Nothing Happening

Hello,

Earlier I was wondering what to write about since nothing exciting had been happening. It seemed like a good time to go to the garden and try out the organic bug spray recipe that I found on the internet, the source of all good information.

Leroy decided to go with me as he had just finished putting up another shelf in his bedroom clothes closet. It was a pleasant walk down the block. We stopped on a corner to say a few words to a guy who was working on a house. Just as we started up again we heard a great bang, looked up to saw a truck/suv impacting with a utility pole. The vehicle careened back into the street while the pole swung loose and wedged into the ground. The guy we had been talking to came closer. We all saw that the pole had been sheared off close to the ground with the top and the wires secured in two marvelous trees. It seemed not an emergency since the trees were holding the wires. Unfortunately Leroy did not have the non emergency police number in his phone so he called Robin who has access to everything. She called back with that number and we reported the happening.

Police came a few minutes later. Our description of the vehicle was limited to color and type. After that we went on to the community garden, did our thing, and walked back to see the power truck along with two police cars. They were blocking the street. The police officer waved at us, came over, and told us they had gotten the person. “How did you do that from our flimsy description?” I wondered.

The police officer laughed, “Well you said black and SUV. He had pulled into a close service station. He tried to deny any involvement, but there were dents and wood chips in his SUV.  He said he had reached into the back seat to do something with one of his children; consequently he swerved across the road.”

Parents keep your eye on the road, if needed pull over and stop. It is the much safer option. I think I have seen all my children perform this very action of reaching into the back seat.

Nothing happens indeed. I am happy to have been half a block away when it occurred. If we had not stopped to talk we could easily have been right there.

Paula

Planned Recreation

Hello,

Leroy and I never seem to plan any time off activities. Well this month we/Leroy did much better. At the beginning of the month Leroy started asking me what we should do for this day. After discussion and flinging around possibilities, we settled on going to a State Park. At one point we had talked about visiting all of the state parks, but really had not done that. Last night it rained. It seemed that trails would be quite wet and possibility muddy, so instead we decided to ride about 12-13 miles north on the bike trail. If we had the energy in the afternoon we could check out a park that is fairly close and new to us because then it would be much drier.

It was a little cool when we started and quite damp, but not too much. I had a lot of trouble keeping up with Leroy has he raced along. We were both pleased to see many runners out enjoying the trail. Finally as we waited for a stop light I told Leroy that my tires were low. He tried to put air in the front tire, but it collapsed. He then tried his tire pump with no better luck. A guy stopped to ask if we needed help, but he had no pump. He assured he would be more helpful if we were still there on his way back.

Leroy talked about walking to a store to get a new pump. I knew that we were on the street that has a bike store on it. We started walking in that direction. My memory thought it was close, but of course that was in a car. About a 1/4 mile later, I have to go to the bathroom. A vet’s office was there so I want in and gave them my sob story. As I was leaving I asked about the bike shop. It was past the next distant stop light. Groan. I told that to Leroy and he then remembered that I should have another inner tube in my bag. Sure enough it was there and he changed the tire. He then tried to pump it up. It got a bit of air, but not as much as it should. None the less we rode on.

At a place where people can park and get on the trail, Leroy spotted a large group unloading bikes. He went and asked, “Does anyone have a good bike pump?”

One man did have just such a floor pump with a gauge on it. My pressure for both the front and the back tires was at 25 when it should be up to 80. What a difference that made. My brakes did not squeal anymore and I did not bounce so much. This man also commented that I was probably working very hard. That must be why I had such trouble keeping up with Leroy.

The ride home was certainly a lot faster. I am grateful for the good people that are all over. Help is available.

Paula

Do we make it rain?

Hello,

Leroy was having a hard time deciding to take the car or bike to work. I told him I could come get him if it rained and maybe he could make it rain by riding the bike. Unlike some parts of Iowa we need a bit of rain. He headed off on his bike to the museum with plans to go to the church in the afternoon. At 12:30 I got the call. Seeing the rain on the window I knew what this was about even though I had grapes boiling on the stove. Much to my dismay while I was talking to Leroy the grapes boiled over. I turned off the burner and tried to put a good spin on it by thinking it would be easier to clean up than some things because it had not burned on.

I drove to the museum in the diminishing rain, called Leroy letting him know I had arrived, and told him the rain was about done. He checked outside and decided that he could indeed ride to church. I drove out of the underground garage and about 30 seconds later big drops of rain were bouncing off the windshield. I pulled straight ahead into the parking lot across the way and was turning the car around as I saw Leroy come out of the garage and start to peddle furiously away. I honked the horn, but he paid no attention. I completed the turn and went after him. He was on the bridge by the time I caught up to him honking several times without being noticed. I indicated that I would wait for him across the bridge.

The rain was now more in the pelting stage. Unfortunately bikes do not fit in our cars without taking off the front wheel. We did find a bungee cord which Leroy used to “tie down” the trunk lid. I tried to drive carefully with no wild turns or speed changes. By the time we got to the church the rain had about stopped. At home I got the bike out and felt that it was in ok shape. Leroy wondered if the paint job would be damaged each time there was a stretch and bounce back on that bungee cord doing what it was designed for.

Did we do our part to make it rain?

Paula

Happy but tired

Hello,

Yesterday Leroy and I canned 13 quarts of applesauce. What satisfaction! I will have to say that I did the hardest part all by myself because I was wondering if there would be green beans to can as well. Leroy was busy at church and had a nursing home service in the afternoon. He helped after that. The hardest part was washing the apples. They had blackness on them that I could not decide if it were a fungus or acid rain. At any rate it came off with a good vegetable brush and much scrubbing pressure. I stand when I do this and my back, arms and hands would have liked to quit long before I had attacked the last apple.

When Leroy got home I had washed all, cut up enough for the first canner and had them on the stove cooking down. After that we went to the garden to pick beans. Luckily it was only enough to give us a couple meals. Either someone had picked or the beans have not done so well in the drier conditions. Leroy and I both were pleased that we did not have to do more work at the moment. I am hoping to can more beans a bit later, but if not that is ok too. We have been blessed by gaining much from this garden: zucchini, eggplant, kale, chard, lettuce, herbs, turnips, beets, and celery.

I still pray for our former neighbors. They are on my mind a lot. Their things are still in our garage so that means they have not been able to find a place to live. I am hoping the end of the month will provide an opportunity. I would like to visit with them, but do not know a phone number or where they are.

Even though I felt relieved when they left, I now do feel guilty about them leaving. The real thing is that I did not know how to help and seeing them there all of the time reminded me of my helplessness. Life is not full of clear cut answers for me. How can some people be so decisive? Why am I the way I am? Where is God in all of this and what is there for me to do?

Paula

Summer Busy

Hello,

Yesterday: up early to go to Tai Chi, home again, put bread in pans, mixed up granola, put it in the oven, stir every 15 minutes, when granola is done put bread in oven, wash apples, cut off many bruises, cut out worms, cut out unidentifiable objects, put in pans on stove with some water, boil apples, put apples in food mill, cool applesauce, put in refrigerator, get bread out of oven, let cool on table under towel, leave granola under towel on table, eat lunch, pack supper, wash dishes, change clothes, put on make-up, drive to work, and relax? After reading support, the library was quieter than it often is in the summer. So it almost felt relaxing.

Monday, as I pulled into the garage I heard a nose like the car dragged on the cement. When I investigated I saw that the tire on the back was flat. I told Leroy about that. He went out to put on the spare and he told me he would take that car to have the tire fixed. I went out in a bit to see how he was doing. He told me, “Not good. The side of the car is rusty. I got the old tire off and was just putting on the spare when I heard a crunching and the car went down on the spare and I can’t move it.”

He called his boss who has many car fixing possibilities. His boss came to help with his floor jack, but he had to drive to the garage that he rents some distance away. Once he got there it only took fifteen minutes. That is a good boss.

I am grateful that I was home when I noticed this. I am grateful that Leroy was not hurt. I am grateful that the tire is fixed.  I am grateful that we have enough money to buy a different car. Our problem is just looking for one and not knowing what is best. Son-in-law, Andy loves to car shop, but I am a little afraid that he will steer us to something that is more car than we need. Can you envision us zooming around in something sporty?

The applesauce tasted good and the apples cooked nicely so after work I picked up more apples. The bag I had was paper. I tried not to let it touch the ground, but it got much too heavy so I set it on the wet grass. When I tried to pick it up the bottom fell out along with most of the apples. In the trunk of the car I found two of my cloth bags. Filled the bags, put them in the car, and drove home muttering to myself about not using those bags in the first place. Today I canned applesauce. We now have eleven quarts for those winter months. I am so pleased. We like the homemade applesauce from organic apples and no sugar. If you figured out the cost of my labor it is quite expensive, that might even be the case using minimum wage, but it is satisfying.

Paula

Today

Hello,

I have settled my mind about the couple sleeping in the car. Maybe not found real solutions, but I have moved on to laundry and making bread. Perhaps it is those tasks that sooth my soul. The ordinariness of it is restful.

I will go to work today blessing the children because they will head back to school next week. Work life will then have a different focus. Who knows, it might even feel mundane and unexciting. Will I wish for the exciting days of summer once more?

It is to rain today and I hope that the clouds deliver. The community garden could use a good drink once more. Irrigation is not my philosophical strong position nor is it my desire to spend so much time doing it. So rain is welcome. I will soon have gathered in the laundry so that will not be an issue.

 I saw on the internet (The internet always knows!) that it is strengthens to spray tomatoes and peppers with a mixture of Epsom salts and water. I used an old cleaning bottle well aired and rinsed for the task. Clark thought I was spraying the tomatoes with Mr. Clean. He was sure I had passed around a bend. I think it might have helped the tomatoes, but no real way to tell because I do not do such things in a scientifically controlled manner. I just spray it on and say it might have helped. We still do not have a lot of tomatoes, but that seems to be typical for many other gardeners this year. The plant that I talk to in front of the house is doing the best, but will not produce enough to can much. I am happy to have many to eat and cook with at the moment.

Paula

Neighbors

Hello,

Every time I see the people and the car parked in front of the house I feel guilty, sad, and unresolved. No clear solution presents itself.  My landlord feels that they will have a difficult time finding a place to live because they have been evicted for relative problems in the past. No landlord will want to rent to them even though they are good renters or at least not much beyond the norm. However the relatives seem to come and create a different atmosphere. I told Leroy yesterday how tired I was and he commented, “It is emotionally exhausting, isn’t it?

That is certainly true and then I feel a bit bad about that because I have a nice home, plenty of space and even a garage. But there is that fear holding me back. I am not free because I am a renter to just invite anyone into my home to stay, but I am happy to hide behind that fact. So I am not better than if I could do it. I just read a book in which the author talked about fear being the biggest sin. Certainly has me thinking about that. I have also spent some time thinking about the Good Samaritan story. Am I crossing by on the other side of the road, even though they have asked nothing more of me than to store their things?

Now they have moved their car to be close to their daughter’s house, but still no apartment. I am ashamed to say I feel relief because I do not see them all the time. They have assured Leroy that they are trying very hard. Praying, praying for that good outcome. Wondering what happens to people if no one will rent to them.

I hope they feel safe there. Here there is their ex landlord and his almost violence along with their relatives.

Believe it or not I feel rather strongly that God wants us here, but I haven’t a clue what we are to be doing. Living and loving any way we can? I greet almost everyone I see and compliment them if they are doing something that helps me or the neighborhood. Generally brings a smile to their face. Doesn’t seem like much, but maybe more than I realize.

Paula

Knowing People

Hello,

Our neighbor has had some trouble with family members who more or less took over their apartment. Now they have been living on the street and sleeping in their car for a week. I have had more emotions pass though me because of this than I could have anticipated. Part of it is not having a clue what I should do. Also a big factor is being ashamed of not just opening my space, but being afraid of them never leaving if I would to do such a thing. They asked if they could store some things in our garage and we have allowed that. Course at the time they asked, it was with the assurance that they would have a new apartment three days ago. That has not happened. The man of the couple is amazingly optimistic. Even though he does not go to church he keeps telling me that God will come through. And they are fine and have everything they need. Were this me I would be a basket case.

I have also been thinking about the financial resources that we have and how that helps us to have more choices. I have also not had to deal with family members that are flirting with the other side of the law except in the socially acceptable speeding on the highway.

There are some people in my neighborhood who talk tough and have big hearts. One of them is the woman who came over and told the man on the street that he must not let his family take advantage of him. She then provided supper for them. This woman seems to know every “swear” word in the book. But she tried not to use all of them around me. Interesting, huh? Do I look clean or what?

There is also a guy the next block down who was edging a neighbor’s sidewalk. He was doing it just so the neighborhood would look better and to help out. He also mows for them at least twice in the summer for free.

Then there is my landlord who gives the guy on the street money as well as breakfast. Kindness and goodness abound if you look for it.

Pray for care.

Paula

Just a little news

Hello,

Yesterday when I was using the laptop it became disconnected from the Internet. Lack of time meant that I just turned it off. Today it was still not connected. The diagnostic told me that the wi-fi reception had been turned off. How I did that I do not know, especially because I cannot find it to turn it back on. Grr. I would much rather input my letters on the laptop than the tablet. I have not figured out how to use spell check on here. So if there are misspellings, sorry.

I have to say that I was not clear in my last letter. My vision is not so bad with glasses now. That sign reading stuff was when I was young and invincible at perhaps 45. Now when I have trouble reading the signs I get my eyes checked.

I like this tablet for its portability, but sometimes it does not respond to either a finger or a stylus. That tests my patience. But at least I was able to look in the bank account to see the activity. I usually do that on the laptop, but no internet, no bank.  I had thought to just do banking on that machine because it is not likely to be left for someone else to pick up and discover.

I would like to see the shower of stars, can’t seem to spell the m word correctly. However the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak fits me very well as I cannot seem to stay up after midnight. It also does not help that work is early in the morning.

Even though the students keep us busy and are a real reason for us to work, we are all about ready for school to start. Yesterday was not quite as busy as sometimes, but when my co-worker left at 7:30 she made the comment, “Almost time to close and now we are busy.”

I am happy with the almost perfect weather that we are enjoying. This morning I delivered about half of the neighborhood newsletters. It was great to have an excuse to go walk around the neighborhood. I love the big old trees around here. They create wonderful deep shade.

Paula

Aging

Hello,

One factor of the aging process is my vision acuity is diminishing. When wearing no glasses, without serious squinting, I cannot make out the numbers on the clock in our bedroom from my side of the bed. If I tip up to look and lean to the middle I have a chance of making a good guess although they are not clear. This clock has large number just for me. I feel envy for that Leroy who could always see better than I, but now his vision is getting even better. I notice at work there are some papers hung up and it is quite a task for me to bring them in focus. I will have to duplicate one sheet and store it where I can retrieve it easily.

I got a new credit card Saturday. Today seemed like a good day to activate it and get rid of the old. My purse did not yield up the old so I searched again. Finally I looked where I had put the papers for the new one and saw the old blending into the background. When did I put that there? That memory is gone.

At least I can still see to get around and that would include driving. Maybe I should get my eyes checked again, but I do not think it has been a year. Once I put off getting my eyes tested and I have to confess that, when looking for an address, in order to read the small street signs I stopped, got out of the car, and went closer to the sign. Finally I got my eyes checked; at that point the eye doctor told me I would not have passed the exam. I will admit that was unsafe. At least I could still see the cars coming towards me.

My boss is coming back from vacation tomorrow. Are we ready for her! Her desk has a pile of things that need attention. At least she should feel wanted.

Paula

Change Equals Learning

Hello,

Microsoft introduced windows 10. That is nice, but we have it now and I do not know it now. Leroy did wait a few days before he downloaded it. He started with the laptop. Someone at work told him it only took about five minutes. Three hours later it was still not complete. We went to bed without having it finish. In the morning there was not enough time to install it so Leroy waited until evening. I do not know how long that took, but it was much longer than five minutes. Our internet speed is not fast because we do not do games, watch movies, or etc on the internet. I still think there was something amiss because it should not have been several hundred times slower.

Leroy took the tablet to church where he thought it would be much faster connection. It went along ok until it hit some type of snag and stopped. He tried again at home. It took much longer than five minutes, but much faster than three hours. I do not know exactly what he did, but there was not enough room on the tablet for that program so Leroy downloaded the installation to the flash drive and then installed it. That worked. It is nice to have all this in place, but my brain is wallowing around back in the old stuff that it is comfortable with.

Gradually I am finding things and how they might work, but it is going to take some time before I know much. As it is I am just using parts I know. On the tablet we had an app that we used for budgeting. That app is hidden from both of us. We are hoping that is only temporary, but who knows? Makes me think there are all sorts of hidden treasures on the computers that we never use because we do not know of their existence. Maybe our lives would be easier because of them. Instead we just plod along in the old familiar way.

Paula

Bike to Work

Hello,

Friday night I made a resolve to ride the bike to work on Saturday. I spoke it out loud so it would have more power. Perhaps that worked because I got up, checked the weather, scurried around preparing breakfast, getting dressed, packing my bike bag, fixing lunch, checking the cloud cover, putting in sunscreen, and reassuring myself that I could ride 12-13 miles without difficulty even though I had hardly ridden this summer. Leroy did say he would be down to ride home with me, or if it were raining he would bring me home in the car. I allowed myself an hour and a half for this ride, hoping I could do it in less time. It was less time, only an hour and seven minutes. However I should tell you that I met a guy on the trail. Some time later he passed me and then later again I met him. Was he riding at about triple my rate of speed?

I left the house at 7:30. That was quite pleasant as there were almost no cars on the street. In fact on one of the less traveled streets I stopped for three stop lights, but did not wait for them to turn green before proceeding. My excuse? I was not sure they would turn green. If they are triggered by a car I knew my bike and I could not make it turn unless I went up on the sidewalk and pushed the walk button. That is something I have done in the past, but in this traffic less landscape, I thought I could just go. Was I breaking the law? Leroy would say yes and he would have waited or gone up and pushed the button.

At work I decided to put my bike in the back room because of predicted rain and that room was not to be used. While there I proceeded to start to change my clothes. Just as I got my pants off I thought about the security camera, gathered up my things, and fled to the bathroom where there is no camera. That film is not likely to be looked at, but just in case I did not want the “world” to see me. Boy, one must keep one’s wits about one at all times. Is big brother watching?

Paula

Change equals learning

Hello,

Microsoft introduced windows 10. That is nice, but we have it now and I do not know it now. Leroy did wait a few days before he downloaded it. He started with the laptop. Someone at work told him it only took about five minutes. Three hours later it was still not complete. We went to bed without having it finish. In the morning there was not enough time to install it so Leroy waited until evening. I do not know how long that took, but it was much longer than five minutes. Our internet speed is not fast because we do not do games, watch movies, or etc on the internet. I still think there was something amiss because it should not have been several hundred times slower.

Leroy took the tablet to church where he thought it would be much faster connection. It went along ok until it hit some type of snag and stopped. He tried again at home. It took much longer than five minutes, but much faster than three hours. I do not know exactly what he did, but there was not enough room on the tablet for that program so Leroy downloaded the installation to the flash drive and then installed it. That worked. It is nice to have all this in place, but my brain is wallowing around back in the old stuff that it is comfortable with.

Gradually I am finding things and how they might work, but it is going to take some time before I know much. As it is I am just using parts I know. On the tablet we had an app that we used for budgeting. That app is hidden from both of us. We are hoping that is only temporary, but who knows? Makes me think there are all sorts of hidden treasures on the computers that we never use because we do not know of their existence. Maybe our lives would be easier because of them. Instead we just plod along in the old familiar way.

Paula

Those Schedules

Hello,

I do not know about you, but my schedule has a way of slipping out of my grasp. Not that this schedule is written down with bells that signal the end or beginning of anything. The biggest problem seems to be that I overbook myself.

I have read almost a 100 pages in the book discussion book, but that is not as good as it looks because the book I now have is large print. I have no clue what it would be if it were regular print.

All four loads of clothes were washed and hung out. Then I had to redo three items because birds pooped on them. Two still have a stain because I did not know the real items in this stain and how to treat it. At least it is fainter. One stain is on the mattress pad where no one will generally see it and the other is on one of my shirt tails. I am not sure that I will consider that a good shirt now. Re-washing was not on my schedule.

I also cleaned up the onions that Leroy insisted we pull on Sunday. That meant I had to clean the spot they were resting on. That led me to sweep more on the back porch and the sidewalk that seems to be the most logical repository for the seeds of the tree that is close. All that sweeping wasn’t even on my schedule.

The onions were the largest we have ever gown, but several of them had bad spots on them. I spent some time crying over onions when I cut up the good parts to put in the freezer for later use. At least my tear ducts still work.

I have the bread ready to put in the oven so most of the important things have been finished.

Paula

Half Time work

Hello,

I work only 21 hours a week for the library. I wonder how I ever worked for someone full time. There is so much I want to do in my time off that I am constantly juggling things. I do remember having no job in the not so distant past and wondering what to do with myself. How does one find that perfect mix of scheduled time and non scheduled time? Course winter makes it simpler because there is not so much that calls from the outdoors.

The library was not so busy yesterday, but I still only got two movies and three books entered in the collection. Somehow that makes me feel like I did not get much done. It is almost like having a baby in the house. Sometimes I felt that I did not accomplish much, but when I counted all the rocking, feeding, diaper changes, washing, and adoring the focus changed. That was my job, but I had been seeing at as a side rather than the necessary and important. Laundry could wait at least a while.

I do like this part time job, but some weeks I would like another day off. Leroy tells me that he too would like some vacation that we just simply spend at home so he could get more things done around here. Course he is working that 40 hour week plus the garden work. He tells me that last night he went to the garden at 6:00 and did not leave until 7:45. That is more time than I have been over there lately. Maybe tomorrow I can get there, although I am looking at laundry, making bread, and possibly cleaning. Seems like a full day to me. Oh and then there is the book that I need to read for our discussion, The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman. I had started it earlier, but after three pages my copy jumped to page 27. By the time I got a new copy I had started another book that I wanted to finish. Such is my reading life.

Paula

Community Garden

Hello,

The other day I walked to the garden after Leroy had already gotten there. On the way I met a group of about four kids and maybe one adult. They had two plastic bags on their arms that looked like they contained produce. I felt hopeful and pleased to think that they might have gotten that from the garden. When I got to the garden, Leroy said that a family had gotten some things. My joy was complete. I am always surprised at how little people take. Leroy urged them to take more and offered more possibilities. On the way home from the garden we had quite a lot of lettuce to give away. One woman took just a small amount, but sounded like she might go over and pick some, especially when we told her that it was getting to the end of good flavor and it would have to be cut off. At another house we stopped only to have the man say, “It should go to someone who needs it more than I do.”

We argued unsuccessfully with him. I can tell you that his house does not look as if he lives at the top or maybe even the middle of the economic heap. Once in a while I get the impression that people believe poor people are always out for all they can get or are grabbing and expecting handouts. I can say from experience that many of the neighbors here are not that way as they seem to be careful to take just a little. Our garden does not have a fence around it so anyone could come in and harvest a great deal, but I seldom can tell that someone else has been there. If I do notice it is that they took a head of cabbage as that is an all or none proposition. One woman told another neighbor who was working in the garden that she and her children ate from the garden and were well fed because of it. We have not had as much help as sometimes. That is discouraging, but these things make it all worth it. We do not know who we are helping, but maybe that is for the best. I just always pray that someone who needs it will come and find it.

Paula

Daily Changes

Hello,

                                                                 

I worked just four short hours yesterday, but during those four hours 127 people passed by the counter. I was quite tired. I went to the gas station on the way home and accidently pushed the selection that I wanted to pay inside. The “kid” at the counter wondered what I wanted. I do know this guy. When I told him he asked, “Is your brain fried from the heat?”

On hearing how many people had been in the library he was quite impressed. I was amazed that I was still standing. One of my coworkers was there for two hours, but she was in the back doing programming while I was at the desk.

Today I was alone at the library for seven hours with only 42 people coming in. The software was being updated so it was unavailable. I was quite disappointed as I would have had plenty of time to get a lot of the work off my desk. As it was I shelved some books, recorded check outs on paper, and tried to appear busy. I worked hard not to mix up any numbers, as I have a tendency to switch two digits around from time to time.

Leroy and I picked green beans last night. We washed them. This morning we were awakened early so we got up and canned them. I think that added to my full day, but I was quite happy to have it done. We now have 12 quarts canned. I did not intend to take so much from the community garden, but no one had picked them. Soon they would have been too mature for my taste.

Tonight I took a bike ride. What a treat to see a doe and two cute fawns. I realize they are not cute when eating things in ones yard, but out and about they are cute.

Paula