Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this hot and sticky day here in Iowa. I'm sure the corn is loving this weather. Us, not so much. But we can't really complain since we have air conditioning in our car and in our house. Joel does some porch sitting early every morning and our resident rabbit is not at all phased by him. He stretches out on the grass puts his paws on the cement lifts his head to the Sun and just dozes. He and Joel have agreed to share space not really interacting but sharing just the same. We haven't seen many cardinals lately but we hear our resident wren singing at times. We have birds in the backyard that must have a nest because they go after any squirrel that is nearby, pecking at them, flapping their wings at them, squawking at them. Two little birds, probably sparrows, going after one big squirrel.....and  the squirrel is losing the battle!

Today our oldest son, Matt turns 53.  He has had a challenging year but continues to move forward with determination and integrity.   Love you son.  Happy Birthday!

 On Thursday I decided to clean another bathroom, washing the floor using my foot. I started cleaning floors this way when we lived in the Philippines because our Filipino yard boy would use a coconut husk and his foot to polish the floors in our house. It was a lot easier than getting down on your hands and knees. So in smaller rooms like bathrooms I have done the same. The problem is now my back doesn't really like that game of moving back and forth across the floor with my foot. I'm not ready to give that up so I'm talking to my back and moving forward. I actually googled Philippines, coconut husks,  and floors and sure enough there were videos of people using coconut husks and their feet to polish floors! Evidently it still is done there 50 yrs later! 

Joel is making the wood fill in behind the side trim for some bookcases in the local Frank Lloyd Wright House Interpretation Center where our neighbor is a volunteer. Our oldest daughter was pretty tickled to hear that. She loves art and architecture and was impressed with Frank Lloyd Wright's houses and hotel here in town. We have one in our association called a usonian house. It is not my style with very few narrow windows.  It is plain and stark to me but the people that built it were extremely precise in the way they wanted it done and they're happy with it. I've thought about what kind of house I would want to buy or build at this age and I'm just thinking a smaller size one level with no vaulted ceilings.... we've had enough of those! Our home has a very open floor plan with the ceilings 30 ft high at the top and that is where all the sound and heat goes. Pretty to look at but not practical.  I do like smaller spaces that are cozy like a sunroom or a small family room. When I was 11 and lived with my mom, there was a large empty closet space with a window that I called my own.  My bed was was the living room sofa so this was my own little space where I had my dolls and my books and it felt cozy and comfortable. I enjoy our home but there are no cozy spaces like that here. We do have large windows and beautiful views to the outdoors though!

Joel has been biking and I have been walking.  I made Joel a blueberry pie,and we had blueberry muffins from the 10 lb of berries from the Mennonites.  They are less sweet this year for the first time but good for baking. We still are searching for shoes ......guess we are fussy!  

I am still managing to cut Joel's hair with one wonky eye.  Today it went well, so that's good.  I clipped his ear once a few months ago but he still wants me to keep being his barber.  Oh boy...

We watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last night well off and on I guess because some of it was very bizarre obnoxious strange and definitely not for the common people! That is just my humble opinion! I'm looking forward to watching women's beach volleyball this afternoon. For some reason it's one of my favorite. Joel is going to try to find archery. Of course we're excited to watch gymnastics too.

Time to get lunch going here in our corner of the world.  Grateful for a full fridge and cupboards, our electric grill, and appliances.  Grateful for biking and walking, blueberries, and baked goodies.  Grateful for Filipino memories with floor washing, and being able to wash a floor with my foot!  Although those days are coming to an end!  And that's ok.Grateful for cozy rooms of comfort and childhood memories.  Grateful for our resident birds, rabbits and squirrels.  Grateful for Joel's FLW volunteer project.  Grateful for phone calls, texts, emails, and pictures shared.  Grateful for all this and so much more......

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this beautiful Sunday morning here in Northern Iowa. We just attended outdoor worship and it was a lovely day to do so. Our temperature will hit 80 today with gentle winds and some sunshine until the rain comes back later this afternoon. Everything is in full bloom this time of year and it's wonderful. 

 We just had our first meal of corn on the cob so the corn is "in bloom" too! The corn is ripe! Ha.  We picked up 10 lb of blueberries from the Mennonites on Friday so we are enjoying those too. Blueberry muffins taste great!  Nothing like seasonal produce.

 We had a special time this week with our oldest daughter and son-in-law who came to visit Thursday afternoon and left Saturday morning. Usually our visits include a house full of people so this was a nice change for us to have some one-on-one time. Our daughter Bethany loves art and we went to a local Museum on Friday so she could see what was gracing the walls there. We also drove past the Frank Lloyd Wright House and hotel here in town. And saw a few of the many sculptures that our little Mason City has throughout the downtown. You can actually take a walking tour of the sculptures quite easily and get your exercise at the same time!

Beth's interest in the art museum gave us a little kick in the pants to see what other things are here in town that we ourselves could go to visit. In the museum I enjoyed the flowers the most and all the different colors and textures and shapes and sizes. I'm not much into impressionism or Modern Art, or a few others to be honest but our Beth has a minor in Art History and art just speaks to her in a language I don't quite understand, so she is a good person to go to an art museum with! 

 Beth and Kevin brought along theie 120 pound dog Koda who is a gentle giant.  I think his head is almost as big as our little Levi's whole body was! He settled down well and found a comfey spot on the sofa next to Grandma at times.

 The rest of the week Joel and I mostly got ready for company,  walked and rode bike and just went through our usual routines. It's nice that the only medical appointment was one trip to the chiropractor.  

So this week at the top of our list for gratefulness is our daughter and son-in-law coming for a visit. For Joel being able to experience Thai food for the first time. Grateful for laughter at the stories told. For hugs in person. For a granddog and all that he brought to the visit. Grateful for nice weather, good sweet corn and blueberries.  Grateful for gentle breezes, worship outside and communion. Grateful for phone calls from family, textsand emails. Grateful for all this and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend !

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where the heat and humidity is the talk of the day. We're heading to near 90 with a "feels like" temperature eventually near 100. The air is very heavy and it's just a good day to be inside and give thanks for the air conditioning.  I know I have said many times before but when the weather gets like this it feels like we're back in the Philippine Islands where this was normal every day. So thankful that it's just a few scattered days of summer here in the Midwest. Humidity is not my friend! 

Speaking of friends we had someone stop by on Thursday for a visit. Her and her husband used to live here but now live up in Minnesota. Just one of the many connections is that her mom and Joel rode the same school bus when they were kids!  Joel helped officate at their wedding.  This woman's  husband died of cancer during the pandemic. Such a sad situation.  So, Joel had to leave for a pre-baptismal visit but  she stayed here and chatted with me.

 Yesterday my siblings were all here for a gathering. We try to do it yearly and definitely could since we're not that far apart from each other! It's amazing how life gets in the way. I have tried to explain my family situation before, and here is the short version.  I moved in with my older sister for the final time when I was 12 years old. Her four children who were nine, eight, five, and two at the time. They became my siblings as we grew up together.  I have my older sister Jo (15 yrs older) who  died a few years ago and my sister Jan who is eleven years older,  but I also have my four siblings that are a huge part of my life.  I am blessed to have so many people to love and hug on. We had a great time catching up.  We ordered Godfather's pizza and my sister Janelle's idea for everyone to bring their favorite childhood chips and childhood candy was fun. A favorite for our generation was Old Dutch potato chips but for me it was also Fritos. The Candy had quite a bit of variety with Joel liking the Payday candy bar and I the Heath bar.   What do you remember eating when you were kids! Do you have a favorite candy bar or chip that you ate when you were young?  Pne thing I remember having that was always a favorite for me in the summer was a Dreamsicle. In orange Dreamsicle... it was in a push-up that looked a lot like a paper toilet roll! Haha   For a real treat in the summer on Saturdays we would all take our baths and get in our PJs and hop into the car and drive to the A&W Root Beer Stand where we would have popcorn and mugs of root beer. That was so good! Those were the days! 

I'm still heading to the chiropractor once a week but the back is doing well. I'm walking but still at a slower pace. We got the cleaning done and a little baking. Joel has been biking quite a bit but often early in the morning because of the weather. And the mosquitoes are out of control this year! 

Short Scribbles this week.....Grateful for the visit from a friend.  Grateful for the sibling gathering.  Grateful for laughter, tears, and memories.  Gratful for air conditioning.  Grateful for "this too shall pass" kind of weather.  Grateful for a stronger back.  Grateful for biking, walking, working around the house, and going to outdoor church.  Grateful for Old Dutch potatoe chips. Fritos, Bugles, and Payday, Heath, Peppermint Patties, and other candy.  And memories of Dreamcycles.  Grateful for phone calls, texts, photos and so much more...

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturdlay's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you on this first weekend of July!  It is beautiful here!   Temperatures are near 80, with gentle breezes and sunshine.  Nice!  As we sit with the doors open we can hear the resident wren singing in the backyard.  Earlier a robin sang his own song.  The fencing around the hostas and daylilies have us enjoying the blooms they are both putting forth.  The deer and rabbits can't reach them. On the other side of that we have had plenty of rain once again getting 1.38 inch in around 20 mminutes on Thursday afternoon.  So far the river is staying in it's banks here.  Everything is very green...and damp.....

Last Sunday on our anniversary we headed to outdoor church.  We came home and made homemade pizza with a cauliflower boughten crust.  We each take a small crust and spread it with refried black beans.  (It may sound weird but tastes good!)  We add ground turkey, cheese, and black olives.  Joel also uses a red sauce on his.  A quick oven bake and there it is!  We also made homemade bisquits for strawberry shortcake.  A few texts and a phone call rounded out the day.  56 years of marriage!  We are so grateful!

Monday I headed to the dentist to check out a possible problem.  An x-ray and exam told me that it is probably a neurological nerve issue.....probably from the trigeminal nerve again.  Our dentist is a great guy whom we have known for over 2 decades.  When he walked in the room he said...."I have two words for today....JESUS NUT!"  I knew what he meant right away but it took Joel a minute or two? Ha... The Dr went on to say he was reading Joel's latest book and he had read the story about the "Jesus Nut" and it's importance when flying a Huey helicopter.   It hold the blades on and everything in place.  He said he called a family member and asked them..does "Jesus Nut" mean anything to you?"  Since this person flew Hueys, he replied,  "It means everything!"  The military actually call this "nut" that holds the copter together the "Jesus Nut".  We can only add......Jesus holds us all together too, doesn't he.  We had quite a conversation.   I just love how Joel's book is being received by people.  So grateful God is using it.  Joel actually has a Jesus Nut that sits on his desk in his office.  

Wednesday I saw the new chiropractor.  He worked in a new area which has me a little sore again.  We need to work out a couple of kinks to be in sync on what my body can tolerate. We chuckled when Joel mentioned he had heard the Dr. had been in the Military....the Marines.   Joel said he was in the Air Force 8 yrs. during the Viet Nam era.......and the Dr., ex-Marine replied, well, your wife did say you were old!  Ha  Wednesday night we were able to watch the fireworks again from our usual spot in front of our living room window.  The view is not perfect but it is still a good place to enjoy the show.  On the 4th we had a good meal, Joel went for a bike ride, and we enjoyed the TV celebration at the Capital for awhile.  It was a quieter 4th,  We tried to watch a movie but after 15 minutes we looked at each other and said...."NOPE".  Not for us.  

Our boundaries for movies are pretty narrow and we like it that way.  This week has been mostly game shows, AGT, Northern Exposure, 4th festivities, Sister Boniface, etc.  We watch at night mostly....besides Jeopardy at 3:30.  I know few answers but hope to keep expanding my mind.  Thus the daily Wordles, Connections, Spelling Bee, The Mini Crossword, and the google Waffle game.  Do you find them challenging and fun?  Well, mostly fun.  Connections at NYT can get me sooooooooo frustrated!  Moving on.......

Getting back to the 4th.....two of our children became American Citizens on the 4th in the 80's.  They were older due to us moving around so much.....It was nice though as they were old enough to really exerience it.  The govenor of MN was there which impressed our son...he had to have a picture with him.  I can still see what they wore that day as they received their citizenship all dressed up in red, white, and blue~  

So today I am giving thanks for our memories of a special citizenship day.  Grateful for our country's freedom and all those who fought and those who died to guarantee it.  Grateful for all the freedoms we have and the reminder to not take them for granted.  Grateful for our dentist and our conversation with him.  Grateful for "Jesus Nuts" and Joel's latest book.  Grateful for biking and walking, a new chiropractor, church outdoors, fireworks from our living room.  Grateful for 56 years together.  Grateful for all the phone calls, texts, and in person conversations.  Grateful for all this and so much more................'

Enjoy your weekend!