Air Conditioning

Hello,

I do believe that air conditioning is nice, but it does not allow us to adjust to the higher temperatures outside. I remember a time in my life when 80 degrees seemed quite fine. Now I find it a bit warmer than I used to, especially when I am working in the sun.

I went to the community garden this afternoon to pull weeds in the onion area. I did not feel too warm at first, but it seemed to just grow the longer I was there. I did not wear a watch so I do not know for sure how long I was there. It was nice pulling weeds after the rain that we had. I had my phone in my bag, but did not want to pull it out because my hands were so dirty. I was wearing garden gloves, but the wet soil soaked through in spots. I now wonder when I will be able to finish that onion spot. I managed to pull up two onions, but replanted them, hoping they will continue to grow.

I remember a time when I was young, my brother and I were in the garden. For some reason we started pulling onions. The soil released them easily so we pulled all of young things. My mother was most unhappy when she saw that. She immediately charged out to the garden, yelling and ready to spank which was a discipline method used at my house. Robert and I easily ran away from her, hopped on the swing in the large walnut tree, and started pumping. With one of us sitting and the other standing we were soon much too high for mom to stop us as we soared out over the garage roof. I cannot remember what happened when we finally came down which we had to do eventually. I remember we were responsible for replanting the onions. As I recall they lived just fine in spite of the interruption of growth.

No air conditioning in those days. I do not remember being so hot. Was that because I had never heard of it and I was younger?

Paula

Service Berries

Hello,

Saturday, Leroy and I both rode bikes to Ely. Leroy planned to pick mulberries. In Ely he learned that there were not many berries that he could reach. Are we both shrinking or was the tree trimmed? He spoke with another friend there and learned that they have service berry trees in their yard. Leroy looked up a lot of information about them. They are a native plant that we had not met before. I still have not met the tree. Leroy picked them until he got tired, biked home, washed those berries, and made a rhubarb service berry crisp.

He called and asked for my crisp recipe. Seems to me that guy does not know me as well as I thought he did. I laughed, said, “I do not know,” and proceeded to make up a recipe on the spot. The crisp turned out quite fine. I will try to pick some more of those service berries after work tonight. They are quite a mild tasting fruit that was used by our native population. I like eating some of their choices.

I found a kite on a clearance sale and bought it for Leroy for father’s day even though we do not buy things for each other on those special days. Did I buy that new kite for me just so we would have an excuse to get out with kites?  It was so warm yesterday that we went in the evening to the arboretum. It was quite fine, but there was very little wind. We went to another open area in the park. I got out one of the old kites which we had brought so I would have a kite to fly. It lifted up rather easily. The new kite is heavier with a long tail and is made of fabric rather than plastic. At any rate Leroy could not get his kite in the air. I graciously let him fly mine as I helped fold up the tail and put the new away. It was not long before Leroy came up to me with his kite all put away. The mosquitoes had found him. He had about seven bites and I had none. Sort of how life goes for us. Leroy is all bitten up and I wonder what he is talking about.

Paula

Buying Fruit

Hello,

One of my favorite things about summer is buying fresh fruit that tastes better because it is in season. Today I came home with cherries, grapes, honeydew melon, and some colored peppers that taste almost sweet enough to be a fruit. The only problem is eating all of this before it gets too tired. We already have watermelon, apples and bananas in the house. The bananas were even free because they were mischarged and this store’s policy is that they are free if there had been a mistake. Riches indeed.

I went to pick some mulberries, but most of the branches were too high for me to comfortably reach so my bucket that had been full of anticipation just had enough for two bowls of cereal. I like to make rhubarb mulberry crisp and that was not to be. Leroy is talking of riding the bike to Ely tomorrow when I go for work. He will see if he is more successful than I was. I hope so. Height does have a use once in a while.

Last night at our neighborhood meeting I learned a lot about water runoff. I am happy to report that the city is looking into ways of managing it much better than has been done in the past. It will cost quite a lot of money, but they are working on ways to pay for it. What a good thing that it is considered important enough to follow through even if it will not be embraced with open arms by all because of the cost, but there will be great benefit. It seems to me that people are finally realizing the value and power of water in our lives. The infrastructure that has been in place for a hundred years is not doing the job that needs to be done. One surprising fact I learned, Kentucky blue grass is not a good rain collector. It might work well in Kentucky, but is not the best in Iowa. If I could be alive 100 years from now I might not recognize this place at all.

Paula

Neighborhood

Hello,

It seemed like an ordinary walk to the grocery store to get a few things. On the way I pass a laundry mat. Because of the shade I was across the street from it when a man who was outside the establishment yelled at me. “Is he talking to me? I do not know him.” I thought.

After a bit I realized there was no one else he could be talking to, as the woman ahead of me just kept walking. Then I understood him to ask, “Do you have a phone?”

I have heard that the laundry mat is a drug traffic place, although that could be mostly closer to night time. Why would he want to know about my phone? Is he trying to take it? Boy will he be surprised if that is the case because my phone cost about $10. Certainly there is no resale market for it. “Yes,” I hollered genteelly.

At that point he checked traffic and came across. He did not seem threatening, about my height with a face that could have been shaved two days ago. He was wearing a cap and a stained white tee shirt that was quite stretched out of shape, perhaps because he kept using it as a towel to wipe his face.

He commented, “I need to call work and my phone needs time on it.”

I pulled out my antiquated style flip phone saying, “It is not a smart phone. Do you know how to use it?”

“I have one just like that,” he exclaimed with a smile, “It works well. My father got it for me.”

He proceeded to put in the numbers, but there was no answer. He tried again with the same result. Then he went on to say, “They said there was no work for the rest of the week and I need work. I can manage for a day or two more before I am out of money.”

He tried the phone again and then sighed, “I wish they would answer. I only do laundry about every three weeks because it is so expensive.”

He talked a little more before he headed back across the street saying, “Thank you and God Bless you.”

On my way home he was still there, came back across the street and asked if he could try again. Then he talked about working for a temp agency. He again made a remark about God as he thanked me. I said, “I will pray for you.”

“I will pray for you too,” he said, “What is your name?”

We exchanged first names and proceeded with the rest of our day.

I was struck by the fact that I am so rich that I have never wondered what I would do after the money ran out. I just go to the grocery store and buy what I want. I look for sales, but that is not because it is totally necessary. I also wonder is this why I am in this neighborhood, to meet and pray for my neighbors?

Paula

The Corner of My Eye

Hello,

As I was hanging out clothes I saw it floating out of the corner of my eye. I whipped my head around, but the little thing went with my hat. Next I saw it start to go down its web. Oh! A spider! I snatched my hat off my head, slide it along close to the ground, hoped the passenger was gone, looked for it in the spider colored weave,  and put it back on my head. My heart went back to a normal speed and I hung up lovely boring socks.

Later in the kitchen, out of the corner of my eye I saw something small fly by looking just like a wasp. I screamed once, twice just for good measure! Leroy, who was home for lunch, wanted to know what was happening. By that time the flier had landed and I could identify it as a harmless firefly. I put my finger out, it climbed on, I loosely wrapped my other hand around it and went to the stairs so I could take it out. My loose hold was too loose and it flew away once again. I asked help from Leroy as it was too high on the wall for me to reach. Leroy managed to chase it around, which caused it to go out of sight from time to time. Finally I captured it once more, walked downstairs, opened the door, opened my hand, and watched it fly to freedom.

Peripheral vision is great. Have you murmured a thanksgiving for that gift? It has kept me from having more intimate contact with insects. I am grateful indeed.

Paula

Vacations

Hello,

Leroy and I would like jobs that have the Slovak idea of more time off. Six weeks seems to us to be what we need. Now we have jobs that do not have written in vacation because they are only half time. The trouble is that we both have a difficult time just taking what we want. It was not part of our ideas when growing up. One must be responsible and on time.

At least I only have one job so I do get time off that I can use in many ways, but really I am stuck in a rut. Next Saturday I work, but Leroy does not. He is disappointed because he would like to do something with me. I believe he should ride the bike to work with me. He can go home anytime that he would like, but we could ride one way together. Or I suppose he could ride the same ride twice. That would give him fifty miles in one day. Seems that could be a challenge.

We had talked about doing some short drives in Iowa, but we have really only done one of those and then it was raining at our destination. That hardly seems to count as a trip. We will get better at this. Surely we can learn how at any age. I guess it is true that I have a difficult time having fun. I was told this in some personality studies that we did. Maybe it is because I enjoy so many things daily, that I do not live in others’ realm of having fun. I, for instance, do not look forward to drinking or going to loud concerts. My fun is on a much quieter level. I would rather visit and play games. Traveling is fine, but I have to confess that I often find it tiring after a week or so. I also do not really want to plan any of that, but like it when someone else figures out what we are doing and then I can just do it. When in Slovakia we often traveled, but part of that was the realization that we would not be there so long so we must do it now. We saw much of Slovakia. Glad we did that.

Paula

Visitors

Hello,

The visit was refreshing and delightful. We would be happy to see any of you on your way to somewhere or we could even be the destination. Talk flowed without strain and smiles abounded. What difference does 20 years make? Not much when it comes to connecting. They did not stay long enough, but it was after church and before Leroy went for the nursing home service so it fit nicely.

Maybe we will get to Texas to visit them in the future that is not too far away. Now we are thinking of how to visit our two daughters. It has been a year since we have been to Utah. In the fall it will be a year since we have been to DC. I am grateful that Brian is close enough that we can do that on a weekend or extended weekend. It is just hard to get it all done. If my work schedule were three days in a row giving me more flexible time for travel, I might get it done, although the distance is great enough that I would like to spend some time when I do get there considering the few trips per year. Leroy does talk about quitting one of his jobs so he would have more flexible time as well. Retirement does start to look more attractive. I will be 70 in a year and a half. Leroy will be 70 a year after that. One of the big hold ups for me is that I still do not know where I want to be when I retire. Really I would like my children to live closer to each other. That would solve the issue.

At book club tomorrow night I will talk about the book, The Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff. I liked it so it will be easy to talk about it in a very positive way. Again I am impressed with the generosity of people. The connections between people are of great value.

Paula