We're Saturated!

I heard raindrops all night, it seemed. Ray confirmed about 2.25 inches had fallen according to his measurement. We headed to the Rec Center and used the indoor track because of the rainy conditions and then participated in a yoga class.

After cleaning up we headed to Speedway to meet Pat and Max Walker for lunch and a tour of the Dallara Indy Car factory. The short walk to the restaurant almost seemed like February or early March -- biting wind and occasional icy raindrops. The food was delicious and by the time we walked back to the factory, the weather had moderated somewhat.

The four of us were the only ones on the one o'clock tour. The factory didn't seem busy. I suppose that is because the Indy Car racing season is underway and all the cars ordered this year have been delivered.

We did learn a lot about carbon fiber and how it is used in race cars to make them lightweight but strong and durable. After the tour we tried using the interactive race car simulator and both Ray and I were failures -- hitting the wall, driving the wrong way, driving on the grass, etc. Max and Pat were much better and actually made a circuit or two around the track.

Another option at the factory is to take a ride around the city of Speedway in a two-seater race car. That might be fun on a warm day but didn't sound like something to do on a rainy afternoon. They charge $30 per person for the ride and I'm not sure the experience is worth that for me but it would be for many I'm sure.

We stopped in the coffee shop connected to the factory building for some gelato for the Walkers and coffee and cannoli for Ray and me. Yum!

By the time we arrived home, the sun was shining occasionally and now we're hoping the rain stops so we can dry out. We feel fortunate since there are many who have endured flooding and high water with damage.

The Power of Water

We woke up last Friday realizing that the predicted heavy rain had fall overnight but thankfully there was no hail, high winds or tornadoes. The level of the lake behind our house was over the spill pipe. We headed out the door after breakfast for the Rec Center but had to make a detour because one of the roads we normally take was flooded. After leaving the Rec Center we headed out to pick up a few groceries and passed over the Washington Street bridge in Plainfield and were shocked and amazed to see the flooding. The trail we often take during good weather runs under the bridge but it was completely inundated.

On Saturday morning I headed to Greenwood to work on knotting some quilts for Lutheran World Relief and I saw the flood waters as I crossed the White River. The flood waters were about as high as I've ever seen them in the nearly 20 years of traveling this route. On my return home I noticed a car stuck in deep water in one of the side roads with some people in the car. On Sunday morning we drove the same route and the car was still in the same place but the waters had receded to the point that I could see all the tires. In the news we heard that two men had died in separate incidents when trying to drive through deep water.

We figured that the Plainfield trail system might still have water on parts of the trail so my regular Sunday long run was changed to our street. The last several weeks we've driven to Hummel Park to use the trails--it is more interesting than making loops on one's own street!

Today we went back to the Rec Center and the trails were dry. However, there was plenty of evidence of where water had been over the weekend. It was dry and dusty (dried mud) were water had stood and in several places I'm sure that some type of equipment was used to move mud and debris off the trail to make it safe for runners and walkers. One section of the trail runs next to a large creek that still had quite a bit of water flowing and I noticed downed trees in the stream and some heavy logs piled up against a pedestrian bridge used by many. It even seems that flood water may have gone over the top of the bridge.

We're having light showers now but don't need any more rain for the time being. Ray was able to get the lawn completely mowed for the first time this year, finishing it yesterday. Some areas were pretty soggy!

Last Saturday we had our quarterly dinner with several neighbor friends. One couple is still in Florida and they missed having tapas. Tapas are small savory dishes and have a Spanish influence. I think everyone brought two dishes and the host prepared more than that. We didn't go home hungry!

Another project completed

All winter our small pond is covered and with the nice weather today I decided it was time to uncover the pond. Ray helped me hook up a hose to fill it. It's nice to hear the sound of water once again. After that I spent quite a bit of time digging out those pesky weeds that are growing too.

The daffodils are past their peak

I could hear sounds of spring as I worked outside -- somewhere in the neighborhood someone was mowing their lawn. Ray removed the front end loader from the tractor and hooked up the lawn mower deck and mowed a few rounds near the street where the grass is the longest.

While he was mowing, our newest neighbor came over to say "hello." The family moved in last fall but I haven't met any of the family. I was away when the female head of the family stopped in one afternoon months ago to thank us for the quick bread I had left at their door as I was on my way to Mooresville. No one answered the doorbell when I stopped in so I just left a note with the bread at their back door.

Today, was the first time Ray met the man of the household and it was fascinating to learn that we knew Bill and had cycled with him (and occasionally his wife Becky) at the Rec Center in spinning class. For a time Bill was even an instructor in the class, but we didn't cycle on the days he was leading. Kind of a small world to think they are now neighbors.

Another beautiful Sunday!

Today's sermon was based on a familiar story of Jesus meeting his disciples by the shore of Lake Galilee and asking them "Have you caught anything?" When they responded in the negative he instructed them to throw their nets on the right side of the boat and soon their nets were filled almost to the breaking point. When the disciples came ashore they found breakfast waiting for them. Jesus had fish cooking on charcoal. He was a true servant--he didn't ask to be served. After eating, Jesus asked Peter if he still loved him. He eventually asked this three times reminding Peter of the three times he had denied him. This reminds us we are not to hold people's sins against them just as Jesus did not hold Peter's denial against him.

After lunch we again spent time at Hummel Park. After a cold Friday and Saturday, today was very beautiful. The forsythia bushes and daffodils are blooming. Some bushes are showing green buds. Our flowering pear trees are nearly in full bloom and our lawn gets greener every day--in fact, lawn mowing season is almost upon us. We have already seen a number of lawns that have had a visit from the lawnmower.

You must be present to win!

Somebody wasn't present today when the drawing was held at the annual Endeavor Communications Annual Meeting (our telephone cooperative). We've attended these meetings almost every year and attendance is good because we are fed and that's one of the reasons we attend. The meeting is held in a school gymnasium and this year we had pulled pork, chips, slaw and a sweet roll plus beverage.

The business meeting was routine including a short video and the awarding of college scholarships to about a dozen high school seniors. Then it was time for the door prizes. The first group included a number of $25 prizes for credit on Endeavor products. The last three were the main prizes. The names were drawn from the bin before the meeting began and placed in an envelope. Surprisingly, the first person drawn was not present. The second name drawn was present. Then the CEO had to draw a third name from the bin and he called out "Ray Everson."

Ray had just won an i-Pad Mini!!!

Visiting the Goose Nest

Close to dinner time this evening, Ray looked out the window and realized the goose was sitting where she had deposited her first egg last week. He has been watching the pair every day and has chased them several times. Realizing she had probably laid another egg he headed outdoors and on returning handed me his hat. Inside the hat I found four eggs!

Four goose eggs with a chicken egg for size comparison

Tomorrow morning we'll have scrambled eggs, again. Maybe for the next several days, too.

It really is Spring!

According to the calendar, it is spring but almost feels like summer! The weather is changeable this time of year with its ups and downs, above average or below average.

Ray has been planning for a long time to add an extension to our garden fence to keep the deer out. The weather finally allowed some outdoor work and now the extension to make the fence 7 feet high is in place.

Strawberry bed in foreground; daffodils blooming in the background (hard to see)

He learned that deer are capable of clearing 15 feet obstacles, but are hesitant to jump anything that's 7 feet or higher. We'll keep our fingers crossed this summer.

The garden has been tilled once digging in lots of leaves and grass clippings that were deposited in the garden last fall. The strawberry plants are beginning to show signs of life. The later they blossom, the better chance that we'll avoid a late frost. Last spring we covered the plants when they were in full bloom with a threat of a hard frost. I'd rather not do that this year.

Just coming to life -- expecting berries in two months

The rhubarb is beginning to grow too. Just like peony plants, you can almost see the plants grow. Every day they are bigger and taller.

This rhubarb plant was a big producer last year

Not very long ago, the tulip plants were covered with snow. Today they are in full bloom. I think we started out with six bulbs and each year the bulbs have divided and now we have a beautiful display.

Clematis vine in the background is beginning to grow and climb the trellis

Basketball Weekend

This is the final weekend in the NCAA basketball tournament. But we won't know the final outcome until late Monday night. The final game doesn't tip off until almost 9:30 here in the Eastern Time Zone. That's fine for the people on the west coast, but by half time or earlier I'm ready for some sleep time. Even though I gripe, I don't think I have much influence to change the timing of these big games.

Ray and I filled out brackets before the tournament began. Mostly it's a guessing game, but after counting all the wins and losses, Ray has declared that I am the winner.

But I digress. The theme of today's sermon was the story of doubting Thomas who wasn't convinced that Jesus was alive after his crucifixion. Thomas wanted physical evidence but God wants us to trust his Word. The historian Josephus wrote extensively about Jesus. He was born about 4 years after the death of Jesus and was a contemporary of St. Paul.

After lunch we stopped at the nearby garden center to pick up a load of mulch. Ray had already unloaded one truckload on Saturday. With the mulch in the truck we continued on to Plainfield's Hummel Park. The trail system is perfect for training runs prior to my half marathon on May 4. With the beautiful weather and the first day of the year in the 70s we saw people everywhere. They were walking, strolling, running, bicycling or just sitting on a bench.The playgrounds were swarming with kids. (The contrast in weather from Thursday morning was amazing--just three days previous--when the outdoor temp was about 33 and I wore head gear, two layers of long-sleeve shirts and long pants.) Ray went in another direction from my route and when we reunited he began telling me about Blue Heron Lake and all he saw. Actually, I had run through this area many times previously and I'm happy he finally had a chance to see another area of the park.

When we returned home Ray spread the mulch and I finished fertilizing spring bulbs. Now we need some rain so the fertilizer can reach the roots for next year's flowers. I moaned again when seeing our lilac bush -- cut down to within six inches of the ground. It's all the result of a misunderstanding. The lilac bush is next to several butterfly bushes. Every spring we prune these bushes nearly to the ground and when Ray asked if he was to cut them all, I, of course, said "yes." I meant "yes" for the butterfly bushes but didn't realize that he was speaking of all the bushes in the area.

We finished the day by watching the first episode of season two of "Call the Midwife" from PBS. It's entertaining but also seems authentic as it's based on the memoirs of a midwife who worked in London in the '50s. We also saw the first program in the "Mr. Selfridge" mini-series and already have  programmed our DVR to record the rest of the series. We watched Downton Abbey faithfully in January--PBS has some excellent programs and the Masterpiece programs are some of our favorite ones.

Friday Night Supper

We used to have many Canada geese hanging around but the numbers have diminished over the years due to Ray's diligence. The water behind our house is an invitation to geese flying overhead.

This afternoon Ray noticed a pair loitering and decided he would chase them. He uses a pellet gun to scare them off and usually doesn't do any harm. Today the pair scattered when he shot at them and circling back he came across a goose egg! This was a first for finding a goose nest.

Guess what we had for supper tonight? Scrambled egg with bits of leftover Easter ham. Very delicious. The best part was that I didn't have to do any cooking. A goose egg is about two or three times the size of a chicken egg.

Poor geese!