2017 Week 1: A New Year, A New Game

 Enjoying a new candle in yet another unique Klaytivity piece.

 Looking out on a new day and new year, asking questions such as:
--What should I keep on doing?
--What should I change?
These Scriptures come to mind:
--I Thessalonians 4:1c ". . . just as you are doing, that you do so more and more."
   and 5:11 "encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing."
--Hebrews 12 1 ". . . lay aside every weight. . ."
Just when I was ready to give up this blog or give it another direction, a friend wrote, "Keep blogging, Rita!" So, because I have not come up with any better ideas, and this has become a habit, here I am for another year.

Michael saw the orthopedic specialist Monday and was encouraged to walk normally, let the pain or discomfort be his guide, use the crutches a little longer to keep from doing anything harmful. He no longer uses them.

Even on crutches Michael never failed to feed the birds.

 However, unintended intruders cleverly find a way to deplete the bird seed.
Should we be feeding the squirrels as well? Would that even deter them?

Wednesday three of the students from the robotic's team wanted to come over and play games. Mike put them to work helping with tasks he was not up to yet, like: taking down the Christmas tree and returning it to the attic and carrying in wood and stacking it in the garage.

Temperatures dropped significantly. Snow arrived one night and with it the snowbirds. 

Thursday, the walking-ladies-who-walk-nomore braved the frigid weather to have a birthdays and Christmas-New Year celebration breakfast. We hope to resume our exercise program in the spring. 

Last Saturday, we welcomed the New Year at the PhyXTGears' new home in the MadJax Maker Force building. 

There was still a lot to do this last week before the BIG DAY--Saturday, January 7th, the beginning of robot design and build season! It begins at the Kickoff event where via simulcast the new game is revealed. The 2017 game is STEAMWORKS.

Let the brainstorming and strategizing begin!

The 2017 Team 1720

Michael has gone into his "cave" and is almost non-stop designing, researching, creating parts and perfecting them.  I expect him to emerge in six weeks. Meanwhile I will try to keep him fed, and happy ;-)

2016 Week 45: Change is Coming

Milder weather has lingered longer this fall than ever. but we finally got freezing temperatures this weekend.
I've enjoyed these cheery Klaytivity ceramic pieces on our table all week . . .

. . . also one last bouquet of impatiens on my little desk in the solarium. Yes, I finally pulled the plants from the window boxes.

Grandson Skye and his friend put in their final days of work splitting and stacking wood. Looks like we have enough for several winters.

Rebecca was our major entertainment in tap class. Even so, we did try to work hard on the two dances we hope to perform for the residents of the Upland University Nursing Center.

More grandkid pics for my Meemaw Moments: Sam's two youngest posing in their costumes for a goodbye picture with Daddy who was leaving for a longer work trip. (Thanks, Kristie)

I found the message of the page I worked on Thursday evening, while listening to friend Win Corduan's music gig on streetjelly.com, rather amusing, especially considering the ongoing diatribe surrounding the election.

Michael has been weighed down with many concerns to do with PhyXTGears' move to the new shop in the MadJax makers' space. If the move-in date were postponed again, it would be impossible for the team to be ready for build season beginning in January. Even more importantly, could the different entities be able to come to an agreement. After several meetings, finally a workable plan was achieved and they hope to begin moving in next weekend! That is huge!

Another big blessing came Saturday when they found an auction where they loaded up with many furnishings and equipment for the new place at incredible prices.

I stopped by the Christmas craft sale where other years we had a table selling Klaytivity unique thrown pottery. Serendipitously, our walking foursome from a year ago was reunited! I was thrilled to see that Georgia had a display and was selling her beautiful photography.

That evening we had a game night at our house. A new friend brought her two boys. They wanted to learn to play chess. 

Then Leah and family came and they had Rebecca with them. Fun evening. 

We'll have to try that again!

2016 Week 21: New beginnings

It has been a week of settling into new summer-break routines--resuming regular exercise opportunities and working on daily writing goals.

Monday, on my way up to the studio where we have our tap class, I noticed one beautiful big amapola (poppy). By Friday, there were several.

The same day, Michael invited me on a tandem ride! Couldn't turn that one down! The last time was a year ago. We didn't go very far, but his leg pain returned so no more tandeming that entire season.

This time we had a perfect pain-free ride and began to entertain the possibility of another tandem vacation this summer. We've done that at least five times, the last time was in August of 2013 to Northern Michigan and Mackinac Island.

On the first leg of a tandem-only circuit trip in 2008

I don't think we will ever attempt the tandem-only camping like eight years ago.

Tuesday, a thirty-minute drive to town for my every-six-weeks hair appointment, even though my lovely hair dresser lives across the road from us!

Wednesday, last year's walking friends got together for our first walk of the season. We admired the finished building at Taylor, stopped by one of the ladie's home on the way, and ended up at the coffee shop.

 Can you guess which pastry was most tempting?

At the senior's lunch there was a Remembrance Table. Do you know what each item symbolizes?

 Thursday, May 26th, Michael caught up with me in age! We're not big on celebrating our birthdays so, of course, he wouldn't miss a regular robotics work evening. I surprised him with his favorite dessert, a blitz torte, and his adoring student-fans brought cupcakes and ice cream. There were only a few present. The others don't know what they missed!

For days he's been making a special "bee house" so they have a place to go when they begin to multiply and swarm. He put together some 34 frames ready for the honey bees to build their combs.

He is much like the bees, always busy and productive!

2015 Week 40: Not slowing down!

The temperatures plunged this week and I was constrained to bring my plants indoors, amazed at how much they had grown. This may be the first year I haven't lost any. However, I do need to lose give some away.

Sunday evening was our first "Open House" at pastor Dan's. The weather was still very pleasant and we were outdoors hoping to glimpse the Blood Moon. The clouds blocked our view most of the time.

These little cuties could care less. They were just eager to go to a special Chinese party at Taylor where they could have moon pies.

Monday, I got to spend a few hours with this cutie before going to my class in Muncie when his older brothers got back from school. Mom had a "good-Samaritan" errand that day.

Showing off various poses

Big bros chilling after school

Rebecca joined the walkers both days, lucky me! Tuesday was still warm.

Debby showing off her new hair design.                                                                                                 

Thursday was chilly enough that my friends were wearing ear muffs and gloves. I borrowed a sweatshirt from Kayla. Rebecca made it very clear she does not like to wear a hood, so her mom said it may be the last time she lets her go out in the cold. :-(

One of the routines Mike and I enjoy as often as possible is breakfast together, physical and spiritual nourishment--Mike's wonderful egg dishes and the Daily Audio Bible.

However, it is not always possible as we enjoy very full schedules.

Saturday Mike accompanied some of the robotics students to a special event--RAGE (Robotics All Girls Event)!

Our girl engineers

Much more to tell next week, which will explain why I'm so late posting this one.

¡Hasta entonces! (Until then)