Trial run

Thursday offered some time to further prepare for Don and Janice’s arrival.  First we went to the armory so Evelyn could do Zumba gold.  I had showered and didn’t want to get sweaty, so I went to the senior center next door.  On the way home we stopped and bought an 8 foot landscape timber to use for our bluebird house.  I used Gary’s post hole digger and planted the timber so we can see it from our master bathroom.  Bluebirds like to have a wide open view so the house will face a long open corridor between our houses.  Back to our preparations.   We laundered and remade our bed because we will let them use our room.  He is too tall to sleep comfortably in our guest bedroom.  We have moved all or our necessary clothes and toiletries into our guest bedroom.  We, in fact, slept in the bedroom ourselves to see if we have forgotten anything necessary to their comfort and compatibility. 

Catching up to date

Monday we went to the Armory because the Rec center is closed for 2 weeks.  Each year there are repairs to be made and the machines have to be serviced and the floors have to be refinished.  Everything has bee moved to the old armory where they used to be prior to the building of the modern rec center.  We joined Tim’s exercise class but didn’t like it any better than we used to.  Afterward we went to 2 groceries for more supplies for next week.  We hope this was our final trip before our guests arrive Saturday.  We came home and I took some branches to burn in Wanda’s barrel without success.  I will try again later.  Doris wanted to know why I thought she didn’t want any of the pokers.  I remembered that she had said she didn’t want me to put them anywhere.  I thought she meant she didn’t want them any longer.  I asked her to forgive me for misunderstanding her meaning but didn’t get the idea that she had.  I will give her a few days. 

Tuesday was our day at the hospital again.  Evelyn had a busy day, wheeling out almost 6 patients.  We didn’t do much more until the evening when Evelyn went to walk with some of the neighborhood ladies.  I watched some TV before going to bed.  We did take some of our clothes into our spare bedroom because we are giving our guests, Don and Janice our room.  He is too big to fit into our guest bed—it is too short for him.  We are getting excited for their arrival.

Wednesday we went to the armory again so that Evelyn could take the Zumba gold class.  I went to the adjoining senior center and made a couple of phone calls.  I think I may have found a less expensive offer on auto insurance but need to talk to someone to make sure that I don’t get less coverage.  I came home and finished burning the items in Wanda’s barrel.  I also bought a landscape timber to use for hanging our bluebird house in our backyard.  I also went to the nearby branch to dig some poker roots for Doris.  I took them to Doris’ and left them near her house.  We went to choir practice and came home for Evelyn’s walk.

Pictures from Emmy’s Bash

Tom and Stacy worked together very well on their part of the program.

Stacy is receiving the award for outstanding service to parents of special needs children.

The younger man is Amy Corrigan’s husband; the other gentleman is her father.  Emmy was the child of Amy and Don.  Amy presented the award to Stacy.

These are the sparkly red shoes worn by one of Stacy’s good friends.  I called her “Dorothy” for obvious reasons, Toto.

All but one of the dessert offerings we brought to the table to share.

Later

Some of Stacy’s clients that were in their video and were our “dinner” partners.  The Joseph is quiet, but Margaret was very communicative.  We really enjoyed them.  They have 1 normal child and 1 special needs that Stacy cares for often.

The live band that played far too loud at the beginning but underwent decibel reduction later.  They had written a song honoring Amy’s daughter, Emily (known as Emmy). 

There was a silent auction at which we bought 2 Calphalon bake ware sets that we don’t need at our ages.  We plan to give some of our old items to Noah if he wants them.  We also received a bag filled with many goodies since we had bought a table for the Bash.  We thank God for lending us enough material goods to enable us to support His work through contributions.

Last week’s whirlwind

“Monday was less busy, but we did talk with the Beeli girls concerning some clothes they wanted grandma to make.  It was slow,  but things began to pop Tuesday.  We went to exercise before going to the hospital for our afternoon of service.  We left early, changed clothes and drove to Asheville to visit Joann Fabric looking for patterns for making clothes for the Beeli girls.  We decided against buying any.  We went to downtown Asheville and ate dinner at Zambra, a Greek restaurant featuring tapas and wine.  From there we went to meet Karen and Dallas at the Tourists game.  Krispy Kreme was giving away coupons for free doughnuts.

We worked at the Open Door late morning and early afternoon on Wednesday.  There was an average crowd who enjoyed expensive steak from WalMart.  Actually we ate steak from WalMart.  The cooks, bless their hearts, just didn’t cook the steak properly, and most of the people threw theirs away.  There was so much waste that I brought 3 or 4 pounds home for our neighbor’s huge bulldog.  He will get a piece each day this week.  I went to another neighbor’s, Wanda, so she could help me dig up several “red hot pokers”, a type of long flower.  I nearly fell into the “branch” where they were growing but got about 15 plants.  We went to choir practice and to Canton for a blizzard before coming home.

Thursday afternoon, Wanda and I planted the pokers we had in the back of our house.  It was hot and I was tired.  We had a few left over and wanted to give them to another neighbor, Doris.  She would not tell us where she wanted us to put them and left to go somewhere.  I was disgruntled and gave what we had left to Wanda.  We cleaned up and went to the Moonshine Grill in Maggie Valley to meet the Koch and Surfus families.  We had a nice visit and good meal and made reservations for next Thursday when our little community will meet for dinner.

Friday morning we took our small suitcase and drove to Roswell for a fundraiser, Emmy’s Bash.  The family of the deceased little special needs child is honoring her memory by raising money for a building to provide childcare during the day for parents of the special needs children.  We spent some of the early afternoon visiting with Stacy and Tom but then went back to our motel to relax for a couple of hours before the dinner.  We were supposed to be attending a cocktail party with hors d’oerves.  What we got was heavy hors d’oerves and limitless wine and beer.  There was also a live band allowing us to dance 4 numbers.  We met several of the families and had wonderful blessings visiting with them.  The highlight was that Stacy was presented with an award for her work in her “Your Respite” business.  We certainly thank God for her dedication to His service.  Both she and Tom were gracious and also presented a video about the business.  We were back in the hotel around midnight and glad to sleep a while.

Saturday we packed up and went back to visit Stacy and Tom.  I went with Tom to take Olivia to work at the Tin Drum.  Also Tom had contacted the company that made the malfunctioning tablet.  He gave me suggestions as to how to exchange it.  We left for home and tried to find where Peter was attending band practice.  We found the place but not him.  We went on to Trader Joe’s for some supplies unavailable in other stores.  We drove home and rested a short time before going to HART to see the play, “Dearly Departed”.  I almost left during the first act because it was insulting to Christians, especially southern Christians.  It was not really sacrilegious in that it didn’t ridicule Christ nor the Bible, but it certainly hit Christians.  The 2nd act was much more palatable.  We had thought of inviting our friends here for dessert but were too tired and wanted to be rested for worship tomorrow.

Sunday our choir sang again.  We were late for the Bible study but on time for the run through of our song.  We sit in a choir loft with the choir and suffer.  It is hotter there than in the sanctuary, and it is noisy when the AC is in operation.  We heard almost none of the message from God.  We came home for lunch and the afternoon.  Gary and Linda came for popcorn and cards in the evening. 

What do you do all day after retiring?

Sunday is the day of our formal worship.  The interim pastor is away, so Sarah Symanski resumed her discipleship program.  She has composed the lessons on her own and has done a good job.  Some don’t appreciate her effort, and only about half of the people who were there last week came.  In our tradition many people think that the only one who communicates with God is the pastor.  This is both good and bad because some devout Christians (often women) get ignored.  I agree that women should not be head pastors, but many are quite knowledgeable and are overlooked.    A retired pastor led the worship and uniquely includes the congregation by having us read the words of institution for the Lord’s supper.  I collect the pages from many orders of worship to use in Texas during my services.  After church I fellowship with many people that I see only once each week.  The head trustee also wanted me to help with some adjusting of things in the building to meet the fire marshal's code.  Jim Junke was there and volunteered to do it all.  We left for home for lunch of tacos.  Our neighbor, Wanda, was in her house, so we took her some tacos for her lunch.  She usually stays with her sister in Leicester but has to come here every week or so to care for her lawn.  She loved the tacos.  We had 2 events scheduled for the afternoon.  We had volunteered to usher at the HART for a play, “Dearly Departed”, and an ice cream social with people of our small community.  I went to usher while Evelyn went to the social.  As I finished, I asked the theater director if we could come to see the play another night and he agreed.  I spent an hour ushering and an hour eating ice cream and visiting before coming home for a short rest.  We then left to go to the monthly band concert featuring living composers.  It rained hard off and on during the performance.  I guess I am too old to appreciate the style of the living composers.  Probably because I am too old and unfamiliar with the style.  We returned home for popcorn and a visit with the Beelis on the phone.  Evelyn wants to make them some clothes and had to get measurements.  She had talked with Stacy earlier in the day.  We will see her family next weekend.  I am still fighting the itching of the poison ivy I have and got a suggestion from our friend, Jo, who is a retired nurse.  She recommended a different medicine, and I will call our doctor, Lafata, tomorrow and ask for it or a shot. 

Busy days

Wednesday was the day we went to see the doctor and learn the results of our blood tests.  We praise God that they were both very good.  The only glitch was that my blood pressure was a bit high.  The doctor put me on an additional medicine.  I also told him about my rash that covers my visible body and some of the invisible.  He put me on an antibiotic and a special cream to apply to the more affected areas.  I really hope the treatments work.  I haven’t itched this months since I was a teenager with poison ivy.  Evelyn has a change in medicine.  She has a slightly high cholesterol reading.  We came home for the afternoon since we had to cancel our service at the Open Door.  I thought it was such a beautiful day that I suggested we walk around Lake Junaluska.  We made it around in less than an hour, surprising both of us.  We then went to choir practice and found ourselves very rusty having not sung or practiced for about 2 weeks.  We came home and relaxed until time for bed.

Thursday was Evelyn’s Bible study day.  I helped her set up the brunch since she was the hostess as well as the leader.  Last night we had prepared many items together.  I went off to town to get some items from CVS and checked out the proposed hike with the Rec Center crowd.  It is the 26th and thought Evelyn would want to go—until I learned it was 10 miles long.  When I told her, she said she didn’t think she could walk that far.  I brought what I had bought home because I had bought some ice cream and meat at the GO grocery.  I then returned to help her clean up after the study.  We were home about 1:30 for lunch.  She had not eaten much of her own servings.  I made her rest in the afternoon.  I watched one of the final episodes of “Burn Notice” in the evening.  It is time for the series to end.  It has become excessively violent and insipid.  It reminds me of the 2nd year episodes of “Lost”  It became so ridiculous that I could not watch it anymore.  It lasted a couple of more years before the remainder of the public agreed with me.

Friday I went to play golf with Marty at High Vista.  We used a Groupon that was supposed to be used after 1 PM on Fridays.  The pro let us play anyway.  When we finished the front 9, we ate the lunches we had packed.  We had not played well but got worse on the back.  The course was pretty muddy in spots making balls more easy to lose.  There were many before the copious rains we have had.  We were home by 2 and Evelyn had a large dinner planned.  We had some smoked ribs from back in April and think we should eat them before they spoil.  I showered and took a nap before she served dinner.  We then dressed and went to the monthly ballroom dance.  Dallas and Karen were there and had brought 3 deviled eggs for me.  The man who is in charge of the dances had back surgery 1 week ago but still came and even danced some.  We were all amazed and thought he had rushed things.  We were home by 10:30 and I was in bed by 11.  I am having trouble sleeping because of the intense itching from the irritation I have.  But I had to try because I have committed to play golf tomorrow as a benefit for the local Emmaus Walk and must leave at 6 AM.

I was up before 5:30 and dressed to go.  The driver arrived at 6 and we went to Franklin for breakfast.  We were at the golf course shortly after 8.  Nearly 40 Cursillo veterans came to play.  We broke into teams of 4 and played Lauderdale style.  That means that we all played the best ball on each hole.  It is much less depressing when I don’t have to suffer my final score.  I hit some very good shots and we finished the holes with 82—41 on each 9.  Jimmy, his brother Paul, Gary and I were the team.  We left for home around 2, missing the lunch that was going to be provided because we wanted to get home.  I was exhausted and dozed on the way home.  I didn’t want to go to bed because it might impede my sleep tonight.  We had supper together and then watched a movie, “Before Sunrise”.  It was an artsy film and we enjoyed it.  We went to bed early.

Some activities with Olivia

Olivia and Evelyn scrubbing the spindles on our front porch.  They had done those on the deck previously.

Grandma bought Olivia some clothes for school at an upgrade consignment store near us.

We watched as Steve, the owner and guide, prepared my llama for our trek.  The llamas are not ridden.  We just led them along the trail.  They were, however, to pack the items we might need.  We had water and some raingear in the saddle bags because 70% rain chance had been predicted for that day, but we didn’t get any.

These are the 3 llamas we used: Patchy, Peanut butter and Cinnamon.

Here we go! (no Bud Light) Steve was a good Christian man, and we prayed together when we returned. 

The trail was steep, and we took many breaks to rest us, not the llamas.  The llamas don’t spit on people, according to Steve.  They will spit on each other when irritated by other llamas.  If a person happens to be between the antagonists, he or she may receive some spillover.  Ours were compatible.  Steve was always in front to my pleasure.  Since the trail was steep both going up and coming down, he was much stronger in case Evelyn, in front, slipped and needed to be caught.

VBS activities

Olivia getting instructions on what to do in the obstacle course.

VBS leaders and small people getting instructions.  Miss Evelyn, Miss Susan, Miss Monique, Miss Bethany and Mr. Brent gave directions.

Brent and Susan Ramsey filling water balloons to be thrown into a dog bed to be broken as one of the stations in the obstacle course.  I handed the balloons to the children.  Many of them wouldn’t break even when thrown quite hard.

Lots of days

Friday was the final day of VBS.  It was also a day for Olivia to be by herself.  She went with us to the Rec center and watched Evelyn Zumba gold while I walked outside near the creek.  Many campers were tubing down the swollen creek.  We took her to a consignment store to buy her some clothes.  Then we took her to Ingles grocery that has a Starbuck’s coffee bar inside it.  She had a gift card her mother had given her.  We rested until time for VBS.  The meal was pizza, and we all helped with the games which featured an obstacle course with a water balloon breakage station that the kids loved.  Olivia packed for her trip home tomorrow.  Before she went to bed, we had a long visit with her and hopefully did some bonding that might help her in the future.

Saturday was a driving day as we took Olivia home we left here at 8 and went to the local Wafflehouse for breakfast before leaving for Roswell.  We arrived there without incident right at noon.  Tom gave us a drink and we left for home immediately.  On the way we stopped at Jaemor farm for some Vidalia Onion Mustard Relish that we enjoy on hamburgers and hot dogs.  We also took a side trip to Helen, GA where we camped in 1974.  It is a Bavarian style village featuring appropriate architecture on all the buildings.  The traffic was so thick that it took us nearly an hour to drive through both ways.  We did explore the state park where we camped but found it completely different.  We were home around 6:30 and Evelyn walked with the neighbor ladies shortly after supper.

Sunday was a different worship day.  First the choir didn’t sing.  We were replaced by the children who sang 3 different songs with gyrations they learned in the week long sessions.  They did a marvelous job of memorizing the words.  The highlight was the Scobodovy family children.  They are precious and very intelligent.  We helped clean the area in front of the sanctuary where the “mountains” were.  We usually go out for lunch after worship but came home for roasting ears, fresh sliced tomatoes and cornbread salad.  We had been invited to a small party at the home of one of the ladies Evelyn had met at exercise.  She and her husband live quite high on a mountain.  We arrived early, but so did another of the 3 invited couples.  The other guests were from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  The hosts had lived in Fort Wayne for several years, but we never knew them.  He had worked for a Lutheran Christian NASCAR driver, Ned Jarrett, but works for himself in another type business now.  We had a delightful time visiting with all of them.  I think I talked too much, but they kept asking me questions.  The male host, Kerry, is evidently interested in traveling in a motor home, so we talked about that for some time.  I wanted Evelyn to give her view of our travels for the female hostess, Marianne.  The male’s perspective is no doubt different from the males. We returned home and Evelyn walked again while I made popcorn as usual.  

Monday I stayed home in the morning while Evelyn went to exercise and do some shopping.  During the past week, I had contracted some sort of rash that acts like poison ivy despite not being in contact with any.  Spots keep showing up on various parts of my body.  They look like bites and that concerns us.  I think I will spray the bedding tomorrow.  I had talked with a doctor at church Sunday, and he thought that my problem might be a result of chigger bites.  The worst swelling is in a very tender area.  He suggested that I use Cortisone Cream on my body and Neosporin on my right eye.  I stayed home and worked on one of my Advent sermons before Evelyn came home for lunch of leftovers.  During the afternoon Evelyn worked on her upcoming Bible studies.  She watched a video she will show and answers one of the daily lesson sheets in her workbook. 

Tuesday is our day to volunteer at the hospital.  First we have lunch at the cafeteria.  We are allowed $6 for food which seems quite liberal to me.  I couldn’t even finish half of my grilled chicken salad sandwich.  There is a man who cooks at the grill and gives me a generous serving.  I had a busier day busier than usual in driving the golf cart.  I was concerned that it might be raining heavily during my watch but nothing happened.  We delivered a thank you poster to the Taco Bell in Canton because they had donated taco shells for the VBS last week.  My friend, Stephanie, was taken aback when I gave it to her.  We had a BOGO dairy Queen blizzard and then came home to finish off some left overs for supper.  It rained some in the evening.  I went to give some brochures to Linda and Gary offering suggestions for them to entertain his brother who will visit in September.  I worked on the computer in the evening

A good day

Thursday was fun for Olivia.  We were able to let her sleep later than usual.  Evelyn and I were scheduled for blood draws in the morning but didn’t need her until we were finished.  We got in early and came home to get her and our supplies.  We were off to Tennessee by 10:30 and arrived at the Llama Trek by noon.  We met Steve, the owner and guide.  He gave us rope leashes attached to one Llama for each of us.  Off we went up a steep trail, leading the llamas.  Steve was a really good talker, having hiked most or all of the Appalachian Trail.  The llamas were very tame and did not spit at all on us. The weather was humid so we sweat quite freely.  As he talked, I realized the Steve was a dedicated Christian.  We prayed together before we left.  We ate lunch on the way home. We had to do some preparation of vegies for our tacos at the VBS.  We arrived at church in time to make the tacos and help Brent and Susan with their game.  It was disappointing that only about half of the children came tonight.  Those that came had a great time.  Olivia helped as a guide and seemed to have a good time too.  Evelyn went over a Lifeskills book with her as we drove and we watched The Big Year with her in the evening.

A hike in the mountains.

Wednesday we were up an off to Sylva without breakfast.  We were looking for the center where we were to meet our trail guides.  They attend our church, and lead trail walks in addition to making artifacts.  We thought it might rain us out but we went anyway.  It was extremely humid but only rained about 3 minutes.  The trail was steep and rocky but only 2 1/2 miles long.  The highest peak was 4900+ feet according to the sign but I don’t think it was that high.  We did spend the entire hike in the clouds, making it very wet.  We struggled but Olivia covered the ground effortless.  We met some new people and tried to get Olivia interested in talking with the leader who is an artist.  She was more interested in the leader’s dog.  We have been disappointed in her enjoyment of our visit together.  None of us was hungry despite the fact that we had taken breakfast bars and apples.  We had driven our own car so we left and drove home.  We stopped at Hardees for some fast food for lunch items to bring home.  After lunch Evelyn and Olivia showered and lay down to rest.  I went to Canton to get some taco shells to use when we serve tacos at tomorrow’s VBS.  The manager at the Taco Bell there is a young mother I used to work with here in Waynesville.  She was kind enough to give them as a contribution.  I came home and took us to the church.  Most of the children arrived later than usual but enjoyed the hot dog lunch.  I didn’t even bother trying to get our invited girls whose mother didn’t come through again.  It didn’t rain much but the threat drove activities indoors.  We encouraged Olivia to talk with others and try to learn more about them to make the evenings more interesting.  She did a very good job of trying the approach and seemed to be enjoying herself more than usual.  I had thought we should try to talk with her in a loving, counseling mode, but we allowed her to go straight to her room.  We were all pretty tired from a very busy day.

VBS begins

Monday had 2 influential events.  First Stacy and Olivia arrived shortly after noon.  Olivia will spend the week with us and help with our VBS (which was the 2nd influential event.  I had agreed to sub for a volunteer at the hospital in the patient escort department.  But that didn’t matter because of their late arrival.   We rested in the afternoon while working on computers before going to VBS.  I had thought Linda would contact Stacy, but she didn’t.  That was why she had not gone with us.  Olivia was willing to go and helped with some of the games.  We had just under 20 attenders.  The weather was good enough to allow the game portion of the evening to be outdoors.  Olivia helped with that and the craft session for tomorrow.  I worked with Dann Jesse in pulling some of the weeds in the back of the church.  The 2 little girls we invited didn’t come.  Their mother said they had another little girl with them and wanted permission from her mother.  We left hoping they would show, but they didn’t.  We were home before 9 and found Stacy in bed.  She works hard and long.

Tuesday Olivia prepared our breakfast of hash browns and eggs.  She did a good job of making the eggs over light.  Stacy joined us for breakfast but left for home around 10.  We finished some of our planning work and then left for the hospital to serve our regular day.  I had acquired a day pass for Olivia so she could swim.  She sat in the golf cart I drive for over an hour and then went in to swim for around half an hour before returning to the cart.  There were no other swimmers her age so I fear she didn’t have much fun.  She didn’t try any of the other equipment available and finished the day “hanging out” with Grandma.  I guess a man who used to be a joke writer entertained them until time to go home.  We rested a while until VBS time.  Olivia said she didn’t feel well, but we took her with us anyway.  She finally came around and helped with the crafts again.  The meal featured chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese.  This seemed to spark her up.  Again the rain held off for most of the evening, but the group of older kids had to move their game under cover.  We came home by 8:30.  Olivia went right to her room but not to sleep until later.  Evelyn was quite tired too.  Wait until tomorrow.

Entertainment

What has been going on around here?  Marty and I drove to play golf at Smokey Mountain Country Club.  We left at 8 because we had a 9:50 Tee time and didn’t know how long it would take us to get there.  It was closer than we thought.  It was cool when we began but hot when we finished.  We had taken a lunch and ate right at noon.  Before and after that we played generally atrocious golf.  I did have a few good holes and shots but too few.  It was so bad that Marty said she would never play thee again.  We stopped at Wal Mart on the way home because it is the only place I can find my cinnamon Crest toothpaste.  I joined Evelyn who had been cleaning all afternoon.  We were both tired and chose to stay home instead of going to the Materfest in Canton or the street dance in Waynesville.  We watched a strange movie, Junebug, after finishing The Contest Winner of Defiance, Ohio.  That was a good movie. 

Saturday we slept in and missed the monthly flea market.  We went to town, had an Arby’s sandwich, went to the  CVS, and ushered at HART for the production of Side by Side by Sondheim.  During the finish of the performance, I was talking with Evelyn in what I thought were very subdued tones when the theater director told me to to “hold it down.”  We were humiliated and apologetic after the show.  We came home and finished the movie.  We wanted to ask Stacy her opinion of the film but Olivia would be here and shouldn’t watch it.  We just went to bed early.

We arose and went to worship.  We had another session with Pastor Roseman, and I heard more things I question.  I did share some stories that we had heard from Lutheran pastors in the past that seems to make the love of Christ impersonal.  We had planned to take Jo and Rolene to Asheville for lunch.  We went to the 151 Grill at the hotel Indigo.  We could only get brunch but liked the selections.  We stopped at the Dairy Queen in Canton on the way home for a blizzard.  We rested a while before Gary and Linda came for popcorn.

2 lazy days

Wednesday we went to exercise and attend the Zumbra class.  It was a day when the Rec center brought all the Silver Sneakers members that they could get together and talked about what a good program it is and why we should try to convince our friends to join.  They had a lunch for us and some prizes for us.  We have talked to many friends for some time.  We didn’t need to come home for lunch so we went to town and returned a library book.  We came home around 2 and showered before taking a nap.  We went to choir practice and enjoyed singing.  It rained as we left as usual. 

Thursday I took Evelyn to church to lead her Bible study.  I came home and tried to straighten out the calendar on the computer.  I couldn’t believe how full our week will be next week.  I had barely enough time to go to Lowes to look for items to use to for mounting our new bluebird house.  Marty has helped us with some suggestions.  We came home for lunch and were surprised that we had only a short rain shower.  Evelyn walked with the neighborhood ladies while I did some dusting in preparation for Olivia’s arrival.  Gary had invited me to play golf Saturday but had to drop that plan.  I couldn’t play and he and Jimmy decided they had too much to do also.  Everyone was satisfied with the cancelation.