The Tin Roof...

I've posted before about the Rosenwald School here in Sadieville. Today's post is to give an update on our next piece of the restoration process to our Rosenwald School.

http://heritage.ky.gov/kaahc/ros.htm is a link that gives a brief explanation about Rosenwald Schools.

The Friends of Sadieville Renaissance, our non-profit historical preservation group, are working diligently to raise funds to restore this important piece of history in Sadieville. This summer we managed to raise enough to buy the supplies for a new roof. It will keep the building historically accurate and preserve the interior as we continue raising fund for each piece of the restoration.

Here is a before picture:

During the summer we had some foundation work done. I have no picture of that.

This summer we raised enough to purchase the supplies to replace the roof.

Last Saturday, October 22nd, Billy Foster, the husband of our city clerk (Cindy Foster), and David Foster (Billy's brother) took the old roof off our little piece of Americana.

There was, the operative word here is 'was', a chimney on top of the roof. Billy and David could see through the morter between the bricks. The end result was the chimney was taken off and the bricks were not even worth saving.

The guys started putting on the new roof but they were wearing out. That is steep work and hard on legs and arms. Claude and I had huge empathy for them because of working on our hill. It makes a simple job a lot more strenuous. The weather forecast was for no rain until Wednesday of this week. Billy and David put an old piece of roof over the hole where the chimney used to be, stored their supplies inside the schoolhouse and headed home for a much needed break. The plan was to come back on Tuesday and finish adding the new metal roof.

Imagine our surprise when we got rain Sunday night and Monday. Geez!!!

Tuesday morning was great weather.  Billy and David came back and finished up our new roof and no chimney.

It feels so good each time another piece of the restoration is done. There is a lot to do but we'll get there bit by bit. 

Thank you Billy and David for volunteering your time and hard work to accomplish this much needed piece of our restoration process. Your effort is greatly appreciated.

Odds & Ends...

Odds and Ends #1:
I enjoyed a nice lunch with two of the ladies from Church and their kids. It was fun to have these ladies out to the house to get to know them better. I fixed chicken salad, fruit salad and corn salad. The kids enjoyed hot dogs. Then we headed to the basement where the kids toys are. The little ones played while the moms and I got to know each other better.  I should do this kind of thing more often.

Odds and Ends #2:
Claude and I are in need of more bookshelf space.  We looked through our home to determined where in the world to place more bookshelves. We both agreed the best place to do this was in our bedroom. We wanted to add a 3-shelf bookshelf to each side of our bed. The bed comes out from the middle of the wall and we each have a night table on our side of the bed. There is enough space between those night tables and the walls for a 3 foot tall book shelf.

I set to work to see if I could find the right bookshelf.  Out came my catalogs with home furnishings and up came the Internet sites with bookshelves. I found absolutely nothing that looked right, was the right size, or was the right color of wood.

Then Claude had another great idea. He said we did have a resource at Church we might try. Jim Parker does a great job with woodwork. Claude contacted Jim and he was delighted with the opportunity.

The end result was having Jim and Papa come for dinner last Friday evening. Jim looked at our bedroom set, took a drawer so he can get the right stain to the wood, and showed us a stack of his woodworking magazines with bookshelves marked that we might like. I thumbed through these and determined which ones I liked best. Claude picked the ones he liked best.  Then he put the magazines in order with the one he liked best on top.  I went back through the stack after Claude put them in order. Amazing, we both agreed. I had one change to make to the top of the bookshelf. Jim said no problem. And it is a done deal.  Jim will let us know when the bookshelves are ready.

Odds and Ends #3:
We had a chili cook-off in Sadieville. Claude entered an 'Irish Chili'.  He won a prize.  It was really good chili.

The Sadieville Christian Church choir sang for us. They were so good. You could tell they were all truly enjoying themselves. 

I sat next to their pastor.  Scott wanted to get home in time to watch a ball game.  After the choir finished I gave a great round of applause and asked for an encore.  They cheerfully opened those books and found another song to sing. Scott explained they had about 50 songs in those books and could sing for hours but that wouldn't get him home for his ball game. After they finished their encore, Scott reached to the refreshment table and handed me the last rice krispy treat. I told him he was just being sure I had something in my mouth so I would not be able to ask for another encore.  He grinned and headed out the door to get to his ball game.

I just couldn't turn down a good rice krispy treat.  Could you???  Really???  Call me Esau, but I couldn't pass up that gooey treat.

Odds and Ends #4:
I have a new sister on my visiting teaching list.  I went to visit her and had an absolutely delightful visit. Renee lives way out in the country. She has a wonderful home on a farm where they have cows and horses. Their home has a veranda on three sides. She has a nice swing on one side and we sat in that swing and visited...for 3 hours!!!  That is WAY longer than I should have stayed but it was just so pleasant and we had such a good conversation going that I never realized how long I was there until I happened to look at my watch. Nice visit with a very nice lady.

Odds and Ends #5:
We received delightful thank you notes from Hayden for sponsoring him in his Bear Run. Thank you Hayden for this kindness. 

Odds and Ends #6:
Judge Executive George Lusby is the head of the Fiscal Court in Scott County. He has been elected to this position many, many times now. He is an honest, caring person in my perspective.

Judge Lusby's wife, Betsy, had Alzheimer's. He would take her for rides in the car for the longest time because she loved that. Saturday Betsy passed away. Tuesday night was her viewing. Her funeral was today.

Claude and I went into the viewing. I picked up a program. I found the sweetest wording inside this program. There was an entry titled 'Earthly Date of Birth'.  Just below it was another entry titled 'Eternal Date of Birth' (or Betsy's date of death). I loved that way of stating the birth and death dates. Such a statement of faith.

It helped me remember when Aunt Gloria passed away after her battle with cancer. Aunt Gloria is my mother-in-law's sister. After her funeral when the family was having a meal together, Uncle Bob (Gloria's hubby) said to everyone, "We should be happy because Aunt Gloria has graduated to the next level." 

I truly appreciate the positive way of looking at these moments in the eternal scheme of things.

Odds and Ends #7:
Claude and I attended the open house for the remodeled portion of the nursing home my mother resides in.  The nursing home portion has 50 beds. It had a hallway attached to apartments. These apartments have been converted into 15 apartmentettes (I think I invented a new word there!). The work was completed and Signature Health Care had an open house and ribbon cutting to celebrate the occasion.

Claude and I walked through all the rooms and were definitely 'wow'ed. Some are shared rooms but they each have their own bedroom. They simply share a bathroom, kitchen and sitting area. Most of the rooms have oversized bathrooms with showers you could drive a wheelchair into to shower. Claude and I were so impressed we actually asked what we had to do to get one of these rooms.

The nursing home has expanded their exercise room from the original nursing home and extended it out to another large exercise room that opens into the hall for these new rooms. The intent in the remodel is to provide 15 beds for residents in Scott County who need a place to live and have rehabilitation exercises done between their hospital experience and going to their own homes.

The had a ribbon cutting with the dignitaries. Claude was included in that as the Mayor of Sadieville. Mayor Varney of Georgetown, Senator Damon Thayer and Representative Ryan Quarles were also in this picture as well as other officials from the Chamber of Commerce and the nursing home executive staff. 

It was a nice event and it was great to see what the remodel looks like after so many months of work between this side and the older portion of the nursing home.  Signature Health Care has done a nice job of fixing up this facility.

Odds and Ends #8:
Even after 41 years of marriage, or maybe, especially after 41 years of marriage, sometimes you have to be sure you are both on the same page.  After attending the open house, Claude and I decided to have a bite of dinner in Georgetown before heading home. I suggested we go to Jimmy Johns or to Penn Station for a sandwich.  Claude said, "Penn Station.  No Jimmy Johns.  Penn Station."  I left the parking lot hearing Penn Station last. Claude left the parking lot hearing Jimmy Johns last. I'm sitting in the parking spot by Penn Station and Claude doesn't show and he doesn't show and he doesn't show.  Claude left the nursing home before me.  I finally picked up my cell phone and called him.  He was sitting at Jimmy Johns waiting for me to arrive. Oh My Goodness...I started up the Buick and headed to Jimmy Johns.  Such silliness!!!

Odd and Ends #9:
We all have to 'fill our cups' to keep going in the life. I'm happy to report Papa has had some nice opportunities to fill his cup lately.

1st, he took Tiny in to see Mimi. She has not seen her puppy in years. They both recognized each other and had a great reunion. Papa was so very happy he called to report this great moment in their lives.

2nd, Papa loves to go for a car ride. We had some really good weather so I took Tiny and kept her so Papa could go for a ride.  He left on a Thursday morning at 5am and got home on Friday morning at 2am. He drove over 1000 miles and had a marvelous time.  He even came home and slept for 5 hours straight.

3rd, Papa took a drive to Tennessee one day. Claude and I went to his home and let Tiny out during the day. Papa visited The Museum of Appalachia. He loved being there and thinks he might go there again.

4th, Papa took mom for a walk outside. Well, Mimi was in her wheelchair because she can't walk anymore, but Papa was behind it walking. He said Mimi laughed and talked during the entire walk. When he dropped her off at the nurses station after their walk, Helen asked Mimi if she had a good walk and Mimi said, "Yes!"  Will wonders never cease.

5th, Claude took Papa with him to Owingsville Sunday.  Papa loved the ride out there and totally enjoyed attending Church with those lovely people. They returned after I finished choir practice and we all met at the Mexican restaurant for a nice dinner.  Papa left happy and full.

So there you have Odds and Ends Sandi style. Life is good, busy and full.

Two Weeks Later...

I can't believe it has been two weeks since my last Blog entry. One would think, with the lack of posting, that I had no life.

Last week was spring break for the Mini's, Hayden and Bailey. Andie took them on Monday to have lunch with Michael in their Halloween costumes. This is part of their family's tradition and much enjoyed by all. Let's face it, if you want to put a grin on an adult face have kids come in wearing their Halloween costumes and that will do it every time.

Monday afternoon Andie and the Mini's headed to Sadieville for a visit. Another part of the Marx family Halloween tradition is to bring the Mini's over to visit Mimi at the nursing home and also see the other residents.

It's always a burst of energy when little ones enter this quiet home in which two old people reside. It is also always a welcome change of pace for Claude and me. Albeit afterwards we are quite worn out but it is a happy kind of tired.

Tuesday we spent putzing around the house in the morning. Claude and Papa had their shift at the Family History Center to cover.

In the afternoon, it was time for a walk. It worked out well to go then, the temperature was warm enough for a light jacket and the rain clouds were gathering so the sun was not an issue. It wouldn't be long after we finished our wandering of Eagle Bend that the rains and thunder came full force.

We took the necessary gear and headed down Eagle Bend Drive. We crossed to Eagle Creek through an empty lot down the street. Then we followed the creek bank to the dam and the bridge. On the other side of the bridge is a shallower, slower moving portion of the creek. Fortunately, we had not had rain for a good bit of time so the water was really shallow. However, this year the growth along the banks of the creek has gotten very tall.

Andie made a fun science project for the kids. She took those large cottage cheese type plastic containers. She cut a hole in the bottom for the end to put your face at. Over the other open end she stretched plastic wrap and secured it with a rubber band. The object of the science project is to find a shallow stream or pond, place your viewer over the water so that the plastic covered end is in the water, and press down just a bit, with the end result being the plastic will bubble some and magnify the bottom of the creek or pond. Great fun for the Mini's was in store.

It turned out the place we took the kids to try their viewers had an island in the middle of the creek and a line of rocks the kids could walk over the water to the island. In addition, one of our neighbors must have cut down their banana plants and tossed them into the creek and they took up residence of this island. It looked totally out of character for Kentucky but made a great place for little ones to explore and play.

Andie broke off two big leaves for each of the kids and they were suddenly in flight!!

One of the cute things about being along the creek was the burrs on the plants. We first noticed them on my  jeans and jacket. The kids helped me pull them off.  We noticed them again all over Hayden's pants as they played on the island. At one point our little scientist was busy looking for the perfect place to use his viewer in the stream. He needed a rock or log to sit on so he could get right over the water. Meanwhile, Bailey, our little collector of things, yots and yots of things, figured out the plants with the burrs and used her viewer to collect a viewer full of burrs. I was amused at their personalities at work on the walkabout of Eagle Bend.

It was time to head back home. Wings were ready and off the Mini's flew up Eagle Bend Drive to a nice warm house before the rain came.

There were a couple of cute Baileyisms I want to remember. One was as we neared the house after our walk. Bailey remembered she had gathered an armfull of branches and leaves. I suggested she leave them as the end of the bridge while we played in the creek and pick them up on our way home. She cheerfully agreed. Only problem...we forgot to get them and bring them home with us. Bailey and I walked back to the bridge to get them. As we neared the bridge Bailey ran ahead and gathered her arms full of branches and leaves. She looked up at me with those big brown eyes and said, "I'm a happy girl." Awww...

The other Baileyism happened Tuesday morning. Everyone was up and out of bed except Claude. The Mini's like to wake him up. (Actually, this has been a ritual for all the grandmonsters when they were little.) I was working in the kitchen and I could hear that Bailey was ready to head to the bedroom door. I heard Andie call to Bailey and tell her to wait for Hayden. Hayden was finishing up something before he could go in to wake up Claude. You must read this with a Bailey voice to get the full effect. Bailey has a deep, throaty voice for a little one. She was obviously alone in the living room after Andie's instruction. There was a pause, then I heard that deep, throaty little girl voice say (just like Eeyore on Winnie the Pooh), "Mom's right."  It was just too cute. In my mind I quietly added Eeyore's "Oh bother."

Wednesday Papa would come and spend the morning with us. The rain had not let up and it was good to have someone else to play in front of and with. At one point we paused for Chomper Snacks. (Apple slices covered with peanut butter and marshmallows placed on the peanut butter to look like teeth.) It was time for a quick show as they ate their snacks. Bailey chose papa for her table while watching the TV. Papa left to feed Mimi right after the show was over and he literally had to get up and clear away the things Bailey brought to her Papa table. Just to be clear, Papa is holding a bottle of Dr. McGillicuddy root beer.

In the afternoon Claude returned from his morning meetings and had a chance to play with the kids again.

Then we put the costumes on Hayden and Bailey before heading to the nursing home. I sewed the costumes.  Bailey is a blue macaw from the movie Rio. Hayden is Chris from the Wildkratts (a show about animals).

I loved watching Bailey and Claude as they watched one more show while Andie loaded the car.

Mimi was just waking up when we got to her room at the nursing home. It was around 3pm and they begin waking residents from their afternoon naps to get them dressed and ready for dinner. The kids are just so at ease with her. They held her hand, gave her a stuffed puppy to hold and lots of hugs and kisses. This delighted Papa.

The Mini's headed to the multi-purpose room to show their costumes to the other residents. After a bit Hayden looked at me and said, "Let's go exploring." Oh my...what to do with that suggestion in a nursing home.

I stood at the nurses station and had an idea. I know the Ford's really well. Doris is the resident and Jim lives in an apartment. We headed to the end of the hall and found Doris' room. I explained our need to explore and hoped they would help me with the kids a bit. Bless their hearts they asked appropriate questions about the costumes and shook hands and made our little ones feel just grand about their visit.

The Marx van was then off to LaGrange. We did so many more things than are included in this Blog. It was a wonderful visit. Love it when our family comes to visit. The little ones brought rays of sunshine into Mimi and Papa's lives as well in their visit. Can't get much better than that for a fall break from school.

Another Grandmonster Sighting...

Friday I headed to LaGrange. I was going to spend the night with the Marx family so I could arise early and head to the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure with Andie.

I went to Georgetown and checked on my parents. Then I headed over to Arby's for a bite to eat. When I finished I called Laura to see if she needed anything as I went through Frankfort. Laura suggested I stop in for a visit. So off to Frankfort I headed to see Laura and family on my way to LaGrange.

I'm cruising down I-64 and the thought suddenly, and most fortuitously, came into my head that I had not put the brown paper bag from the kitchen counter in my car when I left my house.

Why is that important?  Well, the corner of the kitchen counter seems to be where we accumulate things when we are going to visit the Marx family. We just gather the stuff there and bag it and place it in the car before we leave. This particular bag had Hayden's Halloween costume in it. I had Bailey's costume in the back seat and all the other items I was taking when I hurriedly left. But now I couldn't remember putting Hayden's stuff in the car. Arriving with only one costume was, well, just not an option.

I had been watching Tiny since Wednesday evening. Papa wanted to go for a ride on Thursday. I brought Tiny home with me after singing with Papa on Wednesday afternoon at the nursing home. Friday, I needed to drop Tiny off at Papa's apartment on my way to LaGrange. I was running a bit late as I also  wanted to be there in time to feed Mimi lunch. I had not heard from Papa and presumed he had taken my advice and spent a night in a hotel while on his road trip. So, in my rush to get Tiny dropped off and then to the nursing home, I packed in the car all the things I gathered at the breakfast room table and missed the bag on the end of the counter.

What to do, what to do??? My mind raced through several possible scenarios. Then I called Claude and found he was at the bank in Sadieville. Yeah, he was home from his meetings. He agreed to meet me in the church parking lot in Georgetown with the bag with Hayden's costume. Next I called Laura and told her I was not going to be able to come and we set up for me to visit Saturday on my way home.

What a zoo I made of my afternoon!!!  Claude assured me, as he left in the church parking lot, that I was not a whole lot younger than him in the brain department. We do often state that between us we have one really functional brain.

Off to LaGrange...

I got to Andie's and Miss Bailey was playing with a new toy, Hayden was across the street with friends. Eventually we got Bailey's costume out of the bag and she tried it on. Bailey loves the movie 'Rio' and wanted to be a blue macaw for Halloween. Andie found a little chicken costume pattern and I set to adapting it to Bailey's blue macaw needs. Bailey was very happy with her costume.

We headed down the street to see her friends and show them her new duds. Their neighbor came out with a baby snake he found in his garage. Soon tons of kids from the neighborhood came up and joined in the fun of snake watching. I was taking video of Bailey and it shows all sides of her costume just before their neighbor announced he had the snake for viewing.

This little snake was a huge hit. Bailey was fearless when it came to viewing and wanting to touch him. While the neighbor felt it was a little garden snake (non-poisonous), I was not so sure. With the diamonds on its back it appeared a little bit more along the poisonous variety lines.

Hayden left his friends and ran to join in the snake watching event. 

We had a nice evening at home and watched 'Rio' so I could understand the kids love of this movie. It was fun and Andie added to the joy by making peach smoothies.

Saturday morning Andie and I spent in Louisville walking for the cure (see previous Blog). We actually finished in time to get Kate & Stacey home and then get to the YMCA to see the end of Hayden and Bailey's swimming lessons. They were not expecting us and were delighted to have family members for an audience. See that great grin on Bailey's face in the first picture. In the second picture Hayden is just finishing up swimming and he and his teacher have huge grins on their faces.

Hayden was happy to show me how he has learned to go completely under the water. He also went under the water for his teacher and collect some rings she let fall.

After swim lessons we enjoyed lunch at Subway. I stayed with the Mini's while Andie picked up the items that didn't sell at St. John's consignment sale. I finished handsewing the pieces on Hayden's gloves for Wildkratt's costume. We even managed to play beauty shop and cut Miss Bailey's bangs.

Then I was off to Frankfort to visit with Laura and family before heading home in the evening. Great weekend when we get to visit with family and friends.

In Search of a Cure...

In speaking with a dear friend the other day, I mentioned this bit of wonderment that I'm keenly aware of lately. There are so many people I know that have heath issues of so many different kinds. Many of these will or could take their lives.

Maybe it is the stage of life that I'm at. You know, how when you are very young everyone of your friends is getting a new toy, or as you get older everyone is getting married, and later everyone seems to be having babies. I believe that is because I am at that stage of life where those particular things are happening to those you are close to. The fact that I'm only 20 years younger than the oldest of these people makes these observances very intense.

I know when I first because aware of how that works. We were visiting Utah and I walked down to chat with Gramma Chris, Claude father's mother. She was sitting in her chair reading the newspaper and checking the obituaries.  I found that interesting. Gramma Chris looked at me and said very matter of factly, "I want to find out who of us is left." It was then I really noticed Gramma Chris was old and many of her family and friends had predeceased her. It was just very clear that we are aware of things because, in part, that is where we are at in our life circle.

There are lots of illnesses people are facing. My own mother has Alzheimers. I have family and friends with breast cancer. Claude and I choose to contribute to St. Judes Children's Hospital. I help to collect donations for the Heart Association. Our Countryside Homemaker's Club saves tabs from soda cans to send someone to camp each year. So many worthwhile opportunities and each makes a little difference.

Saturday, I was invited by Andie, my daughter, to participate, with others from her Mom's Club, in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure. This was held along the river in Louisville, Kentucky. I was happy to be able to do this on many levels. First to be with my daughter. Second to help a worthwhile cause financially. Third to raise awareness by a presence in mass about an issue that affects so many. Fourth I have a sister, sister-in-law and dear friend who have had breast cancer and have fought it at various stages.

Here are some pictures of my Saturday morning in Louisiville at the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure.

I walked 'In Celebraton Of' Jo Johnson, June Gulbrandsen & Jeannie Hutchings.

Andie was coordinating this effort for her Mom's Club. She made sure I had a number that added up to 13. That is my lucky number. Claude and I were married on Friday the 13th, 13 months and 13 days after that we had Nissa, we lived in apartment 13, our first grandmonster was born on the 13th, we have a son-in-law who was born on the 13th, etc., etc., etc. No fear of the number 13 in this home. I thought it was a cute thing for Andie to think of and do for me.

Here are the four of us with the pink balloon arch in the background (Sandi, Andie, Kate & Stacey).

As we waited for the walk to begin, the survivors parade in over a pink carpet in order of the number of years they have survived. That is very moving. Then the carpet is left and people take their pictures walking on it. These young girls formed their own conga line and enjoyed parading to the music from the bandstand.

Andie kept saying, "Next year we need more gear!"  There are lots of very enthusiastic participants in this annual event. There were dogs with pink hair, men in pink shirts, bold knee socks in varying shades of pink, ladies with pink hair, lovely hats decorated especially for the walk, and some really interesting leggings on men and women. Hair bows abounded. It just added to the joy of the moment.

Blue Bell ice cream had a booth and handed out teeny tiny ice cream cones. Yippee!! Who doesn't like ice cream.

Soon we saw the line of walkers begin. If I have the process right, they started the runners out first on the course the walkers would take. Then the regular walkers lined up and headed out. We were near the end of this group when we began to walk. The survivors and families came next. They even had a special lane for the survivors to walk in.

Along the way there are cheerleaders, people with banners with names of their loved ones and friends, and lovely people with little bottles of water to quinch your thirst and trash bags to toss your finished water bottles in.

The line of walkers went on for a very long way. And we eventually met the runners returning. We would walk on their side of the road as this mass of humanity turned and headed back to Louisville.

It was a beautiful day for a walk. From the American flag at the beginning...

to spending time with Andie and her friends in a very worthy effort...

to the beautiful views of bridges and river by Louisville, Kentucky...

This was a morning of time well spent, money donated to a very worthwhile cause and effort expended in building beautiful memories to last forever. Thank you Andie for inviting me to share this moment in time with you and your friends.

While I can't personnally solve all of the ills and difficulties in life, I can find hope and take joy in the little bits I can do to serve my fellow beings.

In-teg-ri-ty...

A friend, Ellen Abbott from our Maryland days, asked me to help her with her Personal Progress goals (This is a goal setting program for the Young Women at church.). She needed someone to write their feelings about integrity and she thought of me. I got the her message on Facebook while we were on vacation. I messaged her back and told her I would be happy to help but I would like to write it after vacation and after some time to think about it. Ellen said that would be fine.

We got back from vacation last Sunday. This last week I thought about what my feelings were, searched out the dictionary for a definition and then sat down Saturday evening and wrote my response for Ellen.

After completing that response, I felt it was something I wanted to keep and remember. I determined to copy and paste it into my Blog so I would have it as a part of the journal of me. Here is my response:

      The word 'integrity' comes from the Latin word 'integer' meaning whole or complete.
      Today we use it with lots of other words like: moral integrity, the integrity of a computer database or defense system or even a piece of music. But most importantly, a person of integrity.
      When I first thought of the word integrity in the context of this writing the word honest came to mind. The next word I thought of was moral. Then I thought of values. I checked some on-line dictionaries and found all three of these words as definitions. Yeah me!!
      I hesistated, but then decided to go ahead and read Wikipedia's ideas. I actually found a sentence that I liked in their explanation of integrity. It was..."A person has integrity to the extent they act according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold." I believe that is a great explanation of living a life of integrity.
      I tried to think of a recent example of someone I have interacted with that I believe has integrity. I very quickly thought of Detta Wilson. Detta lives here in Sadieville. We serve as officers on the Friends of Sadieville board and we are both members of the Countryside Homemakers Club. In a conversation with Detta she stated to me, "I have one principle I live by. If I say I'm going to do something, I do it!" I knew this was a true statement about Detta. I knew it was a character trait in her I already respected. It struck me strongly when she said it. Detta is a person of integrity.
      My daugther, Andie, reminded me of a quote from Maya Angelou, "When you know better, you do better."
       I believe my testimony of the doctrines taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has helped and caused me to live a life where I try to be a person of integrity.
      Because I know I am a spirit daughter of a loving Heavenly Father, I want to live so I bring honor and respect to His name. I want to live so my very being reflects a love for His Son, Jesus Christ, so there is no question by my actions that I am a Christian with strong moral beliefs and values.
      When we know that simple truth, that we are a child of God, and when we believe in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and try our best to live worthy of His grace and mercy through that Atonement, we can't help but be a person of integrity. At least, a person who is trying their best and lifting themselves up, dusting themselves off and trying again if they goof up.
      So I believe integrity is being honest with myself and others as I live up to my moral standards and values in this mortal testing ground on a path back to my Heavenly Father.
      Thanks, Ellen, for giving me pause in my hectic life to ponder on this and reaffirm in my heart and mind what integrity means to me personally and how I want to recommit and continue to be a person of integrity.

Veggies Please...

This morning was my Countryside Homemakers Club meeting. This is an off shoot of the Scott County Extension Service.

In our club the members take turns being the hostess each month. This month Faye was the hostess. She provides the meat or entree for the lunch after our meeting and the rest of us bring side dishes or desserts.  Hmmmm...what to take for ham.  There are sometimes as many as 15 ladies at this meeting and you try to think what might fit with the entree and what someone else might not bring, etc.

I couldn't think of anything. Then 'corn' came to mind. Okay, good thought Sandi, but what are you going to do with corn.

The thought crossed my mind to open a can and heat it up and take it. However, that didn't seem really homemakerish enough. I purchased bell peppers in four colors Monday when grocery shopping. I figured I would just add some to the corn and that would be pretty.

During the night last night I awoke with a flash of intellect.  Well, it could have been another of those lovely hot flashes that left me awake enough to think about the day and how to fill it best. Nonetheless, it was a flash and there was intellect in there somewhere.

I got up this morning and created my side dish first thing. I drained my can of corn and rinsed it in the strainer. While the water dripped out of it, I finely chopped 1/2 of each of  the four colors of bell pepper, thinly sliced at an angle some baby carrots, thinly sliced 2 green onions, and thickly sliced at an angle 1/2 bag of sugar snap peas. I add my drained can of corn and the rest of a bottle of light vinaigrette dressing and tossed it all together. Then I placed it in the fridge to chill and marinate while I spent the next two hours getting my treadmill walked and computer stuff done and my shower, etc.

I walked to Faye's home as she lives up the street. I gave her my corn salad and she placed it in her fridge.  Maybe it was because no else brought anything with green in it. But everyone loved the little corn salad. They all wanted the recipe. 

I brought one little serving home with me and kept it for Claude. He also pronounced it good when he came home. 

I think I have a keeper of a recipe and wanted to share with those who might read this and be interested. The secret, I'm thinkin', is that vinaigrette dressing.  We got it at Kroger.  It is made by Hendricks and is a light vinaigrette dressing. I'm not fond of a vinaigrette dressing usually because I find things that taste like vinegar too strong and acidy tasting. However, this particular vinaigrette has a light, almost sweet taste to it. It is perfect for this corn salad.

Enjoy!!

I Talk to the Trees...

Yesterday, while working in my sewing room, I heard the doorbell ring. Home alone, I knew I would have to be the one to answer it. I was feeling a mite cautious because there were two escaped convicts and I hadn't heard if they left the area or were apprehended again.

I looked through the glass and felt confident to open my door. There stood a nice man from a company named Townsend. He introduced himself and explained that Kentucky Utilities (our electric company) sent him and his crew to cut the top off a big sycamore tree in the empty lot we own next to our home.

We walked out to the lot and he explained they were going to top the tree so the branches would not rest on the power lines when we have ice storms. Thank you, thank you, and thank you. Claude and I were concerned about that and thought we might need to hire someone to do it. Now this blessing was right there telling me it was going to be done.

After his explanation and answering what questions I could think of right then, I assured him I would be taking lots of photographs from a safe distance. He went to work, I headed for my camera.

I stopped and called Claude. He and Papa were at the Family History Center. I explained what was happening. His reaction was as happy as mine. He asked if they would get the branches over the phones lines that are lower than the electric lines and on the same poles. I told him I would go talk to the Townsend guy and mention clearing those branches also.

I headed back out with camera in hand and talked to the foreman. He said that would not be a problem and he would be happy to be sure those branches were clear as well.  Yippee!!

Here is the before picture.

Watching these guys work was akin to watching a tree trimming ballet. They were very well choreographed. There were three worker who spoke Spanish and their foreman who spoke a little bit of Spanish. Obviously they had done this many time.

The first worker stood at the base of the tree and put on the spike things that fit around his boots and have leather straps to go up around his legs. I haven't seen those in a long time but as a child I saw them almost every day. When my father was a very young man he worked as a lineman for the telephone company in Louisiana. He climbed those telephone poles using the same apparatus. After he quit doing that and moved into the office of the telephone company, those spikes hung in our garage.

The climber got up the tree quickly and found a spot near the top and fastened his safety harness. The other two workers positioned themselves with one on the grass on this side of the tree and one in the woods on the hill behind the tree. The foreman was on the hill as well.

Then the ballet began.

They sized up where to start and the worker in the tree started his chain saw. This hung from a fastener on his work belt. It wasn't very large but it was a mighty thing and could saw through those branches quite quickly. He lopped off the branches around the top of the tree where he wanted to cut through the top of the trunk.

As he cut of branches, the guys in the woods would grab the end of the branch as it made its way through the branches still on the tree and then pulled the sawed off branch down into the woods. The one on the lawn side had a very long pole with a hook on the end and a cord running the length of it. He used it to help the limbs down if they got stuck in the branches still on the tree. I'm thinking the deer are going to be a mite confused with all the new limbs and leaves over their paths. Then he was ready to cut off the top of the tree.

The man on the ground in the words had a rope the man in the tree had fastened around the top of the trunk. As the man in the tree sawed, the man on the ground pulled on the rope and pretty soon the top came off and fell to the ground. I figured the guy on the ground pulling the rope must be crushed. I asked the man on the yard side of the tree if his friend was okay. He grinned and assured me all was well.

The man in the tree continued to cut off branches and let them fall and the guys on the ground continued to pull them into the woods. The last piece they cut was the front over the phone lines. One big limb there they just tugged on with this pole tool they used until it was below the telephone lines.

Faster than I would have thought, they were all done and heading back to their truck.

And now our sycamore tree looks like this.

And when the ice storm comes this winter, and I'm pretty sure we'll have at least one, we won't be worrying about this tree and its branches breaking the electric and telephone lines. Yeah!!!

After every ice storm you watch those poor crews out trying to cut up fallen trees and cut branches off of electrical wires covered in ice. It just struck me as I watched this process what a less expensive and safer way it is to maintain the electrical lines when the weather is nice. There are several other sycamore trees growing on our hill in that forest and they will eventually fill in and be just as big as this guy was before he was topped. And the foreman assured me they would be back out in about five years to do this again as the trees grow up in our neighborhood.

Sleepy & Sneezy...

First...Sleepy...


There is absolutely nothing anymore lovely when returning home from a vacation than to climb into your own bed and sleep.


I believe that a vacation is simply a change in your schedule that gives you a brief respite from your daily grind (whatever that may be). Vacations are not restful. In fact we usually try to pack so much into them that we come home more tired than when we left for them. Hence, coming home to your own bed is just, as a friend said, 'A Slice of Heaven'.


Sunday night I experienced that pure joy of ending a wonderful change of pace called a vacation by climbing back into our own bed. Simply Lovely.


When I awoke yesterday morning, this flood of realization came to me about the importance of a bed.


Whenever we moved the first thing we put up in our new home was the kid's beds. It just seemed to make a move easier for them when they had their bed in what would be their territory in the new location.


I've slept in my bed, I've read a good book in my bed, I've sat and done needlework or Sudoku while watching a good program on TV in my bed, I've recuperated from major surgery in my bed (with my family setting up my night stand and sometimes a step stool to make life in bed for several weeks easier), I've miscarried a much desired baby in my bed, I've conceived in my bed, I've made a nest out of pillows for grandmonsters to enjoy playing in my bed, I've held a sick child close in my bed as they struggled to get well, I've had long, heartfelt talks with my hubby in my bed, and the list goes on and on and on.


I'm grateful I remembered for a moment yesterday morning how important that piece of furniture is in a home. It may seem like a silly thing, but I don't believe it is silly at all. And I'm particularly grateful that we have a bed we both picked out that is solid and comfortable to keep on filling with memories as the years continue to go by.


That said...on to 'Sneezy'...


It is said very often here in Kentucky that this is the worst place in the country for a person with allergies.  It also appears to me that EVERYONE in Kentucky has allergies. I know other states make this claim but, let me tell you, Kentucky takes the cake on allergies.


I left Kentucky for vacation a week ago taking a daily 24 hour allergy pill. I'm not a pill taker.  It has to be pretty bad before I succumb to taking medicine for something. So I assure you my eyes were in severe need of something to give them relief.


Claude purchased me two kinds of allergy pills.  One said SEVERE Allergy Relief on the outside of the box. The other was a 24 hour pill.


When we got to Michigan, I told Claude I was going to try not taking that 24 hour pill anymore.  I didn't take it the next morning and had no issues at all. I didn't take any more allergy medicine for the entire trip.


We got home Sunday night and I was inside until Monday afternoon when I headed into Georgetown to check on my parents, have dinner with Claude prior to his meeting and purchase groceries. As soon as I left the house to get in my car with the garage door open the sneezing started.


By the time I got to Georgetown I was sneezing regularly and my eyes were watering. I ran through many Kleenex at Papa's apartment and a few while at the nursing home feeding Mimi. The restaurant with Claude provided sneezing opportunities. I tried to find quiet aisles in Walmart to sneeze so people didn't think I was bringing in a cold germ. In the parking lot at Walmart I ran into friends from church. Their first question was, "Do you have a cold?"  Nope...just allergies...again.


I came home and found that box that said 'SEVERE Allergy Relief' and took the dose noted.  I could feel the wave of tired come over me from this helpful, yet mildly coma inducing medicine. This is the sweet and sour of allergies. Sweet for relief from sneezing and itchy eyes, sour from making one sleepy. I haven't ever found a medicine that doesn't knock me out. But the sneezing was gone and I woke up really, really rested this morning.


Now I'll go back to the 24 hour version today, which is a little less coma inducing once my body gets used to it. Come on frost to get rid of those allergens that are making me 'Sleepy' and 'Sneezy'!!!

And...It Is Over...

Saturday morning Claude and I hit the road for the return trip. Well, at least part of the return drive home. Our destination was Chelsea, Michigan.  We made great time and the car, bless it's little pea-pickin' heart, didn't give us one minutes worth of trouble.

We stopped for gas and lunch in Gaylord, Michigan. While leaving the parking lot I noticed a sign for the Quaker State Motor Oil/Lube station. The bottom portion was in those black letters and said "Chicken strips $6.99".  What is up with that?  I haven't figured that one out yet.

We got a call from Katelyn as we got on I-96 in Lansing, Michigan. They were on the road from Muskegon, Michigan. This would put them in Chelsea around 7pm. The original plan was for us all to go to Joe's Crab Shack.

As we drove along, Claude suggested we might want to just order pizza and stay at the hotel so the kids could enjoy the pool a bit.  We were concerned it might be difficult to get a table for 6 at a later hour. That is what we ended up doing.

We also alerted Katelyn to tell Nissa there were construction alerts on I-94 and she should probably take I-96 and then take Exit 122 (Michigan Hwy 52) on into Chelsea. They tried to do that, honestly they did, but they missed Exit 122. They drove on over to Hwy 23 and took it south to I-94 and then back west to Chelsea.

That would not have been so bad except they unloaded their car and went to the 3rd floor of the hotel to room 300 and couldn't find us. They called on the cell phone. Claude answered. They were at the Holiday Inn Express and not the Comfort Inn. Oops!!  In all fairness, we have always stayed with them at the Holiday Inn Express before, never at the Comfort Inn.

That corrected we all met in our room in the Comfort Inn. Pizza had been ordered. We determined sleeping arrangements between the two rooms. Luggage was placed in the appropriate room. Paul filled all ice buckets. Nissa and the kids went for bottles of soda pop. Then we all settled in to visit and have dinner together.

I made winter scarves for everyone and Jake modeled his for me.  Nissa took Todd's to him. Todd was sick and couldn't come. But Nissa sent me this picture of Todd modeling his.

After dinner we headed to the swimming pool and hot tub. Paul and Aubrey made friends with another families kids and they all had a great time in the pool.

While the kids swam, Uncle Jake headed to his apartment to fetch a birthday cake he made for Claude and milk to wash it down. Claude is not a dessert eater but he does like a good chocolate cake with no icing. Jake baked a chocolate cake and put icing on most of it for the rest of us but left a strip with no icing just for his dad. Now that is a clever son. He is also a good cook because we all totally enjoyed this moist cake.

The spot in the middle is where the cover for the cake pan stuck to the icing.

Claude is turning 62 and suggested the candles say 26 instead. Jake bought a '2' and a '6' candle. We put them on both ways so we could get pictures both way. When we sang Happy Birthday Claude held the cake so the 26 showed. It was a fun pre-birthday dessert. Thanks Jake for making a great cake and gathering all the stuff needed to do that right.

We enjoyed our evening visit so much we gathered again this morning for breakfast at the hotel. Then we got late checkout so we could visit until noon. It was a short visit but when a family lives this far apart we treasure every time we get together. The kids enjoyed playing our new Thumbpiano.

I asked the front desk clerk to take a picture of all of us before we headed to our various homes.  From left to right they are:  Jake, Aubrey Anne, Sandi, Paul, Katelyn, Claude & Nissa.

Claude and I are now home. The suitcases are unpacked. We have each called our respective parents to be sure all is well on their home fronts. Now we are going to enjoy a peaceful night's rest in our own bed.  It is funny how you need a vacation after a vacation!?!?!?