Hello,
We are still eating lettuce that I picked at least two weeks ago. It is quite fine. This afternoon I washed all the remaining lettuce only to discover something about the size of a dime in the bottom of the bag. It was a gray color with legs that had little suction cups on them. Oh, no it was a cute little frog! Life in the refrigerator does not lead to health and happiness. When an insect dies in the frig, and I have found a few in there, it does not make me sad, but this guy did. Guess I care more about some creatures than others.
I am so impressed with that Leroy as he has taken apart another set of shelving. We think we left two sets at the last place and he wonders about leaving one or two here. Eventually if we move a lot more we will be shelf free and have to buy more easily moved pieces or manage with what we have. Leroy does use the electric drill to take the shelves apart and we have to put them together by hand so it is a much longer process to put them up.
Later this afternoon I want to repot my 39.75 year old Christmas cactus. We have a pot and some soil purchased. This scary project will require both of us. Hopefully it will not be as difficult as I imagine. Especially with four hands it could be fine.
I have changed the address on one magazine, but can not make myself take care of the other two. I keep hoping we will have an address of our own instead of having it sent to Brian’s house. After all I like getting some mail. For some reason we have been well supplied with junk mail at the address. I will be quite pleased to leave that behind.
I hate to tell you that even thought we get rid of many things some just seem to stick with us. Today on an insect bite, I used some calamine lotion and I noticed that it had expired in 1990. Oops! My aspirin expired sometime in 2005. We do not use so much medicine so I hate to keep throwing it out and buying new or not having any when I need it.
Paula
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Feeling Better
Hello,
Leroy and I are feeling better after telling each other that our “down in the dumps” attitude would not solve anything. After all you can walk out of the dump. We then sang a little song and laughed some. This works great if you are not so low that you can not think of any song. Nothing changed, but we can face it better. Maybe it is all that delicious fruit enticing us with its superb flavors. Summer is worth a lot of satisfaction even when it is too hot, humid, dry, or wet.
Leroy astonished me by taking apart one of those ancient, from the early days of our marriage, metal shelves that he swore he was not going to move again. I guess we are moving it again. Amazing how differently he can feel when that last move was a year in the past. Those are good shelves they were just meant to be in a more stationary household. We need some of those snappy plastic things.
Our oldest daughter, Sarah, will celebrate her birthday tomorrow. I remember that anticipation the night before since I had passed my due date by 28 days consequently that was the day for the scheduled inducement. We walked into the hospital at 1:00am and she was born about 6:30 am as I recall. When we came up to the desk the person signing us in asked, “Is there a full moon?”
There was indeed and six other people gave birth that night/early morning. Another six babies arrived the next day. It was a full house. I was a month late and two were a month early as it swept up all of us. I then started to believe in the power of the full moon.
That was back in the days of no ultra sound so the Drs would just try to guess the state of the fetus by feeling, counting, looking at the charts, and hoping to be correct. Sarah’s skin was peeling and they told us they thought she was indeed about two weeks late. She was perfect in every other way. Happy Birthday, Sarah!
Paula
Leroy and I are feeling better after telling each other that our “down in the dumps” attitude would not solve anything. After all you can walk out of the dump. We then sang a little song and laughed some. This works great if you are not so low that you can not think of any song. Nothing changed, but we can face it better. Maybe it is all that delicious fruit enticing us with its superb flavors. Summer is worth a lot of satisfaction even when it is too hot, humid, dry, or wet.
Leroy astonished me by taking apart one of those ancient, from the early days of our marriage, metal shelves that he swore he was not going to move again. I guess we are moving it again. Amazing how differently he can feel when that last move was a year in the past. Those are good shelves they were just meant to be in a more stationary household. We need some of those snappy plastic things.
Our oldest daughter, Sarah, will celebrate her birthday tomorrow. I remember that anticipation the night before since I had passed my due date by 28 days consequently that was the day for the scheduled inducement. We walked into the hospital at 1:00am and she was born about 6:30 am as I recall. When we came up to the desk the person signing us in asked, “Is there a full moon?”
There was indeed and six other people gave birth that night/early morning. Another six babies arrived the next day. It was a full house. I was a month late and two were a month early as it swept up all of us. I then started to believe in the power of the full moon.
That was back in the days of no ultra sound so the Drs would just try to guess the state of the fetus by feeling, counting, looking at the charts, and hoping to be correct. Sarah’s skin was peeling and they told us they thought she was indeed about two weeks late. She was perfect in every other way. Happy Birthday, Sarah!
Paula
Friday, July 29, 2011
Feeling Low
Hello,
This moving stuff does not always bring out a positive feeling. About the only thing I can say right now is that we will again lighten our load a little and that I do not ever clean house deeply, I just move.
It is a bit discouraging because every bishop Leroy has called told him that there are no positions available. In fact one told him that he has three interim people of his own that he does not have a job for. Then another told him that he had 25 openings, but 200+ people who are interested in those positions. Wow! Should I say that God is going to work a miracle here and Leroy will be gainfully employed soon? But then why us and not someone else? Sometimes life does not have explanations.
Leroy and I actually did some packing today. He got more done than I did, but mine were harder and more thought provoking. I guess when movers come in and pack they never worry about wasting much box space or how things will go together. How else could they get it done in a day? I suspect many people have more items than we currently have in here. My hat is off to movers.
On an up note, last night we went to the farmer’s market just to get a couple tomatoes. Instead we came home with five beautiful tomatoes, a large Muscatine melon, and four Missouri peaches. On the back porch someone had given us a box of blackberries. All of this fruit was great. What blessings there are to be had in life! If I can just remember that each day it will all be well.
This morning, after a rain, four deer visited our lawn. Even though they were not close to it, Leroy went out and moved the hanging plant that they like to trim. We take this plant to the porch each night and put it out after the time in the morning that we rarely see a deer. It as worked well as the plant has more blossoms than it had in the past.
Paula
This moving stuff does not always bring out a positive feeling. About the only thing I can say right now is that we will again lighten our load a little and that I do not ever clean house deeply, I just move.
It is a bit discouraging because every bishop Leroy has called told him that there are no positions available. In fact one told him that he has three interim people of his own that he does not have a job for. Then another told him that he had 25 openings, but 200+ people who are interested in those positions. Wow! Should I say that God is going to work a miracle here and Leroy will be gainfully employed soon? But then why us and not someone else? Sometimes life does not have explanations.
Leroy and I actually did some packing today. He got more done than I did, but mine were harder and more thought provoking. I guess when movers come in and pack they never worry about wasting much box space or how things will go together. How else could they get it done in a day? I suspect many people have more items than we currently have in here. My hat is off to movers.
On an up note, last night we went to the farmer’s market just to get a couple tomatoes. Instead we came home with five beautiful tomatoes, a large Muscatine melon, and four Missouri peaches. On the back porch someone had given us a box of blackberries. All of this fruit was great. What blessings there are to be had in life! If I can just remember that each day it will all be well.
This morning, after a rain, four deer visited our lawn. Even though they were not close to it, Leroy went out and moved the hanging plant that they like to trim. We take this plant to the porch each night and put it out after the time in the morning that we rarely see a deer. It as worked well as the plant has more blossoms than it had in the past.
Paula
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Tired
Hello,
Leroy and I have both been tired. I suspect a chunk of that draggy feeling can be attributed to stress. We also have some additional theories. We neither one enjoy being in the AC so much. I think the blowing air bothers me after a while. I also notice that my eyes are dry and burning much of the time lately in spite of drops. Leroy last night said the same bothers him. So perhaps we have a little something like an eye irritant.
We are sleeping better since, at night, we have closed the vents downstairs and only opened our bedroom vents. We have even turned on the ceiling fan to med whirling updraft. I notice that in the night, my mouth is so dry that sometimes I even get up to drink water. I guess I should just put a water bottle by the bed.
Leroy at least gets his naps in. I have tried, but I am more sensitive than the “princess and the pea”. It seems there is always some noise to disturb. I have decided that I can hear the noisy ants moving around underground. Perhaps they make a lot of racket chewing.
Now I wish I could hear the deer trotting around. If I did I would be out there in a flash telling them what I think of their cavalier ways. I weeded some yesterday. Today I could see new deer footprints in the dirt that I had disturbed. One of them also stepped on and smashed one of the struggling begonias. Those deer do not like to eat marigolds, but they have no compunction about stepping on them either. The problem is breaking off the flowers. I suppose the deer could claim prior ownership of this ground because their ancestors were here first. But I will say that humans feel the right is theirs to take over any piece of this earth that does not have a deed on it as if paper is the most important thing. How can all of the earth live together peacefully? So far we have not even figured out how to live with our own species let alone those who can not verbally communicate with us.
Paula
Leroy and I have both been tired. I suspect a chunk of that draggy feeling can be attributed to stress. We also have some additional theories. We neither one enjoy being in the AC so much. I think the blowing air bothers me after a while. I also notice that my eyes are dry and burning much of the time lately in spite of drops. Leroy last night said the same bothers him. So perhaps we have a little something like an eye irritant.
We are sleeping better since, at night, we have closed the vents downstairs and only opened our bedroom vents. We have even turned on the ceiling fan to med whirling updraft. I notice that in the night, my mouth is so dry that sometimes I even get up to drink water. I guess I should just put a water bottle by the bed.
Leroy at least gets his naps in. I have tried, but I am more sensitive than the “princess and the pea”. It seems there is always some noise to disturb. I have decided that I can hear the noisy ants moving around underground. Perhaps they make a lot of racket chewing.
Now I wish I could hear the deer trotting around. If I did I would be out there in a flash telling them what I think of their cavalier ways. I weeded some yesterday. Today I could see new deer footprints in the dirt that I had disturbed. One of them also stepped on and smashed one of the struggling begonias. Those deer do not like to eat marigolds, but they have no compunction about stepping on them either. The problem is breaking off the flowers. I suppose the deer could claim prior ownership of this ground because their ancestors were here first. But I will say that humans feel the right is theirs to take over any piece of this earth that does not have a deed on it as if paper is the most important thing. How can all of the earth live together peacefully? So far we have not even figured out how to live with our own species let alone those who can not verbally communicate with us.
Paula
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Not Packing
Hello,
I can tell you that I am a master at not packing. So far zero boxes have been packed even though I have known about moving for a week and a half.
We need more boxes and I have made no effort to get any of those. Leroy, however, has found an offer of some in Iowa City. He has made plans to pick them up on the way home for a continuing ed class he will be taking. I am not sure how many boxes we can get in the car, but for once Leroy is more optimistic than I am. Also I am sure there are sources of free boxes here in Burlington if we can just ask questions of the right person.
Two reasons for not attacking this task with gusto: One, I would like to know where I am going. It seems that focuses my packing. Two, I think it would be nice if there were some type of miracle and someone else would do that packing and moving job for me. I am just too cheap to pay someone to do it when I know I can do it, but a gift out of the sky would be nice.
What have I been doing? Re-potting plants, reading books, watching movies, pulling a couple weeds, writing letters to you, watering living things outdoors, deciding to get rid of a couple more things, and just contemplating life.
It seems those are quite effective activities as I do not feel the least bit bored. I might feel panicked in a week or two, but this is now and life feels good.
By the way even though I said you did not need to worry about us, we welcome any and all prayers that are for the highest good of all concerned. I am just hoping that God and I have the same concept of the highest good.
Paula
I can tell you that I am a master at not packing. So far zero boxes have been packed even though I have known about moving for a week and a half.
We need more boxes and I have made no effort to get any of those. Leroy, however, has found an offer of some in Iowa City. He has made plans to pick them up on the way home for a continuing ed class he will be taking. I am not sure how many boxes we can get in the car, but for once Leroy is more optimistic than I am. Also I am sure there are sources of free boxes here in Burlington if we can just ask questions of the right person.
Two reasons for not attacking this task with gusto: One, I would like to know where I am going. It seems that focuses my packing. Two, I think it would be nice if there were some type of miracle and someone else would do that packing and moving job for me. I am just too cheap to pay someone to do it when I know I can do it, but a gift out of the sky would be nice.
What have I been doing? Re-potting plants, reading books, watching movies, pulling a couple weeds, writing letters to you, watering living things outdoors, deciding to get rid of a couple more things, and just contemplating life.
It seems those are quite effective activities as I do not feel the least bit bored. I might feel panicked in a week or two, but this is now and life feels good.
By the way even though I said you did not need to worry about us, we welcome any and all prayers that are for the highest good of all concerned. I am just hoping that God and I have the same concept of the highest good.
Paula
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Singing in church
Hello,
In spite of a short night with much heat and excitement, Leroy and I, along with another couple sang in church. It went surprisingly well. Some people even told the guy that we should all sing together again before Leroy and I leave. I am trying to get that organized.
This hymn was a bit jazzy/gospel and I think we added to the effect. Before the execution, we practiced once with me playing and twice with our accompanist. At no time when we practiced did we ever manage to go through it without stopping or making some very obvious mistakes. I was impressed with the results as I would not have bet any money on a positive outcome.
I have to tell you too that most of the time I do not like how Leroy sings. It is evident to me that he had not had music lessons as a child. But for some reason he is such a gutsy singer. I suspect it is because he does not know what he is doing wrong. In the end I just sang incorrectly in places because none of the other three were joining me in the printed version. Since none of our hearers knew it, it all sounded confident and good. Guess that is how we get through life.
People will think I am just used to singing all the time as I sang in a group the Sunday before and will again. I am also trying to get up my courage to sing a solo one week. I love hiding behind other singers so that is quite scary to me.
I did play the organ postlude as the person who was the substitute pianist/organist did not have time to get all of the music figured out as he had been gone the entire week. It was fine to do that, but a bit more difficult since I did not know he would want this until Saturday afternoon just before Leroy and I left of the HS reunion. Then there was no time to practice. I did play my selection through once before church, but that was it. As you might imagine I grabbed something that I had played before although it had been at least three years.
Paula
In spite of a short night with much heat and excitement, Leroy and I, along with another couple sang in church. It went surprisingly well. Some people even told the guy that we should all sing together again before Leroy and I leave. I am trying to get that organized.
This hymn was a bit jazzy/gospel and I think we added to the effect. Before the execution, we practiced once with me playing and twice with our accompanist. At no time when we practiced did we ever manage to go through it without stopping or making some very obvious mistakes. I was impressed with the results as I would not have bet any money on a positive outcome.
I have to tell you too that most of the time I do not like how Leroy sings. It is evident to me that he had not had music lessons as a child. But for some reason he is such a gutsy singer. I suspect it is because he does not know what he is doing wrong. In the end I just sang incorrectly in places because none of the other three were joining me in the printed version. Since none of our hearers knew it, it all sounded confident and good. Guess that is how we get through life.
People will think I am just used to singing all the time as I sang in a group the Sunday before and will again. I am also trying to get up my courage to sing a solo one week. I love hiding behind other singers so that is quite scary to me.
I did play the organ postlude as the person who was the substitute pianist/organist did not have time to get all of the music figured out as he had been gone the entire week. It was fine to do that, but a bit more difficult since I did not know he would want this until Saturday afternoon just before Leroy and I left of the HS reunion. Then there was no time to practice. I did play my selection through once before church, but that was it. As you might imagine I grabbed something that I had played before although it had been at least three years.
Paula
Monday, July 25, 2011
Going to the HS Reunion
Hello,
On the Interstate I drove over a lump that was like a small log stretched across the road. At the speed limit of 65 mph it was enough of a shock to make almost everything in the car rattle. Some rattles I had never heard before, however Leroy slept through it. That guy is great. After driving over another of these rather serious bumps, I diagnosed them to be the road bed upheaval from the heat. On the trip in both directions I suspect we drove over 5-10 of these car shaking, teeth rattling protrusions.
I had a great time at the 45th reunion. There were 13 of us out of 28 possible who attended this gathering. It seems we have settled into a pattern as mostly the same classmates are at these events. Some are living a long distance from our home place so that is understandable that they do not come, but a significant number of those living in or close to our home town also do not attend. Just like another organization there are those who do and those who don’t.
At any rate it was great to catch up on a little of the lives of the people who attended. I was impressed that I recognized everyone there as I had missed the 40th making it ten years since I had seen these characters. Because of technology that did not exist when we first knew each other, I have already seen the photos that someone took. I am glad of that because I forgot the camera.
The hardest part was leaving so early. It was 12:30 by the time we got home and both of us non night owls were tired and ready for bed. Leroy was breathing softly within one minute of putting his head on the pillow; I however saw the clock roll past 1:30. But sleep did come before we had to get up and get ready for church.
Paula
On the Interstate I drove over a lump that was like a small log stretched across the road. At the speed limit of 65 mph it was enough of a shock to make almost everything in the car rattle. Some rattles I had never heard before, however Leroy slept through it. That guy is great. After driving over another of these rather serious bumps, I diagnosed them to be the road bed upheaval from the heat. On the trip in both directions I suspect we drove over 5-10 of these car shaking, teeth rattling protrusions.
I had a great time at the 45th reunion. There were 13 of us out of 28 possible who attended this gathering. It seems we have settled into a pattern as mostly the same classmates are at these events. Some are living a long distance from our home place so that is understandable that they do not come, but a significant number of those living in or close to our home town also do not attend. Just like another organization there are those who do and those who don’t.
At any rate it was great to catch up on a little of the lives of the people who attended. I was impressed that I recognized everyone there as I had missed the 40th making it ten years since I had seen these characters. Because of technology that did not exist when we first knew each other, I have already seen the photos that someone took. I am glad of that because I forgot the camera.
The hardest part was leaving so early. It was 12:30 by the time we got home and both of us non night owls were tired and ready for bed. Leroy was breathing softly within one minute of putting his head on the pillow; I however saw the clock roll past 1:30. But sleep did come before we had to get up and get ready for church.
Paula
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