New Baby
February 28, 2011
Hello,
We have a new grandson, Logan Reid born yesterday in the late afternoon. He weighed in at 6 pounds 15 ounces and is 19 inches long. All is well with mother Jen, and son. We will go up to meet him tomorrow. Or at least that is the plan. It is such an exciting time. We are wondering how he will fit in with the four girls. Course except for his sister he will not see these cousins very often since they live so far away. There are pictures of this new arrival at the BradwayFamily blog.
Leroy and I will be going up tomorrow. Leroy plans to stay until Saturday and I might stay a bit longer depending on how things are going. It will be nice to be able to help out a bit. Now if we could just figure out what clothes to take we would be in good shape. I did remember to stop the paper, but the mail is still coming. They do not stop it for less than three days plus we do not get so very much mail any more. Leroy is pleased with this timing as he is able to take off time this week. Next week when Lent starts it becomes much harder and more scheduled for him at the mid week activities.
It must be spring because the Decorah eagle has now laid two eggs even with snow on the nest. They have a live webcam on her so you can check in at any time to see what is happening. It is great. This morning she stood to move the eggs around so I got a good look at them.
Paula
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Book Club
Hello,
The book discussion was a great success if you judge by the response of the participants. We had a lively repartee that quickly filled the hour. When I announced that it was five minutes before we needed to stop, someone said, “It has been an hour already?” And to think I had been wondering if I could keep the conversation going. I only asked one question and we were off and running. I just tried to make sure that all of the quieter people had a chance to speak.
We were engaged in the possibilities of what has been and could be. We will meet again in a month. I handed out the next book. It is really an upper elementary book, A Wrinkle in Time. One person commented they would like to read it again and the rest of us had not read if even though it is in the classic territory. Also one of our members is approaching his senior recital and exams at the end of his college career and he wanted something easy. One person told me they have already read three chapters. Personally I thought I had better wait until closer to the meeting time so I can remember what I read.
It was a heady experience to do this because so many of the people there thanked me for getting this started. It was so easy to do and what they do not know is that I did it for selfish reasons; I wanted to talk to people about books that I have read. We even had two spouses come who had not read the book on Lincoln, but wanted to listen/participate in the discussion. This is the first book club that I have been in that has men. Four of the twelve people who attended were male. Nice to get some different perspective on life situations. Men are good for something.
Paula
The book discussion was a great success if you judge by the response of the participants. We had a lively repartee that quickly filled the hour. When I announced that it was five minutes before we needed to stop, someone said, “It has been an hour already?” And to think I had been wondering if I could keep the conversation going. I only asked one question and we were off and running. I just tried to make sure that all of the quieter people had a chance to speak.
We were engaged in the possibilities of what has been and could be. We will meet again in a month. I handed out the next book. It is really an upper elementary book, A Wrinkle in Time. One person commented they would like to read it again and the rest of us had not read if even though it is in the classic territory. Also one of our members is approaching his senior recital and exams at the end of his college career and he wanted something easy. One person told me they have already read three chapters. Personally I thought I had better wait until closer to the meeting time so I can remember what I read.
It was a heady experience to do this because so many of the people there thanked me for getting this started. It was so easy to do and what they do not know is that I did it for selfish reasons; I wanted to talk to people about books that I have read. We even had two spouses come who had not read the book on Lincoln, but wanted to listen/participate in the discussion. This is the first book club that I have been in that has men. Four of the twelve people who attended were male. Nice to get some different perspective on life situations. Men are good for something.
Paula
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Bugs
Hello,
Those Asian beetle bugs feel they are part of the family. They visit much more than my family has, but they are not an acceptable replacement. When it warms up they come out from hidden places.
I was talking to Brian and Sophia the other day when I saw two of them crawling around on the window. Sophia wanted to know what I was doing, I told her, “I just threw two bugs out the window.”
“How did you do that?” she asked.
“I put a piece of paper in their path, they walked on, and I opened the window, put out the paper, shook it and they were gone.” I told her the full operation so she could get the picture.
“Why did they come in?” was her next question.
“I do not know since I did not invite them,” I said in exasperation, “They just came in uninvited.”
They congregate in the southwest bedroom. One day I took out more than twenty of them. I kept thinking I had found the last one only to spot three more.
Things for which I am grateful: I am grateful we do not sleep in this bedroom as I do not want bugs crawling over me as I sleep. They do not sting or bite. They seem quite content to be quiet. They are not ugly and huge. They do not eat plants. Hmm, just what do they eat; clothes, furniture, garbage? Maybe they are actually good and eating other insects I like even less than I like them.
Paula
Those Asian beetle bugs feel they are part of the family. They visit much more than my family has, but they are not an acceptable replacement. When it warms up they come out from hidden places.
I was talking to Brian and Sophia the other day when I saw two of them crawling around on the window. Sophia wanted to know what I was doing, I told her, “I just threw two bugs out the window.”
“How did you do that?” she asked.
“I put a piece of paper in their path, they walked on, and I opened the window, put out the paper, shook it and they were gone.” I told her the full operation so she could get the picture.
“Why did they come in?” was her next question.
“I do not know since I did not invite them,” I said in exasperation, “They just came in uninvited.”
They congregate in the southwest bedroom. One day I took out more than twenty of them. I kept thinking I had found the last one only to spot three more.
Things for which I am grateful: I am grateful we do not sleep in this bedroom as I do not want bugs crawling over me as I sleep. They do not sting or bite. They seem quite content to be quiet. They are not ugly and huge. They do not eat plants. Hmm, just what do they eat; clothes, furniture, garbage? Maybe they are actually good and eating other insects I like even less than I like them.
Paula
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wildlife
Hello,
I had previously thought I would talk about bugs when using this title. For some reason those Asian Beetles think they are not wild life but are domesticated into my living space.
However I zoomed away from bugs this morning when I excitedly said, “Leroy, come see! There is either a fox or a coyote in the back yard.”
I watched this dull yellow dog like animal come out of the trees, stop, sniff the air, and move with caution into view. By the time Leroy pushed himself off the couch and shuffled out to the kitchen the animal was behind the twig pile. We waited a bit and it came out. It was really too large and light colored for a red fox and not gray as a gray fox.
“Maybe it is a dog?” I said.
“It looks more like a coyote to me,” Leroy said. “I am going to get the binoculars.”
This was certainly the mangiest looking animal I had seen around here. With the help of the binoculars we both believe that it was indeed a coyote. We watched as it walked furtively across the parking lot and off between the houses.
Neither of us had ever seen a coyote except in pictures. Life is so strange that we would get our first close look in a city of 25,000. True it is the edge of the city, but still there are a lot of people around to disturb it. Keep your eyes open you never know what might walk through.
Paula
I had previously thought I would talk about bugs when using this title. For some reason those Asian Beetles think they are not wild life but are domesticated into my living space.
However I zoomed away from bugs this morning when I excitedly said, “Leroy, come see! There is either a fox or a coyote in the back yard.”
I watched this dull yellow dog like animal come out of the trees, stop, sniff the air, and move with caution into view. By the time Leroy pushed himself off the couch and shuffled out to the kitchen the animal was behind the twig pile. We waited a bit and it came out. It was really too large and light colored for a red fox and not gray as a gray fox.
“Maybe it is a dog?” I said.
“It looks more like a coyote to me,” Leroy said. “I am going to get the binoculars.”
This was certainly the mangiest looking animal I had seen around here. With the help of the binoculars we both believe that it was indeed a coyote. We watched as it walked furtively across the parking lot and off between the houses.
Neither of us had ever seen a coyote except in pictures. Life is so strange that we would get our first close look in a city of 25,000. True it is the edge of the city, but still there are a lot of people around to disturb it. Keep your eyes open you never know what might walk through.
Paula
Monday, February 21, 2011
No Dough and Leroy's condition
Hello,
Some of you have asked about the Fastnacht dough that I might have made and not used. There is no dough. We had the dough making alarm set for an early hour, but when the bell chimed; Leroy already knew that it was an event that he could not participate in so we just discussed how to cancel. I did mash the potatoes the night before, but potatoes are easily consumed. The rest of the things will just sit on the shelf and wait for another day.
Today however, Leroy said, “I feel much better this morning.”
But when his warm hand touched me I wondered, “Should I take your temperature?”
“You can if you want,” he agreed, “but I think it is normal.”
Well it was only a little above normal at 99.4F.
My skin is dry and Leroy often puts lotion on my back. I will have to confess that I appreciated those warm hands.
He got ready and went to church at his usual time of 8:00am. The funeral was not until late morning, but there were things that needed to be done ahead of time, such as unlock the door.
He is now back home and has taken a nap. The intention was that he would sleep a long time this afternoon, but the phone rang requiring his attention. He will not go to his Spanish class tonight. The next funeral is on Wednesday so he must write a sermon for that. Hopefully tomorrow he will be in even better shape. I am impressed at how well he has bounced back from this little foray into sickness. We are also hopeful that he is not overdoing his activities.
We were pleased to get a note from Jen that the ultra sound showed the baby is gaining weight nicely. I suppose it could be born anytime now, but a week longer gestation time would be helpful as well.
Paula
Some of you have asked about the Fastnacht dough that I might have made and not used. There is no dough. We had the dough making alarm set for an early hour, but when the bell chimed; Leroy already knew that it was an event that he could not participate in so we just discussed how to cancel. I did mash the potatoes the night before, but potatoes are easily consumed. The rest of the things will just sit on the shelf and wait for another day.
Today however, Leroy said, “I feel much better this morning.”
But when his warm hand touched me I wondered, “Should I take your temperature?”
“You can if you want,” he agreed, “but I think it is normal.”
Well it was only a little above normal at 99.4F.
My skin is dry and Leroy often puts lotion on my back. I will have to confess that I appreciated those warm hands.
He got ready and went to church at his usual time of 8:00am. The funeral was not until late morning, but there were things that needed to be done ahead of time, such as unlock the door.
He is now back home and has taken a nap. The intention was that he would sleep a long time this afternoon, but the phone rang requiring his attention. He will not go to his Spanish class tonight. The next funeral is on Wednesday so he must write a sermon for that. Hopefully tomorrow he will be in even better shape. I am impressed at how well he has bounced back from this little foray into sickness. We are also hopeful that he is not overdoing his activities.
We were pleased to get a note from Jen that the ultra sound showed the baby is gaining weight nicely. I suppose it could be born anytime now, but a week longer gestation time would be helpful as well.
Paula
Sunday, February 20, 2011
No Fastnachts Today
Hello,
Leroy woke with a fever so Fastnachts and open house were cancelled at our house. All that cleaning for naught. This is the first time ever in all the years we have been doing this. It was easier than I thought it would be. Just an announcement in church worked. So far no one has come to the door. About noon Leroy’s fever broke, but he still feels a bit punk and coughs with a certain amount of regularity. He is planning to do the funeral tomorrow and then there will be another later in the week. He is hoping this is a sign of wellness coming back so he will not expose other people to much flu. The open house has been rescheduled for March 6. Leroy and I decided that if that grandbaby comes and messes with the timing I will just go and he will stay here. He thinks he can make the dough without me. Actually I know that he can he has just never done it alone.
About midnight I woke to hear the windows rattling, the bed trembling, and an extended crashing rumbling sound outside. “Good heavens is that an explosion?” I wondered.
About five minutes later I saw a lighting flash and was treated to another great thunderclap. Rain was striking the roof at a brisk pace. So it was a winter thunder storm. Who could guess?
Leroy was also awake and realized that he did not feel well at all. He had not been so good on Saturday, but he managed to do everything that was on the schedule for him. We even went out to a concert. It was quite good and made us laugh several times. It was an orchestra that was playing old time instruments and had a score that was used with a Buster Keaton film. They showed the film so we got the whole experience. I had no idea that I would like that so much. I am ready to see another old film.
Paula
Leroy woke with a fever so Fastnachts and open house were cancelled at our house. All that cleaning for naught. This is the first time ever in all the years we have been doing this. It was easier than I thought it would be. Just an announcement in church worked. So far no one has come to the door. About noon Leroy’s fever broke, but he still feels a bit punk and coughs with a certain amount of regularity. He is planning to do the funeral tomorrow and then there will be another later in the week. He is hoping this is a sign of wellness coming back so he will not expose other people to much flu. The open house has been rescheduled for March 6. Leroy and I decided that if that grandbaby comes and messes with the timing I will just go and he will stay here. He thinks he can make the dough without me. Actually I know that he can he has just never done it alone.
About midnight I woke to hear the windows rattling, the bed trembling, and an extended crashing rumbling sound outside. “Good heavens is that an explosion?” I wondered.
About five minutes later I saw a lighting flash and was treated to another great thunderclap. Rain was striking the roof at a brisk pace. So it was a winter thunder storm. Who could guess?
Leroy was also awake and realized that he did not feel well at all. He had not been so good on Saturday, but he managed to do everything that was on the schedule for him. We even went out to a concert. It was quite good and made us laugh several times. It was an orchestra that was playing old time instruments and had a score that was used with a Buster Keaton film. They showed the film so we got the whole experience. I had no idea that I would like that so much. I am ready to see another old film.
Paula
Saturday, February 19, 2011
We have arrived
Hello,
Leroy only had a short time to rest in each day this last week. Yesterday was his day off and he even worked a part of that. That means that we have arrived. Through circumstances that I do not know so much about he has not felt as busy as he usually does. That is bothersome to him. In other words he can not enjoy the calm while it is offered. But anyway now he is busy. He will have a funeral on Monday and possibly one later in the week. That adds a bit of extra work as he spends more time with the family and writes a sermon for each funeral service.
Yesterday Leroy even worked quite a bit for me as he ran the vacuum cleaner on the main floor and some in the basement. But he acted as if he enjoyed doing that so I did not feel guilty about it. The house is as clean as it is going to get. We will do bathrooms tomorrow morning or perhaps this evening. We are going to a ragtime concert this evening. So the bathroom might come into play in the morning because we must be up early to get those two or three batches of dough on the road to rising. We are ready for this open house.
Riding the bike was also on the list of activities, but not for long as Leroy felt the wind was still a bit cool. Undeterred by wind, those Frisbee golfer aficionados were in the park, only they had to traipse through mud that does not daunt but might slow down. On our walk Leroy and I kept strictly to the path or the street.
Three amaryllis have flowers open. The largest one has a flower that is nine inches across. I think it looked larger last year, but can not remember the inches for sure. Anyway they are again beautiful. I took the fern out to shake off the random dead leaves. I am so impressed at how it looks it has just unrolled seven new fronds. What a dress up for company.
Paula
Leroy only had a short time to rest in each day this last week. Yesterday was his day off and he even worked a part of that. That means that we have arrived. Through circumstances that I do not know so much about he has not felt as busy as he usually does. That is bothersome to him. In other words he can not enjoy the calm while it is offered. But anyway now he is busy. He will have a funeral on Monday and possibly one later in the week. That adds a bit of extra work as he spends more time with the family and writes a sermon for each funeral service.
Yesterday Leroy even worked quite a bit for me as he ran the vacuum cleaner on the main floor and some in the basement. But he acted as if he enjoyed doing that so I did not feel guilty about it. The house is as clean as it is going to get. We will do bathrooms tomorrow morning or perhaps this evening. We are going to a ragtime concert this evening. So the bathroom might come into play in the morning because we must be up early to get those two or three batches of dough on the road to rising. We are ready for this open house.
Riding the bike was also on the list of activities, but not for long as Leroy felt the wind was still a bit cool. Undeterred by wind, those Frisbee golfer aficionados were in the park, only they had to traipse through mud that does not daunt but might slow down. On our walk Leroy and I kept strictly to the path or the street.
Three amaryllis have flowers open. The largest one has a flower that is nine inches across. I think it looked larger last year, but can not remember the inches for sure. Anyway they are again beautiful. I took the fern out to shake off the random dead leaves. I am so impressed at how it looks it has just unrolled seven new fronds. What a dress up for company.
Paula
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