Unexpected

Hello,

Yesterday there was a beautiful dragon fly resting on our screen. I called Leroy to come see it. He wanted to take a picture so I carefully opened the window. The picture was a lot of screen. That critter was still there when we came home from church about two hours later. Church only took one hour, walking and talking occupied the rest of the time. On the way to church we disturbed two people sitting in the shade on their walkers. I had intended to walk around them, but one noticed us and moved to let us pass.

We attended two high school graduation celebrations. I was pleased at how simple and low key they were. The emphasis was on talking and eating rather than other things.

In the evening we shared some of the best watermelon this year with our downstairs friends. It was a little buggy outside, but not unbearable. I can say that because many of the bugs do not like me.

After that Leroy and I went on a bike ride that was about seven miles. Again Leroy had to wait for me. A deer ambled off the trail as we approached. I liked seeing that. The day before we had seen about three turkeys in a field. Iowa is full of wild life.

This morning, without me, Leroy rode about 12-13 miles in the early hours. He did it as fast as we had the seven the night before. I sadly remember a time when I had to wait for him. I wonder where that strong woman went.

Last night we watched, and enjoyed, the movie Tangled. A woman brought it into the library and reported that it did not work. It worked so well on our player that I forgot that is why we were watching it.

Paula

Adventures

Hello,

Because Leroy was home I felt compelled to go out and work around the house. If I had been alone I might have talked myself out of it. As it was I went out with a pliers that Leroy found for me. I used the pliers to grip the small trees closer to the earth so I could pull up more of the root which was somewhat possible after the recent rains. Some I pulled and some I just used my hands. Most were less than two feet tall. Only one came up with a sudden release so that I sat on the ground. I squat when I do things like this so I was not far from the ground. I pulled them around the garages, house and then moved on to the cracks in the sidewalk. Leroy came out and helped me finish that. He had been trying to repair a hose, but needed different sized ends. Then we moved on the rental house two doors away where Leroy used the ice scraper to get the thicker stuff growing in the cracks of the sidewalk sheared off. All in all it was quite a satisfying result. The work is not so much fun as what I see when I am finished.

In the afternoon we headed to a state park that is quite close. It started to rain before we left town. Since it was just a little rain and the prediction was for scattered showers we forged ahead. By the time we got to the park the rain could be classified as a down pour. We drove all around the park, but did not feel any siren call to get out except at an ice cave where we could park close and go under the overhanging rock. We found a flashlight in the car that did not work very well. With Leroy leading we ventured a short distance into this cave that seemed to be getting colder, lower,  and narrower as we progressed. At least we saw the entire park which was quite picturesque. Perhaps we will return some day. Supposedly there are hiking trails, but we did not spot any entrance to those. We had also talked about taking a long bike ride in the afternoon, I am glad we changed our minds.

Paula

Just a Day Off

Hello,

I have to make a clarification on my report of the bike ride last Saturday. Leroy does not ride 50-60 miles in the morning. That “he” was the guy who organized the ride. Leroy only goes about six miles a day. Leroy is not quite so dedicated.

We were eating breakfast this morning when I gasped, leaped up and went to the window to see a squirrel that had been on top of the second story of the house next door plummet to the ground but manage to run under their deck. Leroy was so relieved to learn that it was a squirrel that had so viciously grabbed my attention. He thought there was so terrible tragedy out there.

Even though it was not on my chore list I decided to vacuum the window sills or that space between the window and the screen. It did not require much insight to realize that was not creating the effect I wanted. Next I moved on to wash that area after I had gathered rags, bucket, water, and cleaner. The next thing was realizing that I would get a better clean result if I took out the screens. Once the screens were out there was nothing for it but to wash them too so I gathered more rags and an additional bucket. We only have ten windows in this apartment. I should say we have ten sparkling sills and screens. Do you think Leroy will notice when he comes home? I am not holding my breath, but if he opens a window he will surely see it. I will, one day soon, wash the windows. Now that should not be such a big job because all I have to deal with is the glass. Love these windows that flip in so I can do both sides without breaking my neck. My mother used to wash off the window then use clean water with ammonia in it before drying them. When Leroy was in the seminary, we got a lower rent rate because we were to help with maintance around the house. One of those chores was washing windows. I learned to wash the windows with plain water, second wash the window with ammonia, and finally use a purchased window washing product. Drying was the hard part because our landlady looked at the window from many angles and sometimes there was quite a lot to redo. No hurrying and slacking on that job.

Paula

Summer and Reading

Hello,

Summer has come while I was concentrating on the cold. I now have to close curtains and windows on the sunny side of the house. Amazing development! Our deck and front have been decorated with beautiful flowers that will please all summer and some of the fall. What a gift that is! I have not worn a jacket in the last two days. I still take something to work because I never know how cold it will be there. I am one of the people who likes a little more heat in the summer, when inside buildings. Many places are much to cold for me.

I have been reading a book that fits in the young adult category. It was highly recommended by one of my co-workers. It is Code Name verity by Elizabeth Wein. The setting is England and France during WWII. For some reason I have had a difficult time figuring out just what is happening. Now that I am close to the end I like it, but it has been a struggle. It has to do with spies and fooling the Germans. Perhaps it is my German background, but I was fooled completely. Or perhaps it is because I am not so very good at spying and espionage. Good thing that last word was close enough to be caught by spell check. I was floundering.

I kept reading this book mostly because I did not want to admit that I was too dumb to get it. And because I see my colleague three days a week and I did not want to admit that I did not like it. Now I have passed the hurtle and I can honestly report liking it quite a lot. Rereading might make it even more enjoyable, but I have two book clubs coming up and I want to read a book for each of them. Rereading is not generally my style. There are far too many good books out there that call my name. Almost every day at work someone will recommend something that grabs my attention for a minute. I store the title in my brain for a bit and then can never find it again until the book crosses the desk once more. I never used to read more than one book at a time. Right now I am reading five books and two that I have not started, plus I have five magazines in my book basket. Am I out of control or what?

Paula

Parking Cars

Hello,

Our garage is a two car garage that is divided into two spaces with a pole between and separate doors. Because it is only about two feet from the alley, it takes a bit of skill to make the curve and go up a little incline. Over the four years both Leroy and I have managed to master this art and be quite proficient.

A week or so ago our neighbor across the alley had a dumpster in their parking area. This was an area that either Leroy or I felt compelled to use in order to make this garage park work. I did talk to our neighbors once apologizing for using some of their gravel ground. The man said, “I don’t think you can get in if you do not have this space too.”

We could get in, but it takes much more backing and turning. I was feeling quite proud of my ability to get in the garage with that dumpster there as it seriously cut into my turning room. Then I drove the new car. I will have to confess that I almost think about getting a newer car for me because it does handle better, has better gas mileage, and the radio sounds better. But we think when we retire we do not need two cars so I do not want to buy one only to get rid of one in the near future. Well putting this new car in the garage was trickier than I realized. I cannot see the front end so I do not really know where it is. The mirror on the right side of the car was less than an inch from the center garage support when I glanced that direction. I gulped and inched on. The car was in, but as I straightened it I gave Leroy a compliment in my mind for managing all this without complaining. I did not know how the car would ever get out of the garage, but hoped Leroy could manage. He did not drive the car, but I did yesterday. I folded the side mirror into the car and backed out carefully without problem. Thanks and praises to the person who invented that mirror moving possibility.

Paula

Plans Change

Hello,

No longer car trip for us today. We biked to Ely with a group this morning. The message about it talked about people setting their own pace. Somehow that sounded slower to me. However, I was the slow one of the group. The organizer did stay behind us, but I felt a bit guilty for that because Leroy and I can easily ride on our own. Plus he talked about riding in April till now and he often goes 50 or 60 miles. I have to tell you that many of those people ahead of us looked to be about my age. I was puffing to keep up. Leroy and I took ourselves home alone. Leroy almost had to drag me. My legs would have been happy just to coast along, unfortunately there was a moderate wind which felt like a gale if I paid much attention to it. There is also a bit of uphill on the return trip requiring gearing down. I just forced myself to keep the legs going round. Leroy waited for me from time to time. Can you believe that at one time I would outpace him consistently? That is a dim dream these days. This almost daily commute certainly puts him on the up side of all this. I at least made it home and I can still walk around.

We are considering going on a hike this evening. I suspect we can get that done. It will be at our or perhaps my pace. It is a good outdoor day. In fact Leroy, now that his nap is finished, is going to read outside. For some reason I have never really liked to do that. I squint too much because of the bright sun light.

I found the ravioli from Christmas still in the freezer. Yesterday I cooked it and invited, at the last minute, our friends below us to come and share. We had a nice visit. Now we will finish the ravioli as left over. Leroy is happy about that because this is his family special meal and he relishes it. I only make it once a year so I do not spoil him.

Paula

Life's Challenges and Gifts

Hello,

Leroy planted in the community garden both Monday and Tuesday evenings. I joined him Tuesday. Another woman helped both nights and one other person was there Monday and another on Tuesday. This garden is quite a large space. We always hope for a greater response than we seem to get. I often wish the garden were right next door to my house so that I could more easily go out and spend ten minutes here and ten minutes there. I have to believe that it will all get planted as it has in the past. This year one guy who supplies most of our tomato plants said that most of his green house plants died in one of the last cold spells. That is disappointing because he gave us unusual varieties, many of which were heirloom. It was always fun to taste something new, or perhaps I should say old.

Two of my yoga participants gave me a gift certificate at a local coffee shop. I have now learned that the shop will be closing at the end of the month. I had deliberately saved that certificate so Leroy and I could go there when we rode our bikes to Ely. Tomorrow we are planning a little car trip so we will swing down that way and use it then. Somehow that does not fit my idea of the ideal time to use it.

Leroy set the timer on the microwave, walked off, and did his thing. I came in as the timer was going off, opened the oven, to find nothing in there except the spatter cover that looked quite bubbly odd upside down on the glass tray. I could not get it to come off. When I told Leroy about it he said he had set the timer, but must have turned on the oven instead. When things cooled I could remove the cover. I contacted the company. They informed me that it was ok to use as long as there was still the center hole. I am now using this unique spatter cover.

Lightening bugs are flashing for the warm weather. I like looking at them. For some reason I especially remember them when we would go to the fireworks on the fourth of July. That is just a nice little gift.

Paula