Sing out

Hello, Our church celebrated the life of Issac Watts who wrote the words for many hymns, including some favorites of me. It was great to be a part of that in the adult choir. There were bells, a brass group, and children choir selectins. That was followed by an appetizer, dessert potluck. There were more desserts than appetizers, but I still managed to find a nice amount to eat. Leroy, who is more in tune with the idea of eating sweets, found quite a lot of choices, however he was later in line and the appetizers were mostly gone. It was good to have some time visiting with others. That always lifts me up and fills my being. It was raining a bit in the morning so we drove to church. I missed the walk. Perhaps I meditate a bit on the way. It just seemed too commercial to listen to the radio. We walked in the afternoon and it was very nice addition to my day. Paula

Dusting Thoughts

Hello, Today I dusted by just going around things instead of moving them. Usually all knickknacks are removed, any cloth under them shaken outside, surface dusted and put all things back. It is a bigger job. My mother did not like to have many things sitting around. I am becoming my mother in that regard. Leroy has always wanted to dust by leaving things and dusting around them. I used to yell at him and do the job myself. This will not become my only dusting method, but to encourage myself to do it more frequently, it might become necessary from time to time to just dust around stuff. Leroy does much of the vacuuming. It seems to me he does it to quickly to get up any deep dirt. The surface looks good when he is finished. He also does not move anything around. Today I moved out my chair to dust the bottom slats. There were my reading glasses on the floor between the chair and the lamp table. It has been lost long enough that I have bought two new pair. Now I have a pair in every room in the house. I have a spare pair in my purse and a pair at church with my choir music. There is also my bifocal prescription pair that I prefer to wear at choir. Back in the day when I worked, I also preferred it so I could see in more directions. Paula

Red Russian Kale

Hello, The Red Russian Kale in the community garden is just delicious and growing as if there is a race and it wants to win. It would be so nice if more people liked it or at least tried it. One gardening friend told me she finally picked some, put it chopped in a dish she made and her husband pronounced it good. Healthy eating is there, but hidden from many eyes. This afternoon, I went to the former community garden site, looking for the red Russian kale that was there before and came back after three years of being mowed off. The larger plant had been mowed off again, so I could not dig it up in such a damaged state. The smaller one was still there, now it is had my house and I hope is survives. This move was no doubt challenging. One woman came to the morning stretch class. She was unable to get up and down without help from her husband. It was a bit challenging. Makes me wonder: will she be back and if so, do I need to be prepared for someone who is not able to get down. Some forms are hard for me to imagine in a chair. I did not go help Leroy today. He had another volunteer coming so I hope that was enough to make a big difference. Paula

Dandelion greens, anyone

Hello, Yesterday, I picked a nice number of dandelion greens. They were delicious as a part of the salad with other greens. Even by themselves they were quite mild. What a free deal from the yard by the garage where they have gown tall. Nutritionally superior to many other greens. There were also a few leaves of arugula to add to the mix. Nice to go out and pick some food. We have also used chives. Then there is all that kale from the community garden. It is already going to seed. The seeds will be removed when I have some more time to do it. Leroy got a card from the car dealer where we bought our 2014 sedan. Apparently, there are customers looking for such. He assured that the price offered would be above market value. At first I wondered if it was a scam, but Leroy looked it up and found that is the guy who works there. We might want to sell. We have talked of going to one car when Leroy retires and that should happen in a month or so. We have gotten so used to the luxury of two cars that the question is, can we be comfortable and happy with one car? A lot of volunteers are needed at the museum. I went in for two hours today. It was handling dusty, old books. When the time was done, I was quite tired. Leroy has been coming home exhausted. There is a load of things that get to move into the vacated space, but I am not sure if I will help again this week. Paula

Store Conversations

Hello, While looking over cards at a store, I was wearing readers with a store tag on them. I did have my glasses, in my bag, but thought this was easier since I intended to buy them. A fellow customer saw that and laughed, “I have done that before.” We extended the conversation and she told me, “I live in Indianapolis. I am here taking care of my mother. I only get home for about four months of the year.” I was looking at Mother’s Day cards and talked about how if someone loses a baby, Mother’s Day must be hard for them. She then said, “I was not able to have children. We went through all the medical possibilities and nothing worked. We could not adopt because my husband’s job meant we moved a lot. It is hard.” I can only hope I said the right things, but mostly I listened. In the grocery store a woman had a youngster in an amazing wagon/stroller that I had seen her get out of the car and unfold. I commented on what an invention it was. She ended up telling me the expensive price and how much she liked it. But there were other models out there that cost much more. Later a little girl grabbed ahold of my cart. I said, “I guess any cart will do.” Her mom commented that I also had oranges, bananas, and carrots in the cart so it might have looked like hers. This mom also seemed ready to talk awhile. I felt so good about all these conversations that leaving the store, I needed to get out of someone else’s way and I left three bags on the counter. It required a trip back from the car to get them. They were all sitting where I had left them. There are honest and good people in the world. Paula

Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose

Hello, Sometimes it is hard to carry out strong beliefs. We have too much junk around here, but how to make it contribute rather than detract for the benefit of the earth is not so easy. Part of the problem is that I just wish it would disappear. I suggested to Leroy that we clean the shelves in the garage as if we were moving. Some day we will do that. Just glancing at some of the things, brings up the thought, “It is nothing we need, but it is too good to throw away. Or someone might find a use for this.” It is so hard to know the right person and to get the item to them. My hope is to fill a box with things to get rid of and then actually find a way to do that so that it is good for the earth. It is also hard to keep plastic at bay in our lives. So much plastic packaging. Leroy walked to the library and back so he has plenty of steps. Not true for me. I washed and hung out rags. That did not give me as many steps as it seemed like it should. I believe in using rags instead of paper towels in every place that makes sense. My rag population is beyond our ability to use it. Leroy does use them in the garage sometimes. Those rags do not get washed, but thrown out in case there is some oil on them. Neither of us likes socks as rags, but they seem to multiply in the rag basket. Is there another way to repurpose holey socks? Too much excess in our life. We must get it under control to feel free. Paula

Observed on the walk to church

Hello, There were the usual sights of grass; green and growing, leaves coming out on trees and some hardy flower showing their beauty. We also saw some empty walnut shell on the side walk deposited by hungry squirrels. Then there was a rather large half eaten apple. Perhaps squirrels were enjoying that too. The scooter lying on its side, taking up most of the space had been seen before. I lifted it up and set it carefully on its kickstand. The next was a bit bizarre. It was a rather large appearing (no touching now) black bra. Hmm? You just never know what you will see. Does this mean we need to keep an open or a closed mind? Also closer to home, we noticed that the adult side of the little free library in front of our house only has one book in it. It spurred me on at church to ask two people about sharing some of their books that they do not really want any longer. One thought she might have some and the other woman said she would have a lot. Two people is enough to replenish our supply. I also believe it helps to get things out of people’s houses. One husband commented, then our daughter will not have to clean out so much. The other husband rolled his eyes and smiled, looking pleased to get something out. Paula

How many Books?

Hello, I have seven books that I have started. That seem a bit over the top for a read one book at a time person. Two of the books have been put aside because too many other books are in progress. They are both nonfiction and require more pondering. Two of the books are for studies at church which requires about a chapter a week, but I am behind. Then there is the book club book, but it is really to the side because it is such a light read. Next week I must read it for sure. The other two books had been on hold so there was an uncertain starting time. both of them are also nonfiction, but one reads more like fiction. Almost all of the books have a spiritual slant. Then there is the book that had also been on hold, but came yesterday. Leroy is reading it now. It is certainly more in the fiction, murder mystery category. Besides all this reading, I have gone to the museum two afternoons and volunteered. They are moving an unknown number of books from the library back room to the upstairs. Leroy wondered if it is about 5,000 books. It is a big job. Two other volunteers were there yesterday. It is enough to make a person tired with stretching, turning, lifting, pushing carts and elevator buttons. I managed to get one loaded cart caught in the slot going into the elevator. Luckily, I got it out. I moved on down the hall to the freight elevator, only to realize I did not know precisely where it was. I had to back track with that heavy cart. Then I knew what door, but did not have a staff key so I could get to that elevator. Hence, it was back to the first elevator, make sure wheels were lined up to miss slots, pushed the loaded cart in, and confessed what had taken me so long when I arrived at the destination. Paula

Car Okay

Hello, Cars have changed. Our car has been in our possession almost ten years. Almost no money has been required for repairs. There has been some maintenance, but that would be expected. We bought it when it was a year old. Course, as they commented at the shop it does not have so many miles on it for the age that it is. Because after some repair, they had put on the tires, they suggested I bring it back to have the lug nuts checked. It was all good. Before I left the lot I backed up and the backup camera did not come on. I went in to ask about that periodic malfunction. They looked it up on line and found no mention of such a thing. When the key comes out and the car is turned back on it all works again. Not surprising, it will not be checkable unless it would stay off. He also commented that it could be something is just not turning on as well as it used to. I can back up without the camera, but I have come to depend on it. It is certainly a good view of what is back there. Leroy’s car is two years newer than mine. It also works well and has required little repair attention. It was so different when we were young. A ten-year-old car was about ready for the trash heap. We have been happy to not have to spend so much repair money on cars. If we keep our head in the right direction, we know that allows us to give away more money to things that we care about. I have applied for another action team. This will help furnish drinks and snacks for the homeless in the hot summer time. Our church already contributes to this, but this year could be a longer time since it has been quite hot some days. Paula

One Mystery Finished

Hello, Our weather station has a clock in it. For the last year we have struggled to have the correct time. It was resistant to changing for day light saving time changes. Yesterday, Leroy set it for an hour ahead of us. It has been holding at the standard time. It held that new time, but it was an hour off the other direction. He decided to just pull the power for over an hour. When he reset it to our current time it stayed. The mystery is not solved, but he managed to trick it. I look at that time a lot so it is nice to have it in the proper time zone. We actually got four screens washed, in the window opening, windows washed, and sills cleaned. It is a good feeling. At one of the windows a bee was checking us out while the window was open. We managed to keep it out without harming it or us. It is to rain in the next day or two so I will not get at the rest of the windows for some time now. It was been quite hot for the last two days. The Red Russian Kale is now going to seed. That is certainly much too early. Someone else is heading up the community garden, but we will certainly help if I notice the announcement. Saturday, I went an hour late and Leroy was even later. We could still contribute. The garden is tilled with rows marked and some early items planted. I bought some pansies today. I hope I have not waited too long considering the heat wave. They are beautiful so I will enjoy as long as they thrive or last. Paula

Helping Others

Hello, The shopping trip was not going as well as I had hoped. Do you know how many different kinds of curl cream are available? I do not know the precise number, but I can say it is more than twenty. How does one choose? I was at the second store this morning without making a selection. Finally at the third store I picked some and figured I would just try it. True to my buying character it was not so expensive as some that cost twice as much. It also appealed because it could be put on wet or dry hair. Many of them required that the hair be damp, whatever damp is. There were also curl gels, but it was to be cream not gel that my hair cutter recommended. Hair care is big business. At the car, an older woman and a small boy were struggling with two heavy grocery bags (larger than the usual size), two gallons of milk and two other things. They did not get in the car across the way, but stopped and rested before going on. They were joined by a young woman who took on most of the load, but they again stopped to rest. I drove over and asked if they wanted a ride. They spoke Spanish and asked if I spoke Spanish. The younger woman got out her phone, but said, no wi-fi. I got out my phone, put in the phone number that she showed me, but no answer. She provided another number. A man answered. She spoke to him in rapid Spanish. I motioned that I would talk to him. I asked if I could give them a ride and he said OK and gave me the address. With the trunk open they put in all their bags I also put in some random bags that I had in the back seat. Without thinking, I put my purse there with the phone in it. I knew the street they lived on, but had not much idea how the numbers went. I stopped at a gas station, got out my phone and used google maps. We were quite close and going the right direction. They were basically on the way home. I did not get any groceries, but Leroy and I can live a few days off of the food we already have in the house. Slovak words kept coming out of my mouth. Who knew I remembered so much. It lifted me up to do this. I know that I was always so appreciative of people who helped when we lived in Slovakia. Language is such a gift. Mybe I should learn Spanish and six other languages. One of the men called and said, “Thank you for giving my grandmother and aunt a ride. I would like to give you two tacos.” He explained where he worked. Leroy and I went there. It was quite delicious and all homemade. We will recommend this taco bar to others. I decided to accept this offer because sometimes people really do want to give you a thank you. Paula

Skippers and tending plants

Hello, When out delivering newsletters, I was impressed by the number of butterflies. Perhaps they are really skippers. Several different varieties were out and about. They seem a bit smaller than a butterfly. At least they can find some flowers to visit for a meal. It is fun to see the different blooms. I was given some house plants. Today was so nice that I could take them out and work on them outdoors. The two vines had many places were there was just stem and not leaves. It took some major trimming to leave just a few stems with leaves close to the base. Some of the pruned pieces went back in the pot and some went into a jar of water so that roots could form. It is difficult to say what will live and what will die. I was going to use a different word here, but I misspelled it so much that neither spell check or my mis-speller’s dictionary could help me.

Paula

Celebration Day

Hello, We went to a 50 year celebration for Corydon Lutheran. Leroy was there for three years as an interim pastor. It was so great to have some time to visit with people that we have not seen for a long time. Leroy commented, “It is amazing how they have gotten older, but we have not.” I have heard such before, but somehow it still feels rather true. We do not notice aging inside our ourselves. Perhaps we did not see ourselves for 10 years we might notice the aging. A number of the former pastors were there. Some of them I knew, some not.

The NAAC woman’s basketball game was on so our drive home was much less populated with vehicles. We stopped at a store to get gas and return some items. The guy at the return counter asked if we had watched the game. “No, since we were driving. Did you watch it?” I asked. “Yes, it was very slow around here so many of us workers got to see quite a bit of it. There are a lot more shoppers here now.” He commented. Do sports control the viewing world and activities? Paula

Tree Friends are Gone

Hello, This morning two trees in front of the house were cut down. They were great shade for cars parked in that area. They had been damaged by the derecho, but our downstairs friend managed to delay removal for three years. It was good to have them for some more company. The city deemed them to be risky trees. We certainly did not want them to fall on anything important. New trees will replace them, but it will be a number of years before they are tall enough to give good shade. It was nice enough to hang out clothes today. I like it so much when I can have sheets dry outside. No birds pooped on them this time that is another win. The rest of the clothes are good too. When the leaves come back to the trees, things stay much cleaner. Trees are helpful in so many ways. Someone invited us over so we can watch the Iowa Women’s Basketball game tonight. We are pleased as we did not know how were going to manage that feat. Paula

Some Highs, Some Lows

Hello, On the drive to the car repair place, I realized there was no noise. How embarrassing! We did leave it as Leroy said, “Let them check it over.” I did call after they were open to tell them that I no longer heard the noise. They replied they did not hear it either, but they were checking it for safety. We are glad about that. On the way back, Leroy filled his car with gas. Later, I was looking at some accounts and decided to look at the credit card. Oh groan, there were three charges that we did not make. I believe the same person must be accessing our account as the usage pattern is always the same with the same amount of money. I feel watched or wonder who close to me gets into this. I tried to call the credit card company, but Leroy is the primary card holder and it would not accept me to talk to anyone. Leroy is at work, but he is going to try to call. He feels much better today. I had blood drawn ahead of my yearly physical. I am low on two things, but high on one. The initials for these items are not in my vocabulary. So, I have no way of knowing what is off. None of the numbers are very far from the norm. I feel ok. Paula

Leroy feeling Low

Hello, Leroy went to work, but soon came back home. He is feeling a bit achy and very tired. We both wonder if it is a reaction to the covid vaccine. He is much better this evening and will go to work tomorrow. On my way to Ely to participate in the tai chi class, I changed lanes on the interstate and heard a kind of whine from the front passenger tire area. I could still steer, no lights had come on the dash so I kept going but did not travel so fast. When I stopped for a stop sign the sound stopped only to start as the car moved again. When totally stopped, I checked around the tires, but could see nothing. On the way home, I just took back streets. The noise was not so loud, but that is no doubt because of the lower speed. We are taking it to a shop tomorrow morning. Hopefully it will not be too large of a repair. At least it did not cause an accident or leave me stranded. At the store today, I played the helpless old lady card and the clerk helped me a lot. It is great to get the help, but should I be more independent? Paula

Home again and vaccinated

Hello, We spent the week end at Brian’s home. It was good to see them again. We spent some fun times playing games, even one we thought might be not so good. It was a trivia contest of do you know more than a 5th grader. Luckily, we managed to know most of the things asked. Travel was good both directions with rain on the return trip. Today Leroy and I got our covid vaccine or booster. So far, everything is good. My arm is not complaining yet, but that could come. I am struggling with Leroy doing things differently in the kitchen. How can I learn to let it be? I guess it is the result of ruling that space for too many years. Am I a bit on the obsessive side? Could be. Leroy got a walk in this morning to pay the car insurance bill. We were both astonished when the call came on the way to Brian’s that we had not paid this bill. Luckily, there is some leeway in that as it was only about three days over. We do not remember ever doing this before. The bill came so early that it seemed there was plenty of time to tend to this matter. We are now “legal” again. Paula