IN Carmel

 This was truly a lazy day.  Not crazy, just lazy. After another night of wonderful rest, the rest continued because it was Sunday for one reason.  Sunday rest doesn't always happen but today it did. I think my body is telling me thank you. I started the day in the usual way and until it was 10 o'clock I knitted.  That's one way to spend a lazy morning.  We were off to church.  I submitted bills for Palm Sunday palms.  Then it was off to the sanctuary to hear the choir rehearsal.  A new song with so many good words. Sometime ago one of the choir members asked what if anything I missed not singing with the group.  My answer was the words.  Of course, words go with notes, but I missed the words more than anything.  My bulletin has the words printed so I say the words as the choir sings them.   Our minister writes a study guide each Lenten season to go with the sermons for that season of the year. This year each Sunday in Len...

                                      One of the banners that was removed the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.  I'm celebrating today with a day of rest.  One day early but I just might as well have two in a row.  The celebration really began last night with 8 1/2 hours of sleep.  Woo.  What a tremendous gift my body has given me.  I must remember to gift back to what I live in.  Lesson learned.  Remembered?  I hope so. The exhaustion count is high and lasts long when I land in the ditch after doing more than I should.  This week I wasn't very good. In fact...Bad, bad! .                          There really is proof matrical arts is in my life although I must admit...I'm slow.                   ...

  Now isn't this just beautiful.  It's a peek into the kiln with mugs still more then hot enough to remove.  The kiln in this firing held a few more than 80 mugs. Kimmy is the spinner of the mugs.  Glazing was divided between Kimmy and Jared. All mugs are available by accessing an Etsy site.  And on Friday, she (Lela) observed the third day of rest even though according to the book there was one day only of rest on the seventh day.  Not being God, this body needed a bit more time.  It was a very short night.  Thinking back to 2021 there were three months of not sleeping in bed but in a chair after the big surgery.  So, I just took to the chair at 1:45 am as if it was 2021.  No problem at all.  I watched reruns having not seen them in the first run.  There were short naps and the day came around just as I knew it would.  Some things haven't changed.   The morning was easy with a 9 o'clock meeting I hoped would be ...

This may be a short message. I'm beat so resting the fingers might help. There was a little knitting this morning but not a whole lot. I think I got to the halfway point. Who can remember? Not me. I looked at the calendar realizing that I missed my primary doctor's appointment by 45 minutes.  I called the schedular and low and behold, the appointment had been moved to next week.  I forgot to change it on the calendar.  Dah.  If I had checked the portal, I could have figured that out.  Woo.  Lucky me. Then I was off to the Y taking a body that once again had more sleepless moments than I had wished for. I'm calling it over tired. I'm a product of my mother who did the same thing that I seemed to have copied. Words from my sister. Work like crazy and then take two days to recover. Understanding moderation would help.  I would say Tues. was the crazy day and now I'm living Thursday. I did about 10 minutes of NuStep to get the body started. Then it ...

Help...It's mid week already. It feels like the week has just begun. Remember that whisper I talked about yesterday. I've come to realize my hearing aids were acting up and the whisper was really a scream. So, yesterday's tired body was carried into the night which was one that just didn't work so good. Sleep started around 1:30 with many awakes added to the rest of the night. Today was another dragging day because of the disconnect. I guess I earned that disconnect with all the stuff that happened yesterday and last night. Today I had enough sense to take it easy. And I did. Screams get my attention. Whispers, I ignore. I made one run to Meijers mid morning getting gallons of water for the CPap machine along with more protein drinks. They are serving me well so I will continue. There was no trip to the Y but I did do a little in the garden. Already one weed is taking shape and I hope to get ahead of it. It's where milkweed will grow so the solution is to d...

 Today was another busy day.  What made it even busier was the fact that I couldn't remember the time for a Y class to meet.  Up until today I have been 15 minutes late.  Today I was off a whole hour.  Dah! So, after the morning stuff at home, I made an early appearance.  Of course, I filled the hour partly on the Treadmill and partly on the NuStep.  Then it was balance class time with a body that whispered..."what are you doing to me".  I didn't pay much attention to the voice but had a good workout morning times three.  For the fourth time which was scheduled, I sprinted out the door.  Enough was enough.   Home for 15 minutes for lunch and then I dropped Doug off at I U North for his monthly shot. I went on to church for a meeting with Darren and two other folks that are helping somewhat with his move toward a Doctorate Degree.   Then it was back north to pick up Doug at I U North and HOME we came.  But not for...

 Woo.  It's been a busy day.  It started with getting up and then getting out after all the morning stuff. Last week I spent an hour or so at church making decisions and pulling out all the things we would be using today.  That proved to be the biggest plus in a long while.  I arrived at church at 8:30 and moved all the banners to where they needed to be hung.  Other things were placed near their to be home during Lent.   Kathy, Eric, Heidi and James arrived at 9 am.  They have been with me for quite a while so the need to explain what needed to happen was minimal.  And there were five busy, busy folks with Lent in mind knowing where things needed to go.  By 10 we were finished.  I call that a first in the history of preparing the church for the season of Lent.  Heidi and I made a final walk through and we were out of there!  There are a few new things in new places so the words, keeping things fresh coming from mento...

  Sunday, another good day starting with a slow morning.  That's a good thing.  Then it was off to church celebrating the Transfiguration of Jesus and Confirmation Sunday and the last Sunday before Lent that signals the packing away of alleluias not to be read or sung until Easter.  I think it was one of the best ever worship hour making each one of those mentioned blend into a meaningful worship service.  The music was what I would say part of the glue that made it all work.  Jill preached a great Transfiguration sermon.  Darren had the beginning and ending of the service with packing away the alleluia words the children colored while the choir sand the Ukrainian Alleluia. Alleluia banners were carried to the narthex as the service ended. It all brought tears to my eyes along with perhaps a transfiguration moment for me when all was said and done.   After church I found take out clams for delivery to R who labels them and met Kathleen to mak...

  Busy, busy day with never a dull boring moment.  Life is good.  I was up early finding two valentine cards to greet me on the kitchen table.  I live with a very thoughtful man. There was time to do what needed doing at an unhurried pace.  I was off to Bread and Bowl at 8, stopping at R and B's with two containers of chicken veg. soup.  I left them on the porch where R could find them easily, on the welcome mat.  Then I was on my way to church hitting every green light except one.  Woo.  a record on the time and staying within the speed limit.  Doug would be impressed.  I worked for a while by myself getting food in the oven and everything else in place needed to fill the take home clams.  Heidi came and we went to the sanctuary to talk a bit about tomorrow's service.  Back to the kitchen with Sarah Ellen arriving.  We filled 57 take home containers today adding many other things to the take home bags.  At 11 we...

 Different stuff happened today.  It was all good stuff which makes it even better stuff.   The day broke before I woke up.  Woo.  That happens but not very often.  I'll take it even though a smidgen of the morning was over and gone.   There wasn't much time before the 9:00 appointment with Michael, my great PT friend.  There was a recheck on vestibular stuff and nothing showed up.  Added to the take home assignment were exercises that strengthen what needs to be strengthened to prevent more vestibular stuff.  MORE HOMEWORK!  but happy to whatever keeps the ugly giant away.  There was no after shopping.  Doug scheduled today as Tax Day.  I've never attended but today I was on the way with Doug to Noblesville to our tax man.  I thought we might need to meet each other.  So, we did.  It never hurts to get a few important things in my head.  Tax info has been submitted to the government. Fin...

 Well, it was the same old same old.  I woke up, brushed my teeth and washed my face among other things such as taking a lot of pills to get the day going.  And the engine revived up when all was ready to go.   This was a Y day but before that there was a little knitting, bird feeding and more of the usual.  Doug had to fetch his own paper in this morning.  I don't think it hurt him.   I started at the Y with the Living Strong group. Then leaving early, I stopped at the office to get some questions answered which made me late for my 11:15 class once again.  Angie is so gracious and welcomed me in as usual getting me started on the rowing machine.  I met a new pardoner.  We proceeded around the circle using many things to build strength with repetitions including rest.  That went on till 12.  I was on to the treadmill and at 12:30 started the martial arts class once again. I have pictures to post when the blog will let...

  On to Wednesday.  Where has the time gone?  Maybe gone with the wind might be one answer.  I was talking with a friend a few days ago that spend time with family in Nebraska and South Dekota.  There is nothing to stop the wind there and it blows a lot and with furry.  So what is in the news column today?  The alarm went off.  I didn't set it but I did learn to turn it off so it stops ringing every Wednesday no matter what.  I think it was another Jared move not wanting me to forget him.  How could I?  His birthday is Saturday and there has been a lot of fun over the years with that kiddo.   There was breakfast and just quiet for a while.  Then off to the knitting store for more yarn.  The pickings were a bit slim in my basket.  I bought some paint pens for a project coming soon with my Live Strong friends.  Back home again and soon I was on the way to church meeting Heidi and James for a good work day...

 Busy day after a good night of sleep.  Now that's a good combination. I sat for awhile with coffee in hand and then started another scarf with no hurry in mind.  The plan was to participate in two classes at the Y today with a repeat of the martial arts class on Thursday including another Living Strong get together.  The calendar says that will work.   There was a surprise with one of my neighbors being in the strengthening class.  We were pardoners.  It promises to be a lot of fun.  Then there was time for a half mile treadmill walk and then on to what I call sort of a Japanese martial arts class.  That one is harder with specific moves in specific ways.  Good training for the brain which mine has been without for way to long.  Both sessions have teachers that I would say know for sure what they are doing and how to teach those skills.  Woo, Hoo.  Those two classes went from  11:15 to almost 2 with a little bre...

 I'm getting a "sign into my google account" sign when wanting to post pictures.  Bad, Bad!  So now pictures tonight.  We'll see how this goes.  Another start to a five-day week.  I know...there really are seven days in the week.  But the five still are sort of alike.  Well, sort of.  It was an early wake up and I just went with it.  Breakfast, Pills, Toothbrushing.  Most of us do a little of each at some point in our lives.   I decided to make a run at finishing the scarf I was working on and that happened.  The basket of scarves went with me to the Y and Living Strong.  Arriving early, I was able to get my mile walk in before we met.  It wasn't going to happen after because of our monthly church gathering for lunch at McAlister's.  When the other ladies arrived bit by bit, everyone picked out a scarf they liked. My goal for the morning was to get over some humps or holes I thought were holding us...

               Add at least 12 more and you get the idea of the entertainment that is seen at the window. There is not much to write about this Sunday that is different than any other Sunday.  So, we'll see how this goes as it comes out of my head on to my fingers.  One can be surprised.   It was so wonderful to wake up in a warm bed thinking there wasn't a reason to explode out of that bed.  So, I just stayed put for a while.  But the clock said it was time to move at one point.  Then I did.  There was breakfast, paper fetching and bird feeding.  The blue birds were a delight again.  I yelled come and get it which they followed that instruction with a grade of A+.  I started a new, you know what.  Moved the burp bag to the car for Ginny and noticed it was time to leave for church.   We honored three ladies today who came to church almost as babies, now in the late 80's and...

 I'm a little late starting the blog but there was an important happening early evening.  So here goes the attempt.  It was a good morning for a Saturday.  I still enjoy Saturday even though all the other days  feel like a Saturday when I was working five days a week.                                        Nigela, One of the earliest flowers to bloom.  It self seeds every year! There was a whole lot of bird watching, feeding and thawing bird bath water.  The Blue Birds really like water with their food.  The others don't have water so much on their want list unless it might be for play in the bathtub time.  There were hordes of Blue Birds this afternoon filling the feeder way over the number indicated safe for the space. The fire marshal was nowhere to be seen. I picked up the new yarn to knit and then realized that it reall...

 Another good night of sleep.  There is no answer to why, so I'll just take the good night.  I started another scarf with some pretty yarn knowing I didn't have enough but started it anyway.  I got pretty far before it was 8:30. Time to start thinking about a trip in the car to PT at 9.  I discovered it takes a 5-minute chunk of time to make the trip.   I met my two friends Michael and student soon to be teacher Daren. It's 7 years of training before one can call themselves a PT. They are doctors at that point.  Daren took over.  I did 10 minutes on the Nu Step warming up the muscles and talking to both of them while pedaling.  Then the subject was vestibular ear testing.  And with testing completed there was evidence that the right ear was in trouble.  It didn't surprise me at all.  I thought something was going on having learned to compensate for the dizzies.  Crystals found where they belong in the ear create good ...

 Today had some interesting parts a little different than other days.  It started out to be the same old same old as JB would say.  That's short for Jared Bryon.  So, here goes the day.                                                Now, this could not get any prettier.  A beautiful Hibiscus. Up at about the same time with breakfast, TV and pills.  The same old same old for sure.  Then let's add knitting to the S O S O.  I finished another scarf, so the basket is filling fast since I didn't empty it completely when giving Ginny her bag full.  That took me to Living Strong time which started a bit later this morning.  I arrived later also.  Most folks were there but some were not.  And the morning continued with a whole lot of visiting on many topics. It was a social morning for sure. ...

                                     Sitting on the common milkweed.  The garden is full of milkweed.                                                                                 The past couple of years has seen a big decline in numbers.   After all the getting up stuff was completed, I ubered Eric on to work.  Their car is being serviced today and they will should be back in business tonight.  Then it was to the sweatshop also known as the sewing/computer room.  The sewing machine did a lot of work with 20 more burps finished and enough fabric torn into strips to sew another 30 burps. The marking was fin...

          I chose what I thought was a file of winter pictures of a few years ago.  I guess it's not winter. Another early morning.  It is what it is.  So, today it was rise and shine a little before 6.  There was breakfast and some TV morning stuff continuing with knitting until I stopped when the scarf told me it was half done.                                      This is why a dad wants strong sons.  So they can get a free ride.  I moved on to burps, put 20 together and then sewed the first go around. I managed to turn them all right side out but then left them to finish on another day.  That took care of the whole morning. They are time consumers.   Rita asked me how I get the ends with such a beautiful curve.  I told her I make a line to follow tracing around a bowl.  But making almost...

Today there were some things that happened and some that were to happen that didn't happen.  So, I guess the word is flexibility although sometimes what is planned and not happening is a bit disconcerting.  Super mornings with a Stanley full of coffee from the Jared pot.  We chose to never get a new table cloth since the one you see was on the first ever camping trip to the U P.  Eric was 2.  Now he's a little past 52.  So, what happened.  I finished the 10 burps started yesterday and I did a lot of ripping fabric to prepare another 25 burps.  I think they are pretty cute when all the steps to completion are finished.  I bagged up another 100 burps that I'll deliver later in the week. Information about our Y program Living Strong continued to be in the mixing bowl with the beaters turned on high. Will we meet or will we not meet. It was just a bit frustrating with a decision made and then changed once again.  I've lost count how many the...

 A few things the same, and a few things different.  That's the Sunday news.   Up early and I completed the final sew around to 10 more burps.  I bundled up 10 scarves for the new mothers in the Goodwill program delivering them to Ginny at church later. Then at 10 we were on our way south to church picking up Rita and Bob on the way.                       This is our Associate Minister Jill, mother of Zavier and deceptive in showing her age.                    She has pastored other churches and has worked in the hospital setting with hospice patients.                                        A woman of many talents, one being a deliverer of great sermons. Jill preached today. It was the first Sunday of the month celebrating communion.  Jill n...