July 13 & 14, 2016

Sympathy again to France

July 13 & 14, 2016

The grandchildren loved watching the birds this morning.  

The birds were very active and we saw a great variety of kinds of birds.

 

As I have mentioned before, there are things I don't enjoy hearing, and today's news out of France falls in that category.  I just don't understand a person wanting to kill large numbers of strangers.  As someone posted just after the slaughter in Dallas of fine upstanding police personnel, "Come quickly, Lord."  Such a terrible loss of lives.

Probably a juvenile long billed thrasher

 

The last two days have been busy around here.  On Wednesday I went to the office about 9:30 so Ron could go on a 10:00 job.  People kept coming in and it was about 10:30 at least before he was able to get out of the office to go do the job.  He was gone a couple of hours.  The day was busy with assorted customers placing some orders.  I left the office about 3:45 to pick up our grandson from my mom's house and take him to the church.

 Chachalaca - have not seen the baby for a few days.

 

After taking our grandson to the church, I returned to the office and ended up staying an hour past closing time trying to figure out the bank statement again!  The credit card processing company is driving me nuts.  They keep breaking up their deposits into 2 or 3 different deposits with no logical reason that I can understand.

Great Kiskadee

 

I finally gave up for the day and headed home while Ron headed to stay the night at his mother's house.  I had a few stops to make on the way home.  Ron came in later saying his mom said she was ready to stay alone.  We will see how it goes. 

Tufted-Titmouse

 

I went to the church about 8:45 to get the grandchildren who were staying with us for a couple of nights.  Our daughter - in - law was there picking up the two youngest so that she could take them home.  One of the others was spending the night with a friend so I only had 2 for the evening.

The four flowers are all on one bush. 

 I know I have picked 4 others off this bush this week.

 

We came home, got something to eat, and went to bed before too long.  Everyone was tired.  I slept in the recliner and woke this morning to the two grandchildren playing quietly by my chair.  They are always quiet, but if they had been noisy, it would not have waken me since I do not wear the sound processor when I am sleeping.

Zinnias need to be picked tomorrow morning

 

After a while we got dressed and we picked up donuts for breakfast.  We chatted over our late breakfast.  Then about 2:00 I took them with me to the office so I could make a bank deposit and work more on the bank statement, but I was constantly being interrupted and gave up.  I needed to go to the bank and to pick up the grandson who was at Mom's and take him to the church.  From there, I went to the bank to make a deposit and then picked up lunch for us on the way home (at 4:00).  We ate and then it was time to take them to the church for VBS.

While they were there, Ron and I met our friends for supper.  It was a good visit and a much needed time out together.  After coming home and weeding the garden some and hauling the debris, it was not too long until time to pick the kids up again.  This time I had 3 to bring home.

They had supper when we got home and then watched a movie while I relaxed.  Tomorrow, I hope to be home with them all day.  I will settle the bank statement on Monday!

July 11 & 12, 2016

Feeding the Workers

July 11 & 12, 2016

Serving line for supper for VBS workers.

 

For several years, various Sunday School classes have prepared supper during Vacation Bible School, for the teachers and workers.  This allows those who work all day to go right to the church, have a good (free) supper and then be on time for VBS.  Monday was our class's turn.  We served chopped brisket burgers, potato salad, baked beans, chips, cookies, and tea  or strawberry soda for the workers.  The smells in the kitchen were delightful.  We had an excellent crew of workers. It is a good ministry - a little hard for those of us who work to get off early and be ready to serve at 4:30.

My day was hectic from start to finish.  I needed to be at the office a little before 9:00 because Ron had an appointment to get his eyes checked at 9:15.  He had locked up and left when I arrived at 8:50.  He was not back at the office until well after noon.  Mom, my sister Janet, and grandson Jacob, stopped by the office to see if I would be able to take our grandson to the church at 4:00. 

Some of the decor in the room where we were serving.

 

While Ron was at the shop for a bit, I went to the grocery store for cookies for the dinner at the church - just have not had the energy or time the last few days to bake cookies.  Then picked up some lunch and returned to the office to eat.  Ron had an emergency job he had to leave on as soon as I got back.  Then when he got back, I went by Mom's and got our grandson and took him to the church and stayed to work on the meal to be served.  A little later, Ron locked up the shop and went to finish the emergency job and never did make it to the supper at the church.  My sister ended up taking a taxi to the airport to return home since I was so busy.  Hated to not get her to the airport, but she is always quick to say she can take a taxi.  I am glad she was able to be here for a few days.

Before the meal, I helped some as they got things ready, but they had plenty of servers without me.  That type of situation just is overwhelming noise for me. We were serving in the gym and actually chatting at a table was okay, but in the serving line I just could not hear and would not have been a good server. 

 Such great decorations!

 

After all the workers and the kids praise team had been served, the kitchen crew sat down to eat and visit.  Our Sunday school class has such hard workers.  It was good to get to visit with these good friends.

From there, I headed home and it was a while before Ron got home.  I had brought him some left overs and he ate while we caught up one what each other had been up to all day.  He already got his new glasses and I didn't notice.  That was another thing he had to do in between the emergency job and the rest of the day.

Workers can come eat anytime between 4:30 and 5:30.

 

Tuesday morning I got up, moved to the recliner and slept another hour and a half even though I had gone to bed early last night.  I needed to cut the zinnias and gathered over 85 today.  I took them to the office and made 4 arrangements there.  I love having fresh flowers on my desk at work.   

I left the office about 3:30 to pick up our grandson and take him to the church.  He is helping with a variety of things at the church for VBS.  He loves working to keep things moving smoothly.  I hurried back to the office because Ron had a 4:00 appointment.  He left and I had the rest of the day to myself at the office. 

Since Ron would not be back to the office, I had time to do a little cleaning.  I did some sweeping and had hoped to mop, but ran out of time.  Mom had sent me a message that our grandson had forgotten to pick up a package that she needed me to mail.  I would not have been able to go when I picked him up so I just went by after work and picked it up and took it to the post office.

When I got home, I decided to do some weeding in the zinnia garden and got a good bit done before the heat caught up with me.  I came in and cooled off before going out in the backyard to fill the feeders, ponds, and fountains.  I kept thinking how hot it was out there and needed to be sure the birds had plenty of water. 

Our hard working grandson on the right in the yellow shirt. 

 The yellow shirts are the workers.

It was a good evening.  I was able to talk to three of our four sons and one daughter-in-law.  They are all doing well.  The couple in San Antonio is getting ready to visit the couple in New Mexico for a long weekend.  I am so glad they are going to be together.  

These last two days have been busy, but good.  We will pick up the younger grandchildren tomorrow night to spend the rest of the week here at our house.  Fun times ahead!

July 10, 2016

An Outstanding Sunday 

with Family

July 10, 2016

Children's Choir introducing the theme 

song for the week of Vacation Bible School

Last night I was up late house cleaning since I had ignored it for so long.  I was having family over for lunch.  We had our son Jeff and his family (7 children and his wife), Ron's brother and sister-in-law, and my mom and my sister, Janet.  That made 15 for lunch.  Our Sunday School class was faithful in their attendance and only a very few were out today.  The church service was well filled and the sermon was excellent. 

Decor in the auditorium

 

As soon as the service was finished, Ron and I left and made a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things I needed for lunch.  Everyone arrived about 2:00 for lunch and it was delicious.  We had a good time visiting and it was a relaxing meal. 

Submarine for VBS.  

Theme: Submerged and going deep into God's Word 

 

After serving ice cream (Blue Bell of course), Ron and I took the two younger girls out to see the zinnia garden.  The oldest girl had gone to the church to work on things for Vacation Bible School which was starting this evening.  Our youngest granddaughter is 4 years old and tall for her age.  Many of the zinnias were taller than she is.

What fun to cut it all by herself

 

We cut 103 flowers today and that put the count from this patch at over 1,025.  The middle child in the family is middle of all the children and middle of the girls. (the child below) She first was more fascinated with the unique detail in the flowers and the little differences in them.  She pulled out her camera to get photos of them.  Then the three of us started cutting them.

Today's flowers were large and lovely.

 

When we brought them in, the youngest and I made two arrangements for Mom to take to two friends in the rehab hospital.  Then she and I made two others; one was long stemmed zinnias and one was short stemmed zinnias. All four arrangements looked great and she had fun working on them. 

 My young photographer.

Then the middle child came in from watching the birds from the sewing room windows and she made two lovely arrangements.  One is pinks, purples, white, and yellow zinnias and the other was reds, oranges, and yellows.

Selecting and cutting the flowers

 

Before long it was time for them to all to get ready for Vacation Bible School.  Six of the seven children are going to be here for VBS.  The oldest son went home with his parents and he was playing the special music tonight at their church in McAllen.  He is a gifted, well trained pianist and was being accompanied by a flute, violin, and another instrument, but I forgot what instrument. 

The fun of cutting flowers.  Her shirt went well with the flowers.

 

The second oldest son will be staying at my mom's and helping in VBS.  The remaining five will stay at their other grandmother's house for a couple of days and then at our house for a couple of days before going home Friday night after the closing night of VBS.

Entering the craft and snack area

 

Many in the church have put a lot of work into the decorations for the week.  All of them look amazing.  I know all of the children who attend will have a great week in store.

Detailed work done on the decorating

 

Ron and I  took the kids to the church and then came home to a quiet house.  I napped for just a few minutes, but that is fine because I need to be able to go to sleep tonight since I need to be at the office early tomorrow.

The craft area for VBS

 

As far as hearing, I went out into the vestibule of the church during the sermon and with the wire from my sound processor to the little radio I use, I could hear better out there.  At the table at lunch I did better than usual and maybe it was having the children all in the other room and they are all getting old enough not to come in every minute or two to ask a question, or say they aren't hungry.  The one who usually
eats the least had me serve his plate generously and he at very well.

One of the arrangements

 

It was a good day all around, but I will be in bed early tonight.

The zinnias were taller than she is.

July 7, 8, & 9, 2016

We Are Thankful 

For Our Policemen

July 7, 8, & 9, 2016

Often I tease Ron about the long line of police business cards he has taped to the door frame of his office.  When you have to call the police to report a crime, after they have talked to you and taken your information, they hand you a card with their information on it and a case number you can use to get a copy of the police report for information for your insurance company.  We have a large collection of those cards.

 This was a new shade of pink in the zinnia patch.

 

We get vandalism at our place of business.  When we call the police, normally they arrive in a reasonable amount of time.  We have found them to always be polite.  Sometimes we wish they would take more information to give us the hope that they think they can catch the bad guys.  For the most part, the problems we have are minor and more of an annoyance than a major monetary loss.

Another new pink today.

 

We have a lot of customers who are law enforcement employees.  We normally thank them for their service.  I will often ask what particular type of work they do.  We remind them (as if they didn't know) to be careful out there.  Sometimes Ron won't charge one of the guys for a copy of a key and he will tell them all he wants in return is for them to catch a speeder or someone running a red light.  They will often set up across the street from our office and keep busy catching speeders. 

 Loved this bright pink.

 

We had a good relationship with our policemen.  We let them know that we understand the dangers of their jobs.  Just last week on one of the days when the heat index was about 110, I mentioned the heat to one of them and he tapped on his chest indicating that wearing a bullet proof vest adds to the heat.

More pinks and purples blooming today.

 

These men work hard.  They see the worst of the world.  They see children who have been abused, teens high on drugs, elderly people who have become disoriented and wandered far from home, and now they constantly have to be on the alert for someone who is looking to hurt them.  I hope you are praying for and appreciating the law enforcement people in your area. 

 Ron's sunflowers are doing well.

 

Besides the police, and sheriff deputies, we also have many Border Patrol officers in our area.  They face the dangers the others do as well as some that are unique to their jobs.  It has to be a special calling for them to put that uniform on every day and go out to protect us.

 A different variety of sunflower.

 

All these thoughts come to mind as I think of the terrible attack on police officers in Dallas last Thursday evening.  How sad that anyone would think it was a good idea to go shoot strangers who are working for the good of their city.  That is just beyond my understanding. 

 I love the variegated leaves on this hibiscus.

 

This afternoon I talked to our son in Dallas and he said the last couple of days in Dallas had really been sad.  Dallas has had a good reputation for their police department.  Their men and women on the force have been respected by most in the city.  It takes only one man to undo years of good hard work. 

Sparrows on the fountain.

 

I mentioned in a blog a long time ago that there are times I don't want to hear things that are going on around me and things in the news.  This is partly that kind of situation.  I am a news "junkie", but I have watched very little of the news the last few days - only enough to keep up on the basic facts.  It is heart-breaking to listen for very long.

Green Jay getting his Saturday bath.

 

Friday was a busy day at the office.  Ron was out for a couple of hours in the middle of the day on a job.  I worked on my reports for the accountant and they are finished except for the the bank statement.  It is late this month.

Little sparrow ready for a bath.

 

We met our friends for supper Thursday night and had a good visit.  The restaurant we are going to is noisy.  On Friday morning, one of my sisters flew in to spend a few days with Mom and on Thursday evening one of Ron's brothers and sister-in-law arrived to spend a week with his mom.  It is nice for them to give Ron a break.  Ron has spent hours and hours the last couple of weeks working on his mom's yard.  She has a yardman, but Ron has been cutting back trees from around the roof and cutting out dead limbs.  This afternoon he worked on cutting some and his brother hauled the limbs.  That helps.

A pretty white zinnia.

 

Friday night we had supper with my mom and sister.  The place we eat is a lot quieter.  We are usually ahead of the crowd and have a favorite quiet table in a corner.  My sister said she would take care of getting Mom to the grocery store.

A bee checking out the sunflower.

 

Today, I have stayed home all day except that we went for a few minutes to an estate sale.  I have sewn, cleaned, done laundry, and spent time in the yard doing a little work.  The birds have kept me entertained.  There have been so many sparrows (lots of them are babies).  There are grackles, bronzed cow birds, green jays, great kiskadees, and an assortment of doves.  They have emptied the feeders today.  Oh, yes, the chachalaca family was out for a stroll this morning. 

Ron moving sprinklers in our yard.

July 5 & 6, 2016

I Love Short Work Weeks!

July 5 & 6, 2016

Tuesday: I got to the office mid-morning.  Ron was out on jobs a couple of times.  I was working on paper work and have lots more to do.  I need to do some filing and the monthly report, but since I don't have the bank statement yet, I will have to wait.

Before going to the office I cut almost 100 zinnias and then took them to the office and made several arrangements there.  It has been very windy for about 3 days and with the heat and the wind, the flower beds are quickly drying out.

One of our customers in the late afternoon was the man who lost his building to a fire a few weeks ago.  He is having trouble getting things done in a timely manner by the insurance company.  We talked for a long time.  Ron had waited on him and I joined them in between customers.  He was telling us of other crimes in that area and that is frustrating.  I know it is everywhere, and expect to only get worse and the economy gets worse.  There was a fire yesterday morning not too far from our office (it was abandoned) and there was a strong smoke smell most of the day.

When I got home yesterday after work, I spent some time in the yard.  Things needed to be watered, ponds and fountains needed to be filled as well as bird feeders.  With it being so windy, the fountains that spray water, lose a lot of it blowing out. The filled feeders brought a nice variety of birds. 

Wednesday:  If I were to say to my husband, "I love short work weeks," he would say "Your work days are all short, doesn't that count?"  My days get shorter and shorter with him staying with his mother at night (his brother is arriving to take care of the next week).  Since he is not here to get me up in the  mornings, I am often late to work.  I may have set a record today - 12:15.  I got up at 8:00, took my shower, dressed for work, ate breakfast, and went to sleep.

I really wish I knew which medication is causing me to be so sleepy or if it is a combination.  The main one is suspect is my antihistamine.  But, I only take 1/2 of one before bedtime each night.  I think part of it could be that when I complain about being so sleepy all the time, the doctors tell me to take the meds at night.  Whereas I used to take all but one in the morning, now I take most at night.

Anyway, once I got to the office, I spent time on several projects.  Ron was trying to get some paper work done and we had more walk-in customers this afternoon than usual.  It is so hot, I think unless people must get out to run errands, they don't leave home.

Ron was out a couple of times on jobs and/or errands.  I really did not do a lot with the customers today.  I worked on a deposit and took it to the bank on my way home.  Ron had said he probably would not come by the house before going to his mom's, so I was relaxing after taking care of things in the yard.  He showed up saying he finished his project sooner than he expected.  He had supper before he went to his mom's.  I finished reading the book I was on.  It is a series called "Hymns of the West".  The one I read was good and I will try a couple of others. 

Last night while talking to our daughter-in-law in New Mexico, she told me she had checked on line and found that I have a TV channel she thought I would enjoy, that I didn't know we have.  It is Hallmark Mysteries.  There are shows like Hart to Hart, Murder She Wrote, and others that she knew I would enjoy.  It is nice to get some of the old TV shows that are clean stories.

July 3 & 4, 2016

I Love Long Weekends!

July 3 & 4, 2016

Baby Chachalaca

 

Sunday School yesterday was a good time of our group sharing the study of God's Word.  We had almost everyone there except for one couple that was out of town and a couple of others out.  After I picked Mom up for the worship service, I told her I was going to be out in the vestibule for the service, but I had a headache that just got worse and worse and I had Ron bring me home.  I went to sleep and woke up at 3:30 without the headache.

I spent the rest of the afternoon doing a little cleaning and some sewing.  I read for a while.  Ron did a lot of work in the yard and I was out there off and on, but I did not stay out long.  It was very hot and humid.  I spent time making chicken salad for us and for Ron's mom.

New quilt pattern, Crosswalk, that I am working on.

 

This morning, Monday morning, Ron came home from his mom's early and woke me up so we could go to a birthday breakfast for a friend.  There was a nice turn out of friends on this holiday morning at 7:45!  We met at Rudy's and they had made arrangements to have Rudy's warm some cinnamon rolls for us.  Most of us ordered breakfast tacos and then had the cinnamon rolls. There were very few others in the place at that hour on a holiday, but a couple of firemen had come in and the lady hosting the group served cinnamon rolls to them and the few other customers who were there.

During the party, I had clipped my wireless Cochlear mini mic on the birthday lady who was sitting beside me (on my deaf side).  Ron had gotten a phone call and came over to tell me something.  I could not hear him and told him I thought it was just all the conversation at the table.  We stepped away from the table, but of course, my friend still had on the microphone.  As I have mentioned before, when someone has the mic on, it limits my ability to hear others.  I finally realized what was going on so I got the mic from my friend.

Mama Chachalaca

 

What Ron was trying to tell me was that he had gotten a call that his mom was having a nose bleed and he was going to check on her.  Since she is on blood thinners, that can be a more urgent problem than my nose bleeds.  He left and while gone texted me a couple of times to say she was still bleeding.  I texted a couple of suggestions, one of them being to call the visiting nurse who checks on her.

Eventually I had to ask some friends for a ride home, but it gave them a chance to see the zinnia garden.  I had cut a bunch this morning and taken an arrangement to my friend.  The couple who brought me home could not believe the height of the zinnias. 

Eventually Ron came home and said that his mother's helper had arrived and been able to get the nose bleed stopped for his mom.  Ron spent the day working in the yard and I took a nap and then did some cleaning and sewing again.  I enjoyed watching the bird activity in the yard this afternoon.  I was able to get some photos of the little chachalaca chick. 

Baby Chachalaca

 

I had made a large bowl of the chicken salad yesterday so I could send some to Ron's mom.  She had eaten some yesterday and enjoyed it.  I think she should have enough for a couple more meals.  I have been eating that yesterday and today.  Ron got cleaned up after all the yard work and then got a call his mother was having another nose bleed, but her helper was there and again had gotten it stopped. 

Other than these nose bleeds that Ron's mother had today, she has been doing very well in the 10 days she has been home.  She is delighted to be in her own home.  She is able to be up and around to meet her basic needs.  She is sleeping well, eating well, and not having breathing problems.  We are thankful  for that.  The helper will take her to the doctor in the morning about the nose bleeds and the blood thinner.

There have been a few beautiful fireworks visible from my sewing room window this evening.  I miss going to see big displays, but that wasn't possible this evening.  We don't need fireworks to celebrate and appreciate the freedom that America has been able to enjoy for so long.  Those freedoms seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate these days and I pray that people will be praying and seeking God's wisdom, between now and the election time in the fall and vote wisely in order for America to continue to be the land of the free and the home of the brave.

July 1 & 2, 2016

Three Years of Sound

Brought to Me by My Cochlear Implant

July 1 & 2, 2016

Ron when they activated my Cochlear Implant and it worked perfectly!

Three years ago today, I had the Cochlear Implant activated so that I could hear, after 6 months of deafness.  It had been surgically implanted about 3 weeks before it was activated.  The above photo has to be one of my all time favorites of my husband.  This was when I responded to the audiologist so that she and Ron knew I could hear.

 This tiny little frog was on one of the zinnia leaves this morning.

 

I would have to say that the hardest thing for me to understand while I was deaf, was the way it impacted those around me.  I knew it put a heavy load on Ron when he had to take over so many of the things that I had always taken care of for us.  I knew the impact it had on me.  They could all still converse with one another, but I was often left out.

One day I commented to one of our daughters-in-law,  that it was so hard for the grandchildren to deal with it, especially the youngest ones.  She pointed out it was hard on the adult children also.  Some friends and family quickly adapted to finding ways to communicate, others did not adapt as quickly. 

There were so many challenges during that time and a lot of stress.  There are still challenges, but they get easier and easier.  In the beginning I was told that most progress would be in the first 2 years, but I have continued to see progress this past year, especially in the area of music.

Back to the current times.  Hot!  That is the main feature of July.  It is already living up to its reputation.  Today and yesterday were both very hot and humid.  My husband, who wears his hair very short, came in after working in the yard this afternoon and teasingly told me his hair was wet after working out there.  I had gone out to let mine dry a day or two before and it was wetter when I came in than when I went out. 

Friday at the office was the first of the month so I managed to get the statements ready for our charge customers.  I mailed them yesterday.  It is always a good feeling when I actually get them mailed on the first of the month. 

Ron was out for several hours on a job or two.  I stayed busy with customers while he was out.  He spent a good bit of his day working on restoring a couple of used safes.  We ate supper with my mom and then I took her to the grocery store and we both got our groceries.  Ron had already gone to his mom's by the time I got home.

Today I slept until about 9:30, did a few chores, went back to sleep and slept until 3:15.  During the evening I cooked some chicken to make some chicken salad.  I arranged the 65 zinnias I had cut this morning, into four lovely arrangements. 

The chachalaca family was strolling through the yard this afternoon as the parents showed off their new baby bird.

On such a hot day, the birds appreciated the water features in the yard.