A Bright Spot

There's a certain comfort in the routine but sometimes it's good to throw in a little something different to keep the interest going.  I took a day of vacation on Wednesday to do some grandkid sitting.  Dawn was on a 5 day cruise with her friend Laura so when she asked if I could help take care of Kira while she was gone, of course I said YES!

Kira's other Grammy had her on Monday and Tuesday, bringing her over to us on Tuesday evening in time for dinner.  Tommy joined us for dinner, as well.  He said he felt like a single parent having visitation rights!  Kira is nearly 4 and easy to take care of.  We watched a Disney movie together, then read books till bed time.  She must have been tired because in five minutes, she was fast asleep.


I was happy that Kira was willing to let me braid her hair this time.  She also wanted me to do it the next day, too!  Her hair is a lot like Dawn's - thick and easy to manage (brought back fond memories!)




Earlier in the week, Christy had told me she had tickets to the Camden Aquarium and did I want to take Kira and join her and her kids on Wednesday.  Sure, sounded like a great idea.  Kira got to hang out with her cousins and I had something to do with her.  I had to take care of a couple of things at the office before we left, so Kira played in the church gym with Andy while I took care of payroll (some things, like getting paid, are just too important to not get done).

It was a beautiful day and the aquarium is such a fascinating and interesting place to go.  I think it's somewhat excessive in price, but I guess when you think about, the cost of maintaining all those animals and facilities must be very expensive.

 Notice the aquarium map in Kira's hand.  She was very insistent on carrying it around and referring to it as we moved from one exhibit to the next.  I sense the development of some leadership and organizational qualities.

It was somewhat crowded with school kids, probably doing field trips at the end of the school year.  But we managed to still enjoy the day.

Most of the time, baby Claire insisted on my holding her.  I'm amazed I was able to get a photo of her when she wasn't with me.  I'm honored that she wants me but that girl is heavy!  I kept switching her from arm to arm but after several hours, I thought I would die!  I would ask Christy to take her back, but Claire would look at me and start crying with rivers of tears running down her cheeks.  Of course, I had to take her back and comfort her.  It was so cute.

 I like this picture in spite of the arm on the right because it seems so random with the kids all doing their own thing - not so posed.

She's worn out.

 When we got home, she still had the energy to play outside with PopPop and the neighbor girl.

Thursday morning, Andy and I got up at 5:00 to go pick up Dawn from the cruise dock.  We took Kira with us and she was a gem the whole time.  The trip up took an hour and a half.  We had left in plenty of time thinking we might hit traffic, but we didn't - a big blessing, except that we got there so early.  But Kira entertained us as we sat in the car waiting for the cruise passengers to disembark.  Then she had to sit in the car another hour and a half for the ride home.  But she was a trooper, happy and a delight to be with - a bright spot in our week.

Spring Flowers

With Andy not feeling well, we have been lying low and not doing much other than resting and being quiet.

So the other day, I took a turn about the yard and savored the spring weather and my beautiful gardens.  My picture taking isn't as fantastic as Amy's and Christy's since I only have a lowly Canon Power Shot A560 camera.  But what is is what is!

These rose bushes are even more loaded with flowers now, just a few days later. 

We planted these Photinia bushes last fall.  I was surprised to see they had such pretty flowers.

A Mother's Day gift from Amy.

 

 

These laurel bushes are absolutely stunning this year and have a heavenly fragrance.

Every summer I like to plant impatiens along the driveway.  By fall they are huge and full and awesome!  However, the last year or so, they haven't fared as well.  Then I heard from a friend that local nurseries aren't selling them because they are being infected by a fungal disease.

Impatiens disease changing American gardens 

Fungal disease targets colorful landscape staple, experts recommend trying alternatives.  Over the last two years, a fungal disease has devastated America's impatiens beds. Downy mildew was reported in Illinois and 35 other states last year.  (from the Chicago Tribune News)

So it's time to try a different annual this year - how about begonias?

 

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity.  ~John Ruskin

 Flowers whisper "Beauty!" to the world, even as they fade, wilt, fall.  ~Dr. SunWolf, professorsunwolf.com

Comfy Couches

I remember when we first got our couch and loveseat.  

It seems like only yesterday!  

For many years we had bought second hand or third hand couches.  When we moved to Portland for Andy to attend seminary, we bought a couch for $5 at the Salvation Army store.  It worked for us for the 4 years we lived there.  In other moves we made, we either found a couch someone else offered to us for free or one we found out at someone's curb.

Until 15 years ago...Andy's cousin who loves to go to yard sales, called us to ask if we would be interested in a couch and love seat she found.  She said the fabric and colors on them were unusual but very nice.  She said they were on sale in an upscale neighborhood in CH.  We went to look at them and decided to buy them.  They were more costly than the $5 we had spent for our first couch, but we weren't the poor seminary students any more.  However, they were still used or second hand.

Well, those couches have seen a lot of family living.  We got them before C & C were married (14 years or so ago).  

 

But as happens in this world, things wear out.  And some weeks ago, when I looked closely, I noticed that the cushions were threadbare.  So when a furniture store flyer came with the mail announcing a 50% off sale, I asked Andy what he thought about going shopping.  I never expected him to agree to it, but he immediately said we needed to replace those couches.  After all, they get a lot of use with all the family, kids and people who come in and out of our house.

So off we went.  We decided that leather would wear best.  We also wanted recliner options.  What do you think?

 They're roomy and comfortable and can fit lots of kids with us, but I will always have a warm spot in my heart for the mauve/red/teal couches.  

An Exciting Week

One of the perks of being church secretary is to take home all the left over carnations from Mother's Day.  These are only a few, but they made a nice bouquet that I have enjoyed all week in my kitchen.

 On Monday evening, we took our couch and love seat to a new home.  I had sent out an email to all our singles friends to ask if anyone wanted or needed new furniture.  One woman replied that her stuff was in very bad condition and she wanted it.  So Andy got a couple of guys to help him take our furniture over to her house.  She was so appreciative and we were happy to "bless" her, as she put it. 

A few weeks ago, we received an advertisement from a furniture store that they were having a 50% off sale.  I mentioned to Andy that the cushions on our couch and love seat were thread bare and I didn't know how much longer they would last because of all the action they see.  He surprised me by saying he thought we should go check out the furniture store and see if anything would work.  So as much as we love to shop (note the sarcasm!), off we went.  We ended up buying a new sofa and love seat.  I plan to blog about that in more detail later.  Those 2 pieces arrived on Tuesday and we have enjoyed them immensely.

You never know how a week will turn out and what we thought was going to be typical, was anything but!

On Thursday, we were working quietly in our offices, when all of a sudden, J ran into the office, saying something that I couldn't understand, but obviously in a panic.  Then the fire alarms started blaring, Andy ran out to the lobby to see what was going on, then came back to the office to tell me and the other secretary to evacuate the building.  It was not a fire, thankfully, but in the process of cleaning up, J had thrown a toy up to a box on the shelf in the coat room.  But on the way to the box, the toy hit the sprinkler head and broke the glass shield.  That activated the sprinkler and water started pouring out.  Andy and J couldn't figure out how to shut off the water although they tried until the fire company got there.  So the water was pouring out of the sprinkler head for approximately 10 full minutes (maybe more) before the firemen shut it off.  There was 2-3 inches of water all over the floor in the church lobby.  It seeped through the wall into the office area, too.  That started a whole list of things Andy needed to do.  He ran home to get our shop vac to start vacuuming up all that water.  He had to call the church's insurance company to report the accident.  He had to call a damage specialist to come check out the damage.  It was very intense and exhausting for him.

 A lot of damage was done and walls had to be torn out and carpets shampooed and cleaned.  Meetings and youth groups had to be canceled for several days.  We were able to have church today but workers will be back tomorrow to continue the repair work.

On Friday, Andy and I went over to Cairn University for me to be involved in graduation rehearsal.  Then back again on Saturday morning for the graduation ceremony.  That was pretty exciting.  I actually got choked up when they started the Pomp & Circumstance music.  Then walking across the platform for my diploma, I got weak kneed and shaky.  It seemed so unreal, but exciting at the same time.

I was so happy for the privilege to take part in the classes I had.  I was very blessed by my professor who taught the 2 classes.  He was so knowledgeable and I learned so much from him and the work he assigned to us.  Of course, I especially liked him because he gave me good grades!  I really wasn't expecting to do so well.  I thought going into this experience that I'd be happy if I got a B but thought I'd probably get C's.  I guess all my angst over my papers caused me to work extra hard which in the long run, made the effort all worth while.  He gave me A's in all my papers and even in 4 of them gave me 100%.  I was shocked but very pleased, to say the least.  Tommy says he is a difficult professor and my A's are even more valuable - thanks, Tommy.  :)

 Christy and Amy weren't able to see me graduate because they had previous commitments, but Dawn, Tommy, Kira and Andy were there for me. 

My crazy cap...It kept wanting to fall off.  I should have pinned it somehow, but I didn't have the problem as long as I stood still and didn't know it was going to give me a problem until too late.

 This is funny because I was in line behind the biggest guy, I think, in the whole graduating class...then there's little old me!

I'm graduated!  Happy, happy.

 Kira's happy too!

We celebrated by going out to eat afterwards before we went home.

Today we had planned to have lunch with our singles group after church.  I had arranged the restaurant and organized the time, date and handled the RSVP's, not realizing that behind my back they were all planning to surprise me with a cake, gift and card for my graduation.  At 10:00, Andy told me he wasn't feeling that great, so I told him to go home and lie down, maybe he'd feel better in time for lunch.  I went to the 11:00 service by myself, then after the service, I noticed on my phone that he had tried to call me 3 times.  I quick called him but he didn't answer.  So I drove home but he wasn't there.  I could tell by looking around that he had gone to the hospital (yes, by now, I know the signs!).  I thought maybe his mom had taken him.  I also noticed on my phone that Dawn had called so I returned her call.  She was at the Emergency Room with Andy and had taken him when he couldn't get ahold of me.  Well, he has a UTI - it really came on quickly this time.  When he had gone home from church, he had started shaking with chills, took his temperature, which was over 100 degrees.  When he couldn't get me, he called Dawn who told him he needed to go to the hospital.  So that's where he is now.  They're keeping him overnight to make sure his temperature stays down and he responds to the antibiotics.

We both felt bad that we couldn't go to the party in my honor, but I haven't figured out yet how to be in two places at once.  And I really wasn't in a partying mood with Andy in the hospital.

Well, I think that's enough excitement for one week.  Let's hope for a little more boredom in our immediate future!

Mother's Day & Andy's Birthday

Sunday was Mother’s Day and Andy’s birthday, so we shared the holiday.  All our kids and grandkids came down to spend the day with us.  We all attended church together, then had lunch at our house.

I had prepared the meal on Saturday, so it was just a matter of heating it up and getting the table ready.  All the sons-in-law were helpful in getting the extra leaves in the table and bringing up the extra tables and chairs from the basement, while the kids played and the girls and I prepared the salads and dessert.

Doesn't Amy look like she's up to something!

Grrammy's rolls are a big hit.

The men and kids played outside after lunch - it was such a beautiful day - while the girls and I stayed at the table and chatted.  Since neither Christy or Amy will be able to attend my graduation, they talked me into modeling my cap and gown.

Happy Mother's Day - with my 3 girls!