Thinking of the Future

Hello,

Living in the present moment is sometimes easier said than done. I find my mind turning more and more towards our trip to Utah and seeing all of the family together once again. It has been three years and that is long enough for me. I wonder if these cousins who see so little of each other can manage to even get along since they do not really know each other. Kids are looking forward to it to so hopefully they will figure it all out. I suppose the flip side is if they do not get along they do not have to spend much time together.

I am thinking about packing and have been gathering a stash of things that I must take with me. They are piled up on my dresser reminding me about the expected trip. As always I try to take only  necessary items because the only luggage I take is my carry on and a personal bag. Leroy does the same. When I come back I am coming back in the car with Miriam and the girls so again I would not want to have extra things that do not have a home in among their things.

I keep praying about God using me in the space that I am in. Lately I have been confronted, from a number of sources, about the inequality of our lives. How I am to do anything about that I cannot imagine. What is my future work? Where will we live when Leroy is done with his work here? What will we be doing then? Course I cannot see all of the answers, but I know they will come in their own good time. At least I hope I can see the answers and don’t miss them because I am focused on the future.

Now, I am ready to wash clothes tomorrow and pack on Tuesday because I leave so early Wednesday that I must be prepared to hop out of bed and get on a plane. Sometimes I am still astonished at how different my life is from 20 years ago, when I would not talk about hopping on a plane so casually.

Paula

Gardening

Hello,

Leroy and I went early to the garden as planned. It was nice to work there before it gets too warm and the sun beats down. One other person did come before we were done. He had worked at another time. As we were talking a guy rode past on a bike, stopping by the dumpster that the workers use by the old fire station. He then proceeded to look through it retrieving discarded refundable bottles.  I went over and told him that this was a community garden. I asked if he lives in the neighborhood. He replied that he lives across First Avenue. (Not really our neighborhood, but close enough.) I then asked if he liked kohlrabi, he said yes. On the way to those plants I asked if he liked turnip greens. He said he liked all greens. I pulled one kohlrabi for him and he said he would eat the leaves too. I invited him to come anytime and help himself.

Later on the way home, we met a woman who was walking along with a cane. I greeted her in the middle of the street and asked if she lived in the neighborhood. She said yes so I told her about the community garden pointing out where it was. I told her that some small broccoli would be ready to pick. She told me that her daughter called broccoli “trees with cheese”. I hope she does go to reap some of the harvest.

We took home some volunteer tomato plants for our neighbor across the street. He seemed quite happy to get them. When he returned our bucket I gave him some winter onion bulbs. He was happy to have some more of them. I asked if he had a place to garden and he said with a big grin, “I just took it behind the house.” Not all renters are comfortable doing that.

I realized after I was home that all of these people were missing some teeth. When traveling/walking with the comfortably rich I almost never have seen anyone without all of their teeth. There are some lines separating us aren’t there? Lack of teeth being a sign of few resources.

Paula

Treasures in the ground

Hello,

Today Leroy and I went to weed in the Ely garden. We have not spent much time there, but the owner who is in his 90’s has some things planted, unfortunately the weeds have about taken over. It was so satisfying to weed when they pulled easily and they were so big that it made a noticeable difference almost right away. We only pulled those things out for an hour, but you could tell where we had been. The exciting thing was that we found big radishes hidden in the thicket. One of them was larger than a hen’s egg. Leroy thought it might have been as large as a turkey egg. I did not know because I do not know the size of a turkey egg. Somehow I suspect it measures between the two. Even Don who is in his 90’s told me he had never seen one so large. The nicest thing was that the top and the root cut off easily so I hope it is a good one. This was definitely the largest radish I have ever been close to. One would certainly make a good radish sandwich.

Leroy and I searched for a different treasure before that. We will be in Utah in a week and have a family picture taken with our children and grandchildren. The plan is for each family unit to have their own color t-shirt. That may sound simple, but Miriam has purchased shirts three times. This last time all were good, but the green chosen for Leroy and I was too outstanding. Course Leroy thinks that would be good since we are the stars of the group, however… Do you have any idea how hard it is to find shirts that are exactly alike for a male and a female? After five stores and not much luck, the only solution was to buy two men’s shirts. Miriam unfortunately was not crazy about the color that we had chosen, plus the small man’s was a bit large for me. So I guess she will try to order some for the two of us one more time. These pictures should be good with all of the pre effort that is going into them. I am excited about it because now even youngest, Natalie will be in the group picture.

Paula

Cars that work

Hello,

Finally the ignition switch came in so we could get the recall work done on the newer car. I suspect it was not really in danger of stopping at some inopportune time since it is ten years old and we had replaced the switch earlier when it indeed would not start at random times. They also said we needed to clean the fuel injector. Leroy called our usual mechanic and it was much cheaper than the price they quoted so we got that done in the afternoon. Hopefully this car will run for a number of miles yet.

I have been driving the older car that is a 1999 to work. It seems logical that greater miles should go on the older car. The radio does not work in this car, but I can contemplate life was well as what traffic is doing. I had thought I might ride the bike to work some this summer, but I am not sure I will get that done as rain is a frequent occurrence. I just do not want to risk getting wet.

Leroy did ride my bike to work for about a week while his bike got a tune up. He could not tolerate my review mirror. I have put up with this piece of equipment for possibly four years, but one week is enough to get Leroy’s attention. Today he got a new mirror and installed it. After riding with this a little way, I wish I had done something sooner, but I did not know it could be done. I thought my handle bar would not support it.

Is that a male thing? Not putting up with an annoyance? Or is that just his personality and my personality? I certainly know that complaining about anything did not necessarily get any results in my family where as I think Leroy found that it made a difference. Leroy really does not complain a great deal either, actually many things that bother others do not bother him.

Paula 

Gardening

Hello,

Leroy has been disgruntled because the last few times he had posted group garden work, he or the two of us were the only ones who showed up. Last night he tells me that four other people came so he was delighted. In his words, “We even got a lot of weeds pulled,” however not to be too optimistic he added, “but there are still many more to pull.”

I also went to the garden in Ely. The vine seeds that Leroy planted are all coming but one hill. There are some pots that he put in another place for the owner of the garden. At the time he came home and stated, “I am not sure I was understanding what was being said about those pots. I think he wanted me to bury the pots in another part of the garden.”

I believe misunderstanding is rampant. Last night I talked to the owner and he commented that the pots have all disappeared. Where Leroy planted seeds are the plants that were in the pots. I also picked a disappointing amount of mulberries. When we had ridden on the bike trail we found some trees loaded with mulberries. Does that mean this tree is just later or it is not having a good year?

I pulled radishes for our landlady this morning. They were about the size of a large shooter marble down to a long tough skinny thread that did not want to be cut. Leroy had already pulled all our radishes. When I look at a radish I assume they should be easy to grow, but it has not happened here. Perhaps they just do not like the front yard in Cedar Rapids. Unless you get scientific about it gardening is fraught with the whim of weather, worms, and witches. I was going to write soil, but it did not fit in the line of alliteration that I had going. Is there a w word for dirt?

Paula

How life changes, or not

Hello,

I realized that I forgot to tell you that Leroy spotted a ten dollar bill on the ground as we walked home from the garden. The other greens were more important to me? At least those greens gave us immediate returns.

Yesterday a couple at church celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary by having a concert including organ, piano, voice, and violin. It was announced in church and then the woman of this couple came up to choir practice and invited all to come. Almost pleaded as she thought few would come.

After lunch, Leroy and I walked back a mile in the light rain that was now falling. There were many people there, over 200. I commented to Leroy that I did not even know the couple. Leroy knew the man because he in the Stephen Ministry program. The concert was quite fine and uplifting. Then there was the reception. I was all for slipping out the back door and going home. Leroy, however, wanted to speak with some people.

While he went off and talked to someone, I also found some people to visit with. What a relief! Even at age 66 I do not want to be a “wallflower”. There was a woman there that Leroy was sure he should know, but could not think of her name. I insisted I did not know her. Sometime later she came up to Leroy and said, “I should know you, but cannot think of your name.”

She was from the congregation in Des Moines. I had been in the choir with her. Then I did remember her, in fact I had known her better than Leroy had known her.

In the end we left with almost the last people to leave the church. Sound familiar? We had stayed an hour and a half after the concert was over. Earlier, I would not have bet on that happening. Wow! Guess we know more people here than I thought we did.

Paula

Garden Gifts

Hello,

Leroy and I can tell that summer is here because of the many garden gifts that we keep getting. We have gotten rhubarb, lettuce, basil, more lettuce of different varieties, and radishes. Last night we were working in the community garden when a twenty something neighbor guy came over and started talking to me. He first invited me to have some of the lettuce in their back yard. He said, “You can just take what you would like.”

“Just where is this?” I asked looking in the direction of a tangled maze of plants in a variety of heights.

“I’ll show you,” he said as he led the way.

I was grateful for that assist as I might not have seen it, but when I did I was impressed at the healthy quality of the lettuce. Great things grow in the most unlikely places. We then proceeded to walk around the other side of the house which had an additional jungle to weave through. He then started telling me that they liked catnip tea. A healthy specimen of that plant was noted. I commented on the tall strawberries close to it.

“Yes we have had them many years,” he proudly asserted, “but they are done now.”

I showed him some berries still on the plants. He invited me to taste one sweet berry. I certainly think one would not expect weed killer to be put on anything in this yard so I popped it in my mouth.

Some yards may be an eyesore, but contain hidden treasures. Which is more important the visual or the content? That is always in the point of view of the beholder. I have to confess I had a little interior shudder when going past this house, but the feeling is a bit different now.

Paula

Plants are growing

Hello,

The leaves on our broccoli and cabbage are some of the largest I have ever seen. They are shading the marigolds that we put in around the edge of the garden. Two of marigolds have been moved, and I wonder if more should follow.

Leroy learned that we have marble sized tomatoes on the one small plant. One of the tomatoes that we planted by the house has been eaten off to within an inch of the ground. Why squirrels would like them is a mystery, but I am blaming the squirrels, certainly the dog next door would not like them.

Most of the flower seeds that I keep for four years did not sprout. Such a waste of effort hanging on to them, as if they were treasures.  Really it did not take much effort as they were in an envelope and I forgot about them.

This morning Leroy was dressed in his bike riding clothes, but he kept an eye on the sky. Before he left he even turned on the TV to check their weather news. As he was still listening and considering, it started to rain making all decisions for him. Now of course it is dry. Even this morning if he could have waited an hour it would have been fine.

Surely the garden will be in good shape for some days to come. For some reason I have not been to the community garden to pull some weeds that are surely establishing settlers rights. Leroy did not go this week either, because he had a mole taken off his back and took it a bit easy for a day. He feels good now, but he tells me that it itches.

Paula

New Beginnings

Hello,

Life is so full of new beginnings. The date is now for the grant application for the Little Free Libraries. I do not have that grant together. I disliked telling the person from our neighborhood that I was not ready, but she made the comment that we could always try later as there are more times to apply. I feel the relief of a load lightened.

It seems like all of a sudden we are harvesting from the garden. We picked some broccoli along with a leaf that we cannot identify. It was a plant that was given to us and we did not write down the name. This person gave us several plants and the rest we can almost be sure of what they are. I thought maybe this was some type of kale that is not so crinkly, but Leroy thinks maybe it is collard. We decided to have some for supper last night and we are still here so it is edible. We also ate some broccoli from the community garden that had flowered. It was an interesting mixture of textures and flavors with some lambs quarters added. Water rinsed out a spicy mustard container and added to the mix. I am so grateful that Leroy will eat whatever is put in front of him. He generally even seems to like it. Once in a while I mention the fact that our parents would not believe the meals that we now consume. Certainly it is different from our childhood experience of eating.

There is the possibility of change and starting something new. I am impressed that I have sewed names on napkins. I am now down to just the last four names. It has been a test of my sewing skills and interest which are rather limited. The goal is not to follow an enjoyment of sewing, but of creating something to share with the family.

Paula

Working Weekend

Hello,

I am not sure how it happened, but the weekend was especially full for Leroy. Half time work means he can say yes to many other things. He was commissioned into the Stephen’s Ministry program at church so he went to all services. That also meant he attended the event for new members Saturday morning.

Saturday afternoon we went to Ely and helped deforest a friend’s yard. It was a bit of a challenge, but we were well compensated both monetarily and in a satisfyingly large pile of rogue trees that were no longer connected to the earth.

Since coming home from church Leroy has been on a roll. We planted some tomatoes that we had been given. Two of them found homes by the side of the house, two were at the rental house down the ways, and three went to a woman who was walking by with a small boy. Giving out random things is one of my favorite ways to meet neighbors. Now soon I will have some vegetables that I can pass around.

Then Leroy and I took the netting off our garden in the front because the plants are pressing against it trying to expand more. Leroy also saw a cabbage butterfly caught under there so it is not keeping them out. It might sound simple to take off the netting, and it was, but folding it was another matter as it wanted to go its own way.

After that Leroy got some random lumber pieces out of a dumpster in the neighborhood. He used those to finish making a platform that he took up to the attic so we can walk around on top of the insulation. It seems to me that he finds this all so satisfying, he can make something, not spend a lot of money, and it does not have to be perfect.

Paula

Ear Wax and Eyesight

Hello,

Leroy has ear wax. Several days ago Leroy asked if I would irrigate his ear. I did that with no success before he got tired or I got tired. That night we put the “stuff” that we had purchased in his ear. The next day we did nothing. The instructions were to put the drops in twice a day for four days, then irrigate. Again the second day we did nothing. Perhaps it was Monday when Leroy asked me to irrigate again resulting in a water flushed ear, but no wax emerging. That night he asked me to put the drops in once more. Then in the morning when we washed it out wax emerged. Leroy felt there was still wax in there. I noticed that his comment level increased into to complaining and a lack of hearing. Last night we irrigated before bed, put in drops, and pumped water again this morning with little result.  Leroy now thinks that maybe it is inside his ear because if he were to sneeze or hiccup there is a brief nanosecond of clarity. I do not know, but I am glad he is not in pain even though his grumpiness level has risen in tandem with the annoyance.

I am changing the subject now from ears to eyes and from Leroy to me. My new lens arrived yesterday. I am wearing them, now. They get dark outside, but not quite as quickly as I would like. I still feel that I have to squint, but perhaps that is a habit. I was not sure how much they helped in the car. According to the person who fit me, these are better than the older style of transition lens which did not darken so well in vehicles. I also got one pair of computer glasses. The second pair is coming just a bit later for some reason. The frames are much darker/black than I anticipated. I thought I could see color without my lens, but perhaps less than I realize. It is always such a risk choosing frames without my glasses to see myself in them. The good thing about all of this is that I see so well with the new lens I am grateful to live in a time and place where I can buy vision if not insight.

Paula 

Neighborhood Involvement

Hello,

This morning Leroy pronounced, “I think we are doing too much in the neighborhood. We are doing much in the garden (that is mostly Leroy), delivering monthly newsletters, and now you are working on a grant for little free libraries.”

Mostly I am not working on that grant because I do not know what to do; I am just getting anxious so it is sapping my energy and I complain once in a while. As I have aged and come to know myself better, I know I am not a leader, but a good second in command who also does a lot of physical work. If I could saw the wood, I would be happy to do that. Someone else could be in charge of the project, which would contribute to my happiness.

Leroy complained last night that he just did not feel like doing anything yesterday. I tried to console him by saying that maybe he needed a total day off. Somehow we do not seem to let ourselves just relax for a day. It seems not to be in our nature. Course now he has Mondays off and I work. We both have Wednesday off, but it is already scheduled with a list of “to do” including laundry. Before Leroy had this time off that was my laundry day. It is hard to get out of the rhythm.

Also tomorrow we will go early to the community garden to pick some edible weeds, called yellow something or other that a neighbor told Leroy about. We will pick some broccoli that has small heads, but ready to flower heads. Then there is the weed, lambs quarters that I will harvest. For some reason Leroy was the only one who showed up to work in the community garden last night. That helped to contribute to his down mood as the energy of others helps to prop us up.

Leroy is working at the museum today so hopefully he is inspired by the bee hive of activity there.

Paula

Sunday with Feelings

Hello,

Yesterday, Sunday, was the anniversary of the small church in Corydon, IA. Leroy served there from 2007-2010 as it is connected with the Chariton congregation.

The church was full and noisy when we arrived. It was so confirming to be hugged and greeted from many people. What a soothing touch to the soul to reconnect with others. We talked and talked as well as listened and listened. It was indeed a fulfilling time.

Leroy had some long gray chest hairs peeking out at the neck of his shirt. I tried a couple time to casually pull out the neck of his shirt to get them to retreat. I guess it did not look odd that I was grabbing at him in this way. It seemed to help temporarily, but it was not long before I noticed them again.

As we got in the car to go home, I said, “Something must be done about those hairs.”

Leroy could not believe it would be that noticeable, however when he looked in the mirror at home he said, “I am embarrassed. You must get rid of them. How will you do that?”

“Are you nervous?” I wanted to know as he must be thinking of me with scissors in hand attacking his chest.

He suggested I use the hair trimmers so that is what I started with. It was a struggle to know where to stop as Leroy is well supplied with hair on his body, just not on his head where he would like it to be. He is now groomed and neither of us is embarrassed for him to go out in public with a shirt open at the neck. Is this chore to be added to my barber regimen?

Paula

Anniversary

Hello,

Leroy and I celebrated our 43^rd anniversary yesterday. Even though we did nothing special it was nice that we both remembered that it was the day. We had talked about going out, hence I suggested a park that we had not been to, however before that we spent a little time outdoors and the now infamous Iowa gnats attacked in such droves that we were encouraged to spend time inside. Forget the great outdoors even though the weather was inviting.

We each had books we wanted to read so that was what we tackled after finishing the movie, Captain Phillips. That movie elicited some serious discussions. I am certainly coming round to Leroy’s way of thinking that many situations in life are not black and white but full of gray murky zones that have more than one possible answer. Guess that is why I sometimes do not like to make decisions, then I am stuck with the action.

Today I asked Leroy to come shopping with me because on this trip I was going to get an eye exam and I had not had my eyes dilated in some time. Leroy was an asset to this trip because he decided to buy me a hanging basket of Mandeville for our anniversary. It looks quite nice in spite of the branch that broke as we put it in the car or else it broke when Leroy careened around a corner. Now if you can imagine Leroy careening around a corner you have good imaginations.

My eye exam went well. I apparently still have excellently healthy eyes. The only trouble is they do not see in the distance or close without help. Luckily I can get glasses and I have the money to pay for them. My right eye needed a bit more help for the distance and my left eye need less help. I wanted to keep my current frames as I feel so unsure when picking out a new pair. I learned that unlike the old days I could keep my glasses while the new lenses are made, they just took impressions. As usual I got the most expensive lens possible. Or seemed expensive, but I have to pay extra for nearsightedness as well as non glare and this time I got transition lens which are supposed to be quite superior to the former types. Since I have never had transition lens before, I will not be able to compare.

I also got new computer glasses. I did not get such special lens, but with the frames that the sales person declared so cute on me, it was almost $200. Then I decided that I could use two pair of computer glasses because it was in the hauling back and forth from work that I lost the last pair. Leroy is always open to my spending more money so he did not say no. I probably would faint if he said no to spending the money on me. My eyes should feel quite taken care of. Oh I also have the beginnings of cataracts, but not to be in need of surgery yet and probably not for some time.

Paula

Our Gardens

Hello,

Because of the recent rain, Leroy and I got out early and weeded our front yard garden. The hardest part was carefully lifting the netting and wires. Some of the marigolds had grown through the netting so those flowers are now gone, but the plant remains to produce more. The netting is back in place protecting the produce from squirrels. We also weeded in the sidewalk in front of the house and the sidewalk of one of the neighbors. We have to get this neighborhood in shape. One of the older neighbors has many rogue trees growing in their hedge. I wish that I would see them outside sometime and I would offer to get rid of those trees. I can’t imagine they really want them there crowding out the hedge.

After weeding the garden and the sidewalk we did some more weeding by the side of the house. I am quite pleased with it all.

Our landlords take us to the airport when it is too early for the bus. They did not want to be paid for this so I told them we would barter. That appealed to them so this is not just sheer generosity on our part. It helps both of us because as nearly as I can determine neither of them is excited to weed. Last night Leroy cleaned out some gutters on the house. They have bought two large, or at least they seem large, rain barrels. That will be great for the watering task.

Tonight there is a work night in the community garden. We have a large heap of compost that needs to be spread out to nourish more of the space. It looks cloudy now, but I hope for no rain.

I thought our garden in the front looks so good that I had Leroy take pictures of me and the garden posting them on Facebook as my cover picture and my profile picture for the world to see. Check me out.

Paula

A Day Off

Hello,

I even finished a book this morning. Usually I do not allow myself to read in the morning because that is my best time to get things done. I liked the book called the Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. Certainly has caused me to think more about WWI and WWII. Those of us who have never had a war in our territory in our life time certainly do not know all the ways life can be. Because one thread of this story was about repossession of some stolen goods that changed hands during and after the wars, I spent some time considering where that applies. How is it decided? I am thinking about the land that many of us live on and the source of that land. How do we justify that? That was a light morning’s reading.

I do have a list of tasks and I have crossed off ten things, but still on that list: yoga, research getting a grant for neighborhood little free libraries, plant rooted slips in a pot, weed by the house, and research comfortable car seats.

Leroy is uncomfortable when he sits in the car for a long ride. I think it is his posture, but he would rather do something about the seats, change them or get a different car. We had some slightly unfriendly words regarding this subject this morning with the end result that we both think our thought is the most reasonable. Course I know he sat in this car before we bought it, the trouble is not for an hour or more. Would that be different with a new car?

Tonight our plan is to weed our garden in the front of the house. It seems to us that the easy way to do this is with two people because we have netting over things to keep out the squirrels. Removing it will take some cooperation. Do you think we can get along long enough to get the job accomplished?

I looked up a store location on the Internet. When I first clicked on the locater button it said I needed a valid address and when I put in that valid address it only gave me stores located in PA. What?

Paula

Riding bikes

Hello,

This year I have hardly been out on the bike. Some years I remember being impatient because I could not get out. Now I have hardly thought about it. Saturday when Leroy was gone I took a ride in the late afternoon. It was late because of the heat. At least I figured the sun would not be so intense. In the end I would say it did not matter much as sweat poured off me in the 88 degrees when I stopped. I guess that l stripped off a couple pounds not that I needed that to happen. The result of that was that I drank much more water before going to bed and trotted to the bathroom at least three times during the night.

Yesterday, Leroy and I took another bike ride late in the day. Weather conditions had changed slightly, but it was still conducive to profuse sweating even in the shade. I tried to drink more as I rode thinking that might diminish the need for copious drinking to build fluids later. It helped some, but during the night it rained. All of the windows had been open before we went to bed. I got up and closed them as Leroy slept on, later I got up and opened them as he still slept on. In the morning he was surprised to learn that it had rained during the night.

It also rained earlier in the evening much to our satisfaction as we had decided the community garden needed water. We are so happy to have it come from the sky as the job is done more efficiently than we could possibly do. Also the guy who watered this garden last year is a fireman who was stationed in the building next to the garden. He said it would take him six hours to water. What a blessing it is to have the rain when we needed it!

I can tell that we have been here a longer time than in some places, because we have so many more things happening. Leroy is heading up the community garden and I have gotten involved in getting Little Free Libraries in the neighborhood. We have not even had time to see about having the garden in Ely. I would still like to put in some vines there, but maybe it will not happen.

Paula