Saturday, April 27, 2013

Flooded in but made a break for it!

It seems like it's rained 40 days and 40 nights lately.  And I've been on the lookout for an ark floating down the White River, but nothing.  We noticed the water in the field in front of our house a week ago last Thursday and were stranded on our inland island for that day but Friday the water was back down enough to drive out.  However by Saturday it came back up and we were stranded here until Tuesday.  It seemed weird to miss church Sunday.  It was a beautiful day and we actually worked out in the yard.  So it just didn't seem like Sunday with that combination of missing church and working in the yard like you would on a normal week day ...

I'm happy to say that I am DONE cleaning flower beds.  I've gone through two containers of Preen!  Did a little transplanting and hope everything grows where it's planted.  And there's fresh mulch all around.  Our grass was so tall that on Monday Wendell mowed the large area west of the house again!  It just didn't "take" the first time!  LOL!  Looks nice now but really could be mowed again ... [sigh]

The vegetable garden is looking good!  I need to plant some flowers out there...  We have been enjoying asparagus; had some on a pizza couple nights ago.  Yum!

Even though I couldn't get off the island in the normal manner, I had a commitment in Spencer Monday, so I walked out on the railroad tracks and was picked up by a friend and made it ... "it" was the annual Cultural Arts and International Day event held by the Owen County Extension Homemakers.  Since I was the chair of the C.A. piece, I just thought I needed to be there.  Besides, I didn't want to let down our county president and my good friend Barbara T.!  Actually it all went very smoothly, even though it was my first year at this post.  (And she's already asked me to do it again next year!  Yeah!)  We had a very modest number of entries in these categories (so I need to work harder for next year's event): quilting & quilted items, needlework items, all other creative items, and a special IEHA 100th Anniversary period costumed doll category.  I made hooked and prodded lapel pins for the first, second and third places in each category.  Everyone seemed happy with their "prize".  Those in attendance voted for their favorites.  There was a lot of wonderful food to sample and a good program, too.  All in all it was worth the walk.  When we got out of there it was after 8:00 and I was sweating it.  Wendell walked out and walked back in with me!!!!  What a guy!!!!  It sure was good to see him standing there on the tracks when I walked down that little country road to start my journey home.  By the time I returned to our neighborhood it was just about dark.  And there were coyotes howling very nearby!  Sort of scary when you're out there in the dark with them!  But I made it there and back safely.  And I felt good about myself, that I could walk that far at my age.  My pedometer said I walked 4.4 miles ...

Here's a picture of what it looks like from our house when it floods (top) and the reason we can't get out (bottom).  We're on a road that dead ends at the river ... It is very quiet here when it's flooded except for the roaring of the river.  And I can't explain the feeling of freedom (usually) knowing I am just here and won't be going anywhere for a couple days.  I tell people, as long as we have plenty of TP and chocolate everything's good.  It's my life!



Wednesday, April 10, 2013

On hold ...

I guess you could say my life's been on hold for a while.  Have been so busy with spring clean up (inside and out), trips to the dr., meetings and luncheons that I haven't had a chance to breath.  I did go to Vincennes with Margo, Teresa and Brenda a couple weeks ago and that was a fun day.  Had lunch at Pea Fections then spent the afternoon at Atkinson's Farm Yarn.  And Easter was a good day, too; we went for a nice drive after church.  Couple weeks ago we went to Michigan to visit the kids and see their new house (lovely).  In the same weekend got to visit with Mother and other son in Kokomo.

My head's been busy, too.  Working on a few different events such as the Cultural Arts contest for Owen County Home Extension (I'm chair of that committee), then trying to do all of the other things that the "homemakers" expect of their members (plus I'm treasurer of my local club), making 16 rug hooking kits for the HHRHG 10th annual Fiber Fair coming in mid-May, then last but most importantly plans for our 50th wedding anniversary celebration which will be in June.  To top this all off, we are re-doing both of our bathrooms this summer.  In fact we hope to begin within a few weeks if things work out.  (Keep your fingers crossed for us!)  If I play my cards right the only thing I will have to do is paint the walls and buy things!  Yeah!

We planted the (much smaller) garden last week!  Yeah!  Only planted radishes, lettuce, onions, garlic and spinach.  Tomatoes, peppers, cabbage and some herbs will follow.  This is the part of the garden that will be fenced.  In the "old" garden I'm going to plant rows of flowers; I am so excited about that!  Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share ... Since Wendell tilled the garden the deer have been out there dancing.  At least that's what it looks like.  They can't WAIT for everything to come up I guess.  But that electric fence will be a deterrent when W. gets it put up.  I have three of the five flower beds cleaned, mulched and Preened; two to go!  (Yeah!)  But one will need a MAJOR overhaul!  (Boo!)

Here's a table Wendell made for me with a lot of help from Neil (who did the top).  I LOVE it!  It's in the wine room in the basement.  We have a little radio/cassette player that will sit on it.  But you know, I think I would love to have this table anywhere upstairs, too!  Didn't the guys do a good job?


 
There are two eggs in the bluebird box by the garden and that makes me feel like spring is really here.  They are singing their little hearts out!

Have a great rest-of-the-week.