Pictures

Pictures
September 30, 2010

Hello,

Someone asked to see the pictures that I put up in the basement. A few people thought that we did it in a great hurry. My method was to sort the pictures into groupings, put each group on the floor to arrange, and have Leroy help hang. I am sending a photo site to you so you can see them if you like. They are at the end of the album. They are not the best photos, but it gives you an idea of their arrangement.

There are two pictures of me that Leroy took in the park. My vanity wanted to delete one of them, but then I decided that most of you have seen all my wrinkles anyway. I apparently do not look at wrinkles in the mirror, but just ignore what is there because I found it shocking. I surely do not look like that. Don’t tell me about it, I do not want to know. I am all for touching up photos. Seems to me like the greatest invention.

We had a time trying to take the sunrise pictures. We have taken sunset pictures and had no difficulty. What is going on here? Actually we have taken sunrise before too and it was good. Life makes some skills vanish in a nanosecond.

The praying mantis was on the backdoor, but I did not see it until I was ready to go back in. I hope I did not lop off a leg when the door closed, but it is possible. We had a praying mantis on the house in Chariton. It was also on the door. Do they like doors?


Here is the website for looking at any photos. http://picasaweb.google.com/psbradway/DeerInPark?authkey=Gv1sRgCLWklNC81sLwogE#

Paula

Painful Changes

Hello,

Annoying might be more exact than painful, but I really have a hard time when I have to throw chip board (cereal box type materials) and plastics with numbers other than one or two in the trash. Each time I think about how I used to be able to recycle it. I checked out the book, Garbage Land. If you can find it, I think each American should read it. We are the garbage champions of the world, but who wants to win that prize?

To purchase almost anything here I must get in the car or use the bike. Also to use the library I would find it a long walk so must use the bike or car. I was pleased that I could walk helping the earth and my body. Was that pride going before the fall?

We thought we were getting things in order early so we could fly to DC for Christmas. Today the airline sent an email saying they had changed our flight to a later time. That means that we should have plenty of time to get to airport, but not so much time to spend with the entire family as Brian and Jen will be returning the next day. We will not get there until 7:00pm and it could take another hour to get to Sarah’s house. We also thought we would be about the same time as Miriam and family and we could help them deal with the metro and children. Now they will be there about two hours ahead of us. Since we were flying the same airline it was going to work out great as they were originally just half an hour behind us.

Where is my flexibility gene? Did it get lost?

I rode downtown this afternoon with Leroy. He took some time off as he is working tonight and it is only three miles down so it would not take so long. We did get stopped by a train, but it was interesting to go look at the steam engine that is on display there. It could pull a passenger train at 90 mph. Who knew they could go that fast back in the old days?

It was nice today because the fountain was on and Leroy had not seen that before. The new route up the hill was not bad or are we getting stronger already?

Paula

Hayride

Hello,

Sunday afternoon/evening we went on a hayride, ate, looked at buttons, and sat around a fire. I’ll bet you understand all but looking at buttons. The host woman has an amazing button collection. It was quite interesting. But then I guess I saw only a part of it, maybe a third and it was comprised of several hundred buttons. Because Burlington is a river town it had several button factories in town. Apparently this is true for most of the river towns. In the old days things were made more locally. Buttons were obviously of great importance in a culture that did not have elastic for waists. What a difference too that we have so many clothing items that just slip over our heads. Buttons were art that was worn. Now many of our buttons are hidden.

Yesterday I again rode the bike downtown, but forgot to bring my bike lock key. That cramped my style a bit. I just returned books at the library and did not select. At the Port of Burlington, the welcome center, I got a map of Burlington and commented, “I would have liked to look at your great displays, but I can not lock my bike.”

“Where is it,” she wanted to know.

When she saw it she said, “You can just bring it in and put it by the door. I thought maybe it was a motorcycle.”

That was great. I even found a phone number for the symphony so now Leroy and I can get season tickets. We have gotten season tickets to a theater that performs close to us, but Leroy said probably not close enough to walk. There are four plays in the series with the first starting this week. We are looking forward to some of this entertainment.

Paula

Photo Gallery

Hello,

Yesterday Leroy and I worked hard and got up a lot of pictures. This afternoon we put up some more. The basement/computer room is now my family photo place. All but four of them are hung on pins so I do not feel so bad about holes in the wall. This is wallboard so it is easy with the pins.


I have one grouping that is the couples. There are pictures of our children, parents and us. Leroy and I along with his parents have pictures that are later in our relationship. The kids and my parents have their wedding pictures up. So that is a total of six pictures.

Moving on to the adjacent wall there are family pictures of just our group of three, then four then five and finally six before it narrows down to two. I had all these pictures up in Chariton and so much enjoyed that because after the new ones came out, I would put the old away. Now again I am grateful for so much wall space that I can see them again after having them put away. There are fourteen pictures in this set.

I then have a set that is from my side of the family that includes my dad’s confirmation picture. I remember when my sister, brother, and I found this picture in a box. We could not imagine who my dad was. Then when we found out we just laughed and laughed. This was the day of no smiling for a picture and Daddy is wearing glasses. Something I never saw him do until after I left home and he needed glasses for close things. This grouping includes eight pictures.

The next wall has a group of pictures that include baby pictures for Leroy, me, and each of our children. Our high school graduation pictures are just under that. In Chariton the wall space was a bit different and it was easy to make them go in a circle. Here we had to stick with lines a bit more and that made them harder to arrange. The group has a total of ten pictures.

The last grouping is from Leroy’s family. Some how there are only three pictures in this group. Not so many in frames I guess. Leroy’s family did have a lot of pictures. I could have framed some more, but Leroy is not so interested.

We also hung our entire family photo grouping that was taken a year ago in the kitchen eating area. Now that required a nail. We are going to put the four granddaughter’s newer photos around that. For that we will use the hangers that do not mark the wall and can be taken down and reused.

After all this Leroy and I are still speaking to each other even though Leroy declared it as bad as moving furniture. Is this where my heart is?

Paula

What a day!

Hello,

I called to get the routing number from one of our bank accounts so Miriam could transfer some money back to us. This guy needed to ask me five security questions. Three of the five involved counties that we might have lived in. I remember all the cities that we have lived in, but not necessarily the counties. It was especially tricky when one of the counties was Hennepin. I know that is a county for the Twin Cities, but I thought not the one that we had lived in. I was correct, but not easily. We have finally kept all former addresses and phone numbers in a file because once in a while we are asked for that. Now I guess we need to add counties to the information. Because I did not tell Leroy I had done this, he also called to get that routing number. They did not ask him any of these things. Who can explain that?

This afternoon I rode my bike to the library. Even downhill there was a brisk wind and the sky was overcast. Leroy suggested a different more gradual approach to the library. That was a great help. Then on the way home I tried to follow the bike route. They have it marked, but I need more frequent signs plus I looked for the street less traveled. After wandering around on the top of the hill I finally had to stop and ask someone for help. At least I live by the well known park so they know something about how to get there. I was not too far off, but it was a struggle because of the hill and a head wind. Does the wind change direction just when I do? Seemed to me that it did. I was tired and sweaty when I got home, but grateful that I made it learning something about the streets in town in the process. Also if there is a storm coming, I beat it.

My hair is getting long and we need to start looking for a dentist. Fun, fun, fun! I almost envy Leroy his little hair crop that I can control for him.

Paula

Dishwasher Tales

Hello,

Those of you who know me well know that I am not sold on dishwashers, the machines that is. I know that puts me in the minority in this country. Generally it annoys me that I have to prepare the dishes for this helpful machine. Besides, it will not do the hard jobs at all preferring the easy ones such as glasses, plates and silverware.

Here in this house however, I have been using the dishwasher more because the sink is a bit low for me and I have not figured out the proper bend to my back to be comfortable. Until today the sink stopper over the garbage disposal would not hold water as the stopper was quite chewed up. Did it go down? If so how could that have happened?

The hardware store had to order a new one and we picked it up today. It works! I will probably hand wash more dishes now or have I been hooked on that contraption?

The chimes ring on the hour. I can not tell you if it is more times even though it is just next door on the church. At three in the afternoon hymns are played. It is nice to hear. When I went to college I hear the same and got so I paid attention to the time that way.

I did go buy two more mums today. It is quite wet but I will plant them later so they do not have to spend so much time getting used to the strong sun.

I did not get the weeding done, but I will also plant the things I brought from Brian’s house as I am sure they would like to be in the ground even though they look very good now.

I have to confess that I have not again ridden the bike downtown. Tomorrow I will get out there unless it rains.

Paula

Weeding

Hello,

I have put in a full day today. On my “to do” list was weed the flower bed. There are two, but I figured that one a day was enough to tackle. I choose the smaller, but more weedy of the two. I am not sure that it was easier. Some of the weeds were so low growing with extensive roots that I could not get a grip on them. Creeping Charley is here too, but not welcome. Leroy said, “I will use the potato fork and get them out as I turn over all of the soil.”

I had done most of the bed by the time my back complained too much. I do not think I have ever had a back complain when I weeded. I think it was the 6.5 hours of sitting in the car the day before that really made the difference.

Tonight after supper we sat on the porch and admired our work as the rain came pouring down. Would you believe that Leroy and I almost never sit and visit with each other? I wondered if we were well. The flower bed just looks so good compared to the last view of it. Now I want to put some more mums in there.

I brought home five small perennials from Brian’s yard. These non gardening people are trying to get rid of them. They just mow them off and the tenacious ones keep coming back. I thought the plants were dead when I got home but with water and a night’s coolness they look great. I will put them in the last flower bed that needs weeding. If it does not rain too much I can do that tomorrow.

Last night we watched the sun go down across the parking lot and this morning we watched it come up over the Mississippi. In the morning we waited so long and thought we could not see it because of clouds. As we were walking away one of us turned back to see a red slice coming up so we waited for the entire show. So nice! The best things in life are free.

Paula

arrived Safely

Hello,

In spite of driving through a downpour that included small hail pellets soon after I started it was a good trip. I did move into serious worry when the hail started, wondering what I would do if the hail got bigger and broke a car window. Do you think my worry and gripping the steering wheel made it stop? Why do we do that? What does it accomplish?

It took me seven hours when it could probably be done in six or six and a half hours. But I did make a stop at Goodwill to drop off some clothing or materials that were cut, torn, or stained. They accept such things and sell them for rags or rug making. It makes me feel better than throwing them in the trash. Besides it was on my way even though it was almost two hours into the drive. The internet is great for finding addresses.

I also took a walk on a paved trail through the woods at one of the rest areas. I figure when I am doing all of the driving I need to move around more when stopped.

It was quite a bit colder than I had anticipated for the early part of the trip. Here in New Brighton the shinning sun was warming. Brian and I washed his vehicle and then washed mine too. I won the prize for the most pulverized bugs on the bumper. Brian thinks, “Iowa has too many bugs.”

Yesterday Leroy and I watched a fighter jet practice for an air show. Because the airport is just across the bean field, a street, a block of houses and another street we got a good view of much of it. Certainly the sound attracted our attention. It was nice to have it so close that we could clearly see the bottom of it from time to time. Good back yard entertainment.

Paula

Traveling

Hello,

Tomorrow I will drive to New Brighton, MN for Sophia’s third birthday celebration on Sunday. I feel a little guilty because hers is the only granddaughter birthday I have managed to attend. Distance does make it harder.

Today I washed and hung out two loads of clothes, made the bed in the spare bedroom, cleaned a little, walked twice with Leroy, made apple crisp, made apple sauce, shopped, made granola, made meals and washed dishes. Leroy did help with the apple items and he washed the dishes once. The rest of the time he put together another one of those tough shelves and realigned two of those that had been finished earlier, but with out the total number of shelves. Now that was not a happy experience. Indeed we are not moving some or all of these shelves as they could cause the preacher to swear.

Those parks have a magic draw. There are always people over there. I also frequently glance out and see someone walking, running, or biking. Many play Frisbee golf even as early as 6:00 am.

I have seen a couple of older woman go past. One of them appears to be blind as she uses a cane and taps the sidewalk. Usually she is holding on to her companion. One of the bike riders must not have the use of his legs. He rides a recumbent bike. His legs are stationary, but he uses his arms continuously. That one way to create some strong arms. I admire that push to get out of the comfort zone.

One more picture is up on the wall. Leroy put some screws in some existing holes. We will try to do some more of that so that we can avoid putting more nails up in new holes. The plaster here does not accept pins. I like to use the pins because they make such a small hole so it is not so noticeable when we leave.

Paula

Random Observations

Hello,

For reasons that we do not understand the refrigerator door is closing almost effortlessly. Nice fact and we are grateful. Another thing we are grateful about is that the people who mow the church lawn also mow ours saving us the hassle of getting a mower, keeping it running, buying gas, and spending the time. This is a real gift on several levels. Do you suppose someone will do the drive in the winter when it snows? It is a bit daunting to think of shoveling the long expanse by hand.

Yesterday before the mowers came there was the most interesting brilliant orange fungus growing out front under one of the trees.

A thread pulled out on the box springs of the bed for the spare room. I thought it was a gift when I found a hand held, battery operated sewing machine, and only 25 cents. It runs alright, but could not be lined up with the mattress. So yesterday I searched out an appropriate needle and some strong thread. Between the two of us we got the job done. Leroy did most of it. So now that bed is together. Yes, something to check off the “to do” list.

A member of the congregation looked at the blinds in the bedrooms. It took him ten minutes also to get them to come down, however after he took them apart a little he discovered how they should operate so now we can lower the blinds in a mere portion of a minute. He also replaced the smoke alarms and worked on the front door bell as that unit had fallen off and held in place by tape.

When I weeded yesterday I learned that we have chives as well as mint growing in the back. There is also rhubarb, but that will not be so interesting until spring.

Paula

Hill? What hill? Gasp?

Hello,

Burlington is a Mississippi River town. Translate that into serious hills. Leroy had ridden his bike to a church that is down the hill and declared it took about everything he had to come back up.

Today we rode bikes to the post office and library. It is only about 2.5 miles to the Post Office. We start on the level and then float downhill. So it was basically no work, however, getting to the library entrance proved a bit challenging. Short but steep would describe the two block ride between the addresses. I believe I passed the point of being able to speak before I got to the top of the hill, not really the top, but just in the middle where I needed to be. If I had had to go higher it would have required walking for this chick.

We had some discussion about the possible routes home, long and gradual climb or short and intense. I finally voted for the latter mostly because when I come on my own I want to know alternate routes and I did know the long and gradual since we had come down that way.

This was not quite as harsh as getting to the library, but I was appropriately grateful to reach the top. It helped to have a car go by and I did not want to have them see me get off the bike and walk. Gave me enough of a boost to make it all the way up. At least I know I can make it. Now if I can just do this three times a week I will get stronger, right? Then it will all be easy, maybe.

We can ride on the level for a lot of distance. It seems to be just such extremes.

Paula

Our Home

Hello,

We do call it home now. It takes a while to make that switch in thinking. It was perhaps good for us to have those two months to wipe the last home from our place vocabulary. It was also good to have some time to disengage from the people there and open ourselves more readily to others. Being in a church has been compared to a marriage and ending it also takes a time of grief before you can emotionally embrace the new people. I guess God gave us two months so we would be ready to enter the new.

I have the pictures taken and uploaded. We have a number of things in this house that we have never lived with before: a patio, the larger grill that the last pastor left here, a fireplace, display shelves, two ovens, oven and stove as separate units, big refrigerator, master bath, body spray in the shower, pool table, and a remote for the light and fan in bedroom.

I am starting to shift around the pictures so I can get a feel for the places that I would like to put them. There are some existing nails in the walls. It would be nice to use those if we can find that right picture belonging there.

It will take some thought as to what should go on the display shelves. Right now it is all random.

Each time we move it seems that I notice we should refinish this or that piece of furniture, but it does not get done. Perhaps that is not my type of activity so I just ignore whatever when it is in place.

We did buy a phone that has an intercom feature. I think we just might make use of that instead of long distance yelling. That will be a first.

You are welcome to look at the photos at this website: http://picasaweb.google.com/psbradway/BurlingtonHouse2010#
Paula

Apple Crisp

Hello,

I made an apple crisp this morning. It tasted good, but I would like the apples to mush up a bit more when they are cooked. These apples came from the tree in the back yard. I will probably cook with most of them as they are not so exciting to eat raw. There are a lot of imperfections so it is not easy to just bite into one and eat it. We have been cutting them.

The second car is back with us now. Leroy is excited because he likes the way the clutch works. As he said, “I did not jerk around at all.”

We have found the clutch on the Saturn difficult to navigate smoothly. I suspect that the Saturn will become my car and the other Leroy’s since he likes it so well. Both cars even fit in the garage. The recycle pick up was today and they took our massive stack of collapsed boxes. Yeah! It cleared a lot of space in the garage.

For the first time in years we are not saving moving boxes. We thought it might help with the mildew elimination. We were going to be very strong and get rid of all boxes, including those that a product came in, but we have backed off from that standard. We did not go far, but there is a pile of boxes in the basement that looked to be in good shape. Then there is the pile of 25 boxes that I have not yet opened. Many of them are decorative items or souvenirs that we do not need.

Oh decorating! Do I want to do that? Yes and no. I have all the pictures out and scattered around the house on the floor. There are some long shelves on the walls, living room, dining room, and one bedroom. We have some things sitting on those shelves, but it is probably not their final home. They landed there because they were close when the box was opened.

I did take pictures of the outside of the house today, but have not downloaded them to the computer. One day I will get on the computer earlier in the day, maybe tomorrow. Now I am too tired to do any fussing.

Paula

Third Sunday

Hello,

It is our third Sunday in church here, but only here two weeks and one day. Good aren’t we?

The first Sunday we just sat in the pew and worshiped. One woman fainted. Today during Leroy’s “terrorizing” sermon a man fainted. Do you think a pattern has been established? We can only remember one other time when someone fainted in church and that was probably 15 years or more ago.

Today was the first official practice for choir. Practice starts an hour and ten minutes before church. With church starting at 9:00 that means early singing. I try to talk a lot ahead of time. As has happened to me several times in the past old songs are being brought out and used. I can sight read some so that helps me get through it. The anthem this morning had the sopranos always singing the melody and that helped too.

Surely it must be keeping my brain sharp along with all the other things I need to learn. I mostly have our address down but for the additional four numbers of the zip. The phone number is almost in the memory too, but for the three numbers after the area code.

This is a serious choir as they wear robes, process in, and sit up front. I might learn the faces of the congregation, but I am seated behind the raised lid of the grand piano. When seated my view is the lid. It is a nice lid.

Leroy had said that people wanted to know who I was. I had expected that he would introduce me. But that did not happen so I stood with him at the back of the church to shake hands. I think in all these years I might have done that once before. It was interesting anyway.


It is nice to be the new pastor’s wife because they gave me the alter flowers after church. They are beautiful roses and something else that I can not name. I am blessed.

Paula

relaxing Friday

Relaxing Friday

Hello,

As I wrote the date I again thought about the years that have gone by since tomorrow's date became more memorable for people in this country. Then I think of all the others who died on different days do we not pay attention to them just because death picked a different day? Is it the drama of the moment that makes the difference? Is it the numbers of people? There have been others who have died in terrorist attacks.

Yesterday was a great day. As we were half way through the park, I wondered why we were walking so fast. “I want to see the sunrise over the Mississippi,” Leroy replied. We made it in time to see the colors and hues change. We will have to do that again. Just as we were coming out of the park a perfectly beautiful complete rainbow could be seen framing the church. It was so wonderful especially since it had not rained here.

We got lunch ready ahead of time so I would not be cooking when our guests came, even though I like things to be cooked and eaten immediately. Or at least that is the style I grew up experiencing.

All of my plants arrived in fine shape and I told them hello. They are in the house, but not necessarily in their final spot.

We had a great visit and caught up on life in Chariton. They got the house tour before we set off to church.

After church we headed off in the car to visit the two parks across the street. While in the park with the overlook of the Mississippi we shared some space with a momma deer and her adolescence twins. She certainly was happy to ignore us even though we were quite close. Her children followed her lead and munched away on the grass.

Then it was down Snake Alley on foot since the street was closed to traffic. It is something to be in a place where we are somewhat familiar so we can show people around even though we have only been here two weeks. We don’t feel so new.

Last night we slept in our own bed for the first time in almost three months. I had a hard time getting to sleep, could it be because it is not my bed yet and I have to reclaim it? Also we were in the master bedroom for the first night in this house. So it was all different.

Paula

Good Visit

Hello,

Our guest left before we got up. She had a bit of trouble finding our house so it was a short, easy visit. We are planning on another time in the fall when she will again come back to Iowa. She slept on the mattress on the floor. I lay on that mattress before we put sheets on it and decided it was almost better than the spare bed we are sleeping on. Tomorrow night we will be in the master bedroom for the first night. Guess that is good for having been here two weeks.

We did not have time to walk this morning so I went in the afternoon. It was nice, but I realized that Leroy has been leading most of the time and I really did not know how to get around the park. I was just glad to make it back home. What a treat as the fountain was running. I stopped and watched a barge move up the Mississippi and when I turned back to the fountain, it was just putting out plumes of water here and there. Was that first show just for me?

To organize my necklaces I needed a nail with a small head. Such was not to be found earlier. Determined I searched more thoroughly in the garage. Great I found one. Now I could hang up my dad’s necktie holder. It has nice bars on it so I can put a multitude of necklaces on it. The master bedroom looks so much neater without necklaces strewn around. My guest spurred me on since I did not want anyone else to see it.

Leroy spent an hour in the garage this afternoon and he was pleased to find some things that had not shown up before. We are getting there, but it just takes time to find a home for everything.

Leroy also said he is wrestling with a sermon for Sunday. I think that means he is losing, but he assured me that there is still Saturday or maybe even early tomorrow morning. It does not work so well to take Friday off when he is accustomed to sermon writing on Friday morning.

Paula

Bad -- Good

Burlington, IA

Hello,

Yesterday was an opposites type of day.

The phone line is connected. Only one of three phones still works.
Some phone outlets do not work. The new phone only needs one.
Internet is connected. Speed is slower than expected. (Today is faster.)
Computer screen seems small after using the giant display at church. Screen holds entire message, no scrolling.
Piano needs tuning. Piano is in the house.
Favorite popcorn is not at this Hy-Vee. Store has Hy-Vee Whole wheat flour on sale.
Too early at the dry cleaners to pick up. But delivery happened as I was there so I waited.
Could not find five things at Hy-Vee. All workers must be taught: “I’ll take you right to it.”

Now today I am learning how to use the new phone and get all of the tricks in my repertoire. (Good heavens. What is happening? I spelled that word correctly. My brain is indeed sharp. So much learning pays off.)

Yesterday I only unpacked one box and found the flyswatter. Yes! Leroy has assembled three of our ancient medal shelves that take too many nuts, bolts, and time. I have finally agreed that we will not move so many the next move, and buy other modern easily put together models if we need them. Here we will probably use all. In Chariton only a few got used so it was not hard to take them with us.

I am excited we will have an overnight guest tonight. There is one bed appropriately assembled. One mattress is on the floor, but very comfortable. I just knew Burlington was on the way to somewhere.

On Friday we will get a plant delivery along with some bedrails as well as company and conversation for lunch. This is looking good.
Come visit if you are in the area or going through.

Paula

Things

Burlington, Ia

Hello,

If we knew what things to keep and those things we would not want, moving would be easier and make more sense. Here we need more wastebaskets, bath mats, bookcases, shower organizer, and patio furniture. Need is not really the word, but we want. We will buy a shower organizer, more wastebaskets, and another bookcase. The rest we will ignore after all we expect to be here only a year.

Before we left Charlton I said, “Why did we store this shower caddy for three years? Surely the next place will have something just as we do here. It is going to the garage sale.”

Leroy said, “We have too many wastebaskets. We do not need so many.”

On the other hand we have gathered a box of things that we will pass on to the thrift store. It will all be good.

The blinds in the upstairs are beyond my mechanical ability to operate. Rather I can get them up, but not down. I always prided myself on more mechanical ability than Leroy, but he can get these things to work with a bit of persuasion and persistence.

The other day I saw feet walking as I looked at the fireplace. I whirled around wondering who was behind me as I thought the feet were reflected in the glass. No one was there. Leroy then came around the corner. The fireplace in the living room also is used in the dining area off the kitchen. So I was looking through the fireplace and not getting a reflection. This happened to Leroy one day when we were eating. He saw a car going by but it was out on the street and not behind us. This will take some getting used to the effect.

Paula

Changes

Burlington, IA

Hello,

Some changes are big and some are small when you start living in a new place. All take some mental adjustment.

The ovens here are smaller and will not hold the cookie sheets that I use to make granola. I got those sheets from Miriam or Brian who have the same smaller ovens. I improvised by using two 9x13 pans, but the granola was too deep and it did not brown well so I had to bake it in smaller amounts. The oven not only works but I have two ovens with the same type of controls that Miriam and Brian have. It must be the same as mine is exactly like Brian’s with two ovens in the same unit. I notice that the controls are not digital so I can not be quite as precise in the temperature setting. At least I knew how to turn off the timer having done so at their houses.

The washer and dryer are on the main floor something I have experienced only one other year in the US. It was true in all three places where we lived in Slovakia. There was only one floor there.

The refrigerator is the largest I have ever lived with. Can we fill it? I am not sure that I want to. The door requires an extra push in order to close. Now Brian will really think that I close too hard.

For some reason I keep forgetting to turn off the basement light. It turns on downstairs and maybe I think I have taken care of it because it is dark at the top of the stairs.

The cabinet doors under the sink open with a slit that is up rather than the down that I am used to so my hand is pointing in the wrong direction most of the time. I will learn, but it is going to take a few more times.

The brain is staying sharp.

Paula

Junk and Hoppers

Burlington, IA

Hello,

I think one of the heavy decisions of moving is where the junk will reside. Where is that junk drawer when I need it. I miss it everyday. There is always something little thing that really does not have a home.

This morning I decided to put up the sun shade in the car that is languishing in the church parking lot. Wednesday it will move, but until then the sun shines in. While there I checked to make sure that a much searched for item had not been left inside. When I opened the trunk I noticed gobs of mud in the groove at the top of the trunk opening. Wondering how that got there I grabbed on the one on the left and realized it was a mud dapper nest (wasp). No insects seemed to be around so I just proceeded down the line, pulling them out and throwing them on the grass.

“Ugh,” I gasped as I grasped a live almost warm, soft and squish body, “What can this be?”

As I let go I took a closer look and realized it was a small frog. I coaxed it out with a piece of paper in my hand, hoping it would not hop into the trunk. It hopped and clung to the almost vertical outside of the car. Getting a bearing on its new surrounding?
Was it transported from Charlton where the car had sat for two months? Or had it taken up residence since we have been here?

Paula

Comments

Burlington, IA

Hello,

Leroy does read my letters and he just laughed because he has found me annoying in all the togetherness that we have experienced.

I unpacked two boxes of my clothes that did not need to be washed, yeah! It is curious about this mildew because it is on something and not on something else in the same box. Some boxes are all ok. But perhaps they were in the house. I wish now that we had put all of it there.

Brian did remind us that he helped us move one time. I do now remember that he did. It was ten years ago when we moved to Moorhead. Thanks Brian!

Yesterday afternoon a shape caught my attention coming from some bushes. It was a deer who was soon followed by her twin fawns. She came within ten yards of statue still me. As she went past the neighbor’s house and up their lawn the deer walked within about 15 feet of her as she weeded her drive. After that they headed across the busy street and into the park.

Early this morning while walking in the park we saw three more. They saw us but paid little attention. These animals know they are safe with us.

Our house, it is becoming more our house, has the church just across the drive on one side, the park across the street in the front, neighbors on the north, and a bean field on the west. I am pleased that my neighbor did come and introduce herself yesterday. We will have to go meet some more neighbors all in good time. I almost feel like I am out in the country.

Paula

More Unpacking

Burlington, IA

Hello,

I will share our address and future phone number: 2501 Madison Ave. Burlington, IA 52601-6620

Phone: 319-758-7177 however do not call before September 7th or 8th the day service starts.

Today I did unpack and hang or fold most of my clothes. Some of them are still in the wash getting the musty out. I have also washed much bedding and linens. Do we own and move too many of these items? It would seem that is the case. I am in a mood to prune and eliminate. Who wants to deal with more stuff? Less really is more.

Speaking of less, Leroy’s annoying habits are gone – to church where who knows what the secretary and youth director think. They are welcome to him, but this office is set up so that they probably do not notice him much unless they get up and go to his office.

Leroy is now in the largest office he has ever had. He started with none. Is that called climbing the ladder? We are in the largest house that we have ever lived in and I thought the last one was big. Course, who needs the space when I am getting rid of all extras, surely I will do that and not add. We have no children living at home. Is a mansion being prepared for our next move about a year from today? I am expecting just better and better.

One of the hard parts of moving is that I want to put everything in a place similar to the last house so I can find it again without searching through six drawers and doors. A few times I have even had Leroy look for me. He is good for something. I am blessed.

Paula