This morning I had a visit to make and wanted to get my post office stuff done on the way to my friends home. I had to write a couple letters to mail. Now I'm learning to use my new computer and every now and then I notice a feature I haven't clicked on. There are sooooooo many and sooooooo little time!!
The feature I noticed this morning was called 'sticky notes'. Oh my did that look tempting. I clicked on the sticky note on my program list. Onto my screen popped the cutest little yellow square just like a postette. I typed one of my 'to do' list items right on that note. I was thrilled to say the least.
This little note had only two command features on it. One is an X in the upper right corner to delete the note you created. The other is a + in the upper left corner to add another 'sticky note' to your computer screen. I was in HEAVEN!!!
I quickly transferred all my 'to do' list to 'sticky notes'. I made a note for letter & notes I need to write, a note for Relief Society things I need to do, a note for things I'm working on for Papa, a note to remind me to things to do for Katelyn's Graduation Open House. Then I tossed my 'to do' list away.
Next I learned that when I create a 'sticky note' my computer puts an icon on my start bar thing across the bottom of my monitor. If I click on that 'sticky note' icon, the computer hides all the 'sticky notes'. If I click it again, it places them on top of whatever I'm working on.
Oh my, am I a happy Chick Maiden or what!!! I love lists. Now I can keep them at my finger tips on my computer and not on paper lists on my desk. This is one new feature I'm very, very, very excited about.
The other thing that I'm trying to get to work right is Skype. I was fascinated with this idea when I first heard it advertized on TV long ago. My computer comes with a webcam and speakers, etc. The other night I downloaded Skype to me computer. My dear friends, Laura and her hubby Howard, have patiently let me Skype them to see how it is working. I've got everything just right. However, it appears I need to increase my DSL speed to make the sound right. I'll get that done sooner rather than later, I hope. The funny part is that I have a ceiling fan in my craft room. When I'm sitting at my computer it looks to Laura like I have a beany propeller cap on my head or the glow from the 3 light bulbs in the fan make me look like I have a halo around my head. But I do believe Skype will be fun to play with once I get the sound right.
Claude and I attended the Bluegrass ADD dinner last night. It was at the Embassy Suites in Lexington where we went last week for the Chamber of Commerce dinner. I was concerned about dry chicken again. This time we had tough beef. They put a sauce on it that is really good though. They also had a carrot cake that was super good. It seemed to be lighter in color and weight than the usual carrot cake.
They had a guest speaker who talked about a different approach to long-term care. They are approaching it from giving the patient back their voice and power. Overall it seemed like a good thing. She mentioned putting an open kitchen in one facility so the residents could cook for themselves if they chose. While this would be great for some, clearly an Alzheimer's patient doesn't need that access after they reach a certain point. But there were some good trends they are trying to create that would be great for some long-term care facilities.
I have no complaints as to the nursing home my mom is in. They just love her to pieces and care very tenderly for her.
Tonight I have two meetings in Lexington. So I'm off to be sure I'm prepared for them and get a few other things done in the process.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Meanderings...
This morning it is rainy. A great day to sleep in...which is what I wanted my body to do. However, the brain gets to working and the body just can't get back to sleep.
I've had a few thoughts running through my brain I wanted to get down so I could remember them for the future. Let's see...what were they...
Sunday afternoon I went to visit mom after all the Church meetings. It was after lunch and she had been taken to her room to rest. She was in bed asleep when I got to her room. I moved the wheels chairs around and got to the side of her bed so I could just look at her.
She stirred after a bit. I saw this as my opportunity to check on her a bit. I usually kiss her forehead, squeeze her hands, and touch the back of her neck. I checking to be sure she has no fever or is not chilled. She can't tell me how she is feeling so you have to use the best 'mother methods' you have. That would be your hands and eyes and ears.
Mimi had no fever but she wouldn't look right at me this time at all. She was mumbling something with no coherent words. However, she was talking in her own way to someone out in front of us. Occasionally she would reach out her hand toward them. Then she would made sounds like she didn't feel good. She also would tremble almost like a spasm with her hands. I would hold her hand more firmly so she knew someone was there. There she would calm a bit. She would drift off to sleep for a minute or two. I just sat on the side of her bed and watched as she went through these various moments. Eventually she settled back into a good sleep.
It occurred to me as I watched my mom go through these feelings and emotions that she might pass away and no one be there. It brought a lot of sorrow to me. I really, really, really, don't want her to be alone when that happens. I don't know if it is selfish of me or not but I'm praying that circumstances will be such that I can be by her side when she passes. I really don't want her to be alone.
After visiting mom and went to check on Papa and give him a haircut. We visited and put together our program for Wednesday. I told him I did not think Mimi was good at all when I visited her that day.
Papa went to feed Mimi dinner later on Sunday. He usually feeds her lunch but on Sunday's we are in Church so he feed her dinner at 5pm instead. He called me to say he got two bites in her and she hurled all over him and everthing else. He was at home to clean up but he wanted me to know she was not doing well.
Papa called the nursing home after he cleaned up and they told him to stay home. They had her settled down and were watching her closely. There was really nothing to be alarmed about and she was okay for now. Then later in the evening the called Papa back again and said she was talking again a bit more normally and they felt she was okay at that point.
What a journey. We both were assured she didn't need us to be there during the night.
Yesterday Claude and a skin cancer frozen off his ear. Maybe the term should be burned but they put something on it that freezes it so the cancer cells die. As he left I was reminded that a year or so ago I was taking Papa to the hospital for surgery to take part of his ear out that was full of cancer. Interesting how life repeats itself in many ways.
I was able to visit to friends yesterday in their homes. It was pleasant to sit in their homes and just talk. I told the Brunty's when I was leaving their home that I feel like I'm in the 'Old South' of my childhood when I leave there. My memory is of family or friends or a combination of both sit on the porch or in the yard or in the house if the weather required that and just visiting. It wasn't about anything specific. You had some lemonade to drink or a soda pop and you always had homemade candy or cookies or cake that Mimi kept just in case someone popped in for a visit. I loved that feeling. Children were to be seen and not heard in those days. We could sit quietly and listen but we didn't speak a lot. But I loved the feeling and truly enjoyed listening to those adults share their love and friendship in words. It is a pleasant and dear memory and I felt it yesterday and I did my visiting teaching and sat in these two homes.
The smoker needs to have it's story continued. A month or so back I shared that the smoker was in the middle of the upper deck of our home when we woke up one Sunday morning. I also shared that neither of us put it there and it must have been that other family that lives in our home that we never see that moves things so we can't find them.
Sunday night we had a really good rain storm. Lots of lightening and lots of strong winds. Claude and I were watching TV and heard a loud crash. It was almost like a bolt of lightening hit the house but there was not a bolt of lightening at that point. I looked at Claude and said, "What was that? Should we check?" We both got up and headed to the door from the living room to the upper deck. There was the smoker spread eagle on the deck. The cover was off and the wind was whipping it around. The lid was off and ashes were on the deck. The rain was coming down in torrents. Claude hurried out and grabbed the cover before it blew away and headed down the hill. He stored them in the garage. Then he hurried back out to get the smoker and tuck it in the garage.
It amazes me that this smoker can't stay tucked up against a corner by the house on the deck. We have a bay-like windown in the breakfast room along this upper deck. There is a sort-of corner right there and the smokers sits in that corner. It is always covered with its plastic cover to protect it. Right beside it sits this cheap little green plastic table. It can't be but a foot square on the top with 4 little thing legs. Now, if the wind were going to blow something away, I would think it would be this little stool. But nooooooo, it is the heavy smoker.
I can't wait to see where the smoker decides to go next. Right now it is still in the garage. We are having a few more rain showers, for which we are grateful! When the weather clears we'll put it back out on the deck and see where it choses to travel...on it's own...from there.
Claude is awake so I'm headed upstairs for breakfast and a real start to a day at home. We have some kind of dinner tonight we are going to. I think this one is the Bluegrass Area District Development (ADD) dinner. I hope their chicken is better that the dinner we went to last week. Just sayin'...if your going to choose chicken, please have it be not so dry!!!
I've had a few thoughts running through my brain I wanted to get down so I could remember them for the future. Let's see...what were they...
Sunday afternoon I went to visit mom after all the Church meetings. It was after lunch and she had been taken to her room to rest. She was in bed asleep when I got to her room. I moved the wheels chairs around and got to the side of her bed so I could just look at her.
She stirred after a bit. I saw this as my opportunity to check on her a bit. I usually kiss her forehead, squeeze her hands, and touch the back of her neck. I checking to be sure she has no fever or is not chilled. She can't tell me how she is feeling so you have to use the best 'mother methods' you have. That would be your hands and eyes and ears.
Mimi had no fever but she wouldn't look right at me this time at all. She was mumbling something with no coherent words. However, she was talking in her own way to someone out in front of us. Occasionally she would reach out her hand toward them. Then she would made sounds like she didn't feel good. She also would tremble almost like a spasm with her hands. I would hold her hand more firmly so she knew someone was there. There she would calm a bit. She would drift off to sleep for a minute or two. I just sat on the side of her bed and watched as she went through these various moments. Eventually she settled back into a good sleep.
It occurred to me as I watched my mom go through these feelings and emotions that she might pass away and no one be there. It brought a lot of sorrow to me. I really, really, really, don't want her to be alone when that happens. I don't know if it is selfish of me or not but I'm praying that circumstances will be such that I can be by her side when she passes. I really don't want her to be alone.
After visiting mom and went to check on Papa and give him a haircut. We visited and put together our program for Wednesday. I told him I did not think Mimi was good at all when I visited her that day.
Papa went to feed Mimi dinner later on Sunday. He usually feeds her lunch but on Sunday's we are in Church so he feed her dinner at 5pm instead. He called me to say he got two bites in her and she hurled all over him and everthing else. He was at home to clean up but he wanted me to know she was not doing well.
Papa called the nursing home after he cleaned up and they told him to stay home. They had her settled down and were watching her closely. There was really nothing to be alarmed about and she was okay for now. Then later in the evening the called Papa back again and said she was talking again a bit more normally and they felt she was okay at that point.
What a journey. We both were assured she didn't need us to be there during the night.
Yesterday Claude and a skin cancer frozen off his ear. Maybe the term should be burned but they put something on it that freezes it so the cancer cells die. As he left I was reminded that a year or so ago I was taking Papa to the hospital for surgery to take part of his ear out that was full of cancer. Interesting how life repeats itself in many ways.
I was able to visit to friends yesterday in their homes. It was pleasant to sit in their homes and just talk. I told the Brunty's when I was leaving their home that I feel like I'm in the 'Old South' of my childhood when I leave there. My memory is of family or friends or a combination of both sit on the porch or in the yard or in the house if the weather required that and just visiting. It wasn't about anything specific. You had some lemonade to drink or a soda pop and you always had homemade candy or cookies or cake that Mimi kept just in case someone popped in for a visit. I loved that feeling. Children were to be seen and not heard in those days. We could sit quietly and listen but we didn't speak a lot. But I loved the feeling and truly enjoyed listening to those adults share their love and friendship in words. It is a pleasant and dear memory and I felt it yesterday and I did my visiting teaching and sat in these two homes.
The smoker needs to have it's story continued. A month or so back I shared that the smoker was in the middle of the upper deck of our home when we woke up one Sunday morning. I also shared that neither of us put it there and it must have been that other family that lives in our home that we never see that moves things so we can't find them.
Sunday night we had a really good rain storm. Lots of lightening and lots of strong winds. Claude and I were watching TV and heard a loud crash. It was almost like a bolt of lightening hit the house but there was not a bolt of lightening at that point. I looked at Claude and said, "What was that? Should we check?" We both got up and headed to the door from the living room to the upper deck. There was the smoker spread eagle on the deck. The cover was off and the wind was whipping it around. The lid was off and ashes were on the deck. The rain was coming down in torrents. Claude hurried out and grabbed the cover before it blew away and headed down the hill. He stored them in the garage. Then he hurried back out to get the smoker and tuck it in the garage.
It amazes me that this smoker can't stay tucked up against a corner by the house on the deck. We have a bay-like windown in the breakfast room along this upper deck. There is a sort-of corner right there and the smokers sits in that corner. It is always covered with its plastic cover to protect it. Right beside it sits this cheap little green plastic table. It can't be but a foot square on the top with 4 little thing legs. Now, if the wind were going to blow something away, I would think it would be this little stool. But nooooooo, it is the heavy smoker.
I can't wait to see where the smoker decides to go next. Right now it is still in the garage. We are having a few more rain showers, for which we are grateful! When the weather clears we'll put it back out on the deck and see where it choses to travel...on it's own...from there.
Claude is awake so I'm headed upstairs for breakfast and a real start to a day at home. We have some kind of dinner tonight we are going to. I think this one is the Bluegrass Area District Development (ADD) dinner. I hope their chicken is better that the dinner we went to last week. Just sayin'...if your going to choose chicken, please have it be not so dry!!!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Amazing Grace - The History
Today I checked some eMails I received this weekend that I had not had time to view. You know, the forwards, some that take a long time to listen to and you just need a bit of time to sit. Sometimes we just delete them saying we don't have time for that.
This was sent to me be a friend from our Maryland days, Joyce Mills. Joyce loves music and knows I love music. She sent me this link to a YouTube video that runs about 9 minutes. It is tremendously moving. It is a black man with one of those wonderfully booming voices. I love to hear a song sung this way.
He tells the history of the Negro Spirituals and how their music was written. Then he tells the story of an American Spiritual that we all know and have enjoyed listening to versions of called "Amazing Grace".
I hope Jake particularly will listen to this. I'm sure he could sing this song just as movingly.
I've put it at the end of my posts. Just scroll down to the bottom of all the writing I do and you'll find the YouTube clip, click and play. It will be a treat you will be happy you gave yourself.
This was sent to me be a friend from our Maryland days, Joyce Mills. Joyce loves music and knows I love music. She sent me this link to a YouTube video that runs about 9 minutes. It is tremendously moving. It is a black man with one of those wonderfully booming voices. I love to hear a song sung this way.
He tells the history of the Negro Spirituals and how their music was written. Then he tells the story of an American Spiritual that we all know and have enjoyed listening to versions of called "Amazing Grace".
I hope Jake particularly will listen to this. I'm sure he could sing this song just as movingly.
I've put it at the end of my posts. Just scroll down to the bottom of all the writing I do and you'll find the YouTube clip, click and play. It will be a treat you will be happy you gave yourself.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Vine Street...
Today was Sadieville Clean-up Day. Claude and I met the other volunteers at Waring Pavilion at 9am. Detta had bags for us to pick up trash in. Claude got the reflective vests out of the Depot/City Hall. We each picked a street and we were off.
I chose Vine Street. I walked one side and came back the other. I gathered 3 bags with trash. Now, they were not full because I can't carry tons of weight. But I did my share of collecting.
Which brings me to my gripe for the day...what in the world makes someone who smokes feel it is okay to toss that cigarette butt on the ground. If front of City Hall I found a ton, well, not really a ton, but a lot of cigarette butts. Guess what. There are two, count them, two cigarette receptacles right in front of city hall. There is one at the door by the offices and on at the other end at the door by the meeting room. We are talking no more that 3 or 4 steps to put that waste in a receptacle placed there just for that cigarette butt.
I get frustrated with people tossing their trash out the window or just letting it drop to the ground as they finish something when they walk. In today's world there are trash receptacles all over the place. They are in front of all the service stations, the fast food places, and the list goes on. There is really NO reason we couldn't all hold on to our trash and put it in one of these handy, dandy receptacles.
The fun part of today was meeting some of the people in our community I have never met before. That was just great. There are some of the nicest people out here in the country. It was fun to meet some of them and get to know them today.
Vernon Morris came over after we finished our rounds and cooked us some hot dogs. Detta made and brought brownies. Vernon had soda on ice. It was nice to sit and shoot the breeze with people that had helped to clean up our community. Something just feels right and good about working hard and then just visiting with those with whom you worked. Like the icing on a cake.
I truly enjoy living in Sadieville. It's fun to see people excited about spiffing up our little burg. It's fun to be a part of keeping this bit of our world looking as good as we can.
I chose Vine Street. I walked one side and came back the other. I gathered 3 bags with trash. Now, they were not full because I can't carry tons of weight. But I did my share of collecting.
Which brings me to my gripe for the day...what in the world makes someone who smokes feel it is okay to toss that cigarette butt on the ground. If front of City Hall I found a ton, well, not really a ton, but a lot of cigarette butts. Guess what. There are two, count them, two cigarette receptacles right in front of city hall. There is one at the door by the offices and on at the other end at the door by the meeting room. We are talking no more that 3 or 4 steps to put that waste in a receptacle placed there just for that cigarette butt.
I get frustrated with people tossing their trash out the window or just letting it drop to the ground as they finish something when they walk. In today's world there are trash receptacles all over the place. They are in front of all the service stations, the fast food places, and the list goes on. There is really NO reason we couldn't all hold on to our trash and put it in one of these handy, dandy receptacles.
The fun part of today was meeting some of the people in our community I have never met before. That was just great. There are some of the nicest people out here in the country. It was fun to meet some of them and get to know them today.
Vernon Morris came over after we finished our rounds and cooked us some hot dogs. Detta made and brought brownies. Vernon had soda on ice. It was nice to sit and shoot the breeze with people that had helped to clean up our community. Something just feels right and good about working hard and then just visiting with those with whom you worked. Like the icing on a cake.
I truly enjoy living in Sadieville. It's fun to see people excited about spiffing up our little burg. It's fun to be a part of keeping this bit of our world looking as good as we can.
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Chamber...
Tonight was the Georgetown-Scott County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet. It was held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lexington. It is a nice affair.
They have a silent auction as you arrive during the 'happy hour' prior to dinner. This year I crochets and patriotic red/white & blue heart shaped doily with white stars in the inside. We donated this in behalf of the City of Sadieville. Someone bought it. I have no idea what it fetched. I do know it took a lot of hours to make it and I'm never making another one. I made me one after we moved to Kentucky. I thought it would be a good thing to make since it is patriotic looking. I forgot what a killer it is to read this long list of instructions for each row you crochet.
We were seated at a table with the Hughes. Stewart is our Magistrate. His wife is just a lot of fun. They have a farm outside of Georgetown. We've been there for a Republican Party picnic. She saw me and said, "Do you remember me?" I assured her I would never forget the lady that let us stay inside her home to stay warm at last year's picnic. It was fun to sit and chat through the evening.
They recognize all the valedictorians from Scott County High School each year at this dinner. This year there were 19 valedictorians. Amazing. What really surprised us was that Ashley Ruth was one of them. Ashley lives across the street from us. Her parents are Dwayne and Michelle Ruth. She is headed to Morehead State University this fall to major in Veterinary Science. Yeah Ashley!!
Then also give a Citizen of the Year Award. This year they gave two. Once was given to reflect the heritage of Scott County. The second was given to reflect the future of Scott County. The second award went to Steve St. Angelo, the President of Georgetown Toyota. Bless his heart, he was takenn totally by surprise. He went to the stand to accept this award and he said, "I haven't had good news for so long, this feels really good!" We all laughed. Georgetown Toyota is the major employer in our area. They are so good to the community. When they have had to do slowdowns or stop manufacturing because of the economy, they have paid their employees to do community service. Then all the ugly news reports started about Toyota's being unsafe. The reality is that people have loved Toyota's and driven them safely for many years. I'd venture to say they have a safe a record as any car manufacturer. Lots of businesses in Georgetown display signs stating "We support Toyota". It is a big deal here that Toyota is being portrayed in such a negative light. Steve St. Angelo knows each employee and cares deeply about them. They donated to the fund to help us with the Rosenwald School here is Sadieville. At any rate, it was just delightful to see him receive this award and to see the community support from the entire ballroom full of people at the Embassy Suites. Nice moment.
It was a good evening. Nice to be a part of this little community we retired in.
They have a silent auction as you arrive during the 'happy hour' prior to dinner. This year I crochets and patriotic red/white & blue heart shaped doily with white stars in the inside. We donated this in behalf of the City of Sadieville. Someone bought it. I have no idea what it fetched. I do know it took a lot of hours to make it and I'm never making another one. I made me one after we moved to Kentucky. I thought it would be a good thing to make since it is patriotic looking. I forgot what a killer it is to read this long list of instructions for each row you crochet.
We were seated at a table with the Hughes. Stewart is our Magistrate. His wife is just a lot of fun. They have a farm outside of Georgetown. We've been there for a Republican Party picnic. She saw me and said, "Do you remember me?" I assured her I would never forget the lady that let us stay inside her home to stay warm at last year's picnic. It was fun to sit and chat through the evening.
They recognize all the valedictorians from Scott County High School each year at this dinner. This year there were 19 valedictorians. Amazing. What really surprised us was that Ashley Ruth was one of them. Ashley lives across the street from us. Her parents are Dwayne and Michelle Ruth. She is headed to Morehead State University this fall to major in Veterinary Science. Yeah Ashley!!
Then also give a Citizen of the Year Award. This year they gave two. Once was given to reflect the heritage of Scott County. The second was given to reflect the future of Scott County. The second award went to Steve St. Angelo, the President of Georgetown Toyota. Bless his heart, he was takenn totally by surprise. He went to the stand to accept this award and he said, "I haven't had good news for so long, this feels really good!" We all laughed. Georgetown Toyota is the major employer in our area. They are so good to the community. When they have had to do slowdowns or stop manufacturing because of the economy, they have paid their employees to do community service. Then all the ugly news reports started about Toyota's being unsafe. The reality is that people have loved Toyota's and driven them safely for many years. I'd venture to say they have a safe a record as any car manufacturer. Lots of businesses in Georgetown display signs stating "We support Toyota". It is a big deal here that Toyota is being portrayed in such a negative light. Steve St. Angelo knows each employee and cares deeply about them. They donated to the fund to help us with the Rosenwald School here is Sadieville. At any rate, it was just delightful to see him receive this award and to see the community support from the entire ballroom full of people at the Embassy Suites. Nice moment.
It was a good evening. Nice to be a part of this little community we retired in.
Yesterday I learned some new things...
Several months ago I taught a class to my Countryside Homemakers Club. This is a little club of ladies in our neighborhood. They are sponsored (if that is the right word) by the Scott County Extension office. There are many of homemakers clubs and the one I joined is right in Sadieville. My dear neighbor, JoCarol Wilson, has been asking me for a long time to join and I felt I was just toooooo busy. Then about a 1 1/2 years ago she got me a 'newsletter in the mail' membership. I thought about it and realized my life revolved around my Church work, my parents, and my family. I realized I wanted to get to know my neighbors better and this would be a great opportunity to get to know some of them. We live in a great little neighborhood and community. I joined the club and have really enjoyed meeting with these ladies.
They meet once a month. One of the ladies is hostess and opens her home for our meeting. She provides the main course and the rest of us bring side dishes or desserts to compliment her main course. We have a business meeting, then a lesson provided by the extension service, then a game, then we enjoy lunch together.
A couple of times our meeting is a trip to somewhere fun for lunch. And we do not meet in the summer times, just during the school year.
JoCarol was supposed to teach and she and her hubby had to go out of town. She called and asked if I would teach in her place. I assured her I would love to do that. The lesson was on Osteoporosis. I went to the extension office a few weeks prior to teaching where they train the teachers in the particular subject they are going to teach. I thoroughly enjoyed this training and was very excited to teach about osteoporosis.
My lesson at the Countryside Homemakers was well received. I got to thinking, this is just good practical information, maybe I should offer to share it with the ladies at Church. One Sunday I spoke with the counselor in our ward Relief Society and told her about the lesson and suggested that, if they ever were having a meeting during the week that this topic would fit into, it might be a good lesson to have and I would be happy to teach it to them. Last night was the lesson.
Yesterday during the day I downloaded the PowerPoint presentation from the Kentucky website for Health. Then I printed all my handouts. I tweeked the PowerPoint to have the notes say the things I wanted to point out and added a definition slide and took out some slides and combined their information with others. By the afternoon I had my slideshow ready and my handouts all done. I gathered my pencils, index cards, and magnets. I was ready to teach.
Claude went to the city offices and borrowed their projector for me to use with my slideshow. This is something I've never used personally before. I've seen them used and just wanted to try it some time.
I took my new laptop to the breakfast table and set it up. Claude showed me how to set up the projector and connect it to my laptop. I practiced getting to my slideshow and flipping between slides. It is truly a simple thing but until one does it, you can be intimidated by the process. After my training, I was ready to get ready to go to the Church house and train.
I left my laptop on in case I wanted to check eMail's before I went to the Church. My power cord was in the basement so it was running on it's battery. I showered and got myself ready to go. Then I gathered all my things and finally turned off my laptop. I got everything in my car and headed to Georgetown. I dropped Papa's laundry off and then headed to the Church.
I was there in plenty of time to get set up before anyone arrived. I got my laptop set up and then the projector, connected the two and left them running. I'm thinking...the power coming from the wall to the projector and then out another cord from the projector to the computer is charging the computer....not so much!!
We started close to 7pm. I taught for about 30 minutes and then I got this warning message on my computer saying my battery was low. Because I thought the computer was charging through the projecter I did not bring my power cable. About half way through my presentation my computer shut down completely. I just finished without that projector and my slideshow.
The lesson went just fine. They ladies enjoyed the basic knowledge they gained. We had wonderful refreshments of healthy foods. I had a chance to visit with these good ladies. I'm gone so much with my calling that I know some faces but have never really had a chance to meet and visit with some of these sisters. I got to do that last night and it was just great fun.
Then I hurried home, with a stop at Wendy's for a Frosty for my guy and a Frosty for me. It was fun to learn something new and to make some new friends in the process and then to end the evening with the Big Guy Clauda.
Life was good yesterday! Now I'll try to make a great day today!!
They meet once a month. One of the ladies is hostess and opens her home for our meeting. She provides the main course and the rest of us bring side dishes or desserts to compliment her main course. We have a business meeting, then a lesson provided by the extension service, then a game, then we enjoy lunch together.
A couple of times our meeting is a trip to somewhere fun for lunch. And we do not meet in the summer times, just during the school year.
JoCarol was supposed to teach and she and her hubby had to go out of town. She called and asked if I would teach in her place. I assured her I would love to do that. The lesson was on Osteoporosis. I went to the extension office a few weeks prior to teaching where they train the teachers in the particular subject they are going to teach. I thoroughly enjoyed this training and was very excited to teach about osteoporosis.
My lesson at the Countryside Homemakers was well received. I got to thinking, this is just good practical information, maybe I should offer to share it with the ladies at Church. One Sunday I spoke with the counselor in our ward Relief Society and told her about the lesson and suggested that, if they ever were having a meeting during the week that this topic would fit into, it might be a good lesson to have and I would be happy to teach it to them. Last night was the lesson.
Yesterday during the day I downloaded the PowerPoint presentation from the Kentucky website for Health. Then I printed all my handouts. I tweeked the PowerPoint to have the notes say the things I wanted to point out and added a definition slide and took out some slides and combined their information with others. By the afternoon I had my slideshow ready and my handouts all done. I gathered my pencils, index cards, and magnets. I was ready to teach.
Claude went to the city offices and borrowed their projector for me to use with my slideshow. This is something I've never used personally before. I've seen them used and just wanted to try it some time.
I took my new laptop to the breakfast table and set it up. Claude showed me how to set up the projector and connect it to my laptop. I practiced getting to my slideshow and flipping between slides. It is truly a simple thing but until one does it, you can be intimidated by the process. After my training, I was ready to get ready to go to the Church house and train.
I left my laptop on in case I wanted to check eMail's before I went to the Church. My power cord was in the basement so it was running on it's battery. I showered and got myself ready to go. Then I gathered all my things and finally turned off my laptop. I got everything in my car and headed to Georgetown. I dropped Papa's laundry off and then headed to the Church.
I was there in plenty of time to get set up before anyone arrived. I got my laptop set up and then the projector, connected the two and left them running. I'm thinking...the power coming from the wall to the projector and then out another cord from the projector to the computer is charging the computer....not so much!!
We started close to 7pm. I taught for about 30 minutes and then I got this warning message on my computer saying my battery was low. Because I thought the computer was charging through the projecter I did not bring my power cable. About half way through my presentation my computer shut down completely. I just finished without that projector and my slideshow.
The lesson went just fine. They ladies enjoyed the basic knowledge they gained. We had wonderful refreshments of healthy foods. I had a chance to visit with these good ladies. I'm gone so much with my calling that I know some faces but have never really had a chance to meet and visit with some of these sisters. I got to do that last night and it was just great fun.
Then I hurried home, with a stop at Wendy's for a Frosty for my guy and a Frosty for me. It was fun to learn something new and to make some new friends in the process and then to end the evening with the Big Guy Clauda.
Life was good yesterday! Now I'll try to make a great day today!!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Can I Even Remember What Happened Last Week???
Wednesday morning, April 14th found us picking up Papa and heading to Louisville to the Louisville Temple. We met a friend from Church there and enjoyed an initiatory session at the temple. Claude treated us to lunch at Arby's on the way home. It was a beautiful day and a delightful morning.
We left Papa at his apartment and headed to Sadieville. I had until 3pm to get a few things done (about 1 1/2 hours) before headed back into Georgetown to sing with Papa at the nursing home. Mimi was in her wheel chair this time. She was not very responsive this day.
Thursday, April 15th Claude had a meeting at the Scott County Senior Center for volunteer recognition. He even got a certificate. When he brought it home I told him we needed to start a notebook with plastic sleeves of his time as Mayor. He gathered a few articles and things he has saved. He found a spare notebook. I had the plastic sleeves. I took all these to my craft room and put them in date order. Printed out all the eMail and Facebook notes he received when he became Mayor and put it all in this notebook. Now he can just give me the bits of paper and pictures and I'll at least keep them in order so we have a history of him being Mayor of Sadieville.
I spent all day working on stake Relief Society Leadership Training things.
Friday, April 16th was another prep day for Relief Society. It was actually the final prep day. I do enjoy getting things made for these kinds of functions. Here are some of the things I got to do:
Lisa, my 1st counselor, had a great idea and made us name tags that were little cut out hands. Each hand had our name and the words 'I' on the little finger, 'love' on the pointer finger and 'service (for the presidents)' on the thumb. She brought down the other two middle fingers and stuck them down with our names and the position we serve in so that the hand was making sign language for "I love you". They were just adorable.
Laura, my 2nd counselor, made a slide presentation using pictures of all the Relief Society presidencies hands in our stake as well as other pictures of hands we had taken over time. I took pictures of each of the Savior's hand on the Christus statue in the Laie, Hawaii Temple visitor's center. I had pictures of my hand holding Mimi's hand and one of Papa holding Mimi's hand. While Howard, Laura's husband, played the slide show, Claude sang "His Hands" and I accompanied him on the piano. It was extremely moving. Laura also had pictures printed of each of the pictures we took of our presidencies hands and put them on construction paper for us to use was wall decorations.
Barbara, my secretary, had her granddaughter, Maggie, draw for us hands and write on them things that hands do. Maggie also drew us a big piece of paper with lots of hands on it.
On Friday I also received in the mail a package from the Distribution Center in Salt Lake City. In trying to be sure have all the items I need to cloth my mother for her burial, I realized that the white things she was going to wear are yellowed. Claude and I talked and determined we would give my mother my white clothing and buy new for me to use. That package came and now I can be sure I'm ready in the clothing department.
Now back to my update on my daily activities. Friday evening as I was getting ready to make my pimento cheese for Saturday's lunch, we got a call from Jake. He was calling in to let us know he received his birthday present. It is always nice to know that item you mailed made it to it's destination. I had a most wonderful and very long chat with my youngest child. Although at 35 it seems strange to say child. It was a great talk about fun stuff and tender feelings about some things. Just a great mix and a conversation I love having with my kids.
Saturday was the Stake Relief Society Leadership Meeting we had done all this preparation for. We arrived at the Church by 8:30am or so. Jaime Kumar our High Council advisor was there to help. We set up our tables and did our decorations as quickly as we could. Then we gave instructions to Bro. Kumar, Claude and Howard about what we were serving for our light lunch. These good men would prepare everything we brought while we taught our training sessions. Thank heaven for good priesthood support!!!
Lisa was conducting this training meeting and I was playing the piano. I started prelude about 10 minutes before the meeting was to start. Lisa started us right on time at 10am. She had prepared very well. She welcomed us and acknowledged our helpers. We had an opening hymn and prayer. Then Lisa shared our theme by reading "The Touch of the Master's Hands" from a big picture book of mine. Denise brought her violin and it was laying on the table at the front of the room as Lisa read the story/poem. When she got to the part where the master comes forward and plays the violin, Denise got up from her chair at the back of the room and came to the front, picked up her violin and played "I Stand All Amazed". Then Lisa finished the story that tells of the worth of that violin changing in the auction because it was played by a master and everyone could see it's worth.
Then Lisa introduced Lyndell Gordon, our keynote speaker. Lynn did a masterful job of teaching us about hands. Lynn had an experience as a very young child of an ax chopping her hand so she may have lost it. But a good doctor tried to save it, her mother rubbed olive oil into it daily for a very long time as it healed. Today you can't tell she had this accident and it has never stopped her from doing all the things with her hand that anyone could or would want to do. It was Lynn's right hand that was injured and she tied in how important raising that right hand to sustain and to make covenants with is. It was an extremely tender story and told with just the right words and emphasis to help us understand how important hands are.
The concluding portion of our opening session was the slideshow playing while Claude sang "His Hand". It was the perfect sealing of all the feelings in the room and set a perfect stage for us to go into our departments and train about our hands serving in our areas.
I taught about "The Principle of Presidency". We had a great discussion and it was a truly wonderful training session.
Then we all went to the Young Women's room for a light lunch to check out the sharing tables. Our priesthood had a beautiful buffet set up for us. Sisters met each other and shared ideas. Then the priesthood cleaned up the kitchen and helped us put away tables and chairs.
Then Claude and I headed back to Sadieville for our next meeting. We got to City Hall just after the meeting started. Everyone couldn't help but notice us come in a bit late. I found a seat on the front row and settled in for Cindy's talk about all the people who have volunteered over the last year. She had certificates for everyone signed by Governor Bashear. While she was speaking we all heard a little boy's voice say, "Uh Oh! Spaghettio's!" He just kept saying it over and over. It was my cell phone. I recorded on my phone Hayden saying this a year ago and then saved it as my ring tone. I grabbed my purse and turned to explain it was my grandson. Then I headed out of the room to take my call.
There was a guest speaker at this meeting. She is doing the research to find out about people who lived in Sadieville and attended the Rosenwald School and/or Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and who may have been part of the group that went to Nicodemus, Kansas. It was very fascinating to listen to how she methodically tried to learn about these people and the research she did.
Then Claude gave the first ever 'State of the City' address by a Mayor of Sadieville. In his own deadpan way he delivered those lines that are vintage Claude. Two of my favorites that made the front page of the Georgetown News Graphic were 1) "On the whole we can do better--the best help we can find will be at the end of our arms." and 2) "For the future we have a plan, and while it's true Custer had a plan, we know what we need, we know where we are going and we know how to get there." This meeting was followed by more light lunch foods and nice conversations with citizens, candidates and visitors.
Then Claude and I hurried back home to put away that meetings things and get ready for the last event of our Saturday...a reception at Georgetown College for the Sister City Program. Georgetown has a sister city in Tahara, Japan. Georgetown and Tahara have been sister cities for 20 years this year. It is a good friendship and many people have gone to Tahara to visit and many citizens of Tahara have been to Georgetown, KY to visit. The first thing they shared were kite festivals in each city. Now they have quilt guilds that share ideas with each other. They have a relationship between the libraries of each city. They share a relationship between the colleges of each city. And the list goes on (think Sonny and Cher).
The program was to have been finished by 9:10pm. I found that an interesting stop time. It actually ended at 10:30pm. It seems everyone took more than their alloted time to speak. Everyone exchanged gifts with everyone else. And the little lady that was the interpreter listened to everything in English and translated to Japanese or listened to it in Japanese and translated it to English. It was an enjoyable evening. There were two posters to sign as you entered. It was great fun to watch the Japanese write in Japanese and then English. The lady playing the harp while we ate refreshments was fantastic. Then a country band played for 30 minutes. The program began after that.
We sat at a table with 5 other people. One of the men said the cutest jokelike thing: "What did the snail say as it rode on the back of the turtle?" Answer: "Wheeeee!!"
Sunday, April 18th I had to go to Winchester, Kentucky for the Winchester Ward Conference. These are special meetings held in each ward once a year. I got up and knew in the back of my head I needed to be out of the house by 8:30 to get to Lisa's home by 9am so we could be to Winchester by 9:30am. I got up with Claude at 7am and got myself ready except for putting on my Sunday clothes. Then I headed downstairs to check eMails and things before time for me to leave. I needed to find some things Lisa asked me to bring for our Paris Ward. As I was getting those things together I looked at my watch and realized it was 8:33am. I should be on the road. I still had to dress in the Sunday clothes and load my car. I moved into hyperspeed and eventually headed down the highway as quickly as this little round body could move. I called Lisa on my cell phone and warned her I would be later than 9am getting to her home. As I approached her exit I received a call from her on my cell phone asking if she and Barbara should go on and just meet me there. I told her I was about to take her exit. I asked for her and Barbara to choose front or back seat and I would slow down in front of her home as they hopped in my car. Bottom line -- we made it to Winchester in plenty of time.
Howard Carter, hubby of my 2nd counselor, Laura Carter, has named our Relief Society presidency the SRSPG (Stake Relief Society Play Group). We are a happy lot and truly enjoy serving together. Laura was unable to attend our leadership training on Saturday. Her mom was very ill and she needed and should have been with her. We missed seeing and being with her so much on Saturday. Imagine our surprise when Lisa, Barbara and I walked into the Winchester Ward chapel and sitting on the back side row waiting for us was Laura. It was just great. We had big hugs and enjoyed that sisterhood we feel with each other. I do love these ladies so very much.
I had a wonderful experience during the sacrament. I read my scriptures as they pass the sacrament. I have a brain that flits from one thing to the other and makes wonderful lists of things to do and has a hard time focusing on what it should focus on sometimes. So during the passing of the sacrament I read my scriptures with the thought running through my head "How does this apply or fit with the atonement?" This has served me well over the years. Reading scriptures with a question in mind often brings out points that you may already know but the meaning becomes more burned in your heart and mind. Sometimes I just really learn something I needed to know. This last Sunday I was reading in Jeremiah. I came across a verse that read something like "they would not repent". I read that and in my mind I read two things at once. See how that brain of mine goes. I read what was actually written on the page "they would not repent" but my mind also saw the words "they would not partake of the atonement". It was like a bolt to me. I quickly went to the back of my scriptures and took out my little tablet I keep there for 'ah-ha' moments and made note of the experience. I thought of my understanding and feelings about all the Savior willingly and voluntarily suffered and endured so I could repent and be forgiven. If I don't repent, then in effect I am saying "I will not partake of all that you did for me. I'll just pass that by." It was one of those moments I'll remember forever.
We had a good ward conference. After the meetings Dawna Bennett, the ward Relief Society president and I went on a ministering visit. We visited Sandra Lael. She is a very dear young mother from Mexico. She has 4 beautiful little girls. When we got to her home they were all dressed in their Sunday best sitting on the sofa each with a chocolate ice cream cone in their hand. We enjoyed our little visit with this sweet mom and her little girls.
I met Lisa and Barbara back at the church building and we headed back to Lisa's home in Lexington.
After dropping them off at Lisa's I headed to Georgetown. I first went to Papa's apartment and we set up our music program for today at the nursing home.
Then I headed to the nursing home to visit my mom. I got there as the little group were providing and worship service to the residents at the nursing home. Two of the ladies sing and they were in full performance mode as I entered the multi-purpose room. This week they had flags and they were singing praises and waving those flags as they walked among the residents. I found my mom and their pastor pulled a chair over so I could sit beside her. Mom was shaking. I think the loudness of the music and those flags waving were a little disconcerting to her mind that can't grasp what is happening but knows it is not peaceful. Don't get me wrong, the ladies were doing a great job, they have wonderful voices, and they were full of energy and spirit. I was enjoying it tremendously. But to a confused mind it just makes it more confusing.
I sat by my mom and held her hands until she began to relax a bit. She didn't look at me very much this time. She was not talkative at all. But she was more calm with me there holding her hands.
At the end of the service the ladies sing some more while the pastor goes to each resident, takes their hands and prays. It is a nice thing and very comforting to those residents, many of which never go outside that building. He came to my mother and me near the very end. He held my hand and place his hand over my mother's hands. I couldn't help but reflect on our training the day before about hands. He said a very nice prayer. I'm a great believer in the power of prayer and faith. I believe that God hears all our prayers no matter what church we belong to. I always appreciate the prayers of others and am grateful that this little pastor takes time to come to the nursing home and give his message to the residents of the nursing home. I don't agree doctrinally with all he preaches. But I appreciate our shared love of the Savior and our belief in faith and prayers.
Then it was time to get home to Sadieville. I was beat when I got home. I just curled up on the love seat and watched some TV with Claude, worked a few Sudoku puzzles and tried to slow down my pace. Eventually I did make my way downstairs to check eMail's.
Monday, April 19th was a really sluggish day. It seems the older I get I just need a catch-up day after a big event or weekend. I did manage to get things put away that I took for the leadership training. I also got some things straightened out in my Relief Society notebook. Lots of paperwork was put on hold until I finished this weekend. I also got some things done in my home.
Tuesday, April 20th I spent the morning working in my home. In the afternoon I had a new Relief Society president to orient. She lives in Lexington. So I went in with Papa and Claude to Lexington. They volunteer at the Family History Center on one side of Lexington two Tuesdays a month. I left them there and headed to the other side of Lexington to visit with this new president. It was great to visit with her and give her some materials to get started with. She is going to be great!!
On the way back to pick up Claude and Papa my car just had to turn from Man O' War onto Richmond Road. It seems to always want to go up the road and into the drive-thru for Krispy Kreme donuts when it is in that neighborhood. I purchased a dozen glazed donuts to surprise my boys with when I picked them up.
Then Claude and I took Papa home and Claude took me to dinner at Subway in Walmart. We needed to do a bit of shopping in the grocery store there so Subway was a good place to have dinner before chugging home.
Today I did my ironing. Yeah me!! Then I started this blog entry to catch that up. I stopped before I completed it to go in and sing at the nursing home with Papa. I put my purse in front of Mimi again. She usually keeps her hands clasped like a little child getting ready to say a prayer. If I put my purse with the straps on the side facing her she will often unclasp her hands and play with the straps. She did that today off and on and seemed to enjoy the change of pace. After singing with Papa I came back and sat with her again. Papa always ends his program with music on the harmonica for Jim Ford and music on the mandolin for Geraldine Cannon. During this music I put my hand in mom's. She held them and played with my fingers like they were some interesting object. Then she just held my hand. Papa finished and I usually get up and help him put away his musical instruments and music stands and take them to the car. I started to get up and Mimi would not let go of my hand. So I sat down and let her hold them a bit longer. It was very nice to have that little moment with her.
Claude picked me up. We dined at Fazoli's. We are home and I'm finishing my blog. Claude is one the hill unloading the bricks from his Jeep that he will use to begin a retaining wall on the hill for this Jeep path down the hill. It will be a lot of work and will have to be done a bite at the time.
Wow, I didn't remember everything but I remembered a lot!!
We left Papa at his apartment and headed to Sadieville. I had until 3pm to get a few things done (about 1 1/2 hours) before headed back into Georgetown to sing with Papa at the nursing home. Mimi was in her wheel chair this time. She was not very responsive this day.
Thursday, April 15th Claude had a meeting at the Scott County Senior Center for volunteer recognition. He even got a certificate. When he brought it home I told him we needed to start a notebook with plastic sleeves of his time as Mayor. He gathered a few articles and things he has saved. He found a spare notebook. I had the plastic sleeves. I took all these to my craft room and put them in date order. Printed out all the eMail and Facebook notes he received when he became Mayor and put it all in this notebook. Now he can just give me the bits of paper and pictures and I'll at least keep them in order so we have a history of him being Mayor of Sadieville.
I spent all day working on stake Relief Society Leadership Training things.
Friday, April 16th was another prep day for Relief Society. It was actually the final prep day. I do enjoy getting things made for these kinds of functions. Here are some of the things I got to do:
- I printed all the programs. They had the scripture we used for our theme on the front with a picture of the praying hands. The scripture is Isaiah 64:8 and reads, "But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." The inside front page had the words to a special musical number Claude sang for us titled "His Hands". The inside back page had the actual program. The back cover had quotes and verses we (my entire presidency) found as we searched and prepared for this leadership training. It was a really nice program. I learned in this process that I could print in 'draft' mode and save a lot of ink. One would have thought I would have learned this many, many, many years ago...but alas, I just figured it out this time. This proves the old adage, "You CAN teach and old dog new tricks!!"
- I made previously and we distributed and mailed the invitations. The idea was a collaborative effort. The end result was cardstock hands held together with tiny satin ribbon tied in a knot. The front outside of one had was the cover and had our scripture in Isaiah on it. The inside had the information about the date, time and place for our meeting with the RSVP information at the bottom. They were such cute invites. For the return address labels I used a picture of the praying hands and my address information.
- We were having a sharing table at the end during the refreshment time. There was a name card on an easel for each of the 7 wards and 1 branch in our stake. We wanted to have a card the sisters could write the ideas that appealed to them and then have contact information for the other units so they could call them and talk about the ideas. I made the card after our presidency talked through how we wanted it to look. I made them on postcard paper. On the one side of the card was a hand print with the title of that side of the card saying "Sharing - Hand to Hand". You flipped over the card and on the back were two pieces of typing paper the size of the card. Each piece of paper had names and contact information for the Relief Society presidencies of 4 of the units in our stake. These three pieces of paper were tied on together on one end with tiny satin ribbon.
- For my training session with the presidents I made labels for file folders for them to put the information they received during the morning training.
- I also made a sheet of paper for them to take notes on during the training. The title at the top of the note paper read, "NOTES, Stake Relief Society Leadership Meeting, Saturday, April 17, 2010". At the bottom of this front side of the paper I had a quote by Susan Tanner "The Lord has promised us that He will not forget us because He has 'graven [us] upon the palms of [His] hands" (Isaiah 49:16). And our promise to Him is that we will not forget Him, for we have graven Him in our hearts. On the back of the note paper I listed my 4 resources for lesson material and the scriptures found in those resources.
- I shared a wonderful story about Emma who was a Relief Society president in Indonesia. Mary Ellen Edmunds shared this story with us on our cruise ship in Hawaii. I gave each sister a little jewelry bag that Claude provided for me. In that bag I put 1 teaspoon of rice, I punched a hole in the sealed bag and tied dark blue satin ribbon like you would find on a nice bookmark. Then I created labels with a picture of two hands open and the palms up with a map of the world painted on them and 'Emma's Hands' typed on the label. A label was placed one each bag of rice. We compared Emma's story to visiting teaching.
- I also found little wooden hands at Michael's. I made a bunch of hand magnets with them. I painted both sides with flesh colored paint. Then I made labels with the reference only of Isaiah 64:8 (our theme scripture) and printed them on clear labels. I cut out just the reference and put it on one side of the hand. Then I tied a bow around the pointer finger of each hand (like the kind you use to help you remember something). On the back I put a bit of magnetic tape. They made really cute little magnets.
Lisa, my 1st counselor, had a great idea and made us name tags that were little cut out hands. Each hand had our name and the words 'I' on the little finger, 'love' on the pointer finger and 'service (for the presidents)' on the thumb. She brought down the other two middle fingers and stuck them down with our names and the position we serve in so that the hand was making sign language for "I love you". They were just adorable.
Laura, my 2nd counselor, made a slide presentation using pictures of all the Relief Society presidencies hands in our stake as well as other pictures of hands we had taken over time. I took pictures of each of the Savior's hand on the Christus statue in the Laie, Hawaii Temple visitor's center. I had pictures of my hand holding Mimi's hand and one of Papa holding Mimi's hand. While Howard, Laura's husband, played the slide show, Claude sang "His Hands" and I accompanied him on the piano. It was extremely moving. Laura also had pictures printed of each of the pictures we took of our presidencies hands and put them on construction paper for us to use was wall decorations.
Barbara, my secretary, had her granddaughter, Maggie, draw for us hands and write on them things that hands do. Maggie also drew us a big piece of paper with lots of hands on it.
On Friday I also received in the mail a package from the Distribution Center in Salt Lake City. In trying to be sure have all the items I need to cloth my mother for her burial, I realized that the white things she was going to wear are yellowed. Claude and I talked and determined we would give my mother my white clothing and buy new for me to use. That package came and now I can be sure I'm ready in the clothing department.
Now back to my update on my daily activities. Friday evening as I was getting ready to make my pimento cheese for Saturday's lunch, we got a call from Jake. He was calling in to let us know he received his birthday present. It is always nice to know that item you mailed made it to it's destination. I had a most wonderful and very long chat with my youngest child. Although at 35 it seems strange to say child. It was a great talk about fun stuff and tender feelings about some things. Just a great mix and a conversation I love having with my kids.
Saturday was the Stake Relief Society Leadership Meeting we had done all this preparation for. We arrived at the Church by 8:30am or so. Jaime Kumar our High Council advisor was there to help. We set up our tables and did our decorations as quickly as we could. Then we gave instructions to Bro. Kumar, Claude and Howard about what we were serving for our light lunch. These good men would prepare everything we brought while we taught our training sessions. Thank heaven for good priesthood support!!!
Lisa was conducting this training meeting and I was playing the piano. I started prelude about 10 minutes before the meeting was to start. Lisa started us right on time at 10am. She had prepared very well. She welcomed us and acknowledged our helpers. We had an opening hymn and prayer. Then Lisa shared our theme by reading "The Touch of the Master's Hands" from a big picture book of mine. Denise brought her violin and it was laying on the table at the front of the room as Lisa read the story/poem. When she got to the part where the master comes forward and plays the violin, Denise got up from her chair at the back of the room and came to the front, picked up her violin and played "I Stand All Amazed". Then Lisa finished the story that tells of the worth of that violin changing in the auction because it was played by a master and everyone could see it's worth.
Then Lisa introduced Lyndell Gordon, our keynote speaker. Lynn did a masterful job of teaching us about hands. Lynn had an experience as a very young child of an ax chopping her hand so she may have lost it. But a good doctor tried to save it, her mother rubbed olive oil into it daily for a very long time as it healed. Today you can't tell she had this accident and it has never stopped her from doing all the things with her hand that anyone could or would want to do. It was Lynn's right hand that was injured and she tied in how important raising that right hand to sustain and to make covenants with is. It was an extremely tender story and told with just the right words and emphasis to help us understand how important hands are.
The concluding portion of our opening session was the slideshow playing while Claude sang "His Hand". It was the perfect sealing of all the feelings in the room and set a perfect stage for us to go into our departments and train about our hands serving in our areas.
I taught about "The Principle of Presidency". We had a great discussion and it was a truly wonderful training session.
Then we all went to the Young Women's room for a light lunch to check out the sharing tables. Our priesthood had a beautiful buffet set up for us. Sisters met each other and shared ideas. Then the priesthood cleaned up the kitchen and helped us put away tables and chairs.
Then Claude and I headed back to Sadieville for our next meeting. We got to City Hall just after the meeting started. Everyone couldn't help but notice us come in a bit late. I found a seat on the front row and settled in for Cindy's talk about all the people who have volunteered over the last year. She had certificates for everyone signed by Governor Bashear. While she was speaking we all heard a little boy's voice say, "Uh Oh! Spaghettio's!" He just kept saying it over and over. It was my cell phone. I recorded on my phone Hayden saying this a year ago and then saved it as my ring tone. I grabbed my purse and turned to explain it was my grandson. Then I headed out of the room to take my call.
There was a guest speaker at this meeting. She is doing the research to find out about people who lived in Sadieville and attended the Rosenwald School and/or Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and who may have been part of the group that went to Nicodemus, Kansas. It was very fascinating to listen to how she methodically tried to learn about these people and the research she did.
Then Claude gave the first ever 'State of the City' address by a Mayor of Sadieville. In his own deadpan way he delivered those lines that are vintage Claude. Two of my favorites that made the front page of the Georgetown News Graphic were 1) "On the whole we can do better--the best help we can find will be at the end of our arms." and 2) "For the future we have a plan, and while it's true Custer had a plan, we know what we need, we know where we are going and we know how to get there." This meeting was followed by more light lunch foods and nice conversations with citizens, candidates and visitors.
Then Claude and I hurried back home to put away that meetings things and get ready for the last event of our Saturday...a reception at Georgetown College for the Sister City Program. Georgetown has a sister city in Tahara, Japan. Georgetown and Tahara have been sister cities for 20 years this year. It is a good friendship and many people have gone to Tahara to visit and many citizens of Tahara have been to Georgetown, KY to visit. The first thing they shared were kite festivals in each city. Now they have quilt guilds that share ideas with each other. They have a relationship between the libraries of each city. They share a relationship between the colleges of each city. And the list goes on (think Sonny and Cher).
The program was to have been finished by 9:10pm. I found that an interesting stop time. It actually ended at 10:30pm. It seems everyone took more than their alloted time to speak. Everyone exchanged gifts with everyone else. And the little lady that was the interpreter listened to everything in English and translated to Japanese or listened to it in Japanese and translated it to English. It was an enjoyable evening. There were two posters to sign as you entered. It was great fun to watch the Japanese write in Japanese and then English. The lady playing the harp while we ate refreshments was fantastic. Then a country band played for 30 minutes. The program began after that.
We sat at a table with 5 other people. One of the men said the cutest jokelike thing: "What did the snail say as it rode on the back of the turtle?" Answer: "Wheeeee!!"
Sunday, April 18th I had to go to Winchester, Kentucky for the Winchester Ward Conference. These are special meetings held in each ward once a year. I got up and knew in the back of my head I needed to be out of the house by 8:30 to get to Lisa's home by 9am so we could be to Winchester by 9:30am. I got up with Claude at 7am and got myself ready except for putting on my Sunday clothes. Then I headed downstairs to check eMails and things before time for me to leave. I needed to find some things Lisa asked me to bring for our Paris Ward. As I was getting those things together I looked at my watch and realized it was 8:33am. I should be on the road. I still had to dress in the Sunday clothes and load my car. I moved into hyperspeed and eventually headed down the highway as quickly as this little round body could move. I called Lisa on my cell phone and warned her I would be later than 9am getting to her home. As I approached her exit I received a call from her on my cell phone asking if she and Barbara should go on and just meet me there. I told her I was about to take her exit. I asked for her and Barbara to choose front or back seat and I would slow down in front of her home as they hopped in my car. Bottom line -- we made it to Winchester in plenty of time.
Howard Carter, hubby of my 2nd counselor, Laura Carter, has named our Relief Society presidency the SRSPG (Stake Relief Society Play Group). We are a happy lot and truly enjoy serving together. Laura was unable to attend our leadership training on Saturday. Her mom was very ill and she needed and should have been with her. We missed seeing and being with her so much on Saturday. Imagine our surprise when Lisa, Barbara and I walked into the Winchester Ward chapel and sitting on the back side row waiting for us was Laura. It was just great. We had big hugs and enjoyed that sisterhood we feel with each other. I do love these ladies so very much.
I had a wonderful experience during the sacrament. I read my scriptures as they pass the sacrament. I have a brain that flits from one thing to the other and makes wonderful lists of things to do and has a hard time focusing on what it should focus on sometimes. So during the passing of the sacrament I read my scriptures with the thought running through my head "How does this apply or fit with the atonement?" This has served me well over the years. Reading scriptures with a question in mind often brings out points that you may already know but the meaning becomes more burned in your heart and mind. Sometimes I just really learn something I needed to know. This last Sunday I was reading in Jeremiah. I came across a verse that read something like "they would not repent". I read that and in my mind I read two things at once. See how that brain of mine goes. I read what was actually written on the page "they would not repent" but my mind also saw the words "they would not partake of the atonement". It was like a bolt to me. I quickly went to the back of my scriptures and took out my little tablet I keep there for 'ah-ha' moments and made note of the experience. I thought of my understanding and feelings about all the Savior willingly and voluntarily suffered and endured so I could repent and be forgiven. If I don't repent, then in effect I am saying "I will not partake of all that you did for me. I'll just pass that by." It was one of those moments I'll remember forever.
We had a good ward conference. After the meetings Dawna Bennett, the ward Relief Society president and I went on a ministering visit. We visited Sandra Lael. She is a very dear young mother from Mexico. She has 4 beautiful little girls. When we got to her home they were all dressed in their Sunday best sitting on the sofa each with a chocolate ice cream cone in their hand. We enjoyed our little visit with this sweet mom and her little girls.
I met Lisa and Barbara back at the church building and we headed back to Lisa's home in Lexington.
After dropping them off at Lisa's I headed to Georgetown. I first went to Papa's apartment and we set up our music program for today at the nursing home.
Then I headed to the nursing home to visit my mom. I got there as the little group were providing and worship service to the residents at the nursing home. Two of the ladies sing and they were in full performance mode as I entered the multi-purpose room. This week they had flags and they were singing praises and waving those flags as they walked among the residents. I found my mom and their pastor pulled a chair over so I could sit beside her. Mom was shaking. I think the loudness of the music and those flags waving were a little disconcerting to her mind that can't grasp what is happening but knows it is not peaceful. Don't get me wrong, the ladies were doing a great job, they have wonderful voices, and they were full of energy and spirit. I was enjoying it tremendously. But to a confused mind it just makes it more confusing.
I sat by my mom and held her hands until she began to relax a bit. She didn't look at me very much this time. She was not talkative at all. But she was more calm with me there holding her hands.
At the end of the service the ladies sing some more while the pastor goes to each resident, takes their hands and prays. It is a nice thing and very comforting to those residents, many of which never go outside that building. He came to my mother and me near the very end. He held my hand and place his hand over my mother's hands. I couldn't help but reflect on our training the day before about hands. He said a very nice prayer. I'm a great believer in the power of prayer and faith. I believe that God hears all our prayers no matter what church we belong to. I always appreciate the prayers of others and am grateful that this little pastor takes time to come to the nursing home and give his message to the residents of the nursing home. I don't agree doctrinally with all he preaches. But I appreciate our shared love of the Savior and our belief in faith and prayers.
Then it was time to get home to Sadieville. I was beat when I got home. I just curled up on the love seat and watched some TV with Claude, worked a few Sudoku puzzles and tried to slow down my pace. Eventually I did make my way downstairs to check eMail's.
Monday, April 19th was a really sluggish day. It seems the older I get I just need a catch-up day after a big event or weekend. I did manage to get things put away that I took for the leadership training. I also got some things straightened out in my Relief Society notebook. Lots of paperwork was put on hold until I finished this weekend. I also got some things done in my home.
Tuesday, April 20th I spent the morning working in my home. In the afternoon I had a new Relief Society president to orient. She lives in Lexington. So I went in with Papa and Claude to Lexington. They volunteer at the Family History Center on one side of Lexington two Tuesdays a month. I left them there and headed to the other side of Lexington to visit with this new president. It was great to visit with her and give her some materials to get started with. She is going to be great!!
On the way back to pick up Claude and Papa my car just had to turn from Man O' War onto Richmond Road. It seems to always want to go up the road and into the drive-thru for Krispy Kreme donuts when it is in that neighborhood. I purchased a dozen glazed donuts to surprise my boys with when I picked them up.
Then Claude and I took Papa home and Claude took me to dinner at Subway in Walmart. We needed to do a bit of shopping in the grocery store there so Subway was a good place to have dinner before chugging home.
Today I did my ironing. Yeah me!! Then I started this blog entry to catch that up. I stopped before I completed it to go in and sing at the nursing home with Papa. I put my purse in front of Mimi again. She usually keeps her hands clasped like a little child getting ready to say a prayer. If I put my purse with the straps on the side facing her she will often unclasp her hands and play with the straps. She did that today off and on and seemed to enjoy the change of pace. After singing with Papa I came back and sat with her again. Papa always ends his program with music on the harmonica for Jim Ford and music on the mandolin for Geraldine Cannon. During this music I put my hand in mom's. She held them and played with my fingers like they were some interesting object. Then she just held my hand. Papa finished and I usually get up and help him put away his musical instruments and music stands and take them to the car. I started to get up and Mimi would not let go of my hand. So I sat down and let her hold them a bit longer. It was very nice to have that little moment with her.
Claude picked me up. We dined at Fazoli's. We are home and I'm finishing my blog. Claude is one the hill unloading the bricks from his Jeep that he will use to begin a retaining wall on the hill for this Jeep path down the hill. It will be a lot of work and will have to be done a bite at the time.
Wow, I didn't remember everything but I remembered a lot!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wonderful Weekend...
Saturday, April 10th, was a beautiful day in Kentucky. The temperature was warm, the skies were clear and it was just a great day to be out and about.
Claude had accepted an invitation for he and I to go to Keeneland Race for Toyota Stakes Day. Ironically it was one year ago this month that we took Katelyn to Keeneland when she visited for her Spring Break. I had surgery just a few weeks before. So Claude and Katelyn found a nice seat in a covered section for me to sit in for the afternoon. It was a cool day. I remember leaving Keeneland around 5:30pm and as soon as I got in the back seat of the car falling over and going to sleep for the ride home.
This year I was healthy except for the non-stop allergy attack. But this wasn't a real issue because Toyota was having their affair in the Lexington Room on the 4th floor of Keeneland. It is a totally enclosed room and there was not pollen to irritate my sensitive nose!!
We sat at a table for 4 - there was Claude (Mayor of Sadieville) and me and Jarod & Janet Hollon (Mayor of Stamping Ground). I not met either of these wonderful people and they were delightful tablemates.
We were served a great buffet meal. I opted out of the roast beast or chicken and just ate the veggies, bread and dessert. Later in the afternoon they served popcorn to munch on.
We watched 9 of the races, the last one being the Toyota Stakes race. It was the most exciting by far. That doesn't mean I'm complaining about the others. Watching beautiful horses run is a thrilling experience. But the real long shot in the Toyota Stakes race was like 30-1. He was the horse that won the race. This brings a lot of excitement to a room whether you are betting or not. It's fun to be a part of that animation and emotion.
Sunday was Church in the morning. I substituted playing the organ again. We had great meetings. During Relief Society the 2nd Counselor was conducting and she asked me to hold her tiny newborn baby. What a wonderful experience that was.
We took Papa to lunch at the Mexican restaurant. Then I headed to the nursing home to visit with my mom. Then I traveled down the road to LaGrange to help with watching Bailey mostly and Hayden a bit.
When I got to the Marx home Hayden scurried down the stairs to see me with his wonderful excitement and telling me all the things that were happening and catching me up on the new things he has learned about the solar system and galaxies. When Bailey woke up and came downstairs she was sure Pa (Claude) should have been with me. Once she understood it was just me this time and that Pa has work to do in Sadieville she was okay. She does love Pa.
We had a good time with Hayden and Bailey. The weather was great and I brought new bubbles to play with outside. The kids have a new playset the Michael and Claude put together and we spent some time playing on it. It was a good couple of days.
Saturday night I headed to bed. Hayden had to stay up until midnight. Michael was up with Hayden for the evening shift of keeping him awake. Michael took Hayden to do an errand late and then for a treat. When they got home I was in my room finishing reading some things for our Relief Society Leadership Training this coming Saturday. At one point I could hear Hayden running down the hall. Then he scurried back to the other end of the hall. I reminded me of when he was little and learned to crawl. He was so fast. Jake was sleeping on an air mattress in my sewing room which is under our master bedroom. In the morning Jake was trying to sleep in and we had Hayden come in our room to play when we first woke up. He would scurry across our bedroom floor and Jake was hearing the same quick movement I was hearing this weekend. Sounds almost like you have a squirrel running in the attic. Really cute.
Andie had 5am wake up duty with Hayden. I got up between 7am and 7:30am and played with Hayden a bit before Andie and he left. Then Michael was off to work. Bailey and I amused ourselves quite nicely together. She is a very interesting little girl. I'm fascinated with her speech. I didn't realize she had learned all her letters in capital form. We caught a bit of Super Y before we started her Bambi movie. They displayed the letter 'L' and Bailey said what it was before the TV characters told her. She did this with the other letters as well. Yeah Bailey!!
Andie brought us lunch from Subway when she and Hayden returned. Then it was time to put the mini-Marx's down for quiet time. Bailey went down first. Then I went into Hayden's room to read to him. Andie headed to the dentist. Hayden and I read for a good bit in his space book. Then I suggested he might want to snuggle and fall asleep for a bit. It really didn't take him long to succumb to a very tired little body.
I had a bit of time to check eMails quickly before Bailey work up. We played until after 5pm before I went up to wake up Hayden. Andie returned and Michael got home from work so I headed back to Sadieville. It was fun to be with the youngest of our grandmonsters. I am grateful to be able to help occasionally and that they are close enough for that to happen.
Today Claude had his 6 month teeth cleaning appointment. He dropped me off at the nursing home and I visited with Mimi while Papa fed her. Then Papa and I headed to his apartment to practice some songs for tomorrows singing at the nursing home. I tried to fix somethings with Papa's computer also.
Then Claude took me to Pizza Hut for our late lunch/early dinner meal of the day. It was delicious and we both enjoyed just sitting and dining together for a bit.
Tomorrow morning Claude and I will go to Papa's and get him. Then we are off to the Louisville Temple for a bit. In the afternoon I'll sing with Papa at the nursing home.
This Saturday is our stake Relief Society Leadership Training. I'm spending every spare minute finishing my preparations for that meeting. I'll probably not blog until that is over.
Saturday afternoon we will have a meeting at City Hall in Sadieville. Then we have a meeting in Georgetown.
Sunday is a Ward Conference visit to Winchester Ward.
This week is not lacking in things to get done. I'm off to the races it would seem in my personal life!!
Claude had accepted an invitation for he and I to go to Keeneland Race for Toyota Stakes Day. Ironically it was one year ago this month that we took Katelyn to Keeneland when she visited for her Spring Break. I had surgery just a few weeks before. So Claude and Katelyn found a nice seat in a covered section for me to sit in for the afternoon. It was a cool day. I remember leaving Keeneland around 5:30pm and as soon as I got in the back seat of the car falling over and going to sleep for the ride home.
This year I was healthy except for the non-stop allergy attack. But this wasn't a real issue because Toyota was having their affair in the Lexington Room on the 4th floor of Keeneland. It is a totally enclosed room and there was not pollen to irritate my sensitive nose!!
We sat at a table for 4 - there was Claude (Mayor of Sadieville) and me and Jarod & Janet Hollon (Mayor of Stamping Ground). I not met either of these wonderful people and they were delightful tablemates.
We were served a great buffet meal. I opted out of the roast beast or chicken and just ate the veggies, bread and dessert. Later in the afternoon they served popcorn to munch on.
We watched 9 of the races, the last one being the Toyota Stakes race. It was the most exciting by far. That doesn't mean I'm complaining about the others. Watching beautiful horses run is a thrilling experience. But the real long shot in the Toyota Stakes race was like 30-1. He was the horse that won the race. This brings a lot of excitement to a room whether you are betting or not. It's fun to be a part of that animation and emotion.
Sunday was Church in the morning. I substituted playing the organ again. We had great meetings. During Relief Society the 2nd Counselor was conducting and she asked me to hold her tiny newborn baby. What a wonderful experience that was.
We took Papa to lunch at the Mexican restaurant. Then I headed to the nursing home to visit with my mom. Then I traveled down the road to LaGrange to help with watching Bailey mostly and Hayden a bit.
When I got to the Marx home Hayden scurried down the stairs to see me with his wonderful excitement and telling me all the things that were happening and catching me up on the new things he has learned about the solar system and galaxies. When Bailey woke up and came downstairs she was sure Pa (Claude) should have been with me. Once she understood it was just me this time and that Pa has work to do in Sadieville she was okay. She does love Pa.
We had a good time with Hayden and Bailey. The weather was great and I brought new bubbles to play with outside. The kids have a new playset the Michael and Claude put together and we spent some time playing on it. It was a good couple of days.
Saturday night I headed to bed. Hayden had to stay up until midnight. Michael was up with Hayden for the evening shift of keeping him awake. Michael took Hayden to do an errand late and then for a treat. When they got home I was in my room finishing reading some things for our Relief Society Leadership Training this coming Saturday. At one point I could hear Hayden running down the hall. Then he scurried back to the other end of the hall. I reminded me of when he was little and learned to crawl. He was so fast. Jake was sleeping on an air mattress in my sewing room which is under our master bedroom. In the morning Jake was trying to sleep in and we had Hayden come in our room to play when we first woke up. He would scurry across our bedroom floor and Jake was hearing the same quick movement I was hearing this weekend. Sounds almost like you have a squirrel running in the attic. Really cute.
Andie had 5am wake up duty with Hayden. I got up between 7am and 7:30am and played with Hayden a bit before Andie and he left. Then Michael was off to work. Bailey and I amused ourselves quite nicely together. She is a very interesting little girl. I'm fascinated with her speech. I didn't realize she had learned all her letters in capital form. We caught a bit of Super Y before we started her Bambi movie. They displayed the letter 'L' and Bailey said what it was before the TV characters told her. She did this with the other letters as well. Yeah Bailey!!
Andie brought us lunch from Subway when she and Hayden returned. Then it was time to put the mini-Marx's down for quiet time. Bailey went down first. Then I went into Hayden's room to read to him. Andie headed to the dentist. Hayden and I read for a good bit in his space book. Then I suggested he might want to snuggle and fall asleep for a bit. It really didn't take him long to succumb to a very tired little body.
I had a bit of time to check eMails quickly before Bailey work up. We played until after 5pm before I went up to wake up Hayden. Andie returned and Michael got home from work so I headed back to Sadieville. It was fun to be with the youngest of our grandmonsters. I am grateful to be able to help occasionally and that they are close enough for that to happen.
Today Claude had his 6 month teeth cleaning appointment. He dropped me off at the nursing home and I visited with Mimi while Papa fed her. Then Papa and I headed to his apartment to practice some songs for tomorrows singing at the nursing home. I tried to fix somethings with Papa's computer also.
Then Claude took me to Pizza Hut for our late lunch/early dinner meal of the day. It was delicious and we both enjoyed just sitting and dining together for a bit.
Tomorrow morning Claude and I will go to Papa's and get him. Then we are off to the Louisville Temple for a bit. In the afternoon I'll sing with Papa at the nursing home.
This Saturday is our stake Relief Society Leadership Training. I'm spending every spare minute finishing my preparations for that meeting. I'll probably not blog until that is over.
Saturday afternoon we will have a meeting at City Hall in Sadieville. Then we have a meeting in Georgetown.
Sunday is a Ward Conference visit to Winchester Ward.
This week is not lacking in things to get done. I'm off to the races it would seem in my personal life!!
Friday, April 9, 2010
How Kentucky I Felt...
Tonight Claude and I were invited to attend the Friends of Georgetown Scott County Museum's 18th Annual Dinner. It was an absolutely delightful evening.
The event was held at Spindletop Hall. The address is a Lexington address but it is located across Ironworks Pike from the Kentucky Horsepark. The farm was established by Pansy Yount in 1935 on 800 acres of prime bluegrass land. The mansion was finished in 1937 at a cost of $1,000,000. The mansion has 40 rooms (each with its own thermostat), 14 bathrooms, 133 full-size exterior and interior doors, 102 windows and 11 fireplaces. There are over 45, 000 square feet of floor space. It has a circular staircase on either side of the main entrance door, basically making a half circle on each side of the room to the 2nd floor and down to the basement level.
The Spindletop home and farm get their name for the Spindletop Oil Company which in its day was the largest oil drilling and producing company.
In 1955 Mrs. Yount left Spindletop and returned to her hometown of Beaumont, Texas. In 1957 Dr. Frank Dickey, then president of the University of Kentucky began negotiations to purchase Spindletop Hall. The sale was complete in 1959. In 1962 Spindletop Hall, Inc. was chartered as the faculty, staff and alumni club for the University of Kentucky. Today you can buy associate membership even if you are not an alumnus of UK.
This was our first visit to Spindletop Hall. I hope it will not be our last.
The reason for this visit to this particular meeting was to support Cynthia Foster (Cindy), Sadieville's City Clerk. She was being given the Anne Bolton Bevins Award for all of her work on historic preservation in Sadieville and Scott County. Cindy and her hubby Billy were there and Claude and I came to support her. Cindy is such a dedicated, efficient, honest, committed city clerk and person. Claude and I just love her to pieces. Cindy found a treasure in the Rosenwald School and the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church located in Sadieville and understood their historic significance. She got the Friends of Sadieville Renaissance group going to work as a non-profit organization to help with preserving these two significant pieces of Sadieville and our countries history as well as working to improve and revitalize Sadieville. The hours she has put in are astounding. So we were extremely pleased to be there when Cindy received this much deserved award.
The dinner and meeting were held on the 2nd floor. We ascended half of the circle staircase to get to the room we would be meeting in. We went through the room for our meeting to the next room where punch was being served and a lady was playing music I need when I play the piano for the nursing home.
We found Cindy speaking with Susan Lyons Hughes who is the Museum and Special Programs Director for Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Susan would be the guest speaker for tonight's program. It was time to find a table so we all moved into the first room we went through.
There were 9 people at our table. Everyone was just delightful. The conversation was great and covered many topics from fishing to travel to places we had lived, etc. To my left was Alice Anne. She was a wonderful person to sit beside. She knew the five people at the table except for Claude, me, Cindy and Billy. But we all got to know each other very quickly. Alice Anne had been a teacher by profession. She was supposed to teach speech but they needed her to be more specialized with children with disabilities so she took classes that she said, "Gave me a certificate but didn't mean I was really qualified."
My favorite quote of the evening came from this interesting and delightful lady. Alice Anne said, "I learned early in life always to leave a hole large enough to crawl out of." Now you have to read that with a real beautiful Southern drawl and you'll get the full effect. I can just hear it prefaced by "My mamma told me to..."
To Alice Anne's left was Joe Rhinehart. He had also been a teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland. He taught at Gaithersburg Middle School. I'm not sure when he left and came back to Kentucky. But he knew the area we lived in Maryland before it was all full of the businesses that were there when we left. He was a character as well.
I never caught the lady's name to Joe's left. The Apples were seated next to her. Dr. Apple had been a professer at UK because his kids grew up playing in the swimming pools at Spindletop before it became as expensive as it is today.
The meeting opened with a blessing on the meeting and food. Then Joseph Henderson sang "Let There Be Peace on Earth". He has a very full rich tenor voice. I'm going to say this and I don't want anyone out there to see me as racist. But Joe is a large black man. I totally enjoyed him and his singing. He had no accompanyment. He just opened his mouth and the sound came out like it was spilling from some wonderful cup. Every now and then Joe would trick me and go a little higher than the regular musical version of this song or a little lower. This was a popular song when I was a teen and it was just good to hear it and hear it done so well this evening.
Dinner came next. My what a feast. They served us a wedge salad. I LOVE wedge salads. Then came the main course, salmon, broccoli and rice with some type of white sauce on it. My, oh my, it was just delicious. Then they brought tiramisu for dessert. Heavenly!!
The program consisted of the business of selecting new officers and members of the board. Then the awards were given. There were 3 given, one of which was for Cindy. Then the guest speaker, Susan Lyons Hughes, spoke.
Susan's presentation was titled "It was a Strange and Melancholy Sight: the Shakers and the Civil War". Susan used a PowerPoint presentation and shared the history of the Shakers and how they were affected by the Civil War by reading entries from the journals of the Shakers from that time period.
Let me just draw you a word picture of where this happened. The first 'Pike' in the United States was the National Pike. We were very familiar with this Pike because of living in Maryland. It runs from Washington, DC through Cumberland, Maryland and on to Ohio. We often chose this highway for our motorcycle rides. Another main 'road' if you will back in this time period was Natchez Trace. For our anniversary several years ago, Claude and I drove the Natchez Trace Parkway from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. So when Susan explained these two major highways from this time period we knew them both personally. Then she had us think of the one ending in Ohio (north of Kentucky) and the other ending in Nashville, Tennessee. To get from one to the other was the old Highway 68 through Kentucky. Can you guess where this meant Highway 68 went?? Yep, right through Pleasant Hill, Kentucky and the Shaker Village.
Who are the Shakers? Their real names is United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill has the most restored actual buildings. It is a wonderful place to visit. The Shakers didn't marry. They believed the 2nd Coming was right at hand. They did invite wonderful things like the clothes pin and a potty chair for hospitals, etc. Simple stream-lined furniture that was exceptionally functional is a treasure they have left for us today. They were pacifists, unionists and believed in the gradual releasing of slaves. They believed they were setting up a Zion society in preparation for the 2nd coming. Can you imagine all of that and Highway 68 running right through the middle of all the land and buildings you own. There was no way the Civil War was not going to come right through your land.
The soldiers were used to 'foraging' for food in the areas they march into and through. They called it foraging, the people called it 'stealing'. The Shakers determined they would feed and assist as best they could whatever troops came through their village in the hopes that whatever troops came through would treat them with the same respect. Because the Shakers had this wonderful land covered in well tended farms, they had animals for food and well as transportation, they were a prime target for foraging by the militaries on both sides. Their plan of providing hospitality worked well for them most of the time.
Susan read many, many quotes and told us what was happening in the war on the dates the entries were made in the Shaker journals. It was very moving and gave a vivid picture of the Civil War in Kentucky from the Shaker's perspective. I kept wishing Jacob was there to hear all of this. He would have truly appreciated it.
Susan commented about Perryville being only about 15 miles or so from Pleasant Hill. During the Battle of Perryville the Shakers could hear all the cannon fire. It must have been heart rending to these peace seeking people.
I totally enjoyed this presentation. I couldn't believe what a treat it was to spend a Friday evening in such good company and learn so many knew bits of history and see a dear friend receive just recognition for all her hard work.
To close the evening Joe Henderson had us all stand and join him in singing "My Old Kentucky Home". This is Kentucky's state song. Joe was just as clear and true with this rendition as he was with the opening song. We sang 2 verses and a chorus. Then Joe said, "That sounded so good, let's do the chorus again." And we did. I felt like a real Kentucky girl. It was tender and sweet and just felt really good.
I'm happy to live in Kentucky. It is a treasure in this country of ours. I'm happy we chose to check out Lexington when we were thinking of where in the world we wanted to spend our retirement years. I don't know for sure what the future will hold for Claude and I but I will forever be grateful for these little opportunities that come our way.
"To My Old Kentucky Home...Good Night!!"
PS: Monday night I became the Chair for the Friends of Sadieville Renaissance,
The event was held at Spindletop Hall. The address is a Lexington address but it is located across Ironworks Pike from the Kentucky Horsepark. The farm was established by Pansy Yount in 1935 on 800 acres of prime bluegrass land. The mansion was finished in 1937 at a cost of $1,000,000. The mansion has 40 rooms (each with its own thermostat), 14 bathrooms, 133 full-size exterior and interior doors, 102 windows and 11 fireplaces. There are over 45, 000 square feet of floor space. It has a circular staircase on either side of the main entrance door, basically making a half circle on each side of the room to the 2nd floor and down to the basement level.
The Spindletop home and farm get their name for the Spindletop Oil Company which in its day was the largest oil drilling and producing company.
In 1955 Mrs. Yount left Spindletop and returned to her hometown of Beaumont, Texas. In 1957 Dr. Frank Dickey, then president of the University of Kentucky began negotiations to purchase Spindletop Hall. The sale was complete in 1959. In 1962 Spindletop Hall, Inc. was chartered as the faculty, staff and alumni club for the University of Kentucky. Today you can buy associate membership even if you are not an alumnus of UK.
This was our first visit to Spindletop Hall. I hope it will not be our last.
The reason for this visit to this particular meeting was to support Cynthia Foster (Cindy), Sadieville's City Clerk. She was being given the Anne Bolton Bevins Award for all of her work on historic preservation in Sadieville and Scott County. Cindy and her hubby Billy were there and Claude and I came to support her. Cindy is such a dedicated, efficient, honest, committed city clerk and person. Claude and I just love her to pieces. Cindy found a treasure in the Rosenwald School and the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church located in Sadieville and understood their historic significance. She got the Friends of Sadieville Renaissance group going to work as a non-profit organization to help with preserving these two significant pieces of Sadieville and our countries history as well as working to improve and revitalize Sadieville. The hours she has put in are astounding. So we were extremely pleased to be there when Cindy received this much deserved award.
We found Cindy speaking with Susan Lyons Hughes who is the Museum and Special Programs Director for Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Susan would be the guest speaker for tonight's program. It was time to find a table so we all moved into the first room we went through.
There were 9 people at our table. Everyone was just delightful. The conversation was great and covered many topics from fishing to travel to places we had lived, etc. To my left was Alice Anne. She was a wonderful person to sit beside. She knew the five people at the table except for Claude, me, Cindy and Billy. But we all got to know each other very quickly. Alice Anne had been a teacher by profession. She was supposed to teach speech but they needed her to be more specialized with children with disabilities so she took classes that she said, "Gave me a certificate but didn't mean I was really qualified."
My favorite quote of the evening came from this interesting and delightful lady. Alice Anne said, "I learned early in life always to leave a hole large enough to crawl out of." Now you have to read that with a real beautiful Southern drawl and you'll get the full effect. I can just hear it prefaced by "My mamma told me to..."
To Alice Anne's left was Joe Rhinehart. He had also been a teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland. He taught at Gaithersburg Middle School. I'm not sure when he left and came back to Kentucky. But he knew the area we lived in Maryland before it was all full of the businesses that were there when we left. He was a character as well.
I never caught the lady's name to Joe's left. The Apples were seated next to her. Dr. Apple had been a professer at UK because his kids grew up playing in the swimming pools at Spindletop before it became as expensive as it is today.
The meeting opened with a blessing on the meeting and food. Then Joseph Henderson sang "Let There Be Peace on Earth". He has a very full rich tenor voice. I'm going to say this and I don't want anyone out there to see me as racist. But Joe is a large black man. I totally enjoyed him and his singing. He had no accompanyment. He just opened his mouth and the sound came out like it was spilling from some wonderful cup. Every now and then Joe would trick me and go a little higher than the regular musical version of this song or a little lower. This was a popular song when I was a teen and it was just good to hear it and hear it done so well this evening.
Dinner came next. My what a feast. They served us a wedge salad. I LOVE wedge salads. Then came the main course, salmon, broccoli and rice with some type of white sauce on it. My, oh my, it was just delicious. Then they brought tiramisu for dessert. Heavenly!!
The program consisted of the business of selecting new officers and members of the board. Then the awards were given. There were 3 given, one of which was for Cindy. Then the guest speaker, Susan Lyons Hughes, spoke.
Susan's presentation was titled "It was a Strange and Melancholy Sight: the Shakers and the Civil War". Susan used a PowerPoint presentation and shared the history of the Shakers and how they were affected by the Civil War by reading entries from the journals of the Shakers from that time period.
Let me just draw you a word picture of where this happened. The first 'Pike' in the United States was the National Pike. We were very familiar with this Pike because of living in Maryland. It runs from Washington, DC through Cumberland, Maryland and on to Ohio. We often chose this highway for our motorcycle rides. Another main 'road' if you will back in this time period was Natchez Trace. For our anniversary several years ago, Claude and I drove the Natchez Trace Parkway from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. So when Susan explained these two major highways from this time period we knew them both personally. Then she had us think of the one ending in Ohio (north of Kentucky) and the other ending in Nashville, Tennessee. To get from one to the other was the old Highway 68 through Kentucky. Can you guess where this meant Highway 68 went?? Yep, right through Pleasant Hill, Kentucky and the Shaker Village.
Who are the Shakers? Their real names is United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill has the most restored actual buildings. It is a wonderful place to visit. The Shakers didn't marry. They believed the 2nd Coming was right at hand. They did invite wonderful things like the clothes pin and a potty chair for hospitals, etc. Simple stream-lined furniture that was exceptionally functional is a treasure they have left for us today. They were pacifists, unionists and believed in the gradual releasing of slaves. They believed they were setting up a Zion society in preparation for the 2nd coming. Can you imagine all of that and Highway 68 running right through the middle of all the land and buildings you own. There was no way the Civil War was not going to come right through your land.
The soldiers were used to 'foraging' for food in the areas they march into and through. They called it foraging, the people called it 'stealing'. The Shakers determined they would feed and assist as best they could whatever troops came through their village in the hopes that whatever troops came through would treat them with the same respect. Because the Shakers had this wonderful land covered in well tended farms, they had animals for food and well as transportation, they were a prime target for foraging by the militaries on both sides. Their plan of providing hospitality worked well for them most of the time.
Susan read many, many quotes and told us what was happening in the war on the dates the entries were made in the Shaker journals. It was very moving and gave a vivid picture of the Civil War in Kentucky from the Shaker's perspective. I kept wishing Jacob was there to hear all of this. He would have truly appreciated it.
Susan commented about Perryville being only about 15 miles or so from Pleasant Hill. During the Battle of Perryville the Shakers could hear all the cannon fire. It must have been heart rending to these peace seeking people.
I totally enjoyed this presentation. I couldn't believe what a treat it was to spend a Friday evening in such good company and learn so many knew bits of history and see a dear friend receive just recognition for all her hard work.
To close the evening Joe Henderson had us all stand and join him in singing "My Old Kentucky Home". This is Kentucky's state song. Joe was just as clear and true with this rendition as he was with the opening song. We sang 2 verses and a chorus. Then Joe said, "That sounded so good, let's do the chorus again." And we did. I felt like a real Kentucky girl. It was tender and sweet and just felt really good.
I'm happy to live in Kentucky. It is a treasure in this country of ours. I'm happy we chose to check out Lexington when we were thinking of where in the world we wanted to spend our retirement years. I don't know for sure what the future will hold for Claude and I but I will forever be grateful for these little opportunities that come our way.
"To My Old Kentucky Home...Good Night!!"
PS: Monday night I became the Chair for the Friends of Sadieville Renaissance,
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Isaiah...
I'm going to just ramble for a bit. There is a lot of stuff going on and I just want to get a bit of it in this written journey of mine.
I am reading the Old Testament. I have been for a very long time, but then it is a very long book. I'm not reading for speed just to enjoy it. I've made my way almost through Isaiah. This is a book that really stumps a lot of us. I don't think I really appreciated it until I taught Old Testament in an early morning seminary class at Church. It was at that point that I got a lot of the basic history of Israel (the country) in my head. This is a help in understanding Isaiah. Often he speaks of current history for his time and Old Testament settings. But that same passage can also related to the end of days. So having a minimum bit of historical knowledge is very helpful.
I also found while teaching Old Testament that I really enjoyed reading Isaiah aloud. It is a book that I feel lends itself to a reading with your voice instead of in your head. It is a form of Hebrew poetry and, even though you may not understand all you are reading, while reading it out loud you come to appreciate the rhythm of the words and the strength of the words.
Over the years I've come to really understand some of the chapters and passages. Others I still don't quite get but I still truly enjoy reading the way Isaiah is written.
Then I started to read my Book of Mormon again while walking on the treadmill. I have a very old copy of the Book of Mormon. It is a hardbound big print version that was my seminary copy of the Book of Mormon. A lot of the chapters from Isaiah were included in 1st and 2nd Nephi, the first two books in the Book of Mormon. I enjoyed seeing again what I felt was important enough to underline or make notes about in the margins of my old seminary copy of the Book of Mormon. When I came to the Isaiah chapters some of them were right where I was reading or had just read in my Old Testament. What a delight to re-read without all my notes in my current copy of the scriptures. It was a pure pleasure to read these words again in this older Book of Mormon.
When teaching Isaiah in seminary, I had a good little book that some wonderful person wrote that took Isaiah and Revelation and in brackets behind the phrase or word it would explain what the phrase or word meant. This was a really helpful tool as well.
Another huge help for me in studying Isaiah is the LDS Edition of the King James Version of the Holy Bible. In the footnotes are included idioms and Hebrew definitions of words that may be obscure to us or may have a very different meaning today than it did anciently.
Here are some of my favorite thoughts from Isaiah:
I am reading the Old Testament. I have been for a very long time, but then it is a very long book. I'm not reading for speed just to enjoy it. I've made my way almost through Isaiah. This is a book that really stumps a lot of us. I don't think I really appreciated it until I taught Old Testament in an early morning seminary class at Church. It was at that point that I got a lot of the basic history of Israel (the country) in my head. This is a help in understanding Isaiah. Often he speaks of current history for his time and Old Testament settings. But that same passage can also related to the end of days. So having a minimum bit of historical knowledge is very helpful.
I also found while teaching Old Testament that I really enjoyed reading Isaiah aloud. It is a book that I feel lends itself to a reading with your voice instead of in your head. It is a form of Hebrew poetry and, even though you may not understand all you are reading, while reading it out loud you come to appreciate the rhythm of the words and the strength of the words.
Over the years I've come to really understand some of the chapters and passages. Others I still don't quite get but I still truly enjoy reading the way Isaiah is written.
Then I started to read my Book of Mormon again while walking on the treadmill. I have a very old copy of the Book of Mormon. It is a hardbound big print version that was my seminary copy of the Book of Mormon. A lot of the chapters from Isaiah were included in 1st and 2nd Nephi, the first two books in the Book of Mormon. I enjoyed seeing again what I felt was important enough to underline or make notes about in the margins of my old seminary copy of the Book of Mormon. When I came to the Isaiah chapters some of them were right where I was reading or had just read in my Old Testament. What a delight to re-read without all my notes in my current copy of the scriptures. It was a pure pleasure to read these words again in this older Book of Mormon.
When teaching Isaiah in seminary, I had a good little book that some wonderful person wrote that took Isaiah and Revelation and in brackets behind the phrase or word it would explain what the phrase or word meant. This was a really helpful tool as well.
Another huge help for me in studying Isaiah is the LDS Edition of the King James Version of the Holy Bible. In the footnotes are included idioms and Hebrew definitions of words that may be obscure to us or may have a very different meaning today than it did anciently.
Here are some of my favorite thoughts from Isaiah:
- Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (This is just a most comforting verse to me. I often share it when I send a note to a friend who is struggling or has endured a loss in their life.)
- There are several chapters that begin with or have included in them the phrase 'the burden of Babylon (or some other location)'. That word burden means a message of doom lifted up against a people. These are important to read and understand what will happen historically and what I should guard against.
- While reading the Psalms I looked for the word 'trust' this time. So as I read Isaiah 14:32 I noted the word 'trust' with a little letter 'd' leading me to the footnotes. The explanation of the word 'trust' in this case mean 'seek refuge in it' (the it being Zion).
- Another newly acquired favorite is Isaiah 61:1-3. Our stake president used these verses in his talks during the ward conferences in 2009. The words are just beautiful: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are boung; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengence of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah is speaking of the Savior here and the role he is to play for and in our lives.)
- One of the most profound chapters is Isaiah 53. This describes our Savior, the suffering he would have to endure and that it was part of our Father in Heaven's plan. It has words like despised, rejected, grief, sorrow, stricken, smitten, bruised, oppressed and many more. But buried in this chapter are words like pleased, bear pleasure, prosper, healed, offering, knowledge and peace. This chapter is truly worth reading again and again.
- Isaiah's words in Isaiah 1:18 promise us that even though our sins be like scarlet because of the Savior those same sins can be white as snow through repentance.
- Even Handel used the words in Isaiah 9:6 in his famous work 'Messiah' that we hear each Christmas...For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, Teh everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
- There is the story of King Hezekiah's life being lenghtened by 15 years and the sign to Hezekiah that this would truly happen was the sun being turned back 10 degrees.
- I love the strength of the words in Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait (Hebrew meaning is hope for or anticipate) upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles (I can see those majestic birds flying in Alaska); and they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
- As a parent, I loved the words in Isaiah 54:13 "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children."
- There is a great chapter about the law of the fast in Isaiah 58.
- While reading Isaiah 40:22 I came across a phrase that I shared with Jake. He has a wonderful appreciation for space. This verse says, "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers..." The phrase 'circle of the earth' caught my attention. I shared with Jake that people somehow think people that lived long ago didn't understand the earth was round. Clearly here they did know of the 'circle of the earth'.
- Then there is Isaiah 6 which explains the call of Isaiah as a prophet. If I were an artist (and I truly am not) I would paint a picture of what these words describe to me.
Easter 2010
We had another wonderful Easter. Hayden and Bailey persuaded Andie to bring them to Pa and Ma's house for a few days. Hayden has Spring break this week so they came Sunday afternoon and returned home Tuesday afternoon.
We decided to try a bit of time outside Monday morning. Andie and I thought we would be outside for a bit, then maybe head into Georgetown to visit Mimi. That is not how it turned out. We had a bag for each of the kids to collect twigs and grass. Hayden wanted to use play dough and make a pretend fire with twigs and grass he found. As soon as we got outside in the backyard, two deer bounced across our empty lot. That did it...Bailey was off to find 'Bambia'. And we were off on a REALLY long hike up the hill and into the woods past our empty lot.
I made little Easter baskets for Hayden and Bailey. They were smaller baskets that sat in a bucket hat. Hayden's basket and hat were green. Bailey's basket and hat were pink. I have an abundance of plastic eggs. I purchased the sticky backed foam letters. They were bright glittery colors. I put them inside the eggs in three and four letter words. The kids baskets has eggs full of letters and one little toy each. In the picture above Hayden is opening the eggs and trying to figure out the words the letters are supposed to be. I previously made some handouts for a Relief Society Leadership Training coming up this April. I had scrap paper in strip forms. Hayden took all those strips that were just big enough to make his words on. He had a great deal of fun making words using the letters. Bailey is on Claude's lap while he opens her Little Pony toy.
Eventually our little Bailey needed to go downstairs to explore all the toys. We by-passed the toys and headed to the back yard with Little Pony in hand. Little Pony was introduced the Owl and Elmo in their hanging baskets, the planters with dirt for Bailey to play in as the summer warms up, and down the hill to see the turtle on the rock. They even played in the sandbox a bit.
The older grandmonsters have all hiked on this hill at some time or another. Papa loves to hike this hill. But Hayden and Bailey and their little legs have only gone down the hill behind our house to the creek and up and down the creek there a bit. We ended up hiking all the way back to a trestle bridge for the train. This trestle bridge goes over Eagle Creek which is the creek behind our home. The kids did really well on this extended hike.
We first past a tree that died and broke in half. It turned out to be a Honey Locust tree. Now as gentle and good as that sounds, a honey locust tree has enormous thorns along its branches. It turned out not to be a good tree for the kids to play around. They were fascinated by the thorns though.
Then we went across the little road cut through the woods on the hill. This parcel of land our housing community is in was originally a farm. We were going to see where the old barn had been before it was leveled. That didn't take long. It is really just a pile of boards. The crafty side of me thinks there is some great wood there to make something out of.
Down the road be sauntered to find a pile of rocks. Now this does appeal to little ones. They carefully sized it up and determined the best place to try and climb on it. My job was to find rocks close enough to try and get a good picture or two. It gives me a better appreciation of those photographers that follow people around as they explore caves, or under the sea, or whereever. You forget they are there because you are watching the star of the show talk about how hard it is to get to where they are or to do what they are doing.
Then the Mini-Marx's were off and running. Andie and I told them to keep looking back and as long as they saw us we could see them and they were okay. Oh the energy!!
Halt!! Bailey found sticks. We were not going to find 'Bambia' on this hike but Bailey found something that could be held on her head so she was a deer. She also found a great place to sit and pick out leaves and sticks for her bag of treasures.
Hayden amused me by finding a stick. We determined it was the perfect size for a walking stick for him. He carried the stick the rest of the hike. Such a little man!!
We did stop and take a bit of a break. Andie took my camera and got a picture of my with the little Marx's.
Then it was time to head back to our home. We found a moth on Hayden. He was very still and the moth just seemed to really enjoying being on Hayden's t-shirt. Even when we decided to walk again this little moth stayed on Hayden's t-shirt. It crept from the front of his t-shirt to his shoulder and then around to the back of Hayden's head. Eventually the little guy flew away. But it fascinated all of us for a good long time.
The other fun thing about that long walk back was the enormous fallen tree. I noticed it on the way over the hill. It looked like some kind of creature. The branches touched the ground and kept the trunk up in the air. This made the branches look like huge legs. As we came back down the road I pointed it out to Andie and the kids. Andie thought it looked like a praying mantis, Hayden was sure it was a dinosaur, and Bailey was sure it was a crocodile or alligator. Whatever it was, it was a place Bailey was sure she needed to play. This crocodile or alligator needed food. Bailey is really into preparing pretend food and this tree creature was in need of a special Bailey meal of a leaf. Off she headed into the trees to feed the crocodile-alligator tree creature. Hayden and I headed to the end where the roots would have been. Turns out there was a place hollowed out in the ground and lined with rocks. I'm not sure what could have been there but I am sure those rocks didn't get lined like that on their own. Hayden and I climbed the rocks on this end of the tree and eventually he met Bailey in the middle of this tree. There was a really good branch they each took a turn climbing to get to the top of the tree trunk. Amazingly no one fell, no bones were broken, a few scratches from branches were added to our bodies, but it was fun to play with the tree creature.
Then we made the end of this longer than planned hike. Here is a picture of Andie with her little ones. Hayden on the left and Bailey on the right. The house on the left front is our home. The kids were really happy to see Pa's cool house again. When we got home all of us were worn right out. We found snacks and headed to the basement for a video. Bailey took a good nap. Hayden had a good quiet time. I got a great shower.
When we returned Claude said he had come out two time to find where we were since we were gone so long. Claude fixed dinner and I headed off to my Friends of Sadieville meeting.
I returned in time to help get Bailey and Hayden ready for bed. Bailey was in her Little Mermaid outfit. She 'yoves' Ariel. Hayden was in his new space pajamas. They managed to find the bookshelf on the side of the TV and rearranged all the Readers' Digest Condensed Books I have stored there. The covers are fun colors and the size is perfect for little hands.
Tuesday would begin with a breakfast of muffins and bacon. Then we finally got around to decorating Easter eggs. Claude boiled a dozen eggs before Hayden and Bailey ever came but we never stopped long enough to get them colored. Hayden and Bailey wore their bucket hats that their Easter baskets came in and ended up coloring their hands green. The eggs got colored and Claude and I will enjoy some deviled eggs and egg salad over the next few days.
Now we thought we might write with chalk over the driveway. We had to locate the chalk. Hayden opened the door to garage and headed right for the shelf where it should have been. But we moved it the day before because we thought we would be playing on the patio. There were rain clouds overhead so I put it on the card table in the family room. I checked there and it was not where I left it. As I crossed the room to go back up the stairs I saw and remembered. Little Miss Bailey determined the little frog in its hammock beside the entertainment center needed to have a piece of chalk to use like a bottle. The bucket of chalk was tucked in the corner and the frog still had it's stick of chalk for nourishment.
I grabbed my camera and we headed out in the front to write on the driveway. Then we realized how windy it had become. Hayden and Bailey were about to blow away. I placed my camera on the little table on the front porch and followed the kids as they ran in the wind. We ended up in the backyard and then down the hill. This little adventure turned into another hike but this time the camera was on the front porch so no pictures. We hiked down to the edge of Eagle Creek and then followed the creek to the bridge that comes into our development. There is a little dam there to slow the water down. My allergies kicked in big time. I only had one tissue in my pocket. I had not planned on this hike. My left eye began to itch very bad when we reached creek level. By the time we got to the bridge it was swollen and very irritated and my poor single tissue was worn out. I finally told Andie I needed to head back to the house. By then Hayden was ready and he and I walked back to our home.
On the way back Hayden explained to me the meaning of the word 'thoughtless'. It means you think more of yourself than you do others. Then he explained that the word 'selfish' is the same kind of word. They are two different words but they both mean you think more of yourself than you do others. He is a fascinating young man
We got home, got a drink, blew my nose, did a potty run, and found the car keys. Hayden was sure we needed to rescue Bailey and Andie. I buckled Hayden in his car seat and got in the drivers seat. Hayden told me to be sure to drive like I had watched Andie drive. Then it would be just right. I did fine getting down the driveway but I realized the emergency brake needed to be released. I pressed down on the emergency brake and it only pushed it down further. That meant I needed to find the release somewhere else. It took me a bit of time but I finally found it and released the brake. By the time I got on the street, Bailey and Andie were about 4 houses down the street. We drove on down and picked them up. Andie said Bailey would have stayed outside forever.
It was time for lunch so we did a backwards lunch. Claude had purchased some Choco-Tacos. They used to be on the menu at Taco Bell. Hayden and Bailey each had a Choco-Taco. They wolfed them down. Then I took sliced of cheese and cookie cutters. They cut out the shape they wanted and ate the cheese shapes. We added some of the hot dogs from the day before and had a great little feast.
Andie took the kids down for a show before quiet time. Then I put Bailey down for her nap and Andie put Hayden down for quiet time.
During quiet time Andie packed up and loaded her car. After quiet time we scurried off to Georgetown for Andie to say hi to Mimi. Then to Brookings Park for a picnic with Papa and Claude and playtime at the park before their drive home.
Years ago we took a family camping vacation with all of Claude's family. We went to Green River Gorge so that most of the family could go white water rafting. Then we went through Yellowstone National Park. While we were camped at Green River, I decided my kids needed a bath and clean clothes. I got water and warmed it up in my mother-in-laws camper. Then I took my kids in turn into the camper shell on our truck and cleaned them up really good and put new clothes on them. With my work all done, I took my good book and a folding lawn chair and determined I would get some sun while I read my book. As most young mothers would, I fell asleep quickly. It was not for long but it was long enough that when I awoke I heard my three kids playing happily nearby. They were laughing and having a great time. I turned around to see all three of them in the pit for a fire. They had ashes rubbed all over their clean little bodies and clean clothes. So the picture above was one of those "When you are a parent you will understand!" moments. Hayden and Bailey found the grills by our picnic table and enjoyed playing in it a bit before we realized they were not in the grass with their cars.
After dinner Hayden and Bailey took their cars to play on the concrete roads. I just love this feature of this park. They have two big concrete tables with roads on them. The kids really enjoy driving their cars. This time the village made of concrete looked like Pinocchio's village.
Then it was time for the Marx family to head back to LaGrange, the Christensen's to head to Sadieville and Papa to head to his apartment.
Papa asked Bailey if she wanted to ride on his shoulders to the car. Hayden took Claude's hand and off we were with the Mini-Marx's to their car.
It was a great Easter and we filled it as full as we could. Claude and I were exhausted in a most happy way. Now I must go make egg salad and deviled eggs!!!
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