Blogging Block!

I've tried a couple of times in the last few days to blog with no success. My computer or the server wouldn't cooperate. Here's another attempt.

My intention on Monday was to blog about "Plow Day" that Tom and Quinn went to at the Lindemann's farm and to post pictures. They had a great time!

Tuesday, I wanted to blog about my beautiful 32 year old daughter! We had a great time sharing dinner at Mac's and returning to their house for soupy hot fudge sundaes.

My other intention on Tuesday was to blog about a staff retreat that I went to at Howell Nature Center. We were asked to challenge ourselves to go on a high ropes course that involved a lot of "high wire" type acts and climbing. I, however, challenged myself not to. My shoulder is finally feeling better and it wasn't worth the risk to re-injure it! The rest of the staff affirmed me like they were supposed to do and I affirmed them as they climbed and balanced.

I wanted to blog yesterday about my beautiful 2 year old birthday girl! I did get to stop there yesterday to give her some birthday hugs and loves! The Woehlke family then spent the evening walking the mall hoping to get things started. Again, my computer wouldn't cooperate and neither did Woehlke baby #3.

I was hoping to blog by now about the new Woehlke baby, but not yet! God's timing is perfect! At least now, she'll have her own birthday and won't have to share with her sister.

Today, I'm trying very hard to pull my brain together to get things organized for the start of school next week, to be ready for some meetings tomorrow with some parents (barring a hospital trip), and to figure out the new paperwork that comes with our new LSEM handbook. (This blog is my procrastination technique!)

There! I hope I caught up on my week! Blessings to you all!

Almost Dead End Day

Yesterday, I had one of those days that I had lots of things planned to do and none of them seemed to pan out.

I spent a considerable amount of time on the computer trying to do some things and the computer just didn't want to cooperate. I wrote a blog catching up on my week and I got a weird message and it disappeared.

I worked on choir planning, and still didn't quite finish that!

I was going to do something with the probably 2 bushels of tomatoes in my garden-- never even made it out there.

Thought maybe we'd go out to eat with the Patterson's -- that didn't work out. We did go eat at Ruby Tuesday's and then stopped to see the McClelland's (not home), went to Woehlke's (not home), went to visit my mom and dad (they had company, playing bridge), went back to Woehlke's (yay, they were home, now). So the day ended well- reading bedtime books to two wound up little girls.

Okay! Okay!

Okay! I know I haven't blogged in a while! Last week I had no particular excuse except that I wasn't particularly inspired by any topics! This week so far has been filled with trips to Macomb and Detroit, and spending time intimately involved with the third Lutheran Special Education Ministry Handbook in three years!

But now all the Waltz blogs have inspired me! Lots of memories! As I drive through Waltz nowadays I see that not too much has changed except: Some new houses across the street; a couple of houses gone (the Schmidt house and the gray house next door, soon our old house??); Doris Krzyske no longer in her home; THE MAPLE TREE GONE! and an ugly modular in its place; new playground equipment in the back; new greenhouses built.

It's comforting to know that some things never change-- Krzyske's, the barbershop (is it still there?), Spieckers next to the railroad, and of course St. John's!

If I had more time this morning I would go on a hunt for some Waltz pictures and scan and post them. But choir music sorting calls me!

Martha Stewart, SuperNanny(Granny), and all around "Peachy Person"

I haven't blogged in a while and here's why:

Thursday night - I hosted a baby shower for a choir member, new member of our church who also happens to be my boss. It was very lovely--thanks to Emily's newly acquired lettuce leaf dishes, homemade muslin tablecloths and white hydrangeas. I had it under the carport. Emily said it looked very "Martha Stewart"ish.

Friday morning, I dealt with a half bushel of huge peaches that Opa brought us from Benton Harbor. The Roald Dahl story "James and the Giant Peach" kept coming to mind. I froze about 9 quarts and will deal with the rest later.

Friday afternoon I was Supernanny while I watched the McClelland children. Kaleigh was very boring. She slept the whole afternoon. Quinn, Avery and I had a good time. They helped me pick grape tomatoes and ate 2/3 of them. They helped pick and husk corn (ate a couple raw ears of those, also). We also found a molted exoskeleton of something (cicada maybe) and went on a search for more. We found enough to have a parade of exoskeletons. Later when Grampy got home, Quinn had his first solo drive of the John Deere lawn tractor with Grampy and Avery being pulled behind in the wagon. Heidi later took a picture which I hope she'll post.

Heidi, Scott, Emily, Ella, and Sophie then joined us for supper (leftovers from the shower, corn, grape tomatoes -at least what was left of them-,and peaches on ice cream. Bob stayed home to paint (poor guy).

Today is pretty low key-- make a peach cobbler to take to our church campout tonight. There are about 125 church members camping up in Holly. Tom and I will go tonight for the pot-blessing at 6:00 and to lead their worship at 7:00. Church will be relatively empty tomorrow.

This week will be my last real week of vacation time. I was hoping to join the Patterson's up north for a few days, but it doesn't look like it will happen :(.

Please keep Scott in your prayers as he has a scheduled trip to India this week.

Too Close for Comfort

Today I have to go to school to do some testing on a couple of students. It reminds me that the summer is too soon drawing to a close. Even though we don't start until after Labor Day, it seems that the summer is going by way too fast. Don't get me wrong--I love my job, but I also love the time away from it too pursue other interests. I guess this is a good way to ease my way back into it. One day this week, meetings the 21st-23rd, a few days to get my Resource Room ready and then comes Sept. 5. Let's see, to look at the glass half full that means 19 more days of vacation and that includes a new baby being born!

More Adventures and a Contingency Plan

Joyce, Jan, and I are leaving on an adventure this afternoon. Suzy Gorham's shower is tomorrow morning at an herb garden in Battle Creek, so the three of us are going to explore Marshall and have some other adventures tonight. I'm looking forward to the female bonding time, to the shower and Andrea's entertaining spirit, the beautiful weather, and just plain fun!

Heidi and Scott are off to Caseville for a McClelland family time. They're going right from the airport (Scott returning from Brazil). Grandpa McClelland rents a cottage each year and invites all of his grandchildren. He has many more than we do! If the children are under a certain age the parents are required to come along also. Wise man!

Bob is not due back from a business trip to California until tomorrow.

Sooo, Tom is Emily's babysitter/labor coach just in case she goes into labor. Highly unlikely, but as Emily says, "If I think about it and make a plan, it won't happen."

Happy weekend, everyone!

What to Do Today

Yesterday, I spent the day finishing a book I was reading and feeling lazy! Today there is much I should or could be doing, but what? Shop for shower and birthday presents? -- they're advising to avoid driving. Mow the lawn? -- ozone action day - too hot. Clean out my closet? -- the upstairs is too warm and who wants to work with piles of clothes. Clean my house?-- my shoulder and back are still bothering me and my heavy vacuum cleaner would do it in even more. Make more pickles?- Nah! I've got more than I need and again they're advising not using major appliances. Laundry? - another major appliance. In a way, I'm loving this heat--gives me an excuse to be lazy for a second day in a row. Aha! I have to choose choir music for the new season--I'll listen to CD's with samples of new music! Is a CD player a major appliance?

Imagination in Action!

Yesterday my grandchildren were over. It was too hot to be outside so we stayed inside. We decided to read some books--but instead, Ella's imagination jumped into action. She wanted to be the storyteller. She went into a 10 minute story that had Quinn, Avery and I mesmerized. It included a treasure hunt, a Quinn eating monster and a happy ending. Her gestures and facial expression made it all the more interesting. We went from that to acting out stories about the upside down King Quinn and princesses Avery and Ella. We built a fort in the family room. We acted out a tractor story in the tractor room about a daddy truck and his tractor children going off to school. For supper we had "bird's nests"-- spaghetti and cheese "nest" filled with hot dog "eggs" and pea "leaves". It finally cooled off enough to go outside and get sprayed with the hose. Quinn made it rain and loved making rainbows. Avery reported later that she got sprinkled. However, I don't think she actually got a drop of water on her. She kept her distance. Quinn played deliver service with the two wagons hooked together. He must have made 30 trips pulling two wagons across the driveway up the puddle filled sidewalk and back to the carport delivering such cargo as Avery and Kaleigh, golf clubs, and many other imaginary loads. Each delivery had him touting the wonderful special wheels on the second wagon that could go through water. It was a fun day!