IN Carmel

Do you think that I am really looking forward to tomorrow.  If you thought that, you are correct.  The procedure is a bit uncomfortable I've been told but do I care.  Not one bit.  So...one more sleep.  Let's get this train movin' again.   Church this morning.  Eric got the candlesticks down from the attic.  A little bit of work each Sunday helps a whole lot with Advent prep..  More to go.  This afternoon I'm watching the  Colts Tenn. game and it's tied and almost over.  They are the  two top teams in their league.   I did a bit of digging this afternoon for the jonquils.  Ground is pretty good but there are a few roots to get out so it's Doug to the rescue.  Then I'll get them planted when that's completed.  No rain so far posted for the week.  Ugly bulbs now but will be beautiful in the spring.   Continuing to stitch and sew.  It's a mind pleaser.  The beat goes on....

 Two more sleeps and then news sent to Dr. Schneider that I hope will provide some needed information. Woo.  Looking forward to that phone call or visit if the call doesn't come.  I really stayed busy today.  What a gift.  I'm giving you all a snapshot of what kept my mind in a good place.  I'm working on three 18 inch blocks about my friend that will be put together for a couch throw.  The background are flannel shirts that her husband wore. His death was this past spring.  The word Sunrise is the name of a big book club that she attends each week at St. Luke's UM Church....Time 7:30 am .  The name on the block are names of all 37 women who are a part of the book club.  The other blocks will also have stitching when I get more information.  Fingers crossed so as far as I know she doesn't read the blog.  I have no idea how long this will take to finish but I'm on my way.  The six pillow tops have been delivered. ...

 I wish some weather would not be such a noose around my neck.  Rain just can be that noose.  Maybe it's not the rain but other pending actions which has been pending for a very long time.  Maybe it's not rainy weather but the waiting.  I checked my records and I heard there would be more doctor work to do the last of Sept.  So I waited.  You just got a recording of how my brain works.  Trying to figure out all of what has happened and what is to come is not something I'm good at.  Lately, there have been knots.  I guess that's why doctors exist, I suppose untieing knots.  Three more sleeps and information will be gathered.  That's a very good thing.  Then just two more weeks of waiting till I visit Dr. Schneider for a plan.  My life flows on says the song.  The knot shelf is empty.  I need to store my knots there.   Last night was a great choir practice time with friends planning for All Saints Su...

 Yes...It's another rainy day and the Rainy Day activity has been a lunch date with three of my very good long-time friends.  We all taught 1st grade together eons ago it seems at Forest Dale.  The first school I taught at in Carmel almost 40 years ago.  What good memories  The noon luncheon started at 11:30 and ended at 1:30.  Today they did most of the talking.  I was in the listening mood.  Talk just wasn't too much with me.  We started this tradition when we were teaching and it just didn't go away.  Our next get-together will be in December.   This morning before the rain began I harvested a few more seeds and took a few pictures.   Yes.  Another Daliah blooming.  They just don't give up.  So...I take a picture.  I would imagine the frost will get them soon but really not predicted at this point.  So this flower just keeps on giving.   I think this afternoon I will start another...

 It never hurts to plan ahead.  The day planned for will happen even if it now is a number of days away.  It's one of those Things take the Time they Take things.   That leads me to write that this morning I hit the trail taking me to where gift cards moved from the store and now are waiting in the hutch for Xmas.  Woo..even before Halloween.  That's planning ahead.  So most of the Xmas but not quite all is in the bag!!!.  Just something to cross off the to-do list.  It's a brain/mind easier.  The grandsons love to do their own shopping.  I'm all for that.   Yesterday I visited with friend Marcia in the afternoon.  And then Karen dropped by and then Beth dropped by and finally, Nancy dropped by.  Two of the three I had not seen in at least 10 years.  They once were North people but jobs have taken to other places.  Woo..did we talk!  Such unexpected planning brought us all together.  Marc...

 What made this a beautiful day?  If you guessed garden...you are right.  Another morning clipping and throwing.    Yes...two more garbage cans are ready for pickup.  And there would be more but what's left is snapdragon, zinnia, and lantana still blooming.  I just can't cut what's left when they are adding beauty and interest to the garden.  I will let the frost get take them.  Speaking of frost.  It seems that this is a year for a very late frost. The garden continues to produce cherry tomatoes, parsley is prolific and the Rosemary is beautiful.  There is still lots to enjoy.                     I'm visiting a friend this afternoon and here is the garden's gift to her.   Being with these friends is what keeps calling me to the garden.  The huge rainfalls of the last few days and cooler temperatures has been a gift bringing the colors to their best..  I thin...

Since the beginning of the year life has taken some interesting unplanned turns.  And that same journey of turns will probably filling the rest of the year.  This morning I am feeling a bit of left out of the planning part.  I'm not in charge of the schedule.  Someone else is determining what is the best decisions to bring about a return to good health. I've followed the plan. .  My degree is in education, Teaching is what I do.  I'm not a doctor of medicine.  I know nothing about what to do except to follow good advise.  That I think I have done that as well as continue following. .   You might agree that I am a doer.  Count me in on projects. That's my visual arts church work.  Thinking ahead and getting things ready for the plan is what I love to do.  Thinking ahead with plans  at this point relating to health issues is not on my calendar.  I must wait for the expert.  It's a  discipline that do...

 It's a  huge gray rainy day.  Leaking gray skies and  believe me one  will  get wet when running through the church parking lot with no coat on trying to find a tree for protection.   Yup...that's me for sure gathering knitted hats and head bands to give to Phyllis for the children at school 43.  .  It's one of those before the winter comes the creeks must be full days.  The creeks should be full.   Church day again and today unlike the Sunday I had vertigo, I participated.  I love doing that.  It' was poring water into the baptismal fount. during the spoken introit.  Scripture reading...MY FAVORITE.  What an honor to read something recorded more than 2000 years ago.  The last part was that 5 minute speech about worship and the arts.  This is the month of church budget planning.   I could have done 10 minutes easily but preacher said 5.    And the first service folks ...

 This Saturday is one of two Saturdays I work at our church soup kitchen.  We really don't serve soup but it still has that name since once we did serve soup.  Today was a yummy casserole with beef, rice, yummy peppers and a few vegetables. We addded vegetables and cookies and a piece of bread along with a cup of grapes.   I should say the casserole smelled yummy since all the food went to the folks that stop by for a lunch.  I left a few things at Goodwill that had been dropped off at the church.   The neighbor family came over for a visit showing some real interest in the fish that had been in the pond all summer.  It was time to empty the pond and they took the fish home with them to add to their little outdoor pond.  The problem is these fish have been delighted with the dirty water full of things to eat that had accumulated over the summer months.  They have died every year when added to clean water.  It's still to be dete...

 This morning I am reminded that the garden is still giving.  Here are two pictures that show their gifts.   This is the first year I planted fall leaf lettuce.  It's such a gift in salads.  It will be stored in the refrigerator in my salad spinner, a gift from my sister, and will be delicious in the salads next week.   The dalias are beautiful doing their best before frost.  They are a bit lame in the stalk but still beautiful.  They get to stay around for a while.   Other things are being added to the garbage cans again.  The beat goes on.   This morning before 8:30 I fed the birds, washed out the birdbath, cut the bottoms off the legs of some pants and hemmed them.  Wouldn't need to happen if my legs were longer.  Seems to be a continuing problem.  Chopped off lettuce and gave it three washings as my mother taught me to do.  Worked on the Sunday speech and that's a lot of stuff.  Motiv...

 Still at it and lovin' every minute.  Such a great diversion thinking of the family that will open these gifts in the making.  So I keep stitching.  The diversion comes as a gift to me when I need it most filling that time issue. .  So gifting continues.   A walk through the garden added more stuff to the garbage cans.  I was ready to pull some zinnias showing me their last days and then along came a loan smaller in size Monarch.  So I didn't pull. The four Monarch pictured on the Butterfly bush left the garden a few days ago.   A recent new blooming Cleome with a new color to the garden had its picture taken.  What a gift.   The day seems to be empty of car trips for me but Doug has a few things scheduled.    This afternoon, although the furnace is on, the furnace will get its annual inspection.  Better now than the middle of the winter.  This evening is another choir practice Thursday.  All...

 At times Mary Oliver gets in my way.  Other times she lights the way.  The in my way times is when I hear her reminder... Things take the time they take... with the word time disturbing like a sore tooth.   There are huge reasons for time.  Getting the health message correct.  Preparing one's mind for the coming health message are just a few relating to time.  But there are times when my wait patience needs a bump up.  The cloud I wrote about yesterday needs a bit of wind for me to see the blue.   So I sew keeping the machine fired up with creating,  remembering to fill my mind with something other than waiting.  There is no store-bought pattern to this sewing project.  The pattern for a health solution perhaps is in that same category.  More time to make more discoveries seem to be the direction needed.  There's the word time again .   The big household change yesterday was washing windows. ...

 This morning the walk through the garden with clippers had that gift of wet cold feet added to the experience.  I found zinnia blossoms dryings.  When checking for seeds, some seemed to be mature.  With some hope and luck, there will be seeds ready to plant next spring for next year's  Monarch butterflies.  This year's zinnias gifted me with next year's seeds.   Never too early to plan ahead. I'll let the flower part dry completely and then pull the flower peddles of and the walla.  Seeds for planting.  Lots of seeds for planting.   They are a healthy black color.  I hope it works. Another new to us friend is fixing the damage that appeared in the bathroom when the ceiling fell as the roofers pounded.  The rain leaking through was the culprit.     Another helper to make things right.  That's always appreciated.   The needlework continues with taking some stitching away and putting in som...

Friday night I unpacked the electric throw.  My terms for a wonderful friend that was with me through some rough times early this year.  It's a small electric blanket that I keep my chair stored in a wonderful basket made by our friend Dennis, the long-ago basket maker, then potter friend, and now retired to muse.  It was the biggest basket I could get in the car sitting between Doug and me on our way home from our annual vacation in Copper Harbor.  Yes, the blanket is back under better circumstances.  Thanks be to God.  It's Doug's job to decide when the furnace comes on and it would appear he hasn't decided as of today.  Fifty-three years of marriage has taught me not to fret the small stuff.  There are plenty of jackets in our closets.  When to turn the furnace on is indeed small stuff in this marriage.    Just a quiet Sunday. I'm not including football games in that last sentence.  There were plenty of good close games, the...

 Teachers receive many gifts from their school children.  My favorite one and still with me physically and at times filling my mind is a little book given to me on June 9th 1994.  Nicholas Holub, a second grade student has gifted me with pictures and words that have become dear to me.  I thought I would gift you with parts during the week but no...You get the whole book this morning.   The title is She Who Loves a Garden   Illustrated by Mary Engelbreit She who loves a garden loves the wonders of creation and appreciates the joy that flowers bring.  She who loves a garden loves the joys of simple living and the peace on which no man can put a price.   She who loves a garden likes to make the earth more lovely and enjoys the beauty she's contributing. She who loves a garden has a reverence for all creatures, from endangered whales cavorting in the sea, to the warm and furry friends that make their home within the forests, and the songbird...

 Woo...the trip to the mailbox for the morning paper was a faster than usual trip.  It could be approaching jacket wearing time soon.  The crossword puzzle is sort of finished .  I left a few boxes for Doug to tackle.   Yesterdays short trip to the fabric store rewarded me with a huge savings.  Fabric I needed was more than 50% off.  What a deal.  Then it was on to Wild Birds.  I love that place.  There is a new bag of sunflower seed  and more cakes of suet for the birds.  Our last years old and somewhat broken bird feeders were pitched and now there is a new one waiting for visits.  It took a Chickadee about 5 minutes to fine it yesterday.  I think we could use another feeder in the winter so that idea will be included in the Christmas list.  I am such a poor list maker.  The kids will be happy.   Today's work or I could say fun is getting that needle busy sewing, sewing, sewing.  The la...

Yes...the day keeps on adding to the day before.  It's been a good week.  It's that need for information that was satisfied on Monday.  I would say the apple doesn't fall...you know the rest.   My observation is that my mother was addicted to information.  She spent an extra year in high school studying because college at that point was not possible.  She returned to college in her 70's participating in a fine arts study earning college credit.  I remember her enthusiasm for information.   No phone calls yesterday but lots of morning texting with a friend sharing my observations about the four Monarch that were busy with energy building nectar probably getting ready for the trip south.  It was really entertaining for me as well as my friend, Janet.  Rosie came by with flowers for a patio visit and with her gift and more garden flowers, this is a part of the dining room that has an added spark of color to the table.  Rosie ...

 Yesterday was a gift of a somewhat normal day.  No trips out, no telephone calls, no surprises.  Just a day that felt like a comfortable old bedroom slipper.   The sewing machine continued to do it's magic discovering new ways of creating keeping me busy filling my mind with good thoughts.  I finished the sixth piece of fabric sewing.   Now on to the second phase of gift creating.   The garden got a walk through and the ground was in perfect condition to be fluffed again removing tiny little bits of weeds that were getting way to comfortable in their surroundings.  My body seemed to be a bit out of shape when digging with the little rake.  How quickly that happened.  Later in the day the patio became my resting spot with Monarch watching.  Our lawn folks were back for their weekly visit and the dad part of this duo talked and talked about his experience releasing his first Monarch just a few days ago.  Lots of e...

 Sometimes when out and about I see a truck with the words restoration added to their logo.  It refers to restoration from water and fire damage.  Restored to what was or maybe something new.   Yesterday I will call my beginning restoration day.  There has been physical damage and mental anxiety damage but yesterday the beginning of restoration was evident.  It felt ready to begin again.  I experienced that unstuck feeling. The foundation probably was laid while unaware. The package arrived filled with ambition to begin a project that used my creative juices filling the morning with a whole lot of try this, will it work, what beautiful colors, and that's good.  It's a sewing project that will bring Christmas memory gifts to a family.  How wonderful to be a part of that gift.  Sewing continues today and for more days ahead.   More restoration via phone calls and visits arrived.  Noah was here for the day via Kat's tran...

Trying to imagine how yesterday would go, whatever would fill the day, was  a complete failure.  I mean a complete failure.  Emphasis on the last two words.  It was a complete failure.  Did I write that already?   The roof did not need a new roof.  It was the neighbor's roof.  Then that roof did not need a new roof.  Communication just went down a crooked road with lots of hairpin curves.  Woo...Reconstructing that road was a major affair.  I would say a computer failure with misunderstood information entered by mear mortals.  Sometimes a GPS device gets it wrong as well.  At the afternoon visit to the Simon Cancer Center once again I connected with Dr. Schneider. That was a good thing.  What intense eyes and determined speech conveyed what he knew so far I was given  the plan.  My anxiety level has dropped from the high mountains peaks of the Andes to a seat beside the still waters.  My cup runnet...

 I've had years of thinking about the plan, often not taking time to write the plan but there were always plans when teaching.  No plan could bring disaster.  Planning is so important in just about every aspect of living.  Planning the garden, planning for college for the kids, planning meals in advance or not in advance, planning for retirement.  Planning is important for success.  The plan for the tumor removal took over a month.  Doctors schedules needed to be coordinated for surgery.  The operating room needed to be secured.   The plan to only do radiation took two months.  Today I hope to see what has been planned so far for this next project.  I know a bit because of a phone call.  Dr. Schneider's visit should shine more light on the darkness of not knowing what the plan that currently planned is.  As in the past, the planned changed. That happens.  Medicine is an inexact science. That must be kept in ...

 I'm am reminded of the call and responses song.  This is the day that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.  Yes.  Sunday is here marking once again the beginning of the week.  This week promises to be just a lot of new beginnings.  They just don't seem to slow down.  If Monday doesn't bring rain, it will be a second new roof beginning.  The 3:00 pm visit with Dr. Schneider at the Simon Cancer Center Clinic will happen.. Noah spending some great time with his grandma and grandpa because of fall break.    Together we may work at church in the Bread and Bowl mission work Thursday.   The beat goes on so to speak.   But the trap door of hurting hearts opens from time to time.  The disappointment of roof workers faces whose efforts did not meet the expectations of those who had hired them.  Was it a language barrier, leading to the inability to understand those expectations?  Were there...

 Yes the roof is going back on the roof but with some poor judgement being made with removing the old roof while expecting rain which did come, we now have leak marks and a ceiling that has fallen in the bathroom.  So the goal for me now is to chill.  The removal of that part of the roof was not to happen until today knowing that rain was predicted toward the end of the day..  So that's the not such good news from this address.  Phone called and text messages with pictures have been sent.   The good news with intentional mental thinking to steady the course is the privilege to attend a marriage event this afternoon. I have known Allison before she was born.  Logan, I don't know at all.  I've arranged the altar flowers for the wedding early this morning at church before working at Bread and Bowl, our food ministry.  My gift to them.   Such fun to be a part of such an important day for well known family in my life.  Allison'...

 Look at this sassy little tree rat with a huge mouth full making preparations for winter.  That walnut comes from the only tree in the neighborhood which is far from our yard.  .  It's a tree rat or you might say squirrel.  I've got to admit that he makes life a bit interesting with all of his chatter and antics.  Although he needs to eat to stay healthy, I'm not a big fan of feeding him from the basket that birds visit.  Those black sunflower seeds are supporting more than birds. Now for the swaddled-in love event.   This third chapter of health issues for the Russell's has been a bit daunting. There have been some dark days.  The head surgery was long with a very successful outcome.  Thanks be to God.  Although Doug's surgery could have occurred early in the year, it needed to be delayed until the fall until I was well..  His surgery was successful.  And now we have the third chapter.   Things take the ti...

 Waiting is not my favorite thing to do.  I'm a get-it-done person working ahead whenever I can and that's most of the time.  Shop early for Xmas, work on menu ideas long before I need them when visiting at the monastery in  Georgia spending Thanksgiving week with brothers.  Preparing fills the waiting time.  You get the idea.  Teaching 6,7 and 8-year-olds can bury teachers in seconds if preparation is lacking. There is little waiting time in that setting.  John the Baptist of the Bible said, Prepare the way of the Lord.  But how does one prepare for what one doesn't know what to prepare?  The waiting time is empty of preparation.  This morning I did something I didn't think I would ever do.  I went back over a few old postings.  When I got to Mary Oliver's words, written in those February days after surgery, I heard words I had forgotten.   Don't worry, things take the time they take.  Don't worry.  ...

 Mary, the mother of Jesus,  Mary K. my sister,  Mary McDonald the composer of such melodious church music, Mary, found in the pew at North, Mary my dancer friend and Mary Oliver, the unique and gifted writer of poetry who can  thread words through nature and experiences and more that shapes the heart. . Today Doug and I made a trip to the library at my request to find Mary Oliver books.  Today I need Mary's words.  I want to be filled with them.  They keep me on an even path.  So Mary is visiting now with  five of her poetry books.  I need Mary.  She boosts my spirits filling the places that need to be filled pushing the questions away.  It's Mary's day.   Wanting to know a bit more about the needle biopsy scheduled for Nov. 1,  I did a bit of checking on line during one of those sleepless times last night.  Great information with the second procedure called a core biopsy.  Being a person that wants in...

 Today I made a phone call.  With a return call back to me, I learned that the surgeon of my head, Doctor Moore who ordered the scan is quite satisfied with what appeared on the scan with the exception of the area on the breast. Seems to be a mixed review.   So now I know that I am firmly attached to Doctor Schneider.  That was the case near the beginning of the story but reattachment seems to have occurred.  My hope is that the area is small since it was not reported after the first Pet Scan in February.  This is a saga with an end not in sight.  November should bring more answers.  So get those prayer rugs busy again.  Some day I know you can take me off the rug.    Walks in the garden continue even on a rainy feeling day.  It's a snip here and there.  The asters are at their best being a very super good fall flower.  Pink                         ...

 It's time to sit a spell so I'm spelling while I sit.     I would say the morning was productive, rewarding, and refreshing.  Others might say not so.  The morning was spent with three other friends at church fixing, fluffing, and doing what one does when something looks tired and ready for a refreshing.   The west entrance has a change of banners and a large bulletin board filled with Kenya Umoja pictures.  The window outside the NW door to the sanctuary has Masi figures with more Umoja information.  It's Kenya time at North.  I always get on it when Kenya is mentioned.   The east narthex area has been decluttered.  My goodness.  That's happening just about everywhere people congregate either at home or abroad or church.     We did some Advent Christmas talking and know what items we will be using or think we will be using.   So the morning was very productive with words and actions but...