IN Carmel

 Busy day.  That's what I like.   Up and at it early.  Well, 7 something.  Not so early.  I forgot to get the paper from the box so no crossword finished early.  Happened in the afternoon with a brain that got stuck more than once.   The morning was a fun one getting the church space ready for Bob Schilling's 90th birthday party.  Woo, woo. I can't post any pictures because Bob reads the blog.  Good to remember that.  So hang in there Bob. Surprises are coming. Bob's daughter Jennifer is here from Washington St. and his son Derek is here from Switzerland.  His other two sons live here in Indiana. Rita's two daughters live here in Indy. It's been a busy few days for the Schilling family already.                                         Three colors of Asters blooming.  What a beautiful fall flower! I looked in on the sanctuary while at church and since tomorrow is World Wide Communion Sunday I changed the pulpit hanging and dressed the altar before I left.  I also

 The day started with a hoot!  The owls are back.  In fact, I think there were two different kinds.  One sounded like a hooter and the other could have been a little screech owl.  What a wonderful way to start the day.  It was my reward for getting up early. Then there was all the usual stuff that went well making it a very good morning.                                                          Looks like a lot of fun at Michigan State. I've been thinking for quite some time what I wanted to do with the garden beds next year.  The decision was more annuals like zinnias, bachelor buttons, marigolds and more cosmos. Common ordinary flowers but a little more work with planting annuals. That meant that some of the Black Eyed Susans had to go.  And some  Autumn Joy succulents didn't look so well. They needed a new beginning.  This was the morning to start.  The ground was easy and the temperature was perfect. Before calling it a day I worked in three different beds making changes for

 All the morning stuff with successful wordle and crossword.  Woo.  Worked on all the PT stuff with an ice pack at the end.  Just got to do it!   Then at 9:30, I did it again at the Ortho Indy PT office.  It is a  great workout with some things accomplished in a different way.  Keeping it fresh.  Nothing till next Tuesday.                          A great Daliah from Daliah Hill in Midland Michigan.  Beautiful gardens.  I went on to Meijers and got a few things for us and some for R and B.  It's fun to buy some things that Doug would never eat.  Back home and soup making.  Then a stop at R and B's again with a few lunch things and a lot of talk.   Come November we'll once again be on our way to another great family reunion in Georgia.  Yeah! Back on the road and out for lunch with my three teaching buddies from at least 40 years ago when we were much younger teaching first grade together at Forest Dale El. Sch.  Friends through thick and thin. They always want to hear how I

The morning started with most of the usual stuff.  Rain predicted so the ride for Eric was a ride to the bus in Nora by car.  But...and a big something new. I hit an opossum on the way to Erics.  So sad.  They are tick eaters so we need them.  But opposums mozie along and the mozie was too slow or should not have started across the street at all.  Be grateful that I don't have a picture.  It wouldn't have been pretty.                       Bygone spring memories.  They have spent the summer sending roots to other places                                                   making surprises appear in the spring again.  I'm ready for you bluebells.  At 8:40 I was on my way to Westfield for a second appointment with Ortho Indy taking my knee for a visit.  The direction at the first visit was to come back it it still hurts.  You guessed it.  The right knee was still complaining more than I would have liked.  I met a wonderful new to me Ortho Indy doctor who knew how to talk to pat

 It's been a very, very crazy day.  One a year is enough.  Well, maybe too much.  It all started with the usual and then went downhill after that.   The last bloom of my favorite hosta.  Most hosta blooms get clipped before they have a chance to bloom. But not this one.   A year ago I had an ITA or so I was told.  It would appear that it is now diagnosed differently by my current artery doctor.   I've had enough changing diagnoses one being with what kind of cancer do I have.  One doctor says something, and another says something else.   Who do I believe?  I'm not a doctor.                                                  A fall looking hukara. Most hukara bloom in the spring.  This morning I had an appointment with the artery doctor which means really two appointments this morning.  The first appointment was an artery scan. The second one was with a PA to explain the first one.  Today's first appointment went swimmingly.  The second went to the bottom of the pit.  When

 Another great night of sleep.  One never knows when that will happen so it's a great surprise to wake up after 7:30 any day of the week.   Crossword was wicked today.  I still have three word boxes that are stompers.  Wordle came through or I should say my brain came through with wordle.                            Two little succulent pots once again renewed themselves with no help from me.   PT at home took a bunch of time again.  I carried water to new beds which seemed a bit easier.  I must be getting stronger.  The stairs still are a problem with little change seen. It's ouch time.  So we'll see what happens this week with PT at the office tomorrow and Thursday.  Another tomorrow thing is a visit to Methodist Hospital for another Corroded Artery evaluation. We'll see if there is a new information  or if it's the same old, same old.  I think this body is out of warranty. I'd like to pass the responsibility of maintenance on to someone else. No such luck.    

 Up and out of here.  Early church and late church.  Did them all meaning I read the first scripture at both services.  Heidi and I changed out all the candles and all is ready for the next Sunday's service.  I talked with a few people about participating in the God as an Artist Sunday.   Grandson Noah acolytes almost every Sunday.  After church, both Andrew and Noah have bell practice.                   Their church involvement is commendable.  Andrew attended the chili pumpkin dinner.  After the second service, the altar flowers went to the Schilling home.  They were much appreciated.   Back home and I did a quick pumpkin clean out getting ready for the Fall party at church with a chili making and  all things involving a pumpkin contest   In between all of this preparation there was a Covid 19 break for a booster shot.  Back home and more preparation with a final hour bake at 425 degrees. This was the outside with the inside filled with rice, onions, kidney beans, egg plant, and

 Busy day again with all the usual early morning stuff.  The crossword was murder.  Didn't finish it in the morning but worked again in the evening.   I planted seeds way too late so next year I've got to get with it. Such a pretty blue true to the real flower. I needed to be on the way to church by 8:40 for Bread and Bowl once again.  For a while there were 4 of us, than 5 and finally 6 for just a little while.  All are needed for sure.                                                    Yes, you are correct.  Another pretty Cosmos.   Once again we did 54 carry-out meals and 36 eat-in meals.  We need more food so some of the carry-outs became eat-ins.  It's always a Guess Who Is Coming to Dinner event.  Before I left church I did a check of the sanctuary.  It's ready for service tomorrow.  Flowers arrived, candles are all in place. The flowers this week celebrate the 90 birthday of Bob Schilling, our director of music for more years than I can remember.  I think it'

 Today was labeled easy.  I pretty much ignored the garden.  There were a few handfuls of dead heading and then there was picture taking but that pretty much covers the garden.   One of the first to bloom in the spring and still with us in the fall.  Dianthas.  Sweet little flowers.  All the usuals started the day.  I did some dusting, straightening up and then a little patio sweeping and dining room sweeping.  Its so easy to track bird seed into the house from the patio.  Got that taken care of getting ready for the Maddy visit.                                                                                   An unnamed butterfly. Maddy appeared around 12 and we did a whole lot of talking.  It's so interesting to hear what 20-something people are doing in Denver. She is doing a great job keeping up with her Indy friends as well.  She left around 2 meeting up with old church friends later in the day.       Some small unnamed and neglected succulents that look pretty good growing al

                      Such a surprise to see the soft pastel color around the yellow flowers in the center.   What a start to the morning.  I woke up a little after 8 !!!!!   That felt good even though I missed half the morning.  Well, maybe not quite.  So I piddled around once again deadheading and making a few contributions to B B. One of these days you won't hear anything about B B. You will need to wait just a bit longer.   I felt like this little butterfly was putting on a show for me just asking to be photographed. I did my PT stuff which took about 45 minutes.  I have some homework and believe it will be well worth it.  More clipping with more decisions of what was ready to get pitched was snuck in after  lunch.   Another surprise when this Monarch almost flew into me.  I guess I was in his flight path.   Early afternoon I got a phone call from one of my favorite friends, Maddy.  We found each other at church when Maddy was about 3 years old.  The game was about who could sn

 It was a great morning of moving the last of the garbage stuff to Suzie's B Blue.  And then there was just a little more snipping of Iris leaves.  They are all ready for spring now. Another Big Blue is on the way.                                 A reminder of my mother who always had snapdragons in her flowerbeds. The morning included the P T appointment.  There was a very long assessment and then working once through the assignment.   I have lots of homework to do and I'm working toward compliance.  There are two sessions a week for four weeks to strengthen muscles around the knees and more.  There is work to do.                                               A gift from Eric Russell.  He gets a spray now and then.                                                                                               This year a touch of orange among the orange peppers.   It was an easy afternoon with trip to the post office mailing a package to Kimmy's niece Mykenzie who is pregnan