days in the life of a
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August 2, 2008A VERY SPECIAL DAY
Today is a very special day in the Gray family. We are celebrating TWO big events...our 28th anniversary...PLUS, Kamaron's 22nd birthday! That's right, after being in labor most of August 1, 1986, Kamaron held out (or IN!) and wasn't born until the early morning hours of August 2,
on our 6th anniversary. He was definitely the hardest anniversary gift I've ever had to "unwrap", but also the most special!
So, for the last 22 years, we've shared our special days, and managed to celebrate both! Today we are moving Kamaron home from Bloomington for a couple of weeks before he heads back to IU for the fall, and we're eating dinner together at Johnny Carino's. Kamaron was the cutest little guy and still continues to bring joy to our lives! too CUTE!!!Happy 22nd Birthday, Kamo! 
and... Happy 28th Anniversary to US!!!!
August 4, 2008
ON THE MOVE...
One of the unique and endearing characteristics of college-age/young adult children is that they are always on the move! I don't mean their unending energy (that's another post!), but I mean as in their residences! They are always moving, it seems, from college to apartment to home to apartment...you get the picture. And, with every move, they accumulate more and more STUFF! Now what, you may wonder, do they do with that STUFF in between moves or while in limbo between residences? It ends up at our house! And in our garage...and in our rec room...and in our driveway...and in our attic...
I think we've finally got Kristoffer and Dana settled in with all their stuff. Kristoffer was less-than-thrilled when Kim and I brought him several Rubbermaid totes full of his school and sports stuff that's been clogging our attic for years. We've got him completely moved out...1child down, 3 to go!
Emily & Zach have been in the midst of moving from their two separate apartments into one new apartment in Greenfield. I didn't help
much in the actual move, but we did store their gazillion wedding gifts for months, and still have numerous totes full of Emily's stuff in
the attic. And...we inherited BACK some pots and pans and furniture that we GAVE her when she got her first apartment (isn't that
"Indian-giving" in reverse?!) That is...we didn't WANT them back, but there they sit, out in the rec room! Hopefully we can pass them
on to one of the boys when they move somewhere else...oh, dread the thought!
Which brings me to our past weekend moving fiasco. We drove our VeraCruz and trailer down to Bloomington to move a sectional
couch (that weighs 4 tons!) and a futon from the before-mentioned apartment of Zach's into Anique's apartment about 5 miles away.
We got caught in road construction, making the normally 2-hour trip a 3-hour trip. Then, after the men busted their guts getting that
couch loaded up and driven to Anique's, they discovered (what Anique had already feared!) that there was NO WAY they were going
to be able to get that behemoth in the narrow door, up the very narrow staircase, and make a sharp 90 degree turn into her apartment.
NO WAY!!! Not even worth a try! At least they were smart enough to realize that before they damaged doors and walls trying! So...
we (they!) threw it in the dumpster and dug her old stuff (which they had thrown away earlier) out again and hauled it back up to her
apartment. Oh...and I forgot to mention...the mattress part of the futon flew out of the trailer onto a highway ramp enroute, but Emily
& Zach were able to rescue it before any damage (or car accidents!) resulted. In the end, we basically spent a whole day (our
anniversary, no less!) driving down to throw a couch into a dumpster. Don't you just love kids!!!?!
But it all worked out and everyone is settled...for a couple of weeks! On August 19, we do it all again, as Kamaron and Kyler move back to college from home...gotta love it!
August 5, 2008
DELICIOUS FLAVOR OF SUMMER
One of the highlights of an Indiana summer is the amazingly delicious taste of corn fresh out of the garden! We've been feasting on this delicacy for the past week...there's nothing like it! Kim grows the BEST sweet corn....it practically melts in your mouth! He gets the "fun" job of picking.Everyone available is called in to help! Kamaron and Anique shucked the corn and threw the husks into the chicken pen for a chicken treat!In order to freeze the extra for winter,
we blanched it, and cooled it...
cut it off the cob....Kamaron is a fast worker, like his dad...too fast for the camera to focus! Then, the final step, scraping out the "milky" part that makes the corn juicy and creamy! We froze over 60 bags. Sure beats store-bought corn any day of the week! (thinking of you, Dana! :) )
August 8, 2008
A PEACHY-GOOD TIME!
The peaches are ripe! After a disappointing
crop (1 peach!) last year due to a late frost,
this year the trees are loaded. And with all
the rain lately, they are ripening quickly...
how many peaches can a family eat???!!! So yesterday was one of my probably many canning
So yesterday was one of my probably many canning sessions to preserve these golden beauties for when the snow flies! Of course, I'm never too thrilled when I know I have to use up a day of my LIFE to spend canning anything from the garden! But I have to admit, they really are delicious and handy to have when I get the urge to make a Peaches 'n Cream pie, one of our faves!So, yesterday, these Red Haven peaches...don't they look yummy?!... made their way into my pantry. Aren't they purdy?! By the way, these peaches have a lot of reddish flesh (ooo...don't LIKE to use that word with FOOD!), but after they're canned, they turn totally yellow. Interesting, don't you think? And...why do we say we are "canning" them when we are really "jarring" them???? Something to ponder...And...there are a LOT more peaches on the trees! Makes me think of thatold, silly song..."Millions of Peaches"...remember that?
August 7, 2008
CHILDREN'S DAY AT THE FAIR
One of the great traditions in this part of Indiana is the Mooreland Free Fair. Folks come from all corners of the state to sample a slice of midwestern America at its finest. And it's always just before school starts, an informal signal that summer is drawing to a close.
Wednesday at the fair is always Children's Day. A parade at noon is followed by an afternoon of thrills and laughter as the rides fill up with families from all over. Buy a bracelet for $10 and you're good for the day to ride as many and as often as you like!
Yesterday was PERFECT weather for a fair adventure! And our adventure included taking Hannah and Ashley, some darling little girls from our church family, to enjoy the festivities. The girls, ages 4 and 2, adore Kamaron and Kyler, so the 5 of us had a great time together.
The boys took on the girls...and I took photos!
August 12, 2008
BICYCLE LINE-UP
The past couple of weeks, both boys have been home. Kyler's been home most of the summer working at the Middletown park, but Kamaronhas spent his summer living in Bloomington and working through an internship at Sunrise Greetings. But when his internship was over, he decided to come home for a couple of weeks before heading back down to IU for his senior (can he already be a SENIOR?!) year.And, wherever Kamaron goes, there also go his bicycles! He has at least 4 that I know of...his Felt racing bike, a mountain bike, his Schwinn Little 500 race bike, and I-don't-know what other kinds! At the beginning of the summer, Kyler also bought a nice Mercier racing bike and hehas an old beat-up mountain bike as well. So...this is what greets me when I go into the rec room! What normally is a basketball court has become, for awhile,a garage for bicycles. And all the the essentials...equipment that comes with them. ...and the extras!Kamaron even has this nifty little "trailer" to pull behind for camping trips...he even uses it for grocery shopping!Quite the bicycle enthusiasts! Kim and I are thinking about getting a tandem...what do you think?! Do I really want to stare at his back all the time? But, then, maybe he
can do all the work pedaling and I can just cruise along?! Time will tell...pedal on...
August 11, 2008
CANTANKEROUS HUMMINGBIRDS
The hummingbirds are at it again! Zooming around like there's no tomorrow, picking fights with each other, perching like royalty near their chosen feeders. These fascinating little birds put on quite a show around our house this time of year.
Every spring, I be sure to get the feeders out by May 1...about the time they usually start arriving in Indiana from their winter homes in who-knows-where. I've read where these tiny birds fly thousands of miles each spring and fall, to winter in Mexico or Brazil or some other exotic faraway land and then fly back here to spend the summer. That's a miracle in itself...we can barely leave the state without losing our way (although no man in this family would ever admit that!)!
So from May until mid-October, we are entertained daily by the antics of these little guys and gals. Just watching them hover in mid-air while they zip from flower to feeder and back is amazing! They must burn up calories just as quickly as they can consume them...the twitchy little critters are never still. Even when they are resting perched on a branch, they are darting their heads around, flicking out their tongues, rustling their wings around, and just generally...well...twitching!
I've seen photos of many hummingbirds peacefully sharing a meal around a single feeder together, but that is NOT the case with our hummers! They are feisty fellers! Just let another hummingbird (or sometimes even a butterfly gets them rankled!) come anywhere near the feeder when they're around, and the vicious chase is on. And, boy oh boy, can they move!!! Zooming and zipping through the trees, sometimes it looks like a synchronized dance routine. Sooner or later, one of them gives up (for the moment!) and the winner comes back to perch near his territory again, only to repeat the same scenario a few minutes later. Quarrelsome and always looking for a fight...they are cantankerous! If they would all just get along and work together, there's plenty of food for all (I think maybe there's a human lesson in there somewhere, as well!).
August 13, 2008
MARIA, MY FAVORITE SUPERMOM!
One of the highlights of our crazy busy summer was the visit from my youngest sister, Maria, and her family from Florida. She was able and willing to rearrange her very hectic child and work schedules to coordinate their visit with Emily's wedding in June, and we all were so thrilled they were able to share the special event with us. My only regret is that I was so busy myself that I didn't get to spend a lot of time with them, but it meant the world to us to have them here!
Now, I mentioned that Maria is a SuperMom, and I'm not kidding! She is married to Michael, who has his own business, and they have two darling ACTIVE children, Wyatt (6 years old) and Seanna (3). Besides being a terrific wife and mother, she also works TWO jobs as a physical therapist. Yes, my sister is a smart cookie! I don't know how she does it all and keeps her head above water...and has energy left at the end of the day! She's amazing to me! Not only that, she also does some work as a Creative Memories consultant. Where does she find the time?!
Of course, Seanna and Wyatt LOVE their Aunt Terry! :) I wish they lived close so we could hang out together more. They are both cute, strong, athletic, and very intelligent!
Wyatt is quite the little athlete already, and no doubt Seanna will be too, as both Maria and Michael were stand-out athletes during their high school careers. And the two of them (I'm referring to the children here!) have the darn little cutest Southern accents, too!
Seanna stole the show at Emily's wedding reception when she caught the bouquet and then proceeded to flaunt it to everyone in the room! She was one happy little girl...and darling, too! I think maybe she takes after her Aunt Terry, don't you?!
Gotta LOVE the Langford bunch!!! We miss you!
August 15, 2008
CELEBRATING FRIENDS!
Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving,
Make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!
--Amanda Bradley
I want you to meet a special group of friends. I met these gals through tennis, and they graciously have welcomed me into their tennis group. They are great tennis players, always pushing and encouraging me on the courts, but more importantly, they are just terrificly fun gals and I am privileged to call them my friends!
I am the newcomer (by MANY years!) to this group. Most of them have been playing together as friends for 20 or 30 years or more! Wow! But, while tennis may have been the common interest that initially brought them together, they are so much more than tennis buddies.
Over the years, they have shared their lives, laughter, and tears with each other. Together they've weathered the storms of life and together they have celebrated the victories! Rejoicing together through weddings, the birth of children (and later, grandchildren), new job opportunities, vacations, and tennis championships, and comforting each other through divorces, deaths, disappointments, heartbreaks, and the dark times of life, their friendships have only grown stronger over time. Their love for each other has been a golden thread binding them together, and these extraordinary friendships have brought them through all that life brings their way. Their separate lives are so intertwined with each other that
they are truly like sisters!
And, boy, do these girls know how to HAVE FUN!!! I'm not talking wild parties, but just crazy, silly, enjoy-being-together FUN! When they get together, you can be sure that laughter will rule! They truly treasure each other and cherish their times together. That kind of love and friendship is hard to come by!
Every day is a celebration! Birthdays are just a great excuse to celebrate together. These birthday girls,Jayne Ann and Naomi, were the stars of this party.May God bless you all with many, many more happy celebrations together! Thanks for including me!!!
August 14, 2008
SONG OF THE LOCUSTS
When I hear the singing (or, it's really more like BUZZING) of the locusts, I know that we're on the downside of summer, and the hot August days will soon be giving way to the beginnings of autumn. And, just this past week, the air outside has been filled with the sounds of the locusts.
I say "locusts" because that's what we always called them. They are actually "cicadas", a pretty exotic word for us around here. (note...I cheated on this photo...I found it online!)
The cicadas are amazing creatures, huge insects that actually spend most of their life in the ground. Around this time of year, the cicada nymphs (ok, I'm not an "insectologist" or whatever they're called, but if I were that's what I'd call those little dudes) crawl out of the ground, up the side of a tree or post, and shed their outer shell to emerge as an adult cicada with wings.
We used to collect these every summer when we were kids. They are usually a few feet off the ground on the side of a tree, and the really cool thing is that they will cling to your clothes. As children, we loved that! And I still think it's pretty cool...
When I heard the locusts humming in the trees yesterday, I looked for some empty shells on the trees and was lucky enough to come upon this emerging cicada. He is very vulnerable at this point, a perfect meal for a bird as he is helpless to defend himself or escape.
After emerging and drying out their wings, they immediately fly up into the trees, where they hang out (who really knows what a cicada does?!) and sing their raspy, buzzy songs. It's fun to listen to them...one will start, another will chime in, and the pitch continues to rise as more and more cicadas join in with their voices. Then, in a couple of weeks, the cicadas will be gone and the trees will be quiet again. Another one of God's fascinating creatures!
August 16, 2008
MISSING MY BABY KARTER!
Our darling little grandson, Karter, is two months old today! Has it already been two months?!? Because it's his 2-month birthday and because he's adorable and because everybody loves baby photos, and because WE MISS HIM, here are more photos of Karter from his visit last month. They just don't get any cuter than this!
Every time he changes outfits, I have to have a new photo of him! Such a fashion model!!! Love those legs!
His mama and daddy say he's chattering away now. But he learned how to coo at Grandma Terry's. He loves his grandma! And,he loves Grandpa Kim, too...though he's not wild about the scratchy smooches!
And he loves Auntie Em and Uncle Kyler too...especially when they have FOOD!!! He loves just about anybody with food. He's definitely a Gray man...always thinking about his next meal!
Our little "tooker" is all tuckered out! Eat, poop, sleep, poop, eat again...yep, definitely a real Gray man!
HAPPY 2-MONTH BIRTHDAY, KARTER!!!
August 18, 2008
A STUDY IN WATERLILIES
We have 4 ornamental ponds at our house, and although I do love the goldfish and koi in them, I especially love the beautiful waterlilies that Kim grows each year. They are unusual and delicate, adding splashes of color on the water!
The white ones are hardy, which means they will come back year after year, kind of like a perennial flower in the water.
The pinks, reds, blues, and purples are tropical. They don't overwinter well and need to be replanted every spring.
They almost look plastic, sitting there on the water. The bees and bugs love them too! Look at all that yummy pollen!
If I had to choose (and I don't!), I think I'd have to say the purples are my favorites! But I do like pink......
Okay...the green leafy stuff is not a type of waterlily, but it is really cool, don't you think? It just floats around on top of the water...and reproduces like crazy! In fact, it's practically taken over the big cement pond across the road!
Need some water lettuce for your pond? We have a little to share!!! Provides great cover for the fish and frogs...and in this case, also conceals the muddy water in the pond. That mud is probably what made it go wild like that!
August 19, 2008
MY MAN MITCH!
This past weekend, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels made a visit to Sulphur Springs during our annual Community Days celebration. "My Man Mitch" drove up on his motorcycle before noon, chit-chatting with the crowd and posing for photos with whoever asked.
We are Mitch Daniels supporters, so we were thrilled to meet him. This may be the first time a governor has visited
Sulphur Springs! Of course, I'm sure that the fact this is an election year did not play into his visit (yeah, right!).
He donated to the little Princess candidates...
...and bought 50/50 tickets from the high school volleyball team.
Here Governor Daniels talks with Community Days organizer, Brenda Chapman. She's the Queen of Sulphur!!!
Mom was excited to meet Mitch! They had a nice little chat and I took this photo.
Kyler is hangin' with the guv! They talked about his college experiences at IU. His daughter is a student there, too.
Kyler loves to hob-nob with the big guys! Eat your heart out, Kristoffer!!!
August 20, 2008
COMMUNITY DAYS
Marking the end of summer, Sulphur Springs Community Days is a weekend celebration of living in this small, country
community. We had perfect weather this year and it was a great time to catch up with the busy lives of our friends and neighbors. The Sulphur Springs Christian Church did its part in making this celebration of community a big success.
Passing out free bottles of water before the parade was a great way to share the free love of Jesus!
Our float in the parade featured this summer's "POWER LAB" Vacation Bible School.
After the parade, our church served a chicken and noodle lunch, raising $1200+ for the community.
Behind the scenes, Jeff and Jim faithfully wash dishes.
Many THANKS to everyone for pitching in and reaching out to our Sulphur neighbors in Christ!
August 21, 2008
EMPTY NEST
Last spring, a mother robin labored for days, making this sturdy little nest of whatever she could find, then she laid
4 bright blue eggs inside. She sat on them for many more days, through cold, rain, storms, and threats of other birds and people. When her babies finally hatched, she faithfully kept them fed and nurtured them, screeching and flying at anything or anyone that came too close. Then, one day, she gently nudged her babies out of the nest and they were on their own, learning to fly and fend for themselves in the cruel, dangerous world outside their cozy home.
How did Mama Robin feel that day? Heartbroken? Relieved? Anxious about their futures? Free to fly again herself?
All those feelings run their courses through me each time our nest empties out again. This week, I moved Kyler and Kamaron back to Indiana University. We LOVE having our children home for the summer and holidays, and it's always sad to see them leave again. I can't help but wonder and worry about how their lives at IU will go this semester. Will they like where they live? How will their classes be? Work? Relationships? Safety? Endless things for a mother to stew about.
But...I do have to admit, there's also a sense of relief and freedom. MUCH less laundry to do. Fewer worries about meals and working things around so many schedules. Late nights only if WE choose to stay up past our 10:00 bedtime. Less clutter and mess to deal with (not that I deal very effectively with it, anyway!). Freedom to do what we want to do, when we want to do it.
Mama Robin's God-given purpose was to create a warm, safe home and rear her babies the best she could. When it was time for them to leave the nest, she gave them the love and nudge they needed to make it on their own. And, when they flew away to their own bird-lives, she rejoiced that she had accomplished her God-given task well.
I am that Mama Robin, too. When they fly away, a part of me flies with them and I know I have accomplished what
God intended when He blessed me with my children. The two oldest have made their own nests, and the younger two will soon be doing the same. And, just like Mama Robin, I rejoice that they too can fly on their own.
Have a wonderful school year, Kamaron and Kyler! And, don't forget to fly home once in a while! I LOVE YOU!!!
August 22, 2008
ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
Last spring, I was in great physical shape, running 25-30 miles per week while training for the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon. I was working hard, looking good, and feeling fantastic! After the May 3 13.1 mile race (which I finished in under 2 hours and placed well for my age/gender group), I had great intentions to keep running for fun and fitness.
For the first month, I did fairly well...not running daily, but putting in 15-20 miles over 4 or 5 days each week. But then, when all craziness of my summer hit... wedding plans, Bible School, new grandson, vacations, the boys being home....
my workout schedule was the first to go by the wayside. I did walk 3-4 miles most days, but that just doesn't replace what running does for me. And then, some of the pounds I worked so hard to lose this spring began to creep back on.
I was in a skid...and I've been skidding along for the past month or so! But, WHOA, the skidding is over! These shoes haven't seen nearly enough action the past couple of months, but this week I'm breaking them (and myself!) back in!
And, I have to admit, it feels good. Not FUN. Not EASY. Not FAST. Not EXCITING. But GOOD!!!! It just feels good to be moving again. Even the little aches and pains feel good, because I know I'm strengthening my body.
I can't truthfully say I've ever enjoyed running. It's just not fun, and sometimes it can be a downright struggle just to put one foot in front of the other and just keep going. Some people love running, but not me. What I DO love is what it does for me...how it makes me feel, the energy it gives me, and the amazing feeling of accomplishment I have when I'm finished.
But there is a bonus: it's also my time to think and pray. I've missed that too! There's just something about an early morning run down a quiet country road that calms my spirit and gets my day off to a great start.
So, here I go! Gotta get my lazy butt outside and just DO IT!!! I'll be glad I did! See you later...I'm on the road again!
August 23, 2008
MAKING A STATEMENT
This is Kamaron's little Chevy Aveo, which has been an amazing car for him during his high school and college years.
During the past year, he's begun collecting and displaying bumper stickers that speak about his beliefs and passions.
Just by looking at his car, one can tell a lot about the special person behind the wheel. He's definitely making some
statements with his car!
License plates on both the front and back of his car celebrate his Indiana University loyalty. Go Hoosiers!
From the bike racks on his car, it's obvious that Kamaron is an avid biker. He's also a runner, and a very good one at that! He likes to combine these two sports and compete in duathlons (hence the "DU"). What can I say...the kid is a
maniac athlete!!! Like his mother...okay, like his dad...okay...I guess he just got that way on his own.
Will riding bikes really save our planet? And, does our planet need to be saved?!? I guess it can't hurt....
Who can argue with taking care of planet Earth? And protecting our environment as best we can?
And green IS a nice color. I agree...it's not MY favorite color, but it is good. Is that what he means?
Here it is again. I guess he REALLY likes green! And, "Be What You Are"?! What else could I be????
After all that, Kamaron is a REPUBLICAN?! Good for him...I taught him well. Not that I really care that much...
Good! I always taught him to be a peacemaker, too....although in his childhood years, I can't really say that he always (or ever!) was. But it's always a good idea, don't you think? Unless you're driving in your car and someone ahead of you doesn't signal before turning, then...
...there's nothing wrong with a little righteous road rage!!! I'm sure God would understand.
I've saved the best one for last! Kamaron is a Christian and wants the world to know it! Praise the Lord for that!!!!
So, if you ever see a hot, blond, college stud tooling down the highway in this car, you can be sure that he's a
Hoosier running, biking, green-loving, environmentally-concious, peacemaking, Republican, Christian duathlete with occasional road rage, who is what he is! That's our Kamaron...just the way we love him!
August 24, 2008
NAKED LADIES STRUT THEIR STUFF
It's that time of year, when the Naked Ladies parade their beautiful, pink, long thin bodies across our yard. NO!!!
Stop thinking that! You know better!!! Would I ever promote such things?! Of course not!!!
Aren't they LOVELY?! Yes, these are our Naked Ladies that have popped up around our August landscape.
Why are they called Naked Ladies? They have no leaves! Actually, they DO have leaves, but their leaves are long gone. In the spring, their spiky leaves break through the ground, grow up tall and strong, and then die back down. It isn't until mid-August that these long, slender stems quickly pop up and produce these gorgeous, soft pink lilies.
We always called them "Surprise Lilies", since they surprised us by popping out and blooming without warning. But my friend Peggy told me that her family always called them "Naked Ladies" because they look naked with no leaves surrounding them. And since that name is much more intriguing and descriptive and exciting, I've adopted it too. "Naked Ladies" they are...proudly strutting their beautiful bodies across our yard this time of year! Aren't they lovely?!
August 25, 2008
NEWLYWED NEST
Kim and I made a visit to Greenfield to check out the nest of our newlyweds, Emily and Zach (aren't they cute?!).
This is what their new apartment looked like the last time I was there! They've done a lot of work since then!
Emily's small couch and chair fit perfectly in their cute little living room. I guess she'll always be Daddy's Little Girl!
They got new bedroom furniture together. I know, this is not the best photo, but you get the idea!
Chef Zach (and Emily helped...I think!) cooked us a wonderful meal. We were their first dinner guests!!!
Here's a quiz for you: What unusual thing do you notice about the collage of photos on the wall? (hint: check out the photos in the upper right and lower left corners...look familiar? Aren't you glad I pointed that out for the world to know, Emily & Zach???)
They have the cutest (well, I wouldn't really call those masks "cute"!) little eating area. Zach has his carved mask collection on the wall, and the canvas print on the other wall is a wedding shot. It was so much fun eating with them!
Everything was new and matched, and the food was excellent! After the meal, we watched the wedding DVD that Brett made for them and relived and laughed over memories of the big event.
This is a view of their "backyard". It looks out onto a pond, so they have a nice view...for an apartment complex.
It's the perfect little nest for them as they start their life together!
August 26, 2008
FARMERS' MARKET
Saturday mornings in the Middletown Library parking lot, a faithful group of gardeners gathers to peddle their gardens'
bounties. It is a small group in a small town with a small clientele, but there is some mighty good food to be found there. Plus, some interesting people to meet.
I took some peaches and apples to the market to sell last weekend. I sold the apples and a few of the peaches (it seems everyone has peaches this season!), but the best part was the sweetest little girl I got to know.
Emilee is an 11-year-old homeschooled little doll of a girl! Decked out in her straw hat and homespun apron, she is the
picture of county-girl innocence, the perfect covergirl for a prairie gardening catalog. She up her little flower and herb stand all by herself, and this gal knows her stuff! She named and gave me a brief horticultural lesson on each variety of plant, and charmed me the whole time with her darling ways.
Business was slow, so Emilee crafted a wreath from the herb Sweet Annie, which is known for its wonderful smell.
I bought 3 Sweet Annie plants from Emilee and asked her where I should plant them. They are, in her words, "quite invasive" (what 11-year-old...or, anyone, for that matter...talks like that?) and she assures me they will thrive in almost any environment.
Well, it's obvious Emilee is thriving and it's so refreshing to see a little girl so unspoiled by the craziness of our world today. She is a breath of fresh air and renews hope for the future. Her parents are certainly to be commended for the way they are rearing their children. I've never been much of a fan of homeschooling, but Emilee is proof it can work.
So, even though I came back home with most of the peaches I intended to sell, the morning was not wasted. I met a
charming little girl who put a smile on my face and got my day off to a great start! Much like my own little Emily has for the past 24 years!!! Gotta love any little girl named Emily (or Emilee)!!!
August 27, 2008
THE HUGE NEW HOME OF THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Kim brought home a nice surprise from work last week...tickets to the very first Indianapolis Colts game to be played
in the brand new Lucas Oil Stadium. And, not just ANY tickets...VIP tickets in the Anthem Suite!!! So these country bumpkins headed off to Indy to hobnob with the bigwigs and pretend we really belonged there! What a fun night we had!
The stadium is so HUGE, it's difficult to even take a picture of the whole thing. It dwarfs the old RCA Dome, which we thought was huge before. It features a retractable roof and end zone windows, which we got to see open during the game. AMAZING!!! We were just in awe the whole time...along with the other 62,999 people that were there that night!
A special elevator gave us access to the Suite Level, and this is the Anthem Suite! Very la-ti-da, woo-woo, don't you think? They had snacky food and drinks...if you get bored with the game, there are also 3 television sets to watch!
This is the view from the suite seats, right on the 30-yard line. Everything is just gorgeous!
Looking to the left, you can see the huge window was opened and you could really feel the breeze! Just below that tier of seats is the main entrance from the north side of the stadium, like a huge lobby with people milling everywhere.
Then, looking to the right, one of the humongous screens and the closed end of the stadium.
And, looking UP...the roof slid open for the first half of the game. That open sky area itself covers 4 acres!!!
The game wasn't much to watch...the Colts lost and most of the stars didn't play much at all...but the pregame show was fabulous. Excitement was in the air, the crowd was rowdy, and fireworks exploded as the players came out.
We were directly behind the Colts bench. And that's a show in itself, just watching the players on the sidelines.
Here's my very own Anthem man! He's not much for socializing and hobnobbing, but I love it!
The couple on the right are Dave and Shannon Watt. Dave works for Kim. The couple on the left are Melissa and Rob
Hillman. Rob is the President of Anthem. Rob was Kim's boss until last year, when Rob became President, so we've known Rob and Melissa for a long time and gone on several trips with them. Dave is fairly new on the scene, but a nice (and a little crazy!) guy. (I have no clue who that other guy in the back is!)
I figure that Shannon, Melissa, and I are the Anthem Angels they are honoring. If we're not, we should be!!! And (this
DRIVES ME NUTS!!!), you'd think someone at Anthem would know it should say "Who's", not "Whose"!!!
Oh, yeah...there was a football game, which the Colts lost, but who really cares?! It's preseason, and tonight was all about the stadium! It was a fantastic night and we were duly impressed! I could get used to this VIP status!!!
August 29, 2008
OUCHIES...GETTING READY FOR INDIA
In 5 short weeks, I will be leaving for INDIA!!! I am part of a 10-person mission team that will leave October 2 for two weeks, visiting Hope Children's Home in Tamil Nadu and doing medical camps in rural villages in southern India. I went there in 2002, so this time I know what to expect...and I'm just as excited! India is a beautiful country full of beautiful, sweet people, and we are privileged to be able to share God's love with them.
I've got my visa, and this week I got the dreaded SHOTS! India is also full of horrible diseases, and before traveling there, it is important to get several vaccinations to protect myself.
I HATE SHOTS!!!
When my children were little, we called them "ouchies". They're still OUCHIES!
Just looking at the photo of the needles makes me cringe. But, it's a necessary evil, so I got my shots.
Three of them! In my arms (at least they weren't in my you-know-what!).
TETANUS with WHOOPING COUGH. In my left arm. It's still aching this morning, and I got them on Tuesday.
HEPATITUS A. I have to get another one of those in February, then I'll have lifetime immunity. Yes! (I've already had
the whole Hepatitus B series, so I'm good there)TYPHOID FEVER. Sounds like a very nasty, exotic disease that I don't want any part of.
But that's not all. Pills to swallow.
MALARIA. Nobody wants to get that! But at least it just involves taking a pill every day. I can do that.
The other pill is Cipro, an antibiotic. Just in case. Just in case I forget and drink the water there. Or eat something
washed in the water. Or eat something otherwise contaminated. Which is why I'm taking along LOTS of snacks.
The dreaded "DEHLI BELLY"! Otherwise known as Traveler's Diarrhea. Not fun. Not fun at all. Especially in India, where the toilet facilities are...well, let's just say they really aren't what we're used to. Primitive. VERY. Last time I went I was lucky enough to avoid it, but others in our group weren't so fortunate. So, just in case. I like to be prepared.
But the memory of my ouchies will quickly fade when I get to see these darling faces at Hope Home!
Shanthi is 8 1/2 years old. Vijila is 8 years.These 2 beautiful little girls are our sponsored children who live in Hope Children's Home. I can hardly wait to see them!
Aren't they precious! I'm sure I'll have LOTS of photos of them when I return.
So now, except for packing, I'm ready for our India trip. I'm praying that our team can be a bright light for God in India.
I just wish Kim was going with me...maybe next time I can convince him to go!
August 28, 2008
CIDER TIME
Last year, we had no apples...this year, the trees are loaded! What to do with all those apples??? Make CIDER!
Now, apples used to make cider do not have to be beautiful and blemish-free. In fact, most of the apples we use are those we have picked up off the ground. Not rotten ones, just the less-than-perfect ones that you wouldn't bite into.
Jeff, a friend of Kim's from work, brought his 2 boys, Jonah (19 months) and Jake (9 years old), and the apples from his apple tree over. Kim gathered up our apples and we headed over to make cider at my father-in-law Kenny's house.
Kenny, Kim, and Jeff pour apples into the old cider press, which chops them up and the pieces fall into the slatted wooden bucket beneath. When the bucket is full, it is pulled to the front and the pressing begins.
A "specially-crafted" baseball bat is used to turn the press down, squeezing the apple pieces dry...
.
..and the sweet, delicious juice pours out! The juice is strained into a large bucket, where it is ready to put in the jug.
Jake bottled it up, while Jonah snitched apple scraps from the wheelbarrow!
We ended up with about 12 gallons. Pop these jugs in the freezer, and they'll have the taste of summer to enjoy all winter long. There's a LOT more cider to be made this fall...we're just getting started!
August 30, 2008
HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY, EMILY!
12 months oldIt's hard to believe that our BABY GIRL is 24 years old today! Wow! How did that happen?! And she's just as sweet and beautiful today as she was the day she was born.
I vividly remember that day! She wasn't actually due until September 9, and Kristoffer was 10 days late, so I wasn't getting all that ready yet. Of course, physically I was ready, but I hadn't washed up all her little clothes and bedding and such yet, assuming she would be born around her due date, if not late. She surprised us! And has continued to surprise us for the past 24 years...
We had a couple of beef calves from Kenny that we were pasturing that summer. And, wouldn't you know it, they picked the morning of August 30 to get out! One of the retired neighbor men stopped by to tell me they were out (of course, Kim was already at work!), and he helped me round them up and get them back in their pen. It was HOT that day, really HOT, and he and I, toting Kristoffer, did a lot of walking to herd them back where they belonged. I was exhausted!!!
That must have been all it took to get the labor started, because that evening I gave birth to a perfect little 9 lb. bundle of little girl joy! It was a quick, easy (well, "easy" is never a good word to describe labor, but it was easy by comparison to my others) birth and she had a sweet, calm disposition right from the start. Kim and I were so happy!
this is one of my favorite Emily photos...4 years oldDoesn't she just look like a little doll?14 years old...love the braces!18 and a SENIOR!Now our little girl is all grown up and married and on her own. But she continues to bring joy into our lives!
WISHING YOU A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY, EM! WE LOVE YOU!!!!
August 31, 2008
DIGGIN' TATERS
It's time to get down and dirty in the garden! Tater-diggin' time!!! This spring Kim planted one row of red potatoes, "Red Pontiac" potatoes, to be exact, and one row of white potatoes, "Katahdins". He hilled them up, kept them weeded, and let the vines grow wild. Well, the vines have all died back, which means the potatoes are done growing and it's time to dig them up. That is, if you can find the dead vines amidst all the other viney, grassy garden stuff this time of year.
So, do you see the brown, dead-looking vine just above the dirt in the photo? That's the dead potato vine. And underneath that brown, dried-up stem is where the potatoes are hiding.
By the way, that is Kim's cute dirty foot. He's the only person I know who can use a shovel wearing flip-flops!!!
It's kind of like a Christmas surprise for gardeners, seeing what lies hiding just beneath the dirt wrapping. Big potatoes, or lots of smaller potatoes, or sometimes even NO potatoes. But there's usually some nice ones there, my husband being the master gardener and all. He specializes in BIG potatoes! Don't forget the Gray motto, "Go big or go home!"
(Dana coined that motto for us, and it does seem to apply to almost everything we do. Go figure!)
Here's my hunky gardener-man with one hill of his beautiful spuds! That potato is almost as big as his hand!
Load 'em up and move 'em out! Off they go to join their red potato-cousins in our potato "cellar" (actually, it's an insulated closet out in the rec room...but "cellar" sounds so much more authentically country, don't you think?!).
Kim grew 5 bushels this year, way more than enough to get the two of us through the winter. But he does LOVE his taters! And
August 2008
