Meowlloween

I love this picture and saved it for a few days just for Halloween.

As I am sure nearly everyone already knew, Smoke and Momma cat are already home. My DH rather casually said to me last night "I guess you'll have to think of a name for Momma cat, too." So this morning while I was petting and scratching her I called her Bibs because of her white chest. Anyone have any other suggestions?

DH goes back to the doctor today for an update on his foot. We expect he will be off work at least another two weeks. Dad goes to his foot doctor tomorrow about his heel spur. Sister Beth is doing so much better after her knee replacement surgery. She is walking with a cane instead of the walker now. Jen continues to suffer from migraine. How she functions as the mother of 4 (2 teenagers and 2 under 10's) is a mystery to me. Dana has been ill with strep throat. My back continues to ache and spasm at times so that I am afraid the fibro is returning.

But the weather is beautiful if chilly in the mornings and tonight all the little ghoulies and ghosties will be Trick or Treating. We have too many steps up to the front of the house for costumed children to navigate so I usually go over to Mom and Dad's for the fun as the kids have no problem with their paved driveway. I plan on keeping Smoke inside or with me and considering how cautious Momma cat ... Bibs ... is, I think she will make herself scarce.

Leaves are still hanging on ...

in spite of the wind and rain we have had. The maple in Mom and Dad's yard has lost about half of its volume but still takes a nice picture in the setting sun.

Midnight Smoke has discovered the joys of tiny little claws and styrofoam shelter insulation. This is after he was cleaned up enough to go in the house. Looking at this picture I can see how much he is growing. He spent part of the evening on my chest again with Sassy on my lap then he settled quite nicely into his kitchen shelter and spent the night indoors without protest. Momma cat has condescended to sleep in a wicker basket packed with straw inside a box turned on its side and also packed with straw and insulation sheets. I draped a folded sheet over the top of the box and partly down the front to cut the breeze also. Her fur felt cool but not cold this morning when I checked on her. The thermometer was just above freezing.

Today is my husband's 58th birthday. This is our time of year. His birthday, our wedding anniversary and my birthday all take place within the next month. He is still off work right now with his foot in the Boot. He goes to see the doctor tomorrow and we expect he will be off another two weeks at least.

Fall Foliage and Felines

This is the view from my house across the field into Mom and Dad's yard. Mom's maple to the right of the picture is just starting to change. It will be a beautiful peachy-red color soon. The burning bush is at its peak and although it does not show in this shot the maple to the left is a soft yellow right now.

This is the hillside behind our houses. I was not in the right location for the best shot yesterday but this turned out well.

It was an interesting day yesterday. I called my doctor's office and told them I had been accidentally bitten by a cat and could not remember when my last tetanus shot was. They said I needed to come in so the doctor could look at the bite and to get the tetanus shot. So I left work at 9:30 and did not get back until 2 hours later. What I thought was a simple little thing really had my doctor concerned. I not only got the tetanus shot but an Rx for an antibiotic and have to go back and see him today. Part of his concern may have been that my finger really looked red and swollen yesterday because I first had to get the ring off the injured finger (soap and hand cream were necessary) and I once more had a reaction to the adhesive on the bandage I used to cover the small wound overnight. The redness is considerably less this morning and although the area is tender it is not hot or swollen. Still, I am glad to have the antibiotic to take as there is real danger from any cat bite.

He also started me on a blood pressure med again as my pressure was (very) high at the office. It always is. But at home I am always in the normal range. Still, this is a very mild med and I am only taking half a tablet a day AND he provided samples this time instead of having to buy an Rx that I may not have been able to continue. I took the first half-tablet yesterday and will take another this morning. He said the most likely side-effect to this med may be swollen ankles. Lovely.

MDH Joe is off work for at least the next two weeks with a bad sprain in his left foot. He is now wearing his own Boot. He has gained an appreciation of what I went thru for months. The doctor says it could be longer for him but wants him to take these two weeks and stay off the foot as much as possible. He had to go to the office yesterday with the paperwork for leave and says his boss and coworkers all laughed at him.

When he got back home he discovered Momma cat draped in cobwebs. He said she had them over her head and down her back. She seemed appreciative when he cleaned them off of her. We decided she was probably looking for her missing kitten. So sad. But Momma cat and the other two are doing fine at this point. They had tuna this morning and all three ate well. I have watched the two kittens walk and run and they seem fine. Worrying but hopeful.

It is raining gently at 6 am here. Both kittens are in their shelter and Momma cat is lazing on the porch when the dogs are inside and watching them from the banister or under the porch when they have been outside.

Star Struck

It was a crisp clear night here and when I let the dogs out at 5 am the stars were breath-taking. I went back inside and got the camera and tripod and spent some time taking shots of Orion (I always hear that line from MIB "The galaxy is on Orion's (belt)" when I see this constellation).

Summer is almost gone and fall is fast approaching. Mom's burning bush is starting to show tinges of red. A few leaves high up in the maple tree are starting to turn. I look forward to every season but will be sad to see the summer go as I missed so much of it wearing the Boot.

I am still being careful with the foot and still know when I have overdone or not been careful enough through the day. Next week sister Beth is scheduled for knee surgery. Dad's heel spur is much better. Cousin Bill may be released from rehab this week - his recovery from his stroke has been miraculous. Prayers for all are much appreciated.

Yard Sales and Reading

Last Saturday we went to several yard sales on purpose for the first time this year. The last time we went to a yard sale was "accidental" when we were on our way somewhere else. This time I called Mom and told her where the first yard sale was (at a local school). She called back in a few minutes and said they were getting ready to go. So Mom, Dad, Beth and I went "yard saleing" and had a wonderful time. I was out of the Boot but Beth is still using her braces and cane. She is going to have knee surgery later this month and is looking forward to it with great trepidation. We had fun, though. We loaded the back of Dad's Tahoe with lots of great finds. I got a whole box of old sheet music for only $1 and a book of mountain humor that Dad has borrowed so I have yet to read it. He took it the Boy Scout Camporee and United Methodist Men meeting this weekend. I hope it comes back home with him.
The picture is a small part of the music lot. It is all by John Storm, a local person who became a member of the state legislature (you can see one piece has him listed as Hon. John Storm). I have been trying to find more information about him but John Storm is a common name and I am still sifting through all the hits I get.

I also bought some beads and some necklaces that I will take apart and use the beads for various crafts such as the Christmas Spiders and dragonflies I have been making. Another sale/fundraiser for VBS is coming up soon and I want to have a good assortment of things to donate.

A favorite author of mine has died. Madeleine L'Engle, author of "A Wrinkle in Time" and other wonderful books died this week. I still re-read the books every few years even if they are for children. Fantasy with meaning, or as she says with something "underneath" is reading I enjoy. I may read fiction, but I want to learn something from it - just don't shout it at me. As an optimist, I want hopeful endings. I believe in good outlasting evil. I read Anne McCaffrey's dragonriders books and her other books as well. I also read Orson Scott Card and other science fiction authors. And I read the Harry Potter books. I enjoy reading and used to read a lot of books every week. Anymore I find I have slowed down in my reading and tend to drift off to sleep sooner than I used to when I read in bed. I even admit to falling asleep while reading in my chair in the living room. Thank goodness I don't do that when I am working with my beads for crafts.

I realized this morning that I have not taken a photograph in two days - today makes three. But tomorrow is Saturday and I will be out and about looking for the perfect shot again. Maybe more yard sales, too.

Walking!!

I have not worn the Boot since last Friday!! The foot is a little sore at night and I am aware of my shoe often during the day but I AM WALKING!!

Yesterday I took my car in to be inspected and walked from the garage after dropping the car off to the office (only 4 blocks) in the morning and back again in the evening to pick the car up. The longest outdoor walk I have had in months. It really is different from walking on flat indoor surfaces while grocery shopping. I felt every tilt and irregularity in the sidewalks and street. It probably took me twice as long as it would have before the Boot but I'll get back up to speed.

I missed seeing any of the lunar eclipse because of mist and fog and hills. It happened close to moonset in our area and I had only a short window of opportunity to view any of it. Joe, on the other hand, was up on the hilltop at work and got to see the start of it. I had the camera, he didn't. But I did watch a live feed from Australia on Discovery on line. I wonder if Linda May got to see any of it?

I have been lurking in a number of blogs recently and following different links to find new places to visit. Have heard from some of them and linked to a few myself. Really enjoying everyone's photos and posts and appreciate any comments from anyone. Having trouble leaving comments sometimes and working this out.

Saturday Stroll

Quiet today. Temperature is in the 70's and it has been threatening rain all day but the only shower we had was early this morning and lasted about 2 minutes.

I took off the boot yesterday and walked outside around the house and down the alley and around Mom and Dad's yard then back across the field to home. Today the foot is tender but not too bad so maybe it really is improving slowly ... so slowly. Of course, the camera was attached to my hand the whole time I was out and my eyes were searching for views and angles. Here are a few of the shots I took.

Another shot of Dad's Japanese Maple.
Mushrooms/Toadstools found under the maple tree at the end of the sidewalk. (Is it really a sidewalk if it isn't next to a street?)
Mom's Trumpet Vine that is trying to envelope the whole backyard.
In my own yard I practiced more macro shots on the ants and the QA Lace. I think this one saw me ... or is it reacting to the little fellow?

By Request

My sister Beth said she could not see the deer well in my last post so here is an adjusted photo for her.I am experimenting with macro photography too but am limited still in where I can explore as I am still wearing the boot outdoors most of the time. So I have to wait for things to come to me or find them close to the sidewalk. Last night there were ants on the QA Lace and I got up close and personal with a few of them.

I tried a grasshopper but he took exception to my camera getting close to him.

Fair Photos

We did well with the photos we entered in the Marshall County Fair. Now, from what I am told (I have not been there yet because of work and the foot not doing quite as well as I would like), every picture that was entered was awarded a ribbon - blue, red, yellow and white. Dad's pictures all got red ribbons, Jen's all got blue ribbons, and I got one blue for a butterfly photo and two red for my other two pictures. I did it for fun and of course "it was an honor just to be nominated." I am pleased and hope others enjoy looking at my photos.

I want to get there to see all the photos - there were so many when we were entering on Saturday but they were piled up on tables then. The unbiased (of course) opinion of family members is that our photos were the best of all those entered but I am certain there are others that are worth a glance or two. We saw some wonderful photos being entered by others when we were entering ours. One man behind us in line had a close-up shot of a hawk or eagle that was beautiful.

The foot has been troublesome. I have probably pushed too hard but after three months in the boot (and more than a month before that in pain) I want to walk again. Yesterday at work I was in some pain again. So today I will wear the boot to walk to and from work but try just my shoe at work. At least I can put the shoe on now. When I was in pain at the beginning I could hardly bear to have anything touch the side of my foot. So still some scritch ... thump ...

New Slide Show

This week butterflys arrived in Mom's yard. They were really attracted to some tall purple flowers she has this year. They would flit around the others but always came back to these. I got some wonderful shots using the continuous shooting mode on the new camera.

(Edit: see the slide show links on right for the Butterfly slide show.)

Silly Rabbit and her babes have moved on. The two babes came out of the nest this week and I managed to watch them for a time. Such tiny things to be braving the big world. At least they have stayed out of my dogs' yard.

We also have a deer with three legs in the neighborhood. I saw him alone one day eating my crabapples and then with another buck the next. Dad and Beth say there are four of them at times. My dogs dash out the door so fast when I open it that they probably chase the deer off before I can see them. They also chase off the grey cat that has been hanging around for a few weeks now. I see it slinking around bushes and the corners of things at times. I hope it has a real home somewhere.

I have been out of the Boot all day today. Dad, Mom, Beth and I went out to WalMart then down to the Fairgrounds to enter photos in the Fair that starts this week. I entered butterfly photos and one I took of my Day Lilies this spring. We stood in line for an hour or more just to enter the photos. I don't expect to win anything - I just want others to see my photos.

So standing in line plus the time in WalMart took a toll on me. I haven't really been out anywhere except to work and for groceries for several months because of my foot. We went to eat lunch after submitting the photos and I came home and napped afterwards. But the foot is not too bad so far. I used my cane while we were out and stood on one foot a lot while standing in line. I hope to be able to walk without watching every step soon, but I will be careful for now. The BP is doing fine without meds, too. I have been using the wrist monitor we have at least twice a day just to keep track and am always in the good range for both top and bottom numbers. Even after exerting myself the numbers don't go much above the normal values and never into the higher ranges. And I feel much better without the meds.

Wonderful Day

It is another beautiful day here. The sun is shining and there are fluffs of clouds in the blue sky.

Silly Rabbit is still sitting in the field. Yesterday I watched her lure a cat away from her nest to protect her babes. The cat started out across the driveway at Dad's and gradually crept closer to her as she sat in the field. When she thought it was close enough she zipped across the field and over towards my house and into the hedges. She was successful in eluding the predator and has been back in the field in various vantage points both yesterday and today. I checked the nest and there is no evidence it has been disturbed.

We went to both Becca's birthday party and the Ice Cream Social yesterday. The weather was beautiful. Warm enough to sit comfortably in either sun or shade but not hot enough for water games. The kids were all younger ones and there were puppies, too. Three Jack Russell terrier mix puppies recently joined the family. Two belong to Nanny's daughter's babes and one to her son's babes. They are all from the same litter and get along wonderfully. Nanny's older dog, Peaches, looks for places to escape, though. The kids and pups had a wonderful time. We singers were able to eat a little before we left for the Ice Cream Social and then brought home-made ice cream back with us to the party afterwards. It was delicious. Mint Chocolate Chip and Vanilla.

The singing engagement was good, too. We were inside the fellowship hall at Pleasant Hill and sang as people talked and ate a variety of foods, cakes, and the ice cream. We sang for nearly an hour and people sang along with us on songs they knew.

I wore the Boot so as not to strain my foot and took a stool I intended to sit on for the singing. But I stood up the whole time. You just cannot get good breath control or volume sitting down. I tried to tap my foot once to the beat and discovered it was not a good idea in the Boot. I admit I was exhausted afterwards ... but it felt good.

Thought I would share a picture from the past. In front on the left is my mother Dorothy, my cousin Sandra, and Aunt Irene. Between them and just above Sandra is Sonny (Charles) in his wheelchair. Above Aunt Irene is I think Chuck (also Charles) being held by Grandma and to the right is Aunt Eva, Sandra and Chuck's mother.

I am in the process of scanning many of the old photos into my computer so I can put them on disk for family members. It is time-consuming but so worthwhile. Mom says Grandma liked to take pictures, too. Maybe that is at least in part why Jenny and I have this addiction (although I think everyone has it).

Linda May has asked some questions in a comment that I am researching now. Funny how you take so much for granted about where you live and what is around you. I did not even know the latitude/longitude or elevation for Moundsville until I looked it up (maybe I knew and just forgot). Anyway, I am learning more about the local area as a result of her questions. From what I have been able to find out this area and hers are much the same. She lives in a small town outside a larger city with similar populations to Moundsville and Wheeling here. Seasons are reversed but other than that we are a lot alike.

Freedom! ... sort of

I went to see Dr. Le yesterday about the foot. He was pleased and said I can start working my way out of the boot - wear it outdoors and when doing a lot of walking but can take it off indoors and gradually do more walking without it. He gave me another Rx for pain pills so he must expect there will be some additional pain but he says I am doing fine and don't need to go back to see him unless it gets worse again (after allowing for more use). I told him what I have been doing and he said just continue with it (I have already not been wearing the boot in the evenings at home as long as not going up and down basement stairs to laundry). So less scritch/thumping is in my future.

However, I am now on blood pressure meds and adjusting to that. What I am taking is leaving me exhausted much of the time but that is supposed to diminish as I adjust. I was taking it in the morning with my oatmeal but could hardly function at work in the morning. So after talking to the nurse I am now taking it in the evening about 2 hrs before I go to bed and most of the exhaustion is gone by the time I get to work at 8:30 am. I'm not happy about how I feel yet but will wait and see what the result is when I go back to see Dr. Hess next month.

Loving the new camera and the pictures I am taking with it. Still can't get a good picture of either of my dogs or Dad's even with the Kids&Pets setting which is supposed to help with subjects that don't stand still. For some reason all our pets seem to be camera shy (or stubborn) and as soon as they know what you are doing they find somewhere else to look or be. Linda May commented on my picture of the QA Lace that at least flowers stay still and I am grateful for that. Here is one of the Trumpet Vine in Mom's yard.

Linda May's sister needs prayers right now. She is recovering from a bad dog bite as related in Linda May's July 18 post. I can only imagine what she is going thru - I still remember a tiny insignificant dog bite from my childhood (and have never liked dauschaunds since).

It's raining right now. A nice gentle rain instead of the downpour I heard around 2 am. We have needed the rain. Haven't had to cut the grass again as it isn't growing and parts of the field are turning brown. I don't see much evidence of the drought when I am in town but out here on the edges you can tell the difference. We need the rain - just not too much too fast.

And, Lord, can you have the rain miss Pleasant Hill on Saturday for the Ice Cream Social and Nanny's house, too, for Becca's birthday party? But we need the rain, so I will understand if it has to rain in the valley on Saturday.

The Last Straw

The sparrows had a bit of disaster recently. Just since I took the picture of the nest on Sunday the bottom part of it fell away. They have been rebuilding ever since and today have achieved a nice replacement (in my opinion, but they will probably keep adding on). There are fresh oak leaves woven into the nest once again along with long grasses and whatever else has taken their fancy.

Mom and Dad are having their house re-painted. Nanny's husband Richard is doing it right now. He has been coming in the morning's after he finishes work and doing prep work and just this week started painting. From white to yellow. In the morning it is a nice pale yellow. When the sun hits it my husband says we will have to wear sunglasses. Looking good, though.

I rescheduled my foot doctor appointment to mid-July. I know he would just tell me to wear the boot a while longer as it is still sore. I have experimented by walking in the house without the boot after I got home from work the past two nights and know that I am not ready for unencumbered perambulation yet. VBS took its toll even with the wheelchair (but I loved every minute of it) and Independence Day is this coming week so there are popsicles to be made and trips up and down (down and up?) the basement steps to the freezer to freeze and store this year's concoctions. And there are still some VBS supplies over at Mom and Dad's that need to come home and be sorted and stored. So still lots of walking to do.

I miss walking without the scritch of velcro and the thump of the boot. Sometimes when I walk all I can hear is the soundtrack from Rocky Horror Picture Show when Tim Curry's character is coming down in the elevator tapping his foot or heel on the floor. That sound is what I hear when I walk - scritch, thump, scritch, thump ...

The foot is much better, though. I would say it has improved 90% from what it was when I first went to Dr. Le. I just have to be patient.

Galilee Days 1 and 2

Galilee By The Sea VBS started last night. The "boot" has slowed me down in preparing the crafts etc so I took the day off work again fully intending to be at the church by 11 am. Made the "mistake" of calling my sister Beth to find out if she wanted to go also. Well, we left the house around 10 am for a quick stop at the dollar store and everything escalated from there. We went to the Goodwill store and found a number of decorative items that fit our scheme. I don't think we paid more than a dollar for anything. Then to Save-A-Lot for one of the big tubs they have to hold the water bottles for the kids (we started at Goodwill thinking there might be a tub at low cost and found all the other wonderful things instead). Then to the dollar store for more fish windsocks and salsa bowls (for grinding herbs and spices in). Then to WalMart where we got a better piece of cloth for the "sail" on our "boat) and then met Jen and her two youngest and had lunch at Subway. We got to church around 1:30. Jen had to leave with her youngest to go to the eye doctor to check on his eye abrasion at 2 pm.

Things moved slowly with the "boot" on my foot but we brought down a wheelchair from the upstairs storage room and I was able to use it to move around my crafting area when I could sit down. We still had yarmulkes to make and headscarves to cut out and craft materials to arrange. But when 6 pm came and the kids started coming in we were ready - more or less - thanks in part (a large part) to Jen's husband who threatened to deny it if I ever told anyone he was the one who sewed the yarmulkes.

We had a nice group for us - we are not a large church anymore and have very few children but we draw in local kids we see every VBS. Arrangements had been made for Rabbi Lowy to come and talk to the kids and adults. He was very interesting and held the kids' attention with small stories explaining how the Torah is written and what the Jewish holidays are and why they are celebrated. The kids even got the chance to try to blow the shofar and everyone got to spin the dreidels. I think the adults learned as much as the kids.

We did not even get to the craft the first night but I set it up so when the kids arrived on Day 2 they could come right in and start the craft without waiting around to see what they were supposed to do next. So we had kids and spices and potpourri and other scented items and little muslin bags as they were making their own scented sachets. Most of them put some of everything in their bags and they all smelled wonderful. We tied the bags closed and then attached hanging cords so they could wear the bags. We explained that people did not always have the deoderants we are familiar with today and often carried perfumed bags with them to mask the odors they encountered. The kids didn't really care. They just had fun with all the ingredients. I have a bowl of cinnamon mixed with I don't know what that I'll save for next year's VBS or maybe use to make applesauce ornaments to sell at the next fundraiser.

After lesson and singing they came back to me again for the planned craft of the night - seashell necklaces. They got to hunt for their shells in a large tub filled with sand and then strung their shells along with beads to make. Ages ranged from about 2 to 11 and beads were everywhere but they made some wonderful necklaces. They had so much fun a few of them almost didn't care about snack time. I plan on letting them come in and make another necklace tomorrow night before VBS, too.

I managed to stay in the wheelchair much of the time once VBS started both nights so my foot has been wonderfully unintrusive - until I get up and walk again. But it is still improving day by day and I hope to be free of the "boot" soon.

Tomorrow night is craft stick treasure boxes and Thursday night is stone carving. We made our own stones from plaster of Paris and vermiculite and I will try one out tomorrow to make sure it works as planned. If not, we have picture frames to decorate with shells and foam stickers.

It is a good tired I feel.

Thank you, Lord, for these opportunities.

Dragonflys

Resting the foot after the ordeal on Friday. It's not too bad but I am aware of every step. Does not look good for walking around during VBS in a week. Still need so many supplies and things to do. But it will all work out. It always does.

So I'm sitting in my chair with my beads in my lap making dragonflys. Here are some results.

These are an improvement over the first ones I made. The hardest part is choosing which beads to combine. I have decided not to use the red plastic. It just doesn't work right. But the shimmery look of the cellophane is just perfect for dragonfly wings. And the more crinkled it is the better.

Men and Cars

My husband is definitely a man. When he left for work Friday morning I thought the car sounded a little "off" but he was the one driving and he went on his merry (okay, not so merry) way. That was 5 a.m. At about 5:40 a.m. he called. Something was wrong with his car and he was going to need me to come get him after work. Too dark to see what was wrong but there was water coming out from under the car. At least he made it to work and was in the parking lot there. Fridays he gets off work a little early (usual time is 2:30 p.m.). I wait until after 7 a.m. and call my sister to find out where her husband will be later in the day in case we need help. Nanny says Richard will be home around 4 p.m. but they have camping reservations for the weekend. I assure her we will only ask if there is genuine need.

So when I went into work I told my boss and others that I would be leaving early (not a bad thing) but would not know what time until my hubby called me. I have excess vacation hours that I need to take before the end of June anyway as they won't carry over to the new fiscal year so there was no way my boss was going to say I could not leave and he wouldn't anyway. Family comes first. So Joe calls and says he should be out of work by 1:30 or 2:00. Problem seems to be the water pump. It's leaking and water getting on the belt is making it slip and the alternator is not charging. He wants me to come and either bring him home or follow him as he drives his car home. It only seems to leak when it sits still? I call Jen and let her know what is going on so another person knows and she is helping check on Mom while Dad is out of town (These things have always happened - since I was a child - when Dad is out of town). I leave work at 1:30 (my darn work ethic still made me wait to take care of the mail so no one else had to deal with it).

Home to fill up water jugs and load them into my car. Remember, I'm wearing this medical boot on my left foot and steps are a real problem right now. Our house is elevated from the street. There are at least 12 steps to negotiate from the street to the porch. So I figure out I can use the empty plastic pop and tea bottles I have been saving in anticipation of creating "fish" for VBS decorations. Thank goodness I saved the lids, too. Fill the bottles, load them in a box, use a luggage trolley to roll across the sidewalk from our house to Mom and Dad's where I parked my car instead of on the street and load the car. No steps that way. Just a straight shot out the back door and down the sidewalk across the lot between our houses. Three times. I have at least 15 gallons of water in the car including a 5 gallon jug that I hauled up from the basement one step at a time. Then back and forth once more to put the dogs back in the house and get my purse and cane and a few towels and some cold drinks in case we need them. (You think we're going to drink the water I put in the car?)

By the time I get to Joe it is nearly 3 p.m. He pours water in the radiator and reservoir. We watch it flow out but the leak slows (the water ran out, duh) and he drives around the parking lot. He thinks it is okay but I'm watching the trail of water he leaves behind him. He doesn't see it until I make him look. He parks the car again and says he wants to get some Stop Leak so we drive to a truck/car service center because the local Wal-Mart does not carry Stop Leak for radiators - just for oil. Then back to the car and re-read the directions and pour it in, add water, run the engine, and watch the water and Stop Leak flow out from underneath. But the leak slows (of course it does, the water ran out!) and he decides to try again. He drives around the parking lot and this time there is no water trail and the engine never overheats. He debates the best way to drive home - I70 to 470 and Rt 2 or over the hill top and all the twisty turns but no stop lights (remember, he says it only leaks standing still). I gently suggest more traffic means more help if something goes wrong and wider roads mean more places to pull over. He still has not decided which way to go when we leave the parking lot.

But off we go to I70 and almost make it to Rt 2 after climbing and descending I470 (Bethlehem) hill. Halfway down he pulls off on the exit ramp and looks under the hood and says the belt that was getting wet from the water is no longer there.

We debate what to do.

I drive to my sister's house and get there just as the big storm that has been predicted all day finally arrives. Just rain at first and I sit on the porch for a while as I got there before she or her husband got home from work. They are leaving to go camping so I don't know what they will be able to do but at least there is a phone. The storm gets windy and thank goodness I have a key so I go inside to be met by Peaches the dog who is terrified of storms and so glad someone, anyone, is there. She follows every step I take. I call Nanny at work and let her know where I am and why and she says Richard will be home soon. I also call Jen and Mom and let them know where I am.

The storm continues. Hubby is sitting in a broken down car along the interstate during all this wind, rain, lightning and thunder. I am sitting with a dog plastered to my feet.

Richard comes home about 4:30 and says the best thing to do (which was my opinion all along) is to call a tow truck. I call the car repair shop (we are almost on a first name basis with this car) and they recommend a towing company and I call them. It will be a half hour before someone can be dispatched. I go back to hubby sitting on the exit ramp. We wait. We wait. We wait. An hour and a half later the tow truck shows up. Dispatcher sent him to the wrong place. It's still raining.

Finally we get the car towed to the repair shop following the tow truck through the rain. We get home over 5 hours after I left work. Then I cook supper.

Men and cars.

Thank God we are all safe, though.

And this morning the day lilies started blooming.

More Spiders Coming

I went the the VBS bake sale and church White Elephant sale on Saturday. It was a slow start but things picked up once the bank and post office opened. I took 13 Christmas Spiders, some Angel Feather ornaments, Dragonflys, and the Mosaic Suncatchers I made from left-over supplies after last year's VBS. I worried I had priced the spiders too high but when I left just after 11 AM there were only 4 left and the sale was to run until 4 PM. Many of those who bought the spiders said they were interested in more in different colors (a few asked for "guy" colors) and wanted to know if I would have more around the holidays. The answer was "Yes" of course.

So when I got home and had to rest the foot (I think I went up and down the wide shallow steps to the Fellowship Hall about a dozen times and then stood on that hard concrete floor to look at the White Elephant items), I sat in my chair with my foot propped up and made spiders. I also had to sit much of yesterday afternoon since hubby and I went grocery shopping late on Saturday (I have to admit I love Wal-Mart 24 hours). I also bought more beads along with the groceries. I now have more spiders than before I took the 13 to the sale. And more to make so I have enough to sell for more VBS funds and to give myself at Christmas.

And Jenny is making a cane bracelet for me! She had beads picked out and I didn't know so when I was looking at beads for spiders I found some that coordinated with my blue cane (that my dear sister bought for me) and went ahead and bought the beads. I'll send them to Jen but I trust her inspiration and will love whatever she uses to make my cane bracelet.

I keep thinking up new combinations for the spiders. Grandma's beads and my "unique" beads are conspiring to keep me going on these.

Still in the Boot

Went to the foot doctor yesterday and he told me to wear the boot for another month. Since I had experienced some sharp pain the night before I wasn't surprised (my own fault, I took the boot off to watch TV then got up and walked). But this means I will be wearing the thing for VBS in June. Jen says we'll just tell the kids I slipped on the rocks at the shoreline (Galilee by the Sea) and hurt my foot. Of course it will still all work out and be a lot of fun. Now, how do I get the rest of the supplies I need without a lot of walking around? Thinking ... thinking ... thinking...

Faith

Here I sit with my left foot in a "boot" to keep from flexing it while the inflamed tendon heals. Nearly six weeks now and it still hurts but at least I don't need the pain killers as much. Usually just to help me sleep now and if I have been overly optimistic about how much walking I can do. But life goes on and things could certainly be a lot worse. So in keeping with my usually optimistic attitude, that's enough of that.

My loving niece is who got me into this blogging stuff. She showed a Christmas Spider I crafted on her blog and it really looked good. She also told me about another niece's blog and I have enjoyed reading both blogs so much I decided to try one of my own.

I am a crafter. Just about the only thing I have tried and not really enjoyed is knitting and cross-stitch. I can do them. I just don't go out of my way to do them. I love miniatures and anything I can do on my lap (while my husband watches tv and I periodically glance at the screen).

Right now I am planning and re-planning crafts for Galilee-by-the-Sea VBS that is scheduled for June. We are going to have so much fun (as always)! I have been drilling holes in sea shells for the necklaces (and maybe anklets and bracelets). Discovered that the best bit for use in my rotary tool for this purpose is a ceramic tile bit. Works beautifully and quickly. Still working on a carving "stone" for the kids that won't be too messy and still last a long time. Also planning a footprint craft with sand and clay and maybe a picture of each child. Love this idea and am determined to make it work materials, money and timewise. Have most of the materials for a treasure box for the kids to make. We usually only do 4 crafts but this year there may be some additional quickies as well.

I am usually on my feet the whole time each evening so this foot has to be better by June 18th and I really need it to be better soon so I can go to yard sales and the stores to pick up things for VBS.

Faith.