Run Hayden, Run!!!

Our Hayden has taken up Cross Country at his Middle School. He has done running in Elementary School and some of the Oldham County activities. I love watching him run. 

It is a 90 minutes drive from Sadieville to Bardstown. We didn't need to be there until 11:15 so we left at 9am and stopped at Burger King for a biscuit breakfast we could eat in the car as we drove. 

When we arrived we pulled into Walmart to find some bug spray in case it was needed. We also found the fabric I need to make pajama pants for Hayden and Bailey for Christmas. Batman for Hayden and M&M's for Bailey. We purchased the two other fleece blankets needed for prizes for our Chili Cook-off. 

The maddening thing was getting someone to cut the fabric. We had enough time but not lots of time for dilly dallying around. No one was at the cutting counter so I went and found a man and asked him to please call someone for the cutting counter in fabric. He left me to do that. Never heard that call over the sound system. I asked Claude to watch the fabric and, if someone came, to tell them I needed 1 1/2 yards of each kind. Then I set off in another direction to find another person to ask to call someone to cut fabric. She was in the shoe section and got up immediately to call someone. No call over the sound system again. By this time there was another couple in line tapping their fingers waiting for service. Hmmm... I left again for the front of the store and the customer service counter. There was a line a mile long. Well, not a mile, but it looked like it when you are now in a hurry and really beginning to get frustrated. I have looked high and low for M&M fabric and really didn't want to lose this chance to purchase it. I walked back through sporting goods and saw two Walmart associates coming from the back. I walked matter-of-factly up to them and stated my frustration at asking twice already with no response to get help with cutting fabric and assured them there were now two people in line wanting fabric cut. The female came right with me. She never heard the request. Geez!! She said they were short staffed. I did not comment. She cut my fabric having to leave once and go get another reader with paper tape in it. Geez!! We headed for check-out and found the best line to be in. While standing there I realized I didn't have a piece of paper with the price for the fabric. Are you kidding me? Back toward fabric I headed with Claude holding our place at checkout. As I went back I retraced my steps. Then I thought it may have falling into my purse. Sure enough, there was the sticker with the price stuck to the straps of my purse. Hallelujah!! Back to check and then away to the High School for the Cross Country meet. 

Hayden is small for his age. He has low muscle tone. He doesn't do well in heat and is not fond of the out-of doors. So the fact that he is trying this sport is just over-the-moon amazing. I don't care if the kid ever gets to the front of the pack. I'm just so thrilled he found a sport he could participate in. Here are a few pictures of our boy.

Hayden ran 10 seconds faster than his best time. He was very happy. This was a tough course and the temperature felt like 98 according to the weather man. I whole-heartedly agree. It was up and down hills and not easy at all. When he was finished, there was family to greet him. That is Andie taking the pictures and Michael on the right telling him how great he was. You can't see cheerleader Bailey in front of Andie. 

This was the starting gun for the race. It went off just as we got there to start the girls race. Thought I was going to jump out of my skin!

Claude brought a hat for me and one for him. This is the straw hat I bought in the Bahamas years ago. Bailey immediately wanted to try it out. Isn't she cute? I had not the heart to tell her the bow goes in the back at the base of her neck. I mean really. I looks great where she has it.

Claude treated us all to lunch at Fazoli's.

After lunch, we went out to the Marx van and Hayden pulled out his baritone tuba he is learning to play in school band. So very cute. I do believe he likes it a lot.

 It was a great day in the sun. Good to support the Grandmonsters whenever we can.

A Great Date...

My visiting teaching appointment canceled for Friday afternoon. How to rearrange the schedule? Got it!!

I took Papa to his doctor appointment Friday morning. The man got a great report. Don't get me wrong, there is tons wrong with him, but all the things are under control and he is doing well. His blood pressure was 110 / something great. That is better than mine! His blood density was a bit thick but that seems to vacillate all over the place, so we leave him at the dosage he is at and come back in a month to get it tested again and we see Dr. Weckman in 3 months for a regular check. Great!

Back to Sadieville I hurry to spend an afternoon with the hubster only to find him knee deep in stuff at his desk. We plot the rest of our day. We both work at our desks for the afternoon with BIS (Butt In Seat) at 3pm. We actually met in the living room ready to go at about 10 to 3. Think we were both anxious to have a date time together. 

We first went to City Hall. Claude had papers to drop off. I watered the new plants in the little garden spot I am working on. Time to leave Sadieville.

On to Georgetown to the theater to see Sully. This was an excellent movie. Intense. This is the real story of Captain Sully who landed the plane full of 155 people on the river in New York after the plane was hit by a flock of birds and both engines died and everyone survived. (That last one was a great sentence!! Makes me chuckle. Would drive my son, the English major, nuts!) So it is a gripping movie but very well done.

There is a fairly new restaurant in Georgetown. We opted to try it out for dinner. It too was a keeper. An Italian restaurant named Formaggio Italiano. The server gave us our menu and I knew as soon as I opened it what I would eat that evening. They had an all cheese calzone. Many places have calzones but they usually have cheese and meat. I just wanted the cheese kind and this place had it. So I ordered that and a side salad. They give you bread and it was yummy. I actually could go there and eat the bread and salad and be very happy. We will go back for pizza. Excellent dining experience. 

Now, time to do a little hands on research. Time to replace the dishwasher...and possible the washing machine. The washing machine has been known to come on by itself. We wanted to see and learn and ask questions, then think about what to do. We visited Lowe's. They gave us plenty of time check the dishwashers out before asking us if we wanted help. By that time we had done some narrowing down and had a few questions we needed answers to. We narrowed it down to 4 possibilities (no big handle on the front and the buttons to operated on the front not the top edge, stainless steel, gray trays inside). Then we looked at washers and dryers and narrowed that down to 3 possibilities (largest size so I could wash and dry a bedspread, quieter if possible). Did not purchase a thing but will measure our dishwasher and give it thought before doing anything. Felt good to have some knowledge and some items we both agreed on.

Then we came home full and happy. What a great afternoon and evening together. 

Visiting Teaching...

Our Church has a Visiting Teaching program and a Home Teaching program.  The ladies all visit other ladies (visiting teaching) and the men all visit other families (home teaching). We are supposed to have an annual interview to assess how things are going for you and the ladies you visit. This last Wednesday night we had our annual Visiting Teaching interviews. They were done with a twist.

This year we had Drive Thru Visiting Teaching Interviews. Yep, that's right. You just scheduled a time and pulled your car up by the Church and had your interview and then drove away. It looked like this:

You pulled into the parking lot and drove down the right side of this picture, made a U-turn and pulled up to the first stop. There the youth cleaned your windshield while you were given a paper on a clipboard with questions to complete while your windshield was cleaned. Then you pulled to the second stop (this picture) and a member of the Relief Society was there to take your clip board, ask you a few questions and give you a bag of goodies.

This is the card with the bag of goodies:

As you can see, the handout was filled with things to keep up your Visiting Teaching Warranty. The 'spark' was wintergreen life savers, the 'fuel' was a granola bar, the 'oil' was a bottle of water, and the 'pressure' was a pocket sized package of Kleenex. 

It was all very well done and quite efficient. Loved it!

Tires & Mail...

The saga of replacing tires is...hopefully...complete. The second new tire was put on my car Tuesday afternoon. Yippee!! This nail hole was supposedly tiny but I would leave my tire full at night and in the morning it would be down by 15-20 psi. Not good at all. Now I have two band new tires on the left side of my car. With that in place, I was able to take Papa on a ride yesterday afternoon. He was very happy. And, he was also very happy I wasn't driving around anymore with a nail in my tire.

After getting this second new tire installed, I made a trip to the post office. Here's that story (there is always a story). 

While we were driving home from Michigan, I got a call from Papa on my cell phone. Let me just say that I was fine that Tuesday morning when we left Michigan. I was sleepy and opened the remainder of the unsalted cashews Claude had in a little bag. Claude and I shared them. He also had a small bag with some red licorice bits left over. I had a few of them. Not long after I was not well at all. Claude pulled in to get gas and I hit the bathroom. This was going to be a dicey ride home. I was sick to my stomach in every way possible. Claude was tasked with purchasing me some Pepto to hopefully get me back on track. I started that as we pulled out of the gas station. Nonetheless, after another hour or so, I suggested Claude find another gas station. He did and I did and it was a bit better. During all this is when I received the first call from Papa. 

It seems Papa received a package in his mail box. It was white and looked like what his medicines come in. He opened the package and found a brand new back pack inside. Then he knew this was not for him. He looked at the label and realized the address was his but the name over the address was some lady's name. He pulled out his phone book and tried to find her name in the book. No such name. He called me then because 'we have a problem'. I assured him I would take care of it the next day when I saw him. He was nearly frantic because it was shipped two day and he was sure someone needed that package. I assured him one more day wouldn't matter. 

A little time passed and I was just worn out physically. Then my cell phone rings and it is Papa again. This time he tells me he has been trying all the people with that last name in the phone book and can't find anyone who knows that name and he just doesn't know what to do. Geez!! I can only imagine what those phone calls were like. Oh to be a fly on the wall for that experience. I told him to just leave the package on his table and I truly would take care of it the next day. There was simply nothing else we could do. Then I tried to rest...

Wednesday I went to Papa's apartment. The package was on the table. No packing slip with more information on the inside. There was a company name on the outside. I'm guessing someone with that name mis-typed their address when ordering something on-line. I check USPS on line and found a place to enter a tracking number an explain your problem. I did that leaving my name and phone number for them to call back. Left the package on Papa's table in case his mailman returned to get the package. 

A day or two later, no phone call, not text. I took the package and told Papa I would check with the Sadieville postmaster to get a suggestion as to what to do with this package. Before my Friends of Sadieville meeting I visited the Sadieville post office. She taped up the package and told me to take it back to Georgetown, explain to them what happened and they would return to sender or have the carrier be sure if he recognizes the name as another home on his route. If the Sadieville post master returned it I would be paying postage for that. 

Tuesday, after the tire I took the package back to Georgetown's post office, explained what had happened and she took the package. Yippee!! It was out of our hands. 

I found a very cool thing while in the post office. This little craft would be perfect for our Andie. She is teaching a 4th grade class this year. She keeps pens on her desk and the kids borrow them. To make sure they are returned, she uses unique pens that clearly belong to her. The pens in a little vase at the post office were cheap ball point pens with a silk flower attached to them with green floral tape. Simple to make and your flower pens are clearly yours and not the kids. It would also be a nice little gift for other teachers. So many possibilities.

As I left the post office parking lot, I noticed a big bush at the end of the lot. It was already reddish orange. Fall is on its way!!

Sadieville...

Lots of things happening in our little 'Ville'. 

Monday, September 19th, we had our Friends of Sadieville Board Meeting. We planned our October 15th Trailhead Ribbon Cutting, Chili Cook-off and MusicFest. That right, three, three, three things in one. 

After the meeting, I drove around to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. We are diligently trying, a little step at the time, to restore this historic building to be the Sadieville Community Center. This summer the projects have included replacing the beautiful windows (managing to keep their original shape and style), painting the outside and adding a deck to the back. My goal on this visit was to take more recent pictures on the work on the deck.

Then I checked out my flower bed I've been working at since April. No pictures of it. It will take forever to get ride of the flowers that had been planted there. But I'll keep at it. I've had an awful time with allergies and have tried to stay inside air-conditioning. But next week will find me pulling weeds again in that bed. The plants I had planted were all taking hold. The day lilies and Japanese irises are doing well. I think I want to get a few stepping stones and put them in the bed to delineate the groups of plants and give me something to sit on when I weed. 

I also checked out the crab apple tree on the city property. It is laden with crab apples. I really want to pick them and make more jelly. My family loved that as Christmas gifts a few years ago and I would like to try that again. This tree is full of poison ivy so I'll have to be careful.

During this meeting, Claude was at the Sadieville Park installing the Fixit Station for the bicycle trailhead. Later this week he installed the new bike rack. The bicyclists love to ride these roads in and around Sadieville. They can have a challenging ride or and easy ride. As part of the effort to get the Trailhead designation for Sadieville, we have created a trailhead for bicyclist at Sadieville Park. The local bicycle club has donated the Fixit Station and the bike rack. The city has purchased a cooling station which is really a water fountain that immediately dispenses cold water where the bicyclist can refill water bottles and cool themselves down. Below are pictures of the new signs in Sadieville indicating our being a part of the Bluegrass Trailhead System and pictures of the Fixit Station, Cooling Station and bike rack.

We have had an annual Chili Cook-off for several years now. This year we will hold it in conjunction with the Trailhead Ribbon Cutting and Merle Tussey will come and provide our final MusicFest of the year. Claude has asked Scott County Judge Executive George Lusby and Mayer Kayla Jones of Stamping Ground to help judge our chili cook-off. We will find one more judge but the event is coming along nicely and things in our little 'Ville' are also moving along nicely.

Country Music at Its Finest...

So, my plan was to be taking Papa for a ride right about now. That is not happening. Why, you ask? It seems I do have a nail in my left rear tire and cannot drive my car until 2pm today when I will again travel to Frank Shoop for another new tire. Can we say another $150 please? Yuck!! Could have gotten that nail along I-75 where there is construction but I'm thinking it was really in Michigan or Ohio in the road construction there. I'm also pretty sure my car has developed some magnetic properties to attract said nails to said tires. Claude is now sure we must get the $300 worth of value out of these cars before we trade in my car. Amen to that. 

That was the bad part of my day. However, my day ended very, very well. Claude and I drove to Hurstborne Parkway in Louisville and had dinner at City Barbeque. We love eating at the restaurant in Lexington on Richmond Road and were very happy to find one in Louisville. However, their parking lot is not large enough for the amount of seating in the restaurant. Somehow, we thought a Thursday evening might be less crowded. Wrong! We sat in the parking lot. A spot came open and another car literally pulled in past Claude and took the spot. What? When a mom with two little kids and a baby in the oven got out, Claude said he might forgive her. Wait. Wait. Wait. Someone left but their spot was the Drive In Pick-up spot. Wait. Wait. Wait. One car left close to the door. The mighty Jeep made its way to the spot and we had parking...only to learn that the last spot at the end of the lot was available all the time. Silly us. Silly parking lot with only one enter and exit opening. We had allowed plenty of time and totally enjoyed our meal. We both felt it must have been dinner size portions because the amounts of food seemed more that we usually got at lunch in Lexington. 

Our main event for last night was the Vince Gill concert at Whitney Hall in the Kentucky Center in Louisville, Kentucky. 

We opted for the box seats this time. We have only done that once before. That was at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Claude's parents came to visit and we all went to see Zorba the Greek. It was delightful then and just as delightful last night. Nice cushy chairs with plenty of room. Great view. Claude and I have almost totally got to the lowest tier balcony when attending these kinds of events. We really like the view of the stage from up a little higher. The box seats afforded that as well. 

Vince Gill is just great to listen to. Love his voice. His tenor voice is right in my really low alto range making it great fun to sing along. They filled the first half of the program with great music. Lots of oldies and some new ones. He paid a great tribute from his newest album to Merle Haggard.

Someone from the audience kept calling out for Vince to sing a certain song. He kept laughing and saying, "I'm getting to it. It is on the program. I worked really, really hard to make songs people like and I'm going to sing them!" We all laughed.

When it was intermission time, the rest of the band left for their break. Vince Gill stayed on stage with his steel guitar guy and they played and sang a song together. Then the steel guitar guy left and Vince Gill spent the entire intermission entertaining us on his own. He told stories of his father that were hysterical. He lived in Louisville first after he left Oklahoma as an 18 year old young man. So he had lots of Louisville stories. He sang some to us and we totally enjoyed the entire intermission.

Then he told us his daughter just cut her first album and is trying to get it out there. He said he had a surprise for us. He invited her to come with him and she said yes. So the last part of the intermission, she came out, stated her dad wrote a song for her and she wanted to sing it to us. With her dad for her accompaniment, she sang her heart out. It was beautiful. Something about Jenny loves trains, not dolls and frills. Then the band came back from break and she sang 3 originals songs she wrote for her album and one that she did not write but has rearranged. She does have entertainment written all over her. Proud dad and happy daughter. 

Then the band finished the evening. They came back for the encore and played three more songs. A fast one. Then Vince Gill told us his doctor told him that after playing a fast one at the end, he needed to play a slow one. Which he did and then one more fast one. 

Great evening. Concert started at 8pm. We were done at 11pm. Such a great evening. Next we will go to a Black Jacket Symphony concert at Lexington Opera House to hear Beatle's music. 

Michigan Bound...

We carved out 3 days to make a quick trip to Michigan. We left Sunday morning, September 11th and drove to Chelsea. We met Jake at Joe's Crab Shack and had a lovely lunch, his treat. Then we drove back to Chelsea and had ice cream at Twisters, Claude's treat. Jake looked good and seems to be doing well. Always love being with our son.

Then we left Chelsea about 6:30pm to go to Muskegon. As luck would have it, we encountered a wreck in a construction zone. The wait was 1 1/2 hours. Ugh!! We texted family that we would be in late and just go to the hotel. Every Michigan resident will tell you they have 2 seasons in Michigan: winter and construction. Amen. Lots of road construction and repair going on everywhere. Don't know how they will finish it before snow falls.

Monday, September 12th, we were up early and off to Katelyn and Drew's new apartment. They just moved to a 2 bedroom within the same apartment community they were living in. They had put lots of stuff already put away and still had the living room full of boxes. Raelyn had some breakfast and then we played a bit before her nap time. She has learned to crawl. We gave her a new ball we purchased in Berea. Mimi used to make these balls for babies. She has a game she plays with her Mother and Father where she scrunches up her face and makes a little growling noise. She taught Claude how to play. Raelyn won!! And, with moving boxes aplenty, she had to be in one and get pulled around the floor. Such a cutie. Her hair is starting to grow and it appears to be a strawberry blond color.

Drew worked all night Sunday night doing the jobs of two men. He was really exhausted. So we had him take a nap when Raelyn was taking a nap. Claude and I wanted to do something to help the kids in this move. We determined getting them a real bed would be a good thing. So while Drew and Raelyn slept, Claude and Katelyn went out to find a bed. Fortunately Katelyn and Drew had done some looking so she knew where to go. I set to work helping Katelyn finish unpacking her kitchen. It quickly became clear they needed a few things to help make this kitchen work. I started my list of things that might help everything have a place and what things might need to be paired down. I got a few more boxes emptied and had a plan in place about the time Claude and Katelyn came home. Bed purchased and set for delivery Monday afternoon. 

While we were with the Roper's, Nissa and Todd were at his check-up. He had cancer and this was a follow-up treatment. He is doing well and shows no signs of the cancer. This was the best news we could have heard all day. So very grateful and happy about this. Todd can now go hunting this season. He has missed the last two and was on cloud nine he could go this year.

Off to Muskegon we all went to meet other family for lunch at the Pita Place. This is a must stop for Claude and me when we go to Muskegon. Nissa, Paul and Aubrey joined us and we all had a nice lunch together. Seated around the table are Drew, Aubrey, Claude, Nissa, Paul and Katelyn. The next two pictures are Raelyn's feet and Raelyn eating Greek fries. She does take after her mother, father and Claude in that regard. 

Then we all went back to Nissa's house for a visit. Katelyn and I snuck out for a bit to go to K-Mart. I really wanted to get the items that would help her finish putting her kitchen together. We found those and headed back to Nissa's. We took some much treasured family photos. With Nissa's kids all grown and out of the house, it is nice to get the pictures when they are all together.

First, Nissa's kids: Katelyn, Paul and Aubrey.

Then, Nissa with her kids: Paul, Nissa, Katelyn and Aubrey.

Then us with the Grandmonsters: Paul, Sandi, Claude, Katelyn (on the ground) and Aubrey.

Claude got a quick picture of me with Raelyn. So fun to have a baby around again.

The kids all left and Claude and I took Nissa and Todd to dinner. After shutting down the Pizza Ranch (we are such happening people), we all went to our hotel room for a visit. 

Tuesday morning we checked out of the hotel and met Drew, Katelyn and Raelyn for breakfast before we hit the road. This is a picture I just love. Raelyn holding Claude's finger. I posted it on Facebook with the caption: Bye Grampa. I love you!

It was a very quick trip. So happy we were able to see everyone for a bit. Getting hugs is the best. Catching up face-to-face is the best. Very happy we were able to make this quick trip.

Time Out for Sisters...

Our Stake Relief Society Presidency has a 'Time Out for Sisters' every year. This year it was Saturday, September 10th. The theme was from John 6:35 "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger." 

The first speaker was Nathan Wood, Director, University of Kentucky Couple/Family Therapy. He also is in our Ward at Church. The title of his talk was "All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience". He started by sharing Max Lucado's book "You Are Special". He had the pictures displayed on a big screen which we all could see. Then he read the story and changed the pictures accordingly. How happy I was that he shared this story. He called it the best self-help book out there. I own the book along with several that are just my favorite 'moral' books. They are beautifully illustrated and their stories each teach a valuable moral lesson. I highly recommend every Gramma having this book to read to her grandmonsters. 

In the book the people of the village spend their days putting stars on people who are good or pretty and putting dots on those who are not perceived as such. The end result is you are covered with stars and dots or mostly stars or mostly dots and that says a lot about what others think of you. Nathan likened these stars and dots to our thoughts and feelings. Then he said, "If we are not our thoughts and feelings, who are we? We are daughters and sons of Heavenly Father and he loves us." 

He gave us an exercise to move though these times with difficult thoughts or feelings. He told us all not to think about polar bears. Well, that became the elephant in the room. He listed a bunch of ways were were not to think about polar bears while we were all trying not to think about polar bears. Can't be done. Then he told us about this meditation exercise. See, our brains go non-stop all the time. (Side note: I once heard a person diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's say she knew something was wrong when she would have periods of time when her brain just wasn't thinking, at all.) The exercise was to breathe in for 4 seconds and then breathe out for 6 seconds. This means you have 6 complete breathes in a minute. While you are concentrating on this, you can't have the struggles in your brain that a non-stop brain just has. We tried it with our eyes closed and it really felt peaceful. I didn't think about that polar bear one time. When I got home and went to bed that night, I tried this technique to slow down my hyper-active mind and body. It worked again. Nice tip.

The next speaker was Sister Robin Cotton. She is the Louisville Temple Matron. Her topic was "What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God". She shared three ways to become better than we are.
     1) Learn who we are.
     2) Accept and prepare because we will have hard things.
     3) Learn how to access the power of heaven by turning to the Lord and trusting in Him.

One of the sentences she said I liked the most was: "You are limitless within the limits." Think about that in today's "I am entitled" world. How much better would our world be if we recognized that not everything is okay, that they are and should be boundaries and that is okay. We have lots of room to play within limits. Love it!!

A special musical number "Come Unto Him" was enjoyed by all. Kathy Alexander accompanied on the piano, Juniper Parker played the flute and the vocalists were Natalie Anderson, Randi Lowe, Nicole Charles and Nikara Charles.

Kathy Hymas, our Stake Relief Society President, spoke next. Her topic was "Charity, the pure love of Christ". She reminded us that being charitable is not always convenient. However, when we give of ourselves, we are filled.

Concluding remarks were offered by Pres. Todd Hamblin, 2nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency. He talked about 'taking time out...' We need to take time out to feel the Spirit and connect with Heavenly Father. We need to take time out daily to meet with our make in prayer and scripture study. We need to take time out weekly to partake of the sacrament. We need to take time out frequently to attend the temple.

A lovely lunch of salads was provided. I opted to head to my car. I needed to finish up preparations for my next Institute class and we were leaving for Michigan the next day. That hour of study before my next meeting was invaluable. 

Excellent event. Well attended. Full of uplifting, cup-filling inspiration. Totally worth the time. 

Tidbits...

Here are some random things that I find interesting in life...

September 8th, I took this picture for the Mini's as Claude drove us in to Georgetown to get my new tire. The Toyota Plant in Georgetown has expanded and is continuing to do so. This necessitated the addition of an interchange to handle all the traffic, especially during rush hours. They have been putting the bridge part over I-75. This is the bridge spans in place with no road on top. It is fascinating to watch, even though I am almost positive I picked up the nail along this stretch of highway that gave me the slow leak and need to buy a new tire. This interchange will not give us an interchange at mile marking 125, 126, 127 and 129. Not bad for a town the size of Georgetown. Hope it doesn't cause more congestion.

September 9th, while reading my Ensign for September, I came across this C.S. Lewis quote that I loved. "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only in having more of it than the next man."

September 8th, Claude detailed my car. I ran it through a car wash the day prior. So when I got into my car September 9th, it was like stepping into a brand new car. It was such a nice thing for him to do for me. I keep my car cleaned out of junk and stuff, but I am truly not good at the vacuuming and cleaning the inside. This was a most pleasant treat.

September 11th, I noticed something shiny in the morning on the deck as I walked past our living room windows. I paused and realized the spiders had a very, very busy night. I count at least 5 spider webs. 

While purchasing Papa's groceries yesterday, I went to pick up bananas. The man really eats the bananas lately. But that is a good thing. I digress...When I went to the banana counter, I saw this cute thing dancing around on the floor as the air moved it along.

It is a balloon. I wanted Bailey to see this so I took a picture. Such a cute balloon.

Tires & Cars...

So, the last time I posted (September 3) about cars, I mentioned my left front tire having a slow leak. End result, after another day with low air pressure, I called Frank Shoop. Took the car in September 7th for them to see what was causing this leak. 

While they were checking it, I strolled to the sales floor and was introduced to a very nice young man named Orlando. He showed me two cars I was interested in, a Buick LaCrosse and a Buick Envision. The LaCrosse is the biggest sedan Buick makes now, much to my chagrin. As soon as I peeked in I was disappointed. There was a big console between the driver and passenger side of the front seat. Even looking at it I felt claustrophobic. I asked and learned they are making all the cars this way. NOOOOO... Someone must really think that is a great idea but it isn't me! I really liked the Envision best. Size-wise it is between the Enclave and the Encore. And, it is supposed to be a cross between a sedan and an SUV. It truly looks like an SUV. I did not drive either car. But I did have Orlando show me the color possibilities. There was a dark blue that almost looked purple. Okay, I had no intention of purchasing a car. I stated that right up front and very matter-of-factly to Orlando. But I assured him if that car really was a deep purple, I would write a check that day. (Seriously, I had no checks with me, but I would have called Claude.) It turned out to be the angle on a beautiful deep blue color. However, they do have a paint color that is amethyst. That is a lighter version of purple. I was struck by it but would need to see a real car in that color before purchasing it. While I love purple, I also know very well that not all things in life should be purple. Even cars.

I had a fun time visiting with Orlando. He was definitely not a pressure salesman and I totally appreciated that fact. I told him I wanted Claude to look at the cars and maybe drive them as we processed the purchase of a car.

In the meantime, the slow leak problem turned out to be a nail in the tire. My first question, "I bought my tires here. Are they covered in a warranty?" The answer, "No." This is a road hazard and that is not covered in the warranty. Of course... New tire would be $150. Not in stock. They could have it by the afternoon. This was a Wednesday and my afternoon and evening were full. I opted to come back on Thursday to get the new tire put on.

Off to the bank, the grocery store for Papa and then to Papa's. My evening would be spent teaching Institute. 

In the meantime, back in Sadieville, our shower was leaking again. This happened earlier in the year. Claude tried to repair it but we still had a leak to the basement. Eventually Claude gave in and called a plumber who fixed the leak and told Claude he would need to re-caulk at certain intervals. Claude made a nice patch in the vent in the basement and we were happy. Until...Claude tried to re-caulk. Then we had another leak.  Off came the vent cover repair job Claude did on the previous repair. Down went the brown plastic tub to catch the water so it didn't damage the basement carpet. And, Claude proceeded to try to repair. After a period of several days, he finally called a plumber. While I was at the dealership, Claude was working with a nice older gentleman as he worked on our shower drain. He completely replaced that pipe and told Claude he shouldn't have to caulk it at all, ever. We have let the opening in the basement alone until we are sure we have no more leaks but all is well. This little older man was so nice Claude said he felt like he should pay him more. I found that interesting!

I went back Thursday morning, September 8th, and Claude rode in with me. While they put the new tire on the car, Claude and I looked up Orlando and Claude had a nice visit with him. Claude test drove the Envision. He liked it as well. For some reason, even though it also has a big console between the driver and passenger seats, it feels a little bigger. If it comes with a sun-roof, that would help even more. 

Okay, the cute part is that green Jeep Claude saw some time back on Frank Shoop's lot. It was on one of the trips to fix his Jeep when it kept dying on him. It is a very, very bright lime green. We are at that awkward place where it is time to look at replacing both our cars. Not a fun place to be. We were hoping to wait for Claude until next year when Jeep puts out a truck version of the Jeep. But that green Jeep really speaks to him every time he sees it. So, while we are talking with Orlando, Claude said, "So how about this, you give me a buy one get one free deal. I'll buy the car out right and you throw in the Jeep?" Orlando got a great laugh out of that. 

They put my new tire on. I paid them, and we were off to have a nice lunch together. We haven't determined to buy me a new car yet. I do really like the Envision better. But we'll see what we decide. 

In the meantime, I went out yesterday to drive into Georgetown and, wait for it, wait for it, my left rear tire was down to 15 pounds. What in the world is going on? I pulled out the portable charger and filled it with air. Now I'll just watch and see what happens. Goodness.

And...He is Appointed AGAIN!!

I know when I return home and find my hubby sitting on his end of the sofa and he looks at me with what he thinks is an 'innocent' look followed by "How much do you love me?" that Claude has done it again.

This time he was asked and accepted and appointment to the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority. Who knows all this will entail. Not I. However, I do know it will keep him busy in a very productive way and that is always a very good thing.

This will conflict with some boards he sits on with Bluegrass ADD so he will be released from them. 

Gotta love the man. He doesn't know how to have a very full retirement life.

I Know It's Not October...However...

Woke up one morning to this view from our deck.

Felt more like a Halloween morning that August 29th. It cleared off quickly but it was a interesting view for a bit.

Riding the Roads with Papa...

Still trying to get Papa out as often as I can for a drive. 

August 26th we made a loop from Georgetown through Mt. Sterling to Frenchburg then north to Owingsville and out to Carlisle, then back to Paris and home on scenic Hwy 460. Nice ride on a beautiful clear day. This picture was taken from the side of the road on Hwy 36 near Carlisle. The yellow is tobacco getting ripe enough to harvest with the sun shining on it. Very Kentucky view. The barn would be a burly barn to hang the tobacco in to dry. 

September 1st we drove south from Georgetown through Harrodsburg and on to Lake Cumberland. From there we turned north through Somerset, Danville, back to Harrodsburg and then to Papa's home in Georgetown. This was also a lovely drive. 

We got caught at an interesting construction stop on the road over the top of the dam at Lake Cumberland. They had one of the automatic portable stop lights on either end of the dam. We were the only traffic on the dam but the light was red so we stopped as they only had one lane going over the top of the dam. There was a sign that stated the stop light would only remain red for 5 minutes. A few cars finally came across while our light was red and just after it turned green. Of course, they had to drive slowly...so...by the time they made it all the way across our light turned red again. Geez!! Being the obedient soul my parents taught me to be, we waited. There were no cars on the other side but clearly if any came there would be a green light for them and I didn't really want to back up across that big dam. I drive forward very well. Backing up...not so much. So we waited and took pictures and a short video.

Another guy pulled up behind us and he also pulled out his cellphone to take pictures. I posted my little video clip on Facebook with the caption, "If one must be stopped for construction, this is as good as it gets!" 

While we waited this time, we observed where the road came down from the hill on the other side of the dam. A huge truck was coming and it looked like it might have stopped. After a couple of minutes we could tell it was still coming, very, very slowly with another car behind it. Of course, by the time it made it across the light was green and then red again for us. There was no one on the other side. As soon as our light turned green one more time, we made out for the other side. Whew!!

When we got to the other side, I pulled to the side of the road and took this picture of the lake. I took one of the dam but, alas, it was very fuzzy.

Yesterday was Labor Day. I picked Papa up at Georgetown and we left his home at 2pm. We drove through Stamping Ground and found Hwy 32 which runs by our home. We followed it all the way to Sadieville. This was a very lovely drive in very rural Kentucky. The road changes from a line down the middle to a line on either side so you don't wander off the road. When this happens to a back road, Papa constantly tells me, "They must have taken a dirt trail and paved it!" No kidding! Fortunately these roads are not heavily traveled. We only passed 3 cars in the 30-45 minutes we were driving it. But Papa loves these roads and so we just go very slowly and enjoy the drive.

Papa has taken to pointing out the dead trees. He has gotten progressively more attune to them as the summer wears on. He just can't understand why some are so alive and right next to it a dead one. I tried to point out the trees have a life span and maybe, just maybe, theirs was up. Maybe a bug got into it and killed it. Maybe lightening or animals. None of these reasons seem to answer his dilemma. So I just listen to him wonder as that seems to be what he needs.

Time Away...

When one receives a coupon in one's eMail from Boone Tavern and Inn for a greatly reduced stay that also includes a huge portion of the cost of two meals in their lovely restaurant, one goes upstairs to one's hubby and says, "I think this is something we might try and use." One's husband looks at the deal and quickly checks calendars with one and finds an evening and the next day they can clear on their calendars to take a quick getaway. Yep, that is what one would do and it is exactly what one did.

We did our usual Monday activities in the morning of August 29th and left for Berea, Kentucky about 2pm. We couldn't check in to Boone Tavern until 4pm. So we found the crafter's street and walked around there to get a start to our Christmas shopping. We managed to find several items for gifts and a couple of things for us. One thing we purchased was a cute metal hanging thing to keep a rolling pin in. I have my mother's rolling pin and it is simply resting on the counter, until now...Now it hangs in the rolling pin holder on the wall in the kitchen. We also purchased some fudge for that evening in our room. The picture is Shifflet's Cabin by the Welcome Center. Claude is sitting in the chair on the porch.

We next checked into our room. The desk made us dinner reservations for 5:30pm. It was 4:30 when we got to the room so we enjoyed a few moments of rest before going to dinner. 

The food in the restaurant is always amazing. these are photos of my salad course (crab meat Rangoon over a rice and edamame salad), main course (salmon tempura and a noodle dish) and a shared dessert with Claude (black raspberry upside down cake).  Oh my heavens it was delicious. We were full and walked around the block after dinner to work some of it off. 

We determined we would find a place and sit on the veranda for the evening. The hibiscus was along one wall of the Inn. Claude found us two chairs while I took this picture. We sat there for a bit and then this 'flock' (more like a herd) of turkey buzzards flew in.  

I sat once at one of Kentucky's many State Resort Parks for an afternoon while Claude attended classes and watched up to 10 turkey buzzards flying around. Loved watching them catch the air currents and soar overhead. They are big, not the most attractive bird, but they can soar beautifully. We had a rain storm in Berea that evening and the clouds were gathering for another possible rain shower. There was another couple on the veranda with us. We all heard a noise and then they started coming. They just kept coming. There could have easily been hundreds of them. They circled over the Inn and around the Inn and then gradually flew away. I have three video clips that depict this much better than this still shot. We all felt like we were in the movie 'Birds' and wondered if we should hurry inside the Inn for protection. It was amazing. Eventually the no-see-'ums got the best of Claude and me and we went inside for the evening. 

Claude pressed the elevator button to get us to the third floor. We entered the elevator only to find this ladder resting against the back wall. Other's would probably not have had an epiphany with this, but Claude and I both remembered at the same time and looked at each other. At the same time we both said, "Jerusalem!" and then we chuckled. In 2005 we visited Israel for 10 days. While there, we visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Resting against a second story window is an old wooden ladder. That particular church is managed by several different churches. They each have a niche that represents part of the Savior's Crucifixion and burial. They believe this is the spot where it all happened. A Muslim man keeps the key to the building and opens and closes it everyday. Due to the tension between all these religions, the agreement is that nothing will be moved. That includes the ladder that was put up by this window many years ago. It has never been moved. Claude and I find ourselves looking for it in any documentary we see that features the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It is always there. This ladder brought that memory to both of us at the same time. Nice.

Tuesday we had a whole day to play. What to do, what to do? Let's go to Ft. Boonesboro. We had never been there and that was north of Berea. I found back roads and we had a ride in the countryside to Boonesboro. 

We first visited the original site for Ft. Boonesboro. It is located in Ft. Boonesboro State Park. The first picture is Sycamore Hollow behind Claude. Daniel Boone first had cabins built here. Just below this is the creek. Someone else came and suggested he move the cabins to higher ground. They did and the next picture is Claude standing by the rock wall where the original site of Ft. Boonesboro stood. 

This picture has that rock wall around the monument to the original site in the background. to the right of the picture is an old elm tree. It is called the 'Divine Elm'. This is the site of the first church service held at the settlement. 

We drove out of the park and around to the replica of the original fort. There is usually the ability to go in and tour the fort with re-enactors in period costumes showing you what life was like. Guess what? It is not open on Tuesday! Well, on to Plan B. 

Claude has some nice pants he purchased at Cabela's. One of them now has a small hole in it and he wanted to replace them. We also could not find our folding chairs in their cases. So a trip to Cabela's would satisfy that. There is now one in Lexington so away we went to Cabela's. 

Now, an explanation about our folding chairs. We had our 4th Saturday MusicFest in Sadieville August 27th. Claude went to load the Jeep with the things we needed to take and the first thing he looked for was our folding chairs. They hang in their cases on the wall in the garage. They were not there. Hmmmm...Claude searched my trunk and every place in the house that might have them. Nope, they were not there. He came and explained the situation to me. I got up and looked in all the places he had looked just to give a second set of eyes on this problem. We had no idea where they could be. I pulled out my calendar and we determined we would have taken them in June to the previous MusicFest. We also took them to Paris, Kentucky for a Pioneer Day Picnic in July but did not use them. We had no other times that we would have needed them. But they were not to be found. We went to MusicFest without them but took two of the chairs that go around the table on the deck instead. 

A few days later, Claude said to me, "Think with me for a minute. When we went to Paris, what car did we drive?" Then the light came on for me. Claude was in one of those rental cars and we drove it. It was the one from Enterprise. We must not have taken them out of the car and gave them away with the car when Claude returned it to Enterprise. As sad as it was to lose the chairs, at least we weren't losing our aging minds!

I took this picture for our Nissa. She loves bears. I told her we were thinking of her while we were out and about.

We still had plenty of afternoon left so we drove through Lexington to Henry Clay's Estate, Ashland. We had also never toured this property. We first visited the formal gardens. We had them to ourselves. 

Then we walked toward the actual home. We passed this building which used to be the privy on one side and the laundry on the other. They have displays in it now of objects found while working on the property.

We purchased our tour tickets and went to the front steps to wait for our tour. Claude is standing in front. No pictures were allowed inside. Sorry. 

As we left we looked at these two interesting structures. They are ice houses. Ice was stored in them and they stayed cool enough in the summer that ice was available most of the summer. The one closest to the camera would drain ice cold water down a channel to the one below. The lower one furthest from the camera was used like a refrigerator to keep milk and cream in.  

We learned another new term here. There was paved parking and 'grass-crete' parking. We neither had heard of 'grass-crete' parking. There are paving stones with grass growing between them. That is 'grass-crete' parking.

This was a lovely tour. We followed it with dinner at Schlotzky's in Lexington. Yum. Then we headed home feeling rejuvenated and ready to hit reality face on.