First Weekend of June

Since my last post several weeks ago, I have had nothing particular to discuss. Yesterday we had a busy day. It started early when we drove to downtown Indianapolis so that I could run in a 5K race that began at 8 a.m. Temperatures were in the high 60s, but the run was comfortable because we ran mostly on the shady side of the street. I was pleased with my effort.

We returned home and, after lunch, ventured out to downtown Greenwood. We first stopped at the library, where they gave coupons for a small cone at the nearby Mrs. Curl. We then drove to where Greenwood was celebrating its Bicentennial year with strawberry shortcakes, food trucks, handmade & vintage vendors, and live music. We walked past all the vendors, and there were many, and found where the strawberry shortcakes were sold.

We found strawberries shortcakes in the
the tent with a white roof.

A long line of vendors

We returned home and rested for a while before venturing out again, this time to Mallow Run Winery. The winery sponsors food trucks and music every Saturday in the summer months. We had never attended, but it’s only a short drive away. When we arrived, we were amazed at the number of cars. This was a free concert; there is a fee at some concerts. 

A portion of the crowd

We found our way to the food trucks. Some had long lines, but we found one that offered a pork burger, and the lines were reasonable. We looked around and found a picnic table to enjoy our burger. Ray had a glass of wine. Shortly after sitting down, the table collapsed. We weren’t hurt, but Ray lost his wine and went to purchase another one. We enjoyed the music since we were far from the stage. If there is a next time, we’ll take our lawn chairs as we saw many others doing.

Grape Vines at Mallow Run Winery

Later today, we're heading to the Greenwood Community Band's "Killer Bs" concert. This concert celebrates the works of songwriters whose names begin with the letter "B," including Beethoven, Burt Bacharach, Barry Manilow, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Bruno Mars,  Billie Eilish O'Connell, Bob Segar, Bernie Taupin, and Bruce Springsteen. The temperatures have cooled since yesterday, and we'll have our lawn chairs, so this should be a fun concert.

When we moved in July 2020 to this address, I noticed some bedding plants but didn't know what they were, thinking they might be a type of lily. When the plants began growing the following spring, I realized that rabbits were biting off the tips, meaning there wouldn't be any flowers. Last year I used a rabbit deterrent, but I was too late. When I saw the plants beginning their growth this spring, I was quick to spray, and it has paid off.

I'm glad the bunnies didn't
ruin this beautiful lily this year!

Building Three Water Filters

In mid-April, I received an invitation from Thrivent to participate in building a water filter. It sounded like something I could do and would take only a little time. When the kit arrived, I let it sit on the coffee table for a few weeks, but when I finally had time, it took only a few minutes to assemble the filters.

Wine To Water is a nonprofit organization that supports life and dignity for all through the power of clean water. Each filter provides 12 people with clean water for 10 years. That sounds incredible to me. Here's what the assembly process looked like.

Assembly Instructions and Three Kits

Parts for One Kit

Three Assembled Filters & Return Label

I Wrote a Note to Include in Each Kit
Water Bottle is a Thank You for Volunteering

Explanation of How to Use the Filter

May began with a cold spell, but some warm weather finally allowed me to plant a few flowers to brighten the landscape.

Celosia Planted Around the Mailbox

Geranium & Dusty Miller

I planted three containers of geraniums. The plants around the mailbox and in the planters are small, and I'm hoping they'll grow fast. Stay tuned for a follow-up photo later this summer. 

Missed the rain!

    When I signed up for a 6 pm 5K run on a Thursday afternoon, I thought an afternoon run would be warmer than my usual early morning workouts. As the week progressed, I kept hearing we'd have a rainy afternoon. Bummer! Ray and I motored to downtown Indy last  Thursday after our afternoon of Bridge at the Greenwood Senior Center. We parked in an underground garage and looked for somewhere to get a bite to eat, but we had to satisfy our hunger with a package of corn puffs. We found the registration tent, and I picked up my race number. The Fire Alarm 5K opening ceremony included an honor guard of firefighters. 

        I enjoyed running once again along the Indianapolis Canal. Ray and I walked or ran the same course many years ago, so it was reliving some of the sights I hadn't seen for a long time. I told Ray afterward that the years haven't been kind to some of the sections of the course. There were pieces of broken concrete and other signs of wear that needed repair. Everyone was thankful that the rain held off on a beautiful spring evening. 

    Last Sunday afternoon, the women at church were entertained by Soul Purpose. It was our Spring Social, an event of fellowship and getting to know each other. The singing group had three costume changes and entertained us with songs from the 50s and 60s. 

The first two numbers were "Earth to God" and

"God Bless the USA."

Singing songs from the 50s and 60s

We heard the following songs:

• Johnny Angel
• Lollipop
• Can't Help Falling In Love With You
• Put Your Head On My Shoulder
• Close To You
• All Of Me

 

As a finale, they sang "We Believe."

.

This and That

     Two weeks ago, I noticed all the yellow flowers blooming everywhere. Today, all I saw were fluffy white tops ready for mowing. If you don't follow my train of thought, I'm talking about dandelions! Most flowering trees have passed their peak, but they were beautiful in their prime.

      I've been meaning to post earlier, but got caught up in other things to do, so I'm going back about two weeks to explain some of the minutiae in our lives. Early on the 15th, we ventured out for breakfast provided by JCREMC at their annual meeting held at Franklin Community High School. After breakfast and before the meeting began, a local band played as we sat in the auditorium. As we entered, we were handed earplugs if we thought the music was too loud.

The band members are from several states.

    We were also handed a tote bag that included a coin purse. Besides the breakfast, this is another incentive to invite REMC customers to attend the meeting and have a quorum. You might find a $5, $10, or $20 bill inside the coin purse. Over the years, we have a collection of about six or seven coin holders. I not sure what to do with them, but maybe it's time to fill several for an Easter egg hunt. As the meeting adjourned, a drawing was held for several $100 prizes and one for $1,000. Most people don't leave until the drawing is finished because there's always hope to win something.

We each found $5 in our coin purses.

    The next day, on Sunday afternoon, we returned to the same auditorium for the Greenwood Community Band spring concert. The Greenwood High School auditorium is undergoing some renovation.

It was an awesome free concert!

    On Saturday, April 22, I ran the "Rock the Block" 5K race for the third year, which starts and ends at the high school just two miles from our house. I  won my age group (76-up) with a time of 40:23 and came home with a large fleece blanket! 

It's big enough to cover a bed!

    After the race, we stopped at the library for early voting only to find that there wasn't anything on the ballot for our precinct. This year, voting is for mayors and city council members, but we live outside the Greenwood Corporation limits. We'll be able to vote for sheriff and county officials in another year.

   

    I have one final photo to share before signing off. I made a palm cross from a palm frond I brought home on Palm Sunday. It wasn't easy to do since the fronds were very narrow. I wish I could have used a frond from a big tree. As I learned from a Youtube video, the cross is made by making several folds, but this one is so small I couldn't wear it on Easter, which was my original plan.

Happy Easter!

We awoke a few minutes before 6 a.m. to prepare for the 7 o'clock sunrise service. The service included several choral numbers by our choir and brass to accompany some hymns. Inspiring! We were among many who filled the Fellowship Hall and enjoyed a delicious Easter breakfast. We're now home relaxing and watching the Master's Golf Tournament.

Later this afternoon, we are invited to Joe's house for Easter dinner with Kylie & Dustin, Joe's niece, nephew, and others. I'm unsure if an Easter egg hunt is planned, but I know there will be lots of food. I've made a carrot cake, yeast rolls, and a green grape salad to share with others.

Yesterday, our alarm went off at 4:50 a.m. We ate breakfast and then provided a ride for two friends from church to our water stop station for the Carmel Marathon. We met other volunteers there, set up the tables, and filled Gatorade and water cups. Shortly after we were ready, around 8:05, the 5K runners passed by. The fast runners at the front of the pack did not need water. They were on a mission to finish fast. The slower 5K runners were ready for a cup of water. The 5K runners were still passing when the 10K runners ran by coming from another direction. They were followed by the Half and Full Marathon runners. The 26.2-mile runners made a longer loop and passed by our water stop the second time, with about two miles left in the race. We had everything cleaned up by 2:30 and headed home. One of our helpers enjoyed working at the water stop mentioning that we were busy and there was always something to do.

I was reminded that I had run the Carmel Half Marathon in 2015 when I saw my name in the participant's guide. I hold the course record of 2:43:27 for ages 75+. Someone could have broken it yesterday.

We had beautiful sunny skies yesterday, and even though it was cold in the morning, the weather was perfect for runners. Ray and I dressed in layers and removed our outer jackets when it warmed up. After a week of stormy weather, we enjoyed yesterday's sunshine, and this week promises a dry and warm week. Hurrah! Spring weather has finally arrived. On sunny days the dandelions pop up overnight. We have many flowering trees in full blossom, but I have yet to see a redbud. It's that time of year when the lawn mowing season begins. 

Our mantel is decorated for the season.

Be Weather Aware!

For several days last week, the TV weather persons advised us to be weather aware since a storm was approaching. As the storm system came closer, we could see it was large and ominous. We expected the storm front to arrive in Indianapolis at about 11 p.m. on Friday, March 31. We are usually sound asleep by this hour, but the heavy rain woke us up. Shortly after, we heard tornado sirens. I wondered if we should escape to our walk-in closet, but I looked at the radar on my iPad and decided we were safe. In the morning, we woke up to the news of three deaths in Sullivan, Indiana, near the Illinois border. These are the first deaths from a tornado in Indiana since 2012.

We also learned there was damage with buildings destroyed but no casualties in Whiteland, Indiana, about 5 miles southeast of us. We didn't lose our power and feel fortunate not to have any damage. I-65 was closed for a while due to debris from the storm. Power is still out for some of the residents.

We noticed activity in our backyard in early March when we saw boards laid to make a temporary driveway for trucks and other heavy equipment. Duke Energy is replacing all the old power poles with bigger metal ones. Oddly, our power is through Johnson County REMC, not Duke. 

Putting down boards on the easement

Pole on the ground

Can you see a row of new poles?

Last fall, I planted crocus bulbs and was expecting to see lots of colors this spring. So far, I've been disappointed. It's rather late for them to bloom. 

Only a few tiny blossoms

We should see flowers for sale in the garden centers in another month. I can't wait.

Time to Catch Up

 Hello, dear reader! 

More than two months ago, I posted about our new car. We’ve been happy with our acquisition. In fact, we drove to New Orleans in February to celebrate Persephone’s 15th birthday on Mardi Gras, February 21.

Christy, Bart & Persephone
Preparing to leave for the French Quarter

Persephone had a $1 bill pinned to her dress. More than a dozen people gave her dollar bills to add to her birthday fund. Here are some other interesting photos. The weather was beautiful, and the crowds were large on such a wonderful day. 

When we reached the Mississippi River, Bart joined the family and friends in scattering the ashes of Michael Hohman.

Later in the day, we sat around the pool, enjoying the peace and quiet. We enjoyed spending time in the pool with no splashing allowed. 

On Wednesday, we visited Christy’s garden at the school where she teaches and helped with cleanup while Persephone watered all the plants. 

In the afternoon, we visited the New Orleans Sculpture Garden. We spent most of our time wandering through the addition that was new to us from our last visit.

I learned that an LCMS congregation was holding an Ash Wednesday service only a few blocks away. Bart walked with me to the 6:30 service. We met the rest at a restaurant for our evening meal. The following day we packed our bags and headed home, staying overnight near Nashville. Before reaching Nashville, we visited the Ave Maria grotto in Cullman, Alabama.

March came in like a lamb, but that didn’t last long. We’ve had colder weather this month than we had in February. We have watched both men’s and women’s NCAA championship games, but not all. It has been a disappointing series seeing all the Indiana teams defeated. 

Yesterday, the state boys’ basketball championship games were held in Indianapolis. Lutheran High School, a class A team on the far south side of Indianapolis, won its first basketball championship. They set several records, scoring 97 points. Lutheran's 36-point second quarter set an all-time state finals record. In the nightcap, an Indianapolis team, the Ben Davis Giants, in the 4-A bracket finished a perfect season with 33 wins and the state championship.

January 2023

January is fast coming to a close. I've often considered January a long, cold, and dark month. This year has been an exception. The temperature has been above average. We didn't have any snow until last Wednesday when we had a heavy wet snowfall that has melted since. Yesterday, the temperature was almost 50, odd for the middle of winter in Indiana.

During most of the month, we have dealt with an unplanned event. On January 4, we were waiting for oncoming traffic before making a left-hand turn into our subdivision when we heard a loud bang. I said, "What was that?" but instantly knew we had been hit from behind. The driver of the car that hit us was a very young lady. She must have been distracted because there was a passing lane she could have taken to go around us as we waited to turn. She apologized several times, and I felt some compassion for her as this was her first accident. How long has she had a driver's license, I wondered.

We exchanged information and, nine days later, had an appointment to get an estimate. Several places didn't have appointments for the next several weeks, so we felt fortunate to get an early date. The collision shops must have more business than they can handle. The damage estimate was more than $9,000. The following Monday, the insurance company said our 2008 Nissan Maxima was a total loss. We had driven more than 229,000 miles in it. Fortunately, the car was drivable. We taped the rear signal lights to ensure they didn't fall off. The brake lights and turn signals still worked, and we continued our usual routines but had to also look for a replacement vehicle.

A week later, we had leads on two possibilities. Ray and I headed to the used car lot at the Nissan dealership to look at a 2013 Altima with only 46,000 miles. After a test drive, we committed to purchasing it and didn't bother to look at the other car that had 100,000 more miles than this one. Last Monday, we drove home with our new Altima. Several hours later, our Maxima was picked up from our driveway. We replaced the battery only a month earlier, so I'm hoping someone gets some use from it.

Rear End Damage

Taped Tail Light

Warped Trunk Frame

Ray arrives home with the new Altima

Besides our concerns about our transportation needs, we had time to spend an afternoon with Kylie and Steven at the Indiana Historical Society's Festival of Trees. We enjoyed lunch in the cafe and wandered the three floors to see all 75 decorated trees. We visited on the last day of the 2022 Festival, as did many others. Officially, that was the end of the Christmas season for me.

We took advantage of the photo opportunity.

I have to share one more story regarding our new car. Last Tuesday, I left for a run, planning to end at Anytime Fitness, only about two miles from our house. We had done this several times before. Ray would drive to join me at the gym. We both would do our workouts and then go home together. But this time, Ray didn't show up on time, and as the minutes passed, I grew increasingly concerned. Finally, I had to run back home to see what was happening. As I drew close to our house, I could see the garage door open and the car parked in the garage. Ray explained that he couldn't start the Altima. I found the quick start guide for the car and learned that you need to step on the brake to start the ignition process. When we took our test drive, the car was already running, and the same thing happened when we picked up the car on Monday morning. Nobody thought to tell us how to start the car. Our older 2008 vehicle didn't have this process. I was relieved that Ray hadn't fallen ill or forgotten to pick me up from the gym. All ended well, and now enjoying a good laugh!

Wyoming Trip #6

August 11, 2022

Leaving Cooke City, I took one last glance at the cabin.

We headed to Red Lodge, MT, on the Beartooth Highway, sometimes referred to as the most beautiful drive in America. Road construction on the highway slowed our progress, but we enjoyed the beautiful scenery. 

As we approached Red Lodge, we saw evidence of the June floods that damaged Yellowstone Park and surrounding areas. Ross showed us his grandmother's house, which he spent time at in his youth.

We enjoyed our lunch outdoors,
but Daisy was not allowed to join us.

We were on the road after lunch heading back to Jackson, stopping at the Heart Mountain Internment Interpretive Center. Searching the Internet, I found information about the relocation camp which existed from 1942-1945.

The Heart Mountain Relocation Center was one of ten internment camps constructed in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066. Relocation centers were located in seven states in the West and Midwest. Their primary purpose was to house Japanese-Americans from Oregon, Washington, California, and Arizona.

A total of 13,997 Japanese Americans were held at the Heart Mountain Internment Camp during World War II, making it the third-largest "town" in Wyoming at the time. On the barren, windswept corner of northwestern Wyoming, there is a rocky outcropping called Heart Mountain, a bleak formation made up of limestone and ancient dolomite.

The Heart Mountain Relocation Center is one of the few relocation centers with buildings and other remains still standing today. The camp was also the site of American history's largest single-draft resistance movement. It reflected the resistance of the people confined there who had lost their civil liberties during the war because of the fear and prejudice against them. At the same time, a number of those confined served in the military from Heart Mountain and received many awards and honors for their service, including the two who received the Medal of Honor.

Driving through the park again, we stopped for a moose sighting but didn't get a great photo. Judy looked out her bedroom window back in Jackson at the Edwards' home to see this.

August 12, 2022

Our time together ended, and we said farewell to Judy, Gloria and Ross. Ray and I began our drive back to Indiana, taking I-80, but came to a complete standstill after a few hours on the road. When the traffic started moving again, we eventually passed a large truck that had burned beyond recognition. Later we saw a pick-up truck in the same condition. Our overnight was in North Platte, NE.

We planned to make the return trip in two days, but with the delays on our first day, we began wondering if we could make it. We saw fewer road construction delays, so we made good progress, taking I-29 to Kansas City and driving across Missouri through St. Louis. We finally pulled up our driveway at about 11 pm and opened the garage door to see water squirting from our hot water heater.

If you've reached this paragraph, thank you for reading a lengthy post. I began writing on November 8 but finally found time to complete it today. In case you are wondering, we did get a new hot water heater. The trip to Wyoming was our last big trip of 2022. I'm not going to cover the previous months of the year, but my goal is to write more regularly in 2023. Happy New Year!