Saturday

 Today was a day when the morning flew by with a whole lot of work and the afternoon flew by with a whole lot of almost nothing.  Well, there was something but not much. 

I slept till 6:30 and then there was breakfast.  I grabbed the clippers and off to the garden to do some snipping for the altar flowers.  There were mostly grasses, a few Lenten Rose stalks and a few B.E. Susans.  The car was loaded once again with all of the Oehler flowers and our garden fillers.  We made it to church by 8:20 and I headed to the Gathering Room for flower arranging.  

All was finished by 8:50 and I was off to the Community Rm for Soup Kitchen workday.  Most of the gang was there working already and the work continued on till 10:30 when all was in place ready for the 11 o'clock hour.  Heidi and I headed back into the sanctuary with the flowers. I took a lot of pictures.  

                                            One similar to this is on the left side of the altar.                                                                           Another arrangement is in the chapel where the first service is held. 

Then it was back to the Community Rm with most things in place including at least 12 plates ready for folks to pick up when the doors opened at 11.  The line was long.  We served a wonderful, thick and tasty beef stew, mixed vegetables and a desert, which was greatly appreciated.  The food lasted till 12 PM with enough for all. We served nearly 45 people with a few coming back for seconds.  We did run short on carry out meals.  54 meals were prepared for take-out with most folks taking two meals.  

We closed at 12 with folks leaving before that, and a handful of late comers finishing their meal at closing. 

                         The first of many cleome that will be blooming throughout the summer.                                                                          Only God could make this flower.

It was a busy morning.  I had my usual lunch and then of course it was slow down time with the TV  playing while I was sleeping.  Around 2:30 I suggested Aldi's knowing that the cupboard was empty or perhaps it was the refrigerator this time. On the way we hit a big down pour of rain.  A really big one but onward and forward for us.  We shopped but leaving the store the rain storm was even worse.  Doug said he just needed a bar of soap, and I needed a hair drying towel, even though Doug drove the car right to the door of the store.  The air conditioner nearly froze us on the way home. That was turned off.  We managed to carry everything into the house and fill all the spaces that needed filling.  I hope we're good for two weeks. 

                                  The first of many flower buds found on the pond plant.  
 

Then it was back to the chair for more naps.  Then time to check out the garden finding a few things bowled over from the rainstorm.  

The Monarch caterpillar needed a renewal of eating material.  The Swallowtail was busy taking care of himself on the dill, still growing bigger every day.  

                                     Monarch with a clean cage and fresh leaves again. 

                                   Tigar Swallowtail moving a lot and munching away on Dill.  

An interesting interruption during the morning were texts from the Michigan family sent during their road trip to the UP of Mich. for their two-week vacation.  There is always a picture taken after crossing the bridge and here is this year's picture taken after Adam joked about Grandma.  

                All three seem to be ucking it up but Jacob, the kid in the middle is almost beside himself. 

The evening should be a quiet one.  I'm not feeling like a 4th of July party but just happy to have contributed  hopefully to someone's well-being.  Day is dying in the west, heaven is touching earth with rest. Another song from my childhood.  There are so many good church song memories that leak into my thinking.