way, very different from the last time we were in the area.  I believe we tromped through snow then.

Monday, Kendra allowed me to help set up and arrange her table at the film majors exhibit. Fun! 

Monday Night Dinner was not cancelled, Stephan and Karen pulled it off yet again with another tasty meal. The fractured shoulder and bruises are still causing Stephan considerable pain. However, he remains unstoppable.

The house-building has not come to a halt. Stephan does as much as he is able. See below how he picks up and carries heavy boards with only his right arm. 

Progress was notable throughout the week with helpers, "the Young Apprentice, the Father-in-Law" (as Karen refers to them in her blog), and a few others that drop by. 

I am learning new terms: purlins, joists, rafters. 

We rushed home from the dinner so we could watch the livestream of the 2021 Senior Show of the Film and Media Production department. Kendra's speech went very well and she was recognized for academic excellence among other things. Both girls won leadership awards.

Twice in the week Moriah talked about her role in the senior engineers' project - the Mars Habitat Printer. Michael was able to attend the in-person event, and got these photos.

Who would've thought this kid from the robotics team would soon be among the elite group of female engineers working in an industry (still TBD)!!! 

Wednesdays after lunch at the Senior Center, I have fun visits with Leah. I like to keep busy while we chat, so she assigns me an area or task. This week we cleared off the table and washed it down. Later she decorated it with a bouquet and candles.

Michael spent long hours at the team shop this week as they prepared to attend a competition this weekend, the only one so far this year. 

Saturday was a very full day. Michael left at 4:10 a.m. for the Ram Robotics Invitational in Hamilton, OH, and arrived home after 11:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. was my starting time tor the World Vision Global 6K for Water. One hundred from our church participated in the event and we had beautiful weather.

As soon as I got back home, I found the schedule and link to watch Team 1720's performances throughout the day. They were running behind so I had only missed one match. 

The rest of the day, I managed to keep track of most of the wins and losses in between attending a bridal shower and watching Lexi's graduation online. 

Most exciting was when final scores were announced and Team 1720, the PhyXTGears' alliance won!

The grand finale of the day was to be allowed to attend the official screening of the films produced by the four teams of majors in the department. 

It was not easy, however, to watch Miss Holly in Jack, the Town, and I. My performance may have been adequately believable, but I sure looked old!

2021 Film majors (Kendra far left)

Finals next week, then graduation, and the end. Goodbyes are what some students dread the most.