Brain Health

Several weeks ago I signed up for "Healthy Habits for Brain Health" and added it to my calendar. The irony of thinking back to last Tuesday is that when we arrived for the class we learned that we were a day late! Apparently, this is a class that I need! I hope it's offered again.

Another good day playing bridge at the Senior Center. The two previous weeks I was second but last week I was first! We have a chart that lists the first and second players each week. My name doesn't appear on the chart as often as some of the other players so it was a pleasant surprise to get No. 1.

Concordia's annual anniversary dinner was held yesterday. The LWML women with the help of other volunteers coordinate the dinner. Several years ago I chaired the dinner but this year I was the co-chair with Diane Conrad. We had a simple menu of pork loin, cheesy potatoes, tossed kale salad, macaroni & cheese, applesauce, jellied cranberry sauce, and rolls. The donated desserts are the star of the meal and we always receive a variety to please almost anybody. Someone else takes care of arranging and decorating the tables.

The tables are decorated and ready for the big dinner!

Renovations and Trip

Earlier this year the ownership of Copper Chase changed hands. The apartments are now owned by Greystar. The new owner has made changes. We now have valet trash pickup. Five nights a week we are able to set out our trash by our front door. Fortunately, we won't have an increase in fees for this service until the time we renew our lease. Just recently we heard lots of work being done right outside our door. The treads on the stairways to the second and third floors were replaced. And this morning several workers were painting some rusted areas on the stairway. I wondered how they could paint when the temperature is near freezing.

A week ago we had our first opportunity to see the remodeled Greenwood Senior Center with a brand new look and redesigned space. The center was closed for more than six months and activities were spread to many other venues during that time. Since its reopening, we've played bridge twice and surprisingly I came in second place both weeks! In order to score points much depends on the cards that you and your partner receive.

On Friday, November 8, we drove to Sturgeon Bay, WI to attend the funeral service of Ray's cousin the next day. Fran Everson was 10 months older than Ray and as youngsters growing up together they have many opportunities for play and spending time together. Fran served in the Army and later was involved in Veteran organizations. He was given military honors immediately following the church service.

During visitation an honor guard stood at attention
and changed out every 10-15 minutes.

Military honors about to begin.

In the background are the men who provided the gun salute.
In the foreground, we watched the flag folding ceremony and listened as taps played.

We met Fran's grandchildren and expressed our condolences to his two daughters and Arliss his wife of 66 years. Also, to his twin sisters Sandra and Sonja.

We returned to Indiana on Sunday leaving early in the morning and practically sailing through downtown Chicago. We can't recall a time when we didn't have a slowdown at the Jane Byrne intersection near the Loop. We were ahead of a cold front with rain and snow expected. By late Monday afternoon, snow was falling and by the next morning, our car doors were frozen with the drop of temperature to 8°. The high for the day even set a record.

On Wednesday we experienced more cold -- at the Baxter YMCA. We were there to play pickleball but everyone had to wear a jacket or sweats because there was no heat in the gym. I hope they have made repairs by the time we go back tomorrow morning.

Yesterday was a busy day. In the morning I helped with quilt knotting at church. Ray and I helped with packing meals at Pack Away Hunger in the afternoon. All the meals, some 38,000+, packed in the morning and afternoon sessions are going to Haiti. Some of the statistics about malnutrition and hunger are frightening. Ray and I are blessed to have ample food that we take for granted and probably too many extra calories that we don't need.

Fall Weather Has Arrived

We had our first killing frost of the season on Friday, Nov. 1 and had to scrape our windshield before we headed to Fort Wayne for the annual Concordia Educational Foundation Luncheon. We met three new students this year and enjoyed a lively conversation at our table with another adult and her student. The food was delicious as always and the choir gave an acapella mini-concert that is always excellent.

On our return trip, we stopped at Trinity's cemetery. Several years ago we had seen that my parents' tombstone was leaning and we wanted to check if there was any change. It seemed to me that the angle was worse and I'm hoping we can find someone to fix it so it is upright once again. It won't be easy to take care of it by long distance.

Do you see the problem? 

In the last two weeks, we've had several days of rain and maybe we are no longer in deficit. We observed corn harvest during our trip to Fort Wayne and noticed that most bean fields were already cleared. Some of the small fields in our neighborhood are ready for harvest. Will it be this week or next?

I pulled out costumes stored in a closet and Ray and I enjoyed time visiting with other guests at our new pastor's "Reformation & Halloween Party." It was raining most of the day but we're not sure if that took out internet and TV service. We made numerous phone calls and on Monday evening service was restored. Management has given us about a $5 rebate for 55 hours of internet and TV outage.

Here's a view of our vintage costumes.

    

A Roman??

Of course, a Lady Bug

     





















Maybe it was just as well that we didn't get to watch Oklahoma's upset loss to Kansas State. It would have been a difficult game to watch. Until that game, the Sooners were undefeated and were hoping for a chance to play for the national championship.

We also missed the Colt's game last weekend when they defeated the Broncos as the game was ending. Today, the Colts couldn't repeat a last-minute win when an attempted field goal went wide to the left. The World Series is over for another year with a newly crowned first-time champion, the Washington Nationals. Class A Indianapolis Lutheran High School is undefeated this year and we hope will make it to the state championship game. Soon we'll be watching basketball another sign that fall is definitely here with winter weather on the horizon.

Reminisces from the last two weeks

Two weeks ago the Colts managed an upset win against the Kansas City Chiefs and today they played at home and defeated the Houston Texans. Last week was a bye so they came back after a week off with a nice win. It looks like the Colts can compete successfully without Andrew Luck.

Earlier this month we joined Kylie, Josh, Joe & Nancy for Jayden's 6th-grade 6 p.m. choir concert. Three different groups performed in about a 45-minute concert and they all had a great sound. All seven of us then met at the House of Tokyo for our evening meal and time to visit. Most of us took home a box for another meal the next day.

Ray goes for a daily walk in the neighborhood and on several occasions has picked up black walnuts and hickory nuts. I think he's in for a lot of work. Right now they are resting on our patio but I'll enjoy using them for baking after he has cracked them open and picked the nuts out of their shells.

I registered for several events at Community Hospital and we enjoyed both of them and still have another two that are coming up soon. The first was "Lunch & Learn" where we enjoyed a tasty luncheon and listened to a presentation about eye care and the programs available for the blind and visually handicapped. The speaker was excellent and provided lots of good information. We also attended Bingo Brunch on a Monday morning. The brunch was limited and in less than an hour, we were on our way home. But we weren't empty-handed. Both Ray and I won a prize which was surprising since there were a lot of people playing.

After we finished playing bingo our plan was to stop at the local CVS to get a flu shot. They didn't have the high-dosage recommended for people over 65. We decided to shop around and stopped at Walmart and Walgreen and then phoned Meijer. None of them had the high-dose and couldn't commit to when they might have a new supply. We finally stopped at Kroger and got a Flublok shot described as a mid-grade vaccine.

I made a large batch of Cherry Scones to take to pickleball on Tuesday morning for all the players. Everyone sang happy birthday and then gave Ray a card signed by almost everyone there.

The last surviving charter member of our church, 92-year-old Elsa Waltz whom I've known since joining Concordia in 1968, died on Oct. 13 and her funeral was on Oct. 17. Women of the church prepared and served lunch for the family after the internment. Later than afternoon Ray and I enjoyed a birthday pizza at a local restaurant.

Having access to the Internet has become an important part of day-to-day activities. We realized this when we were without wi-fi for 48 hours. First, the provider had to replace a broken part followed by a break in the fiber line. On the second day, we drove to the local library to use their computers.

Leaves are slowly changing color but some are also falling. I'm tempted to take my camera and capture some Halloween displays. There seems to be more every year and it's possible to drive around viewing Halloween displays just like we do in December for Christmas decorations and lighting. "Scarecrow Madness" has come to Johnson County this fall. It's the first year and I happened to discover the website where there's a gallery of scarecrows and a map of their locations. Apparently, the entry fee supports the building fund for Johnson County Senior Services.

Three weeks later

Three weeks ago we were flying home from the Czech Republic. Life has been pretty normal since returning home. We had a bit of jet lag and headed to bed early the first few days we were home but our body's time clock soon adjusted to being back in the U.S.

Before leaving we had asked management to take care of our annual carpet cleaning, but definitely were disappointed to find they had done nothing. We had moved some furniture and chairs to make it easier for the cleaning company. The office apologized and make arrangements for cleaning on Tuesday. When we came home from the gym that Tuesday noon, the carpet was clean but wet. We decided to hang out in the Clubhouse for several hours and also stopped at the post office to mail a package. I have to admit being upset that management hadn't taken care of the cleaning while we were gone. We lost an entire afternoon spending time in the Clubhouse allowing the carpet to partially dry before we returned home. I spent time reading my current book and checking emails so it wasn't an entirely wasted afternoon.

On Saturday morning I was able to help with quilt knotting at church. In the afternoon the Cubs played St. Louis and eventually lost four games in a row to the Cardinals which they needed to win in order to have a chance at the wild card or even the division championship. The Colts won their first game of the season.

As September came to an end, temperatures continued to rise and we had three days of 90˚+ setting records each day. The month was the warmest on record and the third driest.

We received an email that we had been cited for speeding while in the Czech Republic. The citation must have come from a camera because we never saw any police presence while there. The Hertz rental said that the fine was taken care of but I suppose it was included in our rental payment. Several people mentioned that it had also happened to them when they were in Europe.

We had signed up to help at a water stop for the Indy Women's Half Marathon on the last Saturday of the month. On the day before Ray and I drove downtown to pick up the volunteer t-shirts. We found a parking spot with a meter several blocks away but couldn't make the meter work. Eventually, Ray stayed behind to tend the meter while I walked to get the shirts. Downtown was humming with all kinds of activities and when I returned with the shirts Ray told me he got some help from someone who knew how to use the meter. We hadn't been downtown in a long time but it shouldn't be that hard to pay for parking. On Saturday we met other team members with the shirts, handed out many cups of water and Gatorade and by 10:30 we had cleaned up the area and headed home.

During the past week or so we watched all eight episodes of Ken Burn's "Country Music." It was fascinating but also a lot of hours in front of the TV. Even though I haven't been a diehard country music fan, there were many familiar songs and artists featured in the series. The background stories made it interesting and entertaining. Now with the fall TV season underway our playlist is growing again.

This past Friday & Saturday our annual Women's Retreat was held at Camp Lakeview. The friend who had planned the food last year was unable to make it this October so I volunteered. We have three meals at camp (Friday evening and Saturday's breakfast and lunch). The lodge we use only has a coffee pot, microwave, and refrigerator. I had most of the food prepared by early Friday afternoon and drove to the camp and unloaded. The Friday evening meal was in my crockpot and I plugged it in to keep it warm until everyone else arrived.

After breakfast on Saturday, I left for home and the other ladies took care of lunch (chicken salad sandwiches). Our son-in-law's father had died in Florida several weeks ago but the family was gathering for a Celebration of Life at McCormick's Creek State Park that we didn't want to miss. We arrived at the park shortly before they served a nice meal but before that, we had a chance to talk to Joe's siblings and even met two of Jack Sr.'s siblings.

We then headed back to Greenwood to attend the 50th-anniversary celebration of friends we had met through race walking. After meeting them years ago the friendship developed where we often did other things together visiting many interesting places in the state.

It's finally feeling like Fall but we haven't seen many fall colors, but I'm hoping to see some reds and golds soon.

Reminiscing about the Czech Republic

It's Sunday evening and a week ago today we were flying home. It's time to put down my thoughts about what we saw while my memory is still fresh. You may be daunted by the length of this post and I don't blame you. I'm not including photos here but you can see the ones I took on my Flickr account. I've included additional information on some of the photos but if you use the slideshow option you won't see those comments.

More than a year ago we started thinking about a trip to the Czech Republic including the area where Ray's great grandparents were born and lived until they married and moved to the United States. Family folklore says that Veronika lived in a castle and fell in love with the gardener. The family didn't approve of the marriage and thus they left for America. Other family members have researched the archives and the date of their arrival in the U.S. eventually settling in Wisconsin.

Last spring we purchased airline tickets and reserved a rental car and a room in the Hotel U Kapličky in Písek. We also purchased carry-on luggage for the trip as we had sold our luggage when we downsized and moved to Copper Chase.

On Monday, September 9 our adventure began as we drove to the Indianapolis airport for a 3 p.m. flight to Philadelphia. We made our way to the international departure terminal in Philly and were airborne shortly after 6:30 for the flight to Prague. I watched two or three movies on the flight and tried to get some sleep. We landed at 9:15 a.m. and after picking up our luggage found the Hertz rental where we signed the papers for a Škoda, a car manufactured in the Czech Republic.

The drive to Písek was easy on a four-lane highway most of the way. As we neared the city, we realized we didn't have directions to the hotel and only had an address. After asking for directions twice, we reached the hotel and checked in. The weather was beautiful as it was during our entire stay. Not having had much sleep we had to keep moving or we'd fall asleep so we walked to the city center of Písek which was about a 10-15 minute walk.

As we approached the river we recognized the Old Stone Bridge which is for pedestrians only. Ray stopped in a bank and changed dollars into the local currency. During our walk, we noticed children with backpacks and young mothers pushing strollers. We returned to the hotel for an early evening meal. Visa cards are welcome most anywhere but we learned that only cash can be used for tipping. We finally succumbed to the lack of sleep and had lights out at 7 p.m.

The next morning we enjoyed the first of complimentary breakfasts at the hotel. Several options were available: scrambled egg with pieces of bacon and ham, omelet, fried egg, or waffle (more like a crepe). In addition cereal, yogurt, bread, and sausages were part of the buffet.

We drove to Orlik using Google Maps as our navigation device. We asked once and then finally spotted the sign for Orlik Castle. The tour was narrated in the Czech language but we were given English transcripts to follow as we walked the halls of the castle. In one hallway there were several dozen or more rifles on display. No photos allowed to my chagrin. There was also a large display of antlers with the name of the hunter, the weight of the deer and date.

Next, we planned to drive to nearby Třešnĕ but an hour later we realized we had gone in the wrong direction. We stopped at a gasoline station and purchased sandwiches enjoying them on the picnic table behind the station. As navigator, I was responsible for the error but we decided to return to the hotel rather than retrace our route. We had several more days and would find the little town on another day.

On Thursday we headed for another castle. As we neared Hluboká Castle, we paid for parking as we also had at Orlik Castle and walked a good distance up the hill to the castle. Hluboká Castle is a National Cultural Monument and is considered one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic. We realized there were several large tour groups ahead of us but the wait wasn't long before our tour commenced. As the day before, we had transcripts in English. We learned from the script that Princess Eleonora influenced much of the castle's appearance and decorations. She and her husband, Prince Jan Adolph II Schwarzenberg, had traveled to the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838. The walls and ceilings of the interior rooms are decorated with woodcarvings and special wood. We saw many large portraits on the walls, beautiful chandeliers, stained glass, pottery, and furnishings. Quite impressive. Also, many antlers decorated the outside walls and it seems that hunting was quite the sport.

We left the castle and headed to Borovany listed as Matthias Cihlar's birthplace. He's Ray's great grandfather. It is a small village or hamlet with a population of about 225 and is built on a hill with narrow streets that were hard to traverse. We didn't stay and drove to Bernatice where we stopped to spend some time walking the streets and visiting two grocery stores. Bernatice has about 1,300 residents (2008) and is listed on Matthias Cihlar's 1870 passport as his hometown.

On our drive back to Písek we stopped at a roadside restaurant where we ordered a chicken meal that was delicious. When it was time to pay with our Visa card, we learned that they only accepted cash, but the waitress walked Ray to the attached service station to scan our card there and pay for our meal. A nice arrangement for us and for them too.

On Friday we started out for the little village where Ray's great grandmother was born. Google maps gave us the direction but when we neared the road leading off the highway, there was no highway sign for the little town less than a mile off the main highway but we made the turn and found the little village. Třešně according to one source had about 125 residents in 2006. We drove a short distance and were soon outside the village. Turning around we took a different fork in the road and found ourselves at a Holstein dairy operation. Ray spoke to a woman who was working there but she couldn't speak English and went to find a colleague. He tried to help especially when we had the number of the farm where Veronika Hradek grew up. However, we weren't successful in locating any reference to where Veronika might have lived in the 1800s. As we left we noticed a small playground for the children of the community and a small chapel. We saw many similar chapels or maybe they are better classified as shrines. They aren't used for worship services as there are no benches but often have a sculpture, altar or other decoration.

Back again in Písek, we decided to walk to the city center in search of something for lunch and enjoyed our meal in an outdoor cafe. After wandering for a while and taking more pictures, we were on the road again to another castle. Actually, there are quite a few in the surrounding area. We relied on Google maps again and were directed pretty close to the castle, but there was no way to enter the castle as it was on the opposite side of a river with no bridges nearby. Not to be daunted we finally figured out how to get to the site of Castle Zvíkov. This castle is located about 9 miles north of Písek at the junction of two rivers. According to one source, this castle is one of the most important early Gothic castles and its earliest written mention is in the year 1234. Located on a high point above the two rivers we had fantastic views and enjoyed a self-guided tour. The castle is remarkably well preserved. It was easily defended and survived assaults because of its thick walls and location high above the rivers.

Saturday would be our last day in the Republic and we decided to find overnight accommodations nearer the airport rather than stay in Písek which was about a 90-minute drive. With a few extra hours available for touring we decided to make our way to Kuntá Hora, a bit more than a 2-hour drive from Písek with plenty of time to get to the hotel we had booked. I didn't do a great job of navigation because the estimated 2-hour trip took more than three hours. We stopped at least once for directions but eventually found the church and parked on the street about a block or two away. The afternoon was beautiful and many others were also visiting. We purchased tickets and entered the Ossuary and were told we could take photos as long as we didn't use flash.

I gleaned some of the following commentaries from a website. The Sedlec Ossuary is not spectacular. It is a small chapel located in Sedlec in the suburbs of Kuntá Hora. You would think that it is just an average old medieval gothic church.

When entering you soon realize why it is amazing and unique. The Sedlec Ossuary is artistically decorated with more than 40,000 human skeletons and why it is known as the Church of Bones or the Bone Church.

There is a big chandelier of bones that contains at least one of every human bone. Another impressive artwork is the coat-of-arms of the Schwarzenberg family that is also made of human bones. [Note: we heard about the Schwarzenberg family multiple times during our trip.]

How did all the bones end up in a small chapel? It goes back to 1278 when the King of Bohemia sent the abbot of the Sedlec Cistercian Monastery to Jerusalem. When the abbot came back he brought a jar of soil from Golgotha (known as the "Holy Soil"). Soon people desired to be buried in Sedlec and the cemetery was expanded.

Many of the bones are of 40,000 people who died of the plague in 1318 and during the Hussite wars in the 15th century. They were originally buried at the church cemetery. The cemetery was closed at the end of the 15th century and the exhumed bones were transferred to the chapel and piled into pyramids. In 1870, František Rint of Česká Skalice arranged the bones and skulls into creative decorations that include bells, the above-mentioned Schwarzenberg coat-of-arms, and a chandelier.

I took quite a few photos and then we were on our way to our overnight stay in Hotel Fontana about  40-minutes from Prague's airport. We managed to find our way there with at least one stop to ask directions. We checked in and then looked for a restaurant and found Milano Pizzeria and ordered what we thought was a pepperoni pizza. It was actually a pepper pizza with lots of green, red and yellow peppers. The word "pepperoni" didn't translate!

With still some time to spare I looked up the possibility of finding a geocache if there was one nearby. There were two within walking distance and we strolled to the site but didn't find the cache. Clues were not in English but I'm pretty sure we were in the right area. The same for the second one which was not much further away. The area we stayed in was mostly residential and quiet for a Saturday night.

On Sunday morning without much traffic on the major highways, we headed toward the airport. For some odd reason, the GPS wasn't working and Ray kept heading north and west. We knew we had to cross the Vltava River and were successful. We stopped one time and a local lady indicated we were heading in the right direction and said to keep going "Up, Up, Up" and eventually we saw a road sign for the airport. I think we witnessed a miracle. When we started out in the morning we had no directions to the airport, but we made it with plenty of time to spare.

Our departure was delayed by a problem with the cargo door, but eventually, we were on our way enjoying a nice meal, finishing a book, and watching more movies on the 10-hour flight. We landed in Philly and showed our passports, standing in a long line that moved rather quickly and then in another line to go through security for our flight to Indy. We arrived back home at about 9:30 p.m. (3:30 a.m. in Prague) and were happy to be home in our own bed.

September 1

I just checked the calendars for 2019 and 2020 there are only two months each year when the first day of the month begins on Sunday. I bet you didn't know that. How important is it? Not very important but I thought it was interesting.

This post is mostly about trivial things that happened in the past week. For one thing, the TV channel that went off the air on July 4 because of a dispute with DirecTV is back! We don't have to use the antenna anymore. I guess we'll keep the antenna for the next occasion when we can't get a local channel by satellite. This channel broadcasts quite a few Cub games so it's good that we don't have to rely on the antenna and they broadcast lots of local news since they aren't affiliated with a major network.

Speaking of the Cubs, they seem to have lost their mojo and can't win while the St. Louis Cardinals are doing quite well and widening the gap in the division race. All season, the division has been one of the most competitive in the major leagues.

On Wednesday I visited the Greenwood Police Department to report two small dirt bikes spotted on the edge of the trail when I was out on a run. I passed by the spot on my return and they were still there. There didn't seem to be a good reason for bicycles to be there. The next day, as we drove by, I noticed the bikes were still there but had been moved a short distance. Then on Friday as I was running again in the same area, a Parks Department pickup truck stopped next to the bikes. I'll never know how or why they were there. There are all kinds of stories in the city!

We have a new amenity at Copper Chase. Valet garbage collection. Ray no longer has to carry our garbage to the dumpster. Each resident is given a kitchen-size trash bin. Five days a week we set out our trash bin between the hours of 6-8 p.m. and pick-up begins at 8 p.m. Right now we don't pay anything additional for the service but when our lease renews the garbage fee will increase almost 100%. This will be especially nice this winter but better yet, we can now recycle. When the local recycling bins were closed we couldn't recycle except for paper and cardboard. Glad and Hefty offer clear plastic bags but so far I can't find a local store that carries them. The valet crew can recognize recyclables when they are in a clear plastic bag.

Yesterday we enjoyed an afternoon and evening out. A fellow church member had an Open House inviting their friends and acquaintance to come and see their new home. We enjoyed seeing the house and visiting with other guests and snacking on an assortment of goodies. We said our farewell and then headed to Joe & Nancy's house to wish Joe a "Happy Birthday."

Nancy's friend Vicki has been helping since her back surgery on May 17. While we were there Vicki left to visit another friend elsewhere in Indiana. Hugs all around as she left. Nancy is doing much better and still has several sessions of physical therapy and probably will need to wear her back brace for some time when driving or riding in the car.

Other people arrived to also wish Joe well and a neighbor several doors away brought over two ice cream cakes decorated with large strawberries. Joe likes to have "Sloppy Joe's" on his birthday and we enjoyed that and a huge piece of cake. I've been trying to eat better today. Yesterday was an overload of calories. I'm not sure when I'll step on the scales to see how much damage was done.

Rummage Sale Week

The week of preparing for the Rummage Sale is over and the sale days are history. One of the ladies who has been a big help the last several years was immobile this year with a fractured tibia and knee cap. She's doing well and not in a cast but was advised to keep her leg elevated and not put weight on the leg. I resolved that I would put in more hours this year and have her direct me in the initial set up. For four days I and other volunteers sorted and arranged clothes and another crew worked in the fellowship area sorting household and miscellaneous items.

By Thursday evening we were ready for the two-day sale. Friday morning was beautiful and we had a large crowd waiting for the doors to open at 8 a.m. Customers kept coming until we closed at 2 p.m. Business was slow on Saturday morning but later we had quite a few visiting and buying. From 12 until 2 p.m. we held a $1 bag sale. For only $1, each customer was able to fill a plastic grocery store bag with as many items as they could stuff in it. Several people had more than one bag filled with clothing or miscellaneous items and other items that didn't fit in a bag were sold at half price.

At 2 p.m. the big clean-up began. Clothing and miscellaneous items were boxed and loaded on the Wheeler Mission truck. The mission left their truck over the weekend and will pick up our donations Monday morning. Several men helped with the heavy moving and by 3:30 most of the work was finished. This morning I heard that we probably had the best sale ever -- making more than $2,000.

Ray helped with the clean-up even though he had come down with a cold including sneezing and coughing but during the hours he was working he didn't even think about his symptoms and wasn't bothered by them. Cardboard boxes were broken down and loaded in our car and we took them to the recycling bin on our way home.

At home, we both relaxed on the couch and watched the Nationals at Wrigley. If anyone watched they would have wondered about their uniforms. One team, the Cubs, were in all white and the Nationals were in all black. It's part of a new tradition that I learned about dubbed Players Weekend. Unfortunately, the Cubs lost to a very good Washington, D.C. team.

Our apartment complex is under new management since earlier this summer. A couple of weeks ago they announced a pool party for August 24 from 6-8. Perfect timing for us. We walked over to the clubhouse and enjoyed our evening meal of grilled hamburger, chips, watermelon, cookies, and water or sodas. A perfect ending to the day for me. I didn't have to prepare our evening meal. There was a bounce house for the kids and many of them were also enjoying the pool.

Then last evening, after watching only a portion of the Colts preseason game, as I was getting ready for light's out, I saw a notification of the stunning report that Andrew Luck announced his retirement. It was hard to believe at first but then I realized he's been hurt a lot in his career and for him, it was the right decision. I hope the city of Indianapolis will give him the support he needs right now.

I'm planning to get back to my regular routine this week. Last week was a break from routine but also one that was rewarding.

Not much going on…

It has been an ordinary week. Several trips to the gym for me and our weekly bridge game sponsored by the Senior Center of Greenwood aka The Social. Yesterday I attended the biennial LWML workshop which was close to home. I left home at about 8:15 and was back home just before 4:30. I admire the younger women who are confident, enthusiastic and professional in their presentations. The LWML is in good hands!

While I was away Ray entertained himself by going to the casino near Shelbyville but didn't gamble. He enjoyed a cup of coffee and a sweet roll and decided he had seen enough. The casino doesn't have live dealers, only mechanical machines.

As the major league baseball season is coming to an end, the Cubs can't seem to win on the road. We've been watching as many games as possible. This evening they are playing in the Little League Classic against the Pirates in Williamsport, PA. They are sporting special uniforms and playing in a stadium with less than 2,000 seats for the fans. The teams competing in the Little League World Series are special guests in the stands and had a chance to meet the players up and personal before the start of tonight's game. The Cubs need a win to keep up with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Before the game, we watched "The Upside" borrowed from the Library. It stars Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston & Nicole Kidman and is based on a true story of a millionaire quadriplegic. Actually, I learned that this is a remake of a French version of the film but the American version is based in the U.S. We're also fans of America's Got Talent. The first of four live shows was broadcast last Tuesday after which there will be semi-finals with a champion crowned sometime in September.

As I sign off, we are having a thunderstorm but I wonder if we'll have enough rain the make the dried-up lawns green again.

Missing from Blogger

Yes, I've been missing but back today. Sometimes the busyness of everyday life takes over and good intentions to post don't happen.

I'll start off with our recent technology challenge. Recently one of our favorite local channels was no longer available because its parent company couldn't come to an agreement with AT&T & DirecTV. Having heard of Roku but not familiar with how it works, I talked to a tech dude and he said I'd be able to get the channel using Roku. We bought the equipment but I had been given bad information. Should have checked with the station first. Our next best option was to get an antenna to catch the signal through the air. That has worked pretty well except when we have a thunderstorm. (More about that later.) We've enjoyed a few programs using Roku, most notably shows through Kanopy and Hoopla both provided by our local library. Once or twice a day we're switching back and forth either to the antenna or back to DirecTV or Roku.

Do you remember back in May & June when everyone was concerned about the continuous rainfall and that farmers weren't able to plant corn & soybeans? Since then we've had a deficit in rainfall and the grass outside our window is very brown. A few quick showers have gone through but they are short-lived and don't amount to measurable rainfall.

On the last day of July, Ray and I invited Jayden for another adventure at Eagle Creek Park. This time we rented a two-seat kayak while I stayed on shore to capture the adventure on film. They were able to paddle across the lake to the opposite shore and return in about 30 minutes.

Ray and Jayden are ready to depart as they receive final instructions 

After reaching the opposite shore Ray and Jayden
paddle their way back to the marina

I was content to stay onshore as I'm not comfortable in the water and I've also had some soreness in my left shoulder so rowing wasn't an option for me. After speaking to one of the trainers at the Y I've been doing three exercises she recommended and also being careful how I extend my arm. I've already seen some improvement that I hope continues and eventually have full use of my arm again.

Nancy continues the slow process of recovery from her back surgery in mid-May. She began physical therapy on July 31 and I'm helping by chauffeuring her to and from the therapist. Usually, I just sit in the waiting room and enjoy reading. My current book "All The Flowers in Paris" is a page-turner and I'm more than halfway through the book and wondering how it will end. Can it have a happy ending?

Last Saturday, several women from Concordia spent a morning sorting uniforms just before the start of school. We drove to Lutheran Child & Family Services on Indy's east side and put together the two pairs of pants and shirts that the 115 children needed. Of course, there were a myriad number of sizes and we had to be careful to pick up the right size and color that each child wanted. The director of development appreciated our help as he had done all the sorting himself in previous years.

That's all for this post. Can't promise I'll get back to my regular schedule but I'll try. Hoping everyone has a beautiful week.

Surviving the Heat

It's pretty unusual to have several 90° days with high humidity in succession at least in the northern half of the U.S.  I suspect that it's more common for anyone living in the deep south. We've been tested this year with the warmest weather since 2012. I recall that we had a long drought accompanied by hot temperatures that year. Many people lost trees and plants that summer. We didn't have to mow for weeks and our lawn was a very crisp brown.

Last Sunday, Ray and I celebrated our 57th anniversary. 💑 💝 (I just found these emojis on Blogger for the first time.)

Instead of visiting a fancy restaurant we enjoyed a potluck meal at church. I was surprised to see Ray holding a small bouquet.

Anniversary Bouquet

These little bell flowers are amazing. They last for days and unopened buds bloom!

By the time we were back home we decided not to go out again avoiding the heat of the afternoon and early evening.

Watching the weather forecast, we chose to go on a hike on Tuesday morning thinking that storms would arrive later in the day. We invited Jayden to join us as we had binoculars borrowed from the library and would try our birding skills. Eagle Creek Park is only a 45-minute drive from our house.

Eagle Creek Park has a great little ornithology museum and outdoor displays.

We were planning about an hour's hike but didn't follow the correct trail marker and doubled the time on the trail. Fortunately, a friendly hiker that we met set us on the right course.

Definitely a surprise to find a hibiscus blooming at the edge of the water.

As we neared the end of the trail, we came across this arrow making
us wonder who had put it there and for what purpose.

Well, that's about all for now. We've had some TV viewing challenges because DirecTV has blocked one of the local channels, but that's another story for another time...maybe! The local cornfields are looking much better but are still weeks behind. We saw one field this morning where the corn was probably waist or chest high. 

Post Holiday Reminisces

We didn't watch any fireworks this year even though there were plenty of opportunities for viewing fireworks on different nights and I could hear them popping in our neighborhood last night as I was getting ready for bed.

Since I last posted, we've had a change in weather. After lots of cool and rainy weather, our neighborhood is finally having typical hot summer weather with humidity and hardly any rain. About 10 days ago we drove to Fort Harrison State Park taking Jayden with us for a 90-minute hike. The week before he had several teeth pulled as part of some orthodontia work and wasn't up to a long hike.

Bart, Christy & Persephone arrived Sunday (June 30) and we loaded our gear in their car for a visit to Turkey Run State Park. We found our rental cabin and then had a small picnic lunch before heading to Trail 3 with a "rugged" rating.

It may say "Ice Box" but it's only a bit cooler on a 90˚ day

Posing

This section of Trail 3 is in a creek bed but we managed to keep our feet dry but, for some, it was fun to wade through the shallow water. We then came to an area where we had to climb three ladders. Some families with small children were challenged when the child was scared and didn't want to descend. I was happy to ascend because it seems easier. You can see the next step.

Climbing the Ladder

We heard some rumbling when we were nearly back to our cabin. Christy & Persephone found the indoor pool and enjoyed relaxing there. Back in the cabin, Ray, Bart and I had to wait out the storm but when the girls came back we asked them to get an umbrella from the car. Christy didn't mind getting wet again. After the rain subsided we had dinner in the lodge and then played a game of Quarkle before finding the game room downstairs.

Air Hockey Competition

Did I mention that our cabin was itsy bitsy? The cabin had two double beds, a bathroom, two chairs, a small refrigerator, TV, and coffee maker all in a space of 192 sq. ft. Everyone had a small bag or two making it difficult to move around since we had limited floor space. Some of us slept better than others but it was for only one night and we all survived!

Artsy spider web photo

The next morning Ray and I were the first ones up. Actually, he was first but I soon joined him in the cool of the morning and snapped the photo above.

Trail 6

After breakfast, we spent a few minutes exploring a section of Trail 6 closest to our cabin. The thundershower from the previous evening had water flowing deeper than I wanted since I didn't have water sandals. The ravine was beautiful and while Ray and I waited, we had Persephone take a photo of us sitting on a log.

We decided not to get our feet wet and muddy

We returned to Greenwood about noon and had a light lunch. I had some coupons for frozen custard at Culver's and treated everyone who wanted one. Later that afternoon we visited Nancy, Joe, Kylie, and Dustin. Nancy has a few more weeks of wearing her back brace after which she probably begins physical therapy.

Back: Kylie, Nancy (with back brace), Christy & Bart
Front: Dustin, Persephone & Jayden

We said goodbye to Bart and family on Tuesday morning as they headed back to Bloomington with plans to visit New Harmony on Friday on their return to New Orleans.

Catching Up Part 2

When we left Concordia after VBS set-up on Sunday afternoon I had my iPad with me. Since we had just returned from our trip to Michigan and hadn't been home we decided to stop at Kroger to get a few groceries. Later that evening, at home, I couldn't find the iPad and was convinced I had left it at Concordia.

On Monday morning we picked up Jayden for VBS. His mother was at work and Nancy is still recovering from surgery and unable to drive. I asked if anyone had found my iPad but it wasn't to be found. A real mystery.

We planned to go for a hike in the afternoon taking Jayden with us. First, we stopped at home and I decided to try the "find my iPad" on the computer thinking it would show up somewhere in our house. When I got a blip I was surprised at the location. It took me a minute or two to realize that it was at the Kroger store where we had shopped the afternoon before. I called the store and confirmed they had it. We immediately drove there and was told that it had been found in a cart in the parking lot after being there overnight. Fortunately, the battery had not drained otherwise I probably wouldn't have been able to locate it. After getting the iPad back we enjoyed a slice of pizza at the store. Then we headed to Freedom Park for a mile and a half walk and also found two geocaches (one Ray & I had found previously) but Jayden found it this time and also the second one. By then it was time to take Jayden to his orthodontist appointment and after that drop him off at home. Quite an adventuresome day.

Jayden's team, the Cubs, played the Yankees in the first game of the Center Grove Little League tournament Tuesday evening. The game was close and in some innings, the Cubs kept the Yankees from scoring but they eventually lost and their season was finished.

When we picked up Jayden for VBS on Wednesday he brought along a friend, a neighbor from across the street. After VBS we stopped for lunch at Mrs. Curl which is a popular ice cream and sandwich shop with open-air seating. We all enjoyed a hamburger and then began a hike through Craig Park and Craig Trail enjoying the lovely day and looking for geocaches I had previously researched.

The cache had a nickel which we replaced with
5 pennies and Jayden kept the nickel since he found the cache.
His friend Jay is a year younger.

After the hike, an ice cream cone to finish our adventure.
Jay had peanut sprinkles but Jayden couldn't because of his braces.

I was back at church on Saturday for quilt knotting. Two of us were able to knot four quilts while the other two workers sewed and assembled new quilts. That afternoon we had thunderstorms and learned later there were nine tornadoes in central Indiana. Seems like we can't sustain a dry period.

Sunday was unusual because I went to two worship service but also very special. We had the usual morning service and then at 3:00 our new pastor was ordained and installed.

Kati & Rev. Paul Gaschler

I left the reception as the cake was being served. We had an invitation to stop at Joe & Nancy's house for a Father's Day cookout. A month and two days after back surgery, Nancy is still recovering and has quite a few more weeks before she is able to do what she would like to do. She doesn't like wearing the brace but I told her the photo would be a remembrance of Father's Day 2019. She is slowly improving but has days with discomfort and pain. Patience is probably not one of her virtues.

Father's Day Hug!

Catching Up Part 1

During April and May, I didn't have many adventures to write about but the last two weeks or so have been busy and I'm behind in my weekly posts. I'm planning to break it down in two posts. Let's see if I can remember the important points.

Even though we had not had much warm weather it seemed that the AC in our car wasn't operating at peak efficiency. After replacing a filter and adding coolant to the system it's back to cooling as it should. When the hot and humid weather does come we'll be prepared and thankful. Ray is also giving me credit for suggesting that we have the cooling system checked.

The clothes dryer in our apartment wasn't working as it should either. After three minutes, it would shut off and couldn't be started until it cooled off and on a restart would finish the cycle. I guess there was not a way to remedy the problem. The vents were checked to make sure there was no blockage. The solution is that the office ordered a new dryer and it was installed almost two weeks ago. I should be happy but I'm disappointed. I'm used to drying everything together but apparently, the new dryer doesn't like an assortment of heavy and light fabrics. At the end of the cycle, I still have damp clothes. The discarded dryer always dried everything!

On Thursday, I was fortunate to have the high score at our bridge group -- the first time this year I was on the leader board. Ray is one of the more dominant players but I'm only his partner once during the afternoon otherwise I might be on the board more often.

On June 7 we headed out to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the graduation open house for our great niece. We had a picnic at noon in a city park in a small town in northern Indiana but I can't remember which town. The effect of all the rainy days was obvious. We noticed many fields still not planted but we also saw many that were tilled but so recently that the corn hadn't sprouted.

Our first stop in Grand Rapids was the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. It's located on a beautiful spot next to the Grand River.

Looking through a glass wall at the White House Presidential place setting.

The cabinet table with all the places marked for each cabinet member.

President Ford's Oval Office

We arrived at Andrew & Dora's house in time for a delicious meal. Sister Judy was already there and her daughter Leslie & John from New Jersey and Dora's sister Hilda from North Carolina.

We enjoyed the amenities of the new Marriot Townplace Suites during our stay and on Saturday morning went for a walk and found one geocache--an easy find but failed on our second one. The Townplace Suites is almost next door to a large soccer complex and we watched some of the little players. It was a perfect day with mild temperatures and sunshine!

Katherine's Grandmother (my sister Judy) with Leslie, her daughter
in charge of cupcakes for the open house.

Many corn hole games were contested. The total number of games is not known!

Katherine is heading to Michigan State University.
Judy cross-stitched the graduation sampler for Katherine.

Dora, Katherine & Andrew

We spent the afternoon outdoors under the canopy watching many of Katherine's friends and parents of friends come and go congratulating her and wishing her well. 

A wood-fired pizza was grilled on site for all the guests who wanted one.

On Sunday morning we headed home and arrived by noon in time to help with the set-up for VBS. 

This ends Part 1.

It Turned Out to be Worthy of a Laugh

This past week started off with a mess but one that was also humorous.

Oh my! What Just Happened?

After lunch, Ray ran the dishwasher as he often does when needed. When I entered the kitchen sometime later, I yelled something to the effect "we have a mess." He willingly posed for the photo. The cleanup was fairly easy as we have a tile floor. The small scatter rug was pretty wet but that dried after laying in the sun for a while. A number of people admitted that it had happened to them too when they saw my online post. Our dishwasher detergent was gone so Ray added dish soap creating all the bubbles. One person told me she uses regular dish soap all the time but only a very small amount and doesn't have a problem.

Early in the week, Nancy was still having considerable pain following her back surgery. On Thursday she had a post-op visit and had a good report. She was healing well. Her surgical scars are nearly healed and as soon as the scabs are cleared up she'll be doing some aqua therapy which was recommended as a good alternative to daily walks. We stopped to see her after her appointment and can see that she's made good progress but will need to wear the brace for another six weeks.

Early in the week, we had another heavy rainstorm and from reports I've heard on TV and in the newspaper, the farming community is concerned about this year's crops. Instead of having 90% of the crops in the ground, there are areas where only 20% is planted. We've had a few warm and dry days since and I hope that continues. Flooding in other areas in the midwest is much worse than what we've had in Indiana.

We enjoyed another Little League game. It's become a tradition to pick up a carryout to take to the 6 o'clock games and enjoy our supper at the ball diamond. Jayden pitched one inning on Thursday evening.

He threw a few strikes but walked several too before the inning was over.

We enjoyed watching a 2.5-hour documentary filmed in Monrovia and broadcast on our local PBS station. We knew that Branch McCracken and John Wooden were born in the area and were instrumental in making Monrovia famous as a basketball town when those men were in high school and college. We also saw many familiar scenes and watched the planning commission discussing growth in the town. We lived just outside of Monrovia for more than 20 years and watching the film reminded us of that time and perhaps gave us a new perspective on the town.

Trip Planning, Baseball, Memorial Day Race

As I mentioned last week, we have passports for our planned trip to The Czech Republic in September. On Monday we stopped at the AAA office and applied for an International Driver's License. We filled out the online form to take with us and then paid the fee and had the permit in short order.

Ray searched online and purchased tickets to take us to Prague. He learned that you can get the best price by leaving on Monday and returning the following Sunday. We won't be staying in Prague but a smaller town that is closer to where his ancestors lived before coming to the U.S. We're hoping to learn more about their background. We've watched episodes of "Finding Your Roots" hosted by Henry Louis Gates and I wish we had the resources he has to find the information we're looking for.

Nancy was released from the hospital last Monday evening. We were on call to pick her up and take her home if she had been released earlier in the day. On Wednesday she reported being tired and still finding it difficult to sleep and having to deal with quite a bit of pain.

Another Little League game on Monday evening. Jayden was assigned to third base and made two outs throwing from third to first. This is his first year playing baseball and he's still learning a lot about the game. Last Saturday the weather was hot and we sat under an umbrella and I got a bit of a burn on my arm. Monday evening was much different with 60 degrees and a breeze. I was glad to have a hood on my jacket.

Have you been watching Jeopardy? It's part of our evening ritual. James Holzhauer has accumulated more than $2 million and seems unstoppable. He has only been tested once that I can recall when another contestant did well and James didn't have a runaway. A newer version of Les Miserables was recently shown on PBS's Masterpiece but we waited until all six episodes were recorded before watching so I guess you can say we've been binge watching although we haven't watched all the episodes in one day. It's a gripping story with more detail than other versions.

Even though the Indianapolis 500 race is on a new network this year, we still weren't able to see it and I didn't even try to listen on the radio as I have done many times in the past. When the rebroadcast began this evening I was amazed at all the pageantry that goes into the pre-race activities. Tomorrow is a holiday but it will seem like a regular Monday with the exception of no mail service and some businesses being closed. Happy Memorial Day everyone.

Rain, Baseball, Nancy, etc.

Last Tuesday afternoon we were able to sit on our patio for a snack. It's not been warm enough until now as we continue to have rain and cool temperatures. Besides the weather not being cooperative, our dryer is not working as it should. After about three minutes in the drying cycle, the dryer turns off and can't be restarted until it's cooled off. On restarting the dryer continues operating fine and the clothes are dry. I've called the maintenance department and they are looking into the problem thinking there may be a clog in the exhaust line. Sometimes birds like to nest there but the nesting season should be about complete. Even though it's a bit irritating to have an ill-functioning dryer it's not the most serious problem we've ever faced and one that we can live with.

We watched two Little  League games this week. On our way to the 6 o'clock game, we picked up sub sandwiches for our supper and placed our lawn chairs behind the backstop to watch the game. There are dozens and dozens of cars that might all leave at the same time, so we left at the top of the final inning with Jayden's team ahead by one run. Later we learned that the game ended with a tie. As I mentioned in a previous post, Little League games can end in a tie because of the two-hour time limit. The Thursday game was rained out as we had thunderstorms roll through the area. The final game of the week was Saturday morning and Jayden's team won by forfeit. The umpire was unhappy with the other team for reasons not totally clear to me. One of the players used profanity but that shouldn't have caused the forfeit. There were other factors involved I'm sure. The game wasn't very far along when the umpire called for the forfeit and left. The coaches for the two teams agreed that the game should continue giving all the players a chance to execute plays and have a chance to bat even though there wasn't a chance to change the final score.

On Friday we realized our landline wasn't working. Sometimes we had a dial tone but couldn't make or receive calls. We called the phone company and they scheduled a service call for next Tuesday! We later learned that the thunderstorm on Thursday was probably responsible for the outage.

Nancy's back surgery on Friday at St. Francis was successful with Joe calling us about 5 p.m. that she was in her room. It was a long day for him, I'm sure. We found our way to her room on Saturday following the forfeited baseball game. Her friend Vicki stayed with her overnight in the hospital and plans to help her when she gets home.

We applied for passports and they arrived this week and now we can plan a trip to Europe that we've been thinking about for a while. More details to come as they are known.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day 2019 was one of the coldest in recent years. Easter Sunday was much nicer for sure. The first weeks of May have not been particularly pretty or warm. There have been too many rainy days and I'm sure the farming community is hoping for warmer and dry days. I haven't had a chance to observe many fields but the several I see that are small haven't had any planting or preparation for a crop this year. Maybe they'll lay fallow this year.

Bart and Persephone tried to connect with us at noon for a Mother's Day chat. First, we tried FaceTime and then Skype. In the past, we've had nice conversations using either of these options but that wasn't the case this year. In the end, we talked on the phone. Later in the day, Nancy invited us to their house for pork tacos and cheesecake. Everything was delicious! We didn't go home hungry.

We enjoyed another Little League game on Saturday afternoon. Jayden's team played two consecutive games but we missed the early one because I was at church with the quilt knotting group. Jayden pitched an inning or two in the first game and did well but we missed seeing that game. In the 1 o'clock game his team was competitive with the game ending in a tie. That seems strange to me, but there's a time limit on Little League games and they don't play extra innings. It's a lot different in the majors as we found out when we got home. The Cubs were playing the Brewers in Wrigley field and the score was 1-1 when we turned on the TV. The game eventually ended with the Cubs winning 2-1 in the 15th inning with a walk-off home run.

Today is also the 109 wedding anniversary of my maternal grandparents, Paul & Ida Hollmann. They were married on May 12, 1910.

The woman on the left is Ida's sister Dorothy and
sister Minnie stands in the center

I don't recall ever meeting Minnie and the woman on the right was not identified on the photo that I have. However, my sisters and I have many fond memories of Aunt Dorothy. She was a classy lady!

We've been told to expect close to 80 degrees in a week so that will be a pleasant change.

End of an Era

For the past twelve months, we knew that our pastor, Rev. John Flamme, planned to retire and would preach his farewell sermon the first Sunday in May 2019. Today was bittersweet since the man who was our shepherd for almost 25 years would no longer be in our midst. But we also wished him well as he and his wife move to Florida to begin a new chapter in their life. The service was beautiful with special touches from the choir and with Pastor John's son, Rev. Brian Flamme, serving as liturgist and giving the final blessing. Following the blessing, Pastor John spoke the benediction and admitted later he was near tears but managed to finish. After the service, a celebration was held at Valle Vista Golf Club with a delicious meal and many people attending, some who were no longer members but joined us to show their respect and farewell. Several members and friends came to the podium to say a few word and gifts were presented.

However, a new era is about to begin. We'll have a new pastor in our midst sometime in June. We learned last Tuesday that seminarian graduate Paul Gaschler received a call to be our next pastor. We feel blessed to be selected as more churches applied for a graduate than were available. He'll be finishing his classes and graduating in the next several weeks and then he and his wife will move to Greenwood. His Ordination and Installation will be at Concordia on a date to be announced soon.

No Little League baseball games last week--too much rain. But we did get to watch some Cub games and enjoyed watching them play St. Louis to take over the lead in their division--at least for a little while.

On Saturday we ventured out in the rain to cast our votes in the mayoral primary at one of the early voting centers. When we walked into the library, the poll workers were really happy to see us. There was only one person in line ahead of us. Because of the weather and maybe a lack of interest in the primary contests, they weren't busy and welcomed anyone coming in to vote.

Baseball

Great-grandson Jayden is playing baseball this spring. His first game was canceled because of weather but last Tuesday we joined other family members for his first ever game. His team is the Cubs which makes the entire family smile. The team is off to a great start winning 12-2 over the Reds. Jayden had two hits a walk and one run. At this level of baseball, runners almost automatically steal second base and then third. I didn't realize that 60 degrees could be as cold as it was especially with the windy conditions. Jayden's second game was Saturday morning and even though it was early and chilly, the warm sunshine made conditions comfortable. The Cubs were playing a better team and lost this one. We'll be going to more games as the season continues.

When we have the opportunity we've been watching the Chicago Cubs games as many of them are available on local TV or through DirecTV. Can they win another pennant?

Jayden at bat

Jayden at second base

Months after mentioning that I thought our car was too noisy, we had the problem fixed. A rear wheel bearing was causing the problem and since the bearing has been replaced we once again have a quiet running vehicle.

The redbud trees have peaked but their display was beautiful this spring. Now we're seeing other flowering trees and some dogwoods blooming. I love seeing all the color again after months of a gray landscape.

Gorgeous Easter Sunday

Following three rainy days, Easter Sunday was incredibly beautiful. But it started out really foggy when I went to the 7 a.m. sunrise service. The adult choir did an outstanding rendition of two Easter numbers. Pastor John's Easter sermon was his last since he's retiring in two weeks but had a strong message that we are all the body of Christ. The Easter breakfast was delicious with a choice from a variety of casseroles. By noon the fog had disappeared and the sun was shining brightly as we were headed to about 70+ degrees.

A variety of flowers decorated the sanctuary

After the worship service, I prepared a potato casserole to take to Joe & Nancy's house. Kylie had organized some of the neighborhood children for an egg hunt at 2:30.

Waiting for the signal to start the hunt

A couple houses away the redbud trees were showing off their beautiful purple blossoms.

The peak of redbud season

Earlier in the week, we applied for passports as we make preparations for a trip to the Czech Republic next September. Not all plans are completed but once we get the passports we'll make reservations and plan our itinerary.

Quite a few months ago I had an idea to install a Little Free Library on the church property. It was something I knew I would need help with because I'm not a carpenter. Fortunately, I found two men who were able to help. Mike built it and Rick painted the library and constructed the post and helped with the installation last Wednesday. Someone visited later that day and left some children's books and a note! The next three days were rainy and probably kept people away, but I'm hoping others will stop for a look as they walk by the church.

The Howard  Road Little Free Library

A quick review of last week

A week ago I had my annual skin cancer checkup and the doctor found two small areas on my cheek that are pre-cancerous and he sprayed them with liquid nitrogen. Needless to say, it was not a good week for a portrait or photo. We also decided to sign a lease for another year at Copper Chase Apartments. We did look around for some other options but didn't find anything that was cheaper or roomier than what we have. I'm content for now.

Last Tuesday we purchased four more bags of mulch and in less than an hour had them opened and spread on the flower bed at church. The weather was great and with rain in the offing, we thought it wise to get the job done as quickly as possible.

Several women from Concordia Church drove to Hope Center Indy Saturday morning where we joined women from Our Savior for a tour of the facility. Hope Center is a treatment center for women 18 and over who have been trafficked and are looking for a new start in life. This facility has been open for about two years. When Hope Center was merely an idea and just getting started, the old Marion County Home became available. The buildings on the site had also been an orphanage after the County Home closed and after that a university. We heard so many beautiful stories of individuals, corporations and the community coming together to make Hope Center a reality.

Concordia & Our Savior women pose after the tour.
Two other women were also in the tour group.

Ray and I were busy with other chores but the above is a quick review of the past week. We did watch the last day of the Master's Golf Tournament with Tiger Woods winning his 5th in this prestigious event. What a story for the ages.

I saw some dandelions!

Spring weather is manifesting itself. Yesterday I saw the first dandelions of the year. Prior to that, I don't think I saw any and even though I'm not fond of them, they often start blooming when we have warm and sunny weather. Today I saw several blooming trees and forsythia and lots of daffodils too.

A week ago today, April 1,  I'm glad to say that I was not fooled and I didn't try to fool anyone either. The morning was chilly at 32 degrees. In the afternoon Ray and I both had our annual wellness checkups. We had blood drawn the next day for some tests and are still waiting for analysis of the data.

When we first started playing pickleball we met a woman who plays the game very well but is also an avid hiker and cyclist. She often invites someone to go with her and early on Wednesday Ray and I and four other women headed out to Brown County State Park. It was rather chilly at 8 a.m. and for a while, I was sorry that I hadn't worn gloves. At one point we had to climb a long stairway and after that climb, I wasn't chilly any longer.

The turtles enjoy the warm sunshine

I was trailing at the moment and able to get a photo of two-thirds of our group

We carried our lunch and water and stopped at a convenient spot with picnic tables to enjoy a break and rest while eating our sandwiches. At the end of the hike, Karen said we had walked more than 7.5 miles as calculated by the GPS app on her phone.

Karen sent a photo of our
hike as logged on her
phone's app

We pose at a point more than halfway through the hike
Cathy, Karen, Carol, Linda, me and Ray

The next day Ray had sore calf muscles and his legs were hurting. Park trails are a much different terrain than he is used to even though he walks often. I can't say for sure why I didn't have the same aches but I often do squats when at the gym. I think that prepared my legs for the hike.

Every day the weather has been milder and it is especially nice that the mornings are warmer and I can wear a light jacket. I think we have left winter behind!